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DECEMBER 13, 2012

The last Buzz of the year! I N T HIS I S SU E

E D I TO R ’S N OT E

SAMA N T H A BA KA L L

E LS I N O R E

TW I N K I ES

21 Things to do before the "end of the world!” What to do for New Years in C-U!

CU ' S CA F ES

MOVIE PREVIEW

LO-CAL MUSIC

CALENDAR

How will Joe Wright's Anna Karenina fare?

Grandkids performing at Operation Santa.

Your guide to this week's events in CU.

ON READBUZZ.COM ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Check out two reviews of one of the holiday season’s most renowned theater productions A Christmas Carol. FOOD & DRINK: Delicious food and drink reviews are online now for you to drink and eat. Go get them quick before they spoil!

MOVIES & TV: From now on you can visit readbuzz.com for See it Now twice a month. COMMUNITY: Crazy stuff has been happening around CU lately. Make sure to check out the internet for more details.

MUSIC: Check out a new Records We Missed on Tame Impala’s Lonerism.

2 buzz December 13 - 19, 2012

With finals season in full swing, I have all the time in the world (not!) to start new projects around the house, which is really why I start them, so I can avoid doing real work. Typically, I cook the most intricate meals in December and May and my apartment is spotless. Nothing like papers and tests for a little motivation to get all those chores and errands done. My latest procrastination tactic has been making kombucha, which in all honesty isn’t really a good outlet because it takes about 10 days from start to finish and only about an hour of work. Kombucha, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is a fermented tea drink. It has probiotics and all that good yogurt-y digestion shit, but without the dairy. Sounds kind of weird. I promise it isn’t. Whatever you do, don’t listen to our whiny Managing Editor, Nick Martin, about it (rawry). He says it tastes like sour cream. It tastes like nothing of the sort. It tastes like fruity beer that is pleasantly effervescent. Try it sometime. Making kombucha isn’t super difficult. It only takes a handful of ingredients: tea, sugar, water, raw kombucha, a SCOBY (a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Mine’s name is Toby.) and patience. The real reason that I started making kombucha was that I was drinking it on the daily and it was getting expensive. Per bottle, kombucha is around $3.50, which can get heavy if you’re drinking it every day. So I figured I’d buy a SCOBY and just do it myself on the cheaps. A side note, SCOBYs are kind of weird. They’re what I’d imagine 20 jellyfishes stacked on top of each other felt like. Sort of firm, but still squishy and without the electric shock or the need to pee on yourself. They also grow larger in every batch and at a certain point, you can actually split your SCOBY into two! Crazy! My first batch was a success in that it I was successful in making kombucha, although it ended up being a little too acidic for my palate. I should’ve taken Toby out a day or two earlier — SCOBYs will just keep fermenting until they run out of food (sugar), but the end result will be undrinkable. This second batch, however, should be much better than the first. I used some green ginger tea and I’ve got a full gallon going and Toby is working at top speed. So in about 10 days time, I’m going to have several bottles of kombucha and it will be ready for anybody who wants a taste! Or if you're a little squeamish about the homemade version, you can find a nice selection at Common Ground Co-op right next to the dairy section. Very appropriate.

You sit on a throne of lies

HEADS UP!

LIKES, GRIPES & YIKES

GRIPE

TYLER SCHMIDT

Assistant Art Director

» Buzz Staff Killing my Inno-

HOMEMADE HISTORY WEEK BY THOMAS THORENT Don’t have anything to celebrate this week? Then peruse my Homemade History Week list and pick your favorites! Dec. 13: Saddam Hussein was captured in what was an okay, but not great, hiding spot (2003); Al Gore conceded the presidential election to Dubya (2000); Steve Buscemi turns 55 and says, “Remember that awesome movie I’m in? Oh right, I’m in a hundred of them.” Dec. 14: George W. Bush bobbed and weaved around shoes thrown by an Iraqi journalist (2008); Nostradamus turns 509, but he knew that before he was born; Former Houston Astros player Craig Biggio turns 47 and presumably celebrates by getting hit by a pitch. Dec. 15: The Bill of Rights was ratified in what Thomas Jefferson called a pretty “Rights-eous” last signature from Virginia (1791); Walt Disney celebrates his 46th death-day; actor Don Johnson turns 63 while remaining relevant somehow. Dec. 16: Colonists dressed up as Indians for the Boston Tea Party, predating psychos dressing up as sane people for the modern Tea Party (1773); Governor Pat Quinn sits in his birthday chair for the 64th time and doesn’t even ask for compensation. Dec. 17: Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first flight in history, right into the hearts of every boy and girl around the world (1903); Kim Jong-il passed away, leaving the throne for his sexy son, Kim Jong-un (2011). Dec. 18: Arab Spring began with protests in Tunisia, in the winter (2010); Rapper DMX turns 42 and barks the candles out on his birthday cake. Dec. 19: Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives, and later acquitted after asking what “is” is (1998); Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis died of living too awesome of a life, including never pitching a game sober (2008). That is actually true.

cence: Tonight, buzz's own Copy Chief, Jordan Ramos, decided to drop a knowledge bomb and notify me that Wonder Bread is owned by Hostess. I've already gone through all five stages of loss for my dear Ho Hos within the past weeks and just as I got to acceptance, I now have to deal with never again eating my dearly beloved highly processed chewy white bread. While Jordan may have cut deep, she has done nothing compared to Managing Editor Nick Martin. Nick, in an act only comparable to telling me I'm adopted, informed me that Santa Claus is not real. Nick, you have gone too far. Not only does this mean the world's media conglomerate have lied to me, but my own parents have been keeping this from me for more than 22 years. What else have they lied to me about, Nick? Is Tyler even my real name? Do I really prefer pepperoni pizza? Is purple even my favorite color??

EVAN LYMAN

Music Editor

» Making Lists: Every December, publications attempt to compile year-end lists that rank the best albums, songs, films, etc. and buzz is no different. The buzz music section is currently in the process of compiling our favorite albums, songs, mixtapes and local releases of the year. It all comes down to personal preference, and nobody’s opinion holds any more merit than anyone else’s, but I always take my personal year-end lists very seriously. I use this month as a time to go back through the year and listen to everything I heard and forgot about, or even missed the first time around. It gives me an excuse to hole up in my house for a while and just listen to music for an extended period of time, as I debate with myself. I think that a year-end list is a worthy exercise not only because it forces me to listen to more music, but also because it forces me to think about music, as in, what makes a specific piece of music special? What impacts me as a listener? What draws me in and makes me think? Read the music section next week to see!

GRIPE

NICK MARTIN

Managing Editor

» Three Card Solitaire: Microsoft has Solitaire default to three-card draw when you click the card pile. This is problematic because it traps necessary cards making a win for many games impossible. If the deck only draws one card, all games are valid; albeit, Solitaire becomes much easier. You can change the defaults on your game by clicking the drop down menu, Game — Options, then pick “Draw One.”

» The Stark Loneliness of Existence: What you can’t change, however, is that every man dies alone. We are forever trapped inside ourselves, struggling to make even shallow connections with other people. Of course, language is a faulty mediator, miscommunication haunts us at every turn. Most thinking is done unconsciously; thus, we cannot even fully know ourselves. I feel this isolation creeping as I sit, futilely clicking against the vastness of the electronic spectacle, hoping one day to triumph over my own ego — yet the struggle is forever lost.

» Life’s Utter Meaninglessness: What I don’t know is why I even bother waking up in the morning. We are slaves to more powerful men, our own bodies, and the crushing weight of history. Everything is bound to the cruel caprice of chance (not just computer games). The dread I feel today may be gone tomorrow, but it will catch me in the end. And of course, in the end, everything signifies nothing.

GRIPE

MICHAEL ZHANG

Art Director

» All-nighters: Despite my best efforts to not procrastinate when I have things to do, I somehow still find myself pulling all-nighters on a weekly basis, and I always hate myself for it afterward. The day after an all-nighter is always spent in a state much like a hangover, except much worse. At least, when you have a hangover, you know that whatever you did the night before was probably fun. You don't even get that comfort with an all-nighter. All-nighters are terrible in every way; avoid them at all costs!

BUZZ STAFF

COVER DESIGN Michael Zhang EDITOR IN CHIEF Samantha Bakall MANAGING EDITOR Nick Martin ART DIRECTOR Michael Zhang ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Tyler Schmidt COPY CHIEF Jordan Ramos PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Zach Dalzell IMAGE EDITOR Zach Dalzell PHOTOGRAPHERS James Kyung, Folake Osibodu, Qi Yu DESIGNERS Yoojin Hong, Chelsea Choi MUSIC EDITOR Evan Lyman FOOD & DRINK EDITOR Jasmine Lee MOVIES & TV EDITOR Joyce Famakinwa ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jessica Bourque COMMUNITY EDITOR Tom Thoren CU CALENDAR Bobbi Thomas COPY EDITORS Karl Schroeder DISTRIBUTION Brandi and Steve Wills STUDENT SALES MANAGER Molly Lannon CLASSIFIED SALES MANAGER Deb Sosnowski AD DIRECTOR Travis Truitt PUBLISHER Lilyan J. Levant

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We reserve the right to edit submissions. buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. 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. © ILLINI MEDIA COMPANY 2012

December 13 - 19, 2012 buzz 3

MOVIES & TV

MOVIE REVIEW

Week of Friday, December 14 – Thursday, December 20, 2012 Anna Karenina (R) 35mm print Fri: 4:30 PM, 7:30 PM Sat & Sun: 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 PM Mon - Thu: 7:30 PM

ANNA KARENINA

!!!!" R

Seven Psychopaths (R) $3 tickets, 35mm print Fri & Sat: 10:30 PM Wed & Thu: 10:30 PM

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SHOWTIMES 12/14 - 12/18

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TITLES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE MET OPERA: AIDA LIVE SAT. 12/15 11:55 AM

Anna Karenina, used with permission by Universal Pictures and Creative Commons

nna Karenina would be a challenge for any filmmaker, however seasoned he is. It is famously large in scope, encompassing not only the tragic love story of Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky, but the whole of 1850s Imperialist Russia. Director Joe Wright, along with writer Tom Stoppard, distills the wide ranging world of the novel to the core tragedy of Anna Karenina herself. In a bold move, Wright has chosen to limit

BUZZ THURSDAY DECEMBER 13

A second look at critical and commercial flops corp note...keep this same size always

BY ADLAI 1 STEVENSON X 5.417

1/8th page

NO BUZZ AD 12/27 OR 1/3

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4 buzz December 13 - 19, 2012

is infatuated with Vronsky. Needless to say, it all goes rather poorly. However, the tragedy is beautifully acted. Knightley expresses her unbridled passion with Vronsky in a manner that suggests a new level and maturity to her work. She is unafraid to expose the passions and selfish cruelty of Anna without trying to endear her to the audience. Law as Karenin gives an intelligent and restrained performance that contrasts him rather nicely with the changing temperaments of Knightley. Taylor-Johnson is good as Vronsky, especially in the early days of his and Anna’s courtship. However, he does not manage to capture the later agonies of Vronsky brought on by the affair in a manner that is on par with Knightley. It is impossible to watch the film without being impressed by the sheer visual spectacle. Credit must be given to production designer Sarah Greenwood, as well as set designer Katie Spencer, choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and costumer Jacqueline Durran. While the staging of the film leaves a great effect, it also somewhat pulls you away from the tragedy of Anna’s life. The two stories of Levin and Anna never intertwined in a way that felt natural, leaving the film with a slightly disjointed feeling. This keeps the film from being truly great instead of merely very good. Anna Karenina is playing at The Art Theater.

FOR YOUR RECONSIDERATION: DARK SHADOWS

MET OPERA: LA CLEMENZE DI TITO ENCORE WED. 12/19 6:30 PM & TH. 12/20 1:00 PM

11:15, 11:45, 2:45, 3:15, 6:15, 6:45, 9:45, 10:15 THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (PG-13) 11:05, 11:30, 2:35, 3:00, 6:05, 6:30, 9:35, 10:00 S HITCHCOCK (PG-13) 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:00, 9:15 FRI/SAT LS 11:30 PLAYING FOR KEEPS (PG-13) FRI, SUN-TUE 12:35, 2:50, 5:05, 7:20, 9:35 FRI/SAT LS 11:50 SAT 5:05, 7:20, 9:35 RISE OF THE GUARDIANS (PG) 11:50, 2:05, 4:20, 6:35, 8:50 FRI/SAT LS 11:05 LIFE OF PI (PG) 11:00, 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 LINCOLN (PG-13) 12:10, 3:20, 6:30, 9:40 S SKYFALL (PG-13) 12:35, 3:40, 6:45, 9:50 WRECK-IT RALPH (PG) 11:00, 1:25, 3:50, 6:15, 8:45 FRI/SAT LS 11:10

the sweeping scope of the original novel to the confines of a single formerly opulent, but now decaying, theater. Literally all of Anna Karenina’s world is a stage. The tragic love story unfolds with St. Petersburg and Moscow rendered as elaborate stage sets. Catwalks are made into the snowy city streets, prop rooms double as powder rooms and the auditorium itself stands in for a grand ballroom. The characters navigate their way through props, painted backgrounds, riggings and curtains. All of the parties, bureaucratic meetings and high society life are just another form of theater. Anna (Keira Knightley) herself decides to break free of the script and begin a torrid, and fairly public, affair with the dashing Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). The two first meet when Anna travels from St. Petersburg to Moscow to soothe the marital problems of her brother, Stiva Oblonsky (Matthew Macfayden), who has been cheating on his wife, Dolly (Kelly Macdonald). Anna’s dalliance is met with disbelief by her loyal and long-suffering husband, Karenin (Jude Law). This disbelief soon turns into hateful bitterness as Anna pulls away from him and runs into the arms of her lover. In a parallel and somewhat happier love story, young landowner Levin (Dominic Gleeson) proposes to Dolly’s younger sister, Kitty (Alicia Vikander), who

BY JAMILA TYLER

Johnny Depp in Dark Shadows, used with permission by Warner Brothers and Creative Commons

“Depressing on myriad levels.” —Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post Oomph! “Terribly familiar and fatigued.” —Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal Ouch! “Manages in two hours what the TV show took six years to do: become irrelevant and remembered only for how sloppy it was.” —Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times Gag! Such anguish over the already stricken Dark Shadows, the most recent big-budget feature

from – lovers if there ever were any – Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. And who here actually saw it? Not many, judging from its middling DVD sales amid waves of critical and online shrugs. Such a sham, since it’s Burton’s finest and most antic movie in years. Helena Bonham Carter and Danny Elfman return as well for the adaptation (their fifth altogether with Burton, this time of a popular ‘60s TV series), although without the anemic rendition of Sweeney Todd and sterile environments that plagued Alice in Wonderland. Freed from the taxing digital world and with a wide template of material to work from, Burton and his team hit all the right notes of his macabre humor. This time with a perverse depth absent in his career since Beetlejuice. Depp stars as Barnabas Collins, an 18th century family heir turned into a vampire by his obsessive, begruding witch of a housemaid. Imprisoned by the maid, Barnabas lies in captivity until an unexpected release summons him 200 years later to 1972. Out and about in the world again, he stows it upon himself to reclaim his family’s fortune. and to hold off on the bloodsucking. The fish-out-of-water humor is inevitable but inspired by some of the ‘70s culture highlights. A loner in his reawakening, Barnabas falls in love with a paperback copy of Love Story and the hippie crowds see him as pensive for his Victorian

demeanor. The culture clash paints Depp’s performance as a spiritual successor to his Hunter S. Thompson role from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, loquacious as ever but strung-out more from woes than on ether. Barnabas’ descendants live in his dilapidated mansion, and he moves in with them so his plans for reconstruction can proceed. However, the movie becomes much more loose at this point. Barnabas may battle with the witch who cursed him, but by the next scene, Alice Cooper’s given a cameo performing in Barnabas’s mansion. Huh? Dark Shadows feels more like a series of tangents than a traditional story from here on, and each strand possesses its own unique energy to keep Shadows lively and dynamic. Alarming as this might sound, the erratic storytelling gives freedom to Burton and his performers. Each scene brings a set of surprises, some that even go outside of any realm of logic. The Oscars season is essentially here and it’s always a pleasure to see the turn-out of great films. Will Dark Shadows receive any nominations? Probably not, but the Oscars are hardly an immediate sign of quality. The same goes for any awards event. Zero Dark Thirty, Les Misérables, Django Unchained – we’ll all know enough about these in the coming weeks. The real fun’s in finding the ones everyone else missed out on.

All those Colombian boys just want some ass.

SOUP NAZI

A look into the life of a catering student

BY MELISSA ESPAÑA

he University is constantly visited by potential students, their parents and the administration’s guests. Most campus visits are accompanied by a meal that is usually served at one of the University’s more formal dining locations, such as the Union Ballroom or the Alumni Center. The catering service, made up in part by University students, works during those more formal meals. The University offers students different job options, and among the more well-known is a job with University Housing that includes jobs in catering and the dining hall. At the beginning of every school year, the University dining halls hire a massive amount of students. Every student who wants a job usually gets hired, but spots in the dining halls do fill up and then students choose to turn to catering for work. When Nelly Read, junior in Psychology, was a freshman, she came to the University to sign up for shifts at the dining halls, but by the time she got to the front of the massive line, all of the shifts were gone. She decided to check out what catering actually was. Read also said that the horror stories she had heard about the dining halls also influenced her decision to work for it. Alison Ganko, sophomore in Human Development and Family Studies, chose to work for catering instead of the traditional dining hall because of the availability of shifts each day and because no two shifts were ever alike. “Each shift is never the same since you work

different types of events and travel to different buildings,” Ganko said. “Also, you have more independence and do not always have a manager hovering over your shoulder.” Unlike students at the dining hall who have a set schedule for an entire semester, students in catering get a different schedule every week and because events come up at the last minute, sometimes they go out later than usual. However, one of the exciting things about working for the catering service is that student workers get the chance to work at formal events. Nadia Chumbipuma, sophomore in Kinesiology, has worked many times at the University President’s house before the football games and had one event at the Alumni Center where alums were being awarded for their achievements. Much like Chumbipuma, Ganko is used to working formal events. She says it’s not uncommon to work weddings at the I Hotel or waiter-server dinners for the Chancellor. “I have also served drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the President’s house and I even got to meet President Easter,” she said. “He and his wife went back into the kitchen after the event was over and spoke with each of the students that worked the event.” It’s often said that once you work in food service, you learn to appreciate it when waiters or waitresses are serving you. Some people even take it so far as to never complain, even if their waiter gets their order wrong, because they un-

WASTEFULNESS

Student Caterers via Colleges Week and the Creative Commons

derstand how stressful the job can be at times. “I make sure to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and leave a tip as well as clean up as much as I can before I leave the table,” Ganko said. “It has also made me more conscious of dining etiquette.” Read feels the same way and has changed her habits when she goes out to eat at restaurants now. “Every time I’m out at a restaurant, I stack all the plates with the food and utensils on the top plate to make it easier on the waiter (or) waitress,” Read said. “If I’m out with a friend from

work and we’re with non-catering friends, they look at us weird for doing so, but hey, I know it makes their life just a tiny bit easier.” Every student has the chance to work for University catering, and according to some of the workers there, it can be a very rewarding job and can teach many people a thing or two about what it’s really like to work in food service. So next time you’re a restaurant, cut your waiter some slack, because the job isn’t as easy as they make it look.

How to be less wasteful this holiday season

BY TAYLOR THOMAS

Photo by Johanna Tesfaye

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to my realty company about the sudden, dramatic increase in my home’s electric bill. It was “unseasonably high." By "unseasonably," I mean high even for the cold weather and winter holidays. I found this hard to believe, but bit my tongue and promised to monitor the amount of time we kept our holiday lights on. This phone call got me thinking about just how many people are not warned about the skyrocket in their energy intake during this time of year, as well as their intake of food, wrapping paper, electricity and other seasonal goods we manage to justify overusing in the spirit of the holidays. This time of year, we all do our part in avoiding most sustainable ways of life. This includes anything from the holiday lights wrapped around the porch railing staying on all night to the plastic champagne glasses used for a 10-second countdown on New Year’s Eve, haphazardly discarded around the room after midnight. I, like most people, am a fan of indulging around the holidays. I am guilty of having my own mini Christmas tree plugged in the minute it’s dark outside. I also encourage presents wrapped in sparkly paper. Luckily, this tendency toward wastefulness around

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s is an easily solvable issue. Cutting down on waste during the holidays does not mean you have to sacrifice your favorite holiday indulgences. Instead, my suggestion is a sense of moderation in these next few weeks. Talk to your roommates or family about setting a time limit for Christmas lights. Designating the last person awake to unplug all of the lights has worked well for my house. Furthermore, agree on a thermostat setting that doesn’t single-handedly destroy the ecosystem. Investing in sealing strips for drafty windows or doorframes is definitely worthwhile for not only the environment, but for your wallet, too. When it comes time to wrap the many presents for family and friends, think about reusable gift bags instead of that fun, disposable wrapping paper. Even people who usually recycle may find the sheer bulk of holiday waste, particularly wrapping paper, easier to just throw away. Walking through your house after a holiday party with a big, black garbage bag is a huge source of the wastefulness of the holidays. The cardboard boxes that some gifts come in, empty wine bottles and crushed aluminum cans

are all thrown in one bag together and forgotten after a quick trip to the dumpster. Decreasing your waste around the holidays does not mean cutting yourself off from these fun events or even buying these products. If those plastic champagne glasses are a part of what makes your New Year’s Eve worth celebrating, have no guilt in buying them. Decreasing your waste can happen simply by taking the extra time to recycle these materials. There are some things you can simply cut out, though. For instance, I know that making paper snowflakes or paper chains provides fun and nostalgia for those grade school days, but in all reality, the amount of paper used and thrown away mercilessly is extremely unnecessary. I hate to knock this cheerful holiday activity, so if you truly can’t resist this pastime, grab an old newspaper (no, not buzz) and cut to your heart's content. This is better than using new white printer paper or colored construction paper. Waste around the holidays is inevitable, but not unmanageable. If we work to control the heating in our homes, recycle our trash and do things in moderation, we will eliminate many major sources of waste during this time of year. December 13 - 19, 2012 buzz 5

COMMUNITY

CU CAFE COMPARISONS

The right cafe for you to take in the holidays BY BUZZ COMMUNITY STAFF

Espresso Royale on Sixth and Daniel, Photo by Folake Osibodu

Cafe Kopi (109 N. Walnut St., Champaign) One of the cafés to visit in CU during the holiday season is Café Kopi on Walnut and Chester streets in downtown Champaign. It provides a warm and ambient atmosphere for studying, meetings and cheerful conversations. The holiday season gives the place an even more intimate setting. Holiday lights are strung above the tables outside for admiring from the warm interior or wintry exterior. The holiday drinks offered are eggnog lattes, gingerbread chai, peppermint mocha and hot chocolate with sprinkles. I had the pleasure of trying both the peppermint mocha and hot chocolate, which were both my cup of tea, er… coffee… drinks. They were less sweet than some I have tried in other places, which I thought was a good thing, because some coffee places dump factories of sugar into every drink, which makes them unbearable to get down. In addition to the holiday drinks, Kopi offers a variety of holiday cookies, including ginger spice and peppermint. So visit Kopi sometime in December and enjoy the holiday ambiance as well as delicious food and drinks! —Karolina Zapal Espresso Royale (602 E. Daniel St., Champaign) I have to admit, this was my first time going to Espresso Royale just to hang out. I had been there before, but never plopped down on one of its amazingly comfy armchairs just to relax. After today, I would definitely do it again. I went around 11:30 a.m., right before the lunchtime rush. I didn’t have to wait at all, and the staff was really friendly! They have a large case of yummy, freshly baked goods and a refrigerator with some healthier options, like sandwiches. If you’re trying to get into the holiday spirit, this is your hangout. They have five seasonal coffees and three seasonal teas. I tried the peppermint bark mocha and it was delicious! There are two levels: the main floor and a downstairs. The main level is considerably noisier, so if you’re trying to study, the downstairs area will be your best bet. However, if you really have

6 buzz December 13-19, 2012

to get your work done, bring some headphones, especially around lunchtime. There are a few armchairs and plenty of tables, most of which have close access to an outlet. The only downside I saw about Espresso Royale was the price. I paid a little more than $4 for a small peppermint bark mocha, which will get you a cup that is about 3 inches tall. That being said, I really enjoyed it and would get it again. The seasonal drinks cost a little more than the regular drinks, but they're worth it! —Monica Detter Aroma Cafe (118 N. Neil St., Champaign) Welcome to Aroma Cafe, one of CU’s finest coffee shops. If you are looking for a lovely place to read, study or catch up with friends, this is an excellent choice. Not only do they have one of the best chai lattes in town and delicious seasonal coffee beverages, they have a great ambiance too. The cozy fireplace and couch provide a homey feel that makes you want to crack open a book. The warm fireplace could not be a better remedy for these upcoming frigid days. Cushioned nooks in the shop create inviting spaces to talk with friends over coffee or spread out with your laptop and papers. Aroma also has an extensive café menu with plenty of snacks and lunch options. The cafe recently changed its menu, and the change is definitely making a positive difference for the taste buds and moods of the guests. The location in downtown Champaign is a relief from the busy coffee shops closer to campus. If you’re looking for a coffee shop with great food, delicious drinks and character, this is the place to stop. Be sure to check out my personal favorite, the Sexy Toast! —Taylor Thomas Einstein Bros Bagels (901 W. University Ave., Urbana) When students come to the University for the first time, some may pass Einstein Bros Bagels on University and Lincoln. Although passing by this cafe became a habit after traveling to and from home so many times, I had never stepped

foot inside until a few days ago. The cafe offers a variety of different items. Aside from the traditional caffeine-filled favorites, customers can choose anything from a plain bagel to bagel-thin sandwiches with the works. The fact that most of the sandwiches are made from freshly-baked bagels sets Einstein Bros apart from the other cafes that typically only serve paninis and other small baked goods. A lot of cafes on campus offer great food and drinks, and also provide excellent study places. Although it is possible to pop a book open and finish up a paper at Einstein Bagels, you won't see many people doing so. Also, the location closes at 5 p.m., before many students and fulltime workers are finished with their days. Unlike other cafes, Einstein Bros doesn’t put a large emphasis on holiday drinks, although they do offer café mochas and white chocolate mochas with a holiday-themed cup. If you’ve never had at least a plain toasted bagel with cream cheese from here, it’s worth making the trip. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, try some of the bagel sandwiches. There are options for everyone. —Melissa España Starbucks (503 E. Green St., Champaign) I have always been a fan of Starbucks. Design and aesthetics always win me over. This coffee shop never fails to meet my expectations, and in most cases, it exceeds them. The interior of the shop is usually full of festive décor that sets the tone for the season or day. It also has an atmosphere conducive for finishing work, a catch-up session with a friend or a simple rest amid the chaos of life. The low hum of the background music and the chatter among fellow customers provides a nice level of noise that isn’t obtrusive to your study session, date or break. But when time is running short and you need to finish that class or work assignment before the clock strikes 12, I suggest you plug in those ear buds and settle for the familiar tunes sitting in your “Serious Business” playlist. However, a break is healthy sometimes during a cram session. What better way to find entertainment than through the bickering of the love-hate relationship between the needy customer and the unfortunate barista who scrambles around the tiny space behind counter to make a soy latte while “taking it easy” on 10 different syrups? I don’t have a palate keen to coffee, but one thing’s for sure: Starbucks lives up to its logo. The green mermaid succeeds in using her long, flowing hair and mystical fish tails as a siren call, beckoning caffeine-deprived individuals — or in my case, an undergraduate college student who drinks coffee for the sake of feeling like a (mature) young adult. —Stephanie Kim Cafe Zojo (2740 S. Philo Rd., Urbana) Cafe Zojo has only been in Urbana since the spring, but it has made its mark already. There was a good mix of customers of all ages, doing anything from working to studying, or just chatting over a cup of fresh-brewed coffee. The warm lighting and low-sitting tables and couches make

the cafe relaxing and perfect for an afternoon inside from the cold weather with a good book. You could even spend the day with some friends and one of the cafe's board games, such as Settlers of Catan or Carcassonne. The tables are wide enough to fit the boards or to sprawl out your papers and books while studying. If cramming for finals or rushing to meet a deadline gets you down, you can just look gaze into the pictures on their walls and dream of a time when it will all be behind you. For now, though, why not refill that mug? Zojo has eggnog lattes, hot chocolate, a holiday-blend coffee and the other standard cafe drinks, as well as a hot chocolate kit complete with marshmallows and a candy cane. —Thomas Thoren Pekara Bakery and Bistro (116 N. Neil St., Champaign) For the holidays, Pekara has welcomed additions to its usual menu of baked goods, artisan breads, coffee and other drinks. The Christmas lights strung up at the storefront welcome customers to the bakery’s holiday java menu, and gingerbread men and sugar cookies on display in the glass case. The holiday drinks include an egg nog latte, a gingerbread latte and others. I ordered the frosted cookie mocha latte with whipped cream on top. The white mugs Pekara serves their coffee in are wide, but I was hoping they would be a little bit wider so I could have dove into this drink. It was like I was drinking a dream. Now that I have tasted cookies in liquid form, I want all cookies to come in a mug. When you come back to reality, Pekara is a great space for getting down to work. There are comfier sitting options in the back, but the small tables along the wall provide just enough space for one. They can be a little cramped if you need to sprawl out, but at least the small table means no stranger will be sidling up next to you. —Thomas Thoren Caribou Cafe (331 Stoughton St., Champaign) Despite being inside a grocery store and mere feet from a beeping cash register, Caribou Cafe had the most holiday ambiance of the three cafes I visited. This little corner of County Market has gone all out with holiday decorations. There is a small, wire tree that hangs little coffee cup and mug ornaments, ice scrapers for sale, coffee cup huggies that double as fingerless mittens, snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and reindeer blend coffee. The cafe even has holiday decor down to the napkins, which invite customers to write notes to their “dearest” and draw ornaments on a Christmas tree. And there is still the drink menu, of course. I ordered a salted caramel budino to sip while I sat on the upper level. This spot features two leather couches and a fake fireplace for lounging, and booths and tables are nearby for serious working. The cold cream on top of my drink gave way to the warm, sweet taste underneath while I soaked in the holiday spirit as a bright, bustling grocery store was just far enough out of sight. —Thomas Thoren

FOOD & DRINK

TWINKIE-POCALYPSE

America’s favorite snack isn’t destined for destitution BY SHALAYNE PULIA

Twinkie the Kid vs. Ghost Busters, used with permission by JD Hancock and Creative Commons

“T

he Twinkie-pocalypse” is upon us, as The Huffington Post describes, much to the dissatisfaction of the ultimate snackcake lovers across the country. The earth shattering news came in on Nov. 21, as Hostess announced the closing of its doors 80-something years after the company began. America’s favorite feel not-so-good snack began in 1933 at The Continental Baking Company from Indianapolis. Baker James A. Dewar invented the snack as a money saver during The Great Depression. The 1960s brought prosperity to the product as nuclear bomb shelter stockers

trusted the treat to maintain an eternal shelf life (an urban legend that is still debated today). Today’s economic woes may have heightened popularity for this lotus flower of snack cakes as well as a general shift toward health foods was not so popular (Did somebody say froyo?) But how could Hostess — who, by the way, owns more than just Twinkies, such as Wonder Bread – suffer such a devastating blow? Union strikes. The culprit of Hostess’s bankruptcy was the union strike by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM for short). The

small union simply refused to accept the conditions of labor contracts in late November, which greatly increased labor costs for the company. “We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” Hostess Chief Executive Gregory Rayburn said in a statement on Nov. 16 after the company made the final decision to liquidate. “I mean, they’ve taken our pensions away, we’ve had seven CEOs in the last 10 years; this company has been so mismanaged." Secretary-treasurer for BCTGM, Marty Zimmerman, said. "Really, we’re at our wits end and enough is enough." President of BCTGM, Frank Hurt also cited “financial and operational mismanagement” as fuel for the union’s fortitude in choosing not to give into the company’s mediation agreement. The result: 18,500 jobs lost just in time for the holidays. Lamenting the loss of jobs or sympathy for Hostess workers played second fiddle, however, to the Twinkie-lovers of America. What would this country ever do if it lost one of the most iconic cardiac arrest-inducing treats? Sell them on eBay for $200,000, apparently. An eBay seller from Raleigh, N.C., set a starting price of $200,000 for one package of Twinkies, bringing a whole new meaning to the “costly” effects of obesity. The money-

hungry snack-cake owner believed that the rest of America would want “a piece of history, a delicious piece at that.” To this day, eBay features several Twinkie packages priced in the hundreds. One Wonder Bread Classic White-seller chose a more reasonable pricing point of $43. All taglines seem to attempt to conjure up ceaseless American desires to “own a piece of history.” The art of deep frying the cream-filled cake begins with freezing the cakes so they hold up better in the hot oil. After coating the cake in simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, salt, egg, milk and oil, the treats are then tossed in the hot oil and come out corndog-esque and crispy. Fortunately, testing the true shelf life of Twinkies may not be necessary any time soon, as speculation ensues over what company may snatch up the golden goodness next. Potential buyers include: Pabst Brewing Co. or Mexicobased company, Grupo Bimbo. Whether or not Hostess finds new life through one of these companies, true Twinkies fanatics will surely not forget their favorite treat. In fact, many have turned nostalgic in remembrance of childhood addictions to Wonder Bread and those beloved Twinkies. In light of this recent snack cake disaster, millions are left asking one question: What ever will we do without our Twinkies?

HOLIDAY BONANZA How to: host a holiday party BY TINA COCHRAN To host a holiday party, it takes skill in the arts of creativity, organization and communication! Create a Facebook event, two weeks in advance, inviting your friends and fun co-workers to your “in honor of the upcoming holiday” party. A week later, scroll through your cell phone contacts list to send a mass text message to those who don't use Facebook very often, if at all. Along with the date, time and place mentioned on your invitations, ask what they like or do not like to eat so as to plan around various eating preferences accordingly. Aren’t you a caring host for considering their dietary lifestyle? Use that information to plan the types of food to put on your grocery list. Not a top chef in the kitchen? Another choice is to buy holiday cookies, pastries and one of those large fruit and vegetable platters. Do not overlook the importance of this step! Make the proper reservations a week before your party. Confirm that the food will be ready and present the day before your party. Now, you can check food off the preparation list and it’s time to make the playlist according to the musical ambiance you want for your party.

Why not start a thread in your event asking everyone to post their favorite song of the season? Add their favorites to your playlist because it’s your job as the host to create a comfortable environment for the guests. Whether your party lasts from 6-11 p.m. or 3-8 p.m., you have about seven hours of music that must be prepared on the holiday party playlist. Music for the party: check! Decorate the venue of your holiday party with red, forest green, silver, blue or other appropriately colored streamers. Blow up helium balloons and attach silver ribbons to them. Put up silver imitation reef and mistletoe. Try using colored light bulbs to enhance a different lighting effect. This gives the guests the visual aesthetics necessary for them to relate your party to the holiday. It’s the day of your holiday party and you can’t imagine what turn of events may happen later on. If you are 21 or older, you buy enough liquor to last until the end of the night. Alcohol for the adults: check! Last on the preparation list is what to wear to your own party. Dress to impress two hours in advance! Your holiday party playlist is singing from the

Fruit Cake, used with permission by Bongo Vongo and Creative Commons

iPod player, the food is displayed creatively and there are just enough seats for most people to sit or dance if they choose. Greet each guest personally as they arrive. There’s no room for the typical, “Hey everyone, how are you all doing” greeting. Pull in your closest friends for a warm hug and tell them you miss them. Greet your co-workers with a smile when you say their name and thank them for showing up! Don’t forget anyone’s name

or you’ll regret it! Turn up the music and fraternize with your guests. Walk to the dance floor and start dancing with everyone else. Grab one of your friends and dance with them! Party on until the guest leaves you with their farewells. It doesn’t matter where you have your party; as long as you incorporate everything from this article, it should be successful! December 13 - 19, 2012 buzz 7

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SECOND BREAKFAST AND MORE FOOD AND DRINK FROM THE SHIRE Life lessons from The Hobbit BY SEAN HARRIGAN

or all you Lord of the Rings fans out there, Dec. 14 is the day you have been waiting for. Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be the first movie in a trilogy that will bring fans back into the world of Middle Earth. The story will follow Bilbo Baggins and a baker’s dozen of dwarves as they set off to recover the dwarves’ gold from the evil dragon, Smaug. While this first movie will only cover approximately one third of the book (whereas the other movies each corresponded to individual books), this means that there will be the proper time to explore the book’s minor details and Lord of the Rings purists will have much to gush over. Now I want to just be clear from the beginning here. Is it super nerdy to enjoy the world of Middle Earth as much as I do? Yes. Will I be at the midnight showing on Thursday? Yes. Did I tear up during the end of The Return of the King? Yes, yes I did. However, I don’t believe it is necessary to own action figures of The Fellowship in order to take something away from this upcoming blockbuster. And that brings me to my main point: a hobbit’s love of food and drink. For anyone who has read the books, it's no secret that hobbits have a certain fondness for gathering together and partaking in a hearty meal. The previous film adaptations may seem to bounce from battle to battle, but the books take on a much more leisurely pace, seemingly following our heroes from meal to meal. It is my hope that since The Hobbit will be a trilogy, Peter Jackson will have allowed ample time to explore this very important part of hobbit culture. “It comes in pints?! I’m getting one.” Even though they are surrounded by danger pretty much every step of the way once they leave The Shire, the hobbits’ main concern seems to be when they’ll be able to eat again. As part of my premovie ritual, I recently reread The Hobbit and rarely does a few pages go by where the dwarves and Bilbo aren’t feasting or complaining about their stomachs. This love of food is not purely physical. For hobbits, a good meal reminds them of home and it is symbolic of all the simple things in life that hobbits take care to appreciate every day. As you will see in The Hobbit, Bilbo is rudely interrupted by 13 dwarves. His immediate concern is not fright or bewilderment, but simply that he will not have enough food to satisfy them all, since this is his home and this is just what you do when strangers arrive. In The Shire, dark tidings are only discussed after food has been consumed, and a proper meal can turn enemies into friends. Later on when times get tough and he is all by his lonesome, Bilbo laments that he is not at home

8 buzz December 13 - 19, 2012

in front of his fire enjoying a fresh pastry and a cup of mead. If you are familiar with the story of The Lord of the Rings, then surely you know the lovable (and stocky) character of Samwise Gamgee. At numerous points during the story, characters take cheap shots at Sam because of his weight, assuming his worth is less because of his size. Obviously, that simply isn’t true, but there is one Sam scene that always sticks out to me. While climbing down a cliff, Sam loses a small wooden box he has on his person. When Frodo saves it, he asks what’s inside. Sam answers, “It’s very special, that. It’s the best salt in all the Shire.” Frodo knows there will be no practical use for the salt since all they have to eat is Elven bread, but he still replies, “It

is special. It’s a little bit of home.” For Sam and Frodo, they each see the importance of the salt since it reminds them of better, safer times even though they are surrounded by danger. “For all hobbits share a love of things that grow.” It's true that the hobbits provide comic relief during the epic tale of The Lord of the Rings, but that is not their only purpose. J.R.R. Tolkien’s description of the hobbits is that of a simpler folk. They take their time, entertain often and certainly don’t get involved in outsiders’ business (which sounds pretty nice). Having said that, there are no wars in the land of The Shire, unlike the world of Men. There is a strong emphasis on the home and as is seen during Bilbo’s

birthday party feast, the families in The Shire are large and many. Throughout the course of the story, Frodo and company unknowingly teach the Big Folk (as they are called) things about themselves they never knew and help them realize that even the smallest packages carry the simplest wisdom. With the holidays coming up, now would be a prudent time as ever to take these lessons to heart. By now, you’re properly tired of getting beaten over the head with nerdtastic Lord of the Rings references, so I will leave you with just one more: “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” —Thorin Oakenshield, Dwarf King.

Lord of the Rings Table. Used with permission by Nomadic Lass and Creative Commons

I'm going on an adventure!

ART ON WHEELS

CUMTD showcases local artwork inside its buses

BY ANDREA BAUMGARTNER

North 88 West is the Champaign County Arts Council serving to cultivate creativity and reach out to local artists of all mediums. 40 North also runs multiple programs that are intended to bring the arts to the general public, while simultaneously giving artists exposure and experience. One such program is the recently started MTD Art. Executive Director Kelly White gave buzz the inside details to the art-on-wheels project. »buzz: How was this program conceived? »Kelly White: Well a local artist, Don Fonner, who is a frequent bus rider, came to us and MTD and thought it would be kind of nice to have something to look at that wasn’t just advertisements, because he noticed that many of the overhead panels in the buses were empty. So he approached MTD first and they were intrigued by the idea, but had no way of doing it, so they suggested talking to us and we thought it was a great idea and a perfect partnership. »buzz: How is the art chosen? »KW: We put together a panel that would then choose the winning images every quarter — the art is changed every quarter so Nov. 1, Feb. 1, May 1 and Aug. 1 — Don also approached Dixon Graphics and they agreed to provide all of the printing of the posters in kind, and we handle all of the coordinating between the artists submissions and the committee. Then we came up with the format and sizing, 11 by 17, and after the art was chosen, we create the panels and Dixon Graphics prints them. Four different artists are chosen every quarter, and they can submit up to three images, but only one per artist is chosen. And because different routes have different amounts of people riding them, we put everybody’s work on every bus to keep it fair. »buzz: What kind of art are you looking to put on the buses? »KW: We’d love to see the biggest variety possible, to represent all of the mediums, because what’s great about it, as Don put it, sometimes when you’re riding the bus to or from work, it might not be the best part of your day. But if perhaps riders are sitting there on their way to work, and they glance up, it might be a little bit of an escape for them to have that art to look at and that’s what MTD really liked about it. They deal with their mission being basic travel — getting people from point A to point B. But maybe on that travel, people can be inspired or think about something else and enjoy artwork instead of being bored. And of course for artists, with every single bus, the exposure for that artist is huge and it’s an audience you might not usually ever reach because it might not be people who go to local galleries or receptions, so it’s an opportunity to reach a whole new audience on the bus. »buzz: What is the talent like in Champaign County? »KW: The talent is here. It helps that we have the university, but you can compare that to a lot larger cities and to have such a huge amount of talent in this area, it’s pretty phenomenal. I’m not wor-

Used with permission from 40 North and Kelly White.

ried about not ever having enough, I mean there’s always plenty of talent to choose from. »buzz: How many buses does MTD have with the art? »KW: All of them! It was phenomenal how many people ride the bus on a Saturday and Sunday and especially during the week. There are 95 buses between Champaign-Urbana and Savoy. [Jan Kijowski, marketing director at CUMTD, estimated that about 20.000 people ride the bus every day.] »buzz: What artwork is up right now? »KW: The first art went up Nov. 1 only after a few months of starting the panning, and all four pieces up right now are Don’s. We did that to honor him because it was his whole inspiration and idea and was the one who really brought everyone together to make it all happen. »buzz: Feedback on the program? »KW: We’ve heard back from artists and they love the idea and are excited to get their work on the buses, but since it’s just a month old yet, we’re hoping MTD will provide some feedback from bus riders. But from our end, as far as an opportunity for artists and for the general community people, they think it’s a great idea and one more thing that makes CU a more artsy, cultural city. We’re giving people a chance to experience art in a way they never have before. »buzz: What do you think will be the impact of a program like this? »KW: I think the more this community embraces it and advocates for it and celebrates it, the arts will grow and grow, and 40 North is not just a tangible thing, but we put it out there so that art can grow and blossom and in the 10 years that we have been around, it’s really shown how much our programs have expanded and just even the arts in general.

Used with permission from 40 North and Kelly White.

SUBMIT YOUR ART TO MTD! 40 North 88 West, the Champaign County Arts Council working with MTD to make this program possible, will be taking submissions from all local artists! To submit your artwork, email Kelly White at kwhite@40north.org for more information. A small committee will select the four best works of art to be displayed on every MTD bus. New artwork will be posted every quarter: Nov. 1, Feb. 1, May 1, and Aug. 1. Email Kelly for details. Get your work out there for thousands to see and help make our buses more fun to ride! Yay art! December 13 - 19, 2012 buzz 9

MUSIC

CATCHING UP WITH ELSINORE

Ryan Groff and Mark Woolwine talk new members and their latest album BY JONNA NEWBERRY

hampaign-Urbana favorites, Elsinore, have been hard at work since October on their third full-length release. With the departure of two members (Chris Eitel and Dave Pride), “Elsinore 2.0” shows no signs of slowing down. They want to take their music in a more sunshiny, upbeat direction and, ultimately, have a record that makes the listener feel like they are “being hugged hello.” Buzz recently sat down with Ryan Groff and Mark Woolwine to talk about the new band lineup, new record and their love of Champaign-Urbana. »buzz: First off, please introduce yourselves. »Mark Woolwine: I’m Mark. I play keyboards. »Ryan Groff: I’m Ryan. I’m the songwriter, guitar player and lead singer. »buzz: How has the new record been coming along? »RG: It’s been really great. We started at the very beginning of October. The funny thing that happened was that five days before the producer, Beau Sorenson, got here from Portland, Ore., our bass player and drummer decided that they weren’t cut out to do this anymore, making a record and touring, and that it was just a better decision for them to not be in the band anymore. The timing was surprising, but it wasn’t a total surprise because of how long we have been the band. We have been together for eight years with the same people. So it was surprising, but it also went really well and it was the best possible way for that to happen. So we were in the studio, Pogo Studio, which is in downtown Champaign, for two weeks with a producer and it was great. It was Mark and me and the producer for the first week and then our new drummer and bass player. Thankfully, I had a drummer and a bass player in my brain as the people who ideally I would ask to be in the band if we ever needed too. So we asked them both and they both said yes. They had that first week to learn the songs on their own and then they came in for the second week and recorded their parts. So, it has been great. It has been really awesome. »buzz: So, are the new members officially in the band? »MW: Yeah. »RG: Yes. James and Brad are the new guys. »buzz: How did you decide to work with Beau Sorenson again? »RG: It’s a really inspiring and encouraging story because he was working with this band in Chicago and we are friends with a member of that band. This was in 2010 when our last record came out and our friend Adam gave Beau a copy of our record when they were working together. Like six months went by, and of course Adam gave it to him as a friend, like, "Oh, I’m going to give Elsinore’s record to Beau because Beau is really great and is a really good guy and I think he would like this record." So then that was in August, and when February came around, Adam calls me and says "I can’t believe this; I gave Beau Sorenson, who was working on our record, your new album

10 buzz December 13 - 19, 2012

Mark and Ryan from Elsinore. Photo by Qi Yu

and it’s been six months and he just called me and said I just got finished working on the new Death Cab For Cutie record and I’d finally gotten to unpack my life from being out and working for six months, and I listened to the Elsinore record and I really, really liked it. Can you put me in touch with the band, because I want to work with them on the next record." So, Adam asked me if that was okay, and I said of course it is! So, Beau emailed me and we talked on the phone and for the last year and a half Beau and I have been strengthening this creative relationship and talking about the record and planning the recording sessions and just kind of getting to know to each other and becoming really good friends. By the time he got here in October, it was so well planned that the departure of Dave and Chris from the band was the best move for them, and for Mark and I, it was very liberating that we had pre-planned so well that Beau, Mark and I kept going and got the new drummer and new bass player lined up. I think it is going to be a better record because of what happened with that and because we pre-planned so well and the songs are strong and we feel really good about them. »buzz: Do you guys have a name for the album yet? »RG: Not yet. It hasn’t revealed itself to us yet. »buzz: How do you think that this record is different from the last record? And the first record? »MW: A pretty huge difference between the first one. »RG: Yeah, our first record was in 2006. »MW: A pretty big difference between that one and this one, but I think songwriting-wise we have just gotten better over time. We just got better at

writing and arranging songs, like writing better parts, better lyrics and better melodies and all that kind of stuff. This one compared to Yes Yes Yes; there’s some good similarities like the pop that we like. The pop, the rock, the harmonies and string stuff and brass and all that kind of stuff remain on this one, but some of the harder edge stuff from Yes Yes Yes, not that there was a lot, but some of that has gotten pushed a little bit away now that the other two members, who were more towards that, are gone, so I think we have tried to put it towards pop and the, like, 60’s, even somewhat 50’s pop that we really like were put into this record, and I think we weren’t expecting it to be as much of an influence. There was a difference between this one and the last record. »RG: To me it was amazing to see how naturally that happened. Dave and Chris being in the band took us in a direction that we were happy with, and we all planned on going in and recording all these songs this way, but as soon as they left, it opened the door to reinvent songs and subtract the harder, darker stuff, and add more sunshiny and more positive, and just have a totally different kind of feel. It’s sort of like being punched hello or being hugged hello. This record definitely hugs you hello, so that was kind of an interesting discovery. »buzz: That’s interesting because the Life Inside an Elephant music video was dark, and I saw at the end that Chris put it together. »RG: Oh, yeah, it was definitely dark. It was very dark, but also you could take it in a few different ways. What I was talking about as a songwriter, this is an amazing video, but it was really dark-- super dark. It was interesting to see a perfect example of

how we influenced the band. The more dark side was Chris-- he is a big Tool fan. It made sense that it’s like that sort of dark stop-motion animation. »buzz: When I heard the name Life Inside an Elephant, I thought of Hemingway and his story Hills Like White Elephants. Was this influenced by him? »RG: No, because I have never read Hemingway… I actually like Kurt Vonnegut. He literally holds most of the space in my brain. So, I haven’t been finding more because I have been concentrating on music…My wife and I had a son almost five months ago and his middle name is Vonnegut. »buzz: Did you guys stay in one place and record this album? Or travel around? »MW: For the first two weeks, yes. Now it’s all going to be in Ryan’s studio and has been since we have finished at Pogo. »RG: I’m almost done building a teaching and recording studio behind my house. It’s a pretty significant space and I’m building this dream structure right now so we are able to do what we didn’t get done at Pogo with Beau in my own space, kind of at our own leisure. We do have a time limit, because I’ll fly out to Portland to mix with Beau in the middle of January. So we have a time limit, but thankfully it was two months to finish everything. So it’s sort of a like a little bit of pressure to get it done, but it’s not like we have to get this done now or in a week. Two months, eight weeks, is a long time to add vocals and horns and strings and other stuff. »buzz: I enjoy the updates that you post on Facebook. So, I saw that you guys met with guys who play the horns. What other kinds of random instruments would you want to (CONTINUED ON PAGE 15)

Ewoks are so much worse than Jar Jar

HO HO LO-CAL MUSIC FOR CHARITY! WPGU’s Operation Santa returns for the 19th year in a row BY SEAN N EUMANN

randkids are gearing up for their final show of 2012 as WPGU hosts the 19th annual Operation Santa benefit show at The High Dive on Saturday, Dec. 15. The benefit show will feature the four–piece band alongside The Beeson Brothers and Isaac Arms. This will be the first time Grandkids take the stage for WPGU’s annual Christmas benefit, and they plan to make the event memorable. “We should learn a few Christmas songs,” cellist Adam Gorcowski jokingly suggested to fellow members Vivian McConnell and Evan Metz. The band is no stranger to covering songs, however. Over this past summer, the four friends played numerous gigs for events as a ‘70s cover band and recently showed off their summer’s hard work at Mike N’ Molly’s on Dec. 1. They closed their set with an energizing 10-minute rendition of Neil Young’s “Down By The River.” “We’ve got a bunch of cool songs to play,” Metz said, but left it up to question whether or not the band will have any tricks up their sleeves at Operation Santa. The popular CU band isn’t all about covers, though. Much of 2012 saw the band hard at work in Pieholden Suite Sound studio, putting together

their first full-length album. Although most recording is done, the 10-track album is still yet to be named and the track listing remains in the beginning stage. “The music industry is slow and we’re slower,” Metz said as he laughed about their hectic schedule as musicians and students. Despite the slow process of releasing their currently untitled full-length album, the future could not be brighter for Grandkids. With an LP to be released and a strong fan base, the band’s outlook is promising. “I am in the process of booking us a tour down to South by Southwest, and I think late spring or early summer will be a big time for us, because hopefully we’ll have figured out a way to put out our album, whether that is with the support of someone else or on our own,” McConnell said. The Grandkids frontwoman has also tossed around the idea of touring internationally. “I might be studying in Spain, so it would be really fun to try to go on a tour myself and promote myself as Grandkids.” When it comes to playing the new material live, the band is hesitant. “We really only have two that we play and we’re

playing one of them,” said Gorcowski. Therefore, much of the setlist will remain comprised of songs off the band’s two EPs, Grandkids and Sister Walls. “I’m excited to play the show because it will be our last show of the year and our last in Champaign-Urbana until The Great Cover Up,” McConnell said, referring to the 22nd annual cover show event, also at The High Dive, on Jan. 19-24. However, Saturday night will be the best time

to catch Grandkids at The High Dive, as they plan to showcase a song from their anticipated new album, as well as older tracks. The doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 9:30. Tickets for the show are $5 and can be purchased at the door. All proceeds benefit WPGU’s effort of purchasing gifts for 40 underprivileged children at the Crisis Nursery and Parent Wonders of Rantoul.

Grandkids is Vivian, Evan, and Adam (not pictured: Phil). Photo by Constantin Roman

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CALENDAR

DECEMBER 13 - 19 2012 Complete listing available at

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO THE CALENDAR: Online: ]fidj XmX`cXYc\ Xk k_\)(.%Zfd&ZXc\e[Xi E-mail: j\e[ pfli efk`Z\ kf ZXc\e[Xi7k_\)(.%Zfd Fax: 337-8328, addressed to the217 calendar

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Snail mail: j\e[ gièk\[ dXk\i`Xcj m`X L%J% DX`c kf1 k_\)(. ZXc\e[Xi# @ccè` D\[`X# ,() <% >i\\e Jk%# :_XdgX`ê# @C -(/)' Call: 531-1456 if you have a question or to leave a message about your event.

THURSDAY 13

Yarn N Yak Rantoul Public Library Art & other exhibits 7pm Egungun! Power ConOngoing Events cealed Krannert Art Museum Preschool Story Time and Kinkead Pavilion Rantoul Public Library 9am 10am Expressions in Color: Selections from the FRIDAY 14 20th-Century CollecArt & other exhibits tion Krannert Art Museum Egungun! Power Conand Kinkead Pavilion cealed 9am Krannert Art Museum Fashioning Traditions and Kinkead Pavilion of Japan 9am Krannert Art Museum Expressions in Color: and Kinkead Pavilion Selections from the 9am 20th-Century CollecFields of Indigo: Instal- tion lation by Rowland Krannert Art Museum Ricketts with Sound by and Kinkead Pavilion Norbert Herber 9am Krannert Art Museum Fashioning Traditions and Kinkead Pavilion of Japan 9am Krannert Art Museum “Inside India” with and Kinkead Pavilion Larry Kanfer 9am Alice Campbell Alumni Fields of Indigo: InstalCenter, 8:30am lation by Rowland Wealth of Notions: Ricketts with Sound by Economists in Conflict Norbert Herber The Rare Book and Krannert Art Museum Manuscript Library and Kinkead Pavilion 8:30am 9am Exhibit: A World of Wealth of Notions: Shoes Economists in Conflict Spurlock Museum, 12pm The Rare Book and Manuscript Library Live music & karaoke 8:30am “Inside India” with Chillax with DJ Belly Larry Kanfer and Matt Harsh Alice Campbell Alumni Radio Maria, 10pm Center, 8:30am The CUSO Holiday Concert Krannert Center for Per- Live music & karaoke forming Arts, 7:30pm Miss A Krannert Uncorked Canopy Club, 9pm Krannert Center for Karaoke with DJ HanPerforming Arts, 5pm nah UV Hippo, the Coop, Phoenix, 8pm and Zmick Parrish Brothers Canopy Club, 9pm Rosebowl Tavern 9pm Miscellaneous Late Night with DJ Belly Comedy Karaoke Radio Maria, 10pm Open Mic Comedy C4A Faculty Benefit Night Concert The Clark Bar, 9pm Buvons Wine Bar F.I.N.D. Orphy 6:30pm Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, 1pm Miscellaneous Cosmopolitan Club at the University of F.I.N.D. Orphy Illinois Orpheum Children’s University YMCA Science Museum 7pm 1pm

12 buzz December 13 - 19, 2012

Dance for People with Parkinson’s! Krannert Center for Performing Arts, 10am

Expressions in Color: Selections from the 20th-Century Collection Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion SATURDAY 15 9am Art & other exhibits Fashioning Traditions Egungun! Power Con- of Japan Krannert Art Museum cealed and Kinkead Pavilion Krannert Art Museum 2pm and Kinkead Pavilion Fields of Indigo: Instal9am lation by Rowland Expressions in Color: Ricketts with Sound by Selections from the 20th-Century Collec- Norbert Herber Krannert Art Museum tion and Kinkead Pavilion Krannert Art Museum 2pm and Kinkead Pavilion “Inside India” with 9am Fields of Indigo: Instal- Larry Kanfer Alice Campbell Alumni lation by Rowland Ricketts with Sound by Center, 8:30am Norbert Herber Food & festivals Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion Industry Night 9am Radio Maria, 10pm “Inside India” with Live music & Larry Kanfer karaoke Alice Campbell Alumni Center, 8:30am Surreal Deal Snow Globe Saturdays Rosebowl Tavern, 8pm Orpheum Children’s SciMiscellaneous ence Museum, 1pm Exhibit: A World of F.I.N.D. Orphy Shoes Orpheum Children’s SciSpurlock Museum, 12pm ence Museum, 1pm

Live music & karaoke Ongoing Events Great Divide Canopy Club, 9pm Salsa night with DJ Juan Radio Maria, 10:30pm Mike Bray Boomerangs Bar and Grill, 9pm Cork-Screwged Buvons Wine Bar, 6pm

FriendShop Bookstore Open: Tag Bag Sale Champaign Public Library, 1:30pm

MONDAY 17 Art & other exhibits

Egungun! Power Concealed Ongoing Events Krannert Art Museum FriendShop Bookstore and Kinkead Pavilion 9am Open: Tag Bag Sale Expressions in Color: Champaign Public Selections from the Library, 1:30pm 20th-Century CollecSports, games, & tion recreation Krannert Art Museum Pokemon Tournament and Kinkead Pavilion 9am Rantoul Public Library Fashioning Traditions 9am of Japan Krannert Art Museum SUNDAY 16 and Kinkead Pavilion Art & other exhibits 9am Egungun! Power Con- “Inside India” with Larry Kanfer cealed Krannert Art Museum and Alice Campbell Alumni Center, 8:30am Kinkead Pavilion, 9am

Exhibit: A World of WEDNESDAY 19 Shoes Spurlock Museum , 12pm Art & other exhibits Egungun! Power ConLive music & karaoke cealed Krannert Art Museum and Abe Froman Project Mike n Molly’s, 8:30pm Kinkead Pavilion, 9am Expressions in Color: Lounge Night Selections from the Radio Maria, 10pm 20th-Century CollecHootenanny tion Rosebowl Tavern, 8pm Krannert Art Museum and Miscellaneous Kinkead Pavilion, 9am Fashioning Traditions F.I.N.D. Orphy Orpheum Children’s Sci- of Japan Krannert Art Museum and ence Museum Kinkead Pavilion, 9am 1pm Fields of Indigo: Installation by Rowland TUESDAY 18 Ricketts with Sound by Art & other exhibits Norbert Herber Egungun! Power Con- Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion, 9am cealed “Inside India” with Krannert Art Museum Larry Kanfer and Kinkead Pavilion Alice Campbell Alumni 9am Center, 8:30am Expressions in Color: Exhibit: A World of Selections from the 20th-Century Collec- Shoes Spurlock Museum, 12pm tion Krannert Art Museum Classes, lectures, & and Kinkead Pavilion workshops 9am Fashioning Traditions Mindful Meditation of Japan Spurlock Museum, 4pm Krannert Art Museum Food & festivals and Kinkead Pavilion 9am Caribbean Grill Lunch Fields of Indigo: Instal- to Go lation by Rowland Refinery, 11am Ricketts with Sound by Live music & karaoke Norbert Herber Krannert Art Museum Piano Man and Kinkead Pavilion Canopy Club, 10pm 9am Open Decks with DJ “Inside India” with Belly Larry Kanfer Radio Maria, 10pm Alice Campbell Alumni Open Mic Night! Center, 8:30am Samuel Music, 5pm

Live music & karaoke Miscellaneous Open Decks Canopy Club, 10:30pm C/U Singer-Songwriter Collective Christmas Benefit for Toys for Tots #2 The Clark Bar, 7pm

Miscellaneous

F.I.N.D. Orphy Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, 1pm FriendShop Holiday Bonus Hours Champaign Public Library, 12pm Trivia Mike N Molly’s, 8pm

F.I.N.D. Orphy Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, 1pm

Sports, games, & recreation

Ongoing Events Tuesday Night Trivia Jupiter’s at the Crossing 7pm

buzz’s

WEEK AHEAD

BYOB: BRING YOUR OWN BOOK

Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St. 12/18/2012 8-9 p.m. I’ve heard of Bring Your Own Booze and Bring Your Own Beer parties, but a Bring Your Own Book party?! Now that’s what I call “VERY NICE!” Really though, this book club is quite nice. Members come together once a month to discuss their book (this month it’s Room by Emma Donoghue) at a selected CU food establishment. How fun! The book club will meet on the third Tuesday of every month until August 2013. Call the Champaign Public Library at 217-403-2070 to find out more info about the books and the chosen restaurant. —Jessica Bourque, Arts & Entertainment Editor

MINDFUL MEDITATION

Dec. 19, 4-4:30 p.m. Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum Free Before the stress of the holidays, join Mary Wolters for Mindful Meditation. It’s the perfect way to relax and recharge. Then, emerge fully powered by the light of the moon. All hail, Luna, Goddess of Night! —Joyce Famakinwa, Movies & TV Editor

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA OPTIMIST CLUB CHRISTMAS TREE SALE Daily until Dec. 14, or sold out Country Fair parking lot, Mattis and Springfield, Champaign

If you have yet to buy a Christmas tree this season of hope, then you may as well get it while supporting youth-related programs and activities at the same time. If you want the classic holiday look, then I am positive you can find it here. You can expect the best while choosing between Fraser firs, Douglas firs and Scotch pines. These trees are so healthy, you won’t have to worry about your living room becoming half full with dead needles by Christmas Eve. With any luck, Santa will come that night and fill it with presents for the best boys and girls instead. —Tom Thoren, Community Editor

DINO BRAVO, REDLEG, TBD Friday, Dec. 14, 10 p.m. Mike ‘N’ Molly’s

CU’s sludge Tag Team Champs are back, playing at Mike ‘N’ Molly’s on Friday, Dec. 14. With hilarious, wrestling-referencing song titles like “Kevin Nash vs. Domino Club The Definition of Adjective” and “24/7 Hardcore Title Rantoul Public Library, 1pm Defense,” these guys know how to have a good time, Pokemon Club and they wear about the same amount of clothing Rantoul Public Library on stage as pro wrestlers wear in the ring. —Evan 5pm Lyman, Music Editor

Seattle is just Chicago with hills

ARGUE WITH RELATIVES ABOUT SOCIALISM AND SEXUALITY

Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 25, but also non-Christian holidays, too! Everywhere Old People talk to Young People Thanksgiving wasn’t enough! Isn’t it great to hear the public opinion of today? It sounds so wonderfully uninformed. You and your liberal, Urbana/Champaign influenced mind set: You are no match for your Midwestern uncle’s interpolated rhetoric! Lots of people think the country is falling apart; I don’t know if that’s true, but I know those people are definitely going to tell you more about it. Fact: Most people who have opinions heard them from TV. —Nick Martin, Managing Editor

2011(DEC13)QUARTER-PG-SQ-BUZZ

THIS WEEK KR ANNERT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

TH DEC 13

5pm

Krannert Uncorked

7:30pm

// Marquee

The CUSO Holiday Concert

// Champaign-Urbana

Symphony Orchestra

FR DEC 14

10am

Dance for People with Parkinson’s

// Marquee

TH DEC 20

5pm

Krannert Uncorked with Geoff Poor and David Thies, Americana // Marquee

C A L L 3 3 3 . 6 2 8 0 s 1. 8 0 0 . K C P A T I X

Corporate Power Train Team Engine

Marquee performances are supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council— a state agency which recognizes Krannert Center in its Partners in Excellence Program.

40 North and Krannert Center —working together to put Champaign County’s culture on the map.

December 13 - 19, 2012 buzz 13

CLASSIFIEDS Place an Ad: 217 - 337 - 8337 Deadline: 2 p.m. Tuesday for the next Thursday’s edition.

APARTMENTS

000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

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410

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430 SUBLETS

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(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10) include on the album if money was not an obstacle? »MW: It would be awesome to have a whole orchestra [laughs]. »RG: Yeah. Mark and I have music composition degrees, so that’s why our music is more heavily orchestrated than a lot of pop records. We don’t just keep it to a keyboard, guitar, drums and bass. I’m always hearing things. Mark’s always hearing things. Things that he and I both do on guitar and keyboard, respectively, are both heavily influenced by orchestra music. I think that we are trying to do as much as we can right now with this record with the time in the studio space and with these U of I jazz guys. These guys are really great. They are playing together all the time on campus. It was easy for them and it was easy for us. We’d say, “This is what we want to do,” then they would be like, “Sing that for us one time,” then they would be like “Okay guys, let’s just do it this way,” and then they would just play it. I knew that would be the case because I knew that they would be playing in ensembles all the time and they would be speaking their own language. Mark and I having music degrees would help and we can talk like musicians. »MW: ...Talking shop [laughs]... »RG: ...Yeah. Doing it sort of like Beach Boys-style. Bryan Wilson -style would be really cool because I certainly hear that in my head a lot of the time and we talk about it a lot of the time. »MW: If we had a million dollars for one song then I think we could. »RG: Yeah, for one song, we can make our own “Good Vibrations.” »buzz: I really feel as though your lyrics and music are very eloquent and carefully chosen. Can you describe the process that you go through to compose your songs and write lyrics? Is there a usual process or routine? »RG: There sort of is, but thankfully it has gotten easier in the last two years. As soon as Yes Yes Yes went out, that, to me, was like a key to some door in my brain that let it open all of a sudden, where I realized I don’t have to make this hard on myself. It is work because we are creating something that someone hasn’t created. You know, with anything where you are creating something like writing songs or melodies or whatever you are doing. But all of a sudden, I thought, whoa, there is a process where I, as a songwriter, found a way to get to something quicker, because before it was like battling this swarm of ideas around my head. You know, it was like “Go away I don’t want you right now!” or it was like “How I do grab one right now and run with it?” Whereas now, I feel like when something comes into my head, I can make myself sit down for longer to get it further because before I would take a small idea and run with it for a few minutes and when I would hit a small hurdle I would leave it and try to come back to it and it would be gone, and the inspiration would be [gone] and I would be like, “What am I doing here? This doesn’t make sense now.” So that translated well with the band as we were writing the songs, getting ready for the record, and Mark and I writing the songs and showing him what I was sort of going for and getting feedback. The way these songs came together was a more inspired and mature version of what we did before. For the lyrics, I’m glad that you used that descrip-

tion “carefully chosen and eloquent,” because they don’t come easily to me. I want them to be just right. The ideas come easy to me, but how to say it doesn’t come easy. Music comes easily. I can write three instrumental albums a year, but lyrically I’m so picky about what needs to be said and things can just land in a weird way and make you feel like “I do not want that to come out of my mouth. That sentence…what I just heard in my head that should not ever come out of my mouth.” That has always been the trickier battle, and not because it is the hard part, but just because it is the important part. I mean the music can do a lot to people, but lyrics can really do it to people. They always grab people, piss people off and they always do the thing that you need them to do. So, when I try to be very honest and true to what I’m actually trying to say, then it is easier. »buzz: You have a very welcoming presence in Champaign-Urbana. Does this have a big effect on your music? »MW: I think it helps us to want to continue writing music and staying here and playing for these crowds. We have been to many, many cities and of course they are huge and we don’t want a tiny little fish in a giant ocean. So, there are many bands that come out of smaller cities and do as much as we do or more of what we do, or less than we do. I think that this is a place that we want to be. »RG: I think it’s great because every time that we go on tour or anywhere, even if it’s just around the Midwest or a full tour, coming home definitely makes me feel like we have chosen the best place to live, even if we go to LA, New York, Chicago, Memphis, Nashville or any similar cities or any similar college towns like this. We have never found one that I have thought maybe we need to move [somewhere else] instead. There is just something about Champaign-Urbana that is so great and I think that it is specifically for us. We have worked really hard and I think, thankfully, that our music appeals to people in the right way and we have had one of the largest responses-positive responses of any band that I know of in the last twenty years. There are only a few bands that have done maybe a bit more than us, but it’s a really inspiring feeling. When the community supports you and the campus supports you, you are doing something right. »buzz: Do you guys have any plans for touring for the new album? »MW: Anytime that you release a big record, you definitely have to go out and push it and visit as many cities as you can. Where we are going, we don’t know yet. Most likely, we'll do the usual cities that we tend to hit and do best in. Right now we are in album mode and getting that finished before we get that mixed and before we start thinking about what’s next. »RG: It seems like May or June is a pretty realistic guess. Just thinking chronologically, if it is mixed in January, we get the label and the release figured out and we do a couple of music videos and that kind of thing all the pre-release. It seems like summer would be a good idea and with it being so sunshiny, it would be a good idea. »buzz: You have been touring for quite a while. Do you guys have a favorite show? Or stop, or one place you really liked? »RG: I think Kalamazoo, Michigan. There’s a smaller college. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 15)

JONE SIN’

by Matt Jones

“Into the Great Wide Open”--a wild grid for the 600th

Stumped? Find the solutions in the Classifieds pages.

Across 1 What Burger King tried to serve on a sundae in 2012 6 Sheep’s sound 9 L times VI 12 Stopping point in a Carlo Levi novel 13 Fails to live up to 15 Arty district 16 Character voiced by Danny DeVito, with “The” 17 “See above,” in footnotes 19 Gp. for doctors 20 “You pick the place” 21 Cocktails with a recipe on the Kahlua label 28 Break room thefts that suck (especially when you put your name on them) 30 B, L or T, e.g. 31 Quicktime file extension 32 Genetic message “venue” 33 OTC sleep-aid introduced in 2012 34 H.S. diploma alternative 35 Three-letter Best Picture nominee 36 “Later, skaters” 38 Bait shop stock 39 “Buffalo Stance” singer Cherry 40 Mountain chain in Utah 41 “Count us in!”

43 Quid pro quo deal 46 Highest-ranking 47 Botanist Gray 50 They’re not usually syndicated 55 Sighting subject 56 Costanza mantra 57 Blemish 58 Political theorist Hannah 59 Reggae musician ___-Mouse 60 Train depot, for short 61 Foot, in kid-speak 62 Rail option, to Rodrigo

Down 1 Strings virtuoso Fleck 2 Mushroom cloud maker 3 Possibly-venomous creature 4 Suffix after pay 5 Reject 6 Roy G. ___ 7 “___ was saying...” 8 Its symbol contains itself at the end 9 World capital that after which the chemical element hafnium is named 10 Sports Illustrated’s “Sportswoman of the Year,” 1976 11 It gets hung indoors 14 Medical device used to

alleviate pain 15 Itch-inducing shrub 18 Surname in fashion 22 1991 e-commerce company acquired by Oracle in 2011 23 Former New Jersey Senator 24 Type of band with a clarinetist 25 From the 20-yard-line to the goal line 26 Hidden attribute 27 English dogs with a keen sense of smell 29 Record half 30 The 411 32 ___ Nabisco (one-time tobacco merger) 37 Hurry, old school 41 Program from FDR 42 Bad blood 43 Seedy places 44 “Hawaii Five-O” nemesis 45 Tree-to-be 47 Jules or Ed 48 Fuel 49 Dam on the Nile 51 Exam for a future atty. 52 It’s nada 53 Cookie introduced in 1912 54 “Dark am ___ lovely” (passage from the Song of Solomon) Decemeber 13-19 2012 buzz 15

Elsinore rehearsing. Photo by James Kyung

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15) It’s very welcoming. Every time is a pleasant surprise. We have been there three times and the other bands, the owner of the club and just the response from people is great. So that’s been really good. I mean, in most cities, it’s always one time really great and then the next time a little bit weak and then it’s great the next time. So it’s always what day of the week is it or what’s happening in town. If we have been there more than once, it’s been a one good or a one bad every time. So, it’s been tricky. The good news is that I feel like we have to tour and it’s very rewarding and can be profitable in terms financially and morale and energy to want to do it again because touring can be a hard thing, living in and driving a van for a long time or stay-

ing on people’s couches or guest bedrooms for a long time. Thankfully, we have been good enough musicians to where we are like, we are just going to release a record and stay home. It doesn’t seem like the thing to do with this one. We have really been touring a long time and we want to be able to afford a tour bus; that’s our sort of aspiration. Thankfully, the two new band mates are just as capable as the old two band mates and ready to do that. »buzz: Do you each have a favorite tour memory? »RG: It was fun to be in San Diego and Los Angeles. We went in 2008 and then in 2010. There was just something about getting in a van, making our way out and playing shows and to get out there and then finally being out there at the Pacific Ocean and finally being like, now we get to drive up the coast, but we are doing it as a band on tour and that was a big moment of confirmation for us. Any band could do it, but we actually have money for gas and are actually getting to play for people. It was better the second time we did the entire US tour. For me that was a big one. When it’s like, yeah, we are in the ocean right now eating shark tacos [both laugh] yeah this is nice we will just hang out here. »buzz: Anything else on the horizon? »RG: I think that’s the thing that I am thinking about the most right now, of course the finishing up of the new record and doing the thing that we are doing most right now, but just the excitement of knowing that the other two guys happened in a such a calm way that eight years didn’t end in a huge massacre

or in a bonfire burning things. It was just so calm and then the ideal bass player and drummer to replace them both said yes. I think Mark and I feel equally liberated and excited. Then to finish mixing and get to rehearsal with Brad and James as the new version of Elsinore and to finally get to play in the Spring or in the Summer because we have been doing it for so long, so it’s nice to have this big new door to open. It kind of becomes routine, but in a good way, so it’s nice now to get shaken up. I mean, the snow globe has been dropped and picked up and thrown, and finally the snow is settling and we will get a really good record in it. »buzz: Since 2012 is almost over, what are your top three albums of 2012? »MW: I’d probably say the new Grizzly Bear. I have listened to that quite a few times. The New Dirty Projectors was good, too. RG: The new St. Vincent record for sure. [Both agree]. She is amazing and aspiring. »MW: I didn’t do the best at listening to the records that I wanted to, but those are definitely the best and the ones that I listen to the most. Oh and the new Shins album, Port of Morrow. I wish I can say something more about the new Andrew Bird because I liked it, but it’s not on my list. I thought it was really cool. Oh, and the new The Black Keys record. »RG: Yeah, that one. I kind of found Brothers right before that one came out so I had lots of Black Keys in my music, so I had two records I got to listen to. Our friend Adam pushed Black Keys on

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From:

16 buzz Decemeber 13-19 2012

me a year ago. It adds a lot to my musical palate. I like the previous Florence and the Machine as opposed to the new one. I found a lot of old music this year. I found so many artists and music I have never listened to, like a lot from the 70’s or 80’s. I discovered how much I like The Talking Heads and Devo and Brian Eno. I found music that I now feel was influential, but I didn’t know that it was influencing me or us. I didn’t know about that music, but I listen to it now, and somehow it influenced our music and our band. »MW: Because it influenced the people that we listen to. So, it just keeps going down the line. »buzz: So just to recap that... »MW: ...Grizzly Bear, The Shins, and Dirty Projectors... »RG: ...St. Vincent. »MW: I definitely liked that one, too, but those are the three that I have been listening to a lot. »RG: Dirty Projectors. This is tough. I listen to so much older music. »MW: Re-issues? [all laugh] »RG: I think it has to be Shields, because it got a lot of listening time from me before I got into the older stuff. »MW: They were really good at Pygmalion, too. »RG: Yeah. »buzz: Any final comments? »RG: I think we got everything. Elsinore 2.0 is alive and well. »MW: Album, album, album, tour, album... »RG: ...new band.