dailywildcat.com/wildlife
B section
wednesday, february 17, 2010
Wildlife
Steven Kwan Arts Editor 520•621•3106 arts@wildcat.arizona.edu
7th grader puts on benefit concert By Kim Kotel Arizona Daily Wildcat Deep golden rays coast through the windows of Rincon Market as the sun sets. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I am lucky enough to sit across from a remarkable young man for once. Twelve-year-old Aodhan Lyons, pronounced Ay-den, smiles at me while I set down the recorder, a black fedora pushing down his dark, loosely curled locks. “It’s really sad,” said Aodhan, measuring his words carefully, hesitantly.“It was a couple days after … I saw the report on TV, and I said, ‘Hey, I can do something to support this.’” Aodhan watched the news reports on the earthquake that had devastated Haiti. He soaked in the dilapidated homes, the debris crowding the streets and the thousands of Haitians struggling under their overwhelming loss. Each camera shot captured the earthquake’s wrath — how it enveloped Haiti in a film of chalky dust and despair. Aodhan’s uncle, who is Haitian, lost five of his family members. With Aodhan’s bar mitzvah approaching, he started considering different projects, but after the report there was only one thing he knew he needed to do. He needed to help, and he wanted to hold a concert to raise funds for the victims of this natural disaster. With little time to spare and already balancing a full schedule, Aodhan’s Friday spilled into Saturday with backto-back performances of a school play. Between that and promoting the concert at churches and synagogues on Sunday, he still found time to meet for this article. The“From Tucson to Haiti”benefit concert is scheduled to take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. Though much has been done, Aodhan hopes to gather more support and raise more awareness before the concert. It is not every day you meet a seventh grader who has excellent time management skills, takes philosophy as an elective and organizes interfaith world music benefit concerts for countries in need. But what prompted his desire for a concert? “Aodhan sings a lot. He used to be part of the Tucson JewishYouth Choir, so originally, he was thinking that maybe he could get choirs from churches and synagogues to have a concert,”said his mother Hilary.“I told him I knew someone at the Fox Theatre. He could talk to him about how to prepare. We ended up having a meeting with a bunch of people who were social action chairs from different synagogues and the Interfaith Community Services and Craig Sumberg from Fox Theatre.” Aodhan glanced at his mother’s face and then studied his hands before he spoke. “I hadn’t ever put on something like this before, so I thought it would be a lot easier than it turned out to be. Then as it progressed, I figured out it was going to take a lot more work.”Aodhan said. With less than a month to pull the concert together, those at the meeting, recognized as seasoned event planners, were less optimistic about what Aodhan was set on accomplishing. Organizing takes anywhere from a few months to half a year depending on the event and who’s playing, Sumberg said. “It was a lot of work in a short amount of time. Choirs have 30 to 60 members — that’s a lot of people to get organized.
if you go “From Tucson to Haiti”: A World Music Benefit Concert for Haitian Relief Efforts Fox Theatre 17 W. Congress St. Thursday, Feb. 18 7 p.m. $20 for adults $10 for students and senior citizens
The “hole” experience
You can’t live in Arizona and not visit the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It’s so much Arizona’s claim to fame, it’s on our license plates. The National Park surrounding the canyon itself allows for camping, hiking, guided tours, cell phone tours, and river and mule trips. Restaurants and lodging are also available for the less outdoorsy. Entrance to the park is $25 per private vehicle or $12 per person on foot or by bike. Visit www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm for more information.
A remnant of the development of Verde Canyon and the copper mining that caused it, the leisurely train ride is a trip through history as well as through nature. The 38-mile stretch weaves through the land once home to several ancient peoples. Nearby, Clarkdale is a trove of history as well, containing several historic sites worth seeing. The railroad is open year-round — though on varying days — and costs $54.95 to ride, making it the perfect trip to take with visiting parents. Tequila and wine-tasting tours are also available at slightly steeper rates (though maybe the parents should sit those ones out). Visit www.verdecanyonrr.com/ index.html or call (800) 582-7245 for more information.
Catch the ‘White Dove’
Lisa Beth Earle/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Aodhan Lyons, 12, organizer of Thursday’s ‘From Tucson to Haiti’ benefit concert at Fox Theatre, stands in front of the theater on Sunday.
So, that’s when he kind of got steered in the direction of getting some bands to perform (instead).”Hilary said. Aodhan set to work searching for bands online and sending e-mails asking for their support. “We had a few disappointments with bands that really wanted to perform but had other obligations.”Hilary said. Most bands schedule performances months in advance. She realized requesting a band’s commitment to play at an event only a few weeks away was a stretch.
But he did it. With a line up including Spirit Familia, The Triple Double Band and Odaiko Sonora Drummers — bands ranging from reggae to blues to Latin and afrobeats — the benefit concert is scheduled and ready to go. The American Red Cross, Interfaith Community Services, Multi-faith Alliance, various churches and synagogues in the Tucson area and Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation are supporting the event. Donations will be collected by The American Red Cross for Haitian relief.
By Christy Delehanty Arizona Daily Wildcat
Photo courtesy of Comedy Central
INSIDE
T
here are certain things you just can’t live in Arizona and not do. Some are more obvious than others, but the list of things you’ll regret if you miss during your time at the UA is long, and your time here is short. So jump in and get started with these four “musts.”
Choo-choo through time
And what was Aodhan’s uncle think of all this? “When I talked to him on the phone he said several times he was very proud of me, and that’s a great thing to hear,”Aodhan said. When asked what his favorite part of organizing the event was, Aodhan didn’t mention talking with the bands, the publicity or the concert. He tilted his head and shrugged. The answer was simple. “It’s just the feeling of giving.” Aodhan said.
Sarah Silverman hung up on necks, being stupid
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BEFORE YOU GRADUATE
“The Sarah Silverman Program”is not something I would’ve thought to watch, but after hearing her talk about the current third season, her neck issues and her journey as a comedian, it’s hard not to be intrigued. Her TV show, which features the comedian as the immature and emotionally stunted Sarah Jane Anastasia Silverman,
is not meant to portray Silverman herself, though some of the issues are caricatures of Silverman’s actual experiences. The neck obsession is among them. Sometimes, Silverman said, the stories come from real life.“There’s a glimmer of it where I get obsessed with the neck. Why isn’t there bone there; there’s so much important stuff there,”she said. “The neck is fucking vulnerable.”
B3 Vagina Warriors to continue V-Day
How I Met ‘Marty’
movement
WildLife journeys to Scorsese’s stomping grounds
SILVERMAN, page B8
Officially called Mission San Xavier del Bac — “Bac” meaning “the place where water appears” — for the Santa Cruz River that runs underneath it, this church is considered one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the U.S. An operational church, complete with Franciscan friars, the mission is not only historical but functional as well. Visit the museum from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and enjoy a self-guided tour. Attending Mass and exploring the gift shop are always options as well. Donations are accepted but entrance is free. Visit www.sanxaviermission.org/ General.html or call 294-2624 for Mass schedules and more information.
See a Cactus game
Of the Cactus League’s teams, the Colorado Rockies, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox all prepare for their seasons right here in Tucson. These teams and the 12 others that make up the Cactus League participate in a tradition that began in the early 20th century — playing what were originally exhibition games in Arizona before baseball season began. Attend a game anytime in March. Most games begin at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com and tickets.com. Schedule available at www.cactusleague.com/images/2010_ schedule.pdf. Visit www.cactusleague.com/index. php for more information. — Christy Delehanty
Is there something you think we should do before graduating? Send your suggestions to arts@wildcat. arizona.edu. Please include your name, major and year.
Follow WildLife throughout the week on Twitter @wildcatarts
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• wednesday, february 17, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
local scene
To-Do List
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17
Singer/songwriters Tony Lucca and Keaton Simons will perform at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. 8 p.m. $10. “Mysterious Strangers,” an exhibit of works by Allyson Bennett, will show at Epic Café, 745 N. Fourth Ave. 6 a.m. - midnight. Free.
OUR PICK
“MythoLogic: Visions and Patterns,” an exhibit featuring works by Margarita Brosova, Natalya Kolosowsky and Kimberly Piet, will be showing at LuLuBell Toy Bodega, 439 N. Sixth Ave., Suite 187, until March 3. Noon - 6 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Free.
THURSDAY, FEB. 18
Al Di Meola will perform at The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. 8 p.m. $29. A Drag Show will be held at Colors Food and Spirits, 5305 E. Speedway Blvd. 9 p.m. Free. Leila Lopez will perform at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. 11:30 p.m. $5. 21+.
FRIDAY, FEB. 19
The Killdares will perform at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., for the Great Guinness Toast. Doors open 7 p.m. $10. 360 Degrees Band will be performing at Sam Hughes Place, 446 N. Campbell Ave. 8 p.m. Free. “Greatest Hits Collection,” an exhibit of photographs by Elsa Jacklitch, and an exhibit of abstract paintings by Leonard Lotis will show until March 12 at the Campus Christian Center Art Gallery. 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. Free.
SATURDAY, FEB. 20
A panel discussion on climate change presented by the League of Women Voters will take place at Pima County’s Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave. 10 a.m. - noon. Free. The Narcolepts will perform at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. 8 p.m. $5. 21+.
SUNDAY, FEB. 21
Darden Smith will perform at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. 7 p.m. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 21+. The Southern Arizona Mustang club will hold a car show on Fourth Avenue. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free. The Pretty Things Peepshow will perform at the Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. Fourth Ave. 9 p.m. $8 advance, $10 at the door.
The age-old tradition of hitting things with a big stick in the name of artistic expression is alive and well, and will be thundering into Centennial Hall this Saturday in the form of “TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming.” The TAO ensemble, composed of 30 seasoned performers, combines the ancient martial tradition of taiko drumming with theatrical, modern-day choreography, costuming and stage effects. Artistic director Ikuo Fujitaka strives to bring Broadway-esque spectacle to a rigorous spiritual discipline formerly reserved for motivating troops and announcing orders in feudal Japanese campaigns. Expect flashing lights, midair cartwheels and a hell of a lot of banging drums. Between international tours, the TAO troupe spends the year training at their spacious home ground in the Aso-Kuju national park on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu. Located at the foot of an active volcano, the facility is expansive and of resort-quality, but their training regimen is hardly a vacation. The troupe engages in daily 5-to-10 kilometer runs and a solid hour of stretches before breakfast, followed by up to 10 hours of drumming. You no longer have to be marching against the Han Dynasty to hear percussion of this magnitude. Come see TAO this Saturday to let your jaw drop and your ears ring.
IF YOU GO TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming Centennial Hall Saturday, 8 p.m. $25 for seniors, groups and military $40 - $55 general public $15 UA students, faculty and staff
—Brandon Specktor
Revamped Wilko classes up dinner classics like mac and cheese made with gruyere and white cheddar, an icebox tuna sandwich with toasted almonds and After closing to revamp last summer, a burger made of grass-fed beef. An array Wilko has finally re-opened. The hip little of cheese plates, starters that consist of shop located at North Park Avenue and East almonds and nuts and pizzas are also University Boulevard is an interesting mix of featured. Wilko also offers an array of white ideas. It’s a coffee shop, mini-convenience and red wines as well as beers. store and restaurant all rolled into one. Don’t With prices ranging from $6 to $12, Wilko allow its more upscale décor to deter you — won’t break the bank but will leave you full. Wilko is serving While this may not up delicious be an eatery you dishes at reasonwill frequent on a able prices. daily basis, Wilko’s Wilko ditched sandwiches cost a lot of the artsy just a touch more merchandise it than they would was selling to at someplace like make room for On Deck Deli on a small kitchen campus. and seating area. I opted for The open-air the grilled Brie kitchen that is sandwich that lined by a bar consisted of a blend where patrons of turkey pastrami, can sit is cozy. cucumber, melted Guests can watch Brie and apple their meals being butter on thick, prepared as they crusty bread slices. sip of refreshing The sandwich was cucumbera fantastic blend of infused water. bold and delicate Wilko’s menu flavors. Rodney Haas/Arizona Daily Wildcat includes jazzed My eating comThe grilled chicken sandwich at Wilko, 943 E. University Blvd., up versions of panion Kim opted features grilled pineapple and a rich garlicky aioli.
By Ali Freedman Arizona Daily Wildcat
for a similar grilled chicken sandwich that boasted grilled pineapple and a rich garlicky aioli. The sandwiches came with a choice of herb fries, a salad or a slaw. We chose the salad and a flavorful lemon vinaigrette as the dressing. Each of our sandwiches and salads rung in at $8. The décor is pleasant and simple with large eye-catching light fixtures that hang from the ceiling. Fresh flowers in small jars sit on each wood table and line the bar. The staff is friendly and fast. Although Wilko’s feel is substantially different from what it once was, the new set up is pleasant and college-student friendly. A step above much of the quick food available on campus and University Boulevard, Wilko offers a nice atmosphere and good food. So grab your glass of cucumber-infused water, order some grub and relax at the new Wilko.
Wilko
943 E. University Blvd. 792-6684 Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Closed Sundays Grilled Brie sandwich with salad $8 Grilled chicken sandwich with salad $8
MONDAY, FEB. 22
Carney will perform at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. 7:30 p.m. $8 advance, $10 day of show. Brandon Tyler will perform at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. 9:30 p.m. Free. 21+.
TUESDAY, FEB. 23
“History and Architecture of the Southern Pacific Depot,” a lecture, will be held at the ParkWise Conference room, 110. E. Pennington St. 7 - 8 p.m. $5. The Soundtrack of Our Lives will perform at The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress. St. 8 p.m. $16 advance, $18 day of show. Breathe Owl Breathe will perform at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. 9:30 p.m. Free. 21+. —Emily Bowen
Gallery features earthy new collection By Marisa D. Fisher Arizona Daily Wildcat The Gem and Mineral Show has come and passed again in Tucson. The city was full of rock hounds and gem collectors, the hotels were booked and traffic was as bad as it is on game days. On the southwest corner of Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street, however, the Conrad Wilde Gallery welcomes this yearly infiltration with an exhibit that is, quite literally, down to earth. This month’s exhibit at the Conrad Wilde, which opened Feb. 6, is called“Geologic Time.” It’s a tribute to the natural and geologic processes of our world. Works from four different artists express and evaluate the concepts of erosion, layers, the elements and time through a variety of media. The selections from the“Crater”series, created by Marc Leone, are made of archival paper and graphite. The paper has been eroded by
IF YOU GO
Film showcase brings French culture to Tucson
Gettin’ My Tan
By Joe Dusbabek Arizona Daily Wildcat
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encyclopedia of Earth. Moriarty uses encaustic, hand and with tools into various layers, and a combinative process of beeswax and resin, to then shaded and contoured with graphite. This create these unique layers over wood panels. process leaves the viewer with the impression of moonscapes in gritty and grounded detail. The The four artists showcased in“Geologic Time” represent a wide range of styles, numerical titles of the pieces, such techniques and intentions. However, as “Crater #2001,”imply a project the show works well together; the that has been in process and undergoing evolution for eons. space is ample enough that each “Geologic Time” can be experienced individuSimilarly, Laura Moriarty’s Conrad Wilde Gallery piece work is also based in layers. ally or in sequence. And although 439 N. Sixth Ave. #171 each artist’s vision is different, the However, hers are brought to life in earthy greens, blues, similar subject matter brings about Runs through Feb. 27 likenesses among the works. The oranges and pinks. Reminiscent Tuesday-Saturday color palette is muted and earthof Dr. Seuss’ landscapes, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. each is representative of a based throughout the show, as if each piece belonged with another. specific geological process or phenomenon found naturally. Titles like “The Each one begs to be touched; though they are hanging on the wall, the layers and shapes call for Expansive Force of Water Freezing in Cracks” tactile exploration, making the viewer want to dig and “Buried Landscape Unconformity” bring to mind reference pages in a colorful, touchable their fingers into the earth of“Geologic Time.”
520.888.3838
The Loft Cinema will be showing a collection of the best French short films from 2009 tonight at 7:30. Titled “Les Lutins,” the two-hour sampling presented by the Alliance Française Tucson will feature the best fiction and animation pieces from up-and-coming French directors. Tucson film aficionados should get excited. Originating in 1998,“Les Lutins du courtmétrage”has made every effort to tirelessly promote the exhibition of French short films everywhere. By all accounts, they have been successful.“Les Lutins” has featured work by many famous actors and directors including Ludivine Sagnier and Jérémie Rénier. The Loft is only its most recent venue, and the show looks poised to succeed with the strong lineup of shorts being featured this year. With more than 2,000 French film professionals involved in the selection process, one can assume that “Les Lutins” will only feature the best short films released this past year. From director Tony Zoreil’s “Tony Zear,” a 20-minute comedy about a Parisian pianist to director Lorenzo Recio’s “Lisa,” a heavy-hearted drama about a little girl and her relationship with her abusive father, there is something for everyone. The French aren’t usually known for subtlety, ensuring that their films are provocative. Anyone who has seen“Amélie”can attest to this, and this year’s“Les Lutins”festival holds a unique promise for any fan of good cinema and solid entertainment choices. All films will have English subtitles. Tickets will follow regular Loft prices, and will also be offered at $4.75 for Loft Cinema or Alliance Française members.
Photo courtesy of formatcourt.com
IF YOU GO
Les Lutins du court-métrage 2009 The Loft Cinema
3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Ticket $4.75 - $8.75 795-0844
arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, february 17, 2010 •
Best free games on the Net
previews
B3
By Joe Dusbabek Arizona Daily Wildcat
As college students, not all of us can afford to spend our hard-earned money on $60 video games. When you can barely afford groceries but are still in desperate need of solid entertainment, look no further than WildLife. Here’s a guide to the best free games online.
Mastermind: World Conqueror (theswain.com) “Mastermind: World Conqueror” is a real-time strategy game with a unique twist. You play as the world’s most devious supervillain, and go about conquering the world in whatever way you see fit. Between robbing banks for cash and hiring your very own femme fatales, there’s something for everyone here. Highlight of the game: buying a moon base.
Fancy Pants Adventure (fancypantsadventures.com) This quick adventure series by Borne Games ranks among the biggest crowdpleasers on the Internet. You control a stick figure that has two talents: He runs fast and wears fancy pants. This platformer is sure to give you at least a good half hour of fun during your boring general education class.
Pillage the Village (armorgames.com) Most people enjoy games that allow you to play God. This freeware game gives you a hand controlled by your mouse and it’s up to you to use it for destroying lives. XGen Studios has made a truly remarkable challenge as the villagers will consistently get smarter and become more difficult to disperse.
Plants vs. Zombies (popcap.com) Just when everyone was getting sick of tower defense games, this adorable freeware title pops up. You defend your house from zombies by quickly building plant defenses such as turrets, cherry bombs and other assorted goodies. As the levels increase, so does the challenge. Bonus: You can download it on your iPhone and take it with you wherever you go.
Flow (intihuatani.usc.edu/cloud/flowing) This game began as a USC student’s thesis project and has exploded in popularity. You control a tiny organism that evolves based on the choices you make. Control it with your pointer, and see what happens. Amazing for such a simple game. You could download it on the Playstation 3, of course, but why not experience it for free? If you’re looking for good timewasters, these five gems are in a league of their own. Sack up and forget FarmVille. Better entertainment is out there.
Vagina: Not just another ‘dirty word’ By Emily Moore Arizona Daily Wildcat You hear someone scream “vagina!” What do you do? Some get bug-eyed at the mention of this taboo word, while others turn away and giggle. Some continue walking, pretending they didn’t even hear it. Embarrassed, ashamed and uncomfortable, seldom do people stop to see what’s really going on at this table on the UA Mall. The women typically yelling the word are the Vagina Warriors, a UA club, and they’re more than a group of feminists. Their quest is to raise money to stop violence against women and girls. The Warriors have been camping out on the Mall every weekday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sell t-shirts, tattoos, vagina pillows, their novelty chocolate vaginas and tickets to Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.” Members of the club and outsiders alike — undergraduates, graduates, alumni and faculty — are teaming up to put on the show. The close-knit group of women has been meeting weekly in preparation for the Feb. 18 - 20 shows in Social Sciences building, room 100. Vagina Warriors and the UA are combining efforts to present the awardwinning benefit production, yet it isn’t your typical play. Many people know very little about the production and what it stands for.
Time travel promises roaring results “(The dinosaurs) do everything you would expect a real dinosaur to do,”Rimmer said.“They roar and snarl and have “After 65 million years … they’re back!” fluid movements.” During the course of the paleontoloSuch is the slogan of arena spectacular gist-led trip through key periods in dino“Walking With Dinosaurs.” saur history, the animals can be observed The dinosaurs, which will make eight in a myriad of likely situations. appearances at the Tucson Convention “You’ll see them protecting their young Center starting today and ending Sunday, were originally built to mimic the viewing and fighting,”Rimmer said.“All of the dinosaurs have a different personality experience of the BBC’s animated faux which we don’t think about.” documentary but on a larger scale. But what they all share is enormous The point of the documentary, said show spokesperson Mattew Rimmer, was scale. The baby Tyrannosaurus rex, which appeared in Main Gate Square on Saturto make the audience believe it was real. day, is a six-month-old monster at seven The full-scale theatrical performance feet tall and 14 feet long. And that’s the maintains that lofty goal. littlest one. Made mostly of metal armature and The biggest, achydraulics with a skin cording to Rimmer, of stretched and treated Walking With Dinosaurs is the mama Brachiolatex-covered spandex, Tucson Convention Center saurus. She’s 36 feet the dinosaurs took six Feb. 17-19: 7:30 p.m. tall and 56 feet from years and $20 million Feb. 20: 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7:30 p.m. nose to tail. to create. There are currently The dinosaurs are Feb. 21: 1 p.m., 5 p.m. 17 such creatures tourcontrolled differently $19.50 - $57.50 ing the U.S. together based on their size. dinosaurlive.com and present in Tucson. Aside the babies, most “There’s really require three operators: nothing like it in terms of scale,” One inside, one remote to control eye Rimmer said. To put it in perspective, he movement, sounds and one“voodoo mentioned transportation, saying that puppeteer”who, according to associate the show employs 25 full-sized semis, tour manager Nellie Beavers,“runs a whereas a typical rock ‘n’ roll tour would rig that is set up in the audience.”The use 12 to 15. voodoo puppeteer moves a miniature For those with small children or dinosaur spine and the big version moves nervous dispositions, Beavers offered along with it. reassurance.“It’s not scary so much as “Walking With Dinosaurs”selected it is loud,” she said. the best puppeteers in the field drawing, “It’s a very up-close look,”Rimmer according to Beavers, from those with experience ranging from Sesame Street to added.“You get to feel what it’s like to be in the presence of a dinosaur. The Muppets to movies. “And this,” he said,“is not a purple The project was expensive and labordinosaur.” intensive but it all paid off.
By Christy Delehanty Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tim Glass/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Vagina Warriors rehearse “The Vagina Monologues” in room 100 of the Social Sciences building on Friday.
“The play uses different stories from it can mean bad things. But I think different women around the world,” over the past few years as the V-day said Caroline Duff, a communication movement has grown, it’s really started senior and an emcee in the play.“It to encompass this whole ideology of shows how we can all relate to them.” awareness, of celebration of vaginas Kaylene Torregrossa, a theatre arts and the necessity to stop violence and gender and women’s studies against women,”Torregrossa said.“It’s senior, is the an abstract thing now, president of Vagina it’s not just anatomy.” “The Vagina Monologues” Eve Ensler wrote Warriors and this year’s director the show after Shows Thursday to Saturday of“The Vagina interviewing 200 Social Sciences building room 100 Monologues.”She women about their Doors open at 7 p.m., has been affiliated vaginas. She wanted Show starts at 7:30 p.m. with the production to tell their stories. $10 in advance, $12 at the door since 2006. Each circumstance Torregrossa said described in Guests are encouraged to arrive early the show has really each monologue to view the educational displays and given her more somehow relates booths in the lobby. direction in life. back to the vagina “It’s really gotten — through sex, me passionate and more aware of love, rape, menstruation, mutilation, what’s around me and what anyone masturbation, birth, orgasm and can do no matter where they live, or if other circumstances. they’re in a privileged position or not, The subject matter and use of to help others and help themselves,” “vagina”remain the center of Torregrossa said. controversy. When Torregrossa sent an “The Vagina Monologues” e-mail out to local feminists asking for exemplifies women learning to love them to nominate those they felt were themselves. The word“vagina”is worthy for the Vagina Warrior awards, typically considered a dirty word, and one of the recipients replied to her this play aims to change this negative claiming that the e-mail was“vulgar.” light shed on women’s anatomy. “While ‘vagina’ may be Female empowerment and embodying uncomfortable to read, say or hear, I your individuality are recurring themes personally believe that it is important in the Monologues. to break the silence surrounding the “(Vagina) can mean good things, word in order to stop perpetuating
issues of ignorance and shame surrounding women’s bodies,” Torregrossa replied to the e-mail. “We get people like that every year,” she said. The play may be an icebreaker and viewers may feel uncomfortable at times, but they are all true stories meant to be shared across the world while saving women’s lives. “Come to the show even if you’re skeptical or even if it makes you uncomfortable or worried, because sometimes that’s the best experience. And I think you’ll find yourself transformed by the end of the night,” Torregrossa said. This year’s process has been filmed and made into a documentary set to air before each performance. Along with each performance, the Vagina Warrior award will also be presented to an outstanding local feminist who has been helping women in the community. All proceeds of the show will go to the OASIS Center for Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence and the V-Day Spotlight Cause: The Women and Girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo. V-Day is an international movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of“The Vagina Monologues.”The movement has contributed over $70 million toward ending female–related violence.
Selling out for a cause:
The Take Action Tour By Emily Moore Arizona Daily Wildcat Four bands. One night. Three charities. Their mission: to save lives. We the Kings, Mayday Parade, A Rocket to the Moon and There for Tomorrow will perform at The Rock Friday night for the Sub City Take Action Tour. The Take Action Tour is a nationwide effort that raises money and awareness for youth involvement in charitable causes. This is the tour’s ninth year. The tour is working with the charities Sub City, DoSomething.org and Driving For Donors — the tour’s spotlighted charity — to save lives. Fourteen-year-old Patrick Pedraja created Driving For Donors after he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was only 10 years old. In 2007, he drove around the country with his family on a mission to sign people up for the National Marrow Registry so those in need could easily find a match for a bone marrow transplant. Since the start of the nonprofit, there have been more than 22,000 donors associated with the registry and more than 24 lives have been saved due to the registry’s matches. Out of the cost for each ticket, 10 percent is donated to Driving For Donors. Each person who attends the concert becomes a part of the cause, but the attendees aren’t the only ones doing their part. The tour has a series of events that allow the bands to participate in the communities they travel through to take action. The participating bands are also visiting children’s hospitals
Photo courtesty of S Curve Records
to meet patients and to give intimate acoustic performances. “I know I’ve been saying this since the start of the tour, but if we can save one life, this whole tour will be more than worth it,” said Travis Clark, frontman of We the Kings. We The Kings and Mayday Parade will make a special signing appearance at the Park Place Mall’s Hot Topic at 4 p.m. Friday. The event is open to HT+1 members only after purchasing a CD or shirt from either band, which gets members a wristband that guarantees a meeting with the bands.
The Rock
136 N. Park Ave. Friday, doors at 6:30 p.m. all ages, $16
HOW YOU CAN HELP 1) Buy a ticket and go to the show. How often can you say you helped save lives at a rock concert? 2) Buy the Take Action Volume 9 Charity Compilation at takeactiontour.com. It costs $6 or $12 if you also want a shirt. 3) Sign up for the National Marrow Registry at the concert. It’s free and all you have to do is fill out some paperwork and swab your cheek. For more info, visit BeTheMatch.org. 4) Text “Action” to 85944 to donate $5.
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• wednesday, february 17, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, february 17, 2010 •
I
If I can make it there: An unlikely journey to New York City
t is not unusual for a major movie made that horror movie ‌ what was it studio to host an extravagant called, with that cute Irish actress?â€? He marketing event for an upcoming meant Jennifer Connelly in “Dark Water.â€? film. Mention the word “junketâ€? The ride into Manhattan was a slidearound a veteran show of New York entertainment archetypes. I saw reporter and you disgruntled cabbies could fill a producer’s honking at jaywalkpocketbook with ers wrapped in trench itemized lists of coats. A squadron of freebies, retainers and pigeons roosted on the comped expenses. bronze scalp of SimĂłn Less often, though, Bolivar at Central Park is such extravagance and Sixth Avenue while offered to college men squawked in the journalists, and so I streets about hot dogs. Brandon Specktor reacted with shock Staggered towers of Assistant arts editor and suspicion when brick and glass fragParamount Pictures offered to send me mented the gray sky. All the myths I had to a press event in New York City for heard about this boisterous, busy city were Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island.â€? validated. I don’t consider myself a veteran reporter. I’m hardly a grunt. I have, however, been raised on Scorsese since I was old enough to say “fuhgeddaboudit.â€? I required little deliberation The Le Parker Meridien Hotel would when Paramount announced that not emasculate the tallest building in Tucson, only would I be invited to an advance standing 20 stories higher than our screening of the new film, but also to UniSource Energy Tower. On 57th Street, a press conference the following day though, it was just another skyscraper. Roy featuring stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben dropped me at a looming gothic entryway Kingsley and Marty Scorsese himself . where bundled travelers navigated a To top things off, the studio would revolving doorway one by one. Long, cover airfare, lodging at the Le Parker black coats peopled the cavernous marble Meridien hotel off of Sixth Avenue, and lobby. A sculpture that looked like leftover any food and drink expenses incurred bits of plumbing hung over the reception there. Badda bing, badda boom. desk where women with tight hair and Having neither been to New York men with elusive accents scanned credit City nor been in the same room as cards in quick, practiced gestures. Press Martin Scorsese, I was no less surprised conference check-in occurred outside the than DeNiro in the opening scene of third floor hospitality suite, where I was “Casino.â€? I suddenly found myself with given a two-day schedule and a 60-page less than a week to prepare for a oncestack of press notes. in-a-lifetime, 48-hour journey to New My room was on the 10th floor. In the York — Scorsese’s cradle — culminatelevator, an embedded TV screen played old ing in a press conference with Marty episodes of“Tom and Jerryâ€?,“Supermanâ€? himself. and Foghorn Leghorn. The rumors of New My itinerary was tight. One night in York impatience continued to prove true. New York — what’s an Empire State Everything about the hotel room virgin to do? I had little time to plan. I screamed modernity. Brushed metal lamps bought a copy of Dennis Lehane’s novel, and door handles sprouted from sleek on which “Shutter Islandâ€? was based. I wood panels of blond, cedar and cherry compulsively checked the weather on on every surface. A 32-inch television sat the East Coast. in a semicircular, At night the floor-to-ceiling highs were console that in the 20s. could be rotated A lifetime in in any direction Tucson did not should the prepare me for discerning guest cold of that wish to watch magnitude, ESPN from the so I bought bathroom. On a a new coat, large countertop new scarf, that ran the even gloves. breadth of the I marked wall-to-wall my hotel on windows sat a Google Earth black-and-white and calculated tome called theoretical “Full of Grace: A excursions to Journey Through Times Square, the History of Broadway and Childhood.â€? the Empire I thumbed State Building. through it, and I plumbed wasn’t surprised my movie to find it mainly Photo courtesy of Brandon Specktor collection for The Parker Club, in its triple-decker glory, is the perfect $50 a photographic Scorsese films. meal for one. The complimentary flower is provided for those collection of who have forgotten the taste of oxygen. The night multi-cultural before, I didn’t youths in the sleep. nude. The room would have run me around $600 for the night if not for Paramount. I pay less in monthly rent. The windows looked directly across a narrow alleyway and into the back of a chipped, archaic-looking Brownstone that seemed ripped from the cover of Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti. Convex The Tucson International Airport was windows lined its façade, affording me the quiet, populated by solitarily travelers in perfect view of a gray-haired woman in her the early morning darkness. Most of them disheveled office. To the left was another wore sweatpants. I subsisted on no sleep, a brownstone — windowless and foreboddouble shot of espresso and pure anticipaing — and to the right, the gold-rimmed tion. I had no idea what to expect — from peak of an Art Deco tower was barely the city, from the movie, from Marty. Too many unknowns to even process this early. visible over a row of portly rooftop silos. It was hardly the picture of Manhattan I had I counted tiles on the ceiling instead. It always imagined, but in a way this sliver rained as I took off. of spectacle was more romantic than a sweeping skyline. I had made it to the city, but it remained an abstract notion.
3:00 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Brandon Specktor
The glowing steeple of the Crown Tower on West 57th Street is one of the many buildings in midtown Manhattan that could swallow downtown Tucson.
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The Denver Airport was an endless procession of coffee stands and moving walkways. Snow dusted the tarmac, but no one seemed impressed. I’d conquered the first 100 pages of Lehane’s novel, engrossed in the choppy columns of B-movie dialogue. I felt like being rude to everyone around me. I wondered, is that a New York thing?
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As the plane descended into La Guardia I could see Liberty Island jutting out of the bay. From here, she’s small as anyone of us, but I still crane my neck away from my seat in giddy curiosity. The guy sitting by the window thinks I’m an idiot. I left the airport with a genial Ecuadorian cabbie named Roy who had spent his life in the Bronx. It happened that Roy was another movie buff, and the mention of Scorsese opened a floodgate of film trivia and history. Passing from Queens into Manhattan, Roy gave me a narrated tour of the boroughs. He gestured toward the dusty red brick buildings and cramped courtyards, saying,“That’s where they shot Spider-Man.� On the Queensborough Bridge he pointed to Roosevelt Island, strung along Manhattan by hovering cables.“That’s where they
4:00 p.m.
Orientation was an hour off, so I wandered. Through a row of red velvet curtains in the hotel lobby was the throbbing neon likeness of a hamburger. Despite the overwhelmingly highbrow ambience of the Meridien, it housed one of the seediest burger joints in existence, simply called Burger Joint. Wooden planks lining the walls and floors were sweating grease and tattooed with the sharpied signatures of patrons past, including the proclamation “Ashton Kutcher Rules� spread triumphantly across the back wall. Cardboard signs bordered the kitchen stall, announcing in cartoony magic marker,“We don’t spit on your food, so please don’t write on our walls.� Irony was as pungent as the sizzling meat. A small cheeseburger and soda cost $10 — cash only — and despite its size (McDonald’s small) it burst with greasy succulence. I checked under the bun for loogies. I spent my remaining time walking two blocks to Central Park’s southern border. Rarely does a Tucsonan have occasion to wear a sport coat and matching scarf, so I milked the moment. The temperature was in the 50s, and snow from earlier that morning was clumped in patches along the grass. I stopped
for horse-drawn carriages and impromptu snowball battles while the white noise of honking horns and 8 million cell phone conversations buzzed from every corner.
5:15 p.m.
Paramount Studios invited somewhere between 15 and 20 college journalists to attend the conference, and now they all convened in the Meridien hospitality suite. The studio had their markets covered well. I chatted with students from Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis and Atlanta. One reporter had been flown in from Canada. Students traded war stories about the various celebrities they’d interviewed while awkwardly rejecting the plate of microwaved hors d’oeuvres circulating every five minutes via a thick-cheeked man in a pressed black suit. Glass bottles of Coke, Sprite and Perrier sat next to buckets of ice on a central table. We were all out of our element.
6:00 p.m.
We were corralled onto a sleek-looking bus waiting across from the hotel, and shuttled to the AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Broadway for the screening of“Shutter Island.�We docked across from the new Apple retail outlet which was solid glass and loaded with customers despite the hour. We rode a network of escalators up the theater’s third floor. Each screen was named after a classic film palace and surrounded by elaborate murals and plaster tiki statues. Gargantuan banners depicting Leonardo DiCaprio’s face ushered us into the“Paradise� theater, where complimentary popcorn and beverages were available at the door. I was surprised to see the theater almost entirely full. Who else had been invited, and had they come as far as me? Not a second after 6:30, the lights went down, and the projector clicked on.
8:45 p.m.
The bus was brimming with talk about the movie the entire ride back, which continued well into the night. The studio’s itinerary concluded here, leaving us to our own devices until the press conference the following morning. I planned to meet four fellow reporters in the lobby an hour later, giving me time to experiment with room service. The hotel’s specialty club sandwich ran $22 on paper, but when it arrived 20 minutes later a delivery charge, mandatory 16 percent gratuity and extra tip (I was generous — it wasn’t my money, after all) compounded to $50. The sandwich was buried under a mound of fries the size of a Red Cross relief package, and accompanied by economy-sized glass condiment jars, sterling silver utensils and a single flower in a plastic vase. I swiveled the TV toward the desk where I ate while watching“30 Rock,� excited to see it in person soon enough.
9:30 p.m.
I joined my fellow reporters in the lobby. We decided to do the touristy thing with our one night in the city and walk the few blocks to Times Square. By now the temperature had dropped to the 20s and periodic gusts chilled my ears. Times Square was no different than its thousands of media portrayals, with the exception of brightness. The sum total of the flashing neon pouring over every building seemed as if Las Vegas had been concentrated into one city block, and I wondered how anyone could possibly drive on this street without it inducing epilepsy. Billboards the size of Mt. Lemmon advertised “Wicked,� Kanye West and Kentucky Fried Chicken. We continued our circuitous walk around midtown, stopping to flash photos of Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall and Rockefeller Plaza. As we walked back to the hotel, red neon letters alerted us that J.D. Salinger had died at the age of 91. Hearing the news in the center of Holden Caulfield’s metropolis, I started looking for gasoline rainbows and felt compelled to call the next person I saw a no-good, god-damned phony. That night, I slept like a corpse.
Medavoy, who claimed to have worked on 314 films, sat with his arms crossed in authoritative aplomb as he spoke of the ins and outs of the studio system. The much younger Fischer was a more subdued presence, speaking infrequently but reverently of the actors and Marty Scorsese. Kalogridis spoke with excitement about the quality of Lehane’s work and her difficulty in externalizing the moving prose of the novel, to which Lehane said,“My only criticism was that it was too faithful.â€? After 30 minutes, the panelists thanked us and exited, leaving us to wait for the anticipated second round. There was a resurgence of energy in the room as the promise of Marty, Benny and Leo loomed. The 20-minute lull lasted an eternity as I feverishly looked through my notes and prepared questions. Given the number of reporters all around me, the odds of asking a question seemed increasingly unlikely, but it didn’t matter. In the interlude, I listened to the reporters around me. Among the college students from the day before were heavyhitters from the Huffington Post, Showbiz CafĂŠ Media and a battery of magazines I’d never even heard of. Finally, a moderator announced, “They’ll be here in a minute.â€? And then there they were. Scorsese came first, his shock of white hair barely visible over the seated reporters at the back of the room. He walked down the aisle, inches from me. He wore a black suit and tie over a white striped shirt and thick tortoise shell glasses below erratic caterpillar eyebrows. When he sat and faced the eager crowd, he said with amusement to no one in particular, “press conference, wow,â€?as if it was the first he had ever been to. Something about the childlike aside bloomed with sincerity. Marty sat at the center. To his right was Sir Ben Kingsley, gaunt and reflective in a black blazer over a maroon sweater. A faint soul patch, slightly off-center, adorned his chin and complemented the architecture of his sleek head. To Scorsese’s left was Leonardo DiCaprio, wearing a tight blue sweater that made his skin seem unusually tan in the gray city. His hair was gelled and his mustache trimmed meticulously, contrasting with the enormous close-up of his tormented face on the movie poster behind him. A microphone began to move around the room slowly. Marty’s responses were rambling and enthusiastic, loaded with references to classic films and filmmakers like Mario Bava, Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur. His face lit up whenever he spoke their names, as if incanting something holy. Every response made it obvious: Marty loves film, and loves his life as a filmmaker. Leonardo also did his fair share of speaking, but unlike Marty, he spoke with a germ of self-consciousness. He often cast his eyes
down at the table, and more than once rested his open palm under his throat as if he was ready to choke himself at one false utterance. His responses were humble, and when asked about where he found his clarity in what might be his most impressive role ever, he started,“The clarity and — and thank you if you thought it was a good performance — the clarity comes from research.�Such a celebrated, formidable screen personality seemed unlikely from the timid man at the table. Sir Kingsley, however, lived up to his classically trained reputation with Shakespearean eloquence. Though he had the least amount of speaking time, what responses he did give were prosaic and metered, as if he was reciting them from a book of sonnets. Speaking on the film, he said,“It is, in a sense a love story, and Marty directs like a lover. Everything is held together by affection; affection for his craft, affection for his actors, affection for his crew, affection for the material, and affection for the great journey of cinema in our lives.�Bravissimo, Benny. Faced with two legendary thespians and the cinematic mind behind the films I was raised on, the moment was surreal. I felt as if I watched the conference from outside my own body, and as soon as it had begun it seemed the studio moderator announced that time was up. The microphone never got to me. As everyone shuffled out of the room, the studio had one last parting gift in the form of the trade edition of Lehane’s novel. I stuffed it in my backpack next to the other one.
Visit dailywildcat.com for audio interview clips with Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Dennis Lehane and Laeta Kalogridis.
2:00 p.m.
I was silent and reflective all the way to Newark. Bumper-to-bumper traffic outside the Lincoln Tunnel gave me one last opportunity to experience the city. My time was up, and it had barely begun. Spitting across the New Jersey Turnpike, I got one last look at Liberty Island.
SATURDAY, JAN. 30
1:00 a.m. mst
The Tucson International Airport is quiet, but my head is throbbing. There is much to think about. Sleep, most of all. I’ve slept eight of the past 48 hours. I’ve eaten only hasty airport food and fastidious gourmet sandwiches. I was just there, but NewYork City is already a distant dream. It is still unclear what I can possibly offer a studio that spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $2000 to get me to one screening and one hour-long chat with film legends. When I finally get home, thinking of neon hamburgers, of Martin Scorsese’s eyebrows, of talky cabbies and timid movie stars, I know I won’t soon fuhgeddaboudit.
TOP: Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese on the set of the thriller ‘Shutter Island.’
Photos courtesy of Andrew Cooper for Paramount Pictures
BOTTOM: (Left to right) Ben Kingsley, Leonardo DiCaprio, director Martin Scorsese and Mark Ruffalo on the set of ‘Shutter Island.’
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The conference room on the third floor of the hotel was filled with about 50 journalists in folding chairs before a raised podium, where the panelists sat at a long table. An array of microphones and tape recorders filled the table, and three huge“Shutter Island� posters stood on easels behind the panel. Excitement welled inside of me as I took a seat in the second row, 10 feet from the panel. The press conference was split into two portions, the first of which featured“Shutter Island�producers Mike Medavoy and Brad Fischer, screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis and Lehane. During this early portion, Lehane stole the show. He was humble but selfassured, and responded to the crowd with a candid humor that got the whole room laughing. When asked about whether or not he was pleased with what the studio had done with his work, Lehane responded that picky writers who walk away from a studio and complain about the interpretation are akin to“a guy walking out of a whorehouse and complaining he doesn’t feel loved.�
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B6
• wednesday, february 17, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
Photo courtesy of moviemorlocks.com
‘35 Shots’ subtle By Marisa D. Fisher Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Claire Denis 35 Shots of Rum Cinema Guild Released Feb 18, 2009
a car, a taxi or a bar. In the bars, Lionel repeatedly declines to take part in the drinking challenge of consuming 35 shots of rum in one sitting. The contest is one of his own invention, and he refuses to partake until the end of the film. Due to an event that is only implied and never confirmed, he finally succumbs and downs the 35 shots. The audience is never enlightened as to whether he completes the task out of celebration or in mourning. If you are an avid purveyor of foreign films, you will know what to expect from this film. You will appreciate the subtleties, the subtext and the tension as you watch people interact in this French sliceof-life film. The critics are raving about it. Even Roger Ebert calls the film “wise.” However, if you would rather not read subtitles for dialogue, or prefer explosions or identifiable plotlines, you may very well need a few shots yourself to enjoy “35 Shot of Rum.” Today and Thursday are the last days of screenings at The Loft Cinema. Call 795-7777 or visit www.loftcinema.com for showtimes.
‘Massive’ disappointment By Zachary Smith Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Downing 35 shots of rum is an impressive-sounding feat. The film of the same name, directed by Claire Denis, certainly leaves an impression. However, it’s a film that will be received with varying success among the critics and cynics. “35 Shots of Rum”defies the standard plot summary; there is no way to explain exactly what happens in the movie. Rather, Denis focuses on the development of her characters throughout the film. The audience is introduced to four characters, who will remain relevant for the extent of the film. The rest of the cast migrates in and out of their lives, essentially nameless, and forming something resembling a backdrop or setting than other active participants in the story. Story is a relative term here. The four central characters include Lionel, a middleaged French train engineer and his daughter Josephine, a university student. The bond between Lionel and Josephine is more indicative
of a partnership than a fatherdaughter relationship. And they are in fact partners, in a sense. Their daily routine suggests that the roommate arrangement has been commonplace for some time. Gabrielle, a taxi driver, and Noe, a somewhat adventurous young man with indeterminate future plans, also live in Lionel and Josephine’s building. It is apparent that the four have been intertwined in each other’s lives for years, as they all move freely between the others’ homes. Gabrielle is clearly in love with the oblivious Lionel, and Jo and Noe seem unsure of what to make of the other. Most of the film revolves around the growth and transformation within these tenuous relationships. The film often takes place in close quarters: in the apartments,
Credit three straight groundbreaking albums for setting the bar too high. Heligoland had to break new ground just to come close to Massive Attack’s previous work. Unfortunately, while it is a worthwhile listen, it lacks the gut-punching urgency of the band’s first three albums. And for the premier triphop group of the past two decades, Heligoland, although a better-than-average album, is a disappointment. Massive Attack has not lost their touch for creating sinister, industrial trip-hop; they just haven’t updated it since 1998’s Mezzanine. Listening to Heligoland, déjà entendu occurs all too frequently. The ethereal, Middle Eastern “Psyche” is one harpsichord away from being another “Teardrop,” and the synthetic drone of drum and keys on “Splitting the Atom” hearkens back to the violent angst of the far
superior “Black Milk.” More infuriating is the amount of empty sound on Heligoland. Massive Attack still knows how to hit spectacular heights, but it takes too long for them to get there. The final minutes of “Babel” and “Paradise Circus” reflect a group with supreme understanding of layered music. The emotionally resonant combination of piano, synthesizer and pulsating handclaps is as close as an electronic group can get to the sounds of a symphony. Too bad the previous three-and-ahalf minutes of the songs are diluted with uninspired vocals and simplistic structure. Past all of the underperforming on Heligoland, there remain a few great songs that most bands would kill to have in their catalog.“Rush Minute” is the album’s most
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immediate song. The throbbing blows of the synthesized keys juxtapose the elegant piano notes to bring together the classical and the futuristic. The dense orchestrations of“Girl I Love You” add to staple guest vocalist Horace Andy’s haunting wails, with thick keystrokes over dynamic bell chimes. Heligoland shines when Massive Attack let their freak flag fly. Opener “Pray For Rain” captures a breezy pop sensibility despite its nearly seven minute long combination of grimy junglebeat and jazz interludes.“Flat of the Blade” is a spacey, unpredictable hymn with mechanical utterances and an unending sense of defiant experimentation. Each part of the song evokes moments of chaos as well as systematic order. It’s a song that is at once robotic and organic. The tragedy of Heligoland is that it is not a bad album. There’s just nothing memorable about it. It shows that even a great band cannot overcome complacency.
An incomplete ‘Stimulus’
By Zachary Smith Arizona Daily Wildcat
Since last March, Freeway has been released by Def Jam, picked up by Rhymesayers, signed with Cash Money Records and started his own label. Working exclusively with producer Jake One (G-Unit, Rhymesayers), Freeway tries his hardest to please everyone associated with his career. The result is a valiant, but clearly compromised, concept album that never achieves the greatness it promises. Ironically, it’s called The Stimulus Package. The album’s largest flaw is that it could have a distinct voice, yet it refuses to choose one. You would think that having only one producer would allow for a focused sound, but Jake One’s beats contribute an erratic mood to the proceedings. “Stimulus Intro”has a Superfly-esque sound, with gorgeous piano and soulful horns — the perfect throwback for the modern economic crisis.Yet, this
Stimulus Package features eight guest vocalists, with questionable results. Bun B is dependably great on“Sho’ Nuff” — seriously, he is the hardest working guest rapper — and Young Chris improves the already exciting“Microphone Killa.”The other guests do not fare as well. Raekwon sounds completely spent from his past year of work on“One Thing” and Birdman shamelessly apes Weezy on“Follow My Moves.” Despite the inconsistencies, Stimulus Package remains the year’s first worthwhile rap album. It’s worth a listen alone for “Stimulus Outro,”a five-minute30-second opus to Freeway’s contemporaries and the streets he left behind. The beat is dynamic, Freeway’s flow is honest and painfully earnest — something missing from the rap community — and the song captures the fading glory of the rap star. Freeway may be a great rapper one day. But right Freeway & Jake One now, he sounds more like an The Stimulus Package amalgamation of everyone Rhymesayers he works for, so we don’t get the full package. Released Feb. 15, 2010
reference is all for naught, as the traditional blaxploitation sound does not return until the 13th track,“Money.”Instead, the duo follows the superb intro track with a hard Philly joint,“Throw Your Hands Up.”The track has bite, but Stimulus Package immediately sounds more like a mixtape than an album. Freeway’s delivery has improved to the point where he no longer sounds like Ghostface Killah. He’s raspier without losing his trademark higher pitch. This maturation allows for dynamic vocals to elevate the already complex flow of cuts like “Never Gonna Change.” His lyrics require more work, as“Freekin The Beat”features strange, bromantic lyrics about his respect for Jake One:“It don’t get no better than you, my girl jealous of you.”
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arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, february 17, 2010 •
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B8
• wednesday, february 17, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
SILVERMAN
THE TV NUT
continued from page B1
with Katie Gault
Comedian aims to put people at ease
‘The Life and Times of Tim’ funny, crude HBO will kick off the second season of “The Life and Times of Tim,” an animated comedy stocked sky high with dry, deadpan humor and simple graphics, on Friday. Each half-hour episode consists of two 15-minute segments. In the season premiere, the first segment,“Tim’s Beard,” finds Tim battling unexpected workplace consequences after growing a post-breakup beard. In the second segment,“Unjustly Neglected Drama,”Tim has to sit through the world’s most awful play in order to help his friend Stu score some pot. I was surprised to hear that this show existed, let alone in its second season. But overall, the show has a lot of great humor, which is enhanced by what I like to refer to as“charmingly simple” animation. By that, I mean it looks like the producers may have found the doodles from my third grade homework assignments and made them into a television show. But that’s what I like about it. I like watching an animation and thinking,“I could draw that.” And the simplicity of the animation lends itself to the dialogue-based humor on which the show thrives. But I can also see why this show hasn’t picked up much popularity. I can’t seem to figure out why this show is on HBO. When I watch HBO, I want to see something that I can’t see on network television.“South Park” is a great example. I’d be curious to see what a show like “South Park” would do with that kind of freedom from censorship. Another problem with “The Life
“The Sarah Silverman Program”airs Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. on Comedy Central.
Recommended for those who enjoy: “South Park” and UATV’s “Johnsonerson”
Photo courtesy of tvcasualties.com
and Times of Tim” is that it takes deadpan to an extreme level. Every character may as well be voiced by the same person. The tone and speed in which each character speaks is exactly the same, making it difficult to stay attentive at times. In many ways, the show’s positives are also its negatives, depending on your perspective. So I recommend you tune into the season premiere of “The Life and Times of Tim”just to give it a go. If you hate the first 15 minutes, the show’s not for you. If you love the first 15 minutes, you’ll be delightfully surprised by what will someday be a cult classic. “The Life and Times of Tim”airs on HBO, Feb. 19, 10:30 p.m. after the series premiere of the new animated series, “The Ricky Gervais Show.”
I hate this Olympics hiatus!
I don’t get the Winter Olympics. It’s 74 degrees in Tucson right now. I’m not about to watch a bunch of aerodynamic athletes slide down hills of ice and snow. It’s just not for me. It seems, though, that I can’t get away. Many shows have been put on hiatus due to the Olympics, and now the only other viewing options are“Keeping Up With the Kardashians”and re-runs of“Full House.”If you’re a television obsessive like me, you’re also feeling the pain. But have no fear, the TV Nut is here. I’ve compiled a list of must-see shows that are either online or in stores that will be sure to quench your thirst during the next month.
Oldies but goodies
Arrested Development — If you didn’t watch this show when it aired on Fox, you are not alone. In fact, that’s the reason it was cancelled. No one watched it. But much like Vincent van Gogh, the show’s popularity skyrocketed after its death. Damn you, Fox, for cancelling this gem, but thank you for putting the entire series on hulu.com, as well as on DVD. Pushing Daisies – Another show that experienced an early demise,“Pushing Daisies”was an innovative and visually beautiful series about Ned, who had the ability to bring the dead back to life with the touch of a finger, but a second touch reverses the spell. When Ned brings his childhood love back to life, they fall hard for one another. The catch is he can never touch her again or she’ll die. The show was not given enough time to end properly before its cancellation, but it’s still a must see for anyone who appreciates
good storytelling. The series is available on DVD.
Much-anticipated returns
Glee (Fox) – When I first saw the promos for“Glee”a year ago, I thought what the majority of you are probably thinking,“Oh great.‘High School Musical’broken up into weekly one-hour segments. Boo.”But, during a day of extreme homework procrastination, I watched the first episode online. Then, I watched the second episode. Then the third. Several hours and two incomplete essays later, I was caught up with the series. The show doesn’t even have a hint of Zac Efron. It is ridiculous and politically incorrect. It contains at least one incredibly offensive comment in each episode. I love it. The show returns April 13. The first half of the first season is available on DVD, and a few episodes are available on hulu.com. True Blood (HBO) – Don’t judge the vampires. If you’ve seen the first episode of“True Blood”and hated it, keep reading. This is the kind of show that takes a few episodes to find its legs. If you watched and thought the show was stupid, you’re correct. It is stupid. But that’s all right because it’s aware of its own stupidity. The show is ridiculously melodramatic and, ahem, erotic, but that’s the fun of it. Give“True Blood”another chance before its third season begins in June. The first two seasons are available on DVD. Are there other TV shows you would rather watch than the Olympics? Leave a comment on www.dailywildcat.com/wildlife, or e-mail arts@ wildcat.arizona.edu with suggestions.
Photo courtesy of Comedy Central
Some of her humor is reality-based, some is crude, but none is apologetic. “It doesn’t make sense in comedy to try not to offend anybody,”Silverman said. She mentioned, however, that she’s not a fan of fat women jokes because she feels they represent a dangerous societal tendency and because“it just burns (her) out.” That caveat aside, Silverman is a loose cannon. Sometimes even literally — she’ll be shot out of a cannon in an upcoming episode. Another of her self-professed craziest episodes of the season revolves around a Holocaust memorial contest. Indeed, Silverman took Katie Couric’s comment that her humor is demented as a compliment. Silverman’s confidence comes from a lifetime on the road and a cast composed completely of friends. “I’ve had it really good because I feel like I’ve been around a long time,”Silverman said. “It feels like I’ve climbed up the ladder inch by inch.” And to think that it all began with an
interest in musical theatre and a desire to act in“Les Miserables.” “Where I grew up it was very blonde, very Christian, very L.L.Bean,”Silverman said. She attributes her desire to put people at ease to this background. From there, her performance art of choice became comedy. Her climb took her from performing“shitty five minutes”whenever she could, to the “boot camp”of writing for“Saturday Night Live,”to the thrill of having her own program, surrounded by her sister and best friends. “I’ve just had such a fun adult life,”Silverman said. When asked how this season will differ from the previous two, Silverman said,“We just topped ourselves this year. We’re pushing buttons and shit like that, but it’s not something we set out to do.” There’s no better compliment, she said, than for everyone to be laughing, saying, “That is so fucking dumb.” “The goal,”Silverman said,“is to be aggressively stupid.”
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