art’s and entertainment weekly
BAND POWER A LOOK AT FULLERTON’S FINEST
COLD WAR KIDS why you need to know this band
the new face of Titan Radio saving indie music one tune at a time venue guide a guide to the best stages on the strip take it from the bartender tips for bands from the man behind the counter
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BUZZ 01.22.07
COLD WAR KIDS pg.5
They’re the next big thing and they are right out of Fullerton. An interview with the band, the manager and the places where they began
TITAN RADIO RESCUE pg.4
The team at the station wants to change the face of indie and make radio better. See what they’ve changed, what’s the same and why you should listen
BEHIND THE BARpg.4
What’s it like to have front row seats to the best music in town? Plush Cafe’s Nate Zablan talks about life behind the counter at a downtown music hotspot
VENUE GUIDE pg.6
What’s playing in Fullerton and where. A comprehensive handbook to the Fullerton Music scene
WHAT’S THE BUZZ p.7 Read about who wow’d us and who bored us in the lastest releases of music, movies and more
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jickie Torres EXECUTIVE EDITOR Adam Levy DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Emily Alford ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Beth Stirnaman PRODUCTION Jickie Tores ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Sarah Oak, Lesley Wu
The Daily Titan 714.278.3373 The Buzz Editorial 714.278.5426 thebuzz@dailytitan.com Editorial Fax 714.278.4473 The Buzz Advertising 714.278.3373 ads@dailytitan.com Advertising Fax 714.278.2702 The Buzz , a student publication, is a supplemental insert for the Cal State Fullerton Daily Titan. It is printed every Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU system. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. Copyright ©2006 Daily Titan
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BLVD INTERSECTION: HARBOR NEWPORT
NEWPORT BLVD
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N Best place to eat:
SutraLounge Self-proclaimed as a “tantric culinary experience,” the lounge offers a menu composed entirely of aphrodisiacs. Try the steak sutra, it’ll knock your panties off.
Best booze:
Goat Hill Tavern This quintessential dive bar is so grimy it’s cool. They boast 141 beers on tap, sawdust on the floor and free tours of the establishment’s walk-in refrigerator. The strangest beer on tap? “College students would love our Hemp ale,” said Monty. Don’t know if that’s his real name but that’s what everybody calls him. Even better!
MondayAlumni Band Meng Concert Hall 2:00p TuesdayOpen Mic TSU pub 12:00p WednesdayNorthern Becker Amphitheater 12:00p ThursdayBirdmonster TSU Pub 12:00p
The haphazard convergence of streets that make up Harbor Blvd and 19th street in Costa Mesa is the perfect mirror to it’s nonsensical sprinkling of bars, storefronts and businesses and it’s precisely what makes the intersection so damn cool. Originally part of the area’s grandiose commercial plans of the early 1990s, the crossroads nestles the western tip of Triangle Plaza. Today, the curious misnomer of a mall has seen better days. While a flagship Nike Town store once served as a gateway to commuters riding out Highway 55, the sparkly facade has since faded after the athletic apparel giant abandoned its lease three years shy of meeting its contract’s end. Why the premature evacuation? Retail analysts say the plaza never met up to traffic expectations. That combined with confusing parking and lazy California shoppers, meant that people were ultimately unwilling to
make it over a crosswalk. Nike Town aside, a retail behemoth does a mall make. For one thing, though city officials may disagree, the absence of such a commercial giant makes the mall that much more indie, which these days, everybody wants to be. For another, it makes the mom-and-pop stores and quirky shops across the street stand out that much more. There’s a rowdy sea-themed bar called The Helm. The Costume Connection has a treasure trove of costumes for sale and rent; (who needs Halloween to dress up like a pirate?). One can buy a $75,000 rug from Persian Treasure Rugs who imports their handmade inventory from Iran. American Sole only sells flip-flops. After all, like sales associate Vincent Sanchez said, “It’s Southern California, everybody wears flip-flops.” It’s precisely that “no-duh” attitude that makes the area great. Where else could you find a pawnshop, Gap, a Ticket Shack and a Mimi’s Cafe all on one corner?
Best shopping:
American Sole Come on, nothing but flip-flops!?! But what a fine selection. Rainbows, Havaianas, Olukai and all sorts of beach accessories for people who probably never go to the beach.
Mixed-use zoning According to a report from the Orange County Register, Costa Mesa City Council is considering approving the addition of condominiums to the struggling Square. If passed, developer Shaheen Sadeghi aims to make the area a live-work loft district that will co-mingle with the existing shops.
2. When did a show filled with fabulous celebrities and the best in movies, television and entertainment get so unentertaining? Golden Globes, you were a bore. 3. Yes, juggling and doing a jig during your American Idol audition is a terrible idea, but judges take it easy on the weird kids and the misfits. It’s not their fault society left them behind.
4.Linsdsay Lohan is in rehab, she’s out of rehab. She in AA, she’s out of AA. All this back and forth is giving me a hangover. 5. VH1 gave Flava Flav’s wannabe ex, New York, her own dating show? Why are we rewarding the ultimate in psycho bitch behavior? 6. Cameron Diaz, it’s very cool that you surf and all, but honey that face! It’s called SPF; it’s like Creme De La Mer for regular people. 7. I know this is California and we’re used to being all beachy and what not, but
Funky Philharmonic Saturday 8:oop
Acclaimed clarinetist David Krakauer and his Klezmer Madness! ensemble plays Orange County Philharmonic’s Renee and HenrySegerstrom Concert Hall accompanied by Montreal’s DJ SoCalled who will be adding samples and keyboard beats to the performance.
Two Samurai
Wednesday 7:30p
The Aero Theater in Santa Monica presents a double feature of the work of acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa. Yojimbo is a tale of samurai yakuza gang war and is said to be one of the filmakers best work. Also playing is the film’s sequel Sanjuro .
Mo’ Funny
The Improv in Brea hosts Damon Wayans for a fourday special engagement.
Rock On
Biggest potential change:
it’s freaking 40 degrees people, not the middle of Siberia. 8. The Trump/ O’Donnel bout continues. One person we all don’t care about versus another person we all don’t care about. 9. AMP magazine got busted for selling adspace in exchange for positive reviews. C’mon man, now no one will ever take entertainment journalism seriously. 10. A judge recently froze OJ Simpson’s assets and reprimanded his spending. WTF? We can punish him for shopping but we can’t get him in jail for murder?
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BUZZ Calendar
Thursday - Sunday
Serious rantings and pop culture complaints of the best (and worst) of the week’s events that can’t help but make you scream ... WHAT THE F! 1. Apple anounces its latest step towards world domination with the iPhone. But we hipster technophiles have to wait till June?!? WTF!?
BUZZ 01.22.07
Thursday 7:30p
Titan Radio’s Radical Recital kicks off a mini music fest at Hogue Barmichaels in Newprot Beach. Among the performers: A Kiss Could Be Deadly, Building A Better Spaceship and Neighborhood Riot.
Acme Animator Sunday 2:00p
The Orange County Museum of Art hosts a lecture on the art and animation of Chuck Close and the museum’s exhibition of his work.
Swinging Shakespeare Until Feb. 11
Fullerton’s Hunger Artists Theater presents a 1960s-era rat pack version of Shakespeare’s classic classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing.
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BUZZ 01.22.07
THE PATRON SAINTS OF INDIE RADIO by Jickie Torres Entertainment Editor jtorres@dailytitan.com
Titan Radio has one goal in mind: to expose the sonically numb masses of commercially hypnotized big-name radio listeners and shine a proverbial ray of light onto the underground, unsigned, underappreciated and dehomogenized musical geniuses that are The Independent Artist. Well, perhaps that’s a tad grandiose compared to how Francis Szyskowski, promotions director for Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Radio, would say it. To be exact, Szyskowski said the station’s goals are basically
to “expand the audience and bring together more a diverse recognition of the term ‘indie.’” That’s it, short and sweet, just like Szyskowski. What the team at Titan Radio, led by General Manager Erin Larsen, have in store for the year ahead is a little more complex and it should make for another step in all the right directions. In the past year, the station has taken on Larsen for its top position, partnered with local promotion companies to co-host more community events, increased its roster to include a slew of new DJs and even recently acquired brand new state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment that takes the station’s previously CD-and cart
run system to a completely digital era. In fact, this new hardware, besides boosting the radio program’s cred with industry standards, will also allow listeners to tap into an archive of shows. “If you missed one of your favorite shows, or the fan base wants to listen to a show again, they can log on and play it,” Larsen said. As for the indie part, the station, which broadcasts online through titanradio.org, hopes that its diverse and eclectic programming can break the stereotype of what most people consider to be indie music. “There’s independent punk, independent pop and rap,”
Szyskowski said. “It’s become more diverse in that for a while it was very focused on a lot of bands that were very much this alternative niche group. We still have those shows, but now we have metal, hip-hop, talk radio we even have Spanish rock. We know the student body doesn’t listen to one kind of music.” One of the best things about college radio and Titan Radio specifically is its lineup. The spring program schedule boasts a wide range of offerings. Continuing its run is the widely successful Cornerstore Radio and BTS, both of which showcase underground hip-hop, and The Dungeon, Szyskowski’s own all-things-metal extravaganza.
BEHIND THE BAR THE BARTENDER CAN SAVE YOUR BAND! by jickie torres Entertainment Editor jtorres@dailytitan.com
After the beer bottles have been cleared away and the amp gets turned off, Nate Zablan ends his shift as bartender at Plush Cafe and Design Lab. Another band out the door. Another night in the can. He can tell you if the act was the real thing or just plain amateur. He should know – his bar has a reputation for being one of downtown Fullerton’s premier music spots, one that takes its musical selection very seriously. Manager Gil Wormack said they strive to carve a niche into the Fullerton music scene that is aimed at mature people who appreciate the finest in good new music. “We are very particular about
photo by mark mendez/ for buzz
the events we have here,” he said. “We are looking for people that are seeking out the best in underground hip hop or house or songwriters.” The byproduct of that attitude is that Plush consistently offers some of the most original and innovative music downtown. Proof of that can be found with the recent success of one of Plush’s
old regulars, Tyrone Wells, who is currently enjoying critical acclaim for a string of album releases and national-level projects. Zablan has been working at Plush for roughly a year. However, in the brief time he has been behind the bar and behind the music, he has become somewhat of a veteran at what makes a band good, bad or
just plain obnoxious. “Usually, if I make an instant prediction on the success of a band, it’s within the first five minutes,” Zablan said. As for the criteria? Zablan says the best acts walk in with a downto-earth attitude. “They have great managers and bring in good crowds,” he said.
The station talk shows cover topics that vary between cinema and sports to pro wrestling and politics. Shawn Drew, or DJ Soulfunky to those that listen to his show Whatever Makes You Move, has been spinning records for about 20 years. The international business major has traveled across Asia and America playing venues and gathering knowhow and what he knows is that Titan Radio is good radio. “The DJs here all have really good taste in music and all around just have great shows. One of my favorite DJs here is Frankie,” Drew said. “He’s got so many great records, the SEE RADIO - PAGE 7
The worst bands often “come in without paying their dues and act like we owe them something,” he said. For bands to succeed, Zablan said it’s best to keep your head down, don’t burn any bridges and be real. “One thing for sure is it doesn’t happen over night,” he said. The best acts and the ones Zablan said he sees making it big are the ones that bring a professional attitude and music that open’s peoples minds and pushes envelopes. Zablan will tell you who fits the profile: White Noise; Dusty Rhodes And The Riverband; Micah Dahlberg; and Roman Alexander. These guitardriven bands make the grade and Zablan wishes them the best. For anyone else hoping to hit the bars and make it big, Zablan has several tips for anyone hoping to survive the music circuit. “First, introduce yourself respectfully. Give credit to the place that’s letting you play. Second, check your rock-star attitude in at the door, then throw your rockstar attitude out to the trash when you leave,” he said. “Finally, stick it out. It’s going to be really hard sometimes but it’s going to be really awesome.”
daily.titan
BUZZ 01.22.07
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BY CINDY cafferty Daily Titan Staff
thebuzz@dailytitan.com
A sign with the word “Salvation” on it shimmers over the smidgen of a stage. The crowd shimmies, shakes and shouts as the cold war kids – the band spells their name with lowercase letters – shift a small time venue into an all-out rock concert. That’s no easy task in the jaded sliver of a city that is Silverlake. Then again, this is no ordinary band. The cold war kids, a Southern California quartet comprised of Nathan Willett, Matt Maust, Matt Alvero, and Jonnie Russell, carved a niche for themselves above, of all places, a small eatery in downtown Fullerton. “Jonnie lived in an apartment on top of this restaurant, Mulberry Street,” explained Alvero, the band’s drummer. “There was this back storage area. We’d practice there until it became a problem after a
couple of months. [The restaurant kept] telling us to knock it off.” Alvero, the youngest of the kids at age 20, sits huddled at a small table with the rest of the band outside of a coffee shop, ironically called the Down Beat Cafe. The paradox is as clear as the cool crisp night settling on the Sunset strip – the cold war kids are anything but down beat. Each member of the group brings
By Cindy caferty/Daily Titan
Rock out – Guitarist Jonnie Russel jams out on the stage at Silverlake Lounge
photo courtesy Newnoise management a flavor to the mix as distinct as the band’s name. “We like a lot of different stuff individually,” said bassist Maust. “And I think we write our songs primarily all together. It’s very organic; it’s not very often someone comes with a finished song. More so than not, a very small part will be played by one instrument; someone will build off that, and then someone else will build off that – jam is a dirty word, but I don’t know if there is any other way to describe what we do.” “There’s usually not a lot of talking going on,” Maust, huddled in a beanie with ear flaps, a scarf and a peacoat, jokingly added. “Just a lot of sweet eye contact.” As for the soul-gripping lyrics that depict ordinary life in a most extraordinary way, kudos go straight to Willett, the lead singer and pianist for the group. “I write the lyrics usually after we’re done with all the music of the song,” Willett said. “It’s taking into account the mood and feeling of the song – sometimes something jumps out right away, sometimes later – and building stories around it.” And what stories they are, with infectious grooves to match. The band’s hit single, “Hang Me Out to Dry,” leads listeners through the “muck and the mire” while compelling them at the same time to joyously dance to the soul-driven beat. Watching the guys laugh, talk, and pass around the hand-held
tape recorder – each intuitively knowing when another band mate has something to add – it’s hard to believe they’ve been together only two years. Maybe it’s the 200 days they spent on the road with each other in the first year alone, or the eclectic, organic manner in which they make music. Whatever the case may be, the band members, each distinct in their own right, seem to have picked up on one another’s mannerisms. All four of the cold war kids sit sheathed in scarves, hands stuffed in pockets or under their laps. It’s only upon closer inspection that one notices Russell, the guitarist, fumbling with his American Spirits cigarettes, a constant smile on his face. Or that all of a sudden a seemingly somber Willett has a scarf planted atop his head and tied to the right of his chin, not unlike a bonnet. Maust has a predilection for leaning forward when he speaks, and is an expert at getting the conversation rolling, while Alvero – just as amicable – seems slightly amused by it all. And although the cold war kids are currently the cool kids on the block, their humble demeanor and affable manner belies their rocket launch into success. Jonnie recalled the day they played at Cal State Fullerton. “Yeah, we played a lunch show,”
said Russell. “It was 102 degrees … a little concrete amphitheater, and there were like five people there.” The cold war kids laughed and recounted another CSUF story. “We had a lot of time on our hands back then … we should’ve gone for our honorary degrees,” laughed Willett. “Anyway, our good friend, Mitchell Cummings – he’s like the fifth cold war kid – had this music [appreciation ] class … we all would just show up there, hang out, and fall asleep.” As they continue with their Fullerton stories, from playing atop Mulberry Street, to playing to almost no one on campus, they guys all at once and in unison shout out the name of their favorite restaurant, and insist everyone try it. “Rutabegorz,” said Willett. “ Oh my God it is the best food anywhere … and the best service.” “The apple spinach salad is the best,” adds Maust. “ A little pricey, but the best.” And so the cold war kids – veritable rock stars with consistent radio play and sold-out shows – chewed the fat outside a Silverlake coffee house, just like the campus kids sitting outside MJs. The cold war kids, with their band-next-door demeanor, ultrahip name and oh-so-soulful sound are swimming way out “of the muck and the mire” from atop a little place called Mulberry Street straight to the top of the charts.
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BUZZ 01.22.07
DOWNTOWN FULLERTONVENUE by jickie torres Entertainment Editor jtorres@dailytitan.com
Downtown Fullerton has long been synonymous with live music. Great artists have used the strip as their playing ground and a few have made it past the boulevard to a national stage. The cold war kids practiced on the rooftops above the Mulberry Street and are now touring the U.S., making appearances on NPR and getting covered by Spin. Tyrone Wells, once a regular act at McClain’s and Plush Cafe, is now selling out famous L.A. venues like the House of Blues and the Troubadour and gracing the cover of magazines. Check out the Buzz’s list of downtown hotspots and the music they book.
The Continental Room: This crazy, tiny homage to rat pack swinging is tucked along the secluded edge of Santa Fe Avenue It features live music seven nights a week. An unrivaled martini lounge, the musical acts complement the Continental’s unrivaled decor. A variety of jazzy/funky/loungy entertainment graces the posh red velvet stage till 1 a.m. Stubriks Steak House Like its down-home sturdy interior, this place sticks to good old rock ’n’ roll. Blues and roots live acts play Wednesday through Saturday. Check out Blue James and Chris Anderson Blues Group, perfect music to play pool by. Slide Bar Cafe Definitive OC all under one roof. Unlike other venues, this place gets the big names. Owners Sean Francis and Jeremy Popoff, of Lit fame, have obvious connections to the music industry. Get your music fixes from the famous signatures on the wall, the memorabilia on the ceiling and the outdoor stage. Monday nights are “Rockstar Karaoke” nights where wannabe’s can take the stage. “Tuesday 80s” nights and all week during happy hour Metal shop and the M-80s play live. Every other night? “Who knows,” Francis said with a curiously raised eyebrow. Back Alley Bar and Grill This places packs it all in. Monday nights are the Back alley’s self-proclaimed “non-rock star” karaoke nights. On Tuesdays the sound is anywhere from ’70s punk to disco cover band. Wednesday night is the local band showcase, while Thursdays, Eighties Enough churns out yep – you guessed it – ’80s tunes. Fridays and Saturdays are more random with regulars like Bayadera or Brody Split, a sublime cover band hits the stage or hard rock/R&B hybrid Solaze plays the crowd. Finally, Sundays, a DJ spins ’80s.
Plush Cafe A unique spot on the strip, plush offers underground hip-hop where few else do. Tuesdays and Thursdays are singer-songwriter nights while Wednesdays and Fridays are latenight events where DJs spin the newest and the coolest in hip-hop and dance that guarantee a good party every time. And the house specialty? Other than hosting open Mic TV? Late night Tuesday, when DJ Can I Kick It pops off a weekly underground hip-hop event, you’ll hear everything from old school R&B to Dub to Ragga to dance. Don’t mind all the hipster kids with the custom Nikes, the lounge offers great cocktails in a unique atmosphere. McClains Coffeehouse The coffeehouse sticks to local singer songwriters where Friday and Saturday nights are booked with just about every kind of music act. Though usually acoustic, the music can be anything from jazz to rock or blues. Steamers If you don’t already know this place plays jazz music, you ain’t no fan of jazz. A veritable icon in the Orange County jazz set, this place books the likes of Buddy Collette, Gerald “The Wig” Wiggins, Ernie Watts and Poncho Sanchez. The club/cafe is open seven days a week and so is the spotlighted stage.
GUIDE
Revolucion Mexican Grill and Cantina This party joint uses live DJs Tuesdays through Saturdays to spin the whole gamut of what’s new and fun in party music. Resident DJ Dr. Mario plays mostly Dance, Top 40s, hip-hop, and ’80s through Thursday. On Saturday nights they throw Merengue and Salsa in to the mix. Roscoe’s Famous Deli This homage to the classic deli schedules live bands that pay tribute to classic rock and blues sounds. Fridays and Saturdays the Tijuana Dogs and Echo Love Chamber, both cover bands, play the best of the ’70s through ’90s Top 40 music. Florentine’s Tuscany Club This place, which is a sort of joint venue with the adjacent Pallapa Tiki Bar, hosts karaoke Sunday through Thursday and on Friday and Saturday nights a rotating list of cover bands play live ’80s and ’90s hits. Catch Have Another Monkey, a cover band that has played Major League Baseball team parties and even the World Series. Florentines Parent restaurant of the Tuscany Club, the joint turns into a hip-hop club Tuesdays through Saturdays, usually with DJ L-Rock on the weekends and DJ Royal 1 five nights a week.
Big’s Bar and Grill Friday and Saturday nights, Big’s hosts live bands ,mostly cover, that play anywhere from rock, blues and punk. Keep an ear out for True To Crüe, a Mötley Crüe cover band.
Ziing’s Resident DJs DJ D-Vious, DJ Trampage and DJ WuShun spin a standard run of mostly slick hiphop sets on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Wednesday is ’80s dance and Fridays are reserved for Top 40 fare.
Kettle and the Keg Lounge and Patio Bar This upscale lounge atmosphere hosts live bands and DJs Friday Saturday and Sunday nights. Enjoy reggae spinning on the turntables while you enjoy the bar’s hookah samplings.
Envy This sleek Eastern-style eatery and bar follows its sensual vibe and features live DJ’s spinning the latest and sexiest in Houe, Dance and Euro. the DJs there, like the jet-set motif inside, rotates regularly and are recruited from the best.
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THEBUZZ
WHAT’S music Selling Out & Going Home Get Set Go File Under: Pop Done Well
It’s getting tiring mentioning that this band is famous for being on the regular soundtrack for Grey’s Anatomy. But it is, alas, their most notable accomplishment – so far anyway. The popular television show began using Get Set songs when the show debuted; as the popularity of Dr. McDreamy compelled millions to tune in, a few thousand were caught off guard by the clever catchy tunes that often hinged the show’s most emotional moments. It’s for good reason. Mike TV, the man that fronts the L.A.-based quintet, is emotional and voraciously honest. After their first album was released in 2003 to great reviews, the indie band forged admirably ahead to fight in a sea of big-label competition. They lost, so to speak, and as TV details so candidly in his humorous and poignant blog, the celebratory
mood turned selfdestructive and amidst changes in the band, TV spiraled out of control with drug addiction. Surprisingly, Get Set Go’s music is nowhere as bleak and sad sounding as their story. In fact, the band’s guitar pop and upbeat melodies are reminiscent of the Beach Boys, with the perfect balance of pep and melancholy that Weezer and Belle and Sebastian do so well. With “Selling Out & Going Home�, the band’s third album in four years, the sound is darker and more aggressive than their sophomore release “Ordinary World,� but still a swinging good time. As always, their upbeat melodies are off-set by cynical and confrontational lyrics, but
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with tooth-achy piano and finger snapping drums, who wouldn’t cheerily sing along to you’re a fake “fake faker/ you’re a take take taker/ you’re gonna die alone�? What is sorely missed on this album is the witty silliness that flavored Ordinary World, but Selling Out is in it’s own right a fun, energetic and mature piece that should get one jumping around in place. - Jickie Torres Entertainment Editor
RADIO: FOR THE PEOPLE (From page 4) music is just good.� With all this growth and “goodness� going on, one thing station underwriter and business major Natali Haddad promises to keep going is the station’s dedication to bringing forth the newest and freshest in this newly defined independent genre. “We all want to give bands that don’t always get noticed a chance to be heard,� Haddad said. They do this by keeping in touch with indie producers and meeting and greeting with bands at local shows. “We get a lot of independent labels that want to get their music out there, a lot of bands that sound really good but haven’t caught on,� Szyskowski said. “A lot of them are on the cusp of big fame and a big following and they just have not been at the right place at the right
time or known the right people.� One of these groups on the cusp of stardom is A Kiss Could Be Deadly, an electro-punk band that recently won the Almost Famous title from Alternative Press Magazine. They are playing Titan Radio’s Radical Recital, a show sponsored by Asphalt Music Group at Newport Beach bar Hogue Barmichael’s on Thursday. The recital, a rock-punk-hardcore event with the likes of Cry Havoc, A Silent Scream and Foolproof in the lineup, is one of the many ways Haddad hopes to help to kill two birds with one stone. “The shows are done where we all just work together,� she said. “A lot of these bands are trying to get their music out to the public and it’s a partnership. They help us by playing our concert and we help them by giving them an audience.�
movies Pan’s Labrynth
Warner Bros. Pictures File Under: Allegorical Fantasy Pan’s Labyrinth (originally El Laberinto del Fauno) is the brainchild of Guillermo del Toro – a director better known in the U.S. for his work on Blade II and Hellboy. However, in his native Mexico, he’s known for creepy and ethereal horror films like Cronos and El Espinazo del Diablo. Labyrinth avoids the melodrama of the American scripts del Toro’s worked on, instead opting to tell a rich allegorical movie that Hollywood simply doesn’t seem interested in making. It follows the story of Ofelia, a young girl shuttled to a remote state-controlled outpost in postrevolutionary Spain. There, she encounters the fairy tales her brutal stepfather, a captain under Franco’s fascist regime, insists that she not read about. The film is less about Ofelia’s fantastic adventures and much more about the vicious nature of very real humans. This movie is not a spiritual
sequel to movies like Labyrinth or The Dark Crystal; if anything, del Toro takes his cues from Hitchcock, crafting exquisite scenery and palpable tension throughout the film. A few warnings, however: the film is Spanish and subtitled in English. Additionally, the few violent scenes are very, very intense; do not mistake this for a family movie. - Joe Simmons Managing Editor
Children Of Men
Universal Pictures File Under: Nativity Story on Crack The affecting plot of “Children of Men� is driven by jaw-dropping visuals used almost flawlessly by director Alfonso Cuaron. Set 21 years in the future when women are no longer able to have children, the world is being torn apart as the first-world countries close their borders from the chaos outside. There is hope, however, as Theo (Clive Owen) is entrusted with the protection of what may be the last pregnant woman on Earth. Most recent action films lose viewer
empathy by featuring unbelievable CG explosions, villains and environments. “Children of Men,� in contrast, features little more than advanced LCD screens to depict a grim futuristic landscape. Cuaron features incredible and breathtaking continuous shots that are hard to disbelieve. A simple car scene turns extraordinary when the camera rotates to every passenger and continues, uncut, as the occupants fight off an attacking mob. The timing, choreography and acting skill must have been virtually impossible to pull off. What matters, however, is that the final product feels real. Cuaron repeats the technique to heighten the tension to an almost unbearable level. The documentary style of filmmaking may be a fad, but it was perfected in this film. “Children of Men� is a work of art visually with a sublime sci-fi plot that walks the difficult line of being both relevant and believable. -Ian Hamilton Multimedia Editor
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BUZZ 01.22.07