Get ‘Hooked’ on our music and the film

Easters in July.

Well, it’s not your daughter’s egg-hunting version.

But if a Wahoo’s your daddy, it might be one he remembers.

Easters was a long-held tradition that brought thousands to Mr. Jefferson’s University for activities that would have made Mr. Jefferson none too pleased.

But if you were young, inebriated and loved music, Charlottesville was the place to be to hear rock, literally around the clock, for days.

Easters is just part of a documentary film by Deke Ealy that pays homage to a vibrant musical scene that exploded in the 1970s and ’80s. On Saturday, Ealy has planned a two-part event to showcase his recently polished “Live From … the Hook.”

It starts with a screening of the movie at 2 p.m. at the Paramount Theater followed by an epic seven-hour concert — featuring many of the bands in the film — at the Charlottesville Pavilion.

One might call it a mini-Easters.

“That’s it,” Ealy said with a hearty laugh, “except, without the grain alcohol.”

Now, there are those of us who might have seen the film when the former New Yorker-now- Charlottesvillian introduced a rough cut at Satellite Ballroom. But now the updated version is complete and ready to rock and roll.

“We have an Easters sequence in there now that will knock people’s socks off,” Ealy said. “We have this neat segment that I think people will get a kick out of. We have footage from Easters 1968 to Easters 1975 into Easters 1982.

“That’s some fun stuff. Part of that footage we have continued to dig up.”

They screened the scene with test audiences, and according to the film’s producer, “people have loved it.”

Ealy said he has spent about 100 hours in the editing room.

“It was still pretty rough [when it was screened at Satellite],” Ealy said. “We had a modular format and the transitions were abrupt. And we have been able to work on the story line. We have made quite a bit of improvement to the film since then.”

He’s even picked up some filmmaking tips from another new Charlottesville returnee, Jack Steinberg.

“Jack has moved back to Charlottesville,” Ealy said. “He’s a real filmmaker.”

Steinberg has served as an assistant director on a bevy of films, including the likes of “Terminator Three” and “The Last Samurai.”

“He’s done Anthony Hopkins films,” Ealy said, “real films that people would know.”

Both filmmakers worked hard on this project. Both shared a love for the local music scene.

“He is one of the reasons that Danny Beirne went to L.A.,” Ealy said. “They were close friends and Danny went out there to visit him.”

Well, the colorful Beirne is returning to town, too, to participate in the musical version of Saturday’s festivities. Everyone will remember the flashy keyboardist with the huge red ’fro.

“We are looking forward to a great day on Saturday,” Ealy said.

The roster includes the Skip Castro Band, the Casuals featuring Johnny Sportcoat, the Allstars, Captain Tunes and His Fabulous Notegun, to name but a few.

“One of the original Casuals, Dennis Guinan, is going to be there,” Ealy said. “He plays once in about every 15 years, and he will play. He doesn’t get out to play that often, but he is great.”

Longtime music masters Bob Girard (aka Johnny Sportcoat) and Charlie Pastorfield, of course, will be among the highlights both on the live show and the big screen.

“People who were a part of that scene are really excited about the movie,” Ealy said. “But I think it speaks to a lot of people about following your passion in life. A lot of us are in that stage of life when we are asking are we doing what we really wanted to do … Not to mention that the guys in the film are just fun.”

The fun will begin at noon at the Paramount, followed by the musical extravaganza at 2 p.m.

“We will wrap it up around 8:30,” Ealy said, “because you know how it is. For old folks, six and a half hours ought to about do it.

“I hope we can all keep going that long,” he added laughing goodheartedly. “Back in the day, it would have been nothing. We are all going to recapture our misspent youth here.

“That’s what I predict.”

Stay tuned.

Details

The cost is $19 for the film, $50 for Producer’s Club. The concert is $25. Both are general admission.

Tickets will be available at the Paramount (979-1333), the Pavilion (877-272-8849), Plan 9 Records and the local Visitors Centers. 

You also can try www. livefromthehook.com, www. charlottesvillepavilion.com or www. theparamount.net.