Vol. 12 No. 19 by Maroon Weekly

02.10.16 - VOL. 12, NO. 19

FREE PUBLICATION

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meet the team PUBLISHER Chris Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Luke Murray ASSISTANT EDITOR Linley McCord

LAYOUT EDITOR Amy Winn STAFF WRITERS

Annabeth Reeb Jordyn Smith Adrianna Zampieri INTERNS Amanda Boles Evan Flores Hannah Hardwick DISTRIBUTION Kristen Cottrell Lindsay Cox Daryl Dorman

Maroon Weekly is an independent, 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 or typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. © Copyright 2016 Campus Press LP

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 3

Music Reviews Lucinda Williams Album:

Ghosts of Highway 20 Release Date: February 5, 2016

By Jordyn Smith

Singer/Songwriter Lucinda Williams’ “The Ghost of Highway 20” is 14 track, thought-provoking album. Using Highway 20, which runs right through the Deep South, as the backdrop for the album. It provides perspective and some real soul to this album. The album kicks off with “Dust,” a very honest track that pulls at raw emotions. The album infuses jazz with a southern twang, adds a little rock to the mix, and wraps it all up in a true singer/songwriter fashion. Williams has stepped up her game for this album. The title track is a haunting, almost ominous track and Williams’ vocals really makes it stand out. She pays homage to her home state with “Louisiana Story.” Overall, Williams has nailed this album by infusing styles and making individual tracks stand out.

Fans were shocked when Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum announced his solo project “The Driver,” and the shock gave the album momentum before it was even released. The first single, which is also the title track, pays homage to those who work for the artists, the fans, and the singers themselves. With the help of Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay, the song is taken to new heights as their smooth harmonies ring out in the closing lines of the song. The title track sets up the rest of the album well. It moves flawlessly along, with collaborations from Miranda Lambert and the great Stevie Knicks. Kelley is able to balance up-tempo tracks with ballads. He toes the line of country and pop at times but does it in a very organic way. Nothing seems forced as every track comes from the heart and plays on different emotions. Charles Kelley has really nailed it with his solo album.

With more than 30 albums under his belt, Elton John is still cranking out great work. “Wonderful Crazy Night” is his latest release and the album kicks off with the funky title track. EJ’s legendary vocals are outstanding (per usual), and the soul that has gone into this album is incredible. It rolls on with “In The Name of You,” a great track with excellent brass accompaniment. EJ brings back classic sounds with “Blue Wonderful.” This album proves that EJ still has it, so if you have been a fan for 30 years or 30 minutes, there will be a track on this album that speaks to you. EJ’s ability to connect with folks has made its way into the album. Over the 12 tracks, he is able to mix genres, styles, and themes, displaying that EJ has once again hit a high note with new music.

Rap star Whiz Khalifa is back with “Khalifa.” Khalifa shows how his music has matured over the past few years in songs such as “Celebrate” as his lyrics touch on the appreciation of life. Khalifa also enlists the help of several artists to take a few of his tracks to the next level; Courtney Noelle lends her talents to “City View.” Other collaborations include Travis Scott, J.R. Donato, Sebastian, Ty Dolla $ign, Chevy Woods, and Juicy J. The 13 track album provides an eclectic mix of up-beat and slow rolling tracks. Khalifa flexes his vocal power in “Call Waiting.” This album adds another layer to the rapper, his music is real and highly relatable. For Khalifa fans, this is the album you have been waiting on, and you definitely won’t be disappointed.

pg 4 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 03, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

Charles Kelly Album: Driver Release Date: February 5, 2016

Elton John Album: Wonderful Crazy Night Release Date: February 5, 2016

Wiz Khalifa Album: Khalifa Release Date: February 5, 2016

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maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 5

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JOEY MCGEE By Amanda Boles

MW: What artists or inspirations have helped shape the sound of your music? JM: Good question! My influences are constantly changing, the music I wrote a few years ago is pretty different from what I’m writing today. Currently I’m exploring a raw sound¬ – dirty, Southern, and real – and I’m drawn to stuff from Gary Clark Jr., alt-country music from the 90s - (think Whiskeytown, Driveby Truckers), and I’m digging songwriters like Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and a bit of Lydia Loveless. There’s a lot that goes into the mix! MW: So you’re a New Orleans-native, but what brought you to the Brazos Valley? JM: It was the invitation from my buddy of mine, Adam Saenz. My wife and I were visiting the Brazos Valley in 2007 and he said something like, “You guys should think about moving to Bryan. It’s a cool little town.” He didn’t know it at the time, but I’d been contemplating moving back south. Prior to that, I’d been living in Pittsburgh. I moved there after living in San Antonio (left NOLA and moved there after high school), and I thought I’d only be in Pennsylvania for a couple of years. Hah! Life has its twists and turns! More than 15 later, I was quite ready to get back south. Pittsburgh is a cool town, but they don’t have breakfast tacos and abundant sunshine! It’s good to be back in Texas! MW: Where are you getting inspiration for your latest studio project, Terlingua Taproot?

oey McGee is a singer-songwriter with a sound like a melting pot. His self-titled “folk rock groove” sound fuses gospel, jazz, and blues influences into a unique blend that shouts to be heard. With his New Orleans roots, McGee strives to bring “Cajun spice” to Texas through his rhythmic music. He has been experimenting with his sound and his latest studio project, Terlingua Taproot, hints at Southern country influences and a different vibe compared to his earlier works. We sat down with McGee to discuss his musical influences, evolving sound, and personal journey along the way.

JM: The spark of inspiration stems from conversations I’ve had with my friend Todd Anguspaul Reynolds. He’s a brassy rancher and painter who owns a place north of Caldwell named Terlingua. During one of my visits there, he challenged a body of work of mine – I think the words “that sucks” were used – and it jarred something in me. It helped me to realize I had been coasting and not really tapping into the emotions and inspirations of why I write and perform music. Sometimes we need a good splash of cold water to help us wake up from our lethargy! Anyway, those visits to Terlingua (and conversations I’ve had with other creatives) have helped me to tap back into the rootedness of who I am – a Southern, Creole-Cajun musician dude working through my hang ups and trying to make the world a better place along the way. These songs are a good reflection of where I am in life: they feel like rich, warm, black earth in your hands – it’s a bit smelly and messy – but filled with lots of goodness! I think folks will resonate with that. Joey McGee will be performing live on February 12 at New Republic Brewery in College Station starting at 7:30 pm.

pg 6 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 10, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: RICH O’TOOLE By Luke Murray

ggie-alum Rich O’Toole will be joing Josh Abbott for his show at Hurricane Harry’s. We sat down with Rich to discuss his recent move to Nashville, his new debut-single “Back to Back,” and his scheduled appearence to guest-judge at Aggieland Idol, MW: You’re releasing your new single, “Back to Back” this Friday February 12th before your show at Harry’s; what can your fans expect from this new track? RO: Back to Back is a really great love song that paints the picture of troubles all relationships go through and how they work through it. Sometimes in life you have to roll over and talk things out. I think it’s the best single we have released to radio yet and I’m very excited to see what this song brings to light in 2016. MW: You moved to Nashville recently to focus more on your songwriting, and this seems to be more of a shift toward quality over quantity. A lot of artists will head for Nashville to crank out a large variety of songs in a short amount of time, but Music City seems to be impacting the depth in your writing; was this your intention all along? RO: Of course, Nashville is a great American southern city. This city is filled with a variety of talent everywhere you go. Some of the best songwriters, producers and musicians call Nashville home. Moving here has allowed me the opportunity to surround myself with the best talent and grow as an artist. Every move creates new song ideas, creates opportunity to work with a bigger team, and we get to tour the country and get the music to the fans. MW: Is it safe to assume that we can expect more new music from you soon? RO: Yes, very soon! We have an amazing album coming out this summer. It really is my best work. We went deeper than we ever have and jumped into the depth of different American cities and creative love stories. With the new single we were lucky enough to have Billy Decker, who has worked with everyone from Sam Hunt and Kenny Chesney, to Darius Rucker and George Jones mix the track. We are really happy with the end result and can’t wait for everyone to hear the full album. MW: We also heard that you’re going to be a guest judge for Aggieland Idol at Olsen Field on Thursday; how did you get hooked up with AI and what can we expect out of you judging a vocal competition at your alma mater? RO: I love Texas A&M with all my heart. They contacted us and it seems like a lot of fun. I’m always down to help my school in any way that I can, and help the future talent that comes out of the great city of College Station. Gig’ Em Aggies!

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 9

THE STATESBORO REVUE @ GRAND STAFFORD THEATER O

n February 12, Grand Stafford Theater in Bryan will host The Statesboro Revue as the next event in their spring lineup. The Statesboro Revue will be playing off their recent album ‘Ramble On Privilege Creek’ released in 2013. Their debut album, “Different Kind of Light” released in 2009, produced by Grammy Award Winner David Z. Lead singer Stewart Mann joined with his younger brother Garrett Mann as the lead guitarist and have traveled the state of Texas dispensing their soulful yet familiar sound of music across the land. Stewart’s personal musical talent and unique voice landed him in the starring role of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” this past year at the Cameo Theater in San Antonio, giving testament to the raw potential the band possesses. Although the band only began in 2008, Stewart’s musical journey started long before the band formed, however through a triage of events and lessons, he discovered his true belonging on stage: performing with an old school rock and roll band with elements of Texas country music and a profound rhythm unique to such a young band.

pg 10 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 10, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

By Evan Flores

The success of The Statesboro Revue has increased exponentially since their formation eight years ago, with recognition from a number of organizations and an impressive resume including famous bands they have played with or opened for. In the early years of The Statesboro Revue, the band was named as one of the main highlights of the 2009 South by Southwest Concert Festival in Austin, giving early credit to the band and fueling the motivation of the rock and roll band to continue their journey into local fame. Since their recognition in 2008, The Statesboro Revue has gone on to play with a number of big name artists in their few years of existence. With their release of their 2013 album, the band has shared the stage with famous artists such as Willie Nelson, Randy Rogers Band, Eli Young Band and a number of more famous country stars. With elements of rock and roll, Celtic anthems and traditional country rhythm, The Statesboro Revue boasts an electric live performance with unmatched interaction with the audience for a smaller band. Tickets can be found at the Grand Stafford Theater’s site and statesbororevue.com.

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e h t For

5. Set the strawberry hearts on a piece of wax paper to dry completely. After they’ve dried, you may need to trim some of the melted chocolate away. 6. Now melt the white chocolate and drizzle on top of the hearts. 7. All done! They’re easy, delicious and beautiful.

e t a l o c ho

C f o

By Adrianna Zampieri

mbrace your sweet tooth because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and that means chocolate, lots and lots of mouthwatering chocolate! But rather than buying prepackaged, possibly stale treats from the store, brave the kitchen to make your own. It’ll be a confectionary delight perfect for this Day of Love, whether you’re sharing it with your significant other or hosting a party for you and your single friends. STRAWBERRY HEARTS Chocolate-dipped strawberries are a classic dessert consumed on Valentine’s Day. While they are delicious, they also can run a bit expensive when buying them from a store. With a tutorial from “Walking on Sunshine,” you can enjoy this juicy treat at a cheaper price by making them yourself. Sure, they might not look quite as fancy as the store-bought ones, but you’re making them from the heart. WHAT YOU NEED: • Strawberries • Toothpicks

• Milk chocolate almond bark • White chocolate almond bark

HOW TO DO IT: 1. Take the stem off of the strawberries. Don’t cut the stem; just pull it off. 2. Then cut the strawberries in half and lay them flat on a cutting board. Place them together with the pointy bottoms touching. 3. Now, secure them with a toothpick, and you have a heart. Try not to put the toothpick all the way through so you have something to hold on to while you dip the strawberries in the chocolate. 4. Melt the milk chocolate according to the directions on the package. Dip the strawberries in the melted chocolate, trying to get the whole strawberry covered. Once they’re dipped, they begin to look like hearts.

CHOCOLATE KISS COOKIES Chocolate cookies are delicious; everyone knows that. But they’re even better when coated with pink sprinkles and finished with a Hershey’s Kiss. “The Kitchen is My Playground” turned the traditional chocolate cookie into something worthy of Valentine’s Day. WHAT YOU NEED: • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup cocoa powder • 1/4 tsp. salt • 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened • 2/3 cup sugar

• 1 egg yolk • 2 tbsp. milk • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 3/4 to 1 cup assorted Valentine sprinkles • 25 to 30 Hershey’s Kisses

HOW TO DO IT: 1. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside. 2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla; mix until incorporated. Reduce mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture until combined. 3. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour. 4. Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls and roll each ball in sprinkles, completely covering the dough ball with sprinkles. 5. Place balls about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. With your thumb, gently press down into the center of each ball just slightly to make a very small indentation. 6. Chill the baking sheet of dough balls in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. 7. Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 12 minutes. 8. After removing cookies from the oven, immediately place a Hershey’s Kiss in the center of each cookie. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 3 minutes; remove to a cooling rack to cool.

pg 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 10, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

RED VELVET TRUFFLES “OMG Chocolate Desserts” has replaced the Oreo Truffle with the Red Velvet Truffle as a Valentine’s Day favorite. Rich and delectable, this melt-in-your-mouth recipe will be sure to woo your taste buds. With a white chocolate coating and deep red center, even Cupid would be impressed. WHAT YOU NEED: • 1 box red velvet cake mix (plus ingredients • 16 oz. white chocolate bark listed on the box to prepare the cake) • 2 oz. dark or semi-sweet chocolate bark • 8 oz. cream cheese-softened HOW TO DO IT: 1. Prepare the 9 x 13 inch cake according to package instructions, let it cool completely, and then crumble the cake in a large bowl. 2. Add softened cream cheese and knead gently with your fingers until cream cheese is fully incorporated. 3. Roll about 1 tablespoon of the mixture into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with a parchment paper. You will get about 35-40 balls. Set in the fridge to chill. 4. Melt the white chocolate, remove the cake balls from the fridge and using a fork, dip them into the melted chocolate. Place one ball at a time into the chocolate and roll the ball to coat evenly. Then slightly tap the fork against the side of the bowl to trim the excess chocolate and place the truffle on the parchment paper. Set them back in the fridge until chocolate is firm. 5. Melt dark chocolate, transfer into a small bag, cut the corner off of the bag, and pipe the melted chocolate on top of the truffles. 6. Store in the fridge.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 13

Each colleges table ocation and time can be found on the Department of Admissions website. In addition to the college reps, students and families will be able to visit with other key players in their potential Texas A&M experience. The Financial Aid Office, Texas A&M Athletics, and the Corps of Cadets will all be present and holding events of their own to show what each respectively has to offer potential students. The resource tables will be open from 9am – 2pm. Campus and residence hall tours will also be available to anyone during that time.

or many Aggies, Aggieland Saturday is their first impression of the world renowned maroon and white university. Built around the future academic classes to come through doors, Texas A&M University goes all-out to make potential students and their families feel welcomed and well-informed. On Saturday, February 13, the campus ground will transform into a showcase of the academic, dining, and living accommodations that the university has to offer. Beginning at The Memorial Student Center, the Aggie living room will become an interactive mecca where colleges within the university will be represented in an open-house style setup with resource tables available to provide information on each college’s programs. A select few colleges will house their resource table within their own respective academic building.

The event, proudly supported by The Association of Former Students, is open to all students – middle school-aged and up – and their families. The event is FREE to attend, and registration is available online. If you or a family member is considering attending Texas A&M, this is the event made to seal the deal. Visit Aggieland and see why the students and alumni are built to bleed maroon. Registration and information is available at admissions.tamu.edu/agsat • • • • •

Texas A&M University Cushing Library Tour: 9am - 2pm Transfer Admissions: 10am - 12pm Campus Tours: 9am - 2pm Blinn TEAM: 9:30am - 2:15pm Residence Hall Tours: 9am - 2pm

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R E• MAROON E A D M IWEEKLY S S I O N •W ITH 2 T H• maroonweekly.com M A N S P O R T S PA S S pgF14 Feb. 10,12016

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For the ones who are adventurous… Sugarloaf Mountain. About a 50-minute drive from College Station, Sugarloaf is the perfect Valentines location for those who love nature just as much as their significant other. Sugarloaf is only about 400-500ft to the peak, so you won’t be sweating your Valentines Day makeup off on the hike. No worries, you’ll still look great in the pictures you take at the top. Pack a picnic, some water, and something sharp if you want to carve your name at the top.

For the one with the anger issues… Valentines Day isn’t for you? If you aren’t into pouring your hard-earned money into chocolates and teddy bears, then grab your date, friend, or just yourself and head over to a shooting range. You can either rent a gun for a small fee or bring your own, either way, shooting at a bunch of targets will be way more fun than that cheesy chick flic you were going to see. BCS has all sorts of shooting ranges, including Champion Firearms, Gunsmoke, CCC Shooting Complex, and many more.

For the one’s who love animals…. What if we told you that pure happiness is only a 45-minute drive away? Why spend Valentines Day at a dinner table when you could spend it feeding all kinds of different animals in the comfort of your car? Franklin Drive Through Safari has more than a dozen different species roaming their zoo, and you get to hand feed them all! Even better, if you don’t have a bae to kiss this Valentines Day, the giraffe there is always happy to give you a big smooch for the camera.

For the one’s who love to cuddle….

s ’ e n i t n e l Va Dates On

n e e B t ’ n e v a H u Yo

By Annabeth Reeb

This one’s for the 95% of BCS who owns a truck…if you are a part of the 5% that doesn’t, well, find a date with a truck. Go around your house and grab every blanket, pillow, and comforter and throw them in the truck bed. Drive to a nice open spot and enjoy! You have you’re very own portable bed with a world of stars above you for entertainment. Nothing says romance like stargazing in the back of a pickup.

For the one’s that are creative… We all loved making crafts for Valentines Day in middle school—but why did it stop there? Painting and gluing your way to someone’s heart is always the best way. Luckily, College Station offers a more grownup version of Valentines Crafts. Painting With a Twist, Pinot’s Pallet, and U Paint it—they all have the same great basic principle: creativity and the optional BYOB. Cuddle up to your significant other with a paintbrush in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Don’t want to spend money? Buy some cheap paint and canvases and have your own at-home paint date.

For the one with the wand…. No matter how much time passes since the last Harry Potter book or movie was released, it will always be an acceptable thing to devote all of your time to. Round up all of the Harry Potter movies, find a recipe for butter beer and licorice wands, and you’ve got yourself a Valentines Day that’s sure to please anyone, wizards and muggles alike.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 15

JOSH ABBOTT BAND @ HARRY’S

By Jordyn Smith

he Josh Abbott Band will make their return to Hurricane Harry’s on February 12th.

The band was formed in 2006 by front-man Josh Abbott. At the time, they were all in school at Texas Tech University. Josh Abbott was part of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and was just a thesis student from his master’s degree when he decided to form his band and pursue music full-time. Since then, the band has been lighting up the Texas country music scene and have played all over the state

in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Included on the album was the hit “Oh Tonight” which featured rising country star Kacey Musgraves. The single was released in early 2011 and peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Country Chart. The album “She’s Like Texas” topped off at number 28 on the Billboard Country Albums Charts.

The past couple of years, they have expanded their horizons to the rest of the United States, and has has seen their music evolve over the past few years. The Josh Abbott Band has toured all over and has spent some time in Nashville writing and recording. From traditional Texas country to slightly more modern country, there is one thing that remains: they put on one heck of a show.

Their third album “Small Town Family Dream” was released in April of 2012 and climbed to the number 5 spot on the Billboard Country Albums Chart. The second single “Touch” quickly became a fan favorite. The Josh Abbott Band released their latest album “Front Row Seat” on November 6, 2015. “Front Row Seat” is a concept album, inspired by recent personal events. It promised to produce even more fan-favorites and the first single “Amnesia” was released in August. The 16 track album is the most emotionally charged and challenging album yet for the band. The raw emotion and brutal honesty connect with a wider audience. The album climbed to the number 9 slot on the billboard country chart.

The Josh Abbott Band has an impressive music catalog. They released their first demo “Taste” in 2007 and quickly followed that release with a tour. In 2009, the band released their first full album “Scapegoat.” As they continued to tour, the band dropped “She’s Like Texas” in 2010. The same year, they played to their first sold-out crowd at the historic Billy Bobs Texas, located

Including Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, the Josh Abbott Band has played other historic venues like Nashville’s Exit/In, Chicago’s Joe’s Bar, Denver’s Grizzly Rose, and Los Angeles’ Troubadour. Combined with their success in Texas, the band is looking to continue to grow and share their music with larger and larger crowds.

pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 10, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

By Hannah Hardwick RYAN WILCOX @ NEW REPUBLIC BREWING

mericana and Folk-Rock artist Ryan Wilcox is coming to perform live at New Re-public Brewing Taproom, one of Aggieland’s premiere breweries, on February 13. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Wilcox has made a name for himself playing at dis-tinguished venues such as Lola’s, The Capitol Bar, and The Grotto. He’s consid-ered an exceptional performer and entertainer, inspiring fans to come back to see him again and again. While many other singer/ songwriters are known for their in-strumentals and songwriting prowess or performance abilities, Ryan Wilcox is known for it all. He knows how to connect with his audiences and crowds love his down-to-earth personality and sense of humor. Wilcox’s long list of original pieces vary from Junior Kimbrough-inspired blues tunes to Dylanesque folk ballads powered by finger-style guitars and harmonica. He has also been known to mix covers with his own original songs. Every perfor-mance of his is a passion-filled, sweat-soaked experience that leaves the crowd wanting more. Take the time to come see Ryan Wilcox at New Republic. The show will kick off at 5:00pm February 13 and admission is free.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 17

There’s An #AppForThat weekly essentials By Hannah Hardwick Pocket Poitns ocket Points is a new mobile app that gives students rewards for not usng their phones during class. All you need to do is open the app on campus, lock your phone, and let the points starting rolling in. You can then use the points you’ve col-lected at local and online businesses for exclusive student discounts, coupons or gifts. Watch for special offers like promo codes and 2X Tuesday, where you can earn double the points. Browse from hundreds of discounts to spend your Pocket Points on, such as Aggieland Outfitters, Sperry, and Fuego. Download the app and start earning points today.

CREATE SOME CREATE NOISE. SOME NOISE. Want acc es each wee s to more than 150 k and hav k people e them ta Wyaonut racbcu lk in g about essin ree each wee s etossm?oW k and hav thcan 1d5o0tkhpaet.ople e them ta your bwith lking ab Advertise usinMaroon ess? We Weekly can do th out at. Advertise with Maroon Weekly find our current media kit at www.maroonweekly.com/advertise for current rates and schedules contact one of our friendly ad reps at advertise@maroonweekly.com find our current media kit at www.maroonweekly.com/advertise for current rates and schedules contact one of our friendly ad reps pg 18 • MAROONatWEEKLY • Feb. 10, 2016 • maroonweekly.com advertise@maroonweekly.com

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maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 19

pg 20 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 10, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

Movie Reviews

Kung Fu Panda 3 Degrassi: Next Class

(PG)

By Linley McCord

NETFLIX

For the season’s first big animated film, “Kung Fu Panda 3” isn’t bad. It may not be your first choice for a movie on a Friday night, but if you’re looking for some lighthearted family entertainment, this is a pretty good option. Like its predecessors, the film follows a pretty simple plot: life is good, a problem is presented, a fat panda is put to the job with his surprising kung fu abilities, he somehow saves the world (spoiler alert), and he learns a valuable life lesson. Haven’t seen one or both of the first two? You might be a little confused because there are references to them, but they’re easy to pick up on. In this particular story, Po the panda (voiced by Jack Black) has to learn the ancient magic of chi—your inner energy—in order to defeat Kai (J.K. Simmons), an evil buffalo (or something) from the spirit world who has come back to exact his revenge. Po travels to a secret panda village with his newfound biological father (Bryan Cranston) to learn this art of chi in order to save the world/ discover who he really is. It is surprisingly funny—Jack Black’s twist on a dumpling-loving panda will definitely keep you entertained—and the plot moves along pretty well. There are some great pop culture references, a few puns just bad enough to get a laugh, and some other smile-worthy moments. It’s not “Inside Out” funny or emotionally strong, but definitely has some solid moments of humor and impressive character building. There is a side plot of Po’s biological father and the father who raised him (mind you, he’s a goose) having some tension as they attempt to share their only son. It does feel a little forced at times by overemphasizing the “two dads” concept, but isn’t a major aspect of the plot. More than anything, it’s part of Po’s developing self-identity, which will be the biggest takeaway for any kids seeing the movie. For a Dreamworks animated movie, it was pretty cute and gets 7/10 stars.

By Adrianna Zampieri Who else remembers the early golden years of “Degrassi: The Next Generation” before it slowly crumbled into a subpar imitation of earlier seasons? Netflix remembered, so they tried their hand at “Degrassi: Next Class.” Normally Netflix exceeds expectations with their original series; however this time, they failed. Horribly. This new class brings a host of new teens to the screen, and there’s every stereotype you can image: the rich kid, the nerd, the geek, the singer, the goth, the pill popper, the drug dealer, the social activist, the bad boy. Given the variety of personalities, you’d think there’d be a little depth to these kids, but all the characters are disappointingly one-dimensional. Netflix also attempts to bring in current social issues into each episode, attempting serious discussions about addiction, sexuality, and violence, yet it falls flat. With all of the overdramatized situations and constant teenage angst, it’s exhausting to watch. The plot tries too hard, but the actors don’t try hard enough. All in all, “Degrassi: Next Class” missed the mark on what could have been something truly successful if Netflix had decided personal depth was more important than excessive drama.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 21

All Day Across 1 Humor, casually 6 Build ___ (bird’s job) 11 Tree stuff 14 Sans-serif Windows typeface 15 Wild card 16 Prepare to feather 17 Ernest or Julio of winemaking 18 Stadium 19 Undivided 20 Workweek closers that are a hit with everyone? 23 Green beginning 24 Some journalism 25 Concert souvenir 28 Just fine 30 Opportunity, in metaphor 31 Particle from a weekend coffee server? 36 Conservatory focus 37 Snooze 38 Shoot the breeze 40 Jennings sends packages when there’s no mail service? 45 One of five lakes 46 Wouldn’t stand for it? 47 Mighty tree 48 ___-Lytton Fiction Contest (competition to write terrible prose) 51 ___ Vegans (some Nevada residents) 53 Door opener that only works when the weekend’s over? 59 Ashcroft and Holder, for short 60 Cedars-___ Medical Center 61 “Hand over the money!” 63 “Chi-Raq” director 64 Say “prob’ly,” for instance 65 Wombs 66 Drug for Hunter S. Thompson 67 Coup ___ 68 Labwork

Down 1 Fall behind 2 Part of UAE 3 Organizer 4 Not genuine 5 Hobbyist’s racer 6 Not quite shut 7 Seaweed, or a phrase of denial 8 ___ out a living 9 Elizabeth Warren, e.g. 10 Martin killed in 2012 11 Rock 12 Root beer brand 13 Weightlifting exercise 21 Word after fast or (more recently) slow 22 Fortify 25 Bag-screening gp. 26 Dumbo’s claim to fame 27 Part of Caesar’s last question 29 West of award show antics 30 Tricks 32 ___ & World Report (defunct print magazine) 33 Himalayan beast 34 Where Buckeyes hail from 35 “Sideways” valley 39 Vowelless reproach 41 Decent, so to speak 42 Unit for a frequent flier 43 “The Lion King” role 44 Remain in place 48 Hoops 49 Pushes 50 Exposed to light 52 Take to the rink 54 “I’ll get right ___!” 55 Nothin’ 56 Nonfiction bestseller topic, often 57 “___ Wide Shut” 58 Nomad’s tent 62 Greek letters 2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

pg 22 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 10, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

Answers

pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • Jan. 28, 2015 • maroonweekly.com

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maroonweekly.com • Feb. 10, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 23

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