9-5-12

9.5.12 Issue 221

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meet the team

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Shepperd

Maroon Weekly 216 W. 26th Street ste 29 Bryan, Texas 77803 ph: 979.574.3200 | @maroonweekly Š Copyright 2012 Campus Press LP 1st copy is FREE, additional copies are $0.50 each

MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mike Carreon BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd ACCOUNT MANAGER Tyler Stillwell

WRITERS

Brandon Nowalk Anthony Pannone Christina Vetter PHOTOGRAPHERS Eesha Farooqi Brittany Hicks CONTRIBUTORS Defacto Productions EatBCS.com KISS 103.1 KORA 98.3

INTERNS Sarah Dean Eesha Farooqi Becca St. Germain Brittany Hicks Luke Murray Ike Ntube Lauren Rohr Eszter Trufan DISTRIBUTION Caleb Holt Eugene Holub

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.

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.

Green River Ordinance

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@Grand Stafford Theater

by Ike Ntube

One of the staples of Downtown Bryan entertainment, The Grand Stafford Theater, is back and newly renovated. The Stafford’s stage that has been graced by the likes of No Doubt, Lyle Lovett, Green Day, and the venue has gained a loyal following over the years for its highcapacity space and for the groups it’s hosted. For its first post-renovation weekend, the Grand Stafford Theater is pulling out all the stops by bringing in headliner Green River Ordinance.

the Top 40. After releasing their major label album, they decided to walk away from their contract. After making it to where most bands never go, GRO walked and took full creative control of their music with their own independent label. GRO’s new independent album, Under Fire, was released in early February of this year and the band has been touring consistently ever since.

The Fort Worth based band gets their name from a 1930s city ordinance that outlawed salesmen soliciting their products from door to door. But contrary to the law, GRO has solicited their music to fans in countless venues over the past 12 years. The band has released many Top 40 radio singles in the past decade and they’ve featured songs on 56 television shows.

Opening for GRO, John David Kent will please your ears with his rich three-part harmonies and fresh twists on sounds that channel a mix of Waylon Jennings and Creedance Clearwater Revival. John David Kent’s “My Girl” garnered immediate attention after the video became the “Pick of the Week” recently on CMT.com and was added to CMT’s Pure Country rotation.

GRO’s sound has always had Christian undertones that at times flirt with Christian rock, but their music bridges the gap between the heavens and life on earth, with soulful songs about timeless themes of jilted love and new romance.

Under their record deal with Capital Records, their debut album reached number ten on Billboards Heatseekers chart and saw two singles, “Come On” and “On Your Own”, break

pg 4 | maroonweekly.com | 9.5.12

Scan this code for ticket information

The Niblett Trivia Question: www.facebook.com/kiss1031

Name the three main male characters from Full House.

Tweet your answer to @maroonweekly and @nibsradio for your chance to win! *must mention both in order to be considered*

All Joking Aside, Schotzi’s Comedy Night is Full of Laughs

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9.6 - THURSDAY

by Luke Murray

Cody Johnson’s intermingling of rock and country music has pushed him straight towards the top of the Texas music charts (“Nobody to Blame”). While originally opening for other artists, Johnson has rattled and rolled his way across Texas dance halls. Recipient of Texas’ Regional Music Awards “New Male Vocalist of the Year” in 2011, Johnson is venturing to the Bud Light Stage of the Brazos County Expo for a night of country music and 2-steppin’.—10:00pm— Brazos County Expo—5827 Leonard Road, Bryan

If you want a table, we recommend arriving early; otherwise, the person on stage won’t be the only one standing up. But good news: If you’re a Ramen-fed college student, you’ll be delighted to know that comedy night is free to the public.

In addition to humorous back-to-back stand-up, the show also mixed in a little improv. Influenced by the comedy show “Who’s Line is it Anyway?”, Schotzi’s improv comes with a unique twist: the audience gets to interact and have direct input as to what roles the comedians play during their skits.

You can imagine where this goes...when you add alcohol.

Maybe you’re the next Zach Galifianakis or Eddie Murphy(early Murphy, when he was funny)? You can test out your jokes on Wednesdays, too.

Dallas-based Ishi’s unity of folk instrumentation, soul, and funk with soundscapes of electronic dance music are a treat for your ears and feet. They’ll share the stage with the high-energy rock band, The 71’s, the electronic dance beats of GOBI, and the psych pop rhythms by Featherface.

—8:30pm—Grand Stafford Theater—106 S Main St, Bryan— (Presale: $10), (At the Door: $12)

Cody Johnson @ Brazos Valley Fair

Schotzi’s is funny. And we don’t mean that in a derogatory way. The venue’s popular Comedy Night has become a fixture of the local laughs scene, drawing in tons of Aggies and locals each week to have their funny bones tickled.

The atmosphere is like an intimate lounge in New York City bred with a tinge of Texas attitude. Wednesday, August 29 marked Schotzi’s official Back to School Comedy Show.

The show featured a group of seven to eight comedians from Texas and beyond.

ISHI @ Grand Stafford Theater

8.31 - FRIDAY

Free Verse @ MSC

The MSC Woodson Black Awareness Committee is hosting the nationally traveling duet Free Verse at Rudder Fountain (located between Rudder and the MSC). The focus of their poetic content is the history of Africa and African Americans.

To create a more coffee-shop ambiance, beverages will be provided.—MSC—275 Joe Routt Boulevard, College Station—Free.

First Yell @ Kyle Field

For the first time ever, as a celebration of Texas A&M’s move to the SEC, a concert will be hosted on Kyle Field.

Performers will include Robert Earl Keen (‘78), Rick Trevino (’93) and Granger Smith (’02). Tickets can be purchased from the 12th Man Foundation ticket office by visiting 12thmanfoundation.com or by calling 1-888-992-4443.— 8:00pm—Kyle Field—Texas A&M University—Cost Varies.

LISTEN 9.5.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 5

Grupo Fantasma @ Grand Stafford Theater

9.6 - FRIDAY

Make plans to be in Downtown Bryan for a night of Latin persuasion mixed with some jam seshing. Grammy award winning Grupo Fantasma takes the stage at Grand Stafford Theater with a potent Latin mix of dance numbers.

Performing with them are El Tule & Strawberry Jam, hailing from Austin and College Station respectively. Each of these three acts produce a musical experience that, when combined, might shake the house down.—8:00pm—Grand Stafford Theater—106 S Main St, Bryan—(Presale: $12), (At the Door: $15).

Brandon Rhyder @ Brazos Valley Fair

With a decidedly Southern rock sound, Rhyder has had hit after hit (3 Top 20 singles, 2 Top 10 singles, 3 Top 5 singles and 2 No. 1 singles with “Rock Angel” and “Before I Knew Your Name”). On September 7, performing live on the Bud Light Stage at the Brazos County Expo, Rhyder will add some Southern rock to the country lineup.—10:00pm— Brazos County Expo—5827 Leonard Road, Bryan—Free

9.8 - SATURDAY

Green River Ordinance @ GST

After earning some much deserved recognition in the past few years (with a couple top 40 radio singles, videos on MTV and VH1, and tours with the likes of Collective Soul, Goo Goo Dolls, and Train) Green River Ordinance brings their powerhouse of rock/pop to the Grand Stafford Theater. Along with opener John David Kent, who’s sounds are channeled from American icons of rock and country, a night with these two will restore your faith in burned-out genres.—8:00pm—Grand Stafford Theater—106 S Main St, Bryan—(Presale: $10), (At the Door: $12)

The Docs @ Church Street

The Docs are a harmonious blend of traditional Southern music and progressive rock The groovy rock band is only days away from releasing a new 7-song EP after a successful Kickstarter campaign helped them accomplish their budget..—11:00pm—Church Street—100 Church Street, College Station—Free

9.11 - TUESDAY

Breakaway @ Kyle Field

Non-denominational Breakaway Ministries’ events have already set a record for attendance, and Tuesday’s assembly of worship, inspiration and entertainment will surely set yet another one. @ Kyle Field!—9:00pm—Kyle Field—Texas A&M University—Free

maroonweekly.com/events

LISTEN pg 6 | maroonweekly.com | 9.5.12

Grupo Fantasma, El Tule and strawberryJAM @ Grand Stafford Theater

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by Sarah Dean

Music lovers rejoice: The Grand Stafford Theater is back and better than ever. With a semester lineup that reads like a “Who’s Who” of regional, national, and international talent, the theater will be blasting its doors open full force with an energetic First Friday debut of Latin and American jam bands. On Friday night, Grupo Fantasma, El Tule, and strawberryJAM will follow up the newly renovated venue’s opening night(Thursday) with bands highly-regarded for both their musicianship and dance-inducing fervor.

Grupo Fantasma is an award-winning act; but they haven’t won just any award—they’ve won the most coveted award: a Grammy. Their self-produced release, El Existential, was revered in critic’s circles, with the Wall Street Journal writing “Latin music both new and traditional [with] vibrant fusions that transcend easy classification.” The Huffington Post proclaimed the record was a “sound done so right that you have to hand the crown to [them].” The Latin funk masters are a firehot ensemble hailing from Austin, Texas, comprised of a full 10-piece band. They’ve graced the stage of Bonnaroo and their music can be heard in some of today’s most popular television shows (Breaking Bad, Weeds). They’ve also been Prince’s backing band in previous years.

El Tule is a Latin group that marries the melodic musica of cumbia, merengue, salsa, and reggae.

El Tule orchestrates songs about legends and mystical tales, uniting music with art and history.

Vivacious and spirited in sound, El Tule’s music appeals to listeners as much as dancers, crafting dance tracks that’ll rattle the theater and streets of Downtown Bryan. Fan favorites, such as “Tres Viudas”, tell the story of three dancing widows in San Antonio, and “La Ruta Maya” pays homage to the fabled Mayan Route, while “Mi Niño” is evocative of childhoods in border towns.

To close out the night, local favorites strawberryJAM(now headquartered in Austin) will take your already-sweaty bodies and drench them further. The spontaneous 6-piece makes music that channels 60s funk, electronica, and classic rock. Chaotic and high-energy, strawberryJAM rocketed in local fandom as a group that engages their audience in soulful, jam-band athleticism. In fact, they’ll most likely be sweating more than the audience; the group is known to have upwards of 13 musicians on stage at a time, strumming and drumming for hours.

The trio of performances is set to electrify the newly renovated theater on Friday, September 7, from 8pm till 2am.

Fun for Everyone

@

Brazos Valley Fair and Expo

by Sarah Dean

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Lone-Star flourishes at the Brazos Valley Fair and Expo are planned for a three-day convocation of music, family-friendly activities, and good ole Texas-themed fun. Beginning on September 6th, the BV Fair & Expo runs until the 9th of September.

The Brazos Valley Fair & Expo is a non-profit corporation that began in 2010. The regional fair’s scope embraces Texas(and surrounding states) and offers a vast range of activities for people of all ages. Kids have an opportunity to visit the fair’s petting zoo, take pony rides, and root on their favorite pig at the pig races, while adults can enjoy an art show or try their luck on a mechanical bull. Attendees are welcome to watch actual bull riders, as well. The Cadillac Rodeo Company is joining the Brazos Valley Fair & Expo this year. The group has won numerous awards including Bull, Saddle Bronc Horse, Bare Back Horse, and Stock Contractor of the Year awards in the CPRA. Showcasing the country way of ranch-life, teams from across the Brazos Valley will demonstrate their rodeo talents, as well, with sorting, branding, and stray gathering demonstrations.

A highly anticipated carnival hosted on the fairground’s 5.2 acres will be open all four days of the festival, and carnival wristbands cost $25 per day or one fee of $60 for a Mega Pass allowing you to access four days of carnival rides.

If you want a taste of rivalry, numerous competitions are being held throughout the event.

From an Iron Chef-type food challenge(competitors must create a dish with predetermined ingredients) to a Western Art Show for youth, to two livestock shows(one for juniors and another that is open, showcasing goats, heifers, steers and lambs).

Are you a singer? Every wanted to test your vocal chords prior to trying out for American Idol?

For $15 (soloists) or $30 (groups/choirs), melodically-inclined folks can participate in a gospel music competition that will take place on September 9th at 3pm in the fair’s ballroom. Prizes for the gospel competition include Best Gospel Choir, Best Gospel Group, Best Gospel Soloist and Most Creative Gospel Performance.

If you’re not hungry for rivalry but just plain hungry, the festival will also feature an authentic Chuck Wagon, The Soup Bone Cattle Company, where you can learn about life on the trail and munch on a biscuit supplied by Pioneer Mills.

Rounding out each night, the Bud Light Stage will feature some of the biggest names in country music: Cody Johnson (recipient of Texas’ Regional Music Awards “New Male Vocalist of the Year” in 2011), Fred Andrews & Honeybrowne (popular songs include “Texas Angel”, “Beautiful Waste of Time”, and “Right Right Now”), Brandon Rhyder (two Top 10 singles, three Top 5 singles and two #1 singles with “Rock Angel” and “Before I Knew Your Name”), and Rick Trevino (a TAMU graduate of ‘93; popular songs include “Running Out of Reasons to Run”, “I Only Get This Way with You”, and “Bobbie Ann Mason.”

Tickets(season passes and carnival mega passes) are available at Cavender’s, all Commerce Bank locations, and Producer’s Cooperative. Ticket prices range $10 for adults aged 13 & Older; $5 for youth aged 4-12; $25 for season passes; children age 3 & under are free. For more information, visit the BV Fair & Expo website at brazosvalleyfair.com for an event map, registration forms, parking, and event scheduling.

LISTEN 9.5.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 7

Mic Check Poetry @ Revolution Café and Bar

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by Eszter Trufan

It’s 8 o’clock, and as the time draws near, Poets prepare verses for ears.

Bleeding hearts and happy cheers, All will find their place in here.

Go, join them, pick up the mic; Your words are important, welcome the night.

On Sundays at 8:30pm, Revolution Cafe and Bar hosts Mic Check Poetry, an evening where local and traveling poets showcase their skill with words while you enjoy the final moments of your weekend. We caught up with Billy Moran, the standing president of Mic Check Poetry, to get the scoop about MCP at the cafe.

MW: How would you describe the general ambiance of the night?

Moran: We pride ourselves on keeping a fun and supportive environment. Mic Check isn’t your run-of-the-mill coffee shop reading—we encourage our audience to respond to what they hear on stage and give the poet support through cheering, snapping, clapping, and so on. We go to great lengths to keep the show entertaining and immersive, so that our audience can’t wait to return to hear more poetry.

MW: How many people do you usually have at MCP and how many of them perform?

Moran: On well-attended nights, we’ve had 60-100 people come out to hear poetry (with audience members even listening through windows from outside), and almost 30 people sign up to read. Usually, though, it’s around 50 audience members with about 15 poets. Anyone is welcome to read.

MW: Which part of slam poetry do you think the audience appreciates most: the poem or the performance?

Moran: I think the audience appreciates a nice marriage of both poetry and performance, rather than one or the other. It all starts with the words on a page, but a great poet is able to deliver those words in a way that adds special meaning to the poem itself and to invite the audience into his or her experience. If the words on the page are a chef’s ingredients, the delivery and performance is the actual act of cooking.

If the words on the page are a chef’s ingredients, the delivery and performance is the actual act of cooking.

MW: What happens when the poets don’t have a dynamic stage presence? Does anyone get booed?

Moran: It’s pretty common for newer poets to have a fairly stoic stage presence, since they’re not yet comfortable with sharing their work and have to battle their nerves. The audience, though, is very forgiving and focuses on the power of their words more than anything else. I’ve personally never seen a poet booed before; I’d be very surprised if it happened.

MW: Poets can be habitually shy. How do you motivate them to step up to the mic?

Moran: We inspire new poets to share their work through the supportive environment that I illustrated. Mic Check can be characterized as an open stage; anyone and everyone is welcome to walk up and read. We make sure to emphasize this, and lead by example—by reading unpolished and personal work regularly, we make ourselves vulnerable and demonstrate to others that it’s perfectly okay to do so.

MW: Do you also perform? And if so, what inspires you?

Moran: Yes! In fact, many of Mic Check’s members are poets as well, even if they don’t perform regularly. Inspiration comes from a variety of sources: local/national events and issues, daily life routines, relationships, a wandering kid-like imagination, and the list goes on.

LISTEN pg 8 | maroonweekly.com | 9.5.12

Although we don’t have an explicit rule about it, booing has never been an issue. Our environment is one of mutual support and camaraderie. Again, we operate under the idea that everyone has something important to say. This attitude is so evident in the atmosphere of Mic Check that our open mics and slams naturally turn out to be an overall positive experience for everyone involved –from first-time readers to audience members to seasoned veterans. It’s a celebration—of our words and collective experience—more than anything else. And it’s tons of fun!

MW: Is there a prize at the end of the night?

Moran: Aside from the personal gratification of winning our monthly poetry slam, there is indeed a prize for the top three poets—usually a gift card to Target or a local business.

Free Verse: Speak Up

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by Sarah Dean

For poetry duo Free Verse, spoken word still holds power in an age of 140-character Tweets. Unyielding in their performances, the duo crafts high-energy spoken word that’s socially conscious and insightful. Winners of the 2011 National Poetry Slam as part of Denver’s SlamNUBA team, Free Verse has traveled across the globe, carrying their poetry to an international audience.

The duet, composed of Dominique Ashaheed and Avinde Russell, captures their audiences by feeding off each other’s spirited and charged poetics like jazz performers playing off each other’s solos. Free Verse seamlessly v o l l e y verses back and forth, leaving no stone unturned; the duo poetically verbalizes topics ranging from happenings in our backyards to the impact of global politics. The duo’s multicultural insights and passion for teaching has assisted in making the duo a poetic force to be respected by Spoken Word and Slam communities around the globe.

@adamdrakeonair

Dominique Ashaheed has been slamming since February of 2011; she is relatively new to the spoken word scene, but her newbie status hasn’t hindered her talent. Using poignancy and earnestness in her poetry, Ashaheed claimed the 2012 Women of the World Poetry Slam championship. A gifted soloist, Ashaheed integrates harmonic vocals into her spoken word performances. She’s shared the stage with spoken word guru Saul Williams and musicians such as the Flobots. Thirsty for knowledge, Ashaheed holds two Master’s degrees; one in English Literature and one in Education, as well as having had her work published in literary journals (Ohio State Press, American Literary Journal) and numerous anthologies.

Josh Abbott called them a modern day Foster & Lloyd. HUGE compliment!

Avinde Russell, besides being a motivational speaker, is an accomplished scholar, poet, and educator. Claiming grand slam champions for two Denver slam teams, the Mercury Café and SlamNUBA, Russell has shared the spotlight with numerous HBO Def Jam poets (such as Gil Scott Heron, Eric Roberson, Dead Prez, Fred Hammond, The Last Poets, Georgia Me, Tommy Bottoms, and Black Ice). Russell is also a program manager for a Denver-based educational program called A Promising Future.

I’ve always been a Darius fan and this song speaks to believing in true love through the good times and the bad.

Commanding the stage with ferocity and passion, Free Verse is prolific and haunting in their imagery, with captivating lines like “The Ocean in her belly is the first song we ever swallow” and “This little light of mine makes the shadows of our oppressors look like music notes.” Vocal arrangements engage the audience,too, drawing listeners into a place where the sheer command of the poet can alter lives. The duo’s winning “Chain-Gang” piece impressed the crowd and the judges at the 2011 National Poetry Slam and illustrated the concept of unity shared by African American slaves and questioned its disappearance in this day and age.

A performance by Free Verse is more than entertainment; it’s a collection of historical content transformed into a rhythmic piece of poetry.

Presented by the MSC Woodson Black Awareness Committee, Free Verse will perform at Rudder Fountain Plaza on Friday, September 7. Drinks will be provided to enhance an intimate coffee shop atmosphere.

Rosehill “When the Flame Goes Out”

Darius Rucker “True Believers”

The Cadillac Black “Get Your Buzz On” These guys have a bright future. This song is kinda dirty in that good way!

Listen weekdays 3-7pm

Brantley Gilbert “Kick it in the Sticks” I know BG Nation is huge, but his tunes just don’t do it for me. Sounds more like 3 Doors Down than country.

LISTEN 9.5.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 9

Grand Stafford Theater

by Chris Zebo

There’s a new buzz coming from Downtown Bryan, and it’s most likely coming from a guitar amp at the newly-renovated Grand Stafford Theater. The century-old theater has played host to some of the biggest names in the music industry, and the venue’s new managing partners, Cody Marx Bailey and Jose Arredondo, promise to reinvigorate the theater’s storied stage and the town’s growing music scene. We caught up with Bailey and Arredondo to catch a glimpse of what’s new at the theater and what concertgoers can expect once its doors swing open this Thursday night.

MW: Many people don't know this, but the Grand Stafford Theater has a colorful history, with numerous major-label and A-list minor-label performers gracing its stage. Talk a little about the history of the theater itself and also name some of the performers that have played there.

Stafford: We were very fortunate to inherit a building like the Stafford Theater. Being a hundred years old, there is plenty of history inside the building.

We've done our best to try and put some of the rumors to rest, facts checked and heresay confirmed.

After doing that, we found that acts such as Green Day, No Doubt, Lyle Lovett, Asleep at the Wheel as well as lesser known, but equally impressive bands such as Fugazi, Dead Horse, Gwar and Jesus Lizard have played here. If history and ghosts of previous performers have anything to do with our success, then we're definitely setting ourselves up for good things.

MW: On the entertainment roster for the next few months, there's a little of something for everyone.

From indie acts to country stars, from Latin groups to singer-songwriters. Who are some of the groups you're most excited about?

LISTEN pg 10 | maroonweekly.com | 9.5.12

Stafford: That's a tough question to answer. It's like asking someone their favorite Beatles song. For Cody, it would have to be The Flatlanders or Octopus Project. Jose's picks are Bright Light Social Hour and David Ramirez. To be honest, it's hard for us to really pick just a few. We've worked really hard to make sure each night, weekend, and month is solid.

MW: It has been rumored that you're investing heavily into the culture of mixology, and a lot of thought has gone behind cocktails, martinis, etc.

What can the over-21-crowd expect at the bar?

Stafford: We have plans to release our cocktail menu at our grand opening over the course of the First Friday weekend. Since we need to cater to both the Texas country dancehall folks and at the same time make sure that our jazz crowd are both serviced properly, we are going to have a very wide array of offerings. A large craft beer selection that rotates new tastes in and out as well as spirits and classic cocktails that have a seasonal appeal will be behind the bar.

MW: The theater has undergone numerous renovations in the past month in preparation to open.

What were some of the improvements you made that directly effect the appeal and operation of the venue?

Stafford: Capacity. In order to bring in the size of the acts we've booked, we needed to make sure we had enough room for the listeners. Aside from the more functional pieces, like a new roof, HVAC system, and bathrooms, we also payed a lot of attention to sound and lighting. Our number one product is the performance. We've hired a group of sound engineers to dial in the exact specs for our venue so the sound will be as good as any venue our size in the state.

For more information about the Grand Stafford Theater and to see a line-up of upcoming concerts, visit the theater's website at www.grandstaffordtheater.com

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First Yell Goes Country for SEC Debut

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by Ike Ntube

For the past thirteen years, First Yell has been an annual catalyst to stimulate excitement for the king of all Texas sports: football. In the past, the event was held in Reed Arena and featured a speaker(usually a comedian), but this year is different. This year, First Yell is bringing music to Kyle Field. With a different conference comes a different celebration, right? The concert will feature three former students of the university: Robert Earl Keen (’78), Rick Trevino (’93), and Granger Smith (’02).

Keen is a storyteller songwriter with a country/Americana/folk sound and he’s been performing for more than two decades.

Needless to say, he’s told many stories. He performs mostly at large venues but is still humble enough to take some smaller gigs (not that this is one of them). Keen is most known for his song “The Road Goes on Forever”, which you would probably recognize in bars all over the state(you’ve probably heard the track playing in HEB, too, of all places).

Rick Trevino is a Mexican American country singer. But he’s not a Tejano singer crossing over; he’s come at it from the opposite direction, recording his first album in both English and Spanish as a country artist first and with Tejano flourishes second. During the 90s, Trevino rose in popularity as a Hispanic country singer reminiscent of the mid 70s country sound. The Garth Brooks-inspired musician has had his fair share of success with 7 studio albums, 14 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and his most famous single, “Running out of Reasons to Run”, reaching number one.

Grainger Smith is most known locally for his Aggie-pride filled anthem “We Bleed Maroon”, he released in 2007.

Aside for his love of Texas A&M, Smith has quietly released 7 top ten singles, performed at the White House 3 times, and has taken 3 patriotic Middle Eastern tours to play for American soldiers. His newest album, Poets & Prisoners, has made 2011 his biggest career year thus far. Building on his success, Smith is climbing up the ranks of Texas country while staying truly maroon.

To get more information on First Yell, tickets, and for more about these Aggie musicians, visit yell.tamu.edu/firstyell.

LISTEN pg 12 | maroonweekly.com | 9.5.12

Scan this code for ticket information

Texas A&M Meet the Aggies

Drama and anticipation fill the air in College Station as the Texas A&M Aggies prepare to play their first football game of the 2012 season. This game represents a long list of firsts for the Aggies.

It is their first game in the SEC. First game under a new coaching staff. First career start for Redshirt Freshman Johnny Manziel.

Adding to the anticipation and anxiety is the fact that the first scheduled game of the year for A&M was postponed due to bad weather conditions. This has worked the 12th man into a frenzy.

QB - Johnny Manziel

After Ryan Tannehill was drafted 8th in the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, the Aggies had big shoes to fill while looking for a new QB. This spring it seemed apparent that Jamiel Showers would take the reins and lead the Aggies into a new conference. But as fall camp got underway Johnny Manziel quickly made a name for himself and worked his way into the starting role.

LB - Sean Porter

Photos courtesy of Aggie Athletics

Manziel will be taking his first collegiate snap against the #24 team in the nation.

Texas A&M has named red-shirt freshman Johnny Manziel (Kerrville, Texas) their starting quarterback for the 2012 season.

Manziel had a remarkable high school football career, which sets hopes high for Aggies. During his senior year in high-school he was 225-of-343 (65.6%) passing for 3,559 yards with 44 TDs and 5 INTs. He also had 171 carries for 1,695 yards and 30 TD’s.

Notable Former Students Mike Fossum

Astronaut

Lyle Lovett

Grammy Award Winning Singer

Rick Perry

Texas Govenor

Roland Martin

Journalist

Stacy Sykora

Volleyball Olympian

Gary Kubiak

Houston Texans Head Coach

Von Miller

Denver Broncos

Ryan Tannehill

Miami Dolphins

John David Crow

Heisman Trophy Winner

Texas A&M linebacker Sean Porter (Schertz, Texas) was the Aggies top defender last season when he received first-team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press.

Porter was one of the best in the Big 12 last season with 79 tackles and led the team with 9.5 sacks and came in second in tackles with 17 for a loss. The Aggies can only hope they will have a repeat performance from Porter for their first season in the SEC.

College Station, Texas - Founded 1876 - 50,004 students - School Colors: Maroon and White - Mascot: Reveille

HOWDY

Florida Meet the Gators

The Florida Gators come in to Kyle Field with a 1-0 record on the season after a first week win vs. Bowling Green. In similar fashion to Texas A&M, Florida had a tight race for the starting QB job.

Heading into the first game in Gainesville head coach Will Muschamp (in his 2nd year with the Gators) had not made up his mind. Sophomores Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett could not manage to distance themselves from each other as fall camp dragged on. So Muschamp made the logical decision to give them both a shot in week one.

QB - Jeff Driskel

Florida Gators will be giving sophomore quarterback, Jeff Driskel (Oviedo, Fla.), a chance to start in the first half of the season opener with Texas A&M. The Gators are counting on Driskel’s arm strength, speed, and size to bring the team to a victory over the Aggies.

Driskel has been active in five games and completed 16 of 34 passes for 148 yards.

Driskel took advantage of the opportunity and took control of the starting job heading into the Gators’ week two matchup with Texas A&M. Driskel (10/16 114 yds, 1TD) was efficient as he led the Gator offense to a 27-14 win.

The last time these two teams faced each other was 1977. Texas A&M won that game (Sun Bowl) 37-14.

Notable Former Students Erin Andrews

Fox Sports Reporter

Abby Wambach

U.S Women’s Soccer Team

Bob Graham

Former Senator

Bob Vila

TV Personality

Wendy Thomas

Daughter of Dave Thomas

Udonis Haslem

Miami Heat

Tim Tebow

NY Jets

Steve Spurrier

South Carolina Head Coach

Marco Rubio

U.S. Senator/Florida

LB - Ronald Powell

The University of Florida’s junior BUCK linebacker, Ronald Powell (Moreno Valley, Calif.), joined the Florida Gators football team in 2010 and is considered to be one of the best in his class. Powell has 25 career appearances, 13 starts for Florida, has collected 57 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Gainesville, Florida - Founded 1853 - 49,589 students - School Colors: Orange and Blue - Mascot: Albert & Alberta

GATORS

Tweet your Northgate PICS for a chance to WIN our GAMEDAY WEEKEND GRAND PRIZE (Valued at over $75. Includes 2 Ziegfest tickets, 2 Ren Fest tickets, and 2 tickets to a concert at Grand Stafford Theater)

#8 La Bodega

102 Church Ave.

#9 Café Eccell

101 Church Ave.

#1

Schotzi’s/Skyy Bar 205 University Dr.

#2

Zapato’s

211 University Dr.

#3

Daisy Dukes

217 University Dr.

#4

O’Bannon’s Taphouse 103 Boyett St.

#5

Paddock Lane

109 Boyett St.

#6

Tipsy Turtle

113 Boyett St.

Live Acts, Sports Bar down, Lounge upstairs, large patio outside.

Baja style Taco Bar serving Famous Mexican Martinis. Large Patio

Wood fired pizza and wine bistro. Global fare with outdoor seating.

Young*Wild*Country. Northgate’s largest venue. Fun Bartenders.

#17 Freebirds World Burrito 319 University Dr. #25 Kyoto Sushi

113 College Main

Irish pub with wide beer & whiskey selection as well as live music.

#29 Happy Yogurt #33 Antonio’s Pizza

315 Church Ave. 104 College Main

Pub-style establishment with casual atmosphere & a relaxed patio.

#37 Pita Pit #39 Potato Shack #40 Domino’s Pizza #41 Potbelly Sandwich Shop

403 University Dr. 405 University Dr. 409 University Dr. 409B University Dr.

#42 Starbucks #43 Daily Ruckus

409 University Dr. 311 Church Ave.

Wide variety of gourmet Pizza by the slice. Open Late!

Good Vibes. Great Sandwiches.

Head over for their wide selection of popular frozen drinks

#10 Fitzwilly’s Bar and Grill 303 University Dr.

A two-story entertainment venue with great food & live music.

#11 Dry Bean Saloon

305 University Dr.

#13 Dixie Chicken

307 University Dr.

#14 Duddley’s Draw

311 University Dr.

#16 Mad Hatters

317 University Dr.

#20 Basil Whippets

329 University Dr.

#24 Gatsby’s

111 College Main

This popular shot bar fits College Station with its country look!

A Longstanding Texas A&M tradition, this bar & grill is a must see!

Stop on by this watering hole for its laid back, rustic atmosphere.

Relaxed Pub downstairs & Apothecary lounge upstairs.

#18 Wells Fargo

321 University Dr.

Full bank services in a quick walk up setting. ATM outside.

43

#19 Texas Aggieland Bookstore 327 University Dr.

44

Featuring A&M gifts and apparel since 1969!

#22 Northgate Babershop 107 College Main

Get a haircut at the traditional location the Corps of Cadets visit

#28 Rebel Draft House 301 College Main #32 Corner Bar & Grill 401 University Dr.

Popular 3 Story bar with a wide menu a great rooftop party deck!

#34 Hookah Station

106 College Main

#35 Foundation Room

108 College Main

#36 Social Lounge

100 College Main

One-of-a-kind Northgate club with an upstairs hookah lounge!

#22 Sarge’s

109 College Main

#31 Maroon Bikes

313 Church Ave.

Get “Social” with great live DJ’s at this dance club hotspot!

#38 Northgate Vintage

403 University Dr.

Relax and enjoy a drink or bite to eat, with TV’s inside and out.

Find Army Surplus at this Store serving the Corps for over 30 years.

Airless. Chainless. Bicycles.

#26 Logan’s On Campus 201 College Main

HOWDY

#27 Cedar Lane

303 College Main

Romantic patio, darts, pool, giant Jenga, Projection TV & full bar!

#7 Church St. Blues and BBQ 100 Church Ave. #44 Hurricane Harrys 313 College Ave.

Large Country dancehall & live music venue.

Dining & Nightlife Voted Best of BCS 2012

http:\\www.AggieSportsShow.com

Streamed LIVE every Thursday @ 7:00PM Postgame Analysis Insider Info on Football, Basketball, Baseball & More Recruiting Info and Analysis All Shows Available for Streaming or Download

Sponsored By:

BEST DINING Best BBQ C&J’s BBQ Best Sports Bar

Fox & Hound

Best FroYo Red Mango Best Wings Wings ‘N More Best Mobile Cuisine

Chef Tai’s Mobile Bistro

Best Mexican Food

Casa Rodriguez

Best Breakfast Tacos Fuego Best Food Delivery

Potato Shack

Best Chicken Fingers

Layne’s

Best Burger

Chicken Oil Company

Best Pizza Antonio’s Best Ethnic Food

Genghis Grill

Best Italian Food

Caffé Capri

Best Steak The Republic Best Asian Food

w w w . w e b s i d e r. c o m

TAMUGear.com

T. Jin China Diner

Best Margarita Ninfa’s Best Sandwich

Blue Baker

Best Coffee Shop

Muldoon’s

Best After Hours Place to Eat

Rusty Taco

Best Dessert Red Mango Best New Restaurant

Chuy’s

BEST NIGHTLIFE Best Live Entertainment

Hurricane Harry’s

Best Karaoke The Tap A Xerox Company

Best Open Mic

Village Café

Best Country Dance Hall

Hurricane Harry’s

Best Dancing

Salsa Dancing @ Village Café

Best Signature Drink

Cherry Limeade @ Sonic

Best Bar/Nightclub

Dixie Chicken

Best Shot Bar

Dry Bean

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

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

866.973.5389

Lanna Thai

W

While Bryan/College Station boasts a wide variety of restaurants for a community our size, something was sorely missing from our cuisine scene: Thai food. Lanna Thai recently opened its doors on Texas Avenue to fill that need.

Entering Lanna Thai, it’s decorative and clean—but shoji screens remaining from the previous tenant make the place feel a little like a Japanase restaurant. However, the decor is still very tasteful with some Thai touches, and I didn’t come to look at the walls anyway. I came to satisfy a longing for Thai Food.

My Chicken Pad Thai ($10.95), which consists of long, thin, flat rice noodles sautéed with egg, scallions and ground peanuts, came out steaming hot, except for the fresh bean sprouts on the side, which were appropriately chilly.

I had to wait a minute or two before it was cool enough to dig in, but when I did, the first bite was blissful. It had just the right amount of sweetness and spice, one of the reasons I enjoy Thai cuisine.

8.30 - THURSDAY

You get two of everything, along with sweet and sour, soy ginger and Lanna’s special sauce for dipping. The appetizer was artfully arranged with the egg rolls and spring rolls cut in half for easy munching.

Though everything tasted good, the steamed dumplings in soy ginger sauce stood out as the one item from the sampler that I’ll probably order again as an appetizer. The crab rangoons were also excellent with just enough spice to make them stand out.

Painting with a Twist is the answer! The “twist” is that you can bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage** to enjoy during the class. At the end of the evening, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind creation and a newfound talent you might want to explore. This is not your average art class; this is art entertainment. $35. Painting with a Twist - 1643 Texas Avenue South, College Station.

$5 Domestic Pitchers @ Daisy Dukes

Enjoy $5 Domestic Pitchers all night long at Daisy Dukes!

Daisy Dukes - 217 University Drive, College Station.

Shrimp Boil @ The Tap

8.31 - FRIDAY

The Tap is hosting their mighty Shrimp Boil: Peel and Eat Shrimp every Friday! The Tap - 815 Harvey Road, College Station.

The only down side to Lanna Thai is that it isn’t cheap; but it’s not as expensive as you may have heard.

Sunset Tour @ Messina Hof

Toast the sunset with a glass of Messina Hof sparkling wine! Stroll around the Bryan-estate with spectacular views of the lake and vineyards. After the tour, delight in a flight of Messina Hof wines paired with delectable tapas at the Wine Bar. $10. Messina Hof - 4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan.

On the dinner menu, they offer about ten entrees that are priced over $17.95, but they also have an equal number of entree items under $14. The appetizers are reasonable, most in the $7 range.

Celebrating Brewology @ Fox & Hound

If you’ve been yearning for Thai Food since you moved to Aggieland, you’ve got to get yourself over to Lanna Thai for your favorite dish.

Before the Pad Thai arrived, I ate one of each item on the Lanna’s Sampler ($10.95) appetizer platter. It’s a little pricey for an app, but it comes with egg rolls, Thai spring rolls, crab rangoons, fried shrimp, and steamed dumplings.

Wine and Paint @ Painting with a Twist

The entire month of August, Fox and Hound is Celebrating Brewology: The Science of Beer! Only one more weekend left! Fox & Hound - 505 University Dr, College Station.

9.3 - MONDAY

Margarita Monday’s @ Ozona’s

9.4 - TUESDAY

Happy Hour @ The Dixie Chicken

9.5 - WEDNESDAY

Whiskey Wednesdays @ The Corner

Dollar margaritas all day at Ozona’s every Monday! $1.

Ozona’s - 520 Harvey Road, College Station.

The 4-hour happy hour at The Dixie Chicken is every Tuesday night! They should call it the happy hours.

Every Wednesday is Whiskey Wednesday at The Corner with special whiskey drinks served all night long. The Corner - 401 University Drive, College Station.

Ladies Night @ Daisy Dukes

Daisy Dukes is hosting Ladies Night with 50-cent drinks all night! Also, one lucky lady wins $50 every hour! Daisy Dukes - 217 University Drive, College Station.

photo by: Cheyne Cegielski

EATBCS.COM

TASTE

9.5.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 21

First Friday @ Downtown Bryan

by Eszter Trufan

F

Forget TGIF; on Friday, September 7th it’s TGIFF (Thank God it’s First Friday)! Every first Friday in Downtown Bryan, the community floods the streets of Historic Downtown Bryan to celebrate local arts, to wine and dine, and to hear music both on the streets and inside venues throughout town.

This Friday, plan to have dinner in one of the local restaurants, to see a concert in the newly renovated Grand Stafford Theater, or to have a beer in the Village’s alleyway while enjoying live music.

All shops and restaurants in Downtown Bryan will be open and will try to lure you in with their wares. There will be live music playing on almost every street corner, as well, to soundtrack your shopping adventures.

There will be two bands playing at The Frame Gallery: the Randy Watkins Jazz Band will be performing inside from 6:30pm to 9:30pm

and ContraDiction will entertain outside on the street. Those who would like to participate in an art activity are encouraged to visit the store.

More music will be playing at several other venues across Downtown Bryan, so before you commit to just one band, have some ice cream and walk around for a bit. You may be surprised where the evening takes you.

While you’re on your hunt for the best band of the night, you might end up at Catalena Hatters for a “How Hats are Made”, behind-the-scenes demonstration, or you might stumble upon the the Stage Center Community Theater’s open house, where you can meet this season’s directors and learn about the theater all while you enjoy complimentary wine & cheese.

Focusing on just one thing at First Friday is not an easy feat. It’s okay, though: the festivities will last beyond midnight, so there is plenty of time to resume your search for the best music.

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There are a few slightly unconventional venues for live music: Burr’s Unfinished Furniture Store and the Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers office may surprise you.

If you like music with your dinner, or dinner with your music, LaSalle Cafe also provides live entertainment, and Cafe Capri hosts the Roseville Fair Old Time String Band outside, while you’re waiting in line for a coveted table.

But if you’re looking for the night’s “grandest” performance, head over to The Grand Stafford Theater, which will have recently opened its doors after a long hiatus. The venue is hosting

the Grammy-award winning Latin rock band Grupo Fantasma at 8pm.

With so much to see and so much to do, your feet may need a rest. For a small fee ($20 for 4 people), a horse-drawn carriage will take you on a tour of downtown.

You’ll get to hear about the town’s colorful history from a local as you peacefully roll through the streets. And for the kiddos and the families, stop by Sale Park after sundown where you can watch “How to Train Your Dragon” outside in the grass, away from the hustle and bustle.

Scan this code for more information about First Friday

Aggie Swing Cats Keep Swinging in Style

G

by Ike Ntube

Grainy old movies, black and white TV shows, and jazz music—that’s what a lot of people think when they hear you’re a swing dancer. But although it has its roots in a bygone era, swing never died. Like TV, it became more colorful. And across the nation, swing dance societies and clubs on campuses are keeping the dance not only alive but growing and innovating, as the Texas Aggie Swing Cats are doing at TAMU.

9.6 - THURSDAY

The group encourages individuals to come to their free events held weekly on campus. You can either learn how to dance, dance socially, or just watch others dance and live vicariously.

From 8pm to 9pm, the cats offer an introductory swing lesson for people to learn a few moves.

After the lesson, students can practice dancing until 11pm. All weekly dances are held at G. Rollie White 266.

Wine and Paint @ Painting with a Twist

The “twist” is that you can bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage to enjoy during the class. Come alone or invite your friends. Paint, canvas, and brushes are provided. At the end of the evening, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind creation and a newfound talent you might want to pursue. 7:00pm— Painting with a Twist—1643 Texas Avenue South, College Station-$35.

Karaoke @ Schotzi’s

Mixing alcohol with an open microphone always promises a good time, so swing by Schotzi’s for the classic “karaoke night”.—8:00pm—Schotzi’s—205 University Dr., College Station—Free.

Not really into dancing but you enjoyed watching So You Think You Can Dance? Well, you can watch the Texas Aggie Swing Cats performance team, named Ol’ Roc’s Lindyhoppers, perform locally or around the state when they perform each year across the Lone Star.

Ballroom Swing & Dance @ MSC

As a special event during the grand opening week of the Memorial Student Center, the Texas Aggie Swing Cats are having their weekly social moved to the Gates Ball Room (MSC 2400).

They will be joining the Texas A&M Ballroom Dance Association for a joint event that’ll either awe your eyes as a voyeur or make your feet ache if you take to the floor.

If you love ballroom and swing dancing, then the Texas Aggie Swing Cats are throwing a party in conjunction with TAMU’s ballroom group. A great way to break in the student center’s new wooden floors. Even if you don’t know how to dance, just watch others dance and live vicariously.—8:30pm—MSC—275 Joe Routt Boulevard, College Station—Free.

Wanna learn more about them? Attend a dance? Or even try out? Visit them at online at tasc. tamu.edu.

Salsa Friday’s @ Velocity

9.7 - FRIDAY

Get your Latin groove on every Friday night at Velocity Video Dance Bar. Complimentary salsa lessons are offered from 8:30 to 9:30 followed by social dancing. $1 drinks till midnight.—8:30pm—Velocity—913 Harvey Rd, College Station—Free

First Friday @ Downtown Bryan

Hosted on the first Friday of every month, First Fridays in Downtown Bryan is like a local festival on the streets. Enjoy tons of live music both on the streets and inside venues, shop at local businesses (open late), or enjoy a fine meal at one of numerous restaurants. —5:00pm—Downtown Bryan—Main Street, Bryan—Free.

9.8 - SATURDAY

Salsa Saturday’s @ Village Café

Voted Best Night of Dancing (2011 & 2012), Salsa Saturdays starts with a fun, “30-Minute Crash Course Salsa Lesson” followed by a hot night of dancing. Come prepared to sweat and to meet new people at this Aggie hot spot! Visit mambosentertainment.com for more details. —10:00pm— Village Café—210 W 26th St, Bryan—$5.

Florida vs. Texas A&M @ Kyle Field

In the first home game of the season, the Fightin’ Texas Aggies are taking on the Florida Gators. And it’s not only our first game, it’s our season opener after last week’s game was rescheduled.—2:30pm—Kyle Field—Texas A&M University

9.5.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 23

EVENTS

Open Mic Nights @ Revolution

C

Considered one of the longest-running open mic events, the popular night was created as an outlet to harbor an influx of artists that didn’t have anywhere to perform. Most of the musicians that participate on Wednesdays are locals, but people from all over the region have been known to take the mic. Although a lot of the performers are acoustic, in the past, the stage has hosted bands, comedians, and even poets.

9.3 - MONDAY

Open Mic @ Schotzi’s

Visit Schotzi’s for an opportunity to bare it all on stage.

Whether you consider yourself a songbird or the next Galifianakis of comedy; showcase your talents and enjoy a few minutes of fame or infamy.—8:00pm—Schotzi’s—205 University Dr., College Station—Free.

Pub Quiz @ Revolutuion

Do you know an inordinate amount of information? Then put it to good use at Revolutions Cafe and Bar’s Pub Quiz every Monday night. Bring a five person team and enjoy free shots, happy hour prices, a $25 bar tab to the winning team, or a $15 bar tab to the second place team, with extra points given for all the new people you bring!—9:00pm— Revolution Café & Bar—211B S Main St, Bryan—Free.

9.4 - TUESDAY

Wine and Paint @ Painting with a Twist

The “twist” is that you can bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage to enjoy during the class. Come alone or invite your friends. Paint, canvas, and brushes are provided. At the end of the evening, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind creation and a newfound talent you might want to pursue. 7:00pm—Painting with a Twist—1643 Texas Avenue South, College Station-$35

Absolute Karaoke @ O’bannon’s

Put your vocal acrobatics to the test! Every Tuesday, O’Bannon’s Tap House pairs with Absolute Karaoke and offers up the most talented (and, more likely, least talented) crooners in College Station.—10:00pm—O’Bannon’s Tap House—103 Boyett St., College Station—Free

9.5 - WEDNESDAY

Salsa Wednesdays @ Village Café

Salsa Wednesdays at the Village Cafe 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 to just let loose on the dance floor! Visit mambosentertainment.com for more details. —9:30pm— Village Café—210 W 26th St, Bryan—$8 lesson and dancing/$5 just dancing.

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Minus Revs’ regulars, the audience on Wednesday nights usually consists of the musicians’ close friends and spectators from Aggieland and Bryan. The night is a great opportunity for people who normally share their talents with friends in private settings to test their mettle on stage. It gives artists a chance to showcase their musical talents and also to test their comfort with performing in front of an audience.

Open Mic Night starts at 9pm and goes until 2am. Because returning artists eventually graduate and leave the area every year, Revolution is always looking for new students to come out and showcase their talents. All you need in order to perform is to show up, bring your own instruments, and play!

T

Tom Hardy is so magnetic he almost makes up for the rest of Lawless; not that it’s a bad movie so much as an unfocused one. It’s based on a true story the way the movie 2016 is—an artist’s rendering of a 3-dimensional person rather than the 3-dimensional person himself. Lawless follows the Bondurant boys, a gang of prohibitionist bootleggers in rural Virginia who have an agreement with the local law enforcement.

Lawless

by Brandon Nowalk

film The Proposition was a sweaty Australian western about an outlaw who has to turn in his brother, and 2009’s The Road was about a father and son who sacrifice their humanity for each other in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

One day, a Chicago thug comes to town to get the Bondurant boys under his heel, and the movie’s point of conflict takes off. Where it goes, nobody knows. There’s also a girl who falls in with the outlaws, and a rival gangster that enters the plot, and a shoehorned romance subplot, to boot. It’s a sprawling story that takes us across a rough country in an era of grittiness, but not one character really carries the plot along a straight line.

Lawless is similar; a family desperately holding tight in the face of an authoritarian crackdown, a story which tests the limits of morality and the bonds of family. But where Hillcoat’s previous films have the veneers of fables, set across mythic landscapes, Lawless goes baroque. The sets are delicately cluttered with dusty chic props; the layered costumes range from muddy roughnecks to ‘30s gangsters; the danger and violence ranges from rattlesnake to inferno. But Hillcoat comes off less as a strong auteur than as a tired farmer; he had all of the right seeds for a great film, he just didn’t know how to plant them.

Director John Hillcoat should be at home in this kind of story, a pulpy gut-punch about the bonds of family. Hillcoat’s 2005

If the pleasures of Lawless don’t come from the film’s unity, they are certainly in its pieces. Tom Hardy may

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well be the best actor of his generation. With the hulking physicality of Bane softened by a series of matriarchal cardigans, Hardy’s Forrest Bondurant is a coiled menace.

His first showdown with Guy Pearce’s Chicago enforcer is electric. Pearce is the other standout, and the razor-shorn part in his hair sometimes inflects more fear than some of the film’s violence.

As in the The Proposition, psychobilly icon Nick Cave wrote and scored Lawless, but he and Hillcoat gussy up their muscular B-flick with pretentious touches like opening and closing voice-overs about the power of family, courtesy of Shia Labeouf as the youngest Bondurant. It just couldn’t ring more false.

Drama | R |

toptwentyfilms

by Brandon Nowalk

1 The Possession

subversion, but the only thing Joss Whedon challenges here is Hulk continuity.

A girl buys an antique box without checking inside for ancient Jewish demons first, and now her parents must fight the curse.

15 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

2 Lawless

For the third year in a row—seriously, this kid is like a younger, boring Harry Potter—The Wimpy Kid returns to battle the doldrums of childhood. Now with more gay panic!

I’m still wincing from the part in Guy Pearce’s hair. John Hillcoat corrals his baroque gangster saga like a tired farmer more than an artist, but Tom Hardy lights up the screen.

16 Brave

3 The Expendables 2

4 The Bourne Legacy

5 ParaNorman

A little boy sees dead people in this spectacular, spooky, over-stuffed gem, paving the way for more horror-comedy cartoons. Weird is the new normal, gray is the new black, and Laika is the new Pixar.

6 The Odd Life of Timothy Green

It was only a matter of time before cinema invented the manic pixie dream kid. This one’s a wood nymph, but it’s still just Tuck Everlasting meets Marley and Me. It doesn’t deserve your tears.

7 The Dark Knight Rises

1/2

Nolan’s not a director. He’s a tinker: Mascot characterizations, Rube Goldberg emotions,

1/2

Another magical Pixar fable about a rebellious girl and her worried mother set in the mysterious Scottish highlands. I’d say to wake me when Pixar stumbles, but Cars 2 was just last year.

All those muscles and manly man poses are clear: It takes a real man to stand still and squeeze a trigger on an automatic weapon.

I wonder how much they paid the plastic surgeon.

You have to give them some credit: Instead of a Spiderman-style reboot with the same old origin story, Bourne spun off Jeremy Renner into a new franchise. It’s hectic absurdity, but it could be worse.

1/2

lifeless cityscapes, conveyor-belt music, bumper-sticker politics, and guillotine editing welded into a steel hunk. I’ve never rooted harder for the bad guys.

8 The Campaign

It’s like a scripted Christopher Guest mockumentary of a post-Citizens United political campaign that flies off the rails into schtick. Not even Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis can make that funny.

9 2016: Obama’s America

If we don’t act now, the president will transform America into a radical, unexceptional nation of socialist drones! If nothing else, pundit/director Dinesh D’Souza gets points for creativity. And for balancing Michael Moore.

10 Hope Springs

1/2

Someone finally adapted the flashing scene from Something’s Gotta Give into a good movie! Leave it to Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, and Steve Carell to turn schmaltz into truth.

11 Premium Rush

1/2

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a Manhattan bike messenger with a hot item and a deadly pursuer in this late summer surprise. It’s like if Roadrunner had a smartphone and a bunch of cool, stunt-actor friends.

12 Hit and Run

1/2

Punk’d discovery Dax Shepard writes, co-directs, and stars in this Tarantino wannabe about frank, poppy conversations between car chases. Fun cast, though: Kristen Bell, Tom Arnold, and Kristin Chenoweth deserve better.

13 Sparkle

Since it’s physically impossible to make a melodrama about a ‘60s Motown girl group without casting an American Idol, Jordin Sparks centers this Dreamgirls. Not even Whitney’s final performance distinguishes this parade of cliches.

14 The Avengers

As good as a corporate supermovie could be, probably, but it’s still your basic, plastic action-figure playset. He may be known for wry

17 Ice Age: Continental Drift

The prehistoric mammals and rodents are back for another, completely new adventure in the world of sitcom jokes for little kids. No, really: This one has a musical number with pirates.

18 The Amazing Spider-Man Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: There’s this orphan who gets bitten by this radioactive spider—no, this one’s totally different. It has Gwen Stacy. But seriously, Emma Stone is always good.

19 Total Recall

Apparently, what the original Total Recall needed was less humor. Sans Mars, sans Kuato, the remake is still wacky. It just takes itself really seriously. It’s the online fanboy’s worst creative tendencies adapted into a movie.

20 Ted

You’re never gonna believe this, but the creator of Family Guy made a movie about a man-child and a talking animal. What’s really crazy: It’s actually not bad!

LOOK

9.5.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 27

KYLE HOUSE GALLERY

by Eszter Trufan

F

For some people, redecorating means painting the walls a different color; for others, it’s as simple as replacing or adding some new fixtures. For Matt and Cassie Bobbitt, it means converting their special events facility, the Kyle House, into an art gallery in addition to an event space.

The newly transformed home will be presented to the public at a September 7 open house from 5pm to 9pm.

The historic home at 800 S. Bryan Ave was built in a beautiful Victorian style in 1898 by George Samuel Parker, the founder of the Parker Lumber Company. However, the house is not named after him but after its most famous resident, Dr. Edwin J. Kyle.

Dr. Kyle was the Dean of the Department of Agriculture at Texas A&M University from 1911 to 1944, a surname that also graces the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football Field.

After the Kyles, the house was converted into a special

LOOK

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events facility and functioned as such for 25 years. Then, in December 2009, the Global Events Group purchased the home and the owners decided to add some modern updates without compromising the historic elegance of the residence. While contemplating the best course of action for the remodel, the Bobbitts met Craig Hollinger, the former program director of the Brazos Valley Arts Council at a St. Patrick’s Day party.

The Irish saint smiled upon them that day: the Bobbits found the character they were searching for, and Hollinger found a new home where he could showcase local artists.

The transformation of the home began by replacing the busy and outdated wallpaper with a fresh coat of beige paint. The wood floors and wood-trimmed windows along with the neutral wall color provided an ideal canvas for the art that was to be mounted. One of the first artists to be featured in the new gallery is Barbara Gholson, whose paintings have

plenty of vibrant colors to liven up the rooms.

In the future, the work of artists from Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana will be showcased on a rotating basis. All paintings in the gallery will be for sale with profits benefiting the artists and the Kyle House.

The Kyle House will also remain available for private event bookings: weddings, baby showers, corporate retreats, private picnics, birthday parties and others. Starting the first week of September, it will also feature a new event that reflects its most recent transformation: weekly art classes will be hosted for children (7-17) beginning on Tuesday Sept. 4 and for adults on Thursday Sept. 6. The classes will be conducted by a professional artist and will be accompanied by dinner.

To find out more about the Kyle House and their private events, visit their website at thekylehouse.com.

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