School of rock

On Saturday night of the Film Festival, at the Paramount Theater, a capacity audience heavy on U.Va. alumni relived the glory days of the Charlottesville music scene of the 1970s and ’80s, at a work-in-progress screening of “Live from … the Hook.” Directed by Andy Herz (Foreign Affairs ’84), Deke Ealy (Echols ’85) and Joe Grafmuller (History ’89) and produced by Herz and Ealy, the documentary captures the raucous, anything-goes vibe of the era by focusing on two musicians, Charlie Pastorfield (Interdisciplinary ’75) and Bob Girard (English ’71). They met at U.Va. and proceeded to front two of the most popular acts of the day, the Skip Castro Band and Johnny Sportcoat and the Casuals.

Both bands became successful regional draws on the college scene and nightclub circuit, playing to packed houses and enthusiastic fans. But the good times didn’t last. When the drinking age was raised to 21, the bar scene collapsed. Easters — at the time the largest party weekend on the East Coast — was banned by the University in 1982. People grew up, got married, started families.

Using archival footage and extensive interviews with the musicians involved, along with assorted band mates, friends and associates, the film makes a strong case for the sustainability of a sense of community, despite the inevitable toll taken by the years. “It’s a validation of 30 years of effort,” says Girard. “I’m thankful that somebody came along and wanted to make a film of all this. These bands meant a lot to a lot of people, not just the players but everyone who was around then.”

“Basically, it showed the story of our lives at that time,” says Kirby Hutto (History ’81) of the film. “You got a real sense of how it felt to be going to school at U.Va. back in those days.”

“It turned into the best event of the weekend,” festival director Richard Herskowitz said after the event. “It was just a really, really unforgettable program because the audience was so appreciative of having this important part of their lives captured so well on screen that the atmosphere was absolutely joyous. People were cheering all through the credits. The film played for the first time in front of an audience, and the filmmakers got a chance to hear that. The sense of humor of the performers just really clicked with the audience, and everybody was just totally with it.”

With a bit more editing and production work left to do, the filmmakers are hoping to enter “Live from … the Hook” into other film festivals, perhaps this spring’s South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. They hope the story is universal enough to appeal to a larger audience. “I think they just need to keep it a story about two guys who met in ’68 and are still into it,” says Girard. “Drop it down someplace and see what people say.”

That night the film’s screening was followed by an all-star musical jam led by Pastorfield and Girard and featuring a host of other Charlottesville musicians. Backstage, in the Paramount’s dressing room, Pastorfield waited for his cue to perform with his old band. Surveying the crowd via closed-circuit TV, he remarked, “It’s like a college reunion out there.” Asked how it felt to see himself on the big screen, he responded dryly, “I’d forgotten how many bad haircuts I’ve had over the years.”

As if to prove that you’re never too old to rock ’n’ roll, the festive crowd of 40-to-50-somethings boogied until midnight. Well, almost — the last tune rang out around 11:30 p.m. Just in time to get home and relieve the babysitter.

 Watch a “Live from … the Hook” film clip.