Entertainment
Bluegrass Band Leaves Others In The Dust
By Broadside Staff Writer Marian McLaughlin
This past Saturday night, the James Lee Community Theater in Falls Church turned into an acoustic, bluegrass haven. The D.C. Bluegrass Union presented The Infamous Stringdusters, along with the Jordan Tice Trio. As the opening act came on, guitarist Jordan Tice announced that tonight he and bassist Paul Kowert would be playing only as a duet. The combination of the steel string guitar and the upright bass blended together in unique harmony. Although the two were known to play bluegrass, it was obvious that they were also familiar with jazz and classical techniques. Jordan would switch from intricate strumming patterns to sailing scales, and Paul would pluck a simple bluegrass line, only to pick up his bow and saw away into some complex improvisation.
London's Bloc Party Gets Personal With "Intimacy"
By Broadside Asst. Style Editor Pearson Jones
Bloc Party gave little warning to fans that they would be releasing a follow up to 2007’s A Weekend in the City in August. Lead vocalist Kele Okereke and the rest of Bloc Party announced through a web chat on Aug. 18 that their new LP Intimacy would be following a similar digital release format as Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails. The only difference would be that Bloc Party would be slapping a price tag on their digital release, despite the popular trend of allowing downloaders to name their own price. The rush release date of the album was scheduled for Aug. 20, while a physical copy was released later into stores on Oct. 25. Those who were even aware of the release could go download the full album off the bands website for $10.
At Times, Intimacy sounds like the remains from A Weekend in the City. They both have the catchy hooks, electrifying riffs and pulse-pumping beats that will keep you hitting repeat. But Intimacy clearly has a unique feel that digresses from the sound of Silent Alarm that made Bloc Party’s rise to fame an easy one. It’s a move that has allowed Bloc Party to produce one of its most diverse albums yet.
Kevin Smith Talks to Broadside about His Latest Film
By Broadside Staff Writer Ross Bonaime
Kevin Smith, the writer and director of Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, could arguably be considered one of the most important influential directors in recent history. Smith came from the early ’90s with his now-classic Clerks to become an essential indie director and has gained popularity since. Smith’s current film, Zack and Miri Make A Porno, possibly his most ambitious and controversial, might also be one of his best.
Zack and Miri One of the Funniest Films This Year
By Broadside Staff Writer Ross Bonaime
When looking at Kevin Smith’s newest film, Zack and Miri Make A Porno, it may look relatively close to a film from the Judd Apatow machine and his cast of freaks and geeks. This is an easy mistake to make. Smith’s trademark of taking an endearing love story and surrounding it with, as Smith calls it, “dick and fart jokes,” lead him through the ’90s with Clerks, Chasing Amy, Mallrats and Dogma. While Smith found a cult following, Apatow took this formula and found almost instant success with The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Now Smith’s eighth film takes several of Apatow’s well-known conspirators, such as Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks and makes a film worthy of the success that Smith has so long deserved.
A Little Cooking Here, A Little Crafting There
By Broadside Staff Writer Kyle Ridley
Comedian Amy Sedaris’ résumé is as long as it is obscure. How many other actresses do you know star in a hit series one day and then educate families as part of the House Rabbit Society the next?
Whether running a cupcake and cheese-ball business out of her New York City apartment or meeting with her amateur crafts club, The Crafty Beavers, no job is too big or too small.
The Warrior: An Inside Look at the Iraq War
By Broadside Style Editor Emily Sharrer
The Warrior, a play written by popular playwright Jack Gilhooley, takes an intimate look at a part of war that is rarely discussed: the aftermath. This Saturday at 8 p.m., George Mason University’s Theater of the First Amendment will put on the play for one night only for students, faculty and area residents in TheaterSpace. The play features Marietta Hedges as Tammy, an Iraq War veteran returning from her second tour of duty with a severe case of post traumatic stress disorder. Throughout The Warrior, Tammy deals with the possibility of losing her daughter in a custody battle as well as the hardship of a broken marriage.
Tammy’s struggles are chronicled in a documentary made by her friend Giselle, played by Mary Lechter, who provides voiceovers for the predominantly one-woman show.
Movie Review: Changeling
By Connect2Mason Reporter Emily Culley.
Set in early 1928, Angelina Jolie plays Christine Collins, a single mother, whose life completely unravels, when her 10-year-old son, Walter, goes missing in the new Clint Eastwood movie Changeling. The ever-corrupt LAPD tries to gloss over this case by bringing the Collins boy home as quickly as possible.
After a long five months, the LAPD finds who they believe is Walter home to Christine. Immediately Christine refuses to admit that this is her son. The LAPD convinces her to take the boy home, telling her that she is in shock and cannot handle the fact that they found her son.
Panic at the Disco, Dashboard Play Halloween Show
Story by Connect2Mason Director Grace Kendall. Photos by Courtney Erland.
A crush of scenesters clad in neon elbow for position by the barricade. Two girls dressed as s’mores swoon on the floor, singing along with “Our Time Now” by the Plain White T’s and pledging their devotion to the band with their unblinking eyes and hands clasped over their hearts. Candy is thrown to the audience. Product placement is so prominent audience members will go home reciting not song lyrics but video game commercials. It can mean only one thing: the Rock Band Live Tour has come to the Patriot Center for Halloween.
It’s Called UGG for a Reason, Folks
By Broadside Style Columnist Dan Pino
This past Wednesday, as I exited the JC with my venti skim caramel macchiato in one hand and cell phone in the other I stumbled across what was supposedly an Eskimo convention. Everywhere I looked no less than four out of the five girls, and even a couple guys, were sporting a uniform blob of suede and lamb fur on their feet. I thought to myself, “Since when has igloo building become the new activity of choice?” But upon closer examination, I was appalled to discover that the horrible atrocities on the feet of my fellow George Mason University students were all of the same shoe: the UGG Boot.
Saw V Can't Live Up To Original Standards
The Saw franchise is a rare breed indeed. Any horror movie that is moderately successful usually gets enough sequels to fill up a whole rack in Blockbuster. Friday the 13th, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, all started out strong and then were run straight into the ground by lackluster, lousy sequels. Saw has managed to be entertaining through all five movies thanks to some clever stories, interesting twists, and a serial killer we all love to hate.