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::NEWS&VIEWS
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FEATURES | POLLS | TAKING LIBERTIES | ISSUE OF THE WEEK
An Open Letter to the Young Leaders of the Anti-Gun Violence Revolution FROM JERI BONAVIA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WAVE EDUCATIONAL FUND. SHE HAS BEEN A LEADER ON THE FRONTLINES OF EVERY ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE EFFORT IN WISCONSIN FOR THE PAST COUPLE DECADES. PHOTOS BY BREMA BREMA Students March at Rufus King High School
The Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund is our state’s largest grassroots advocacy organization focused on saving lives by strengthening our gun laws. The leading expert on state gun policy, WAVE informs and empowers, ensuring our voices are heard. This activism results in tens of thousands of email and phone contacts at the Capitol each legislative session, and hundreds of concerned citizens at public hearings and advocacy days. You can be sure there is not an elected official in the building who doesn’t hear from WAVE members regularly. Become one of those activists and stay informed on all gun legislation by signing up for emails from WAVE at their website: waveedfund.org. You’ll receive frequent legislative updates, calls to action, and invitations to engaging events. The youth need us to amplify their demands. WAVE will help you to do so.
DEAR YOUNG LEADERS OF THE GUN CONTROL REVOLUTION,
I
have worked on gun violence prevention for more than two decades. I’ve organized and mobilized and marched. I’ve phone-banked and fasted, and I’ve led sit-ins, lie-ins and dieins. I’ve stood up to the NRA, and I’ve spoken truth to power to the politicians, who follow the gun lobby’s every command. In return, I’ve been heckled and trolled and threatened, more times than I can count. All this experience means I—along with all of my peace-loving, bra-burning (Don’t ask; it’s a long story.), Bob-Dylanhumming, “good-trouble”-making peers—have a lot of advice to give to you, and, if only out of respect for your elders, you should listen. Most importantly, don’t take our advice—at least not all of it. Sure, some of what we want to tell you will be important, but, with or without our guidance, you will find your own way. And you should. The truth is, if we are to stop the gun violence that has devastated families and decimated communities, we need you—you with urgency so fiery it can burn through tolerance and indifference. Don’t get me wrong. There was a time when, guided by uncompromising, principled visions and adorned with flower crowns and fringed leather vests, we blazed our own trails through societal wrongs. We were nonconformists, breaking traditions and conventions and sometimes laws; we were rebels with a bullhorn and a cause. We demanded equal rights and civil rights and an end to a war. Letter continued on page 6 >
4 | MARCH 22, 2018
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NEWS&VIEWS::FEATURE > Letter continued from page 4
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Nothing, no one could stop us—until we stopped ourselves. Because, eventually, even rebels have bills that need paying, careers that need building, children, and then grandchildren, who need nurturing. And, eventually, even rebels grow hoarse from shouting down injustices, amidst the always-present cacophony of power and greed. Even rebels forget how to rebel. Wrapped in our hand-crocheted shawls of pragmatism, we became the polite ones, the mild-mannered voices of reason, the consensus-builders. We finally earned a “seat at the table,” where we learned that, if we managed our expectations well enough and lowered the bar far enough, losses became wins. Voila! No matter that our visions and dreams were malnourished because we could savor the smallest of scraps and call it success; we could relish a parboiled morsel and call it a victory. But, even as we feasted on our wins—oh, so much winning—shame flushed our cheeks. Shots kept ringing out, and the death toll kept climbing. One; two; three; seventeen; twentysix; thirty-two; forty-nine; fifty-eight; thirtyeight thousand, six hundred. Repeat. Panic and screams. Repeat. Blood and tears. Repeat. Politicians and thoughts and prayers. Repeat. And, then you, my young friends, grabbed a microphone and said, enough. You called B.S. To the alarm in your voices, we woke. You stirred our passions and roused memories of the times when we, too, had purity of purpose. We recognized and welcomed back these feelings, knowing with revived clarity that they are harbingers of a transformative movement, a revolution. As you begin this long march, we offer you these words of advice, given with rejuvenated confidence in our wisdom and with humility for our failures. TRUST YOUR VOICE. Yes, you are young and inexperienced in many ways, but your generation knows this topic all too intimately. You have seen your peers, your parents, your siblings, friends and neighbors slaughtered in schools, homes, churches, concerts, movie theaters, city streets and country lanes. You know what you’re talking about. You have already proven yourselves capable. With your words, spoken so clearly and passionately, you brought an already-weeping country to its knees. Then, like true leaders, you extended your hands and lifted us up, offering the most cherished of all gifts, hope. Keep speaking out; we will listen. BE ANGRY. Our society has twisted its priorities, betraying the fundamental promise to protect its young. You are painfully aware that too many in our country have placed a higher value on protecting the Second Amendment than on protecting you. You were born after
Columbine, and you have never known a time without active-shooter drills. You learned to throw pencils and crayons at the man with the gun and to use books like shields. There, huddled underneath your desks, you must have known this was a folly. You must have known, you wouldn’t stand a chance against bullets traveling toward you at 3,000 feet per second. How disgusted you must be, knowing that it is harder for many of our politicians to stand up to the NRA, than it is for them to watch you participate in these drills, to watch you prepare for your own death. Enough! Name these scoundrels, the ones who campaigned with a gun in their hand and promises of NRA loyalty curdling in their mouths. Name these culprits, the ones who stuffed NRA blood money in their pockets and promised to protect gun rights, no matter the cost. Name every last one of them. Make them wear their fealty to the NRA like a badge of shame. And, every minute of every day, make sure they hear your chant: Our blood, Your hands. You keep calling them out; we’ll keep voting them out. BE FIERCE. Roar! The time for niggling and nudging is gone. Demand every lifesaving reform this country is dying for, and settle for nothing less. You know we need background checks on all gun sales, as well as laws that keep guns away from those who are most likely to hurt themselves or others. You know that weapons of war don’t belong in our communities, and armed teachers don’t belong in our schools. Most importantly, you know that policy reforms aren’t enough. The only way to right this grave wrong is with a seismic cultural shift. So, build the pressure. And ask every corporate leader and NRA member, every celebrity and doctor, every philanthropist, farmer, athlete, student and teacher to join you. Call every American citizen to action; we will answer your call. PERSEVERE. You are demanding change, and that scares some people, especially the beneficiaries of the status quo. You are exposing their greed and threatening their power. You will be maligned, vilified and belittled. Stay strong, but don’t worry if you can’t be. You have already inspired millions of people. Every one of them has your back. On the days you feel inadequate, or you feel your courage falter (and those days will come), find the people who can inspire you: Read a speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.; binge-listen to #MeToo stories; watch clips of the Black Lives Matter activists; ask Congressman John Lewis to tell you a story; and, if you haven’t already, learn about Malala Yousafzai, Claudette Colvin, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White. Like you, they didn’t know they would be needed to change the world, but they were. So, dearest Emma, David, Cameron, Vashon, Trinity, Jordan, Sophia, Marvell, Isabella, and so many others, there is a revolution that needs you. Lead on. March on; we will march with you. Yours in solidarity, Jeri—and a whole lot of American citizens SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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NEWS&VIEWS::FEATURE
Another Power Grab by the Republicans: REPUBLICANS WANT TO ELIMINATE THE STATE TREASURER’S OFFICE ::BY LOUIS G. FORTIS
W
isconsin voters will be asked an unprecedented question on Tuesday, April 3, which could lead to the elimination of the state treasurer—our state’s fiscal watchdog. Our founding fathers understood that checks and balances are critical to a functioning democracy and absolutely necessary to prevent corruption. Yet a littleknown ballot initiative is asking Wisconsinites to eliminate an independent constitutional office and give more power to the executive branch. Voters should be skeptical of efforts to consolidate power in the executive branch—no matter which party is in control. It simply invites corruption and misuse of our tax dollars. Currently, Gov. Scott Walker and the Republicans control both chambers of the legislature, are in power and have certainly had their share of questionable and often corrupt practices. Someday, the Democrats will be back in power, and Wisconsin voters should want that same watchdog looking over their shoulders as well. During the past several years, Walker and the Republicans in the state legislature have continued to move many of the important functions of the state treasurer’s office to the executive branch. Their plan was to gut the office and then argue that it should be eliminated, and with that elimination goes the independently elected fiscal watchdog who watches how our tax dollars are being spent. Currently, one of the few functions left is that the state treasurer sits on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) and oversees critical state trust funds that support school libraries and invest in schools, local governments, infrastructure and public safety projects. The BCPL has invested more than $1 billion in communities throughout the state in the past 10 years alone and is responsible for the Common School
Fund—the only dedicated source of K-12 school library funding in Wisconsin. The state treasurer, like all current BCPL commissioners, is independently elected by Wisconsin voters. If the state treasurer position is eliminated, the lieutenant governor would become a BCPL Commissioner. In this case, Wisconsin would lose our fiscal watchdog, create an undue concentration of power within the executive branch and violate the financial integrity of our trust funds. The authors of our constitution understood these risks and built the essential checks and balances into the framework for a reason. Former BCPL commissioners—both Republicans and Democrats such as former Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, former State Treasurer Kurt Schuller and current Secretary of State Doug La Follette—rejected the idea of changing the makeup of the board in a 2013 op-ed, saying: “The structure of the board has served the trust funds well over the past 165 years. We maintain a long-term view focused on the prudent management of the trust assets without the consideration or influence of partisan politics.” Proponents of eliminating the state treasurer’s office argue that getting rid of the constitutional office would have no real consequences for Wisconsinites because it retains so few of its original responsibilities. Both political parties have transferred financial duties from the treasurer to executive branch agencies over the years as a way to consolidate power. This includes cash management functions, the local government investment pool and the unclaimed property and college savings programs. Opponents of eliminating the office, including former Republican State Treasurer Jack Voight, are concerned by the concerted effort to transfer power away from the independently elected treasurer. There is bi-partisan opposition to eliminating the state treasurer’s office in the Wisconsin
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State Legislature. Republicans and Democrats— including area lawmaker Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield)—voted against the resolution to eliminate the office during the 2017-’18 legislative session. “I have concerns with eliminating a constitutional office that has the potential to be an effective, impartial watchdog on budgetary matters,” said Kapenga in an interview with Now Media Group after the vote. According to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, “Wisconsin is one of only two states where the state treasurer is not responsible for banking services and the only state in which the treasurer is not responsible for cash management.” Financial oversight is critical to protecting the integrity of public funds. There is some evidence that transferring key financial oversight duties away from the treasurer and to the executive branch has already put public funds at risk. To wit: In 2016, the Legislative Audit Bureau reported that there were inadequate cash records for the Employee Trust Fund. The 2016 Annual Financial Report contained inaccurate numbers.
The Unclaimed Property Program is less effective. After taking the program over from the treasurer, the Department of Revenue is conducting fewer audits to find unclaimed property, resulting in lost state revenue. If the referendum to eliminate the office on Tuesday, April 3, is successful, all of the state treasurer’s current duties, including oversight of the state trust funds, will be transferred to the executive branch. “The value of the office is priceless,” Republican Voight said in a recent interview with Madison’s Isthmus. “It’s so very important to have checks and balances.” Rep. Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh), a co-author of the constitutional amendment, says that if voters decide to keep the office, he will draft a bill to restore the state treasurer’s duties. When Wisconsin voters head to the polls, they will have the final say in this debate. Should we amend our state constitution to eliminate a statewide constitutional officer for the first time in Wisconsin history, or does the state need a fiscal watchdog? Comment at shepherdexpress.com.
“I HAVE CONCERNS WITH ELIMINATING A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN EFFECTIVE, IMPARTIAL WATCHDOG ON BUDGETARY MATTERS,” SAID REPUBLICAN SEN. KAPENGA IN AN INTERVIEW WITH NOW MEDIA GROUP AFTER THE VOTE THE STATE TREASURER OVERSEES CRITICAL FUNDS
The Common School Fund generates more than $30 million, on average, in yearly school library funding. Milwaukee Public Schools received $4.7 million in library aid for the 2017-’18 school year. Also, the State Trust Fund Loan Program invests in schools, local governments, infrastructure and public safety. It has provided more than $1 billion in funding to Wisconsin communities over the past 10 years. This includes Milwaukeearea loans to: Improve school buildings in Greendale, South Milwaukee and Oak Creek Purchase a new school bus for the Brown Deer School District Fix streets, sidewalks and sewers in Bayside Purchase a new fire truck for Hales Corners Finance the Greenfield City Library Purchase capital equipment and vehicles in River Hills Construct a public works building in Whitefish Bay
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MARCH 2 2 , 2 0 18 | 9
NEWS&VIEWS::SAVINGOURDEMOCRACY ( MARCH 22 - MARCH 28, 2018 )
T
he Shepherd Express serves as a clearinghouse for all activities in the greater Milwaukee area that peacefully push back against discriminatory, reactionary or authoritarian actions and policies of the Donald Trump administration, as well as other activities by all those who seek to thwart social justice. We will publicize and promote actions, demonstrations, planning meetings, teach-ins, party-building meetings, drinking-discussion get-togethers and any other actions that are directed toward fighting back to preserve our liberal democratic system.
Thursday, March 22
A View from the Top: Five Decades of Common Council Leadership @ Tripoli Shrine Center (3000 W. Wisconsin Ave.), 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Avenues West Association, in collaboration with Near West Side Partners, will present a conversation with the past and present African American Milwaukee Common Council presidents Ashanti Hamilton, Willie Hines, Marvin Pratt and Ben Johnson.
Friday, March 23
Grow the Vote Town Hall @ Riverwest Public House Cooperative (815 E. Locust St.), 7-9 p.m. Southeastern Wisconsin’s chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws is hosting an outreach event for people interested in cannabis activism. They will go over their 2018 campaign to elect pro-cannabis politicians in Wisconsin and go over the differences between THC and CBD.
Saturday, March 24
Voter and Civic Engagement Campaign @ Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin (221 S. Second St.), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin, Latino Voting Bloc of Wisconsin and Citizen Action of Wisconsin have organized a weekly Saturday campaign of knocking on doors and phone
banking to get people thinking about the 2018 elections. Volunteers can go out and talk to voters about the issues that they care about and get them involved in different events happening in the community.
March for Our Lives @ Milwaukee County Courthouse (901 N. Ninth St.), 10 a.m.-3 p.m. After the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. that left 17 people dead, students around the country are organizing marches for gun reform. Milwaukee’s march will begin at the County Courthouse, where there will be a number of speakers, and go to City Hall, where there will be voter registration.
Fighting 4 Justice: The Next Generation @ Haggerty Museum of Art (1234 W. Tory Hill St.), noon-4 p.m. This free public event showcases how young people are creating change on the local level. There will be live performances, talks with youth activists and the opportunity to connect with organizations that are making a difference in the city.
Sunday, March 25
Allied in the Fight Closing Concert @ Jewish Museum Milwaukee (1360 N. Prospect Ave.), 2-3 p.m. Jewish Museum Milwaukee will close out their month-long Allied in the Fight exhibit with a performance from local musician, educator and storyteller of American roots music and culture, Lil’ Rev. He will be performing a one-hour set of original and cover songs featuring social justice themes. To submit to this column, please send a brief description of your action, including date and time, to savingourdemocracy@shepex.com. Together, we can fight to minimize the damage that the administration of Donald Trump and others of his kind have planned for our great country. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
NEWS&VIEWS::POLL
You Believe Christopher Steele is Credible Last week we asked if you believe that Christopher Steele, the British former spy behind the Trump dossier, is credible. You said: n Yes: 72% n No: 28%
What Do You Say? After a pedestrian was killed by a driverless car in Arizona this week, do you believe that Wisconsin should allow driverless cars at this point? n Yes n No Vote online at shepherdexpress.com. We’ll publish the results of this poll in next week’s issue.
10 | M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::TAKINGLIBERTIES
A Supreme Court Vote Against Corruption ::BY JOEL MCNALLY
T
he next election striking terror into the hearts of Republicans could take place in a matter of days in a Wisconsin voting booth near you. A clear pattern is emerging in local elections throughout the country of voters fleeing the Republican Party. Good people are eager for opportunities to stand up to everything President Donald Trump and his enablers are doing to the country. Voters did that last week in a corruptly gerrymandered Republican congressional district in Pennsylvania by electing Democrat Conor Lamb. Lamb’s victory not only came in a district Trump won by 20 points little more than a year earlier, but one that was dishonestly designed to prevent a Democrat from ever winning an election there. Lamb and other state congressmen will run in districts more fairly drawn by the state supreme court in November, and Democrats are expected to pick up even more seats. But what do the series of Democratic victories in Virginia, New Jersey, Alabama, Pennsylvania and a growing string of special legislative elections—including one in northern Wisconsin—have to do with the Wisconsin Supreme Court election on Tuesday, April 3, between Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet and Sauk County Circuit Judge Michael Screnock? Aren’t court elections in Wisconsin non-partisan? Yeah, right. Everyone pretends those races are non-partisan even though everyone knows they aren’t. The same big-money Republican funders pouring millions of dollars into the campaigns of right-wing candidates in partisan state and national races do exactly the same for ultraconservative Wisconsin supreme court candidates. Progressive political groups contribute to more moderate and progressive candidates.
Writing the Rules with Corrupt Campaign Money
This has taken a particularly ugly turn in recent years as the Republican Party has become more blatantly dishonest and extreme. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), the state’s richest business lobby, spent more than $10 million over the past decade buying itself a corrupt, five-to-two, right-wing majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The word “corrupt” isn’t used lightly. The WMC actually wrote a socalled “ethics rule” for the court in 2010 that, in reality, is that court’s “no-ethics rule.” The rule states justices aren’t required to recuse themselves from a case simply because one of the SHEPHERD EXPRESS
parties before them has contributed millions of dollars to their election. The WMC isn’t about to lose the votes of the justices they’ve bought and paid for. Rebecca Dallet’s qualifications include more than two decades of experience as a prosecutor and judge. Gov. Scott Walker appointed Screnock a judge in 2015 after he worked for a Republican law firm that drew corruptly gerrymandered Wisconsin voting districts (thrown out by a federal court as unconstitutional) and defended Walker’s law destroying union bargaining rights. In the age of mass shootings, Screnock also enjoys the dubious support of the National Rifle Association (NRA) as a loyal champion of “firearms freedom.” Then there’s Screnock’s arrest record as a student activist at UW-Madison. No, Screnock didn’t participate in civil rights or anti-war demonstrations as we’d expect idealistic 19 year olds to do. His arrests were more questionable for a potential justice. Screnock was convicted twice at boisterous demonstrations attempting to block women from entering a Madison abortion clinic, exercising their constitutionally protected rights. Screnock says he has no regrets about illegally defying the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision and sees no need to recuse himself from abortion rights cases. Screnock is the sort of scurrilous candidate extreme right-wing organizations have succeeded in packing onto the Wisconsin Supreme Court in low-turnout spring elections featuring candidates who are not widely known. Why wouldn’t they succeed again? That’s what makes the April 3 election such an important test for Wisconsin.
A New Wave of Hope
This is 2018. Obviously, something different is going on this year in election after election. In 2016, folks who thought they knew how decent America was were utterly shocked when an ignorant, openly racist demagogue won the presidency. According to the bestselling Fire and Fury, Trump and his family were just as shocked. Their real motivation for running was what they envisioned the national publicity would do to boost their personal fortunes. In election after election this year building toward the November midterms, voting patterns have completely reversed from those of 2016. Those most energized to vote are Democrats, independents and moderate Republicans appalled by the steady stream of lies and hatred emanating from the White House and supported by complicit Republican leaders who surely know better. April 3 is when Wisconsin can overcome the odds in an off-year, low-turnout spring election to reclaim the political integrity it destroyed in 2016 by narrowly helping elect an unfit, nationally embarrassing president. Voters in ruby red Alabama and a gerrymandered Pennsylvania district overcame much longer odds. Wisconsin voters can begin restoring integrity to one of the most corrupt state courts in the nation by electing Rebecca Dallet—the only qualified candidate—and serving notice they’re coming for any Republicans in November who fail to stand up against Trump’s brazen corruption of democracy. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
::ISSUEOFTHEWEEK
Vukmir Supports Higher Taxes, More Jail Time ::BY GRETCHEN SCHULDT
S
tate Senator Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) wants to increase your property taxes. It doesn’t matter where you live—Democratic Party stronghold Milwaukee County, ultra-Republican Waukesha County, or Up-North’s Sawyer County—Vukmir is looking to dump a significant share of one of the worst in a long time “tough-on-crime” bills straight onto the backs of county governments. Translated, that means that local property tax payers will, if her proposal is adopted by the State Senate, help pay for a piece of opportunistic legislation that Vukmir hopes will help her beat out Kevin Nicholson in the Tuesday, Aug. 14, Republican Primary for U.S. Senate. Vukmir’s bill, Senate Bill 54 (SB54), mandates that the Wisconsin Department of Correction (DOC) recommend revocation for anyone on DOC supervision who is simply charged with a new violent misdemeanor or any type of felony. The bill already was approved by the State Assembly. The DOC estimates that SB54, if passed, would result in an additional 2,135 revocation recommendations each year; the people included in that number will sit in local jails at local expense while they wait for revocation hearings and decisions. It will cost millions of dollars. Also, if each of those alleged offenders spends 50 days in jail while they wait, total annual jail time in the state will rise by 106,857 days—about 293 inmate-years. Just how much each county will spend supporting all of them (and Vukmir’s political ploy) will depend on how many new inmates each county gets, how long each inmate is held in jail and how much per day each inmate costs.
The Financial Cost of Incarceration
Let’s say each inmate costs $40 per day. About $4.3 million in costs would get spread around the state, added to property tax payers’ bills. If the cost is $50 per inmate, the total rises to $5.3 million. These estimates assume that not a single jail in the state will have to add capacity to handle the increased volume. It’s possible that the existing property tax levy limits the state slaps on counties won’t allow some counties to raise the full amount needed to pay for housing their new jail inmates. Those counties will have to cut services instead. Maybe some of those services help keep people alive; with Vukmir’s proposal, the state would instead spend the money locking up individuals who were simply charged, not convicted. The DOC developed scenarios projecting possible state costs to implement the bill (local costs were not considered as they are generally not in state estimates). The most widely cited scenario put the state costs at $57 million per year (the scenarios, however, range up to $201 million per year) and assumes that hearing examiners will ultimately reject 48% of the new revocation recommendations. The rejections, though, will come only after the inmates have spent their time in jail and after the county involved has incurred its share of the costs. That money would be totally and utterly wasted, thanks to Leah Vukmir and her friends in the State Legislature.
The Human Cost of Incarceration
And let’s not forget the most important cost: the human one. Too many people who don’t deserve revocation—those charged with felony second-offense marijuana possession or felony bail jumping for some petty rule violation, for example—will end up caught in this draconian system. (A felony bail jumping charge could result in the absurd situation of a revocation recommendation resulting from a felony that doesn’t involve an actual crime!) If the DOC’s estimate is accurate, about 1,000 people per year will spend time in jail. Their lives (and those of their families) disrupted, and their jobs very possibly slipping away—only to be released when the revocation request is denied. And, no surprise here, a disproportionate share of the people recommended for revocation under the bill will be brown and black. Vukmir’s vision is dark and mean. The cost to Wisconsin—financial and human—is simply too high. Gretchen Schuldt is executive director of Wisconsin Justice Initiative Action, Inc. WJIA advocates for independence and integrity in criminal and civil legal systems, policies, practices and personnel to improve the quality of justice for all the people in Wisconsin. Comment at shepherdexpress.com. n
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::DININGOUT
MAGGIE VAUGHN
FEATURE | SHORT ORDER | EAT/DRINK
For more Dining, log onto shepherdexpress.com
Comfort and Chaos at Snack Boys
queso sauce ($3) on the side for dipping, and then proceed to dip everything else you order into it, too. Another hit was a lobster and chicken stock ramen bowl called “Send Noodz” ($8). The price and ingredients vary, but on my visit it included julienned Spam which provided a salty, porky counterpoint to the rich deep brown broth. A pile of bouncy ramen noodles was mounded out of the bowl, though the cured egg was absent. Bok choy and shiitake mushrooms added a necessary reprieve from ::BY LACEY MUSSZYNSKI noodles and pork. It was one of the most generously sized dishes of the night, and certainly more than just a snack. here is nothing quite like Snack Boys in Milwaukee. It’s the chooseA fried bologna sandwich ($5), slider sized and on a bun, was messy and greasy your-own-adventure book of the restaurant world, transporting you back in all the right ways. If you’ve only ever experienced bologna as Oscar Mayer, think to your tweens with countless puns, after-school snacks and naughty of this as the latest charcuterie trend instead. Thick slices are griddled and then jokes your mother would have scoffed at. It’s full of the kinds of things 12 topped with Dijonnaise, Taleggio cheese, spicy giardiniera and crushed potato year olds like, only now everyone’s old enough to drink without having to chips for a satisfying crunch, just like you used to do when you were little. hide it. Speaking of potato chips, you can get a whole mess of perfect homemade I could write some deep thinkpiece about how Snack Boys is a response to the chips—they really do potatoes well here—in the Chips Toodaloo ($4). They’re current political climate of division and how it’s being embraced because people served sticking upright out of a boat of thick onion dip, which is definitely better are yearning for comfort and a time when the world was a less scary place. But than your great aunt made in the ’70s. really, that’s too deep. I wouldn’t want to be a buzzkill. What I imagine actually This is a new restaurant, and a busy one, so there were bound to be a couple happened: The owners all got together one night at one of their bars and talked misses. The chicken fried confit chicken ($6) in a pool of buffalo-like sauce had unabout Burt Reynolds, reminisced about their favorite childhood snacks (munchdercooked batter and some chicken so overcooked it was paste rather than muscle. ies, you know), and dreamed up a restaurant that made them all giddy. The What’s Up Turkey Butt ($5) had great flavor in the barbecue vinaigrette, but the However it came about, Snack Boys has struck a chord. It helps that the ownfried turkey tails were barely crispy at all. A tweak in preparation would easily make ers all have earned their culinary chops in Milwaukee: John Revord owns Boone & both dishes fantastic. Crockett, Mitch Ciohon owns Taco Moto (formerly Gypsy Taco) and Shay Linkus was As you’ve probably guessed, the fun doesn’t stop on the cocktail menu. the chef at Vanguard. These three restaurateurs have taken their collective food and Slushy machines behind the bar pump out various delicious drinks, like the alcohol knowledge and distilled it into one slightly insane package—and not the Kobra Fangerdong ($11). What that name means, I have no idea, but the mix of one a naked Burt Reynolds is covering with his hands in the larger-than-life mural Plantation Pineapple rum, crème de cacao and passionon the back wall. fruit syrup is like sipping frozen SweeTarts. Most drinks The only real theme across the food menu is nostalgia. are sweet and tiki-inspired, including the Sybaris...The Many of the couple dozen or so rotating small plates are Drink ($9) and the Just Follow Your Nose ($10) which is clearly inspired from longtime favorites: potato chips and like if Toucan Sam was an alcoholic, plus Pop Rocks. Snack Boys Snack Bar dip, deviled eggs, bologna sandwiches and chicken wings. When you go to Snack Boys, take your time and graze 814 S. Second St. There are plenty of meat-heavy snacks, a raw bar selection under the warm glow of neon signs and fish tank lights, 414-509-5975 | $-$$ and a section called “Veggie” which is far from health food. taking in the random whiffs of burning incense. While Strangely, the dish that won the night was cheese fries it may help you forget about the world outside the ressnackboysmke.com ($5). Something so simple can be revelatory when done taurant, it’s what it will remind you of—spending time Handicapped access: No right and these were spot on. There wasn’t a hint of grease, in grandma’s basement, bag lunches, Saturday morning CC, FB, GF only crisp, light, skin-on spuds, showered with a mountain of cartoons—that’s the important part. Hours: W-Su 4:21 p.m.-2 a.m.; finely shredded Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese and served kitchen open W-Su 5-11 p.m. (l-r) Buffy The Wing Slayer, Cheese Fries, Ice Cream Sammy with a heavenly aioli. Add the seven-year-aged cheddar
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SHEPHERD EXPRESS
DININGOUT::SHORTORDER
LOOK OUT FOR KING CRAB SHACK’S FISH IN A BAG ::BY TARA LOVDAHL
King Crab Shack (1330 E. Brady St.) introduced me to a new concept in seafood: fish in a bag. I’m part of a generation obsessed with experiencing new things and posting pictures about it on social media, so it didn’t jar me, but I was a little surprised by the lack of advertising: “Hey, heads up, this is coming to you in a bag.” I must’ve missed that. Regardless, my meal was delicious, but warning: Your entrée may be delivered in a bag. More familiar was the format of my starters. The clam chowder was creamy but airy, with generous bites of clam, potatoes and celery. I also enjoyed the fried calamari coated in seasoned breading. Served on top a small basket of fries, the calamari was tender, but not rubbery, and loaded with flavor. Ordering my entrée entailed selecting a shellfish, sides and a heat level for the sauce. My server prepared me for battle with my crustacean as he delivered plates, bibs, scissors and a roll of paper towel in a bucket. I opted for snow crab legs, with corn, red potatoes and mild sauce. No regrets. The blend of Cajun spices and buttery goodness marinated into the meat. Every bite was flavorful. The heat was enough to clear my sinuses without overwhelming my palate, and the crab legs were worth the toil of clumsily breaking through the shells.
Home. Cooked.
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1038 N. Jackson St. | 414-271-8200 bollywoodgrill.us LUNCH HOURS: Mon-Fri: 11am-3pm Sat & Sun: 11:30am-3:30pm DINNER HOURS: Sun-Thurs: 5pm-10pm Fri & Sat: 5pm-10:30pm
Apples of Eden Full of Sweet Temptations ::BY SHEILA JULSON
T
here are caramel apples, and then there are Apples of Eden’s softball-sized juicy Granny Smith apples, skillfully decorated with any sweet goodness imaginable—caramel; milk, dark or white chocolate; cashews; pecans; pistachios; jimmies; M&Ms and more. “We would call them gourmet apples,” said Beth Parkansky, who owns Apples of Eden, on Broad Street in historic Downtown Greendale. She wants to be sure her gargantuan gooeycoated apples, hand-dipped and made in small batches by long-time Apples of Eden employees, are differentiated from those tiny caramel apples sold in most grocery stores. In addition to apples coated in caramel, nuts and chocolate, specialty gourmet apple flavors include Cookies and Cream, made with crushed Oreos; seasonal varieties (the fall harvest brings caramel-coated apples with dried cranberries, blueberries and dark chocolate); The Dream, with ribbons of milk, white and dark chocolate; crunchy Heath bar; or S’mores, with chocolate and marshmallows. The apples look almost too pretty to cut open (it’s difficult to actually bite through the thick shell of confectionary goodness). But once you cut off a slice and savor the caramel and chocolate balanced with the tart Granny Smith, it’s hard to stop. The apples are large enough to share—or not. Parkansky purchased Apples of Eden in 2009 from Tony and Julie Quebbemann, who found-
Apples of Eden
ed the store during the late 1990s. Parkansky is a real estate agent who began working at Apples of Eden part-time when her work slowed during the housing crash of 2008. When she heard the Quebbemanns were going to sell the business, she decided to go for it. (The Quebbemanns had a second location in Elm Grove for a few years, but they closed that store prior to Parkansky’s purchase of the business.) Because the business was well known and loved in the community, Parkansky kept the existing staff and the same recipes, but she expanded the selection of chocolates and candy. She also added a small gift section. She invites area middle school students to volunteer at the store, and she runs a contest where students can create a recipe for an apple. The winning apple is served at a celebration for the kids and offered as the Apple of the Month. “One child came up with granola apple, with dark chocolate and peanut butter. It was so well received that we brought it back again this year,” Parkansky said. Candy favorites include critters, a turtlelike candy made with honey roasted pecans;
sponge candy, which they make year-round, even on humid days, in their climate-controlled kitchen; toffee; chocolate-covered caramels; and assorted meltaways. All candy is available in milk or dark chocolate. Easter brings whipped cream eggs, which Parkansky said they started making a couple of years ago. This year’s flavors are vanilla, raspberry and coffee. Apples of Eden also carries other items for the Easter basket, such as speckled malt eggs, pectin jellybeans and sour bunnies. The nostalgic candy corner is a hit with adults and children, and people can enjoy blast-from-the-past goodies like satellite wafers, Turkish Taffy, marshmallow “ice cream” cones, candy buttons and Necco wafers. Customers can also purchase gift baskets and custom-order items like wedding and baby shower favors. Apples of Eden is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with extended hours during certain holidays. For more information and updates on holiday hours, visit facebook.com/applesofedengreendale. The company’s website is coming soon: applesofeden.com.
VEGETARIAN VIETNAMESE MEANS MORE THAN PHO ::BY DAVID LUHRSSEN There’s more to Vietnamese food than pho, as anyone who ever dined at a Vietnamese restaurant already knows. Still, the extent of the country’s cuisines may surprise many readers of Vegetarian Vi t Nam. Author Cameron Stauch discovered that breadth on a visit to Saigon where he encountered banh mi chay, a baguette covered in mushroom pâté and topped with tofu balls in tomato sauce, cucumbers, pickled vegetables, toasted sesame seeds and noodles dusted with rice powder. He was surprised by the array of vegetarian and even vegan dishes in the meat-eating country and traces it to the influence of Buddhist monks who fashioned mock meat and seafood dishes from tofu. Vegetarian Vi t Nam includes savory-looking recipes for pho and other soups along with fruit salads, bean dumplings, spring rolls and, yes, banh mi chay. 14 | M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::SPORTS The Brewers’ Best Long -Term Extension Targets ::BY KYLE LOBNER
W
e’re only 10 days away from Opening Day, but the 2017’18 Major League Baseball free agent market still isn’t closed. The list of players still looking for work includes starting pitcher Alex Cobb and reliever Greg Holland, and the list of players who have signed recently is a “Who’s Who” of guys who received less money than they expected a few months ago. It’s impossible to tell at this point if slow free agent markets are going to become a trend or were simply a one-year aberration, but some of MLB’s mid-market players definitely have to be increasingly aware that free agency is no longer guaranteed to be the pot of gold they thought they’ve been chasing all these years. Already this spring, we’ve seen one of the game’s biggest stars opt for greater financial security instead of rolling the dice on the market: Astros second baseman José Altuve, who was scheduled to become a free agent following the 2019 season, instead signed a five-year extension on Friday, March 16. It’s hard to tell if this winter’s slow market was a factor in his decision, but the ability to avoid the uncertainty several top players experienced this winter has to be a strong incentive for some players to work out long term deals at this point. If players are, indeed, less likely to pursue free agency after seeing what happened to some of their peers this past winter, then the Milwaukee Brewers are one team that could see an opportunity to work on long-term extensions for some of their young contributors. Here are a few players that could be viable targets.
Travis Shaw Virtually every story written about Travis Shaw this winter has mentioned how happy his young family and he are in Milwaukee. Shaw stayed in the city through the winter and has been very outspoken about the role pediatric cardiac specialists at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin played in helping his daughter recover from a severe heart abnormality. Despite a challenging stretch off the field, Shaw had a breakout year in 2017, setting career highs in nearly every offensive category. Shaw will make something close to the league minimum after the Brewers renewed his contract as a pre-arbitration player earlier this month and will be eligible for salary arbitration for the first time following this season. If his performance is anything comparable to his 2018 numbers, he’ll be in line for big raises in each of the next three seasons before becoming eligible for free agency in fall of 2021. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
This seems to be a relatively clear case where a long-term deal could benefit everyone. The Brewers could get a level of cost certainty (and perhaps buy out one or two free agent years from one of their breakout stars) while Shaw could have an increased level of financial certainty and some level of assurance that he and his family will remain in a place where they’ve become comfortable.
Something for Everyone
Orlando Arcia Arcia has now spent a little more than a full season in the big leagues since making his MLB debut in August 2016, but he still won’t turn 24 until this August. His defense has been every bit as good as advertised, but Arcia’s offensive game remains a bit of a work in progress. He batted just .227 with a .278 OBP and .360 slugging in his first 100 games in the majors (through May 27, 2017) but showed some signs of improvement in last season’s final four months, batting .294/.341/.427 over those same categories down the stretch. That last run is pretty close to the level of production he put up in his five seasons in the minors. If Arcia continues to be the serviceable offensive player he was down the stretch last season (despite spending most of that span batting eighth), then he has an opportunity to become a very valuable allaround player. He’s also a long time away from his first big payday, however, as he won’t be arbitration-eligible for the first time until the 2020 season. If they discuss a long-term deal, both sides have something worth negotiating for: Arcia could get a guarantee of life-changing money, while the Brewers could offer an amount of money that could represent a significant savings over what Arcia would make going year-to-year in arbitration. Furthermore, because he reached the big leagues at a very young age, Arcia is on pace to be a free agent at age 28. Signing a long term contract that delays his free agency by a year or more would not preclude him from the possibility of another big deal once he finally reaches the market.
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Zach Davies Like Shaw, Davies is inexpensive for the Brewers this season but sits on the cusp of what could be a very significant raise as he’ll be arbitration-eligible for the first time following this season. The arbitration process could be very friendly to a pitcher like Davies, who has posted a sub-4 ERA in each of his three major league seasons to date and won 17 games in 2017. MLB front offices have largely moved past using statistics like that to evaluate pitchers, but there’s no guarantee that an arbitrator won’t use them when determining his value. Like Arcia, Davies reached the majors relatively young. He turned 25 in February and is on pace to reach free agency before his 29th birthday. There’s also some volatility in estimates for his long term value, however: He’s been very successful to date in the majors, but his fastball velocity and strikeout rate are both below average. Despite a wide range of possible outcomes, Davies is likely to play at least some part in the Brewers rotation for years to come unless he completely falls apart. Here again, cost certainty for the next few seasons could be a good thing for the Brewers and guaranteed financial security could do a lot for the player’s state of mind. M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | 15
::A&E
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MATTHEW MURPHY
FEATURE | FILM | THEATRE | ART | BOOKS | CLASSICAL MUSIC | DANCE
‘Les Misérables’
‘Les Misérables’ in Milwaukee LONG-RUNNING BROADWAY HIT COMES TO THE MARCUS CENTER ::BY JOHN JAHN s soon as the Artful Dodger came onstage, Gavroche came to mind,” French songwriter Alain Boublil has been quoted, recalling the time he saw Oliver! in London. “It was like a blow to the solar plexus. I started seeing all the characters of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables—Valjean, Javert, Gavroche, Cosette, Marius and Éponine—in my mind’s eye, laughing, crying and singing onstage.” From that ‘blow to the solar plexus’ would follow a series of improbable events that would ultimately lead to the creation of the world’s longest-running musical and the fifth longest-running Broadway production in history.
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The Gestation of a Giant
It all starts with the 1862 publication of Les Misérables, a novel by French author Victor Hugo. Set in the heady days of imperial France just prior to revolution, the book was not without controversy, as it directly addressed themes of poverty, injustice, classism and monarchism. Hugo, himself, rather forcefully announced his purpose in Misérables’ preface: “So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates a hell on earth … so long as the three problems … of the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night are not solved, [and] so long as … social asphyxia shall be possible, [and] so long as ignorance and misery remain on Earth, books like this cannot be useless.” Of course, all of those human societal ills Les Misérables’ remained in effect when Alain Boublil recalled Marcus Hugo’s novel as he sat through Oliver!, another Center for the tale of the misery of unjust poverty. But his Performing Arts initial plans were merely for an album—an LP with music inspired by Hugo’s novel. He March 27 - April 1 pitched the idea to French composer ClaudeMichel Schönberg and friend and fellow writer Jean-Marc Natel. Two years later, a demo tape was prepared. In 1980, the album was recorded at CTS Studios in Wembley, England, and it was released later that year, selling 260,000 copies. Not exactly gold-record status. Even so, the concept album led that September to a stage version directed by French film director Robert Hossein, produced at Paris’ Palais des Sports. That, too, made little initial impression, closing after but three months. Three years later, British theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh (who had then only just opened the mega-hit Cats on Broadway) was intrigued enough with the album-cum-musical Les Misérables to (somewhat reluctantly) produce an English-language version. In October 1985, the British theatrical version of Les Misérables opened in London. “A lurid Victorian melodrama produced with Victorian lavishness,” decried The Sunday Telegraph; “a witless and synthetic entertainment,” opined The Observer. Meanwhile, literary scholars blasted the artistic abyss they thought Les Misérables had plunged into from classic novel to musical theater stage. But the public begged to differ. Despite “official” negative reaction, they seemed to embrace Les Miz. Ticket sales were brisk; the initial engagement sold out. Even the reviews gradually warmed to the show. It would become, despite its odd, troublesome and convoluted gestation, the longest-running musical in the West End, followed by The Phantom of the Opera. It made its Broadway debut in 1987, initially running there to May 2003, closing after more than 6,500 performances. In 2010, Les Miz played its 10,000th performance in London. It had been nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won eight of them—including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
Next Stop: Milwaukee
Les Misérables’ Milwaukee showing boasts modern staging and sharply reimagined scenery hearkening back to the paintings of Victor Hugo. The eye-catching scenic design (by Matt Kinley) incorporates Hugo’s artwork with advanced projection technology that gives the production something of a cinematic ambiance. “I’m delighted that, after a four-year absence, this glorious production is once again touring the major cities across North America and is more spectacular than ever,” said Macintosh, current producer of Les Misérables’ ongoing world tour. It is, indeed, Macintosh’s top-notch production of Les Miz that makes its way to Milwaukee’s Marcus Center next week, fresh off of a two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. March 27-April 1 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, call 414-273-7206 or visit marcuscenter.org/show/les-miserables.
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SUMMER FUN STARTS IN DOOR COUNTY!
fifth Annual! SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2018
FOOD 11AM – 2PM | DRINKS + MUSIC 11AM - 4PM
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WWW.UNCORKSUMMER.COM WICKMAN HOUSE | 11976 MINK RIVER ROAD | ELLISON BAY, WI 54210 SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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::THISWEEKINMILWAUKEE SATURDAY, MARCH 24 VoodooHoney Anime Night @ Mad Planet, 9 p.m.
It’s not just the characters and stories that draw fans to anime. It’s also the music—the genre has a long history of exciting, innovative soundtracks. Milwaukee’s VoodooHoney collective will pay homage to some of that music at this event, which will feature songs from two animated classics, Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, performed by musicians including Alan Harris, Reggie Bordeaux, Jay Anderson, Aram Feriants, Quintin Farr, Genesis Renji, Immortal Girlfriend and Old Man Malcolm. Radio Milwaukee’s Tarik Moody will DJ. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
Festival of Laughs @ Miller High Life Theatre, 8 p.m.
Several black stand-up veterans team up for this comedy festival, including Sommore (an actress who’s appeared in The Queens of Comedy, Friday After Next and Soul Plane); George Wallace (who’s appeared on “The Tonight Show” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and hosted his own HBO special); former BET “ComicView” host Bruce Bruce; and Earthquake, a larger-than-life BET and HBO veteran who also frequently appears on Steve Harvey’s radio show. ARDEN WRAY
Earth, Wind & Fire
FRIDAY, MARCH 23
Earth, Wind & Fire @ The Riverside Theater, 7 p.m.
Few bands had their thumbs quite as squarely on the pulse of ’70s music trends as Earth, Wind & Fire, the Chicago R&B and funk ensemble that scored a slew of brassy, celebratory hits like “Sing a Song,” “September” and “Shining Star.” Next year the group will commemorate its 50th anniversary, and although the band’s founder Maurice White passed away in 2016 (he had stopped touring with the band in 1994), the group still retains several original members, including lead singer Philip Bailey and bassist Verdine White.
Granger Smith w/ Runaway June and Walker McGuide @ Miller High Life Theatre, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee’s country station 94.5 KTI hosts this triple bill headlined by Granger Smith, the Nashville troubadour behind uplifting hits like “Backroad Song.” He’s supported by Runaway June, a Nashville trio featuring John Wayne’s granddaughter, Jennifer Wayne. That group scored a pair of spunky country radio hits in recent years, “Lipstick” and “Wild West.” Opening the night is the brother-brother duo Walker McGuire, who specialize in modern country at its most radio friendly. They’re from—yup, you guessed it—Nashville.
Alvvays
Alvvays @ The Pabst Theater, 8 p.m.
Toronto indie-rocker Alvvays emerged fully formed on their 2014 self-titled album, an assured collection of hooky, romantic jangle pop, but it was their 2017 sophomore album Antisocialites that truly put them on the map. Leaps and bounds more confident and complicated than their debut, it set singer Kerri MacLellan’s lovelorn songs to grander, more dramatic arrangements and rocketed the band to indie-rock’s A-list. NME, Stereogum and The Guardian were among some of the many publications that ranked it as one of the year’s best records.
Buckethead @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
Granger Smith
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Buckethead is one of the most distinctive guitarists of his time, not only sonically but visually, given how he blurs the line between music and performance art by wearing an eerie, Halloweeninspired white face mask and a KFC bucket on his head. You’d also be hard pressed to find a guitarist with a more versatile resume. Since the 2000s he’s played with artists as diverse as Serj Tankian, Les Claypool, Mike Patton, Iggy Pop, Guns N’ Roses (during perhaps the oddest era of that band’s history) and actor Viggo Mortensen. This February he released his 304th and 305th albums (yes, you read that right), Bucketheadland 5-13 10 31 and Fourneau Cosmique. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Read our daily events guide, Today in Milwaukee, on shepherdexpress.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 24 William Shatner: “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” @ The Riverside Theater, 7:30 p.m.
a n
William Shatner scored the role of a lifetime in 1966, when he was cast as the iconic “Star Trek” hero Captain Kirk. Even after that show’s success, though, he never shook the overdrive work ethic he had picked up from his 15 years as a character actor. He’s continued to appear in seemingly any movie, TV series or commercial that will cast him (he always has great things to say about Hupy and Abraham). He’s also an author, having written a line of TekWar sci-fi novels and a couple of autobiographies, and an occasional musician. For this appearance, he’ll follow a screening of one of his best-loved movies—1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the franchise’s high watermark—with behind-the-scenes stories in a conversation moderated by Gino Salomone. He’ll also take audience questions.
e x o t i c
d r a m a
by Rok Vilčnik This could happen in any jungle...
Tarzan, Jane, and a Hyena-called-Mike, grapple with love, middle-age, the fate of the jungle, the animal kingdom, and all humanity. This extraordinary play, a U.S. premiere by award-winning Slovenian playwright Rok Vilčnik, is smart, funny and unexpectedly moving.
March 16 – 24, 2018
featuring: Mark Anderson Isabelle Kralj Don Russell CARLTON FREEMAN
Kenilworth 508 Theatre 1925 East Kenilworth Place Tickets: gigantetarzan.brownpapertickets.com or 1.800.838.3006 info: theatregigante.org
Artistic Directors Isabelle Kralj & Mark Anderson
Drivin’ N Cryin’
TUESDAY, MARCH 27
Drivin’ N Cryin’ w/ Supersuckers @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m.
Two alt-country bands team up for this double bill, including one with deep Milwaukee ties: Drivin’ N Cryin’, the Atlanta group formed by Brew City native Kevn Kinney. After slowing down in the 2000s as Kinney focusd on his solo career, the band returned strong with 2009’s The Great American Bubble Factory, a heated set of punk-accented Southern rock that they followed with a series of four EPs, the latest of which was 2014’s Songs For The Turntable. For this show they’re joined by their Arizona kindred spirits Supersuckers, who put their own distinctly punk spin on country conventions. During their career, they formed an unlikely creative partnership with one of country’s greats: Willie Nelson, who they once backed on “The Tonight Show.” In turn, Nelson did a guest stint on the title track of the Supersuckers’ Must’ve Been High, perhaps the most traditionally country-minded of all the group’s albums. Their recent releases, including 2015’s Holdin’ The Bag, have been some of the loudest and most revved-up of their career.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 Raw: Envision @ The Rave, 7 p.m.
More than 50 Milwaukee-area artists—including photographers, fashion designers, jewelry makers, painters, illustrators and makeup and nail stylists—will show off their work at this showcase, which will also feature a fashion show and performance art. Chicago drag queen Toyota Corona, a Milwaukee native, will host, while electronic artist Chris Siegel, of the Milwaukee group KIINGS, will provide the music. Tickets are $22 in advance or $30 at the door.
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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A&E::THEATRE
Courage and Faith in Acacia Theatre’s ‘The Hiding Place’ ::BY ANNE SIEGEL
Skylight's 'Tales of Hoffmann' PHOTO BY
MARK FROHNA
THEATRE|REVIEWS
‘The Tales of Hoffmann’ Told As Never Before ::BY JOHN JAHN
T
he Tales of Hoffmann was the only opera to flow from the pen of Jacques Offenbach, a 19th-century French composer best known for his sprightly overtures and exuberant use of the dance style that was all the rage of his day, the can-can. Operas are supposed to be somewhat more “serious” and “loftier” works of art than their lighter cousins, the operettas. It was the latter genre that really made Offenbach famous; it’s no wonder then that the spirit of the operetta infuses The Tales of Hoffmann—a spirit that also moves the current production by Skylight Music Theatre and Milwaukee Opera Theatre. For this production, the companies made some very good choices. For one, it’s in English (a well-enunciated English at that) rather than its original French (though, thankfully, French is maintained for the exquisite third-act barcarolle, “Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour”). Secondly, rather than ponderous sung-through recitative between musical ensembles and arias, it has spoken dialogue. Offenbach’s original was composed, of course, for full orchestra; here we have two pianos, a harp and a wide variety of percussion instruments and noise-making devices (expertly played by Michael Lorenz). All in all, this is a decidedly scaled-down Hoffmann that, while now much more operetta than opera, works completely as a work of musical art. Voices in the production are uniformly good. John Kaneklides’ tenor as the titular poet rings true and clear; Cecilia Davis’ lovely soprano hit all the high notes in the work’s famous “Doll Aria” of Act One. The always entertainingly expressive Diane Lane was excellent as Hoffmann’s friend, Nicklausse (and more than merely that, as attendees of this new take on the tale will eventually learn). Notice I’m not mentioning main characters of the original: Hoffmann’s rival, Lindorf and love interest Stella, an opera singer. Both characters have been written out of this substantially altered Hoffmann. Along with the fine, lyrical singing went kinetic stage action that kept the show moving along nicely, fine period costuming and a superb set design reminiscent of your grandparents’ attic crossed with the latest of steampunk sensibilities. Given its composer’s death before the final product was actually finished, Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann has always been open to interpretation. Gratefully, the production currently playing in Milwaukee’s Third Ward is one that articulates Hoffmann’s tales in an exceedingly successful, thoroughly entertaining fashion. Through March 29 at Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. For tickets, call 414291-7800 or visit skylightmusictheatre.org.
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lthough the biblical phrase “God works in mysterious ways” is not mentioned in the script of Acacia Theatre’s The Hiding Place, it is an apt description of the harrowing journey described within. This is a fictionalized story of the real-life Dutch activist Corrie ten Boom, who hides dozens of Jews during Nazi occupation of Holland in World War II. Her mission starts slowly, then ramps up as scores of refugees flee Germany. Many who escape to the Netherlands seek refuge at the ten Boom’s doorstep. In a memorable performance, Elaine Wyler
expresses her uncertainty on how to deal with all these refugees. Many of the fleeing Jews are escorted to farms in the country. Eventually, the ten Boom home is outfitted with its own “hiding place” for the refugees. A fake brick wall is installed in a bedroom to conceal a passageway where the Jews can hide. Wyler is near perfect as ten Boom, the quiet watchmaker. This 50-something unmarried woman lives with her sister, Betsie (Janet Peterson) and their father. She feels ill equipped to run the underground ring, but the facts are there. She claims she is only trying to do “the right thing,” as her faith prescribes. Janet Peterson, Acacia’s artistic director, does an equally fine job in the role of the younger Betsie. Some of the show’s best moments occur during the conversations between the two sisters. Eventually, the ten Boom family is swept up by the Gestapo and transferred first to a local prison, and then, a German prison camp. The 84-year-old father dies before they even end up at the camp. Betsie, whose unwavering faith strengthens Corrie’s resolve, eventually dies of typhoid. “Was it all worth it?” the play seems to ask. The answer is easy to find for a woman with ten Boom’s strong Christian faith. She need only turn to scripture to find the passages that give her hope during the many dark days of her confinement. Her “cross to bear” is finding forgiveness for those who ran the camps in which her beloved sister died. This is a revised version of the play that Acacia Theatre staged a dozen years ago. Director Therese Goode adds some slow-motion sequences to vary the show’s pace. It is a must-see event for those who need inspiration on how common people rise to the occasion and do the most uncommon things, even at their own peril. Through March 25 at Concordia University’s Todd Wehr Auditorium. For tickets, call 414-744-5995 or visit acaciaAcacia's 'The Hiding Place' PHOTO BY LAURA HEISE theatre.com. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
A&E::THEATRE
LOVE, LUST AND JUNGLE DOMESTICITY IN THEATRE GIGANTE’S ‘TARZAN' ::BY RUSS BICKERSTAFF
E
dgar Rice Burroughs’ most enduring hero becomes a comic exploration into love, lust, nature and greed as Theatre Gigante presents the U.S. premiere of Slovenian playwright Rok Vilčnik’s TARZAN. Isabelle Kralj and Mark Anderson bring
Rep’s ‘Until the Flood’ Asks Provocative Questions on ‘That Whole Race Thing’
a domestic gravity to the roles of Jane and Tarzan. As the play opens, they’ve been living in the jungle for quite a long time. It’s a somewhat cute domestic sitcom between Jane and Tarzan until Don Russell shows up in the role of a Hyena-called-Mike. Mike’s taught himself to speak English, love jazz and appreciate beauty. Naturally he’s quite taken with Jane in a story that wastes little time in setting up a love triangle. Russell lends an unconventional depth to the drama as a hyena, finding the perfect balance between human and animalistic characteristics. Russell and Kralj develop a very believable rapport right away. It’s a crazy interspecies romance, but they present it in a way that feels quite rational. Jane’s growing tired of living outside the reach of technology. Mike wants to cultivate the graces of a civilization that accompanies such technology. The only problem is that Jane still loves the man raised by apes. How could she hope to relate to an animal that wishes to be a man? Themes and moods fade in and out over the course of the plot. Comedy slides into drama and back as an aging Tarzan struggles to maintain dominance in a jungle that is being eroded by the steady encroachment of civilization. It’s a very provocative piece that is concise enough to invite thought long after it’s over. Through March 24 at Kenilworth 508 Theatre, 1925 E. Kenilworth Place. For tickets, visit theatregigante.org or call 1-800-838-3006.
“Crazy,”“I Fall to Pieces,”“Sweet Dreams,” “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Those are just a few of the huge crossover hits and two dozen songs that highlight Ted Swindley’s Always…Patsy Cline. If the show sounds familiar, it’s for good reason. Always…Patsy Cline played to sold-out audiences at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in its 2012 production with Kelley Faulkner (Guys and Dolls; Ragtime), who now returns to her iconic title role. She’ll be joined by Tami Workentin (Good People) as Louise Seger in this new production directed by Laura Braza (Grounded; Souvenir). Patsy Cline (1932-1963) was an American country music singer and part of the popular and engaging “Nashville Sound” as it came to be known during the country western music boom of the late ’50s and early ’60s. She was rapidly becoming a mainstream pop music star when, alas, she died at age 30 in the crash of a private airplane. Cline— famous for her rich tone, emotionally expressive voice and bold contralto range—broke ground for her successors like Reba McEntire and LeAnn Rimes. (John Jahn) March 23-May 20 in the Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St. For tickets, call 414-224-9490 or visit milwaukeerep.com.
Macbeth The Rep's 'Until the Flood' PHOTO BY
MICHAEL BROSILOW
hat whole race thing? Long time comin’,” says Louisa, a retired black schoolteacher reflecting on the Michael Brown shooting, August 2014, Ferguson, Mo. Darren Wilson, a white police officer, fatally shot Brown while in pursuit. And “that whole race thing” ignited into protests and riots nationwide which still reverberate today as witnessed in the powerful, challenging one-woman show, Until the Flood. Written and performed by Dael Orlandersmith, Until the Flood is based on hundreds of interviews Orlandersmith conducted in the aftermath of the shooting. Playing eight characters in 65 minutes, we see how the shooting becomes the spark for the larger issues of race and bigotry in America, past and present, as seen through the eyes of young and old, black and white. Directed by Neel Keller, Orlandersmith accomplishes much in a minimal setting—some chairs—and a few items to indicate a different character—a shawl, a cap. As the 17-year-old Hassan, she moves and struts like a brash teenager, cocky and defiant, but deep down just wanting stability and love in a chaotic world. As Paul, a gentle teen who wants out of the projects, we see the innate sensitivity of this young man who wants to move on in the world, but is trapped for the time being. Will either survive? Orlandersmith is fierce and determined in her no-holds-barred performance and writing, and we need little convincing of how passionate she is about her work. This is a performer who truly believes in every single word she utters, even while portraying the white male racist characters, no easy feat but one which she delineates with care and dexterity, maintaining a delicate balance, making them even more than stereotypical caricatures. Until the Flood is also a stark reminder for own city, with the fatal shooting of Dontre Hamilton in Red Arrow Park, on April 30, 2014, just months before the Michael Brown shooting. And there’ve been countless others since that time. But there is no easy, safe conclusion to Until the Flood. Just more thought-provoking questions to ask ourselves—and hopefully discuss with others—about “that whole race thing.” Through April 22 in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Stiemke Studio, 108 E. Wells St. For tickets call 414-224-9490 or visit milwaukeerep.com.
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Always… Patsy Cline
MORE-TO-DO
::BY HARRY CHERKINIAN
“T
THEATRE|PREVIEWS
Macbeth is William Shakespeare’s great tragedy of political ambition, power-madness and the supernatural. Not merely that, however. There’s also tyranny, insanity, murder, civil war… All the ingredients for a classic stage play are here, not to mention The Bard’s eloquence in the telling of the sordid tale. Voices Found Repertory’s Alec Lachman brings Macbeth to the stage in his own signature style. March 22-31 at The Arcade Theatre in the Underground Collaborative, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. For tickets, visit voicesfoundmacbeth.brownpapertickets.com.
StorySlam: TMI
Ex Fabula describes their periodic “StorySlams” as “creating spaces where people can connect over true, personal stories.” In so doing, they offer “no props, no notes—just the elements of ‘Story. Stage. You.’”“You can come just to listen,” Ex Fabula says, “or, if you have a story related to the night’s theme [in this case, TMI] and can share it in five minutes or less, throw your name in the hat for a chance to take the stage.” Thursday, March 22, at Garfield’s 502, located (oddly enough) at 502 W. Garfield Ave. For tickets, visit exfabula.org.
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The Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens Presents:
FREE Spring Family Event! Sunday, April 1, 10am–2pm
A&E::CLASSICALMUSIC
CLASSICALMUSIC|PREVIEW
Meet the Easter Bunny (10:30–1:30) Seasonal kids’ crafts Egg hunt ongoing (10–2)
More info: 414-525-5661 or boernerbotanicalgardens.org Held in the Boerner Botanical Gardens Visitor Center 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners, WI 53130
Easter brunch also available (not included in FBBG event). Reservations: Contact Zilli Hospitality at 414-409-3959 or boernerrestaurant.com.
Spring is here! Become a member and get:
• Unlimited access to the Gardens • Free admission to over 300 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Gardens across the country–including Chicago Botanic! • A 10% discount in Nell’s Garden Café • Free one-year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine • Discounts on year-round classes, events and family workshops, and in our gift shop Member Levels: • ...And more! Individual............$35 For purchase/more info: 414-525-5653 or Individual +1........$50 boernerbotanicalgardens.org/membership Family................$65 Event Sponsored by:
in collaboration with
THE TALES OF
HOFFMANN
‘Gods and Mortals’
The Concord Chamber Orchestra’s “Gods and Mortals” concert features music from the classical tradition that evokes the actions and foibles of us human beings and the gods we conjured up to fear in literature from antiquity onward. The orchestra also presents the winner of their annual Concerto Competition, who will perform a concerto of their own choice, all the better to put their youthful talents fully on display. Works on the program include Jacques Offenbach’s sprightly overture to his 1864 opéra bouffe, La Belle Hélène and the “Courtly Dances” instrumental-dance interlude by British composer Benjamin Britten from his 1953 opera, Gloriana. The aforementioned dances are “courtly” because the opera depicts the legendary relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex during the 16th century. The lushly romantic “Prelude and Liebestod” will also be heard—the oft-excerpted instrumental piece from Richard Wagner’s enormously influential Tristan und Isolde (1859). (John Jahn) Saturday, March 24 at Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church, 2366 N. 80th St. For Jacques Offenbach tickets, call 414-750-4404 or visit concordorchestra.org.
MORE-TO-DO
Betsayda Machado yLatino LaArtsParranda El Clavo hosts a quartet of female musicians from Venezuela. Raised
Now through March 29
in a small village (El Clavo), the titular Betsayda Machado got together with fellow singers and life-long friends (Parranda El Clavo) to record and perform— bringing new international attention to Venezuelan Afro-Soul music. Their 2017 New York City U.S. debut was critically acclaimed. Their next stop on their first international tour: Milwaukee! Friday, March 23, at Latino Arts, 1028 S. Ninth St. For tickets, call 414-384-3100 or visit latinoartsinc.org.
! Hurry! Only 6 performances left! Sponsored by: Jan Serr & John Shannon with additional funding from the New Opera Fund established in memory of Mary Ann Gerlach
www.skylightmusictheatre.org/SHEP • (414) 291-7800 158 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward 22 | M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8
‘Passion, Beauty and Light’
That’s the rather evocative name given to the Festival City Symphony’s next concert; aptly so, for those adjectives are certainly apropos to the allFrench music on the orchestra’s program. Under the baton of the orchestra’s newly appointed music director, Carter Simmons, the ensemble will play the lovely and languid Pavane by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924); Nocturnes by Impressionist master Claude Debussy (1862-1918); and both of the magnificently melodious L’Arlésienne Suites by Georges Bizet (1838-1875). The Hartford Union High School Women’s Chorus, directed by Ernie Brusubardis II, guest performs. Sunday, March 25, at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St. For tickets, call 414-2863205 or visit festivalcitysymphony.org/symphony-sundays.
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
A&E::VISUALART
SPONSORED BY
VISUALART|REVIEW
The ‘Expansive Threads’ of Contemporary Fiber Art at Latino Arts
A
::BY KAT KNEEVERS
thread in itself is a tiny thing, but many together become something to reckon with. The possibilities of fiber arts are explored by 11 contemporary Latina artists in the current exhibition, “Expansive Threads,” on view now at Latino Arts. They are represented through singular pieces that often mediate between sculpture and installations. Johanna Moscoso’s Lohs see-Eh-teh cohLoh-res is one of the first pieces you’ll encounter in the exhibition, as it lies out on the gallery floor like a large pool of deep blue with stark white highlights. It has the appearance of a giant cyanotype at first, but rather than resulting from a permanent printing process, the materials used are simply blue velvet and white powder. The cloudy shimmers where the powder is less dense create an aquamarine haze, like the ocean or sky, perhaps alluding to the seven colors suggested by the title. On a more narrative note are Brianna Lynn Hernandez Baurichter and her installation, Sylvia. A rather antique dressing table with a mirror
is placed in the gallery, the drawers slightly open to reveal neatly folded clothes inside, and a pair of women’s brown leather shoes sits demurely on the floor. The dresser is covered by a long lace doily, as well as an analogue clock, and a picture frame showing a looping video. The insertion of this technology takes us into a place where the story perhaps unfolds, as we seem to peer through a keyhole. We see a woman’s pensively folded hands as she eventually turns around and opens a door. A bright sunlit room, maybe with this dressing table inside, awaits. But then the video ends, like abruptly waking up from a dream. It gives weight to an idea that these things—the clothing, the lace—are like markers for this mysterious Sylvia. What that means or the rest of the story, is left unsaid. The spoken and unspoken aspects of this exhibition are plentiful, as many of the artists allude to the cultural importance of threads and textiles, both as self-expression as well as ties that bind. Through June 9 at Latino Arts, 1028 S. Ninth St.
VISUALART|PREVIEW
Cathy Martin’s ‘eye(scapes)’ and Michael Noland’s ‘Under a Falling Sky’ at Tory Folliard Gallery ::BY TYLER FRIEDMAN
C
losing in on its 30th anniversary this July, the Tory Folliard Gallery shows no signs of slowing down. The gallery presents two new exhibitions opening on Saturday, March 24. Viewed without context, Cathy Martin’s landscape paintings astound with their remarkable photo-realism. They appear all the more remarkable upon learning that the Wisconsin artist is self-taught and mastered the depiction of morning fog and wispy clouds through inborn ingenuity. Michael Noland’s gouache on paper paintings blend nocturnal hues, repeating forms and graphic lines to evoke comparisons with tribal art, psychedelia and surrealism. Noland favors animals and insects for his subject matter, delighting in snails’ shells, peacocks’ plumes and other instances of symmetry in nature. An opening reception for the exhibitions will take place from 1:30-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, with an artist talk at 2 p.m. “Under a Falling Sky” and “eye(scapes)” are on view through April 14. Michael Noland, The Reluctant Scholar, Gouache on Paper, 12 x 8” Cathy Martin, I Love Autumn (October in Wisconsin), Oil on Masonite, 13 x 23”
Call for Entry: “A Force of Nature” Gallery 218 | 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 218
Are you an abstract artist? Do you have two x chromosomes? If so, consider submitting your work to Gallery 218 for “A Force of Nature,” a juried exhibition highlighting women artists working in abstraction, which will open on Spring Gallery Night, April 20. Works in all media are welcome so long as they are original, abstract and created by a female artist. There is a $30 entry fee for one to three works, which will hopefully be nullified by the sale of work. Contact Judith Hooks at jhha23@usa.net for more information and the entry form. The deadline for submissions is Saturday, April 7.
“Expansive Threads”
Latino Arts | 1028 S. Ninth St.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Latino Arts is proud to present “Expansive Threads,” an exhibition of Latin American female artists who incorporate fiber arts into their work. Beside ethnicity and sex, these artists are united by their non-traditional approaches to fiber art, which involve uncommon materials and forms of presentation. An opening reception will be held on Friday, March 23 at 5 p.m. “Expansive Threads” is on display through June 9. Diana Fritz, Pyrrha (detail) SHEPHERD EXPRESS
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A&E::FILM [FILM CLIPS] Loveless R
Loveless addresses the inability to love, the damage this causes and the legacy of bitterness passed down between generations. Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s story concerns a 12 year old who disappears from a home torn by divorce and recrimination. The setting is today’s Russian middle class of spacious, well-furnished apartments, elegant restaurants with jazz purring in the background and the selfie vacuousness of contemporary materialism. Zvyagintsev composes Loveless with the elegance of ’70s art house cinema in its measured pace and careful framing. (David Luhrssen)
Isle of Dogs PG-13 7 Days in Entebbe
The Hijackers and Hostages ‘in Entebbe’ ::BY DAVID LUHRSSEN
I
t was the boldest commando strike Queasy comic relief is provided by the accuin history. The 1976 Israeli raid on rate depiction of Uganda’s delusional dictator, Entebbe surpasses anything before or Idi Amin (Nonso Anozie). With a broad smile since, not only for difficulty in reaching he welcomes hostages as they exit the hijacked the target but because of its objective. plane with the reassuring words, “I am appointed Unlike, say, the U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden’s by God Almighty to be your savior.” Like the compound, the primary aim wasn’t to kill but to manager of a resort no one cares to visit, he adds, rescue—to bring back a hundred hostages alive. “We will take care of your every need.” In the The story has been told before on screen ’70s Amin was an outlier. Back then, narcissism, three times before the release of the latest ver- unfiltered arrogance and mental instability were sion, 7 Days in Entebbe. The earlier iterations counted unusual among world leaders. were produced within a few years of the event The main dynamic of the plot comes down to and focused on the daring-do of Israeli special arguments between a good German, Böse, and a forces. Brazilian director José Padilha and writer bad one, Kuhlmann. He talks tough but upon a Gregory Burke are less interested in the rescue’s moment’s reflection, doesn’t want to kill, and is military precision than the mindset of the terror- afraid that segregating the Jewish hostages from ists who hijacked an airliner and forced it to the the others makes them akin to the Nazis. Kuhlostensibly safe haven of Uganda. They also ex- mann means business with the AK-47 she branplore the politics behind Israel’s decision to strike dishes and responds to Böse’s objections with a a thousand miles beyond the normal reach of its dose of Marxist dialectic. military. Brühl and Pike give Entebbe’s best perforThe international geopolitics is sketched out mances, endowing their characters and their disneatly enough. A militant Palestinian group and agreements with a believable sense for the reality a pair of far-left Germans carried out the hijack- of those times. The Israeli team, led by Prime ing. They were part of an international network, Minister Yitzhak Rabin (Lior Ashkenazi) and abetted but not controlled by the Defense Minister Shimon Peres Soviet Bloc, determined to bring (Eddie Marsan), come across as down the world order regardless bland in their opposing roles of 7 Days in of who died when the system coldove (Rabin) and hawk (Peres). Entebbe lapsed. The Palestinian cause is The film digresses unnecessarily briefly stated: The militants lost into the lives of an Israeli comRosamund Pike their homeland and saw the death mando and his modern dancer Daniel Brühl of family members because of girlfriend, juxtaposing the EnDirected by Israel. The Germans, Wilfried tebbe raid with her performance José Padilha Böse (Daniel Brühl) and Brigitte as if the two events are somehow Kuhlmann (Rosamund Pike), compatible. It’s arty nonsense. Rated PG-13 hated the world as it was and 7 Days in Entebbe wants to sought to destroy it in favor of a make a timely statement about Marxist utopia. “I only fear a life the value of negotiation over war. without meaning,” Kuhlmann declares. The Pal- “Our enemies are our neighbors,” Rabin reminds estinian leader is a little wary of their bitter ideo- his cabinet. “One day we must talk and make logical rhetoric. “You are here because you hate peace.” True, but Padilha and Burke seem to your country,” he tells Böse. “I am here because forget that the time was not right in 1976 with a I love mine.” planeload held by gunmen ready to kill. 24 | M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8
Wes Anderson writes and directs this odd film for dog lovers. Set in Japan, dogs are blamed for a flu epidemic and are subsequently banned to Trash Island. Atari (voiced by Koyu Rankin) is a 12-year-old orphan who steals a small plane and flies to the island where he searches for his beloved dog, Spots (voiced by Liev Schreiber). He meets a quartet of dogs promising to help (Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum and Bob Balaban). Atari’s story touches American exchange student Tracy (Greta Gerwig), who wants her Japanese peers to rise up against a terrible government policy. The film’s unusual story and unique brand of stop-andgo animation put it firmly in the range of weird, wonderful and wacky. (Lisa Miller)
Midnight Sun PG-13
There is simply no end to the romantic suffering of teenage girls. Example: Katie (Bella Thorne) has a rare disorder that renders her unable to tolerate sunlight. Raised by her single dad (Rob Riggle), Katie plays the guitar—exploring the street music scene under cover of darkness. Here she meets Charlie (Patrick Schwarzenegger), a neighbor she has long coveted from her bedroom window. Finally capturing the heart of her dreamboat, Katie hides her condition, risking dire physical and emotional consequences. We can put a man on the moon, but we can’t make an effective sunblock? Sigh. (L.M.)
Pacific Rim: Uprising PG-13
In Pacific Rim, Earth’s Jaeger pilots eventually defeated the monstrous Kaiju, even though two pilots must work in tandem and mind meld to control fighters. Set 10 years later, the sequel introduces a new generation of pilots who are somewhat dispirited after learning a rogue Jaeger has been helping the Kaiju. Their skill must evolve to match that of their constantly evolving enemy. In China, Pacific Rim was the sixth-highest-grossing American film of all time. Made by Legendary Pictures, this sequel got greenlit after Legendary was sold to China’s Wanda Group. Budgeted at $150 million, the second chapter is released in IMAX 3D, suitable both for viewing its enormous CGI creations as well as for maximizing ticket prices. (L.M.)
Sherlock Gnomes PG
In the heart of London, garden gnomes are going missing. Gnomeo (voiced by James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) join forces with the great Sherlock Gnomes (Johnny Depp) and Watson to solve the mysterious disappearances. The jokes seem to grow on trees. Fart gags for the rug rats and, for adults, witticisms such as “No Ship, Sherlock.” Like Gnomeo and Juliet (2011), this sequel is produced by Rocket Pictures, a British film company founded by Elton John, “to make family-friendly and music-themed projects.” Evidently, the latter provides a forum for John’s original song soundtrack. If sales live up to the first film (which earned an impressive $194 million on a $36 million budget), it’s safe to say John will never be “Gnome Alone.” (L.M.)
Unsane R
Feeling the pressures of working in what she perceives to be a man’s world, executive Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) becomes increasingly paranoid after finding herself stalked (mainly on her cell phone) by a mysterious man called David. Determined not to become a grim statistic, Sawyer moves to a new town; however, she is unable to shake the trauma of her experience and seeks therapy. Next thing Sawyer knows, she has been involuntarily committed to a mental institution and is unable to leave. Sawyer’s mother (Amy Irving) ineffectively attempts to help, but ultimately, neither the viewer nor Sawyer are certain as to what’s real and what isn’t. Assuming you’re up for director Steven Soderbergh’s grimy visuals, the effects of this puzzler are hard to shake. (L.M.)
A Wrinkle in Time PG
Meg Murry (Storm Reid) is a mentally gifted middle school student and the multi-ethnic daughter of two renowned physicists. Meg’s low self-esteem is compounded when her father (Chris Pine) goes missing. Along with her brilliant younger brother, Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), and fellow classmate Calvin (Levi Miller), Meg meets three beings who claim they can help the kids find Mr. Murry. These lovely celestial guides are Mrs. Which (a white-haired Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon topped in red hair) and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling). Their guides use a method of wrinkling time to transport the kids to other life-sustaining planets. These other worlds are spectacular; however, the kids learn Meg’s father is battling a great evil that is intent upon engulfing the universe. Disney’s theatrical release remakes the 2003 TV movie adapted from Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel. (L.M.)
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
A&E::BOOKS
[HOME MOVIES /OUT ON DIGITAL] n Get Out
Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) is a little wary of visiting his white girlfriend’s parents at their posh country home. But he has no idea of the fate intended for him. Writer-director Jordan Peele won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for this pointed social satire dressed in the blood-spurting trappings of a contemporary horror flick. Get Out works as a reminder of the discomfort of African Americans in a white world that remains patronizing at best.
n Dealt
Card magician Richard Turner begins his day with a workout, and before going on stage he recites tongue twisters. His mind is focused, his fingers are fast—and he’s blind. Luke Korem’s documentary, Dealt, looks at a man who has gone beyond his physical limitations. Interesting for its grasp on card tricks and inspiring for its story, Dealt includes interviews with family and admiring stagemagic colleagues along with footage of Turner in action cutting the deck.
n The Girl Without Hands
The Girl Without Hands represents the pushback to the software-driven animation that fills the multiplexes. French director Sébastien Laudenbach works with pen, paper and paint, crafting his take on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale with simple lines and color blocks that suggest—without replicating—Japanese woodblock prints. The Girl Without Hands won several awards and was screened at Cannes. The DVD/Blu-ray combo contains bonus features including an interview with Laudenbach and several of his short films.
n No Orchids for Miss Blandish
The staging is sometimes silly, it’s clearly a B-minus picture, but the 1948 thriller is interesting for several reasons. First of all, it’s a U.K. production set in New York, with an Anglo-American cast whose British members impersonate tough guy Yankee gangsters and their molls. Britain’s censorship was looser than in the U.S. at the time, making it racier than Hollywood allowed. Jack La Rue turns in a decent performance in cut-rate Bogart mode. —David Luhrssen
BOOK|HAPPENING
Warriors on the Streets of Milwaukee The literature of Vietnam veterans has been largely tapped out, but stories dealing with veterans of more recent foreign wars are coming to the fore. Many have to do with adjusting to civilian life. In his novel Nico’s Warriors, Wisconsin author Mitchell Nevin gets inside the heads of veterans who meet at a VA-sponsored group therapy session in Milwaukee. Afterward, they swap their problems of finding work over cheap tappers. And then comes a moment of destiny and the decisions it demands. Will they play vigilante in the drug wars? Nico’s Warriors is a page-turner set on the familiar streets of Milwaukee. Nevin will sign books 2-4 p.m., Thursday, March 22, at Mama D’s, 104 W. Main St., Wales.
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
BOOK|PREVIEW
New Book Sheds Light on the Untold History of the Milwaukee Braves ::BY MATTHEW J. PRIGGE
T
he history of the Milwaukee Braves is usually one told with a heavy dose of nostalgia and sepia-toned reverence for a lost and innocent era. Milwaukee took the Braves in, loved them dearly as they become world-beaters, and was left heartbroken when the team abandoned the city and its loyal fanbase. It’s not an untrue account of what happened, but one that is certainly lacking. Patrick W. Steele’s Home of the Braves: The Battle for Baseball in Milwaukee (University of Wisconsin Press) gets behind the box score on the history of the Braves and recounts how the Milwaukee Braves both came to be and came to leave. Steele’s book deals almost exclusively with the business and political aspects of the Braves’ time in the city. Digging into the county archives, he reveals the tensions between the team and the county surrounding revenues of the stadium that the taxpayers built, but that the team filled. The county wanted the ballpark to be the asset that it was promised to be when millions were spent to build it before Milwaukee even had a big league team. The Braves were happy to contribute, even reworking their lease to pay more each season, but when the initial attendance boom that came with the move and the 1957-1958 World Series appearances faded, the club found itself in a precarious financial situation. Team owner Lou Perini unloaded the team in 1962 to a cadre of Chicagobased investors. Almost immediately, there were rumors of the team’s relocation and the rest of the Braves' time in the city was strained by the prospect of their departure. The bulk of the book is dedicated to the painful and drawn-out loss of the team to Atlanta, with the county and state fighting a legal battle to retain a team that was actively trying to flee Milwaukee. It was a sad and nasty split, a saga that caused the once-loyal Milwaukee fans to abandon the Braves and hope only that a new team might take their place. Home of the Braves tells a history that is worth reading and remembering. It gets beyond the myths and nostalgia about the Braves and Milwaukee and reveals a rocky relationship between team and town that saw a shotgun wedding give way to a messy divorce. Join author Patrick W. Steele at Zimmerman Architectural Studios, 2122 W. Mt. Vernon Drive, at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28 for the publication party of Home of the Braves. The event is co-sponsored by the Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear, Boswell Book Company and the University of Wisconsin Press. Admission is $5, refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase.
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You are invited to our Milwaukee Women’s Leadership Luncheon
::HEARMEOUT ASK RUTHIE | UPCOMING EVENTS | PAUL MASTERSON
::RUTHIE’SSOCIALCALENDAR March 22: Chamber on Tap at Double Tree by Hilton (18155 W. Bluemound Road): Happy hour cocktails meet networking opportunities when the LGBT Chamber of Commerce hosts these monthly get togethers. Swing by the Brookfield hotel between 5:30 and 7 p.m. for some elbow rubbing, business building and friend making.
featuring Ashley Brundage, Inclusion Consultant and VP at PNC Financial Services Group
March 22: ‘Chefs: A Sizzling Kitchen Showdown’ at Pabst Theater (144 E. Wells St.): Spice up your mealtime routine! Described as “Iron Chef meets Magic Mike,” this hunk-a-licious show combines hot male chefs with crazy cooking challenges. The losers of each challenge shed a piece of clothing...or four. Don’t miss this hilarious, too-hot-for-TV live performance. Tickets start at $29.50 for the 18+ show. Visit pabsttheater.org for more.
Wednesday, March 28 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saz’s South Second 838 S 2nd St Milwaukee, WI $30 for Chamber members $40 for non-Chamber members Register online at www.WisLGBTChamber.com
Girls Will Be Girls Dear Ruthie,
LOVE LIFE ENTERTAINMENT ADVICE
Dear Ruthie says, “Hear Me Out! ”
AND FOR EVEN MORE FUN VISIT RUTHIE AND CYNTHIA AT RUTHIE’S BITCHIN KITCHEN.COM
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Some girlfriends and I are planning a “girls’ weekend” to Door County. In the past, when we’ve had such a trip, it was understood that this meant no husbands allowed. To be honest, I think the guys enjoyed the time alone! Recently, one of our girlfriends came out of the closet and has been dating a woman for the past four months. Our friend invited her girlfriend to our girls’ weekend. We’re torn because while she certainly has the lady parts to fit the girls’-weekend prerequisite, she’s still the partner of our friend. That said, we’re torn if she should be joining our leave-our-partners-at-home fun. What do you think? How should the five of us proceed?
Help a Girl Out, Desperately Seeking Suggestions Dear Desperate, Have no fear; Ruthie’s here! Take your friend aside and remind her that this was to be a no-partners weekend. Let her know that if she still wants to bring her new love, there’s no issue with doing so. After all, it’s not the woman’s fault your gal-pal invited her along. So regardless of what happens, don’t take any ill will out on this lady or make the poor broad feel uncomfortable. Simply enjoy the girls’-night-out-gone-wild-weekend! Y’all raise a toast and toss one back for me, okay?
March 24: Party for Heart at LVL Dance (801 S. Second St.): If you haven’t hit up this annual 4-9 p.m. benefit for One Heartland, a camp helping kids whose lives are affected by HIV/AIDS, now’s your chance. Hosted by Karen Valentine, the drag show starts at 6 p.m., but there’s plenty of raffles, drink specials, food and mingling to keep you entertained all night long. I can’t wait to see you there! What a great way to check out the changes made as La Cage becomes LVL! March 24: ‘Dan Savage: Savage Love Live’ at The Barrymore Theatre (2090 Atwood Ave., Madison): Funny man, monologist and social-commentary icon, Dan Savage hits Mad City with his hilarious, thought-provoking, one-man show. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. presentation. Visit barrymorelive.com for tickets that start at $35. March 24: Dragrassic Park 3 at D.I.X. (739 S. First St.): The park is open for a prehistoric romp full of drag-tastic delights. Everyone’s favorite Chicago hostess, Trannika Rex, takes the mic to host the 10 p.m. evening of dancing, drinks and drag. March 24: Aquaria at This Is It (418 E. Wells St.): The latest season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is barely underway, and the stars are already working the bar circuit. Be the first to see one of the season 10 queens when the lovely Aquaria swims into Cream City for a free 9 p.m. appearance. March 25: ‘Puddles’ Pity Party’ at Pabst Theater (144 E. Wells St.): The selfproclaimed “sad clown with the golden voice” returns to Brew Town with this 8:30 p.m. concert. The change-of-pace night is one you’re not soon to forget as Puddles mixes his insatiable gift of song with humor and tender moments alike. Visit pabsttheater.org for the $32.50 tickets. March 27: Opening Night of ‘Les Misérables’ at Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (929 N. Water St.): See why theatergoers can’t get enough of this reimagined version of one of Broadway’s most popular hits. From the dazzling new staging and scenery to the heartfelt songs and story that have pulled at heartstrings for decades, this production of Les Misérables is one not to be missed. Find tickets through the April 1 closing at marcuscenter.org. March 28: Women’s Leadership Luncheon at Saz’s South Second (838 S. Second St.): Milwaukee’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce hosts this 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. event, featuring a keynote speaker (VP of PNC Financial Services Group Ashley Brundage), networking opportunities and lunch. Visit eventbrite.com for tickets and sponsorship packages, starting at $30. Want to appear on Ruthie’s social calendar? Need her advice? Email DearRuthie@Shepex.com and follow her on Instagram @ruthiekeester and Facebook Ruthie Keester. SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::MYLGBTQPoint of View
6th annual
Wisconsin Legislature Considers Bills to Allow Discrimination ::BY PAUL MASTERSON
T
his winter has been one of discontent for LGBTQs. Currently on the agenda in Madison are Senate Bill 634 and Assembly Bill 748. The pair enables the State of Wisconsin to forbid local municipalities to pass ordinances to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination. In Milwaukee, there was the announcement of an HIV/STI cluster of more than 125 new cases in the past year. It made national news. And then, a Milwaukee Common Council committee recommended a local ban of conversion therapy for minors. They may seem to be independent matters, but for LGBTQ people, they intersect. In fact, they are all part of a grander theme of cause and effect. The Wisconsin legislative bills target people for being LGBTQ. If enacted, they could not only negatively impact the state financially, but, at the same time, they would continue an incessant right-wing attack on our community. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, there was the cluster of new HIV/STI infections. In response, various health organizations, including AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW), Diverse & Resilient and Milwaukee Health Department, assembled to address the calamity as if they were responsible for it. It was like hauling in the Lung Association to answer for the cigarette industry’s responsibility for cancer. In reality, organizations like ARCW grew largely in response to government inaction. It was frustrating to hear the litany of the obvious attributions for the outbreak: funding cuts, stigma, homophobia and racism. Conspicuously absent from the event were members of other influential entities, like churches. Stigma is a major factor. For many, sexuality is a difficult subject, especially if religious or SHEPHERD EXPRESS
cultural influences create a barrier to the candid conversation that is necessary to achieve behavioral responsibility. The animosity towards LGBTQs results in stigma. No one wants to be an outcast. So people conform outwardly to expectations, denying who they are and, as a result, avoiding health awareness associated with same-sex relations. Speaking of stigma, two Milwaukee councilmen’s abstentions (Ald. Mark Borkowski and Ald. Bob Donovan) during a Milwaukee Common Council committee vote on banning conversion therapy for minors is another part of the problem. Conversion therapy is a debunked, pseudo-scientific practice intended to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals based on the premise that homosexuality is a curable disease. Over the decades, its methods have spanned the spectrum from lobotomies and electro-shock to exorcism and simple counseling. All are discredited. In states where it is banned, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against challenges. Essentially, conversion therapy for minors is child abuse. But, here in Cream City, those abstaining cited religion and “government overreach” in “family matters.” It was really another act of cowardice by those entrusted with leadership. But for that, youth are responding to failed leadership. They are neither willing to be shot down dead in the name of a misrepresented Second Amendment nor victimized in the name of some archaic interpretation of religion that includes an animus towards those who are different. We need to support them. Change comes through voting. The next election, for Wisconsin Supreme Court judge, is coming up. Less than 12% of eligible voters participated in the primary for this race. To be fair, it rained that day. Hopefully, the sun will be out on Tuesday, April 3.
Saturday, April 21, 2018 WI State Fair Expo Center VIP: 1-2pm ($75) GA: 2-6pm ($45)
Unlimited craft beer, cheese, sausage and food samples for the taking. NOT A FAN OF BEER ? There will also be cideries, wineries and distilleries! Presented by
Your friends at Old Forester & Korbel remind you to drink responsibly.
shepherdtickets.com Limited VIP Tickets available. This event is for 21+. IDs will be checked at the door. M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | 27
::MUSIC
For more MUSIC, log onto shepherdexpress.com
THE BLOOM EFFECT
FEATURE | ALBUM REVIEWS | CONCERT REVIEWS | LOCAL MUSIC
Lowdown Brass Band
The Lowdown Brass Band Blends Brass and Hip-Hop
“We’re like a hip-hop Chicago,” said Loiselle. “We like any type of music with horns in it.” Loiselle also cites the Windy City’s jazz and blues as an influence. “Pretty much anything Chicago has for urban music, we’re about that,” he said. Three years ago, Chicago rapper MC Billa Camp joined the group ::BY CATHERINE JOZWIK to introduce a hip-hop sound. The band maintains a hectic schedule, playing about 150 shows a year, including jazz festivals in udiences find it difficult to stand still during a Lowdown Brass Band concert. Canada. They will embark on a Pacific Northwest tour Known for their blood-pumping performances, the Chicago band is touring the starting in Alaska this summer. Also, the band released their self-titled debut album in 2008 and have Midwest, Canada and the East Coast to promote their latest album, Lowdown gone on to record three more full-length albums, inBreaks, released in January. As part of that tour, they’ll play Anodyne Coffee cluding a Christmas one, a 45 and an EP. According to in Walker’s Point on Saturday, March 24. Milwaukee musician, producer and Loiselle, the band plans to continue experimenting songwriter Klassik will open up for the group. with new genres going forward. “We’re working on a reggae album right now,” he said. The group also plans to release a dubstep remix of “We Just Wanna playing tuba and continued playing in his high Combining elements of New Be,” the title track off their 2009 second album. school marching band. He met fellow brass band Orleans Dixieland jazz, funk, ska, Although some of Lowdown’s members work as enthusiasts Dave Levine, Shane Jonas and Chris Latin music and hip-hop, Lowfull-time musicians, others hold day Neal when he came to Chicago in down Brass Band has a staggerjobs. Loiselle, Jonas and several other ing 11 members, including two the early 2000s to study music at members work as educators in the DePaul University. Together, they drummers, trumpeters, tromChicago community. The group has bonists, a sousaphone player, decided to form the Lowdown Brass Lowdown organized several youth and colBand. Although the band’s lineup has vocalist and saxophonist. Brass Band legiate music education clinics nachanged in the last decade and a half, Due to logistics, however, tionwide, which the group has really Anodyne Coffee the four core members remain. only about six or seven band members go on tour, enjoyed, said Loiselle. Memorable Lowdown’s influences include according to Lance Loiselle, one of the band’s four Saturday, experiences include band members groups such as New Orleans-based founding members. Loiselle plays the sousaphone, March 24, 8 p.m. leading 600 students in a conga line The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Chicago, a more portable version of the traditional tuba while guest artists at the Wyoming The Specials, Earth Wind and Fire, invented by American marching band composer Educators State Conference. Tower of Power and early Kool and John Philip Sousa. He has also produced some of the “You really have to be educating the Gang. “The Dirty Dozen Brass band’s albums and videos. people to continue this tradition. We’re trying to Band is my favorite band of all time,” said Loiselle. “I have my hands in a little bit of everything,” Lospread the message of the music,” he said. Although the band started out playing traditional iselle said during a telephone interview. Lowdown Brass Band play Anodyne Coffee on SatNew Orleans brass pieces, they quickly began writThe Detroit native, who said he’s always been urday, March 24, at 8 p.m. with Klassik. Their music is ing their own music, expanding their repertoire to interested in music, started playing piano and singstreaming at lowdownbrassband.bandcamp.com. include elements of more modern music. ing at an early age. While in sixth grade, he started
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SHEPHERD EXPRESS
MUSIC::CONCERTREVIEW MELISSA MILLER
::LOCALMUSIC
Cairns Explore the Boundaries of Lo-Fi on “Cluttered Sky” ::BY EVAN RYTLEWSKI
C
more. It’s a little warmer, I think, even though it’s kind of a pain to set up. It takes twice as long, basically.” The EP’s opening tracks are better representative of the more ambitious, more collaborative, newer directions that the band has taken. Even as it peaks and swells, introducing one twist and turn after another, the EP’s eightminute standout, “Atmosphere,” has the loose, jazzy feel of a jam session. “That one we wrote collaboratively, and it just turned into this long, long thing,” Larkin says. “We did one take for that one. We actually played it wrong, but we left it; there were a few transitional things that we didn’t do right, but I guess it doesn’t matter, because no one else would know. It’s also a little longer than it should be, because we played some parts longer than we intended to.” During their short run, Cairns has kept a fairly low profile which, combined with the members’ many other commitments, can give the band the feel of a side project (members also play in bands Calliope and Gauss, and two of them, Caley Conway and D’Amato, lead solo projects). Even Larkin splits his time across several bands, but he pushes back against the perception that Cairns is a side project. “I feel like we get portrayed that way,” he say. “I think it just probably looks like that because we all have our own projects. But we still practice once a week, and at least for me, this is my main thing. Some people might think of us as a side project, but it never seems like that to me.” Cairns’ Cluttered Sky is streaming at cairnsmke.bandcamp.com.
They Might Be Giants Showcased the Old and the New
::BY THOMAS MICHALSKI
T
JOE KIRSCHLING
Cairns’ new Cluttered Sky EP splits its 28 minutes almost equally between two iterations of the band. Drenched in a haze of guitar and saxophones, a pair of dream-pop tracks open the EP with the dramatic gust of some of Broken Social Scene’s most memorable work. They’re washed out but lush and vaguely shoegazey, which is about what you’d expect from songs recorded and mixed by Kevin Dixon of Brief Candles. The EP’s other four songs date back a bit, though. More overtly lo-fi than those opening tracks, they’re ambient-leaning solo recordings that the band’s primary songwriter, John Larkin, tracked a couple of summers ago during a fit of productivity when he was holed up with a broken foot. “I definitely lean toward the lofi, tape noise sort of sound, just because I like it, but I’m not really aiming for it,” Larkins says. “It’s just a byproduct of my means. I don’t really think too much about the production quality just because it’s going to sound how it turns out. I just want it to sound the best I can.” Larkin says his home recording setup usually involves a four-track tape recorder, but he also sometimes records using a VHS cassette player. “I just do single track stuff, so it’s just an acoustic guitar, which goes through the mixer, then that goes through the tape player, and then I’ll play that back onto my computer and mix it,” he explains. “I think I’m starting to move toward sounds that are more hi-fi, but back then, I didn’t have a nice interface for my computer. But it definitely creates a sound that I like a little
They Might Be Giants
Cairns
SHEPHERD EXPRESS
he alternative rock explosion of the mid-1980s, bolstered by thenbooming college radio stations, produced plenty of acts that showed the promise of true staying power. Surveying the scene decades later, however, most have either burned out spectacularly, faded into obscurity or, perhaps worse, are irrevocably stuck in the nostalgia circuit. Interestingly, many of those that have stayed around and remained active were originally the oddballs and outcasts, deemed to be unmarketable longshots by the conventional wisdom of contemporary A&R people, and there are few better examples than They Might Be Giants. Two nerdy guys named John—setting out armed with little more than nasally voices and an accordion—somehow managed to turn their quirky artistic vision into lasting international success which, as demonstrated by Friday’s performance at the Pabst Theater, seems largely thanks to their irrepressible sense of humor. That devotion to musical mischief comes through in the title of their 20th studio album, I Like Fun, that the pair pulled into town to promote sans warm-up act (in a perfect world, this would be standard practice; honestly, how often do openers for big tours feel like anything other than a favor for some promoter or another?). The crowd didn’t need any additional entertainment to get them going, and when the stage exploded with swirling spotlights and cheesy game show-style intro music, they really let loose. When John Flansburgh and John Linnell, accompanied by a skilled backing band, sarcastically kicked things off with the latest record’s lead-off track “Let’s Get This Over With” the applause lasted well into the song. After a few more new numbers, and plenty of ingratiating between-tune banter, which eventually touched on everything from the infamous 1992 stage collapse at the Modjeska Theater to obsessing over the Bronze Fonz (and was all delivered with the natural timing of a seasoned comedy duo), they explained the concept behind this tour’s setlist. As they put it, fans tend to dread new material from familiar faces, so they decided to split the proceedings in two—the first segment largely getting the necessary hype out of the way; the second being a dive into their catalogue for deep cuts and fan favorites. Despite the self-deprecating jokes about long-established acts’ obligatory new albums, though, the first set offered plenty of highlights, including standouts from the new release and, most memorably, their viral cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills.” Even though the crowd clearly enjoyed the recent material, one or two waving vinyl copies eagerly awaiting autographs, the second set, as promised, offered the kind of fan-service that really kicked things up a notch, and which, over the years, has steadily nourished their cultish following. Included among the assortment of hits and B-sides were staples like “Particle Man,”“Istanbul” and “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” as well as obscure detours like “The Guitar”—their reimagining of the ubiquitous sing-along “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Taking the idea of this being a throwback set to the extreme; they even busted out a surprisingly rocking tribute to “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,” inarguably the biggest hit of the 1840 U.S. presidential election. When they first emerged, few took TMBG seriously. Thirty-some years later, it’s refreshing to see they still don’t take themselves too seriously, either.
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MUSIC::LISTINGS THURSDAY, MARCH 22
Amelia's, Jackson Dordel Jazz Quintet (4pm) Angelo's Piano Lounge, Acoustic Guitar Night Cactus Club, Blax w/Crashprez & Greediphresh Cafe Carpe (Fort Atkinson), Paper Birds w/Claudia Russell, Katie Dahl, Bruce Kaplan & Rich Higdon Caroline's Jazz Club, The Group w/Eddie Butts Circle-A Cafe, Alive at Eight: Mike Gent (of The Figgs) w/ Domenic Marcantonia (8pm); DJ: (10pm) Clarke Hotel (Waukesha), Jeff Stoll and JoAnna Marie (6pm) Colectivo Coffee (On Prospect), Charlie Hunter Trio County Clare Irish Inn & Pub, Acoustic Irish Folk w/Barry Dodd Garfield's 502, Ex Fabula StorySlam: TMI Jazz Estate, Organ Night w/Jeno Somlai Mason Street Grill, Mark Thierfelder Jazz Trio (5:30pm) Mezcalero Restaurant, Ultimate Open Jam w/Abracadabra Nice Ash Cigar Bar (Waukesha), Jude Kinnear Acoustic O'Donoghues Irish Pub (Elm Grove), The All-Star SUPERband (6pm) Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Kevin Kennedy is Special K (8pm), In the Fire Pit: Little Feather w/Amileigha & Jeremy from Rebel Grace (8:30pm) Rounding Third Bar and Grill, World's Funniest Free Comedy Show Shank Hall, Selwyn Birchwood The Bay Restaurant, Zosia Holden The Packing House Restaurant, Barbara Stephan & Peter Mac (6pm) Transfer Pizzeria Cafe, Martini Jazz Lounge Up & Under Pub, A No Vacancy Comedy Open Mic
FRIDAY, MARCH 23
Alley Cat Lounge (Five O'Clock Steakhouse), Joe Richter & Those Fabulous Tremtones Ally's Bistro (Menomonee Falls), CP, Stoll & Wiegratz w/Chris Peppas, Jeff Stoll & Warren Wiegratz American Legion Post #449 (Brookfield), Vintage Vegas (6:30pm) American Legion of Okauchee #399, Larry Lynne Trio Angelo's Piano Lounge, Julie's Piano Karaoke Cactus Club, No Stress Dance Collective Presents El amor está en el Aire Cafe Carpe (Fort Atkinson), Sonofmel &the Slideman Circle-A Cafe, Alive at Eight: Real Numbers w/Ravi/Lola (8pm); DJ: Fazio (10pm) Clarke Hotel (Waukesha), Dick Eliot Jazz Guitar (6pm) Club Garibaldi, Daikaiju w/Bleed & The Ornerys Colectivo Coffee (On Prospect), In Tall Buildings w/J.E. Sunde ComedySportz Milwaukee, ComedySportz Milwaukee! Company Brewing, S2D w/Tigernite & Mortgage Freeman County Clare Irish Inn & Pub, Traditional Irish Ceilidh Session Crawdaddy's, Marcel Guyton
Frank's Power Plant, The Hungry Williams Hops & Leisure (Oconomowoc), One Shot Wally Band Jazz Estate, Donna Woodall Group (8pm), Late Night Session: Scott Currier Trio (11:30pm) Lakefront Brewery, Brewhaus Polka Kings (5:30pm) Linneman's Riverwest Inn, Equinox Music Festival: Antler House, The Atomic Spins, Pretty Beggar & For The Culture Lucky Chance, Craig Omick & Friends All-Star Band & Open Jam w/Ricky Orta Jr., Don Woppert, Steve Kendziora & Matt Ostlund Mamie's, Harvey Westmoreland Mason Street Grill, Phil Seed Trio (6pm) Orson's Saloon (Cudahy), Andrea & The Mods Pabst Theater, The Pump and Dump Show Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Katie Mack & The Moan (9pm), In the Fire Pit: Little Feather w/Amileigha & Jeremy from Rebel Grace (9:30pm) Riverside Theater, Earth, Wind & Fire Route 20 Outhouse (Sturtevant), Duosonic Shank Hall, Material Reissue w/Cabin Essence The Bay Restaurant, Will Ulrich The Packing House Restaurant, Dave Miller Jazz & Blues Quartet (6:30pm) Turner Hall Ballroom, The Milwaukee Moth GrandSLAM Theme: Game On Up & Under Pub, Alcohol Rules
SATURDAY, MARCH 24
4 Points By Sheraton-Airport, Elvis Fest VIII Rocks The Legends 7 Mile Fair (Caledonia), Billy Flynn (12pm) American Legion Post #449 (Brookfield), Larry Lynne Band Angelo's Piano Lounge, Piano Night Anodyne Coffee (Walker's Point), The Lowdown Brass Band Arriba Mexican Restaurant (Butler), Greg & Ollie Davis Duo Art*Bar, Jonny T-Bird & Big Dad Beulah Brinton House, Shannon Heaton in Concert (4pm) Brat Stop (Kenosha), SRIM Fest: Cactii Cactus Club, Cleric w/Uhtcearu & Ara Cafe Carpe (Fort Atkinson), Open Stage Circle-A Cafe, Alive at Eight: The Royal Blue w/The Sketchballs (8pm); DJ: DJ Dolls (10pm) Colectivo Coffee (On Prospect), Corky Siegel & Sam Lay w/ Kalyan Pathak ComedySportz Milwaukee, ComedySportz Milwaukee! Company Brewing, EGi & Chachuba Cue Club of Wisconsin (Waukesha), Highfield Drive Dousman / Ottawa Lion's Community Center, The Ricochettes Five O'Clock Steakhouse, Kirk Tatnall Hilton Milwaukee City Center, Vocals & Keys Hops & Leisure (Oconomowoc), Killer Clowns
Jazz Estate, Record Session: Joe Henderson's IN&OUT (8pm), Late Night Session: Anthony Deutsch Quartet (11:30pm) Linneman's Riverwest Inn, Midwest Original Music Festival Battle of the Bands Finals Mad Planet, Voodoohoney presents: Cowboy Bebop Vs. Samurai Champloo Mason Street Grill, Jonathan Wade Trio (6pm) Mezcalero Restaurant, Montage Motor Bar & Restaurant, American Blues w/Danny Draher, EG McDaniel & Jimi Schutte (5:30pm) Orchard Inn (Menomonee Falls), David "Elvis" Kirby & his Memphis Cadillacs w/The Falcons Orson's Saloon (Cudahy), Cityboy Pabst Theater, Alvvays Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, In Bar 360: Christopher’s Project (9pm), In the Fire Pit: Little Feather w/Geoff Landon (9:30pm) Rave / Eagles Club, El Coyote w/El Mayito Alvarado & Maxima Dosis (all-ages, 9pm), Hatebreed w/Crowbar, The Acacia Strain & Twitching Tongues (all-ages, 7:30pm), Protest The Hero w/ Closure In Moscow & Thank You Scientist (all-ages, 8pm) Riverside Theater, William Shatner Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Route 20 Outhouse (Sturtevant), Bella Cain Shank Hall, Buckethead The Bay Restaurant, Funky Chemist The Cheel (Thiensville), Andrew Gelles Band The Coffee House, Bill and Lin O’Connor and Larry Theiss The Lakeside Supper Club & Lounge (Oconomowoc), 5 Card Studs The Packing House Restaurant, Mauree McGavock (6:30pm) Unitarian Church North, Wisconsin Singer/Songwriter Series presents: Claudia Russell & Bruce Kaplan Up & Under Pub, Down2Dance Westallion Brewing Company, Robert Allen Jr. Band
SUNDAY, MARCH 25
7 Mile Fair (Caledonia), Billy Flynn (12pm) Angelo's Piano Lounge, Live Karaoke w/Julie Brandenburg Cactus Club, SilverFoxxx w/Cactus Brothers & Camp Sugar Circle-A Cafe, Alive at Eight: Derek Pritzl and Friends (8pm); DJ: Sextor (10pm) Dugout 54, Dugout 54 Sunday Open Jam Hops & Leisure (Oconomowoc), Full Band Open Jam Kochanski's Concertina Beer Hall, Evacuate the Earth & Staff (2pm) Lucky Chance, Ross The Boss Band (Manowar) Pabst Theater, Puddles Pity Party Puddler's Hall, Les Martin Band (2pm) Rounding Third Bar and Grill, The Dangerously Strong Comedy Open Mic Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, "Blowing in the Wind" with David HB Drake (2pm) Shank Hall, Andrew Pope
The Coffee House, Open Stage The Packing House Restaurant, Jazz Unlimited Jazz Jam: Adekola Adedapo Quartet (1pm)
MONDAY, MARCH 26
Linneman's Riverwest Inn, Poet's Monday w/host Timothy Kloss & featured reader Tommy Anthony (sign-up 7:30pm, 8-10:30pm) Mason Street Grill, Joel Burt Duo (5:30pm) Paulie's Pub and Eatery, Open Jam w/Christopher John Shank Hall, Chris Duarte Group w/Altered Five Blues Band The Astor Cafe & Pub, The Chris Hanson Band w/Robin Pluer (6pm) Up & Under Pub, Open Mic w/Marshall McGhee and the Wanderers
TUESDAY, MARCH 27
C Notes Upscale Sports Lounge, Another Night-Another Mic Open Mic w/host The Original Darryl Hill Frank's Power Plant, Duck and Cover Comedy Open Mic Jazz Estate, The Erotic Adventures of The Static Chicken Mamie's, Open Blues Jam w/Stokes Mason Street Grill, Jamie Breiwick Group (5:30pm) McAuliffe's Pub (Racine), Jim Yorgan Sextet Shank Hall, Drivin' N Cryin' w/The Supersuckers The Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, Jazz Jam Session Transfer Pizzeria Cafe, Transfer House Band w/Dennis Fermenich Turner Hall Ballroom, Fozzy w/Through Fire, Santa Cruz & Dark Sky Choir
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28
Cafe Carpe (Fort Atkinson), John Statz w/Hayward Williams Caroline's Jazz Club, American Blues w/Eddie Taylor Jr., EG McDaniel & Jimi Schutte Conway's Smokin' Bar & Grill, Open Jam w/Big Wisconsin Johnson High Dive, The Voodoohoney Pirates Jazz Estate, Duo Night w/MRS. FUN Kochanski's Concertina Beer Hall, Polka Open Jam Linneman's Riverwest Inn, Acoustic Open Stage w/feature Erica Bergstrom (sign-up 8:30pm, start 9pm) Mason Street Grill, Jamie Breiwick Group (5:30pm) Mezcalero Restaurant, The Jammers Paulie's Field Trip, Humpday Jam w/Dave Wacker & Mitch Cooper Rave / Eagles Club, RAW: Envision (ages 18-plus, 7pm) Shank Hall, Billy Cobham's Crosswinds Project The Packing House Restaurant, Carmen Nickerson & Kostia Efimov (6pm) Turner Hall Ballroom, Andy Grammer
Shepherd
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SHEPHERD EXPRESS
::ONTHECOUCH
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Something bugging you? Find out what the Shrink thinks
Those HighMaintenance Childhood Friends! Dear Shrink,
I feel like a real jerk for saying this. I have a friend from childhood who’s like a sister to me, but she’s become so high-maintenance and needy I’m ready to scream. She has a lot of drama going on in her life, and it wears me out. Lately, I find myself making up excuses for why I can’t get together. I definitely need a new strategy, because she’s picking up my resistance and asking pointed questions. Got any ideas?
The Shrink Replies
This is a tough one. There are a lot of ingredients here that most of us prefer to avoid at all costs: dealing with conflict, having to admit an unpleasant truth, owning your right to change when it is something that probably won’t be popular with your friend; shall I go on? You do need a proactive plan for this, because she’s in your life to stay, given that you feel a sisterly bond with her. Sometimes, old, long-standing friendships need tweaks and adjustments if they are to survive over the long haul. Times change, people change and life circumstances change, often in divergent ways. The things that bonded you together in your youth aren’t necessarily the things that will keep you together now. The most durable long-term friendships have a way of changing and growing with the times versus relying solely on history as the glue that holds people in place with each other. You can’t go on avoiding her, so you have to summon some bravery and creativity and change up your tired, outdated relationship pattern. Here are some ideas. I suggest you find another friend or partner who knows about your predicament to role-play with as you explore different ways to communicate with your challenging friend. Set Limits Since your pal has gotten in the habit of turning to you as an ever-patient sounding board, attentively listening to her venting about her latest relationship or work drama, you need to take the lead on doing it differently. You can’t change her, but if you change the way you interact with her, the dynamic between the two of you will shift. For example, if she wants to meet for a glass of wine after work, and your experience has been that one glass turns into two, turns into dinner, etc., be firm in setting a time limit from the get-go: “I can grab a quick drink, but I need to be home by 7.” She won’t be used to you actually getting up and leaving, but be strong and do it. Even if you’re having a good time and her kvetching is at a minimum, stick to your limit anyway. It’s good practice for those times when she’s in her “woe is me” place and you really do need to remove yourself. Be Honest About the Easy Stuff SHEPHERD EXPRESS
If your texting or phone conversation is going on way too long, firmly let her know you have to stop. You’re fried, you had an intense day at work, you’re on the edge of a headache and need to close your eyes and chill for a while—all of which could be absolutely true! You don’t have to add that you really just can’t hear another mind-numbing re-hash of the latest episode about her partner cheating on her. Be prepared for her to blow right past your desire to end the conversation. This is why you need some rehearsal time to have a partner roleplay her likely responses so you’re prepared for them rather than getting worn down in the moment and caving in the face of her persistence. Be More Proactive and Less Reactive Though she drives you crazy at times, there are other times she doesn’t, right? If there are things you enjoy doing together—especially outer-focused activities like going to a movie or maybe a cooking class—be the first one to propose it. This gives you more control over what, when and where and provides a built-in limit-setting strategy. Engaging in more active pursuits might leave less time for the extended monologues about her problem du jour. Be Consistent and Predictable You have a busy life, and there’s only so much time to go around. This might seem too structured, but tell her you’re trying a new approach to social activities by putting people on a regular rotation. Decide how much time you are able to spend with her—a half-hour walk after work twice a week, dinner every other Tuesday, etc. If you are avoiding her and she feels it, her efforts to corral you will only increase. She’s afraid you’re abandoning her, so don’t abandon. But give only the time to her that you can lovingly give without resentment. It may take a while to figure out what that looks and feels like, but give it a shot. It may not be enough for her, but it’s what you have to offer at this point in time. You have the right to define your own limits, and hopefully she will respect that. Talk More About Yourself If she monopolizes conversations, maybe it’s time for you to even things out and take equal time to talk about things you have on your mind. When faced with a person who seems to attract drama, it feels as though they suck all of the air out of the room when you’re with them. Friendship is a two-way street. You may be cast in the role of the “wise counselor” or “the one who’s got it all together,” and that allows her to maintain her one-down position as the “damsel in distress.” Change up the equation. Everyone’s got a little drama going on in their life, and she’s an expert on the subject! Next time, try being the one who needs her and see what wise advice she has to dispense. Human beings are decidedly imperfect characters, works in progress. We’re all in it together, keeping each other company along the way. Try to see beyond your friend’s annoying quirks and be grateful that she’s been walking next to you for a long time, for better and for worse. On the Couch is written by a licensed mental health professional. Her advice is not meant as a substitute for mental health care. Send your questions to onthecouch@shepex. com. Comment at shepherdexpress.com.
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414.292.3816 M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | 31
THEME CROSSWORD
WEALTH MANAGEMENT By James Barrick
PSYCHO SUDOKU! “Kaidoku”
Each of the 26 letters of the alphabet is represented in this grid by a number between 1 and 26. Using letter frequency, word-pattern recognition, and the numbers as your guides, fill in the grid with well-known English words (HINT: since a Q is always followed by a U, try hunting down the Q first). Only lowercase, unhyphenated words are allowed in kaidoku, so you won’t see anything like STOCKHOLM or LONG-LOST in here (but you might see AFGHAN, since it has an uncapitalized meaning, too). Now stop wasting my precious time and SOLVE! psychosudoku@gmail.com 1 7 2
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DOWN 1. Hideout 2. Cause for complaint 3. Disadvantage 4. Abbr. in grammar 5. Milk protein 6. Footless creatures 7. Legs 8. Old French coin 9. Made known 10.Jimmies 11.Terra firma 12.— Enterprise 13.Mock serenade 14.Jack mackerel 15.“L’—, c’est moi”
16.Memorization 17.Ne plus ultra 23.“Sesame Street” star 24.Itchy affliction 26.Itinerant 30.Outfit 33.Bettor’s concern 34.In a way offering justification 35.Gall 36.Wind 37.Old Greek weight 38.Poison 39.Yellow jacket cousin 40.Flit 41.Shoe part 42.Mentions 44.Orbiting object 45.Like designs based on simple shapes 48.Shows 49.Jobs or Martin 50.Moved slowly with care 52.Orchestra members 53.Shed 54.Certain runner 55.Set of steps 57.Assignment 58.Urn’s contents 59.Title for a Parisienne 60.Elliman or De Carlo
61.Rock salt 62.Golden award 63.Pickles 67.Go after 69.— of March 70.Connect, in a way, or divide, in a way 71.Utah town 72.Watchful 74.Noted attorney — Darrow 75.Masculinity 76.Back muscles, for short 78.Panic 79.Coarse 80.Actress — Swinton 82.Stylish 83.Dernier — 84.Film studio name 86.Fragrant wood 87.Savoir — 88.Simians 89.Tie 90.Queen of Greek gods 91.Half: Prefix 92.A state: Abbr. 94.Remotely 95.Leader’s position 97.Male one 99.Literary collection 100. Harden
Solution to last week’s puzzle
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3/15 Solution
WORD FIND This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 25 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.
Dining Out Solution: 25 Letters
© 2018 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.
73.Lois of “Superman” 74.— saltpeter 75.Fabled greedy king 76.Vega’s constellation 77.K-O link 78.Of a gray color 79.Marathoner 80.Diminish by degrees 81.Pod 83.Bubbly beverages 84.Part 4 of quip: 2 wds. 85.Thin 86.Vicious 87.Fictive 88.Hold fast 91.Condescend 92.Reddish chalcedony 93.Uh-uh 96.Rolled out 98.End of the quip: 4 wds. 101. Lugs 102. Insensible state 103. Springe 104. Abbr. in a citation 105. Pendulate 106. Arab bigwig 107. Falcon 108. Expression
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Apple pie Bartender Beer Bill BYO Chicken Crab Dawn Dine Early bird Event Fish Floor show Front of house Goose
Heat Host Icing Jig Lamb Lasagne Liver Maitre Merry Music Nuts Octopus Pate Port Pub
Rage Salmon Sauce Service Shrimp Steak Suit Supper Taxi Tip Turkey Wafers
3/15 Solution: It’s a holiday hot spot right now SHEPHERD EXPRESS
Solution: Let's try the Degustation menu
ACROSS 1. “— — Land” 5. Like a bird on display 10.Benefit 14.Animal fluids 18.Corrosive 19.Quickly 20.Impulsive 21.On the summit of 22.Start of a quip by anonymous: 4 wds. 25.Imply 27.Johnny — 28.Ohio players 29.Enjoyed 31.Maelstrom 32.Region colonized by ancient Greeks 34.Miles or Jefferson 35.Identify 36.Part 2 of quip: 2 wds. 38.Tam’s cousin 39.Of armorial bearings 43.Dwell 44.Eateries 45.Hurt in a bullring 46.Cuckoo 47.Quite a bit 48.Did a chef’s job 49.Dish up 50.Formerly, formerly 51.Isle of — 52.Japanese noodles 53.Something precious 54.Flat 55.Dried out 56.Conspire 58.Ushers’ bailiwick 59.Part 3 of quip: 6 wds. 63.Bowie and Beckham 64.Shorebird 65.Cast off 66.Famous ones 67.Judge’s helper 68.Kitchen utensil 70.And —!
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© 2018 United Feature Syndicate, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication
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Creators Syndicate
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Date: 3/22/18
::FREEWILLASTROLOGY ::BY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): The “School of Hard Knocks” is an old-fashioned idiom referring to the unofficial and accidental course of study available via life’s tough experiences. The wisdom one gains through this alternate approach to education may be equal or even superior to the knowledge that comes from a formal university or training program. I mention this, Aries, because in accordance with astrological omens, I want to confer upon you a diploma for your new advanced degree from the School of Hard Knocks. (P.S.: When PhD students get their degrees from Finland’s University of Helsinki, they are given top hats and swords as well as diplomas. I suggest you reward yourself with exotic props, too.) TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Europeans used to think that all swans were white. It was a reasonable certainty given the fact that all swans in Europe were that color. But in 1697, Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh and his sailors made a pioneering foray to the southwestern coast of the land we now call Australia. As they sailed up a river the indigenous tribe called Derbarl Yerrigan, they spied black swans. They were shocked. The anomalous creatures invalidated an assumption based on centuries of observations. Today, a “black swan” is a metaphor referring to an unexpected event that contravenes prevailing theories about the way the world works. I suspect you’ll soon experience such an incongruity yourself. It might be a good thing! Especially if you welcome it instead of resisting it. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Crayola is one of the world’s foremost crayon manufacturers. The geniuses in charge of naming its crayon colors are playful and imaginative. Among the company’s standard offerings, for example, are Pink Sherbet, Carnation Pink, Tickle Me Pink, Piggy Pink, Pink Flamingo, and Shocking Pink. Oddly, however, there is no color that’s simply called “Pink.” I find that a bit disturbing. As much as I love extravagant creativity and poetic whimsy, I think it’s also important to cherish and nurture the basics. In accordance with the astrological omens, that’s my advice for you in the coming weeks. Experiment with fanciful fun, but not at the expense of the fundamentals. CANCER (June 21-July 22): According to Vice magazine, Russian scientist Anatoli Brouchkov is pleased with the experiment he tried. He injected himself with 3.5-million-yearold bacteria that his colleagues had dug out of the permafrost in Siberia. The infusion of this ancient life form, he says, enhanced his energy and strengthened his immune system. I can’t vouch for the veracity of his claim, but I do know this: It’s an apt metaphor for possibilities you could take advantage of in the near future: drawing on an old resource to boost your power, for example, or calling on a well-preserved part of the past to supercharge the present. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Booze has played a crucial role in the development of civilization, says biomolecular archaeologist Patrick McGovern. The process of creating this mind-altering staple was independently discovered by many different cultures, usually before they invented writing. The buzz it provides has “fired our creativity and fostered the development of language, the arts, and religion.” On the downside, excessive consumption of alcohol has led to millions of bad decisions and has wrecked countless lives. Everything I just said is a preface to my main message, Leo: The coming weeks will be a favorable time to transform your habitual perspective, but only if you do so safely and constructively. Whether you choose to try intoxicants, wild adventures, exhilarating travel or edgy experiments, know your limits. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The astrological omens suggest that the coming weeks will be favorable for making agreements, pondering mergers and strengthening bonds. You’ll be wise to deepen at least one of your commitments. You’ll stir up interesting challenges if you consider the possibility of entering into more disciplined and dynamic unions with worthy partners. Do you trust your own perceptions and insights to guide you toward ever-healthier alliances? Do what you must to muster that trust. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you want people to know who you really are and savor you for
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your unique beauty, you must be honest with those people. You must also develop enough skill to express your core truths with accuracy. There’s a similar principle at work if you want to know who you really are and savor yourself for your unique beauty: You must be honest with yourself. You must also develop enough skill to express your core truths with accuracy. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to practice these high arts. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your journey in the coming weeks may be as weird as an Rrated telenovela, but with more class. Outlandish, unpredictable and even surreal events could occur, but in such a way as to uplift and educate your soul. Labyrinthine plot twists will be medicinal as well as entertaining. As the drama gets curioser and curioser, my dear Scorpio, I expect you will learn how to capitalize on the odd opportunities it brings. In the end, you will be grateful for this ennobling respite from mundane reality! SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence,” wrote philosopher Erich Fromm. I would add a corollary for your rigorous use during the last nine months of 2018: “Love is the only effective and practical way to graduate from your ragged, long-running dilemmas and start gathering a new crop of fresh, rousing challenges.” By the way, Fromm said love is more than a warm and fuzzy feeling in our hearts. It’s a creative force that fuels our willpower and unlocks hidden resources. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): My goal here is to convince you to embark on an orgy of self-care—to be as sweet and tender and nurturing to yourself as you dare to be. If that influences you to go too far in providing yourself with luxurious necessities, I’m OK with it. And if your solicitous efforts to focus on your own health and well-being make you appear a bit self-indulgent or narcissistic, I think it’s an acceptable price to pay. Here are more key themes for you in the coming weeks: basking in the glow of self-love; exulting in the perks of your sanctuary; honoring the vulnerabilities that make you interesting. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): One day, Beatles’ guitarist George Harrison decided to compose his next song’s lyrics “based on the first thing I saw upon opening any book.” He viewed this as a divinatory experiment, as a quest to incorporate the flow of coincidence into his creative process. The words he found in the first book were “gently weeps.” They became the seed for his tune “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Rolling Stone magazine ultimately named it one of “The Greatest Songs of All Time” and the 10th best Beatles song. In accordance with the astrological omens, I recommend you try some divinatory experiments of your own in the coming weeks. Use life’s fun little synchronicities to generate playful clues and unexpected guidance. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Millions of you Pisceans live in a fairy tale world. But I suspect that very few of you will be able to read this horoscope and remain completely ensconced in your fairy tale world. That’s because I have embedded subliminal codes in these words that will at least temporarily transform even the dreamiest among you into passionate pragmatists in service to your feistiest ideals. If you’ve read this far, you are already feeling more disciplined and organized. Soon you’ll be coming up with new schemes about how to actually materialize a favorite fairy tale in the form of real-life experiences. Homework: Imagine a bedtime story you’d like to hear and the person you’d like to hear it from. Testify at freewillastrology.com.
::NEWS OF THE WEIRD ::BY THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
Time in a Bottle
E
nvironmentalists decry all the debris washing up on beaches around the world, but a discovery in January near Perth, Australia, has historians thrilled. The Washington Post reported that Tonya Illman and a friend were walking along the beach when she spotted “a lovely old bottle.” Inside was a damp note, tied with string. “We took it home and dried it out; it was a printed form, in German, with very faint German handwriting on it,” she said. Experts at the Western Australia Museum have determined the note was 132 years old—24 years older than the previous record for a messagein-a-bottle discovery. The note was dated June 12, 1886, from a ship named Paula. Further study revealed that a German Naval Observatory program was analyzing global ocean currents in the area between 1864 and 1933, and an entry in the Paula’s captain’s journal made note of this very bottle being tossed overboard. Thousands of other bottles were released into the sea as part of the program, of which only 662 have been found. Prior to Illman’s find, the previous such bottle was found in January 1934.
Otterly Horrific! Kayaker Sue Spector, 77, was out for a leisurely paddle on the Braden River in Florida with her husband and friends on March 4 when someone remarked, “Oh look, there’s an otter!” No sooner had the words been spoken than the aquatic mammal jumped onto Spector in her kayak and began clawing and scratching her arms, nose and ears. “He wouldn’t let go, and I kept screaming. I kept beating him with a paddle,” Spector told FOX13 News. She later required stitches, antibiotics and rabies treatment. It was the second otter attack in two days, and Florida Fish and Wildlife has now posted signs about an “aggressive otter” near the area.
Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob
Aged to Perfection?
Brezsny’s Expanded Weekly Audio Horoscopes
The Carelse family of Lakewood, Colo., picked up some groceries at the Walmart in Littleton on March 5, including a box of Quaker 100% Natural Granola with oats, honey and raisins. When they sat down for break-
and Daily Text Message Horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.
fast the next morning, they told KMGH TV, Anthea Carelse noticed that the “best by” date on the box was Feb. 22…1997—more than 21 years ago. Her husband, Josiah, ate his full bowl and didn’t suffer any unpleasant consequences, but Anthea stopped after two bites. They planned to return the box to Walmart.
One Big, Honking Proposal Saturday, March 3, was a big day in Key West, Fla., as competitors sounded off in the 56th Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest. For 70-year-old Mary Lou Smith of Panama City Beach, winning the women’s division was topped only by a marriage proposal (which she accepted with a hearty honk from her shell) from fellow competitor Rick Race, 73, also of Panama City Beach. The Guardian reports that the large shells were used in the 19th century by seafarers as signaling devices, and dozens of entrants show off their skills each year at Key West’s Oldest House Museum.
The Old Squeeze Play On Monday, March 12, in Northumberland, England, a car thief making a getaway in a Mini Cooper S discovered the small car was not quite small enough to navigate a narrow stone staircase in Carlisle Park. Local police were called to the park around 11:30 p.m. where they found the car and its unnamed 31-year-old driver both wedged tightly between the staircase walls. Area residents speculated in Metro News that the driver might have been trying to re-enact a scene from The Italian Job—a 1969 movie with just such a scene. “I’m sure the older Minis would have got down no problem,” said Chris Stoker.
Wait, What? An unnamed Russian woman stunned tourists and onlookers on Saturday, March 10, when she walked into the Red Sea and, with the help of a doctor and her partner, gave birth. From the balcony of her uncle’s apartment in Dahab, Egypt, Hadia Hosny El Said photographed the events as the doctor carried the newborn and its father walked alongside with the still-attached placenta in a plastic bowl. After a few minutes, the mother emerged from the sea to join her family, including a toddler, on the beach. El Said told The Daily Mail the doctor is Russian and specializes in water births. © 2018 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 | 33
THEBACK::ARTFORART’SSAKE
Thanks for Taking My Call ::BY ART KUMBALEK
I
’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So how’s my college tournament basketball bracket doing? Thanks for asking. I’ll tell you’s, I could’ve chosen Trump University to go up against the Electoral College in the national championship game and my goddamn bracket would be none worse for wear than it is right now, what the fock. Anyways, from where I’m sitting here and now good lord, I’m looking at the first day of spring. Focking swell. All it means to me is one step closer to summer’s hot and humid, sticky suck-ass insected weather that makes me feel like I’m living in some Fourth World sweatshop of a country instead of being an upper-Midwestern American. So spring, thanks for nothing. Yes sir, March 20, one of only two days in the whole year when lightness and darkness slug it out to a standstill. A tie, a draw—what they call in the sportsworld “kissing your sister.� And in the olden, olden days when there were even more weird-ass religions afoot than there are today, this day was marked as one of a handful of rites those people had during the year where they’d take the day off to cel-
ebrate by slaughtering a barnyard animal or three as some kind of nutty sacrificial offering to the deities du jour. Now, I’m no religious expert but I’m telling you, just imagine if those wacky ancestors were on to something, that maybe they knew something we don’t know or have forgotten—that hacking up a perfectly good goat or cow on the first day of spring actually did buy you a couple extra days of sunshine during the year or relieve your toothache or provide some other kind of beneficial good. Come to think of it, maybe my NCAA bracket would be more successful, perhaps even perfect, if before filling it out I had first sacrificed a couple, three goats over by Cathedral Square Park. After all, college basketball is like a religion to some, so what the fock. March madness, indeed. And if you’re still hungover from St. Patty’s Day Week-and-a-focking-Half, here’s a little story that may make you feel better: Six retired Irish guys were playing poker in O’Leary’s apartment when Paddy Murphy loses $500 on a single hand, clutches his chest and drops dead at the table. Showing respect for their fallen brother, the other five continue playing. A bit of a while later, Michael O’Connor looks around at the surviving five and asks, “Oh, me boys. I believe we have a bit of a situation here. Paddy is dead and someone surely must tell Paddy’s poor wife. Who will it be then?� They draw straws. Brendan O’Gallagher picks the short one. They tell him to be discreet, be gentle, don’t make a bad situation any worse. “Discreet? I’m the most discreet Irishman you’ll ever meet. Discretion is me middle name.� So Brendan O’Gallagher goes over to Murphy’s house and knocks on the door. Mrs. Murphy answers and asks
what he wants. O’Gallagher declares: “Your husband just lost $500 and is afraid to come home.� “Tell him to drop dead!� says Mrs. Murphy. And O’Gallagher says, “‘To drop dead.’ I’ll go tell him then, ma’am.� Ba-ding! Hey, I almost forgot I was going to give up work for Lent, so speaking of Catholics let’s get out of here with this little story: Imagine the shy young lad’s surprise when the Pope sat down in the seat next to him for the flight destined for New York City. Shortly after take-off, the Pope began a crossword puzzle. “This is really swell,� the young man thought. “I’m really good at crosswords and if the Pope gets stuck, perhaps he’ll ask me for assistance and I’ll get a gold pass to heaven.�
Shortly thereafter, the Pope turned to the young man and said, “Excuse me my son, but I suddenly seem to be blocked on this crossword puzzle. Do you happen to know a four-letter word that ends in ‘unt’ and that refers to a woman?� Only one such word leapt to the mind of the young man, a word he felt should not be uttered in the Pope’s presence. He thought a moment and with a bolt from the blue turned to the Pope and said, “I believe your holiness that it is the word ‘aunt’ you seek—a-u-n-t.� And the Pope said, “Oh my. Of course, my son. ‘A-u-n-t.’ God bless you. I don’t suppose you happen to have an eraser?� Ba-ding! ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.
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Leo Kottke 8pm • Saturday, June 9
SHANK
HALL
1434 N FARWELL AVE • 276-7288 • www.SHANKHALL.COM • all shows 21+
All shows at 8 pm unless otherwise indicated Tickets available at Shank Hall Box Office, 866-468-3401, or at ticketweb.com
Thurs 3/22
Fri 3/23
Selwyn Birchwood $15
Material Reissue
CABIN ESSENCE
$15
With very special guest Shana Morrison
Sat 3/24
Sun 3/25
Buckethead $40
Andrew Pope $8 adv / $12 DR
Mon 3/26
Chris Duarte Group
ALTERED FIVE BLUES BAND
$15
Tickets available at Marcus Center Box Office, 414-273-7206, or at ticketmaster.com.
36 | M A R C H 2 2 , 2 0 1 8
Tues 3/27
Drivin’ N Cryin’, The Supersuckers $20
3/28 Billy Cobham’s Crosswinds Project 3/29 Halo Circus 3/30 The Koch Marshall Trio 3/31 Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials 4/1 Jasmine Cain 4/3 Layne 4/6 Pundamonium 4/7 Semi-Twang 4/8 Vundabar, Ratboys, Mark Waldoch 4/11 Stephen Jay, Jim “Kimo” West 4/12 Marbin 4/13 No Quarter 4/14 An Evening with Neal Morse
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