Culture - The Daily Lobo

Culture

Typical Hollywood film capsized by stale script

John Bear | July 21

by John Bear Daily Lobo It becomes increasingly apparent with each passing day that the future is going to be a major drag. At least if it resembles in any way Hollywood's idea of what the future holds. "The Island" is the latest offering of bleak near-future schmaltz to make one nostalgic for the good old days - the '70s - when bad movies about all the horrible things still to come were at least entertaining.

Culture

Young musician hits hard with CD

July 21

by Eva Dameron Daily Lobo Local artist Michael Graye's music writes itself - fractions of a tune come to his head while he's doing chores around the house, he said. Then he goes to the piano to work out the music and lyrics. "That's happened to me so many times that I can't even count it," Graye said.

Culture

AIDS play centers on lonliness

July 14

by Maria Staiano-Daniels Daily Lobo AIDS is a subject that should constantly be in everybody's face, said director Kenneth Bennington. This was the motive behind directing the play "Lonely Planet." The play was presented as a benefit for New Mexico AIDS services.

Culture

Girl rockers strut their talent

July 14

by Maria DeBlassie Daily Lobo Women are rocking the city. The Ya Ya Boom Project!, Hit by a Bus, Broken Djembe and Hollis Wake, all bands featuring female members, played at the Outpost on July 9. Despite the fact that rock is considered a testosterone-driven music scene, women are becoming more common, said Monica Demarco, bass player for The Ya Ya Boom Project! "Female musicians don't have to be a groupie or roadie," she said.

Culture

Reject this whiny all-American album

Scott Albright | July 14

by Scott Albright Daily Lobo The All-American Rejects can reject themselves out of the stereo and move along back into the studio. The album Move Along is a dry collection of edgy beats and shaky riffs with the addition of some nicely construed piano and strings.

Culture

Comedic cast makes 'Crashers' a hit

Jessica Del Curto | July 14

by Jessica Del Curto Daily Lobo Comedic male actors should all strive to play the characters Vince Vaughn and brothers Luke and Owen Wilson play. Their characters are typically the same in every movie - goofy guys who think up ridiculous plans to get laid, only to come out shining in the end.

Culture

Comedian pushes PC limit

John Bear | July 7

by John Bear Daily Lobo In an attempt to fill the void left by Dave Chappelle's mysterious, yet highly publicized absence, Comedy Central introduces "Mind of Mencia." Stand-up comedian Carlos Mencia is on the offensive with his show, not merely dancing on the politically correct line but curb-checking it, robbing it and then standing around telling ethnic jokes.

Culture

Play hits hard on sex and race

John Bear | July 7

by John Bear Daily Lobo The play "Take Me Out" follows the trials and tribulations that befall a professional baseball team after its star player publicly announces he is gay. The play was penned by Richard Greenberg, and it won a Tony for best new play and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Culture

Chicano artists explore labels

July 7

by Eva Dameron Daily Lobo Albert Rosales is all about meeting people. He has gathered a group of Chicano artists who met each other sporadically through networking, and put together "Revolution: Chicano Art Show." The show is on Sunday, July 10 at the Harwood Art Center.

Culture

Indian vocalist masters his craft

July 7

by Maria DeBlassie Daily Lobo The music of Ustad Rashid Khan enhances blissful awareness. That's what Sachin Patkar, director of A Summer Night Dream, said. The event, held at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on July 13, will feature classical Indian vocal music by Kahn and food from Bombay Grill.

Culture

Christian CD not worth saving

Leslie Bell | June 30

Dear Ashlee Simpson fans: Are you ready to graduate to a more mature level of pseudo-angst? If so, you will love Shadows are Security, the latest release from San Diego Christian metalcore band As I Lay Dying. If you are looking for originality and intensity, though, you may be disappointed.

Culture

Former student's film on big screen screen

June 30

Aaron Hendren said he is a bad actor. "You know when it's someone's birthday and you have to start singing 'Happy Birthday'?" he asked. "There's that moment in your life where you start singing before everyone else and they all look at you and you feel weird and stupid.

Culture

Static-X album reeks of teenage angst

June 30

Tap into your inner depressed 14-year-old self. There you'll find Static-X's new album, Start a War, with bland percussion and lacking dynamics. You'll think you are scoring weed, but it is actually oregano. Let's face it - this band is far too insecure to be hard-core.

Culture

Aesop puts lyrics to print

John Bear | June 23

Aesop Rock is best known for his rapid-fire lyrics, which are packed with meaning and sometimes hard to understand. He is definitely not a mainstream rapper, but his popularity is beginning to grow as evidenced by the increasingly large venues in which he performs.

Culture

Foo Fighters' album a split success

Chris Narkun | June 23

One would have hoped Dave Grohl would have learned not to separate his two musical leanings by now. Three minutes and 22 seconds into the first disc of his band's new double album, the Foo Fighters' frontman lets loose his first throat-rending howl. On the second disc, it takes only 34 seconds for Grohl to begin the first of the almost-whispered lullabies that make up the second half of In Your Honor, an album split distinctly into loud and not-so-loud halves.

Culture

Horror film worth an arm and a leg

John Bear | June 23

A brief synopsis of George Romero's latest zombie flick: bang, bang, bang, boom, crash, blood, entrails, exploding heads and so on and so forth. Horror films have been around for almost as long as the movie camera itself. The genre is conducive to snuggling in dark places, so it isn't going anywhere.

Culture

Civic Plaza sizzles in summer

June 23

Summerfest kicked off on a blue note. It was Sizzlin' Summerfest's Rhythm and Blues night at Civic Plaza Downtown on June 18. Summerfest has been funded by the city for more than 20 years and is organized by city events coordinator Ron Garcia. Summerfest boasts not only a line of local and national musical acts, but also magicians, African-themed jewelry booths, voter registration, free children's games, temporary tattoos and a variety of food, including standard festival fare-like cotton candy, funn-el cakes, lemonade, pretzels and, of course, iced lattes.

Culture

Vocals, guitar give EP a U2-like sound

John Bear | June 16

The band the Secret Machines is very fond of guitar effects pedals. Just when The Edge, guitarist for U2, was the undisputed master of oversaturated melodies drowning in an electronic sea of flange and chorus, this band comes along to lay claim to the title.

Culture

Writer embraces NM towns

June 16

By Maria DeBlassie Daily Lobo Crime novelist Pari Noskin Taichert uses Small New Mexican towns as backdrops for mystery and mayhem. Born and raised in Albuquerque, Taichert said she's lived a lot of others places, none of which can compare to the Land of Enchantment.

Culture

Vocals, guitar give EP a U2-like sound

John Bear | June 16

The band the Secret Machines is very fond of guitar effects pedals. Just when The Edge, guitarist for U2, was the undisputed master of oversaturated melodies drowning in an electronic sea of flange and chorus, this band comes along to lay claim to the title.