Vol. 12 No. 29 by Maroon Weekly

04.27.16 - VOL. 12, NO. 29

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meet the team PUBLISHER Chris Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Luke Murray ASSISTANT EDITOR Linley McCord 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. ÂŠ Copyright 2016 Campus Press LP

Music Reviews Blue October Album:

Home

Release Date: April 22, 2016

Josh Kelley

Album: New Lane Road

By Jordyn Smith

Alternative duo Blue October is back with their latest release “Home.” The 14-track album kicks off with “Coal Makes Diamonds,” and this mid-tempo track uses great lyrical similes backed by a great musical accompaniment. The duo’s harmonies add another layer to the track and, really, to the rest of the album. The album is full of fantastic songwriting, the meticulous care that has gone into each track is astounding. Blue October does a great job of balancing the album, hitting you hard with rocking tracks then know when to dial it back. Overall this is a good album to pick up, especially if you are looking for something new.

Texas Hippie Coalition

Album: Dark Side of Black

Album: Therapy Sessions

Release Date: April 22, 2016

Singer/Songwriter Josh Kelley is back with “New Lane Road.” The 12-track album starts in a unique way: he begins with a ballad. “It’s Your Move” is a sweet, pull-at-yourheart track. The album continues on with “The Rock Who Found a Rollin’ Stone,” and at first glance you think it would be a rockin’ track, but you would be wrong. This laidback love song is just as heartfelt as “It’s Your Move.” It quickly becomes apparent that this album is on another level. “Call It What It Is,” cranks it up and Kelley puts some soul into his album with “Take It On Back.” Kelley has really hit a homerun with this new album. It is a strong album for your spring time listening cravings.

Looking for something a little different this week? Look no further than Texas Hippie Coalition’s new studio album “Dark Side of Black.” This 10-track album is different to say the least, and if you are not into heavy metal, this probably is not for you. If you happen to be into this heavier side of rock, you are in for a treat. They kick off the album with “Come Get It,” with a driving drum and references to a tax collector, this one is pretty catchy. The rest of album rocks on, there is no room for any ballads in this album. The Texas Hippie Coalition hits you hard with each track. Overall this is an interesting pick up, it does make for good workout music….if you are into heavy metal.

NF is back with his second full length studio album “Therapy Session.” This album, inspired by his faith, highlights the young rapper’s journey as well as his coping of new-found fame. The young rapper brings his unique style out in this album, and the 14 tracks are skillfully put together.

pg 4 • MAROON WEEKLY • April 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

NF does an excellent job of bringing a personal flair to each track, showcasing his best work in the title track. The rest of the album flows seamlessly from one song to the next. He enlists the help of Marty and Jonathan Thulin, and each collaboration is done well. This is an above-average rap album, and definitely worth a listen.

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By Hannah Hardwick

RIOULT DANCE NY

ounded in 1994, RIOULT Dance NY became a well-known name in the modern dance world with its unmatched reputation for presenting the exquisite musical works of Pascal Rioult. The New York City-based dance company presents an an-nual New York season, tours internationally, conducts extensive in-school arts ed-ucation and community outreach programs, and offers dance training to the public through classes, workshops, and intensives. Modern Dance Company, Rioult Dance NY will perform ‘Bolero’ and other works when touring. Internationally acclaimed, RIOULT Dance NY offers an evening of dance entertainment that will take your breath away. This spectacular modern dance company has a firmly established a reputation for blending compelling musi-cality and lyric elegance to create technically challenging, powerful work. Cele-brated for his bold and unexpected interpretations of great musical scores, Artistic Director Pascal Rioult creates dances that bring fresh perspective to timeless themes. He was described by Backstage as “perhaps the most adept and coura-geous choreographer in mainstream modern dance today.” The performances will take place on April 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rudder Auditorium. To purchase tickets for this event, visit the AVPA website.

pg 6 • MAROON WEEKLY • Apr. 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

where: RUDDER AUDITORIUM

tickets: $7 - $12

when: APRIL 29, 7:00PM

info: ACADEMYARTS.TAMU.EDU/

By Jordyn Smith

ROB BAIRD ALBUM RELEASE S inger/songwriter Rob Baird will be debuting his new album “Wrong Side of the River” at the Grand Stafford Theater on May 13. The Memphis-born singer broke out in 2012 with the release of “I Swear It’s The Truth.” Released by Carnival Recording Company, this critically-acclaimed album gave him a loyal fan base that has grown with him, as well as a niche in the Americana genre. This album reflects many of his inspirations from Tom Petty to Texasgreat Robert Earl Keen. Baird has toured with Eli Young Band, written with Scooter Carusoe, and is now back doing what he does best: playing live music in Texas. A graduate of TCU with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management, Baird has made his mark over the past few years. The native Tennessean has been welcomed with opened arms by Texas music fans. After several years of touring, Baird took a step back to return to his Tennessee roots. In his temporary absence from touring, Baird went to Nashville and began to piece together his new record “Wrong Side of the River.” From the few tunes that are available right now, this album proves to be his most eclectic collection of songs yet. It was important to Baird to “hit the reset button,” and figure out how he should handle his next release. With his reputation on the line, his work on

“Wrong Side of the River” will no doubt be a hit for him. This passion for music and desire to keep things fresh is refreshing. In the age of keeping up with the Joneses of the music business, artists find themselves putting out records on an assembly line. With Baird’s approach, he is bucking that status quo. His attentiveness to bringing his fans the best quality of music is remarkable and can take some artists many years to figure that out, but he’s got it down before he turns thirty. The lead single off of “Wrong Side of the River” is the funky track, “Ain’t Nobody Got A Hold of Me.” Baird’s smooth vocals and the twangy guitar bring this song out, and It is very obvious that he has some serious soul to him. The track, as described by Baird himself, is “about fighting through the darkness to find the light.” This personal touch will resonate with fans. With the album completed, Baird knew it was time to head back to the Lonestar State. His dedication to the Texas music scene is incredible and knows this is where his fans are. He will continue to tour throughout Texas once his album is released on May 13. Tickets can be bought $10 in advance or $12 at the door. The show kicks off at 8 p.m.

maroonweekly.com • Apr. 27, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 7

By Adrianna Zampieri

COOL 4 SUMMER D

ust off your swimsuits and beach towels because with the end of the semester comes summer vacation. No more grueling exams, last-minute essays, or late-night cram sessions. Instead, study up on the best way to get that perfect summer glow. But of course this is Texas, and with a Texas summer comes the infamous Texas heat. Beat high temperatures and dehydration by staying cool for the summer with delicious popsicles. RAINBOW POPSICLES Popsicles are a perfect snack during a pool party, sunbathing at the beach, or a day of fun in the sun; however, many of the prepackaged popsicles available at your local grocery store are loaded with extra sugar your body doesn’t need. Made from fresh fruit, the homemade version of these frozen treats by “The First Year” will cool you down while being simultaneously tasty and nutritious. And for those of you who legally can, throw in a splash of your favorite liquor for an extra kick. RED LAYER: • 1 banana • 1/2 cup raspberries • MAROON WEEKLY • April 2014strawberries • maroonweekly.com • pg 1/28cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or •30, 1/2 cup plain • Water or liquid for blending

pg 8 • MAROON WEEKLY • April 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

ORANGE LAYER: • 1 banana • 1 small orange • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain • 1/4 cup mango • 1/2 cup peaches • Water or liquid for blending

contain sugar or any additives. As for peanut butter, do not use a brand that includes “xylitol” in their list of ingredients because it is dangerous for dogs to ingest. With the proper ingredients, these “pupsicles” will be a hit with your dog on a hot, summer day.

YELLOW LAYER: • 2 bananas • 1 cup pineapple • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain • Water or liquid for blending

WHAT YOU NEED: • 1 cup plain yogurt • 1 ripe banana (chopped into pieces) • 1 tbsp peanut butter

GREEN LAYER: • 2 bananas • 1 cup pineapple • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain • Water or liquid for blending • 1 handful (or more) spinach BLUE LAYER: • 2 bananas • Small amount of blue food coloring • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain • Water or liquid for blending • 1 cup pineapple

• 4 paper cups • 4 rawhide sticks

HOW TO DO IT: 1. Put all ingredients into food processor or blender and mix until well combined and smooth. 2. Divide the mixture into four paper cups. 3. Position a rawhide stick into the middle of the cup. 4. Place the cups in the freezer for at least 4 hours. 5. Peel the paper cup away from the pop and let your pup enjoy!

PURPLE LAYER: • 1 banana • 1 cup mixed berries • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain • Water or liquid for blending MAGENTA LAYER: • 1 banana • 1 cup strawberries or raspberries • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain • 1/2 cup sliced beets HOW TO DO IT: 1. For each smoothie, place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more liquid. 2. Transfer the smoothie to a bowl or container, rinse the blender, and prep the next smoothie. Repeat until all of the smoothies have been blended. 3. Carefully layer each color smoothie in a popsicle mold (you can buy these at your local Walmart) in rainbow order. Use a spoon or tablespoon to scoop the smoothie mixture into the mold. It’s natural for the layers to blend a bit, but by using a spoon, you will have neater results. 4. Once the molds are filled, add the sticks and freeze the popsicles overnight. 5. To release the popsicles from the mold, fill your kitchen sink with room temperature water. Place the mold in the water, making sure the water does not go above the top of the mold. 6. Allow the mold to sit in the water for a few seconds. 7. Begin to wiggle a popsicle free. If it feels tough, allow them to set in the water a few more seconds. 8. Once all of the popsicles are removed from the mold, enjoy or wrap the extras in plastic wrap and return to the freezer. PUP PEANUT BUTTER POPS Include your pup in the summer fun with this recipe for special popsicles made just for dogs by “Bitz & Giggles.” Every dog deserves a sweet treat once in a while, but be careful and do some research when choosing your ingredients. The yogurt for this recipe should be plain and nonfat; it should not

maroonweekly.com • April 27, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 9

By Jordyn Smith

JON WOLFE & WILLIAM CLARK GREEN @ HARRY’S H urricane Harry’s is gearing up for the return of two of BCS’s favorite country artists. Jon Wolfe and William Clark Green will be headed back to the stage at Harry’s on April 29 and May 3.

Jon Wolfe is set be making another stop at Hurricane Harry’s on April 29. Wolfe, an Oklahoma native, has had an interesting path into the world of country music. He began in the oil business, after being transferred to Houston from Chicago. After some western exposure, and one Alabama concert later, Wolfe would eventually find himself in Austin pursuing his dream to become a singer and songwriter. After a self-released album in 2004, Wolfe signed his first record deal with Midas Records Nashville in 2006. A few years later, in 2010, Wolfe performed at the South by Southwest festival in Austin and released his second studio album “It All Happened in a Honky Tonk.”After his showcase at South by Southwest, Wolfe formed his own record label, Fool Hearted Productions. Then

pg 10 • MAROON WEEKLY • April 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

in 2012, Wolfe was able to sign a record deal with Warner Brothers Nashville. Warner then planned to re-release “It All Happened in a Honky Tonk” with three new songs. After the release of the deluxe edition, Wolfe left Warner and signed with Tone Tree Music. He promptly began to work on his third studio album, “Natural Man,” that released March 31, 2016. The album debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Top Country chart, displaying that in the midst of changing record labels, Wolfe has been lighting up the Texas charts. Wolfe has had six consecutive Top Ten singles: “Let A Country Boy Love You,” “That Girl In Texas,” “I Don’t Dance,” “It All Happened In A Honky Tonk,” “The Only Time You Call” and “What Are You Doing Right Now.” These singles have made Wolfe a hot commodity on the Texas and Red Dirt music scenes. “Natural Man” combines Wolfe’s classic country sound with a more modern, edgier radio Country style. Produced partly by Wolfe himself, the album was worked on by Lex Lipsitz, Bill Decker, and Wolfe, and was recorded at

Nashville’s Westwood Studios and Ronnie’s Place. “This album stretches me as an artist and as a vocalist, while staying true to who I am,” Wolfe says. “I have known how I wanted it to sound, and how I wanted it to look for some time now. I’ve been visualizing this album for such a long time, and it feels great to finally bring it to life.” Texas country star William Clark Green will be headlining Hurricane Harry’s on May 3. Shane Smith and the Saints will be opening up for Green. William Clark Green hails from Flint, Texas. He did however, spend some time in the BCS area growing up; he’s a 2004 graduate of A&M Consolidated High School. Following his graduation from high school, William headed to Texas Tech University, where he released his first album, “Dangerous Man” in 2008. Since 2008, Green has released a steady flow of solid country albums. In 2012, he released “Rose Queen,” which peaked at #34 on the Billboard Top Country Albums. The album had his first #1 regional hit with “She Likes the Beatles” and it yielded three Top 10 singles on the Texas country charts. In April of 2015, he released his latest album, “Ringling Road.” It debuted at #18 on the Billboard Top Country Charts, and the first single off the album went #1 on the Texas country charts. Green has since enjoyed great success as a headliner and opener for other Texas country artists. He opened for Wade Bowen back in October and headlined a dead-day show at Harry’s last May. His ability to relate and connect to crowds keeps fans in the BCS area coming back to see him. Green’s most recent trip to the area was just a few short weeks ago at Chilifest. “I went to high school in College Station and going to Chilifest was a big no-no. Now being of a age, it’s a lot of fun to go to,” said Green about the event. Green’s show at Harry’s will be the beginning of dead days, so there is no excuse to not get out and enjoy some live music before finals start!

maroonweekly.com • Apr. 27, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 11

By Annabeth Reeb

Full Band List

ASS Jimmy Legs Babylon Breakers Killer Hearts Boy Wonder Kingdom of Suicide Lovers The Bulemics LUCA ryan/College Station is all about local: whether it’s artists, beers, or bands. They’ll Cacodemon Modern Convenience be rounding up 40+ local bands onto three stages in Downtown Bryan this May for LOUD!FEST 2016. LOUD!FEST will be held from May 19 – 21 starting at 8pm. For only $5, Corusco Mothracide visitors will have the opportunity to see loud and crazy bands perform from all over The Damn Times Mutant Love Texas. LOUD!FEST gives concert-goers the opportunity to see what local bands are all A Deathbed Promise Myra Maybelle about without having to break the bank. Destroyer of Light Odd Folks DethTruck Pink Eye HIGHLIGHTED BANDS: Distance/Here Second Runner Up BABYLON BREAKERS Economy Island The Shut-Ups Based out of Osaka, Japan, the Babylon Breakers aren’t exactly local, but they definitely Electric Astronaut StereoType bring a fun twist to the mix. Even if you can’t understand them, if you’re a fan of The Ex-Optimists Street Pizza American Punk Rock you’ll appreciate the foreign twist. False Idol A Sundae Drive FOREVER TODAY First Thought Worst thought Supergrave A BCS local – Forever Today still keeps things LOUD but with a little less screaming. This Forever Today T.S.S. alternative rock band is a great show for those who appreciate more radio-friendly rock. Girlband Tenino Golden Sombrero The Tron Sack DESTROYER OF LIGHT The Hangouts Unicorndog Destroyer of Light will be traveling to College Station from their home city of Austin – where “Keep Austin Weird” certainly doesn’t overlook this band. Destroyer of Light is true Hiss Voidslime heavy metal with hardcore, sludgy edges. The Inators Wellborn Road Inflatable Baptists Whatever GOLDEN SOMBRERO International Bitterness Unit The Wheel Workers This band is a fun mix of punk and classic rock from Houston. They even add a little bit pgJealous 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • April 30, 2014 • maroonweekly.com of honkytonk to their heavy mental. Creatures

pg 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • Apr. 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

ROCK AWAY

2016

n March 2012, Zack and Jessica Varner gave birth to their son, Beau. Shortly after birth, Beau was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a hereditary disease caused by inheriting two copies of the mutated CF gene. Those living with Cystic Fibrosis must battle constant infections in their lungs, difficulty breathing, and lack of nutrition due to problems in the pancreas. “At this time my wife, Jessica, and I noticed the community lacked an organization dedicated to increasing CF awareness and helping those with CF in the Brazos Valley,” Zack explained.” Therefore Beau Means Business Foundation was established.” The Varners started the Beau Means Business Foundation with the purpose of educating and inspiring the people in their community in addition to raising funds for research and cures for Cystic Fibrosis. In order to do this, the couple came up with the idea of the Rock Away Cystic Fibrosis concert. For the past two years the Beau Means Business Foundation has been successfully raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis through their Rock Away concerts. This will be their third annual concert, and it is only expected to grow. This year brings an especially exciting lineup—with John Fullbright, Maggie Koerner, Andrew Duhon, Jordan York, and Spur of the moment. Festivities kick off at 2:30pm, and the last band closes out the night around 10 pm. The Rock Away Cystic Fibrosis Benefit Concert is perfect for the whole family, with live music, a kid zone, and a silent auction. This event is the perfect combination of music and compassion, celebration and understanding. Head out to the Palace Theater on Saturday, May 14, for music, fun and philanthropy.

pg 14 • MAROON WEEKLY • April 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

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exas Country favorite Kyle Park is making another pass through College Station for a show at Hurricane Harry’s on May 6. Coming off the release of his experimental album, “The Blue Roof Sessions,” late last year, Park has assembled another relentless touring schedule focused around his new music as well as his storied crowd-pleasers. We sat down with Kyle to discuss his latest release, his stance on the country music genre, and his upcoming Birthday Bash slated for this July. MW: Let’s talk about how The Blue Roof Sessions, which you released last year, differs from your six previous record releases. KP: The main difference, musically, is because we didn’t record the record in the studio – we recorded it in a house. I leased a house on Lake Travis out in Austin, way up top near Pedernales, and for a month I lived in the house while writing some of the songs that are on the record. All the equipment and musicians came in there with us. Myself, my drummer, and the engineer for the record all lived in the house for half of the month - the other half we would be on the road touring like always. It was pretty much a schedule of every Sunday I would get home and work on songs, then Monday through Wednesday we would record. Another reason why the album was different is that, in the studio world, time is money - so you’re finishing as many songs as you can, as quickly as you can. In this situation, since we had the house for the month, we focused on simply making the best songs possible. Sometimes we would do three songs a day, sometimes four and other times only two. We were able to put the music first, which was really cool. This record is also simply more rockin’ than usual, like for instance, there is no fiddle on that album – barely any steel guitar either. I just thought it was about time that I did something fun, not that the other stuff isn’t fun, but I wanted something with an attitude. It relates more to what our band does on stage. It was a bit of a step out of my own comfort zone, really. I think it’s a shame how some artists sort of fall into their niche, and they just make the same type of music over and over. I mean, I like it, but sometimes I wish they’d step up and do something out of the ordinary. I’m a fan of all kinds of music, rock to jazz, pop, disco, indie, it doesn’t matter. I like it all. MW: Speaking of different genres, you’ve been quoted as referring to country music as a “mutt” genre; care to elaborate on your position there?

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

KP: (laughs) I don’t mean it to be offensive, but going back to what I was saying – as a country musician, I’m a fan of all genres. I think country music fans are fans of many genres as well, and I think that points to how country music is a mixture of so many things. It’s a mixture of everything from jazz to Americana songwriting, to pop and now it even has rap in it! It’s always had rock n’ roll influence, as well as pop, it’s just a mixture of everything. The fact that George Strait can share the radio with a Luke Bryan and a Zac Brown Band, a Carrie Underwood, Alison Kraus, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen and then all the way down the list to me somewhere - we all share the same stations. It goes to show that country is just a broad spectrum of music. I think by calling it a ‘mutt’ genre is kind of a crude and offensive way of putting it, but that’s not how I mean it. You know? MW: Absolutely. You just view it as a melting pot. Country music is more about the attitude and what is being said, not necessarily how it’s said. It’s up to each artist’s interpretation as to how they want to present those lyrics and emotions.

pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • April 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

KP: It is. And that’s the reason that country is so great. It just takes the best from other genres. And it’s weird, I was talking to my manager the other day after watching this video on YouTube of Sia – and we discussed how she has her hair over her face, she had this weird dress on, all these dancers on stage, the lights were going crazy, and at that point I had totally forgotten about the song. I didn’t even know what was going on. Country music will never have that, hopefully, because it’s still always about the lyrics and about the song – that’s the strongpoint of the genre. I mean, I love AC/DC and Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I have no damn clue what they’re talking about! But I like it, and it makes me feel good. Country is just different though, it’s always been about the story. As for a lot of the country songs that I don’t like, I guess we’ll pick on brocountry for a second, but it’s all the songs about tailgates, the sun going down, and short shorts. We’ve heard that before, and it’s just ruining the story. It’s just shallow. My songs, especially the ones on The Blue Roof Sessions, relate to me personally – they’re not just about partying. Country, in a lot of ways, is simply poetry. It’s not just sound. MW: Well – mentioning lyrics – over your career, who have been your biggest songwriting influences? And is there anyone in particular that you would love or would’ve loved to have a session with? KP: Well, ‘would’ve loved,’ I can’t name them all. And ‘would love,’ I’ve been able to open up for George Strait, which was amazing, and I’m on a small list of people who’ve done that. I opened up for Clint Black, and when I was younger, George Strait and Clint Black were the two guys I listened to the most. I did like Garth Brooks, Chris LeDoux, Alan Jackson, Mark Chesnutt, and Tracey Lawrence – those were the guys what were on the radio. Because of those guys, I learned about Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash. Then from those guys, I learned about Bob Willis and Roy Rogers – the list goes on. Then I learned about pop artists and rock artists. The main ones, I guess for songwriting, would be Dean Dillon definitely. As well as Paul Overstreet, he’s a big influence on me as far as my writing goes. He did a bunch of Keith Whitley songs, Joe Diffie songs, and Randy Travis as well. I could tell you a bunch of people, man, but it definitely revolves around everything that lived on the radio in the 90’s, and some of the 80’s too. Now, it’s the guys down here in Texas, my friends. Robert Earl Keen, Roger Creager, Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen. When I was younger, if I hadn’t seen those guys doing what they were doing, touring in Texas and playing independently and not using a major label to do it – that was as much of an influence as anything. I do feel like, if it weren’t for the Texas music scene, I would’ve

eventually found my way to Nashville. You know? Just to try it, because I do love music so much, it’s what I was meant to do. I was fortunate enough to have been coming up into my career as this music scene was evolving. It had already evolved, but it was as big as it had ever been at that point, Pat [Green] was killing it, so were Randy and Wade – Randy was just coming up actually. I remember when Randy’s first song came out as I was just beginning to write my own stuff. MW: Are you expecting your next record to be an experiment like Blue Roof? KP: I’ve actually already recorded a couple of new songs, and I have a new song coming out in May. We’re kind of back to doing it in the studio again. Blue Roof was a cool experience, but in a lot of ways, it took too long. I spent about two years making that record, and that’s way too long. I did three songs in a week this time around. I knew what I wanted, I had the musicians in mind, I had the song direction in mind – and the record as a whole will be more traditional, more of what people are used to hearing from me. MW: Tell us about your 2nd Annual Birthday Bash coming up in July. KP: Hell yeah! It’s my second annual 30th birthday party! It’s going to be two nights of music; one night is my actual birthday – the 8th. I’ll be up there on the first night playing songs I love; George Strait, Clint Black, Bob Wills and Merle Haggard – cover songs all night. It’ll be a different band than I usually have, like a few of George Strait’s guys will be there with me. One of Asleep at the Wheels old fiddle players will be with me, Jason Roberts, he’s an amazing singer and writer. He’ll be playing with me. Then Saturday, we’re going to have a golf tournament, like a two-man scramble tournament. The proceeds will go to First Tee down in San Antonio, it’s an organization that helps kids of all ages important life skills, leadership skills and healthy habits through the game of golf. That’ll be during the day and then we’ll have another concert that night, my band and my live show.

maroonweekly.com • Apr. 27, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 17

PLAY

pg 26 26 || maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com || 01.16.13 pg

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SWINGDO Swingdo is the app that helps you manage your to-do’s in a fun and intuitive way by combining calendar and mail events with your to-do list! Featuring automatic to-do scheduling, it also connects to you email to alert you of mail that needs replying to. Just add a new to-do and Swingdo will do the rest by prioritizing and scheduling it in your to-do list. Swingdo generates Mail task reminders: Mail that needs a reply will automatically be spotted by Swingdo in your inbox, and a reminder will be scheduled into your to-do list. It consolidates all your tasks and goals with your scheduled events, which you need to go to first, and your mail tasks that need at-tention. All the information you need to get everything done in one place. PAWS: A SHELTER 2 GAME Paws is a new app game that tells the tale split into two halves. You play through the dark and dank surroundings of an enchanted land as you try to fend off dan-gers. This game combines all the unique elements from the much loved Shelter se-ries to present a lovingly crafted story about loss, friendship, and a search for lost love. For the first time ever in the Shelter world, you play as a young cub accom-panied by a companion to help complete puzzles and overcome obstacles in the world. New game play features include the ability to follow tracks using your sense ability. This is a whole new game and has incredible features and an impressive design. If you are looking to get into a new game, this is definitely one to invest in. ALPHA OMEGA Can you solve each crossword puzzle with only the first and last letters as your guide? This latest puzzle game app is hours of addictive fun. Each level is full of clues to reveal. Once you are able to decipher a word, others will begin to reveal themselves. As words are solved, the puzzle’s overall clue or theme will reveal it-self as well. Early stages help you get the hang of it, but difficulty increases dra-matically. With hundreds of levels to play, can you solve them all? In app purchases are available but are not required to play.

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Movie Reviews

The Huntsman: Winter’s War (PG-13) By Linley McCord There really isn’t a good way to define this movie. It’s both an origin story and a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman (2012). It combines Thor, Frozen, and The Chronicles of Narnia all into one pseudo-fairy tale that doesn’t quite work out how it was probably intended to. And it has about five different plots running through it that all somehow interweave, though not smoothly. To start, two close sisters are introduced: Ravenna and Freya. They’re both witches, and through a tragedy, are separated into two different but equally as tyrannical kingdoms. Freya is the Ice Queen and rules her kingdom with only one rule: no love allowed. She kidnaps children, trains them to be deadly soldiers (called Huntsmen), and forbids any type of love. Naturally, two fall in love over a time lapse of 20 years and Freya works her magic—literally—to end it. Eric (Chris Hemsworth) escapes and becomes Snow White’s huntsman in the first film. This is where the movies run parallel for the briefest of moments. Then, later, Eric is called upon to find and destroy the magical mirror that is now brainwashing people to kill each other. Eric and his merry band of traveling misfits faces betrayal, trial, and battle to get the powerful mirror away from dangerous hands with a fair amount of predictable “plot twists” and some bad CGI. While the plot has a few redeeming points, they are few and far between. It feels more like a children’s movie in terms of complexity (but isn’t appropriate for kids). There are so many stars in this movie that it’s disappointing none of their characters are fleshed out well. Hemsworth stars alongside Jessica Chastain (Sara). The two witch sisters are Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron. They’re all just average at best. While the actors themselves range from decent to excellent, they clearly weren’t given a lot of development to work with. Eric’s charm is really the most exciting part of any of the characters. It’s not an exceptional movie. Somewhat entertaining, but not great.

V for Vendetta NETFLIX

By Adrianna Zampieri Although it’s currently April, it’s never the wrong time of year to remember the 5th of November. Now available on Netflix, “V for Vendetta” is at its core a commentary about the struggle between freedom and government. This dystopian political thriller tells the tale of V, a freedom fighter who plans to overthrow the fascist police state of a futuristic United Kingdom, and Evey Hammond, a young woman drawn into his plot by happenstance. With a strong script, solid acting, and captivating cinematography, “V for Vendetta” is a must watch film that will draw you in with tales of corruption and webs of deception. The actor behind the infamous Guy Fawkes mask is Hugo Weaving, well known for his roles as Lord Elrond in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and Agent Smith from “The Matrix” series. Despite the mask he’s forced to wear, Weaving delivers a powerful and charismatic performance, entrancing the viewer with his hypnotic voice. And Natalie Portman isn’t any less convincing in her emotional performance as Evey, effectively portraying her character’s radical evolution from a naïve woman into an enlightened revolutionist that will change the game of politics.

maroonweekly.com • Apr. 27, 2016 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 21

I Fold - Find Your Way Around Across 1 Progressive spokesperson 4 Stanley of “Julie & Julia” 9 Grows light 14 “Hamilton” creator/star ___-Manuel Miranda 15 Take ___ for the worse 16 Novel on an iPad, e.g. 17 Actress Poehler 18 Sleepover of sorts 20 Louis or Lewis, e.g. 22 Former Boston Symphony director Seiji 23 Actor Penn of the “Harold & Kumar” films 24 Gear sprocket 26 Deprive of strength 28 Newsroom honchos 32 “Talk ___” (Pedro Almodovar film) 33 Fashion designer and daughter of a noted painter 37 ___Pen (injector for allergic reactions) 38 1978 Peace Nobelist Anwar 39 Ted ___ and the Pharmacists 42 Study involving charged particles and fluids 47 “Check,” in poker 49 Stick at a table 50 Like much of the analysis on “Marketplace” 54 Nestle’s ___-Caps 55 Letters on Windy City trains 56 Hawaiian actor Jason who’s set to play Aquaman 58 “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” author Ken 62 Radiohead title followed by the lyric “Arrest this man” 65 ___-de-France 66 ___ a high note (finish well) 67 Eugene of travel guide fame 68 100% 69 Stopwatch button 70 Banjo ridges 71 Item hidden in the four theme entries

Down 1 “Love handles” material 2 One might pick you up at an airport 3 Multicolored agate 4 Where many brews are on draft 5 “Respect for Acting” writer Hagen 6 Stephen King novel about a dog 7 Hot trend 8 “Cold Mountain” hero W. P. ___ 9 Leaves 10 Atty.’s organization 11 Office fixture? 12 Make marginal markings 13 Walter’s wife on “Breaking Bad” 19 Leave astonished 21 Delta follower, in the NATO alphabet 25 Blades cut by blades 27 Parade columnist Marilyn ___ Savant 28 Dr. Zaius, e.g. 29 It’s no deep slumber 30 Props for driving instructors 31 “V.1.A.G.R.a 4 FR33!”, perhaps 34 Film noir actress Lupino 35 “Li’l Abner” creator Al 36 Companion of Aramis and Porthos 40 Coin portraying Louis XIV 41 Suffix for sugars, in chemistry 43 Deighton who wrote the “Hook, Line and Sinker” trilogy 44 Cartoon hero with antennae 45 Place to get lost, per Neil Simon 46 Gin-flavoring fruit 47 One of a making-out couple 48 Number at the pump 51 Unruly hairdo 52 “See ya!” 53 Peach, burgundy, or chocolate, e.g. 57 Assistant 59 Thailand, once 60 Tuneful Fitzgerald 61 Website for restaurant reviews 63 Bartender to Homer 64 Infirmary bed 2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

pg 22 • MAROON WEEKLY • April 27, 2016 • maroonweekly.com

Answers

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

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