Watch Storefront Hitchcock

Storefront Hitchcock is a unique and captivating music documentary from 1998 starring British singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock. The film was directed by Jonathan Demme of "The Silence of the Lambs" fame and takes place entirely in front of a vacant storefront in New York City. The opening scene of the film sets the tone for what is to come as Hitchcock sits on a stool smoking a cigarette and strumming his guitar in front of the storefront. He introduces himself and sets the scene before launching into his opening song. Throughout the film, various musicians join him on stage, including Deni Bonet on violin and Tim Keegan on guitar and vocals.

There is no traditional plot to the film, but rather a series of individual performances and interviews with Hitchcock and his bandmates. The interviews are conducted mostly by Demme from off-camera and are interspersed with the musical numbers. The conversations cover a wide range of topics, including Hitchcock's influences, his philosophy on songwriting, and the challenges of performing live. The interviews are raw and unpolished, giving viewers a glimpse into the mind of the quirky artist.

The music itself is a mix of acoustic and electric guitars, violin, and percussion. Hitchcock's songs are introspective and haunting, yet catchy and melodic. The raw emotion in his voice is palpable, especially during the slower ballads. One standout moment in the film is when Hitchcock performs "Madonna of the Wasps" on a ukulele, accompanied only by Bonet's delicate violin.

Another noteworthy scene features Keegan taking center stage to perform a song he wrote called "Something to Die For." His deep, gravelly voice and impressive guitar skills are sure to impress even the most skeptical viewers.

Aside from the music, the visuals of the film are equally compelling. The storefront setting is simple yet effective, with nothing more than a few chairs and microphones set up on the sidewalk. However, the changing light of the day creates a unique mood for each song, from the bright afternoon sun to the moody twilight.

One particularly interesting element of the film is the occasional appearance of passersby on the sidewalk. While many of them seem bemused or indifferent to the performance, others stop to watch and even sing along. At one point, a woman on a bike stops to listen and can be seen mouthing the lyrics to Hitchcock's song.

Overall, Storefront Hitchcock is a visually and musically stunning film that is sure to appeal to fans of the artist as well as anyone who appreciates raw performances and candid interviews. With its stripped-down setting and intimate feel, it provides a rare glimpse into the mind of a talented artist and his creative process.

Storefront Hitchcock is a 1997 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.