THE FAMILY JAMS DOCUMENTARY: LIFE ON THE ROAD WITH DEVENDRA BANHART, JOANNA NEWSOM, AND VETIVER

The Family Jams documentary, not to be confused with the Manson Family album by the same name, is an intimate portrait from documentary filmmaker Kevin Barker of life on the road for three San Francisco-based musical acts – Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, and Vetiver.  It follows the three, early in their careers, playing tiny, obscure clubs and art galleries but on the verge of larger success where small vans are replaced by large, impersonal tour buses. Here music is a creative, organic, inclusive endeavor. They not only sing about – they create – the world in which they want to live. They help each other overcome family tragedies and car accidents, and meet colorful characters, forgotten musical heroes, and folk luminaries as they travel across the country.