2-1-12

Issue 212 // February 2, 2012

BOX OFFICE HITS Brandon looks at this weeks top 20 movies

BLUE EDMONSON

Jon Caught up with Edmonson to talk about coming back to Aggieland

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contents

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Business Manager Andrea Maynard Editor in Chief Chris Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo

maroonweekly.com // Nov 17, 2011

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Publisher Mick Maynard

Design/Layout Chris Weachock

exclusive

Kinky Friedman // Chris Zebo talks with Kinky about all kinds of stuff. You have to read it to believe it

writers

Autumn Dawson Mara Kogan Erin McAllister Brandon Nowalk Ian Soares

calendar

Feb 2 - Feb 15 // Find out what is going on in BCS. We have the scoop on everything.

PHOTOGRAPHER Cameron Gott DISTRIBUTION Meredith Morse Erin Tanner

music

Adam Hood // Adam is headed to Aggieland.

INTERNS Morgan Brown Jonathan Gomez Meredith Morse Lauren Platt Chris Weachock

music

Blue Edmonson // Jon catches up with Edmonson and talks about his return home.

Maroon Weekly is an independent, student-operated publication and is not affiliated with Texas A&M University. Maroon Weekly receives no student fees or university funding.

movies

Top 20 picks // See what Brandon has to say about this weeks top 20 box office hits.

Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editor, publisher or the newspaper staff. Maroon Weekly is not liable for omissions, misprints to typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher.

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Exclusive

By Chris Zebo

Exclusive Interview:

K inky Friedman

He is and always has been a fixture of the Texas fringe; as a Jewish cowboy country singer, as an Independent politician, as a man of letters. You never know what to expect out of him, but when he speaks, it’s him speaking; no posturing, no filter, no political correctness, no sanctimony, and no ingratiation. It’s Kinky or it’s....well, Kinky.

You might not always agree with him—heck, you might not agree with him at all. But what you see is what you get. He’s a postmodern Mark Twain, a raconteur of countless tales so disparate you might believe he has clones of himself, or multiple personality disorder, or clones of himself with multiple personality disorder. In 67 years, Kinky Friedman has lived many lives. He’s one of the few multifaceted, American Renaissance men we have left in our age of narrow specialization. He’s like Dos Equis’ Most Interesting Man in the World—except he’s the real thing and his slogan would be, “I don’t always drink tequila, but when I do, I prefer Kinky Friedman’s Man in Black Tequila,” a new brand of “Mexican mouthwash” he’s promoting and bringing to town.

Kinky is currently touring the South on his Southern Discomfort Tour. He’ll be performing solo at the Village Cafe on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 7:30pm. Presale tickets ($30) are available at the Village and at the KEOS Radio Station, 202 E. Carson, Bryan. (Tickets will also be available at the door.) He’ll also be available for a meet and greet (an additional $25, with proceeds going to KEOS) at 6pm at the Village, where he’ll sign anything that can be inked and give a special tasting of his new tequila.

MW: What can people expect from the Southern Discomfort Tour?

Kinky: I haven’t done many of these that are completely solo tours, kind of in a Townes Van Zandt, Woodie Guthrie spirit.

It’s a concert, and a lot of the songs are probably older than most people in the audience. But I think a surprising number of them will know them. It’ll be some politics and some jokes and other kind of stuff—insights, hopefully, and humor. And I’m reading from the new book, Heroes of a Texas Childhood—23 heroes of mine when I was a kid. And, of course, I will sign anything but bad legislation.

MW: Talk a little about the new book.

Kinky: I came up with 23 heroes because if you tell people who your heroes are they’ll have an idea of who you are. I

4 // maroon weekly Feb. 2, 2012 www.maroonweekly.com

Exclusive mean, if you told me your heroes were Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Justin Bieber, that would give me a good idea of who you are.

My heroes are sort of the same ones my new tequila company is saluting, Kinky Friedman’s Man in Black Tequila— not to put in a shameless commercial plug here, but it’s the best Mexican mouthwash I’ve ever drank. Man in Black Tequila salutes Zorro, Paladin, and Johnny Cash. Those were not only three men in black, those were three guys who had something that nobody in Washington today seems to have, which is moral clarity.

And that’s important not just for a politician but for a musician. And I would say being a musician is a much higher calling than being a politician.

During the campaign for Governor in 2006, I said that musicians could better run Texas than politicians, and that we wouldn’t get a hell of a lot done in the morning, but we’d work late and we’d be honest.

MW: How did you come into the tequila business. You already have your own brand of cigars. Have you always been a tequila drinker?

Kinky: There are three things I really like: Mexican mouthwash, tequila; Guinness, the drink that kept the Irish from taking over the world; and the other one I like is diet hemlock... and that’s a joke.

I find that tequila is a very good stage drink for me, when I’m doing a solo show.

When you’re doing a show solo, people really see a glimpse of who you are.

MW: You’ve befriended Bush (W) and Clinton in the past, but what about Obama? Have you met him yet?

Kinky: Well, W and Clinton and I have been longtime pen pals. And I’ve slept under both of them in the White House on a number of occasions.

Obama, he seems to not have the ability to inspire, which is very ironic, because he was a good candidate.

I’ve said that if Obama ever gave a fireside chat, the fire would go out.

MW: What did you think of the State of the Union Address last week?

has been interesting. He’s created a strange situation in Texas to where now you have all the Aggies and the blondes telling Rick Perry jokes. And he’s made me look pretty good. He’s polished my image, a lot of people are telling me in airports. They used to say, “I voted for you, Kinky.” And now they say, “You should have won, man. You should have won.”

Kinky: No. I don’t have Internet or email or anything like that.

MW: Any plans to enter politics again?

MW: On the subject of Willie, you’re currently in the works together on a book. Is that right?

Kinky: Well, I’m starting to get pretty old, you know, 67 now. Though I read at the 69-year-old level.

Kinky: Yeah, not much. Just frustrating. I think he’s kinda twisted everything in and out. The real fact of the business is that he seems to have had a real lack of balls in times when he should have had them. Like the Iranian revolution and the BP Oil spill are just two examples.

About all a leader can do these days is inspire. That’s a gift. Churchill had it, FDR, JFK, Reagan, Ann Richards. But this guy doesn’t have it. He just doesn’t have the chops and he never will, to be a real leader or a statesman. And I voted for him. And I’m uncommonly regretful about doing that.

MW: What’s your opinion of the Republicans at the moment?

Kinky: Well, you know, they are the Crips and the Bloods. The president is raising a billion dollars and he’s lost his soul. And the Republicans are jealous; they’d like to raise a billion dollars and lose their souls, too.

I’m against the Crips and the Bloods.

I’m an Independent.

I think that if Romney and Rubio got together as a ticket, they’d win. And I’d be happy with that. I think that Obama’s had his chance and I don’t think he’s shown us anything.

MW: So you’re behind Romney then?

Kinky: Yeah, I mean, I don’t love him. Rick Perry’s run for president

It comes down to money, and Independents as a rule don’t have the kind of money the Crips and the Bloods have.

MW: So you’re pretty much done with politics.

MW: You don’t use it at all?

Kinky: No. I can’t use it because I don’t know how to use it. Even Willie Nelson says I’m an idiot to not have email. He says that as he’s busy tweeting Ashton Kutcher.

Kinky: The Willie book is a different kind of thing. It’s called The Troublemaker, and it’s basically about the fact that Jesus was viewed by the establishment as a troublemaker and that the crowd all shouted, “Free Barabbas! Kill Jesus!”

Which is exactly what they did.

Kinky: Yeah. I think being a musician is a much higher calling to me than being politician. A tour like this lets you inspire. You can get insights and ideas across in humorous ways and in serious ways that you can’t do as a politician.

MW: Outside of music and politics, you’ve been working on various projects. You just finished a book with Billy Bob Thorton called The Billy Bob Tapes.

Kinky: Right. That was kind of like being the Jiminy Cricket of the project, producing the book, if you will—which is bringing in a lot of people. There’s a great introduction

by Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall writes some great stuff, so does Dwight Yoakam.

But Billy—it’s his book. It’s a nonfiction on his take on life and the fact that he doesn’t think there’s gonna be another John Lennon coming up, or John Wayne for that matter, or Jimmy Hendrix, or Janis Joplin. He doesn’t think there’s going to be another Townes Van Zandt.

He doesn’t think there’s going to be any more stars. And he says the reason is that through the Internet the audience has become the show. Everything is Myspace, your space, whatever.

I don’t have the Internet, so I don’t mind that I never know about it.

MW: You don’t have Internet?

And I contend that ever since then, every chance the crowd gets, they kill Jesus every chance they get. And it’s been like that ever since. So if you have a chance to come up with Obama, who really is an American Idol winner type-of-guy, he really, really is not an inspirational leader.

The problem with Barabbas is that we haven’t heard from him in 2,000 years. I mean, the crowd picked him.

They freed him and they killed Jesus.

Barabbas doesn’t write, he doesn’t call, he doesn’t Tweet, and he hasn’t saved a soul in 2,000 years. He hasn’t

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Exclusive even won a football game. So that’s kind of what Obama is; he’s the one we chose incorrectly.

MW: How do you come into this book?

truth. I mean, they lose it very quickly the minute they’re signed by a big city newspaper. But most of them really are good people. They’re like Socrates; they want to get the truth out there.

Kinky: That remains to be seen. We just signed the contracts and we’re just getting started. I guess my job is to see that the book is delivered, and so it’s hard to say what my role is. It’s an ever-evolving role.

MW: Alternative weekly’s seem to be a last resort for unbiased print stories.

But the book’s going to be interesting.

It’s going to be inspirational, because you have a lot of people telling you these days that you can’t do things.

More than ever before. That’s very dispiriting and disheartening for people, especially young people.

I like to think of myself as one of the last few nails that hasn’t been hammered down. There’s all kinds of people like Barry Manilow, who are very successful, who write songs that make you feel good for a short period of time and make more money than God. I’m not picking on Barry Manilow.

You can’t get into journalism now, man. The whole thing is going into the toilet. Nobody reads and so forth. And for some kid who believes in becoming a journalist—if you’ve ever been to a high school journalism convention, there’s where people care about the

Kinky: That’s invaluable. That’s one of the few voices left. And that independent spirit’s important.

But there’s other—like maybe Kristofferson, or Merle Haggard, or Willie, or Bob—who can write something that will make you think, that might stay with you a lifetime.

MW: You’re always working on 10 things at once. What do you have cooking on the back burners or even on the front burners for that matter?

Kinky: I’m a Renaissance Texan, you know. I have the Southern Discomfort Tour followed up in June by the Bi-Polar Tour on the East Coast, and that’s gonna be even more shows.

MW: You’ve said that there are a lot of places in the South on this tour that you’ve never been to before. Any places you’re excited to perform for the first time?

Kinky: Yeah. I find that any place outside of Texas I tend to do very well.

My theory is that I won the race every place but Texas. And if you traveled with me, you would see that. We get to Jackson, Mississippi and places I’ve never been and we’re sold out.

MW: But you’re highly regarded in Texas, as well.

Wood-Style Flooring Flat-Screens in Every Apartment Stand-Up Tanning Booth Fully-Equipped Fitness Center Basketball & Sand Volleyball Courts Individual Leases Resort-Style Pool Game/Activity Room

thedistrictonluther.com 6 // maroon weekly Feb. 2, 2012 www.maroonweekly.com

Kinky: I was on the Hanukkah Tour in the Austin airport about two months ago and I had an unlit cigar in my hand—sort of a magic feather, you know? An oral fixation? And the lady cop there said, “Is that thing lit?”

And I said, “To which thing, madame, are you referring?”

She was not amused. But I got through TSA security and this big TSA agent followed me into the terminal and I figured this guy is gonna give me more grief for this cigar. Anyway, he caught up with me and I said, “What is it? Is there a problemo with the cigar, officer?”

And he says, “No. I just wanna shake a good man’s hand.”

And when he said that, I thought, “Man, not only is that a beautiful thing to say, but it’s probably something that Rick Perry has never heard in his life.”

Chec out o k upco ur ming SP

ECIA LS

“Luther” to 47464 for information* *standard text messaging rates apply

866.973.5389

Calendar FEBRUARY 2

Shake It Up! @ Brazos Valley Troup Shake it up! A tale of two… one Acts! This show will run nightly on February 2nd-5th.

7:30 p.m.

Thursday Brazos Valley Troupe (3705 E. 29th St., Bryan) (979) 846-4903 Bleu Edmonson Band @ The Tap Popular New Braunfels native Bleu Edmondson, known for his road-dog touring ethic, returns to College Station at The Tap. 8:00 p.m. Thursday The Tap (815 Harvey Road, College Station) Karaoke @ Schotzi’s Every Thursday & Sunday night Schotzis is providing a night full of karaoke. Sunday nights drink specials include $1 domestics, $2 wells, and $3 vegas bombs and jager bombs. 10:00 p.m.

Thursday Schotzi’s (205 University Dr, College Station)

FEBRUARY 3

Friday Night Flights @ Terrazzo Wine & Coffee Can’t ever decide what wine to have? Come by Terrazzo every Friday to try three wine flights for only $10. 6:00 p.m. Friday Terrazo Wine & Coffee (404 E University Dr, College Station) Crawfish Boil & Chilifest Press Release @ The Tap The 22nd season of the Famous Tap Crawfish Boil kicks off by presenting the 2012 Chilifest Press Release & Band Lineup at 7pm. 7:00 p.m. Friday The Tap (815 Harvey Road, College Station) The Wizard of Oz @ Bryan High Bryan High School Fine Arts Production of The Wizard of Oz – Think back

to the time when you and your family would meet in front of the television to experience the most beloved film of all-time, The Wizard of Oz. The Bryan High Fine Arts Department will be bringing back the splendor of Oz to our community!

Performances will be at the Bryan Civic Auditorium on February 3rd, 4th, and 6th at 7:00 pm and February 4th at 2:30 pm. (No performance on Sunday, February 5th) 7:00 p.m.

Friday Bryan High School (3450 Campus Dr., Bryan) $7-$12 Friday’s Finest Ladies Night @ Velocity Mr. 10-4 Promotions and Velocity have teamed up to bring a night dedicated to ladies. This dress-to-impress night lets the first 50 ladies in free for a night of hip-hop, house, and top 40 mixing.

9:00 p.m. Friday Velocity (913 Harvey Road, College Station) (979) 703-1807

Whiskey Meyers @ Hurricane Harry’s Whiskey Myers will be performing LIVE at Hurricane Harry’s.

Come out for a night full of great music and even feistier dancing. 9:00 p.m.

Friday Hurricane Harry’s (313 College Ave, College Station) (979) 846-3433 Westley Westbrook Band @ La Bodega After playing with Willie Nelson, this band can say they have accomplished something extrodinary.

With a good Texas country sound, the Wesley Westbrook Band travels to College Station from right down the road in Brenham.

10:00 p.m Friday La Bodega (102 Church Ave)

FEBRUARY 4

Wine and Cheese Tasting @ Royalty Pecan Farms Taste a variety of Texas wines paired with Texas artisan cheeses and

Chilifest Lineup @ The Tap

hot picks

Feb 1 - Feb 15

/concert///// //Whiskey Myers// Whiskey Myers will be performing LIVE at Hurricane Harry’s.

Come out for a night full of great music and even feistier dancing. 9:00 p.m. Friday Hurricane Harry’s (313 College Ave, College Station) (979) 846-3433

when Feb 3

9 p.m. where Harry’s

By Jon Gomez

The Spring semester certainly has its perks. Couples look forward to Valentine’s Day; singles look forward to spring break, underclassmen anticipate the freedom of slow summer days; and seniors look forward to (or sometimes dread) putting on that cap and gown.

Started in 2000, Chilifest Incorporated has been dedicated to bringing country music’s biggest performers to our area and donating its proceeds to aid the community. Last year brought the likes of Randy Rogers, Dierks Bentley, and Wade Bowen. With a tireless effort to improve each year, another starstudded cast is expected to take the stage on Saturday, April 14.

For those who can’t wait until April, Chilifest has decided to announce this year’s line-up as part of The Tap’s celebration of their 22nd Crawfish Boil. Whether you call them crawfish, crayfish, crawdads or mudbugs,

Friday

Practically everyone, however, looks forward to Chilifest.

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go to The Tap on Friday, February 3, crack some heads, and find out who’s playing this year’s Chilifest before your buddies and besties.

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Calendar choose which combination most delights your taste buds! Buy tickets online, by phone, or at their gift shop.

1:00 p.m. Saturday Royalty Pecan Farms (10740 Texas 21, Caldwell) $10 per person (979) 272-3904 Six Market Blvd @ The Tap The Stephenville band Six Market Blvd bring their unique heart-felt lyrics to The Tap. Tickets are $7 for the 8pm show. 8:00 p.m. Saturday The Tap (815 Harvey Road, College Station) Diaz V. Condit PPV @ Fox and Hound California’s Nick Diaz squares off against New Mexico’s Carlos Condit, nicknamed Natural Born Killer, in this 170 weight class UFC duel. Enjoy a beer as they each battle for the 28th career victory 9:00 p.m.

Saturday Fox and Hound

(505 University Dr, College Station)

FEBRUARY 5

Shake It Up! @ Brazos Valley Troup Shake it up! A tale of two… one Acts! This show will run nightly on February 2nd-5th. 3:00 p.m. Sunday Brazos Valley Troupe (3705 E. 29th St., Bryan) (979) 846-4903 Clayton Gardner @ Lakeside Ice House Enjoy music by Texas A&M graduate and country singer Clayton Gardner. Gardner, whose first album “Against the Grain” was released last February, will be releasing his sophomore album April 9. 7:30 p.m. Sunday Lakeside Ice House (8200 Sandy Road, Bryan) Karaoke @ Schotzi’s Every Thursday & Sunday

night Schotzis is providing a night full of karaoke. Sunday nights drink specials include $1 domestics, $2 wells, and $3 vegas bombs and jager bombs. 10:00 p.m. Sunday Schotzi’s (205 University Dr, College Station

FEBRUARY 6

Texas Hold ‘Em Tourney @ Fox and Hound Attention Hold ‘Em players: come showcase your winning talent at Fox and Hound every week. Winners can qualify for poker tourneys at various casinos each month.

7:00 p.m. Monday Fox and Hound (505 University Dr, College Station) Karaoke Night @ The Tap Take the stage and share your voice every Monday night with karaoke at The Tap. 10:00 p.m. Monday The Tap (815 Harvey Road, College Station)

FEBRUARY 7

Adam Hood @ Schotzi’s Spring 2011 Adam Hood appeared on Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour just four years after opening a string of shows for Miranda Lambert. With five albums produced, Adam Hood now has two songs playing on the radio. His music career has taken a big leap after playing that night in Gruene, TX when Miranda Lambert caught a glimpse of his performance 10:00 p.m. Tuesday Schotzi’s (205 University Dr, College Station) $10 per person

FEBRUARY 8

Ladies’ Night @ La Bodega It’s ladies night every Wednesday. $2 queso, $5 shakers and single taco plates will be offered to the ladies through out the entire day. 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday La Bodega

(102 Church Ave, College Station) Salsa Nights @ The Village Cafe Salsa Wednesday’s offer an hour and a half professional dance lesson(8pm) followed by a night of dancing from 9:30-12am. A great night to learn new moves or just let loose on the dance floor. 8:00 p.m. Wednesday The Village Café (210 W 26th St, Bryan) $8 lesson/$5 dancing Piano Bar @ The Tap Every Wednesday Night come recommend your favorite songs for Russell & Mike to play during Piano Bar at The Tap. 10:00 p.m. Wednesday The Tap (815 Harvey Road, College Station)

FEBRUARY 9

Austin English @ La Bodega Growing up in local Texas

A sweet blend of soul and country

By Morgan Brown

You may have never heard of Adam Hood if it wasn’t for a broken down car one night in Gruene, Texas. After country star Miranda Lambert and her mother had some malfunctions with their vehicle, they decided to go have a beer and a sandwich at Tavern on the Gruene where Hood was performing.

Lambert, who was impressed with Hoods music, introduced herself after the show. After handshakes and small talk, Hood handed Lambert some of his CDs, and just a few weeks later she called and invited him to open a string of shows for her. Of course, he accepted her offer.

In recent years Hood has garnered a lot of attention from fans and even other musicians. Some of his songs have been recorded by country music artists such as LeAnn Womack and Eli Young Band. With 5 albums out, and just off the Willie Nelson Country Throwdown Tour, Adam Hood seems to be headed in the right direction.

A new tour set to begin here in Texas, Adam Hood is bringing his new record The Shape of Things into town. Having a blend of soul and country, the new album released in October has received good reviews so far.

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Tuesday

Adam Hood @ Schotzi’s

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Calendar dancehalls, Austin English has developed a passion to be apart of the circuit. Being an opener for some of the music scene’s biggest acts, Austin English and the Resurrection will leave you with wanting more at the end of their performance.

10:00 p.m.

Thursday La Bodega (102 Church Ave, College Station) Karaoke @ Schotzi’s Every Thursday & Sunday night Schotzis is providing a night full of karaoke. Sunday nights drink specials include $1 domestics, $2 wells, and $3 vegas bombs and jager bombs. 10:00 p.m. Thursday Schotzi’s (205 University Dr, College Station)

FEBRUARY 10

Friday’s Finest Ladies Night @ Velocity Mr. 10-4 Promotions and Velocity have teamed up to bring a night dedicated to ladies. This dressto-impress night lets the first 50

ladies in free for a night of hiphop, house, and top 40 mixing.

9:00 p.m. Friday Velocity (913 Harvey Road, College Station) (979) 703-1807

Aaron Watson @ Hurricane Harry’s Aaron Watson will be performing LIVE at Hurricane Harry’s.

Come out for a night filled with great music and even better country dancing. 9:00 p.m. Friday Hurricane Harry’s (313 College Ave, College Station) Mike Gallo @ La Bodega With idols like James Taylor and Eric Clapton, Mike Gallo has a light rock and blues sound. Mike Gallo is a solo performer who likes to allow his audience to hold a conversation while enjoying his music. Some songs that will be performed during the evening will be originals along with some that you may recognize. 10:00 p.m. Friday La Bodega (102 Church Ave)

Heart Ball @ Miramont

By Meredith Morse

During the chilly romantic days of February, it can be tempting to hole up with your loved one, shutter the windows, and throw all of your cash into pleasing your partner. If you’re feeling a little more philanthropic this year, the Miramont Country Club has the perfect pairing of both chivalry and charity.

The club will be hosting its annual Heart Ball, held on February 10, and it will be donating all proceeds of the event to the American Heart Association. At $125 per person, you’ll be spending a benevolent buck or two to provide your sweetheart with delicious cuisine, fine wine, a romantic ambiance, and all of the couples fun a night filled with live music and dancing can provide.

Featuring The Buckinghams--a nationally acclaimed sunshine pop band-as well as local jazz favorites The Karan Chavis Band, the Heart Ball at Miramont Country Club boasts so much entertainment it’ll be difficult to keep in mind that all of the fun is going toward the greater good.

For more information and reservations, call (979) 777-1662.

The 71’s @ Schotzi’s w/ Brothers or Not & The Insiders

By Morgan Brown The 71s have been named the “Best New Band in Houston” by Houston’s leading alternative radio station The Buzz 94.5. With a love of local media and a rising fan base, the 71s have made it a goal to produce 3 EPs in a single year. The Houston Press has described them as “purely rock and roll, [with a] devil-may-care attitude – an unpretentious and sincere jamboree of power chords and youth energy.”

Their lead track from Rock and Roll Reaction Vol. 1, “All Tied Up,” was chosen as the soundtrack for the Houston Texans. Last year, the band performed for Aggie Relay for Life, so they are no strangers to Aggieland.

Formed in the spring of 2011, The Insiders—4 C-Statters representing Aggieland—are an upbeat rock/pop outfit that energizes crowds and plans on making a name for themselves in maroon town.

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Friday

Brothers Or Not have a more indie/rock feel. Don’t let that fool you though; they bring a loud southern rock grind to the stage, too. With a new demo called “Set It Down” just released this month, the band is playing gigs to promote their new release.

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Calendar The 71’s with Brothers Or Not & The Insiders @ Schotzi’s It’s a night of rock-n-roll in the backyard. Rock music played loudly, explosive guitars, and some indie pop rock sound is sure to leave you sitting on the edge of your seats. 10:00 p.m. Friday Schotzi’s (205 University Dr)

Crawfish Boil @ The Tap The 22nd season of the Famous Tap Crawfish Boil is under way. Come every Friday for some delicious crawfish and lively music. 6:00 p.m. Friday The Tap (815 Harvey Road, College Station)

FEBRUARY 11

Texas Royale Dinner @ Royalty Pecan Farms Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? We’re hosting a dinner at the pecan orchard featuring a talented local

chef and delicious local food.Chef Allan will prepare an excellent dinner using fresh foods from local sources, including “Wild Type Ranch” and “TAMU Howdy!

Farm.”Visit our website, www.

RoyaltyPecans.com, to see the menu and other details. Buy tickets online, by phone, or at our gift shop by the Brazos River.

7:00 p.m. Saturday Royalty Pecan Farms (10740 Texas 21, Caldwell) $45 per person (979) 272-3904

The Tea Merchants @ O’Bannons A traditional Irish band coming from Austin, The Tea Merchants will take you back in time and have you feeling like you are sitting in a pub in Ireland. Enjoy a cold beverage while taking in the sound of the live Irish music.

10:00 p.m. Saturday O’Bannons (103 Boyett St, College Station)

Texas Royale Dinner @ Royalty Pecan Farms

By Meredith Morse

Itching to get out of town this Valentine’s Day? If you’re up for a short drive to Caldwell, the romance and splendor of the Royalty Pecan Farms can provide the perfect backdrop for your passionate evening. Nestled in the crossroads of Old San Antonio Road and the Brazos River, these rolling hills have produced some of the area’s richest pecans for years – and now the farm is hosting a beautiful sunset dinner for you and your loved one.

Featuring a custom menu by local favorite Chef Allan, including chicken-friend oyster shooters, star beer-braised short ribs, and a delectable dessert courtesy of the Royalty Pecan Farms, the cuisine for the evening will only further complement the charming setting.

Tickets to the event are $45 per person, which is a small price to pay for wooing your significant other without having to lift a finger in the kitchen.

For further information or to purchase a coveted ticket for yourself, visit www.

RoyaltyPecans.com.

Gregg Edelman @ Miramont

By Lauren Platt Got plans for Valentine’s this year? Plan on buying chocolates for your loved one last minute like last year?

Well, if you don’t have plans, Gregg Edelman is performing at the Miramont Country Club. Reviews have said Edelman’s performance channels the romance of a previous era, an era way before the Internet and before most people had TV sets. He revisits an age when the word “cabaret” meant something more than a Scrabble word score.

Edelman has been in 14 Broadway musicals and is a four-time Tony Award nominee. He has participated in Cats, Oliver!, Les Miserables, Cabaret, City of Angels, 1776, Into the Woods and Wonderful Town. His face has also been seen on the Hollywood screen in “Little Children, “Green Card” and CBS’ “The Good Wife.”

Starting Valentine’s Day through the 17th, Edelman is bringing the cabaret show “Back in Town” to Miramont Country Club. “Back in Town” has won over everyone in New York City, including Feinstein’s at the Regency. His song list includes pieces by Cy Coleman, Cole Porter, The Gershwins and Johnny Mercer.

Tickets are $82 for students and $92 for adults. Might sound steep, but the price includes a three-course meal.

Doors open at 7:30pm.

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Tuesday

A Valentine’s treat for any couple

Calendar FEBRUARY 12

Karaoke @ Schotzi’s Every Thursday & Sunday night Schotzis is providing a night full of karaoke. Sunday nights drink specials include $1 domestics, $2 wells, and $3 vegas bombs and jager bombs. 10:00 p.m. Thursday Schotzi’s (205 University Dr, College Station)

FEBRUARY 13

Texas Hold ‘Em Tourney @ Fox and Hound

Attention Hold ‘Em players: come showcase your winning talent at Fox and Hound every week. Winners can qualify for poker tourneys at various casinos each month.

7:00 p.m. Monday Fox and Hound (505 University Dr, College Station)

Karaoke Night @ The Tap Take the stage and share your voice every Monday night with karaoke at The Tap. 10:00 p.m. Monday The Tap (815 Harvey Road,

College Station)

FEBRUARY 14

Gregg Edelman @ Miramont Country Club Gregg Edelman,4 time Tony Award nominee, stars in the cabaret show “Back In Town” for Valentines Day. 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday Miramont Country Club (One Miramont Boulevard, Bryan) FEBRUARY 15 Salsa Nights @ The Village Cafe

Salsa Wednesday’s offer an hour and a half professional dance lesson(8pm) followed by a night of dancing from 9:30-12am. A great night to learn new moves or just let loose on the dance floor. 8:00 p.m. Wednesday The Village Café (210 W 26th St, Bryan) $8 lesson/$5 dancing Josh Abbott Band @ Hurricane Harry’s Josh Abbott Band will be performing LIVE at Hurricane Harry’s! Come out

to enjoy a night filled with great country music and even better country dancing.9:00 p.m. W ednesday Hurricane Harry’s (313 College Ave, College Station) $12 per person (979) 846-3433 Piano Bar @ The Tap Every Wednesday Night come recommend your favorite songs for Russell & Mike to play during Piano Bar at The Tap. 10:00 p.m. Wednesday The Tap (815 Harvey Road, College Station)

Valentine’s Specials @ Messina Hof Messina Hof offers V-Day options

By Erin McAllister Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and Messina Hof Winery and Resort is offering a variety of activities for you to attend with your loved one.

“I think it’s different because of the environment of the winery,” said Brittany Hanagriff, Messina Hof Marketing Manager. “You are secluded from the busy environment of restaurants in town and in a more romantic and peaceful environment.”

The events at Messina Hof Winery and Resort are set up for you to spend time with your partner and to do something new and exciting as a couple. Special Valentine’s Day events will start on February 8 and continue until February 14.

Cupid’s season will kick-off on February 8 with Special Chocolate Night at the wine bar. Each person will receive special wine and chocolate pairings throughout the night and enjoy the scenic environment Messina Hof has to offer.

The following evening there will be a cooking party with the Vintage House chef. There will be a cooking demonstration where you and your partner will get to cook alongside the Messina Hof’s chef. The theme of the night will be “Kicked Up Comfort Foods,” and each couple will prepare their own meal and get the recipes to take home.

Messina Hof will hold two different evening tours on February 10, 11 and 14. On the 10th they will host a Moonlit Tour in which couples will be able to tour the property and receive food and wine pairings. There will also be a Sweetheart Tour on February 11 and 14, which will be a twilight tour also followed by wine and food pairings.

The “Til’ Death Do Us Part” murder mystery dinner will take place on February 13 where dinner and Messina Hof wines will be served as guests participate and take part in the mystery at hand.

On Valentine’s Day, Messina Hof will be hosting a special menu at the Vintage House Restaurant. Guests will get to choose from a variety of options to fulfill their four-course meal. The wine bar will also be staying open late and holding wine specials.

12 // maroon weekly Feb. 2, 2012 www.maroonweekly.com

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Music

By Jon Gomez

Blue Edmonson @ The Tap - Feb 2

There’s a reason Texas A&M University doesn’t have a homecoming football game. Unlike every other university, every Aggie football game is homecoming. That’s just how this town is. That’s how Texas Aggies are. At some point during every Aggie’s college days, Aggieland becomes their home away from home. It’s something that will never change, and it certainly hasn’t for A&M country rocker Bleu Edmondson.

“It’s my old stomping grounds. I started in that town. I got my first guitar in College Station; taught myself how to play; got my first show. I’ve still got friends there. It’s a blast coming back.”

Whether it’s his old stomping ground or not, Edmondson’s visits to Aggieland dwindled over the years. Who can blame a man who toured with fellow Aggie Roger Creager and is currently lined up to play a 10-day, 10-show tour in Europe this summer? Still, with his home in New Braunfels,

Edmondson hopes to visit Aggieland once a semester and once during the summer.

“I used to have a hardcore fan base there. The places used to be packed to the wall. When we first started coming back, people almost forgot about us. With a college town and the kind of music I play, the turnover is so much.”

forward to 2012. Edmondson admits to having two albums worth of tracks waiting to be released. While The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be was described as a CD embarked on a search for truth, Edmondson is quick to say he isn’t one to start recording with a certain theme in mind. He also offers no hints to what the next album’s themes will be.

Edmonson has given his own spin to Texas country. Typically known for his straightforward lyrics about love and rounds of beers, Edmondson brings a playfully realistic edge to the genre.

“We’ll be playing stuff from all the albums along with some new stuff. I’ve already started to play some of it live, to test it out, experiment with it, see if we dig it, if people dig it.”

“I’m not one to write the typical love song where we’re running through a field of daisies. Cause it’s not. It’s a hell of a lot more interesting to find true love and happiness in spite of what the world throws at you, in spite of the difficulties that you have.”

For a man whose career started at an Open Mic on Tuesday Nights at Martini Bar (now Rebel Draft House) on Northgate, Edmondson is ready to return to Aggieland for performances and revelry.

“I’m busting into The Tap. I used to really get silly and make wrong decisions while I was going to school there.”

With his last release 2010’s The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be, the songwriter is looking

www.maroonweekly.com Feb. 2, 2012 maroon weekly // 15

Movies

By Brandon Nowalk

1

The Grey

The Grey

A plane of oil drillers crashes in the wild, and the survivors are hunted by Alaskan wolves. It’s emptily pretty, but I could watch a whole series of Liam Neeson fighting animals. Preferably lolcats.

Holmes: 15Sherlock Game of Shadows

It’s been three long years since we last left America’s most monochromatic franchise, but I guess Hot Topic needed some advertising so here we are with number four: humans vs. horrors. Are vampires over yet?

3

One For the Money

Katherine Heigl’s trying to franchise the Janet Evanovich books, but everything is equally phoned in, from what passes for jokes to Heigl’s heinous Jersey accent. Talk about one for the money. The headline writes itself.

4

Red Tails

George Lucas the producer is back—boo!—with the story of the Tuskegee Airmen—yay!—in a mediocre film where you cringe as often as you laugh—meh. Just read Wikipedia and see Tintin instead.

5Man on a Ledge

It’s a high-concept plot, so let’s see if I can break it down for you: There’s this man, and he’s on a ledge. From there everything’s hitor-miss, but on the plus side, yes, someone falls off.

6

Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close 1/2

Thanks to Jonathan Safran Foer and Stephen Daldry, the Kardashians of middlebrow prestige, Holocaust

A

In this sequel Holmes and his life partner are joined by the whole gang: brother Mycroft, thief Irene Adler, and villain Moriarty. Like the original, it’s a pleasant diversion, but it’s no Sherlock the TV series.

top20 films

2Underworld: Awakening

and I’m done praising her for it.

Someone’s gotta play disappointed parent: You have so much potential!

16

kitsch is finally being made about 9/11 instead. Because what’s national tragedy without insufferable hacks turning it into twee faux-therapy sessions?

7

The Decendants

8

1/2

I hope taping stuff to your torso becomes the first meme of 2012.

At the very least it’s a topical way to smuggle food into Contraband, a cheesy okay time. Actual catchphrase: “That’s no bueno.”

9

Beauty

and

the

Beast

While less artistically ambitious than The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast finds relevance in Aesopstyle fable but transcendence in swooning romanticism, from the Busby Berkeley-inspired “Be Our Guest” to the Ophulsian title song.

10Haywire

Impossible: 11Mission Ghost Protocol 1/2

George Clooney’s adulterous wife is in a coma, launching his sentimental coming-of-middle-age, wrapped up in unruly teens and a Hawaiian land deal. But Shailene Woodley steals the show as Daughter #1. Where’s her Oscar campaign?

Contraband

Gina Carano in his deconstruction of action thrillers to mesmerizing effect. Pretty, smart, sneaky, and I’m not talking about the girl.

Just when we were starting to buy Angelina as an action star, Soderbergh casts American Gladiator

The centerpiece—Ethan Hunt climbing the BurjKhalifa in Dubai— is alone worth the price of admission.

Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner mercifully leaven Tom Cruise’s Scientology intensity, but Brad Bird’s slumming it and it shows.

12The Artist

This smarmy modern silent is so lightweight you could forget you’ve seen it, but it wowed Cannes and is on course to win Best Picture.

Then again, pretentious, fluffy, and wannabe inspirational practically scream Oscar.

13Joyful Noise

No one’s denying the virtues of Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah, and Joyful Noise gets by entirely on their charm. But, shockingly, Glee: In Church isn’t equipped to take on theodicy, much less comedy.

14

The Iron Lady

1/2

Sorry, my worship arm is tired. Meryl Streep is Hollywood’s greatest ringer, giving grand performances in mediocre movies,

Hugo

1/2

An orphan living in a train station finds a magical mystery.

Scorsese made a great 3-D kid’s story—emphasis on vocab, for instance—but it’s really a bait-andswitch involving classic cinema. Get ‘em hooked early!

Girl with the Dragon 17The Tattoo

Sadism masquerading as a slick raperevenge potboiler, it’s immaculate trash, like Da Vinci sifting through your just used toilet, arranging the contents into a sculpture, and telling you to watch for two and a half hours.

18War Horse

Pretty much what it looks like: Spielberg’s title horse goes from person to person spreading the disease of tears across a wartorn Europe. It takes more than pretty skies and horses to reach John Ford.

and the Chipminks: 19Alvin Chipwrecked 1/2

Do parents have no self-respect?

There are so many great children’s movies in theaters, but the squeakquel to the Squeakquel is at nine digits. Just Say No: It’s not just for kids any more.

20We Bought a Zoo

Splotchy “everyman” Matt Damon has never looked worse than he does here, and he once played Greg Kinnear’s Siamese twin. Oh, he buys a zoo and gets sad and then happy again. Bravo, Cameron Crowe.

www.maroonweekly.com Feb. 2, 2012 maroon weekly // 21

Movies

By Brandon Nowalk

Man On A Ledge Sam Worthington R|

Like Sam Worthington THRILLER doing epic battle with his own accent, Man on a Ledge presents a prime example of a weak director being overpowered by the wild forces of production, with relative newcomer Asger Leth delivering a spotty film that is exactly the sum of its parts. No two actors are playing the same level of heightened realism, from Elizabeth Banks’ almost tragic cop to Kyra Sedgwick’s cartoonish reporter (Susie Morales, her last name spoken with comical precision).

The shots are uniformly workmanlike, though a couple interesting touches poke through, like when someone falls off. And the point of all this is some overdetermined story about the one percent twirling their mustaches.

Leth would have been better off making a good movie before aiming for greatness.

See, the plot is classic pulp.

Worthington plays a fugitive ex-cop who climbs out his hotel room window

threatening to jump, but it’s all a ploy to prove his innocence. Writer Pablo F. Fenjves Phone Booths it up with a cast of about fifteen disparate main characters—the hotel porter, the other cops, an onlooker—who all figure into the narrative eventually; the plot is so tidy it’s got OCD. But it really starts to thrill once the secrets start to spill, and for the climax, everyone’s running all over the hotel with guns and agendas and Man on a Ledge momentarily reaches an ecstatic messiness that you never saw coming.

Unfortunately, for the rest of the running time it’s just regular messiness. Jamie Bell’s trapped in this terrible rom-com shtick while carrying out a heist. Ed Burns is playing this obvious mutual respect will-they-orwon’t-they with Elizabeth Banks, who is marvelous. And Sam Worthington is, well, Sam Worthington. There are some entertaining highlights, but it’s a wonder we get where we’re going with nobody driving the train.

22 // maroon weekly Feb. 2, 2012 www.maroonweekly.com

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