The 2006 Seattle International Film Festival comes to a close this Sunday, June 18th, and with its cessation comes the myriad requisite closing galas, finales, and send-offs.

Unique to this installation of the festival was the Face the Music program.

This special section celebrates the vital connections of music and film—from exploring music’s role in creating dynamic cinematic experiences to showcasing documentary films that put great music and musicians in front of the camera.

Face the Music will host its own trifecta of closing events this week, the first of which is cleverly named the Face the Music Rock Party.

Taking place tomorrow night at Neumo’s, the event will feature “a range of local bands perform[ing] original material, as well as cover songs by artists highlighted in the films—from serious homage to irreverent reinterpretations of music,” promises event publicist Aja Pecknold. Sean Nelson & His Mortal Enemies (read: performance-theater-pop/rock troupe “Awesome”) will be unveiling “an incredible 9 song Harry Nilsson medley (and special appearance by Amy Blaschke);” back-from-hiatus glam-rock/punk faves The Girls will be gracing the stage as a whole for the first time in over a year; in reference to Icelandic documentary Screaming Masterpieces, Trespassers William will be paying a tribute to indigenous artists Sigur Rós and Björk; and electro-pop darlings Mountain Con will play a set of Leonard Cohen songs, as well as try their many hands at George Michaels’s “Faith.” All this, in addition to a collaboration between Carrie Akre and PUSA’s Dave Dederer, RazRez-as-The-Police, and The Pale Pacific’s lone summer performance. Keeping the music coming between sets will be Members Only/ Rags to Riches darlings-cum-DJs Amy Dials and Kristen Finstead.

Tickets are $6 advance, the doors are at 8, and it’s 21+. This could very well be history in the making, so you’d be wise to get there early.

Full press release after the jump.

SIFF, Samsung Mobile, Starbucks, the Washington State Film Office and the Mayor's Office of Film & Music Present

SIFF FACE THE MUSIC ROCK PARTY!
An evening celebrating the music of SIFF 2006 featuring songs by Devo, The Pixies, The Police, Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, Bjork, Sigur Rós and more as performed Seattle artists:

Sean Nelson & His Mortal Enemies, Carrie Akre with Dave Dederer, The Girls, Mountain Con, The Pale Pacific, RazRez, Go Like Hell, Awesome, Trespassers William, and Key Note Speaker

Seattle, WA—Thursday, June 15, 2006 Seattle International Film Festival and Samsung Mobile present the Face The Music Rock Party—an evening celebrating the music of the SIFF 2006 Face the Music documentaries featuring songs by The Pixies, The Police, Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, Bjork, Sigur Rós, Devo and more as interpreted by some of Seattle’s best local bands. With twelve music documentaries featured in this year’s festival, the bands have each selected and perfected works by artists featured in the films that explore their lives and music.

Seattle talents Sean Nelson & His Mortal Enemies, Carrie Akre, Dave Dederer, The Girls, Mountain Con, The Pale Pacific, RazRez, Go Like Hell, Awesome, and Trespassers William will debut their chosen covers at the Rock Party—providing an utterly unique set for show-goers.

“It is a natural progression of the festival to highlight the strengths and talent emerging from Seattle’s burgeoning music scene, and we are extremely excited to be able to showcase an amazing range of local music. The Face the Music Rock Party is a perfect kick off to festival events that explore the intersection of film and music—including a Master Class with Mark Mothersbaugh, live performances to silent films with Portastatic and Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd, and various panels and workshops,” says Carl Spence, SIFF Artistic Director.

Seattle’s favorite punk hipsters The Girls are reuniting for their first show in over a year, The Pale Pacific have made this event their only performance all summer, and RazRez perform for the first time in 5 months. Be sure to catch:
Sean Nelson’s (Harvey Danger) collaboration with the 7-piece chamber pop ensemble Awesome for a incredible Harry Nillson medley (and special appearance by Amy Blaschke);
Mountain Con’s rendition of George Michael’s Faith and a Leonard Cohen set;
2005 Stranger Big Shot winners, RazRez, covering The Police;
Carrie Akre (Goodness, Hammerbox) and Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States of America) collaborating on a surprise set;
Tresspassers William covering Icelandic artists Sigur Rós and Bjork;
Special Devo tribute songs in honor of Mark Mothersbaugh—Devo frontman and film composer hosting a SIFF Master Class on 6/16, 7pm at Broadway Performance Hall;
Members Only DJs Kristin and Amy spinning between sets.
"This event is truly unique and exciting--all of the musicians taking part are going beyond their usual realms and many will be collaborating on stage for the first time ever. Our hope is that the show will help expose concertgoers to what SIFF is doing for Seattle as well as give filmgoers a chance to see the best that our city’s music community has to offer,” say promoter Colin Johnson, Maven Productions.

Samsung is also presenting the short film Across the Hall starring Adrian Grenier (HBO’s Entourage) as part of SIFF’s Twisted Love shorts package on Thursday, June 15 at 7pm at the Broadway Performance Hall. Following the screening, Samsung’s guests and festival attendees will head to the Face the Music Rock Party to join visiting directors and music fans as the incredible line-up of Seattle bands take the stage to celebrate SIFF’s music focus.

Tickets are $6 and are available online at www.seattlefilm.org/festival or through Neumos at www.neumos.com, doors open at 8pm. Neumos is located at the corner of 10th and Pike (925 E.Pike St, Seattle WA 98122) in Capitol Hill. This show is 21 and over.

Face The Music Rock Party is sponsored in part by the Mayor’s Office of Film and Music, Washington State Film Office, Samsung, Maven Productions, The Stranger, Easy Street Records, Fuzed Music, Nadamucho.com, Poster Giant and Members Only.

For more information on SIFF’s Face the Music program, please visit www.seattlefilm.org, or contact Britt Curtis at brittc@seattlefilm.org, or 206.447.5513.