Best Bistro
Bochy’s effectively recreates a European café See Insert Page 5 Friday, February 26, 2010
News 1 Sports 2 Classifieds 3 Games 3 SCENE see insert
Volume 95 | Issue 24
Rainy 45° / 41°
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The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
Green Brigade bids Bataille bon voyage BY SHEA YARBOROUGH Senior Staff Writer
Students, faculty and administ rators pou red t h roug h t he doors of t he Hu rley Administration Building at 1 p.m. on Thursday to surprise UNT President Gretchen Bataille with a final goodbye. Nick Williams, director of the Green Brigade Marching Band, led the crowd and addressed the musicians from the foot of the two-tiered staircase in the lobby. The band assembled with instruments pressed to their lips, waiting on Williams’ command, as the crowd of more than a hundred people filled in every nook and cranny of the lobby’s available space. As Bataille entered the crowded entryway, the band began to blast the UNT fight song, loud and strong, yelling, “U, N, T eagles, UNT eagles fight, fight, fight.” Bataille’s blond hair was visible as she glided through the sea of onlookers with Provost Wendy Wilkins close behind her. The crowd clapped to the beat and Bataille joined in, smiling ear to ear. The song’s ending provoked thunderous applause from the audience. “We wanted to do what we do best, which is share music with others,” Williams said. Williams then had the band play “You’ll Never Walk Alone” — the song that traditionally ends every football game. In light of recent events, and Bataille’s resignation, Williams said he wanted to leave her with
Students serenade UNT President Gretchen Bataille Thursday afternoon in the Hurley Administration Building. the song’s legacy. Williams presented Bataille with a frame containing the lyrics of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” signed by many who loved her. Bataille later expressed her initial shock when Wilkins suspiciously told her she needed to go downstairs. “She thought it was an emergency,” Wilkins said with a laugh.
The music brought back memories of every football game, basketball game and Homecoming parade, Bataille said. She spoke of UNT’s long musical legacy, and her immense pride, as she encouraged the crowd to continue on. “Keep up the good fight, keep going, keep playing the instruments,” she said. “But also, keep playing at life.” People with tears visible in
their eyes held up signs that read, “We love you Gretchen”. Bataille wrapped her arm around Wilkins and laid her head on the shoulder of a man standing next to her. As the band played its final notes, applause broke loose once again and Bataille mouthed the words “thank you” to the band members and the audience. “You all need to go to class,” she said, which was met with
changes were made that would benefit the students. Wilkins said her primary feeling was one of sadness, but that this was not farewell for Bataille. “Well, I’m not saying goodbye to my friend,” Wilkins said. “My friend will be my friend for life.” After the band finished, the tribute was not over. Musical sounds filled the lobby once again as the men’s choir from Phi Mu Alpha began to serenade Bataille. “The one we love and always will adore, a tribute to our girl,” the choir sang, then simultaneously kneeled to the floor, arms outstretched to Bataille and continued, “as we sing, our songs will come drifting through the night to serenade our girl.” Jonathan Morsinkhoff, the choir’s president, said one of his fraternity brothers brought up the idea to serenade her. “Bataille said she had never been the sweetheart of something before,” Morsinkhoff said. PHOTO BY INGRID LAUBACH/PHOTOGRAPHER Though the feelings of uncertainty about a future without Bataille have been felt on UNT’s campus, some students said they laughter from the crowd. Showered with words of remain hopeful that UNT will encouragement, tearful good- continue to progress forward byes and long embraces, Bataille without her. “I don’t know what to think, said she continued to keep a brave face in the midst of a sea but I do know that the students at UNT are resilient,” said Juan of emotions. “Well, I’m about to cry,” she Nunez, a music education sophsaid. “But I’m really trying hard omore. “We can take care of ourselves.” not to.” Bataille said the gathering was a sign her three-and–a-half years To see multimedia for this were put to good use and that story, visit ntdaily.com
Resident runs for mayor BY JOSH PHERIGO Views Editor
PHOTO BY CLINTON LYNCH/VISUALS EDITOR
Ahmed Siddiqi, a political science senior, is the founder and president of the UNT Amnesty International. The chapter will host the Texas State Conference on Saturday in Wooten Hall 122.
UNT to host statewide human rights conference BY A LEX CHEATHAM Staff Writer
The UNT undergraduate chapter of Amnesty International will host the Texas State Conference on Saturday. The conference will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Wooten Hall 122. Two of the speakers are Katharine Brunson from the Human Rights Initiative, who will speak on human rights violations at the conference. Also, Alonzo Peterson, the national organizer for Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, will give his views on the death penalty. “The rights of immigrants crossing the borders are often overlooked. They’re often denied the speedy due process citizens are given,” said Ahmed Siddiqi,
founder and president of the UNT chapter. “People need to become aware of what is going on outside of our bubble. Sometimes the media doesn’t capture everything and doesn’t show us the reality.” The conference is intended to increase the knowledge of critical issues facing the world and will feature activists from across the state. S i n c e 19 61, A m n e s t y International has been working with the support of more than 2 million people in more than 150 countries to stop the abuse of civil rights across the globe and campaign for internationally recognized human rights, according to the organization’s Web site. The UNT chapter, which
was founded last semester, is composed of students with different backgrounds and majors who all have the same goal: promoting human rights. “UNT already has lots of politically oriented and activistoriented programs,” Siddiqi said. “But I really feel that Amnesty has a big role to play here, and we have lots of reason to collaborate with the other specialized organizations on campus.” The reason the conference was possible was because of the determination, focus and passion of the members to make a difference in the world, UNT chapter historian Shaby Jafari said. To read the full story, visit ntdaily.com
If you ask him, Denton mayoral candidate Bob Clifton will say he’s not a politician. The long-time resident and business owner said he is seeking the office as a concerned resident. Clifton, who lost his 2006 bid for mayor, said he believes current city leaders have mismanaged money by “using faulty logic and fuzzy thinking.” “I think Denton can be better,” Clifton said, who makes and distributes his own campaign buttons. “Right now, the city is very top heavy. There are a lot of chiefs and very few Indians.” Clifton said if elected, he would clean up the city budget, which he characterized as wasteful. He w a s spe c i f ic a l l y concerned with the salaries of several city employees, including City Manager George Campbell, which he said were excessive. Clifton said the most recent information he obtained indicated that at least 200 city employees earned more than Denton’s median household income. “These people are public ser va nts,” Clif ton sa id. “Servants don’t come in the front door. They come in the back. But they’re making more than the owner of the house.” A top priority for Clifton is taking care of the bulk of city employees whom he said are “the lifeblood of the city.” He said he would make it a top priority to take care of those employees. There are a lot of middle management and upper management positions
PHOTO BY JOSH PHERIGO/VIEWS EDITOR
Denton mayoral candidate Bob Clifton orders a cup of coffee at Big Mike’s Coffee Shop. Clifton, 69, said he is running because he believes “Denton can be better.” He is wearing a campaign button that reads “Call Me Mister Mayor.” that “need to go,” he said. Cutting higher-level income jobs from the city payroll could save money, he said. He would provide the leadership necessary to take on that challenge, Clifton said. “When it comes to cuts, you’ve got to start at the top and work your way down,” Clifton said. “If you let staff do it, of course they’re going to cut from the bottom.” Denton resident Raquel Gutierrez said she likes the way Clifton stands up for the taxpayer.
People sometimes give him “guff” or call him “a nuisance” for asking the tough questions, she said. But she said he is an advocate for the ordinary resident. “I think he would be best as mayor to represent John and Jane taxpayer. Juan y Juana paga impuestos,” Gutierrez said. Aside from cleaning up government waste, Clifton said, there are several other important city issues on his agenda. To read the full story, visit ntdaily.com
NORTH TEXA S DA
ILY, February 26
Graphic by Christapher McElheney
VOLUME 95,
ISSUE 24
S C E N E
OSCARS: After four losses, Jeff Bridges looks poised to win his first Academy Award for “Crazy Heart”
Page 3
ROCKET:
The Rocket Summer goes darker on its fourth album
Page 4
FOOD SNOBS: Bochy’s Bistro effectively recreates the European café experience with delicious dishes
Page 5
PERFORMANCE: Sarah Jaffe plays her second NX35 set before touring with Norah Jones
Page 7
ARTS:
Fahari Arts Institute offers performances, community for black, GLBT artists
Page 8
Page 2 Justin Umberson, Sports Editor
Sports
Friday, February 26, 2010 ntdaily.sports@gmail.com
Softball team to play five in San Antonio BY FELICIA A LBA Staff Writer
PHOTO BY CLINTON LYNCH/VISUALS EDITOR
Senior Ashley Lail pitches a game last season against Louisiana-Lafayette. UNT will play California-Riverside at 4 p.m. this Friday in San Antonio as a part of the UTSA Tournament.
Looking to come back from a disappointing performance in last weekend’s tournament, the UNT softball team (2-4) is on the road this weekend at the University of Texas-San Antonio Tournament. Lead ing up to t he tournament, the team has been f i x i ng t he m i st a ke s t hat occurred during last week’s games, including strengthening the defense. “We have the same game plan as always,” Hubbard said. “We just are moving around some people on defense and getting some experience for our new pitchers.” Senior pitcher Kayla Lawson is still coming off an injury that happened earlier in the season, and picking up the slack are fellow senior pitcher Ashley Lail and newcomer Brittany Simmons. Lail, who holds the school record for lowest ER A (2.83) and lowest opponent batting average (.284), is doing well again this season with an ERA of 1.71 and opponent batting average of .233. Simmons is standing on her own with an ER A of 3.82 and an opponent batting average
“We didn’t start the season as expected, but we are fired up to perform better.”
—Mallory Cantler Junior infielder
of .327. Looking to have another big weekend, juniors Mallory Cantler and Mariza Martinez, along with sophomore Lisa Johnson, were named to last weekend’s Sleep Inn Classic all-tournament team. Cantler and Martinez both tied for the most hits in the tournament with seven. “Rig ht now we ca n on ly go up,” Ca nt ler sa id. “We d id n’t sta r t t he season as expected, but we are f ired up to perform better and we are more prepared for this weekend.” With many games left to play, the team is looking to straighten out the kinks and raise its spirits starting with this weekend’s tournament. “We are coming out looking to w in, bounce back f rom last weekend and bring up t he conf idence,” Ma r t inez
s a id . “ We ne e d to k e e p tr y ing to keep our of fense up, getting outs and playing good defense.” Drake, the team that won the Sleep Inn tournament last weekend, dominated offensively with a hitting average of .317. Ca lifornia Riverside and UTSA have two wins, along with the Mean Green. “UTSA is a good hitt ing team with a strong pitcher and is also coached prett y well,” Hubbard said. The Mean Green starts play at 4 p.m. today at the UTSA s of t ba l l st ad iu m a g a i n st California Riverside and will cont i nue t h roug h Su nday with a total of five games. “We can expect to win as long as we play our game and not t he opponents’ game,” Cantler said. “That’s when we win.”
The Script: Talley will Mean Green reaches 20 wins shine at championships BY SEAN GORMAN Senior Staff Writer
Opinion BY ERIC JOHNSON Senior Staff Writer
Sophomore sprinter Keyth Talley was a breakout star last year en route to winning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, and he will only burn brighter this weekend in Tennessee. The Mean Green will travel to Mufreesboro in search of a team title, and while the team is loaded with top contenders, Talley could be the difference maker. After being recruited as a 400-meter runner, Talley has proven himself as an athlete that can fill any role. He has had success in ever y thing from t he 55-meter to t he
400-meter to any of the three sprint relays. The versatile sprinter owns the top conference mark in the 200-meter and 55-meter dash this season, and he will be defending his title in the 4X400-meter relay. Wit h t wo Sun Belt Performer of the Week awards already this season, Talley has been gaining momentum for the last three months. Despite his youth, Talley has performed his best against the strongest competition. He has had success at every level: an all-state performer in high school, w inning a gold and silver medal at the Pan Am Junior Games last summer, and he has already earned all-conference honors
in college. The third-generation track star owns the school record in the 55-meter, 60-meter and 200-meter dash, and he is always confident in his abilit y to shatter his ow n records. Talley does not focus on his competition. He only focuses on being the best. This weekend, Talley will step into the blocks, wait for the gun and blow his competition away. The rest of the Sun Belt will be witness to what should be Talley’s best performance as a collegiate athlete, which is a lot to say for a man who is on his way to being one of the best track athletes in school history.
Correction In the Feb. 25 edition of the Daily, the article “Play showcases student work” incorrectly identified Chris Barr’s gender. Barr is female.
Playing in front of the most active Super Pit crowd this season, the UNT men’s basketball team overcame an early def icit to w in its sevent hstraight game on senior night, defeating Louisiana Lafayette 65-57. The Mean Green (20-8, 12-5) secured its four t h-straight 20-w in season while maintaining first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in the w in over the Ragin’ Cajuns (13-15, 10-7). “We’re a close knit basketball team that’s playing with a lot of confidence at this point in the season,” head coach Johnny Jones said. “We may not be the most talented team, but all our guys know their roles and really work well together.” Tied with Middle Tennessee State and Troy for first in the Sun Belt, UNT needs to win its last game and a Blue Raider loss to attain its first top seed in the Conference Tournament. “Our nex t ga me aga inst L ou i sia n a-Mon roe i s t he big gest ga me we’ve had,” junior guard Josh White said. “Any time you’re in a position to win your conference, it’s a meaningful contest.” T he Rag i n’ Caju ns took adva ntage of a cold Mea n Green offense early on, beginning the game w ith a 17-6 stretch as UNT opened on 2-12 shooting. “I thought we were really sloppy to begin the game,” ju n ior for wa rd George Odufuwa said. “We knew what to expect from them but didn’t do a great job executing at the beginning.” Odufuwa helped UNT settle down, leading the team with n i ne f i rst-ha lf points a nd finishing with his 11th doubledouble this year. “Everybody on this team is doing everything they can to help this team win,” he said. “There are some high stakes in every game now, but as long as we play like we’re supposed to, we’ll keep winning.”
PHOTO BY RYAN BIBB/PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior forward Eric Tramiel goes up for a layup against Louisiana-Lafayette in Thursday’s 65-57 win. UNT has one game left on its regular season schedule. An emphatic dunk by Eric Tra m iel ju mp-sta r ted t he Mean Green, who went on a 11-2 run en route to a 23-23 tie at the half. “We were excited early on, and getting the fans involved is always something that can help your team make a run,” White said. “Once we started knocking down shots, we loosened up and began to focus more.” After a White three-pointer to start the second half, the teams traded baskets until a fast-break dunk by junior guard Collin Mangrum helped spark a 12-4 UNT run. W h ite kept UN T a head with three second-half threepointers while junior guard Tr ista n T hompson scored at will with 16 points on 6-8 shooting.
W hile La fayette ref used to go away, the Mean Green answered every Ragin’ Cajun run with its own and held on for the win. “We were able to pick their defense apart and force enough turnovers in transition to stay ahead,” Jones said. The Mean Green defense kept t he Cajun of fense at bay, improving to 14-0 when holding its opponents shot percentage at 45 percent or less from the field. Following the win, the Mean Green players went into the crowd to give thanks to the fans for attending the home games during the season. “Yeah, that was all coach’s idea,” Odu f uwa sa id. “It’s always good to show appreciation for our fans after they supported us all year.”
MovieSCENE The Road to Oscar Opinion BY K IP MOONEY
SCENE Editor The Oscar race always takes on a life of its own, especially since the Academy tends to have a few
tricks up its sleeve. But this year’s acting race seems surprisingly easy to call. Maybe a little too easy. All the frontrunners — who each took home Screen Actors Guild Awards — should have pretty
much no trouble on the big night. The only people who may have some trouble are Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock, who will face competition from George Clooney and Meryl Streep, respectively. I, however, would count them out.
Best Actor
Best Actress
Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart” George Clooney, “Up in the Air” Colin Firth, “A Single Man” Morgan Freeman, “Invictus” Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side” Helen Mirren, “The Last Station” Carey Mulligan, “An Education” Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious” Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”
Kip & Amber’s Pick: Bridges
Kip’s Pick: Bullock Amber’s Pick: Streep
Best Supporting Actor Matt Damon, “Invictus” Wo o d y Ha r relson, “The Messenger” Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station” Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones” Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds” Kip & Amber’s Pick: Waltz
Best Supporting Actress Penélope Cruz, “Nine” Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air” Ma g g ie Gy l len ha a l, “C r a z y Heart” Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air” Mo’Nique, “Precious” Kip’s Pick: Mo’Nique Amber’s Pick: Gyllenhaal
Friday 2.26.2010
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[ In theaters today... ] B K M / A L E / OPINION
“Cop Out”
“The Crazies”
While I’m a huge Bruce Willis fan and an even bigger Kevin Smith fan, I’m a little leery of their latest. The script is, unfortunately, not written by Smith, but rather by a brother duo known for writing for shows no one watched (“Las Vegas,” “Lucky”). The mismatched cops (Willis and Morgan) search for a missing baseball card, perhaps the flimsiest plot ever.
Sigh. Another early week in the year, another horror remake. Here, residents of a small town are about to see a serious population decrease as a mysterious toxin turns neighbor against neighbor. In more capable hands, I’m sure a subtext about how panic over disease can cause people to lose their humanity would be made clear, but don’t expect anything deep here.
Starring Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Seann William Scott Directed by Kevin Smith
Starring Radha Mitchell, Timothy Olyphant, Danielle Panabaker Directed by Breck Eisner
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RocketSCENE
The Rocket Summer discovers a darker season
By Christina Mlynski Staff Writer
Eleven years ago Bryce Avary, a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer, was finishing his sophomore year of high school while trying to find his voice. During this time he discov-
ered a book called “The Martian Chronicles.� Through his ventures of reading, he came across a chapter that would inevitably become the title of his own story: “The Rocket Summer.� The Colleyville musician established a name for himself, delivering
his own brand of instrument-heavy, upbeat tracks — a departure from the darker Dallas sound. Avary quickly became the poster child for this new wave of power pop. “Once upon a time I recorded a little EP in high school and I played all the instruments,� he said. “I called it ‘The Rocket Summer,’ and it turned into this thing that became my life.� The Rocket Summer is still comprised of the same structure. The recording aspect is done on a personal, intimate level with Avary playing every instrument and conceiving all the songs.
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While he is trained to play several instruments, the idea of playing shows single-handedly proved to be a daunting task. Touring required a little help from his friends. The Rocket Summer tours with four musicians, easing the load of handling a performance. Seth Brewton plays the riffs of his guitar alongside bass player Nick Aranda, and drummer Justin Leu produces the heartbeat of the band. “When you go to the shows, you’re completely happy and you’re surrounded by what Bryce calls ‘The Rocket Summer family’ and everyone’s there for the same reason,� French language junior KatyBelle Edwards said. “I haven’t listened to any other bands that have that type of support.� After more than a decade of creating a musical establishment of melodies, the greatest feeling for Avary is recognizing that the songs he has shared with people have touched their lives.
I Need a Break, but I’d Rather Have a Breakthrough The Rocket Summer is categorized as cheerful, buoyant music, which Avary has no problem with, but he is in the process of venturing outside of that realm to prove that The Rocket Summer can go beyond the glee.
Photo Courtesy of Andy West
Bryce Avary first formed the Rocket Summer while he was still in high school. His fourth album, “Of Men and Angels,� is a departure from his usual upbeat sound. “The fact that some of our singles have been pretty upbeat, poppy and uplifting songs, I have the stereotype of being a happy-go-lucky person who doesn’t write deep music and doesn’t have bad days,� Avary said. The release of the fourth album, “Of Men and Angels� Tuesday is proof it’s not all sunshine and gumdrops. The album plumbs the emotional depths with a rougher sound. A more mature effort, this album focuses on the hurdles of love, faith, hardships and music. “I feel a bit of him growing up,� Edwards said. “You can totally see the struggles he went through.�
Around the Clock Avar y enjoys t he feeling of coming back to where The Rocket Summer took off. Avary will host a CD release show for “Of Men
and Angels� at 7 tonight at the Granada Theater in Dallas. The venue is one of many where The Rocket Summer first showcased its sound. “We’re rea lly excited about the release,� said Helen Eaton, promotions assistant and talent buyer for the Granada Theater. “They’re a great local band and were always here to support local music.� The album will be the Rocket Summer’s first since 2007, and it fine-tunes Avary’s singular vision: to create music on his own terms, and keep writing his own adventure. “Life: It’s a million different things,� Avary said. “Moments of angst, joy, pain and happiness. I think if you let God do it, he can speak to you through music.�
FoodSCENE
[ ] Food Snobs
Bochy’s Bistro 2430 Interstate Highway 35 #136 Denton By Lisa Garza and Melissa Boughton
Senior Staff Writer and Assigning Editor Soft lighting, muzak and small tables decorated with white vases of red carnations give Bochy’s Bistro a sense of European ambience. Prepare for a pleasant surprise at Bochy’s. The Denton restaurant is beautifully decorated with burnt-orange walls and paintings that transform the bistro into a southern-European dining experience. String lights and dim chandeliers give the place an intimate feel for those looking to bring someone special to Bochy’s. The staff is friendly and eager to recommend different options on the menu. One of Bochy’s best features is a variety of espresso and tea options. The Chai Tea Latte is made of steamed milk and a light, frothy foam layer topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon. This drink is served at the perfect temperature — just right for those who don’t want to wait a few minutes before sipping to avoid a scalded tongue. At $3 for a 12-ounce mug, this is a better deal than the local Starbucks. The Bruschetta Panini includes thinly sliced layers of salami, pepperoni and melted provolone cheese between two grilled, buttered pieces of focaccia bread. The thinly spread bruschetta mixture complements the spicy meats without overpowering them. The crunchiness of the bread and warm, soft meat and cheese layers
Friday 2.26.2010
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The drink is made with steamed make this a sandwich to savor. The panini is served with a milk, Ghirardelli white chocolate generous portion of baked chips and caramel, served with whipped cream and more caramel drizzled and a pickle spear. The half-portion is more than on top. The cup is also a generous size enough to satisfy the hungriest of patrons. At $6.95, this plate is and well worth the $3.45. Bochy’s Bistro is truly the best (as a steal. The mango-guava cheesecake they claim about their tiramisu). is to die for. The dessert (which The menu offers a wide variety of is not on the menu) came highly choices and the atmosphere is more recommended by the staff, and than pleasant. The staff tends to it’s plate-lickin’ good. The cheese- patrons’ tables without missing cake has three layers and comes a beat and makes the experience with a dollop of whipped cream warm and welcoming. The food can all be taken to go and a plate decorated with raspso customers can take a little piece berry syrup. The fluffy piece of heaven will of European heaven home. suck you in with the first bite and leave you begging for more, so don’t expect Cleanliness to share this with anyone Service else. At $5.95, it is worth Affordability every penny. The Nichole Latte is Atmosphere also a safe bet if you are Food Quality looking for great espresso.
Bochy’s Bistro
Photo by Melissa Boughton /Assigning Editor
The Nichole Latte is an exceptional choice and comes in a generously sized cup, making the espresso worth every penny.
College students, do you have what it takes to crack the case? Find out during this special evening in CSI: The Experience, a forensic science exhibit based on the hit TV show. Flash your valid college ID and get exclusive access to the exhibit and the Museum’s upstairs galleries for just $7. Plus, meet some of the forensic experts featured in the exhibit and enjoy free demos in the Noble Planetarium. Get your tickets at the door or call 817-255-9540 to order by phone. Must show valid college ID. Stars Café will be open throughout the evening.
1600 Gendy Street . Fort Worth, TX 76107 817.255.9300 . fortworthmuseum.org
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MusicSCENE
Marina and the Diamonds shine on debut Review By Jennifer Floyd
Contributing Writer There’s something about Marina. Marina Diamandis, that is. Coming out of Wales, Marina shook up the pop groundwork with the 2008 release of the whimsical track, “Obsessions.” From the get-go, the song was attractive and itching to be taken as a wisely derived pop track for grownups. Soon after the song started bubbling on the blog scene, Marina was lumped into the same satchel as other British avant-pop-rock acts such as Florence + The Machine and Bat for Lashes. Marina has currently been pegged to follow in the footsteps of Kate Bush,
the original queen of kooky rock-pop, and well, she has every right to. After “Obsessions,” Marina continued to distribute more precision-cut singles such as the mechanical poetics of “I Am Not a Robot” and the robust “Mowgli’s Road.” Soon after, “The Crown Jewels” EP was released, and the anticipation mounted for Marina to issue her stylistic pop in full-album form. The wait is now over as “The Family Jewels” has arrived. Now it’s time to dig in, both hands of course, to pull out sparkling and enticing pop-rock nuggets. These gems are smart enough to not rot your teeth, but still addicting enough to make you come back for more. “The Family Jewels” is rich in its sound, filled with angst and spirit,
and is nothing short of fun. Marina described the album to New Musical Express magazine as “a body of work largely inspired by the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality,” and it doesn’t disappoint at covering those subjects and more. The punchy “Shampain” is one of the standouts. It’s as Marina says within the track, “celestial.” It has a swiveling modern disco beat that is infectious and no doubt has single material written over the sparkle. “Girls” slips into rock ‘n’ roll tumble while “Numb” features an operatic classical arrangement, complete with strings in the background. “Mowgli’s Road” remains the top track, as its persistent percussion and witty pinch of lyrics keep getting
better with every listen. The same can be said for the charged up “Oh No!”, which is salty and meant to play on high volumes because of the strident piano keys and highly charged percussion back beat. Though they aren’t new kids on the block anymore, “Obsessions” and the jokester elegance of the latest single “Hollywood” sound much fuller amongst the other tracks, adding to the overall feel of the record. It was a long time in waiting for Marina to finally release an album, as she began her career crafting songs from an audio software program and selling ripped CDs off of MySpace. Though the album speaks for itself, Marina has already predicted her fame, as all the confidence is
in her name. One quick note: the Diamonds aren’t Marina’s backing band, but rather the name she gave to her followers, her fans. The invitation is there to join the bandwagon. Go ahead and climb aboard.
Broken Bells album reveals new standout duo Review
By Graciela R azo Senior Staff Writer
After listening to the collaborative effort of Shins’ lead singer James Mercer and electronica musician and producer Brian Burton, music lovers cannot deny the chemistry between the unlikely pair. Mercer made an appearance on
“Dark Night of the Soul,” an unreleased album Burton, also known as Danger Mouse, created with band Sparklehorse. Their song titled “Insane Lullaby” left fans wanting more from the duo. The two soon began working on a side project called Broken Bells to give a deeper look into what Mercer and Danger Mouse can actually do together. Their merger makes a sound
original to both of them. No song sounds like the dreamy, laid-back music of The Shins, nor do they completely reflect Danger Mouse’s experimental funk beats. “The High Road” is the first single off the self-titled album. It begins with translucent synthetic sounds from Burton that are just about perfect. Mercer a nd Bu r ton seem completely mindful of balancing their strengths and not letting one person outdo the other. With a chorus that will stay in your head for days straight, “The High Road” is a perfect example
of the catchy pop songs the band can produce. One can immediately notice how much darker this album is than anything Mercer has ever done. Creating haunting stories in his lyrics, he sings, “Common fears start to multiply/We realize we’re paralyzed” in another standout track, “Vaporize.” Mercer even experiments with high and low vocal ranges to complement Burton’s whimsical sounds. Burton’s electronics keep the pace of the album steady, although somewhat predictable, but bringing
in different instruments keeps listeners on the tips of their eager toes, wanting to hear more. A distorted organ comes into play for “Sailing to Nowhere.” Overall, the song has a distressing feel, but fast-beating drums keep it from going too low. Faint piano keys and orchestral arrangements also come in and take over. The album seems to get progressively weaker as it comes to an end, but even then, the less captivating songs are still beautifully produced. Broken Bells’ premiere album shows a solid first effort from Mercer and Burton and gives promise to possible future work from the pair. For those who have never been a fan of Mercer and Burton’s work before, Broken Bells offers something new. It takes both musicians’ interesting traits and makes them more interesting than when they stood alone.
PerformanceSCENE
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Denton singer gets ready to hit the road again NX35 Preview B y Graciela R azo Senior Staff Writer
Singer Sarah Jaffe remembers when she played her first show at Club Dada in Dallas when she was 17 years old. With her parents cheering her on in the audience, Jaffe said, she felt like background music because no one paid attention to her as she stood on stage singing with her guitar. Now, the 24-year-old just got back f rom opening U.S. a nd Europe shows with Denton band Midlake and is about to start touring again with former UNT student Norah Jones in March. “I’m so excited,” Jaffe said. “It’s wonderful timing as well as an insane opportunity to play in front of so many people at once.” But before she heads out to open shows once again, she will play the
NX35 Music Conferette on March 12 at Dan’s Silver Leaf. Jaffe has spent most of her music career in Denton, playing in various coffee houses and figuring out her own musical style. “I’m a storyteller, and I usually embellish a little bit, but songs are usually drawn from my life happenings,” Jaffe said. The singer said she is always writing songs, but likes to revisit the ones she wrote when she first started performing. It is interesting to see t he mindset of a teenager and how she has progressed in her songwriting, she said. “I’m just scratching my head t hat I wasn’t going t h roug h anything life changing, and it’s kind of like an omen almost that I’m experiencing those things now,” Jaffe said. With previous spots in last year’s Austin City Limits lineup,
‘Phantom’ still haunts Review By Lori Lee Staff Writer
A comedy, a tragedy and a romance. “The Phantom of the Opera” shines with elaborate costumes, set designs and some of the most beautiful music ever written. Based on the classic novel, this passionate story depicts a troubled man, maimed as child and hidden from the cruel world beneath the Paris Opera House. He is extremely talented but humiliated because of his disfigurement, and he hides from the world and himself behind a costume mask that covers half his face. After playing Raoul on Broadway, Tim Martin Gleason takes on the role of the leading man, flawlessly portraying the Phantom with the passion of 10 men. His voice carries every note to perfection and his passion somehow manages to romance the audience into love with
this murderous phantom. He falls in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine (Trista Moldovan) and becomes obsessed with trying to make her the star he believes she should be. With his beautiful voice, it is understandable how Christine mistakes him for the “Angel of Music” her late father promised he’d send to watch over her and develop her talents. Kim Stengel is exceptional as the lead soprano diva, and Sean MacLaughlin, though slightly overplayed, is passionate as he quickly woos Christine. Even after hundreds of thousands of performances the world over, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music clings to your soul and leaves the theater with you. “Phantom of the Opera” runs until March 14 at Dallas’ Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas.
Austin’s SXSW music festival bill, last year’s NX35 and playing with some of music’s up-and-coming artists, such as Lykke Li, Jaffe said she can’t wait to get back on the road to tour again. Her debut album “Suburban Nature” will be released May 18. Loca l musicia n Chr is Semmelbeck of Seryn played a show with Jaffe in January and said the band hopes to play many more with her in the future. “ S h e ’s a g r e a t a r t i s t ,” Semmelbeck said. “It’s good songwriting, good singing and her instrumentation is always spot on.” Semmelbeck said he hopes to catch Jaffe open for Norah Jones on their upcoming tour. Kelsey Schneider, a k inesiology sophomore, bought Jaffe’s EP “Even Born Again” on iTunes recently. She loves all of her songs,
Photo by Martiña Trevino / Photographer
Sarah Jaffe entertains a packed house at Hailey’s during the 2009 NX35 Music Conferette. especially “Adeline,” she said. “I think she has such a different sound,” Schneider said. “It’s kind of mysterious, and the lyrics make you think. It’s like reading a book while you listen to music.”
NX35 Music Conferette Sarah Jaffe With Jupiter One, Trespassers William and This Old House 8 p.m. March 12 at Dan’s Silver Leaf, 103 Industrial St.
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ArtsSCENE
Arts institute ‘an oasis’ for black, GLBT artists By Nicole L andry Staff Writer
In every interest group, organization or collection of people, there is an even narrower cross-section of individuals. The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community is no different. People who belong to the GLBT community and to a minority race often feel they should band together and go through their struggles as a whole. With the founding of the Fahari Arts Institute, people who identify as black now have a place to go. Harold Steward, the Institute’s founder and artistic director, said that the idea was to create a “multidisciplinary art institute devoted to the production and celebration of the works of GLBT artists of African descent.” The Institute was founded in August 2009, after the death of Eileen Harris, a GLBT activist. “No one was going to put on a tribute,” Steward said, “so we teamed up with a black queer book club before we were fully working. It was our outing.” In the months that have passed, the Institute has put on monthly events, such as screenings from film-
y a l P s s e Pr
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”All Along the Watchtower,” Jimi Hendrix
”When I Paint My Masterpiece,” The Band ”Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” Eric Clapton ”Leopard-Skin PillBox Hat,” Beck ”Mr. Tambourine Man,” The Byrds
makers like Marlon Riggs, and spoken word gatherings called “Queerly Speaking.” Steward said the Institute has plans that involve putting on visual art shows, concerts and dance performances, as well as forming connections with national and international artists. UNT alumnae Nora Lewis and Breanna Ukegbu are both thankful that a place like this exists. “There are not a lot of black queer spaces, so it’s kind of an oasis,” said Ukegbu. Lewis said she can’t go to every event but is glad that there are two per month to choose from. “I feel like [the Institute’s] one of the most important GLBT things that’s happened,” she said. The Fahari Arts Institute can be found on Facebook while a permanent Web site is in the works. Steward said the Institute’s focus is now on building quality programs to offer its members. Anyone interested, whatever their orientation or ethnicity, can attend this month’s Queerly Speaking event, which will be held at 9 p.m tonight at the Backbeat Café in Dallas. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.
Dylan Songs by Other Artists Compiled by: Kip Mooney
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”Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again,” Cat Power ”I’m Not There,” Sonic Youth
”It Ain’t Me, Babe,” Johnny Cash and June Carter ”I Want You,” Bruce Springsteen ”Forever Young,” Billy Corgan