If you’re tapped into a community, creative or otherwise, the laws of nature dictate that either through chance or shear determination certain individuals will become the embodiment of that scene. Mark Escribano found such an incarnation in the Super Noble Brothers who where ubiquitous across the Milwaukee music and arts scene, and decided to explore what it means to dedicate yourself to the artistic ideal through the stories of Andy, Tommy and Davey Noble.
The Super Noble Brothers (2007)
The Super Noble Brothers chronicles the ‘beautiful struggles’ of the uncompromising artists and entrepreneurs Davey, Tommy, and Andy Noble. Raised by independent art dealers and encouraged from the outset to pursue their artistic interests, they quickly garnered local celebrity in their home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin as talented musicians, painters and tasteful rare funk and soul DJ’s.
Andy Noble rose first to fame as the founding bassist of the nationally acclaimed Ska band, The Pacers and Tommy Noble followed suit with his much praised pop showmen, The Thousandaires. Throughout this time, the younger Davey Noble forged his own larger than life identity as the hard hustling painter of hundreds of colorful abstract erotic nudes. Diligent self-promoters, culturally opinionated and socially ubiquitous, the brothers often found themselves the subject of public admiration and fierce criticism. Bohemian elite, connoisseurs of funk and tireless purveyors of good times, they are the Super Noble Brothers.
Nice interview, great site. I’m not surprised that the British have presented a much more interesting and in depth look into what it’s like to be an American artist than you’ll ever find stateside.
I hope that we’ll be hearing more from “Super Noble Brothers” soon. It’s a compelling documentary and deserves to be seen widely.
Cheers for the kind words and glad you enjoyed the interview. It really is a good look at the normally hidden hard work of being an artist.
Yeah, that was a great show. It’s always interesting to hear the film/video debate. It would be cool to go through the DN archives and make a discussion between guests where they debate (virtually) different approaches to film-making.
Now that’s a really good suggestion! I think I’ll have to look into that.