11.13.13 - VOL. 10, NO. 13 - MAROONWEEKLY.COM
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attn: High School Seniors
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contents
11.14-11.20
meet the team PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brittany Hicks ASST. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bekah Skinner LAYOUT/DESIGN Sally Franckowiak PHOTOGRAPHY Catherine Neil SALES MANAGER Caleb Holt WRITERS
Topher Hawkes Katie Lea Luke Murray Brandon Nowalk Amanda L. Reynolds
Essentials:
Listen Discover Taste Play Calendar Look Etc.
4 10 12 14 16 26 29
Exclusive Interview:
8
Riff Raff and Maroon Weekly enter the ring and wrestle over the past and future. The Internet-famous rapper takes the stage this weekend at Hullabalooza 2013.
INTERNS Kathleen Callison Claire Hand Chandler Hodo Olivia Montagna Cheyenne Mueller Catherine Neil Kaitlin Vickers Dani Wilkins DISTRIBUTION Chris Frank
Maroon Weekly is an independent, publication and is not affiliated with Texas A&M University. Maroon Weekly receives no student fees or university funding.
Taste
14 - New Sichuan 88 Bistro is hit or miss, but their hot pot has potential.
Listen 6 - James Blunt’s new
album reawakens the dormant musician’s career and reaches back to Blunt circa 2005.
Look 27 - Brandon gives a rundown of this week’s top 20 box office films.
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 or typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. Maroon Weekly 707 Texas #207D College Station, TX 77840 ph: 979.574.3200 | @maroonweekly © Copyright 2013 Campus Press LP
1st copy is FREE, additional copies are $0.50 each
@ HURRICANE HARRY’S
FLYLEAF BY LUKE MURRAY In the music industry, an identity crisis usually leads to a band’s split somewhere down the road. But despite national confusion surrounding their genre and a lead vocal switch, Flyleaf managed to not only stay on top of the chaos, but also carry their multi-chart dominance with them into a new era. Formed in mid-central Texas in early 2002, the original group spent three years touring the country and nabbing gigs at every venue that would throw their name on the marquee. At the turn of 2005, their debut album was released and propelled Flyleaf into stardom as platinum recording artists.
pg 4 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Their success can be easily attributed to the popularity of their smash hit, “All Around Me”. There wasn’t a rock, metal, or alternative station that wasn’t airing the track several times a day. Oddly enough, gospel stations caught wind of the band and began giving them some serious airtime. This raised the question, “Is Flyleaf Christian rock?” While the debate still circulates, former lead singer, Lacey Sturm, put most rumors to rest when she revealed all members are Christians—giving certain influence to their music—but stated that one detail simply made them citizens of faith who play rock music. In 2012, Flyleaf’s smooth sailing hit a rift when Sturm took off on her own path, leading the band to search for new talent to fill Sturm’s mega vocal void. The band turned to Kristen May, extending a hand to pull her from the ash of her own burned out band, Vedera. Fans questioned May’s ability to fill the enigmatic charm that Sturm led into the music, but the concern surrounding the shoes May would have to fill proved to be unnecessary; even band’s bassist, Pat Seals, say she’s more than qualified. “Kristen is such a pro and so easy to work with,” says Seals. “She just kinda waltzes in, does it well and puts her own signature on it, too.” On their headlining tour, the band is passing through the Lone Star state—where it all began—and will be making a stop in Aggieland for a show at Hurricane Harry’s on November 17.
maroonweekly.com 13 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 5 maroonweekly.com••ONovember November 13,
By Luke Murray
James Blunt Album: Moon Landing
Release Date: October 21, 2013
Rating: Sounds Like: Daniel Powter Keane Damian Rice
Recommended Tracks Bonfire Heart Bones Postcards
Track Listing:
Face the Sun Satellites Bonfire Heart Heart to Heart Miss America The Only One Sun On Sunday Bones Always Hate Me Postcards Blue on Blue Miss America
In his return to the spotlight after a three-year hiatus, James Blunt has dropped his fourth studio album, Moon Landing. The five-time Grammy-nominated performer has reignited the passion and poise that vaulted him into prominence in 2005. After the rise and fall of Blunt’s iconic smash, “You’re Beautiful”, it seemed the English native had plunged into an abyss of anonymity. He still carried his faithfuls through album two, selling far more records across the pond than in the states. Album three brought mixed reviews, getting mediocre praise on the right and slightly heavier disparagement on the left; most critics claimed Blunt showed no advancement and had become lodged in a state of dormancy. After a three-year pause to recollect himself, we can say that Blunt’s newest endeavor gives listeners the eclectic sound we grew to love and shows the promise of a developing musician. Twelve tracks—including an acoustic bonus—show us the ballad-master’s ability to strap in his fans for a rollercoaster of love and longing, sorrow and solace. Laden with Blunt’s unique vocals and an array of acoustic melodies, ecstasy evoking bass lines, and unbridled confidence, Moon Landing transports us to a place Blunt has taken us to before—a good place.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Jake Miller
“Us Against Them”
Release Date: Nov. 5, 2013 With so many new faces emerging in the rap game, it’s hard to keep track of the Lil Whos and the Young Whats (much less find one with a unique sound worth our time and attention). Jake Miller finds time to be—not only relevant—but to be an accomplished hip-hop artist while attending school at the University of Miami. The D.C. native released his debut album (not including two EP’s) to pair with a 43-stop nationwide tour. With 13 tracks, including two bonuses, the album showcases Jake’s talent to find epic beats that aren’t the lazy, jaded ones we here on the radio. As for subject matter, his flows don’t preach on illicit drug use, booze-cruises, the colors of his clothes, or his copious amounts of swag. And for that, we say thank him. Recommended Tracks: Collide, Me and You
The Wanted
“Word of Mouth”
Release Date: Nov. 5, 2013 With their third studio album, The Wanted has seen their Brit-pop roots break ground in the U.S. With modern American pop revolving primarily around the party anthem, it’s easy to see why their popularity spike has sprouted so abruptly. Word of Mouth, an album that was long overdue in the eyes of their fans, drops 16 tracks—including their hit single “Glad You Came” that has sold more than 3 million copies in the states—each of which has a distinct electro-vibe rhythm and boy-bandish lyrical onset. In short, the album gives fans the party-pop they crave. The album contains an excess of collaborations—featuring Pitbull, LMFAO, and Chris Brown, to name a few—along with some lyrics penned by their label-mate, Mr. Bieber-Fever himself. Recommended Tracks: Walks Like Rihanna, Chasing the Sun
Scott Stapp
“Proof of Life”
Release Date: Nov. 5, 2013 When Scott Stapp made his initial debut as a solo act—separate from Creed—we thought it was maybe a one-time occurrence to get a little of the “lone wolf” out of his system. Obviously not the case with the release of his second solo album, Proof of Life. Although still a member of his beloved wolf pack, Stapp’s solo career is putting the Grammy award-winners name in lights without Creed being branded in the same picture. With 11 tracks, this album showcases Stapp’s ability to put a new spin on his iconic gritty vocals, bringing out powerful and reflective lyricism with the same melodic approach that his faithfuls expect. Stapp’s troubled past, with alcoholism, drug use, and suicide contemplation, have provided him with an immense passion for testimony and a unique voice of expression. Recommended Tracks: Jesus Was a Rockstar, Slow Suicide maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 7
///////////// BY CHRIS ZEBO If Riff Raff could upload his physical body to the Web and live there, no place would better suit him. The Internet was made for Riff Raff, and Riff Raff was made by the Internet. In a way, he already lives there. A few earnest interviewers have prodded and picked at Horst Christian Simco’s padlocked history book and they’ve come out empty-handed. Everything we know about him—at least everything he’s willing to share as “Riff Raff”—is floating around the Web. Very little is known about the Houston rapper’s person before the persona (including his confirmed age) aside from the thousands of YouTube videos, self-produced memes, Tweets, Vines, and assorted digital utterances he publishes daily as Riff Raff or as his other pseudonym, Jody Highroller. For Riff Raff, that’s enough.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
Riff Raff Riff Raff takes the Yin Stage at 2:30pm at this year’s Hullabalooza Music Festival. Tickets are still available at hullabaloozafestival.com. MW: Let’s start with the Rolling Stone story. What was your reaction when you read it? Riff Raff: That was like last month, man. I’m on today, I’m worried about tomorrow. MW: So no comment then. Riff Raff: That is my comment. That’s my comment. Every word I say, you can document it and put it in the history books. MW: Alright, let’s go right to the new album then. Riff Raff: Rolling Stone owes me a cover. MW: They owe you a cover? Riff Raff: I gave them a cover interview, so you owe me a cover. I wouldn’t have told them all that information and documented all that extra information. If you’re gonna document extra information, put me on the cover, right?
Last month, Rolling Stone published an already infamous profile feature that chronicles writer Jonah Weiner’s motley day with the ahistorical rapper in his North Hollywood hood. From the tone of the story, reading between the lines (and even just reading them verbatim), you can glean that Weiner was upbraided for shaking the hornet’s nest. We did it too, last week. But that didn’t stop us from shaking it more, getting stung...and getting what we came for—at least a little of it. If the Internet is a teeming, disjunctive, digital trash heap of information, then Riff Raff is its junkyard dog. His witty, humorous, pop culture allusions are salvaged from the least likely places and strung together in a somehow disordered order—like a Vine compilation. In some verses, he rhymes with lucid imagery that flows from the same stream of consciousness (“Jumping out a caravan, Eyes like a China man, Bladed up on four Pirellis, Chopping like a ceiling fan”); at other times, he concocts the most anomalous, non sequitur juxtapositions (“Drop 50 on my braids and my wrist 20K, But my ear, damn, my ear a frozen yam, Ice water on the band with the somersault slam, Body slam competition, frostbit air conditionin’”).
“WHY WOULD I TALK ABOUT THE PAST WHEN I GOT A BRIGHT FUTURE?” Rolling Stone is like a top-of-the-food-chain-type magazine. So when I’m talkin’ to you, giving you extra information I wouldn’t give to anyone else—that’s why I let them follow me around for the day. Now their perception, somebody’s perception—that’s their opinion. That’s your problem. That ain’t got nothing to do with me. They owe me a cover; I’ll leave it at that. Rolling Stone owes me a cover. That’s my answer. What’s the second question. Where we at, what we lookin’ at? MW: We’re lookin’ at the new album, Neon Icon. When’s it dropping? Riff Raff: January 28th. MW: There are lot of people collaborating on it. Who’s on there of significance? Riff Raff: Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Action Bronson, Alchemist. It’s gonna be a double disk. There’s gonna be a few other artists that are gonna be on there; I’d rather surprise somebody than tell them all the information on it. MW: All the songs are laid out? Or are you still recording?
pg 8 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Riff Raff: It’s done recording, we’re just picking the songs now. The songs are done, the album is done. Now it’s just about which songs we wanna pick for it, you know? MW: So you’re not gonna talk about the past. Riff Raff: No. Why would I talk about the past when I got a bright future? What kind of money is the past gonna make me? Everyone wants to know information. Now, if you wanna know information, if you want history, you’re gonna read a history book. The past ain’t gonna make you no cash. MW: Maybe it’ll relate to others in the business; maybe it’ll resonate with fans, connect them to you. Riff Raff: The stuff that I’ve done to get to where I’m at—it’s been a long, uncanny road, it was very unorthodox. It was not supposed to be this hard. The stuff that I’ve gone through has turned me into a player coach. What that means is the stuff I’ve gone through and did puts me in a strong position to never fall off. ‘Cause everything I’ve done—there’s no smokescreen. Everything the people have seen me do, they’ve literally seen me start from the bottom and rise to the top. So there is no falling down once you’ve done the stuff I’ve done.
I haven’t had a big-ass feature, somebody put me on a label, cash money didn’t come scoop me up. I’ve literally put myself into millionaire position. All the stuff I’ve done and I’m doing has nothing to do with nobody. I don’t owe anybody anything. No wife, no kids—I don’t owe nobody nothin’. Selling CDs, and people doing it out of the trunk—that’s a tough thing to do. So I respect anybody who’s out there, face-to-face, just makin’ it happen. But I don’t have to do that no more. MW: You came from there, and then went face-to-screen with everyone online. You’re selling “you” on YouTube, Vine, Twitter, etc. Riff Raff: That’s my life. I mean, whatever I do—I mean, that’s what confuses me. People got so many questions. Why you got so many questions when my whole life is on the Internet? If you wanna know about me, you can go on the Internet and look at my YouTube videos. I used to drop one every day. You can go on my YouTube channel, go on my Vine, my Twitter. Pretty much, my life is on the Internet. If anyone has any questions, you can pretty much find it on the Internet. Now, if somebody has any other personal questions, that’s gonna cost. That’s gonna cost money. When I drop a book, when I drop a movie, it’s gonna cost. MW: Don’t you think it’s good to tell people who you are outside of that realm? In the real world? Share the you before the YouTube? Riff Raff: A lot of people aren’t familiar with me, but it’s not my job to make people familiar with me. There’s millions of artists out there. I’m just gonna do what I wanna do, and if people feel the stuff that I’m doing, then great. If you don’t like what I’m doing, don’t. Go with Katy Perry. I’m looking at a Katy Perry CD right now in my car I just bought. There’s a lot of great artists out there. I look at the CDs I bought; I got Miley Cyrus here, Danny Brown, Lorde “Pure Heroine”, A$AP Rocky, Ke$ha, Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits—there’s a lot of stuff out there. MW: Where is home for you now. Does that word even mean anything to you anymore? You moved to L.A., but Houston’s where you’re from. Do you still call Houston home? Riff Raff: Um...I don’t live there. You ever heard that song, “Where I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)”? That’s me. If I’m in Nashville and I put my hat down, that’s my home; if I’m in Canada, I’m in Canada; in Australia, then Australia. I don’t have a home. Everywhere’s my home. Earth’s my home.
maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 9
BY CHRIS ZEBO
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
Che rub Cherub’s Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber are a different kind of pop duo. The musicians out of Tennessee embrace the catchiness and simplicity of the genre, yet they eschew being pigeonholed by its notoriety as cheap, easy, and disposable. Pop, for them, is serious business. And now its in a state of revolution, of bending and blending genres, of pushing boundaries and even dissolving them. Indie pop is also in state of flux; a good one too, according to Kelley. We caught up with the duo last week over the phone and talked about the current state of pop music, how technology is transforming the music industry, what it means to be “indie” in 2013, and the group’s new EP, 100 Bottles. Cherub takes the Yang Stage at 5pm at this year’s Hullabalooza Music Festival. Tickets are still available at hullabaloozafestival.com.
MW: I wonder if you can talk about the current state of pop music, what you like out there right now and what you hate. Just sort of open that can of worms and see where they slither. Jordan: My current take: I think there’s good pop music out right now. And I think that there’s mainstream artists that are pushing the boundaries and also making music that’s accessible to people that aren’t really music fans but like it for the moment type thing. And I think there’s also the pop artists that are making really hollow robot music that, you know, are just making it to feed the masses. And there’s ten other people that are actually the artists behind the artist. But as far as the current scene, I like where music is going. I like that genres are blending a lot more and people aren’t necessarily worried as much about the genre as they are about the song, I feel. It’s really exciting for me and Jason because that’s really all we care about: making good songs regardless of what genre they fall into. Jason: One of the other things that is exciting is the amount of access that technology allows people. Its like, up to a certain point, people were only really allowed to be indie artists, unless they were doing a very commercial pop thing. But now you see all sorts of independent artists that are able to break out into the mainstream. And that’s super cool to see. MW: What is an indie artist anymore? I remember back, say 15 years ago, that an indie artist was completely under the radar. Independence meant more about not even being attached to the mainstream at all. And now it seems like indie music is a genre that’s been co-opted by it. Does that tarnish it a little bit? Jason: I guess I used the term “indie” in two different ways. I used indie as in the genre and more the approach to music and more, like, against the mainstream type of thing. Then there is also just an independent artist. It can be any genre, any style, any different approach to whatever. Its just that they are doing things independently and on their own
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without major backing or support. What you just said is kind of the same thing as rap music and hip-hop. Rap all of a sudden got super commercial. They started saying these artists that aren’t doing commercial rap are hip-hop artists. That’s not the case at all. Rap music isn’t emcee and DJ by definition. So Common and all these other, like, political rappers or what have you—they’re all rap music as well. So it’s kind of the same thing; I guess indie has done that as well. MW: How do you guys fit into this whole mix now, this new generation of music that’s on the make right now? Jason: Just making honest songs. We grew up listening to all of it; a little bit of this, a little bit of that. What we enjoy is just a byproduct of what we’ve been raised on. MW: Let’s talk about the song “Doses and Mimosas.” Was that more of a viral hit? How did that come out, because that song really took off and gave you guys some momentum. Jordan: We put it out, and I guess just because of the content of the song, people were just like, ‘Oh! This is fun and we can dance to it.’ The video we shot in New York and we put it on hype machine and then started getting into more people’s playlists and things like that. I think the video definitely helped the song take off. Honestly, I got this theory that mimosas are getting more and more popular. It’s really crazy. I didn’t really even drink mimosas before we wrote the song. It’s been really funny because now I’ll drink mimosas and I like them. They get me drunk, but they also aren’t too strong. The other day, when I was in Denver, we went to two different brunch places that both ran out of champagne.
MW: A lot of people are going to be introduced to you for the first time in College Station. How would you describe your music to someone who’s uninitiated? Jordan: Honestly, now going back to your first question, we do lump ourselves in with pop music. Just because there are so many genres put into that. At the end of the day, I think pop songs are catchy songs that are relatable to people, that they can sing along to. I think, traditionally, that is just how it has kinda been. We’ve always had an elevator pitch of us sounding like Prince on ecstasy. Because it’s very fast paced, fun, weird dance music. When you see the live show, there’s a lot of guitars going and live vocals going. Jason does a lot of rhythm with synths and stuff like that. It’s a nice blend of a dance thing and an organic thing as well. MW: What was it like working with Gramatik? Jason: We actually lived together for a month on a bus while we were touring together. It was awesome. It was 11 dudes living on a bus for an entire month. Somehow, there wasn’t a single ego on the bus. So everyone got along really well. It was a great time. It’s very much a mutual respect thing between us and them. The chance to collaborate was a whole lot of fun. MW: You just released the 100 Bottles EP this year. Is that taking off really well? Are you seeing the audience respond to it? Jordan: Everyone seems to hate it! (Laughing) No. The doses video still gets the most views. When you start getting bigger, you start looking at stats and all that stuff. So now we have the pleasure of knowing what videos get the most views weekly and what song is selling the most on iTunes. But the 100 Bottles EP has done awesome for us. We’ve only been able to really play out two of the songs live so far, “Jazzercise ‘95” and “Heartbreaker”, the first two songs. With both of the songs, we see people singing and reacting to them just as much as the older stuff. We’ve been really stoked that people are keeping up to date with our releases and jumping on the music as we release it.
BY DANI WILKINS
A frontrunner in the music industry for over a decade, Ludacris’ largerthan-life persona has emerged because of his continual presence in popular media, making waves in music, cinema, philanthropy, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Born in Illinois, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges’ career bloomed in Atlanta when at the age of 12 he joined an amateur rap group, which allowed him to practice and develop his own unique style. Slowly, he became one of the most prominent artists in the game. Fans fell in love with Luda in the states, and it wasn’t long before he went global. Ludacris went worldwide over ten years ago with his debut album, Back for the First Time (2000), but he has stayed in the game with driving hits such as “Stand Up”, “Get Back”, “Money Maker”, and “My Chick Bad”.
LUDACRIS
Next on his list is LUDAVERSAL, a 2013 release that stays consistent with Luda’s expected musical signature; a distinct southern sound and dance jams are to be expected. When he takes the stage at Hullaballooza this weekend, get ready for his contagious laugh and the irresistible need to rap alongside one of the generation’s greats. maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 11
In their debut song, “Be Easy”, Radical Something comes right out with it: “Man, a group like this you never could’ve expected.” The unlikely trio is a mixed-genre, independent band with straight-forward lyrics that channel California’s beachy, feelgood vibes into songs without the stigma of being lazy party music. Last week, we caught up with Alex “Loggy” Lagemann, the band’s 22-year-old rapper and guitarist, and talked about the current tour, their latest album (Ride it Out), how each member got their peculiar stage names, and how missing an Atmosphere concert was worth making a band.
BY CHRIS ZEBO
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
Radical Something
Radical Something takes the Yang Stage at 1:50pm at this year’s Hullabalooza Music Festival. Tickets are still available at hullabaloozafestival.com.
“MAN, A GROUP LIKE THIS YOU NEVER COULD’VE EXPECTED.”
MW: You guys are on a fall tour right now. How many dates are on that tour? Now we all live in L.A., by the beach. Relaxation and good vibes is definitely something we like to bring to the table. A lot of people call it beachy stuff; RS: We just finished. We did 36 shows in about 50 days. Pretty intense there. we have a bunch of random sounds. We go in so many different directions. It is kinda hard to put one thing on us. MW: So you’re ready to sleep on the plane then? MW: How did you get your stage names? RS: I stole my pillow from the hotel! I am ready to rock. RS: My last name is Lagemann; people just call me Log. Then that MW: Any stops along the way that have been your favorites? transformed into Loggy. I think it is a goofy name, but people like it. We all have these funny stories. Big Red, he played football at Cal, that’s how we RS: You know what, last night’s show with Time Flies and Sammy Adams in met. So we were these big burly dudes. I was like 220, an athlete. And he Ashville, NC was extremely special because the crowd was really big but the was tipping the scales at 300 pounds, big red dreadlocks. So people in high heart of the people in the venue was amazing. I don’t know why, but it ended school, when he had his massive red hair—he’s a ginger dude, a beautiful up being one of my most enjoyable performances ever for that reason. Other ginger man—people called him Big Red. With Josh, if you look closely, he than that, everywhere we go, whether it’s 100 people or 500 people, it’s been looks a lot like Tom Cruise. People used to call him Josh Cocktail, because really amazing. Tom Cruise is in the movie Cocktail. If you look at the poster for the movie, it’s uncanny, it’s hilarious. That’s how he got his name. I like his story the MW: This is going to be your first time in College Station, and you’ll be best, for sure. introducing your music to a new audience. How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t experienced it before? MW: You guys had a very pivotal song, “Be Easy”, in your career. How much of that song is responsible for your success together? RS: We go around, we travel a lot. I literally explain what our music is to people who have no idea every day of my life. So I am pretty well versed on RS: It’s the real reason we are together now. We didn’t know each other. Red this. The one thing we start out with is we explain it is alternative. It blends and I knew each other, but our manager, Alex, introduced us in a studio in a ton of genres, most noticeably hip-hop, reggae, and pop music all in one New York. The first night ever we wrote and recorded “Be Easy.” I had done with touches of soul, touches of rock, touches of electronic music. Overall, it some work with the fashion photographer, Bruce Webber, who is extremely is made for everyone. It has an extremely positive and thoughtful message, well known and is extremely successful. He heard the song “Be Easy” and he I would say. flew us to Florida to record a soundtrack for a short film he was doing with Moncler Jackets. We rented a hotel room and we were making new music, MW: You guys have a California beachy feel to you. Are you living in L.A. now? and we were like, “Lets stay here and record an album.” RS: Yeah we live in L.A. Me and Big Red—he’s the producer and he also sings too—we grew up in the Bay Area and we met at Berkeley, which changed both of our lives for the better. It is a very liberal, free loving, awesome place, and that definitely shaped us to make the music we do today. Josh is from the Valley, L.A., and grew up in major label world and was a very sought-after songwriter and singer. And me and Big Red were kinda just two dudes that learned how to play instruments and loved making hip-hop music.
pg 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
We canceled our flights, I missed an Atmosphere show—which I am still pretty bummed about. That was in 2011. We all talk about the day, where we were, like we all just graduated from college; “This is the one time we can do this. Lets make a band and see what the people think.” “Be Easy” was like the perfect first song. It explains us to a T. It kept us together because of the success of that song. It also gave us a good platform on the ground for us to jump up to find more success with other things.
MW: You guys have been affected by some viral success on YouTube. You have a lot of music videos for the amount of songs you have. How do you manage producing all of those videos? RS: You know, it is really fun. It is stressful work at times but, in today’s marketplace, putting visuals to a song is extremely important and we understand that. We love giving our fans stuff they want to watch and see and spread and share. We have a good friend, Devin Super Tramp, who’s literally one of the biggest YouTubers in the world. He makes extremely awesome, extremely viral videos. We have great contacts within the gaming community that make viral videos, people that do soccer videos. It is just really cool to see the music spread to different communities. I think it is a really awesome thing. It is fun to get to interact with people that normally might not have ever me without the music. MW: It seems like they’re becoming more of the producers of music than the guy on the board tracking in the studio. Like you said, it’s a very visual culture. It’s almost like you have to have your song choreographed to a video if you are going to release a song today. RS: It gives the song another life form. It gives them something to visualize, and that’s very important. We also have songs where who knows if there’s a video out there. I don’t even care. I love the song and it means something special to me. We love putting out videos. We have like five in the bank right now that we are planning on releasing. It is never going to stop. MW: Let’s talk about Ride It Out, the latest album. You released your first album in 2011. You’ve done a lot of stuff in two years. How would you compare Ride It Out to the stuff you started in that studio in Florida? RS: It’s definitely more polished. We definitely took a lot more time constructing the songs and perfecting them. That can help you and hurt you. A lot of times, fans like the grittiness and the non-perfect stuff. So we took a lot of time. This album took a year to record, 13 songs in a year. Each one is like a little kid to you. When we were in Florida, we were recording in a home studio in a closet. When we recorded “Ride It Out”, we were in a closet. That didn’t change. The music, in my opinion, is pretty phenomenal. We scrape on everything from dirty reggae to hip-hop to EDM to singer/songwriter acoustic stuff. We do it effortlessly; we don’t really try to, but it just kind of happens that way. So a lot of people have given us a lot of praise on how it hits every point that they like about us. It ‘s crazy. We literally have gotten no negative responses from our friends and our fans or any media outlet that has written about it. We pride ourselves in doing what we love and making sure that, with everything we do, we grind it out and that it’s all independent and all us. That is what truly matters to us.
BY CHANDLER HODO
Still riding on the tails of the success of his fifth studio album, Punching Bag, released in 2012, Josh Turner is touring all over the nation. The album features the single and current hit, “Time Is Love”, which reached #2 after its debut on the Billboard country charts and finished 2012 as the #1 country song of the year. After being nominated for two Grammys (Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album), Turner received one of the biggest honors in country music when he was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2007. He was inducted as the second youngest member of the Opry, after Carrie Underwood, and in 2011, he performed at the Country Music Awards.
JOSH TURNER
Last week, Turner announced that he had collaborated with some of the cast of the Duck Dynasty TV show on their new CD, Duck The Halls: A Robertson Christmas. The CD features a duet called “Why I Love Christmas”, sung by Turner and featuring Jase Roberston’s wife, Missy. maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 13
BY CHEYENNE MUELLER
BY CHEYENNE MUELLER
ZEDS DEAD Zeds Dead is an electronic music duo from Toronto, Ontario, composed of Dylan Mamid, “DC,” and Zach Rapp-Rovan, “Hooks.” The two have been producing music together since 2004 and are currently signed to Mad Decent, although much of their music remains bootlegged, unofficially released, or given away as free downloads. Their first self-released free song was “Journey of a Lifetime”, which was offered to fans as a free download in 2009. Since “Journey”, Zeds have self-released nearly 20 productions at no cost.
FLUX PAVILLION Joshua Steele, known professionally as Flux Pavilion, is an English dubstep producer and DJ who’s been performing since 2008. He is the co-founder of Circus Records, along with Doctor P and DJ Swan-E. His 2011 single, “Bass Cannon”, peaked at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart and was placed on the Radio 1 A-List. Along with record co-founder, Doctor P, Flux Pavilion wrote four tracks on the 2011 compilation album, Circus One, but he is most acclaimed for his song “I Can’t Stop” from the Lines in Wax EP.
The track acquired overwhelming success. In February 2011, Chiddy Bang created Radio DJs, Kissy Sellout and Skream, were two of the first to take notice a freestyle to the song, which appeared on their Peanut Butter and Swelly of the duo, featuring a remix of Blue Foundation’s “Eyes on Fire” on their mixtape, and in August 2011, the track was sampled for the song “Who Gon Stop radio shows. In 2010, Zeds Dead released “Rumble in the Jungle”, which Me” by Jay-Z and Kanye West. In March 2012, “I Can’t Stop” was used in the viral went on to reach #1 on Beatport’s Breakbeat Chart. Kony 2012 campaign and the 2013 film Great Gatsby. Zeds Dead explore a variety of genres and incorporate electro-house, On January 28, 2013, Flux Pavilion released his new EP, Blow the Roof, which was hip-hop, and drum and bass into their largely dubstep platform. Zeds received favorably by critics, and mostly recently, he announced that he would frequently collaborate with rapper Omar Linx, who has worked with the be releasing his new EP, Freeway, on November 11 of this year. duo on several occasions, producing two EPs together as a trio. Zeds Dead tours have become significant in the live music and festival circuits – their Living Dead Tour, which spanned February to May 2012, included over seventy performances in the United States and Canada alone.
BY CHEYENNE MUELLER
CHILDISH GAMBINO
Childish Gambino emerged in the mainstream hip-hop scene in 2011. He had come into the spotlight originally not under his Gambino pseudonym but as Donald Glover. He was an actor, writer, and stand-up comedian, initially catching people’s attention for his work with the sketch comedy group, Derrick Comedy, and then subsequently writing for the series, 30 Rock. In addition to his writing, Gambino was cast as college student Troy Barnes in NBC’s Community. In 2011, he signed with Glassnote Records after having previously released several albums and mixtapes independently. His record, Camp, was his first album on a label. In 2012, BBC Radio 1 premiered Leona Lewis’ new song, “Trouble”, which features Childish Gambino. The song peaked at #7 on the UK Singles Chart the following week, making it his first UK top 10 single. Somehow maintaining his quadruple-threat persona, Glover has signed on to create a music-themed show for FX titled Atlanta in which he will star, write, and produce. He’s reducing his time with NBC and will continue touring, even after adding another show. On October 21, 2013, Glover released his first single, “3005”, and announced that the release date for his new album will be December 10, 2013.
pg 14 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
By Chandler Hodo
Hatching Twitter BY Nick Bilton In 2013, Twitter reached 300 million active users around the world, including public figures such as Oprah, celebrities like Justin Timberlake, and even political figures, such as the Pope and President Barack Obama. The social media site has become a necessity, ranging from business marketing and fighting political oppression in the Middle East, to telling the woes of brokenhearted adolescents. But the wildly successful website had a tumultuous beginning with founders that rarely saw eye-to-eye. In 2005, four young entrepreneurs began working on a side project, which developed into an $11.5 billion dollar business and one of the most popular social networking forums in the world. Evan Williams, a ruthless yet meticulous businessman, had already developed “Blogger” and sold it to Google for millions. Jack Dorsey, a “nobody” who helped develop the original idea for Twitter, became exceedingly rich, and tried to convince the world that he was the next Steve Jobs. Noah Glass was the geek-turned-mastermind behind Twitter, investing his life into the social media website, only to be expunged from the company’s official history. The only founder who remained on good terms with his friends was Christopher Stone, who remained neutral throughout every argument and falling out between the four men. The hunger for money, fame, and power caused continual strife among men as they each selfishly fought for control of the company. The group went from being on Time’s list of most influential people in the world, to losing their grip on reality, ultimately resulting in none of them being CEO of the company today. Hatching Twitter gives readers insight to secret conversations, emails, and candid sources that collectively tell the story of the social networking sight that’s taking the world by storm and whose founders were caught in the crossfire.
Lying by Sam Harris As a result of their wildly successful season, the Chicago Bears circa 1985 have been idolized, proclaimed to be the best football team ever by their fans. Rich Cohen, a diehard Bears fan himself, describes the 1985 team as “spunky and entertaining, both on and off the field.” He recounts the most memorable events of the season, from the impressive talent of running back Walter Payton, to QB Jim McMahon’s tendency to ignore his coach and make up his own plays while on the field. There was never-ending bickering between coaches and players broadcasted on every visible facet that almost cost the team the Orange Bowl… and then there was the video of the players doing the “Super Bowl Shuffle,” which was released the day after their only loss of the season. Cohen tracked down the coaches and players from this iconic team and asked all of his burning questions. The answers are compiled into the bestselling book about an unlikely team who won the Super Bowl and brought Chicago the championship season they had always dreamed of.
Monsters: The 1985 Bears by Rich Cohen Neurologist Sam Harris explores the all-too-common human tendency to lie, and in most cases, the lack of remorse for doing so. Harris claims that by tracing most forms of evil to their origin, a pattern becomes clear – all were birthed from manipulation. Adultery, financial fraud, murder, government corruption, personal betrayals; all require a willingness to deceive. In his book, Harris primarily focuses on the “little white lie” – what we tell ourselves to avoid awkward situations or to spare someone’s feelings with good intentions. Harris argues that we can simplify our lives and radically improve society all by making one small change – tell the truth.
maroonweekly.com 13 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 15 maroonweekly.com••ONovember November 13,
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Riff Raff takes the Yin Stage at 2:30pm at this year’s Hullabalooza Music Festival.
Brazos Valley Worldfest highlights culture in Aggieland.
Flyleaf comes back to their roots on stage at Harry’s.
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WEEKLY // PICKS WEEK
OF
NOVEMBER 14 - NOVEMBER
20,
2013
FIND MORE AT: WWW.MAROONWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS
campus and revolves around army brat Brad Craig who joins the corps and falls in love with a professor’s daughter. But things turn sour when Craig unknowingly gets wrapped up with Japanese spies trying to steal a secret chemical compound from the A&M chemistry lab and becomes a suspect in the scandal. GEORGE BUSH LIBRARY 1000 George Bush Dr., College Station, Nov. 14, 2013 7:00 PM
FRIDAY
ANNIE JR. TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS
THURSDAY 11/14 ERIC MIDDLETON
Eric Middleton of Midnight River Choir, the band that formed while floating the Guadalupe, is building a solo career on the side. The band’s lead singer and guitarist will perform music inspired by Rand Rogers Band and Cross Canadian Ragweed at the Tap. THE TAP 815 Harvey. College Station, Nov. 14, 2013 9:00 PM
TARTUFFE
Texas A&M’s Department of Performance Studies presents a disco-inspired version of Moliere’s classic comedy Tartuffe. The production, at Rudder Forum, is directed by Amy Guerin. RUDDER THEATER TAMU Campus, Nov 14, 2013 8:00 PM
CLASSIC MOVIE
The 1943 World War II propaganda film We’ve Never Been Licked takes place on the A&M
pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 6, 2013 2013••maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com
11/15
Presented by Brazos Valley TROUPE, “Annie Jr.” is a shortened, lightened version of the Broadway and silver screen hit, Annie. The production of the show is a cast of local youngsters, of which TROUPE focuses on developing. For more information on TROUPE, the 2013 season, and tickets to this show, check out bvtroupe.com. 29th St. Studio 3705 E. 29th St, Bryan Nov. 15, 2013 7:30 PM
DEL CASTILLO
A very special event honoring Voice for Children, a local non-profit organization that “protects abused and neglected children by pairing them with trained child advocates.” Music will be featured from Del Castillo, a cross-cultural multi-genre family band with a sound that captures
the best of festival tunes, Tejano, and dance music. GRAND STAFFORD THEATER 106 S Main St, Bryan Nov. 15, 2013 8:00 PM $30
TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS
Oklahoma natives, the red dirt group Turnpike Troubadours are coming to College Station and bringing new material with them. Opening for them is Jonny Burke, ready to perform from his most recent album “Cup Runneth Over”. The doors open at 9pm and tickets are available at harrys.bcsclubs.com/ events. HURRICANE HARRY’S 313 College, College Station, Nov. 15, 2013 9:00 PM $15
SATURDAY 11/16 BV WORLDFEST
Brazos Valley Worldfest, held on Friday and Saturday, November 15 and 16, 2013 at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater, is a communitywide international festival to promote and celebrate the international diversity and heritage of the Brazos Valley organized by Texas A&M University and the City of College Station. The event is free and parking is available at Post Oak Mall. WOLF PEN CREEK AMPHITHEATER 1015 Colgate, College Station, Nov 16, 2013 7:00 PM
the world. RUDDER THEATER TAMU Campus, Nov. 19, 2013 7:30 PM
SOL TRIBE
WEDNESDAY 11/20
Their latest album, recorded in Trinidad and Tobago, does just that--with 12 tracks of pan-cultural percussion and urban vocal elements from lead singer Anthony Berdecio REVOLUTION 211B Main St, Bryan, Nov. 16, 2013 8:00 PM
SALSA WEDNESDAYS
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 http:// www.mambosentertainment.com/ grouplessons.html for more details. VILLAGE CAFÉ 210 W. 26th St, Bryan Nov. 20, 2013 8:00 PM $8/5
SALSA SATURDAYS
Voted Best Night of Dancing 2011 & 2012, Salsa Saturdays starts with a fun “30-Minute Crash Course Salsa Lesson” at 10pm followed by a hot night of dancing. Come prepared to sweat and to meet new people at this Aggie hot spot! Visit www.mambosentertainment. com/salsasaturdays.html for more details. VILLAGE CAFÉ 210 W. 26th St, Bryan Nov 2, 2013 8:00 PM $5
SUNDAY
11/17
MIC CHECK POETRY
Speak your mind or listen to those who perform at Mic Check Poetry Slam. Hosted by Revolution Cafe, MCPS is held every Sunday at 8:30 and completely free. Break out of the mold and channel your inner artist; you’ll go home feeling inspired. REVOLUTION 211B S. Main St., Bryan, Nov17, 2013 8:30 PM
PUB QUIZ
Sundays are trivia night at O’Bannon’s, so grab a group of friends to play or just to watch. Check with their Facebook page the day of to find out what the topics will be. O’BANNON’S 103 Boyett, College Station, Nov 17, 2013 9:00 PM
MONDAY
11/18
MIC CHECK POETRY
TRIVIA NIGHT
Monday nights are pretty boring; it’s too early in the week to party and too early in the week to study. So, you’re kind of left with nothing to do but Facebooking, channel surfing, or Netflixing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. What if you could spend a Monday night with a drink in your hand and “study” at the same time without feeling like you’re partying or doing your homework? Well, you can do just that. Every Monday night, Revolution Cafe hosts Trivia Night from 9pm till just before midnight–ending just in time to sleep 8 hours before class on Tuesday. REVOLUTION 211B S Main St, Bryan Nov 18, 2013 9:00 PM
OPEN MIC
Schotzi’s is giving you the chance to show your stuff with Open Mic Night every Monday. Get some $2 liquid courage with wells and domestics all night long! SCHOTZI’S 205 University, College Station, Nov. 18, 2013 9:30 PM
TUESDAY
11/19
CRAFT COCKTAILS
Mixing beings at 4:30pm each Tuesday and continues throughout the evening. Cocktails are expertly crafted by resident mixologist Cody Schilling. His handmade mixers, fresh ingredients, and premium liquors make falling off your bar stool delicious. GRAND STAFFORD THEATER 106 S Main St, Bryan Nov. 19, 2013 8:00 PM $8
BREAKAWAY
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. For more details check Breakaway Ministries Facebook @ http:// www.facebook.com/breakawayministries REED ARENA Nov. 5, 2013 9:00 PM
MEMPHIS
Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, MEMPHIS is a new Broadway performance inspired by actual events about a club singer waiting for her big break and a radio DJ determined to change
Contact Us At 254.716.0973 or Info@deuxtone.com
SALSA WEDNESDAYS
Have an event for our calendar? Submit it at
www.maroonweekly.com
Design | Branding | Web
maroonweekly.com••November November13, 6, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 17 maroonweekly.com
Sichuan 88 Bistro 201 University Dr. E. 979.703.6002
Sunday - Thursday 11AM - 10PM Friday - Saturday 11AM - 11PM
Price - $$ Cuisine - Chinese, Japanese Parking - Private lot Patio - No Noise Level: Low Atmosphere: Casual Signature Dishes - Hot Pot Soup
$ ($5 - 10) ramen noodle budget $$ ($10-15) part-time job $$$ ($15-20) hard-earned cash $$$$ (Over $20) mommy and daddy are in town
Sichuan 88’s Buffet Covers All the Bases By Amanda L. Reynolds On University Drive, there’s a building that has undergone numerous changes throughout the years; originally built as a Black-Eyed Pea, its most recent inhabitant is the Sichuan 88 Bistro. The owners of Sichuan also own Great Wall Buffet, but they’ve brought in two new chefs from Japan to add some variety to their menu. If you visit between the hours of 11am and 3pm, you’ll find a decently priced buffet that offers an assortment of options and spans a good portion of the back wall. All of the dishes were hit or miss, depending on how long they had been out. Our fried rice had hard chunks of rice that were inedible, but the steamed rice was soft and fluffy; the spicy chicken was juicy, and the jalapeños that accompanied were tender; but for the sauce for General Tso’s chicken had been in the steam pan so long it began to congeal. We visited Sichuan 88 Bistro at 2:30pm, originally unaware of the buffet. To their credit, Sichuan offered to make anything we requested, but we felt bad because we had arrived so late.
pg 18 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
The buffet also contained an abundant variety of sushi, but we had a hard time deciding if that was as a pro or con. We’ll admit, we’re a little weary of buffet sushi in general, so we stuck to only non-raw products. We sampled a roll with cucumber and avocado on the inside and crab salad on the outside. As a whole, the sushi piece itself was nice and cold, the crab salad was creamy, but the avocado had slightly oxidized and was beginning to brown. All pieces were well chilled, but there were also two sushi rolls on the hot buffet we wanted to try. The hot buffet contained two tempura rolls, which we would not recommend. The tempura was cold and greasy and definitely not appetizing. Inside, the contents were indistinguishable because of the thick tempura crust and the “smush” factor that happens when food is out too long. Perhaps the rolls were better earlier in the day, but later
in the afternoon, they were not winners. After seeing another diner being presented with a considerably large bowl of something, we inquired as to what it was. Our waitress informed us that it was hot pot, which can be made with fish or beef. The traditional stew is comprised of vegetables on the bottom (ours had celery and Napa cabbage), thinly sliced meat simmering in a scalding broth, and an abundance of chili flakes. When served, the sheer amount of chili flakes made us a little nervous, but the soup wasn’t spicy at all; the beef well cooked and tender. Hot pot could easily feed 2-3 people with average appetites or one hungry college boy. For dinner, only ordering from the menu is allowed. For lunch, we recommend sticking with entrees from the menu or visiting earlier in the day to get the best buffet experience.
Taz Indian Cuisine If you have never tasted Indian food, stop everything you’re doing and run down to Taz Indian Cuisine. With a wide selection of menu items and an outstanding lunch buffet, Taz is a must for any spicy food enthusiast. The blended curries in entrees such as the Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken are complex and savory. All portions are filling and come with the lightest, freshest naan(bread). Dine in or take out • 2416 Texas Ave S College Station, TX 77840 -- (979) 696-6560 • $$
Finger friendly food bites Cheesy Bacon Bombs
Cheap Eats Easy to Make and Easy on Your Green
By Cheyenne Mueller
Rosa’s Tortilla Factory Rosa’s continues to turn out outstanding traditional Mexican cuisine just like they turn out their light and fresh tortillas. Be sure not to miss out on their weekly taco trio special every Tuesday consisting of not one, not two, but three tacos accompanied by rice, beans and a side of their freshly, in-house prepared tortillas. Dine in, take out, or drive through • 710 University Dr E College Station, TX 77840 -- (979) 691-8501 • $-$$
Cenare Italian Restaurant For over three decades now, Cenare has been a versatile, traditional Italian restaurant, perfect for large gatherings or romantic evenings. With an extensive menu featuring multiple variations of chicken, seafood, veal, and pasta dishes, hardly anyone will be able to leave with an empty stomach. But should you finish your meal and still find a little room to spare, Cenare’s desserts--tiramisu, triple chocolate silk cake, chocolate dipped cannoli, and cheesecake--will sate your sweet tooth. Dine in • 404 University Dr E, College Station, TX 77840 -- (979) 696-7311 • $$-$$$
Downtown Uncorked Downtown Uncorked offers those looking to escape the loud, hectic bar scene a quiet relaxing refuge to have a glass of wine and sip away the day’s troubles. Though primarily a wine bar, Downtown Uncorked offers a healthy selection of beers from Miller Lite to Chimay Grand Reserve. The wine bar also serves light appetizers, such as hummus and cheese plates to complement your glass of vino or beer. Choose from a variety of Chardonnays, Merlots, Cabernets, and many more varietals. Don’t feel like you’re up to snuff on your wine knowledge? Let the helpful staff talk you through their wine list and help you select the best glass or bottle. Dine in • 206 W 26th Bryan, TX 77803 -- (979) 823-4837 $$-$$$
Who needs a fork? This is football season, the holy grail of finger-licking food. Besides, utensils are overrated; you can’t high-five someone with a fork without causing a major accident, and c’mon now, ain’t nobody got time fo’ dat. Bite-sized morsels that require limited clean up and let you high-five without a trip to the emergency room? It’s a win-win for everyone… and hopefully your sports team of choice.
Cheesy Bacon Bombs Bacon? Cheese? Crescent rolls? Yeah, our mouths are watering, too. Wait, did you say that they’re fried? Sign us up!
Directions: 1. Cube mozzarella and cut each biscuit into fourths. Place one piece of mozzarella inside a biscuit quarter, and enclose cheese in the dough.
Ingredients: • 1 can Pillsbury Grands flaky layers 2. Wrap each rolled bomb in a slice of biscuits bacon, securing it with a skewer or toothpick. • cubed mozzarella cheese (1-in. cube per bomb) 3. In a medium or large pot, heat up approximately 2 inches of oil (350°) and • 2 lbs. of bacon (1 slice per bomb) proceed to fry the bombs in small batches; one or two at a time. • skewers or toothpicks 4. Drain the bombs on a napkin or paper • oil for frying towel, but be sure to prepare them where they can still be served warm. maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 19
Annie Jr. By Dani Wilkins As we get older, it becomes easier to get stuck on the moments that make us feel like we’re living a hard knock life; but a certain spirited redheaded orphan reminds us that the sun will come out tomorrow. The original Annie, a silver screen and theatrical classic, is a magical tale about hope and second chances while still depicting some of life’s scarier moments. Annie Jr., a beautifully shortened theatrical production, is carefully edited to remove the more adult content (like the kidnapping) while maintaining the integrity of the original story to make the musical more family-friendly.
Roadtrips and Getaways Within a Day’s Drive
Adrenaline Junky Day Trip By Cheyenne Mueller As defined by the absolutely reputable source, Urban Dictionary, an adrenaline junkie is “someone who gets high on adrenaline and is possibly addicted to it. They usually supplement this addiction by doing activities that give them adrenaline rushes, such as shoplifting, gambling, skydiving, stock market trading, and possibly fighting.” While the folks at Maroon Weekly don’t encourage shoplifting, fighting, gambling, or even worse, stock market trading, we can totally get behind skydiving. Who doesn’t want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane? Through Skydive Spaceland in Houston, you can jump from up to 14,000 feet, harnessed to an experienced instructor after a brief class, and pull your own ripcord for a peaceful, 5-minute parachute flight and soft, on-target landing. If you really want to skydive but are a bit concerned about the price, Skydive will give you discounts if you bring friends, starting at five of them. Discounts increase the more you bring, and if you manage to wrangle up 20 people for their first skydive at Skydive Spaceland, you become eligible for a free jump. And let’s be honest, who wants to plummet to Earth alone?
Presented by Brazos Valley Troupe’s award-winning youth program, Annie Jr. is a delight for parents and kids alike, and with seven different performances, there are ample opportunities to catch the show. Annie Jr. begins on November 15-17 and 22-23 and will take place at 29th St. Studio in Downtown Bryan. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for members, and only $6 for kids. Tickets can be purchased at bvtroupe.com or by phone at 979.846.4903.
Now for the logistics: there is a weight limit for tandem skydiving. Skydive Spaceland can take tandem skydivers up to 280 pounds, but there are additional fees for people over 240 pounds, and tandem skydivers over 240 pounds will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Apparel should be comfortable; relatively close-fitting clothing for the current weather, like jeans, shorts, sweats, t-shirts, and some form of athletic shoes. Don’t wear flip-flops (or any other shoes that are not secured to your feet), heels, or boots with speed lace hooks. Believe it or not, it’s actually a good idea to eat a light meal or snack before heading to the drop zone, but imbibe absolutely no alcohol beforehand. The event could potentially last all day, so plan accordingly. Typically, the staff can usually get you skydiving in much less than a full day, but many variables (such as weather) could extend the stay.
the scoop
Now, if you have friends who are less than enthusiastic about jumping out of a plane but are more than willing to be there when you do, they can hang out on a deck or the covered picnic areas that overlook the landing area. If you’re interested in sharing your experience with the scaredy cats, Skydive Spaceland offers a video of your dive at $109 per person (plus tax), which consists of a tenminute DVD professionally edited to music. You’ll also get at least 50 high-resolution digital photos, and you can add your video and photos to a Spaceland 4 GB Flash/USB drive for only $20 extra.
WHAT: ANNIE JR. WHERE: 29TH STREET STUDIO WHEN: NOV. 15-17 & 22-23
Their hours of operation are from 8am-6pm, Monday through Friday, and 7:30am through sunset Saturdays and Sundays. Participants must be at least 18 years old to skydive and have a valid photo ID. Reservations aren’t required, but availability is limited; they’re strongly encouraged in order to hold your spot. If you have any questions, you can contact them at 281.369.3337 or manifest@skydivespaceland.com. Check out skydivespaceland.com for more information.
pg 20 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
The Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts presents
New York Neo-Futurists in By Katie Lea
Aggie Water Systems that Rock Once again, Texas A&M AgriLife research has taken the forefront in ag-related research. Partnering with Siemens Water Technologies, they will be forging a path toward more effective and efficient heavy metal removal from water supplies. The TAMU system, with the parent school finding its roots in mechanical and agricultural studies since its very founding, can be referred to as “a leader in water technology in our agriculture and engineering programs”, according to A&M System chancellor, John Sharp. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that A&M plays such an important role in water development, as innovative water systems are key to ag efficiency and growth. Acting as a big brother, Siemens (a corporation also founded in the mid 1800s) is an engineering and electronics company headquartered in Germany. It now has innumerable, multinational branches including those here in the US. The two research entities – one scholarly, one commercial – hope to team up in order to improve and expand a water-cleansing technique initially developed here in Aggieland by one of our very own.
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind Thursday, November 21, 2013 8 PM at Texas A&M Rudder Forum Theatre
Tickets $5 Students, $10 General Admission Available at the MSC Box Office Call 979.845.1234 For more information, call 979.847.2787 avpa@tamu.edu v academyarts.tamu.edu w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / AV PA a t TA M U
While working under CAMRIS (Containment And Metal Removal Industrial System) in 2011, A&M’s Dr. Yongheng Huang developed Activated Iron Process (AIP), a chemical system capable of removing contaminants and toxic metals from water. Huang is an associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering and was recently recognized for his efforts in industrial waste management. If his process can be commercialized, it would mean huge improvements and benefits to water and wastewater management. Globally speaking, Siemens is the crème-of-the-crop in technology, and by working together, AgriLife and the German tech conglomerate should have no issues turning Huang’s process into something even more amazing. Who knows, maybe this is the next step to relieving our water of that infamous “College Station flavor.”
“This program made possible in part through Hotel Tax Revenue funded from the City of College Station through the Arts Council of Brazos Valley.”
dance theatre
It’s Time For
music visual art
It’s Time For Texas A&M
maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 21
TEXAS GRAND SLAM
pg 22 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
11.07.12 | maroonweekly.com | pg 23
3 APPS YOU WON’T REGRET DOWNLOADING
By Luke Murray
ALGEBRA TOUCH Unless you have a degree in finance or engineering, chances are that you’re one of the millions of people who has serious issues with math. You can only cling to the “I’ll never use this” argument for so long before you begin to realize that you’re up a creek without an algebraic paddle. Finally, there’s an app designed for the numerically inept. Algebra Touch has the ability to teach you all the number-crunching concepts that you’re middle school math coach couldn’t pound into your pre-pubescent skull. With an engaging interface that breaks down the concepts into easy-to-understand models, this app is purposed with making algebra a cakewalk. Cover skills like factorization, basic equations, order of operations, exponents, factoring and variables in a way that was never simpler. – $2.99 IBOTTA – CASH NOT COUPON There are always ads on TV or Facebook about getting paid to shop, but someone finally developed an app that turns such a dream into a reality. Imagine getting paid for purchases that you already make regularly. Ibotta—featured by everyone from Google to Good Morning America—has taken the concept of advertising and flipped it over to put money back in the consumer’s pocket. More than 50 stores that include Walmart, Kroger, CVS and Home Depot participate with this app that rewards you with cash for the purchases you make at the store. Users are able to send their cash rewards directly to the bank through PayPal or redeem them for gift cards for favorite retailers such as Starbucks and Redbox. With more than $3.7 million given out already, you should probably make some green from spending it, too. – FREE STAR WARS: TINY DEATH STAR Come to the dark side, we have…really cool apps? Any devotee of Star Wars fandom with dreams of building their own craft of mega destruction need wait no longer. Disney and LucasArts have developed a game that puts users right in the heat of the turbulent galactic empire. Join the Emperor and Lord Vader on their quest to fund and construct the largest, most destructive space station from here to the Dagobah system. Hire bounty hunters and interstellar minions of all shapes and dialects to carry out your dirty deeds. Use the power of the dark side to unlock new tasks, capture rebel spies, meet your favorite characters (from Chewbacca and Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt), and play within the Sith’s evil schemes to forever rule the galaxy.
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pg 24 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
Worldfest By Chandler Hodo
By Topher Hawkes
Call of Duty: Ghosts The highly-anticipated sequel in the Call of Duty series, Call of Duty: Ghosts, has finally landed in stores this week. Most Call of Duty fans will be accustomed to the run-and-gun tactics in Ghosts but should be pleased with some refinements made by gamemaker Infinity Ward. First of all, the single-player experience is more action-driven. Players won’t feel as if they have to wait through a series of cutscenes, like they did in previous installments of the series. In addition, characters are likeable and the longer-thanusual campaign (about 10 hours) will have players storming through the desert inside a tank, firing at bad guys submerged underwater and – at some point – unleashing gun battles in space. (You even get to play as a dog for a little bit.) Although the singleplayer experience has been touted by critics and fans, Call of Duty has always been driven by its competitive multiplayer modes. Most gamers will feel comfortable with the controls; the action is fast and furious and usually involves close-quarter contests. The game offers a variety of weapons that are more balanced than in past games, which brings a level of strategy to gun fights. Upgrades and unlocks also help gamers power up and become better, more lethal soldiers.
The Brazos Valley Worldfest is dedicated to celebrating the different cultures in the Brazos Valley and promoting international awareness. Worldfest will feature cultural displays set up by Texas A&M student organizations and other groups in the Brazos Valley community. There will be various performances throughout the weekend including a salsa concert and dance, martial arts demonstrations, Flamenco and belly dancing, and Native American storytelling. A Kid’s Village for little ones will provide entertainment, games, and arts and crafts while simultaneously teaching about cultural diversity. The Worldfest will be hosting its third-annual salsa challenge, comprised of a panel of judges who will taste competitors’ salsa ranging from amateur to professional categories before picking a winner. The event is open for anyone, and with any type of salsa. Prices and entrance instructions can be found online.
Brazos Valley Worldfest is free and open to the public, and there will be free parking in the Post Oak Mall parking lot. The event will take place on Friday, November 15 from 7-10pm and Saturday, November 16 from 10am-5pm at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. For more information on the Brazos Valley Worldfest, visit brazosvalleyworldfest.org.
At the core of multiplayer combat is a deep, sometimes daunting personalization system. “Create a Soldier” allows gamers to customize up to 10 soldiers, altering their appearance, up to six weapon loadouts and perks they can carry into battle. This offers a plethora of variables that some players looking to just pick up and play will find far too complicated. On the other hand, hardcore Call of Duty players will welcome the ability to customize soldiers for very specific roles, to switch them out on the fly, and they’ll devote hours to customizing their warriors into perfect soldiers. Ghosts also offers a new co-op mode, “Extinction”, that forces players to work together to combat a horde of computer-controlled, alien-like enemies. It feels like a more in-depth version of Firefight from Halo: Reach or Beast Mode or Horde Mode from Gears of War 3. The mode is challenging and will test even the most experienced Call of Duty players.
maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 25
- By Brandon Nowalk -
All Is Lost
DRAMA (PG-13)
Thor: The Dark World ACTION (PG-13)
Robert Redford is the only actor in All is Lost, the fictional story of a shipwreck. It begins with Redford writing a letter stating the title in regards to his situation and then flashes back eight days to the morning he work up to discover his sailboat had collided with a shipping container, creating a few-inch hole in his hull. From there it’s all the usual survival stuff: he tries to patch up the hole as best he can, he faces an impending storm, he runs low on rations. At the end, well, you can guess what happens. The thing is, writer-director JC Chandor (Margin Call) is cultivating a muted documentary style that considers anything too bold/ loud/dramatic as false. So here we are in the wide open sea, but everything’s so contained and restrained, including Redford’s climactic breakdown. So that’s how all is lost; not with a bang but with a whimper.
Thor 2 doesn’t really hold together. It opens with a dumb Lord of the Rings-style prologue about some mystical macguffin that everyone will spend the movie chasing without explaining what exactly they plan to do with it. There are other comic book stories, but the Marvel films are pretty much just pseudomystical substances, from Iron Man’s military technology to Captain America’s Nazi voodoo. Anyway, from there we visit four of the nine worlds, and eventually everything gets going. Loki’s back to double-cross the audience, but only the audience. It’s eye-rolling, in the moment, and then you find out it was all for show, which necessitates even more eye-rolling. But the thing is, Thor: The Dark World is kind of a blast. It’s not a great movie in the typical sense of story and performance and direction. Director Alan Taylor manages some excellent stuff, but the monstrosity is ultimately out of his control, cutting action scenes to nonsense and never holding long enough on the gorgeous spectacles so carefully designed by the visual effects team. The screenplay, for that matter, sets a whole bunch of moving parts in motion, but only Thor and his Oedipal family issues get more than a scene or two. Every time Chris Hemsworth stares into space boringly, you wonder why we’re not watching Kat Dennings. So, Thor is just the sum of its parts. But what parts! There’s Hemsworth beefcaking for the cheap seats, Tom Hiddleston almost convincing you Loki should rule, Idris Elba with a bit more to do than last time as guardian of Valhalla, and Rene Russo rocks her big scene. The whole milieu is beautifully balanced between Norse mythology and sci-fi (literally, this is about a Norse God and a scientist), so we get this breath-taking digital cosmos with starships and laser guns. The action, particularly in the last half, is a trip, finding these playful little moments for Dennings running around while Hemsworth saves the day. Oh, and stay for two extra scenes in the credits. The first builds a bridge to more Marvel movies, and the second puts a bow on this one.
pg 26 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
The Story of Film CLASSIC
Every Monday evening, all semester long, Turner Classic Movies has been airing a 15-part British documentary called The Story Of Film set to wrap up in early December. Hosted by Mark Cousins, the series explores the development of movies starting with the earliest experiments in the late 1800s. Each episode takes on a specific period—right now we’re moving out of the big ‘70s movements in gritty American cinema and international new waves and into the ‘80s independent movie era. The history is streamlined, but it makes a fine intro survey. What really sets this apart, though, is how TCM programs each episode with five to ten movies mentioned in the episode, so you can see the overall history of New Hollywood in the ‘70s and then see specific examples like The Last Picture Show. This is further confirmation that TCM is the most valuable resource for movie buffs outside big cities.
1. Thor: The Dark World
A valuable mystical substance infects Jane (Natalie Portman), so Thor (Chris Hemsworth) brings her to Valhalla while dark elves conspire to retrieve the substance. Also starring Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, and Rene Russo. PG-13 (112 min.)
2. Bad Grandpa
Johnny Knoxville gets out the old-age make-up to play an 86-year-old man taking his 8-year-old grandson across the country. Their goal? To prank an unsuspecting populace, like a cross between Borat and Jackass. R (92 min.)
3. Free Birds
Just in time for Thanksgiving, two turkeys get the bright idea to travel back in time and prevent turkey from becoming a holiday staple in this cartoon. Voice cast includes Owen Wilson and Amy Poehler. PG (91 min.)
4. Last Vegas
Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Morgan Freeman go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party in this fish-out-of-water comedy. Think The Hangover meets Grumpy Old Men.
5. Ender’s Game
The director of X-Men Origins: Wolverine condenses and regurgitates Orson Scott Card’s compelling young adult novel about a boy genius advancing through strategy school in order to destroy a potentially invading alien force. PG-13 (114 min.)
6. Gravity
In this revolutionary 3-D rollercoaster, a space mission gone awry forces astronauts Sandra Bullock and George Clooney to fend for themselves among various space stations and to get back home. PG-13 (90 min.)
7. 12 Years as a Slave
The Toronto Film Festival winner by chic arthouse director Steve McQueen chronicles the abduction of a free northern black man (Chiwetel Ejiofur) and his enslavement for 12 years on
southern plantations. R (133 min.)
8. Captain Phillips
Based on a true story, Tom Hanks stars as the captain of a U.S. ship transporting supplies to Kenya when his ship comes under attack by Somali pirates in this journalistic depiction of international institutions colliding. PG-13 (134 min.)
9. About Time
The latest English rom-com-drama from the writer-director of Love Actually is this story about a young man who learns he can time travel within his own life and the woman (Rachel McAdams) he falls in love with. R (123 min.)
10. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Our hero, Flint Lockwood, voiced by Bill Hader, leaves his job when he finds out the machine responsible for the original is still in operation, leading to another avalanche of foods crossed with animals. PG (95 min.)
11. Carrie
After getting picked on at school, a young outcast, Carrie, develops telekinetic superpowers. Then one of the girls feels guilty and gets her boyfriend to take Carrie to the prom; the rest is horror history. R (100 min.)
12. All Is Lost
Robert Redford plays “Our Man,” a survivor of a shipwreck that leaves him stranded on a life raft with diminishing resources as he tries to get home. Directed by JC Chandor (Margin Call). PG-13 (106 min.)
13. Escape Plan
In this high-concept action flick, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger team up to escape from a dangerous, off-the-grid, maximum-security prison that puts all the prisoners in clear glass boxes on stilts. R (116 min.)
14. The Counselor
Michael Fassbender stars as a lawyer who gets involved in a cartel deal
that goes wrong in this hard-bitten, star-studded neo-noir. Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, and Javier Bardem co-star. R (117 min.)
15. Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey plays a reallife Texan who was diagnosed HIVpositive and begins a ring to fasttrack meds not yet approved by the FDA by importing them from Mexico for HIV-positive Americans. Costarring Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto. R (117 min.)
16. Enough Said
Julia Louis-Dreyfus befriends a hippie poet (Catherine Keener) and her exhusband James Gandolfini at the same party. Her relationships with each start to threaten each other. Her college-bound daughter only cranks up her emotions. PG-13 (93 min.)
17. Despicable Me 2
The heroic Anti-Villain League hires Steve Carell as a grumbling supervillain turned adoptive father to help fight a new supervillain. Featuring the voices of Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, and Russell Brand. PG (98 min.)
18. Blue is the Warmest Color
The most recent film to win the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival is this story of a French teenager named Adele who falls for a local college student named Emma. NC-17 (179 min.)
19. Planes
Disney goes Pixar with a Cars-style take on a world of sentient planes. Dane Cook as a cropduster dreams of competing in a race around the world.. Brad Garret, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and John Cleese co-star. PG (91 min.)
20. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson and his friends must hunt down the Golden Fleece to defeat the rising tide of monsters and restore their sanctuary in this freewheeling Greek mythology/coming-ofage mash-up. PG (106 min.)
maroonweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 27
By Chandler Hodo
Memphis
MSC OPAS PRESENTS:
Written by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, Memphis is a Broadway musical that follows the life of disc jockey Huey Calhoun, the first white DJ to play R&B music in Memphis, Tennessee. The musical is set in the 1950s, with racial prejudice at an all-time high. The production opens at a party in an underground African-American Rock ‘n’ Roll club called Delray’s; when Huey walks in, regulars consequently begin to walk out. Huey convinces them not to leave on his account, since he’s there solely because of his passion for R&B music. It’s at Delray’s that Huey meets up-and-coming singer, Felicia Farrell, sister of the club owner, and Huey promises that he’ll get her on the radio when he gets a job as a DJ. As Huey searches for DJ jobs at various white radio stations, he is constantly ruffling feathers when given chances because he constantly plays R&B. Finally, at one station, Huey’s mix draws in a large audience consisting of primarily teenage listeners, who consistently call in requests for Huey’s music. As a result, the station owner agrees to give him a two-week trial. After much success, Huey is hired with a full-time position. Keeping true to his word, Huey brings Felicia to the station to sing live on the radio, and she becomes an instant sensation. After both of their newfound success, the two begin to pursue a relationship despite both sets of disapproving family members who warn the couple that their union will put them in danger. Two years pass and Huey proposes to Felicia, only to be rejected because of the danger for a mixed-racial couple to be together publically. The two share a kiss right as white gang members walk by, and the men begin to beat Felicia with a bat while holding Huey down. Felicia makes a full recovery after the attack, and desperately tries to convince Huey to move to New York. She believes that the two will be safer there and won’t have to hide their relationship. Huey struggles with the thought of leaving his beloved Memphis, but wonders if the cruelness and prejudice in the city will ever cease. MSC OPAS presents Memphis on Tuesday, November 19 from 7:30-10pm. The four-time Tony Award-winning musical will take place at Rudder Auditorium on the A&M campus. For more information and ticket purchases, visit www.mscopas.org/memphis. pg 28 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
“YOU HAD TO BE THERE” - AND THERE YOU IS. by Matt Jones
Across
Down
1 Scraps 8 Annoy 11 Greek letters 14 Perfect example 15 Autumnal chill 16 Bambi’s aunt 17 Keep a distance 20 Gets under control 21 Dispensable candy 22 Off kilter 23 ___ out a living 24 “Pet” that’s really a plant 26 Not one’s best effort, in a sports metaphor 27 Hi-___ monitor 28 With just us, not anyone else 30 Compass dir. 31 Utah city 32 Rocky Balboa opponent Apollo ___ 33 Schoolboy 34 Server of Duff Beer 35“Watership Down” director Martin 38 Director Gus Van ___ 39 Atlanta health agcy. 42 Malt liquor amount 44 Antipoverty agcy. created by LBJ (hidden in SHOE ORGANIZER) 45 1994 Nobel Peace Prize sharer 46 No voters 47“Alice’s Restaurant” singer Guthrie 48“Change the World” singer Clapton 49 Keebler cookie maker 50 Airport runway 51 The right way (for things) 55 Carly ___ Jepsen 56 ___ center 57 Kindle, for one 58 Avg. level 59 Demand 60 Bum out
1 Guinea pigs 2 Passages for drawing smoke 3 Kind of cat or twins 4 Eye problems 5 Bathrooms, for Brits 6 Big bird 7 “Go” preceder 8 Unpleasant way to live 9 Cracker brand 10 Speed meas. in Europe 11 Outgrowth of punk rock 12 Without weapons 13 Agree 18 Drug in a den 19 Bird on a coin 24 Monsieur de Bergerac 25 Broke new ground 26 Artists’ headwear 28 One of Henry VIII’s wives 29 Tea accompaniments 34 “I Try” singer Gray 35 Greets with lots of laughter 36 Circled the sun 37 1991 Wimbledon champ Michael 38 Total mess 39 Act like rust 40 “Coppelia” composer 41 Barrel makers 42 Director of “The Grifters” 43 Open an achievement, e.g. 47 Fragrant oil 49 They’re looking for you? 50 “Shake well,” e.g. 52 Time 53 Diploma alternative 54 Charlemagne’s domain: abbr. �2013 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)
November 13, 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 29
Drink Slinger
GET TO KNOW YOUR FAVORITE BCS BARTENDERS
ANSWERS from page 29
SLINGER OF THE WEEK
Tanner Flewellen La Bodega
MW: If you were a drink, what would you be? T: A Cabernet. MW: What is the craziest thing you’ve seen while working behind this bar? T: Johnny Football. MW: If you could bar chat with one person—a celebrity, sport star, anyone—who would it be? What would you want to talk with them about? What drink do you think that person would ask for? T: Charlie Sheen. Womanizing. I think that he would want a scotch. MW: What is your personal favorite drink? T: Whiskey and water. MW: What is the worst mixing combination? T: Gin and whiskey . MW: If you could only make one drink for the rest of your life what would it be? T: Scotch and ice. MW: What is the most disgusting drink people ask you for? T: Baja cooler.
Slinger’s Signature Drink MW: What is your signature drink? T: I’ve been told by a girl that its called the sweetheart
pg 30 • MAROON WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • maroonweekly.com
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