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Weekend
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LIVEWIRE: The Big E announces acts for Court of Honor stage, E3 OFF THE MENU: Delivery, take-out options change restaurant world, E10 WINE PRESS: 6 Oregon pinot noir wines under $20, E11
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Clubs, concerts take mandatory break, E2
Coronavirus keeping you indoors?
10 shows to binge-watch
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WEEKEND
E2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020
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CLUBBING | MUSIC EDITOR’S NOTE As concerns evolve about the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, most public events are being canceled or rescheduled across Western Massachusetts. In addition, the state’s order that restaurants be closed except for take-out and delivery service has dramatically changed the region’s dining scene. Beginning with this edition of Weekend, The Republican will look to provide readers with the most up-to-date news related to entertainment and dining. Some regular features, like Off the Menu, Beer Nut and Wine Press, will continue. We’ll feature columns on new DVD releases and video game reviews. We’ll also look to present other options for readers to spend their leisure time during the days and weeks ahead. Want to share your ideas? Please feel free to let us know. Cynthia G. Simison is executive editor of The Republican. You can reach her by email to csimison@repub.com.
Clubs, concerts take a now mandatory break
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ITH THE COVID-19 coronavirus putting the brakes on everything from school life to travel to major sporting events, it’s no surprise that the pandemic has also brought arts and entertainment venues to a screeching halt. Many venues and promoters have either canceled or postponed shows where tight quarters among large groups of people (virtually all shows) would increase the likelihood of the virus being transmitted. Massachusetts’ mandatory closing of bars and restaurants means all regional venues are now shuttered. Organizations ranging from the Boston Symphony Orchestra to Northampton’s Signature Sounds Presents have called off performances for the rest of March and into April. MGM Springfield on Monday announced its March 27 Charlie Wilson concert planned for Springfield’s Symphony Hall has been rescheduled for Oct. 18, saying tickets will be
George Lenker Club Scout
Likewise, the Iron Horse Entertainment Group, which runs the Iron Horse Music Hall, Pearl Street Nightclub, and the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, took a cautious route, canceling some shows, MGM Springfield announced its March 27 Charlie Wilson concert planned for Springfield’s Symphony Hall has been resched- such as Nate Bargatze and Guster, KT Tunstall and Holly uled for Oct. 18. (STEPHEN LOVEKIN / GETTY IMAGES FOR M2M CONSTRUCTION) Near. honored for the new date and once the state’s ban on public “Things are changing and gatherings of more than 50 offering refunds. moving quickly and we’re on people is lifted. Signature Sounds’ decision top of it,” said Jim Neill, the “We’ll be honoring tickets for group’s marketing director. impacts concerts at the Parlor later dates or giving refunds if Room, the Shea Theater in “Customers needn’t worry the show is canceled. There are about ticket issues. If they are Montague, Northampton’s some artists who are canceling ill they shouldn’t come to the Academy of Music and Holyoke’s Gateway City Arts. The tours,” said Jim Olsen, presishow and should call our box SEE SCOUT, PAGE E3 label will reassess the situation dent of Signature Sounds.
UPCOMING CONCERTS A look ahead at some of the most-anticipated concerts in western and central Massachusetts and Connecticut. The coronavirus has prompted the cancellation of many shows in March at Massachusetts halls, as well as concerts at the Connecticut casinos. Brad Paisley: April 3, 7:30 p.m.– Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn. Dashboard Confessional: April 4, 8 p.m.– Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn. Godsmack: April 16, 5 p.m. – DCU Center, Worcester Tracy Morgan: April 17, 8 p.m. – Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. En Vogue: April 17, 8 p.m – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. Marlon Wayans: April 17, 8 p.m. – Aria Ballroom, MGM Springfield
Tim McGraw will perform on July 11 at 7 p.m. at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford. (ETHAN MILLER / GETTY IMAGES)
Springfield Symphony Orchestra: April 18, 7:30 p.m. – Symphony Hall, Springfield Adam Sandler: April 24, 8 p.m. – Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.
Voyage: April 24, 8 p.m. – Calvin Theatre, Northampton John Fogerty: April 25, 8 p.m. – Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. Niall Horan: May 1, 7 p.m. –
Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. Ann Wilson: May 1, tba – Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. Springfield Symphony Orchestra: May 2, 7:30 p.m. – Symphony Hall, Springfield for King & Country: May 3, 7 p.m. – MassMutual Center, Springfield Patti LaBelle: May 3, 7:30 p.m. – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. They Might Be Giants: May 3, 8 p.m. – Academy of Music, Northampton Five Finger Death Punch: May 5, 6 p.m. – DCU Center, Worcester Temptations, Four Tops: May 7, 7:30 p.m. – Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Conn. Wu-Tang: May 7, 8 p.m. – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.
Candlebox: May 7, 8 p.m. – Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. Springfield Symphony Orchestra: May 9, 7:30 p.m. – Symphony Hall, Springfield Dave Chappelle: May 9, 7 and 10 p.m. – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. AJR: May 15, tba – Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Conn. Frankie Valli: May 22, 8 p.m. – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. Dropkick Murphys, Rancid: May 23, tba – Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. Frankie Valli: May 23, 8 p.m. – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn. Zac Brown Band: May 30, 7 p.m – Xfinity Theatre, Hartford Ozuna: May 30, 8 p.m. – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.
Ticket information: Academy of Music, 413-584-9032; Calvin Theatre and Mountain Park, 413-586-8686; Foxwoods, 800-200-2882; MassMutual Center, 855-278-4667; Tanglewood, 888-2661200; Ticketmaster serves DCU Center, MGM Springfield Plaza, Mohegan Sun, Mullins Center, Oakdale, Symphony Hall, Xfinity Theater and XL Center, 800-745-3000
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WEEKEND
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CLUBBING | MUSIC
The Big E announces acts for Court of Honor stage
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Don McLean is scheduled to perform at the Big E’s Court of Honor stage on Oct. 1. (JASON KEMPIN / GETTY IMAGES)
Scout CONTINUED FROM PAGE E2
John Sanders, partner and talent buyer for DSP Shows
help,” he said. “So far we have postponed or canceled over 40 shows and I expect that number will continue to grow. We are in uncharted territory and will continue to follow the advice of our local governments and the CDC.” In Holyoke, Gateway City Arts was canceling many of its shows scheduled for April, offering refunds and telling fans it was working to reschedule some of the performances. Rachel Phillips, chairwoman
of the Easthampton Cultural Council, said a lot of arts and entertainment operations in her city put safety first. Laudable Productions has canceled shows, including Valley Music Showcase, through mid-April. The group hopes to present Big Lazy on April 24 at New City Brewery and will share updates as the situation evolves. Any tickets purchased in advance for canceled events will be refunded in full by Laudable. Meanwhile, the Northampton Center for the Arts has canceled all events through March 31. With the order imposed by Gov. Charlie Baker on Sunday, that action will likely extend into April. Amherst Cinema also has shut down business temporarily. Its posted this message on its Facebook page: “While there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Amherst Cinema or in our region, out of caution and with particular concern for at-risk groups, Amherst Cinema will be closing from Friday, March 13 through Thursday, April 16 with a reopening date of Friday, April 17. All sched-
performances are free with admission to the fair. The Big E has already announced Zach Williams as a headliner (Sept. 20) at the Big E Arena. The 2020 Big E takes place Sept. 18-Oct. 4.
known for ’70s hits “There Goes Another Love Song” and “Green Grass and High Tides.” Also on the itinerary for the Court of Honor Stage are Boston-based Ripe (Sept. 24, 8 p.m.), the Bar-Kays (Sept 25-27, 3 p.m.) and the hip hop duo, The Ying Yang Twins (Sept. 26, 8 p.m.) Court of Honor Stage
Liner notes • Jonatha Brooke has a 2020 tour that is coming to the Iron Horse Music Hall. The songwriter is set to play the Northampton venue on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show are on sale through the Northampton Box Office at 413-5868686 and online at iheg. com. Brooke and fellow Bostonian Jennifer Kimball met at Amherst College in the late ’80s and began performSEE LIVEWIRE, PAGE E4
uled programming during that time is canceled.” The Majestic Theater closed its doors Saturday in an effort to help curb the spread of coronavirus. “The civil authorities and our patrons have asked us to temporarily close the Majestic Theater,” said producing director Danny Eaton. “We agree that we need to help protect the health of our patrons, employees, cast and crew members, and the community at large.”
Eaton said he could not predict when the box office will reopen or performances resume. “When we do reopen the Majestic Theater, we will address concerns related to tickets that have been purchased,” Eaton said. He urged patrons to check the theater’s website, majestic theater.com, Facebook page or call the box office at 413-7477797 for future updates.
Donnie Moorhouse LiveWire
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office for assistance. If shows postpone, it will be the same as always; tickets honored for new date with refunds available if they can’t make the new date.” Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield initially took extra sanitary precautions but then decided it would be “temporarily pausing our operations.” Concert giants LiveNation and AEG have suspended some major tours until April because of the health risks and they are not alone. John Sanders, a partner and talent buyer for DSP Shows, said he has been working to postpone or cancel shows at over a dozen venues over the next few weeks. DSP Shows books concerts throughout the Northeast. “It’s now clear that it is critical to ‘flatten the curve’ and prevent a spike in cases of COVID-19 that could cripple our health care infrastructure, and that social distancing can
“It’s now clear that it is critical to ‘flatten the curve’ and prevent a spike in cases of COVID-19 that could cripple our health care infrastructure, and that social distancing can help.”
HE BIG E HAS REleased a preliminary list of acts for its 2020 Court of Honor stage for the upcoming fair. The schedule will include performances from Don McLean and legendary Southern rock band, The Outlaws. Don McLean is set to perform Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. The singer is a Grammy winner and member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His signature hit, “American Pie” resides in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named by the Recording Industry of America a top 5 song of the 20th century. The Outlaws will appear Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. The group is one of the most influential bands of the Southern rock genre and
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MUSIC
LiveWire
ALBUM REVIEW
Early James is rootsy throwback in uncertain present
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ing together as The Story. As a solo artist she recently won the Overall Grand Prize in the 15th annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards), as well as Best Female Artist with her song “Put the Gun Down.” Her latest release is called “Imposter.” • Asleep at the Wheel is coming to Connecticut. The Western swing band is set to perform at the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, on April 9 at 8 p.m. Wolf Den shows are free and seating is offered on a firstcome, first-served basis. Asleep at the Wheel formed in 1970 and has won 10 Grammy Awards. The country group’s highest charting single, “The Letter that Johnny Walker Read,” was released in 1975. Its latest release is 2018’s “New Routes.”
BY Jon Pareles
New York Times
The Killers will play the TD Garden in Boston on Oct. 5. (RICH FURY / GETTY IMAGES FOR EJAF)
nence after a 2004 live solo Originally slated to perform at the Calvin Theatre on performance of her song March 27, Bargatze will now “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” on the BBC show “Later arrive on June 20. All tickets will be honored ... with Jools Holland.” for the new date. Fans who can’t attend the rescheduled • The Killers are looking ahead to a summer tour that is show are asked to contact the Northampton Box Office for scheduled to stop in Boston. refunds at 413-586-8686. The band will play the TD Bargatze was part of Jimmy Garden on Oct. 5. The Killers are scheduled to Fallon’s “Clean Cut Comedy Tour” and last year released begin the U.K. portion of its his debut comedy special “The tour in May to coincide with Tennessee Kid” on Netflix. the release of its new recording “Imploding the Mirage.” Pending the lifting of travel • Foxwoods Resort Casino • As the Iron Horse Enbans and social distancing has locked down a new date tertainment Group continregulations, they are set to for Tony Bennett. ues to shuffle its calendar in land in the U.S. in August. The legendary crooner was response to coronavirus, the Tickets for the show are scheduled to perform on organization has announced available through all TicketMarch 13 at the Mashantucket, master outlets and locations a rescheduled date for KT Connecticut, casino, but the Tunstall. including ticketmaster.com show was moved to June 6. Originally scheduled for Tickets purchased for the and by phone at 800-745March 25, the concert has now 3000. March show are valid for the moved to Feb. 10, 2021. IHEG new date. The 93-year-old Bennett’s has canceled or postponed all • Comic Nate Bargatze has shows through March 27. rescheduled his Northampton latest album with Diana Krall Tickets for the original show performance. is called “Love Is Here To Stay.” are valid for the new date and other tickets are on sale through the Northampton Box Office at 413-586-8686 and online at iheg.com. 79 1/2 Main St., Westfield • 572-4914 (Across from Walgreens & Rocky’s Hardware) Tunstall came to promi-
Early James – the Alabama-born singer and songwriter Frederick James Mullis Jr. – just sidles his way into the first song on “Singing for My Supper,” his debut album. “Blue Pill Blues” has an instrumental intro that lasts more than a minute, with its riffs bubbling up out of what might be a late-1960s Jefferson Airplane jam, before James starts singing. His first lyrics are, “What’s roiling and churning in my poor mind.” He maintains that uneasy, oblique approach throughout the album, presenting himself as both a throwback and a character living in a fraught, uncertain present. Early James is 26, but his music has much older underpinnings, glancing back to the 1970s, the 1960s and before. (In the album’s last song, “Dishes in the Dark,” he does some ragtimey acoustic-guitar picking.) He’s
Early James’ debut album, “Singing for My Supper.”
decidedly self-conscious about looking back but also unapologetic; “Lord knows, I love to borrow/Never stolen, I’ll argue that,” he sings in “Way of the Dinosaur,” which has a chorus that concludes, “Originality up left, and went the way of the dinosaur.” Early James is on the roster of Easy Eye Sound, the studio and label of Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys, who produces albums for both SEE ALBUM, PAGE E6
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VIDEO GAME REVIEW
‘New Horizons’ provides endless joy Players bring life to deserted island in ‘Animal Crossing’s’ latest game By Elise Favis
The Washington Post
Your new home is overrun by weeds. Only a couple friendly faces and buzzing insects serve as company. It’s a near lifeless island, but you turn the place around. Now it’s bustling with villagers, infrastructure and varied flora. Bridges form over rivers, shops pop up, homes receive renovations and the town center is filled with fountains and stalls – some of which are handmade by you. Seeing these advancements throughout your island is rewarding: A bare plot of land is now humming with life. This transformation is the beauty of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” the new game from Nintendo’s life simulator series, in which you mold an entire island to your heart’s desire and befriend your anthropomorphic neighbors. With new tools like terraforming and crafting, “New Horizons” gives you more control than ever before. Water glimmers and trees sway in the wind, making for a gorgeous atmosphere, and
A scene from “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” (NINTENDO)
massive amounts of clothing and furniture bring customization galore. These additions make “New Horizons” not just a blast to play, but also the most enjoyable “Animal Crossing” game to date. You spend your time accumulating money by performing menial tasks like fishing, catching bugs, chopping wood and digging for fossils. Although the tasks themselves aren’t all that exciting, what you do with your hard-earned cash is, such as bringing much-needed improvements to your island and house or donating discoveries to a beautiful museum. Seeing the tangible results of your labor, and being able to fine-tune
the layout and aesthetics with more precision than ever, is what makes “New Horizons” so special. Completing small tasks may sound monotonous, but a new tool wheel helps streamline that process with easier swapping between tools like your watering can and net. “New Horizons” finds a happy balance of repetition and creativity, as you split your time between designing and foraging. Discovering a routine within this loop brings a sense of solace and comfort. It’s a rewarding process. Every time you gather enough funds to beautify or upgrade the island, your community bene-
fits from it. Sure, these virtual villagers aren’t real people, but the more you chat with them, the more they start to feel like little beings with different personalities. It’s fun to walk around the town as they go about their day, sometimes chewing on a sandwich by the river or sweeping in front of their homes. Their characterizations don’t go terribly in depth, but there’s enough there that I grew fond of new characters like Reneigh, a fashionable and deeply caring horse. “New Horizons” is Zen-like: your island has a soothing aura, with happy-go-lucky residents and low-risk gameplay.
With no overarching time constraints, you play your way without worry, differentiating the experience from other sims that put emphasis on micromanagement. For those who do want to micromanage, you absolutely can, but “New Horizons” is a game with immense flexibility and a slow pace that’s best played in short bursts. The game progresses in real-time, tied to your console’s clock and a geographical location (you choose a northern or southern hemisphere, which will change the appearance of seasons). “New Horizons” offers discoveries in abundance, as each season has rotating critters and your island resets daily with more secrets (fossils to dig, money to find inside rocks and by shaking trees), like past “Animal Crossing” games. Although you can track the months and hours that specific animal life spawn, an element of unpredictability remains as you cast your fishing rod or turn a corner to catch a bug. Even though I’ve caught an oarfish a number of SEE VIDEO GAME, PAGE E6
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Video game CONTINUED FROM PAGE E5
times in both “New Horizons” and “New Leaf,” my jaw still drops whenever this massively long and narrow fish jumps out of the water. Moments like this are incredibly entertaining, because you can never completely plan what comes next. Searching for DIY (crafting) recipes has some unpredictability too. Although some can be bought, you also find them via random scenarios, like in a bottle while walking down the beach or when visiting a villager’s house. DIY recipes are used to make tools, furniture and decorative items and it was one of my favorite things to do. Once built, they are added to your eclectic collection used to spice up your town and house. Crafting also plays an integral role. Your ax is no longer the only breakable gadget: Unlike “New Leaf,” other tools like your watering can and net fall apart too. Without a health gauge for them, though, it’s difficult to know when they’ll break which can be frustrating. Not all furniture can be customized, but much of it can, and various styles and colors bring a personal touch (slick combinations also get you a better ranking from Happy Home Academy, who award you with a gift after judging your home). Alongside furniture, many other things like clothing and pathways can be customized with beefed up design tools. You draw on a grid like past games to make a pattern. You can import designs you made in “Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer” too, which is great for those with a collec-
Many fan favorites return in “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” (NINTENDO)
tion of designs in the previous title. Customization doesn’t end there. “New Horizons” features character creation for the first time, letting you choose your avatar’s skin tone as well as hairstyles, facial details and clothing that aren’t restricted by gender. It’s not the most in-depth character creator, but your look can be changed any time and more options are added down the line, so it’s fun to work toward unlocking them.
‘ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS’ Developed by: Nintendo Published by: Nintendo Available on: Nintendo Switch
As you progress, you also unlock exterior items like lawn mowers, picnic baskets, telescopes and playground slides for decorative purposes. Placing these small additions around the island makes it feel more lived in. The most thrilling addition of all, though, is the Island Designer app on your NookPhone (your in-game smartphone with a slick new user interface), which you use to activate special tools. With them, you form rivers like magic and craft cliffs as if they were sculptures. Terraforming controls take
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some getting used to – I occasionally made cliffs in places I didn’t want to – but you can easily rectify errors. Path-making adds a nice aesthetic too, with textures like brick and sand. Only one block can be placed at a time, so it can be a chore to build long walkways. However, these kinks were never drastic enough to distract from my positive experience. Your island is entirely malleable. The most fun I had with “New Horizons” was when I handcrafted a tall cliff with a waterfall, and stuck my house atop it. This Minecraft-like layer of detail is impressive and gives a wide range of town layout possibilities. These design tools aren’t handed to you, and you work toward unlocking them by completing certain quests. But it’s worth the wait. Steady progression bolsters the gameplay, like a batch of scripted quests from character Tom Nook and a long list of objectives to earn Nook Miles, a new secondary, in-game currency. You’re rewarded just for playing the game, so a lot of goals are met naturally: Sending villagers letters, fishing and even buying items grants you Nook Miles. This currency can be traded for furniture, new DIY recipes, hairstyles and clothes. With so much to unlock, it will take a long time to earn everything. Sixty hours later, I still haven’t come close to seeing all of the game’s content. And that’s an exciting prospect. If you need Nook Miles in a pinch, Nook Miles Plus objectives (short-term tasks for lesser rewards) are quicker to complete, such as taking care of plants. However, I started ticking off these boxes just for the sake of the reward. Even if I didn’t need wood, I would chop trees anyway because I
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was disappointed to realize I had limited options. A lot on the island resets the following day, so this is a bigger problem if you’re binging, but Nook Miles Plus objectives remain low in variety. If you run out of things to do, you can always visit a friend’s island. Nintendo hasn’t patched in online multiplayer yet, so we didn’t get the chance to do this. But we did play local co-op. On a single Nintendo Switch you can register eight different accounts to live on one island. This is a wonderful addition: NPC villagers will inquire about the new player resident and it’s fun to see what kinds of changes friends or family members implement on the island in their own time. You can explore your island simultaneously with three others via online or local play, but it comes with restrictions. You designate a leader who can do almost anything they normally would, and other players follow. Followers don’t have nearly as much agency. They can’t pick things off the ground, the controls on singular joy-cons aren’t intuitive and if the leader opens up their inventory while another player is fishing, for example, it jarringly halts that activity by automatically reeling in their rod. Of all the features in “New Horizons,” this is an area that is lacking. To curb griefing, Nintendo implemented a smart mechanic where any old visitor can’t terraform on your island without permission. Only those tagged as “best friends” can make sweeping changes to your island layout. Considering visiting other players’s villagers is a big part of “Animal Crossing,” this may be a relief to those who put numerous hours into building their towns. I’m hooked on “New Horizons,” and I expect to be for a long time. It has a treasure trove of content that unfolds from day to day, month to month, and likely even year to year, since Nintendo announced seasonal events and post-launch content will come. I’m excited to see what else the game offers as I keep growing my town, one day at a time.
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grizzled blues and country survivors and younger musicians, like Yola, who savor retro ways of recording: hand-played and live-sounding, with a professional polish that relies far more on virtuosity than on studio tweaking. The songs on “Singing for My Supper” have a foundation of vintage instruments – guitars swaying in reverb and tremolo, the steamy tones of a Hammond B3 organ, the self-contained cool of a Wurlitzer electric piano – and arrangements that hark back to the Nashville, Tennessee, and California of yesteryear. The drums are steady and understated; steel guitar hovers in the background; mandolin or dobro arrive for rural touches, string sections for reassurance. But Early James chafes against any comforts the music might provide. His voice sounds tattered and nervous, with a grainy quaver, as if he’s looking over his shoulder half the time. His melodies hesitate and evade the beat; his lyrics move via moody free association, not the direct narratives of most Americana. He often sings about how things go wrong: relationships (“Stockholm Syndrome”), youthful hopes (“High Horse”), a family’s luck (“Easter Egg”). In “Gone as a Ghost,” a fatalistic country cha-cha, he sings, “It’s time that you get gone/ Wasting your youth, till your name’s on a gravestone.” The album’s most openly dramatic song is “It Doesn’t Matter Now,” a film-noir crescendo with more than a hint of Tom Waits; the singer wakes up after a tryst realizing, “You need me like you need another blackout/And I need you like I need another thing to lie about/It’s all my fault somehow.” Disillusion fills the songs, without the luxury of nostalgia. In “Clockwork Town,” the singer revisits a place he used to live, only to reflect, “It sure don’t feel like home/Then again, what really does?” Early James can look back on a cozy musical past, but it doesn’t promise them any clear way forward.
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WEEKEND
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020 | E7
DVD RELEASES
Body swapping is ‘next level’ in ‘Jumanji’ sequel By Katie Foran-McHale
Tribune News Service
Awkwafina, Dwayne Johnson, and Karen Gillan appear in a scene from “Jumanji: The Next Level” (FRANK MASI / SONY PICTURES / TNS)
cially with such charming stars borders from an epidemic, a and some light innovation.” girl (Tinatin Dalakishvili) discovers she has special powers Also new on DVD while looking for her father. “Richard Jewell”: A securi- In Russian and English. ty guard (Paul Walter Hauser) “Crashing: S3”: Comic is accused of being the prime Pete Holmes continues navigating the New York stand-up suspect in the Centennial scene while staying on friends’ Olympic Park bombing at couches in the final season of the 1996 Atlanta Summer the HBO sitcom. Olympics. “Superman: Red Son”: “Black Christmas”: A college student (Imogen Poots) This animated take on the DC and her sorority sisters seek Comics character follows him revenge against a campus as a Soviet hero. killer. “The Dustwalker”: Residents of a desert town begin “A Hidden Life”: After refusing to fight for the Nazis transforming into murderous beings. in World War II, an Austrian farmer (August Diehl) faces Out on Digital HD extreme consequences. “Cats”: A clowder of Jellicle “Abigail”: Amid closed
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stallment of the nine-part epic space opera, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the Resistance against Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order after Palpataine (Ian McDiarmid) has returned. Also starring Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Out on DVD and Blu-ray March 31. Out on Digital HD March 20 “International Falls”: An aspiring comic (Rachael Harris) meets a jaded comedian (Rob Huebel) in a snowy town.
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It’s game on in the top DVD releases for this week. “Jumanji: The Next Level”: The “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” gang has split up after high school, as have couple Spencer (Alex Wolff) and Martha (Morgan Turner). Home for the holidays and panicking about a holiday reunion with the group, not to mention longing for the confidence and romantic connection he had with Martha as the heroic Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), Spencer re-enters Jumanji. When he’s a no-show at brunch, the group decides to rescue Spencer from the game and heads back in themselves, with Spencer’s grandfather (Danny DeVito) and his grandfather’s ex-business partner (Danny Glover) inadvertently getting sucked in too. The team must find Spencer, but they also face a new game objective: to save Jumanji from drought by rescuing a special jewel. This time around, the body swapping of the main characters into their game character counterparts is next level (sorry). Karen Gillan as human machine Ruby reprises Martha’s character, while Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) ends up as the much-less athletically inclined cartographer Oberon (Jack Black). But it’s The Rock doing his best crotchety New York accent as DeVito and Kevin Hart as zoologist Mouse embodying the slow-talking Glover who completely steal the show. “Hart’s nuanced mimicry of Glover is downright inspired, and the story offers up a few chances for the characters to avatar swap, showing off the actors’ abilities to embody the different jock/nerd/cheerleader/cantankerous grandpa personas,” wrote Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. “Once again, this is a one-joke movie, but for the time being, that joke still has some tread on the tires, espe-
cats decide which one will venture to the Heaviside Layer and return to start a new life in this CGI musical directed by Tom Hooper and based on the stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray April 7. “Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss”: A Los Angeles couple discovers that a cult is using their home for a suicide ritual. Kate Micucci, Sam Huntington and Taika Waititi star. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”: In the final in-
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From left, Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars in “Fleabag”; Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in a scene from “Outlander”; Diamond Jack and Carlton Morton on “Love is Blind.” (AMAZON PRIME; STARZ; NETFLIX )
ON THE COVER
Coronavirus keeping you indoors?
Top 10 shows to binge-watch
E
By Elizabeth Román
eroman@repub.com
“The Child” appears in a scene from “The Mandalorian.” ( DISNEY+)
ven if the U.S. has not imposed a quarantine on its residents, many people are opting to cozy up at home with their loved ones and fur babies. Here are some shows to binge-watch while staying indoors.
Gaten Matarazzo, Noah Schnapp, Winona Ryder and Sadie Sink in a scene from the series “Stranger Things.” (NETFLIX)
Netflix Arguably the most popular streaming service, Netflix offers up everything from dramas to teen comedies, documentaries and reality TV shows. Here are just a few to choose from: • “Love is Blind”(1 season, 11 episodes, about an hour each): Can two people speak to each other through a wall for three days, fall in love, get engaged without ever seeing each other and then get married several weeks later? This Netflix original reality TV show puts a dozen singles to the test with hilarious, disastrous and sometimes heartwarming results. • “You” (2 seasons, 10 episodes each, about 45 minutes each): If you’re looking for a bit of mystery and murder, then Penn Badgley’s portrayal of hot, creepy stalker Joe Goldberg will keep you watching episodes well past midnight. The series follows Joe as he obsesses about a woman and worms his way into every aspect of her life – with unfortunate consequences for everyone involved. • “Stranger Things” (3
seasons, 8 or 9 episodes each, about an hour each): This old-school sci-fi series pays homage to the movies that came before it, including “E.T.,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “The Goonies,” and so many others. There is a great cast of child actors who have all become full blown stars from the success of the show, plus we have ’80s rebellious teen movie queen Winona Ryder playing a mom. It’s awesome, nostalgic and well-worth a binge. • “Outlander” (3 seasons, 13 to 16 episodes each, about an hour each): If your basic cable subscription does not include Starz, now is your chance to catch up on this time travel historical drama that brought us one of the most beloved couples on television – Claire, a 20th century nurse, and Jamie, an 18th century Highland warrior. Amazon Prime With free-shipping comes the ability to watch thousands of movies, television shows and Amazon Originals on this platform. SEE BINGE, PAGE E9
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Binge
as “The Child” in the series, but named “Baby Yoda” by viewers. CONTINUED FROM PAGE E8 • “Diary of a Future Pres• “Fleabag” (2 seasons, 6 ident” (1 season, 9 episodes, episodes each, about 30 minutes about 30 minutes each): This each): Written by and starteen comedy follows the life ring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, of a young girl who eventually becomes president of the the show follows the sexual United States. Featuring wonexploits and family drama derful performances by the of a young woman living in young cast and Selenis Levya, London. The dark comedy who played Gloria Mendoza is well-written, well-acted, in “Orange is the New Black” hilarious and heartbreaking all at once. The show and the (also a great binge-worthy show on Netflix). Levya has actress won Golden Globes excellent comedic timing and in 2020 for best actress in a tons of charm. There are also comedy and best television some cameo appearances by comedy, both well deserved. • “The Boys” (1 season, 8 Gina Rodriguez, of “Jane the episodes, about an hour each): Virgin” fame (that show is the monthly $5.99 or $9.99 Love watching superheroes also available on Netflix). This (commercial-free) fee is worth like The Avengers, Superman is a light, fun family-friendly it for one show alone. and the X-Men saving lives binge watch. • “Star Trek: Picard” (1 and kicking butt? Well, this season, 6 episodes, 45-60 show is not that. The Amazon CBS All Access: minutes each) – Patrick Stewart Although CBS All Access Original series follows heroes returns to his role as Jean-Luc is by far the least popular who lie, cheat and kill and Picard for this new, bolder, the motley crew that tries to streaming service on the list, beautifully written and acted stop them. It’s a funny, dark, refreshing take on the superhero trope. Hulu • “Queen Sugar” (4 seasons, 13 episodes each, about 40 minutes each): Originally airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network, this family drama set in New Orleans follows the lives of three siblings after their father dies and leaves them a sugar cane farm. The series addresses topics like police brutality, social injustice and race relations in America while still managing to bring on the drama. Disney+: The newest streaming service on the scene, Disney+ offers up the best of the franchise, including cartoon classics previously in the vault. However, its real popularity has come from the introduction of a cute, fuzzy headed creature dubbed by fans as “Baby Yoda.” • “The Mandalorian” (1 season, 8 episodes, between 30-45 minutes each): Created and directed by Jon Favreau, the show is set in the Star Wars universe and features great actors, but the star of the show is the adorable pintsized version of Yoda, known
Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard in a scene from the CBS All Access series “Star Trek: Picard.” (MATT KENNEDY / CBS)
show. This is an older, more contemplative version of the man Star Trek fans came to love as the captain of the Enterprise. The Romulan species, known for being secretive antagonists to the Federation of Planets, are featured heavily in this series and there is
even a Romulan clan of female warrior nuns who should get their own show. If you’re a Trekkie you’re probably already watching this, but if you’re a fan of Stewart , sci-fi or just a great action-packed drama then this is worth a watch.
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DINE & WINE
Delivery, take-out options change restaurant world
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HILE NO ONE knows exactly how the history of the COVID-19 coronoavirus will ultimately be written, the restaurant industry is already bracing itself for the virus to be a game changer.
As the situation develops here, it’s likely that more than a few eating establishments (and even a financially stressed chain or two) may find it economically impossible to survive a COVID-19 pandemic. The other impact about which some in the industry are speculating is how this event will further energize the growth of delivery in the restaurant industry. If consumers choose to shelter in place, it’s logical to assume that many will turn to restaurant delivery as a way of getting food. With the possibility of such a spike in demand for delivery services, restaurant Hugh Robert operators will have to nimbly Off The Menu reorganize and retool in order to capitalize on the opportunity. An obvious concern is the Moreover, this line of specshort-term economic impact ulation assumes that after the of the disease. With self-quar- crisis is over the dining out antines, stay-at-home advisoindustry may very well face ries and even “lockdowns” a a whole new landscape of possibility, the level of business consumer expectations and restaurants will be able to do behaviors with respect to food under such circumstances will delivery and eating away from be drastically reduced. home. Already a rapidly growOne indication of the poing part of the dining out world, tential scale of business loss food delivery may end up being was reflected in the recent fully enshrined in the postannouncement by Starbucks 2020 American lifestyle. that their store sales in China Side dishes dropped by more than 75% Dunkin’ locations across during the first part of the western New England have COVID-19 outbreak there.
Dunkin’ launched Matcha lattes at restaurants nationwide beginning Feb. 26. (DUNKIN’ PHOTO)
added “healthy” to their menus in the form of two new offerings. The first is a Matcha latte made with Matcha green tea powder from the Nishio region of Japan. The latte can be ordered with a choice of milk and can be had hot, iced, or frozen. Dunkin’ shops now also stock a protein muffin. Studded with blueberries, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds, the muffins deliver 16 grams of protein each. Both items are being promoted as long-term menu offerings. Hugh Robert has nearly 45 years of restaurant and educational experience. Please send items of interest to Off the Menu at the Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01101; Robert can also be reached at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
Laying beers down: Some brews get better with age
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ELL, THERE IS certainly a lot of so-called “social distancing” going on these days (which is the smart move considering the COVID-19 coronavirus threat), and it got me thinking about a longtime, tried-and-true beer tradition that may come in handy if you are staying at home more than usual for health and safety reasons: cellaring beers. For those who may not know, “laying beers down,” as some call it, is the practice of putting a beer away to let it age. Some have big collections of these brews, breaking them out for gatherings to share with others or simply waiting to enjoy themselves when the mood strikes. Not all brews are great for this custom, of course, but I have done it with all sorts of beers just to see how various ones age. Stouts and porters are at the top of the list in my opinion, as maltier beers tend to age better. Hops degrade rather quickly, so brews such as India Pale Ales aren’t always great
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For those who may not know, “laying beers down,” as some call it, is the practice of putting a beer away to let it age. candidates. However, it all depends on expectations. You won’t get the hop bomb the beer was intended to be if you put it away for six to 12 months, but you still might get an interesting flavor profile. For example, I cellared (although not in my cellar, as I was living in an apartment) Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, a hoppy wheat beer, a number of years ago. The beer’s usual citrus notes had disappeared, but the grainy malt backbone came forward and seemed to have developed a honey-like sweetness. While I’m not usually a huge wheat beer fan, this is one I always liked, and I even liked it after the hops dissipated a few months later. Another hoppy beer I once put away for six months or so was Dogfish Head Burton Baton. This is an imperial IPA, but its complex malt profile made it a good candidate for cellaring. Once again, the hops that SEE BEER, PAGE E12
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6 Oregon pinot noir wines under $20
INOT NOIR HAS A problem. The problem is far too many wine lovers think you have to spend a fortune to find a great pinot noir. Part of this public relations nightmare has to do with the world-class pinot noirs produced by winemakers in France’s Burgundy region. There, some of the best pinot noirs sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars a bottle. Don’t get me wrong. These red wines are out of this world. They’re earthy, complex and vividly express the soul of the soil. They’re also the reason why I have made several pilgrimages to taste wine with winemakers in Burgundy the past few years. (That and the winemakers and other people there are some of the nicest people in the world.) But even some Burgundians have
other parts of the world. And one of the regions many Burgundy winemakers have gravitated toward is Oregon, specifically the Willamette Valley. Several winemakers have told me they believe this part of central Oregon, south of Portland, has a similar climate (cool, damp) and similar Ken Ross growing conditions compared Wine Press to Burgundy. “Thirty years ago, we startprivately said to me they can’t ed our venture in Oregon,” believe how expensive wines Frederic Drouhin, president from Burgundy have become in of Maison Joseph Drouhin, recent years. said in November 2017 when I Fortunately, there are interviewed him in the winery’s still bargains to be found in cellars in Beaune, France. “The Burgundy. (That’s a topic for question we are often asked, another, future wine column.) ‘Why did you go to Oregon?’ And several winemakers there Well, it’s a combination of several factors. A vision, clearly my have also started growing and cultivating the grapes that grow father had. He had traveled and visited Oregon in the past. best in Burgundy (red pinot “The wine world is a small noir and white Chardonnay) in
Oregon pinot noir wines under $20 reviewed this week. (KEN ROSS PHOTO)
village, so we met with some people in 1987,” Frederic Drouhin continued. “A hill was put for sale. My father said, let’s go on holiday there, visit and we had to stop the car at the bottom of the hill because there was no road, no nothing. So he climbed with a wine maker through a wheat field and when they reached the top of the hill, they saw the scenery. They felt it. Clearly, it’s as simple as that.” I know exactly what Frederic
Drouhin means. Oregon’s a special, magical place. Soaring white-capped peaks. Vast prairie-like fields in the east. Rugged ocean coastline in the west. And in between, vineyards producing those earthy, mouthwatering pinot noirs. Like Burgundy, the prices have started to creep up for Oregon pinot noirs. It’s not unusual now to spend close to $100 or more for a great pinot noir from Oregon, which is still
SEE WINE, PAGE E12
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Beer
Wine
CONTINUED FROM PAGE E10
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are usually evident when you drink it fresh were virtually nonexistent, but definite citrus and pine notes linger. But the oak, vanilla and caramel flavors all melded nicely into a twine of sweetness that could only come with age. The beer is around 10% alcohol by volume, and the boozy aspect is not evident after a few months (although if memory serves, it really isn’t a big factor when fresh, either). And, while I certainly admit I liked the fresh version better, the aged one was also quite tasty for an IPA. What beers, especially ones that aren’t the usual candidates for cellaring, have you laid down for aging? Let me know, along with how long you aged them by writing to me at geolenker@yahoo.com.
a relative bargain. But this week, I decided to focus on much more affordable Oregon pinot noirs – because who wouldn’t like a save a few bucks nowadays? So here are my tasting notes for six, delicious, affordable Oregon pinot noirs for under $20 a bottle. Let me add I found all these wines at Table & Vine in West Springfield, but I’m sure you can locate many of them in a wine store near you. Also, let me add that all these wines tasted great the next day and, surprisingly, still tasted delightful nearly a week after I first opened the bottles. Hope you enjoy.
Noir ($18 SRP) • 2018 Cloudline Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir ($20 SRP) • 2017 Primarius Oregon Pinot Noir ($14 SRP) • 2017 Averaen Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir ($20 SRP) Tasting notes 2016 High Hook Oregon Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Tasting notes: Be patient with this understated pinot noir. When I first opened this wine with a group of friends, its flavors were a bit too soft. But after a while – and especially the second day – the High Hook Pinot Noir really hit its stride. Soft, subtle, raspberry flavors.
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2017 Montinore Estate Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting notes: Pinot noir wines are often known for being hearty, earthy wines. This magnificent, meaty pinot noir fits this description to a tee. You can practically taste the soil in this wonderful pinot from Oregon’s legendary Willamette Valley. Big, pronounced, ripe berry flavors (especially roasted blackberries) mixed with coffee and dark chocolate. 2018 Cloudline Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting notes: If you prefer wines on the softer, more refined side, you’ll likely love this silky smooth pinot noir. Straight out of the bottle, this wine has a wonderful floral bouquet and soft, subtle fruit flavors. My only minor complaint about this wine is that it didn’t seem to evolve over time. It simply had a similar, smooth finish for several days.
2016 A to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir Oregon pinot noir wines Tasting notes: If you like under $20 a bottle your wines on the bigger • 2016 High Hook Oregon side, I think you’ll enjoy this Pinot Noir Willamette Valley complex Oregon pinot noir. ($20 Suggested Retail Price) Wonderful, full-bodied, big red • 2016 A to Z Wineworks wine straight out of the bottle. Oregon Pinot Noir ($18 SRP) 2017 Primarius Oregon Robust, ripe berry flavors, especially fresh-picked blackberries Pinot Noir • 2017 Montinore Estate Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot with a hint of dark chocolate. Tasting notes: This won-
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derful Oregon pinot noir is my current favorite wine for under $15 a bottle. I was absolutely astounded by how robust and complex this wine tasted from one moment to the next. Slightly reserved at first, this austere red wine blossomed into a big, robust, earthy wine about 30 minutes after opening the bottle. Jamy flavors, along with roasted blackberries, pitch black dark chocolate and espresso. Sublime. 2017 Averaen Willamette Valley Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting notes: If I had to pick one wine that was my favorite wine of the tasting, this dark, inky, complex pinot noir would win by a hair. Intense and earthy at first, this fascinating pinot noir smoothes out quite nicely about 30 minutes after opening the bottle. Cherry, raspberry and blackberry flavors abound. A great finish to a great tasting with six, outstanding wines. Cheers! Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s weekend section every Thursday.
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