Karsh Kale

Karsh Kale (pronounced Kursh Kah-lay) is an Indian composer and producer. His music is of his heritage with added electronic beats and sound effects. Also, people come into his studio and randomly record their singing, etc., and he incorporates these artist’s works into his productions. He’s an accomplished and extremely talented drummer of all different sorts. A very soft, sweet melodic sound is what comes from his albums. It’s almost as if you’re in a trance. “Beautiful” is my all time favorite song of Kale’s. It’s sad and calming at the same time. Kale also produces remixes for different artists and composers. Most who listen to Karsh Kale’s productions are those who meditate, like my sister who is currently in Costa Rica studying (she would be lost without her meditation music,) and myself. It’s worth checking out, even if it seems too weird for your taste. I just peronally think that his music has calming abilities that could take you by surprise, but that's only because it's exactly what happened to me.

-Kassandra

Photo from Kale's internet site.

Survivor

Survivor, a novel written by Chuck Palahniuk in 1999, is a very deranged dramatic comedy. Written from the end to the beginning (even the page numbers count down,) this book builds up with a backwards and insane plot. Tender Branson is a “surviving” member of the Creedish Church District, which is a death cult. Branson has hijacked a Boeing 747-400, and is the cockpit telling his life story into the black box (an indestructible box that records all activity inside of the plane.) It’s unexplainable. It’s sick. The underlining aspects are suicide, the commercial world, sex, people being servants of the human race, death, faux health and the list goes on. Critics label Chuck Palahniuk as a “shock writer.” Survivor, like all his works, is definitely shocking to say the least, but completely satisfying.

-Kassandra Small

Photo from Amizon.com

Bach at Husson

Well, Johann Sebastian Bach himself is obviously not fit to make an appearance at Husson College but his music will be performed by the Bangor High School Orchestra, some time in the not-to-distant future.

The orchestra had originally been scheduled to play this Friday in the Husson College Campus Center but the performance date and time is being changed through the Student Activities Office.

Bangor High School Orchestra Director, William Bell, says the orchestra is currently made up of 17 students. "Three out of five of my principal players are Seniors this year," said Bell. Senior Anna Linnehan is the principal cellist and recently received an Honorable Mention during Bangor Symphony Orchestra's Concerto Competition. Concert Mistress Aliza Thibodeau, also a Senior at Bangor High, has played her violin in All-State and will pursue a music degree in college. Senior violinist Alyssa Budden has also played in All-State and serves as the Concert Mistress for the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The Bangor High School Orchestra has played at a variety of festivals and most recently took top honors at the Great East Music Festival, held in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Check back with Student Activities to find out when the orchestra will be playing on campus.

By Susan Patten

Bach photo compliments of jsbach.org

A 360 Glimpse

On a rare occasion one afternoon about a year ago, I found myself watching Oprah. The newest "inductee" into her book club was titled Dispatches From the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters and Survival by Anderson Cooper. Hmmm. I was certain I had heard that name before, but where? As an individual easily frightened and depressed at watching the news, I try to keep updated on foreign affairs just enough so I don't have to watch it everyday on television. For this reason, I didn't immediately recognize the name as that of the popular CNN anchor and host of his own show: Anderson Cooper 360.

Anderson Cooper was born in New York, New York, the son of Wyatt Cooper and the famous Gloria Vanderbilt. Unable to find a job as a reporter (in the early 90s), Cooper made a fake press pass and traveled to Rwanda, Somalia, Bosnia and Asia where he began covering wars on his own and selling the footage. This ultimately lead to a job with Channel One. From there he landed his first network job at ABC. In 2001, he took a job at CNN where here covered the war in Iraq in the late night hours. In 2003 he was given his own show.

His book, Dispatches From the Edge, is the story of his life personally and as a journalist. His use of imagery in his writing makes you feel like you are next to him, walking through the disaster left by Hurricane Katrina or fleeing from gunfire in Rwanda. He tells the story of his father's death, his mother's fame and his brother's suicide. The reader learns how Anderson Cooper has been shaped not only by his own life experiences and personal struggles, but by what he has come to know of war and the struggles of others.

Now when I tune in to watch Anderson Cooper 360, I watch his eyes. I look into them because I feel like reading his book has given me a new perspective on a man who before was "just a guy behind a desk." It has also given me a new perspective on what is going on overseas - things that we never see and hardly ever think about. But we should.

If you read a book this year, I hope this is one of them. There aren't many happy stories to tell on its pages, but it's an incredible story of journalism, life, tragedy, war and suffering. Well-written and unforgettable.

Jillian

-photo courtesy of Amazon.com -
- order the book on Amazon (it's also at Borders) -

biography information from Dispatches From the Edge by Anderson Cooper

Who is Cas Haley?

He was born in Paris, Texas, where he was raised by musician parents. His father always encouraged him to write songs and experience all different types of music. A few years ago he formed a band in Arlington, Texas, which is where he currently lives with his son, Eben, and loving wife. In Season 2 of America's Got Talent, he made it all the way to the runner-up spot in the entire competition, losing only to an extremely talented singing ventriloquist named Terry Fator.

So why am I talking about Cas Haley? Sure, being on America's Got Talent got America's attention. It got mine, too. But I chose to dedicate a blog post to him not because he appeared on national television, but because his voice is amazingly unique. He's catchy in music and presence. The way he bops around on stage as he plays his guitar makes my feet start to tap. But have you heard of him? Now you have. And it's your lucky day because his music is all over the internet and video clips all over YouTube.

This video clip is 5 minutes long. It's not all singing - the first part tells you a little bit about the man behind the voice. I know we have busy lives, but take the time to watch it. You'll be humming the tune later today.



Sometimes it seems like over-popular music genres are plaguing society. Listening to Cas Haley (I bought his album on iTunes) is refreshing. As I've written in posts before, my taste in music is very broad. I never thought the reggae-style would be so entertaining, but here is a man who brings it to life for me.

Who is Cas Haley? Now you know.

Jillian

-information courtesy of nbc.com-
-video courtesy of youtube.com-

Gabe and Tycho: On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness

Penny Arcade is an online gaming comic. The two main characters, Gabe and Tycho, are based (loosely) after the artist and the writer. The content itself is ill suited for children more often than not, and they do not sell themselves otherwise. The comic itself has been around since 1998 and has built up a solid reputable company around this comic strip. They not only make enough to support their families running this comic site full time, but they also support other personal ventures.

The Penny Arcade Expo is a full-fledged convention based around gaming. It includes everything from concerts to tournaments. They also have a yearly charity event called Child’s Play. Partnered with children’s hospitals across the country, they raise hundreds of thousands of dollars every year for sick children. This past year alone they set a personal record at 1.3 million dollars. As if all of these side projects weren’t enough, they’ve started one more.

Penny Arcade Presents: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. The game itself is completely funded by the two men at Penny Arcade. After writing the story, the programmers at Hothead games are trying to base the game play after the comic itself and constant input from Gabe and Tycho themselves.

Taking characters and other elements from the comic itself, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is an episodic adventure focused on the “Whimsical Brawler” and the “Maddening Egotist.” Combining role-playing game elements with adventure games, the closest thing they’ve found to compare it to currently on the market is Sam and Max (a fun game in and of itself). See the trailer below for a quick view of the game.



The game has no specific release date, but it has been in production for nearly two years. It's surmised the release date of the first episode will be released soon. The release is highly anticipated by the massive amount of readers Penny Arcade has, not to mention much of the Internet gaming community. A game made by gamers, for gamers. A lot of support is being rallied behind this newest project and judging from the tenacity they’ve shown on previous works, it’s doubtful this will disappoint.
Ian MacKechnie

pictures courtesy of www.penny-arcade.com, www.rainslick.com
video courtesy of www.rainslick.com

Expression of Nature

The color pulled me right in. Bright blues, greens and yellows presented a huge contrast against the falling snow outside. This is the time of year I need color in my life so it was a pleasure to sit in the Husson College Art Gallery for a while.

I first introduced you to the gallery in Walls That Speak. The art exhibit has now changed from the work of Adele Obrien-Drake to the oil paintings of Emily Hopkins. Hopkins resides in Lincolnville, Maine and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.



Emily Hopkins describes herself as a romantic, abstract landscape painter. "I use gesture, expressive mark making, color and shape to describe abstracted moments of being in nature," explains Hopkins. Hopkins goes on to describe her work in a biography left in the gallery. "The paintings are visual poems and are meant to be viewed abstractly just as music is listened to. I attempt to maintain a sense of wonder, mystery, inspiration and surprise in my work."



In addition to the Husson College Art Gallery, Hopkins work has been displayed in the Carver Hill Gallery in Rockport, Maine and the Warren Street Gallery in Hudson, New York to name a few exhibitions.

The colors she uses in her landscapes reminds me of the warmth of summer!

By Susan Patten

Rifftrax

The Fine Art of Making Fun of Movies:

If you don't recognize Michael J. Nelson, then you must have missed the now legendary, Mystery Science Theater 3000. A show built around the premise of making fun of bad movies. Poor Mike was forced to watch horrible movies each week, his only company several hilarious robot friends. This sci-fi comedy dead for some time has since evolved.

Now thanks to broadband or Netflix, Mike and his friends get to choose the movies and we get to hear their commentary once again. Also these are modern movies like Transformers and Bourne Identity. You can visit Rifftrax.com and it will explain how it all works. Each Rifftrax cost three to four dollars. Once you rent the movie you then play the riff either on a computer, cd player, or any audio device. There are audio cues to help you sync it up in time with the movie. There is also a player you can download to watch the movie in perfect sync on your computer. Once you get the hang of it is a breeze. You can keep the riff as long as you want.

Most of the riffs are done by Mike, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, all former actors and writers from Mystery Science Theater. Occasionally they have guests ranging from Chad Vader, to Wierd Al.

Now, you didn't think I would leave you hanging without a few examples. Here are several of my favorites.

RiffTrax - 300


RiffTrax - Jurassic Park

Yes, some were decent movies and thanks to RiffTrax they are even better.

*Thanks to RiffTrax.com for the laughs and www.quickstopentertainment.com for the picture.

~Seth

Southern Gentlemen

I met Jonathan Taylor Rose when I was visiting family in Arkansas about two years ago. He’s one of the cousins of my friends that I had met during my two week trip. I walked into his place of work, a small plane station owned by their family, where he was a mechanic for the planes. He was wearing a pink bandana, an orange sweatshirt, and he had grease all over his pants and shoes. Twenty minutes after being introduced, I was informed that he was a musician and had just created a demo. He pulled out a copy, singed it, and gave it to me and my sister. I keep it safe with my photo albums and other various precious things at home. This was a cool moment, because I could feel that he was going to become something.

Maybe it was because a cute boy signed a CD that I feel this way, but the thing is, listening to his music now doesn’t fail to prove to me that it will happen for him. Today, he’s still in Arkansas recording with his new band, which is also named Jonathan Taylor Rose. His first demo, “Barefoot Angel,” is still on their Myspace.com playlist, but there are also new songs recorded by the new band. “Barefoot Angel” made me cry when I first heard it two years ago, so I am very glad it’s kept in the reach of listening even if it was one of Jonathan’s solo projects. As of the other songs, they are put together eloquently and there’s a different sound in it than usual. They want to come to Maine and perform when they go on tour, as they politely and excitedly accepted my suggestion for them to play here. There really aren’t many Indie genre underground bands in Maine, and I think that’s sad. Arkansas is lucky to have them.

www.myspace.com/jonathantaylorrose

Check it out.

-Kassandra

Brand New

Everything about the band Brand New is insightful, meaningful and… oh, who am I kidding? Every band I like has an original sound and has a deep place in my heart. I love music, period. The thing is, though, when I decided to write about Brand New, I sat and thought about how I was going to portray them. I was stuck, but that made me realize that this is why they’re my favorite band, hands down.

Your Favorite Weapon is the first studio album recorded by Brand New. While some say that the choppy instrumentals and less-than-clear sound take away from the melody and lyrics, I think that it’s everything they had personally stood for in that period of time. Careless nights, girl troubles and freedom are the aspects of this album, and criticizing them for feeling these things at a young age is ridiculous. I think that the poor pop-punk quality of the sound mirrors the way young people live these days, and the way these guys were feeling. "I've got a twenty dollar bill that says no one’s ever seen you without makeup…" is a line from “Mix Tape,” a song about a girl that’s just too cool to hang out.

Brand New’s second album, Deja Entendu, is more mature in sound and lyrics, but is based on some of the same things as their first album. It’s evident there had been some deeper struggles with women and friends since the first album, and it’s as if each of the songs tell a story. “Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades” is a song about someone losing his virginity in a scary and disappointing way. It’s a wonderful song because it slaps everyone in the face that says sex is all men want. “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows” is the song that gave them popular credit, as it appeared on MTV2 for a little while during the summer of Deja’s release. “The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot” is a romance song. The lyrics "...if it makes you less sad, we'll start talking again. You can tell me how vile I already know that I am..." explains so much angst.

Lastly, but hopefully not permanently, is the third album from the band, The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me. This album is the most mind blowing album I think I have ever heard. There is such a sad, deep and thought-provoking theme to the album. The sound has completely matured, and what the songs are about are decipherable but definitely emotional. The first song, “Slowing Season,” opens with a soft guitar, which wasn’t expected at all out of Brand New. Jesse Lacey writes and sings with such hope and sadness at the same time. “Jesus Christ” is the third track on the album and is about the regrets he has had in the past with religion, and what he thinks is going to happen when he dies. “Millstone” gives the same feeling, but more focused, and it sums up everything he’d done wrong. The lyrics prove it: "I used to know theh name of every person I kissed. Now I made this bed and I can't fall asleep in it."

Listening to all three albums consecutively clears my head. I can’t say whether or not this band is amazing, because I think an open mind is needed in order to understand what’s so special about them, and a lot of people don’t have that. But if you do, and if you have a hurting for emotional music, give it a listen.

-Kassandra

Photo from Google Images

An Entertaining Workout

Because the label at the top of the cover says "Playstation 2," any adult would automatically assume that Dance Dance Revolution is nothing more than another one of those video games that are all the rage these days. We know different. We know it IS all the rage. Or at least I do. Join me, won't you?

According to gaming-age.com, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) was created by Konami and introduced in the United States in 2001 three years after its premiere in Japan. At the time it made its debut, there was no other video game quite like it.

The game comes with a dance pad that looks like this:

DDR Dance Pad
- photo courtesy of vidgame.net -

Choose the song you want to dance to and stand in the center of the dance pad to begin. As the arrows show up on the screen, you must step on the right ones at the right time as you move and groove your way to the next stage. Be prepared - there are combinations and twists and turns and jumps!

While game play is a must-know to understand my topic of discussion, it's not what I want to share with you. I want to share my latest discovery: Workout Mode. You can enter your height and weight and choose a workout mode which will lead you through several songs in a row. And at the end of your workout, the game will tell you how many calories you have burned!

In conclusion, not only is Dance Dance Revolution exercise but it's fun! There are so many diets out there now telling you what to eat and what not to eat, how to exercise and how frequently. This is different. Don't give up exercising because it's too routine - mix it up every once in a while with a fun game of DDR. Play in your bare feet but dress for the gym because you're going to sweat!

-Jillian-

That's Entertainment...Really?

As a singer, I have grown up loving Barbara Streisand for her vocal range and expression. To me, Arnold Schwarzenegger will always be the Terminator and the husband of news anchor Maria Shriver, before he's a Governor. Brad Pitt, Susan Sarandon , 50 Cent and Whoppi need to "stick to their day jobs" as some would say. They may be very talented people but I really don't care what candidate they endorse. In fact when I found out how liberal Streisand was, it was enough to knock her off that golden pedestal in my mind.

Obviously, the candidates hope there are far fewer registered voter that think as I do.

Okay, so I'm a conservative, but that doesn't change my attitude or lack of enthusiasm about celebrity endorsements. I have watched, and liked, many a Chuck Norris movie but does Mike Huckabee really think Chuck Norris will stand guard over the border as a Texas Ranger? Doubtful.

Does Oprah have political aspirations? Not according to her interview with Larry King. She thinks she's powerful enough as an actress and talk show host.

It's one thing when a bunch of entertainers want to get together to call attention to a cause like world hunger or Aids and use their influence to raise a bunch of money. It's another thing when politicians are naive enough to think that a celebrity standing at their side is going to influence me to vote for them.

by Susan Patten

The Local Revival of a Dying Art

Bangor Opera House: Home of Penobscot Theatre

- photo courtesy of wikipedia.org -

Many say that performance theater is a dying art. But you wouldn't have known it at the Bangor Opera House last Friday night where Penobscot Theatre's Last of the Red Hot Lovers took stage. A play by Neil Simon, Last of the Red Hot Lovers is the story of a middle-aged man named Barney who decides he is going to have an affair to force some excitement into his dull and normal married life. Barney's routine and awkward character combined with the odd personalities of each of his three attempts - Elaine, Bobbi and Jeanette - made for a play full of laughs. Not to mention that his place of choice for these secret gatherings was his mother's apartment. Hilarious!

Before the play, couples walked from their cars, hand in hand, being careful to avoid the ice that had plagued the streets the night before. A few stopped to ponder the large tarp draped over the facade, an indicator of the exciting restoration taking place underneath. The atmosphere inside was that of hushed excitement and anticipation. It's funny - I get excited before movies start in the cinema, too. But something about live theater makes it more personal, more believable and almost more real.

I hadn't been to a play in a long time. Sure, I've seen both extremes. I've been to (and acted in) a few high school plays and seen Phantom of the Opera and Little Shop of Horrors on Broadway. Those are both completely different experiences, and Penobscot Theatre was different still. That's what I loved about it. It was an experience - as Producing Artistic Director Scott R.C. Levy calls it: "The Penobscot Theatre experience." He told me that if I went once I'd keep coming back. He was right. I'm hooked. Last of the Red Hot Lovers was a great performance and the experience was unforgettable.

Little Shop of Horrors

- photo courtesy of penobscottheatre.org -

So now I'm going to say to you - if you've never been (or, quite frankly, even if you have) don't miss their next play: Little Shop of Horrors playing from March 19th - 30th. Visit their website for details.

Jillian


From www.penobscottheatre.blogspot.com:
Penobscot Theatre Company (PTC) is Northern and Eastern Maine's only professional theatre company, operating year-round. PTC owns and operates the historic Bangor Opera House located on Main Street in downtown Bangor.

Rage Against The Machine

Music With A Point?

As a few know due to an issue with my car I have been forced to listen to the radio the past few weeks. Now nothing against our esteemed college station at NESCom, but pop punk and teen angst rock just doesn't do it for me.

Why? The songs are all about them, their problems, their petty lives and they offer no solutions. They are filled with pathetic rhymes and boring riffs. I heard one the other evening that actually used the phrase: "I've cut my wrist, why did it come to this." Why indeed! We live in a time when our country is at war, a critical election is unfolding, our environment is at a breaking point, people can't receive basic medical treatment, and race and class are dividing us in ways we are too uncomfortable to admit, and what does popular music offer us? Not much.

This is why I thank the music gods that Chris Cornell "left" Audioslave last year and Rage Against The Machine is back together and back on tour. Rage Against The Machine, a band formed in 1992, has taken on everyone from oil companies to Wall Street. But now that they are back in action they ask that you to take action as well. On their official site they highlight "Freedom Fighters" and offer ways for their fans to help out in their communities.

Good music does not age. Good music does not need a point. It does not always need a message. Good music inspires something in you. Rage Against the Machine inspires you to think. Hopefully beyond a new album it will inspire people to make music with a point.

Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk

Rage Against The Machine - Sleep Now In The Fire

*Pictures and information from the band's official site: www.ratm.com/

~Seth

The Symphony of Spring

It begins as a solo and within a matter of minutes it becomes a full-blown symphony. There's not an instrument to be seen yet the music crescendos to a deafening pitch. Frankly, at the height of their performance, it's almost impossible to turn a deaf ear to their music as it penetrates walls and windows. The musicians in this orchestral masterpiece could care less if you're listening though.

It's the anticipation of this symphonic delight that keeps me sane during our long, cold and dreary, winter weather. In fact, I've started telling friends about the opening night gala I'm planning. The biggest problem I'm having is nailing down the date. I'm certainly hopeful it's sooner than later but I can't throw this party without the musicians, who go by the professional name of Pseudacris Crucifer. Their common name is Spring Peeper. It's tough to say with Maine winter when the ice will be gone from the pond and the creatures start to emerge.

Late in the afternoon the daily performance starts with one high-pitched call. Then another joins in. Now add a little bass provided by the bull frogs in the pond and percussion compliments of the quacking ducks and woodpeckers in the nearby trees and you have your full-blown symphony of spring.

You can call it the entertainment of nature lovers and old farts!
http://www.naturewatch.ca/databases/frogs/audio/pseudacris_crucifer.wav


By Susan Patten

Photo compliments of NatureWatch.

Red Dwarf: The Sci-Fi Sit-Com

Continuing with a British Sci-Fi theme, Red Dwarf is impossible to just pass over. Red Dwarf is an exception to most comedy series as it does take place in space. Not just in space, but three million years in the future as well. The main character, Dave Lister, is the grossest weirdest and laziest man in existence and now, the only man in existence. Lister represents the last of humanity; three million years from Earth and the only person left alive on his giant city sized space ship, Red Dwarf. He is companied by a hologram of his dead bunkmate (whom Lister hates a great deal), a creature that evolved from the ship’s cat and the on board AI with senility problems. Later they meet a custodial droid named Kryten and finish the “Red Dwarf Posse”.


The spectacular writing by Doug Naylor and Rob Grant draw from character based comedy and parody of dozens of sci-fi stand-by's and even literary classics (not sci-fi in origin). The actors themselves come from diverse backgrounds and play well off each other, a poet, stand-up comedian, dancer, impressionist, etc. They created their own vocabulary for the show including words such as hologrammatic and smeg (the universal swear word in the Red Dwarf universe).

The show ran for 8 seasons before ending. Not only is it worth picking up a season or two for the fun of it, the crew of the Red Dwarf will hopefully show up once again. The production crew has been working feverishly to get a movie approved since the ending of the show in 1999. The problem is that they’ve been unable to get support at any studio to actually get the movie filmed. With such a large cult following, even having their own conventions called Dimension Jump, it’s amazing that studios aren’t chomping at the bit to get that sucker out and into the public.
No matter what happens in the future of the “gigantic red trash can with three million years on the clock” the eight seasons it did give us were incredible. Not as short lived as some other would-be greats of the genre *coughfireflycough*, there are still too few episodes. I suggest picking up a few, either online or any place that sells DVD’s of British shows. There’s no need to be a sci-fi dork or a British TV connoisseur to understand just how funny Red Dwarf can be.

Ian MacKechnie

Dr. Who: A Long Running Classic

There are few television series that can boast they’ve changed their primary actor ten times, have gone through twenty-six distinct seasons and survived through five decades. Dr. Who has met all of those criteria and seeks to add to it.

For those of you of you unaware of Dr. Who, shame on you. Dr. Who is a British science fiction show based around the adventures of a character simply called “The Doctor”. He is of an alien race called Time Lords and travels through space and time aboard his time ship the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space). Due to a malfunctioning chameleon circuit his ship is stuck in the form of a police telephone box from the mid 20th century (where I assume Bill and Ted got their idea from). As small as his time ship may appear on the outside it is actually an extra-dimensional space that is much bigger on the inside than it is outside.

The Doctor himself is an enigmatic character and in twenty-six seasons you never really learn much about his past, but you learn plenty about who he is. As a Time Lord he has a way of cheating death and basically reincarnating himself into different forms. With each form he takes there are slight personality differences, even though he possesses the same memories. The main trait of the doctor is one that is hard to find in most heroic characters, pacifism. The Doctor refuses to take life save for the most dire of circumstances. He thinks his way around problems rather than shooting his way through them. In fact he is rarely ever seen with a weapon, just his trusty “sonic-screwdriver”.

Dr. Who is truly a spectacular series, still innovative after so long, but with a rich history behind it. Many films, shows and books have been written with ideas from this one show. A classic that still runs new episodes to this day. Check out BBC or the Sci-Fi channel and enjoy a true science fiction classic.

Ian MacKechnie

images from http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

Fair to Midland

Formed in 1998, Fair to Midland isn’t new in the least bit, but they have just recently had their major break by getting signed by System of a Down’s Serj Tankian in 2006. They then released their breakthrough album in 2007, “Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times is True.” They have a really intense live show, and the lead singer tends to be climbing on things on stage every performance. They have a lot of energy not only in their recorded songs but in their live presence as well. They’re most certainly worth checking out, as a sound so overwhelming and different will drag anyone in, no matter what mood. This band is from Texas, and the members are Darroh Sudderth, Cliff Campbell, Jon Dicken, Brett Stowers, and Matt Langley.

-Kassandra Small

Photo from Google Images

Honda Civic Tour comes to Orono

What’s being talked about in the world of music? One thing is the Honda Civic Tour, and it’s coming to the Alfond Arena at the University of Maine in Orono on May 2nd this year. It’s featuring Panic At the Disco, The Hush Sound, Motion City Soundtrack, and Phantom Planet. For those who have only heard of the amazing concerts and shows put on by these bands will be able to see them all together on this night.

Panic At the Disco, previously known partially for the exclamation point after Panic (but for mostly their extremely original sound,) is the headlining band for this year’s tour. They are a fairly new band in the scheme of things, but their fan base and popularity has definitely grown a great amount in the past year. Founded via internet, their success and fame is something which up and coming bands strive for.

The Hush Sound is a band with a female lead vocalist, and a piano-based sound. The unique lyrics and humble ways of this band has kept the same fans listening over the years. The Hush Sound was originally named “The Hush,” but when they found that a rapper had the same name, they added “sound,” and it seems to fit perfectly.

Motion City Soundtrack has obtained recent international recognition, as they are one of the oldest bands in this tour (since 1977.) In Maine, it seems most of the people going to this show are excited about Motion City Soundtrack more than anything. “Even If It Kills Me,” their most recent album, has gained them new listeners and success, as it’s a very emotionally put together album.

Phantom Planet is the last band in the tour, but certainly deserves as much recognition as the other three. “California” is the song that got them widely recognized, as it became the theme song of the popular television show, The O.C.

This is a concert definitely worth showing up to. Seems it’s going to be a memorable event, and tickets are available online as well as various local music and book stores.

-Kassandra

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

And Now For Something Completely Different

I realize some of my posts ranging from The Wire, to even Buckethead have a semi-serious tone to them as I beg you to explore the edges of entertainment. To embrace what I have embraced. Well here we will go to another place and get even more serious. We will visit the 70's.

Allow me to introduce Dschinghis Khan, a pop/disco group created during the late 70's. They competed in the popular competition known as Eurovision. A competition that is still huge today. Their name is German for Genghis Khan. They were pretty big throughout Europe, Russia and Japan, but never made it in the United States. After breaking up in the 80's and with the death of lead singer Louis Hendrick Potgieter (the red dude) in 1993 it looked as if this group was destined to fade away. Until YouTube came along . . .

Moskau

If you were bold enough to watch that, then you just witnessed a video that is impossible to watch just once. A video that is the best workout video. It will help you do that extra mile or push up. It is a video that will infect you and stick with you all day adding a spring to your step. It is a video that is simply put -- Entertainment. Yes folks, this is why the internet was invented.

To further challenge yourself watch the video with English Lyrics (contains some vulgarity and makes absolutely no sense) and the other hit song named after the group itself,Dschinghis Khann.

Thanks to their internet fad status the group has since reformed in 2005 and is once again on tour throughout Europe.

* Thanks to moskau.ytmnd.com/ for the animated gif.
The band itself has an official site that I know many are dying to check out at: www.dschinghis-khan.com

~Seth

Sessions Was Sensational

I got goose bumps.  I shivered, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact I was dashing outside, in the snow, to the NESCom mobile TV production truck. It was watching what the students and instructors were accomplishing that tickled my senses.

Sessions at One College Circle was being broadcast live on the Husson campus TV network and captured for re-broadcast.  WHSN 89.3FM  was carrying the show live and streamed the show from its website.   NESCom students in video and studio production set up the stage and lights, video cameras were placed and cables run through the campus center to the mobile TV production studio.

Now you're probably thinking at this point, "show me a picture of the damned truck!"  Well, I didn't want my flash going off in the confined space, risking that it might seriously distract one of the students.

The Audio Engineering students mastered the sound for the live performance as well as for TV and radio audio.  Digital photography students were snapping photos and a Radio student, Chris Mower, served as the V-Jay.  Oh yeah, the band by the way was the Aurora Jazz Project which was a talented jazz quartet with bass, drums, guitar and trumpet.

The next time I tell you about a Sessions show, you may want to check it out for yourself. You'll not only get to attend an hour-long concert for free, but you'll be able to see some very talented students who are working like the pros!

By Susan Patten

photos by: Susan Patten

Another Show You Need Watch

The Wire airs on HBO and is entering its fifth and last season. Here is a sampling of critic reactions to the previous season:

Chicago Tribune - Maureen Ryan

If you have only one hour a week for television, give it to "The Wire."

Kansas City Star - Star Aaron Barnhart

To me, what allows “The Wire” to surpass “The Sopranos” in the pantheon of greatest American TV shows is its ambition and its anger.

Newsday - Verne Gay

A critic for this paper once declared "The Wire" "the greatest dramatic series ever produced for television" and as the fourth season gets under way Sunday night, there's no reason to quibble with that assessment.

New York Post - Adam Buckman

One of the finest TV shows ever made.

TV Guide - Matt Roush

This is TV as great modern literature, a shattering and heartbreaking urban epic about a city (Baltimore) rotting from within.

Philadelphia Daily News - Ellen Gray

The best show on television.

San Jose Mercury News - Charlie McCollum

If you stick with it, you will be rewarded with some of the most compelling, provocative drama ever produced for television.

New England School of Communications - Seth Davis

I think you get my point, and yes, it is even better than Dawson's Creek.

As you can see The Wire has gotten the attention of the critics, but it has not been a draw for viewers. This show set in Baltimore is not your typical cops and robbers drama.

In other shows an investigation begins and ends in an hour. In The Wire an investigation begins and can take the entire season. Another difficulty is that there are no good guys or bad guys, instead the series is filled with gray characters. We learn that those in "the game" have motivations, flaws, and histories just like those on the other side of the law. In addition, The Wire has no lead character. There is a large cast ranging from City Hall, the schools, The Baltimore Sun, to street dealers, to the docks of Baltimore.

Many use the term novelistic when describing the show. To new viewers, expecting Law and Order, or The Shield it is slow and frustrating. All I can say is that it does take time to learn the names, figure out the accents, understand "the game", and piece together the hierarchy of the streets and the law. However, once the connections have been made, the characters and the story will stick with you for some time. This is a show designed to be watched more than once. Here is a link to the cast on HBO.com

*Thanks to Metacritic.com for critic quotes.

~Seth

Outside The Box

I've always been amazed at the creativity that exists in the advertising industry. Perhaps that's why I decided I wanted to make a career out of it. Hemmy.net is a weblog that I often visit and it's got a little bit of everything to offer. I discovered a post on creative advertising and really think it deserves checking out.

Take these ads, for instance. Awesome.

Mr. Clean: Clean Crosswalk

Cingular: Dropped Calls

Whether you're into advertising or not, these "think-outside-the-box" examples will give you ideas and encourage you to think bigger than you might at first. Who would have thought to use a crosswalk bar as an advertisement for Mr. Clean? Or what about making "dropped calls" DROP?! It's incredibly innovative and seeing these ads makes my mind wander to consider the possibilities. What will they think of next? Hopefully, I will think it first!

Search "creative advertisements" in any search engine and you'll get very neat results.

Jillian

http://www.hemmy.net/2006/10/15/creative-advertisements-around-the-world/

Wake Up!

Want something entertaining? Turn up your volume and watch this.

If you have a cat, you understand.

Jillian

-video courtesy of youtube.com-

Where Was The Rush?

The first movie was incredibly funny. The second movie was full of laughs, too. So you can imagine that I was quite excited to discover Rush Hour 3 was being filmed. Sadly, I never got to see the movie when it came out in theaters. But when I visited family this weekend, my mother had rented it for us to watch. Finally. I was so excited and ready for "the rush."

Ninety-one minutes later I found myself a little disappointed. Sure, it was funny. And yeah, Jackie Chan still kicks booty. But I laughed harder at the outtakes than I did most of the movie. I didn't expect that. I agree that some movies are too long, but this one didn't seem like it was long enough. I was waiting for an epic battle or a conclusion fitting for the third movie of a hilarious series. As the "War" music began and Chan and Tucker broke out into their duo dance, the camera zooming out, my brother said, "This better not be the ending."

What is it about trilogies? Lord of the Rings was strong. Star Wars (the original three) was strong. SpiderMan 3 suffered from villain overload and left us right where we started. The Matrix trilogy was good, but the third movie just seemed like it was missing something. The same goes for Pirates of the Caribbean (though I do love the character of Davey Jones).

Now I don't claim to be any great movie-writer, producer or director, but as a consumer I'm beginning to get a little worried about the future of trilogies. Perhaps the new Batman movies will be the revival.

Regardless of my review, if you enjoyed the first two movies you should watch the third one, just based on the principle of the matter. It's still a good movie. It's just not the "great" I was looking for. It's not "end of the trilogy" worthy. But Chris Tucker is still funny.

Jillian

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293564/
http://www.rushhourmovie.com/

-photo courtesy of moviewalah.com-

Feel It Robot

So, I'm sifting through a bunch of press releases at my desk when I come across one promoting a Valentine's Day show at a local bowling alley, featuring the band Feel It Robot.  Naturally, I had to check it out.

Now you know I like to move it, from my article The Universal Language of Dance .  As soon as I heard the upbeat tempo and the drum-tuba rhythms of Feel It Robot, I loved it immediately and I'm an old fart! Okay, so I'm not really that old but you probably wouldn't expect a woman my age, a mother of two, a career professional, to love the sounds produced by an indie-rock band like Feel It Robot.

They are about bicycles, robots and dance and their music is bound to capture a great audience. Feel It Robot is in concert Valentine's Day, February 14, 2008 at the Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes.  The show is all ages and runs from 8-10pm.  Have fun and move it, move it!

By Susan Patten

The American Tolkien

I was not entirely astonished to read that title given to author George R.R. Martin in Time magazine several years ago. I had read several of his books and was desperately waiting for the next. To hear it from Time did bring some satisfaction.

So allow me to again recommend something else for your now busy schedule. In between American Gladiators and South Park, and art viewings at Husson give yourself some time for a fantasy that is not so easy to read, not so cut and dry, and will challenge you as it challenges its characters. I am or course talking about Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series which begins with: A Games of Thrones

The novel is written from the perspective of multiple
players. These perspectives are diverse in age. Some do not see the entire picture. Some are not entirely sane. It does not contain dwarves, elves, fairies or other things that people would toss into a fantasy story. It has been compared to the War of the Roses, two real families in England fighting for control -- yet it is much more than that. It can be graphic at times. Things happen to adults and children which are not pleasant, but everything happens for a reason. I do not want to give away more plot than that.

What makes A Games of Thrones special is the characters. Time magazine sums it up well discussing the last book:

What really distinguishes Martin, and what marks him as a major force for evolution in fantasy, is his refusal to embrace a vision of the world as a Manichaean struggle between Good and Evil. Tolkien's work has enormous imaginative force, but you have to go elsewhere for moral complexity. Martin's wars are multifaceted and ambiguous, as are the men and women who wage them and the gods who watch them and chortle, and somehow that makes them mean more. A Feast for Crows isn't pretty elves against gnarly orcs. It's men and women slugging it out in the muck, for money and power and lust and love.

I usually give my friends the fifty page Thrones challenge. If they read the first fifty pages I promise them they will be trapped. Winter is Coming . . .

*Picture from www.georgerrmartin.com. Cover art by Stephen Youll, Bantam Hardcover 2002 (US)

~Seth

Humble Folks

It's what makes me laugh when nothing else can. When everything in the world seems so crazy and untamed, and I don't feel like anyone can make any sense and everything is falling apart-- nothing puts my feelings about the world into perspective like the show South Park.

My parents forbid me to watch when I was younger. Now, since the show is geared towards a more intellectual (in a weird sort of way) mindset, my parents sit down with me and laugh about the way the writers of this show see things in the world, and the every little day to day lifestyles of ridiculous people in general. Most are offended, and I'm well-aware of that. Some are turned off, and some become confused about the sometimes-gross humor of the characters... but people like me-- smart, informed, witty, etc-- get it. Despite the stupidness of the show, it is, in a very odd way... needed.

I always loved reading and going to English class, and I always loved to compare things in my life and the social situations of the world with things that I read. I have began to do this with movies and poetry as well. It's cool to laugh along with something criticising the world on complete blunt purpose... and to not feel bad about it... because you didn't write it. Trey Parker and Matt Stone did, and they have Emmy awards to show their pride for it. Since this show is one of Comedy Central's main series, people are still buying the first seasons, although the anamation quality greatly goes below what it is today. The story lines have always been hilarious, and they will continue to be. Who needs tabloids to poke fun at celebrities, when it's probably not true information you're recieving? You can watch South Park, and know nothing about the celebrities they're making fun of is NOT true at all... and that's why they're allowed to shamelessly do it. Tabloids need to go away.

All in all, I don't have much to say, but that I love laughing, and I love this show.

-Kassandra Small

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The Arcade Fire

"Interesting" and "original" are two words greately understating one of today's most indescribable rock bands existing: The Arcade Fire. Truely moving and thought-provoking lyrics accompanied by instumentals put together so differently than ever heard before are what makes this band so "intriguing," as Time Magazine simply puts it.

This band was started in 2003. After the "Us Kids Know EP" was created, a full length album, "Funeral," was recorded. After grabbing the attention and souls of so many indie-loving fans, their most recent album, "Neon Bible," did even more for fans than expected.

The reason this sound is so original? Random instruments, random vocalists-- you can never expect how a new song is going to turn out. It's as artful as music is meant to be, and closing your eyes and listening can be as great of an experience as reading a book... for the tales in these songs do not dissappoint.

You'll have to listen. The touring members of this band are Marika Anthony-Shaw, Colin Stetson, Kelly Pratt, Wilferd Bremmely, Owen Pallett, and Pietro Amato.

-Kassandra Small

Photo courtesy of Time Magazine and Wikipedia

American Gladiators: It's back!

We loved it. We cheered and hollered. We were sad to see it go. And now it's back! If you haven't been on the couch at 8 o'clock on Monday nights tuned to NBC, you've been missing American Gladiators. But if you start watching now you'll be just in time for the continuation of the Semi-Finals!

I've never found any competitive television show as humorously silly and incredibly fun to watch as this one. Regular "Joe-Schmo" contestants compete against Gladiators to win rounds and battle through obstacles. One of my favorite rounds, "Joust" (click for video) features a contestant and Gladiator on pedestals high above what co-host Hulk Hogan describes as "icy cold waters" trying to knock each other off with their cu-tip shaped weapons. If that doesn't excite you, "Hit and Run" will. In this obstacle, the contestant must run back and forth on the thin, teetering ramp high above - you guessed it - "icy cold waters" to hit the buzzer and get points. The trick is, there will be a Gladiator hurling large objects trying to knock the contestant off.

The games are great, but the characters are even better. You'll laugh again and again at their grunts, growls and remarks. Gladiator "Wolf" is a rather scary looking individual quite overgrown with facial hair who growls and claims to hunt his prey. On the last episode, he menacingly sniffed his opponent before the start of the course. Then there's "Helga" - a large bulked up woman in a tiny skirt and pigtails. . . not exactly the type you want standing in your way.

While the show has its humorous elements, you'll also find yourself cheering and hollering by the end of it.

Jillian

-photo courtesy of nbc.com-
http://www.nbc.com/American_Gladiators/

Sensational Sessions

How cool is Sessions at One College Circle? Very cool, very cool indeed. Where else can you get an hour of live, local music that is performed in the recording studio at the New England School of Communications (NESCom) and simulcast on WHSN. Well, no where else of course!

Sessions at One College Circle is set for this Friday night and features The Aurora Jazz Project.

Here is how it works. The group comes into the the Husson College Campus Center or the NESCom recording studio and the stage is set up by Audio Engineering students. A NESCom radio student serves as the V-Jay for the show. Chris Mower will be the V-Jay Friday night and he's preparing to interview the band between songs. The show is broadcast live on 89.3 FM WHSN and can be picked up via internet streaming on whsn-fm.com. The Video Production students at NESCom will put the show on the campus TV network, channel 5. Digital photography students are circling around the studio at the same time, capturing stills that are later posted on the web and in the campus newspaper, The Spectator. It is amazing to see the students in action. It is an additional benefit to showcase talented Maine musicians.

by Susan Patten

The Universal Language of Dance

I have always told my daughters, "if you feel it, then you should move it." I am grateful they have the common sense to know I am not talking about jumping up on a table top and letting it rip! Rather, they should not worry about what people think about the way they dance. If the music "speaks" to them, then they should move it! It is that very philosophy that makes me adore the Lemur King character in the movie Madagascar. www.metacafe.com/watch/162240/i_like_to_move_it/>

Like music, dance is a language that needs no translation. Regardless of your nationality, race, gender or ethnic background dance is understood, even by those who suffer from a lack of rhythm and technique. Come on guys, you know who you are!

These high school AFS students from foreign countries, who are pictured above, recently shared companionship, laughter and art while sharing their culture with area school students. The exchange students were introduced Friday night to square dancing moves.

Saturday night, the students performed a talent show based on some of their cultures and traditions. A young dancer from Indonesia, in full traditional costume, eagerly joined her dancing friend from India and it wasn't long before all the students were jumping to center stage in rhythmic expression. They did not have to utter a single word in order to communicate with one another. Their physical gyrations, smiles and laughter created an energy in the room that brought smiles to the faces of those in the audience.

by Susan Patten

The Bay State

Today I will do something unusual. It's not unusual in general, just unusual for me. I'm going to recommend a band. That's right. I'm going to give you their name, direct you to their website and strongly suggest that they are the next "up and coming".

Lots of people recommend bands. This sharing is a daily interaction. So why are we leery? Well, not everyone has the same taste. For example, I proudly confirm my annoyance with death metal when asked, but I have several friends who live by it. My taste in music is very broad -- so broad that my iPod playlist may follow Beyonce with System of a Down or Christina Aguilera with Audioslave. You never know. It's spontaneous - and for me, it's more exciting that way.

The Bay State is one of my personal favorite bands. I spent a little time with some of the band members in 2005 as I helped film and create a music video featuring one of their songs. It was a project for a class, but I got way more out of it than that. I got hooked on the lyrics and found myself humming the melody. And that was before the viola came along which, by the way, completed the sound in a way I did not expect. I heard The Bay State with this new addition for the first time last summer in Lincoln, Maine, where they played for Homecoming and they blew me away.

The moral of this story is . . . I don't recommend bands often, but I love listening to The Bay State so I'm going to make an exception. While listening to some sample tracks on their website is great, I also recommend that if the opportunity to see them live presents itself - take it. It's a whole different sound - and it's a great performance.

Check them out! They may not be your style, but what good is a love for music if it's not a little broad and unique?

Tom, Mary, Evan and Drew . . . you're awesome.

Jillian

www.myspace.com/thebaystate
www.purevolume.com/thebaystate