Buzz Magazine: Sept. 18, 2003 by Buzz Magazine

0918buzz0124

9/17/03

3:42 PM

Page 1

odds&end

YEAH LIFE! | SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

buzz

MTD SAFERIDES INFORMATION 265-RIDE (7433) What is it? The purpose of SAFERIDES is to provide safe transportation to individuals who are generally traveling alone when no other means of safe transportation are available within the designated SafeRides boundaries. There is a maximum limit of three (3) person per pick-up location, except at the Illini Union, ISR, and the Main Library at Armory and Wright. SafeRides does not duplicate service already provided by the 22 Illini Route. SafeRides does not provide emergency transportation services to the medical facilities. When is the service available? SAFERIDES service is available on the following dates and times during University of Illinois Fall and Spring Semester days only: August 25 to October 25, 2003 from 7pm-6:30am October 26 to April 3, 2004 from 5pm - 6:30am April 4 to May 14,2004 from 7pm-6:30am

z buz Sept. 18-24, 2003

FREE!

COMMUNIT Y

Q & A with Geovanti’s owner (page 4)

How to use it? This depends on where you are, where you want to go, and the hour. From Dusk (7pm/5pm) until 6:15am you can use SAFERIDES by calling 265-7433 anywhere within the designated boundaries (see map), provided there are three (3) persons or less at the pick-up location and the trip cannot be completed directly on the 22 Illini Route. Provide the dispatcher answering the following information:

ARTS

Yodel on

Your Name (First & Last), Phone Number, Pick Up Location (Street Address/Landmark) and Destination

(page 6)

If your trip is within the SAFERIDES boundaries, the dispatcher will then inform you of a scheduled pick-up time. Expect waiting times of 15 minutes during the week and up to 30 minutes on the weekend when demand is higher. Upon boarding the SAFERIDES van, the person who scheduled the trip will be required to display their valid pass or pay the appropriate fare to the SAFERIDES operator. From 9pm-3am you can board a SAFERIDES vehicle at either Armory and Wright - the Main Library at (:27 and :57 after the hour), Illinois Residence Halls (:27 and :57 after the hour), or the Illini Union (:00 and :30 after the hour). When boarding the SAFERIDES van, the person who scheduled the trip will be required to display their valid pass or pay the appropriate fare to the SAFERIDES operator. If your pick-up and drop-off locations are both directly on the 22 Illini Route (example; residence hall to reisdence hall trips) and/or there are more than three persons traveling together, you will be required to use the 22 Illini to complete your trip. The 22 Illini Route operates throughout the campus area every 10 minutes Sunday through Thursday until 3am and Friday and Saturday until 5am.

DESIGNATED PICK-UP LOCATIONS •Illini Union 9:00 PM-3:00AM Pick-Ups at :00 & :30 after every hour •UI Library 9:27PM-2:57AM Pick-ups at :27 & :57 after every hour •ISR 9:27PM-2:57AM Pick-ups at :27 & :57 after every hour

If there are more than three (3) persons traveling together and your trip cannot be completed on the 22 Illini Route, you will be required to use one of the Evening or Late Night Community Routes to complete your trip. The 80 Orchard Downs, and 130 Silver Routes operate through the campus area Monday through Saturday until 12am. The 50 Green and 100 Yellow Late Night Routes operate through the campus area Sunday through Thursday until 3am and Friday through Saturday until 5am. SafeWalks Escort Service is also available for short walking trips on campus by calling 333-1216 or by contacting the University Police via emergency campus phone.

Arts | Entertainment | Community

MUSIC

Hip-hop UC style (page 9)

CALENDAR

Blackouts rock out in Urbana (page 12)

FILM & TV

Cabin Fever gets massacred (page 19)

Justice served? Examining the lack of black attorneys in C-U.

0918buzz0223

9/17/03

3:46 PM

Page 1

THAT SHIT IS NOT COOL MAN | SEPTEMBER 11-17 2003 buzz

insidebuzz 3

COMMUNIT Y

ARTS

Justice served? University celebrates Brown v. Board of Education

MUSIC

CALENDAR

FILM & TV

ODDS & END

Mates of State rate high See all there is to do in C-U American Splendor shines Coulter: Pet peeves

Volume 1, Number 27 COVER DESIGN | Sue Janna Truscott

editor’snote

uzz showcases three different snapshots of diversity, both in our community and in our nation this issue. All the stories revolve around one thing: education. Consequently, Champaign-Urbana revolves around education, with one major university and a community college located in the same mid-sized cities. These three stories focus solely on certain sections of diversity and in no way represent the wide spectrum of ideas conjured up when the word diversity is uttered. But some discussion is better than none at all. In the story about the University’s exhibit celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, we see a step in the right direction for diversity. For so many years before Brown, blacks were forced to go to different schools than white children because another U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Plessy v. Ferguson, decided schools could be separate but equal. Of course, they never were. Blacks were given a lesser education and suffered the effects of being uneducated compared to their white counterparts. In a way, the Plessy v. Ferguson decision symbolizes the lack of diversity whereas Brown v. Board of Education represents the beginnings of diversity. Yet, it has been nearly 50 years since Brown and we are still lacking in diversity in important areas like law, as seen in this week’s community story. Black lawyers account for less than 1 percent of the all the lawyers in ChampaignUrbana whereas the county’s black population

is about 11percent, which means that black citizens will not always have a black attorney representing them or prosecuting them. Why does that matter? Shouldn’t white attorneys treat their black clients the same as they treat their white clients? Yes, they should. Do they? Well, according to some local attorneys, they do not. Some claim it’s plain racism while others cite language and cultural barriers. Either way, it seems some black clients may not be getting justice. Imagine trying to communicate with the man who is supposed to save your life and he cannot understand some of the simplest, everyday phrases you use. How confident would you feel that your life would be spared? How sure would you be that your attorney was doing the best job he could for you? More than likely, justice would not be served. Local law firms should try to better attract more black attorneys to the area because having more diversity and more points of view can only help a law firm, not hurt it. In all this, music seems to be one of the place where diversity is flourishing, knitting parts of the community together. The UC Hip Hop article shows what can happen when music unifies people. The cooperation and the tearing down of racial barriers shown in this organization should be reflected in the rest of the world. But of course it isn’t. This nation and our own community should work towards this same type of diversity in all walks of life or the advancements made by decisions like Brown v. Board of Education will be for nothing.

DAVE’S DREAM DIARY | BY DAVE KING

Don’t force your beliefs on other people BY MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

BUZZ STAFF

Central Illinois The Right Help Right at your Fingertips Making it easy to find the right therapist A free referral service Affiliate of the 1-800-Therapist Network Call

LIVE JAZZ at ay w o l l Ho hin n a t Bry Some $3

All editorial questions or letters to the editor should be sent to buzz@readbuzz.com or 2449898 or buzz, 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, Ill., 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.

SEPTEMBER 18-24 | I WANT TO GO TO CHURCH , BU T SLEEP JUST ALWAYS SEEMS TO WIN

AND ANOTHER THING...

-TR

Editor-in-chief Tom Rybarczyk Art Director Meaghan Dee Copy Chief Erin Green Arts Katie Richardson Music Brian Mertz Entertainment Jason Cantone Calendar Marissa Monson Calendar Coordinators Lauren Smith, Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Illustrations David Chen Photography Elliot Kolkovich, Adam Young, David Southard Copy Editors Jessica Jacko, Elizabeth Zeman Designers Adam Obendorf, Carol Mudra, Jacob Dittmer, Jason Cantone Production Manager Theon Smith Editorial Adviser Elliot Kolkovich Sales Manager Lindsey Benton Marketing/Distribution Melissa Schleicher, Willis Welch Publisher Mary Cory

buzz

627 E. GREEN 344-0710

TONIGHT AT 9:30 $3.00 COVER

live right across the street from two churches, sort of like Lara Flynn Boyle living across from two all-you-can-eat buffets. The neighborhood gets crazy on Sunday morning as the cars of the heavenly are lined up and down the street. Sure, there’s only a few spots, but it doesn’t seem to matter much to the people of God. They park wherever their damned car will fit, on both sides of the street, and scurry away for an hour or so of worship. When I was a younger man (which means basically a drunken man) I would often curse both parties as I arrived home while these good people were beginning their day. Christians, they just piss me off. I suppose they have no fear of where they park, really. I mean, they’ve got God on their side and any cop that gave them a ticket on Sunday morning would probably smoke a turd in hell. Still, I gotta say, they should just go downtown, grab a couple of drunk guys still trying to stumble home, and hire them as valets. Seriously, they couldn’t do a worse job. Honestly, as far as I’m concerned we should arrest all of them as they exit the church—the charge: mostly just pissing me off. It’ll never happen, but hey, it’s nice to dream. Every once in a while though, the Christians get their asses slapped down a little bit, and let’s face it, they usually have it coming. Most recently it was in Alabama. A statue depicting the Ten Commandments was ordered removed from the rotunda of the Alabama state judicial building because it created a problem between the separation of church and state. All the idiots came out to protest it, of course. If that many of them would have turned out to protest the crucifixion I’m sure Jesus would still be around to throw in his two cents. The protest brought thousands of folks (and by “folks” I mean fascists) to Montgomery. I’m sure half of them thought they were still protesting allowing black people to ride on buses but they showed up just the same. They said it was “part siege, part revival,” apparently omitting that it was also part ignorance on parade. Just because they like being told what to do doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else does. First we let this Ten Commandments thing slide and then before you know it they’ve got all of us eating grits and screwing our nephews. They wanted their Ten Commandments back in the judicial building, even though most of the people entering that building had already broken one or more of those commandments. Logic isn’t the word of the day

down there, I suppose. The protesters felt if they couldn’t force their views on others then their rights were being violated. One child was reported as saying, “What’s next, are they going to take our Bibles?” No son, we don’t want your Bibles. We want you to go to heaven, that way you won’t be bugging the piss out of the rest of us for all of eternity. It’s simple really. Church and State in America are supposed to be separate. Sure, “In God We Trust” is on our money, but God doesn’t really factor in our crooked ways of making that money, so that’s really more of a tribute than a statement of fact. Yeah, the pledge says “One nation under God” but it’s mostly a recited poem at this juncture. What are we supposed to say: “One nation full of a bunch of thieving, whoring heathens?” It just wouldn’t sound right. That’s supposed to be the beauty of this country. If you want to believe in the Ten Commandments then that’s great, but they are the laws of one particular God and not the laws of man. It’s a good thing for the folks in Alabama too, since I’m sure that one about adultery also applies to your siblings and about half of them would end up in the pokey just for that. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God, but I don’t think the God I believe in cares two shits about whether the Ten Commandments are in a courthouse. If you can help someone, then that’s great, you do it. If you can make things better for people, then that’s great, you do it. If you are insisting that everyone must live the same life you have chosen then that’s just not right. The religious people I respect also respect others and the beliefs of others. They are humble and they believe what they believe without bringing the rest of us into it. They aren’t fire and brimstone kind of people. They might fear God a little bit, but they mostly just love him. Oscar Wilde once said, “Religion is a fashionable substitute for belief.” The protestors in Alabama might want to clean up their own houses before they start trying to clean up everyone else’s. buzz

Michael Coulter is a videographer at Parkland College and a bartender at Two Main. He writes a weekly e-mail column, “This Sporting Life” and has hosted several local comedy shows. He can be reached at coulter@readbuzz.com.

DirtyTalk

Adam- You still have my purse and my calcium supplements, if you want to increase your bone mass I’ve got a more fun way to do it. McDougal- You’re McHot.

Karie-Sometimes, at night, I like to watch you sleep. -Suji

Kathleen- You sure look keen in that black shirt you wore the other night.

Carolólet's leave the raincoats, umbrellas, and ponchos behind and have some real fun in your rainó -Kaiser

Mertz- Stand me up again and you’re getting your just desserts- and not in a good way.

Drz-I win-(I love you)-Sputz

Jacob- I hear you like the Strokes, wanna let me try?

Carol you have a butt that won't quit. -Jordan Juli- don't feel like waiting until the winter and definetely not to the spring, so get a ups box and ship yourself to champaign, it'll be worth it.

Ameeeee- That little squeaky voice you do just gets me going. Hoopes- You, me, some zucchini bread and a broken bed- ooooh yeah.

Mara- If beauty is pain, you must be hurting pretty bad. I want to run my fingers through your pretty red hair all day. -?

Betsy- I’d like to show you a little something I picked up from a work out tape. Be warned, you might need to stretch first. ;-)

Jen, Christina, Kelly, and Candice, Two words, PIMP JUICE!

Drew- I’d like to do you.

Mike-- I know things are stressful so remember that I'm always here for you whenever you need me. I love you.-- Your Stephie Tabitha- Sorry that I haven’t been sending the love out to ya, but I’m running out of things that rhyme with Tabitha. But I still miss you!!! Chad- If I talk with an accent, will it turn you on? Sexy dark-haired female bartender at Clybourne- I miss you, wanna spoon? Tami- Thanks for walking me home the other night, you gave me something to dream about. Hot Lonestar worker- can you show me today’s special? Keir- Nice cologne, wanna f*ck?

Lucas- How come when you shower, you make me feel so dirty. *wink* Krissy- Oh how I miss thee. Shannon, Kelly and the gang- For next door neighbors I hardly see you. :-( Jen and Sara- I’m startin to think you don’t love me anymore, you need to be punished :-0~~ SWEET “DIRTY” TALKS ARE FREE. To submit your message go to www.readbuzz.com and click on the Sweet Talk link. Please make your message personal, fun, flirty and entertaining. Leave out last names and phone numbers because we (and probably you!) could get in big fat trouble for printing them. We reserve the right to edit your messages. Sorry, no announcements about events or organizations. (Enter those at cucalendar.com)

0918buzz0322

9/17/03

3:46 PM

Page 1

22odds & end NECK PAIN RELIEF Without Drugs... chiropractic health care honors the body’s ability to heal itself, FREE EXAM naturally! If you & X-RAY are suffering (IF NEEDED) from reoccuring NEW PATIENTS neck pain, ONLY please call for an appointment! COVERED BY STUDENT INSURANCE

CALL 352-9899 (24 Hr. Answering Service) SNELL

CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC 1802 Woodfield Dr., Savoy

2 Blocks North of Savoy 16 Dr. Joseph Snell...Your First Choice in Health Care!

FREE YOUR WILL | SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

buzz

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY | SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2003 ARIES (March 21-April 19): My acquaintance Delilah is a leftwing pagan hippie who makes big bucks working as an X-ray technician in a large hospital. She's a pacifist, but serves as president of the local chapter of the American Legion, an organization for military veterans. She has been engaged forever to a dreadlocked man 25 years her senior, though he looks her age because he has practiced sex magic and eaten nothing but wheat grass and lived outside for decades; on the other hand, she loves to flirt with young businessmen with buzz cuts. Delilah is your role model and patron saint for the coming week, Aries. Like her, you can and should be a cheerful master of contradictions. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Of the many brave adventurers I met during my recent visit to the Burning Man festival, Tauruses comprised a large proportion. One example was Melissa Whitman, who leaves soon for a year-long stay in Madagascar, where she'll be the only female and English-speaker among a team working to save the scops owl from extinction. Though she's afraid of heights, she'll have to climb tall trees at night to study the birds in their natural habitat. Another courageous Taurus was Jennifer from Napa, CA, an art therapist for the criminally insane. She risks her life daily. Why did I encounter so many daring Bulls? Is it because the expansive planet Jupiter is cruising through your astrological House of Extravagant Self-Expression? Whatever the cause, I urge you to sync up with the audacious vibes now available to your tribe. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In her book, Simply Sophisticated: What Every Worldly Person Needs to Know, Suzanne Munshower lists the requirements for an elegant home. You should have at least one needlepoint pillow, she says. The thread count of your sheets should be 200 per inch or more. Your bookcases, if visible to guests, must have no paperbacks, and your bathroom accessories should be ceramic. Now that you've heard Munshower's ideas, Gemini, please rebel against them. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you'll put yourself in alignment with current cosmic rhythms if you add elements to your home to make it more playful and less formal, more in tune with what delights you and less concerned with what others think. CANCER (June 21-July 22): In its original use, the phrase "priming the pump" referred to the fact that a hand-operated water pump didn't provide a steady, abundant flow of water until you first lubricated it with a little water. In modern parlance, it's often a way of saying that to make money you have to invest some, or that in order to get lots of goodies you have to give some. To take maximum advantage of the current astrological potentials, Cancerian, regard "priming the pump" as your metaphor of power.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When I'm not writing this horoscope column, I pursue a career as a performance artist. For a recent show, I bought eight jars of pigs' feet at the grocery store, 200 pair of white underpants at Costco, and twenty alarm clocks at the drugstore. None of the clerks who took my money expressed the slightest interest in the reasons for my peculiar and prodigious orders. Their numbness was deeply disturbing to me. How could they have so thoroughly repressed their natural curiosity? In the coming week, Leo, you must avoid behavior like that. Awaken your innocent longing to know everything you can about the unexpected marvels that life brings. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): During my recent visit to the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert, I drank in an abundant array of confounding sights and enriching adventures that I'll remember forever. The last surprise I saw before heading home was among the most modest, but it's a perfect choice to serve as your ruling symbol for the coming week: a sign that read "The Very Tidy Pirates" above an image of a bad-ass dude wearing an eye patch and apron and wielding a vacuum cleaner and feather duster. I hope this vignette inspires you to be wildly disciplined, neatly rowdy, and boisterously organized. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When you have achieved great victories in the past, Libra, they have often happened because of your graceful willpower or fine intelligence. At other times they have been the result of your unflagging commitment to creating harmony. But none of those skills will be your main source of power during the turning point just ahead. As you pull off this next big triumph,your secret weapon will be your flourishing imagination. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Beginnings and endings will be overlapping in the near future, Scorpio. They will demand that you grow rapidly. It won't always be easy to tell them apart, either; you'll have to become wiser faster in order to understand the clues. Here are two meditations to guide you: 1. Which of the long-running dramas of your life have run their course? 2. What struggling dreams are aching to resurrect themselves and bloom again as if for the first time? Once you figure out the answers to those questions, act dynamically to nurture what's being born and expedite the dissolution of what's dying. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): "Dear Dr. Brezsny:With the help of a flood of pithy coincidences, I've become aware that the Universal Mind recently lost Her train of thought. I believe we are now under the care of a substitute 'Universal Mind,' and that therefore the laws of karma are not being enforced as strictly as usual. Cosmic SLACK is available in extravagant amounts. Tell your readers so they may take advantage of it by aggressively reconfiguring their little slice of reality to reflect their deepest

needs. -Opportunistic Sagittarius" Dear Opportunistic: Good catch. I totally agree with your assessment, especially as it applies to you Sagittarians. As you suggest, karma now has a reduced power to whip your fate this way and that; your willpower has more room than usual in which to maneuver. I call this phase "Freedom from Cosmic Compulsion." CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): To borrow a phrase from the old astrology columnist Stella Spambottom, this is a week you could make the boogie man cry. That's because your anger is smarter and your fears are weaker than they've been in many moons.You also have access to a high level of courage, which is made even more potent by the fact that it's rooted in quiet confidence, not blustering egotism. As you fight evil in the coming days, your forceful actions will no doubt be fair and enlightened. On behalf of the cosmic powers, therefore, I authorize you to induce tears in boogie men, out-of-control tyrants, and the devil himself. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Every August, the temporary city of Burning Man sprouts up in the Nevada desert. Upwards of 30,000 freaks and mutants drop their inhibitions for a week. If you ever go, you'll be able to eat fresh sushi off the naked bellies of clowns posing as supermodels, play a giant game of billiards using bowling balls, and take a joyride on a wheeled version of Captain Hook's schooner as it sways with scores of sweaty dancers dressed like characters from your dreams. Unfortunately, Burning Man won't come around again until August 23, 2004, but you need to have your mind blown and blown and blown now. Find a worthy substitute. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every act of genius, said psychologist Carl Jung, is an act contra naturam: "against nature." Indeed, every effort to achieve psychological integration requires a knack for breaking out of the trance of normal daily life. Eighteenth-century mystic Jacob Boehme agreed. The great secret of divine magic, he asserted, is "to walk in all things contrary to the world." My teacher, Paul Foster Case, believed that living an ethical and enlightened life required one to reverse the usual ways of thinking, speaking, and doing.What's your position on this approach, Pisces? It's prime time for you to redefine your relationship with what I call sacred rebellion. Rob Brezsny's Free Will ✍ HOMEWORK: ☎ To learn why novelist Tom Astrology beautyandtruth Robbins said, "I've seen the future of American literature and its name is Rob Brezsny," check my website at http://www.freewillastrology.c om/writings/oracle.html

@ f r e e w i l l a s t r o l o g y. c o m 415.459.7209(v)• 415.457.3769 http://www.freewillastrology. com P.O. Box 798 San Anselmo, CA 94979

CROSSWORD PUZZLE (ANSWERS ON PAGE 12) ACROSS 1 Tang provider 11 Denizens of a

popular computer “city” 15 Name of an old wind 16 Sporty sunroof 17 Devastate from above 18 Crossword worker? 19 Genesis country 20 Celebrated 22 There is, in France 24 French 25 Coach, e.g. 28 Line of work, slangily 31 Sir Toby of “Twelfth Night” 32 When repeated, like some shows 33 Busy 35 Set 36 Like budget amts. 37 Powder holders 38 Oxford foundation 39 Had 40 Beach locale, for short

41 Washington insid-

ers 42 Where some figures are made 44 Prefix with county 45 Designer Gucci and others 46 Celsius who invented the Celsius thermometer 48 Ball 50 It may help you achieve a goal 53 CBS Sunday night staple, 1954-71 57 Perfect 58 Not in deep water, say 60 Donald Duck, to Dewey 61 Cheap entertainment provider 62 Insect repellent 63 They may be found beside temples DOWN 1 Best Actress

Emmy winner of 1951 2 Building beam

3 Part of a battle

cry 4 Played again 5 High marks 6 Not nice 7 Many a retired gov. 8 Fan 9 “The Joy of Cooking” author Rombauer 10 Fix, in a way 11 The Tatler founder, 1709 12 “No problem, really,” in modern lingo 13 Noted American example of Palladian architecture 14 Mum 21 “Streamers” playwright 23 Short 25 “Now I get it … not!” 26 Unlikely to accede to the throne 27 Factor in grading, perhaps 29 Derive 30 Rubenesque

18 20

19 22 25

verything in the new Champaign County Courthouse seems to shine and sparkle. The white and green marble floors reflect the bottoms of wooden chairs and benches lining the building’s three floors. Tall windows face Main Street in Urbana, a street that, like its name, could be found in any small town. Two new entrances lead into the courthouse: one with a metal detector and an X-ray machine staffed by security guards and one entrance for lawyers, judges and courthouse employees without a metal detector. But for all the improvements to the courthouse within the past few years, the people inside the courthouse haven’t changed. The people who walk through the metal detector entrance are disproportionately black, and the lawyers and judges who walk through the other entrance are disproportionately white. Some chalk the disparity up to the unattractiveness of Champaign County to black professionals; others see racism. Champaign County is home to more than 20,000 black residents, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, but only four black practicing attorneys, local officials say.

Is it a problem? Despite the numbers, some community leaders, such as Champaign Mayor Jerry Schweighart, say the lack of black lawyers is not a pressing issue. “To be quite honest, it’s not something I’ve paid much attention to,” said Schweighart, who won another term in office last year, unopposed. “Personally, I don’t think the race of an attorney makes any difference. It’s qualifications.” Urbana Mayor Tod Satterthwaite had similar things to say about the issue — or nonissue. “I’ve not heard anyone complain about it,” Satterthwaite said. “I know from general reading material that African Americans feel disen-

franchised by the criminal justice system and having a low number of African-American attorneys might be part of the reason for that mistrust, but a lot of other information is needed to know if it’s a problem.” But many community members, such as Plastipak Packaging Inc. employee Angela Robinson, feel they have all the information they need. The black Urbana resident was in court April 10 for traffic violation charges, according to Champaign County court records. Unlike some of the county’s leaders, Robinson doesn’t see the issue in terms of qualifications. “We don’t really have anyone on our side,” Robinson said. Eulawanda Biggers, a black production worker at Bell Sports Inc. in Rantoul, also thinks the lack of black attorneys is a problem. “Everybody should be treated equally,” Biggers said. “There being a lack of AfricanAmerican attorneys, I feel there is a problem with equality.” Reality or perception? But just how to quantify such inequality, if it does exist, is the problem. Just as there is no official record of the racial demographics of attorneys in

Illinois, there is no official record of problems that arise from the lack of black lawyers in Champaign County. Neither the Champaign nor the Urbana human relations commissions have ever received a formal complaint about the lack of black attorneys, as far as their spokeswomen know. Harvey Welch, one of the county’s few practicing black attorneys, said the lack of black attorneys manifests itself in more subtle ways, such as when a white lawyer has difficulty communicating with his black client or when a white judge has trouble understanding a black defendant’s hardships in life. “Quite frankly, some of the so-called criminal defense lawyers, many of them don’t take the time to really understand the culture of their clientele,” Welch said. Third-year University of Illinois law student Kendric Cobb said he has seen several situations where racial or cultural differences have created barriers between lawyers and their clients. Cobb, a black man who was born and raised in Champaign, said he noticed such a barrier while observing a trial last year. Cobb was sitting by a white lawyer and his black client when he realized that the lawyer couldn’t understand his client’s slang. Cobb said he was reluctant to act as an interpreter, but he eventually jumped in and talked to the lawyer.

31 34

35 38 41

There is no official organization that tracks the racial demographics of Illinois lawyers. Blacks make up more than 11 percent of the county’s population, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, but less than 1 percent of the 528 registered attorneys in the county are black, based on figures from the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

Equal representation, equal justice? BY LISA SCHENCKER | STAFF WRITER

community

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

buzz

45 48

49 53

Puzzle by William I. Johnston

33 Decline, with “out

of” 34 Part of many Chinese names 38 Dramatic debuts 40 Old Eurasian locales: Abbr.

Didn’t give up on Gold rush locale Lose Demon Star Famous name in oil 52 Barreled along 43 45 47 49 51

54 Breaks down 55 “Dies ___, dies

illa”

56 Plural suffix with

weapon

59 Hound

ILLUSTRATION | DAVID CHEN

0918buzz0421

9/17/03

3:47 PM

Page 1

community

“I don’t know if it was a fully racial issue or generational or what,” Cobb said. “I still think it’s important for an attorney to be able to understand not only verbal communication, but also (to) just really understand where the person’s coming from.” Not all black community leaders agree that the lack of black attorneys creates issues in the courtroom. Urbana Police Chief Eddie Adair said it’s more an issue of perception and not reality. Adair, who is black, said the black community might have more confidence in the local justice system if they felt they were more well-represented among lawyers, regardless of whether or not those lawyers actually better understood their clients’ backgrounds. “Being a minority myself, and I certainly don’t come from an affluent background, I still have values,” Adair said. “I don’t think because someone is from a meager environment that is justification to be irresponsible. The fact that I’m African American and I come from an impoverished background is no justification to give me another chance and give people from European backgrounds the maximum penalty.” Wanda Donnelly, an assistant state’s attorney for the county and another one of the community’s four black practicing lawyers, also said she doesn’t think her race necessarily makes her any more understanding of all black people. “There may be nuances I don’t understand,” Donnelly said. “I grew up middle class and had two parents who wanted to stay married. I may not understand people from single-family homes. I don’t know if the lack of African-American attorneys affects (people) because a good attorney is a good attorney regardless of race.” Carol Dison, a black lawyer with the Urbana

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

firm Beckett & Webber, said certain people might relate to her better because she is black, but she prefers to think in terms of qualification instead of race. “I do know that some clients feel comfortable with me because of my race or sex or views on criminal law,” Dison said. “I imagine it’s possible. But I try not to think in terms of ‘I’m a black lawyer.’ I think ‘I’m a lawyer.’” Why so few black lawyers here? However, Nekima Levy-Pounds, a former visiting clinical professor at the University’s law school, does think of herself as a black attorney, and that is one of the reasons she practiced here for a year. Levy-Pounds left the University in May to teach law at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. “For me, I felt like I was doing what I was meant to do,” she said. “With the low number of African-American professors in the College of Law, I felt I’d be fulfilling dual roles as a professor in law and in the community representing African-American women.” Levy-Pounds graduated from the University’s law school in 2001 and then worked in Maryland. She was invited to come back to the University for a year to supervise students in the law clinic, who represent indignant clients on temporary legal licenses. “I had lots of African-American clientele,” Levy-Pounds said of her time as a student in the clinic. “Clients always commented how good it was to have an African-American lawyer. It made me feel good that they appreciated having some representation, someone who could understand where they were coming from.” But at the same time that she felt needed, Levy-Pounds never wanted to stay in Champaign-Urbana permanently. She agreed

to come back partly because she knew it would only be for a year. “(Champaign County) is just too slow in a lot of respects, and in some ways we felt isolated as well,” Levy-Pounds said of her family. “Most places you go there are very few, if any, African-Americans. There’s no middle-income African-American community here, either. Because there’s such a large portion of lowincome African-Americans here, people automatically assume that’s who you are.” Welch, who has practiced here for more than 20 years and also graduated from the University’s law school, said many black people graduating from the University’s law school are simply more attracted to big cities where they will have more social and employment opportunities. Welch stayed in Urbana because his wife was originally from Urbana and wanted to stay.

buzz

According to several current College of Law students, their attitudes toward settling in Champaign haven’t changed much since Welch was a student here. According to demographics, the number of black students in the College of Law isn’t necessarily the problem. The law school’s 20022003 student profile shows that black law students constitute about 9 percent of the total student body. Keith Horton, a third-year black law student at the University, said he has no intention of settling in Champaign County. “For my foreseeable professional career, I don’t have any desire to live in a small town,” Horton said. “Small towns just don’t have as much to offer socially as a city.” Cobb, who has lived here all his life, also wants out. “I couldn’t imagine staying here,” Cobb said.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF LAW 2002 - 2003 College of Law Student Profile African American

African American

Asian American

Latino/Latina

Native American Caucasian

1 494

Total

674

Asian American Latino/ Latina

9% 10% 7%

Native American

.15%

Caucasian

83%

Source: University of Illinois College of Law Admissions Office

Q & A

EddieGeovanti

ddie Geovanti moved to Champaign about nine months ago. Six months ago he started Geovanti’s, an Italian restaurant on the corner of Fourth and Green streets. He’s been married to his wife Rose for 21 years and has three kids, one in college and two in high school. After being born in Italy, Eddie grew up around Europe including Germany and Turkey before moving to the the United States in 1971. What book are you reading right now? None. I’m not big into reading books, I watch the news and the Discovery Channel.

PHOTO | ELLIOT KOLKOVICH

If you could rid the world of one thing forever, what would it be? Eliminate hunger in the world. Especially in this country, you waste so much. What is your favorite thing to do in the Champaign-Urbana area? What days off, I don’t have days off. In this business, I work 15 hours a day. What is your biggest regret? Not finishing college.

What is the one thing that always makes you smile? Happy customers. Happy customers always make me smile. What is the best advice anyone has given you? Hard work always pays. That’s the best advice in anything. What did you do last night? Watched a movie. The Core. It was stupid. If you could live in another era of time when would you choose to live? Probably back in the 1920s. I like the style. I like the way the ladies were, the men. It was a new era. What is in your CD player right now? I don't’ have a CD player, but I like Oldies. I listen to all kinds of music, though, I even listen to Eminem with my kids. What is your biggest accomplishment? Raising my family. That’s my number one priority.

What are you most passionate about? Life itself. What are your top three favorite movies? The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. When I was a kid, Clint Eastwood was one of my favorites. Robert De Niro, too. Analyze This and Meet the Parents. If you could relive one event from your life, exactly as it happened, what would it be? I was at work when my mom died; I wish I had a chance to say good bye.

buzz

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

000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

• 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.

DEADLINE:

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

RATES: Billed rate: 25¢/word

What is the best gift you have ever received? My kids, my daughter. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Go to college. What would you like your last words to be? Respect one another as you want to be respected. That’s the problem with everything now. No one respects anything.

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003 | SOMETIME YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MAY FIND WHEN YOU UNPACK SELL IT HERE

Paid-in-Advance: 34¢/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

Services

Employment 000 HELP WANTED | Full Time Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Merchandise 200 FOR SALE Danby minifridge, $80. 344-1365.

Locations: Highland, Hobart, Schereville, Dyer, Michigan City, South Bend, Indiana Champaign, Elgin, Lansing, Illinois We offer the following: *$7.50- $9.00/hr *College Scholarships *Flexible Schedules/ Hrs *Paid Vacations/ Holidays *Optional Saturdays *Health/ Life/ Dental/ 401(k) *Incentives/ Raises *Supervisory/ Mgt Positions 1(888)801-JOBS employment@americallgroup.com

Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign. Call Manchester Property Management at 359-0248 for an appointment.

100 Transportation 300

BUSINESS SERVICES Le Therapeutic Massage. Day/ Evening/ Weekend, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Only by appointment. 344-8879. Professional Astrologer available for consultations: urgent questions (Horary); Elect optimal times for important events; forecasts., 366-7315 golden_astrology@netzero.net

CLEANING Exact Extraction. Carpet & upholstery cleaning. Free estimates. 6883101.

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding. 384-5010.

Merchandise 200 SPORTING GOODS LaJolla bag and woods, TourEdge clubs, $350. 344-1365.

SUBLETS

AUTOMOBILES 1997 Volvo 960, 4-door loaded. $4800 OBO. c21windrealty@aol.com. 260-5800.

HELP WANTED | Part Time MODELS NEEDED FOR LIFE DRAWING. Classes at the school of Art and Design, UIUC. Flexible hours- morning, afternoon, and evening classes. Good starting salary. Call Linda at 333-0855 to schedule an interview. Classes begin on August 27. Come Grow with Us! We experienced a 25% growth last year and recently added yet another Americall location!

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

Apartments

400

Spacious one bedroom unfurnished hardwood floors $475 negotiable. 356-0809

Other Rentals 500

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

HOUSES

907 S. Second, C.

LAKE DEVONSHIRE 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 2.5 garage, fireplace, large fenced yard, $1150. 356-0053.

Nice studio in older brick building. Great location between Daniel and Chalmers. Parking available. NO PETS. $350 includes some utilities. 359-5115

Furnished one bedrooms and efficiencies from $325 near John and Second or Healey and Third. 3561407

JOHN SMITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT www.johnsmithproperties.com (217)384-6930 “believe the hype”

Things to Do 700 CAMPUS EVENTS Sororities/Fraternities. If you are looking for a foam party give us a call at Main Event Entertainment. 217-276-0618.

CLASSES Would you like to take a scrapbook class in the comfort of your own home? Are you interested in scrapbooking but don’t know where to start? Give me a call! Dawn Longfellow Scrap In A Snap Independent Consultant #21121 352-3451 or email: dawnlongfellow@yahoo.com

Announcements800 Experienced drummer needed for Champaign punk/rock band. Call 356-3622 or email goodbyeboxer@hotmail.com. Must be willing to leave town and record in Jan. and tour in May - June.

ROOMS Efficiency rooms on campus $250-$310, all utilities paid. 3676626

Housemates wanted for beautiful Savoy house 11 month lease, from $275-325 plus utilities. email partnow@uiuc.edu or call 907-3509298.

HAMSTERS spend their entire lives walking on newspapers. Evolution has provided us with an opposable thumb, allowing us to recycle our newspapers so we never have to walk on them like our little furry friends. Please recycle this newspaper.

Placing your ad in buzz is as easy as 1-2-3! Step 1: Choose your deal

Step 2: Print your ad below

Address

Line ad Line ads are unbordered ads in the classified section. Use this form to place a line ad in the Thursday buzz classifieds. For information on placing your line ad in The Daily Illini as well as buzz, or for display advertising rates, please give us a call at 337-8337. 25¢/word (prepaid) for each issue

State Zip Phone (where you can be reached M-F 8-5)

Place my ad in category

Action Ad Action ads are non-refundable and available only for ads in Services, Merchandise, & Transportation categories. Choose 5 run dates at Step 3. Any Thursday run dates will appear in buzz. 10 words 5 days, $7 20 word 5 days, $14

Garage Sale Ad Rain or Shine guarantee... if it rains the weekend of your sale, we’ll run your ad the next weekend for free. In Thursday buzz and Friday DI 30 words $10

Name

Amount enclosed

Step 3: Choose your run dates

Mail this form with payment to: buzz classifieds 57 E. Green, Champaign, IL 61820 or bring it into our office at that address or at the DI @ the YMCA 1001 S. Wright St. Champaign, IL 61820

0918buzz0520

9/17/03

3:47 PM

Page 1

Drive-thru Reviews

CHECK OUT THE EMMYS ON SUNDAY! ROOT FOR SCRUBS! | SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

either a laugh or a quick scare. (Aaron Leach) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

THE HARD WORD ★★★ GUY PEARCE AND RACHEL GRIFFITHS In terms of heist movies, The Hard Word succeeds in exciting but fails in delighting. There are guns, gore and getaways, but a noticeable lack of ingenuity. And while it’s fun to watch what the characters are up to, it would have been more interesting to see what they did after the credits roll. (John Loos) Now showing at Beverly

THE ITALIAN JOB ★★

AMERICAN SPLENDOR ★★★★

PAUL GIAMATTI AND HARVEY PEKAR Both delightfully intricate and amusingly simple, American Splendor is the opposite of this summer’s bloated adaptation of The Hulk. While Ang Lee attempted to transfer a comic book into real life, Berman and Pulcini render real life into a comic book and stretch it into a commentary on happiness, accomplishment and the disheartened lifestyle of Middle America. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Boardman’s Art Theatre

AMERICAN WEDDING ★★

JASON BIGGS AND EUGENE LEVY Herz may follow a simple formula in American Wedding, but he also adds that extra spice of story weaving that leaves an audience feeling like they saw a movie instead of a regurgitation of Hollywood sludge. American Wedding may limp along, but it does indeed support its own laughs, making it worthwhile for some stupid humor. (Alan Bannister) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

CABIN FEVER

no stars JORDAN LADD AND RIDER STRONG Nothing could have saved Cabin Fever from its own devouring illness. Not only did the number of plot flaws rival the body count, but even the overt sexual content and gore lost their appeal after awhile. (Daniel Nosek) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

DICKIE ROBERTS: FORMER CHILD STAR ★ DAVID SPADE AND JON LOVITZ During his stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and even in his supporting role on the television show Just Shoot Me, David Spade demonstrated glimpses of comedic spontaneity and charm.In his latest film, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Spade portrays a childhood star who fades into obscurity. Although the underlying concept of the theme sounds promising and intriguing, Spade is ultimately the wrong comedian to successfully fill this role. (Daniel Nosek) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

FINDING NEMO ★★★★

VOICES OF ALBERT BROOKS AND ELLEN DEGENERES Pixar can do no wrong.The film company has never had a failure, either commercially or critically. This newest edition to the Pixar family tells the tale of a fish lost.It’s a father and son tale in the big blue sea and currently getting controversy from tropical fish sellers across the nation for its depiction of inhumane fish sellers.One of the year’s best films. Finding Nemo is now set to also become the year’s most successful film.(Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

FREAKY FRIDAY ★★★ JAMIE LEE CURTIS AND LINDSAY LOHAN Freaky Friday’s family-friendly plot still includes a mother and daughter unsympathetic to one another’s problems because each is convinced her own life is more difficult than the other’s. After a mysterious fortune cookie puts a fateful spell on the pair, Anna, the daughter, and Tess, the mom, wake up in each other’s bodies. And, of course they freak out, as the title implies. (Janelle Greenwood) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

FREDDY VS. JASON ★★ ROBERT ENGLUND AND MONICA KEENA After all is said and done, Freddy vs. Jason is certainly not the best in either series, but fans of the two super-killers will not be disappointed. While the setup might be long, the payoff has been two decades in the making and is well worth the wait. Bad acting aside, this film still does a lot of things right. Yu makes sure the film is completely aware of itself and uses all the usual horror conventions against the audience for

MARK WAHLBERG AND EDWARD NORTON The Italian Job is a thrilling caper film that uses endearing wit to win over the audience, leaving the confusing plots of more successful films behind. A Mini Cooper chase provides action and excitement, and fun tactics will keep viewers planted in their seats and not make them think too hard to be entertained. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

JEEPERS CREEPERS 2 ★ RAY WISE AND JONATHAN BRECK When a horror film opens with a haunting message that something will come and eat you, despite all attempts to save one’s self, the immediate gut reaction takes the viewer to a terrifying place where boogie monsters are born. Unfortunately, the answers or motivations of the monster are never fully realized in this film. (Janelle Greenwood) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

LE DIVORCE ★★ NAOMI WATTS AND KATE HUDSON The latest exercise in European femininity by the team of producer Ismail Merchant and writer/director James Ivory (The Remains of the Day) didn’t have to be a meandering tale of vulnerability and alienation. With its polished, proper setting and pointed costume design, the story of two American sisters in Paris could have been a tender truffle about the ties that bind. But this bloated French confection is dry on the outside and then hollow on the inside. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Savoy

MATCHSTICK MEN ★★★

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL ★★★ JOHNNY DEPP AND GEOFFREY RUSH All eyes are on Depp in his scene-stealing turn as Capt. Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean. The characters are not all that developed and sometimes the action scenes are a bit long, but overall the film comes together as a good action flick. (Janelle Greenwood) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

SEABISCUIT ★★★★ TOBEY MAGUIRE, JEFF BRIDGES AND CHRIS COOPER The Seabiscuit phenomenon was one of the most captivating in United States history and this film does it justice. Laura Hillenbrand reported that Seabiscuit took up more newspaper space than any other story in 1938, including Hitler and the spawning world war. The immensity of the story is rivaled only by the production of the movie, and Seabiscuit is the first surefire Oscar nominee of the year. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS ★★★ HOPE DAVIS AND CAMPBELL SCOTT David’s life is a feverish dream. His delusions of office assistant Robin Tunney sulking up and down his stairs singing “Fever” while running around to quell each of his daughter’s childish dilemmas furthers the frantic situation. Just like sitting in a dentist’s chair, this film isn’t supposed to be comfortable. But with a powerful maturity not often seen in modern movies, Secret Lives helps to explain one of marriage’s many mysteries—why people stray and why people stay. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Savoy

S.W.A.T. ★★

SAMUEL L. JACKSON AND COLIN FARRELL Although S.W.A.T. can boast a few merits, its many flaws make sure that it won’t get the pulse racing. Still, it holds its own among some of the other mediocre films released this summer. With Jackson and Farrell doing their best to keep S.W.A.T. entertaining, the film does end up producing a few intriguing scenes here and there, between the flaws. (Aaron Leach) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy.

OPENING THIS WEEKEND ANYTHING ELSE

NICOLAS CAGE AND SAM ROCKWELL No, this isn’t a film about pyromaniacs or arsonists invading a town. Instead, matchstick men are con artists, and here the cons go between friends and family members. When Cage’s character finds out he has a daughter, they meet and she wants to join in on the con.The story is fun and entertaining, but the book is much better and doesn’t have the slow, confusing moments that the movie does. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

JASON BIGGS AND CHRISTINA RICCI When Woody Allen made the semi-successful Deconstructing Harry, he introduced Tobey Maguire as a new version of Woody Allen. They played the same character type and had the same neurotic impulses. This year, Allen reinvents his stereotypical character with Jason Biggs, who has an awkward courting of indie queen Christina Ricci. (Jason Cantone) Opening at Beverly

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO

SHARON STONE AND DENNIS QUAID This might look like a sequel to the Michelle Pfieffer/ Harrison Fors starrer What Lies Beneath. A pair of baby boomers must fend of the forces of evil and darkness in a house filled with mystery and intrigue. How they battle the former inhabitants who refuse to leave will be most likely predictable, but, hopefully, entertaining as well. (Jason Cantone) Opening at Beverly and Savoy

★★★★

JOHNNY DEPP AND ANTONIO BANDERAS Once Upon a Time in Mexico is an action film that is every bit as intense as it is gorgeous. Fans of the trilogy will not be disappointed, and most audiences will be delighted with the fresh style of action as well as the intelligence present in the script. Paying homage to western campiness with memorable characters and a bit of goofball humor, this is the summer blockbuster that movie-goers should have received two months ago.(Aaron Leach) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

OPEN RANGE ★★ KEVIN COSTNER AND ROBERT DUVALL Open Range mixes slow-paced historical nostalgia with slower-paced Little House on the Prairie references, pitting free range herders against static, prejudiced ranchers. At times, the film plays a little like Gangs of the Old West and anyone who’s even heard of classic Westerns like Shane or The Searchers can pretty much stay two steps ahead of Open Range at all times. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

THE ORDER

no stars HEATH LEDGER AND MARK ADDY There are far more than 10 things to hate about The Order, a thrill-less thriller that tries desperately to manufacture scares out of barking dogs, flying bats and supernatural specialeffects. Hate the frozen facial expressions, the ludicrous love story and awkward editing. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

COLD CREEK MANOR

THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS

CUBA GOODING JR. AND BEYONCE KNOWLES A New York advertising executive travels to a small Southern town to collect an inheritance but finds he must create a gospel choir and lead it to success before he can collect. If you would like to review this film, e-mail movies@readbuzz.com. (Jason Cantone) Opening at Beverly and Savoy

SECONDHAND LIONS

ROBERT DUVALL AND MICHAEL CAINE Two old men, who might have been successful bank robbers in the 1920s, take custody of their nephew. Melodramatic story, tears and laughter ensure and manipulate your emotions, but makes you love every second. (Jason Cantone) Opening at Beverly and Savoy

UNDERWORLD

KATE BECKINSALE AND SCOTT SPEEDMAN Werewolves, vampires and humans oh my! This Romeo and Juliet tale pits love against an eternal war between vampires and werewolves. Look for great action sequences and a dark tone similar to The Matrix. And then there’s also Kate Beckinsale in all leather to watch for. (Jason Cantone) Opening at Beverly and Savoy.

buzz

Emmyawardspreview BY JASON CANTONE | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

hatever happens on Sunday, the executives at HBO should be smiling widely and drinking champagne. With 109 Emmy nominations, HBO swamped every television channel yet again with its brilliant programming, including Six Feet Under, which boasts the most nominations of any show this year, and perennial favorite The Sopranos, which took last year off. HBO’s closest competitor is NBC, with 77 nominations—paltry in comparison. This year’s main attraction could easily be funeral-themed show Six Feet Under. Although down from last year’s 23 nominations, it should equal or surpass last year’s nine Emmy wins. But the Emmys are anyone’s guess, as political views (The West Wing gets extra points for its flag waving) and fan favorites (C.S.I. is now the number one show on television) often complicate predictions. BEST DRAMA Despite common belief, The Sopranos has never won this category. This is The West Wing’s fourth consecutive nomination but, hopefully, will not be its fourth consecutive win after The West Wing slipped in quality and viewers. This should make room for much worthier HBO shows. In fact, some critics took The West Wing off their annual top lists. C.S.I. boasts impressive ratings, but its quality also slipped this year, and NBC’s Boomtown deserved the nomination more. 24 shouldn’t be taken out of the equation, but it should be neck and neck between HBO’s two drama giants: The Sopranos and Six Feet Under. BEST COMEDY Emmys tend to stick with past winners, and this category features three previous winners: Will & Grace (2000), Sex and the City (2001) and Friends (2002). That leaves Everybody Loves Raymond and HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, which deserves the win but doesn’t have the strong fan base Sex and the City scored early in its first season. With Sex and the City’s end in sight, this year might be its swan song after receiving 13 nominations, the most in its fiveseason run, but count on Raymond to be the king of comedy. BEST ACTRESS-DRAMA After a year off, The Soprano’s Edie Falco (who won in both 1999 and 2001) matured and only improved. Her marriage struggles and desire to divorce Tony Soprano gave her the year’s best crying scenes, screaming scenes and moments of interior reflection, more so than in the years of her past wins. Jennifer Garner and Marg Helgenberger are just along for the ride as past winner Allison Janney and Six Feet Under matron Frances Conroy try to give Falco a run for her money.

buzz

community

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

“It was just something I always knew. I wouldn’t say Champaign is the worst place on earth, it just isn’t attractive to a young African-American single person. It seems like a place that is more geared to older, white married people with kids.” Both Cobb and Horton have already received job offers from law firms in Chicago.

time she heard a lawyer use the word “nigger” in a local courtroom. She said at a trial she observed as a student at the University, a white lawyer announced to the jury that, “We’re here because of a white girl and a nigger.” The lawyer was representing a black man who was charged with beating up his white ex-girlfriend. Racism “I guess he was trying to say that the only The lack of black professionals and career reason the court decided to pursue the case opportunities are not the only deterrents from was because his client was black,” Levypracticing in Champaign Pounds said. “But we County, Cobb said. There were all stunned he is also a degree of racism would say something like in the county that can be that about his own client. unpleasant for black I couldn’t see a black professionals. attorney using that kind “I can remember as a of language and feeling kid being called a nigger comfortable. But then to my face,” he said. “One again, I couldn’t see the Nekima Levy-Pounds time I was walking down majority of attorneys in Green Street and a drunk this town using that langirl called me a coon. You have to work hard guage.” to make it here. You really feel like you’re in a Levy-Pounds said she sometimes felt as a system created for someone else.” law student that she wasn’t being treated fairAnd Cobb said not all the racism is necesly or had to work harder than others because sarily from white people. of her race. “I know black people who aren’t even comEven after graduating from law school, fortable hiring black attorneys,” Cobb said. “I Levy-Pounds said she still found herself fightvolunteer at the local legal clinic about twice ing stereotypes as a practicing attorney in a month, and I assist the white attorney. A lot Champaign. of (the) time people say, ‘I don’t want to talk “Judges have mistaken me for a client,” she to you. I’d rather wait on the white lady.’” said, “and thought my white male client was Levy-Pounds said she will never forget the my attorney.” buzz

[

Clients always commented how good it was to have an AfricanAmerican lawyer.

107 n. walnut, Downtown Champaign m-th fri sat sun

10:30-5:30 10:30-9 10:30-5 11-4

Fine contemporary designs in •Clothing •Accessories •Jewelry •Shoes

[

Malibu Bay Lounge presents

HIP HOP & RAP MUSIC FEST Held at Malibu Bay Festival Grounds SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2003 1:00pm to 5:00pm OUTDOORS FEATURING

MYSTIKAL WITH SPECIAL GUEST

LICWADATID & REESE T

Special Appearance by TWINFOLKZ WITH MANY OTHER LOCAL TALENTED ACTS

Advance Tickets $15.00 * At Gate $20.00 NO COOLERS OR VIDEO CAMERAS ALLOWED Vendors Available all Day FREE

Ticket Locations (Credit Card Sales Avail. At Malibu Bay Lounge) Malibu Bay Lounge * Rt. 45 North, Urbana IL 217-328-7415 Historic Lincoln Hotel * 209 S. Broadway, Urbana IL 217-384-8800 Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan * 313 N. Mattis, Champaign IL 217-352-1212 Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan * 108 E. Green, Champaign, IL 217-344-1212 Andy’s Limousine * 515 N. Market, Champaign IL 217-352-3859 Record Service * 621 E. Green, Champaign IL 217-344-6222 Pawn Shop * 501 1/2 S. Century, Rantoul IL 217-893-3280 GB’s Books & Records * 702 E. Eldorado, Decatur IL 217-422-8221 High 12 * 208 N. First St., Champaign, IL 217-373-1067

Must have photo ID to Enter Gate 16yrs or younger Must be Accompanied by Parent or Guardian

Transportation To And From Festival Grounds ILLINI UNION & NORTH-SIDE OF LINCOLN SQUARE MALL

MALIBU FESTIVAL GROUNDS LOCATED ON RT. 45 NORTH OF URBANA ILLINOIS (ONE MILE NORTH OF I-74) 217-328-7415 AN IKE MAPSON PRODUCTION

3:48 PM

Page 1

arts

IF I COULD YODEL I WOULDN’T HAVE TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW. | SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2003

buzz

The lost art of yodeling T

[ [ It’s fun that he’s doing this; he’s someone who has a lot of talents and this is just one.

bookreview Matchstick Men ★★★★

By Eric Garcia

BY JASON CANTONE | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

ooks no longer need to top bestseller lists or make their rounds through book clubs to attract Hollywood’s attention. Matchstick Men, Eric Garcia’s tale of an obsessive compulsive con man, attracted A-list director Ridley Scott and Oscar-winning fan-favorite Nicolas Cage before the book even arrived at stores. This story screams Hollywood cool with its plot twists, moments of deception and sporadic trips to the Cayman Islands to fill a bank account with money grifted from innocent bystanders. But this isn’t a seedy tale of sex and intrigue. When a 14-year-old girl enters

the schemes, she isn’t a prostitute. She isn’t going to have sex with either of the criminal partners. She isn’t Lolita or any modern interpretation of a young vixen out to show older men her nymphomaniac tendencies. She turns out to be Roy’s daughter and sends his already psychotic life into a new flurry of anxieties and fears. Roy is an overweight, obsessive-compulsive con man who hordes his money in anonymous bank accounts as well as in an ugly, antique horse kept in his old house. Old house, old suits, old car—Roy does not live a life of luxury. On the other hand, Frankie, a young hot shot who spends more money than he’s earned, lives the life of Hollywood heroes by purchas-

enough, the winner also receives $10,000 and appears in a Yahoo commercial. These days, Rothbaum lives a humble life, considering he’s one of the top yodelers in the nation. Mainly, he now yodels only in the privacy of his car or on request. It seems to take a certain kind of person to make a good yodeler. One has to be open, unpredictable and unafraid of making weird noises in front of numerous people. Rothbaum says that his kindergartners aren’t quite ready for that kind of instruction, though he admits how comical they would sound if ever they tried their hand at yodeling. If you think you have what it takes, you can listen on the Yahoo Web site to what kind of competition there is in the world of yodeling. Now is the perfect time to start honing your yodeling skills in order to leave you and your hard-toimpress date breathless. You never know, maybe there’s room on Thursday nights at Lava between the wet Tshirt contest and boxing for some friendly yodeling rivalry. buzz

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO

COMEDY CENTRAL TELEVISION

Liberty. I want her to be able to see the statue that serves as her namesake.” The inspiration for her name originally came from a woman who worked at Avenue he adventure started about 30 years ago Antiques, a store on Goodwin Avenue that has while hitchhiking from Urbana across the since closed. His 18-year-old son, Nick, says of his father’s United States to the West Coast, according to Jeremy Rothbaum. On endless nights with a yodeling, “We’re all very supportive. His yodel thumb stuck out and no one around to hear, sounds nice.” Rothbaum describes his own Rothbaum belted out yodels influenced by technique as “high, bubbly and sweet.” You can judge for yourself on musicians like Hank www.yodel.yahoo.com under the Williams and Jimmie Seattle region, where a sound clip Rodgers. Perhaps he owes of Rothbaum’s yodeling can be some of his talent to Tom downloaded and listened to. Sawyer, a mortician he met His mother, long-time native while hitchhiking. of Urbana Janice Rothbaum Sawyer employed him said, “It’s fun that he’s doing on a ranch for a while, givthis; he’s someone who has a lot ing Rothbaum ample of talents and this is just one. It’s opportunity to practice Rothbaum’s mom, Janice very entertaining for all of us.” yodeling out in the open, Yodeling seems to encourage one of his favorite places to do so. A plethora of intriguing stories came people to smile, and though Rothbaum didn’t from this life-altering experience; this recent get the chance to meet too many fellow yodelers, he believes that it definitely takes someone yodeling competition is just another chapter. Rothbaum, an Urbana native who now lives fearless and uninhibited to participate in a near Seattle, found out about the Yahoo Yodel contest like this. Or, perhaps, simply someone Challenge while he was “messing around who’s adventurous enough to hitchhike across online and an ad popped up. It turned out that the country on charm and yodeling alone. While Rothbaum was a resident of Urbana, the competition in Seattle was the next day.” He never thought he would make it to the he attended Urbana High School and went on to the University of Washington to become an semi-finals. He came in second in his region, and had elementary school music teacher. His kinderhoped to clinch the first-place title in order to garten students also encouraged their outgowin two tickets to New York to participate in ing, friendly teacher on his way to the final competition. When asked whom he second place. If he’d won, he would have been would have taken with him, he responds within the running for the title of Favorite out hesitation, “My 14-year-old daughter, Amateur Yodeler in America. As if that’s not

moviereview

★★★★

BY AARON LEACH | STAFF WRITER THE HARD WORD | GUY PEARCE

moviereview

HARD WORD ★★★

BY JOHN LOOS | STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROTHBAUM FAMILY

BY NIK GALLICCHIO | STAFF WRITER

Jeremy Rothbaum competing in the Yahoo Yodeling Challenge.

ing more women than Charlie Sheen and buying more cars than the hot rap star of the week. Together, they are a mismatched couple, but have partners ever really been similar in these novels? When Roy starts seeing a psychiatrist, he is convinced he might have a daughter from his ill-fated past marriage. The doctor does a little research and 14-year-old Angela enters Roy’s life, eager to learn the family con business. Angela is like a breath of fresh air for his very anxious life. And as someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder, he needs to regain control and keep everything in order after her arrival. When readers first meet the characters, they are about to con a recent widow out of enough money for her to purchase a new roof.

Widows, poor college students, AIDS patients—no victim is out of reach for them. Although readers know each innocent bystander is in for an unpleasant surprise, the games of chance never lose their excitement. The book oozes fun and excitement and can be read at a breathtaking speed, as the energy never slows down for a second. However, it would be difficult to review this book without an analysis of the ending. While the first 190 pages or so are light and entertaining, the last 30 pages are nothing short of brilliant. With enough twists and turns to keep the sleepiest reader wide-eyed, this is where Garcia’s fun prose succeeds wonderfully. Whether readers guess the surprises or not, watching the characters unravel is like watching a good card shark on the street. Garcia stacks his characters and their outlandish actions into a deck of cards, shuffles them out and then lets fate and chance take them to a whole new level. Matchstick Men will steal your heart and a few laughs along the way.

film&tv

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003 CAN I GIVE YOU A LITTLE CABIN FEVER?

lthough colored in with quirky peripheral characters and clever dialogue, the Australian thriller The Hard Word feels like a rough sketch of a pretty good idea. The movie constantly escalates towards a higher quality heist film, and almost reaches it when the credits roll, but it had the potential to be a much more stylish, exciting film. The film revolves around five characters. There are the good guys: Dale (Guy Pearce), Shane (Joel Edgerton) and Mal (Damien Richardson), who are frequently imprisoned bank-robbing brothers who refuse to harm anyone they rob. There is the bad guy, Frank (Robert Taylor), their scheming lawyer. And there is the obligatory wildcard, Dale’s wife Carol (a trampy Rachel Griffiths), whose intentions are always in question. Frank organizes a big-scale robbery for the brothers, with the intention of killing them afterwards. While the film’s main event is Frank’s heist, the fact that the brothers seem to know of his alternative plans from the beginning allows for the emphasis to shift to the characters instead of their actions. We expect things to go wrong, and we expect the brothers to get back at their backstabbing lawyer. What we wonder is how things are going to go wrong, how they are going to get revenge and what part Carol plays in the whole scheme. While the movie seldom surprises, it does take the less-traveled roads to get to its moderately satisfying conclusion. Ultimately, the film would be rather dull if it weren’t for the small highlights that speckle the narrative. Shane’s brief encounter with a therapist, Mal’s cheerful dopiness and Frank’s dyslexic thug named Tarzan all help elevate the well-worn premise. Griffiths is also a standout, though even in the end her character feels much less relevant than she’s supposed to be. In terms of heist movies, The Hard Word succeeds in exciting but fails in delighting. There are guns, gore and getaways, but a noticeable lack of ingenuity. And while it’s fun to watch what the characters are up to, it would have been more interesting to see what they did after the credits roll.

ll too often when describing a good action flick to a friend, this statement is made: “Well, it was a good ‘action’ film, but not really a great movie.” It’s as if the action genre has been demoted into a class that ranks well below other respectable genres of film. However, Hollywood Renaissance man Robert Rodriguez has returned to the action game with guns-a-blazin’ and guitars-a-wailin’ in order to prove that action films don’t have to be just good popcorn flicks. With Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Rodriguez has delivered not only an action spectacle to top all of this summer’s action fluff, but crafted a breathtaking and inspired piece of filmmaking as well. Once Upon a Time in Mexico is the third and final chapter in Rodriguez’s El Mariachi trilogy, an obvious homage to old spaghetti-Western films. In 1992, he made El Mariachi for a meager $7,000. Most Hollywood set-caterers cost more than that. Then came the 1995 follow-up, Desperado. It is not really the same story, nor

really a continuation, but a sort of polished revival that introduced Antonio Banderas to many Americans. This third installment brings an even bigger budget, an all-star cast and a massive scope that treats viewers to gorgeous Mexican locales. Mexico starts off just as its predecessors with the telling of a story. Rodriguez regular Cheech Marin does the job of passing along the legend of El Mariachi, once again played by Banderas, to CIA Agent Sands (Johnny Depp). Sands wishes to recruit the gun-toting guitarist to help kill General Marquez, who is working for drug lord Barillo, who, in a poor casting choice, is played by Willem Dafoe. The plot here is one of the most confusing stories since Mission: Impossible. With so many characters, subplots and double-crosses, it gets tiring at times to keep track of everything; however, by the end of the film Rodriguez manages to wrap them all up so that it all makes perfect sense. While Depp and Banderas compete for screen time, both are simply brilliant. Depp has become quite the Hollywood scene stealer and Banderas eases comfortably back into his role. Banderas can swagger and brood all while exuding a level of sympathetic sexiness that is perfect for the part. Depp’s problem is that he is almost too charming for the part. Sands is a CIA agent who crosses the moral lines often. He is technically on the side of the good guys but he is primarily in it for number one. He isn’t supposed to be likeable, and as much as one may try to hate him, there is simply no hating Johnny Depp. Rodriguez is in top form for this film. His restrained, highly stylized and beautifully cho-

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO | ANTONIO BANDERAS

DIMENSION FILMS

9/17/03

reographed action sequences resemble a dance more than a shootout. He blends classic cinematography with frenetic Tarantino-esque pacing and intensity to create a signature that will secure his place among the great auteurs of this generation. Shot entirely on a new Sony high definition digital camera over a blisteringly fast period of only seven weeks, Once Upon a Time in Mexico is an action film that is every bit as intense as it is gorgeous. Fans of the trilogy will not be disappointed, and most audiences will be delighted with the fresh style of action as well as the intelligence present in the script. Paying homage to Western campiness with memorable characters and a bit of goofball humor, this is the summer blockbuster that movie-goers should have received two months ago.

moviereview

CABIN FEVER no stars

BY DANIEL NOSEK | STAFF WRITER

s long as college students continue to portray themselves as reckless and idiotic on screen, there will always be an audience and a budget for violent bloodshed. By now, every possible method of murder has been explored and exhausted by directors of horror films. Of course, the rare exceptions of The Ring or the The Sixth Sense have proved that excessive gore is not vital to cinematic success. These productions effectively evoke psychological terror in place of blood to spook audiences, which works to perfection. Cabin Fever will likely not join the ranks of these elite films in the horror genre. It presents the same stereotypical cast of characters who exercise poor judgment and pay the price with their lives. Even the film’s setting in the woods limits its creativity and suspense. By staying true to traditional format, Cabin Fever literally drowns in a pool of its own blood. After a promising opening sequence, the focus shifts to Jeff, Paul, Marcy and Karen, who rent a cabin for a weekend to celebrate their graduation with alcohol and nature. Jeff and Marcy represent the inseparable couple who

have an insatiable sexual appetite. Paul, the quiet and serious one in the bunch, hopes the trip will help him bond with Karen. On their way to the secluded area, they stop at a local grocery store and meet the native dwellers, who act surprisingly suspicious and friendly to the travelers. Once the group settles into its new home, they are visited by a demented, wildlife hermit covered in blood who begs for medical assistance. After noticing his lesions and scars, the kids erupt in panic and murder the wanderer in the process. But the damage has already been done and what follows is the predictable and slow demise of all who came in contact with the unknown virus. Intermixed in all the bloodshed are scenes that seem completely irrelevant, even for such a dismal film. One of them features the son of the store owner who inexplicably bites anyone near him. His role has no definitive connection to the plot and seems glaringly misplaced. Another sequence includes Paul and Marcy who, realizing their inevitable fate, agree to have sex one last time. Such blatant sexuality is unnecessary and could have been omitted, along with some of the gory details. In addition to many meaningless scenes, the dialogue could also have used some variety in wording. The endless string of expletives by each character becomes painfully irritating after the first few minutes. Although the majority of the actors in this dis-

LIONS GATE FILMS

0918buzz0619

CABIN FEVER | CERINA VINCENT aster are obscure and will probably never work in Hollywood again, one recognizable face is that of Paul, played by Rider Strong. If one recalls, he was Corey’s longtime friend Shawn on ABC’s television show Boy Meets World. He may have outgrown that adolescent role but still has to develop his acting skills before anyone will seriously consider him for higher quality films. Nothing could have saved Cabin Fever from its own devouring illness. Not only did the number of plot flaws rival the body count, but even the overt sexual content and gore lost their appeal after awhile. How such a dreadful film could have been financed is beyond the scope of anyone’s imagination.

3:48 PM

Page 1

film & tv

buzz

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

ears before Tom Green televised the removal of a tumor from his prostate, Harvey Pekar was recounting the same experience in a comic book entitled Our Cancer Year. The Cleveland file clerk, jazz fiend and all-around hapless slob had recently risen to minor fame for his comic book American Splendor, a bluecollar detailing of the most irksome details of his humdrum life. At first glance, the overweight, balding and perpetually grumpy Pekar might seem the least likely guy to serve as the subject of a movie, but the starkly poignant film adaptation of those comic books, also titled American Splendor, captivatingly traces Pekar’s life from childhood to retirement with the kind of nobull directness and slanted view on life that could only come from Pekar himself.

moviereview

MATCHSTICK MEN ★★★ BY JASON CANTONE | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ilms based upon popular novels have always faced unbelievable scrutiny. Characters change, plot twists become unravelled and love interests are thrown in to spice up situational dynamics. All of this can alienate the book’s truest fans or turn up the heat and bring more people into the story. When Bonfire of the Vanities hit theaters in 1990, it received an onslaught of negative criticism paralleled only by Gigli. One critic stated, “Destroy this film; watch it only to see a good example of a lousy adaptation.” But when a viewer doesn’t take the popular novel into account, Bonfire of the Vanities stands as an interesting look at the media, and while not great by any means, is better than many other movies in the early 1990s. Ridley Scott’s Matchstick Men offers a similar situation. While it stands alone as a well-crafted dark comedy, it pales in comparison to the book, sacrificing one of the best endings in recent memory for an attempt at making viewers smile one more time. Matchstick Men (also called con men or grifters) tells the story of Roy, an aging obsessive-compulsive. Nicolas Cage successfully

plays up his eccentric daily routine of opening and closing doors numerous times, cleaning obsessively and excessively worrying without going overboard. Despite playing a man detailed in the book as an overweight John Goodman-type, Cage completely immerses himself in the role, which seems to be an offshoot of his Oscar-nominated performance in last year’s Adaptation. But this isn’t a story of psychological disorders. Roy and Frank (played energetically by Sam Rockwell) are two con men who steal from the rich, the poor—whoever, really. They have set up a con game where they convince people they have won a prize but need to purchase a cheap water filtration unit first. After the victims write up a check to a courier, the two con artists bust in as law enforcement and get them to sign over their account information for further conning. One con in the book was most likely discarded from the movie because it’s too easy to copy, and the book’s greatest con was cut because the main character involved was blended into the victim of a different con. But this isn’t just a story of grifting and groaning. After starting to see a new psychologist, Roy is informed that he has a daughter from his former marriage and Angela enters the game. After a brilliant turn in White Oleander, Alison Lohman (playing seven years younger than she is) proves yet again she’s a talented young actress out to make Hollywood hers. She weaves in and out of Roy’s life, staying just long enough to get him completely attached and straying long enough to make him miss her and contemplate that maybe

AMERICAN SPLENDOR | PAUL GIAMATTI commentary on happiness, accomplishment and the disheartened lifestyle of Middle America. Pekar is the personification of the flailing, gray desperation of Cleveland, Ohio, and while his more sympathetic emotions may be masked by relentless complaining and pathetic neediness, his life story turns out to serve the exact purpose that he tried to avoid in creating American Splendor. In depicting himself as a rumpled discontent—a loser who’s most distinguishing trait is his unmistakable everyman-ness—Pekar turns himself into a true American hero.

C-UViews

Matchstick Men ★★★★

MATCHSTICK MEN | ALISON LOHMAN she’ll make his neurotic life more manageable. Cage, Rockwell and Lohman keep the story energized through some disappointing and uneven moments and keep viewers engaged until Scott allows the twists to unravel. When everything starts falling into place, viewers will feel as if they have been conned. It’s a light movie aiming to make you think. But the best thinkers will only consider one thought: how to get a copy of the book, because that’s where the story’s true brilliance originates.

SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

Sandy Eichhorst Champaign

“Best movie I’ve seen in a long time. The acting was superb. Ending was unpredictable.”

Once upon a time in Mexico ★★★ Horacio Alvarez Decatur

“It was good, but not good enough to see again.”

★★ Oscar Gipson Champaign

"The poster was better than the movie."

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID SOUTHARD

★★★★

avid DeVries moved to Urbana last week. He uses charcoal, cut-up pieces and whatever material is at hand, but there is no specific medium to restrict or define his work. Although he does not consider himself an artist, David finds himself a newborn in the visual art world. He believes Urbana to be a “nurturing and yet still solitary” place, where he expects to get a great start on his work. Be on the lookout for showings throughout the year. What inspires you? Baby carrots, elation, time, sin, pants that turn into shorts, longing, salvation, wet city streets, strangers both nameless and faceless ... well, honestly, I cannot think of anything uninspiring. Even the things I dislike provoke me to create things, whether I am fully aware of it or not. To answer your question then, I suppose all things inspire me.

Segregation Exhibit at University Library BY DAVID SOUTHARD | STAFF WRITER

Dressed in a drab outfit consisting largely of a hooded sweatshirt and winter hat, Giamatti, with his bug eyes and sad, diagonal face, wondrously inhabits the slovenly frumpiness that causes Pekar to spend his life with his head down and hands in his pockets. Giamatti delivers a knockout performance in his first major leading role. On the outside, Pekar is a brittle, unhappy man, naturally inclined by birth and by name to be a disgruntled grouch. But when the funny, absorbing American Splendor works back and forth between the two Harvey Pekars—both real and fake—its humble protagonist drips with warmth and compassion. And Harvey’s stripped-down notion of truth goes deep below his rough exterior. He lives his life with a depressed twist on Popeye’s “I am what I am” philosophy; the real Pekar declares “That’s who I am; I’m a gloom-anddoom kind of guy.” His motto, and American Splendor’s tagline, is “Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff,” and this unflinching biopic more than proves it true. Even the smallest moments in Pekar’s life sparkle with meaning, and there’s an undeniable bounce to the inspirational story of a man who finds happiness in spite of himself. Both delightfully intricate and amusingly simple, American Splendor is the opposite of this summer’s bloated adaptation of The Hulk. While Ang Lee attempted to transfer a comic book into real life, Berman and Pulcini render real life into a comic book and stretch it into a

20TH CENTURY FOX FILMS

AMERICAN SPLENDOR

That’s because writer/director Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini boldly work the real Harvey Pekar into his own story (in the film, he is played by renowned character actor Paul Giamatti). In an enthralling, semi-documentarian style that’s half Adaptation and half Private Parts, Berman and Pulcini have Pekar narrate the film in his own leathery rasp and frequently show Pekar onscreen, recording voice-overs and talking with the real-life characters on which the movie, and his comic book series, is based. At one point, we even see Giamatti sitting in the background and laughing as Pekar interacts gently with his friend, Toby Radloff, a self-described nerd played to hilarious perfection in the film by Judah Friedlander. The voyeuristic thrill of American Splendor, is that the cinematic representation of Pekar’s life is as unabashedly real as Pekar. He’s a man too inept to clean house and too honest to beat around the bush: The first time he meets Joyce Brabner, a woman with whom he had a telephone relationship and marries only a week after laying eyes on her, Harvey tells her, “Before we start any of this, I should tell you that I had a vasectomy.” Like Harvey, Joyce is divorced and lonely, and the two reeling comic fans find love in their shared misery. While he suffers through his file clerk job and composes issues of American Splendor, she spends all day in bed diagnosing herself with various health problems.

arts

| IF YOU WERE MY REMOTE ... WHERE WOULD YOU BE?

ARTIST’S CORNER

moviereview

buzz SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

CHECK OUT SOME DIRTY, PRETTY THINGS. THEY’RE COMING TO CHAMPAIGN. | SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

his 2003-2004 academic year, the University of Illinois is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. This all starts on the first floor hallway of the Main Library with the exhibit “Separate and Unequal: Segregation and Three Generations of Black Response, 1870-1954.” This exhibit is the opening of the school’s commemoration. The aforementioned dates within the time span represent two important cases involved in segregation. The first, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), legally permitted racial segregation. The second is Brown v. Board of Education, the monumental civil rights case that overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision. The Brown case proclaimed that a segregated education is unequal and unlawful—a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment. “Separate and Unequal” has collected materials from the school’s archives to bring University of Illinois students, as well as Champaign-Urbana residents, a glimpse of the black response to the laws and actions taken through this time span. Stretching across the length of the wall, there is a timeline that highlights both setbacks and advancements in the Brown vs. Board case. Surrounding the timeline, one can find old fliers of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and articles from the first black daily paper, The New Orleans Tribune, which was founded in 1864. There are also very disturbing facts from American history. Up on the wall, a map of the United States shows the location of all 3,436 documented lynchings that took place between the years 1889 and 1921. Next to this map is a list of reasons why people were lynched. One can see some of the disturbing reasons individuals

were lynched, such as window peeping, part of a Fourth of July celebration, introducing smallpox, being acquitted of murder, and even for being a relative of a lynched person. Though the lynching map may appear very saddening, there are several pieces within the large cases that sit below the wall, as well as pieces on the wall itself, that show the hope of the black response. “Our focus,” said Tom Weissinger, Afro-American Studies bibliographer and member of the exhibition counsel, “is not founded in the anger of the time, but the hope of making things better, on the crisis of the times, on the black response, as well as the interrelationship with whites for progress.” On the wall one can also find quotes and articles from great writers, poets, athletes, military men and civil leaders of the time. One moving quote, written by a Black Creole woman poet named Camille Naudin in 1867, reads, “It is intelligence and soul/And no longer the skin that makes the man.” There is also an interesting section on segregation and its reaction as it happened during the time at the University. The Wright Street entrance has a small section dedicated to the occurrences of segregation here in Champaign-Urbana. Dana Wright, diversity librarian at the Undergraduate Library, who set this special exhibit, said, “Students will have an interesting opportunity to see what their campus was like and see how it has changed.” The exhibit is an informative insight into segregation and the movement away from it in America, but “the Case of Brown v. Board in ‘54 was not the end of this struggle,” said Betsy Kruger, central circulation and bookstacks head, and part of the exhibits committee, “nor is it the end of the school’s commemoration of the historical case. This exhibit here sets the stage for future exhibits, discussions, creative works, lectures and more.”

What themes are present in your work? One of David DeVries’ pieces of which he’s been working on over Bleak images arranged the last year. together to achieve something like sensitivity, transcending the bleakness to become something like sensitivity. Compassion and hope during some sort of complete and total collapse of what many people believe is “advancement” of the human race. Or my work lacks hope completely. Why did you chose the piece you are featuring? It is one of the first pieces that I have done; it is the perfect representation of my work up to this point. My work has yet to be in a museum or coffee shop. It sits on a shelf in my apartment for now. Where can you find the best conversation in town? I haven’t lived here long, but that doesn’t matter. I don’t talk. I watch people on the streets and through my shutters. Only when people don’t know they are being listened to do they say what they really mean.

PHOTOS | ADAM YOUNG

9/17/03

WARNER BROTHERS FILMS

0918buzz0718

Past written examples of the University’s race policy.

0918buzz0817

9/17/03

3:49 PM

Page 1

arts

EASIEST PAGE DESIGN EVER. | SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2003

There’s a great story about jazz in Champaign-Urbana. It holds chapters from the past. Sounds from the present. And ideas yet to be lived. Step into the groove of life in C-U.

Creative Intersections Sponsor

Corporate Platinum Sponsor

Corporate Silver Sponsors

Corporate Bronze Sponsors The Great Impasta Shouting Ground Technologies

Afterglow with Jeff Helgesen and Rachael Lee Casual night music at Krannert Center’s Interlude bar Saturday, September 27, about 9:30pm Krannert Center Free

Know Your University Talk and music from Cecil Bridgewater Tuesday, September 23, noon University YMCA 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign Free

Jazz Vespers The House of Cool meets the House of Prayer Sunday, October 12, 5:30pm University Place Christian Church 403 S. Wright St., Champaign Free

Jazz Jam Session Join the jam with Cecil and Chambana Tuesday, September 23, 9pm to midnight Two Main Lounge 2 Main St., Champaign Free

Other Cecil Bridgewater Concerts at Krannert Center

Cecil Bridgewater and guests in Concert at Krannert Center Carl Allen, drums Ron Bridgewater, saxophone Kenny Davis, bass Mulgrew Miller, piano Saturday, September 27, 7:30pm Krannert Center $17 to $23 Talkback after the show, free

Saturday, December 6, 7:30pm With Dee Dee Bridgewater, vocals U of I Concert Jazz Band Saturday, March 6, 10am Java and Jazz, a casual morning concert Coffee and bagels on sale at 9am Sunday, March 7, 7:30pm With Clark Terry, trumpet

Patron Sponsors Margaret and Larry Neal Patron Co-sponsors Frances and Marc Ansel Sam Gove Anonymous Jazz Threads is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts; and by the Heartland Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from General Mills Foundation, Land O’Lakes Foundation, Sprint Corporation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

For information on all events 217/333-6280 800/KCPATIX KrannertCenter.com

calendar

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

10/10 Death Cab For Cutie, The Long Winters @ Metro 10/11 Death Cab For Cutie, Pinebender @ Metro 10/11 Smokey Robinson @ House of Blues 10/11 Kid Koala @ Abbey Pub 10/13 Simply Red @ House of Blues 10/14 Alice Cooper @ House of Blues 10/16 Electric Six @ Double Door 10/16 Rufio @ Metro, all ages 10/17 Soulive, Me’Shell Ndegeocello @ House of Blues 10/18 DJ Justin Long @ Metro Smart Bar 10/19 Longwave/Calla @ Double Door 10/24 Cowboy Mouth, Cracker @ House of Blues 10/25 The Walkmen @ Double Door 10/26 Echo and the Bunnymen @ Metro 10/29 Fuel @ House of Blues 10/31 Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ House of Blues

11/1 Dirtbombs @ Double Door 11/7 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ House of Blues 11/15 The Shins @ House of Blues, tickets on sale 8/13 11/22 Tom Jones @ House of Blues 11/22 Alabama @ Allstate Arena 11/23 Tom Jones @ House of Blues 11/24 Symphony X @ Metro

A Great Day in C-U Photo If you’re a local jazz musician, get into this group photograph and join us for a party afterwards Monday, September 22, 3:30pm Krannert Center Amphitheatre (lobby in case of rain)

Arts for Kids Jazz talk and sounds for grades 1 to 4 Saturday, September 27, 1pm Krannert Center Free; tickets required

buzz

NOVEMBER

Featuring Cecil Bridgewater September 22-27 December 1-6 March 1-7 April 29-May 2

Jazz Threads Underwriter

buzz

CHICAGOVENUES House of Blues 329 N Dearborn, Chicago, 312.923.2000 The Bottom Lounge 3206 N Wilton, Chicago Congress Theatre 2135 N Milwaukee, 312.923.2000 Vic Theatre 3145 N Sheffield, Chicago, 773.472.0449 Metro 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, 773.549.0203 Elbo Room 2871 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago Park West 322 W Armitage, Chicago, 773.929.1322 Riviera Theatre 4746 N Racine at Lawerence, Chicago Allstate Arena 6920 N Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, 847.635.6601 Arie Crown Theatre 2300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, 312.791.6000 UIC Pavilion 1150 W Harrison, Chicago, 312.413.5700 Schubas 3159 N Southport, Chicago, 773.525.2508 Martyrs 3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, 773.288.4545 Aragon 1106 W Lawerence, Chicago, 773.561.9500 Abbey Pub 3420 W Grace, Chicago, 773.478.4408 Fireside Bowl 2646 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, 773.486.2700 Schubert Theatre 22 W Monroe, Chicago, 312.977.1700

ART EXHIBITS-OPENINGS "Held Together" & "Unopened Places" – Verde Gallery presents "Held Together," sculptures by Sandra Ahtens and "Unopened Places," paintings and drawings from Jana Manson on display through Oct 4. Opening reception on Thu Sept 18, 7-9pm. Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat. 10am-10pm. www.verdantsystems.com/Verde.htm "mistaken" – featuring painting by Steven Hudson, installation by Christina March and mixed media works by Victoria Outerbridge. The exhibit opens on Sept 17 and runs through Oct 12 at The Springer Cultural Center All are invited to a reception on Sept 19 from 6-8pm. That night, from 6-7pm we will have live music by Desdafinado, followed by an artists' talk at 7pm

ART-ON VIEW NOW "Full Circle" – Gallery Virtue presents a solo exhibition of black and white photography by Anna Barnes.The photographs will be on display throughout September. 220 W Washington, Monticello. Thu 12-4pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm. (217) 762-7790. www.galleryvirtu.org. "Remnants of Ritual: Selections from the Gelbard Collection of African Art" – The magnificent African art collection of David and Clifford Gelbard focuses on the cultural significance and aesthetic beauty of masks and sculptures - many of which were created for ceremonial and ritual purposes.This exhibition includes a wide array of objects and celebrates the durable, expressive essence of festivals, rites and coming-of-age ceremonies. On display at the Krannert Art Museum through Oct 26. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am8pm, Sun 2-5pm.(217) 333-1860.Suggested Donation: $3

"Visualizing the Blues: Images of the American South, 18621999" - Every picture tells a story and this exhibition of more than 100 photographs of the Mississippi Delta region portrays a profoundly vivid narrative of life in the American South.These photographs, taken from the Civil War era through 1999, show the rhythms of life from this almost mythic region and powerfully document the sources of inspiration for the lyrics and melodies of Blues musicians.Among the photographers represented are Margaret Bourke-White, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Andres Serrano and many others.On display at Krannert Art Museum through Nov 2. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am8pm, Sun 2-5pm.(217) 333-1860.Suggested Donation: $3 Featured Works XIII:"The Spirit of Mediterranean Pathos:The Early Work of Pierre Daura" - Pierre Daura (1896-1976) was a member of significant modern art movements in the early 20th century. This exhibition highlights a recent gift of works by Daura and explores the forms and colors of his paintings and drawings from about 1910 to the late 1930s. On display at Krannert Art Museum through Nov 2. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat. 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. (217) 3331860.Suggested Donation: $3 "Land and Water" – The Middle Room Gallery @ the UCIMC presents "Land and Water," a group photography show curated by Lissa Raybon on display through Sept 30. The group show will focus on landscape and nature photography and will feature local photographers Lisa Billman, Jennifer Gentry and Lissa Raybon.218 W Main St., Urbana.http://www.gallery.ucimc.org/ “Separate and Unequal: Segregation and Three Generations of Black Response, 1870-1950.” – This exhibit highlights the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision of 1896, which legally sanctioned racial segregation in the United States until 1954 when the Supreme Court overturned Plessy in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. Materials from the Library's collections and archives highlight the historical period between these two landmark civil rights cases. Sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, the Brown v. Board of Education Commemorative Committee and the University of Illinois Library. On view at the University of Illinois Main Library, first floor hallway, during library hours. 1408 W Gregory Drive, Urbana. Hours vary. (217) 333-2290 http://www.oc.uiuc.edu/brown

ART CLOSINGS American Folk Art from the Herbert Fried Collection – A recent donation of 19th and early 20th century American folk art has strengthened the museum’s holdings.The vivid forms and vernacular appeal of folk art are highlighted through selections from this important collection. On view at Krannert Art Museum through Sept 21.500 E Peabody, Urbana.Tue,Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested Donation: $3

MIND BODY SPIRIT Loose Womyn Discussion Group – (discussion topics are loose, the women need not be) 7pm Thu, Sept 18 we'll discuss the book The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd. Borders Bookstore, 802 Town Center Blvd, Champaign (217) 351-9011.

Clear Sky Zen Group – Meets on Thursday evenings in the Geneva Room of the McKinley Foundation. Newcomers to meditation and people of all traditions and faiths are welcome – McKinley Foundation, 809 S Fifth St, 6:25-9pm Formerly-Fat Persons’ Support Group – Free social meeting every Saturday at 2pm at Aroma Cafe, 118 N Neil St, Champaign. For more information contact Jessica Watson at 353-4934.

Sunday Zen Meditation Meeting – Prairie Zen Center, 515 S Prospect, Champaign, NW corner Prospect & Green, enter thru door from parking area. Introduction to Zen Sitting, 10am; Full Schedule: Service at 9 followed by sitting, Dharma Talk at 11 followed be tea until about 12 noon. Can arrive at any of above times, open to all, no experience needed, no cost. For info call 355-8835 or www.prairiezen.org

Artist’s Way Group – A 12-week adventure in recovering and celebrating our creative spirit. Wednesdays, Sept 17Dec 17 (no session Nov 26) from 5:45-7:15pm at McKinley Foundation (free parking). To register or for more information, contact Jo Pauly, MSW, Whole Life Coach at (217) 3377823 or jopauly@prairienet.org.

Prairie Sangha for Mindfullness Meditation – Monday evenings from 7:30-9pm and monthly retreats on Sunday. Theravadan (Vipassana) and Tibetan (Vjrayana & Dzogchen) meditation practice. Meets in Urbana. More information call or email Tom at 356-7413 or shayir@soltec.net. www.prairiesangha.org

Life Map Workshop – A life map is a collection of visual images, a method of connecting with your intuition, a tool for visualizing your dreams or goals. Come explore life mapping – approaches, uses, and the opportunity to create your own life map. 9:15am-1pm on Oct 4 at McKinley Foundation, Champaign. To register or for information, contact Jo Pauly, MSW, Whole Life Coach at (217) 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ON PAGE 22 T H E C A S T S O M E H O W

R E M A R C H

A R I S T A E

M O T H E R S D U G A K A Y U G L A T E R E L I N E N T

S P L B A R Y E W E E A R R E Y D E A N E W

H A L E A G E R I E I N S R N I L L M E N U E T S C I D H O R S A Y L E O L L E G S R O M E N D N O W X I L E I P E D

I T T O

S H A R E G I E N E N A A T D E A C V A I K S E

L E T T E R C

E Y E H O L E

R O B E S O N

D R Y D E N S

YOU KNOW YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY. COME VISIT US

ROSEWOOD GUITARS 313 E. Green St. in Campustown 344-7940 Good, clean fun!

Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America

THEATRE LISTINGS Elysium on the Prairie, Live Action Roleplaying – Vampires stalk the city streets and struggle for dominance in a world of gothic horror. Create your own character and mingle with dozens of players who portray their own undead alter egos. Each session is another chapter in an ongoing story of triumph, tragedy and betrayal. Friday, “Vampire: The Masquerade” For more information visit: http://ww2.uiuc.edu/ro/elysium/intro.html. Check site for location, 7pm. Parkland Theatre announces open auditions for Story Theatre. Auditions will take place Sun, Sept 21 from 2-4pm or Mon, Sept 22 from 6-8pm at Parkland College Theatre. Rehearsals will begin shortly after casting. Performances are Nov 5-16. Developed by Paul Sills (a co-founder of Chicago’s Second City), Story Theatre is a sequence of 10 inventive, fun-filled stories from the Grimm Brother’s Collection and Aesop’s Fables brought to life by an ensemble troupe using improvisational techniques. The 10 scenes in Story Theatre are: The Little Peasant, The Bremen Town Musicians, Is He Fat?, The Robber Bridegroom, Henny Penny, The Master Thief, Venus and the Cat, The Fisherman and His Wife, Two Crows, and The Golden Goose.

Rev. Dr. Mel White September 22, 2003 7:30 p.m. Latzer Hall University YMCA 1001 S. Wright Street

"Until this nation accepts God's gay and lesbian children as full members of the human family we must go on telling that truth in love, whatever it might cost us." Mel White Sponsors: Community United Church of Christ & Campus Ministry, The Episcopal Chapel of St. John the Divine, Faith United Methodist Church, McKinley United Presbyterian Church and Foundation, The Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), PRIDE, St. Andrews Lutheran Church and Campus Center, UIUC Counseling Center, The Unitarian Universalist Church/Interweave, The University YMCA, Wesley United Methodist Church and Foundation

9/17/03

3:49 PM

Page 1

calendar

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

C-UVENUES

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 Malibu Bay Lounge North Rt. 45, Urbana, 328.7415 Mike & Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355.1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367.5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352.7275 Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359.1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351.0068 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 Rt. 136 E, Rantoul, 893.8244 Pink House Rts. 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 Strawberry Fields Café 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328.1655 Ten Thousand Villages 105 N Walnut, Champaign, 352.8938 TK Wendl’s 1901 S Highcross Rd, Urbana, 255.5328 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

Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333.5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356.5144 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 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378.8001 BordersBooks&Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 351.9011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352.7512 Canopy Club (The Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367.3140 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 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 The 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 Performing Arts

Boardman’s

Art Theatre 126 W. Church St. Champaign, IL

American Splendor

R, runs 101 minutes, flat, presented in HPS-4000/DD. Daily at 4:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., & 9:30 p.m. Early matinees on Sat/Sun at 2pm • Featuring hot pizza and stuffed pretzels, cookies and brownies, and fresh brewed coffee and tea •

Listen to WPGU FM 107.1 to win movie tickets, T-Shirts, and more! Visit Pages for All Ages and G-Mart for books and magazines, & pick-up a coupon!

BOARDMAN’S THEATRES www.BoardmansTheatres.com 1-800-BEST PLACE (800-237-8752) 355-0068 eTickets/reserved seats: www.BoardmansArtTheatre.com

Zorba’s 627 E Green, Champaign

CHICAGOSHOWS 9/18 Built to Spill @ Metro 9/18 Maldita Vacinded @ House of Blues 9/19 Wilco @ Auditorium Theatre 9/19 Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens of the Stone Age @ Tweeter Center 9/19 Interpol @ Riviera Theatre 9/19 Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Tweeter Center 9/19 Black Eyed Snakes @ Schubas 9/20 Wilco @ Auditorium Theatre 9/20 Thursday @ House of Blues 9/20 Robbie Fulks @ Double Door, 9pm, $10 9/20 Ravonettes @ Metro 9/22 Dressy Bessy @ Schubas 9/23 Turbonegro @ Metro, 18+ 9/23 Ratbag Hero @ Double Door 9/23 Damien Rice @ Park West 9/23 Good Charlotte @ Aragon Ballroom 9/24 Kim Hiorthoy, Black Dice @ Empty Bottle 9/25 Ted Nugent @ Hoirtywse of Blues

buzz

9/25 Jackie O Motherfucker, Priest, james Chance Terminal City @ Empty Bottle 9/26 SIZZLA @ House of Blues 9/26 !!! @ Empty Bottle 9/26 Houston @ Double Door 9/27 Lake Trout @ Schubas 9/27 Bouncing Souls, Tsunami Bomb @ Metro 9/27 Burning Spear @ House of Blues 9/27 Some Girls @ Double Door 9/27 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Metro, 18 + 9/28 Adult, Michael Gira @ Empty Bottle 9/29 Lisa Marie Presley @ House of Blues

OCTOBER 10/1 Saves the Day @ House of Blues 10/1 Calexico @ Metro, 18+ 10/3 Leftover Salmon @ House of Blues 10/3 Nada Surf @ Metro 10/3 Dashboard Confessional @ Aragon Ballroom 10/4 IDA @ Schubas 10/4 Steve Winwood @ House of Blues 10/5 56 Hope Road/Down the Line @ Metro 10/5 Fischerspooner @ House of Blues 10/7 The Polyphonic Spree, Starlight Mints @ Metro 10/8 Switchfoot, Blue @ Metro

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GIRLS OF

Σ∆Τ

WHO RECEIVED A 3.5 GPA OR HIGHER! SPRING 2003 *DENOTES A 4.0 GPA Jessica Abrams Jessica Applebaum Randi Arbus Sara Aronow Sloane Baker Lindsay Behn *Emily Berger Nina Braiman Jenna Breuer Abby Chiron Jennifer Cooper *Lindsay Darin Robyn Epstein *Kate Feldt Lisa Fish

*Amy Fox Dara Friedman *Jennifer Growe Lauren Horowitz Samantha Isaacson Julie Kander Stacy Kaplan Lindsay Karlin Erinn Katz *Shelley Klass *Stephanie Koenig Diana Kogan Nikki Kohlenbrener Erika Kramer Jessica Lane

Caren Leoplod Rachel Locker Julie London Jodi Mautner Jodi Menn Sarah Menoni Jennifer Miller Meredith Minoff Rebecca Nathan Jessica Olshanksy Alina Ozersky *Meredith Pass *Lauren Polakoff Michelle Porwancher Dayna Putterman

Sigma Delta Tau

Allison Recker Ronnie Riebman Andrea Roos Robin Rosenberg Marissa Saltzman Deborah Schaller Deborah Serour Paula Shaevitz Allison Shapiro *Dana Sheperd Jori Shiffman Rebecca Shiffman *Stephanie Sommers *Amanda Stern Lindsey Strom

Hollie Tarshis Shana Thomason Amy Wechsler Jamie Weisman Jessica Welbel Jennifer Wicks Julie Wong Michelle Zats Stefanie Zelener *Tracy Zimmerman Jessica Zindell Amy Zwikel

buzz

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003 | ON THIS DAY WE HONOR THE MAN IN BLACK, JOHNNY CASH

UC Hip Hop: united and organized BY BRIAN MERTZ | MUSIC EDITOR

nyone walking by the north end of the Quad at the University of Illinois will witness an out of the ordinary event around 4 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday. When the sun is shinning and the weather is warm, people gather in a circle, taking turns spitting rhymes while others beat box. Behind them, b-boys spin across the sidewalk as they breakdance. This is a quad cypher. In the past, cyphers like this one have might have only randomly appeared. Now, thanks to The UC Hip Hop Congress, not only are there structured meetings for breakers and MCs to practice their craft, but the entire ChampaignUrbana hip hop scene is getting a lift from this student organization. UC Hip Hop is a registered student organization at the University of Illinois that has been in existence since August of 2001. The group came together when members of three separate registered student organizations, Illini Breakdancing Club, Culture Club and the Organization for the Advancement of Hip Hop Culture, realized they could work better as one. “Very soon we all found out about each other. We realized we were all basically trying to do the same things so we said ‘let’s consolidate,’” said Dan Finnerty, a founding member of the Organization for the Advancement of Hip Hop Culture and UC Hip Hop. The group quickly became a chapter of the Hip Hop Congress, an international organization that has chapters around the world in cities and even in some high schools. Still, UC Hip Hop, like many new organizations, experienced growing pains. “We all had the love of the same things, but we didn’t have the channels to get these big

shared dreams accomplished,” said Finnerty. “It was all new. Some people had knowledge from other groups they had been in, but there were times where we were reinventing the wheel.” While internally UC Hip Hop learned to deal with the simple tasks of reserving rooms and allocating money, externally the group started to cut its teeth on booking shows. Matt Harsh, an original member of UC Hip Hop, also runs a promotion group called Harsh Promotions. “Really we became more of a promotions group because we wanted to bring hip hop here and names we knew here,” Harsh said. “It really wasn’t the best idea for us to do that because we weren’t really solid enough then and a lot of it was on the fly.” The first event that UC Hip Hop threw was a show called Proof. “It was proof that there was hip hop in this town,” Harsh said. “That was our whole thing.” But the events that caused UC Hip Hop to grow were weekly Wednesday night shows at The Canopy Club’s Garden Grill where they would feature live DJs, MCs and b-boys. “It built community,” Harsh said. “There was live hip hop and people got really excited about it. You don’t see live hip hop with people free styling, DJs scratching and people breaking all in the same place at once.” Since those shows at the Canopy Club, UC Hip Hop has expanded and grown. Today it is a valued part of the community. “We’ve helped the hip hop scene so its not as chancy for a club to have hip hop,” Harsh said. Derek Lo, a local DJ and member of UC Hip Hop’s board, feels that bringing more people into UC Hip Hop is beneficial. “Community is a huge factor in hip hop,” Lo said. “You learn from other people and if you don’t have that community, then you don’t learn anything. That is why UC Hip Hop is so important. The more people we have in UC Hip

music

PHOTO | COURTESY OF DEREK LO

0918buzz0916

Members of UC Hip Hop freestyle at a quad cypher.

Hop, the more all of us can learn. Everyone can support each other.” That impact has been felt on the ChampaignUrbana hip hop scene at large. “It’s cool that for the past year and a half you could go out practically any night of the week and find hip hop, which definitely wasn’t the case awhile ago,” Finnerty said. In addition, UC Hip Hop has had an impact on bringing together a diverse membership under a common love of hip hop. “If you be yourself, you bring something different to the group, a different wedge to the orange. We’re not a perfectly round ball yet because there are things we are missing. The more diversity and the more originality you bring to the group, the more complete we’re going to be,” Harsh said. “I think the coolest thing about membership this year is that we actually have females. Hip hop shouldn’t be gender specific. Hip hop has already broken a lot of those barriers. Our board

and members are very diverse,” Lo said. “It helps us cover all angles and be universal. When we’re expressing ourselves and creating, we’re creating for all people,” Harsh added. “If we have something that connects everyone, that is what it is all about. That is what hip hop has always been about.” While UC Hip Hop still faces challenges that many student organizations face—low funds, losing students during University breaks—it also is facing changeover from the founders of the organization to a new round of leaders. Victor Carreon is a sophomore at the University, but has already become President of UC Hip Hop. “It was difficult at first,” said Carreon who started out as UC Hip Hop’s treasurer as a freshman. Even that position as treasurer was more than Carreon expected. “It ended up being a bigger commitment because I helped them organize events a lot Continued on page 11

0918buzz1015

3:50 PM

Page 1

music

I ONCE SHOT A MAN IN RENO JUST TO WATCH HIM DIE | SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003

CDReviews

9/17/03

MATES OF STATE Team Boo Polyvinyl Records

★★★★ BY BRIAN MERTZ The music industry is presently in a funk. Albums are overproduced, overpriced and over-hyped. Creativity, variety and quality have been noticeably absent from most major new releases in the past few years. Anyone who says differently probably works for a record label and is trying to sell you a copy of the new Nickelback album. In this era of malaise, people who are truly passionate about music have every right to be excited about the handful of releases that show a band can grow without abandoning their unique sound. Mates of State’s new album, Team Boo, should cause those fortunate enough to find it to forget about the shit state of the record industry. Every note on this 12-track album should elicit elation if for no other reason than the fact that Mates of State have expanded on its trademark sound to craft some beautiful, fun and original music. Those who haven’t lucked out to catch Mates of State in the flesh or hear its previous two albums (My Solo Project and Our Constant Concern), the first listen to this duo might be a little jarring. This duo, made up of Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner, has carved a niche for itself in the indie world by fusing quirky keyboard lines with the harmonizing vocals of their unique voices. Gardner’s voice in particular is instantly recognizable because it is powerful without being airy or diva-ish like other strong voiced female singers. The musical bed that Gardner and Hammel exchange vocal lines over has been made up of Hammel’s drumming and Gardner tickling the keys of a vintage Yamaha organ.That much hasn’t changed on Team Boo. But what has changed is the complexity of the music that this duo is making. Songs like “Fluke” start out like old Mates of State tracks with a simple, running keyboard line beneath the slightly dissonant harmonized vocals. But out of nowhere comes a complex organ pattern that makes the listener think that Mates of State must have grown an extra pair of hands to keep up with the flurry of notes. Fans of Har Mar Superstar or more adventurous Ben Folds Five listeners should eat up this catchy pop number on the first listen. But what solidifies Team Boo’s position as Mates of State’s best album to date is the variety in music.It is not possible (like some did for previous releases) to level the complaint that this Mates album simply sounds like a repetitive video game soundtrack. There are slow tracks. There are dance numbers. There are pop tunes. And even though the sonic structure of a keyboard, an underemphasized drum kit and those vocals are still here, each song has its own individual depth. Nowhere is this better seen than the magnificent “Parachutes (Funeral Song).”The party gets slowed down a little bit, and the organ is replaced with a more traditional sounding piano as Hammel and Gardner sing about dying and not having regrets. They belt out, “And what I never had were pictures flashing by / And what I had between the things I never tried / Was you reaching out in hopes to hold your hand / I’d say I’m better because I lived before I died.” It is simply one of the best songs to be released this year even though it will probably never see airplay on any major stations. And that is the beauty of Mates of State.The lure of cashing in and making an album that is commercially viable to a widespread audience isn’t there. Some people will just flat out dislike Mates of State because its sound is so different from everything out there. But if you are sick of Canadians trying to sing like Eddie Vedder (and you should have been sick of that from the start of Nickelback), then Mates of State might just be for you. It might be a leap for the risk-adverse music listener. But then again, such leaps might just be what the music industry needs to get out of this funk.

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB Take Them On, On Your Own Virgin Records

★★★ BY ELLIOT KOLKOVICH Black Rebel Motorcycle Club came onto the scene in 2001 with their excellent self-titled debut album. Around this time was the explosion of the acts that were going to save rock; the kind of explosion that happens every six months or so.Though not featured as prominently as other acts like The Hives, The Strokes, The White Stripes or The Vines, BRMC were part of the guitar distortion pure rock that was supposed to relieve the world of its pop star excesses. The Strokes debut album Is This It?—released around the same time—was perhaps the center of this movement. Like The Strokes, BRMC have waited two years for their follow-up. (The Strokes’ follow-up is due out later next month.) In the interim, the public seems to have forgotten about the movement that would save rock, making BRMC look like they are coming in below the radar. Though not as good as their first album, BRMC’s second album, Take Them On, On Your Own, is still a very solid album. The key to BRMC’s success is the way they build songs.The two best songs on their debut album were “Love Burns” and “Red Eyes and Tears.” The reason is they built the songs slowly before they layered distortion upon distortion for a messy but accessible song. Each good song starts with one instrument before introducing another and another.This way, the listener is broken in to their sound, so by the time they reach their distortion madness the listener is prepared for it. When their songs don’t work, however, they bring on too much distortion too quickly, leaving the listener with no access to the song.The barrage of sound comes too quickly for the listener to adjust, and by the time they do, the song is almost over. This problem can be fixed by listening to the album a couple of times, but on first listen it is too much to take at certain points. The Strokes often move quickly to an all-on assault by every instrument, but their sound is more together—all instruments are moving to one harmony. BRMC doesn’t do that; they put more sounds at odds with each other and when they are patient with building the song, the result is a great rock song, but when they don’t, it often becomes a mess. One exception to this is their first song on their newest album, “Stop.” Like “Love Burns” and “Red Eyes and Tears,” “Stop”opens up with one instrument before breaking into the song, giving the listener a groove to latch on to for the rest of the song when it becomes a mix of different sounds. Another benefit of building a song this way is that by the time the lyrics roll around, the music is familiar, so the lyrics are intelligible. When there isn’t enough time for the listener to adjust, many beginning lyrics can be lost in the noise, which is a shame because they craft such great lyrics. On this album, the lyrics show a very cynical side, such as in “US Government” which has them singing,“I spit my faith on the city pavement, to keep a smile / I bought my legs from the US government to keep me in line,” and has them repeating later in the song four times, “You’re gonna make it, you’re gonna suffer.” BRMC’s discontent also reaches to their own generation, in the song “Generation,” which has them telling us, “I’ve been feeling alone in this generation / I ain’t found the need, I ain’t found the reason / I got nowhere to go in this generation.” At

OnTheSpotReview Where reviewers see how well they can judge a CD by its cover.

DOWN THE LINE Welcome To Flavortown BY BRIAN MERTZ Before Listening There’s something endearing and a little bit hilarious about a guy in Brazilian soccer team shirt using an acoustic guitar to rock out with a facial expression that belongs more to the gods of hair metal than the good ol’ boys of folk. Did I mention his buddy with a mandolin is posing like he’s soloing for Poison? Oh, and just in case that wasn’t hilarious enough, the magic of Photoshop has these two and their bandmates standing on Lake Michigan. Yes, the band Down The Line sure looks like it is

the end of the song, they loop the lyric “Don’t fuck with me.” The album is clearly angry and the sound matches the lyrics, which is an often aggressive, fast, distorted guitar, but also a slow, somber bass-driven verse with an excellent sad guitar on the beautiful “Shade of Blue,” in which they sing, “I don’t care if you can take it / I can’t take it anymore, I’ll die.” In this follow up, BRMC has crafted a very good album. Though it takes some work to appreciate how good it really is, it’s worth the effort because their sound is excellent and the lyrics are thought-provoking.

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Un-listenable

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

MY MORNING JACKET It Still Moves

buzz

CHARTS

ATO Records

★★★ BY JACOB DITTMER My Morning Jacket is one of those bands that create such a unique sound and style that it is entirely its own and not defined by any ordinary genre. Sure, its influences are apparent: rock, country, blues, R&B and folk, but what My Morning Jacket does is make you forget the conventions of these genres and appreciate the music they are creating. This is My Morning Jacket’s third release and its first with a major label.The band’s maturity is ever present as It Still Moves creates such a well-produced sound that it allows each song to flow into the next. Although each song is different in style and sound, they come together to create a beautiful sounding album that it is pleasurable to listen to from start to finish. Singer/songwriter Jim James is the heart and soul of the band,as his lyrics take a front stage on many of the songs.With lyrics like,“Sitting here with me and mine / All wrapped up in a bottle of wine,” James creates a personal feel in many of these songs, as drinking and love take a center stage in several songs. However, what solidifies the album is the creative instrumentation and quality jams in between James’ verses. It is great when an album with 12 tracks has only one song less than five minutes, and that one is barely underneath that threshold. Fans of My Morning Jacket’s second release, At Dawn, will find this album to present a less subdued band as they take the time to jam out on most of the tracks. Several songs start off strictly instrumental creating a lovely textured sound and after several minutes modulation occurs and in comes James’ lyrics.The end result is a deeper appreciation of the music the band is playing and then realization that they are achieving rock greatness as the listener neglects the tracks and their divisions. “Dancefloors,” the second track, creates an up-tempo rock beat and culminates in a horn section assault that is reminiscent of a good R&B jam. The band follows this song with “Golden,” a folky song that features a subdued James and his acoustic guitar as he sings,“People always told me / The bars are dark and lonely.” This kind of unique transition gives the album a great feel. James creates wonderful lyrics and his ability to construct such an emotive sound is a standout quality on this album. Many have made viable comparisons of My Morning Jacket’s sound to that of Neil Young and the Band. Make no mistake though: This band is distinctively unique in its ability to make its influences ever apparent but easily forgotten. This release does not fall into the “easily replicated”category and will not be duplicated this year, or any year for that matter. These boys from the South (Kentucky to be exact) have created a wonderful album that will likely rest on several “best of 2003” lists.

going to be a lot of fun. And with song titles like “Smokin’” and “Last Call,” odds are its album Welcome to Flavortown is going to have some quirky acoustic folk rock songs. Here’s to hoping though that this band keeps its sense of humor and doesn’t get too twangy and serious on songs like “Martyr” and “Unconditional.” After Listening Well, perhaps it was just the photographer that had the sense of humor, because that quirkiness certainly isn’t in the lyrics. But that is actually a good thing because then these four gents from Chicago would unfairly be compared to the Barenaked Ladies, and they actually deserve a little more. Sure, the songs aren’t as developed as BNL, nor do they have booming vocals. What they do have is a lot of potential. The vocal harmonies that emerged in the song “Last Call” were the type that knock a listener back in their seats. Furthermore, employing a djembe, banjolin and mandolin gives Down The Line a unique sound. To see if their beautiful musicianship stacks up in a live performance, or just to check them out in person, be sure to head out to The Canopy Club tonight for their show. Doors open up at 10 p.m.

PARASOL RECORDS TOP 10 SELLERS 1. The Decemberists - Her Majesty, The Decemberists (Merge Records) 2. Quasi - Hot Shit!/Live Shit (Touch & Go) 3. The Wrens - Meadowlands (Absolutely Kosher Records) 4. Iron & Wine - The Sea & The Rhythm (Sub Pop) 5. The Twilight Singers - Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair (Birdman Records) 6. Guided By Voices - Earthquake Glue (Matador Records) 7. Beulah - Yoko (Velocette Records) 8. My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves (RCA) 9. The Green Pajamas - Through Glass Colored Roses: The Best of The Green Pajamas (A Hidden Agenda Record) 10. Absinthe Blind - Rings (Mud Records)

RECORD SERVICE TOP 10 SELLERS 1. John Mayer - Heavier Things (Columbia) 2. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Take Them on Your Own (Virgin) 3. Warren Zevon - Wind (Artemis) 4. Missing the Point - All I Had 5. Hocus Pocus - Enon (Touch & Go) 6. Weakerthans - Reconstruction (Epitaph) 7. Pennywise - From the Ashes (Epitaph) 8. Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood (RCA) 9. From Autumn to Ashes - Fiction We Live (Vagrant) 10. Frank Black and the Catholics - Nadine EP (SpinArt)

NEW RELEASES T.S.O.L. - Divided We Stand Atmosphere - Seven’s Travels The Bangles - Doll Revolution Nick Cannon - Nick Cannon Elvis Costello - North Lucero - That Much Further West The String Cheese Incident - Untying the Not Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players Vintage Slide Collections Billy Bob Thornton - The Edge of the World Nickelback - The Long Road Murphy Lee - Murphy’s Law R. Kelly - The R in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 Dave Matthews - Some Devil Saves the Day - In Reverie Mojave 3 - Spoon and Rafter Lynyrd Skynyrd - Vicious Cycle Manhattan Transfer - Couldn’t Be Hotter Limp Bizkit - Results May Vary KMFDM - WWIII DJ Dan - Mixed Live Fuel - Natural Selection Obie Trice - Cheers OutKast - Below Rufus Wainwright - Want from Seattle, Volume 1

buzz

calendar

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

DANCING

KARAOKE

Nightclub Dancing – Two Main Lounge, 5-7pm Salsa Dancing – Two Main Lounge, 7-10pm

“G” Force Karaoke & DJ – Kam’s, 10pm-1am

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Debono Improv Comedy – Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union, 9pm, free

UI Varsity Men’s Glee Club – Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $4-7 Sweet Honey In The Rock with Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely – Talkback after the show – Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $23-32

COMEDY

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Bruce Almighty – 112 Greg Hall, 7pm and 9:30pm

Community Drum Circle – All levels welcome – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm Photo Session: A Great Day in CU – all CU jazz musicians invited – Krannert Center, 3:30pm

MARKETS

LECTURES

Market at the Square – Art, crafts, produce, flowers, plants, food, coffee, music & more; every Saturday morning through Nov 8 – SE Lot of Lincoln Square, Downtown Urbana, 7am-noon

Conference on Diversity Issues: Diverse Perspectives: Hope and Humor in Complex Times – 407 Illini Union, 9am Stranger at the gate: To be Gay and Christian in America – Rev. Dr. Mel White – Latzer Hall, University YMCA, 7:30pm

FILM

OTHER Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon Light Show – rock ‘n’ roll laser light show – Staerkel Planetarium, 9pm Party for Chinese Moon Festival – Foellinger Auditorium, 7:15pm-12:30am

SundaySept.21 LIVE MUSIC Ozma, THC Squared, Nadafinga, Rollercoaster Club – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $8 The Blues Jam hosted by Kilborn Alley – The Canopy Club (Garden Grill), 10pm, TBA Writers in the Round: Liz Bowater, Ryan Groff, Kit Malone, Beth Davis – The Iron Post, 9pm, cover Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30pm-12:30am, no cover

TuesdaySept23 LIVE MUSIC Verde Hootenanny – bluegrass jam – Verdant News & Coffee, 7pm, free Open Mic Night – Espresso Royale Cafe, 7:30pm, free The Greedy Loves, 2ON2OUT – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Open Mic/Open Jam hosted by Mike Armintrout – The Canopy Club (Garden Grill), 10pm, free Zoso – Led Zeppelin tribute band – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $6 Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm-1am, no cover

DJ Nox: DJ Zozo, DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats – The Highdive, 10pm, $2 DJ Bozak – Boltini Lounge, 10pm, free Seduction with DJ Resonate – Barfly, 9pm, free Rock ‘N Roll DJing with Drew Patterson – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free DJ Hoff – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm Live DJ – C-Street, 9pm, no cover

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke and DJ – TK Wendl’s, 9pm-1am

COMEDY Galapagos 4, Melodic Scribes, UC Hip Hop Allstars – Highdive, Sunday, 10pm, $8

DJ Galapagos 4, Melodic Scribes, UC Hip Hop Allstars – The Highdive, 10pm, $8 Fresh Face Guest DJ – Barfly, 9pm, free LA Wells – Boltini Lounge, 10pm, free DJ Spinnerty w/ educational films – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm Live DJ – C-Street, 9pm-1am, cover

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke and DJ – TK Wendl’s, 9pm-1am

WORDS The Revival – spoken word and music fusion – Two Main Lounge, 8-10pm

MUSIC PERFORMANCES Sinfonia da Camera – Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $7-30

Spicy Clamato Improv Comedy – Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union, 9pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCES Know Your University: Cecil Bridgewater – University YMCA, noon, free

WednesdaySept24 LIVE MUSIC Open Mic with Mike Ingram – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2 Two Rivers – The Canopy Club, 10pm, free Boneyard Jazz Quintet – The Iron Post, 9pm, cover Hot N’ Ready – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm-1am, no cover

DJ DJ Chef Ra – Barfly, 9pm, free The Bridge: A night of old school hip-hop – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 DJ Joel Spencer – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm Live DJ – C-Street, 9pm, no cover

MondaySept22

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

LIVE MUSIC

LECTURES

Openingbands.com Compilation CD Release Show: Sick Day, Lorenzo Goetz, Equinox – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 Ear Doctor, Eastern Seaboard – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 9pm, $3 Finga’ Lickin’ – The Office, 10pm, free The Killer Dwarfs – Lava, 9pm, $8 Kate Hathaway – Weft Sessions – Tune in or stop by the studio – 10pm, free

MONDAY SEPT. 22 THE KILLER DWARFS ADVANCE TICKETS $8.00

PRIVATE PARTIES CALL TED 217 766-5108

this week Fr Sep 19 Sweet Honey In The Rock with Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely 7:30pm, $23-$32 Talkback after the show, free Sponsors: Linda and Barry Weiner Illinois-American Water Company University of Illinois Employees Credit Union

Sa Sep 20 UI Varsity Men’s Glee Club 7:30pm, $4-$7 Sweet Honey In The Rock with Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely 7:30pm, $23-$32 Talkback after the show, free

Su Sep 21 Sinfonia da Camera 7:30pm, $7-$30 Sponsors: Elizabeth W. and Edwin L. Goldwassser Richard B. Cogdal

krannert center

Free Events

Mo Sep 22 Photo Session: A Great Day in CU All CU Jazz Musicians Invited 3:30pm, KCPA

Tu Sep 23 Know Your University: Cecil Bridgewater noon, University YMCA (1001 S Wright St, Champaign), free Jam Session 9pm, 02 Main (Champaign), no cover Jazz Threads Corporate Underwriter:

Creative Intersections Sponsor:

We Sep 24 2003 Martirano Award Concert 7:30pm, $2-$5

2003 Martirano Award Concert – Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $2-5

Feminism, Empire and National Histories: The Case of Victorian Britain – Gender and Women’s Studies Program, 911 S Sixth St, C, noon

WORDS Contemporary Fiction Bookgroup – “The Mistress of Spices” – Pages For All Ages, 7:30pm

Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

Season Sponsors Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

2On2Out hosts rock `n’ roll night – Barfly, 9pm, free Rock `n’Roll DJing with Drew Patterson – The Iron Post,10pm

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

Sweet Honey In The Rock and Cecil Bridgewater performances are supported by the Heartland Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from General Mills Foundation, Land O'Lakes Foundation, Sprint Corporation, and the Illinois Arts Council. The Jazz Threads project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America—Access to the Arts Program.

KrannertCenter.com 217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX 217/333-9714 (TTY) 217/244-SHOW (Fax) 217/244-0549 (Groups) kran-tix@uiuc.edu Ticket Office Open 10am to 6pm daily; on days of performances open 10am through intermission.

Page 1

ThursdaySept18 LIVE MUSIC Gabe Rosen – Aroma, 8pm, free The Beath Kitchen – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 9pm, $3 The Bryan Holloway Somethin – jazz – Zorba’s, 9:30pm, $3 Saraphine, Drawing a Blank, The Dog and Everything – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $5 Public Display of Funk, Down the Line – The Canopy Club, 10pm, TBA UI Jazz Big Band – Iron Post, 9pm, cover Hot N’ Ready – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm-1am, free

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | SEPTEMBER 18-242003

Rob McColley, The Buzzards, Guilt – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm, $3 Trippin’ Billies – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $5 Grassman and the Buds – acoustic rock – Tommy G’s, 57pm, free The Prairie Dogs – bluegrass – Tommy G’s, 10pm-2am, cover Delta Kings – VFW Post 5520, 620 Edgebrook Dr, 8:30pm12:30am, free Hot N’ Ready – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm-1am, cover

DJ DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 “G” Force DJ Chad – TK Wendl’s, 9pm-1am DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 DJ – Two Main Lounge, 10pm-1am, cover DJ Mertz – Joe’s Brewery, 9pm-1am DJ Bozak – Barfly, 9pm, free

B96 Mixmaster Showdown featuring Mixin’ Marc, DJ Speed, Billy the Kid – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 J-Phlip – Barfly, 9pm, free Live DJ – C-Street, 9pm, free Live DJ – Ruby’s, 9pm-1am, free Live DJ – Two Main Lounge, 10pm-close, free DJ Orby – Joe’s Brewery, 9pm-1am, free

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke and DJ – Lincoln Castle Lodge, 9pm1am

DANCING

WORDS

KARAOKE

FILM

“G” Force Karaoke – Pia’s in Rantoul, 9pm-1am Karaoke – Jillian’s, 9pm, free

Bruce Almighty – 112 Greg Hall, 7pm and 9:30pm

OTHER Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon Light Show – rock ‘n roll laser light show – Staerkel Planetarium, 9pm

FridaySept19

SaturdaySept20

LIVE MUSIC

The Prairie Dogs – Cowboy Monkey, 5pm, free The Buick All-Stars – Embassy Tavern, 8:30pm, free Big Bang Theory – Cowboy Monkey, 9pm, $3 Jiggsaw, Giant Step, Tough Call – Lava, 9:30pm, $3

Everybody Uh Oh, Written in the Sand, Emotional Rec Club – Cowboy Monkey, Saturday, 10pm, $3

Local H, Sullen – The Highdive, 7:30-10pm, $12 The Blackouts, American Minor, Orphans – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, $4 Maurice and the Mindset – The Phoenix, 9pm, TBA

music

SEPTEMBER 18-24 2003 | ON A SUNDAY MORNING SIDEWALK

TopFive Johnny Cash Recordings 1. Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983

Sweet Honey In The Rock with Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely – Talkback after the show – Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $23-32

Blue Room Open Mic – Read someone else’s poetry, or just listen – La Casa Cultural Latina, 9pm

buzz

We here at buzz decided to postpone our top five party albums to honor the passing of Johnny Cash. Cash was one of the greatest and most prolific recording artists of his time and he will be missed by many. This one is for the man in black.

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

In the Swing of the Pendulum: African Americans Keeping Their Eyes on the Prize – Latzer Hall, University YMCA, noon Problems of Consolidating Democracy in Andean South Africa –113 Gregory Hall, 2:30-4:30pm

Real Life Lectures presents Christine Tarkowski – 62 Krannert Art Museum, 4:30pm

Bruiser and the Virtues – Embassy Tavern, 9:30pm, free Everybody Uh Oh, Written in the Sand, Emotional Rec Club – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 The Big Wu, Smokestack, The Station – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $6

Ballroom Dancing – Non-smoking, cash bar – Regent Ballroom, 7:30-10:30pm, $7 Salsa Dancing – Non-smoking, cash bar; dress code: no blue jeans, tennis shoes or hats – Regent Ballroom, 11pm-1am, $4

LECTURES

buzz

The Big Wu, Smokestack, The Station – The Canopy Club, Saturday, 10pm, $6 Pariah, Bent-Til-Broken, 12 Ways From Sunday – Tommy G’s, 10pm, TBA Candy Foster and Shades of Blue – The Iron Post, 9pm, cover Sweetheart Tripwire – Tommy G’s, 10pm-2am, cover Hot N’ Ready – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm-1am, cover Reasonable Doubt – Hubers, 8-11pm, free Music Among The Vines – Jazz by Gary Cziko – Alto Vineyards, 8pm, $3

DJ Exposure: Peoples of Paradox, Latin Jazz quartet, DJ Spinnerty, DJ Luis Vasquez, DJ Ditto, Will Jackson & Power n’ Soul, Delayney, Combo Caliente, UC Hip Hop – Illini Union Ballroom, 9pm, $3 Saturday Night at Wendl’s with DJ Brad – TK Wendl’s, 9pm-1am “G” Force DJ Chris – White Horse Inn, 9pm-1am DJ Hipster Sophisto – Barfly, 9pm, free Naughty boy – Joe’s Brewery, 10pm, $5 DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm $5 DJ Mertz – Beer Garden, Barfly, 9pm, free

This is the comprehensive starting point of Johnny Cash’s career in music. Three CDs, with 75 tracks, offer Cash from his earliest days at Sun Recordings to his gospel-influenced songs of the late ‘70s. Listening to this lengthy collection shows us how brilliant Cash was in his prolific career with songs of all styles and genres showcasing his amazing talents.

2. At Folsom Prison Cash became famous for his high-energy performances at correctional institutions and this is the album that showed us why. How fitting is it that an artist who penned “Folsom Prison Blues” in 1955 would come to that location and perform it live in front of an audience of convicts over 12 years later. “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die,” is one of those infamous song lyrics that not only gave Cash a reputation as a rebel but a gifted songwriter of classic country songs about murder and rebellion.

3. American Recordings Cash confessed in his autobiography that he had long been wanting to record a strippeddown album featuring just himself and his guitar in an intimate setting. Alternative rock producer Rick Rubin recognized Cash’s greatness and gave him the ability to record

KARAOKE “G” Force Karaoke & DJ – Lincoln Castle, 9pm-1am

UC Hip-Hop continued from 9

4. At San Quentin This album came not long after the success of Folsom Prison Blues and offered some more of Cash’s quality live performances in front of a crowd of whooping and hollering inmates. The story of a “Boy Named Sue” is alone a reason worth listening to this album. A poem written by Shell Silverstein,“Sue,” was debuted on the spot by Cash and featured Cash singing the lyrics with the anger of someone named Sue,“My name is Sue! Now you’re gonna die!”

5. Unchained (American Recordings #2) Happy with his newfound success at the hands of Rick Rubin, on this second collaboration, Cash enlists a full band which happens to be Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Cash’s cover of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” is reason enough to buy this album with his trademark delivery in the lyrics that are now clearly understood when they aren’t sung in a Cornell-esque fashion. “Spiritual” is a haunting song that gives us a stripped down, soulful side of Cash, who sings out to Jesus, “I don’t want to die alone.” Johnny, you didn’t and you will be missed.

Next week: Top Five Party Albums e-mail us at music@readbuzz.com

but there were a lot of members who were committed and wanted to give back.” The funds are being used for future UC Hip Hop shows. “Before, we wouldn’t know how we would have the money to book a show,” Finnerty said. “Now that we have capital we can stay ahead and book shows in advance.” UC Hip Hop continues to look for more members. People interested in the organization can come to the weekly meetings on Mondays at 8 p.m. in 242 Bevier Hall. Also, UC Hip Hop maintains a free mailing list for people who want to know what is going on but don’t want to pay membership dues. Lo hopes that UC Hip Hop’s influence will spread and bring in more members. “We can use the campus as a centralized way of unifying everybody,” Lo said. “There are so many people we don’t know that love hip hop that just need a place to go to be exposed to it.” But while events and committees are all important to any organizations, UC Hip Hop has allowed for a more subtle benefit. “The best thing that ever happened with UC Hip Hop is that we became a crew. We’re not just a hip hop club,” Harsh said. “A hip hop club is where you go and try to be hip hop. A hip hop crew is where you are hip hop and you just come together to do things, you just live.” buzz UC Hip Hop meets every Monday night at 8 p.m. in 242 Bevier Hall at the University of Illinois. To sign up for their mailing list, e-mail uc_hiphop@hotmail.com.

e’re

Germa

for the Month!

more,” Carreon said. “This year I think every board member has been as committed as I have. Moving a sophomore into this position wasn’t a fluke for UC Hip Hop though. “This wasn’t like everyone stepped back and they stepped up. They were very strong young kids last year and we saw it,” Harsh said. “We took the young guys and threw them out in the front. They had energy and we were like if you need something, holler at us. This is longevity.” “I’m really proud of Victor and the younger members of the organization,” Lo said. “We’re very organized and professional. The future of is really positive with him as president.” The early result of Carreon’s presidency has been continued success for UC Hip Hop, which already has several shows planned for this year. The organization is also in the planning stages for their annual Hip Hop Awareness Week which will feature local showcases on the four elements of hip hop. Most importantly for the organization though is a renewed emphasis on infrastructure. UC Hip Hop has a board with heads of committees for everything from promotions to break dancing. In addition, UC Hip Hop started collecting membership dues. “It is a new idea this year and it actually worked out really well,” Carreon said. “We honestly didn’t expect a lot of membership,

the album he had long desired. Although it was 1994 and Cash was 62, American Recordings ushered in a new collection of quality Cash songs and reminded us once again that age doesn’t prevent you from recording great music.

Ayinger Oktoberfest Spaten Oktoberfest Hofbrau Haus Oktoberfest Haker-Pschorrl Oktoberfest Tucher Oktoberfest

Main Market

calendar

Neil

3:50 PM

Walnut

9/17/03

0918buzz1114

University

0918buzz1213

9/17/03

3:41 PM

Page 1

calendar

buzzpicks The Iron Post celebrates its third with Otis Gibbs

ith Otis Gibbs on the ticket, there is something to celebrate, but aside from the stellar lineup, Friday will be an important day for the Iron Postâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner Paul Wirth. Iron Post celebrates its 3rd anniversary with help from Midwestern legend, Otis Gibbs, an acoustic singer/songwriter with a hauntingly humanistic side to his music and lyrics. His most recent effort, 49th and Melancholy is a mixture of Gibbsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; beautiful sound with accompaniment by a few guests. Happy Anniversary Iron Post! Friday, Iron Post, 9pm

Miller Time at Legends

Local H plays at The Highdive photo by Brian Mertz

American Minor plays at the Courtyard Cafe

ocal H comes to The Highdive this week after the release of their fifth effort, No Fun. Local H, the Illinois natives from Mt. Zion, draw their influences from Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana. The two-piece of Brian St. Clair and Scott Lucas create an interesting blend of post punk and classic rock that sounds much more powerful than a two-piece effort. Come out to The Highdive to see Local H and the impressive support of Sullen Saturday night at 7:30pm, $12.

s the local music scene continues to gain momentum, there are three bands that continually seem to be at the forefront: American Minor, The Blackouts and Absinthe Blind. Since the recent exit of the lead singer of Absinthe Blind, Adam Fein, the wayward members formed The Orphans, a fusion of the typical wall of sounds synonymous with Absinthe Blind, but with a lighter and more melodic focus. Southern meets garage rock outfit, American Minor sounds similar to early Black Crowes. Although Minor has yet to record an album, their live show is proof enough that their musical ventures will not be short-lived. Rounding out the lineup are The Blackouts, a garage rock outfit that has received critical acclaim around the country, but especially in New York, the Mecca of garage rock. With their most recent release, Everyday is a Sunday Evening, The Blackouts have planted their roots as a notable contribution to the genre. Come see local music at its best Saturday at the Courtyard Cafe.

For extra photos, check out readbuzz.com

photo by Nicole M. Faust