Vol. 12 No. 21 by Maroon Weekly

02.24.16 - VOL. 12, NO. 21

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 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. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 3

Music Reviews Sam Riggs Album:

Breathless Release Date: February 19, 2016

Star Wars Headspace

By Jordyn Smith

Texas country artist Sam Riggs is back with “Breathless.” The 11-track album is Riggs’s best work to date. The album kicks off with the nostalgic “The Lucky Ones.” It rolls right on with “Gravity,” a mid-tempo tune about dreaming, thinking, and needing to have some space. Riggs really shows his maturity as an artist with his new album. Tunes like “The Heartbreak Girl,” the title track “Breathless,” and “One More Chance to Stay” really showcase that maturity. The hard-driving “Wake the Dead” is a great song that will make you want to grab life by the horns. Riggs displays his ability to balance a record with the ballad “Second Hand Smoke.” There is also an acoustic version of this track at the end of the album.

Yo Gotti

Wolfmother

Album: Various Artists

Album: The Art of Hustle

Album: Victorious

Release Date: February 19, 2016

Are you a serious Star Wars fan? Then you may want to check out Star Wars Headspace. This eclectic album made up of various artists, brings Star Wars themed tunes to life. The album infuses techno, electronic music, with popular themes from the Star Wars movie franchise. The 15 track albums has all kinds of tracks that will please any Star Wars fan. “Help Me!” is a nod to Princess Leia’s “Help me Obi Wan” speech.

Yo Gotti is back with The Art of Hustle. The rapper has really outdone himself on this 15 track album. Included on the album are some superstar collaborations. Yo Gotti enlists Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Future, 2 Chainz, Nicki Minag, and more. Hailing from Memphis, Yo Gotti channels his hometown into this album. This is specifically shown in “My City” featuring K. Michelle. Yo Gotti covers a variety of topics and brings to light many ideas, muses, and philosophies in this album.

If you are looking for something a little different to listen to this week, checkout Wolfmother’s latest release Victorious. The 10 track rock album has really set the bar. It was an interesting and random find on iTunes that really catches the ear. The hard charging opening track “The Love That You Give” sets the tone for the album. This album sounds like it could be from the 1980s. It has a very classic feel to it.

The tune infuses her words with sort of a dubstep beat. It is an interesting take on the famous monologue. The rest of the album is a great combination of Star Wars and dance music. Whoever came up with the concept for this album gets a gold star.

The eclectic mix of songs shows his ability to balance the album well. Each superstar collaboration is well thought out and strategically placed to help elevate the album further. Yo Gotti has really done well with this new album.

pg 4 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

The band Wolfmother really kicks it up a notch with this record. The title track “Victorious” really showcases the band’s vocal and musical abilities. The rest of the album flows very well. Each track has been meticulously written, arranged, and produced. The authenticity and organic feel to the album is shown throughout. This is a really great find for any rock fan.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 5

By Annabeth Reeb

or a small Texas town, College Station has a surprisingly great beer scene. We tasted a few from New Republic Brewing Co. and Blackwater Draw to create a beginners profile to the local brews in Aggieland.

Dammit Jim American Amber 5.2% ABV Dammit Jim is perfect for those just getting into craft beer. It’s heavy enough that you can really appreciate the craft, yet it’s still easy enough to drink for those new to beer with hops. Dammit Jim has a great amber taste with a sharp finish. Skylight Dunkelweizen 5.6% ABV Skylight is a beautiful dark colored beer with a light and crisp taste. This bubbly beer goes down easy and features a variety of flavors like vanilla, banana, and wheat. Kadigan Complicated Blonde 5.8% ABV The Kadign has a delicious champagne color with a light and crisp profile. This blonde has a nice yeast taste that is subtle enough to still feel like a lighter beer. Whipsaw Third Coast Double IPA 8% ABV This beer is thick and citrusy with a good amount of hops. If you’re a fan of Karbach’s Weekend Warrior, you’ll love Whipsaw.

Intensity Scale

Local Brew Profile pg 6 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

Whiplass Sweet Potato Porter 6.6 ABV This is another really dark colored beer that takes your tongue off guard. It has a unique, spicy taste from the sweet potato that leaves a coffee-like finish.

Timber Snake American IPA 6.8 ABV This is a great beer for anyone who loves hops and malts. Timber Snake has the same great bitter crispness as Karbach’s Weekend Warrior and New Republic’s Whipsaw. Mulligan Kölsch 5.25 ABV This is one of our favorite beers because it is perfect for people new to craft beers as well as those who have been around them. It has a great yeasty taste with a smooth taste that goes down easy. Border Town Mexican Style Lager 4.8 ABV This beer has the same great yeasty taste as the Mulligan but with a little more of a bite. It has a great mix of hops and malt to make it extra crisp.

Extra Pale Ale American Pale Ale 6.4 ABV This one is a little heavier on the malt than the hops. The Extra Pale Ale features a strong malt taste with a caramel finish. Ciaran Scotch Ale 6.2 ABV This beer is an impressive blend of chocolate, dark fruit, and malt sweetness. The dark color has you expecting something similar to Brewjeria, when in reality this beer tastes much lighter and crispier.

Rauch Bock Rachbock 6.7 ABV This brew is smoky and smooth with a savory bit of hops. The yeasty base makes it easy to drink with just the right amount of bitterness. Contract Killer Coffee Porter 6.4 ABV This is another great coffee brew in College Station. Blackwater was spot on with this one—it tastes like it came straight out of a Keurig. It has a beautiful coffee brown color with a tasty caramel and wheat flavor. The coffee is subtle enough that it still feels like beer. Brewjeria American Brown Ale 6.9 ABV The Brewjeria is like the Extra Pale Ale, but much more amplified. This beer features an intense blend of malt and spice.

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thedistrictonluther.commaroonweekly.com866.973.5389 • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 7

ew Republic Brewing Company is continuing their spring line of events with This Weekend @ New Republic N a variety of musicians with varying sounds of rhythm. They host artists from all over the country in the New Republic Brewing Taproom, and this week they By Evan Flores

will bring in two new flavors.

TAZ & FRIENDS - FEBRUARY 26 Joined by Jorge Cuza on djembe and Shyam Murali on the EWI (electronic wind instrument), Taz & Friends will be jamming at the Taproom with an 8 page list of songs that people can come and request varying from rap, alt music to even some music from artists like Damian Marley. Taz & Friends are known for talented musical covers of hit songs while adding their own energy to keep the audience entertained. Paired with the traditional sound of music on Jorge’s djembe mixed with the electronic sound from Murali’s EWI, Taz & Friends are coming to College Station with a fresh new take on music. The band plays across the region and in a number of different venues with audiences of all sizes. JULIA HATFIELD - FEBRUARY 27 Currently making her away across the region with her unique blend of traditional and contemporary country music, showing off her impressive guitar skills at the young age of eighteen. Hatfield regularly performs across different areas of Texas from Central to East Texas in a number of venues of all sizes. Hatfield’s previous performances include opening for a number of well-known artists as she has performed at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, the Cowboy Palace in Los Angeles, and the songwriters’ circle at Luckenbach Dance Hall. Deriving much of her inspiration from Texas artists and country singers like Guy Clark, Lee Ann Womack, Jason Eady, and Lyle Lovett, Hatfield creates a blend of her own music, combining elements of Texas Country and a variety of other country sounds.

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E A D M WEEKLY I S S I O N• Feb. W I T24, H 12016 2 T H• maroonweekly.com M A N S P O R T S PA S S pgF8R•EMAROON

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Upcoming Events @ Grand Stafford Theater

By Hannah Hardwick

his up-coming week is a busy one for the Grand Stafford Theater. With a film screening of “Poverty, Inc,” a concert featuring Jamie Lin Wilson and Courtney Patton, and performances by Odd Folks, Nominee, Corusco, and Hand Me Down Adventure, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. POVERTY INC. FILM SCREENING - FEBRUARY 25 The documentary film “Poverty, Inc” will set the stage for an open community discussion as research experts from Texas A&M University talk about their responses to the film and answer questions from the audience. The evening will begin at 5:30pm with a social hour including food and drinks, followed by the film screening at 6:30pm. After the film, an expert panel will provide their reaction to the film and take questions. COURTNEY PATTON & JAMIE LIN WILSON - FEBRUARY 26 Courtney Patton has spent the last few years writing music and singing her heart out onstage, showing off her unique take on classic country music. Since the release of her latest album, “Triggering A Flood,” her music has taken her on tours through Europe and Canada as well as across the United States. Patton has also shared the stage with stars of the country/ folk genre including Walt Wilkins, Bruce Robison. Jamie Wilson, performing with Patton, blends Texas twang with modern folk music, while bringing a down-to-earth perspective to her songwriting. She broke into the Texas country/folk scene as one of the co-lead vocalists of the Gougers, which gradually gave way to Wilson’s solo work. Come see them play February 26, doors open at 7:00pm. ODD FOLKS, NOMINEE, CORUSCO, HAND ME DOWN ADVENTURE - FEBRUARY 27 Odd Folks is a one-of-a-kind mash-up of modern punk and pop. Despite being in the early stages of their career, Odd Folks has already made waves in the music community, sharing the stage with the likes of David Ramirez, The Ton Tons, Hodera, Author, and many others. Co-performer Nominee brings together five talented friends from Austin in a collaborative rock band with old-fashioned grit and determination. Nominee is nothing short of irresistible, produced and recorded by Joe Milligan of Anberlin, and mastered by Paul Leavitt. The hottest new Indie band, Corusco, is put together by Aaron Gonzalez, Ryan Corb, Phillip Baugh, and Carlos Garza and describe themselves as a band trying to find the balance between joy and sorrow. They are exciting, eclectic, and a breath of fresh air. See these all of these hot bands February 27, starting at 7:30pm. These events will be featured at the Grand Stafford Theater in downtown Bryan. To learn more about these events and others visit the Grand Stafford website for dates and times.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 9

e all need a break from life every once in awhile, so why not escape from reality with some cinematic masterpieces? From February 26 – 27, the 2016 Texas Independent Film Festival will be held at the Memorial Student Center. This student-run festival and conference showcases some of the finest short and feature-length films produced by independent filmmakers, bringing people together to celebrate their unique vision. The origin of movies and motion pictures dates back to the late 1800’s, but it wasn’t until a hundred years later when film and motion picture technology started pushing creative boundaries. It’s clear that over the past century, new heights have been reached as a result of innovative minds and advanced technology. Films, whether classic or modern, have been a source of entertainment enjoyed by the general public for years, both in theaters and at home. FLUFFY FLOOR PILLOW Thanks to the development of laptops and tablets, you don’t need a television anymore to watch a movie at home. You don’t need a couch either. Instead, you can sprawl out on the floor bundled in blankets with your head propped on some pillows and the computer screen right in front of you. Sounds comfy, and this fluffy floor pillow tutorial by “Dwell Beautiful” is the perfect way to make it extra cozy. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of. WHAT YOU NEED: • Two 31”x31” fabric squares • Matching thread

• Four 31”x7” fabric rectangles • 4 bags of fiber fill stuffing

HOW TO DO IT: 1. The floor cushion is going to be 30”×30”, so cut your squares to be 31”×31” to allow for a half-inch seam all the way around. 2. To make the form of the floor pillow, pin one of the long thin strips to one of the squares, with the pretty sides facing in and the backside of the fabric on the outside. 3. Then run the pieces through your sewing machine and give a half-inch seam allowance. Use a regular straight stitch with level 3 tension and level 2 spacing. 4. Once you sew the first long piece to the square, repeat the process for the remaining 3 sides. 5. Iron down all the seams flat. Then pin the second big square to the edge of one of the long side strips and sew. 6. Now the slightly tricky part – sewing the remaining edges of the square to the side strips. It’s a bit tricky because you have to fold the fabric so that the edges meet up properly. Just be sure to line up the edges of your square with the side strips like you did in the beginning and you’ll be fine! 7. Once you finish, you’ll have a floppy inside out box shape with open corners. To close off the corners, fold the edges flat and sew up and down across the opening. Then you’ll have a nice pretty corner. 8. Leave one corner unsewn and flip the pillow right side out by pulling it through the unsewn corner. 9. Now for the easiest part – stuffing! Press the stuffing into the corners first to give it shape. Then just add fluff until it’s filled to your comfort liking! 10. After the floor pillow is all stuffed and fluffed, hand-sew the last corner et voila! A lovely finished, fashionable, modern, and comfy floor pillow!

pg 10 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

SALTED CARAMEL POPCORN Sure to be a hit with your taste buds, this salted caramel popcorn recipe by “Cookies & Cups” is the perfect snack to munch on while watching movies in your own home. What You Need: • 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels (about 16 cups popped corn) • 1 cup salted butter

• 1 cup light brown sugar • 1/2 cup light corn syrup • 1 1/2 - 2 tsp kosher or sea salt, divided

How to Do It: 1. Preheat oven to 300°F. 2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside. 3. Pop popcorn kernels using air popper into a large bowl. If you don’t have an air-popper, you can use a plain microwave kind, or even pop some on your stovetop! 4. In a small saucepan melt butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and 1 tsp salt together over medium heat. Bring to boil. Boil for 4 minutes without stirring. 5. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and stir to coat evenly. 6. Pour popcorn into a lined pan, and sprinkle remaining salt on top, 1/2 tsp - 1 tsp depending on your personal taste preference. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. 7. Allow popcorn to cool on a parchment-lined counter.

TICKET MEMORY BOX Midnight premieres, ultimate marathons, and multiple viewings, oh my! If you’re someone that loves going to see movies, then it’s a safe bet to say that you have quite the collection of leftover ticket stubs. This shadowbox tutorial from “Left on Peninsula Road” is a creative way to add decoration to you walls and display your memories. What You Need: • Shadowbox from your local craft store • Scrapbooking paper or a printed photo • Stickers, ribbon, other decorating materials How to Do It: 1. When purchasing a shadowbox, look for one with a description that says “top loading” or one where you can slide the glass in and out. It’s important for you to be able to easily drop your ticket stubs into the shadowbox. 2. For the background of your memory box, use scrapbook paper or print a movie-themed picture. You could create a collage with old photos of you and your friends. When you’ve decided, all you need to do is use double-sided tape to attach it to your shadowbox. 3. Take it a step further and decorate the outside of your box. Use sticker letters to spell out “ADMIT ONE” on the glass, or bedazzle the sides of the box with rhinestones. Put your mark on it.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 11

Exclusive Interview:

Cody Johnson By Luke Murray

ince busting onto the Red Dirt music scene just a few short years ago, Cody Johnson has easily become the hottest things in true-blue Texas Country. In a time of overcommercialized bro-country and Pop-Nashville crossovers, the pride of Huntsville has stayed true to his Lone Star roots both here and touring nationwide. We sat down with Cody to discuss his work ethic, his new album, and his upcoming show in Aggieland. MW: In the past we’ve focused a lot on just who “Cody Johnson” is. Now, since the release of Cowboy Like Me, coupled with your relentless touring schedule and country radio showing you some love, I think we know exactly who are. What I want to focus on is the evolution of you as an artist; what have been the driving factors that have helped propel you to where you are in regards to your style, your sound, and your persona? CJ: Obviously the way that I talk and the way that I dress all has to do with the way that I was raised. As far as the drive, when I was 18 or 21 years old, everything I did was because I wanted to go play music simply because that’s what I wanted to do. I think that no matter what you do, whether you rodeo, whether you work in an office, you work in the oilfield or you play music for a living, eventually if you do enough of it, the devil in the back of your head tries to turn it into work. You have to find new ways to make it new and make it exciting to keep that drive there. For me, when I got married and when I had my daughter, those are two things that – when it does feel like work – makes me feel like I’m working for my family. I look around and just feel so blessed, because the opportunities that have been laid at my feet are second-to-none. The people that have looked out for me and helped to steer me in the right direction, I just can’t thank them enough. So, the drive, a lot of times it just comes down to looking around at the people who love and believe in you and realizing that you owe it to them. Even if I have a bad attitude on a certain occasion, I owe it to all these people around me to just come out and drive, push, and try to make this thing the best that I can. As far as the persona, I’m true to myself. Not because I’m arrogant, but I’m true to myself because I believe that you have to stand for something. When you start sacrificing that, even if it’s just a line in a song or something you say on the mic at a show, or the way you treat someone when you see them out in public, that all reflects on who you are. I absolutely believe that what you sing and how you act when you’re in this position, should be the definition of who you are and where your heart and character stands. I have a conscience, man, and I’ve worked really hard to keep it where you would feel like you were talking to the same man at one of my shows or sitting down at my dinner table. MW: In your young career, it’s obvious that you’ve been a grinder. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, which is one reason why you’ve surpassed a lot of guys who have been trying to make a life at country music far longer than yourself. That being said, you’re not the kind of guy to get complacent; what are you doing to get yourself to that next step?

pg 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

“This record is like a bag of Skittles; every time you pull something out, it’s a different flavor. But they’re all Skittles. They’re all Cody Johnson.”

MW: Tonight you’re playing The Grizzly Rose in Denver, you’ve played Billy Bob’s, the NFR in Vegas, you’ve been at Steamboat for several years in a row now, you’ve sang the National Anthem for a Rangers game in Arlington; in your mind, what is your next big stage? CJ: You know, I don’t really know. I hate to say stuff like this because everyone dreams about playing The Opry, everyone dreams about playing Gruene Hall, but I’ve always tried to not concentrate too hard on where I want to go because I know if I put too much stock into it, it would be pretty disappointing if I never got there. I am excited, though, about the possibility of getting to do more of my own events. There have been several events that we have actually put on ourselves throughout 2015. We didn’t call it “Cody Johnson Festival” obviously, but these were shows that no one really knew we were putting on ourselves. They may have thought it was a Bud Light sponsored show, or a Wrangler sponsored show, but it’s fun to be able to put in all the hard work from the ground up and see the benefit of it. We’ve even been able to donate a little money to some charities throughout those things.

CJ: Pushing myself against my own will really, because some of this stuff is hard. I don’t consider myself to be a great guitar player, so pushing myself as a guitar player or pushing myself as a singer, as a performer, and just riding that fine line between being so hard on yourself that it’s counter-productive and being so hard on yourself that nothing is ever good enough is what drives me. You know what I mean? There’s that area, right there, where you can be too hard on yourself or you need to be really hard on yourself – I’m trying to ride that line by telling myself that I can always write better, sing better, what can we do to make the show more interesting? Pretend that you’re the guy who’s been in the front row for the last five shows; what would make it new for you? Ultimately, these fans that we’re blessed enough to have, the ones who pay money for tickets to come see us live, that’s the bread and butter. That’s the basis of what this is. Before I ever had the chance to record an album, the live show is what it’s been about. Even with the new album coming out, we’ve really focused it around the live show. It’s fun, it’s fun to have a group of guys out here with you that are ready to try to do better, ready to push themselves, and ready to step out of that comfort zone. Because it’s easy, easy to stay in that comfort zone. Getting out of your element is what I think really pushes you up to that next level of trying to keep everything new and fresh.

Also, I think I’d like to see more out-of-state shows, man. As bad as I hate to say this, I’m looking forward to playing for nobody. That’s what happens when you’re a guy like me and you travel out to Sacramento, California. You may only have 200 people, but you have to prove to each of them that there’s a reason you’re there. It’s the same way the first time you step on the stage at Gruene Hall, you have to prove why you’re there. It’s like getting back to the basics. When you get back in front of a larger crowd after a show like that, it’s like your sword has been sharpened a little bit. MW: It’s almost like starting all over, having to prove yourself to an out-of-state market after you get used to everyone around Texas knowing exactly who you are. It’s probably humbling. CJ: Right. Absolutely.

continued on page 14

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 13

MW: It’s no secret that you have a new record slated to drop sometime this year; what are we looking at in terms of the music on the record?

Wings of Freedom Tour Experience WWII FLYING History

B-17

CJ: I really tried to push every genre that I could into this record. I wanted every song to have this feel, where as soon as the listener tunes in, they say “That’s CoJo, that’s Cody right there.” That being said, it is a little different. There’s Americana, there’s Bluegrass, there’s some rock, there’s some really George Jones-style stuff on it, slow-style Ray Price country elements, there’s some modern country, a little of this and a little of that. We tried to push a lot for show versatility, because I grew up with a lot of versatility in my music. It wasn’t just Willie and Waylon, there were a lot of influences there. The coolest thing about this, is after getting to listen back to all these mixes is realizing that this record is like a bag of Skittles; every time you pull something out, it’s a different flavor. But they’re all Skittles. They’re all Cody Johnson. MW: That’s a heck of a metaphor. CJ: That’s the only way I know how to put it. It’s just something that I’ve yet to get to do on an album and I’m really excited about people getting to see that versatility.

B-24

B-25 P-51 uh-1e

MW: Even though your show at Harry’s will be on a Wednesday, you’re obviously not going to have any trouble packing it out; can your loyal fans in College Station expect to hear some of the new music worked into your set?

C O L L I N G S F O U N D AT I O N

800.568.8924 www.cfdn.org

pg 14 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

CJ: Absolutely man. Actually, today at the Grizzly Rose, we’re going over two or three more songs. Me and the guys are taking the songs off the new record, two or three at a time, and just tackling them in sound check. When we get comfortable with them, we’ll try them in a show. If something doesn’t go right, we’ll take it back to the drawing board. We’ll listen to the mixes on the record and do our best to depict that album live. We don’t have an organ or a steel guitar, or a lot of other things in our band that are on that record, and that’s okay. It just means that a couple of us, here and there, have to work overtime in certain parts of certain songs. That’s just fun though, man, it makes it challenging. It’s hard to put more than two or three new songs in the set because it’s hard for someone to listen to an hour and a half of all new music, but we’ll definitely be playing what we know is the best-received off the new album yet.

By Jordyn Smith

STONEY LARUE S

@ HURRICANE HARRY’S

toney LaRue returns to College Station on February 26 at Hurricane Harry’s. Opening for Stoney LaRue will be the southern-rock band Strangetowne. LaRue is a Texan-turned-Oklahoman. As he grew up in Southeastern Oklahoma, his interest in music grew, particularly after he moved to Stillwater and began to hit the college bar circuit. He quickly befriended Jason Boland and Cody Canada and the three became roommates, their infamous late night jam sessions brought out their love of music. It wasn’t too long before all would rise to Texas Country Stardom. What separates LaRue into his own niche is his ability to connect with an audience. LaRue’s “real-life, thinking man’s music” is what has helped him create such a loyal fan base–his LaRue Crue has loyally been at his side through the ups and downs in his career by coming out in droves to hear the “Oklahoma Breakdown” singer. LaRue rose to Texas Country stardom, selling over 900,000 records and breaking out to tour across the United States. His album “Aviator” showed a tremendous growth in his music as it showcased LaRue’s ability to record songs that connect well with country fans. Songs about everyday life, the struggles, the joys, and reality hit home with audiences. “Aviator” was a change from the modern country theme of tailgates, tan lines, and a continuous party. LaRue has a publishing deal with Carnival Music based in Nashville, which serves as a music publisher, record label, and management company owned by fellow Texan Frank Liddell. In October of 2015, LaRue released his latest album “Us Time.” To date, this is his most personal album yet. This album is also a shout-out to his most loyal fans, who he refers to as the LaRue Crue. This is his way of thanking them for their continuous support throughout his career. The album includes an array of covers from Van Morrison, to Glen Campbell, to Gary Stewart, as well as a few of his own hits like “Oklahoma Breakdown” and “Feet Don’t Touch The Ground,” as well as two new originals, “Us Time” and “Easy She Comes.” Opening for Stoney LaRue is the band Strangetowne. The group formed in 2013 when guitarist Ben Cargo and drummer Jordon McClain met Tyler Horning and Lincoln Youree for the first time. They immediately clicked and within a few weeks they had written dozens of original tunes, arranged them, and were ready to bring their new group out on the road. The hallmarks of the band are “inspiration, dedication, experience, and originality,” which clearly comes through in their music. Strangetowne’s sound is an eclectic mix of rock, indie, and southern rock. The beautiful harmonies mixed with their songwriting are all backed by their incredible musical talent and makes this band excel. Their debut album “Hard Earned Love” is available now.

Doors to Hurricane Harry’s will open at 9pm. Tickets can be bought in advance online, Cavenders, Aggieland Outfitters on University Drive or at Southern Jewlz Boutique on Harvey Road.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 15

Bush Library Forums: History & Public Servants By Evan Flores

he George Bush Presidential Library hosts a number of events free to the public about different topics of national interests. The school’s events focus on America’s interests in foreign affairs, public policy, and America’s role in the global community. This next week, the Bush Library is hosting two exciting forums discussing an event from America’s history and a gathering of public servants. BATTLE OF 73 EASTING: VICTORY FROM CHAOS - FEBRUARY 25 On February 25, the George Bush Library will be hosting a dedication for the 25th anniversary “the last great tank battle of the 20th Century,” with the presentation including first-hand stories from those who were in the thick of the ground war in Desert Storm in the Battle of 73 Easting. The Battle of 73 Easting involved two major parties fighting, the U.S. Army’s VII Corps against the Tawakalna Division of the Iraqi Republican Guard during the ground campaign of Operation Desert Storm. The event will remember the first ever ground defeat for the Iranian Republican Guard and also the Battle of 73 Easting being the decisive engagement in Desert Storm. This battle has provided a precedent in tank warfare as the U.S. Army uses the Battle of 73 Easting as a model for training army officers in armor tactics. The discussion will begin at 6:30, and will be followed by a reception. Reserve your seat by calling 979-691-4068 or by emailing reservations.bush@nara.gov. LIBRARY ISSUES FORUM: NATIONAL PARKS TODAY AND TOMORROW - FEBRUARY 26 On February 26, the Bush Library will put on a forum for the public involving a panel of experts to discuss the past, present, and future of the National Parks Service titled “Library Issues Forum: National Parks Today and Tomorrow.” The panel’s topics will discuss the history of the National Parks Service and the growing issues regarding our parks today, as well as talk about oncoming events and the direction of the National Parks Service will take in the near future. With the constant rate of urbanization, increased pollution rates and the climate changes caused by global warming, panelists will discuss the challenges faced by their organization and their unique service to our nation. Seats are limited, so email reservations are highly suggested on the Bush Library’s website.

pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

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For more information check outour website: bush41.org and click on the events tab.

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pg 18 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

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maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 19

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pg 20 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

Movie Reviews

Risen (PG-13)

By Linley McCord

Sharknado 3

The first of 2016’s religiously-focused films, “Risen” retells the Biblical story of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead from the perspective of the ruling Romans. It’s a creative twist on the narrative many people know well, but it isn’t done exceptionally well when it had so much potential.

NETFLIX

The film opens at the end of the story, showing Clavius (Joseph Fiennes)—a Roman officer— stumbling through the Judean desert. The rest of the movie is a flashback to the last month or so of his life. The movie then follows his order to have Jesus killed, his discussions with Pontius Pilot, the manhunt for Jesus, and then his—spoiler alert—following of the 11 remaining disciples. The first half the movie was actually pretty impressive. Both from a Biblical and historical standpoint, Hollywood is spot-on with how the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus happened from a Biblical and historical standpoint. But then Clavius abandons the manhunt when he sees Jesus post-resurrection and tags along with the disciples as they run from chasing Romans. That’s where it gets weird. While the script was definitely corny at times, it’s significantly better than some other religious movies. The first half of the movie will even give you hope that this is actually going to be a solid film. But it rapidly goes downhill when it becomes not historically accurate and fairly plotless. Frankly, the manhunt portion of the movie could have been the whole thing, and that’s what it was marketed as being. That’s not what the film is about. The search for Jesus felt rushed and halfhearted—it was clear the writers just wanted the Roman to have his spiritual experience. “Risen” has strong character development, potentially because it only really focuses on one guy. Clavius does have an apprentice named Lucius (played by Tom Felton, who was Draco Malfoy—think on that for a minute). Good characters, but nothing exciting happens to anyone except Clavius. It’s a decent movie, so it earns itself a 5/10 stars.

By Adrianna Zampieri Two years after this country witnessed the first horrifying sharknado, Fin Shepard returns in the latest chapter of this thrilling saga wielding his trusty golden chainsaw to defeat the sharks once more. First he must survive a patriotic adventure to save Washington D.C. from imminent demise, and then he must make his way to the Universal Orlando resort in Florida to save his family. A trip to space might even be involved as a last ditch effort to end the sharknados once and for all. Syfy has taken “Sharknado” to a whole other level, and rules of the game have changed. There is no calm before the storm in “Sharknado 3.” Within the first ten minutes, there are sharks falling through ceilings, destroying national monuments, and snacking on politicians. Guns are blazing, bombs are thrown, buildings explode, and the movie is only just getting started. It’s chock full of ridiculous stunts, overdramatic scenes, and cringe-worthy one-liners, but that’s the point. “Sharknado 3” is one of the most outrageous, ridiculous, physics-defying films out there, and it’s so bad that it’s entertaining to watch. Syfy is well aware of the “Sharknado” fanbase, so keep your eyes peeled for flying sharks and a fourth film sometime later this year.

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 21

The Movie Room Across 1 Charlie Brown’s oath 5 Acquisition by marriage 10 Library vols. 13 Songstress Shore 14 “The West Wing” actress ___ Kelly 15 Exercise unit 16 She starred in 2002’s “Panic Room” 18 Shiba ___ (Japanese dog breed) 19 It keeps pages from flying everywhere 20 Certain orthodontic device 22 Hardwood trees 24 Keep from escaping 25 Republican presidential candidate Marco 28 “Rock-hard” muscles 31 “Boyz N the Hood” actress Long 32 Devoured 33 Awake into the wee hours 36 Big game show prize, maybe 39 Circulation improver 40 He played the central unifying character in 1995’s “Four Rooms” 42 Reduction site 43 Pad prik king cuisine 45 Country with a red, white and blue flag 46 “Alley-___!” 47 Agcy. concerned with fraud 49 Bill ___, the Science Guy 50 Po, in a 2016 sequel, e.g. 52 How walkers travel 55 1850s litigant Scott 57 Rainy-day boots 60 “Keep Portland Weird” state 64 Chemistry suffix 65 He wrote, directed, and starred in the 2003 cult film “The Room” 67 Short cleaner? 68 Jouster’s outfit 69 Ferrell’s cheerleading partner on “SNL” 70 Antlered animal 71 Bumps in the road 72 Loch of legend

Down 1 Major uproar 2 Time-half link 3 Asian capital nicknamed the City of Azaleas 4 Fork over 5 “According to me,” in shorthand 6 Small bite 7 Less caloric, in ads 8 Neighborhoods 9 Prison chief 10 Best Actress nominee for 2015’s “Room” 11 Alaska’s ___ Fjords National Park 12 Blow off 13 Club crowd-workers 17 Masc. alternative 21 Canter or trot 23 Fish served on a cedar plank 25 “Huckleberry Finn” transport 26 Johnny ___ (“Point Break” character) 27 He played a part in 2000’s “Boiler Room” 29 Maurice and Robin’s brother 30 In storage 34 Wrestler’s objective 35 H, as in Greek 37 Apple MP3 player 38 P, in the NATO phonetic alphabet 41 “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” publisher 44 “___ know what it’s like ...” 48 Olympics broadcaster Bob 51 “___ Fideles” 52 Architectural rib 53 Tennis champ Rafael 54 Primrose protector 56 Use 62-Down 58 Austen title matchmaker 59 Skyline haze 61 Right turns, horsewise 62 Sculling needs 63 “Rapa-___” (1994 Easter Island film) 66 2222 and 2468, e.g., briefly 2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

pg 22 • MAROON WEEKLY • Feb. 24, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

Answers

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

maroonweekly.com • Feb. 24, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 23

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