David Michael Miller
Post-show Q & A with (from left) moderator Pete Schwaba, filmmaker Wendy Schneider, and studio founders Steve Marker and Butch Vig.
The Madison premiere of The Smart Studios Story, a documentary by Madisonian Wendy Schneider about Madisonians Butch Vig and Steve Marker who birthed a recording studio called Smart Studios, was a purely Madison experience.
The film was scheduled to start at 5 p.m., and about that time, a festival staffer appeared on stage to let us know things were running late, “like a rock concert,” which was fitting, of course. People were still scrambling to find somewhere to sit in the sold-out venue until about 5:15, when the rush ticket holders were finally seated.
Once everyone was mostly settled, Schneider, the film’s director and creator, said a few words, noting she was glad she didn’t have to explain what the movie was about, as she did at SXSW.
As a Madison musician, the film was a fascinating and humbling history lesson. But it was more than that too, because here I was, watching it among the very people who had been a part of the scene back then. It felt like a family reunion. Everyone was there, from Vig and Marker to the local musicians, studio interns and fans. It had an awards-show kind of ambiance, except everyone was wearing band t-shirts and drinking beer from plastic cups.
The energy was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The excitement was palpable; the audience seemed to vibrate. The person sitting next to me, a man in his 50s or so, rocked back and forth, eyes as wide as a child’s on Christmas morning, as he shared memories with his partner next to him.
I’m usually annoyed by chatter at a movie. But this reminiscing seemed to fit. Each scene evoked a memory for at least someone in the audience. Every time a recognizable face appeared onscreen, the audience applauded. Schneider remarked during the post-film Q&A that the Madison premiere should have included pauses for the applause.
It was impossible not to be happy with and for the most vocal participants. This was their show about their city. I was merely a stowaway who’d been lucky enough to be along for the ride.
At the Q&A, where Vig and Marker joined Schneider, the first two “questions” were actually compliments on the film. Schneider enlisted the help of audience member and Smart Studios engineer Doug Olson to tell a story about “the fart tapes.” Once it was discovered a band member recording at Smart was able to fart on command, it was decided in a late-night session to record this talent utilizing various studio effects and a Mozart track.
Vig shared a “war story” about how the Dwarves recorded entirely in the nude (he apologized onstage to Doug Olson, since Doug was the one who recorded this particular album). Vig was asked about his relationship with Dave Grohl, and he described his friend as a down-to-earth guy who was “a breath of fresh air” when he came into the studio with Nirvana. Asked what was on their plate next, Schneider said she was looking forward to focusing on her own music and creative endeavors; Vig and Marker are releasing a Garbage album and touring this year.
The Q&A ended with a surprise performance from Smart Studio alum The Singing Irishman, who seemed nervous at first, but soon belted out a short a cappella song about four-leafed clovers. It was a strange, sweet ending to a remarkable evening.
