The Reader Dec. 1, 2011

dec. 1- 7, 2011 VOL.18

dish14

Root’s Ugly Stepchild

theater19 Talented Trio

music24

Botti Continues to Grow

sports36 Such Great Heights

OMAHA JOBS 2

Weird 34

MOjo 33

FUNNIES 5

41

chef

Salary & BenefitS Early AM start M-F Supervise Staff 5 Yr Experience

call 402-330-0100

FULL-TIME FULL-TIME FULL TIME EVENING JANITORIAL POSITION available in Omaha, Bennington and Wayne NE. Starting wage $8.75/hour.

Please call 1.888.868.5330 or 402.399.9233.

HUMBOLDT SPECIALTY. MANUFACTURING ENGINEER Contact Dmccarty@ humboldtspecialty.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIANS. Certified Medical Assistant. Contact marndt@awsmed.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

GREAT PLAINS AUTO BODY Receptionist/Body men/ Shop Steward/Automotive Detailer. Contact bhcrashman@gmail.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

AMERICAN RED CROSS. Senior Associate Corporate & Foundations. Contact HaxthausenE@usa.redcross. org. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

SCHIMBERG CO. WAREHOUSE Worker/Driver.

Contact dsanderson@schimGo to berg.com.

OmahaJobs.com for more information.

EXCLUSIVE REPAIR. Technician.

Contact 402.651.9934.

Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

IMPRISIS, INC. GIS Developer. Stratcom.

Contact helen.rome@i2mail. com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME

FULL-TIME FULL-TIME

OLYMPIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, INC. Transportation Representative. Contact gmuhs@ olympictransportation.com.

Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

POSITION AVAILABLE FOR person knowledgeable in hard surface floor and carpet care. Must be able to operate extraction equipment, buffers and burnishers. Flexible hours, most work performed after 5:00pm. Valid driver‚s license required. Beginning wage $10.00/hour. Please call 1.888.868.5330 or 402.399.9233.

SHRED-IT. SALES EXECUTIVE. Contact greg.romans@shredit.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

MAVERICK MARKETING Route Sales.

Contact timt.maverick@gmail.com.

Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

MAID BRIGADE. CLEANING TEAM MEMBER. Contact mrsmiller@hotmail. com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

USA PARKING SYSTEM. Valet Parking Attendents.

Contact jmeyer@parking. com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

J A G W I R E L E S S .

Broadband Technical Support Engineer.

Contact bhrbek@jagwireless.net.

Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

NEBRASKA HOIST & CRANE Hoist & Crane Technician.

Contact jean@ nebreaskahoist.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

RETAIL DATA LLC., Multiple Data collectors.

Contact frances.owens@ retaildatallc.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

DICE COMMUNICATIONS. Receptionist/CSR/ Executive Assistant.

Contact tdice@dicellc.com.

Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Guest & Admin Coordinator.

Contact director@ d o u g l a s c o h i s t o r y. o r g .

Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

CRETE CARRIER CORP. Driver Recruiter, Diesel Mechanic & Tractor-Trailer Technician. Contact ecoker@cretecarrier.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

WR RESTAURANTS MGT. Food & Beverage Manager.

Contact tvandewalle@ wrrestaurants.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REP For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

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11818 I Street, Omaha, NE 68137 2

DEC. 1 - 7, 2011

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BURST_4_Lower_V1_News dec. 1 - 7, 2011

3

Protect your assets before the holidays.

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more than 40 local vendors, handmade crafts, festive food and mulled wine, holiday decorations, unique gift ideas, seasonal treats and santa claus (sunday from 2-4 Pm)

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Available to residential customers in Cox serviceable areas. Subscription to Cox TV Essential and equipment rental required to view BTN on Cox Advanced TV channel 80 and 1080 for HD. Other conditions may apply. The live online viewing experience for BTN and BTN2Go is available at no additional cost to Cox customers who receive BTN as part of their TV channel line-up. The Big Ten Network name and logo are the trademarks and/or service marks of The Big Ten Conference, Inc. and are used with permission. ©2011 Cox Communications Omaha, LLC. All rights reserved.

topnews

Navigating Diverse Waters OPS cultural diversity book responds to district changes

T

5IVE

MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE bit.ly/mUdjj3 | DEC.1, 2011

We are entering the era of the fan

draft cease and desist letters. But

film -- unofficial sequels to existing

others will see this as an economic

movie and television franchises that

opportunity, and cheaply license

are made by fans. The most

their characters for a percentage of

extraordinary thing about this era is

whatever profit the new creators

that these films, which will

might make. Some science fiction

sometimes be feature length, will

films, as an example, will have only

often star cast members from the

one or two original productions, but

original, and will be high-quality

then tens and even hundreds of fan

enough to sell online and, in some

sequels and spinoffs, making the

instances, find a release in a

original creators millions of dollars

theater. Some of the original

in licensing fees, and gaining tens

creators of art that fan films draw

of millions of new fans for the

from will take steps to stop their

original work.

manufacture, setting up legal roadblocks and having lawyers

by: DR. QUENTIN MARK MYSTERIAN and BUNNY ULTRAMOD

by Kyle McClellan

he Omaha Public School district maintains its own research department that measures what and who is in its classrooms. Omaha’s largest district churns out daily lessons to more than 50,000 students in 84 schools. About 67 percent are minorities, speaking 100 different languages. Navigating this complexity requires training and some required reading.

The book OPS is assigning its teachers -- The Cultural Proficiency Journey: Moving Beyond Ethical Barriers Toward Profound Social Change -- features a serene cover illustration showing a lone sailboat floating on an open sea. Its public reaction has been far stormier.

Teacher training – known as professional development within the district – is hardly ever a public issue, and thus OPS is rarely obliged to inform the public. In this case, initial reaction to a book that challenges white cultural dominance in increasingly diverse classrooms generated a negative response.

Most of the resistance to the book originated outside of the school system, said Janice Garnett, the assistant superintendent of human resources in OPS. “This is a tough topic to talk about,” Garnett said. But it has been talked about within OPS — a lot.

As the colors of its classrooms shifted, the district really took notice in 2002 when the student body became a majority-minority, Garnett said. It was then time, or past time, for everyone to develop a global awareness.

Community groups then spearheaded a dialogue with OPS on cultural training. The discussions led to a pilot program across several schools with guidance from the Minnesota Humanities Center, which is affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Garnett said a committee formed and focused on how best to use funds the district got from the federal Stimulus Act of 2009. Culturally responsive instruction and teacher development became top issues.

The health care industry and the corporate environment provided models for the district.

“The focus of cultural competence in health services has been ongoing for decades,” Garnett said.

Treating diverse people for health problems is one thing; educating diverse people during their most impressionable years is another. Educators

news

approach the challenge weighted by the pressure of political and social baggage.

The book urges educators to scrutinize their beliefs, values and assumptions and instructs them on how to remove ethical barriers in the classroom. “It’s a whole bunch of looking at what’s in your classroom, who’s in your classroom and how do you go beyond to make sure they’re successful,” Garnett said.

OPS has some rough seas to navigate. More than half of African American children live in poverty, which is five times the rate for white children, according to the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s one-third the poverty rate for Omaha’s Hispanic children at 29 percent.

In the Omaha Public School district, that means almost 70 percent of the district’s students are considered impoverished, according to the Nebraska Department of Education.

Ethnicity and economic status weigh almost equally heavy on students’ performance. It’s welldocumented that greater variances are found within classes of the same ethnicity than between different ethnicities.

Class competency and cultural competency then become dependent ideas.

“You have to address teachers’ proficiency, not color,” Garnett said. Teachers will read the book in chapters and then discuss it in small groups throughout the year in professional development sessions.

The book is one tool in trying to close testing gaps between ethnicities. Forty-three percent of African American students in fourth grade met NDE reading standards in 2010. That’s compared to 54 percent of Hispanic students and 77 percent of white students. In math, 29 percent of African American students met state standards; 44 percent of Hispanic students met standards and 67 percent of white students met them.

Officials likely can’t pinpoint just how badly the district needs to enlighten its teachers on minority culture awareness. But it does know that the majority of its students aren’t white, and thus come from a far different background than most of its teachers.

“I don’t think it’s bad,” Garnett said, addressing the current level of multicultural competency.

She called it an opportunity for improvement. “If you can build relationships with these young people, you definitely can get them engaged and get them to start being active participants in the educational environment,” she said.

“It’s more than about race. It’s about getting to know one another, being able to coexist and being able to relate to one another.” ,

| THE READER |

DEC. 1 - 7, 2011

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heartlandhealing

n e w

a g e

h e a l t h

a n d

w e l l n e s s

Bugs in Your Body

Y

ou’re only one-tenth the person you think you are. The vast majority of the cells that make up your body are not human. You thought your body was your own, eh? You think you’re one hundred percent human, right? Oh, sure, every once in a while a minor bacterial or viral species may cause a problem but you just attack that population with antibiotics, antivirals or some immune system booster and it’s back to business as usual.

The laughable reality is that you don’t own your body if you simply go by population numbers. If squatters’ rights existed, your body would be the property of the hundred trillion foreign cells that make up the physical terrain known as you. The fact is that the human cells that comprise your body — brain cells, organ cells, nerve cells, blood cells, muscle cells, anything human — are outnumbered ten-to-one by bacteria, parasites, fungi and other interlopers. Your body is awash with an overwhelming army of creepy-crawlers that covers you from head to toe, mouth to… ahem.

“I caught a bug.” How often have those words been used to explain an absence from work? The fact is, you haven’t caught a bug — you’ve caught trillions of them!

The total number of cells in an adult human body is over 100 trillion. A recent cellular census finds that only about 10 percent of the cells to be of human origin. Conversely, about 90 percent of the cells that comprise your body are non-human. We are mostly made of microbes.

Though there are non-human cells all throughout the body, most of the non-human cells that make up the human body live in the gut and are both friendly and unfriendly bacteria. Intestinal flora is the population of organisms that lives in our 28 or so feet of intestines. It’s mostly bacteria but also some protozoa and fungi.

The friendly ones are important. The friendly intestinal flora has a number of important roles in our physiology and we couldn’t really get along well without our beneficial bugs.

Immune system support Intestinal flora supports and trains the immune system. Babies are born with no bacteria in the intestine and one of the first important things to happen is that friendly bacteria are introduced into their system. That’s one of the benefits of breastfeeding.

The mother’s colostrum virtually inoculates the baby’s immune system while bacteria introduced by close contact with the mother’s skin provides a kick-start for the infantile immune system. The friendly bacteria help program the infant’s immune system to attack bad bugs but to leave good ones alone. The positive influence on the immune system continues throughout a healthy life.

Nutrition from bugs The bacterial population of the intestines produces nutrients such as biotin, folate and vitamin K. Intestinal microbes facilitate digestion and break down foods that the human intestine ordinarily could not handle. Many intestinal bacteria provide enzymes to metabolize foods and help us absorb dietary minerals.

Healthy bugs mean a healthy gut. Intestinal flora protects the lining of the intestines, both large and small.

B y

m i c h a e l

b r a u n s t e i n

By displacing populations of more toxic yeast or bacteria, the helpful ones keep pathogens from gaining a toehold in the intestinal mucosa. A healthy population of good guys helps keep the bad guys at bay. There is some indication that healthy beneficial microbes help the cell wall of the intestine from developing cancers by affecting localized immune system response and controlling the differentiation of the mucosal cells.

There is also evidence that having a healthy population of intestinal microbes can help prevent problems like Crohn’s Disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Other researchers have found that native gut flora is important in preventing the development of allergies, symptoms that are increasing rapidly in the American population.

Antibiotics are antihuman. If our bodies are mostly (90 percent) bacteria and microbes, our efforts to kill them off is suicide. Humans obviously fail to understand this, considering the massive attack we make on deleting each and every living thing around us. We are obsessed with maintaining a sterile environment, based on our continuous use of antibacterial soap, sprays, wipes and drugs. We even buy trousers and toys that are made with chemically prepared antimicrobial fabric. Furniture and phones tout “antibacterial” surfaces.

While the judicious use of powerful antibiotics in extreme cases can be assumed to save lives, overuse of antibiotics is costing us in disease and death while altering the evolution of pathogenic bacterial species. We’ve dimwittedly managed to produce chemicals and antibiotics that have evolutionarily selected for survivability and created strains of supermicrobes that threaten to be the deadliest in existence.

Enter the perfect Petri dish. Just as in a lab experiment, microbes rely on their nutrient substrate. In the case of the human body, our food choices provide the food our flora depends on. And as with a Petri dish, whatever we make available will tend to favor the bugs and bacteria that like that particular food.

So, who likes sugar? We certainly eat enough of it.

Who prefers alcohol? We can survey the hundred trillion microbes in our body to find out what each species likes or just see who prospers and proliferates under certain dietary choices. In this way we bear influence on the population within.

When our nutrition gets out of balance, our internal population gets out of balance. Bacteria that thrive in an acidic environment can be affected by food that we eat that balances the pH of the body toward acidic. The bacteria in our body can change from friend to foe based on what we feed them.

Occupy Wall Street? Forget about it. Our real, immediate challenge is the horde that occupies our body.

Unless we keep them happy and harmonious, the consequences are dire. Probiotics, kind of the opposite of antibiotics, can help. Probably the most natural way to introduce friendly bacteria is by eating the right foods.

The Weston A. Price Foundation, easily googled, has advice about fermented foods.

Be well. ,

Heartland Healing by Michael Braunstein examines various alternative forms of healing. It is

provided as a source of information, not as medical advice. It is not an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or The Reader. Access past columns at HeartlandHealing.com

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Dec. 1 - 7, 2011

| THE READER |

heartland healing

| THE READER |

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

7

The Neelys’ Celebration Cookbook Pat and Gina Neely {Knopf} $28.95

Pat and Gina Kneely, the beloved husband-and-wife team and authors of the New York Times best-seller, “Down Home with the Neelys,” are all about letting the good times roll... it takes family, friends and good food. In their new book they share recipes and secrets for entertaining year-round.

Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts

All About Me

You’ll be sparkling this holiday season with Big Buddha’s half animal-print half bling clutch!

It’s the perfect accessory to your night out on the town.

Add a touch of beauty to any outfit this holiday season with our chandelier bracelet. Decked out with silverstone and red crystals, you’ll be the talk of the party as you can wear it dreaped over your hand or wrist.

White Crane

Editors of Martha Stewart Living {Potter Craft} $24.99

Join Martha Stewart for a celebration of handcrafted holidays all year-round! 225 hand made projects include cards, decorations, gifts and gift wrapping, table top accents, party favors and kids crafts. Each idea is sure to make the holidays more festive—and memorable.

Aleph

Paulo Coelho {Knoph} $24.95

Urban Abbey/Soul Desires

In his most personal novel to date, internationally best-selling author, Paul Coelho returns with a journey of self discovery. Like the main character in his much-beloved, “The Alchemist,” Paulo is facing a grave crisis of faith. Beautiful and inspiring, Aleph invites us to consider the meaning of our own personal journeys. Are we where we want to be, doing what we want to do?

Reading Jackie

William Kuhn {Anchor} $15.95 Paperback {Nan A Talese} $27.95 Hardcover

Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis never wrote a memoir, but she told her life story and revealed herself through the books she brought into print during the last two decades of her life as an editor at Viking and Doubleday.

“Reading Jackie,” provides a compelling behind-the-scenes look at Jackie at work. Jackie is remembered today for her marriage to JFK and Aristotle Onassis, but her real legacy is the books that reveal the tastes, recollection and passions of an independent woman.

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dec. 1 - 7, 2011

| THE READER |

cover story

in custom designed jewelry and jewelry repair. Currently, our store features over nine different local artists so if you are looking to shop local this year we have got you covered. If you can’t make it downtown we offer most of our pieces for sale at www. goldsmithsilversmith. com. Happy Holidays!

Urban Abbey: We are a coffee shop with a cause supporting local Non-profits (currently Together, Inc.). 10% of all of your purchases and 100% of some of our bagged coffee purchases go to support these local Non-profits. We have a wide selection of locally roasted coffee and beautiful teas perfect to share with friends and family for the holidays. Soul Desires: Books and gifts for your spiritual journey out of the major world traditions.

Goldsmith Silversmith

Goldsmith Silversmith has been your custom jeweler for over 37 years! We specialize

White Crane Gallery, located in the historic Old Market Passageway, represents handmade American Art from over 125 local & national artists.

With exquisite pieces of art made from wood, metal, ceramic, and glass, you’re sure to find the perfect holiday gift at White Crane.

The work is carefully selected by owner Judith Shepard from local, regional, and national artists.

The gallery was founded in January of 1992. For nineteen years the White Crane has proudly served the Omaha area. White Crane prides itself on its unique lines of handmade jewelry, ornaments, and decorations. White Crane Gallery is the destination of choice for beautiful art and gifts. We look forward to a visit from you soon.

Designer Beads & Charms

At Designer Beads & Charms it’s easy to create a meaningful gift for everyone on your list this holiday season. Located at 120th & Blondo in we are your authorized Chamilia retailer with a wide variety of beautiful charms to choose from. Add a little sparkle to your accessories this season with Chamilia’s Red & White Holiday Bangle. Featuring genuine red swarovski crystal and the new Frosty Glow snowman charm, this festive bracelet will brighten up your look all season long! Call 402-991-8801 or go to www.designerbeadsandcharms.com to place your order.

Moksha

Raw silk embroidered top with silk threads -Popularly known as Kurtis/Tunic-Made in India.

Indian Jacquard design weaving stoles women s outwear. Silk wool Pashminas scarves handcrafted in India. Moksha is located at 1026 Howard St.

Goldsmith Silversmith

Goldsmith Silversmith has been your custom jeweler for over 37 years! We specialize in custom designed jewelry and jewelry repair. Currently our store features over nine different local artists so if you are looking to shop local this year we have got you covered. If you can’t make it downtown we offer most of our pieces for sale at www.goldsmithsilversmith.com.

Happy Holidays!

Souq

The Souq offers a truly eclectic array of goods.

C o n t e m p o r a r y, soft dressing and ethnic inspired

clothing, accessories galore, fun ad fabulous jewelry, home décor and gift items from the elegant to the absurd.

Garden Flowers

At Garden Flowers, we use flower power to make people happy. All kinds of people — the young, the old, the corporate exec to the (almost starving) artist to the bride-to-be — you name it!

We like to think of our floral work as our way of making the world a better place. Sounds corny, but it’s true. We really love what we do, and we think you will, too! For us, it’s all about people. And the smiles that flowers bring to their lives. Stop in to visit, or give us a call next time you want to put a smile on someone’s face - or even your own!

Nebraska Clothing Company

Shop NCC this holiday season for exceptional customer service, affordable prices, and unique clothing and accessory designs for women and men. NCC, offering up to date, affordable merchandise in downtown Omaha since 1896 at 1012 Howard in the Old Market.

a space for community, conversation & great coffee

Soul Desires and the Urban Abbey are ready to welcome you with a warm cup of locally roasted coffee and a great book to inspire you this season.

www.facebook.com/UrbanAbbeyOmaha

1026 Jackson Old Market 402-898-7600

Cibola

Cibola of Omaha is proud to present this gorgeous 100 strand heshi turquoise necklace. Also check out all of our beautiful southwestern items we have for you to view. Open 7 days a week. Come by and visit us at 509 S. 11th Street or call 402-342-1200.

14 Convenient Locations

cover story

| THE READER |

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

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annualmusicissue

the top 20

The Reader’s Annual List of the Best Music Acts in Omaha by Our Music Staff The Show Is the Rainbow/Darren Keen

Players: Tim Kasher (G,V) Recordings: The Game of Monogamy (2010, Saddle Creek); “Cold Love” b/w “Just Don’t Get Caught” 7-inch (2010, Saddle Creek); “Delirium Tantrums” (w/Conduits) b/w “Tightropes, Guillotines, Thin Ice, Landslides” 7-inch (2010, Saddle Creek); Bigamy: More Songs from the Monogamy Sessions (2011, Saddle Creek) Why You Care: Between his primary gig in Cursive and his side gig in The Good Life, Kasher has spent most of his adult life chronicling his personal view of this fractured world we live in, but rarely on such a personal level as on his recent solo albums. The 7-song Bigamy... continued where Kasher left off on Monogamy, and was supported by a 23-date summer tour and a 29-date fall European tour. Next year he returns to his old ways when Cursive releases its new record, I Am Gemini, Feb. 21.

Check Out: “The Jessica” and “Cold Love” at saddlecreek.com/timkasher - Tim McMahan

Players: Darren Keen (G, V, VI) Recordings: Radboyz Only!!!! (2005, Tsk Tsk Records), Gymnasia (2007, SAF Records), Wet Fist (2009, Retard Disco), Tickled Pink (2011, It Are Good) Why You care: The Show Is the Rainbow a.k.a. Darren Keen continues to quietly conquer new audiences with a one-man performance style that can only be called audacious. He headlined this year’s prestigious Dundee Day celebration, capping off the evening by climbing a tower of speakers on the edge of the stage, like a big pink bear. The following week he left America to conquer Europe as part of his 10-month “Honeymoon Tour” in support of his latest release, Tickled Pink, a set of abstract, art-damaged polyrhythmic “songs,” whose topics include paying the cover, faux indie angst, and learning how to think, to grow, to love.

Check Out: “Pay the Cover” and “Don’t Vote” at soundcloud.com/darrenkeen/sets/the-show-is-therainbow - Tim McMahan

Bright Eyes

Conduits

Players: Conor Oberst (VI, V), Mike Mogis (G, M), Nate Walcott (K) Recordings: Eleven albums beginning with A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997 (1998, Saddle Creek) to The People’s Key (2011, Saddle Creek) Why You Care: Seemed like the entire indie music world spent 2011 sounding a death knell for Bright Eyes, thanks to Conor Oberst letting it slip in a 2009 interview that he wanted to close the door on the band, once and for all. Well, looks like the entire indie music world got it wrong. With the February release of The People’s Key, Oberst and his band of merry pranksters hit the road for the balance of the year, performing one of his strongest stage shows in the band’s career, and telling everyone along the way that they haven’t seen the last of Bright Eyes... probably.

Check Out: “Shell Games” and “Jejune Stars” at saddle-creek.com/brighteyes - Tim McMahan

Players: J.J. Idt (G), Nate Mickish (G), Mike Overfield (B, K), Roger L. Lewis (D), Jenna Morrison (V), Patrick Newberry (K).

Recordings: “Misery Train” split 7-inch (2011, selfreleased) Why You Care: Emerging in 2010 as a next-level success story, this supergroup of local heroes plays epic masterpieces, tonal ambient journeys into dark yet familiar worlds decorated in ’90s shoe-gaze, low-hum dream-noise. The band spent most of ’11 playing local shows as well as a couple opening gigs on Bright Eyes’ tour. All the while, fans waited for the eventual release of the band’s already recorded debut album -- a release that never came. But all that is about to change as rumor has it a very familiar label has finally agreed to release the album in early 2012.

Check Out: “Blood” and “Limbs and Leaves” at soundcloud.com/conduits - Tim McMahan

All Young Girls Are Machine Guns Players: Rebecca Lowry (U), Travis Sing (B), Scott Zimmerman (D), Kristin Pikop (K) Recordings: All Young Girls Are Machine Guns (2011, Nectar & Venom) Why You Care: Rebecca Lowry took up songwriting pretty much at the same time she picked up her first ukulele. After honing her playing and her songs during countless Benson-area open mic nights, Lowry

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dec. 1 - 7, 2011

roberto montiel

Tim Kasher

connected with Scott Zimmermann and Travis Sing, two seasoned Omaha musicians to form a full-band to carry out her swinging, indie pop tunes. Lowry’s debut album shows a spirited take on the ukulele that skews much closer to the 60s pop revivalism of She & Him than it does to the novelty strums of Tiny Tim. Check Out: “How the Night Ends” and “Swing Back Baby Blues” at reverbnation.com/allyounggirlsaremachineguns.

- Chris Aponick

Somasphere Players: Brett Smith (G, LT), Jesse Hodges (D), Andy Marker (D, P), Troy Lieberth (B, K)

| THE READER |

cover story

Recordings: More Shapes (2008), Sine Language (2010), EP402 (2011), all self-released Why You Care: Entering year six of being Lincoln’s premier live electronica band, Somasphere is showing no signs of slowing down. When not performing with the band, both Brett Smith (inflect) and Jesse Hodges (DJesse) have flown solo behind the DJ booth, creating an expanded wealth of influences that help the band continue to evolve its sound. Getting the crowd to the dance floor is deifinitely at the top of Somasphere’s list of priorities, and once you’re there, you’ll hear everything from house and jungle to mid-tempo and hip-hop.

Check Out: “Wolf Country 2.0” and “AKA (Bentone remix)” at somasphere.bandcamp.com - Jeremy Buckley

The Mynabirds Players: Laura Burhenn (G, V, K) Recordings: What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood (2010, Saddle Creek); “All I Want Is Truth (for Christmas)” b/w “This Will Be Our Year” 7-inch (2010, Saddle Creek) Why You Care: One could argue that Laura Burhenn, the singer/songwriter at the center of The Mynabirds, made her biggest impact in 2010, when her continued on page 12 y

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dec. 1 - 7, 2011

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coverstory y continued from page 10

debut album was released on Saddle Creek, followed by a year’s worth of touring. In 2011, Burhenn put her project on the back burner when she became a member of Bright Eyes’ touring band, performing alongside Conor Oberst and Co. throughout most of the year. With Bright Eyes’ tour finally winding down, Burhenn is poised to begin the next chapter of The Mynabirds’ saga.

Check Out: “All I Want is Truth (for Christmas)” and “Numbers Don’t Lie” at saddle-creek.com/themynabirds - Tim McMahan

Yuppies Players: Jack ‘Boogs’ Begley (V,G,K), Noah Sterba (V,G), Kevin Donahue (D), Jeff Sedrel (B) Recordings: Bitches/Yuppies split (2011, Palmist), I’ve Been Touched single (2011, Grotto) Why You Care: Yuppies themselves are a talented foursome, skewing their sprightly, angular indie garage punk with plenty of lo-fi noise-mongering. Yuppies as a figurehead represent the most visible band in a local wave of young, melody-minded tape-hissers that includes bands like the Prairies and the Dads and who delight in deconstructing their heavenly pop hits faster than you can say “Tally ho!”

Check Out: “Getting Out” and “Sunglasses” at yuppies.bandcamp.com.

- Chris Aponick

Magic Slim Players: Magic Slim (V, G) Recordings: Magic Slim has over 20 recordings to his credit, his most recent is Raising The Bar (Blind Pig, 2010) Why You Care: As we hashed out this year’s Top 20 it occurred to us that we’ve never recognized this blues legend living in our midst. Chicago blues icon Magic Slim has made his home in Lincoln for many years now. On the road nationally and internationally, he still tours with his Chicago band The Teardrops. You’ll likely see him around Lincoln or Omaha backed by his son Shawn Holt’s Lil’ Slim Blues Band. With a 30plus year career, Magic Slim introduced many folks to straight up Chicago blues back in the early days of the Zoo Bar and the old Howard St. Tavern.

Check Out: “I’m a Bluesman” and “Pretty Girls Everywhere” at myspace.com/magicslim.

- B.J. Huchtemann

Brad Cordle Band Players: Brad Cordle (V), Craig Balderston (B, V), Dave Steen (G, V), Johnny Gomez Jr. (K), Andrew Brookings (D) Why You Care: Vocalist Brad Cordle has led some of the most talented blues and soul bands around.

Formerly the leader of notable local band The Jailbreakers, Cordle spent a stint working in the Las Vegas scene. Last year he returned to Omaha and assembled a new band of accomplished, powerhouse players. Cordle has emotive range and vocal power on par with national artists. Guitarist and vocalist Dave Steen provides much of the original material. Steen

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has had songs covered by artists from Coco Montoya to Maria Muldaur and the late Junior Wells. As good or better than many touring bands, these guys pair polished musicianship with plenty of soul.

Check Out: youtube.com for videos from the band’s summer 2011 Playing With Fire set.

- B.J. Huchtemann

Matt Cox Players: Matt Cox (V, G, H, BJ) Recordings: Stick Your Neck Out (2006), Folker’s Travels (2007), My Last Dollar (2009), Tracks in the Sound (2011) Why You Care: Matt Cox has solidly expanded his audience while moving from a solo artist to a full band and now back to solo work. Cox has remarkably skillful songwriting talents and excellent guitar chops. His rich vocals sound older than his years. Cox crafts memorable songs grounded in the best Americana, folk nd country blues traditions.

Cox’s refreshing, heartfelt music is a must-hear for

der its belt, Emphatic is only gaining steam and widely broadening its fan base.

Check Out: “Bounce” at www.atlanticrecords.com/ artists/emphatic - Kyle Eustice

Brent Crampton Players: Brent Crampton (LT), various guests Why You Care: Possibly Omaha’s most prolific DJ, Crampton is a 27-year old renaissance man that comes off more as a community organizer than just a disc jockey. He started loomweaves, a recurring multicultural dance party, which now has a permanent base at the House of Loom he opened up this year. He has also won the Best DJ award at the OEA’s several years running, and employs a staggeringly diverse selection of music during his sets.

Check Out: No formal records yet, but take in the loom experience sometime at House of Loom, 1012 S 10th St downtown. Also feel free to go to brentcrampton.com - Jarrett Fontaine

the top 20 roots music fans.

Check Out: “River Song” and “Waiting on the Rain” at myspace.com/crookedroadblues.

- B.J. Huchtemann

Kris Lager Band Players: Kris Lager (G, V), Jeremiah Weir, (K), John Fairchild (D, V), Brandon Miller (B) Recordings: Roots Revival (2006), Transient (2007), The Mighty Quinn (2009), backing Mato Nanji as Indigenous on Broken Lands (Vanguard Records, 2008) Why You Care: Kris Lager Band has grown to be one of the top local bands, spending much of their time touring around the country. The Kris Lager Band isn’t limited by styles, mixing blues, rock, soul, R&B, gospel, jam-band and world music. This musical fusion and their instrumental expertise has forged a sound that is distinctive, powerful and heartfelt. They cut their touring chops with several years of road work as Indigenous, backing Mato Nanji. This year, led by bassist Brandon Miller, they also launched Hullabaloo, a first annual local three-day music and camping event.

Check Out: “Can’t Go On” and “Sweat Butter” at reverbnation.com/krislagerband.

- B.J. Huchtemann

Emphatic Players: Patrick Wilson (V), Justin McCain (G), Lance Dowdle (G), Alan Larson (B), Dylan Woods (D), Jeff Fenn (K,) Recordings: Damaged (2011), Atlantic Records Why You Care: Recently signed to Atlantic Records, this hard rock outfit is bouncing on the fringes of major success. If only they could get their line-up straight. Emphatic has been plagued by hasty and unexpected line-up changes since its inception.

However, with a nationwide, headlining tour un-

| THE READER |

cover story

Skypiper Players: Graham Burkum (V, G), Michael Childers (G, V), Gabriel Burkum (VL, V), Kyle Christensen (A, K, V), Ryan Menchaca (D) Recordings: Lay Low and Pretty (2008), Down In Our Song live acoustic EP (2010), skypiper (2011) Why You Care: With lush songs that sneak up and kiss you on the cheek, Skypiper are comfortable playing tunes that range from indie folk pieces to brooding, anthemic love songs. These five local guys met in high school and have been writing music ever since. They’ve matured their sound a bit for their self-titled sophomore album, which was recorded in an old north Omaha church sanctuary.

Check Out: “The Devil Is Real” on myspace.com/ skypipermusic - Jarrett Fontaine

Digital Leather Players: Shawn Foree (V,G,K), Jeff Lambelet (D), John Vredenburg (B) Recordings: Sponge (2012, Crash Symbols), Infinite Sun (Volar, 2011), Warm Brother (2009, Fat Possum) Why You Care: The always-prolific Shawn Foree hasn’t slowed down, even in the midst of leaving Fat Possum Records and having his new label, Absolutely Kosher, go under. The last two Digital Leather releases have seen Foree retreat into his two best selves – quick-hitting lo-fi noisemaker and synth-wielding death-rock experimenter.

Foree continues to work with local musicians, turning his latest twists and turns into hurtling garage rock.

Check Out: “Hurts So Bad” and “Kisses” at youtube.com - Chris Aponick

Depressed Buttons Players: Todd Fink (DJ, LT), Clark Baechle (DJ, LT), Jacob Thiele (DJ, LT) Recordings: Qwerty EP (2010), Qwerty Remix EP (2011), both on Mad Decent Why You Care: Three of the five Faint members meet their most futuristic selves to date in this purely electronic adventure into samples, unrelenting synthesizers and infectious dance beats. Recently signed to Diplo’s Mad Decent label, Depressed Buttons are armed with endless energy to deliver some bangin’ beats and saucy sound bites for your taste buds.

Check Out: “Hit Me Like A Rock (CSS Remix),” “Ow!” and “Jack (Herr Styler Remix)” at www.spotify.com - Kyle Eustice

Noah’s Ark Was A Spaceship Players: Andrew Gustafson (G), John Svatos (G), Ricky Black (D), Rob Webster (B) Recordings: My Name Is What Is Your Name (2009), Hanga Fang (2010), both on Slumber Party Records Why You Care: The 90’s was an incredible decade for garage rock. These guys sound like Mudhoney just met Sonic Youth and they all decided to start a band together. Surprisingly, the foursome is fairly young and has only begun to tap into its potential.

Check Out: “Wish You Weren’t Here” and “Flamingos Our Father” at www.myspace.com/noahsarkwasaspaceship - Kyle Eustice

Simon Joyner Players: Simon Joyner (G,V) Recordings: The last three of more than a dozen full length releases, Beautiful Losers: Singles and Compilation Tracks 1994-1999 (Jagjaguwar, 2006), Skeleton Blues (Jagjaguwar, 2006), Out Into The Snow (Team Love, 2009) Why You Care: While Joyner hasn’t released a studio album since 2009, he has step into the role of label owner with the Grapefruit Record Club. Curated by Joyner and Ben Goldberg, the club is subscription service that releases exclusive and limited-edition vinyl records. Meanwhile, Joyner continues to play around town, keeping in touch with the city’s house show scene.

Check Out: “The Only Living Boy In Omaha” and “Medicine Blues” at myspace.com/simonjoyner.

- Chris Aponick

McCarthy Trenching Players: Dan McCarthy (G,V), James Maakestad, Ben Brodin, Bram Rosenfeld Recordings: Fresh Blood (Slumber Party, 2011), Calamity Drenching (2008), McCarthy Trenching (2007), both on Team Love.

Why You Care: Just when it seemed like Dan McCarthy had gotten busy as a member of the rapidlyrising So-So Sailors, he quietly issued a new album, Fresh Blood, on Slumber Party Records. McCarthy has been a longtime fixture on the Omaha indie-folk scene, unraveling direct, rustically rural songs armed with an acoustic guitar and a low-key vibe.

Check Out: “Cassette Tape Massacre” and “Hard Heart” at myspace.com/mccarthytrenching.

- Chris Aponick

| THE READER |

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

13

How to Use Celeriac The Ugly Stepchild of Root Vegetables

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by Summer Miller

n case you haven’t noticed grocery stores are working diligently to be beautiful. I, for one, can hardly enter the whirring doors of a supermarket without being mesmerized by the glistening stacks of blushing pink ladies and rounded columns of orange carrots with green fronds flowing. And somewhere, usually tucked between green and white ribbed fennel and red orbs of radish sits Celeriac, the ugly stepchild of root vegetables, gnarled, rough, brown and easily passed over. Visually it’s a wart on the unblemished skin of the produce isle. But vegetables are like people and beauty is only skin deep, a little work with this humble tuber can yield great rewards.

Celeriac, also known as celery root, has crisp white flesh that tastes like, well, celery. It’s not quite as strong as celery and lacks its bitterness, some refer to its flavor as a combination of celery and parsley or cauliflower, but for me, it’s basically a subtle celery flavor, which makes it a great substitute in recipes where you might want the flavor but not the texture of its tall and stringy cousin. It often comes with green celery-like stalks attached. They are pungent and generally discarded, although celeriac stalks are sometimes used to make stock.

When purchasing Celeriac select one that is firm and without soft spots, which

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indicate rot. Ideally the green stalks attached are not wilted, but you’re more likely to find that at the farmer’s market. It’s best to store this tuber in the refrigerator in its own bag. Although its not a nutritional powerhouse Celeriac is high in cer-

Creamed Celeriac with Leeks and Bacon

Cook 8 strips of bacon. Drain on paper towels and set aside. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a saucepan. Wash, peel and cube 1 mid-sized celeriac. Add to pan and sauté over medium high heat for about 15 minutes. Cut 1 leek lengthwise, using only the white parts. Slice into half-moons, wash well and add to pan. Add 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, salt, pepper and 3 fresh thyme sprigs to pan. Sauté for another 10 minutes until celeriac is crisp-tender. Add cup of heavy cream and stir until thickened and reduced. Chop bacon. Discard thyme stems; divide celeriac among four plates and sprinkle top with chopped bacon.

Celeriac before cooking Celeriac preparation

| THE READER |

tain minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus, and low in calories only about 40 per cup, which is exactly why the following recipe isn’t quite as bad as it seems.

Curry Roasted Celeriac

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and peel 1 celeriac. Cut in half then slice 1/2inch segments. Place on cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt, freshly ground pepper and 1.5 teaspoons curry powder. Using your hands move celeriac around to make sure it is coated in the spices and oil. Place in oven. Cook for about 15-20 minutes flipping halfway through.

Celeriac should be crispy and brown on the outside and soft on the inside. , Is there a piece of produce that’s put you in a pickle? If so, email the writer at miller.summer@gmail.com

dish

crumbs

dish

Mimi’s Café offers Seasonal Menus: Mimi’s Cafe invites guests to “Come Enjoy a Taste of France” with the arrival of its latest seasonal menus— Tour de Paris. As the second stop on Mimi’s culinary journey, the new food and drink choices are inspired by the culinary capital of the world and are available for a limited time at an incredible value.

Guests can try for a chance to experience Paris firsthand by participating in the Mimi’s Chance for France Giveaway from Nov. 3 through Dec. 31. The grand prize is a five-day, four-night trip for two to Paris, including round-trip air transportation and accommodations. Participants will also have a chance to win more than 100 prizes, including $100 Mimi’s gift cards for 10 winners, a free Mimi’s Family Meal To-Go for 20 winners and $25 Mimi’s gift cards for 75 winners. All winners will be announced in January 2012. Visit MimisCafe.com for information.

The Boiler Room and The Sorting Table to hold Wine Dinner: The Boiler Room to host a wine dinner focused on the wines of France Nov. 23, featuring The Sorting Table portfolio. The wine dinner will be from 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. and featuring a stunning selection of food and wine. With fall hovering around and the game season about to begin, the menu is sure to feature Muscovy duck and Yorkshire piglets from Iowa as well as heirloom squash and house ground polenta. The cost is $85 per person before tax and tip, call 916.9274 to make reservations.

— John Horvatinovich Crumbs is about indulging in food and celebrating its many forms. Send information about area food and drink businesses to crumbs@thereader.com

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DEC. 1 - 7, 2011

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8 days TOPTV “Leverage”

Sunday, 8 p.m. (TNT)

In this week’s episode, the do-gooding gang of thieves, con artists and hackers go undercover in a greeting-card company. Their mission is to find an embezzler, but it’s complicated by the presence of a pompous German filmmaker shooting a documentary there about American business. The gang members have to play along, speaking to the camera in character while also conducting their investigation on the sly.

Soon, their actual resentments about working with each other begin to seep into their interviews, in coded form. In other words, the episode satirizes business, Germany, earnest documentaries and “Leverage” itself, all while delivering an exciting caper.

It also takes a whack at greeting-card culture, as one of the cons offers this idea for a new card line: “Get well soon. Or don’t – it’s not up to you.”

—Dean Robbins

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t h e r e a d e r ’ s entertainment picks dec . 1 - 7 , 2 0 1 1

TURSDAY1

erin Loechner

Through Dec. 18

Holiday Under Glass

Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street Noon. FREE, joslyn.org. 342.3300 You can enjoy holiday sounds in a beautiful setting as Joslyn Art Museum presents its annual Holiday Under Glass concert series. Performances take place three Fridays: December 2nd, 9th and 16th and two Wednesdays: December 7th and 18th. All concerts are held in the Museum’s glass atrium and last about 45 minutes. Communications Manager Amy Rummel said performers include the Creighton University Chamber Choir and Orchestra, the Omaha Conservatory of Music, the UNO Chamber Choir, the River City Ringers Ensemble and the Central High School Singers, Bel Canto and Bell Ringers. Rummel said, “Our goal is to showcase different choirs from around the city.

It is a great way for people to discover the talent we have in our community.” After each performance, guests may participate in a guided tour of one of the museum’s galleries.

— Cheril Lee

FRIDAY2 Dec. 2

Golden Guts: Kim Reid Kuhn and Josh Powell Bemis UNDERGROUND, 724 S. 12th St. Reception 6-9p.m., gallery talk Dec. 3, 12p.m., FREE Bemiscenter.og, 341.7130

Josh Powell and Kim Reid Kuhn aim to locate the beauty in grit via Golden Guts by challenging viewers’ imaginations to dig into the guts of what is real or unreal, chaos or un-logic.

Powell’s current body of large-scale mixed media work injects foreign elements into natural icons, granting dark consciousness to its animal inhabitants. Kuhn’s brightly-hued multi-

| THE READER |

picks

media abstract works present an informationpregnant, non-stop visual cacophony. Mashing humanity and nature together, her work is simultaneously reckless and calculated. Be prepared for your golden guts to be punched.

— Sally Deskins Dec. 2

HOME: A Birdhouse Interiors & Art Exhibition Opening Bancroft Street Market, 2702 S. 10th St. Opening reception 6-10p.m., $30

Exhibit open 10a.m.-6p.m. Dec. 3-11, $5 Home.birdhouseinteriors.com, 577.0711 Birdhouse Interior Designers will transform seven spaces of the Bancroft Street Market into a temporary comfy home! Featuring works of local artists, artisans and craftsmen through a juried selection, Birdhouse principal Jessica McCay with her team gave each of the seven rooms a character, to boot. “Ivan’s Room,” the child’s room, is home to a five-year-old who enjoys sports and imaginative toys. Other rooms

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include the living room, dining room, master bedroom, home office, family game room, children’s room and landing including original art, textile and furniture by artists Julie Conway (glass), Wanda Ewing (print-making), Kim Reid Kuhn (painting), Anna Dewey Greer (fabric) and many more. To boot, the opening reception includes special guest Erin Loechner, of HGTV.com and Design for Mankind; an open bar and hors’doeuvres; and almost everything for sale with a portion of the proceeds to benefit The Union of Contemporary Art. — Sally Deskins Dec. 2 & 4

The Nutcracker Two locations, Tickets vary 712.388.7140 For the Dec. 2 performance and 800.745.3000 for the Dec. 4 performance Ballet Nebraska presents The Nutcracker at 7:30 p.m. December 2nd at the Iowa Western Community College Arts Center in Council Bluffs, and at 2:00 p.m. December 4th at the Civic Auditorium’s Omaha Music Hall.

Erika Overturff, Artistic Director of Ballet Nebraska, choreographed the production.

She said though this is still the familiar story of the little girl who attends an exciting Christmas party, receives a special gift and has colorful dreams, Overturff has added her own unique twists. “In our battle scene, the Nutcracker faces a Rat Queen, who does lots of exciting dancing and is hair-raising to watch. We have a saucy French shepherdess, whose little lambs perform to Tchaikovsky’s famous “Dance of the Reed Flutes.” There’s lots more, but I don’t want to give away all the surprises,” said Overturff.

— Cheril Lee

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the nutcracker

Dec. 3

Ethnic Holiday Festival The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. durham.org Take part in the Ethnic Holiday Festival and learn how the world celebrates this joyful time of year. The event features ethnic foods and entertainment from all corners of the globe. Local cultural organizations will proudly display crafts and traditional dress while musicians and dancers perform throughout the evening from 5-9 p.m. For more information call 402.444.5071.

—Bernardo Montoya

SATURDAY3 Dec. 3-4

Winter Wonderland Scottish Rite Masonic Center 202 S. 20th St. 7 p.m. $16 Heartland Youth Ballet is inviting everyone into Santa’s Workshop with its upcoming production of Winter Wonderland. Robin Welch wrote and choreographed the production, which integrates Heartland Youth Ballet’s 22 dancers with singers and actors.

Welch said the story is about an elf that really wants to travel Christmas night with Santa in his sleigh. Though Santa tells her she can’t come with him, he does agree to tell her stories about the places he visits as he flies over them. Winter Wonderland features beloved carols such as “Frosty the Snowman” and “Santa Claus is coming to Town.” Welch said the program also incorporates the story of the night before Christmas.

— Cheril Lee

picks

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Dec. 1 - 7, 2011

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1018 Howard St. Old Market Passageway (402) 342-2972

It’s a Wonderful Strife for Ben’s Scrooge

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by Warren Francke

show at the Barn that I can unequivocally recommend to absolutely everyone. You might argue whether its looniness qualifies it for the 23rd season’s “rebellious one” theme, but there’s no arguing with it as a showcase for Sindelar, Omaha’s queen of comedy, and two rising stars, Beck and Grennan.

Most of act two (the 90-minute show is split by a 15-minute intermission) deals with Ben’s determination to re-enact the redemption of

t’s the title’s parenthetical “and then some” added to Every Christmas Story Ever Told that makes the Blue Barn’s holiday play such a delight. Like sending Clarence the angel from It’s a Wonderful Life to reBlue barn’s Every Christmas Story Ever Told deem Scrooge.

But mostly it’s the performances by Ben Beck, Bill Grennan and Theresa Sindelar with Ben often the much-put-upon straight man to slapstick antics

by Bill and Theresa. Like Bill appearing as a pirate to pursue Moby Dick in Bob Dylan’s “Child’s Christmas in Whales.”

Ben impatiently explains that he must be thinking of Dylan Thomas writing about Wales. Or Ben’s confronted by Theresa as a game host insisting he answer yes or no on the existence of Santa Claus without being guilty of spoiling the season for the kiddies.

That one winds up with baby Bill on his lap as Ben recites the famous newspaper editorial beginning, “Yes, Virbillia, there is… .”

And so it goes, including the most amazing feat of all: near the end of act one, after a potpourri of nuttiness, we hear the Peanuts music from television takes on Charlie Brown and Grennan shows up in one of Charlie’s striped shirts to tell the original Christmas story, complete with heavenly hosts, in a sweet, reverent way.

Ebenezer Scrooge, the Dickens’ character who Then, without missing a beat, Beck and Sin- supplies one-third of the income for the Omaha delar drag out one of those horrible plastic inflat- Community Playhouse that employs his parents, able messes of floppy holiday creatures—snow- Carl Beck and Susie Baer Collins, as directors. men and such—to end act one with an instant That’s when Bill keeps popping up as Clarand successful return to irreverence. ence the angel trying to win his wings by conNot that I can convince you of such improb- vincing George Bailey that he has lived a wonderabilities. Suffice it to say, this is the first holiday ful life. If Clarence can’t do the trick, he wheels

in as Lionel Barrymore’s Mr. Potter or he’s Uncle Billy misplacing the deposit.

I can never get enough of Ben, who’s lanky like Jimmy Stewart, doing that great Jimmy Stewart voice. For that matter, I can’t get enough of Sindelar doing almost any sort of crazy choreography. Don’t miss her black-robed Ghost of Christmas to Come whose grave-pointing arm isn’t enough for Scrooge so she goes into a complete charade.

And Grennan’s performance seals the deal when it comes to his growing range as one of the metro’s most promising young talents.

Having raved about all three, it remains to humbly try to describe the way director Susan Clement-Toberer has them dashing about without the benefit of a one-horse open sleigh. She pops them in and out of doorways and windows, exiting and entering, maybe only to quickly caper past or utter a word or two.

When Beck in top hat and other Dickensian touches keeps reminding us that Marley was “dead as a doornail” (and disclaiming any special knowledge of the deadness of doornails), Grennan flits past in Marley chains muttering, “Dead.”

They take the freedom to not only go loco but to go local. As a Council Bluffs native, I tried to be a little resentful when red-nosed Rudolph and the other misfit, the elf who wants to be a dentist, permit a connection between misfits and the folks across the Missouri.

Correction on the Rudolph reference: Make that Gustav the green-nosed goat-deer to avoid licensing problems.

Unlike past Christmas offerings at the Barn, you can bring youngsters and prudish elders to this one. About the closest thing to an off-color remark came when awarding a gift bag from the show’s sponsor, Omaha Steaks, by boasting, “You can’t beat our meat.” , Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) runs Nov. 25-Dec. 17 at the Blue Barn Theatre, 614 S. 11th St. in the Old Market, 7:30 p.m. ThursdaysSaturdays, 6 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $25 and $20 for students, seniors and groups. Call 402.345.1576 or visit bluebarn.org.

theater

n For the first time in recent years, you can see Omaha’s top theaters at their best on the same weekend. That couldn’t happen when Brigit St. Brigit and the Blue Barn shared the Downtown Space in the Old Market.

There’s A Christmas Carol, of course, at the Omaha Community Playhouse, joined Friday through New Year’s Eve by the McGuigan brothers doing Yesterday and Today, their interactive Beatles show that fits so perfectly into the smaller Howard Drew setting.

The recent visit by the Rain Beatles tribute to the Orpheum was full of big production treats, recreating the great Brit invasion, but maybe our familiarity with Billy, Matthew and Ryan McGuigan’s treatment of that memorable songbook explains why we’d prefer their musical dialogue with local audiences.

It’s always fun to share their family memories with local fans who explain why certain Beatles songs are their top choices.

But my annual claim that their show ranks as my favorite night in a theater (in terms of just plain pleasure) was tested recently by the Blue Barn comedy reviewed in this week’s Reader and by Brigit’s wonderful treatment of Tartuffe at Joslyn Castle.

That handsome music room setting and the period costumes helped, but you’ll rarely see so many first-rate performances which make every rhyming line of Moliere’s script just one delight after another.

John Durbin was masterful as the title’s hypocritical holy man and Laura Leininger would’ve have stolen the show from a less capable cast. She was the maid famous for her saucy tongue, who wonders at her master’s willingness to give his daughter’s hand to Tartuffe.

“Doesn’t it seem a trifle grim to give a girl like her to a man like him?” she asks. With false humility, Durbin’s Tartuffe proclaims, “Though the world would take me as a man of worth, I am the most unfit man on earth.”

He gets that right. And the rest of the cast directed by Cathy M.W. Kurz gets everything else right—from MaryBeth Adams as the master’s wife pursued by Tartuffe to Erika DeBoer as the daughter, Charleen J.B. Willoughby as the master’s mother and Eric Salonis as Orgon, the master of the house.

Orgon and his mother are totally taken in by Tartuffe’s apparent piety, while everyone else, from the maid to his son (Eric Grant-Leanna) and brotherin-law (Scott Working) see clearly that he’s a fraud.

It’s exactly the sort of classic that Brigit does best and you have only two more chances to catch it Dec. 4 and Dec. 9 at the castle.

coldcream

Talented Trio

culture

—Warren Francke Cold Cream looks at theater in the metro area. Email information to coldcream@thereader.com.

| THE READER |

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

19

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20

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| THE READER |

DEC. 1 - 7, 2011

21

fashflood

Gionni Grand Opening: Gionni, Omaha’s newest boutique for men and women is celebrating their grand opening Friday, Dec. 2. The celebration will take place from 8-10 p.m. at House of Loom, conveniently located next door to Gionni at 1012 S. 10th St. Festivities include a fashion show with music selections by Brent Crampton and cocktail specials. For more information on Gionni head over to 1010 S. 10th St. as they are now open for holiday shopping or visit facebook.com/gionnifashion. This event is 21+ and free to the public.

Omaha Craft Mafia Trunk Show: Support local businesses by joining the Omaha Craft Mafia for a holiday trunk show Saturday, Dec. 10. The show will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Urban Abbey, a coffee shop located inside Soul Desires Bookstore at 1026 Jackson St. in the Old Market. The event will showcase a select group of local vendors specializing in items such as knitted and sewn goods, printed cards, photography, pottery, jewelry, ornaments, handbags and more. For

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dec. 1 - 7, 2011

| THE READER |

culture

— Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik is a stylist, costumier, wife and freelance writer based in Omaha, Neb. Her style blog can be found at fashflood.com

n Opening Dec. 4 at the Saint Cecilia Cultural Art Center and Gallery is Las Familias Artisticas Lopez y Lopez, featuring works by an extended family of artists from northern New Mexico on view through Feb. 12. n Harry Duncan: The Cummington Press and Abattoir Editions Exhibit is on view through Dec. 20 in the Criss Library’s Osborne Family Gallery on the UNO campus. It features work from Duncan’s time on campus (1972–1985), including photographs, wood engravings, press books and other items. n In Lincoln, the LUX Center for the Arts opens Changes: UNL Ceramics 1987-2011 Dec. 2, celebrating the career of retired faculty member Gail Kendall and the contributions of Peter Pinnell and Eddie Dominguez. The show also introduces the work of new ceramics professors Margaret Bohls and Mark Cole to the Lincoln art scene on view through Jan. 28. Gifts from the Heart also opens that night including works by more than 50 artists through Dec. 24.

mixedmedia

n December 1 is the First Thursday, and that means Bemis’ monthly art talk. This month hear residents Melissa Cooke (drawing), Aaron Storck (multimedia), Sam Duket (painting/architecutre), and Erik Benson (painting) discuss their work and experience starting at 7 p.m.

Also that evening for those artists that want to get their own draw on, Drink n Draw 1st Anniversary celebrates one year of social creativity at House of Loom, 7-9p.m. Draw with the principals of The New BLK who helped get the event going one year ago, $5 artists 19+, includes two live models, bring your own art supplies, enjoy House of Loom’s Winter Happy Hour. n The Artists’ Cooperative Gallery kicks First Friday off with their annual all-members show including sculpture, weaving, painting, pottery, photography, printmaking and drawing open through the month. n Hot Shops Art Center’s Annual Winter Open House is Dec. 3, noon-8 p.m. and Dec. 4, noon-5 p.m. The event features art demonstrations and live music, with residents opening their studios to the public. All of the galleries host events, and the buildings wall are filled with art in a wide variety of mediums. The event is free, though they are accepting non-perishable food item donations for the Food Bank.

more information on this event visit omahacraftmafia.blogspot.com.

Blow Dry Bootcamp: Bungalow/8, one of Omaha’s premiere salons will hold the final session of their third annual Blowdry Bootcamp on Friday, Dec. 2. Blowdry Bootcamp is a one-on-one instructional session on how to properly blowdry hair with a round brush, along with styling instructions for frequently requested styles such as “the top knot” or “mermaid waves.. The cost to participate is $35; a deposit that can be used toward any styling products of an attendee’s choosing at the end of the session and includes wine and appetizers. To reserve your spot, call 402.934.8727.

Bungalow/8 is located at 1120 S. 105th Street and this event will take place from 5-7 p.m. Visit bungalow8omaha.com for more information on upcoming events.

— Sally Deskins Mixed Media is a column about local art. Send ideas to mixedmedia@thereader.com.

art

OpeningS

2869 BONDESSON ST, 2869 Bondesson Street. ARTFUL GIFTS BY 11 ARTISTS: Open studio/group show featuring artful gifts and (dis)tasteful ornaments from a variety of local artists, opens Dec. 2, 1 p.m., and Dec. 3, 10 a.m.

9 MUSES STUDIO, 2713 N 48th St., 9musesstudio@gmail.com.

NEW WORK: Paintings and watercolors by Arden Nixon, opens Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

BANCROFT STREET MARKET, 2702 S. 10th St., (402) 680-6737.

BIRDHOUSE HOME: Birdhouse Interior design creates a modern day living space in Bancroft Street Market, opens Dec. 2, 6 p.m., $30. Shoe continues through Dec. 11, admission is $5. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Union for Contemporary Art. BEMIS CENTER - CONTEMPORARY ARTS, 724 S. 12th St., (402) 341-1122. DECEMBER ART TALK: Art talk with Melissa Cooke, Aaron Storck, Sam Duket and Erik Benson, opens Dec. 1, 7 p.m.

BEMIS UNDERGROUND, 724 S. 12th St., (402) 341-1122.

GOLDEN GUTS: New work by Josh Powell and Kim Reid Kuh, opens Dec. 2-31, reception Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER, 100 N. 62nd St., (402) 5514888. LAS FAMILIAS ARTISTICAS LOPEZ Y LOPEZ: Artists of Northern New Mexico, opens Dec. 4-Feb. 3.

CRESCENT MOON COFFEE, 8th & P St., (402) 435-2828. FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK FEATURED ARTIST: New work by Natalie Nelson, opens Dec. 2.

DP MULLER PHOTOGRAPHY CO., 6066 Maple St.. PEOPLE/ THINGS: New work by photographers Tony Bonacci and Daniel Muller, opens Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

DUNDEE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 5312 Underwood Ave., (402) 558-2330. ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW: Features small art works, glass, pottery, jewelry and ornaments for holiday gift giving and decorating, opens Dec. 2-31.

DURHAM WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, 801 S. 10th St., (402) 444-5071. CUT! COSTUMES AND THE CINEMA: Experience five centuries of fashion and style as interpreted by awardwinning costume designers. Opens Dec. 3-Apr. 29.

EISENTRAGER-HOWARD GALLERY, Stadium Dr. & T. St, (402) 472-5522. DRRRROP: Curatorial projects by seven emerging curators: Abbey Arlt, Scott Cook, Bentley Easler, Blair Englund, Teal Gardner, Amanda Heskett and Bryan Klopping, reception Dec. 2, 5 p.m.

GALLERY 9 PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AFFILIATION, 124 S. 9th St., (402) 477-2822. ALL MEMBER HOLIDAY SHOW: Group show, opens Dec. 1-31.

HOT SHOPS ART CENTER, 1301 Nicolas St., (402) 342-6452.

NEW WORK: Recent paintings by Katrina Methot Swanson, opens Dec. 3-31. NEW WORK: Black and white photography inspired by noir and B-movie classics by Dawn Belik, opens Dec. 3-31. PERSPECTIVES: Group show featuring artists from the Passageway Gallery, opens Dec. 3-30. WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD: Wizard of Oz inspired art show, opens Dec. 3-31, reception Dec. 9, 6 p.m.

HOUSE OF LOOM, 1012 S. 10th St., (402) 505-5494, info@houseofloom.com. DRINK N DRAW OMAHA 1ST ANNIVERSARY: Two professional live models will pose for your inspiration, opens Dec. 1, 7 p.m., $5. OMAHA FIRST FRIDAY WRAP PARTY W/ LIVE ART FROM GERARD PEFUNG: Artsit Gerard Pefung will be making live art, Brent Crampton will be DJing, opens Dec. 2, 9 p.m., FREE. IMAGEWERKS COLLECTIVE, 5723 S. 137th St., (402) 8806294. THE IMAGEWERKS COLLECTIVE HOLIDAY OPENING: Group show, opens Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, 7 p.m.

KIECHEL FINE ART, 5733 S. 34th St, HOLIDAY COLLECTION 2011: New Holiday inspired art, opens Dec. 5-Jan. 20.

KIMMEL HARDING NELSON ARTS CENTER, 801 3rd Corso St., (402) 874-9600. AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE: New work

by Jenni Brant, opens Oct. 21-Dec. 9, reception Dec. 1, 5 p.m.

LUX CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 2601 N. 48th St., (402) 466-8692.

CHANGES: UNL CERAMICS 1987-2011: This exhibition celebrates the extensive career of retired faculty member, Gail Kendall and the contributions of Peter Pinnell and Eddie Dominguez, who helped build UNL into a hotspot for contemporary ceramics.

In addition, this show introduces the work of new ceramic professors Margaret Bohls and Mark Cole to the Lincoln art scene.

Opens Dec. 2-Jan. 28, reception Dec. 2, 5 p.m.

MODERN ARTS MIDWEST, 800 P St., (402) 477-2828. ANNUAL SMALL WORKS EXHIBITION: Featuring small art works by over 20 artists, opens Nov. 18-Dec. 24, reception Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.

NOYES ART GALLERY, 119 S. 9th St., (402) 475-1061. DECEMBER HOLIDAY PARTY: A fun opportunity to meet other artists and enjoy the evening, opens Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

OLD MARKET ARTISTS GALLERY, 1034 Howard St., (402) 3466569. NEW WORK: First Friday opening featuring an all member show, opens Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

OMAHA CLAY WORKS, 1114 Jones St., (402) 346-0560. ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Pottery on display, opens Dec. 2, 6 p.m., Dec. 3, 10 a.m., Dec. 4, 12 p.m.

PARALLAX SPACE, 1746 N St , parallaxspace@gmail.com.

[FRAMED]: Juried group show featuring new work from UNL Photography Students, opens Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

PASSAGEWAY GALLERY, 417 S. 11th St., (402) 341-1910. NEW WORK: First Friday opening featuring all members, opens Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

PIZZA SHOPPE COLLECTIVE, 6056 Maple St., (402) 932-9007.

ART RECEPTION: New work by Athena Cho, opens Dec. 5, 7 p.m.

SCREEN INK, 416 S. 11th St., (402) 464-0501. NEW WORK: New work by Shannon Hansen, through Dec. SP CE, 14th & O St., Lincoln. BIG FRIENDS: Photography by Jon Augustine, opens Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

TUGBOAT GALLERY, 1416 O St., (402) 477-6200. A LITTLE CHIFFON GOES A LONG WAY: New works by Heidi Bartlett and Anthony Hawley, opens Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM, 200 Pearl St., (712) 3298307. HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: The open house will include hot cider, cookies, the Chanticleer Madrigal singers from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and the debut of Union Pacific 150th anniversary gift items, opens Dec. 1, 5 p.m.

UNL ROTUNDA GALLERY, 1400 R St., (402) 472-9749. SHADOWS OVER EUROPEAN SKIES: New work by Audrey Koch, opens Dec. 4-16.

ONGOING

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY LIED CENTER, 2500 California Plaza, 402-280-2509. TURNING POINT: New work by Mary Ensz, through Dec. 9.

EL MUSEO LATINO, 4701 S. 25th St., (402) 731-1137. GRAPHICS OF LATIN AMERICA: Group show exploring the graphics of Latin America, through Dec. 28. VISIONS OF MEXICAN ART: Group show presented in collaboration with the Mexican Consulate of Omaha, show continues through Feb. 11.

ELDER ART GALLERY, 5000 St. Paul Ave.. JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION: New work by NWU students, through Dec. 11.

GREAT PLAINS ART MUSEUM, 1155 Q St.. PASSING AMERICA: New work by V....Vaughan, through Dec. 11.

INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. ELEGANT GEOMETRY: AMERICAN AND BRITISH MOSAIC PATCHWORK: Through Jan. 1, 2012. YVONNE WELLS: QUILTED MESSAGES: New work by Yvonne Wells, through February 26.

JOSLYN ART MUSEUM, 2200 Dodge St., (402) 342-3300.

AMERICAN LANDSCAPE CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE WEST: Featuring the work of fourteen photographers, through Jan. 8. FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: CURRIER & IVES PRINTS FROM THE CONAGRA FOODS COLLECTION: Nathaniel Currier and James merritt Ives offered affordable color prints that remain a vivid picture of nineteenth-century America, through Jan. 15.

KIMMEL HARDING NELSON ARTS CENTER, 801 3rd Corso St., (402) 874-9600. AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE: New work by Jenni Brant, through Dec. 9, reception Dec. 1, 5 p.m.

MODERN ARTS MIDTOWN, 3615 Dodge St. WISH LIST: A small art works exhibition, through Dec. 31.

MODERN ARTS MIDWEST, 800 P St., (402) 477-2828. ANNUAL SMALL WORKS EXHIBITION: Featuring small art works by over 20 artists, through Dec. 24, reception Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.

MOVING GALLERY, Garden of the Zodiac, 1042 Howard St., (402) 341-1877. PORTRAITS: New work by artists Gerhard Kassner and Christian Rothmann, through Dec. 6.

MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART (MONA), 2401 Central Ave., (308) 865-8559. NEBRASKA NOW: CHAD FONFARA: New glass work by Chad Fonfara, continues through Jan. 8.

OMAHA’S CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, 500 S. 20th St., 342.6163. ocm.org. DINOSAURS DAWN OF THE ICE AGE: Through Jan. 8.

NO NAME READING SERIES ALAN YATES SPECIAL NO NAME, Zen’s Lounge 122 N. 11th St.. 4:00 pm, FREE. JONATHAN TRIPODI, OM Center 1216 Howard St., (402) 3455078. 6:30 pm, FREE. Author of Freedom from Body Memory will present a talk and give a book signing.

TONY TONE, Funny Bone Comedy Club 17305 Davenport St., (402) 493-8036. 7:30 pm, 9:45 pm, $17.

check event listings online!

RNG GALLERY, 157 West Broadway, (402) 214-3061. OPENING RECEPTION: Opening reception for the new RNG Gallery, featuring new work by Stephen Azevedo and Christina Renfer Vogel.

Show continues through Dec. 4.

SHELDON ART GALLERY, 12th and R, UNL, Lincoln, sheldonartgallery.org. HISTORIES: Works from the Sheldon Permanent Collection, through Jul. 15, 2012. HARLEM RENAISSANCE SCULPTOR: Work by Richmond Barthe, continues through Jan. 15. THE ART AND SCIENCE OF CONSERVATION: WALT KUHN’S ‘APPLES IN WOODEN BOAT’: Presents findings of recent examination of the artwork including x-rays taken on Sep. 26 at BryanLGH Medical Center West, show continues through Dec. 31.

W. DALE CLARK LIBRARY, 215 S. 15th St., (402) 444-4800.

IN A NUTSHELL: THE WORLDS OF MAURICE SENDAK: Exhibit strives to reveal the push and pull of new and old worlds in Sendak’s work and shows how his artistic journey has led him deeper into his own family’s history and Jewish identity. Through Dec. 16.

WORKSPACE GALLERY, 440 N. 8th St., workspace.gallery.lincoln@gmail.com. THE COLOR OF HAY: New work by Kathleen McLaughlin, through Jan. 5.

theater oPENING

NUTCRACKER, Creighton University Lied Center, 2500 California Plaza, 402-280-2509. Opens Dec. 1, Dec. 2, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, 7:30 pm, N/A NUNCRACKERS: THE NUNSENSE CHRISTMAS MUSICAL, TADA Theatre, 701 P St., (402) 438.8232. Opens Dec. 1, Dec. 2, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 8, 7:30 pm, $18; Matinee: $15 12 OPHELIAS, Weber Fine Arts Building, 6001 Dodge St..

Opens Dec. 1, Dec. 2, Dec. 3, 7:30 pm, $5 A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., (402) 553-4890. Opens Dec. 1, Dec. 2, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 8, 7:30 pm, $39; Students: $28 A CHRISTMAS CAROL, McDonald Theatre, 53rd St. & Huntington Ave., (402) 465-2384, theatre@nebrwesleyan.edu. Opens Dec. 1, Dec. 2, Dec. 3, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 8, 7:30 pm, $10; Seniors: $7.50; Students: $5 JUNIE B. IN JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS!, Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., (402) 345-4849. Opens Dec. 2, Dec. 3, Dec. 4, 7:00 pm, $16 THE NUTCRACKER, Omaha Civic Auditorium/Music Hall, 1804 Capitol Ave., (402) 444-3353. Opens Dec. 4, 2:00 pm, $19-$45 YESTERDAY AND TODAY, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., (402) 553-4890. Opens Dec. 2, Dec. 3, Dec. 8, 7:00 pm, $38, Dec. 4, 2:00 pm, $38 CIRQUE MECHANICS BOOM TOWN, Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St., (402) 444-4750. Opens Dec. 2, 7:30 pm, $15-$20 AUDITION: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, TADA Theatre, 701 P St., (402) 438.8232. Opens Dec. 5, Dec. 6, 6:00 pm, FREE WINTER WONDERLAND, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 202 S. 20th St.. Opens Dec. 3, Dec. 4, 7:30 pm, $16

poetry/comedy thursday 1

KATE KLISE, The Bookworm 87th & Pacific St., (402) 3922877. 6:00 pm, FREE. Author will sign Till Death Do us Bark.

TONY TONE, Funny Bone Comedy Club 17305 Davenport St., (402) 493-8036. 7:30 pm, $15.

BACKLINE IMPROV, Studio Gallery 4965 Dodge St., (402) 6600867. 8:00 pm, $5. Weekly variety of shows, for more information call Dylan at (402) 720-7670.

COMEDY SURPRISE NIGHT, Mojo Smokehouse & Ales 2110 South 67th St., (402) 504-3776. 10:00 pm, FREE.

FRIDAY 2

JEFF ALESSANDRELLI AND BRET SHEPARD, SP CE, 14th & O St., Lincoln, 7 p.m. Poetry reading.

SATURDAY 3

KEN JARECKE, The Bookworm 87th & Pacific St., (402) 3922877. 11:00 am, FREE. Author will sign Husker Game Day 2010: Farewell Big 12.

U.S. PRESIDENTS BOOK CLUB, The Bookworm 87th & Pacific St., (402) 392-2877. 10:00 am, FREE. BOOK SIGNING, Michael Forsberg Gallery 100 N. 8th St., Suite 150. 10:00 am, FREE. Michael Forsberg and Jeff Kurrus will be present to personalize their new book, Have You Seen Mary?

POETRY AND PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP W/ SARAH MCKINSTRY BROWN, Shadow Lake Towne Center Shadow Lake Towne Center at Hwy. 370 and 72nd St., 10:00 am, FREE. JOHN RECTOR, The Bookworm 87th & Pacific St., (402) 3922877. 1:00 pm, FREE. Author will sign Already Gone.

TONY TONE, Funny Bone Comedy Club 17305 Davenport St., (402) 493-8036. 7:00 pm, 9:30 pm, $17.

Sunday 4

TONY TONE, Funny Bone Comedy Club 17305 Davenport St., (402) 493-8036. 7:00 pm, $15.

monday 5

NANCY WERLIN, W. Dale Clark Library 215 S. 15th St., (402) 444-4800. 4:00 pm, FREE. Author of Extraordinary, Impossible and Rules of Survival.

POETRY AT THE MOON, Crescent Moon Coffee 8th & P St., (402) 435-2828. 7:00 pm, FREE. NANCY WERLIN, Omaha Public Library Millard Branch , (402) 444-4848. 7:00 pm, FREE. NANCY WERLIN, The Bookworm 87th & Pacific St., (402) 3922877. 7:00 pm, FREE.

tuesday 6

ANNA DEWDNEY, Omaha Public LIbrary Benson Branch 6015 Binney Street. 1:30 pm, FREE. Author of Llama Llama Red Pajama.

ANNA DEWDNEY, The Bookworm 87th & Pacific St., (402) 392-2877. 6:00 pm, FREE. OPEN MIC POETRY, Indigo Bridge Books 701 P St. Suite 102, (402) 477-7770. 7:00 pm, FREE. LEVEL 1 IMPROV CLASS, Studio Gallery 4965 Dodge St., (402) 660-0867. 7:00 pm, $75. Send and email to backlineimprov@gmail.com to RSVP for the Level 1 Class.

PULSE OF THE PLAINS: A PHOTOGRAPHER’S JOURNEY CONNECTING WATER, WILDLIFE AND LANDSCAPE, Lied Center for Performing Arts 301 N. 12th St., (402) 472-4700.

7:00 pm, FREE. E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues lecture presented by Michael Forsberg.

TUESDAYS WITH WRITERS HOLIDAY READING, South Mill 4736 Prescott St.. 7:00 pm, FREE. FIVE DOLLAR COMEDY NIGHT: 88 IMPROV, Pizza Shoppe Collective 6056 Maple St., (402) 932-9007. 8:00 pm, $5.

SHOOT YOUR MOUTH OFF, The Hideout Lounge 320 S. 72nd St., (402) 504-4434. 9:00 pm, FREE. POET SHOW IT HOSTED BY JOE YOUNGLOVE, Zoo Bar 136 N. 14th St., (402) 435-8754. 9:30 pm, $5.

Wednesday 7

ANNA DEWDNEY, Omaha Public Library Saddlebrook Branch 14850 Laurel Avenue, (402) 884-7473. 11:00 am, FREE. WHAT ARE YOU READING? BOOK CHAT, The Bookworm 87th & Pacific St., (402) 392-2877. 12:00 pm, FREE. LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY WITH VICKI WOOD, Bennett Martin Public Library 136 S. 14th St., (402) 441-8500. 12:10 pm, FREE. ANNA DEWDNEY, Omaha Public Library Millard Branch , (402) 444-4848. 3:00 pm, FREE. ARISTIDE AND THE ENDLESS REVOLUTION, McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe 302 S. 38th St., (402) 345-7477. 7:00 pm, FREE. ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC FOR MUSICIANS & POETS, Meadowlark Coffee 1624 South St., (402) 477-2077. 8:00 pm, FREE. THE MIDWEST POETRY VIBE, Arthur’s 222 N. 114th St., (402) 706-2491. 9:00 pm, Ladies: $5; Guys: $7.

art/theater listings | THE READER |

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

23

Botti Continues to Grow Jazz Artist Chris Botti Returns to Omaha

T

by Andy Roberts

he first thing that strikes the listener about Chris Botti’s music is the tone he gets out of that trumpet.

Where have I heard that dischris botti tinctive sound before?

Then it dawns on you that it hasn’t been around, at least live, for 20 years now. It becomes even clearer when you ask Botti for the name of his favorite trumpet player.

“Miles Davis,” he says, adding that “My Funny Valentine” is his favorite Davis recording. “Miles Davis in the ’60s is great, and I love the aspect of that music where the harmony doesn’t move as quick and you’re not boxed in. To this day, I listen to and follow the music of Miles Davis daily.”

Which is a great place to start, but there is much more to Botti’s music. His style, described by some as “relaxed and moody,” has also found a pop audience. Italia, his most recent studio album, found a home on Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums chart for 78 weeks. He has been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards and in 2004 was named to People magazine’s list of the world’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”

Botti’s current tour brings him back to Omaha and the Kiewit Concert Hall at the Holland Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m.

An Oregon native who began playing trumpet when he was 10 years old, Botti debuted professionally while still in high school and moved on to study music at Indiana University. From there he went to New York and became a top session player, working with such artists as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin and Paul Simon.

Botti has joined and been joined by others – including Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer

24

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

and Steven Tyler — on stage and in the studio. He told The Reader that Peter Gabriel tops his personal wish list of future collaborators.

But it may be his work with Sting’s band that has brought Botti his widest recognition and his most important professional relationship.

“It’s his friendship that I am the most proud of in my life,” Botti told The Reader. “If I were to look

at any accomplishment or association, by a long shot it’s my friendship with him. We’re family now and his belief in my career seven, 10, 11 years ago is the reason why I have a career now.”

Music was always a part of the Botti’s life, and the jazzman credits his musician mother with providing early direction.

“Being a piano player, my mom first got me into piano, but as many kids do, I rebelled against it,” he said. “I wanted to do something different.”

| THE READER |

music

That rebellion too form when he saw Doc Severinsen on television, and suddenly, the trumpet and “cool” became synonymous.

“I picked one up, and then a few years later when I was 12 years old, I heard the first three notes of Miles Davis’ ‘My Funny Valentine,’” Botti said. “At that moment, I knew I wanted to be a jazz musician.”

His mother first influenced him in terms of choosing a path to follow and demonstrating how to focus oneself on the pursuit of excellence.

“I learned tremendous discipline from her,” Botti said. “She taught me that the structure of music is as important as the talent, and that being driven and dedicated about something is very important.”

He claims he wasn’t thinking about music as a life experience or expressing himself until he was about 12 and experienced that fateful exposure to Miles Davis, completing his rebellion against playing the piano.

Botti has recently been in the studio, preparing a new album that will receive some of its initial exposure on the tour. Working in London and Los Angeles, he said the new collection is about 70 percent complete. Plans call for it to be released in March or April.

“The album will feature performances with guest artists from Mark Knopfler to Andrea Bocelli and will have plenty of surprises!” he said.

The Omaha concert, Botti said, will feature a variety of selections from Chris Botti in Boston and Italia, to his older records, but he also hinted at surprises. “We have a whole bunch of new material as well, because we have a new record coming out,” he said. , Chris Botti performs at the Kiewit Concert Hall in the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Farnam Street on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced from $25 at www. omahaperformingarts.org or call 402-345-0606.

n Digital Leather is back on the label market after the sudden collapse of longtime indie label Absolutely Kosher Records, which shuttered earlier this year.

But that hasn’t stopped the band from putting out smaller releases. The latest is Sponge, a nine-song cassette and digital download release out this January on Crash Symbols. n Digitial Leather will also be one of the acts featured on a new Nebraska music compilation put together by HearNebraska.org. The website, which seeks to cover and support locally made music., will also host a release show for the compilation, set for Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Sydney, 5918 Maple St. at 9:30 p.m.

Digital Leather will be joined by Masses, Dim Light, Domestica and The Wagon Blasters. The album, which is limited to 150 copies, features 12 bands. Eight of the 12 songs are previously unreleased. The $15 CD is a fundraiser for the nonprofit website. After the physical copies sell out, Hear Nebraska will release the album digitally. Doug Van Sloun mastered the tracks and the album’s artwork and printing were all done locally. The album includes songs by Big Harp, The So-So Sailors, The Mezcal Brothers and The Betties. n If the Color Me Impressed Replacements documentary has gotten you in the mood for boozy, messy Americana-leaning rock, check out Deer Tick’s new album, Divine Providence. The Rhode Island rockers sound like they locked themselves away with cases upon cases of beer until they finished the record. The highlight: “Let’s All Go To the Bar”. n Brimstone Howl singer/guitarist John Ziegler has opened a new chapter with The Lupines.

Between finished up a final mixing session with Detroit producer Jim Diamond and recording another session in Lincoln with Mark Wolberg, Ziegler told The Reader he could see that the end had come for Brimstone. Instead of recruting a new line-up, he retired the name that he had shared with core members, Nick Waggoner and Calvin Retzlaff. Then he hooked up with bassist Mike Tulis, after years of talking about starting a band together. Tulis asked Ziegler if he had any musicians in mind and Ziegler mentioned he had enjoyed the playing of ex-Anonymous American guitarist Mike Friedman. After the band’s rehearsals started in July, the band also recruited Bright Calm Blue’s Javid Dabestani on drums. The Lupines played one show in November and plans more shows in 2012.

— Chris Aponick

backbeat

music

Backbeat takes you behind the scenes of the local music scene. Send tips, comments and questions to backbeat@thereader.com.

8754VGAReaderDickens4.9x3.2.pdf

1

11/22/11

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A fun, heartfelt, unique Brunchtime of songs, standards... maybe a story and a schmooze or two... and a few holiday favorites. | THE READER |

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

25

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m u s i c

The Spotify Rebellion and Sting’s Vision of the Future

T

his will be remembered as the year music went to the cloud, with Amazon, Google, Spotify and most recently, iTunes Match presumably changing the landscape in terms of how we listen to new music.

With that in mind, Wired.com recently posted a story with the headline: “200+ Labels Withdraw Their Music From Spotify: Are Its Fortunes Unravelling?” In it, Wired reported that music distributor STHoldings, which represents more than 200 record labels, was withdrawing its entire catalog from Spotify, Napster, Simfy and Rdio.

Said STHoldings in the article, “As a distributor we have to do what is best for our labels. The majority of which do not want their music on such services because of the poor revenues and the detrimental affect on sales. Add to that the feeling that their music loses its specialness by its exploitation as a low value/free commodity.”

The Wired article pointed to an item in Digital Music News with the headline “Study: Spotify Is Detrimental to Music Purchasing…” that quoted a study from NPD Group and NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) that seems to state that a percentage of consumers were satisfied with merely having access to music, and not owning it. Translated: They listen to their music on Spotify and then don’t buy it.

I saw this exact situation played out right in front of my eyes a month or so ago when Big Harp played at Slowdown. A guy who was a friend of a friend said after Big Harp left the stage, “I love their music. I should probably buy a copy of their CD, but I already have it on Spotify.” I, of course, proceeded to call the guy a cheap bastard and tried to guilt him into going to the merch table, to no avail.

Spotify responded to STHoldings in the Wired article by saying artists are receiving “substantial” revenues from Spotify. “Spotify is now the second single largest source of digital music revenue for labels in Europe (IFPI, April 2011) and we’ve driven more than $150 million of revenue to rights holders (ie whoever owns the music, be it artists, publishers or labels) since our launch three years ago.”

It should be noted that I didn’t recognize any of the labels that STHoldings represents. So just how significant is their withdrawal beyond being a touch point for articles like this one? Who knows…

But let me add this to the mix: Since I began using Spotify a few months ago the service has been most effective in steering me away from making (what I assume are) bad purchases -- i.e., I can now conveniently listen to just about any record that Pitchfork has ordainedwith a rating of 8.0 or higher and decide for myself whether it’s worth buying, or not.

Lazy-i

s c e n e

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m c m a h a n

The ultimate downside to all this: I’m now less likely to give a record the second or third “listen” that I would have given it had I taken the plunge and purchased it (or received a promo copy). In other words, music no longer is given a chance to “grow on you.” And some of the best records can take weeks -- or even months -- of listens to sink in. With Spotify and the other services, artists are given one shot to impress listeners before they move onto something else, never to return.

Online streaming services aren’t the only technology replacing CDs, just ask Sting. In an article that appeared in Billboard last week the grandfather of New Wave gave his vision of the future of recorded music.

When asked if he’ll make another album, Sting said: “It’s hard to know what the new model is. I think the app is the new model. People are going to stop buying CDs. People are going to stop selling and making them, so I am looking for different ways to get music to people, and the application at the moment seems to be the favorite.”

By “application,” Sting means smartphone applications, like his free “Sting 25” app for the iPad, which includes photos, handwritten lyrics and journal entries, interviews and concert footage, as well as 360-degree zoomable views of his signature instruments. It doesn’t, however, include any actual music. The app only plays music already stored on your iPad or iTunes preview clips. In other words, it’s a gimmick to get people to buy Sting music from the iTunes store.

According to Mac authority cultofmac.com, Sting ain’t alone in his app love. Bjork released an app alongside her last CD, and Pink Floyd is doing a “this day in history” style app for fans. Neither contains any actual music.

“It makes sense,” said Cult of Mac. “The more you stop and think about it, the more apps feel analogous to albums: a self-contained work by an artist, a thing they can put together over a period of months or years and then sell to fans. Many of today’s youngsters don’t see why they should pay for music – but they’re perfectly happy to pay for apps.”

While I agree that “youngsters” might pay 99 cents to download Movie Cat or Angry Bird or whatever new game winds up in the iTunes store, I don’t think they’re going to download or buy an app that merely offers to sell them music. Sting’s vision of the future is merely iTunes repackaged, which is no vision at all.

Which brings us back to Spotify, who announced (in the face of STHoldings’ rebellion) that it just welcomed its 2.5 millionth paying subscriber.

“So we’d like to say a big thank you to all our subscribers, new and old. Keep spreading the good news about Spotify,” the company said in its official announcement. “Of course, we’ll continue to focus on providing you with the best music service possible. We’ve got some exciting developments in the works, which we’ll share with you very soon.”

Oh boy, now what... ,

is a weekly column by long-time Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on the Omaha music scene. Check out Tim’s daily music news updates at his website, lazy-i.com, or email him at lazy-i@thereader.com.

26

Dec. 1 - 7, 2011

| THE READER |

lazy-i

R O O T S ,

A M E R I C A N A

A N D

Davina Dazzles & Toys

“A

modern day, female version, of Louis Armstrong,” that’s what Elmore magazine calls Davina Sowers of Davina & The Vagabonds. Since the release of their latest disc, Black Cloud, the Minneapolis band has been racking up rave reviews. A track from the new disc was chosen for an NPR Song of the Day feature. Downbeat magazine applauds “They dare to be different.” Blues in Britain magazine says “Think of a meld of Bessie Smith, Etta James, Alberta Adams and Amy Winehouse, and you come close to understanding what Davina Sowers is all about.” Classically trained pianist Sowers creates an amazing fusion of blues, swing and old-school New Orleans jazz with her horn-driven band. They are one of my new favorites. Check out davinaandthevagabonds. com. Hear them at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Nov. 30, 6-9 p.m. and at The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Toy Drive Giving: Lash LaRue’s annual Toy Drive to bring joy to the children of the Pine Ridge reservation is this weekend. Toys are collected for the youth in the poverty-stricken area, who otherwise may receive nothing for Christmas. At The Waiting Room Friday, Dec. 2, at 9

hoodoo

M O R E

B Y

B . J .

Drawing, Drinks & dames!

H U C H T E M A N N

p.m. catch Filter Kings, The Mercurys and Blacktop Ramblers. Admission is $10 or a new, unwrapped toy.

More Toy Stuff: The Blues Society of Omaha hosts a holiday party and benefit show Sunday, Dec. 4, at the 21st Century Saloon. Performing are Christy Rossiter & 112 North Duck (2:30 p.m.), Brad Cordle Band (3:45 p.m.) and Alligator Records guitar great Michael Burks (5 p.m.) Admission is $10. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are also encouraged. There will be a BSO potluck holiday dinner, to participate please bring a covered dish to share.

Hot Notes: Chicago blues-rock guitarist Scott Holt plays Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. On Friday, Dec. 2, at the Zoo, Kansas City’s The Good Foot shares a double bill of funk with Sons of 76. Nick Semrad will be back in town rejoining Sons of 76 on keys. Chicago blues guitarist John Primer takes the stage at the Zoo Bar Wednesday, Dec. 7, 6-9 p.m. and at The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 8, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Upcoming shows of note at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar include Josh Garrett & the Bottomline Saturday, Dec. 10, and Popa Chubby Sunday, Dec. 11. The Blues Society of Omaha presents Tab Benoit at Slowdown Tuesday, Dec. 13. Kris Lager Band opens the 7 p.m. show. See omahablues.com. ,

21 and up For more information, check out our Facebook Page: Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Omaha

nts

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OMAHA READER crop ad to 4.9 X 4.9

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B L U E S ,

HOODOO is a weekly column focusing on blues, roots, Americana and occasional other music styles with an

3 hours with a figure model, drinks, contests, and good company.

Bring your art supplies and prepare to be blown away!

emphasis on live music performances. Hoodoo columnist B.J. Huchtemann is a Reader senior contributing writer and veteran music journalist who has covered the local music scene for nearly 20 years. Follow her blog at hoodoorootsblues.blogspot.com.

MARCH 21 • ORPHEUM THEATER Buy tickets at Ticket Omaha Box Office-13th & Douglas St.

By Phone: 402-345-0606 • Online: www.ticketomaha.com

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JIMGAFFIGAN.COM | THE READER |

ON SALE THURSDAY DEC. 1 AT 10AM!

DEC. 1 - 7, 2011

27

livemusiccalendar

2234 South 13th Street Omaha, NE 68108 346 - 9802 www.sokolundground.com

SEND CALENDAR INFORMATION — including addresses, dates, times, costs and phone numbers — to The Reader’s calendar editor. Mail to or drop off information at P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107; email to listings@thereader.com; fax to (402) 341.6967.

Deadline is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to issue date.

thursday 1

DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS, (Blues) 5:30 pm, 21st Saloon,

$8.

fri

READER RECOMMENDS

CHUCK RAGAN, THE BOTTLETOPS, SCRATCH HOWL,

VIDEO RANGER, (Rock) 9 pm, Duffy’s Tavern.

LIGHTS ON DUNDEE: DUNDEE BANK OPEN HOUSE W/ 4 STRINGS OF SWING, (Jazz) 4 pm, Dundee Bank,

FREE. LEGRAND & CO, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Firewater Grille, FREE. BLIND DOG FULTON, (Blues) 9:30 pm, Gator O’Malley’s,

FREE. TONIC SOL-FA HOLIDAY CONCERT, 7:30 pm, Holland

Performing Arts Center, $31-$37.

LOOM WEAVES THE BALKANS, (DJ/Electronic) 9 pm,

House Of Loom, $5.

TIM JAVORSKY, (Jazz) 6 pm, Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen.

HILLS LIKE WHITE ELEPHANTS, HEMINGWAYS LION,

LIGHT THE FUSE, (Rock) 9 pm, Knickerbockers.

CHRIS SAUB, (Folk/Singer-Songwriter) 9 pm, Myth Martini

Bar, FREE. BOSS PHILLY, (Cover Band) 6:30 pm, OzoNE Lounge at

Anthony’s Steakhouse, FREE. BLUE SIMON, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Shamrock’s, FREE. THURSDAY NIGHT ACOUSTIC W/ JR HOSS, 9 pm, Two Fine

Irishmen, FREE. THE QUEERS, KNOCKOUT, NORTH OF GRAND, CORDIAL SPEW, DSM5, (Rock/Punk) 8:30 pm, Waiting Room,

Advance: $10; DOS: $13.

THE NEGATIVES, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Whiskey Roadhouse

(Horseshoe Casino), FREE. NO JUSTICE, (Rock) 9 pm, Whiskey Tango, $8.

ACADEMY OF ROCK, (Rock) 6 pm, Zoo Bar, $4.

SCOTT HOLT, (Blues) 9 pm, Zoo Bar, $6.

What DWells Within 12/02/2011 CD Release PaRty W/ WoRDs like DaggeRs, ties, at WaR With giants, in seaRCh of atlantis, VeRenDus, anD foR the emPiRe shoW @ 6:00 mon 12/05/2011

auDitoRium BlaCk Veil BRiDes anD asking alexanDRia shoW @ 7:00

stRaight outta 12/10/2011 JunioR high W/ take me to Vegas, the minnahoonies, the shiDiots, anD thRough the stone shoW @ 8:00 sat

sun 12/18/2011

sat 12/19/2011

afton PResents: kayo, husalot, hisPRaise, fonDue & guests shoW @ 6:30 the BiRthDay massaCRe W/ tBa shoW @ 8:00

The Metropolitan Opera returns to KVNO, Saturday at Noon.

Handel’s Rodelinda

WWW.KVNO.ORG

28

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

FRIDAY 2

GROOVE PUPPET, (Cover Band) 9:30 pm, Arena Bar & Grill,

FREE. HI-FI HANGOVER, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Brewsky’s Park

Drive, FREE. VITAL SIGNS, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Chrome Lounge.

DR. JOHN WALKER, (Blues) 8 pm, Crescent Moon Coffee,

FREE. 4 STRINGS OF SWING, (Jazz) 7 pm, Espana, FREE. MF’N AND THE BAD SNEAKERS, (Cover Band) 9 pm,

Firewater Grille, FREE. CYMBOLTON, (Reggae/Island) 9:30 pm, Gator O’Malley’s,

$5, includes free drink ticket.

OMAHA FIRST FRIDAY WRAP PARTY W/ LIVE ART FROM

GERARD PEFUNG, (Art Opening/Art Shows/DJ/

Electronic) 9 pm, House Of Loom, FREE. FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB W/ LOOM LIVE ALL-STARS,

(Jazz) 5 pm, House Of Loom, $5.

SARABANDE, (Jazz) 6 pm, Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen.

UNDER SHALLOW GROUND, CYNGE, SECTION 8, BEAVER DAMAGE, (Rock/Metal) 9 pm, Knickerbockers.

THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS TOUR W/ MATTHEW WEST, 7

pm, Lincoln Berean Church, $20-$50.

JAZZAFTER5, (Jazz) 5 pm, Love’s Jazz & Art Center.

HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, SCREAMING FOR SILENCE,

JIMMY HOOLIGAN, (Rock/Hip-Hop/Rap) 8 pm,

MidAmerica Center, $10-$20.

READER RECOMMENDS

DIRTY FLUORESCENTS, COMME REEL, THE

BUTCHERS, BEN BRODIN, MELISSA DUNDIS, (Rock)

9:30 pm, O’Leaver’s Pub, $5.

FINEST HOUR, (Cover Band) 9 pm, OzoNE Lounge at

Anthony’s Steakhouse, FREE. MOONJUICE, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Red9.

| THE READER |

music listings

LIGHT UP FOR CHRIST W/ JACI VELASQUEZ, (Pop) 7:30

pm, Rococo Theater, $30.

ROCK PAPER DYNAMITE, VOODOO METHOD, HOOKSHOT,

(Rock) 9 pm, Shamrock’s, FREE. THE FLING, YUKON BLONDE, (Rock) 9 pm, Slowdown,

Advance: $8; DOS: $10.

WHAT DWELLS WITHIN, IN SEARCH OF ATLANTIS, AT

WAR WITH GIANTS, WORDS LIKE DAGGERS,

VERENDUS, (Rock) 6:30 pm, Sokol Hall & Auditorium,

$8.

KELSEY NORD, TARA VAUGHAN, (Folk/Singer-Songwriter)

9 pm, Stir Live & Loud, $5.

FAREWELL TO FREEWAY, BRIGHTER THAN A THOUSAND SUNS, WHITE WIVES, KOJI, THE EVIL MEN DO,

EASTWOOD, (Rock/Punk) 7 pm, The Commons,

Advance: $10; DOS: $13.

BRAD CORDLE BAND, (Blues) 8 pm, The Glo Lounge.

DECKER, (Cover Band) 8:30 pm, The Grove.

FAREWALL TO FREEWAY, BRIGHTER THAN A THOUSAND SUNS, GRIMER, (Rock) 9 pm, The Sandbox.

THE CONFIDENTIALS, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Two Fine

Irishmen, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

9TH ANNUAL LASH LARUE TOY DRIVE W/ THE FILTER

KINGS, THE MERCURYS, BLACK TOP RAMBLERS,

(Rock/Blues) 9 pm, Waiting Room, $10 or a new un

wrapped toy of equal value.

5 SIMPLE FOOLS, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Whiskey Roadhouse

(Horseshoe Casino), FREE. THE GOOD FOOT, SON OF 76, (Blues) 9 pm, Zoo Bar, $8.

SATURDAY 3

CAPTAIN OBVIOUS, (Cover Band) 9:30 pm, Arena, FREE. THE MARIES, THE CARDS, ANDREW BAILIE, (Folk/

Singer-Songwriter) 9 pm, Barley Street Tavern, $5.

THE PENROSE STAIRS, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Chrome

Lounge.

THE DIRTY LOW DOGS, (Folk/Singer-Songwriter/Blues) 8

pm, Crescent Moon Coffee, FREE. 4 STRINGS OF SWING, (Jazz) 7 pm, Espana, FREE. 5 SIMPLE FOOLS, (Cover Band) 9:30 pm, Gator O’Malley’s,

$5, includes free drink ticket.

CHRIS BOTTI, (Jazz) 8 pm, Holland Center, $25.

AUDIBLY NUTRITRIOUS W/ NATER SMITH, DOJOROK,

(DJ/Electronic) 10 pm, House Of Loom, FREE. DOUBLE CLUTCH, FIZZ, BRAKE MAIDEN, (Rock) 9 pm,

Knickerbockers.

ACADEMY OF ROCK, (Rock) 6 pm, Knickerbockers.

THE LABELS, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Loose Moose.

BRANDON MCHOSE, ELIZABETH DAVIS, AMY SCHMIDT,

(Folk/Singer-Songwriter) 8 pm, Louis Bar and Grill, $5.

ELIZABETHAN FEAST W/ CHAMBER SINGERS, RECORDER

CONSORT, HERALD TRUMPETS AND THE THEATRE

PLAYERS, 6 pm, Nebraska Wesleyan, $17.

THE CONFIDENTIALS, (Cover Band) 9 pm, OzoNE Lounge

at Anthony’s Steakhouse, FREE. CHRIS PARLIMENT, ZACH CHRISTENSEN, ROB HOCKNEY,

(Singer-Songwriter) 8:30 pm, Pizza Shoppe Collective,

$10.

WICKED, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Shamrock’s, FREE. DEAD SPEAK, THE CLINCHER, THE OTHER GUYS, (Rock)

9 pm, Stir Live & Loud, $5.

DECKER, (Cover Band) 8:30 pm, The Grove.

GET LOST, WE ARE STARKIDS, CHEAP FURS, PONYBABY

& VAMPIREBOI, ADULT FILMS, (Punk/Rock) 11 p.m.,

The Sandbox.

READER RECOMMENDS

HEAR NEBRASKA COMP RELEASE W/ DIGITAL LEATHER, THE WAGON BLASTERS, DOMESTICA, DIM LIGHT,

MASSES, (Rock) 9 pm, The Sydney, $5.

MOON JUICE, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. AGAINST THE ARTIFICIAL, IGNITE THE SKY, CURSED BY

MOONLIGHT, ELLMATIQ P-TRO, NOIZEWAVE, (Rock/

Metal/Hip-Hop/Rap) 8 pm, Waiting Room, $5.

WICKED FUN, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Whiskey Roadhouse

(Horseshoe Casino), FREE. SON DEL LLANO, (Blues) 9 pm, Zoo Bar, $6.

SUNDAY 4

READER RECOMMENDS MICHAEL BURKS, BRAD CORDLE BAND, CHRISTY ROSSITER, 112 NORTH DUCK, (Blues) 2 pm, 21st

Saloon, $10.

SUNDAY GOLD W/ GREG K, (DJ) 9 pm, Bar 415, FREE. THE CURLY MARTIN TRIO SUNDAY JAZZ JAMS, (Jazz) 4

pm, Doc’s Legacy Lounge, $3.

THE MACHETE ARCHIVE, THE SET, (Rock) 9 pm, Duffy’s

Tavern.

FIRST CUT INDUSTRY PARTY W/ BRENT CRAMPTON, (DJ/

Electronic) 9 pm, Durham Western Heritage Museum,

FREE. SYMPHONIC BAND CONCERT, (Classical) 3 pm, O’Donnell

Auditorium, FREE. TRAMPLED BY TURTLES, WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE,

(Folk/Singer-Songwriter) 9 pm, Waiting Room, $15.

AUDITION NIGHT, (Cover Band) 7 pm, Whiskey Roadhouse

(Horseshoe Casino), FREE. ROCK ROSE, SON OF 76, ELI MARDOCK, (Blues) 6 pm,

Zoo Bar, $5.

MONDAY 5

SAVIOURS, RAMMING SPEED, NASTY ASSHOLE 2,

WOODEN COAT, (Rock) 8 pm, Bourbon Theater, $7.

GOSPEL CHOIR CONCERT, 7:30 pm, Creighton University

Lied Center.

MIKE GURCIULLO AND HIS LAS VEGAS LAB BAND, (Jazz)

6:30 pm, OzoNE Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse,

FREE. CHRIST BATHGATE, MATT JONES, CYMBAL RUSH, (Folk/

Singer-Songwriter) 9 pm, Slowdown, $8.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, (Rock) 6 pm,

Sokol Hall & Auditorium, $25.

THE ZOO BAR HOUSE BAND, (Blues) 7 pm, Zoo Bar, $3.

TUESDAY 6

JAZZ ENSEMBLE CONCERT, (Jazz) 7:30 pm, Creighton

University Lied Center.

THUNDER ON THE PLAINS CELTIC JAM SESSION, (Folk/

Singer-Songwriter) 7 pm, Crescent Moon Coffee,

FREE. JR HOSS, (Folk/Singer-Songwriter) 6:30 pm, OzoNE

Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, FREE. PRIL JAM, (Rock) 6:30 pm, Rookies Bar & Grill, FREE. THE JAZZOCRACY, (Jazz) 6 pm, Zoo Bar, FREE.

Wednesday 7

SARAH PRAY, THOMAS KIVI, SMITH’S CLOUD, (Rock) 9

pm, Barley Street Tavern, $5.

THE READY SET, (Rock) 6 pm, Bourbon Theater, Advance:

$15; DOS: $17.

UNIVERSE CONTEST, THE RENFIELDS, THE FAVORS,

(Rock) 9 pm, Duffy’s Tavern.

USAF HEARTLAND OF AMERICA BAND: “SILVER &

GOLD”, (Classical) 7:30 pm, Holland Performing Arts

Center.

READER RECOMMENDS

SWEET SOUL MUSIC WITH DOLLAR BILL, (DJ/Electronic)

9 pm, House Of Loom, FREE. FEEL NEVER REAL, (Rock) 9 pm, Knickerbockers.

THE GREAT IMPOSTERS, (Cover Band) 6:30 pm, OzoNE

Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, FREE. KRIS LAGER AND FRIENDS, (Rock) 8 pm, Pizza Shoppe

Collective, $5.

JARON & THE LONG ROAD TO LOVE, (Country) 9 pm,

Whiskey Tango, $8.

TIME HAMMER, DOG, SPUTNIK KAPUTNIK, THE CHERRY

MASHERS, (Rock) 9:30 pm, Zoo Bar, $5.

JOHN PRIMER, (Folk/Singer-Songwriter) 6 pm, Zoo Bar,

$10.

VENUES Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Rd., Council Bluffs, ameristar.com Arena Bar & Grill, 3809 N. 90th St., 571.2310, arenaomaha.com BarFly, 707 N. 114th St., 504.4811 Barley Street Tavern, 2735 N. 62nd St., 554.5834, barleystreet.com Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., Lincoln, 730.5695 Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3453, myspace.com/ duffystavern The Hideout, 302 S. 72nd St. Knickerbocker’s, 901 O St., Lincoln, 476.6865, knickerbockers.net LIV Lounge, 2279 S. 67th St. livlounge.com Louis Bar and Grill, 5702 NW Radial Hwy., 551.5993 McKenna’s Blues, Booze & BBQ, 7425 Pacific St., 393.7427, mckennasbbq.com New Lift Lounge, 4737 S. 96th St., 339.7170 O’Leaver’s Pub, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Rd., 556.1238, myspace. com/oleaverspub

Ozone Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, 72nd and F, 331.7575, ozoneclubomaha.com.

Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 556.9090, pscollective.com Qwest, 455 N. 10th St., qwestcenteromaha.com Side Door, 3530 Leavenworth St., 504.3444.

Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., 345.7569, theslowdown.com Sokol Hall, 2234 S. 13th St., 346.9802, sokolundergound.com The Sydney, 5918 Maple St., 932.9262, thesydneybenson.com Stir, 1 Harrahs Blvd., Council Bluffs, harrahs.com Venue 162, 162 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, 712.256.7768, myspace.com/venue162 Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge.com Whiskey Roadhouse, Horseshoe Casino, 2701 32nd Ave., Council Bluffs, whiskeyroadhouse.com Your Mom’s Downtown Bar, 1512 Howard St., 345.0180 Zoo Bar, 136 N.14th St., Lincoln, zoobar.com

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music listings

| THE READER |

DEC. 1 - 7, 2011

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Sunday, Dec. 4 The 21st Saloon 4737 S. 96th St. $10 cover

Donations of new unwrapped toys appreciated Michael Burks 5 p.m.

Brad Cordle Blues Band 3:45 p.m.

Christy Rossitter & 112 N. Duck 2:30 p.m.

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E D I T E D

The Descendants is a family affair

A

THE DESCENDANTS

by Ryan Syrek

REPORTCARD

s far as settings go, Hawaii is about as far from the Omaha metro area as can be imagined. So in that sense, writer/director Alexander Payne has moved on. That said, his shuffle from America’s contiguous confines marks only a radical departure in terms of geography, as The Descendants is the exact type of muted semidrama we’ve come to expect. Chock full of quirky quiet moments and populated by ever-so-modestly exaggerated characters, Payne likely didn’t add to his bag of tricks because he simply didn’t need to.

The shift of landscape was not merely an attempt to escape Nebraska’s fickle weather patterns, as Hawaii herself is almost a character and advances the plot more than most. Matt King (George Clooney) is the head of a trust that has owned a vast tract of virgin Hawaiian ground for nearly two centuries. Due to legal restrictions, the time has come to at least consider selling out, paving paradise to put up a parking lot and a number of resorts. But just as his big deal is Another Earth (ON DVD) Somewhat-effective indie drama that squanders an Earth-sized premise.

approaching, Matt’s wife Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie) has a boating accident that leaves her comatose. How Payne and co-writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash are able to squeeze comedy from events that sound like melodramatic fodder is anyone’s guess.

Especially when considering the revelation made by Matt’s rebellious teenage daughter, Alexandra (Shailene Woodley): Elizabeth was doing the horizontal hula with real estate agent Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard). With his world imploding, Matt assembles an entourage consisting of his youngest

C+

READER RECOMMENDS

Bellflower (ON DVD) D First-time writer/director Evan Glodell will have to try harder.

J. Edgar C+ Eastwood and DiCaprio investigate America’s most infamous investigator.

Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 14th & Mike Fahey Street (formerly Webster Street) More info & showtimes 402.933.0259 · filmstreams.org Facebook & Twitter: @filmstreams

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (ON DVD) BAll mostly average things must come to an end...

Super 8 (ON DVD) A time capsule full of Spielberg-ian awesomeness.

A

Take Shelter Brace yourselves for this quiet storm.

A-

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas If you’re open to thirds of this duo, you’ll have some fun

C-

daughter, Scottie (Amara Miller), Alexandra and Alexandra’s surfer-dude boyfriend, Sid (Nick Krause), in order to find the man who cuckolded him and gain some measure of closure. Essentially, the film somehow becomes a quasi-road movie set in a place where there really aren’t many roads.

To take nothing away from what is likely an excellent novel, written by Kaui Hart Hemmings, the weakest moments in The Descendents are unquestionably plot-derived. The land sale subplot is dry and awkward; it leaps from behind bushes whenever a contrivance is needed before sulking away.

But it’s a minor hindrance, as Payne and company wisely devote themselves to the business of family and not the family business.

Yes, Clooney is exceptional as advertised, smudging the ever-present twinkle in his eyes to lip-quivering effect. In weaker hands, his character’s tired flaw—the “dad who works too much”—would have been an unbearable albatross. But it is not Clooney who steals the show, as Woodley’s sass-mouthed rebel strikes a glorious balance of doe-eyed innocence and tough-as-nails resilience. It’s the kind of performance Payne has been finding in lesser-known actors for years. Best of all is how the director gives each of his players, however minor the role, a chance to sizzle. For example, there is a simple scene between Clooney and Krause that is as close to perfect as four minutes in a movie can possibly be.

Watching this new three-legged family finally stand is a moving, sometimes hilarious thing. And although the content may be slight on significance, it is loaded with emotional gravity. It may be Payne’s first full flick in nearly seven years, but The Descendants sure makes it feel like he never left. ,

GRADE: A-

B Y

R Y A N

S Y R E K

■ Aksarben Cinema (aksarbencinema. com) must want to join Dundee Theatre (dundeetheatre.com) on the nice list this year, as the theater has also added Santa’s Cool Holiday Festival to their lineup for Dec. 15-18. Chock full of quirky goodness, including the hallucinatory holiday cookie that is Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, this exciting blend of merriment and puzzlement is sure to become an annual ritual more fun than hanging stockings and less fun than chugging near-expired eggnog.

■ Actions speak louder than words, but numbers speak louder than verbs. So here’s some eye-popping stats provided by a recent study published by USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Women bought more than 50% of domestic movie tickets in 2009, but represented only 32.8% of speaking roles in those movies. Yipes.

Even worse, women made up only 21.6% of producers, 13.5% of writers and an astounding 3.9% of the directors. The study is jampacked full of depressing info like that, all of which begs the question: when will Hollywood knock it the hell off?

■ Technically, this is more TV news than movie news, but I’m invoking an executive order that gives me jurisdiction over all Muppet-related information. The Jim Henson Company has just sold NBC a new human/puppet show called “The New Nabors.” It’s a single-camera comedy about a human family who gets puppet neighbors. This in no way takes the sting and shame away from NBC’s decision to bench the best show on television, “Community,” at midseason, but it is a nice first attempt an apology. Now, put these shows on back-to-back, and all is forgiven.

—Ryan Syrek

CUTTINGROOM

Coma Cuckold

film

Cutting Room provides breaking local and national movie news … complete with added sarcasm. Send any relevant information to film@ thereader.com. Check out Ryan on Movieha!, a weekly half-hour movie podcast (movieha.libsyn.com/rss), catch him on the radio on CD 105.9 (cd1059.com) on Fridays at around 7:30 a.m. and on KVNO 90.7 (kvno.org) at 8:30 a.m. on Fridays and follow him on Twitter (twitter. com/thereaderfilm).

This Week The Descendants First-Run (R) Now showing exclusively at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater!

Silents in Concert The Endless Summer 1966 with live musical accompaniment

by Matteah Baim

More info & showtimes at filmstreams.org.

One Night Only: Thursday, December 1, 7pm

Directed by Alexander Payne.

Family & Children’s Series The Polar Express 2004 Directed by Robert Zemeckis.

Dec 3 - Dec 15 (Saturdays, Sundays, Thursdays)

The Met: Live in HD Rodelinda Handel Live: Saturday, December 3, 11:30am* Encore: Wednesday, December 7, 6pm *A Prelude Talk by Opera Omaha will begin at 10:30am on Sat, Dec. 3.

film

Silents in Concert People on Sunday 1930 with live musical accompaniment

by Nick White (Tilly and the Wall) & Friends One Night Only: Tuesday, December 6, 7pm

Student Night!

All shows FREE for full-time students with valid school ID. Monday, December 5

| THE READER |

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| THE READER |

planetpower w ee k l y

H

h oroscopes

appy December. Mercury is retrograde ’til after the 13th. Try not to sign or commit to anything, and try to keep your sense of humor ’til after then.

That’s my/our Zen ’til we meet again… Your friend, MOJOPO. —MOJOPOPlanetPower.com i SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.21) Philosophers, wanderers, panhandlers, world travelers, mysteries of the universe unravellers.

Teachers, disseminators, composers, navigators, emancipators, ramblers, gamblers. Prophets and loss, oblivious to the cost. Walt Disney, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Bugs Bunny, Jane Fonda. Renew, research and review your past while holding onto your tongue ’til after Mercury retrograde’s last gasp is done, on December 13th. We suffer more from what comes out of our mouths than what goes into ’em. Listen/ hear what I say — or learn the hard way… j CAPRICORN (12.22-1.20) Your conservative strength bears positive fruit — in time. Low profile for awhile. Yoga time. A month from now it’s your world. Meditate privately ’til then.

Stand on your head for 5 minutes every day (and I will too) as your/our Zen. Let’s turn our worlds upside down and wait for the sound of “many waters.” (Is that Muddy’s brother? No, that was Otis Spann.) k AQUARIUS (1.21-2.19) The Full Moon on December 10th has you kicking it into gear.

Ladies and gentlemen, warm your engines.

HaaRRRuummmm… HaaRRRRRrrrmmmm…

Wear your red (aura) to get ahead. Where do you want to dwell/delve and what can/do you expect on the first day of spring, 2012? l PISCES (2.20-3.20) The Moon’s in Pisces ’til Saturday night. Use it before you lose it and “fall” asleep for the rest of the winter.

Hey! I promise you! Isn’t it better to hop into a nice, fuzzy, already-warmed-up bed on an (brrrrrrrrrr) icy cold Nebraska night? And, of course, you know what happens to people who don’t/won’t keep their promises? People don’t/ won’t keep their promises to you. Sleep tight. a ARIES (3.21-4.20) On Sunday and Monday do your thing, and see what the Moon in your sign can/shall/will bring.

b y

mo j opo

b TAURUS (4.21-5.20) Right now, your ruler Venus is conjuncting Pluto at 6 degrees Capricorn. That could imply a relationship with an older person (or someone born in early January) who regenerates your life — maybe a sexy Scorpio with lots of money? Now I’ve got your attention! Whoops, there it goes… What were we talkin’ ’bout? Oh yeah, attention. I know; you’re too poor to pay attention… c GEMINI (5.21-6.21) Hide ’til the Full Moon in your sign on December 10th. A mouthy Sagittarian (are there any other kind?) “partner”/ opponent is talkin’ trash ’bout chew, and it’s like their world… d CANCER (6.227.22) The confusion is at your work and regards your health, your thighs, your highs, your lows, your freedom — and how the MOJO knows. e LEO (7.23-8.22) The confusion works for you — at least for the next 2 weeks. I gotta feelin’ you haven’t got your sleigh full of enough Christmas gear/cheer to play Santa again this year. (How does the MOJO know?) So, start now instead, with some good deeds for a friend. Maybe pay off some old debts — one at a time. Hey, that reminds me…

You got that $50 of mine yet? f VIRGO (8.23-9.22) Confusion comes from your home center, and they’ve got all the cards.

You’ve got no way out. If you try to leave ’em alone, they’ll accuse you of deserting them in their “hour of need.” If you stick around, you’ll accrue the blame. It’s a loss/loss loop and you can’t win the game. You’ve got to break the pattern these next two weeks, or you’ll go insane.

It’s/that’s your only way out. g LIBRA (9.23-10.22) Please read Taurus.

With you, it’s your brothers and sisters — your everyday world. It’s money at/from home.

Perhaps a cottage industry to get you through the recession on your own? The money rolls in around Christmas. h SCORPIO (10.23-11.22) Lost, but not forgotten… You’re in the Twilight Zone, the outer limits of a land unknown. Don’t scream and shout. You chose the route. Here comes more money. That, hard work and regenerative yoga gets you through the winter — once again. Divinity must love mystics; She made so few of them. They are as rare as diamonds… ,

planet power

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newsoftheweird

t h e wo r l d g o n e f r e a k y b y c h u c k s h e p h e r d w i t h i l lu s t r at i o n s b y t o m b r i s c o e

Ouchie

E

nterprising reporters get stories by earning the trust of their sources, which Simon Eroro of the Post-Courier (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) obviously did. At a banquet in November, the News Limited (Rupert Murdoch’s empire) awarded Eroro its “Scoop of the Year” honor for reporting on militant tribal fighters of the Free West Papua movement -- a scoop he had to earn by agreeing to undergo a ritual circumcision, with bamboo sticks, to prove his sincerity.

(Some of the rebels still wear penis gourds whose size varies with the status of the wearer.)

The Litigious Society An Illinois appeals court finally threw out a lawsuit in August, but not before the t w o year-long battle had created a foot-high pile of legal filings on whether two “children” (now ages 23 and 20) could sue their mother for bad parenting while they were growing up. Among the claims were mom’s failure to send birthday cards or “care” packages during the kids’ college years and calling her daughter at midnight to ask that she return home from a party (and once failing to take the girl to a car show).

Todd Remis, an unemployed stock-market research analyst, filed a lawsuit in 2009 against the photographer of his 2003 wedding, citing breach of contract because the 400 shots taken during the ceremony failed to cover several key moments, such as the “last dance.” A November 2011 New York Times report pointed out that Remis is demanding not just the return of his $4,100, but for the photographer to pay for re-creating the missing scenes by covering travel expenses for all 40 guests to reconvene. (Remis and his wife have divorced; she has returned to her native Latvia, and Remis does not even know how to contact her.)

Consumer Rights: (1) Jonathan Rothstein of Encino, Calif., filed a lawsuit in September against Procter & Gamble for selling its Crest toothpaste in

“Neat Squeeze” packages, which Rothstein said make it impossible to access the last 20 percent of the contents, thus forcing consumers to buy more toothpaste prematurely. (He wants Procter & Gamble to return 90 cents to everyone who bought Neat Squeeze packages.) (2) Sarah Deming of Keego Harbor, Mich., filed a lawsuit in September against the distributor of the movie “Drive” (starring Ryan Gosling) because its trailers promised fast-driving scenes (like those in the “Fast and Furious” series), but delivered mostly just drama.

Fine Points of the Law (1) A recent vicious, unprovoked attack in Toronto by Sammy the cat on Molly the black Labrador (bloodying Molly’s ear, paws and eye) left Molly’s owner without recourse to Ontario’s or Toronto’s “dangerous pet” laws. The owner told the Toronto Star in November that, apparently, only dangerous dogs are covered. (2) Maya the cat was central to a recent contentious British immigration case when a judge seemed to favor residence for a Bolivian national because of Maya. The judge had concluded that the Bolivian man and his British partner had established a close-knit “family” relationship because of the need to care for Maya.

Ironies Unclear on the Concept: (1) Licensed Texas physician Akili Graham, 34, who gives paid motivational speeches on healthy living (“How to Deal With Stress”), was arrested in October in Houston and accused as the front man for four “pain clinics” that allegedly dispense prescription drugs illegally. (2) A chief child-abuse investigator for the Catholic Church in Britain, Christopher Jarvis, 49, was sentenced in October following his guilty plea to possession of over 4,000 child-sex images on his computer. Jarvis had been hired in 2002 to protect against pedophiles’ access to church groups.

Why People Love Washington: U.S. Rep. Tom Graves of Georgia told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in August that he and a partner had “settled” the lawsuit brought by the Bartow County Bank for fail-

8

thursdays

JOSLYN

AT

Late ‘til

Joslyn’s open until 8 pm every thursday! visit www.joslyn.org for programming information.

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| THE READER |

weird news

COPYRIGHT 2011 CHUCK SHEPHERD. Visit Chuck Shepherd daily at NewsoftheWeird.blogspot.com or NewsoftheWeird.com. Send Weird News to WeirdNewsTips@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, FL 33679. Illustrations by Tom Briscoe (smallworldcomics.com).

ing to repay a $2.2 million loan they had taken out in 2007. Graves has been a staunch advocate for governmental fiscal austerity and voted against raising the federal debt-ceiling in August. However, he had balked at repaying the $2.2 million (though he had signed a personal guarantee) because, he said, the bank should have known when it made the loan that Graves would be unable to pay it back.

Violinist Martin Stoner, 60, who lost his job after 25 years and who is suing the New York City Ballet for age discrimination, petitioned federal judge Robert Patterson to disqualify himself from the case because he is too old (88) and, according to Stoner, has vision and hearing problems.

Compelling Explanations (1) Management consultant Graham Gibbons, 42, was on trial in Cardiff, Wales, at press time, charged with making a clandestine video of himself and his then-girlfriend in bed. Gibbons denied being a pervert, insisting that he made the video to analyze, for “efficiency,” the “time and motion” of his “performance,” as he might do for corporate clients.

(Despite his alleged improved lovemaking, the girlfriend broke up with him.) (2) West Virginia roadkillcooking activist David Cain told Bloomberg News in October that he generally supported Volvo’s new driver-safety technology that warns of objects ahead in the road. Cain pointed out that it was just a warning, that the driver “could still choose to run over something that’s good for eating.”

People With Issues In November, Tommy Joe Kelly, unsuccessfully acting as his own lawyer, was convicted of slashing a stranger’s tire by an Austin, Texas, jury, despite his explanation. “OK, I’m going to tell you the truth on this one,” he said from the witness stand. “It doesn’t sound right, but it is. I ... had hemorrhoids at that time, super duper bad.” (There have been 391 tire slashings in Kelly’s neighborhood over the last four years, but he was charged with only one count, and sentenced to 10 years in jail.)

CREIGHTON Paint the town blue!

Least Competent Criminals Robbers Easily Subdued: (1) Dale Foughty, 56, was charged with robbing a convenience store in Jacksonville, N.C., in October, despite attempting to intimidate the clerk by dressing as Spiderman. However, the clerk poked Foughty in the stomach with a broom, sending him away empty-handed. (2) Cody Smith, 18, was charged with snatching a woman’s purse in Johnson City, Tenn., in November.

The victim chased Smith into nearby shrubbery, entangling him long enough for her to recover the purse. (3) Two men, attempting a robbery of the Ace Smoke Shop in Altadena, Calif., in July, fled after grabbing only part of the store’s cash.

They were frightened off by the manager’s barking Chihuahua.

Women’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

• Sun., Dec. 4 @ 1:35 p.m.

Creighton vs. Notre Dame • Sun., Dec. 4 @ 1:05 p.m.

Creighton vs. Bowling Green

• Sun., Dec. 4 @ 5:05 p.m.

Creighton vs. Nebraska • Sat., Dec. 17 @ 7:05 p.m.

Creighton vs. Houston Baptist

Women’s home basketball games are played at D.J. Sokol Arena inside the Ryan Athletic Center (19th & Burt Street) Men’s home basketball games are played at CenturyLink Center Omaha (N. 10th Street)

Tickets Call (402) 280-JAYS

www.GoCreighton.com

Recurring Themes The tactic of “patience” is usually employed when police believe that a suspect has ingested drugs for smuggling, i.e., nature will take its course, and the drugs will appear in the toilet sooner or later. On Oct. 12, Nigerian comic actor Babatunde Omidina (known as “Baba Suwe”) was detained before a flight at the Lagos airport because authorities suspected that he had ingested drugs to smuggle to Paris. Omadina denied the charge, but police locked him up and began monitoring his bowel movements. On Nov. 4, Omadina was released without charges following 25 “evidence”free movements.

News of the Weird Classic (March 2008) The divorce of Anton Popazov and his wife, Nataliya, is about to go through (in 2008), but the couple are still contractually committed to the Moscow State Circus, where their act includes Nataliya’s shooting an apple off of Anton’s head with a crossbow. The Times of London asked Anton during a show in Sheffield, England, in February whether he was afraid. “I still trust her because Nataliya is very professional,” he said. “(T)he show must go on.” ,

weird news

| THE READER |

DEC. 1 - 7, 2011

35

sports

Such Great Heights Jays soar into NCAA quarterfinals

average (.019), save percentage (.933) and shutout percentage (.810). Ten of Creighton’s 11 starters earned conference awards, led by Brian Holt (MVC Goalkeeper of the Year), Andrew Duran (MVC

by Brandon Vogel Defender of the Year), and Ethan Finlay (MVC omething special has happened at Morri- Player of the Year). Finlay became the first player son Stadium this fall. Back when summer in Creighton history to win that award twice. The was ending the Creighton men’s soccer coaches also picked up Staff of the Year honors in the MVC as well. team was expected to be very good.

But through all the awards and accolades, SatNow with winter beginning – and the Jays one win away from the program’s fourth appearance in urday’s match is the best testament to what Creighthe College Cup – Creighton might be considerably ton has achieved in year one under Bolowich. The game is the first NCAA quarterfinal Creighton better than “very good.” Creighton might be great.

That’s what we’ll find out Saturday afternoon has ever hosted and only the second match to be at Morrison Stadium when the second-seeded Jays played at Morrison Stadium in December. There was only a sliver of room host No. 7 South Florida with a Cu’s Ethan Finlay for improvement based trip to college soccer’s version of on what Creighton soccer the Final Four on the line. It is had accomplished in the likely the biggest home game in past and this year’s squad program history. found it.

Creighton has reached these Now the Jays get to heights before, making the Colplay the biggest game lege Cup in 1996 and 2000 and of their season at home going all the way to the chamwhere they have won 14 pionship game in 2002. They’ve straight games. Since reached the quarterfinals of the opening in 2003, CreighNCAA tournament five times in ton is 9-1-0 in NCAA tourthe past 11 years but what makes nament games at Morthis run different is that it’s haprison Stadium and 19-2-1 pening right here in Omaha. against top 25 teams. USF The Jays’ previous College enters the game ranked Cup teams all had to go on the road at some point to reach the national semifi- No. 12 and fresh off an upset of No. 1 New Mexico.

“It’s another game in the process,” Bolowich nals. The 1996 team went on a remarkable road run, beating three ranked teams before losing out said following Creighton’s 2-1 third round win over to eventual national champion St. John’s. The 2000 UC-Santa Barbara last week. “We’re alive and presquad did even better, winning four straight against paring and training for the upcoming game. We ranked teams before Connecticut stopped them in have to again find a way to survive and advance.”

Survive and advance. It doesn’t seem like the the national title game. In 2002, Creighton hosted the opening round game at home but finished with strategy of a team with Creighton’s track record this season but Bolowich has been here before. He three road games.

First-year coach Elmar Bolowich was brought knows how thin the margin for error is when chasin to help Creighton improve that already storied ing a national title. He won one with North Carolina soccer tradition. He shocked the soccer community in 2001 and now he’s in the running for another.

This run originated in Omaha. It’s a new home last spring when he left a North Carolina program that had been to three straight College Cups for a for Bolowich but he doesn’t have to leave home to school that hadn’t been to one in nine years. The get there and that’s important.

Special things have been happening at MorriTarheel team he left behind earned the No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament. The Bluejay team he took son Stadium all season but soccer frequently flies over earned the No. 2 seed on the strength of one under radar in football-mad Nebraska.

That’s the best thing about Saturday’s match: of the most dominating regular seasons in program There’s still time to get on the bandwagon. , history.

Creighton went 18-2-0 on their way to winning the Missouri Valley Conference “double,” tak- Creighton takes on South Florida in the NCAA tournaing home both the regular season and conference ment Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. at Morrison Stadium, tournament titles. The Jays allowed only four goals 17th and Cass. Tickets and live streaming video of the all season and lead the country in goals against match are available at gocreighton.com.

S

Michael and Petey’s weekly Husker wrap-up will return in next week’s issue.

36

dec. 1 - 7, 2011

| THE READER |

sports

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dec. 1 - 7, 2011

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