Tune-Yards’ Merril Garbus Scores Buster Keaton’s Comedy

Last night Merril Garbus – the looping, hollering brain behind avant-pop breakout Tune-Yards – took part in a yearly tradition of the San Francisco International Film Festival: providing live musical accompaniment to a classic silent film.

This year Garbus and her collaborator, guitarist Ava Mendoza – named a “local wunderkind” by the San Francisco Film Society – provided the soundtrack to four of Buster Keaton’s classic comedic shorts: One Week, Good Night, Nurse!, The Haunted House and The Cook.

Let’s take a look at how it went.

Outside of the Castro Theatre – @cameowood

Thinly-veiled hipster rant: the line for tUnE-yArDs at the Castro Theatre is around the block. I grossly misjudged their popularity.

— Gene Miguel (@genejo) April 24, 2012

“Pre-game show for Tune-Yards” – @rareartists

Tune-Yards at the Castro with four Buster Keaton shorts. So glad to be alive! #sfiff

— Jeffrey M. Anderson (@moviejeff) April 24, 2012

“Tuneyards x Buster Keaton” – @clairewaves

Buster Keaton came back to life tonight at Castro Theatre thanks to @tuneyards live score. Side-splitting comic genius. @SFIntlFilmFest

— K.M. Soehnlein (@kmsoehnlein) April 24, 2012

@tuneyards made for a perfect castro night, busting it to buster keaton. so thankful for the amazing sound & energy you shared. brilliant!

— Cat Manning Design (@CatManningArt) April 24, 2012

Buster Keaton + Tune-Yards and Ava Mendoza at the film festival were spectacular. The best live music w/ silent films I’ve yet seen.

— Jonathan Kauffman (@jonkauffman) April 24, 2012

Buster Keaton shorts with a live soundtrack by Tune-Yards and Ava Mendoza. That was better than I could ever have expected.

— Ste (@stefifofum) April 24, 2012

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• Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus ‘Not Putting Pressure on Myself’