Jim Jarmusch’s SQURL released an EP & Velvet Underground cover, playing silent films series w/ Julian Koster & more

by Andrew Sacher

Jim Jarmusch mayb be best known as a filmmaker, but it's no secret that he's also a talented musician. He's got his duo with Jozef Van Wissem, and also his trio SQURL with Carter Logan (who Jim's been working on a Stooges documentary with) and Shane Stoneback (who produced Fucked Up's David Comes to Life and engineered/mixed the first two Vampire Weekend albums). SQURL did much of the music on Jim's own film, 2013's Only Lovers Left Alive, and late last year they put out EP #3.

It's four tracks of psychedelic rock and drone, and the final song actually comes kinda close to a folk song. About a month afterwards, SQURL released a cover of "Ocean" by The Velvet Underground, whose experimental art and sense of New York Cool is a clear influence on Jim Jarmusch. Listen to that cover below, and EP #3 at The Wall Street Journal.

SQURL will be taking be taking part in this year's Silent Films/Live Music series, which returns to downtown Manhattan's Brookfield Place from February 17-20. They've curated and will perform scores to four Man Ray films, and the series also features the US premiere of Blancanieves with a score performed by an ensemble featuring Neutral Milk Hotel's Julian Koster. Here's what the schedule looks like:

Tuesday, February 17 & Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 8:00pm:
Four films by Man Ray, selected by SQÜRL (Jim Jarmusch and Carter Logan) :
Retour a la Raison (1923)
Emak Bakia (1926)
Les Mysteres Du Chateau Du De (1929)
L'Etoile De Mer (1928)

World-premiere scores composed and performed by SQÜRL (Jim Jarmusch and Carter Logan)

Wednesday, February 18 & Friday, February 20, 2015 at 8:00pm:
U.S. Premiere of Blancanieves (2012)
Written and Directed by Pablo Berger
Score Composed by Alfonso Vilallonga

Performed by Wordless Music Orchestra with Alfonso Vilallonga
Ryan McAdams, conductor
Alfonso Villalonga, accordion/ukulele/banjo
Julian Koster, musical saw

All performances are totally FREE to the public. Watch the trailer for Blancanieves below.

SQURL also play Big Ears Festival and Mission Creek Festival.

---