SLCene Suggests: Twenty Feet from Stardom at Ogden’s Peery’s Egyptian Theatre

TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM, OGDEN’S PEERY’S EGYPTIAN THEATRE, Thursday, 7 p.m., Free

Simply put, this was one of my favorite movies of 2013, an engaging tribute to the backup singers that have meant so much to the history of American popular music–and rarely getting the attention they deserve. Imagine Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” or the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” without the waiting vocals coming through loud and clear to accompany Lou and Mick Jagger. Director Morgan Neville uses his film to introduce us to names who should be legends, and up-and-coming artists who are trying to break out from the back of the stage. The ladies’ stories are remarkable, and famous faces like Bruce Springsteen, Jagger and Sting offer their thoughts on the women whose voices are integral to their own songs. This screening is free and presented by the Utah Film Center and Weber State University Shaw Gallery, and is worth checking out for the sheer majesty of the killer Peery’s Egyptian Theatre in downtown Ogden. And did I mention–free popcorn! I’ll be part of a Q&A after the screening, so hang out a bit after the movie’s over.