Vol VII • Issue 9 • October 2008
inside vital
October 2008 | vol. 7 issue 9
COVERED 6 ONE QUESTION VITAL asks five elected officials one question. Can you guess the answer?
>> Introduction by Jon Anne Willow
6
12
INSIDE 4
THE EDITOR’S DESK
Reconsidering the turkey
>> By Jon Anne Willow 10 BEHIND THE SCAFFOLDING
22
2008 HALLOWEEN GUIDE
28
MUSIC REVIEWS
The Sea and Cake, Jolie Holland, Grails, These Arms Are Snakes
Tough times, a tax on your wheels and a new assistant chief
24 VITAL’S PICKS
>> By Dan Corcoran
>> By Erin Petersen
12 SUBVERSIONS
On Assignment: Wayne Newton is missing!
Where VITAL will be in October
30
RECORD RELEASES
>> By Matt Wild
Of Montreal, Keane, Lucinda Williams, The Cure, Snow Patrol, Coolio and many more
15 THE FUNNY PAGE
31 PUZZLES
16 EAT THIS
THIS MONTH’S COVER ARTIST
Born and raised in the heartland, Zach had high hopes of being an outlaw cowboy, but in 2003, he set aside the six shooter to attend the Art Institute of Boston. Since graduation, Zach now earns his keep tearing lead through paper, not people. grandgoods.blogspot.com
Plus September crossword answers
Octoberfeast
>> By Catherine McGarry Miller 18 REEL MILWAUKEE Meet Milwaukee Film
>> By Howie Goldklang
@ VITALSOURCEMAG.COM
20 STAGES Short Takes
>> By Russ Bickerstaff
22 Sexy Persian Prince Mehrdad Dalamie mjdalamie@vitalsourcemag.com
A Sexy Impostor Russ Bickerstaff stages@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Librarian Jon Anne Willow jwillow@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Alice in Wonderland Lucky Tomaszek ltomaszek@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Bumblebee Bridget Brave bbrave@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Matt Wild Matt Wild subversions@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Matador Amy Elliott aelliott@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Chef Cate Miller eatthis@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Aileen Wuornos Ryan Findley rfindley@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Yoko Ono Erin Lee Petersen calendar@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Dr. Who Pete Hammill music@vitalsourcemag.com
Sexy Storm Trooper Nick Schurk webtwopointoh@vitalsourcemag.com
New stuff every day! Blogs, videos, features, reviews, comprehensive arts and gallery guides, local events, weather, news headlines, and more..
Sexy Drunk Dwellephant Sexy Doc Holiday Zach Bartel Sexy Professor J. Swan Sexy Contributors Lynn Allen, Kat Berger, Troy Butero, Dan Corcoran, Howie Goldklang, Jason Groschopf, A.L. Herzog, Charlie Hosale, Koffeebot, Judith Ann Moriarty, David Rees, David Schrubbe, Erin Wolf Distribution Each month, 20,000 copies of VITAL Source are available free at over 600 metro locations. Additional copies $2 each. Send request, with check or money order made to VITAL Source, at the address below. Call to ensure availability of requested materials, or email inquiries to: info@vitalsourcemag.com.
Most material herein belongs to Vital Publications, LLC, and cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Reprint and copyright inquiries must be made in writing. Subscriptions are available for $27 per year. Send check or money order, attn: Subscriptions, to address below. VITAL Source Magazine 133 W. Pittsburgh Ave., Ste. 409 Milwaukee, WI 53204 Phone: 414.372.5351 Fax: 414.372.5356 On the Web vitalsourcemag.com myspace.com/vitalsource vitalsource.tumblr.com twitter.com/vitalsourcemag PLUS: We’re on Facebook! Search for “VITAL Source” and be our friend.
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Vital source The editor’s desk
>>by jon anne willow
Reconsidering the turkey The other day my son and I were driving in the country when we saw a small rafter of wild turkeys hanging out by the side of the road. We stopped to watch, which eventually caused the big tom to lead the dozen or so females and adolescents back to the tall meadow stand at a leisurely pace, one eye on us and one on his charges. He perched in a low tree, puffed up and giving orders in what sounded like a calm but firm voice, not descending until it was time to form a rear guard of one. It was very cool. For a 10-year old, Harrison is a fount of history and science trivia. As we pulled away he asked me if I knew that Ben Franklin thought the turkey would make a better national bird than the bald eagle. “I did know that,” I replied. “Do you know why?” “Because he thought turkeys were smarter and more honest than eagles, and that was a better symbol for America.” I asked if he agreed. “I think,” he replied, “that the turkey would be a better symbol of how we should be, but the eagle is more accurate for how we are.” Indeed. Benjamin Franklin’s now-famous thoughts on the turkey were disclosed in a letter to his daughter in 1784: “For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. …[T]oo lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him. … [L]like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country…For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird …He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage…” Franklin never petitioned his idea formally. Maybe he already had a sense of the direction in which things were headed and didn’t see the value in ruffling any feathers (sorry). He was, after all, a pretty smart guy, and eerily prescient on a host of matters. Philosophically, as a publisher, I’m probably a lot like Ben Franklin, who worked as a civil servant late into his life, more interested in improving the postal service, the library system and municipal functions than holding great power on the world stage. So when you read VITAL Source online or in print, you’ll mostly find thorough coverage of the city’s cultural life, civic engagement and community development initiatives. We don’t do much “political” coverage because, frankly, my co-publisher and I are squeamish about the typically toxic, yet symbiotic, relationship between politics and the media. We believe that telling you how to think not only insults your intelligencence, it’s patently self-serving in a system where there no longer exists even a façade of consistent, unique party doctrines. But it’s still critically important to know where your officials stand. In this issue, as we prepare for one of the most momentous elections in our country’s history, VITAL offers what we believe is a refreshing approach to finding out what’s high-priority for the people you put into office: we asked them. Willie Hines, Scott Walker, James Sullivan, Jim Sensenbrenner and Russ Feingold were each given the same single question and 500 words to answer it. We were looking to gauge the priorities of sitting officials
4 | editor ’s Desk | Vital Source | news+views
whose work was underway in earnest. The results, found beginning on page 6, don’t offer much in the way of fresh policy ideas (with one notable exception), but they do provide one of the most interesting composite political sketches we’ve seen in a good long time. Government is more accessible at the local level. I’ve said many times that to truly effect change, start in your neighborhood. And so we are, finally, in the pages of VITAL. Turn to page 10 for our new column, “Behind the Scaffolding,” penned by Dan Corcoran. It’s your guide to City Hall issues that affect Milwaukee residents directly, related in short segments from Dan’s entertaining and well-informed perspective. We hope you’ll read it every month. Do you know someone who’s fearless in their commitment to their community, either professionally or personally? Nominate them to be one of VITAL’s Fearless Leaders, who will be honored in our January 2009 issue. We’re very excited and hope you’ll participate. Details are on page 11 or on our website (vitalsourcemag.com), with more information to come soon. At VITAL, it’s always been about tending your backyard garden while keeping an eye on the sky. And just in the last few weeks it has become increasingly evident that so much around us is exceedingly complicated, even completely out of our control. This is a hard pill to swallow for a nation of individuals historically raised to believe that our country’s position of strength was inviolable and that our personal success rested on our own abilities. I wonder if Ben Franklin could have predicted the current meltdown of the economy and global hostilities raging out of control; I bet he could have seen a black man and a woman in the same presidential race. Sadly, it’s too late to take his advice on the turkey, but he also left us this: “After crosses and losses, Men grow humbler and wiser.” Let’s hope so. VS
Jon Anne is editor in chief and co-publisher of VITAL Source.
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Vital Source | 5
One Question: “What do you see as the greatest challenges facing your constituency today, and what is your prognosis for meeting those challenges in the next four years?”
I
n the run-up to this historic election cycle, VITAL asked a sampling of your elected officials one question. We deliberately chose politicians at the city, county, state and federal levels, both Republicans and Democrats, in the hope that the responses of five different people who serve their constituencies from different horizons of perspective would offer some collective insight into where we are, where we’re headed and how we’re going to get there in the next four years. Their repsonses virtually careen from fiery stump speech to party line recitation to four-point-plan. If you follow politics, not much here will surprise you, but it is a rather fascinating character study.–Jon Anne Willow
Willie L. Hines Jr.
Alderman, 15th District Milwaukee Common Council President Having grown up in public housing, I am well acquainted with severe struggles many residents of Milwaukee face. My nine siblings and I always knew that having food on the table was not something to take for granted. We witnessed decay and destruction up close. And we learned to be thankful for everything, in and out of season – regardless of circumstances. Those childhood lessons have equipped me with a unique perspective when it comes to government and serving the needs of citizens. I know that significant challenges present significant opportunities – it’s a belief that guides my everyday life as an alderman and as Common Council President. I’ve witnessed individuals and communities in my district overcome myriad obstacles, so I know that it can be done with the right mix of determination and sound public policy. In regard to unemployment, housing and transportation, Milwaukee can do much better. We can – and should – face down these challenges and transform them into opportunities for growth, prosperity and a better quality of life for everyone. Part of the solution rests in a word that is often talked about but seldom realized: regionalism.
6 one question | Vital Source | covered
Just as Milwaukee has its share of challenges, so too do our suburban neighbors: New Berlin has the largest industrial park in the state, but they need employees; many Waukesha residents want to get in and out of downtown Milwaukee quickly, but our inter-transit system is anemic; Shorewood and Whitefish Bay rely on Milwaukee for their employment options, but they offer almost no affordable housing. By recognizing that we are all one community, we can leverage our mutual advantages to address our mutual shortcomings. If Milwaukee can have sister-city relationships with municipalities in China and Africa, surely we can collaborate with our suburban counterparts. Recently, the topic of regionalism was fiercely debated when New Berlin came to Milwaukee seeking a deal for Lake Michigan water. This was not a surprise; as soon as the Great Lakes Compact was signed, we new that New Berlin would be the first candidate on the docket to be vetted for full connection to Milwaukee’s world-class fresh water infrastructure. Some have said that the New Berlin/Milwaukee water agreement offered an example of regionalism. But I say regionalism has to be a twoway street. According to official City of Milwaukee resolution, New Berlin was required to do a housing study and transportation study in order to be eligible. Neither study was ever attempted, much less submitted. No new bus lines linking Milwaukee residents to New Berlin’s industrial park jobs. No new affordable housing units. No sustainable benefit to Milwaukee residents. I harbor no ill will toward New Berlin or any other suburban community. I understand that they have their needs (fresh water being a major one), but we also have ours. The region will not benefit if we ignore the momentum, vision and needs of Milwaukee. A truly regional perspective will allow us to address our most pressing challenges head-on, transforming them into authentic opportunities.
Scott Walker
Milwaukee County Executive Jobs are the biggest issue facing people in Milwaukee County today. Education is our greatest challenge. Without a steady stream of prepared individuals entering the workforce in our county and in our region, employers will look to other locations and outlets to get the workers they need to run their companies. We must have quality schools. Dramatic changes must take place within the Milwaukee school system and other outlets must be allowed to enter and expand. Students in Milwaukee must be prepared for
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the jobs of the next generation. In addition, our technical school system should move away from courses offered at colleges and universities within the state and focus on preparation for skilled trades and specific technology-driven areas. Identifying and targeting areas where we have seen growth, such as in areas in our region like large-scale mining equipment and lean manufacturing, for example, will provide stability in our job market. Supporting development of an engineering and sciences building for UWMilwaukee on the county grounds near the regional medical center will provide access to a talent pool to continue the growth of the center. Expanding the role of the regional medical center is a sound economic strategy benefiting the entire Research Park. Overall, the cost of doing business in the region must also be addressed to keep jobs here, too. Taxes, fees, regulatory burdens, health care and litigation are all costs that must be managed to keep employers in the region. Lowering property taxes is imperative to keep jobs in the county. We need to show that we can compete with other parts of the country. Budgets in the county were increasing almost 6% per year until I pledged no increase from the tax levy of the previous year. This changed the terms of the tax debate resulting in an annual increase of just over 2%. An increased sales tax is not a solution to property tax relief, but would create a tax island by driving businesses and customers out of Milwaukee County. We can not turn to increasing taxes on our already strapped taxpayers as a first resort in meeting our fiscal challenges. The choice is not to either raise taxes or cut services. We need to demand greater innovation from our government to maintain necessary programs and quality of life assets. Implementing a park district, seeking public-private partnerships like the popular Red Arrow Park and Bradford Beach vendors, and exploring a lease of Mitchell International Airport to fund improved transit options are creative, exciting opportunities for our county and region. Negotiating better rates with our health care providers and investing in the wellness of our employees will ensure continued efficiencies and savings in the rapidly rising health care costs we all face. We owe it to the taxpayers to keep an open mind to ideas that can save money and provide better services. A clear agenda that focuses on these items can spur our economy and improve our future.
James Sullivan
State Senator, 5th District The state of Wisconsin faces some great challenges, but with great challenge comes great opportunity. Over the next 4 years, our leaders must engage these challenges, connect with each other, cooperate where they can, and deliver solutions over rhetoric. Let me offer two examples. The last state budget was passed almost entirely on the back of the cigarette
tax. It is not real, it is not sustainable, to pretend you can run government on nothing but sin tax increases. We’ve also seen Milwaukee County run by the mantra of zero tax increases. That’s neither governance nor leadership; it’s a bumper sticker. We have an impending crisis in state government, and it affects all our public sector resources, from schools to libraries to roads. Without engagement and cooperation from our leaders, Wisconsin is going to lose ground in relation to other states in our region. Wisconsin will be less competitive in our efforts to attract and retain the people and businesses that we want to have in order to sustain our quality of life. Take any issue confronting us: healthcare costs, transportation challenges – especially a lack of widespread mass transit – economic development, or a school funding structure that erodes school systems bit by bit every year. None of these challenges are going to be remedied in just four years, and none of them will be fixed at all if we don’t get more realistic leadership, more cooperation and less posturing. There will be those who will tell us that lower taxes will be a cure-all for all our challenges. These are bumper sticker leaders. They do not offer a long-term vision for growth for the community they serve, but seek to tell you what sounds good long enough for you to re-elect them. Ultimately, that approach is not about where we are all going as a community; it’s about security for that politician. Real leaders work with the parties involved and sometimes they have to tell you difficult things. Here is one of those difficult things. Thirty-six percent of Minnesotans have four-year college degrees. Twenty-four percent of Wisconsinites do, and the gap is widening. Given the choice and the need for a skilled and educated workforce, where are you going to locate your high-skill, community-sustaining business? The bumper sticker people will tell you that all we really need is a lower tax environment. Mississippi is a low-tax, low services environment. I, for one, would rather compete with Minnesota than Mississippi. I am optimistic about the outlook for progress for southeastern Wisconsin over the next four years. The reason for my optimism is that voter frustration and the harsh reality of having to actually budget and govern is beginning to force elected leaders into working together. I am hopeful that leaders will work toward a shared vision of what we want to be a generation down the road. It is difficult to indulge in political posturing when you’re hitting a budgetary wall and prioritization decisions are forced upon you. It would be better to have leadership that sets out with a plan to reach long term goals. It will be up to all of us as citizens to demand more in terms of leadership and to reject the posturing.
covered | Vital Source | one question | 7
James Sensenbrenner
U.S. Representative, 5th District The greatest challenges facing the people of the Fifth District of Wisconsin are a combination of high taxes, out-of-control government spending, and crime. Without a doubt, Congress needs to continue to cut taxes and spending, so that more people can have more money in their pockets, with the federal government taking less of it. This is a message that the new Democratic leadership in Congress should heed – that the problem with our budget deficit is not a lack of revenue, but the fact that Congress keeps spending too much of your money, often with very little in the way of oversight. One culprit responsible for a lot of wasted funds is the everpopular earmark, or pork, that a Representative inserts into various bills to showcase to his or her constituents back home as proof of the “good” work being done on their behalf in Congress. But each taxpayer dollar sucked out for a specific pork project represents one less dollar available for the general American public. How can Congress stop this practice? Members can sign pledges on earmark moratoriums, as I did earlier this year. Members can also vote against earmarks, or better yet, the Democratic leadership in Congress can eliminate them completely next year, if not sooner. After all, it is how a Member votes that counts – not how he or she talks. During my years in Congress, I have attempted to lead by example on fiscal issues, and for that, I have been recognized and honored by groups like the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, which
8 |one question | Vital Source | covered
just named me a ‘Taxpayer Super Hero’ for 2007 for my 100 percent voting record to reduce waste, fraud and abuse within the federal government. Another area that constantly requires a great deal of attention in Congress is crime. When I was Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for six years, I made a point of pushing forward legislation to provide local law enforcement with the tools and funds they need to fight crime in their respective jurisdictions. I worked particularly hard to update the criminal code to provide cops with the tools they need to more swiftly bring to justice the nation’s sex offenders, and to provide enhanced services for victims of sexual assault. I cannot emphasize enough the safety of the American people. We should all be comfortable walking the streets of downtown Milwaukee at any hour of the day or night, but the reality, as we know, is far different. Congress has an obligation to continue to protect you, me, our family and our friends. But it has to do so responsibly, in a manner that encourages and stresses local responsibility, so that cops in Menomonee Falls can approach crime differently than cops in Milwaukee. These are a couple of areas where Congress can work for the people rather than for a handful of Members who may believe they know what’s best for the entire country. Given the right tools and flexibility, along with some oversight, there’s no end to the challenges that the American public can overcome.
Russ Feingold U.S. Senator
A tough economy, flawed trade agreements, rising health care costs and rising energy prices have put working families in a difficult position. This economic pressure is a real challenge for working families across Wisconsin.
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But our state’s unique strengths and resources are a great cause for optimism. We can harness Wisconsin’s tremendous workforce and innovative small businesses to create jobs and enhance our economy. I introduced the E4 Initiative – dubbed E4 because of its focus on Economy, Employment, Education and Energy – to help meet the challenges facing Wisconsin’s working families. In order to do that, we need to boost small business innovation, strengthen workforce development, support job growth in the emerging energy sector, build new education partnerships and expand transportation opportunities. American small businesses generate approximately half of our nation’s payroll jobs and most of our new employment opportunities. Studies also have shown that small businesses are the greatest source of net new employment in inner cities, generating 80 percent of the total employment. My E4 Initiative supports small business by increasing total federal spending on grants for small business innovation research and prioritizing grants for work on energy, water, transportation and domestic security issues, which are key national priorities and where Wisconsin has a competitive advantage. In particular, Milwaukee’s growing small businesses and research institutions focused on water technology make it an ideal location to become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of water technology. We have to do a better job of connecting these businesses and others with the strong Wisconsin workforce. I want to empower workers by providing them with proof of their skills, an important bargaining chip that can mean better wages and benefits, more opportunity and less time searching for employment. The E4 Initiative will promote skills standards certificates, which workers can get while on the job as a validation of skills they use every day or by workers seeking to enter a new field. These skill standards would be particularly helpful in the emerging energy sector. Skyrocketing energy prices are creating a huge demand for jobs to help make buildings more energy efficient, to conserve energy, and to expand renewables. The E4 Initiative continues my strong support of “greencollar jobs” and federal programs that create jobs as they fund renewable energy and help communities, farmers and businesses become more energy efficient. A strong workforce is founded in a good education. That is why my initiative also seeks to help high schools, businesses and workforce development boards work together to present new and exciting career paths for our students in emerging industries and to give them opportunities to explore those paths, whether they are going onto college or directly into the workforce. A qualified, educated worker can only meet the needs of business if they can get to the jobs and businesses that need them. My E4 Initiative will help do that by strengthening the Job Access and Reverse Commute or “JARC” program, which enables low-income individuals to have access to better jobs by providing them reliable transportation. Wisconsin has tremendous potential for new growth if we can harness our innovative new ideas and strong workforce to strengthen the state’s economy. We can meet the economic challenge faced by working families and help create more opportunities with a multi-faceted approach focused on small business, workforce development, energy jobs, education and transportation. Ed Note: Ultimately, one of the officials we solicited chose not to participate, which is why there are only five, more liberals than conservatives and no women. We encourage you to share your comments on this story at vitalsourcemag.com.—Jon Anne Willow
covered | Vital Source | one question | 9
Behind the Scaffolding
>>By Dan Corcoran
Tough times, a tax on your wheels and a new assistant chief There’s a lot going on in City Hall right now – not that you’d know from Milwaukee’s broadcast news and daily paper. With increased coverage of suburban issues – Shoplifter at Large in Glendale! – the most important issues of the day for the region’s economic and cultural hub are largely left untouched. That’s why VITAL Source is making space for this column: to give you the inside scoop on what’s going in City of Milwaukee government. Hopefully it will be both enlightening and entertaining. Let’s start with the 2009 city budget. About two weeks after posturing as an anti-tax guy (read: afraid of talk radio) and vetoing a much-needed “wheel tax,” Mayor Barrett introduced a host of increased fees – from snow removal to “solid waste” removal – in his new budget. (That latter fee is your garbage collection, in case you were wondering what constitutes “solid waste.”) Here’s the key difference between the wheel tax, which passed with 11 cosponsors, and all the new fees that Mayor Barrett is trying to implement in the budget: the $20-per-year wheel tax is actually replacing the street assessments, which totaled thousands of dollars, saving money for property owners. Barrett’s new budget fees replace nothing – they’re just new fees. Advantage: aldermen. (And alderwoman – can’t forget Coggs.)
stations, but it could have far-reaching ramifications. City Hall insiders – and those who pay attention to crime statistics – know that Harpole has worked wonders at D3, so his replacement will be key. Alds. Murphy, Bauman and Hines are sure to be especially nervous. Another Mayor-Common Council conflict of late is how to deal with Milwaukee’s foreclosure crisis. In August, President Willie Hines wrote a letter to Barrett, asking that he consider hiring a full-time Housing & Foreclosure Policy Advisor, as many other cities have done. The mayor has granted that request, but it seems like the new advisor will only be a low-level manager, not a cabinet-level adviser, as Hines requested.
My next column will focus more on the nutsand-bolts of the departments behind the scenes, as I interview the people who actually fill potholes (hopefully), board up houses and weigh babies (public health nurses) for the city. But for now, it’s budget time – let the Mayor-Common Council financial contortions commence. VS
Dan Corcoran has demonstrable access to his subject matter, without being too close for credibility.
Whether libraries are closed, fire fighters are cut or sanitation services are consolidated, times are tough for the City of Milwaukee. Watching the committee meetings, you get the sense that the department heads are scrambling to make ends meet. Milwaukee should have a long-term plan for progress, but it seems like everything is addressed at the 11th hour. I don’t think the heads of Manpower, Harley or even VITAL manage their funds this way, so I don’t know why it doesn’t bother the mayor. Captain Jim Harpole, who was in the running for MPD Chief and has been at the helm of the District Three Police Station – in the heart of the central city – is being promoted to Assistant Chief. The promotion got little attention from the Journal Sentinel and nothing from the TV
10 | news+ Views | Vital Source | behind the scaffolding
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Vital Source | 11
wild >> words by matt
On Assignment:
Wayne Newton is missing! and other hard lessons of the (almost) Great American Road Trip Photos by Kat Berger I’m sipping a flat rum and coke at a place called El Bait Shop (Spanish for: The Bait Shop) in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, when I realize how much this town is like a Lou Reed record: difficult, frustrating and haunted by past brilliance. Sure, there’s always something of worth to be found buried beneath the bright bars and non-existent music scene (or, in Lou Reed’s case, concept albums about Edgar Allen Poe) but damn if you don’t have to work for it. To explain: i+n late August, Vital sent me to cover the inaugural World Xtreme Boxing Challenge being held in Des Moines. Less than 48 hours before I was scheduled to leave, the tournament was cancelled. Figuring a weekend out of town might do me some good, I decided to make the trip anyway. My story would now be of the city itself, its similarities and differences to Milwaukee, its selling points and hidden treasures. It would also be a half-assed travelogue, one that would come to feature a failed Wayne Newton encounter, an appropriately geeky renaissance fair and me getting slapped in the face by a dwarf. And finally, like a Lou Reed album (I’m thinking something along the lines of Transformer now), it would be about how a road trip can be a bundle of blind hope, bitter disappointments and – given enough time and patience – something like a revelation. This is the story of that road trip. This is Des Moines.
DAY 1 Looking out the windows of the ultra-swank Embassy Club atop the 801 Grand building, you can see nearly everything there is to see of Des Moines, a city roughly a quarter the size of Milwaukee. It’s a beautiful city, really, with the Iowa State Capitol – its 23-karat gold-plated dome shining in the sunset – overlooking downtown. I’m taking it all
in with a glass of red wine in my hand, joined by Milwaukee’s own Amy Elliott, Bridget Brave and Kat Berger. (A quick note to male readers: when making a road trip with three women, it takes less than 20 minutes before the conversation turns to tampons and Judy Blume books.) We’ve just driven seven hours and have barely made our dinner appointment with three members of the Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. There are no prices on our menus and the ladies look amazing. I’ve managed to put on a shirt and tie. The similarities between Des Moines and Milwaukee are striking: both share a clean, compact downtown that has benefited from recent revitalization programs, and both have a contentious,
members of Slipknot. The mind reels. We leave the Embassy Club at dusk, saying goodnight to the CVBers and walking a few blocks – god, it sure is hot in Des Moines – back to our hotel, the Renaissance Savery. While the thought of four out-of-town, overdressed journalists from Wisconsin clanging around Des Moines must certainly be thrilling, the real buzz – as we soon discover over drinks at nearby El Bait Shop – is that Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Fucking Newton, is in town to judge an Arabian horse competition, the 2008 Magnum Futurity. Not only that, but he’s rumored to be staying at our hotel. “What could Wayne Newton possibly know about Arabian horses?” Amy wonders aloud. It’s a good question, and one we quickly determine must be answered by the man himself. Thus, we realize our purpose in Des Moines. We will meet Wayne Newton.
DAY 2
The World’s Largest Truck Stop newly-erected bronze statue to contend with (in the case of Des Moines, it’s of recent Olympic gold-medalist Shawn Johnson). Other fun facts learned over our five-course meal: Des Moines is the insurance capital of America, it contains some of the most extensive urban biking/hiking trails in the world, and its four-mile downtown skywalk system is second-to-none. Later, a helpful Wikipedia search informs me that Des Moines is also home to not one, not two, but eight of the nine
12 | subversions | Vital Source | vital living
The next morning finds us nursing our first collective hangover – the 170 taps of beer at El Bait Shop having nearly done us in. We’re at Java Joe’s, a large, Alterra-like coffee shop on the outskirts of downtown Des Moines. The place is nearly dead; the only other patrons seem to be homeless, construction workers, or homeless construction workers. The girls drink coffee as I nurse a Corona. Bridget pokes at her Blackberry and suddenly gasps. “Oh shit. McCain picked a female running mate. Her name is Sarah Palin. This is bad.” It’s a disheartening development, and one that will cast a strange gloom over the entire day. We leave Java Joe’s in a daze and set out to find the nearest dive bar. Our search leads us across the river to the East Village, a funky little neighborhood littered with yuppie Brady Street-esque bou-
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tiques (it has an Urban Belly for chrisssake), as well as darkened, none-too-inviting gay bars with names like Blazing Saddles. Eventually, we settle on the wonderful Locust Tap, a place whose natty interior and extensive graffiti remind me of the old Globe East. The doors and windows are wide open and the sun is streaming in – god, why is it still so hot? We settle in and proceed to get drunk. While Kat indulges in a mean game of Buck Hunter, a creeping feeling of desperation begins to overtake us. What exactly are we doing here? What’s the story? Des Moines? The road trip? Jesus, we haven’t really done anything yet. Luckily, Vital’s very own (and former Iowan) Jon Anne Willow soon shows up, brightening our mood. She’s made the trip on her own, braving bad weather and a broken axel somewhere outside of Beloit. Her determination rubs off on us, and after a few more drinks, we decide to suck it up and give this road trip all we’ve got. We decide to press on. We leave Locust Tap and head back to our hotel in order to prepare for our fabled Wayne Newton encounter. The girls get dressed to the nines and Amy somehow produces a vinyl copy of Newton’s “Danke Schoen” – the only song any of us can attribute to him. We stalk the halls of our hotel, and then, following a tip, the halls of the nearby Marriott. While Kat and Amy stage an impromptu photo shoot, I come across a nervous-looking doorman in the lobby. He’s mumbling to himself and fidgeting with an unlit cigarette. Has he seen Wayne Newton? “Nope, no one can find him. He disappeared.” “You mean he’s left town? He’s gone?” “No man, he’s not GONE. He’s MISSING!” It’s this rather cryptic statement that sends the rest of our evening spiraling off into a blur. Eventually, we find ourselves at the Royal Mile, a busy, dimly lit bar that seems like Von Trier on anabolic steroids. We order shots and navigate the college-age crowd: Amy and Kat meet some nice chiropractors, while Bridget somehow comes into possession of an Italian beef sandwich. I make my way to an outdoor patio – still so hot here, even at night – and proceed to stick my video camera in everybody’s face (my full video, “Des Moines:
Reflecting on what we’ve learned. More Than We Remember,” can be found at vitalsourcemag.com). Hearing live music a few doors down, I ask a pretty girl standing next to me about the local scene. “Well, we don’t get the big acts like we used to,” she tells me. “You know, like Reverend Horton Heat.” I’m about to say something foolish when the girl’s boyfriend shows up. He’s glassy-eyed and alarmingly short; in my somewhat inebriated state, I assume he’s a dwarf. Without saying a word, he slaps me directly in the face – hard. Before I have time to react, he and the girl are gone, my only thought being: “Wow. I just got slapped by a dwarf! In Des Moines!” (Unfortunately, upon further video review, the dwarf in question turned out to be just a short, angry dude.) We stumble back to our hotel – thank god this city is so walkable – deciding we should quit while we’re still somewhat ahead. Amy and Kat disappear into their rooms, and Bridget and I repair to the hotel bar, the Speakeasy. We drink Bloody Marys and trade dirty jokes with the bartender until closing time. I tell him about my dwarf-slapping incident, that I’m here on “assignment,” and ask him for any insights into the city he calls home. “The one thing I can tell you is that Las Vegas and Des Moines have something in common,” he says. “In Las Vegas, what happens there stays there. In Des Moines, what happens here, well, you probably wouldn’t want to remember anyway.”
DAY 3 “Oh god. Farmer’s markets are in the morning.” This is the horrifying thought on all our minds (vocalized by Kat) as we wake up the next morning, the prospect of attending the renowned Des Moines Farmer’s Market about as appealing as a back-alley colonoscopy performed by your mother. It’s 8 a.m. and we’re still drunk. But the Farmer’s Market turns out to be almost unbearably pleasant – all locally-grown produce and artisan-crafted foods, music, babies and dogs strolling the charming Court Avenue – and serves as a pleasant memory when we find ourselves at the Des Moines Renaissance Fair a few hours later. Held in an unbearably hot, open field at – wait for it – Sleepy Hollow Sports Park – it’s a prime example of what happens when geeks go bad. Lacking proper D&D sessions or Rocky Horror screenings, they dress up in period costumes and tend to use the phrase “Ye olde” a lot. Ye Olde Watering Hole, Ye Olde Blacksmith shop, Ye Olde Matt Wild, Ren Faire nerds.
I’m passed out, dreaming. Des Moines, Iowa. Des Moines Iowa. Duh moyn I owah. The words start to lose their meaning. I’ve been starting off all my video segments with the same shtick all weekend long: “Hi, this is Matt Wild in Des Moines, Iowa.” Christ, after 30 or so of these even my name starts sounding weird. Hi, this is Matt Wild in Des Moines, Iowa. Hey, this is Matt Wild on assignment in Des Moines, Iowa. Hi, this is Matt Wild, what the hell am I still doing in Des Moines, Iowa? And yet more Buck Hunter.
vital living |Vital Source | subversions | 13
Smoke break @ GTS.
Farmer’s markets are in the morning. Licensed Distributor of Miller Lite. The hours pass slowly. Bridget wanders off into some sort of “fairie glen” while Kat and I munch on turkey legs procured from “Ye Olde Turkey Leg Shoppe.” (“Is this really turkey?” she asks after the first bite. “It tastes like ham.”) Jon Anne and Amy try their hands at archery, and eventually a couple of uber-geeks lock me up in the stocks, forcing me to perform an Irish jig upon my release. As we’re getting ready to leave – not a moment too soon – I hear a snippet of conversation that seems to sum up the event perfectly: “Good morn fair maiden! Might I trouble ye for a Diet Dr. Pepper?” We spend the rest of the afternoon at the hotel – nursing sunburns and lying in our beds – struggling with a heavy feeling of disappointment. A farmer’s market? A fucking Ren Fair? This is what we’ve accomplished? We’ve learned so little about Des Moines, have failed in even our most modest missions; the whole Wayne Newton thing, we decide, was probably a sham. As the sun goes down on our last evening, we gather enough energy to make a return visit to El Bait Shop, but find it tiring. Des Moines, it seems, has finally beaten us. We’ve failed. Luckily, Jon Anne reappears and once again saves us from certain doom. She and a friend, Todd, agree to drive us to the GT Lounge, a sort of hipster/biker bar on the outskirts of town. It’s a small, dark, and noisy place – kind of like Riverhorse/Foundation – and it’s the first place we’ve been to all weekend that reminds us of home. We order round after round of shots and Kat plays some more Buck Hunter. During a trip to the frightfully dilapidated bathroom, I spot a sticker on the paper towel dispenser: “Sarah Palin is fucking hot.” I step outside for a smoke. Todd is there, and he asks me how our trip has panned out. “We’ve been drinking a lot,” I tell him. “It feels like we haven’t done anything.” “Trust me,” he says. “If all you’ve been doing is drinking, you’ve done it all.”
DAY 4
We leave on a Sunday morning, the day before Labor Day. Before hitting the road, however, we make a quick stop at the Capitol to get our last look at the city. The weather finally seems to have cooled, and we gaze out in silence as a father and son take pictures of themselves next to a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln and his son, Tad. There’s brief talk of driving an hour out of our way to visit the ballpark where Field of Dreams was filmed, but no. We’re going home. On our way out of town, we stop for gas and pick up a copy of the Des Moines Register. There, on the front page, is this headline:
14 | subversions | Vital Source | vital living
NEWTON TROTS OUT HOLIDAY FUN Wayne Newton, a Las Vegas entertainment legend known for his love of horses nearly as much as his prolific stage shows, judges the colt class during the 2008 Magnum Futurity. Below the headline is a picture of Newton himself, hovering specter-like behind the weekend’s prize-winning horse. There’s a small, strange smile on his plastic face, a smile almost impossible to read, a smile that seems to say: You were so close. So close. VS Matt Wild would like to thank Des Moines for all the joy and pain. Danke Schoen.
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funny page news + Views drawing from memory
get your war on
>>by dwellephant
>>by david rees
vital source | news + views | funny page | 15
Vital living eat this Octoberfeast
>>Catherine McGarry Miller + Photos by Lynn Allen
Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held each year in Munich, Germany. Originated in 1810 to commemorate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Bavaria, it is reputed to be the world’s largest fair, with millions celebrating every year by troughing mass quantities of food and lager. Here are a couple of great recipes for your own Octoberfeast. VS
Chef/Owner John Poulos Karl Ratzsch’s 320 E Mason Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 414-276-2720 Karl Ratzsch’s celebrates its 105th birthday next year. Chef/owner John Poulos came on board in 1976 as a prep cook during his training at MATC’s culinary school. Many of the Southern German recipes go back to Mama Ratzch’s originals, like the renowned hot bacon salad dressing, the sauerbraten, wiener schnitzel, roast goose, stuffed pork chops and German potato salad. Five years ago, with partners Tom Andera and Judy Hazard, Poulos bought the restaurant from the Ratzch family. Poulos has since tweaked the menu, adding appetizers and lighter fare. His salmi recipe is the happy result of a mistake. Mr. Ratzch was roasting ducks and forgot about them, so they overcooked. He took bar olives and cherries and made a sauce with Burgundy wine. It’s been on the menu or run as a special ever since and is always featured at lunch and dinner on Saturdays. Karl Ratzch’s Salmi of Duck Shanks A salmi, short for salmigondis, is a ragout of wild game, often featuring waterfowl plentiful during Wisconsin’s fall hunting season. You may also stalk down all the ingredients you need in the aisles of your grocery store.
Add onions, bay leaves and stock. Cover with foil and roast in preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove foil and baste. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Return to oven without covering. Cook 30 to 40 minutes longer, or until golden brown and the meat is tender. Remove shanks and strain stock. Transfer strained stock to a saucepan. Add honey, brown sugar, cherries, olives and Burgundy. Bring to boil, then thicken with cornstarch and water mixture until the consistency of a medium-thick gravy. Adjust seasoning of sauce with chicken base to enhance flavor, then return meat to roasting pan and top with sauce. Roast 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with wild rice and stuffing. Makes 3 servings.
Ms. Marcellyne C. Amann Ms. Amann grew up in a large family of German and Irish heritage in Plane near Spring Green. “Farm life is hard work,” she says. “We milked the cows by hand; gathered and washed all the eggs. We husked and detasseled rows and rows and rows of corn and canned our own fruits and vegetables. Everyone had their job and we knew what we had to do so everything ran smoothly.” They never went to restaurants. With recipes like this one, which came from Ms. Amann’s mother-in-law, they surely ate better at home.
6 duck shanks (8 to 10 ounces each) Salt and pepper to taste Granulated garlic to taste 2 onions, sliced 4 bay leaves 6 cups chicken stock ¼ cup honey ½ cup packed light brown sugar 2 cups frozen sour cherries, thawed ½ cup pimento olives, sliced ¼ cup Burgundy wine ½ cup cornstarch mixed in ½ cup cold water Chicken base to taste
The Best German Potato Salad Ever
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season shanks with salt, pepper and garlic. Put duck shanks skin side up in a 15-by-10-by-2-inch roasting pan and cook 40 minutes in the oven or until light brown in color.
Fry bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and drain reserving 1/2-cup fat in the pan. Coarsely chop bacon. Add flour to fat, stirring until smooth. Add the water, sugar and vinegar. Stir sauce until it’s smooth and has a gravy-like thickness. In a large casserole dish, layer potatoes with onions, seasonings and chopped bacon pieces. Pour sauce over top and stir.
16 | eat this | Vital Source | vital LIVING
5 lb. potatoes 1 ½ cups water 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup vinegar 2 t salt 2 medium onions, chopped 1 lb. bacon, cooked and chopped, reserving ½ cup fat 3 T flour Boil potatoes in their jackets. Cool overnight. Peel and cut potatoes into bitesized pieces.
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Meet Milwaukee Film >>By Howie Goldklang >>Photo by Kat Berger
Film festivals are a tough business, man. One day you’re wearing your cleanest dirty suit in some board room asking for sponsorship money and the next you might be unloading office furniture from a rental truck, arguing about which films to program or waiting around for the Road Runner guy to show up between 3 pm and 10 pm on a Tuesday. And so it goes, on and on into an abyss of film submissions, stacks of papers and messes of wires up and down your office walls, dealing with filmmakers, the endless quest for sponsor dollars, securing equipment partners, a constant need to build build build – film programs, screenings, screenplay readings, competitions, contests, and then your actual festival! My god, you mean we have to show films? Yes! Creating the printed program, hawking down sponsors for ads two weeks late, finding reliable projectionists, pulling a jury together, organizing parties and panels, printing tickets and those cool-guy laminated passes, glad-handing sponsors, and on and on into an abyss of … You get it. The film festival world is a fucking grind and to be the core staff of a successful one means you are either crazy, bulletproof or both. Enter Jonathan Jackson, Kyle Heller and T.J. Fackelman – keys to the defunct Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) now forging ahead with a new organization called MILWAUKEE FILM. (Peep the Facebook group of the same name. Now!) But wait? What the hell happened to MIFF? We’re a beer and shot away from that conversation, so if you see me at a bar, walk over with a Magic Hat and Makers and we can get into it. For now, think about reasons that arts non-profits might split. Then think about who the original organizers were. Go ahead, name names. Then do a Mad Libs called FOUNDERS VS. FESTIVAL and carefully place the words Money, Ego, Sponsors, Vision, Credit
This is how much T.J. Fackelman loves film.
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and Direction. Then buy me another drink. (Search the REEL MILWAUKEE Blog at vitalsourcemag.com for more on the 4W/H about what happened to MIFF.) But I digress. Can you imagine doing the brick-by-brick, day-to-day festival grind for five years and without warning, it’s gone? These dudes couldn’t. Up from the ashes came Milwaukee Film, which is both a kick to the teeth of the powers that stole MIFF from Milwaukee and a dog whistle to independent filmmakers and artists in Milwaukee that the real supporters of MIFF don’t go out like that. “The whole staff went through a grieving process. Having put a festival together for the last five years, I feel like a big part of my life is missing,” says Milwaukee Film Artistic Director Jonathan Jackson. “Ultimately though, I am ecstatic about the future. We have an incredible opportunity to create a cultural organization that will maximize its potential and provide entertaining and socially conscious film programming throughout the year. We can’t guarantee perfection, but the staff and board of Milwaukee Film are going to work tirelessly to achieve it.” Stoked, right? Ready to roll up your sleeves and get all film crazy? Mayor Barrett is too. “I am pleased,” says Tom, “that Milwaukee will continue to host this international event which highlights our tremendous cultural landscape and local talent.” And the Mayor’s not the only one on board, big Milwaukee players (read: money dudes) are there too. Chris Abele, President and CEO of the Argosy Foundation, echoes the Mayor’s sentiments. “We are excited to help shape the future of a new international film festival in Milwaukee,” says Chris. “We’ve already received an overwhelmingly positive response from funders, and their generous seed money has built great momentum as we move forward with plans for the new festival.” Sweet! Adds Jonathan: “Our goal is that Milwaukee Film will eventually play a central role in [Milwaukee’s] year-round film culture. We are planning a major festival for 2009, but we are equally focused on developing events throughout the year, education programs for students and production initiatives to help foster our burgeoning film scene. There is a need in Milwaukee for more foreign and independent film exhibition, and we intend to work towards satisfying it.” Milwaukee Film’s inaugural screening is on October 23. The Milwaukee Show will be a premiere showcase of diverse locally-made short films at the Oriental Theatre. Films were submitted for screening consideration at no cost, and the top filmmaker will receive a Milwaukee Filmmaker prize package valued at over $10,000, including a camera rental package from North American Camera. Also on tap is the Milwaukee premiere of award-winning feature-length documentary Song Sung Blue on November 6, also at the Oriental. It follows the story of Milwaukee favorites Lightning & Thunder, a homegrown husband and wife singing duo that pay tribute to the music of Neil Diamond. From humble beginnings to their arrival on the world stage, and through success and tragedy, the film shows a couple who pursue an impossible dream while staying true to each other amid life’s toughest challenges. Talk about hitting the ground running. Milwaukee Film is ready to rock and now you are too. VS
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Todd wants to know where you’ve been, baby. If you’re not checking out VITAL online, you’re not getting exclusive videos, performance, film and music reviews, interviews, articles, more Picks and our fabulous, giveaway-laden eNews. Also, you’re not hanging out with Todd. But don’t let that stop you.
Vital culture stages
>>BY russ bickerstaff
stefan jackiw 10/17-18
eiko and koma 10/18
patricia barber 10/11
SHORT TAKES Like an all-you-can-eat-buffet – only more appetizing – area stages this month present a sampler of fine offerings, so try a little bit of everything. In Tandem presents a flurry of stories with its production of All Great Books while Cardinal Stritch features three shorts by Moliere and the UWM Department of Theatre presents playwright Jason Grote’s contemporary look at 1001 Arabian Nights. The month in music promises the interesting and the offbeat
THEATRICAL PREVIEWS THE LARAMIE PROJECT Moises Kaufman’s drama about the October 1998 lynching and murder of Mathew Shepard comes to the Marian Center’s Studio Theatre in a new production by Soulstice Theatre. October 2 – 11. 414-431-3187 or soulsticetheatre.org SIMMI AND OTHER LEO LIONNI STORIES The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia comes to the Wilson Center for a pair of children’s theatre performances based on the works of the popular children’s author October 6. 262-781-9520 or wilson-center.com TRIPLE ESPRESSO It’s a comedy about four guys who blew their chance at showbiz stardom in four minutes on television, hanging out at a fictional coffee house in the Marcus Center’s Vogel Hall October 8 – November 16. 414-273-7206 or marcusenter.org WAR OF THE WORLDS AND THE LOST WORLD L.A. Theatre Works presents live old-time radiostyle performance of classic dramas from the golden age of radio based on the works of H.G. Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle. October 9 at the Wilson Center. 262-781-9520 or wilson-center.com ALL GREAT BOOKS In Tandem Theatre opens its season with a whirlwind tour of all the most canonized books
as the MSO performs the music of the Eagles and the Milwaukee Laptop Orchestra plays a free concert. The analog but just as quirky Danceworks will titillate with Gone, Gone, Gone, a refreshingly witty dance performance in a month packed with shows by touring groups including Cirque du Soliel and Eiko and Koma. And on the 23rd, Milwaukee Ballet launches one of the classiest productions of the month: Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty
in Western literature in a manageable 90-minute program. Featuring Kevin Rich, Doug Jarecki and R. Chris Reeder. October 9 – 26 at the Tenth Street Theatre. 414-271-1371 or intandemtheatre.com MOLIERE IN SHORT The Cardinal Stritch Theatre Department presents a program of three one-act comedies by the master of the French farce: The Flying Doctor, The Imaginary Cuckold, and George Dandin. October 10 – 19. 414-410-4171 or theatre.stritch.edu THE PERSIANS Renaissance Theaterworks launches Ellen McLaughlin’s new adaptation of the classic play by Aeschylus – the oldest in human history. October 10 – November 2 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre. 414-291-7800 or r-t-w.com 1001 The UWM Department of Theatre presents Jason Grote’s modern retelling of the story of Scheherazade set partially in contemporary Manhattan, directed by Rebecca Holderness. October 14 – 19 at the UWM Mainstage Theatre. 414-2294308 or uwm.edu/psoa RABBIT HOLE Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents Jacque Troythe, Katheryn Bilbo, David M. Bohn, Steven Koehler and Jan Rogge in the 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire. The acclaimed look at the emotional power of domestic loss and healing runs October 16 through November 2 at the Broadway Theatre Center. 414-291-7800 or chamber-theatre.com
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CHARLOTTE’S WEB First Stage Children’s Theatre presents the beloved tale by E.B. White in a stage adaptation by Joseph Robinette. Wilbur, Charlotte and the rest of the barnyard family come to the Marcus Center’s Todd Wehr Theatre October 17 – November 16. 414-267-2970 or firststage.org STEVIE The Boulevard Theatre continues a successful season with this Milwaukee premiere of a drama by Hugh Whitemore about the life and writings of poet Stevie Smith. October 22 – November 9. 414-744-5757 or boulevardtheatre.com EURYDICE Sarah Ruhl has crafted this contemporary retelling of Orpheus’ descent into the underworld. The Milwaukee Rep continues its main stage season with the drama October 28 – November 23 at the Quadracci Powerhouse. 414-224-9490 or milwaukeerep.com THE PERFECT CANDIDATE The theatre group formerly known as Milwaukee Dance Theatre opens its first show under their new name. Theatre Gigante presents a fun political comedy written by company founder Isabelle Kralj and Mark Anderson October 30 through November 1 at the Off-Broadway Theatre. 414-278-0765 or theatregigante.org
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stages Vital culture MUSIC OF NOTE FACULTY RECITAL: STEVE NELSONRANEY AND GUESTS The UWM Peck School of the Arts hosts a concert by the faculty pianist with the poet John Koethe and Terry Smirl on drums. October 2 at the Recital Hall. 414-229-4308 or uwm.edu/psoa WAY OUT WEST The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s jazz group We Six performs a tribute to the 1950’s West Coast jazz scene, featuring music by Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Hampton Hawes, Dave Brubeck and more. October 2. 414-276-5760 or wcmusic.org RAPT AND RHYTHMIC Andreas Delfs leads the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in a concert featuring work by contemporary composer Roberto Sierra. The concert features Lee Erickson and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. October 3 and 4 at the Marcus Center. 414-290-7605 or mso.org MILWAUKEE LAPTOP ORCHESTRA What might be the world’s only laptop orchestra performs a concert of compositions and improvisations featuring surround sound, wireless networking, video projections and electro-acoustic music. October 10 at the UWM Recital Hall as a part of its Unruly Music series. 414-229-4308 or uwm.edu/psoa
by way of Sweden as the Broadway ABBA-fest comes to the Marcus Center in its big-budget touring incarnation. October 7 – 12. 414-273-7206 or marcusenter.org
er, violist Nathan Hackett, cellist Greg Mathews and pianist Ellen Swan Dixon for an afternoon of music at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. 414-276-5760 or wcmusic.org
SAINTS AND SINNERS Milwaukee Choral Artists present an evening of song from many faiths and traditions at the First Unitarian Society on October 10. 262-375-2952 or milwaukeechoralartists.org
JOURNEY Guest conductor Hannu Lintu and violinist Stefan Jackiw join the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in a concert featuring the work of Sibelius, Stravinski and Strauss. October 17 and 18 at the Marcus Center. 414-290-7605 or mso.org
UWM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Guest soprano Tanya Kruse-Ruck joins the UWMSO in a concert featuring Kabalevsky’s Colas Breugnon Overture, Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss and Dvorák’s Eighth Symphony. October 10 at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts. 414-229-4308 or uwm.edu/psoa THE COLE PORTER MIX Songstress Patricia Barber explores the work of the legendary composer in this Alverno Presents concert featuring new interpretations of old tunes on October 11. 414-382-6151 or alvernopresents.alverno.edu VETRUGEN AND VIVALDI Early Music Now presents a concert featuring members of The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra October 11 at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts. 414-229-4308 or uwm.edu/psoa
UWM WIND ENSEMBLE AND SYMPHONY BAND The UWM Symphony will perform October 3 at Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts. 414-229-4308 or uwm.edu/psoa
PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE The Bel Canto Chorus presents Gioachino Rossini’s last significant work in an October 12 concert at the Wilson Center. Featuring soprano Tanya Kruse Ruck, mezzo-soprano Veronica McHale, tenor Matthew DiBattista and baritone Jon Bruno. 414-481-8801 or belcanto.org
MAMMA MIA! Once more, Greece comes to the theatre district
PHILIP GROSSMAN AND FRIENDS The longtime MSO violinist joins violinist Lisa Full-
THE PAUL SILBERGLEIT QUARTET The Jazz guitarist’s quartet performs at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music October 23. 414276-5760 or wcmusic.org
DANCE SALTIMBANCO Cirque du Soleil’s stylish journey into the heart of a city unravels October 1 – 5 at the Bradley Center. 414-276-4545 or bradleycenter.com GONE, GONE, GONE Danceworks presents the witty works of Monica Rodero & Daniel Schuchart in a performance that explores “life, love and all the office supplies you can steal from work.” October 3 and 4. 414-2778480 or danceworks1661.org EIKO AND KOMA The experimental dance theatre pair from Japan come to Alverno Presents in a spooky October 18 performance. 414-382-6151 or alvernopresents. alverno.edu SLEEPING BEAUTY The Milwaukee Ballet opens its season with a production of the classic Tchaikovsky ballet October 23 – 25 at the Marcus Center. 414-902-2103 or milwaukeeballet.org
vital culture | Vital Source | stages | 21
A Theater of Lost Souls October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24-26, 29-31; November 1 500 E County Y, Oshkosh
Dominion of Terror October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24-26, 29-31; November 1 2024 North 15th Street, Sheboygan
The Great Pumpkin Fest October 17 & 18 1Union High School, 3433 South Colony Avenue, Union Grove
A Theater of Lost Souls has been completely redesigned in 2008 to give you one of the most frightful Halloween experiences in the area, complete with monsters, a black light theater, and “Your Last Ride” – a too-freaky-to-be-believed funeral simulator. Only for the bravest and most sound of sanity. 920-731-8555 or atheateroflostsoulds.com
The Dominion of Terror is over 30 years in the making. No room is ever the same and the horrifying characters you’ll encounter are brandnew. Dominion of Terror lives up to its name as one of the most mind-bending and gruesome festivals of insanity in the area. 920-918-2270 or dominion of terror.com
Bring your hoop and stick for this old-timey fall party, where you’ll find vintage children’s games, pumpkin decorating and baking, a costume parade and the Comedy Magic of Lou Lepore. It’s charming, family friendly and sure to tickle the nostalgia in everyone. 262-878-2434
Bear Den Haunted Woods October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, November 1 6831 Big Bend Rd., Waterford Arrive at the Bear Dean Haunted Woods via hearse, then see if you have the mettle to survive a hike through a “feasting graveyard of the walking dead.” The whole attraction takes place in the woods, and it’s been consistently rated one of the scariest in the region. Not to be missed! 262-895-6430 or beardenzoo.com Burial Chamber Haunted House October 3-4, 10-12, 16-19, 23-26, 29-31; November 1 500 N. Lake Street, Neenah The Burial Chamber Haunted House is actually four attractions in one, including two indoor haunted houses, one outdoor haunted house and FOUR burial simulators. Creepy. This Hollywood-style haunted complex was voted #1 by Haunted Wisconsin last year. burialchamber.com Deadly Intentions Haunted Yard October 30, 31; November 1 1621 N 26th St., Sheboygan Here’s something different: this home haunt in Sheboygan is legendary, and its intimacy is what gives it its frightful potency. Leave the kids at home for this free haunt – there’s lots of blood and gore. But how can you pass up a personal scare in someone’s yard? You shouldn’t. 920-254-4354
Fall River Chamber of Horrors October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31; November 1 W1404 Heppe Road, Fall River The Fall River Chamber of Commerce presents the Chamber of Horrors, a snaking series of long halls, dark corners and sentinel scarecrows. Afterward catch a scary movie on the lawn or take a hayride through the corn field – a great way to unwind after a great scare. 920-484-6099 Fright Hike October 31; November 1 Lapham Peak State Park, W329 N849 Highway C, Delafield How does that story go about dark woods in the middle of the night? There are probably dozens of urban legends that begin – and end – with a hike through the wilderness, and you can live out the terror with a one-mile Fright Hike through the terrifying trails of Lapham Peak State Park. Spooky! 262-364-7773 or frighthike.com Gilly’s Haunted House October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17-19, 23-26, 30, 31 1559 W. Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee A dilapidated big tent is the setting for Gilly’s – the only spooky circus in the city. Scared of clowns? Sword swallowers? Bearded ladies? This is the place for you. 414-384-7955 or gillyshauntedhouse.com
22 | halloween guide | Vital Source | vital living
Halloween Glen October 17 & 18 1130 N. 60th St., Milwaukee This “natural alternative” to the season’s scary thrills gives families the chance to learn about nature. Come for skits, learning stations and a romp through the trails of Hawthorn Glen. 414-647-605 or milwaukeerecreation.net Halloween Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular October 24-25 Milwaukee County Zoo Why knock on your neighbor’s door for tricks and/or treats when you can solicit the giraffes, polar bears and peacocks? Bring the kids for a fun take on the holiday. Just remember not to feed the animals. 414-771-3040 or milwaukeezoo.org/events House on Haunted Hill October 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 W5399 Cty Hwy G, Rio What’s in the house on Haunted Hill? Could a mad scientist live there amongst rotting body parts and doomed experiments? Does he have some sort of Tunnel of Terror constructed for nefarious purposes? Might the woods surrounding the house also, perhaps, be haunted? Is there a graveyard? You bet. After you scream your head off, enjoy homemade snacks and caramel apples. 608-513-1320
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The Haunted Barn October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31; November 1 755 Hwy 51, Stoughton The folks behind the Haunted Barn have transformed an old tobacco shed into a freaky haunt-a-thon with demonized trails through woods and pastures, a visit to the Triple T cemetery and a shocking finale back at the barn. The Barn planners warn, “this time we went nuts.” 608-873-5280 or haunted-barn.com Hauntfest September 26-27; October 3, 4, 10-12, 16-19, 23-26, 29-31; November 1 Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, Milwaukee The Fear Factory is haunted by the soul of Killy Killmore, a deranged factory overseer who shredded his disobedient employees and was subsequently slaughtered in a worker mutiny. On the grounds of the State Fair, this is a big-kid haunted house full of gore and torture. Fun, right? 414-282-4386 or hauntfest.com Homestead Animal Farm’s “America the Beautiful” Corn Maze September 27-28; October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 30, 31 W320 N9127 Hwy 83, Hartland Corn mazes are required curriculum during the fall in Wisconsin, and this one is world-class. Come early to hang out with the donkeys, alpacas, baby chicks and turkeys, then lose yourself in rows of corn. Take a hayride and bring home a pumpkin for a souvenir. 262-9663840 or homesteadanimalfarm.com Horror in the Dark at Olin Park October 17, 18, 23-25, 30; November 1 Olin Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Court, Madison While you’re crying with fright, you can take heart when you remember (IF you can remember) that your terror is all for a good cause. The Madison Metro Jaycees are donating proceeds from Horror in the Dark to the Madison Area Community Land Trust. Try to keep that in mind. 608-438-0872 or myspace.com/horrorinthedarkatolinpark Lister F/X Presents Monster Mayhem September 26-28; October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31; November 1, 2 Paulo’s Pizza, 5121 W. Howard Ave., Milwaukee Paulo’s Pizza has a not-so-delicious secret in the basement: mutilated human experiments, “zombie activity” and a hideous Frankensteinian monster. Your mission: destroy the installation before it destroys you. The good news: afterwards you can eat some pizza. 414-303-7891 or listerfx.com
Maize quest September 20, 21, 26-28; October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31; November 1, 2 Borzynski’s Farm & Floral Market, 11600 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant
Wisconsin Feargrounds October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17-19, 23-26, 29-31; November 1 Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha
This six-acre corn maze also feature a petting zoo, pick-your-own pumpkins and make-your-own caramel apples. What can’t you do-on-your-own at Borzynski’s? 262-886-2235 or borzynskis.com
Three classic Wisconsin haunted houses have merged to make one death-defying Halloween experience as Morgan Manor, Morgana’s Torment and the brand-new Freaky’s Funhouse. Experience 30,000 square feet of terror. You might want to take it one at a time – and bring some Valium. 262-547-6808 or wisconsinfeargrounds.com
Mars Haunted House October 3-5,10-12,17-19, 23-26, 30-31; November 1 734 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee Mars is one of Wisconsin’s most historic haunted houses. Staged in a late 19th-Century building on the south side, the Mars Haunted House has rustled up frights for 15 years with no sign of stopping. Some say the Mars Haunted House is truly haunted and that attendees can expect otherworldly contact from the spirits that live in the house. See for yourself. 414-384-7491 or marshauntedhouse.com Salem’s Plot Haunted House October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31 Happ’s Pumpkin Farm, 24121 Wilmot Rd., Salem Salem’s Plot on the Happ’s family farm is built directly on top of the 19th-Century Liberty Cemetery, and once a year, the Happs open their doors to let the spirits seek their vengeance. Tread carefully through the maze and watch out for zombie stalkers. Truly terrifying. 262-862-6515 or myspace.com/salemsplothauntedhouse Splatter Haus October 3-5,10-12,17-19,24-26,31; November 1 1912 Columbus St., Two Rivers Splatter Haus claims to be the scariest and loudest haunted house in the state, and at 32,000 square feet, they are definitely the largest. With state of the art special effects and more than 20,000 watts of sound, this intense haunted house is for adults only. “We will scare the living $#!* out of you!!!!!!” (sic) the press team promises. 920-457-8688 or splatterhaus.com Swan’s Pumpkin Farm September 27-30; October 1-31 5930 Highway H, Franksville Swan’s Pumpkin Farm offers a whole city made from corn, with Halloween displays, a Spook House, a graveyard, hayrides and, yes, a labyrinth constructed from corn. Shop for gifts, seasonal produce and decorations. Plus a petting zoo! 262835-4885 or thepumpkinfarm.com
vital living | V ital Source | halloween guide | 23
Vital’s Picks >> By erin lee petersen
91.7 WMSE Food Slam October 3 – Eisner Museum of Advertising & Design Loosen your belts, folks: the Bella’s Fat Cat Slamburger is back, and this time it means business. WMSE’s annual Food Slam silent auction and tasting event once again brings us this king among burgers along with plenty of tasty edibles from over 20 different Milwaukee eateries. For a mere $30 entry fee (or $25 in advance), WMSE supporters can fill their gullets with unlimited samples from all of the vendors, participate in a silent auction for some sweet ass prizes and hang out with WMSE DJs for an entire evening. HOT! wmse.org. Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Convention October 3-5 Airport Wyndham Hotel Since 1999, Tattooed Kingpin has hosted some of the biggest and best tattoo conventions in the U.S. The operation started with the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention, spearheaded by legendary ink artists Philadelphia Eddie and Troy Timpel. They decided to spread the love and organized conventions in Baltimore, Chicago and Milwaukee. The Beer City Tattoo convention boasts over 200 of the world’s best tattoo artists, live performances, freak shows, sideshows and live tattoo demos. tattooedkingpin.com Brady Street Days October 4 – Brady Street I think it’s safe to say that outdoor street festivals are one of Milwaukeean’s favorite pastimes, possibly because it allows us to drink outdoors without shame or police intervention. Head over to Brady Street Days where you’ll find local merchants slinging their goods, delectable eats and drinks that flow like water. This year also features Buskerfest, so you can be sure to catch plenty of street performers, fire eaters and jugglers doing what they do best. bradyst.com Film Screening: Eleni Vlachos: Seeing Through the Fence October 5 – Broad Vocabulary It started with a simple email: when Eleni Vlachos, a vegan and amateur documentarian, asked her brother why he enjoyed eating meat, his response came in list form. As a sort of visual retort, Vlachos created Seeing Through the Fence, a documentary about the role food plays in culture, agriculture and our connection to animals. Using a hand-held
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camera, Vlachos engages friends, family and passersby in a diverse dialogue about these issues, combining elements of storytelling and comedy to deconstruct carnivore logic. 414-744-8384 or broadvocabulary.com Milwaukee Book Festival October 5-14 – Various Locations The annual Milwaukee Book Festival brings writers and artists from near and far together each year to celebrate and explore this centuries-old medium. Highlights of this 10-day festival include a reading by several Milwaukee Poet Laureates and an intimate evening with Big Bridge Press founder and poet Michael Rothenberg and beat poet David Meltzer, to name just a few. The festival is held in conjunction with several ongoing art exhibits at UWM, including works by innovative book artist Karen Hanmer, who combines the ancient process of book binding with modern computer technology to create witty and personal works of art. 414-2273311 or milwaukeebookfestival.uwm.edu Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition October 10-May 25, 2008 Milwaukee Public Museum Nearly 100 years ago, the world’s largest ship, the RMS Titanic, collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic on the evening of her maiden voyage. Less than three hours later the “unsinkable” ship had sunk, taking the lives of over 1,500 of the passengers on board and making it one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters of all time. Despite this great loss, the legend lives on with Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. The exhibition focuses on hundreds of compelling human stories from Titanic with authentic objects from passengers, room recreations, and a chronological journey through the creation of the infamous ship. Viewed by more than 18 million people worldwide, this exhibit is among the highest attended in history and an event you won’t want to miss. .mpm.edu/titanic.
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brew or a newcomer to the grand tradition, this is the event for you! The Pabst Mansion will open its doors for Retro Beer Night, an evening of old Brew City favorites, grilled meats and fond memories. Tickets will run you about $30 (non-members), but you’d probably blow that in a bar anyway, so why not kick it old school? pabstmansion.com. Empty Bowls October 11 – MATC - Oak Creek Campus Empty Bowls was created by a group of high school art students nearly 30 years ago after their teacher challenged them to raise funds for a local food drive. The class created ceramic bowls to be used at the fundraising dinner and allowed all in attendance to keep their handmade dish as a reminder of hunger in the world. For the past ten years, Milwaukee Empty Bowls has been carrying on this tradition. For a $20 donation, you can take your pick from over 2,000 handmade ceramic bowls and then fill it with delicious soups and breads from dozens of Milwaukee’s best restaurants and bakeries. Of course, the bowl is yours to keep and your donation goes to fund hunger programs in Milwaukee. 414-228-8221 or milwaukeeemptybowls.org David Byrne October 15 – Pabst Theater You know, I struggled to find a clever way to describe this event. I found myself typing up and quickly deleting phrases like “once in a lifetime event” and pondering over the perfect Talking Heads lyrics to sample. But it comes down to this: David Byrne is an f-ing genius and he’s playing in Milwaukee this month. His last show at The Pabst was described as a “magical, sweaty dancing experience,”and this time around promises to be just as amazing. Byrne goes back to his roots performing some of his original collaborations with Brian Eno and some David Byrne ... and a rhino. 10/15
Retro Beer Night October 10 – Pabst Mansion Try to remember the first time you tasted a Pabst. Chances are you were at someone’s backyard barbeque/basement punk show/house party, taking that first sip and drinking in all of the Midwestern irony, thinking how it was such a throwback to drink old school Milwaukee beer in Milwaukee. Before you knew it, you were guzzling PBRs like a champ and branching out to Schlitz and Old Milwaukee. Whether you’re a connoisseur of fine Milwaukee
24 | October picks | Vital Source | vital living
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of our old faves from the Talking Heads. Seriously kids, it’s going to be unbelievable! 414-286-8663 or pabsttheater.com Gallery Night October 17 – Various Locations Oh jeez, it’s already October. That means shorter days, crisp weather and the onset of the dreaded “holiday season.” Sure, it sounds a little sad, but buck up Milwaukee: October also means Gallery Night and another chance to check out some of the hottest, freshest art in Milwaukee. You’re definitely going to want to make your way to the Arts Building to check out America’s Gallery Night, Vital’s Americana-themed show, featuring original art that explores American mythology, culture and kitsch. One of Milwaukee’s newest collectives, The White Whale Artist Collective, kicks off gallery night with paintings from member Emiliano Lake-Herrera and spoken word organized by local poet Nigel Wade. Lake-Herrera’s paintings merge the epic of steel drivin’ man John Henry with the Passion of Jesus, drawing parallels between the hero-myth of John Henry to the martyrdom of Christ. From there, hopskip-jump down to Bay View and bug out at Fasten with new work from Rebecca Schoenecker. “Buggin” features embroideries and whimsical paintings of creatures big and small, playful hybrids of women as bugs, animals and other iconic figures that toe the line between cute and down right gross. And
don’t call it a night before you’ve had a chance to visit the Paper Boat Boutique to see Kate Bingaman-Burt’s “Obsessive Consumption,” clever and witty works on paper and photography about daily personal consumption. Phew! Sounds like you’ve got quite a night ahead of you. vitalsourcemag.com, whitewhalecollective.com, paperboatboutique.com and fastencollective.com. Yelle October 22 – Turner Hall Ballroom French electro-pop songstress Yelle danced onto the music scene three years ago after posting her video “Short Dick Cuizi” on Myspace. The song was a public smack down from the young chanteuse to a fellow French performer who apparently, uh ... came up short. It layered wonderfully explicit lyrics over a body-rocking beat, and Yelle became an instant sensation with her sweet vocals, hot dance beats and foul mouth. Get ready, get excited. This show is going to be the dance party of the year! 414-2868663 or pabsttheater.com B.B. King October 31 – Riverside Theater Nearly 60 years ago, B.B. King was performing at a dance in Arkansas when several fans started a violent fight over a woman named Lucille, eventually setting fire to the entire hall. Once the crowd was evacuated, King realized that he’d left his pre-
Size matters to Yelle. 10/22 cious guitar inside and rushed back in – through the sweltering blaze – to retrieve it. King named that guitar (and each one since) Lucille as a reminder never to lose his head over a woman. Snap. Over 15,000 performances and countless “Lucille’s” later, King visits Milwaukee’s own Riverside Theater to promote his latest album, One Kind Favor. Don’t miss the chance to see this living legend in action! riversidetheater.org/bbking
vital living | Vital Source | October pi cks | 25
Predator or Prey?
visual arts picks
>>Judith Ann Moriarty On Thursday, September 4, a video tribute dedicated to the victims of September 11, 2001 aired at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. It prompted a visibly upset MSNBC commentator, Keith Olbermann, to apologize for its insensitivity. A week later, he was yanked as anchor for the November 4 election coverage. “Razor blades. Pocketknives. Scissors. Corkscrews. Nail clippers. Lighters. Match boxes. Innocent, everyday items, once routinely carried onto planes, took on different meanings after the events of September 11, 2001.” So reads a press release for Michele Pred: (dis) possessions, now through October 12 at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan. Pred’s materials? Personal items (yours, mine) confiscated at airport security checkpoints. A California artist who exhibits globally, her “Fear Culture” features red, white and blue Petri dishes, each containing a seized object. Assembled to resemble an American flag, it challenges the core of American freedom – rather than preaching, it informs in a minimalist manner. It’s a good fit with the October 5 lecture in the Lubar Auditorium at MAM. Listen (for free)
to “Monument Men” survivor Harry Ettlinger, who helped rescue artistic and cultural items plundered by the Nazis during World War II. Prints in MAM’s Gallery 13, titled The First World War: Its Horror and Its Aftermath, will prod you forward to November 4. On October 10, the 2007 Mary Nohl Fellowship Award event debuts at Inova/Kenilworth. Photographer Kevin Miyazaki’s Camp Home series records the Tule Lake Japanese internment camp where his father and his family were placed during World War II. And on Gallery Night, October 17 the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design’s Media Projects 2008 (curated by artist/ MIAD professor Jason S. Yi) includes the work of Bethany Springer, who explores place and its relationship to biology, terrorism, communication and security; at Dean Jensen Gallery, The Newspaper House unfolds. Peruse the newsy walls, inside and out, while considering the fragility of nature, and further, the fragility of life as the elections loom. Stop.look.listen: an exhibition of video works (from 14 global artists) starts October 23 at the Haggerty Museum of Art. Janet Biggs’ two-
26 | October picks | Vital Source | vital living
Confiscate this. Michelle Pred @ JMKAC, thru 10/12 channel video installation (Predator and Prey, 2006) will air on huge plasma screens, similar to those displaying the 9-11 video at the Republican Convention. Images: past, present, and future. What is their role in shaping our perceptions in the year 2008 and beyond? VS
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Vital culture music reviews The Sea and Cake • Car Alarm Thrill Jockey • theseaandcake.com
The latest album from Chicago’s The Sea and Cake finds the band mid-lap on the race begun on last year’s Everybody, in which the jazzy, poppy, light post-rock was more ebullient than the band’s debut material in 1993. T he mid -lap sho w s whether the participants are capable of following through. The Sea and Cake have produced a fluid group of songs, most likely because these are their most quickly-penned compositions to date. Last year’s album had an effervescence it might not have claimed without the four years between it and 2003’s One Bedroom. That lifts the burden of the element of surprise from Car Alarm, which takes much of its attitude from the less-than-ayear-old Everybody. Sam Prekop – more Chet Baker than Stephen Malkmus – builds on the momentum of the previous release, which reached for the roots of Nassau-esque jazzy-pop and abandoned the more electronic leanings of One Bedroom. What the band had abandoned at that point is what makes Car Alarm kick in. A noticeable element of urgency gives a spark to opener “Aerial,” with driving drums and strong but fuzzy guitars making way for hints of electronic noodling. A driving tempo and smooth, steady instrumentation is tailored for natural electronic inclusions in the run of the album. This occurs in the oxygenated “CMS Sequence” – one minute and eight seconds of straight-up electronica, and a genre precursor to “Weekend,” which mixes the jazz-pop and electronic flavors nicely. Think of Everybody and Car Alarm as participants in a relay race consisting of two people: the strong and steady starter followed by a substantial and sparkling finisher. – Erin Wolf
Jolie Holland • The Living and the Dead Anti- • jolieholland.com
Things don’t always turn out as they should, but Texasborn singer/songwriter Jolie Holland has no desire to turn life’s lemons into anything but woeful songs. With addiction, depression, and both shattered hearts and dreams rampant, the fine line between dead and alive is often indistinguishable. It’s not ideal listening material for those with suicidal tendencies, but fans of the country-blues will find Holland’s fourth studio release relaxed and fluent.
28 | music reviews | Vital Source | vital culture
Holland’s warm fiddling on “Sweet Loving Man,” which could play on any smoky small-town bar’s jukebox, makes it a favorite. Though her warbling vocal style borders on annoying when it’s too ambitious (is there a tongue depressor in her mouth?), her whistling on the disc’s two most traditionalsounding folk songs, “You Painted Yourself In” and “Love Henry” is beyond impressive, and could easily be mistaken for singing saw. Portlanders M. Ward and Rachel Blumberg (formerly of the Decemberists) make notable contributions — Ward’s rock-influenced guitar on “Your Big Hands” adds pick-me-up spunk to sad-sack lyrics, and Blumberg’s drumming, particularly on “Corrido Por Buddy” and “Mexico City,” has just enough heft and meter to keep the arrangements from dragging. Dishes clang behind the giggly acoustic cover of “Enjoy Yourself” (“it’s later than you think”), and though it seems like an unnecessary, tack-on closing track, it seals in the admirably pragmatic outlook Holland has been singing about throughout: “I’ll dance at your funeral/if you dance at mine”(“Palmyra”). – Amber L. Herzog
Grails • Doomsdayer’s Holiday Temporary Residence LTD. • grailsongs.com Some folks label the Portland, OR band Grails instrumental. I deem it ambient or Narada metal. The prolific (and I use this term with a large measure of chagrin) quartet’s 9th release this millennium, Doomsdayer’s Holiday, really is just more of the same, and all the more agonizing because of it. The seven songs within dabble in a few textures, but all of it just blows wind (literally, in many unfortunate instances) and is entirely forgettable. Many have come before Grails, and to much better results. There’s “doom” metal (just grubby blues licks) on “Reincarnation Blues” and “Predestination Blues.” Then there are the aforementioned wind samples, high-fret guitar chimes, and recycled “large room” percussion on the opening title track. The only creative touch or compelling moment of any kind comes at the very end, with the Pink Floyd-apeing “Acid Rain.” All of these songs are frustrating in their sheer lack of direction and overall dullness. Virtually everything here is pretentious: the artwork (perhaps an homage to Danzig: naked breasts, check; power animal, check; fog, check; ominous trees, check), the songwriting (with ho-hum musicianship at best) and the production (will Steve Albini get royalties?). I can best describe this (and in fact, their entire output) as merely different joints all rolled from the same bag of weed. Now, I must ask you … have you ever smoked eight-yearold weed? – Troy Butero
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music reviews Vital culture
Gallery Night + Day @ The Arts Building October 17 + 18, 2008
These Arms Are Snakes • Tail Swallower & Dove Suicide Squeeze • thesearmsaresnakes.org
On their third full length record, Seattle’s These Arms Are Snakes have embraced the idea that more is more. More guitars, more rhythm and more vocals give the record a bigger feeling than their previous outings. Densely layered waves of distorted and delayed guitar – no surprise, considering the band’s ties to Botch and the northwestern math scene – weave in and out, creating cathartic soundscapes that are intriguing and bold. Tail Swallower & Dove makes it apparent that the These Arms Are Snakes want to be loud. The biggest difference between this record and the band’s back catalogue is their new rhythmic approach. Almost every song features breakdowns during which the guitars and melody take their main cues from the rhythm section. This gives the band a tighter and more direct sound, but it was always their disregard of tight songwriting that differentiated tracks from one another. At times, Tail Swallower & Dove suffers from sounding like one long song. Like any record that gets too close to Chicago, Tail Swallower & Dove is sure to be showered with comparisons to the Jesus Lizard and Big Black – and rightfully so: These Arms Are Snakes take serious cues from that era of Chicago rock. But for every bit of Chicago that’s in there, there’s something else to take from it, be it the Blood Brothers-esque squeals of “Red Line Season” or “Ethric Double,” the best song Jane’s Addiction never wrote. Tail Swallower & Dove shows a band in transition. Maybe next time These Arms Are Snakes will be certain enough in their direction to create a record that rivals their initial offerings. For now, this album will tide listeners over just fine. – Charlie Hosale
133 W. Pittsburgh Ave.
theartsbuilding.net
tangerine #307 Hand-made infant and children's clothing by Victoria Schwartz for boys and girls, infant to size four
Michael Heider photography #308
Ilze Heider Leather Design #308 Diverse materials and techniques, whimsically combined to create unique and functional wearable leather art
Nilson Studios #404 Imaginative murals, finishes, trompe l’oeil and custom fine art painting
VITAL Source #409 america’s gallery night 16 artists explore America through numerous media and creative lenses.
v i t a l c u lt u r e
vital culture | Vital Source | music reviews | 29
record releases Vital culture October 7 Attack! Attack! s/t Rock Ridge Music Antony and the Johnsons Another World EP Rough Trade Deerhoof Offend Maggie Kill Rock Stars Greory & The Hawk Moenie and Kitchi FatCat Jolie Holland The Living and the Dead Anti-/Epitaph I Am Ghost Those We Left Behind Epitaph
Lambchop OH (ohio) Merge
The Pretenders Break Up the Concrete Shangri-La Music
Chris Cornell Scream Suretone/Interscope
Phoebe Snow Live in Woodstock Verve Forecast
Kenny Chesney Lucky Old Sun Blue Chair
The Legendary Pink Dots Plutonium Blonde ROIR
Rise Against Appeal to Reason Geffen
The Cure 4:13 Dream Suretone/Geffen
T-Pain Thr33Ringz Konvict Muzik/Zomba
Lee Ann Womack Call Me Crazy MCA Nashville
Senses Fail Life is Not a Waiting Room Vagrant
Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs Dirt Won’t Hurt Transdreamer
Lucinda Williams Little Honey Lost Highway
October 28
Women s/t Jajaguwar
I’m From Barcelona Who Killed Harry Houdini? Mute
Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s Not Animal Epic Jon McLaughlin OK Now Island MSTRKRFT Bounce Dim Mak Oasis Dig Out Your Soul Epic Of Montreal Skeletal Lamping Polyvinyl
October 14 David Benoit Charlie Brown TV Themes Peak/Concord Nikka Costa Pebble to a Pearl Stax/Concord
30 | october record releases | Vital Source | vital culture
October 21
Coolio Steal Hear Super Cool
AC/DC Black Ice Columbia
Hatebreed For the Lions Koch
Keane Perfect Symmetry Interscope
The Dears Missiles Dangerbird
Ray LaMontagne Gossip in the Grain RCA
McCarthy Trenching Calamity Drenching Team Love
The Heligoats The End of All-Purpose EP Greydey
Sixpence None the Richer The Dawn of Grace Nettwerk
Snow Patrol One Hundred Million Suns Polydor/Fiction/Geffen
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puzzle page Vital source
CryptoQuip The CryptoQuip is a quote in substitution code, where A could equal R, H could equal P, etc. One way to break the code is to look for repeated letters. E, T, A, O, N and I are the most often used letters. A single letter is usually A or I; OF, IS and IT are common 2-letter words; and THE and AND are common 3-letter words. Good luck!
Crossword
Across 1 Yield 5 Dined 8 Banded stone 13 Energy type
14 Zilch 15 Pitch 16 Peanuts character 18 Singer Lenya 19 ___ Baba 20 Food container
Sudoku
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21 More, in Madrid 22 Zoologist’s foot 23 Tweety’s longsuffering bud 28 Rip apart 31 Encounter
To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1-9.
Clues: V=H Y=E 32 Henpeck 34 Alley ___ 36 Seize 38 Chemical suffix 39 With 43 Across,
Down
Cookie’s parents 43 See 39 Across 45 ___-Wan Kenobi 46 Coral ridge 48 ___-Foy, Que. 49 Annex 50 Yarn 52 Vagabond 55 Bugs Bunny torments him 59 Play part 61 “___ luck?” 62 Immerse 64 Type of shirt 65 Maxim 68 Cartoon super hero 71 Animal toxin 72 Vein contents 73 Jack’s foe 74 Bother 75 Silent assent 76 Without (Fr.)
3 Family man 4 Formerly, once 5 Alias 6 Twitch 7 Antlered animal 8 Map collection 9 Casper was a friendly one 10 Gallery display 11 Moppet 12 Ram’s mate 13 Trade 17 Poetic contraction 21 Copper and gold, e.g. 24 Race unit 25 Action word 26 Chisholm Trail town 27 Hindu princess 29 Immediately 30 Kind of prize 33 Force unit
1 Ice chest, for one 2 Carol Lay comic strip
35 Verse 37 Two out of two 39 Female hare 40 Qualified 41 Fish part 42 Unhearing 44 New (Prefix) 47 Winter woe 51 Swirled 53 Caped Crusader 54 Arctic and Indian 56 Jim Backus was the voice of Mr. ___ 57 Foe 58 Accomplished 60 Camping gear 63 Cribbage game pieces 65 Gardner of Mogambo 66 Cozy room 67 Gothic author Radcliffe 68 Ham, to Noah 69 Paid player 70 River inlet
august Crossword Answers
vital Living | Vital Source | puzzle page | 31