Buzz Magazine: June 24, 2004 by Buzz Magazine

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SCREW YOU TO WHOEVER ROBBED ME ON MY BIRTHDAY | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 buzz

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THANKS | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 buzz

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buzz JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | I WANT TO SHRINKWRAP SOMETHING

TOP OF THE NINTH

insidebuzz

BY MARISSA MONSON | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Story

ollapalooza has been cancelled. In a shocking post on the festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main Web site, Perry Farrell proclaimed his deep sadness, along with the other bands and employees who had planned the festival. In his message, he stated the reasons for the cancellation as poor ticket sales, more specifically the â&#x20AC;&#x153;the general health of the touring industry across all musical genres.â&#x20AC;? The birth of Lollapalooza in 1991 boasted acts like Janeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Addiction, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Violent Femmes, Ice-T and Nine Inch Nails, among others. The long list of rosters for other Lollapaloozas continued to expand, mixing hip-hop geniuses like A Tribe Called Quest and Beastie Boys with indie mainstays like Stereolab and Sebadoh, but keeping the big boys like Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and Breeders on the bill. For a fan of good music, this festival was a little slice of rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll heaven. But as the festival continues to age, things change. Farrell cites the ill state of the touring industry as a reason for the lack of success for Lollapalooza. Although the quality of the acts on this

4 Politics and providing aid Unlike most politicians, Carol Elliott doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to draw attention to herself. But, for the supervisor of Cunningham Township, attention is rarely a problem. You might never see her, unless you showed up early for an Urbana city ...

Arts

7 Harry Hornerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work comes to Krannert The Krannert Art Museum is currently exhibiting work from revered set designer Harry Horner. A one-time architecture student at Vienna University, Czech Republic-born art director ...

Music 11 Top five songs honoring Ray Charles â&#x20AC;&#x153;What Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d Say (Part 1)â&#x20AC;? The manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first big hit for Atlantic and a perfect summation of his genius groove. A classic electric piano hook that dances around a rhythm that practically ...

Calendar 12 Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Local H at Canopy Club This Friday, check out Local H along with openers Emotional Rec Club at Canopy Club. Chicago band Local H take classic rock and mix it with experimental, less mainstream ...

Film

19 The Terminal Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a young kid living inside the heart of Steven Spielbergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ...

PHOTO COURTESY OF MUM

BUZZ STAFF Volume 2, Number 20

Cover Design Carol Mudra Editor in chief Marissa Monson Art Directors Meaghan Dee & Carol Mudra Copy Chief Chris Ryan Music Jacob Dittmer Art Katie Richardson Film Paul Wagner Community Margo Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara Calendar Maggie Dunphy Photography Editor Roderick Gedey Calendar Coordinators Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Photography Roderick Gedey Copy Editors Chris Ryan, Nellie Waddell Designers Glenn Cochon, Chris Depa, Jacob Dittmer, Maggie Dunphy, Marissa Monson Production Manager Theon Smith Sales Manager John Maly Marketing/Distribution Rory Darnay, Louis Reeves III Publisher Mary Cory

Letters, comments, just want to blow off some steam? E-mail us at buzz@readbuzz.com or you can send us a letter at 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820. We reserve the right to edit submissions. Buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. All editorial questions or letters to the editor should be sent to buzz@readbuzz.com or 337-8317 or buzz, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820. Buzz magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students.

tour in particular has only gotten better with bands like Sonic Youth, The Flaming Lips and Morrissey headlining this year, a few things have changed. The suitable, cozy name of the New World Music Theatre has now been renamed, and adorns the logo of the speaker company that now owns it. Deer Creek, the outdoor theatre near Indianapolis named for the creek that runs behind the concert venue is now sterilely referred to as Verizon Wireless Music Center. With the music industry in utter contempt of music fans, downloading (illegally) and burning CDs for their friends, the touring industry seems to be following suit. Now, it seems that fans arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as willing to supply Ticketmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chunk of change from sales and the newly sponsored venues that have begun popping up all over the country. The sad thing about the cancellation of Lollapalooza is that the only people who are truly losing out are the bands and the fans. For every tour date that has been cancelled, the venues and Ticketmaster can easily make up their revenue by booking a few Jimmy Buffett or Yanni shows. -M.M.

Chuck D signs up for AAA; 2ON2OUT rejoices BY SETH AND ADAM FEIN | STAFF WRITERS

e will say it again, damn it! We are not hip-hop heads. And while this is a baseball column, it should be noted that we are musicians as well. And while we do not follow the hip-hop scene like we do the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, we like to believe that we know a little something from our days with Yo! MTV Raps. Something has caught our attention lately, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the way that Tony LaRussa likes to make an ass of himself on a weekly basis. Pitching is such an art. Everything about it is based on technique. Stance. Wind-up. Delivery. Followthrough. All of it is predicated on technique. And we feel it should be said that we find pitching to be an art akin to rhyming in hip-hop music. Each rapper has his technique. Some are born with it, the way Mark Prior or Roger Clemens have it in pitching. Delivery of lyrics are huge in the rhyming game, and just the same, the delivery of a pitch will always determine how opponents face up to the challenge. In the game of baseball, everything has to be noted constantly. The pitch count, the batter, the infield, the outfield, how many outs, how many runners on, what inningâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;everything. The same goes for rhyming battles in hip-hop. Each freestyle battle needs to be meticulously thought out and on top of that, each one needs to flow without thinking too hard about it. One of our friends, who is a rapper, told us recently that the key to being a good lyricist in a hip-hop battle is thinking three or four moves ahead, the same way chess players set up their opponents. Same goes for baseball and pitchers. The pitcher who is the most effective concentrates on the current pitch, but is always looking ahead to the next. Music and baseball have an unbelievable amount in common, and for us to neglect this concept would be a mortal sin, as far as we are concerned. In a world where not much seems to match up too well, especially the Bush administration and the rest of the fucking world, we here at the 2ON2OUT are proud to be able to see three and four moves ahead in writing this column. Yes, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to be right. But the 2ON2OUT called another one for the White Sox: Billy Koch is not only out as closer, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out all together. Last week, Koch was traded to the Florida Marlins for a AA infielder. Koch

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responded by saying he appreciated his time in Chicago and understood the situation. He was looking for a fresh start in Miami. Well, he freshly entered his first game for the Marlins on Sunday and freshly gave up a game-losing two-run homer to Hank Blalock. Poor fella. In the NL Central, Chicago and St. Louis find themselves playing their best baseball of the year. The Cubs have won eight of their last nine games including a 6-1 road trip at Anaheim and Houston. The Cards have risen as high as 14 games above .500 and maintain a two-game lead over the North Siders going into this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s series. Yes, here we go again folks, Cub fans get out your 2003 NL Division champ T-shirts, Cardfans your Bo Hart jerseys: series number four is here. The Cubs lead the season series 6-5 and almost every game has been intense. Expect more of the same this week. A big key for the Cardinals over the next three weeks will be the maintaining the surprise consistency of their starting pitching. The three new additions to their rotation: Suppan, Carpenter, and Marquis have been solid. Now if their supposed aces would pitch well ... Morris was rocked again last week and has surrendered an alarming number of home runs (23), including Griffeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic 500th. Williams is 5-6 with a 4.66 ERA, giving up plenty more hits than innings pitched. We shall see ... Some may disagree, but outside of the obvious task of continuing to pitch, play defense and get timely hits, I believe the biggest key for the Cubbies before the All-Star break will be keeping the team chemistry intact with the returns of Sosa, Wood, Grudsy and Gonzalez. It was easy for Hollandsworth, Walker, Macias, Martinez and Rusch to get comfortable in starting roles, but they will now be expected to perform just as well off the bench. This while the newly impatient Chicago fans, in all likelihood, will have to endure slow restarts from the mainstays (Sosa is only 2 for 9 so far, Grudsy 1 for 4). We shall see ... In the meantime, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll comment here that we like that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;lovable loserâ&#x20AC;? title seems to have taken a back seat to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get another crack at the series.â&#x20AC;? You can thank Dusty Baker for that, Cub fans.

We find pitching to be an art akin to rhyming in hiphop music.

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Adam and Seth Fein grew up playing ball in Urbana. Adam is JV coach at Judah High School. Seth has been known to make controversial calls as an umpire around the area.

by Billy VanZandt and Jane Milmore directed by Aaron Polk

June 10-13, 16-20, 23-26 Tickets: $8.00 (Wed, Thurs, Sun) $10.00 (Fri and Sat) Wednesday is 2 for 1 All shows at 8:00pm Partially funded by Illinois Arts Council

THIS WEEK

KRANNERT CENTER

4H *UN

4U *UN

3UMMERFEST 0ARFUMERIE PM

3UMMERFEST 'UILTY #ONSCIENCE PM

&R *UN 3UMMERFEST 0ARFUMERIE PM

3A *UN )LLINOIS 3UMMER 9OUTH -USIC AM FREE 3UMMERFEST 4HE 'LASS -ENAGERIE PM

3U *UN

7E *UN 3UMMERFEST 0ARFUMERIE PM

4H *UL 3UMMERFEST 4HE 'LASS -ENAGERIE PM 0LEASE NOTE START TIMES FOR ALL 3UMMERFEST PERFORMANCES THERE IS NO LATE SEATING IN +RANNERT #ENTER S 3TUDIO 4HEATRE

+RANNERT #ENTER SERVICES REMAIN OPEN ALL SUMMER

)NTERMEZZO

"REAKFAST LUNCH LIGHT SUPPERS AM PM NON PERFOR MANCE WEEKDAYS AM THROUGH PERFORMANCE ON WEEKDAYS MINUTES BEFORE THROUGH PERFORMANCES ON WEEKENDS

4HE 0ROMENADE

'IFTS CARDS CANDY AND MORE AM PM -ONDAY 3ATURDAY /NE HOUR BEFORE TO MINUTES AFTER PERFORMANCES

4OURS

3UMMERFEST 4HE 'LASS -ENAGERIE PM

PM DAILY WHEN CLASSES ARE IN SESSION OR BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT 3OME +RANNERT #ENTER PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED IN PART BY THE .ATIONAL %NDOWMENT FOR THE !RTS THE )LLINOIS !RTS #OUNCIL AND PATRON AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS

+RANNERT#ENTER COM OR +#0!4)8 449 3(/7 &AX 'ROUPS KRAN TIX UIUC EDU 4ICKET /FFICE /PEN AM TO PM DAILY ON DAYS OF PERFORMANCES OPEN AM THROUGH INTERMISSION

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MY CAT IS PSYCHO | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 buzz

ARIES (March 21-April 19): July is Reinvent Your Family Month, and today begins Home Improvement Week. Your short-term assignment is to beautify your sanctuary. Get rid of stuff that tends to keep you locked into sterile memories, and fill the place with fresh symbols and accessories that make you excited about the future. That should get you in the mood for the more demanding task, which is to change whatever needs to be changed in order to create the exact family feeling you have always wanted.

5 Requests

2. The Blackouts No Tomorrow 3. Local H California Songs

Top

4. The Killers Somebody Told Me 5. New Found Glory All Downhill From Here

ONLINE 8@8 Make your vote for the

TOP 8 most requested songs!

intro

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | I WANT A HAT LIKE COULTER’S

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY (JUNE 24 - 30)

1. Dashboard Confessional Vindicated

buzz

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You need to laugh more this week than you've ever laughed before. I'm not exaggerating, Taurus. Mirth is not just food but also medicine for your soul. It's an absolute necessity, not a luxury. I'm talking about amusement as a way of life, not a pleasant diversion; as the attitude that underlies everything you do, not just an occasional escape into frivolity. You probably have some ideas about where to begin: which funny friends you should hang out with and which comedians you should expose yourself to. But in order to fulfill your assignment, you'll also have to track down new laugh-inducing stimuli; you'll have to expand your capacity to be delighted. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once. Wouldn't you agree? And that's one reason I'm authorizing you to repeat a naughty or excessively rowdy adventure from the past, Gemini. Here's another reason: The same series of actions that had an awkward result way back when will lead to a breakthrough this time. That's what I predict, anyway -especially if you add a little tenderness to your mischief this time around. CANCER (June 21-July 22): I propose that you conduct a radical experiment for the next three weeks. Between now and July 22, try on the theory that life is on your side. Assume that all of creation is conspiring to give you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. At least once every day, speak these words with passionate sincerity: "I believe that reality is a sublime comedy staged for my education and amusement, and that there is a benevolent conspiracy to liberate me from my ignorance and help transform me into the unique masterpiece I was born to be." LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Astronomers recently discovered a planet-like world orbiting the sun beyond Pluto.They called it Sedna, a name they said was derived from the Inuit deity that created the Arctic's sea creatures. They didn't realize that the myth of Sedna is far more complicated. She is the Dark Goddess, embodiment of the wild female potencies that are feared yet sorely needed by cultures in which the masculine perspective dominates. Dwelling on the edge of life and death in her home at the bottom of the sea, Sedna is both a source of fertile abundance and a mysterious prodigy. Shamans from the world above swi

down to sing her songs and comb her long black hair. If they win her favor, she gives them the magic necessary to heal their suffering patients. In the coming weeks, Leo, Sedna is your special ally. Call on her power as you work to cure the part of you that you've thought would always be wounded.

then don't give it to them." While I don't suggest you apply for a gig at a strip club this week, Sagittarius, I do recommend that you incorporate some of Lee's approach in your own chosen field. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The emotions in your vicinity are about to get very interesting. Here's a rapid-fire flurry of advice to match the fluttery, fluctuating rhythm you'll be navigating. Day 1: Don't fight the problem; make yourself bigger than it. Day 2. Become better acquainted with the part of yourself that sometimes does things unconsciously. Day 3: Allocate more funds and resources for foreign affairs. Day 4: A little rebellion will prevent a debilitating weakness from erupting. Day 5: Prove your love not with sentimental sweetness but with exuberant adventure. Day 6: Talk about the two things you never talk about.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): This may be the turning point your grandchildren will tell stories about years from now: the time you leap over the abyss to the other side of the Great Divide and begin your life in earnest. On the other hand, this moment of truth may end up being nothing more than a brief awakening when you glimpse what's possible on the other side of the Great Divide, but then tell yourself, "Nah, that's waayyyy too far to jump." In that case, your grandchildren will have to be content talking about what delicious cookies you used to bake or what your favorite sports team was. It will all depend on how brave you'll be.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): This will be a bad news, good news kind of week, Aquarius. But the bad news will be small in proportion to the good news, and may even be necessary for the good news to occur. For instance, a mosquito might keep you up all night. That, in turn, could lead you to call in sick for work, spend the day rethinking your whole life, and decide to make a dramatic move that will change everything for the better.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Monster Raving Loony Party is a political party that nominates candidates for British elections. Its goal is to inject invigorating mayhem into a process that everyone takes far too seriously.Here are a few of its proposals: Anyone using a cell phone in a theater must be squirted with silly string; joggers should be required to run on giant treadmills that generate electricity for public use; and Britain should be towed 500 miles south to improve the climate. I call on you, Libra, to create a branch of the Monster Raving Loony Party in your own locale. Or at least inject some medicinal teasing into the political intrigues you're having to navigate, whether they're in your family, workplace, or social circle. The astrological omens say you now have a knack for lightening up group dynamics that have become way too heavy.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): My Piscean friend Risa dreamed that the Buddhist monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh wanted to give up his celibacy to pursue a romantic relationship with her. She was flattered -- the man is a brilliant saint who has written more than 20 books -- but she ultimately decided to stick with her husband. The night after she told me this dream, I dreamed that my three best Piscean friends were making love with Mother Teresa, Buddha, and the 16th-century Kabbalist holy man, Isaac Luria. From this evidence, as well as certain astrological data, I conclude that you Fish are in the midst of trying to integrate your spiritual and sensual yearnings. To expedite this exciting process, I suggest you murmur exuberant prayers during your sexual encounters this week.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The astrological omens are telling me you need a vacation from media babble. That's probably the only way you'll be able to tune in to the crucial messages that are being sent out by the still, small voice within you. Do you have the willpower to carry out this heroic discipline? I dare you to unplug your TV and keep your radios turned off. Avoid films. Don't even open up a newspaper or magazine. It would also be great if you'd boycott computers. But if that's impossible -- if you have to stare at a computer screen for the sake of your work -then check your email just once a day and don't surf the Web aimlessly. Create a silence that's deep enough for the still, small voice to be heard.

Chant this Brezsny’s Free Will ☎ Rob ✍ HOMEWORK: string of magic words Astrology five times a day: "Bravo Viva Kudos Whoopee Eureka Hallelujah Abracadabra."

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Gypsy Rose Lee (1914-1970) was not a stripper in the sense we think of it today. Her more precise title was striptease artist. During her performances, she never actually took off all of her clothes. Her style was rooted in the advice her mother gave her: "Make them beg for more -- and

freewillastrology@ comcast.net 415.459.7209 P.O. Box 798 San Anselmo, CA 94979

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Camper’s food warmer 8 River to Lake Huron 15 Barely cook, say 16 “The little flower of Jesus” 17 Not as warm 18 Handled better? 19 Tangelo, e.g. 21 Dogs were sacred to him 22 In one’s Sunday best 28 Conspirator against

Caesar 33 Joining 34 Take a mortar and pestle to 35 Sneaker seller 37 Out, in a way 38 Dwell on negatively 39 Not fair 40 Roadblocks 41 Thus, in Trieste 42 Weirded-out feeling 53 Not hard to get on with 54 Former Italian colony 55 Appellate order

56 Pitcher Randy

Johnson’s power source 57 Appliance conveniences 58 Babe DOWN 1 Astrological transition

point 2 “___ victory!” 3 It may elicit a funny face 4 North Dakota senator Conrad 5 Governessy 6 Music halls 7 Spinning out of control? 8 “The River Wild” star, 1994 9 World Series champs, 1972-74 10 Some blackboard writing 11 Get ___ deal 12 San ___ 13 Scene of heavy W.W. I fighting 14 D.W.I. opposers

20 Swimmer with a

boxlike body

22 Like 23 “Once ___ mid-

night …” 19 20 24 Bar brand, briefly 21 25 Suppress 22 23 24 25 26 27 26 Decorative work 27 Expressionist 33 Schiele 35 28 Queens, workers or soldiers 38 37 29 “The Maltese 40 39 Falcon” actress 30 Treat rudely, in a 41 way 42 43 44 45 46 31 Good doctor 32 Parrots 53 34 Bamboo 55 Harvester “played” him 57 36 Sports figure nicknamed “the Puzzle by Byron Walden Big Easy” 45 C.B. equipment, to a 40 They have their reserC.B.’er vations 46 Play honor 41 B another way 47 Work detail 42 Beef 48 Overrun 43 New World abbr. 49 Room add-on? 44 Launch ___

34 36

47 54 56 58

50 “Sicut ___ in principio”

(doxology phrase)

51 Beautiful fairylike

being 52 Very

News of the weird Never, ever tell a lie ... Compelling explanations unless you really want that job BY MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

everal years ago, around this time of year, I’d just graduated from college. My degree was in speech communication, meaning I could do any job that didn’t require skill, but it was still tough finding anything. While I was waiting for a career to come along, I started working in a print shop. It wasn’t a bad deal. We worked four 10-hour days and got a three-day weekend. At the time, I thought I could do it forever. I was wrong. If the Cardinals were in town, we would drive to St. Louis, get drunk and watch a few ball games. I was still living at home and my parents quickly pointed out that this was no way to make a living. Sure, some guys got paid to drink beer and go to ball games, but these people were called baseball players and had a talent I didn’t possess. One day, I interviewed for a job selling storm windows. I met about 10 guys in bad suits, drank a soda, half-assed an interview and hit the road. I think Arthur Miller picked the right title. The death of a salesman had to be much more interesting than the life of one. I went to a movie and then, feeling guilty for being lazy, went by a television station. They needed someone fast, so I got hired. It was a “foot in the door” kind of job. If you’re not sure what that means, it’s a kind of job where you get paid about the same salary as kids making tennis shoes in Taiwan, receive roughly the same benefits and work more hours. While I was getting my foot in the door, there was also my boss right behind me putting his foot somewhere else on an almost daily basis. My interview for that job was short and sweet, and every job interview since then has been pretty much the same. I never really got nervous about them. I figured the guy hiring me was the one who should be nervous. He would be responsible for hiring a dumbass to work for the company. I answered whatever they asked. I didn’t know any better. For you recent graduates out there who may be interviewing soon, here are some tips about what questions the employer should not be asking you. They can’t ask you your age. They may try to sneak around this by asking if you like the new Bob Seger record, but don’t be fooled. They also aren’t allowed to ask your race or religion, though if you wear a ceremonial headdress or a big cross, they may not even have to.

If you’re a woman, they can’t ask your surname or maiden name. I’m assuming this is so the unfortunate folks who have a name like Hitler, Stalin or Bush buried in their past will still get an honest shake. They can’t ask about the employment of your husband or wife either, which is good news for the spouses of inside traders and crack whores. Questions about children are also off limits. I assume there is some leeway on this rule if the interviewee goes into labor during the interview. They can’t ask if you’ve ever been arrested. I can’t seem to find a ruling on asking if you ever intend to be arrested, a question that might be pertinent if the applicant’s pressed white shirt has fresh blood stains. They can’t ask if your wages have ever been garnished. Why someone would care if your wages have ever had a piece of parsley placed on them is beyond me, but that’s what the rules say. It’s illegal to question about any organizations, clubs, societies or lodges you belong to if this information would indicate race, religion, color or ancestry. If the interviewer recognizes your eyes as having been under a white hood at the last klan meeting though, you’ll probably get the job anyway. Questions concerning your height and weight aren’t allowed unless they pertain directly to the job. That’s why so many midgets get weeded out when they have the NBA interviews. It is also why very heavy people are seldom hired as test pilots and gymnasts. There are a few more things, but that’s mostly it. The good news for you is that while the other guys have limitations, you have none. Your answers can be whatever you consider appropriate. Take advantage of this while the rules are still on your side. Claim fluency in a foreign language. List famous people as references once you’re sure they can never be contacted. J.D. Salinger is usually a pretty good bet. Speak of the glowing reviews you received from your last boss, being careful not to mention they came before you poisoned his family. Whatever it takes. If you tell a little white lie, don’t be too nervous. Most of the people you’ll be working with have done the same as you. It won’t seem like it the first few weeks or so, but after you settle in you’ll realize they are just as clueless as you are. They are only more comfortable with their ignorance. Remember, you’re going to be working for 30 or 40 years. The statute of limitations will have run out on most of your crooked shit long before you’re ready to retire.

Michael Coulter is a videographer, comedian and creator of the weekly email column “The Sporting Life.”

– In April, the Alaska Court of Appeals upheld the legality of a police traffic stop of a car that an officer believed was the same car about which a report of occupants fighting had just been called in. The officer said he saw, through the rear window (according to an Anchorage Daily News report) that “the woman in the passenger seat was facing the driver (while the car was stopped for a red light), her left leg on top of the driver’s seat, wrapped around his head rest,” followed by the man’s moving to “lean over” the passenger. That the activity was sex, instead of fighting, was irrelevant, said the court, because either one creates a traffic-safety problem. – Lame: Mr. Angel Jones, 27, was convicted of aggravated assault against his girlfriend, specifically, biting off most of her nose in a rage. He admitted the nose was in his mouth but said that due to her using weight-loss medication, her nose had become brittle, and that it just fell off (Toronto, May). And Maurice Williams, 24, was charged with perjury after he told a

judge he was not “Williams,” even though “Williams” was tattooed on his back. Said Maurice, “I can’t see what’s on my back. If there’s some tattoos on my back, somebody’s been bothering me when I’m asleep” (Muncie, Ind., May). – In April, Joshua Baldwin, 24, was sentenced to 180 days in jail for 16 incidents of indecent exposure to women in stores in downtown Bay City, Mich. His explanation to the judge: “I was only hoping to get lucky, but I went about it the wrong way.”

Undignified deaths A 46-year-old South African soldier, part of an African Union peacekeeping force in Bujumbura, Burundi, was killed in May when a large, rotting tree fell over onto the portable toilet he was using. And a 45-yearold television cameraman was struck and killed by a car at a dangerous Omaha, Neb., intersection while he was working on a story about how dangerous the intersection is (June).

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JUNE 24 - 30, 2004

buzz

Politics take a back seat to providing aid U

nlike most politicians, Carol Elliott doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to draw attention to herself. But for the supervisor of Cunningham Township, attention is rarely a problem. You might never see her, unless you showed up early for an Urbana city council meeting on the first Monday of the month and caught the end of the Cunningham town board meeting. Elliott would be the one wearing a T-shirt and sneakers. When she campaigns, she often has to explain what the township is. She won her first election by a landslide, with 3,199 votes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m political,â&#x20AC;? says Elliott, a Democrat, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a politician. One of the hard parts of the job is having to go out and tout yourself.â&#x20AC;? As township supervisor, Elliott, 52, leads the smallest unit of government in Illinois. Cunningham Township, which has the same borders as the city of Urbana, is one of 20 such coterminous townships in Illinois that are not responsible for maintaining roads and bridges. As such, its only purposes are property tax assessmentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a separate divisionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the administration of general assistance, a statewide welfare program. General assistance provides a small cash grant and medical coverage for people between 18 and 65 who earn less than $600 a month and who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t qualify for other welfare benefits like TANFâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;available only for those with dependent children. Conventional wisdom in area social service circles says if you need help, you better live in Urbana. With roughly two-thirds the population of the City of Champaign Township, Cunningham Township regularly carries three times the general assistance caseload. It is not just that there are more needy people in Urbana. Over the past 10 months, Cunningham has approved 61 percent of its requests for assistance, while Champaign has approved only 36 percent. For property owners, the higher caseload means higher taxesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;about $50 a year more for a $90,000 home in Urbana than in Champaign. Budget reports and other papers cover nearly every inch of Elliottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U-shaped desk. Newspaper clippings, manuals for office equipment and other detritus spill from an unruly pile of bankerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boxes at her feet. Elliott jokes that her home looks much the same. She holds up a box of a dozen Swingline rubber finger tips.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t throw these away. I might need these someday,â&#x20AC;? she says, laughing. The bulk of Elliottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibilities are budgetary. This year, that means figuring out how much money the township will need, and then figuring out how it will function with lessâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;almost $100,000 less than last year. In addition to a $204 monthly grant, the township also pays medical bills for all but a handful of clients who have other medical coverage like Medicaid. In the past year, the townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical bills have soared. With tax caps limiting the amount the township can raise property taxes, the township canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep up. Elliott could require her clients to get approval before going to a doctor, as many townships do, but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think she should be in the position of making medical decisions. Now she is wrangling with Provena Medical Center, the townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest medical provider, to get her township clients covered by the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charity care program. Provena officials say they can only accept

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carol has the values that I would like to see all social workers have.â&#x20AC;? - Shirley Stillinger, retired social worker

patients in their charity care program after all other resources are exhausted. Township clients could qualify if the township was unable to pay, but running out of money doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end the townshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal obligation to pay. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Provenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy says that they would be the payer of last resort, after everything has been exhausted,â&#x20AC;? Elliott explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But our rules say weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the payer of last resort.â&#x20AC;? For Charlie Vogel, township assistance meant the difference between a roof and the street. On March 23, Vogel, 48, lost his job at the Solo Cup factory. Without a paycheck, Vogel didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how he would pay the $355 rent on his Urbana apartment.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was devastated,â&#x20AC;? said Vogel, who had gotten the apartment only three months before, after a workplace injury left him homeless. Vogel applied for and received general assistance, which he used to make his April rent. He used his medical card to have his glasses repaired. Unlike at the Illinois Department of Human Services, where he applied for food stamps, Vogel says at Cunningham Township he was treated quickly and with respect. On April 30, Vogel was hired as a forklift driver at Herff Jones Cap and Gown, a job lead he got from his caseworker, Audrey Jerrolds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got helped in every area I could have dreamed of,â&#x20AC;? Vogel says.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS â&#x2DC;&#x2026; JACKIE CHAN & STEVE COOGAN Unfortunately, there is little to take from Around the World in 80 Days other than an occasional laugh. The story makes little sense, and the plot completely lacks coherence from one scene to the next. Animated intros do their best to bridge the gap between utter confusion on the audience membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; faces and the controlled, slapstick chaos the director envisioned. However, the film makes no sense and has the appearance of a college final project with a $110 million budget. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK VIN DEISEL & JUDI DENCH â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Chronicles of Riddick feels overblown and bombastic, as if Twohy feels the need to justify finally having a big budget to work with. Had he amputated some of the useless plot threads from the story and focused more on providing a grand action yarn, the result might have been better. But as it is, the film is an utterly forgettable sci-fi diversion that will be forgotten by its target audience once Spider-Man returns. (Andrew Vecelas) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; DENNIS QUAID & JAKE GYLLENHAAL Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots of scientific mumbo-jumbo, but for every scene of dull, Weather Channel-style explanation, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a magnificent shot of the United States engulfed by truly unthinkable storms. Even though you know the whole thing was the act of computersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard not to ooh and aah at the sight of New York City iced over like a snow cone. The problem is that most of the characters express little more than awe, rather than fear, as to what may be the unforeseen apocalypse. Expect to feel that same disconnected absence of intensity towards a film that is supposed to be unprecedented but unlikely to be remembered the day after tomorrow. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; BEN STILLER & VINCE VAUGHN In spite of itself, Dodgeball almost becomes a competent sports film parody, especially during its moments of â&#x20AC;&#x153;inspiration.â&#x20AC;? A surprise guest appearance near the end from a sports icon provides what might be the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funniest and most clever moment while perfectly summating its irreverent, â&#x20AC;&#x153;just becauseâ&#x20AC;? attitude. Everyone has seen (and loves) the motley crew of sad sacks who defy expectations and write their own Cinderella story, and the Average Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dodgeball team exploits this cliche in weird and reasonless ways. (John Loos) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

PHOTO | SARAH KROHN

BY CHRIS HUBBUCH | STAFF WRITER

Carol Elliott, the supervisor of the Cunningham Township, discusses an idea with a Deana Wilson, a receptionist and case worker in her office. Since Elliott has taken the position, she has made it possible for many community members to find the assistance they need.

film

buzz JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | DODGEBALL DESTORYS THE TERMINAL TO WIN TOP BOX OFFICE HONORS.

Drive-thru Reviews

062404buzz0421

GARFIELD: THE MOVIE BILL MURRAY & JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Perhaps whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most atrocious is that Garfield is intended to be a comedy. There are more laughs to be found witnessing a minor road accident than in this film. While Garfield is intended to be a kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movie, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to believe that even children will find a single amusing moment. The only saving grace is the casting of Bill Murray as the titular felineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice. He may not actually say anything funny, but his lethargic sound matches Garfield perfectly. Despite Murrayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best efforts, and Hewittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing looks, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing to be recommended about this film at all. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the same sarcastic kitty you know from the comic strip. This poor fellowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s had all the fun taken out of him. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been neutered. (Devon Sharma) HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; DANIEL RADCLIFFE & EMMA WATSON So much of the material in the films has felt like a visual projection of Rowlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books without the brain and

heart to match. It seems that, in attempting to whittle down hundreds of pages into a workable screenplay, Kloves merely makes a check mark every time he incorporates an important point while ignoring the specifics that give each element its meaning. So far, the Harry Potter films represent a frustrating body of work, fantasy that has yet to realize its potential to be fantastic. Cuaronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deeper artistic vision is a step in the right direction, but Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban still fails to cast a spell. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy MEAN GIRLS â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; LINDSEY LOHAN & LACEY CHABERT Mean Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; screenwriter Tina Fey uses a candor that not only criticizes the stereotypes of these portrayals, but also depicts them in an entertaining way that is unique to anything shown before. The students of North Shore High donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all belong in magazine advertisements. Some belong in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;beforeâ&#x20AC;? pictures in weight loss commercials or on the front cover of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Special Olympics Success Stories.â&#x20AC;? This film uses the formula of the typical high school illustration, adds fresh humor and a touch of reality that makes the film surprisingly entertaining to watch. (Art Mitchell) Now showing at Beverly RAISING HELEN â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; KATE HUDSON & JOAN CUSACK Kate Hudson sparkles in the most bleak of circumstances, making the film appear somewhat appear as a comedy like its premise suggests. Hudson easily transitions from a charming single woman to an upset mother, proving that her acting chops were not just a fluke in Almost Famous. Her performance saves an otherwise over-sentimentalized drama, making Raising Helen shine when it desperately needs a glimmer of hope. (Janelle Greenwood) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy SAVED! â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; MANDY MOORE & JENA MALONE The social commentary on the writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view of Christianity is very evident from the opening scenes to the very last shots in the film. This year has brought on new conversations about the portrayals of certain religious groups in the mainstream media and Saved! does nothing but add to the conversation, which seems like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intent. Unlike the highly popular and highly controversial The Passion of the Christ, interpretations on the role of Christianity in Saved! are very contemporary and are humorous not only for the believer, but for the nonbeliever and the unsure as well. (Art Mitchell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy SHREK 2 â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; MIKE MYERS & EDDIE MURPHY Shrek 2 does an admirably effective job of balancing its sarcastic but sensitive tone, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too bitter to be sweet. The film manages to repeatedly wink at all things Disney without coming off competitive, an honorable move for a Dreamworks studio that should have plenty to gloat about at the box office this summer. In giving reverence with each reference, the four-headed team of writers keeps things light and sprinkles good-hearted, intelligent fun throughout every scene. It becomes apparent that the original strove for greatness while this suitable sequel is merely good, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to complain about another chuckle-filled trip to fantasyland sure to once again make Disney green (cha-ching!) with envy. (Matt Pais) SOUL PLANE â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; SNOOP DOGG & TOM ARNOLD Soul Plane offers just what anyone who walks into the theater would expect. There is a bad movie with great comedians who let loose on drugs, white people, black people and everything in between. Barring a closedminded audience, the racially and sexually charged humor are a raving success.(Andrew Crewell) THE STEPFORD WIVES â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; MATTHEW BRODERICK & NICOLE KIDMAN Because of the resounding tepidity of Ozâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remake, the film never takes any major risks. It stays safely inbounds, gliding softly through the screenplay like a Stepford wife through her kitchen. In the end, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harmless. If Oz had picked one tone with which to attack the film and stuck with it, the end product might have been more seamless and alluring, like a true Stepford wife, and less erratic and inconsequential, like Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frequently malfunctioning Sarah Sunderson. (John Loos) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

SUPER SIZE ME â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; MORGAN SPURLOCK & MCDONALDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FOOD Fasten your belt loops and hold onto your love handles: Super Size Me is one of the best movies so far this year. Spurlockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movie is at times difficult to watchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;frankly, it wants to gross us out with the hard, greasy truthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but it delivers on all the requirements of an important documentary. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brave, challenging and relevant, and in calling attention to an American epidemic, Super Size Me is truly McTastic. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Boardmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Theatre THE TERMINAL â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; TOM HANKS & CATHERINE ZETA-JONES Like Forrest Gump, Viktor Navorski (Hanks) is a simple man just trying to get by, and the story finds some poetry in his straightforward determination for lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most basic pleasures. He just wants to understand the world around him and have a place to call home, and in that way The Terminal is like a quirky, inside-out version of Lost in Translation. Everyone at JFK grows to know Navorski by name, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a reason that America has revered its most dependable actor with the same respect and recognition for the last decade. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one like Hanks to keep a jetlagged fantasy so grounded. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy TROY â&#x2DC;&#x2026;â&#x2DC;&#x2026; BRAD PITT AND ERIC BANA Troy uses endless flourishes of triumphant horns and cymbal crashes to create some sense of majesty, but it does as much justice to Homer as William Hung does to â&#x20AC;&#x153;She Bangs.â&#x20AC;? Troy desperately wants to be a loud, sweeping rallying cry for love, brotherhood and country, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a bunch of pretty boys playing dress-up in this real Greek tragedy. (Matt Pais) VAN HELSING â&#x2DC;&#x2026; HUGH JACKMAN Dracula relentlessly tries to spread his seed (unprotected sex, anyone?) and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to the vampire slayer to stop him. And when Anna tells Van Helsing sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been to the sea, you know heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to take her there because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what a real man would do (wink wink). All of this should be enough to make your heart thump, but instead your pulse will nap while your mind goes for popcorn. For all of its adrenaline-rush action, Van Helsing is like a Halloween costume-themed Universal Studios ride, tailored to a PG-13 audience happy to get its biggest thrills from Count Chocula. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

OPENING THIS WEEKEND FARENHEIT 9/11 MICHAEL MOORE This documentary is supposed to be about why America has come to be a target for terrorists in recent years. What it will probably be is a film by Michael Moore about even more reasons to hate this country we live in, and probably some crazy allegations about George W., but it will still make tons of money and still be enjoyable and worth seeing. (Paul Wagner) THE NOTEBOOK RACHEL MCADAMS AND JAMES GARNER Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, this film is about an old man who tells a love story to an old woman. The tale is about two teens who fall in love, but one goes off and fights in WWII. They are reunited after the war, but he is bitter and she is, of course, engaged to someone else. Will they get back together? Will fate keep them apart? This romantic comedy has the chance to actually be entertaining. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope it is. (Paul Wagner) WHITE CHICKS MARLON AND SHAWN WAYANS This Wayans brothers movie is about two FBI agents who, for some reason, have been disgraced and go undercover as white women in order to protect two hotel heiresses from a kidnapping plot. If a plot like this can make money, then something is truly wrong with the world. But one can never tell. (Paul Wagner) TWO BROTHERS GUY PIERCE AND TIGERS Two tiger brothers were separated as cubs and taken into captivity. As fate would have it, they were reunited later in life as enemies and end up fighting each other, though, of course, they are unaware that they are brothers. This should be a quality family film for all ages to enjoy. (Paul Wagner)

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â&#x2014;&#x2020; WHITE CHICKS (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & Sat. 11:20 1:40 4:10 7:10 9:40 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 11:20 1:40 4:10 7:10 9:40 TWO BROTHERS (PG) Fri. & Sat. 11:20 1:40 4:10 7:10 9:40 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 11:20 1:40 4:10 7:10 9:40 THE NOTEBOOK (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & Sat. 11:00 1:40 4:20 7:15 9:50 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 11:00 1:40 4:20 7:15 9:50 DODGEBALL: UNDERDOG (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 11:00 11:30 1:00 1:30 3:00 3:30 5:00 5:30 7:00 7:30 9:20 9:50 11:20 Sun. - Thu. 11:00 11:30 1:00 1:30 3:00 3:30 5:00 5:30 7:00 7:30 9:20 9:50 THE TERMINAL (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. 11:30 1:30 2:30 4:30 5:30 8:30 10:00 11:30 Sat. 11:30 1:30 2:30 4:30 5:30 7:10 8:30 10:00 11:30 Sun. - Thu. 11:30 1:30 2:30 4:30 5:30 7:10 8:30 10:00 WORLD IN 80 DAYS (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 11:10 12:00 2:00 4:00 5:10 7:00 8:00 11:00 Sun. - Tue. 11:10 12:00 2:00 4:00 5:10 7:00 8:00 Wed. & Thu. 11:10 2:00 5:10 8:00 GARFIELD (PG) Fri. & Sat. 11:00 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:10 9:10 11:10 Sun. - Tue. 11:00 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:10 9:10 Wed. & Thu. 11:00 1:00 3:00 5:00

â&#x2014;&#x2020; HARRY POTTER 3 (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri.

& Sat. 12:30 1:00 4:00 4:30 7:00 7:30 10:00 11:45 Sun. - Tue. 12:30 1:00 4:00 4:30 7:00 7:30 10:00 â&#x2014;&#x2020; Wed. & Thu. 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 STEPFORD WIVES (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 11:10 1:10 3:10 5:10 7:00 7:30 9:20 9:40 11:30 11:50 Sun. - Tue. 11:10 1:10 3:10 5:10 7:00 7:30 9:20 9:40 Wed. & Thu. 11:10 1:10 3:10 5:10 7:30 9:40 CHRONICLES-RIDDICK (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & Sat. 11:00 1:40 4:20 7:15 9:50 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 11:00 1:40 4:20 7:15 9:50 SAVED! (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. - Tue. 9:50 SHREK 2 (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 11:00 11:20 1:00 1:20 3:00 3:20 5:00 5:20 7:30 9:40 11:40 Sun. - Tue. 11:00 11:20 1:00 1:20 3:00 3:20 5:00 5:20 7:30 9:40 Wed. & Thu. 11:20 1:20 3:20 5:20 7:30 9:40 Sneak Preview: SLEEPOVER (PG) Fri. 7:10 DAY AFTER TOMORROW (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & Sat. 2:00 4:30 7:00 9:30 12:00 Sun. - Tue. 2:00 4:30 7:00 9:30 Wed. & Thu. 7:00 9:30 SHAOLIN SOCCER (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:30 9:50 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:30 9:50 â&#x2014;&#x2020; SPIDER-MAN 2 (PGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;13) (3 SCREENS) Tue. 12:05 12:05 12:05 Wed. & Thu. 11:00 11:30 12:30 1:00 2:00 2:30 3:30 4:00 5:00 5:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:30 10:00 Showtimes for 6/25 thru 7/1

5:40 PM

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film&tv

buzz

MORE LIKE HIDDEN ROCK?? | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 buzz

HIDDEN GEM (The older, more sophisticated brother of guilty pleasure)

WAKING LIFE ★★★ BY DEVON SHARMA | STAFF WRITER

here should be a word to describe people who use an overabundance of large, hard-to-pronounce and smart-sounding words in the movies they write. Just for kicks, this word should be small, easy to pronounce, and above all else, stupid-sounding. Something like “shnucky,” (it rhymes with “lucky.”) Richard Linklater, writer and director of the animated film Waking Life, would be a shnucky through and through. Even the foul-mouthed prisoner (“I’m going to make the [censored]-sucking [censored]s who put me in this [censored]-hole beg for mercy!”) pulls some mighty vocabulary apparently out of nowhere. “And that [censored]ing psychiatrist,” he cries. “What seemingly unmitigated ignorance!” It seems odd for the prisoner to be using these words, but other than this instance, the large vocabulary is appropriate for the subject matter of the film. That subject matter, put simply, is philosophy. Waking Life can be best described as groundbreaking animation meets sometimes thought-provoking, but usually pretentious philosophy. The unnamed protagonist aimlessly wanders from place to place and listens to the various ideas and philosophies people offer him. And absolutely everyone seems to have something to share, whether it is about the practice of voting, the idea of free will, or the evolution of evolution. The ideas are expressed, for the most part, in monologues directed toward the protagonist, who starts to become aware that he is dreaming. Once this realization is made, the philosophies begin to focus more on dreams.

There is no coherent plot to be found, which may be appropriate considering the central theme of dreaming. Nevertheless, after more than an hour of meeting random people who talk at length about their ideas, the audience may find itself wishing for some sort of story. And, after so many of these encounters, it becomes tiresome to meet yet more people with yet more philosophy. By the end of Waking Life, the more interesting characters are those who have nothing interesting to say. “You have to poke holes in the plastic wrapping of the burrito,” says a gas station attendant, “otherwise it explodes in the microwave.” He is one of the most memorable characters of the film, largely because he doesn’t use any of those shnucky words for a change. The main problem with the philosophical monologues, however, is just that: they’re monologues. The whole fun of philosophy is discussing it with people, being able to bounce ideas off of each other, asking questions, and at times, challenging what someone says. It can become frustrating to listen to the characters’ ideas and not be able to question or challenge them. The animation in Waking Life, especially near the beginning when it’s fresh and new, is a wonder to behold. Linklater filmed the movie on digital video, and then had animators “trace over” that live action footage to make it animated. The result is extremely fluid and appropriately trippy. The animation is, in truth, far more intriguing than the philosophy. The DVD comes with plenty of extra features. There’s audio commentary from Linklater and the 25 animators who worked on the movie. There’s also bonus footage, including deleted scenes and live-action footage. It’s interesting to see the difference between scenes in live-action and how they appeared after animation. Unfortunately, there isn’t a feature for turning off the vocab words. Those darn shnuckies got us again!

moviereview

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS ★ BY ANDREW CREWELL | STAFF WRITER

ackie Chan has accomplished something that is relatively difficult to do in the acting world. He has come to the United States and become an icon while continuing to lack American convention and any grasp for the English language. His prowess for physical acting is what sets him apart and what keeps audiences coming back for more. Around the World in 80 Days is no different, as Chan uses physical comedy to make an otherwise bad film a mildly entertaining experience. The original film, from which this modernday remake is taken, was a much different movie. The 1956 version was a three-hour epic, which won an Oscar for best picture, stunning the film world with big-name cameos and cinematic innovation. The descendant to the original has kept the big-name cameo tradition, but changed just about everything else. With Chan on board as the main character Passepartout, a lighthearted comical version of Jules Verne’s novel was born. Noticeable changes were made to the story to allow Chan’s Chinese ancestry to play into the story, as the film begins with Chan saving a jade Buddha statue and setting out to return it to its homeland. Unfortunately, there is little to take from

The Ring

[

Around the World in 80 Days other than an occasional laugh. The story makes little sense, and the plot completely lacks coherence from one scene to the next. Animated intros do their best to bridge the gap between utter confusion on audience members’ faces and the controlled, slapstick chaos the director envisioned. However, the film makes no sense and has the appearance of a college final project with a $110 million budget. While it is impossible to fathom how this film spent $110 million, the big names that glide through scenes hearkens back to the original. Fifty years ago, names like Frank Sinatra and Red Skelton showed up and now the likes of Owen and Luke Wilson portraying the Wright brothers and Arnold Schwarzenegger as a longhaired Turkish lunatic appear to the amusement of the crowd. Not that Schwarzenegger doesn’t have anything better to do than appear in overrated films, but it is a pleasant break from the psychosis that is the actual story. It is now evident that director Frank Coraci has had a less than positive introduction to the film world. With experience in films dating to The Waterboy and other Adam Sandler ventures, it seems like a poor choice on Disney’s part to give Coraci free reign. For a more professional mind, they probably could have wondered into a random 4th grade class somewhere in Los Angeles and given the kid with a finger buried knuckle-deep in his nose a contract to wreck some careers. If there is one thing that is certain, Coraci will probably not rebound to another big-budget summer endeavor anytime soon. With other films like Dodgeball and White Chicks competing for the adolescent dollars in the theatres, Disney looks to take a hit in the pocketbook on Around the World in 80 Days. Some families looking for feel-good romps will stumble in and enjoy their moviegoing experience. On the whole, however, Disney will probably see a few more empty seats than they anticipated. Jackie Chan and his own unique language can’t solve Disney’s problems all by himself. Disney looks to stay in its movie slump, which has plagued them the last several years.

Carol Elliott works with unemployed or underemployed people throughout the community to help them find the resources to live. Through General Assistance, a statewide welfare program, Ellliot has been able to provide aid to many who are in need of it.

THURSDAY, JUNE 24 SOUTH END OF THE QUAD, 9PM FREE ADMISSION NO RAIN LOCATION

Bring your popcorn and a blanket and enjoy a free movie on the Quad!

www.iuboard.uiuc.edu

IUB Event Hotline: 333-8473

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS | JACKIE CHAN

community

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004

PHOTO | SARAH KROHN

6/23/04

WALT DISNEY

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Many people with physical and mental disabilities rely on general assistance while waiting to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. About a quarter of Cunningham’s clients have filed disability claims, Elliott says, but it can take years and multiple appeals to qualify. Although not required to, Elliott and her staff often advocate for their clients at the DHS and accompany them to disability hearings. Although Cunningham Township employs a full-time caseworker and a social work intern, Elliott herself manages eight cases. It is in part a necessity of the township’s heavy load—90 this month—but partly so that she doesn’t lose touch with the office’s purpose: helping people. “She’s personally involved,” says Shirley

Stillinger, a retired social worker who has known Elliott personally and professionally since 1972. “She knows the clients.” On Tuesday afternoons, Elliott has a standing appointment with Eileen Miller, a former general assistance client. Elliott serves as Miller’s state-appointed trustee, managing her personal finances. “I have bipolar and depression,” Miller says. “That’s why I’ve got disability. So that’s why the judge said that Carol was mine. I don’t want anybody but her.” Miller sits amid the clutter of Elliott’s office. “I don’t know what this is,” she says, opening an envelope. “Oh, People’s Benefit Services,” Elliott says, examining the bill. “I think it’s one of those things that makes you think you owe them money.”

“I’m political, but I don’t think I’m a politician.” – Carol Elliott, Cunningham Township supervisor

“Well, you see, I put things—you know those cards that you don’t have to put stamps on?” “Um hmm. Yeah.” “So.” “So you think you might have—” “Maybe. I don’t know.” Elliott calls a number on the bill and explains that Miller has Medicaid and does not need any additional prescription coverage. They chat for another 30 minutes, then Elliott writes Miller a check for $50 to get her through the week. The meeting ends with a hug. For Elliott, the $40,000-a-year supervisor’s office is an end, not a means. “I shall not seek and I will not accept higher office,” Elliott jokes, quoting Lyndon Johnson’s 1968 State of the Union address. “I’ve reached my plateau in terms of political office.” Although her job tenure is now in the hands of voters—she will have to defend her office in 2005—Elliott has found her niche. It took me a long time to admit that I would be keeping the job, and not leaving town, the once-peripatetic Elliott says. “Now I realize that this is probably the job I will retire from—I hope.” Elliott does not have a social work background. Nor was she raised a Democrat. She grew up in rural Iroquois County, Ill., where her father owned a weekly newspaper, and where, in 1968, Nixon outpolled Humphrey by nearly three to one. She enrolled at the University of Illinois in 1970, but left after a year. Her older brother, John, describes her as the smartest of the three Elliott children, but Elliott says she never liked school. “I just didn’t like taking courses that I had no interest in,” Elliott says. “That’s why I had to become an elected official,” she adds with a laugh. Elliott stuck around Champaign-Urbana and spent her 20s working in various libraries. Every few years, she would quit her job to travel. She enjoys singing, and for a while had a band, Blind Belly Elliott and the Seeing Eye Dogs, which she describes as “awful, but funny.” In 1980, she was working at the Mercy (now Provena) Hospital library, a job she says she disliked because of the little contact with the public and because of the formal dress code, when she heard about an opening for secretary at Cunningham Township. A few years earlier, Ken Zeigler had run for and won the supervisor’s job with the intent of bringing social justice to the office. Before, Zeigler says, “the office was considered a way to protect taxpayers from having to spend money on poor people.” Within a year, Elliott became bookkeeper and caseworker, jobs she figured out as she went. “Carol is one of the most, if not the

[

most, intelligent people I know,” Zeigler says. “She’s a person who can solve any challenge, which was how we approached the whole thing.” When Zeigler resigned in 1996, he recommended Elliott for the supervisor’s job and the town board appointed her. “Half of me wanted to see if I could do it,” Elliott says. “The other half didn’t know what I was going to do if I didn’t.” With the help of local Democrats, Elliott ran for and won the office in 1997. She ran again, unopposed, in 2001. “Carol has carried on what Ken started,” Stillinger says, “but she’s added an element to it. She’s added a personal, human touch— she’s a very compassionate person.” “You’d be amazed at the complaints people have of other offices,” Elliott says. As she sees it, her job is to make sure rules are followed, but with a friendly touch. “I think philosophically we need to make sure that we run the office with a pro-client atmosphere.” For Elliott, her job is to balance the interests of her clients and taxpayers. “I like to find ways to get things done within what the law allows, finding ways to help our clients make little bits of progress and trying to be accountable to taxpayers.” “I often stop myself and think, ‘Are we really pushovers?’ “ Elliott says. “On occasion, we might get fooled. We try to establish eligibility consistently and sometimes that’s not easy to do … If it’s a really, really big sob story—and some of it may be true and some of it may not—we end up giving it to somebody who’s marginally eligible.” Although she has made life marginally better for some of Urbana’s poor people, Elliott describes herself as a pessimist. “It really becomes obvious that what we do is very little,” Elliott says, “and there need to be some major changes if we want to help people.” “We still see some of the same clients we saw 20 years ago, and children of clients,” Elliott says. “The same problems exist. It’s frustrating.” Recently, one of Elliott’s former clients came into the office in tears. Her boyfriend, also a former client, had died. “Carol called her into her office, gave her a hug, made calls for her,” says caseworker Jerrolds. “She was very empathetic. This woman needed this.” Later, Elliott drove her former client to Joliet for the funeral. “Carol has the values that I would like all social workers to have,” says Stillinger. “I just love that this is something she never planned to do, but she’s clearly a natural. It’s wonderful for her personally, but also the rest of us. She’s the best thing that ever happened to Cunningham Township.” buzz

5:40 PM

Page 1

community Q & A

JohnCorbly

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004

chief, he has seen many serious situations throughout his career. Corbly makes sure these calls are responded to quickly and safely. This family man takes a look back at his career before he retires. When and why did you decide to become a firefighter? I’ve been around it my whole life, actually. My father was a volunteer firefighter when I grew up as a youngster. I had an interest in it from the time when I was very young when I would accompany my dad to fire service events and functions in our community west of Chicago. As I got older, I decided I wanted to make it my career. So I became a volunteer firefighter and then started my career in 1970.

John Corbly will retire as Champaign Fire Department’s chief in the fall after 35 years of service. He grew up in the Western suburbs of Chicago with a firefighting history in his family. After being a fire chief in the Chicago area for several years, he moved to Oregon. Finally, in 1993, he settled down in Champaign. Each day, the fire department responds to about 15 calls. As a fire

What was the training like? I had actually been a volunteer firefighter which, of course, provided much of the handson training, but once I became a career firefighter, I started attending a community college in a fire science program as well as the hands-on type training that we received through the department. So there was a combination of training. Best part of the job? Currently, as fire chief, the best part of my job is really seeing our people devote themselves to the community and the people they serve. It’s very rewarding. But equally rewarding is when they go

into schools and teach young people about staying low on the smoke or how to make sure their parents install smoke detectors in their homes, or how we teach children to exit their homes. Firefighters are in a position to help people at maybe the most critical time of their lives. It’s rewarding to see them perform and intervene in those things, and make things better for families. That’s always a good feeling. What is the fire chief’s job? My job is primarily administrative in nature. We do long-range planning. We provide inspectional services. We oversee inspection of commercial property in the city. We do a lot of budgeting and policy development. We’re also responsible in Champaign for the emergency management component for the city, if there was ever a tornado or natural disaster or terrorism event, in addition to the fire and emergency medical side. We’re responsive to the overall mitigation and planning for major catastrophic events that occur in our area. If you weren’t a firefighter, what would you be? I had two other aspirations in my life. One was to be a commercial airline pilot, and the second one was to be a coach. But being raised in a firefighting family and being so close to it over the years and seeing the dedication and satisfaction of doing a good job, that brought me into the fire service.

buzz

What do firefighters do when there are no emergencies? The firefighters are on 24 hours from 7 in morning to 7 in the morning the next day. We have a pretty busy schedule from 7 in the morning to 5 or 6 in the evening. They have to be at the station and be prepared because a lot of our work occurs at night. They maintain all of our equipment and apparatus. It’s got to be maintained and checked on every day. We also spend a great (deal of) time training, including familiarization of buildings within our city. We do a number of things to prepare and provide services. Firefighters also do a lot of public education. So they are out there providing programs at schools along with our fire prevention personnel and police. They all work together on some major programs in our public schools. So we have a pretty routine and busy schedule during the day. (In) the evening hours they have time to devote to other things like study or do what they want to do, but they have to remain in the station until 7 in the morning. So it’s a 24-hour-a-day service that we provide. How would you sum up your whole fire service career? It’s been an absolute privilege to be a firefighter. It’s a career that’s certainly unique. It’s something to be proud of, and you hope you’ve had a positive impact on a lot of people and the lives that they lead. Being a firefighter is just an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I may have wanted to be a pilot, but I’m glad I was a firefighter.

moviereview

THE TERMINAL ★★★ BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

t’s no secret that there’s a young kid living inside the heart of Steven Spielberg. Aside from his historical epics, much of the director’s career has had a boyish, whatif charm that provides childlike innocence even to stories of dinosaurs, aliens and professional check forgers. You can’t ever be sure which Spielberg—the dreamer, the softy, or both—will show up behind the camera, and his sentimental side isn’t always a positive. Catch Me If You Can jumped and jived to a swingin’, swindlin’ plot about world travel and bank fraud, but it cashed out whenever it tried to handle Frank Abagnale Jr.’s need for a father figure. Minority Report had an ultracool sci-fi look and Twilight Zone-esque premise, but its treatment of a parent’s grief after the loss of a child felt familiar, not symbolic. So it’s reassuring to find that The Terminal, a piece of lighthearted whimsy about a man forced to live at the airport, finds Spielberg the

moviereview

Taste of Champaign-Urbana Location: West Side Park Dates/Times: Friday, June 25 5-9pm Saturday, June 26 11am-9pm Sunday, June 27 Noon-5pm

DODGEBALL:

A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY ★★★

See You at the Taste of C-U

BY JOHN LOOS | STAFF WRITER

If we spot YOU in downtown Champaign reading BUZZ on THURSDAY, JUNE 24th, we will give you FREE Tickets for this years Taste of Champaign-Urbana. So bring a Buzz to the corner of Walnut & University between 11 & 2 on THURSDAY, JUNE 24th and get your FREE Tickets. But come early because tickets are limited!

buzz JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | SPIELBERG AND HANKS—THE MOVIE GODS ARE HAPPY.

atching someone get hit in the face (or the crotch) with a rubber ball is, for whatever reason, inherently funny. Kids think it’s funny. Adults think it’s funny. Your grandma thinks it’s funny. Maya Angelou, although she would never admit it, thinks it’s funny. And it is with immense gall and shameless gusto that the makers of Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story exploit this simple truth for no good reason other than to allow people to see people get hit in the face (or crotch) with a rubber ball. Vince Vaughn stars as Peter La Fleur, the unmotivated owner of a hole-in-the-wall rec center called Average Joe’s Gym that is halffilled with last-pick types. His business sits (literally) in the shadow of Globo Gym, a steely corporation run by verbose, energized White Goodman (Ben Stiller, in an uncharacteristically amusing performance) and filled with steroidabusing behemoths and a reckless sense of

mature, imaginative director co-existing with Spielberg the wide-eyed idealist. Tom Hanks stars as Viktor Navorski, a likable, happy-golucky doofus from Krakozhia, a made-up Eastern European country that just happened to undergo a military coup while Navorski was en route to New York. Told by officials at JFK airport that he is forbidden to leave the building—customs can’t accept his visa until the United States accepts Krakozhia’s new government—Navorski sleeps in under-construction Gate 67, feasts on crackers topped with ketchup and mustard, and waits. This is another role that asks Hanks to carry a film that most other actors couldn’t, and again he holds it together when the strands of logic threaten to untie The Terminal. His accent isn’t really grounded anywhere, and neither is Navorski’s grasp of English. But Hanks gives this affable foreigner a charming silliness, and once you recognize that The Terminal is more of an old-fashioned heartwarmer than tight, modern romance, it’s easy to settle into this lazy, cozy movie like a night in front of the fireplace. The love story comes in when Viktor meets Amelia Warren (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a flight attendant with (what else?) a terrible history with men. She’s waiting for a married man to leave his wife for her, but it doesn’t take her long to realize that Viktor is different from most men she meets. (She thinks it’s because he isn’t grabbing her ass at 30,000 feet.) He’s such a spunky dope that he has a way with the ladies, and credit Hanks for keeping

film

Navorski’s dumb vulnerability out of pathetic, victimized territory. The script by Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can) and Sacha Gervasi, from a story by Gervasi and The Truman Show’s Andrew Niccol, takes pleasure in hiding why Viktor has come to America. Political regulations have rendered him a “citizen of nowhere,” and when his purpose is revealed, it isn’t quite the emotional heavyweight it wants to be. The motivaTHE TERMINAL | TOM HANKS tions of each character, including Amelia, the airport’s security officer (Stanley ing to wait any longer than necessary for what Tucci), and a food service employee (Diego you want. It doesn’t always work, but it’s got a Luna) in love with a customs agent (Zoe nostalgic romantic twinkle that shines through Saldana) are almost roundly preposterous, and occasionally warranted cynicism. Yes, it’s somethe movie lacks the specifics to provide any real times sappy, but even then Hanks doesn’t quit on the movie, and you won’t either. insight into America’s fear of outsiders. Like Forrest Gump, Viktor Navorski is a Yet, after a slow beginning, The Terminal becomes winning almost simply because it’s so simple man just trying to get by, and the story ludicrous. This is a kind-hearted movie willing finds some poetry in his straightforward to appeal to our sweet sensibilities in a 1940s determination for life’s most basic pleasures. utopian, fancy-footed way, and John He just wants to understand the world Williams’s bouncy score keeps it all moving in around him and have a place to call home, the right direction. Without the pressure of and in that way The Terminal is like a quirky, modern romantic logic, Spielberg offers inside-out version of Lost in Translation. swooning, glowing impossibility and easygo- Everyone at JFK grows to know Navorski by ing, screwball comedy, and this time it doesn’t name, and there’s a reason that America has feel like he’s trying to sneak the themes under revered its most dependable actor with the same respect and recognition for the last our nose. The Terminal is a warm, ridiculous film about decade. There’s no one like Hanks to keep a breaking the rules, rewriting history and refus- jetlagged fantasy so grounded.

superiority. In an almost satirical take on the stereotypical sports film (or possibly because the filmmakers, like Peter, were too unmotivated to come up with something novel), White wishes to buy Average Joe’s to build a parking lot for his physically perfect patrons, a move that can only be blocked if Peter and his ragtag gang of losers can come up with a way to make $50,000, and fast. Enter sexy lawyer Kate (Christine Taylor)— who also happens to be an accom- DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY plished softball player—and a conveniently-timed national dodgeball tournament crew of sad sacks who defy expectations and that has a cash prize of exactly $50,000, and the write their own Cinderella story, and the stage is set for a flurry of flying balls and Average Joe’s dodgeball team exploits this cliche in weird and reasonless ways. There’s crushed genitals. However, as funny as the physical gag is, it unmistakably hilarious Stephen Root as a must be noted that a film cannot simply have bespectacled bookworm who, for no reason, has people getting smacked in the face with rubber a hateful mail-order bride. And there’s Alan balls and expect to succeed. If that were the case, Tudyk as Steve the Pirate, a man who, for no every film, from lowbrow comedy to British reason, earnestly believes he’s a pirate. And period piece, would have such mindless then, for no reason, the team randomly acquires moments. What makes Dodgeball work so well is a coach, Patches O’Houlihan (Rip Torn), a forits honest and infectious sense of fun and its mer dodgeball superstar who is now grizzled, acknowledgement of being nothing more than half-crazy and wheelchair-bound and, for no reason, teaches by throwing wrenches. what it is: stupid. Somehow, all these extraneous and senseless Actually, in spite of itself, Dodgeball almost becomes a competent sports film parody, espe- details meld together to form a purely entertaincially during its moments of “inspiration.” A sur- ing, completely unnecessary, and irresistibly prise guest appearance near the end from a funny sports comedy. It’s not Jane Austen. It’s sports icon provides what might be the film’s not going to change the world. As Vaughn’s funniest and most clever moment while perfectly Peter says during the Average Joe’s last huddle summating its irreverent, “just because” attitude. before their championship match against Globo Everyone has seen (and loves) the motley Gym, it’s just dodgeball.

DREAMWORKS

6/23/04

C-UViews Compiled by Sarah Krohn

Dodgeball 2OTH CENTURY FOX

062404buzz0619

★★★★ Jordin Marschke Effingham, Ill.

“It was very, very funny.” ★★★ Allen Warner Atwood, Ill.

“It was good, pretty funny.” ★★★★ Kyle Graber Arthur, Ill.

“I think it was better than Ben Stiller’s other movies.”

6/23/04

5:40 PM

Page 1

classifieds

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

802 W. GREEN, U Aug. 2004 rental. One block from Lincoln Ave. Great architecture and design-not a box apt. Large units with Central A/C, Carpet, Patios/ Balconies, laundry. Off-street parking at $45/mo. 2 bedrooms from $595/mo. Showing 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com Aug 15. 1 BR basement apt. $390. Utilities paid. 51 E. Chalmers. Craig 337-0988. AWESOME 2 BEDRM/LOFT TOWNHOUSE, engr campus, a/c, d/w, $900, 398-1998 www.lincolnshireprop.com

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JOHN & LOCUST, C Showing for Aug 2004. Quiet neighborhood. One block west of First Street and close to campus. Huge one bedroom apts, very bright. Window A/C, Carpet, Gas heat. Parking $20/mo. Rents start at $350/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

SO HOW MUCH DOES SHE THAT THE WAGON WHEEL COFFEE TABLE? | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004

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Tenant Union Check landlord complaint records

Furnished one bedrooms and efficiencies for Fall semester from $325 near John and Second or Healey and Third. 356-1407. JOHN STREET APARTMENTS 58 E. John August 2004. Two and three bedrooms, fully furnished. Dishwashers, center courtyard, on-site laundry, central air, ethernet available. Call Chad at 344-9157 352-3182 University Group www.ugroup96.com

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HOUSES

2 bedroom and 7 bedroom house on campus for fall 2004. 367-6626.

Lovely 4-5 bedroom house. Fireplace, oak French doors and floors. A/C, parking, full basement, busline. Randolph and White St., Champaign. Available 8/16/04. $1300/mo. 356-3232

2 bedroom house in quiet Champaign neighborhood. W/D included. Off-street parking. Recently remodeled. $615. 217-352-9815.

SPACIOUS 5 BR HOME. 908 S. FIRST,C. (BETWEEN DANIEL AND CHALMER). NEWLY DECORATED, FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED. 3670956.

HOUSES

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903 W NEVADA, U Quality rooming house. Near Jimmy John’s on Lincoln Ave. Rooms available for Aug 2004. Rents from $260/mo to $330/mo. Laundry facilities, Common kitchen. Showing 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

Boutique downtown loft 1 BR apartment, exposed brick, twelve-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, free parking for 2 cars. $550. Contact ASAP, will go quickly. (217)841-4549.

308 1/2 E. Clark, C. Furnished 2 bedroom, 1 bath, basement, garage, Engineering. $700/mo. 978-649-2108.

Crystal Lake Park Large well maintained 2 bedroom apartments bargain priced at $405$465/mo. Call 840-5134. Details at robsapartments.com

4 BEDROOM FACULTY/INTERNATIONAL Townhouse, family room, CA, $900, 398-1998.

Efficiency. Green and Anderson, Urbana. $330/mo. Busline. 3840333.

508 W. Illinois, U 4 BR house w/ 2 full baths, W/D, offstreet parking, pets welcomed. 1st month’s rent free! JTS Properties 328-4284

Kitchen and laundry facilities. Nice, clean, good location on bus-line. Now leasing Summer and Fall 2004. Call 841-5393 or 367-4824.

602 W. MICHIGAN, U

ROOMMATES

FAIRLAWN VILLAGE FAIRLAWN & VINE Aug 2004. Live in a peaceful, relaxed, neighborhood setting. Fairlawn Village is a one story apartment community, spread out on twelve acres, close to U of I, shopping and walking distance to schools. Spacious apartments with washer dryer hook up, a/c and garages available. One bedrooms from $470/mo. Two bedrooms from $485 to $570/mo. Call for an appointment. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC 344-5043 www.barr-re.com Our most desirable location on U of I golf course. 1200 sq. ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, fireplace, study, dishwasher, W/D, A/C, covered parking, balcony/ patio. 359-3687 and 359-0065. Lease, deposit, no pets. Pay $425/month for $455/month apt! 1 BR near Parkland. 1600 W Bradley. Nice kitchen, WIC, A/C, free parking, laundry, # 9 bus, well maintained. Doug 390-0440. Quiet 1 BR. Close to campus, 704 W. Nevada, U. Most utilities, parking. Laundry, hardwood floors. From $445. Avail. 8/15. No pets. 3445679, kramerapartments.com SOUTH WEST CHAMPAIGN 1418 Lincolnshire.Newly decorated large 4 bedroom. 2 full baths. Fireplace. Kit. Dining/Living Room. Private patio. Water/Parking included. AUGUST. No pets. 356-0660/ 352-3642.

SUBLETS 1 bedroom apartment furnished, parking. $400/month. (708)5332163. 3 bedroom apt. for lease. 3rd & Green. $930 for 3 people. (309)269-9426.

GREAT LOCATIONS! LOW PRICES! 1, 2, 3, & 4 BEDROOMS

Avail 2004. 3 bedroom house with sunroom, washer and dryer, forced air heat. Rent $1,300/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC 356-1873 www.barr-re.com 606 W. Iowa 5 bedroom, furnished, available August 1st. $1,600/mo. DOYLE PROPERTIES 398-3695. 714 Lynn Street, U. 1 mile to campus, 2 blocks from bus, 3 bedroom, 1 bath, fireplace, all appliances, furnished, a/c, w/d, d/w, off street parking. $350/single, $275/ each shared room plus utilities, includes garbage pick up, ethernet wired. Available immediately. 630985-8477. martinpa10@comcast.net 802 Iowa Urbana New renovated architect’s home, group house, Jet-spa, hot tub, pond, fully equipped modern kitchen, fireplace, huge common areas, garage. Available now, $2350.

FAMILY ROOM, 3/4 BEDROOM TOWNHOUSES, $850, $900, d/w, a/c, quiet, campus bus, yard. 398-1998

Single rooms for women.

Clean, responsible and fun male or female wanted to share apartment near campus. Looking to sign a lease by fall ‘04. Call Ian at 607-5924015 or idb4@cornell.edu.

Female roommate for 04-05. Across from quad. Furnished 4 BR. $360/mo. plus utilities. 815-7935462. Female roommate needed at 57 Chalmers. 9 month lease. Bi-level apt. 4 BR, 2 bath, fully furnished. Central Air. $406/mo. plus utilities. 10 min. from campus. Rebecca 630361-2057. Female roommate wanted to share five bedroom cute Urbana house. Large room, private bath, wood floors, fully furnished, parking, W/D, and lease negotiable. Call 773-6151667 or email ruiz2@uiuc.edu. Great quiet Champaign house needs female roommates. Sundeck, garage. $295/mo. Regina (217)6376378 or jheng@uiuc.edu

Furnished 4 bedroom houses on campus near Ohio and Lincoln for Fall ‘04. Call 356-1407.

M or F, 1 or 2 for new house in country. $325 includes everything. 217-840-2257. Leave message.

GORGEOUS VICTORIAN 209 W Vine. Near downtown, C. 3 BR, 2.5 BA, den, W/D, HDWD, $1200. Available 7/1. 344-0917.

Room available with 3 student athletes. $325/mo. plus utilities. Call Sara 217-202-9735.

Large 4 BR house. W/D free. Offstreet parking. $1440. 403 W. Springfield, U. Real Estate Professionals. 417-5539.

Summer leases available (some new buildings).

328-3030

www.cpm-apts.com

Roommates needed for nice house! More info: http://tinyurl.com/yv7qq

Spacious 6 bedroom house with large porch, 2 kitchens, 2.5 baths, free parking, washer/dryer and trash included. $360/mo. (618)531-4014

PARKING | STORAGE Special prices on 5 x 5, 5 x 10, 10 x 10 units available for Summer. Call Johnson Rentals at 351-1767.

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arts

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | FERRIS BEULLER, YOU’RE MY HERO.

Harry Horner’s work comes to Krannert BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

he Krannert Art Museum is currently exhibiting work from revered set designer Harry Horner. A one-time architecture student at Vienna University, Czech Republic-born art director Horner became an assistant to Austrian theatrical impresario Max Reinhardt, working on touring productions such as The Eternal Road. Horner came to Hollywood in 1940, earning his first screen credit for Our Town (1940). Our Town is one of the two major motion pictures featured in the exhibit. The other, 1949’s The Heiress, also appears. The exhibit displays Horner’s hand-drawn designs for these two sets, and also shows pieces of the respective movies that almost exactly reflect the drawings, says curator Christine Catanzarite. Catanzarite is a film studies professor who was asked last summer to curate the exhibit in conjunction with the spring’s Ebertfest. After surfing the Internet for general facts about Horner, Catanzarite delved into Krannert’s wide range of Horner drawings. “My background in Horner’s history was small, but I loved working on this exhibit,” Catanzarite said. The museum had a wide array of Horner’s drawings from a previous Krannert exhibit. The works were donated during the early ‘90s. Catanzarite chose to feature the two films

playreview

The Glass Menagerie ★★★★

Tennessee Williams

BY SYD SLOBODNICK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he University’s summer repertory theater “Summerfest” kicked off its season with the first of its three productions this past week at the Studio Theatre with the classic Tennessee Williams’ drama The Glass Menagerie. Considered by some as Williams’s most personal and autobiographical play, it concerns his early 20s when he grew up in Depression-era St. Louis. Living with an obsessive mother, who was trapped in the bygone era of Southern gentility and a reclusive and shy younger sister, Williams weaves a sometimes depressing tale of unfulfilled dreams. The Glass Menagerie was Williams’s first success when it was produced 60 years ago this winter in Chicago. Director Matthew Reeder guides his fourperson cast in this production with wonderful ease, skillfully revealing the play’s many

because the sets were so radically different. Our Town is a much simpler design (which depicts a small town) than the wealthier, more extravagant The Heiress set. These two radically different depictions illustrate Horner’s range as an artist. Another interesting theme of the exhibit is the near perfect way in which Horner’s drawings translate onto the silver screen. “(The exhibit) offers this realization that film sets are carefully constructed, that they are not accidental. They are elaborately drawn. Films aren’t a random series of images. Costumes and sets convey information even though those parts are taken for granted,” Catanzarite said. The exhibit’s most valuable asset is Horner’s own Oscar statue, which was lent to Krannert by Horner’s widow. Due to a rare string of luck, Horner’s widow was contacted by Assistant Curator Roxanne Stanulis. After coming across a sheet of paper from 1992 with Horner’s widow’s phone number on it, Stanulis called the number not expecting to hear Mrs. Horner answer. Surprisingly, she did, and she was more than willing to lend the Oscar to the exhibit. “I was shocked when she answered the phone because people move around so much nowadays. I explained what we were doing, and she said she’d lend us the statue. She also explained that it had been damaged in an earthquake. She was able to change the base of the statue. She brought it to the American Academy of Motion Pictures because they are the only ones who are allowed to fix Oscars.

touching and melancholy highlights, while still capturing many of the play’s lighter comical moments. Williams’s play structure is rather simple narrator-driven storytelling; he called this a memory play. The main character, Tom Wingfield, a drifting merchant marine and Williams’s alter ego, addresses the audience with several years of retrospection, after the main events of the plot he guides them through have occurred. Williams’s simple plot is more a character study of this dysfunctional family. The Wingfield matriarch is Amanda, an old Southern belle of sorts, whose husband long ago left her with their two grown children. She nags at her son Tom, wishing he was more ambitious and afraid he has too many of his father’s character traits and bad habits. Amanda is more worried though about her daughter Laura, who shies away from almost all social situations due to her slightly crippled leg. Laura’s one passion is a collection of glass figurine animals. The play’s main focus concerns Amanda’s wish for Tom to invite a fine young gentleman to call on Laura, giving her hope of a normal life, before she becomes an old maid. This rather gloomy tale is nicely realized by director Reeder’s team of scenic and costume designers and his fine cast. Costume designer

However, she didn’t have the time to have them fill in a couple dents and fix some tarnishes. I like that those still exist, though, because it gives the Oscar some character,” Stanulis said. Although the Oscar offers spectators a glimpse of an icon to which few people in the

Midwest have been exposed. In the Horner house, nonetheless, Oscars are actually quite common. Harry Horner is the father of twotime Oscar-winning composer James Horner. Horner’s widow, on the phone with Stanulis, joked that Oscars were quite readily available in her neck of the woods. buzz

PHOTO | SARAH KROHN

062404buzz0718

Exterior of House, a sketch by Harry Horner. The movie sets he created were first sketched out on paper.

Kathryn Wagner confines her colors to relatively drab tans, browns and grays; under minimal lighting, nothing looks too bright or at all cheery. Michael Franklin-White’s compact set utilizes the space of the Wingfield apartment and front stoop effectively while complementing the play’s sad and somewhat confining situations. This production’s centerpiece is the outstanding central performance of Amanda, played by Anne Shapland Kearns. Never overplaying the Southern sweetness or obsessive motherliness, Kearns achieves the subtleties of Amanda’s character, revealing the pathetic situation of a single mother with fading hopes. Kearns shines in scenes where she talks about the deceptions of her daughter’s behaviors and when she chides Tom for his lack of responsibility. Cristina Panfilio’s Laura is an appropriate blend of simple introverted fear and low expectations that caused a pleasant but plain woman to miss too many opportunities for joy. Timothy Patrick Klein’s Tom has a Kevin Spacey-like quality about him. Vocally strong about his feelings and beliefs, yet trapped by his lack of opportunity and his dedication to his family, Klein’s Tom lacks the dynamic qualities of others who have

played this part, but he is never lackluster in this part. The play’s other somewhat diminished character is the gentleman caller Jim, played by Jason Maddy. Fashioned in a rather plain looking way, Reeder directs Maddy to be not the stereotyped prized exjock and charismatic macho male, but more of a mixed-up guy with a facade of confidence, who temporarily provides the Wingfield’s a fleeting moment of hope. Despite showing some of its age with language and the sexist psychology of more than a half century ago, The Glass Menagerie still presents a heartfelt story of people with dreams, characters who long for change but are on the edge and may never change. Krannert’s fine production of The Glass Menagerie continues on alternating evenings for the next five weeks until July 30.

PLAY REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unviewable

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arts

THAT’S RIGHT, I’M ABE FROMAN, THE SAUSAGE KING OF CHICAGO | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 buzz

ARTIST’S CORNER ric Skalac studies creative writing at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. He will graduate in spring 2005 with a double degree in English and rhetoric. Eric spent two years studying physics by way of astronomy before deciding the real world was too big and scary. Eric is allergic to cats, although he does enjoy their company from time to time anyway. What terms/ phrases/ labels best describe your writing style? You know, I’m not even sure I have a style yet. I’ve been writing for something like 18 years now—fiction for a third of that—and all I can really say is that it endeavors for simplicity. When I write, I do know I try to describe conflict that I hope will be familiar to most readers. Maybe that makes me a realist. Literally, I try to write in language that strives for both subtlety and rhythmic harmony. I don’t know what that makes me. Maybe a writer. How all this junk translates to the page is another story, though. Re-reading stuff I’ve written rarely proves my intentions to be the same as the outcome. How would you characterize current trends in writing? What are they, in your mind, and how do you prescribe to them? Well, I’ve noticed that I tend to pick up little things from the authors that I’m reading. The last one that happened with was Don DeLillo’s White Noise. I found myself emulating the kind of sardonic, subtle humor I found all over the thing. For better or worse, I also seem to have picked up a nasty metafiction habit from Italo Calvino’s If on a Winter’s Night, A Traveler and Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges. What I see the most in current writing is a kind of selfawareness of the medium, of the artifice of “the story.” But then, maybe that’s just my own self-consciousness coming through.

everyone has hiding somewhere in their heads. They saw it in some movie, or they made it up when they were kids, or maybe it actually belongs to someone. But it’s there. It’s what you see out your kitchen window at 3 a.m. sleeping alone and frightened. It’s that grinning face you catch in the dark mirror as you glide by. It’s the face that waits on the other side of your eyelids as you sleep, desperate for the sun to come. I would always wake up in that instant, still seeing the face in the shadows of my bedroom. It really scared the hell out of me. More often than not, my sister would have to lay with her back to mine until I fell asleep, and even then, I would often wake alone and afraid, calling for her in that darkness.

What artists (writers and others) have inspired you? I’ve probably been the most inspired by a comic book writer actually. I’ll say “graphic novel” but only because we ‘re out in public. See, Neil Gaiman has this ability to weave familiar mythologies into an even more familiar and recognizable realism. It hits me in a way other writers haven’t. The stuff he comes up with is fantastic as hell but somehow I never care about that. It all seems relevant anyway, despite the peculiarity. Where do you look to for story ideas? Your life, personal experience, incongruities in nature? For the original seed, I look straight to the things happening around me. It seems like the good stuff comes from things with a bit of truth to them. That truth is quite often buried under plenty of fiction, but it’s there nonetheless. Sample from Asleep: From the start his story had been joining one of my own, a nightmare I’d had as a kid. My parents were always gone, business trips or something, always something, and I only had my sister to keep me company most of the time. When I was about six I kept having this dream where I would wake up and she would be standing in the corner of my room, watching me. It would scare me, so I would close my eyes, but I knew she was still there. Watching. It was never anything evil, I knew she wasn’t going to strangle me in my sleep or anything. It was just creepy. Then I would hear her footsteps coming closer, closer, and then stop. I’d open them again and she would be standing over me. Only it wasn’t her. It was someone I didn’t know. They were always old, and they were always smiling with wide eyes and bright white teeth. It was that face that

classified

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | WE CAN HELP YOU SELL THAT USED TIRE IRON

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

1005 S. SIXTH, C.

101 N. BUSEY & 102 N. LINCOLN, U

Aug, 2004. A+ location! Next to UI Library. Great older building. 1 bedrooms from $525/mo. Laudry facilities, Window A/C, Carpet. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

1006 W. STOUGHTON, U Very close to Engineering campus. Avail for Aug 2004. Masonry construction. 2 bedrooms from $595/mo. Window A/C, Carpet. Parking $25/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

August 2004. Excellent location near Green & Lincoln. 2 bedroom apts from $500/mo. Window A/C, Laundry. Parking available $30/mo. Apartments shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

805 S LINCOLN, U Aug 2004. Great location. Attractive apts. Carpet, Ceiling fans, A/C. Efficiencies from $500/mo. 7 days a week showing. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

102 N. GREGORY, U August 2004. Close to Illini Union. 2 bedrooms at $500/mo. Carpet, Gas Heat, Laundry. Parking available at $30/mo. 7 days a week showings. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

104 E. ARMORY Location!! 4 bedroom, 2 bath www.ugroup96.com 352-3182 707 W. Elm, U. August. Excellent campus location. Well maintained 2 and 3 BR apartments economically priced. Details at robsapartments.com. Call 8405134.

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

105 E. GREEN, C Studio apts available Aug 2004. Carpet, electric heat, wall A/C units, off street parking available, laundry on site. Rents from $330/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

105 E. John 1 bedroom furnished, great location. Includes parking. www.ugroup96.com 352-3182

106 North Gregory Available now or August, large, furnished 1 -bedrooms in secure building on Engineering Campus. University Properties, 344-8510. 2 bedroom through BARR, 102 N Gregory, #11, Urbana. Available June 15. $525/month total for 2 bedrooms. Includes water and sewer. $30 per parking spot. Call 377-6553.

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

1107 S EUCLID, C Aug 2004 rental. First rate location near Armory, IMPE and Snack Bar. 1 bedroom apts. Window A/C, gas heat, laundry. Parking $35/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

2 Bedroom Basement apartment at 707 W California. Large kitchen, all utilities paid. $520. Phone Joe 3529610 work, 384-5668 home.

201 N. LINCOLN, U 2 bedroom apts close to campus with parking, ceiling fans in some units, laundry, carpet/tile floors. Shown 7 days a week. Rents from $500/mo. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

311 E. WHITE, C

604 E. White, C. Security Entrance For Fall 2004, Large 1 & 2 bedroom furnished, balconies, patios, laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

Available for Aug. 2004. Large furnished efficiencies close to Beckman Center. Rent starts at $325/mo. Parking avail. at $30/mo. Window A/C, carpet. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

4 BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE Elegant, near Hessel Park, $1600, 398-1998.

MJM/Chateau Apartments 403 E. White, Ch. - $540/mo. 302 S. Fourth, Ch. - $540/mo. •Large 2 Bedroom 405 E. White, Ch. - $400/mo. •Economical 2 Bedroom •Special rate Sgl. Occ. All Units: •Carpet, A/C, Appliances •Cable & Internet Ready •Parking Available •On-Site Laundry

509 E. White, C. Aug. 2004. Large 1 bedrooms. Security entry, balconies, patios, furnished. Laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

Creative writer Eric Skalac.

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

Ask Tenant Union about us 390-2377

ENGINEERING CAMPUS Large Studio APTS Fall 2004 307-310 E. White Secured Bldg., ethernet available UGroup96.com 352-3182

615 W. KIRBY New, 4 bedrm elegant townhouse, w/d, a/c, $1600. 398-1998

702 W. WESTERN, U Aug 2004. 1 bedrooms with window A/C, carpet /tile floors, boiler heat, laundry on site. Parking available. Rent starts at $495/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

705 W. STOUGHTON, U Aug 2004 rental. 3 bedroom apts. Near Lincoln Ave. and Engineering Campus. Fenced-in yard. Balconies/Patios. Microwaves, Carpet, Central A/C, Disposal, Dishwasher, Parking $25/mo. Rents start at $615/mo. Shown daily 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

706 S. LOCUST, C Aug 2004 rentals. One block west of First Street, close to campus in quiet neighborhood. Window A/C, Gas heat, carpet, covered parking available, laundry facilities. 1 bedrooms $395/mo and 2 bedrooms $610/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

CAMPUS APARTMENTS NOW LEASING FOR FALL 1,2,3, and 4 BRS

PHOTO |SARAH KROHN

buzz

202 E Chalmers, C 103 E Chalmers, C 503 E Stougthon, C 106 S Gregory, U

Great Locations

playreview

Drop Dead ★★★★

Aaron Mathew Polk

BY LOGAN MOORE | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he Station Theatre’s latest production, Drop Dead, begins with the worst dress rehearsal in history. A few actors can’t remember their lines, some actors can’t act, some can’t help but overact, one of them can’t hear, and another one is dead. We’ve all heard that acting is tough business and comedy may be the toughest of all. Acting as if one is acting is much harder than it may sound on paper, especially if you’re to keep the whole affair humorous. Fortunately, the cast of Drop Dead performs

just such a feat, taking the audience through the comic spectacle of just exactly how bad one play can be. The bulk of the first act revolves around the final dress rehearsal of the murder mystery Drop Dead, the night before it opens. All the members of the production, from the cast to the producer have two things in common: they all have a lot riding on the success of the play, and they are all egregiously incompetent at what they do. Actor Brian Hagy plays director Victor Le Pewe, a failed former Broadway genius, like a sort of middle-aged, pill-popping C3PO on the edge, only more effeminate. Both Ryan Rogers and Lyn Leithliter bring a hilarious pomposity to their respective roles of Brent Reynolds and Mona Monet, two washed-up, ego-obsessed lead actors. Troy Lozar brings excellent comic timing to the role of Chaz Looney, the classic supporting actor with delusions of grandeur and a French accent that can only be described as Monty Python-esque.

Director Aaron Mathew Polk also takes on the role of Sol Weisenheimer, a wise-guy producer who casts his ditzy buxom girlfriend, Candy Apples, in a lead role. Candy, played with bubble-headed perfection by Breelyn Fae, spends much of the time mouthing other actor’s lines in next to no clothing. Andy Bendel brings much drunken relish to his role of alcoholic playwright Alabama Miller. Mike Harvey steals several scenes as beleaguered technician Phillip. David Wilhelm gets quite a few laughs as inept fill-in Dick Shalit, brother of Gene. Lauren Henry is a definite highlight of the show as Constance Crawford, an aging, deaf actress. Her bewildered expressions and confused wanderings around the stage are priceless. The roles themselves are classic send-ups of every theater cliche and are played to the absolute comic hilt by every actor involved. Director Polk brings a fast, frantic pace to the show, which suits the increasingly hilariously absurd plot well. By the second act, when an

actual murder has been committed and the actors decide to do the opening night performance regardless, the show is propelled solely by the constant barrage of jokes and the players’ enthusiasm. In fact, the frenetic tempo of Drop Dead at times leads to a few minor flaws as, occasionally, moments of potential humor are lost. This doesn’t happen much though and never does it take away from the production; almost every pratfall, one-liner, or witticism is nailed, adding up to an evening of side-splitting hilarity that begs to be seen.

PLAY REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unviewable

Please call for an appointment: 778-9790 or 352-8092

Choice 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom Apts. For Fall Great Campus Locations! ✶ Ethernet/High ✶ Security Intercoms speed internet ✶ Laundry facilities– access Some with ✶ Parking washer/dryer in ✶ Dishwasher/ unit Microhood ✶ Balconies ✶ 24 hour emergency maintenance SEE THE DIFFERENCE BANKIER APARTMENTS www.bankierapts.com

Mon-Sat 328-3770

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WHO KNEW THAT THERE WAS A MARKET FOR USED TAPE | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004

PHONE: 217/337-8337 DEADLINE: 2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition. INDEX Employment Services Merchandise Transportation Apartments Other Housing/Rent Real Estate for Sale Things To Do Announcements Personals

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• PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD! Report errors immediately by calling 337-8337. We cannot be responsible for more than one day’s incorrect insertion if you do not notify us of the error by 2 pm on the day of the first insertion. • All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher. The Daily Illini shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement, at any time. • All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student. • Specification in employment classifications are made only where such factors are bonafide occupational qualifications necessary for employment. • All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and similar state and local laws which make it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement relating to the transfer, sale, rental, or lease of any housing which expresses limitation, specifications or discrimination as to race, color, creed, class, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual oientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or the fact that such person is a student. • This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal oppportunity basis.

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2 p.m. Wednesday for the next Thursday’s edition.

RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue Garage Sales 30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free. Action Ads • 20 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $14 • 10 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $7 • add a photo to an action ad, $10

Employment 000 HELP WANTED | Full Time BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER ILLINI MEDIA Illini Media, the independent, student-run media group at the University of Illinois, is hiring an experienced professional to manage our front office. The manager will be able to work in a fast-paced, creative environment while managing a staff of students. The ideal candidate will have an associates degree or equivalent experience in business management, must be able to multi-task, train and work with students, and be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite especially in Excel and FileMaker Pro or other database application. We provide excellent benefits, a business casual environment, and a fun atmosphere. For information please contact Melissa Pasco at mgpasco@illinimedia.com or 217-337-8313. Send resume to: Melissa Pasco Illini Media 57 E Green St. Champaign, IL 61820 Or mgpasco@illinimedia.com

SUMMER INTERNSHIP Excellent Advertising, Sales, and Marketing opportunity. PAID INTERNSHIP. Gain valuable business EXPERIENCE working for the Univ. of Illinois Official Campus Telephone Directory. Other locations available. Call Paul Alford at AroundCampus, Inc. 1-800-466-2221 ext. 288. www.aroundcampus.com Temporary full-time position in administration from now until Fall. Good pay. Must have excellent organization/ computer skills. Apply at: Campus Property Management 303 E. Green cpm@cpm-apts.com fax: 328-1489

HELP WANTED | Part Time Guido’s Kitchen Help Wanted. Apply in person. 2 E. Main, downtown Champaign. Suburban Express is now hiring ticket agents/loading supervisors. Need hard-working U of I frosh/soph with previous job experience in a very busy environment and experience dealing with customers. Must be available to work AT LEAST 15 hours per week, including frequent Sundays. Apply 3pm-6pm Tue/Thu, 11am-2pm Wed. 313 E Green, Champaign. Wanted: night bartender Tod and John’s. Phone for appointment 3981546. Leave message.

HELP WANTED | Full / Part Time Bicycle service/sales positions available immediately. Previous mechanical or retail experience preferred. Apply in person. Durst Cycle, 1112 W. University, U. MYSTERY SHOPPERS NEEDED! Get paid to Shop! Flexible work from home or school. FT/PT Make your own hours. (800) 830-8066. Flexible hours. Office Associate positions. Shipping and receiving positions. $8/hr. Apply in person or send resume. Meyer Drapery. 330 N. Neil. Downtown Champaign. 352-5318.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES !BARTENDING! $300/day potential, training provided, no experience necessary. 1-800965-6520 Ext 109

Services

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BUSINESS SERVICES WWW.ILLINIBARGAINS.COM BRAND NAMES WWW.ILLINIMEGAMALL.COM NATIONAL RETAIL STORES

Merchandise 200 Stairstepper. Paid $180 about 20 workouts ago. Asking $90. 352-3451.

Transportation 300 AUTOMOBILES Blue 1995 Neon. Good condition. Always maintained. $1200. 356-9069. www.lookatusedcars.com

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CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished 1 bedroom lofts $497 2 bedrooms $585 3 bedrooms $750 4 bedrooms $1000 Campus, parking. Fall 04, 367-6626 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom apts, 5 bedroom house, reasonable rates. Please call 398-5946 or 390-9536. 606 S. PRAIRIE, C. Large 1 bedroom apartments, many with recently remodeled kitchens. Quiet Champaign location near Green Street/ campus. Free off street parking. Gas heat/ window A/C. Rents reduced! $375$400/mo. HERITAGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 351-1803

609 W. MAIN, U Renting Aug 2004. Quiet building in nice Urbana neighborhood. 2 bedroom apts furnished $510/mo. Parking optional, central A/C, Carpet, laundry facilities. Gas heat. Daily Showings 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

706 S. Walnut, U Renting for August 2004. Quiet neighborhood. 1 bedroom apts from $465/mo. Gas heat, central A/C, laundry facilities. Parking included. To furnish $50/mo. Shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC 356-1873 www.barr-re.com GREEN AND SECOND ON CAMPUS Large 1 bedroom. A/C, laundry on site. $415-$450. Ethernet and parking extra. No pets. 351-1800. ppmrent.com

1 Bedrooms 508 S. First 108 W. Charles 310 E. Clark 104 E. John 103 E. Stoughton 103 E. Healey 108 1/2 E. Daniel 2 Bedrooms 104 E. John 103 E. Stoughton 210/208 E. White 3 Bedrooms 1103 S. Euclid 807 S. Locust 210/208 E. White 312 E. White 104 E. John

4 Bedrooms 308 E. Armory 1103 S. Euclid 807 S. Locust 210/208 E. White 5 Bedrooms 1103 S. Euclid 106 1/2 E. Armory 7 Bedrooms 509 S. Elm, C. Efficiencies 104 E. John 312 E. White Call for an appointment

351-1767

www.johnsonrentals.com rentals@johnsonrentals.com

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

105 E CLARK, C

SPORTING GOODS

Apartments

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

Available Aug 2004. Attractive modern loft apts. Dishwasher, disposal, window A/C, ceiling fans, patio/balconies, carpet laundry, parking, 2nd floor skylights. Rents from $435/mo. $50/month to furnish. Apts. shown 7 days a week. BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

808 S LINCOLN, U Renting Aug 2004. Classic older building with Unfurnished 1 BR + sun room, 1 BR + den. Furnished 2 BR apts across from Jimmy John’s on Lincoln Ave. Near Krannert, Law School, Music, etc. Features hardwood floors in upper units, laundry on site. Parking $45/mo. Shown 7 days a week. 1 BR + Sun Roomfrom $575/mo (UF) 1 BR + Denfrom $575/mo (UF) 2 BRfrom $495/mo (F) BARR REAL ESTATE, INC. 356-1873 www.barr-re.com

APARTMENTS FOR RENT 1,2 & 3 BR Boutique vintage hip! URBANA 209 Coler. Hardwood floors and stained glass windows. $345-615 308 W. Green. Split level floor plan. Pet friendly! $545-685 704 W. Stoughton. Hardwood floors, tree-lined cobblestone. 402 S. Race. Near Lincoln Square Mall. Charming studio, hardwood floors, unique woodwork. Free parking, steam heat. $465. 1105/ 1107 W. Oregon. 100 yards to the QUAD. $535-615. 1108 Nevada. Vintage - hardwood floors next to Music Landscape Architecture. 100 yards to QUAD. $555 CHAMPAIGN 310 Chalmers. 200 yards to the QUAD. $555-775. 407 E. Stoughton. Two blocks to Green St. $340-595. 605 S. Fourth. 300 yards to the UNION - Altgeld! $430-455 1012 & 1010 S. First. Two blocks to IMPE. On the busline. $300-465. Ramshaw Real Estate (217) 359-6400 www.ramshaw.com

Available for Fall 407 E. University. Luxury one bedrooms, fully equipped- microwave, washer/dryer in-unit. Security building with elevator. Balconies, underground parking. Hardwick Apartments 356-5272

Courtyard Apartments 713 S. Randolph, Champaign Renting for Fall/2 & 3 Bedrooms. Furnished & Unfurnished From $608/mo. Includes cable, parking, water. Has laundry facility and seasonal pool. Near campus and downtown Champaign.

Available Now. 2 bedroom on campus. $550 per month. 367-6626. COUNTRY FAIR APARTMENTS 1 & 2 bedroom, furnished or unfurnished, FREE gas heat, water, trash removal, basic satellite TV & FREE parking! Pool, tennis court, inside laundry. On 4 MTD bus routes. Small pet O.K. Ask about our student leases. M-F 9-5:30, Sat. 9-12 Call 359-3713 or just stop by our office in the red barn, at 2106 W. White, C. www.myapartmenthome.com

☺ Prime campus, brand new 502 S. 5th 1 BR. REAL NICE, A MUST SEE. Laundry facilities and park. $575. Large house, share w/1 person downtown Champaign. Sunny, spacious, wood floors, W/D, $450 + shared utility package. Parking. Bike/ bus to campus. 7/1. 351-5060

2 Bedrooms 901 W. Springfield, U 111 S. Lincoln, U

$540-565

$595-650 $695

4 Bedrooms 1010 W. Springfield, U Only 1 Left! 111 S. Lincoln, U Only 1 Left!

UNIQUE Available for fall. 1 bedroom loft apartment. Fully equipped. Balcony, parking. 409 W. Green. Call Hardwick Apartments, 356-5272

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

JTS PROPERTIES 111 E. HEALY, C. Now Leasing for August 2004. Extra large 1 bedroom and efficiencies Price ranging from $375-$510. Off-street parking, security building and 5 floor plans to choose from. JTS Properties 328-4284.

*CAMPUS* 2BR APARTMENTS Nice, safe, quiet neighborhood near Lincoln & Green, furnished, A/C, Ethernet, balcony, laundry, parking, etc. Shown Monday- Saturday. $640/mo. 398-6677.

1 bedroom. Available August 15. $425/mo. Parking included. 108 E. Stoughton, C. 384-0333.

352-8540, 355-4608 pm. www.faronproperties.com

Executive Lofts Available for Fall.

2 BEDROOM CONDO 1 mile from campus, super quiet, hardwood floors, garage, free wi-fi, plus much more! $750/mo. Available mid August. wbsteele@uiuc.edu or call 344-2620.

201 S. Wright St. Champaign Adjacent to Engineering campus. Loft bedroom, security parking. Balcony, A/C, laundry. Hardwick Apartments 356-5272

SPACIOUS 4 BR APT. 509 W. NEVADA, U. (4 BLOCKS FROM QUAD). NEAR KRANNERT MUSIC AND COMPUTER LAB. ALL UTILITITES PAID. STARTING AUG. 15. 367-0956.

Apartments Serving Campustown Since 1969 3 Bedrooms 1010 W. Springfield, U Only 1 Left! 111 S. Lincoln, U Only 1 Left!

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

1005 S. SECOND, C Efficiencies. Fall 2004. Secured building. Private parking. Laundry on site, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

Bailey

1 Bedroom 911 W. Springfield, U Only 1 Left!

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$1065 $990

$1395 $990

Office: 911 W. Springfield, Urbana www.BaileyApartments.com • 344-3008

• Near engineering & computer science campus (Urbana side) • DSL Available • Parking Available • Furnished • Microwave • Dishwashers (In 2-3-4 BR Apt) • Central A/C • 24 Hr. Maintenance • Laundry • No Pets • Garbage • Mo. Preventitive Pest Control • Excellent Tenant Union record

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Iceland’s múm bring eclectic sound to U.S. in support of new release BY SHADIE ELNASHAI | STAFF WRITER

ecently, Icelandic artists such as Sigur Rós and Björk have been receiving attention around the world with their uncompromisingly unique sounds. Yet the national music has always been understandably diverse and distinctive, it has been so under a different guise to that found today. Countless sacred texts relating to ancient Nordic mythology have established a culture quite unlike anything else in the West. The terrain consists of vast landscapes of plateaus interspersed with mountain peaks and ice fields that predate civilization. The coasts are indented by bays and fjords that further vary the surroundings. Even the extreme nature of the climate exposes the natives to every sort of weather. In many ways, Iceland’s inherent beauty has remained uncorrupted by modernism, and it is precisely this oneness with nature that has spawned its music. Kristín Anna Valtysdóttir, lead singer of múm, explains, “In the old days, there weren’t many instruments. People would sing poetry and rhymes, telling stories through them. People would sing whilst at work.” The epic chant, or rimur, is still explored today through artists such as Steindor Andersen, but today the scene is “really healthy, full of experimentation and musicians just enjoying themselves.” In fact, today, many Icelandic artists are choosing to focus on contemporary technology, with electronica-influenced genres enjoying an unprecedented popularity. Thus múm’s formation in 1997 was perfectly timed. They have

Random Fact: The person who performs the Muppets - Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal, and Grover is Frank Oz. Oz is also the voice of Star Wars Yoda.

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | ICELAND’S MAIN ENERGY SOURCE IS GEOTHERMAL

Summer made good

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MÚM WEBSITE

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consistently delivered some of the most innovative music to emerge in years, while constantly expanding their musical capabilities. Their first release in 2000, Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OK, was an IDM masterpiece that they released through Icelandic label Thule. However, its overwhelming critical success thrust them into a not altogether welcome limelight. According to Valt?sdóttir, their label only succeeded in exacerbating the problem. “They didn’t really understand what we wanted. We were offered a deal to sell a song to Nike and we said no. A few weeks later our manager was asked by Sony and sold the song without telling us about it,” Valtysdottir said. The band was more sad than angry, and moved to FatCat, the label where Sigur Rós made their name. It was a much more pleasant experience: “They’re wonderful people, friends of ours … they like to hear our music,” Valtysdottir said. The label didn’t interfere at all, and múm rewarded their confidence with the majestic Finally We Are No-One, which was even more successful than its predecessor. At this point in múm’s hitherto brief history, Kristín’s twin sister Gy∂a left the band. That left only Valtysdóttir and founding members Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar flóreyjarson Smárason. “She didn’t really like touring. She left to study cello at University,” she explains. Regardless, the twins will forever be immortalized on the cover of Belle & Sebastian’s Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant, for which she has a somewhat simple explanation: “We met them at a festival five years ago. We played football and Stuart had the idea.” Her matter-of-fact approach reveals an underlying assumption that it was always natural for her to play music, hence her infinite willingness to try out new things. For instance, she recently provided guest vocals on Mice Parade’s Obrigado Saudade, before touring to support the album. “It’s normal to go play music for two weeks with your friends. Adam Pierce is a really good friend of mine … He’s in such a different musical place to me … but I enjoy their music and it’s so much fun to play with them.” múm also provided an alternative score for Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 Soviet masterpiece The Battleship Potemkin, which has only been performed three times: “We did it once for the Museum of Iceland, and again in a Russian bath house

in Brooklyn, and then once at a Spanish film festival.” The structure constraints that were the project’s prerequisites merely offered another challenge for the band to work through, but the final product now only exists as an unreleased bootleg that she hints may not yet have been discarded by the band. After the departure of the classically trained Gy∂a, múm’s music further evolved, becoming more experimental while still increasing in its proficiency. To compose the songs that would appear on Summer Make Good, the trio retired to a remote lighthouse “in the west of Iceland. We had gone there twice to make music. We went there and played all these new ideas we had.” The high degree of isolation resulted in an alternative set of influences affecting their music, including “the weather and some other small things. Maybe just a sentence someone says that doesn’t leave your mind for days.” The band effortlessly assimilated their surroundings to add further texture to an already complex work. Ultimately, Valtysdóttir proved reluctant to attempt defining the band’s music, saying, “I prefer to hear what other people have to say about it.” The album was perfectly constructed, a subtle expression of a reconciliation between lush soundscapes and seductive sensuality which, in its unassuming and modest manner, was a landmark for the band. In addition, it borrowed more heavily from traditional Icelandic music, making it indicative of a modern manifestation of the customary style. Through all of this, the band has retained an astounding level of modesty, apparently unaware of the success they’ve had. Whereas on stage the crystalline delicacy of Valtysdóttir’s voice entrances audiences, she casually trivializes her enviable abilities. “I used to be really shy about it … I enjoy singing but I don’t have any training,” she says. The band will be joined by a host of musicians for their upcoming American tour, as well as Kim Hiorthøy, the band’s opening act, who will offer up some of the more sophisticated electronica stylings around today. buzz

Catch múm at Chicago’s Logan’s Square Auditorium on June 26. Tickets can be purchased through The Empty Bottle for $14.

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NO LOLLAPALOOZA MEANS I’LL HAVE TO SEE THESE BANDS ONE BY ONE | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004

CDReviews

6/23/04

moments of delicacy juxtaposed in rugged sounds. C’mon Miracle is a mature and earnest Mirah taking her talented voice into quieter realms than her previous outings. Though this is merely a continuation of her work with Elvrum, theirs stands as one of the finest artist-producer relationships with the two complementing each other perfectly. Mirah’s voice soars over the often bleak soundscape created by Elvrum coming out bright and beautiful.

THE MARTINIS Smitten Distracted Records

★ BY KYLE B. GORMAN

MIRAH C’Mon Miracle K Records

★★★ BY JACOB DITTMER

It seems in this masculine world that it’s hard to find female singers of quality and sincerity. Sure we’ve got Britney heralding a younger generation of ladies to show their midriff and pose as talented singers, not sex symbols. Then there is Celine Dion selling out shows in Las Vegas, cashing in on that wonderful dirge “My Heart Will Go On.” In the mainstream indie scene, it seems even bleaker, although there are many female talents out there but so few receive attention. Thank goodness for K Records, once again, for discovering and propelling the luscious vocals of Mirah into the indie rock scene. Known largely for her work with Phil Elvrum of the Microphones (think of the wonderful guest vocals on The Glow pt. 2), Mirah has released several albums and guested on many other K Records endeavors. Her soft and sweet voice is easily distinguished from those around her as she sings with a sincerity rivaled only by the best female singer/songwriters. On C’Mon Miracle, Mirah’s voice is the center stage as it is with so many other singers but hers is complemented well by the production of Phil Elvrum. The trademark sounds of K Records are prevalent with much of the album’s lo-fi qualities sparkling and several songs taking on a very Microphones-esque sound (see “The Light” and “Look Up!”). Her folk sensibilities are countered by Elvrum’s love of sonic chaos showcasing Mirah’s abilities to create music in both the placid and jagged terrains. The opening track “Nobody has to Stay” starts with the moan of cellos and softly-plucked guitars as Mirah’s delicate voice quivers with her first breath, sounding as though it may break at any moment. This theme continues throughout the album with

As lead guitarist of the incredibly influential and painfully overexposed Pixies, Joey Santiago was the instigator of the musical insanity that served to back up the lyrical madness of Black Francis. Bizarrely angled, soft, and always sunny intros somehow found their way to nuclear-grade, painfully loud choruses. Just as everything old is suddenly new (you can thank VH1), the retro-pop-culture magnifying glass has finally come to 1988, while, appropriately enough, the Pixies return to the stage. While Kim Deal was able establish herself as a solo artist both during the Pixies’ run and after the breakup, Joey Santiago didn’t appear to have such aspirations, preferring to work instead as a composer. The solo ambition, however, runs deep, and what a better time? Smitten marks the first full-length release from the Martinis, a band of Joey and wife Linda Mallari on lead vocalist. More surf-rock waves wash over the music than in Pixies outings, and though you can expect more than one Joey Santiago signature trippy scale, overall, the music on Smitten is more straightforward, settling for a largely upper-mid-tempo, summer rock song. There are no bursts of noise, no stomach-like rumbles of pop music insanity. Though the plateau-shaped platforms of sound are still in place around the chorus, the dynamics are somewhat compressed, and no guitar sound is without it’s ProTools treatment. Mallari, a classically trained vocalist, sounds rather comfortable as a pop singer, and is able to blow through the set with ease. The sound she cultivates is clean and very adult, though her tendency to try on as many vocal styles as possible in the song is disconcerting. Lots of doubled vocal lines give Mallari’s Cher-to-Sonny’s songs a creepy feel, while the backing tracks often fail to closely match the melody they’re supposed to harmonize on. Lyrically, the recording is a testament to a borderline obsession with cramming complex, rhythmically awkward lines where something more straightforward would be more acceptable. Mallari’s writing strays away from machines of bone and the slicing of eyeballs, and instead prefers the one obvious thing the duo has in common: their obviously reciprocal love. In

love she is desireful and desirable, but not terribly believable. Pop music between married couples might be cute, but no one would mistake it for moving: there’s no sense of not having what you want, which just doesn’t allow for listeners to care. The truly valuable role of this album is the various introduction riffs, which provide something of a methadone-to-heroin fix for Pixies junkies craving more. Be warned however, junkies, when it, you won’t exactly feel like Jesus’ son. Goofy, squeaky noises mar the otherwise beautiful “Right Behind You.” Appearances by, among others, Santiago’s old timekeeper David Lovering fail to make an impression. Overall, the album disappoints more often than not. Both the independent music press and distributors have largely ignored this release, despite the fact that Pixies have, at this moment, more name-recognition than ever before. It is wrong to say that Smitten is weak because it fails to conform to what one would expect from Santiago’s previous work. However, it can’t be ignored that this record fails to be fun like power pop, to be affecting in the way female-led contemporary rock is, or to be inventive and utterly mindblowing like Pixies.

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depressing message, however the accompanying beat ranges from light-hearted and cheery in “Another Way to Kill Me”to that of lonely despair in “Someday”(which by the way is a remarkable closing song). This combination of joyous sounds and sorrowful lyrics gives an interesting feeling. In tracks “Three Girls Ago”,“Another Way to Kill Me” and “Too Late to Say Goodbye”, a problematic scenario described in the lyrics is moved along with an up-beat tempo. For instance in the track “Too Late to Say Goodbye,” Gordon tells us about how he found himself in too deep with a girl, to the point where he was employed by her father, as he puts it “Chances are I wouldn’t feel so bad/ If I hadn’t started working for her dad.” Now the girl wants marriage (“She’s got minivans on her mind”) and he can’t find a way out. And in the background is the happiest beat you’ll find on the album. These tracks along with instances in their others songs give the album a “mylife-sucks-but-I’m-okay-with-it” feel. Songs (and the album as a whole) can leave the listener slightly depressed and satisfied at the same time. To aid in this feeling the Gordon brothers provide great songwriting. Songs are crafted well and will probably take people at least a few listens to understand what exactly they are talking about.This element along with a few crucial catchy lines spread throughout the tracks gives great replay value to a rather short album. Songs average three minutes while the whole CD takes a little over a half an hour to play through. Nevertheless it’s a strong debut for the band, and I hope to see more in the future.

Impeccably dressed rockers Interpol have announced September 28 as the release date for their much anticipated follow-up to 2002’s smash Turn On The Bright Lights. The album, entitled Antics, will be released via Matador and features 10 new tracks of material that the band says will be slightly poppier than previous material.

Cafe Tacuba have announced plans for a U.S. tour which will begin July 14 in Austin, Texas. The tour will be in support of last year’s Cuatro Caminos, which won a Grammy for best Latin rock/alternative album. The album was damn good, to boot.

DANCING Latin Dance Night – salsa, cha-cha, merengue, bachata – McKinley Foundation, 9:30-11:30pm, $1

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke/DJ – Neil Street Pub, 8pm-12am, free

WednesdayJune30 LIVE MUSIC Kilborn Alley – blues – Tommy G's, 9pm, free Hard Poor Korn – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Afroman – Canopy Club, 10pm, $8

★★★

KARAOKE

BY BRIAN KLEIN

I know a lot of brothers that like to fight. It’s what they do best. Most of the time it’s all they do. But once in a while, a pair comes around that changes the world. The Wright brothers are a perfect example. When Wilbur and Orville put their minds together and succeeded in the first recorded flight ever, they showed that two brothers can be a productive unit and contribute to society in tandem. Although Ben and Jeremy Gordon are no Wright brothers, and though it is unlikely they will ever come close to changing the world, they do have the potential to make a name for themselves. A few years back, while they were still on their separate musical paths, they both found themselves in the final round of the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Realizing that two heads are better than one, the Gordon brothers joined forces in 2003 to form The Vestals, an alt-rock quartet (with members Mario Garza and Mark Weigel) out of Minneapolis. Earlier this year, the band released their debut album Vestals. The talent of the Gordon brothers anchors the young band while both Ben and Jeremy contribute their voices along with their guitar, keyboard, and xylophone skills. Ben is also credited with the sounds of the kazoo, which I’m sure is a major source of tension and sibling rivalry. In terms of content, most all of the songs include a

90 DAY MEN Panda Park Southern Records

★★★ BY IMRAN SIDDIQUEE

Have you ever been walking down the street, minding your own business, when suddenly the sidewalk gets a bit uneven and you trip, falling face down on the cement? Besides the embarrassment that might follow, you tend to wonder about how you didn’t see that coming. Well 90 Day Men have a sound that is something similar to that feeling. They have songs that are filled with little surprises that interrupt the normal walks you take through music. Abrupt melodies and drum beats, eccentric vocals and strange noises make their new LP Panda Park an unpredictable yet rewarding experience. The album cover of Panda Park kind of reminds me of Michael Jackson’s Dangerous cover on acid. Nevertheless I found it entirely captivating; there is just something about those panda’s picking flowers. Whatever it is, the cover establishes a feeling of otherworldliness that the album encompasses. The first song begins with a simple piano and drum melody but is quickly joined by jaunting vocals and a killer guitar riff. Though it may be hard to deci-

Sifting through the commotion and crap of music culture The much-talked about indie rock festival Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson are coLollapalooza is cancelled. The tour which headlining a summer tour of minor league baseball parks across the United States. The show kicks of August 6 and runs through September 4. According to Billboard, Dylan says, ”What we aim to do with this tour is hit the ball out of the park, touch all the bases, and get home safely.” You gotta love that guy.

NOX: DJ ZoZo – goth, industrial, electroclash – Highdive, 10pm, $2 DJ J-Phlip – Boltini, 10:30pm, free

Warming House Records

THE VESTALS Vestals

What the hell? Moment of the week Paris Hilton is currently working with rapper/producer/very funny Dave Chappelle impersonation Lil’ Jon on tracks for a debut. Come on, everybody, say it: “YEEAYAHH!” Lil ‘Jon agreed to produce tracks for the untitled album after meeting Hilton in a Los Angeles club, where she leaned over and started rapping into his ear. Sure, an album might be cool, but if you could get these two together for a sitcom? Man, oh man. Somewhere, FOX executives are crapping themselves with excitement.

calendar

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Hoppin' with Capt'n Eddy – Historic Lincoln Hotel, 6pm, free Chef Ra – reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free Salsateca! with DJ Bris Mueller – salsa, mambo, bachata – Cowboy Monkey, 9pm, free DJ Boardwalk – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, free She-Jays: DJ J-Phip, DJ Lil' Big Bass – house, drum 'n bass, 2-step – Highdive, 10pm, $2 DJ Limbs – Boltini, 10:30pm, free

The Hurly-Burly featured Modest Mouse, Sonic Youth and numerous other “it” bands was scheduled to begin July 14. Founder and organizer Perry Farrell was sad to announce the end of the tour before it started, citing poor ticket sales as the culprit.

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"G" Force Karaoke – TNT corner tavern in Rantoul, 8pm-12am, TBA “Liquid Courage Karaoke” – Fat City Saloon, 8pm12am, TBA

C-UVENUES Alto Vineyards 4210 N Duncan Rd, Champaign, 356-4784 Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333-5000 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367-3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352-9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355-2045 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351-0068 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378-8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 351-9011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367-3140 Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337-7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367-3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333-4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398-2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383-1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359-5565 D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356-0888 Elmer’s Club 45 3525 N Cunningham, Urbana, 344-3101 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384-9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398-5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398-5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356-7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359-7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359-1678 Highdive 51 Main, Champaign, 359-4444 Huber’s 1312 W Church, Champaign, 352-0606 Illinois Disciples Foundation 610 E Springfield, Champaign, 352-8721 Independent Media Center 218 W Main St, Urbana, 344-8820 The Iron Post 120 S Race, Urbana, 337-7678 Joe’s Brewery 706 S Fifth, Champaign, 384-1790 Kam’s 618 E Daniel, Champaign, 328-1605 Krannert Art Museum 500 E Peabody, Champaign, 333-1861 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S Goodwin, Urbana,Tickets: 333-6280, 800-KCPATIX La Casa Cultural Latina 1203 W Nevada, Urbana, 333-4950 Lava 1906 W Bradley, Champaign, 352-8714 Legends Bar & Grill 522 E Green, Champaign, 355-7674 Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328-4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344-7720 Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club 14 N Hazel, Danville, 442-8090 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328-7415 Mike n’ Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355-1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367-5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352-7275 Nargile 207 W Clark St, Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359-1601 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344-7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351-2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355-7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893-8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582-9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766-9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344-1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367-7031 Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355-1406

Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333-2360 The Station Theatre 223 N Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328-1655 Sweet Betsy’s 805 S Philo Rd, Urbana Ten Thousand Villages 105 N Walnut, Champaign, 352-8938 TK Wendl’s 1901 S Highcross Rd, Urbana, 255-5328 Tommy G’s 123 S Mattis Ave, Country Fair Shopping Center, 359-2177 Tonic 619 S Wright, Champaign, 356-6768 Two Main 2 Main, Champaign, 359-3148 University YMCA 1001 S Wright, Champaign, 344-0721 Verde/Verdant 17 E Taylor St, Champaign, 366-3204 Virginia Theatre 203 W Park Ave, Champaign, 356-9053 White Horse Inn 112 1/2 E Green, Champaign, 352-5945 Zorba’s 627 E Green, Champaign

CHICAGOSHOWS JUNE 6/24 Peter Himmelman & Band @ Park West, 18+ 6/24 Richard Thompson @ House of Blues 6/25 Taj Mahal & The Hula Blues Band @ House of Blues, 18+ 6/25 Jonathan Richman w/Tommy Larkins @ Double Door 6/25-26 & 28-29 Prince @ Allstate Arena 6/26 Primus @ UIC Pavilion 6/25-27 Magnetic Fields @ Old Town School of Folk Music 6/26 Brother Ali @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 6/26 Mum @ Logan Square Auditorium, all-ages 6/27 Leon Russell @ Abbey Pub 6/28-29 Pedro the Lion @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 6/30 Los Lobos @ Park West, 6/30, (rescheduled from 4/30)

JULY 7/1 Soulive @ House of Blues, 18+ 7/1 Sotckholm Syndrome @ Metro, 18+ 7/1 311, Roots @ Tweeter Center 7/2 David Murray Creole Project III @ HotHouse 7/2 Samples @ House of Blues, 18+ 7/2 Jaga Jazzist @ Empty Bottle 7/2 Iron & Wine @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 7/2 Hidden Variable, Phantom 45 @ Smart Bar 7/2 Blue October @ Schubas 7/2 Dieselboy @ Metro, 18+ 7/2 Johnny Clegg @ Park West, 18+ 7/3 John Cowan Band, Vassar Clements @ Abbey Pub 7/3 Rooney @ House of Blues, all-ages 7/3 Tim McGraw @ Tweeter Center 7/4 ZZ Top, Doors of the 21st Century @ Tweeter Center 7/4 Frankie Knuckles @ House of Blues 7/6 Jet @ House of Blues, all-ages 7/6 Jessica Simpson @ Tweeter Center 7/6 Inti-Illimani @ HotHouse 7/6 Afroman @ Double Door 7/7 Mooney Suzuki @ Metro, all-ages 7/7 Courtney Love & The Chelsea @ Vic, all-ages 7/8 Jazzanova @ Smart Bar 7/9 Kiss, Poison @ Tweeter Center 7/9 Vienna Teng, Ben Arthur, Abra Moore @ Schubas, 18+ 7/9 Johnny Winter @ House of Blues 7/9 Pat McGee Band, Great Big Sea @ Skyline Stage, 18+ 7/9 Bering Strait @ Joe’s 7/9-10 Rudi Protrudi @ Lyons Den (9), Underground Lounge (10) 7/10 Saves the Day @ Metro, all-ages 7/10 Jimmy Buffett @ Alpine Valley, sold out 7/10 Album Leaf @ Schubas 7/10 Kindred the Family Soul @ House of Blues 7/10 Three Doors Down, Nickelback @ Tweeter Center 7/10 O.A.R., Howie Day @ New City YMCA, all-ages 7/11 K.D. Lang @ Ravinia 7/11-12, 7/14-15 Madonna @ United Center, sold out 7/12 Don Henley @ Ravinia 7/13 John Hiatt @ Ravinia 7/13 Ozric Tentacles @ Martyrs’ 7/13, 7/18 Alive Cooper @ Skyline Stage (13), Star Plaza (18) 7/14 Josh Holmes @ Schubas 7/14 Incubus @ Allstate Arena 7/15 Carole King @ Auditorium Theatre 7/15-16 New Year @ Schubas, 7/15 18+ 7/16 Brave Combo @ FitzGerald’s 7/16 Natalie Cole @ Skyline Stage 7/16, 7/18 John Wesley Harding @ Schubas 7/17 Bad Examples @ FitzGerald’s 7/17 Eric Clapton @ United Center 7/17 Gipsy Kings @ Chicago Theatre 7/17 Good Life @ Schubas 7/17 Gravy Train @ Fireside Bowl 7/17 Poncho Sanchez @ HotHouse 7/17 Britney Spears, JC Chasez @ Tweeter Center 7/18 Sting, Annie Lennox @ Tweeter Center 7/18 Cowboy Junkies @ Skyline Stage 7/19-20 Van Halen @ United Center, 7/19 sold out 7/21 Red West @ Schubas 7/21 Jimmie Vaughn @ House of Blues 7/21 Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morissette @ Tweeter Center 7/21 Camera Obscura @ Empty Bottle 7/22 Kansas @ Skyline Stage

7/22 Steel Pulse @ House of Blues, 18+ 7/22-23 Finn Brothers @ Vic, all-ages 7/23 Matthew Dear @ Empty Bottle 7/23 Split Lip Rayfield @ Abbey Pub 7/23 Kottonmouth Kings @ House of Blues, all-ages 7/23 HIM @ HotHouse 7/23 Ojos de Brujo @ Metro, 18+ 7/24 Warped Tour – New Found Glory, Rufio, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, Simple Plan @ Tweeter Center 7/24 The Dead @ Alpine Valley 7/24 Cex @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 7/24 DJ Hype @ Metro, 18+ 7/25-27 Chris Isaak @ House of Blues, 7/25-26 sold out 7/27 Blues Traveler @ Ravinia 7/29 Finch @ Metro, all-ages 7/29 Lollapalooza – Morrissey, Sonic Youth, Modest Mouse, Le Tigre @ Tweeter Center 7/30 Lollapalooza – String Cheese Incident, Flaming Lips, Michael Franti, Spearhead @ Tweeter Center 7/30 Brother Danielson @ Empty Bottle 7/30 Hilary Duff @ Allstate Arena 7/31 Boyz II Men, En Vogue, Silk @ Star Plaza 7/31 Toby Keith @ Tweeter Center 7/31 Hanson @ Skyline Stage, sold out 7/31 Minders @ Schubas 7/31 Oneida @ Empty Bottle 7/31 Reel Big Fish, Lucky Boys Confusion @ Congress Theater, all-ages

ART NOTICES Art Classes by Sandra Ahten:“Drawing and Painting” & “Drawing from a Model” – “Painting”: Now thru July 15, Thurs 7-9pm. Beginning to intermediate drawing and painting. Instruction available for beginners. Experienced artists welcome. High Cross Art Studio. 367-6345. spiritofsandra.com. Faux Finishing workshops – Boyer Drawing & Painting Studio in Lincoln Square Mall. Aug 25. 9am-5pm. Fee: $195. Info: 369-8838 or www.boyerdrawing.com. Creation Art Studios – Open Studio Sessions of independent study for children and adults. CPDU’s offered for teachers. 1102 E Washington St, U. www.creationartstudios.com. 344-6955. Reflection and Creation Art Worshop/Retreats – Workshops at Creation Art Studios with artist Jeannine Bestoso. Snacks. Pre-register. Fee: $50. 9am-1pm – July 18. Four CPDU’s offered. 344-6955, www.creationartstudios.com, jbestos@msn.com. Call for Entries for "Inside the Box: A Shoebox Show" – The Parkland Art Gallery invites artists to enter the show. All works must fit into a 4" x 12" x 8" shoebox. Entry fee: $25. Info: 351-2485 or www.parkland.edu/gallery.

ART EXHIBITS Cafe Kopi – Work from Melissa Washburn on display. 109 N Walnut, C. M-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am12pm, Sun 11am-8pm. 359-4266. Creation Art Studios Gallery – Artwork by director Jeannine Bestoso, Andy Gillis, Shoshanna Bauer, Amy Richardson and students of the studio. Art commissions and custom framing available. M-Sat, 1-5:30pm and other scheduled times. 1102 E Washington, U. creationartstudios.com. 344-6955. Glass FX – Interested in learning the art of stained glass? Beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes offered. M-Thu, 10am-5:30pm; Fri, 10am5pm; Sat, 9am-4pm. 202 S 1st, C. www.glassfx.com. 359-0048. Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine and original art. 11 E University, C. Mon-Thu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am4:30pm. 355-8338. “Changing Rooms: The Creation of Cinematic Space in the Works of Harry Horner” – Krannert Art Museum, display thru Sept 19. 500 E Peabody, U. Tu, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, W 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. Sugg Don: $3. “Healing Works” – A display of art work honoring trauma survivors. On display at the Independent Media Center Middle Room Gallery. 218 W Main St, Suite 110, U. carahale@uiuc.edu.

"Eyes Hands Kids" – A curated exhibition of art by Champaign Unit 4 students grades K-5. Displayed thru July 25. Opening reception will be this Fri, 68pm. Springer Cultural Center. M-F 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm. 398-2376, www.champaignparkdistrict.com. New Interpreted Images by Larry Kanfer – Each piece uses technology and is a giclee. Larry Kanfer Gallery. 2503 S Neil, C. Free. M-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 398-2000. www.kanfer.com. Prairie Boatworks Gallery – Watercolors by Heather Collier, earthenware self-portraits by Parkland sculpture students, paintings by Olivia Walder. Thru Sun. Fri & Sat, 12-5pm; Sun, 12-4pm. “Vision to Verse, Verse to Vision: A Visual and Poetic Dialouge” – Paintings by Jessica Damen and poetry by Maj Ragain on display at Verde Gallery thru Sept 4. 17 E Taylor St, C. Cafe: M-Sat 7am-10pm; Gallery: Tu-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204. “Origonal Watercolors and Pastels” – Artwork from Andy Gillis and Jeannine Bestoso on display thru July 31 at Aroma Cafe. 118 N Neil, C. Open 7 days a week, 7am-12am. Info: Amanda Bickle at 356-3200, art4aroma@yahoo.com. “Allen Stringfellow Retrospective” – Focusing on religion, gospel, and jazz music, his work imparts a lively historical and personal perspective on African-American life in Chicago and Champaign. 500 E Peabody, U. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Sugg Don: $3. “Invectives” – Artist Scott Mitchell exhibits this series of works that critique the predicaments of humanity in a political and socially mindful way. Many of Mitchell's pieces mock corporate America, technology, and the art world. On display at Parkland Art Gallery this Monday thru Aug 5. Reception: July 1, 6-8pm in the Gallery Lounge. Gallery talk by Mitchell: July 1, 7pm in the Gallery. Hours: M-Thur, 10am-2pm; Tu-Thur, 6-8pm. Info: 351-2485.

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ThursdayJune24 LIVE MUSIC Acoustic Music Series: Javelinas – Aroma, 8pm, free U of I Summer Big Band – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Acoustic Music Series: Brandon T. Washington – White Horse, 9:30pm, free The Bryan Holloway Somethin’ – jazz – Zorba's, 9:30pm, $3 Kilborn Alley – blues – Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 The Midnight Special: Lorenzo Goetz, 2ON2OUT – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Terminus Victor, American Death, Dirty Johnny and The Make-Believers, Jaded Kayne – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, $4

DJ DJ J-Phlip – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Stifler – 80's hair bands – Tommy G's, 9pm, free DJ Delayney – Nargile, 10pm, $5 DJ Bozak – Boltini, 10:30pm, free

SPOKEN WORD The Northstar Lounge hosted by CZAR Absolute of Animate Objects – hip-hop/spoken word poetry set/open mic – Nargile, 10:30pm, $5

KARAOKE "G" Force Karaoke/DJ – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm, TBA Live Band Karaoke with The Cheezy Trio Highdive, 10pm, $3

FridayJune25 LIVE MUSIC The Bryan Holloway Somethin’ – Cowboy Monkey, 5pm, free Jeff Helgesen Quintet – The Iron Post, 5-7pm, TBA Joni Laurence – Taste of Champaign, 5pm, free Happy Hour: Prairie Dogs – Tommy G's, 5pm, free Keith Harden Band Reunion – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JUNE 24 - 30, 2004

Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover Local H and Emotional Rec Club – Canopy Club, 10pm, $12 Baked – classic rock – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover The Mighty Pranksters – Fat City Saloon, TBA, cover Taste of Champaign: X-Krush – Westside Park, 7:30pm, TBA Delta Kings – rock, blues – Elmer’s Club 45, 9pm1am, TBA Missing the Point, Unlucky Penny – The Shed in Dewey, IL, 7pm, $2

DJ DJ Bozak – hip-hop – Barfly, 9pm, free Nekromancy: DJ SorceryKid – new wave, industrial – Red Herring, 9pm, $2 DJ J-Phlip – Boltini, 10pm, free Onda Tropicale: DJ Mambo Italiano – reggae, ska, 80's retro – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free DJ Resonate – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, free Salsa Night – Nargile, 10pm, TBA DJ Tim Williams – dance – The Highdive, 10pm, $5

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke – Urbana American Legion, 8pm1am, TBA

SaturdayJune26 LIVE MUSIC The Red Hot Valentines – Taste of Champaign, 7:30pm, free Swing Guitars – Borders, 8-10pm, free Loco Diablo, Alchymist, Jaded Kayne, Drive Theory – Canopy Club, 9pm, $5 The Jeff and Vida Band – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA The Virtues – Mike 'n Molly's (beergarden), 9pm, TBA Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover The Bryan Holloway Somethin' – Brass Rail, 10pm, free Jim Cole, Andon Davis, Lisa Boucher, Don Gerard – rock, folk, blues – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $4

Jeff Helgesen & Rachael Lee – Alto Vineyards, 811pm, $3 X-Krush – Fat City Saloon, 8:30pm, cover Taste of Champaign: Triskelion – West Side Park, 6pm, TBA

KARAOKE

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

MondayJune28

Senior Chorus – Krannert Center, 11am, free Senior Orchestra – Krannert Center, 12:30pm, free Senior Concert Band – Krannert Center, 2pm, free Senior Symphonic Band – Krannert Center, 3:15pm, free Advanced Piano Camp – Smith Memorial Hall: Recital Hall, 10:30am, free Musical Theatre Camp – Smith Memorial Hall: Recital Hall, 3:30pm, free Advanced Flute Camp – Music Building: Auditorium, 1:30pm, free

DJ DJ Resonate – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Limbs – Boltini, 10pm, free DJ Tim Williams – Highdive, 10pm, $5 DJ Stifler – 80's hair bands – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Chillin' Like Villains – Embassy Tavern, TBA, free “Soulful Saturdays” w/ DJ Phokiss, Chill Will, DJ World – Watusi Lounge, free before 11pm

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke/DJ – Sappy’s on Devenshire, 9pm, TBA

SundayJune27 LIVE MUSIC Two Rivers – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30pm, free Joni Laurence – Wind, Water & Light, 3-5pm, free Grass Roots Revival – gospel – Courtyard Sunday, 9-10am, free

DJ DJ Delayney – hip-hop, funk, downbeat – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Bozak – Boltini, 10:30pm, free

buzz

“G” Force Karaoke and DJ – T.K. Wendl’s, after softball until 2am, TBA

LIVE MUSIC Jazz Jam with ParaDocs – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Open Mic Night hosted by Adam Wolfe – White Horse Inn, 9:30pm, free Open Mic Night hosted by Mike Ingram – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free

DJ DJ Carlos – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Betty Rocker – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, free DJ Lil' Big Bass – Nargile, 10pm, free DJ Bozak – Boltini, 10:30pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Community Drum Circle – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm, free

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke and DJ – T.K. Wendl’s, after softball until 2am, TBA

TuesdayJune29

buzz

pher the lyrics on first listen (or second and third listen for that matter), the song has some interestingly ambiguous lines, “landscape’s aside/flames burns bright/far above the skyline/I have discovered a new world/graced to fall.” “Chronological Disorder” finds the boys sounding like Axl Rose on vocals, but never forgetting the piano and simple guitars that form the backbone of the song. The piano is ever present throughout the album, something that helps to keep the melodic undertones of some of their hard rock moments. “Sequel” sounds like something on the verge of breaking out into an all-out Modest Mouse “Float On” type jam (which, by the way, is still extremely catchy even though the world has tried to ruin it with overplay), but never quite leaves the intro beat and flute loop stage. It serves as a perfect halfway point for the CD. Though many of these songs are instrumental, I never once thought about the fact that there was a scarcity of words. Each note and noise rings true with meaning and passion, and as “Night Birds” closed the album I was emotionally exhausted by the sheer power of the music. The whole experience is relatively short, 32 minutes to be exact, but it doesn’t end abruptly or without closure. Everything is tautly wrapped together into a coherent piece of art. Each song is different from the one before, but tied to it with same awesome creativity. The album’s sound in general is something strangely familiar yet entirely new and alarming. 90 Day Men is a band that has immense talent, but is impossible to describe or define in terms of other music. I haven’t entirely figured it out yet, but this is a record that screams to be heard.

LIVE MUSIC Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Acoustic Music Series: Kate Hathaway – White Horse Inn, 9:30pm, free Open Mic/Open Jam hosted by Openingbands.com and Mike Armintrout – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Adam Wolfe's Acoustic Nigh with Jess Greenlee – Tommy G's, 10pm, free

TIGER SAW Gimme Danger/Gimme Sweetness

BY BRIAN KLEIN

DJ Sophisto – house, funk – Barfly, 9pm, free 2ON2OUT – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free

music

JUNE 24 - 30, 2004 | YOU’LL BE MISSED, RAY CHARLES

Kimchee Records

★★

Last spring I had a roommate who somehow got his hands on a CD of Irish harp music. I never heard much

TopFive 1.“What I’d Say(Part 1)” The man’s first big hit for Atlantic and a perfect summation of his genius groove. A classic electric piano hook that dances around a rhythm that practically defines “in the pocket.”Charles manages to bottle all the orgiastic fervor of gospel and hose it down with secular sexuality,“Hey mama don’t you treat me wrong/come and love your daddy all night long.” 2.“Drown In My Own Tears” The man who practically invented soul was also one of the strongest practitioners of its most moving trademarks: the torch-lit lover’s lament. Over the surging horns of the unmatchable Atlantic house band, Brother Ray wails to the night outside for his baby to come home. This is why Charles has one of the most recognizable voices of the 20th century and one of the most stirringly human set of pipes ever committed to tape. 3.“You Don’t Know Me” No one could steal songs like Charles; most songs he covered became indefinably his, and though Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, from which this track came, is a testament to this

of it because I was asleep within minutes. As melodically pleasing as it was, we had to put the kibosh on it at some point during the semester. It didn’t let us get any work done. The harp was the strongest sedative I knew of. For a long time I couldn’t find anything that could match it. It seems I’ve stumbled upon something pretty close though.The name of the band is Tiger Saw and the album is Gimme Danger/Gimme Sweetness. One would expect the band to be lively or aggressive, with some kind of excitement or at least an up-tempo agenda. The truth is quite the opposite. Made up of a core of Dylan Metrano, Juliet Nelson, John Gallagher, and various other part-time contributors, Tiger Saw’s roots are found in the Northeastern paradise of Newburyport, Massachusetts.The band features vocals from both Metrano and Nelson in a number of songs while Metrano solos the rest. It’s cute. I just don’t like it. It sounds too much like they’re singing to each other and not for an audience. It’s as if we are not meant to hear it. It feels like someone tranquilized Metrano before every song. At first I wanted to compare this album to Phaser and their soft tone, but I found that Tiger Saw is much too quiet to be likened to them. This is a total chill out CD; you definitely have to be in the appropriate mood if you want to get through any of these songs. The first few tracks with the Metrano/Nelson combination sound like those that weren’t meant for us, while the album holds onto its slightly jazzy sound through the remaining songs. As an exception to this trend the song “All My Friends Are Right Here With Me” injects a folk style into the lineup, which might be Tiger Saw’s best and most inane track at the same time. Metrano progresses through his songs in a methodical, cultish trance. However I do find value in this album. It is the perfect record to fall asleep too. And I don’t mean that as a joke. Just like the harp, I can see this as a good record to play if you just need to relax or as you lie down for a nap. Gimme being a nap album, the actual lyrics come secondary, and matter very little. In fact you might not even realize the absence of vocals in “West of the Sun” which sneaks into the middle as solely instrumental. But you wouldn’t notice because it sounds like all the rest. In fact the only notable lyrics come from “All My Friends” which lists off all the places Metrano’s friends have gone off to.The line “Fluffy’s at the Hotel” gets me every time. But if you get that far in the album before nodding off you earn my admiration. You have to take this one for what it’s worth, and that is nothing more than a sub-par attempt at a relaxing album.

Ray Charles songs ability, no track demonstrates it quite like “You Don’t Know Me.” His voice defines all the pain of unrequited love, erasing all the country of Eddy Arnold’s version and transforming it into a classic of heartbroken ballads. 4.“What Would I Do Without You” Ray tickles out the piano intro, the horn section bleats a bit, and the man proceeds to plead with his lover to never leave him, his voice cracking as the ascending horns match the soaring chorus. A classic gospel melody becomes not a man pleading to God for salvation but to the love of his life. One of his first classic tracks, one on which his singular genius became a genre all it’s own. 5.“Hallelujah I Love Her So” Ray’s hit were usually jumpy little pop tunes like this one and “This Little Girl of Mine.” And while the latter track certainly deserves its place in the canon, “Hallelujah” gets by mostly because it swings like a mother and David “Fathead” Newman’s sax solo pretty much kills. A joyous slice of barrelhouse that solidifies the notion that while Ray could definitely communicate the vagaries of love, he was just as good at finding the pocket.

CHARTS PARASOL RECORDS TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Goswell, Rachel - Waves Are Universal (4AD) 2. Velvet Crush - Stereo Blues (Action Musik) 3. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse (Geffen) 4. A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder (Matador) 5. Purple Confusion - The Sound Of The Atom Splitting (Gooom) 6. !!! - Louden Up Now (Touch & Go) 7. David Grubbs - A Guess at the Riddle (Drag City) 8. Unbunny - Snow Tires (Hidden Agenda) 9. The Court and Spark - Dead Diamond River (Absolutely Kosher) 10. The Fall - The Real New Fall LP (Narnack)

NEW RELEASES (JUNE 29) Reverend Horton Heat - Revival Chris Robinson - This Magnificent Distance Rush - Feedback The Cure - The Cure Goodie Mob - One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show Uncle Kracker - 72 and Sunny Jesse Malin - The Heat Dwight Yoakam - Dwight’s Used Records Keller Williams - Stage Umphrey’s McGee - Anchor Drops Squad Five-0 - Late News Breaking Stockholm Syndrome - Holy Happy Hour The Vandals - Hollywood Potato Chip Baby Bash - Ménage a Trois IQ - Dark Matter The Tragically Hip - In Between Evolution The Concretes - The Concretes

708 S. Goodwin 18+ Urbana, IL 344-BAND Ever y T uesda y

OPEN MIC/JAM NO COVER!

$2 LONG ISLANDS! $1 PBR DRAFTS! $2.50 JAGER BOMBS!

Ever y Wednesda y $ 1 Dr ink s ! Live Music ! Thur sda y, June 24

F r ida y, June 25

with

Sufrajett

Saturday, June 26 cd # 9 release party!

Drive Theory

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unlistenable

Weds, June 30

AFROMAN! Because I Got High!

Weds, Jul y 7

SUBURBAN EXPRESS “(Blindside is) similar in sound and style to melodic hard rock bands such as Incubus and P.O.D.”

Sa tur da y, Jul y 31 ONLY $20 Round-Trip Nice Big Buses - Not Vans/Minibuses No Transfer Required Enroute 12 pm and 3 pm Friday Returning Sundays (and Monday 7/5)

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Tickets for advance shows on sale now at: The Canopy Club, Family Pride, and Bacca Cigar, or call 1-800-514-ETIX. Or print tickets at home on JayTV.com!

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Drop Dead

@ Station Theatre

heck out the play Drop Dead at the Station Theatre in Urbana this week. Directed by Aaron Mathew Polk and written by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, this play within a play centers around the cast of a play the night before the opening performance. Every actor brings plenty of comedic timing and great command of

A Taste of music

each role, resulting in a fast-paced comedy that everyone will enjoy. The story is absurd, fantastical and silly, and it works, every scene of it. Be sure to check it out, it ends after this week and is definitely worth checking out. The play runs Thursday through Saturday and starts at 8 p.m. For reservations, call 384-4000.

Friday:

Candy Foster and Shades of Blue 5-6:30 p.m. Joni Laurence 5-6 p.m. The New Orleans Jazz Machine 6:30-7:30 p.m. X-Krush 7:30-9 p.m. The Brittles 8-9 p.m.

Local H T

a pop rock bent. And their live shows always prove why they have lasted as long as they have. Energetic, loud and fast, a Local H live show will make you dance and drink all night long. Local rock band Emotional Rec Club will open for Local H. Don’t miss the show. Music starts at 10 p.m. with a $10 cover at the door.

The Point teaches the Art and Sport of Fencing for all ages and levels – from beginners to international competition levels.

Saturday:

comes to town his Friday, check out Local H along with openers Emotional Rec Club at Canopy Club. Chicago band Local H take classic rock and mix it with experimental, less mainstream sounds to create a sound that still rings true to their mid-1990s musical roots. The boys bring you plenty of angstridden tunes as well as songs with more of

calendar

he Taste brings you a weekend of music from all genres and for all tastes. Candy Foster and Shades of Blue will kick off the weekend on Friday at 5 p.m. This local blues band blends blues, R&B and soul to create great live jams at every performance. Another great show at this year’s Taste will be The Brittles, a Beatles cover band that not only hits the right notes but also brings the look and attitude of the original group to the stage. The Brittles will perform Friday at 8 p.m. Start off Saturday with some quality reggae music at 11:30 a.m. Gizzae experiments with different sounds and beats but stays true to the traditional reggae feel. Later in the day, check out The

Mindset for an old school set of R&B and classic rock tunes. The Taste lasts through Sunday, when you can catch such shows as The Boneyard Creek Cloggers, Jim Cole and High Cotton. This last band adds great bluegrass music to the weekend, playing at 2 p.m. on Sunday. And if you just want to go to the Taste and see what’s there, to the right is a full list of the acts to catch.

Gizzae 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Shelley Miller 12-1 p.m. The Jeff and Vida Band 1:30-2:30 p.m. The Tons O Fun Band 2-3:30 p.m. The Mike and Amy Finders Band 3-4 p.m. The Mindset 4:30-6 p.m. Elvis Himselvis 4:30-5:30 p.m. Triskelion 6-7 p.m. Jammsammich 7-9 p.m. The Red Hot Valentines 7:30-9 p.m.

Sunday:

Modern Cowboyz 12:30-2 p.m. The Mary Clark Revue 12:30-1:30 p.m. High Cotton 2-3 p.m. The Brat Pack 3-4:30 p.m. Jim Cole 3:30-4:30 p.m.

217/351-5838 217/352-0722 Located Downtown 500 N. Walnut, Champaign www.thepointfencingclub.com A not for profit organization