This past week I volunteered at One Longfellow Square two nights in a row, for two very different shows. While pretty well tiring me out, the experience was also illustrative of how much I enjoy this little venue.
Wednesday night the alt-folk singer-songwriter duo Vandaveer came to town, bringing with them a dry wit and mellow and involving sound. Pink-haired Rose Guerin wanted to look more like an Indian, and Mark Charles Heidinger managed to flout state law by the cunning use of a coffee cup.
Thursday night actually began with a "pre-show" outside the building in the square that Lucy says I can't tell you about. Never a dull moment. Following the unplanned entertainment was the opening band, Over a Cardboard Sea; this is a local act which plays music from the era of 1890-1939 with the use of ukulele, singing saw, bicycle bell, and other fascinating instruments, not to mention a show-stopping giant fake moustache. The main act for the evening, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, somewhat defies description. These boys from North Carolina have a style that blends jazz, rock, bluegrass, ragtime, and many other genres into one fascinating package. They are also possessed of an extremely energetic performance style (or maybe just possessed)... I feared that someone was going to jump backward right off the stage, or perhaps crash into another bandmate with banjo or trombone as they leaped around. Unique and entertaining.
As I thought about my two evenings at the venue, I realized that they rather encapsulated what I like so much about the place. I don't know where else I could have heard such diverse and enjoyable types of music in successive nights. Not only that, but I get to interact with the artists as they enter and set up; invariably they are friendly, interesting folks. Oftentimes the headlining artist is from elsewhere in the United States, and it is their first time playing in Maine. Thus I get to hear their reactions to our lovely little city of Portland. So, in a nutshell, these are the reasons why I love One Longfellow Square.
Check out the websites for the venue and the bands:
http://www.onelongfellowsquare.com/
http://www.myspace.com/vandaveer
http://www.myspace.com/sailingoveracardboardsea
http://www.myspace.com/hgtr
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Aliens! (But not the kind that break your leg and do a jigsaw...)
On Wednesday night I had the opportunity to see District 9 at a local Cinemagic theater (side note: that damn Cinemagic jingle that plays before the movie is still floating around in my head... I miss the little cartoon wizard!). I'll say right off the bat that seeing this film is an experience that I'd definitely recommend. (Side note #2: thanks to John-the-kindred-lacrosse-ball-spirit for coming along and hanging out even though he'd seen it already... and for introducing me to a lovely little place called Ricetta's Brick Oven Pizzeria. Seriously. If you find yourself in southern Maine, please do yourself a favor and go here.)
I went into District 9 knowing almost nothing about it. I was aware that there were aliens involved, and that Peter Jackson played a role in the production of the film. The best way to approach this movie is to know as little as possible beforehand; it's the easiest way to get drawn into a visually stunning and, yes, intellectually and emotionally skillful piece of work. It's the smart alternative to the summer blockbuster, with blockbuster elements built in.
I won't reveal the plot points and lessen the experience for those who have not seen it. Suffice it to say, this is not your typical close encounter chronicle. It's nominally an alien movie, filmed alternately like a documentary and war movie, with a heavy layer of social commentary. The filmmakers take a bald look at the worst side of human nature, and examine the paradox of gaining a sense of humanity while losing humanity. For those who are attending to see some intense action sequences, there is much for you to appreciate as well. There's a good chance you've never seen anything like District 9 before.
District 9 certainly isn't perfect, but all the things that it does right can cause the audience to overlook or forget any contrivances or inconsistencies. It's also an impressive feature film debut for director/screenwriter Neill Blomkamp and actor Sharlto Copley. I'm looking forward to seeing what these newcomers bring us in the future.
Anyone else have thoughts on the movie? Please feel free to share!
(By the way, the obscure reference in the title of this post, for those who are unfamiliar with it, is from Red Dwarf.)
I went into District 9 knowing almost nothing about it. I was aware that there were aliens involved, and that Peter Jackson played a role in the production of the film. The best way to approach this movie is to know as little as possible beforehand; it's the easiest way to get drawn into a visually stunning and, yes, intellectually and emotionally skillful piece of work. It's the smart alternative to the summer blockbuster, with blockbuster elements built in.
I won't reveal the plot points and lessen the experience for those who have not seen it. Suffice it to say, this is not your typical close encounter chronicle. It's nominally an alien movie, filmed alternately like a documentary and war movie, with a heavy layer of social commentary. The filmmakers take a bald look at the worst side of human nature, and examine the paradox of gaining a sense of humanity while losing humanity. For those who are attending to see some intense action sequences, there is much for you to appreciate as well. There's a good chance you've never seen anything like District 9 before.
District 9 certainly isn't perfect, but all the things that it does right can cause the audience to overlook or forget any contrivances or inconsistencies. It's also an impressive feature film debut for director/screenwriter Neill Blomkamp and actor Sharlto Copley. I'm looking forward to seeing what these newcomers bring us in the future.
Anyone else have thoughts on the movie? Please feel free to share!
(By the way, the obscure reference in the title of this post, for those who are unfamiliar with it, is from Red Dwarf.)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Cabers and cartoons and Wallflowers, oh my...
Now that I've nearly recovered enough, I'll blog about my marathon day this past Saturday. It began when the alarm rang at 5am, and I actually got up. At 6:45am a bleary-eyed John came to the door to pick me up for our trek to Brunswick, the site of the Maine Highland Games, where he was to take many lovely photos of the athletics competition. The Highland Games is rather a fascinating thing; the first step for those not already initiated is to get used to seeing a whole lot of men (and women) wandering around in kilts. Once one gets past this element, amazement sets in at what these men and women in kilts are doing. We witnessed extremely heavy stones and weights being hurled for height and distance, heavy sheaves being tossed backward over a bar with a pitchfork, and the most popular event of all, the caber toss. In this competition, the participants lift and balance a giant log (one was 19 feet and 134 pounds), then run forward to raise momentum and attempt to throw the log hard enough to perfectly overturn it. The level of strength, balance and skill that these athletes possess is difficult to comprehend. Especially since the temperature outside was nearing 90 degrees. I personally sat in the shade of the tent for most of the day; poor John apparently brought home a vicious sunburn as a souvenir. Thanks go out to Leroy and Cindy McDonough for running an excellent games, and for providing me with a free ticket so that I could tag along with the photographer!
Food was next on the agenda, as not much was consumed during the day due to the heat. My recommendation to all you readers: if you should ever find yourself suddenly ravenously hungry after a long day in the sun and need sustenance to continue, Friendly's loaded waffle fries are a good bet. I'm not sure how long it took to clean the plate between the two of us, but we may have set some sort of record. Having filled our bellies, we felt well enough to proceed to the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport for the free Wallflowers concert.
I'll sum up the basics quickly:
Wild Light - opening band. I'm trying to think of a way to be tactful, but I just can't. Picture the worst elements from all the emo bands you can think of, mix them all together, and this is the mess you get. I think our reaction alternated amongst shock, horror, and hysterics.
Trippy old-school cartoons - played on the monitor between acts. Without sound. It was rather entertaining to try to fill in the blanks ourselves, and began the recovery process from the trauma of the opening act.
The Wallflowers - simple, excellent performance. There's not much else to say. Highly enjoyable. Now we just need to speak to them about their choice of opening acts...
For more detail, photos, audio clip, and a wonderful exercise in live micro-blogging, you need to visit John's review on his site, theFiver: http://thefiver.net/?p=612
Although I was nearly delirious after being returned home around 11pm, I was contented after a long, interesting, and all in all really good day.
Food was next on the agenda, as not much was consumed during the day due to the heat. My recommendation to all you readers: if you should ever find yourself suddenly ravenously hungry after a long day in the sun and need sustenance to continue, Friendly's loaded waffle fries are a good bet. I'm not sure how long it took to clean the plate between the two of us, but we may have set some sort of record. Having filled our bellies, we felt well enough to proceed to the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport for the free Wallflowers concert.
I'll sum up the basics quickly:
Wild Light - opening band. I'm trying to think of a way to be tactful, but I just can't. Picture the worst elements from all the emo bands you can think of, mix them all together, and this is the mess you get. I think our reaction alternated amongst shock, horror, and hysterics.
Trippy old-school cartoons - played on the monitor between acts. Without sound. It was rather entertaining to try to fill in the blanks ourselves, and began the recovery process from the trauma of the opening act.
The Wallflowers - simple, excellent performance. There's not much else to say. Highly enjoyable. Now we just need to speak to them about their choice of opening acts...
For more detail, photos, audio clip, and a wonderful exercise in live micro-blogging, you need to visit John's review on his site, theFiver: http://thefiver.net/?p=612
Although I was nearly delirious after being returned home around 11pm, I was contented after a long, interesting, and all in all really good day.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Follow-up: This is reality? Then send me to dreamland...
I got so many great comments on my last post about reality television that I decided to write a follow-up post to address them, and to share a few more thoughts. Thank you to Joanna, Deanna and John for your insightful comments, and for giving me more blog fodder! Much appreciated.
First of all, I can't believe I forgot about Moment of Truth, which was truly reprehensible. I must have blocked it out. Although disgusting, it is also instructive as to what lengths people will go for money.
A couple of the comments also suggested further categories for these shows. In my last post, I mostly addressed the 'relationship' and the 'created competition' categories. As I don't have very many channels, I have never been exposed to many of the shows mentioned, but these are the ones most likely to push my buttons and set off a rant such as in my post. As far as the 'true competition' shows, as I mentioned, my only real addiction is So You Think You Can Dance. While most of the others are relatively harmless, if rather irritating, I frankly just don't much care. I am gratified to hear about the contestants in Top Chef Masters cooperating and donating money to charity. We don't see that sort of thing very often these days.
Which brings me to another reality show that I can be found watching on occasion (although not on a weekly basis): Extreme Makeover Home Edition. As scripted and over-the-top as the show undoubtedly is, it just makes me happy to see good things happen for people who are in a tough situation, and who in turn have done wonderful things in their communities. It's nice to be able to think that there is some kindness left in the world.
One category that I completely left out is the sub-genre of "normal" people allowing their daily lives to be filmed. Once upon a time, in the first few seasons, I watched the Real World. (I'm not even going to think about how many years ago that was. And Joanna, it was indeed an RV that the Road Rules crew drove around in.) In its initial stages, this type of show was novel and entertaining. However, these days it seems that it has turned into a forum for people behaving badly. Outlandishly so. I don't find this to be good entertainment; I find it painful. Sometimes it is like a train wreck from which you can't take your eyes. Deanna, I felt that way about the episode of the Real Housewives of New Jersey you had me watch in which the one woman overturned the table at her dinner party. Appalling, but strangely mesmerizing. It's rather sad that this reaction in the audience has caused this type of show to proliferate and provided an atmosphere in which more and more people are encouraged to act like idiots.
I think you are correct, John, when you say that the same elements occur in more traditional forms of entertainment. Perhaps it is easier to stomach because of the fact that it is dressed up as "entertainment" as opposed to "reality".
The reality genre appears to be making money as well as being relatively cheap to produce, since so many variants keep popping up everywhere, so lots of people must be drawn in for one reason or another. We shall have to see what further gems the networks unveil in the coming years.
First of all, I can't believe I forgot about Moment of Truth, which was truly reprehensible. I must have blocked it out. Although disgusting, it is also instructive as to what lengths people will go for money.
A couple of the comments also suggested further categories for these shows. In my last post, I mostly addressed the 'relationship' and the 'created competition' categories. As I don't have very many channels, I have never been exposed to many of the shows mentioned, but these are the ones most likely to push my buttons and set off a rant such as in my post. As far as the 'true competition' shows, as I mentioned, my only real addiction is So You Think You Can Dance. While most of the others are relatively harmless, if rather irritating, I frankly just don't much care. I am gratified to hear about the contestants in Top Chef Masters cooperating and donating money to charity. We don't see that sort of thing very often these days.
Which brings me to another reality show that I can be found watching on occasion (although not on a weekly basis): Extreme Makeover Home Edition. As scripted and over-the-top as the show undoubtedly is, it just makes me happy to see good things happen for people who are in a tough situation, and who in turn have done wonderful things in their communities. It's nice to be able to think that there is some kindness left in the world.
One category that I completely left out is the sub-genre of "normal" people allowing their daily lives to be filmed. Once upon a time, in the first few seasons, I watched the Real World. (I'm not even going to think about how many years ago that was. And Joanna, it was indeed an RV that the Road Rules crew drove around in.) In its initial stages, this type of show was novel and entertaining. However, these days it seems that it has turned into a forum for people behaving badly. Outlandishly so. I don't find this to be good entertainment; I find it painful. Sometimes it is like a train wreck from which you can't take your eyes. Deanna, I felt that way about the episode of the Real Housewives of New Jersey you had me watch in which the one woman overturned the table at her dinner party. Appalling, but strangely mesmerizing. It's rather sad that this reaction in the audience has caused this type of show to proliferate and provided an atmosphere in which more and more people are encouraged to act like idiots.
I think you are correct, John, when you say that the same elements occur in more traditional forms of entertainment. Perhaps it is easier to stomach because of the fact that it is dressed up as "entertainment" as opposed to "reality".
The reality genre appears to be making money as well as being relatively cheap to produce, since so many variants keep popping up everywhere, so lots of people must be drawn in for one reason or another. We shall have to see what further gems the networks unveil in the coming years.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
This is reality? Then send me to dreamland...
Tonight's rant originated from multiple unfortunate exposures to advertisements for Fox's reality show "More to Love". I haven't watched the show; the premise is so repugnant and offensive to me that it's all I can do not to change the channel during the 30 second commercial. (If my remote wasn't broken, I just might...) Much of the reality genre of television produces this reaction in me. The dating reality shows, such as More to Love, or the Bachelor or Bachelorette, are first of all preposterous in premise. The stated objective of many of these shows is for the star to choose from amongst a pool of many single men or women, ostensibly looking to find "true love", and then to propose marriage by the end of the series. Apparently finding "true love" involves conniving and backstabbing to win over a man or woman you hardly know. No wonder I haven't found it yet...
More to Love is just more of the same, with an extra layer of exploitation involved. Now not only can you watch a crowd of women being catty to each other and fighting for the attention of a stranger, but now you can watch a crowd of plus-sized women being catty to each other and fighting for the attention of a stranger!
Over the years, Fox has come up with some doozies. How can we forget Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire, Temptation Island, Joe Millionaire... Just when I thought they couldn't get any more ridiculous, there was another ad that made me stare dumbfounded at the television with my mouth gaping half open. I think even more than the ridiculousness, it is the mean-spiritedness that bothers me about the genre. So many of the shows involve the contestants being ruthless and cruel, or the show portraying contestants in a cruel way. Having always tried my best to see kindness as the best path, this mentality just rubs me the wrong way. Even worse, I think a lot of the appeal of these shows to their audience is exactly the mean-spiritedness and ruthlessness involved. People often seem to enjoy seeing others brought low.
Some may call me a hypocrite due to my addiction to So You Think You Can Dance, as this is technically a reality show. And yes, it has some of the elements that bother me in the genre as a whole, which is why I can't watch the audition episodes. After that, I enjoy watching people display a talent that I do not possess. Actually, the judges become quite encouraging to the contestants once the competition has begun, which is a nice departure. (Somehow I find no such appeal in American Idol, maybe partly because I sing, but I sure can't dance.)
Such is the demand for these shows, however, that there is actually now a Fox Reality Channel. So, those who enjoy this kind of thing can now indulge 24-7... brought to you by the masters of outlandish reality television.... As for me, I think I'll pass.
Do you agree? Or are you a reality TV fan? Either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
More to Love is just more of the same, with an extra layer of exploitation involved. Now not only can you watch a crowd of women being catty to each other and fighting for the attention of a stranger, but now you can watch a crowd of plus-sized women being catty to each other and fighting for the attention of a stranger!
Over the years, Fox has come up with some doozies. How can we forget Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire, Temptation Island, Joe Millionaire... Just when I thought they couldn't get any more ridiculous, there was another ad that made me stare dumbfounded at the television with my mouth gaping half open. I think even more than the ridiculousness, it is the mean-spiritedness that bothers me about the genre. So many of the shows involve the contestants being ruthless and cruel, or the show portraying contestants in a cruel way. Having always tried my best to see kindness as the best path, this mentality just rubs me the wrong way. Even worse, I think a lot of the appeal of these shows to their audience is exactly the mean-spiritedness and ruthlessness involved. People often seem to enjoy seeing others brought low.
Some may call me a hypocrite due to my addiction to So You Think You Can Dance, as this is technically a reality show. And yes, it has some of the elements that bother me in the genre as a whole, which is why I can't watch the audition episodes. After that, I enjoy watching people display a talent that I do not possess. Actually, the judges become quite encouraging to the contestants once the competition has begun, which is a nice departure. (Somehow I find no such appeal in American Idol, maybe partly because I sing, but I sure can't dance.)
Such is the demand for these shows, however, that there is actually now a Fox Reality Channel. So, those who enjoy this kind of thing can now indulge 24-7... brought to you by the masters of outlandish reality television.... As for me, I think I'll pass.
Do you agree? Or are you a reality TV fan? Either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
That's not cool
I just have to comment on a couple things that have lost some of their luster for me due to their use in other forms of pop culture.
The first came to me as I was doing my discourse on Twilight in my recent posts. I have a real affection for the band Muse; I saw them open for My Chemical Romance in Tampa a few years back (great show, by the way), and found them to be perhaps the best live band I'd seen. Then Stephenie Meyer comes along and names them as a main inspiration for big portions of the Twilight series. Not only this, but Supermassive Black Hole, a highly awesome tune, was used in the baseball scene of the Twilight movie. It will never be quite the same for me. Thanks a lot, Stephenie Meyer.
Some years back, my dad and stepmom went to see a Broadway production of Mamma Mia. As a souvenir, they brought me back a little black t-shirt with the logo in silver across the chest. At the time, it was a fun, kind of obscure garment that I enjoyed wearing. Then the movie came along, complete with the abomination of Pierce Brosnan singing. Now I feel a little like a dweeb when I wear it. (Although, stubbornly, I still do anyway.) Thanks a lot, Universal Studios.
The first came to me as I was doing my discourse on Twilight in my recent posts. I have a real affection for the band Muse; I saw them open for My Chemical Romance in Tampa a few years back (great show, by the way), and found them to be perhaps the best live band I'd seen. Then Stephenie Meyer comes along and names them as a main inspiration for big portions of the Twilight series. Not only this, but Supermassive Black Hole, a highly awesome tune, was used in the baseball scene of the Twilight movie. It will never be quite the same for me. Thanks a lot, Stephenie Meyer.
Some years back, my dad and stepmom went to see a Broadway production of Mamma Mia. As a souvenir, they brought me back a little black t-shirt with the logo in silver across the chest. At the time, it was a fun, kind of obscure garment that I enjoyed wearing. Then the movie came along, complete with the abomination of Pierce Brosnan singing. Now I feel a little like a dweeb when I wear it. (Although, stubbornly, I still do anyway.) Thanks a lot, Universal Studios.
I'm a little bit country... and a bunch of other things too...
The bluegrass/Americana genres are always fascinating to me considering the amalgam of styles they represent. The Americana Music Association (http://www.americanamusic.org) describes the genre as follows:
"Americana is music that honors and is derived from the traditions of American roots music. It is music inspired by American culture traditions which is not only represented in classic man made / roots based sounds but also through new and contemporary artists whose music is clearly inspired by these great traditions. It is a great genre, vast, like jazz which encompasses a wide range of music. Like jazz, which spans from Miles Davis to Harry Connick to the Preservation Hall, Americana's range includes artists like Gram Parsons, Soloman Burke, The Band, Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Mavis Staples..."
Bluegrass is defined as a form of American roots music, drawn from Irish, West African, Scottish, Welsh and English traditional music influences. All in all, these musical styles represent a quite rich heritage, and because of that, have a unique power. It is difficult not to get drawn into these styles because of the passion and feeling that they can display.
I got treated to two bands from these American roots styles, each with their own take on the genre, on Saturday night at One Longfellow Square: Gunther Brown and the Lovell Sisters.
Gunther Brown, a local act, had a fun, pleasant and laid-back style. One example is their song "The Big 20", written about a bowling alley on Route 1 in Scarborough. Normally a five-piece band, they performed with only three members on this particular evening. The pleasant, laid-back tone actually seemed to mirror the overall personality of the band members, one of whom confessed to us volunteers an inexplicable penchant for stale animal crackers...
The Lovell Sisters are three very talented young musicians from Calhoun, Georgia, who were backed by a guitarist and double bass player. The girls, all between the ages of 18 and 23, played fiddle, mandolin/guitar, and dobro, displaying a real excitement and passion for the music. The performance was a real example of my previous statement about being irresistibly drawn in to the music. It would take a conscious effort not to tap your foot or move along with the music; but then why would you want to resist that? Being a huge fan of Alison Krauss and Union Station, I was pleased with their cover of Choctaw Hayride. They also played many of their own compositions, as well as pieces by Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix. The girls themselves were as endearing as their music, going out to take pictures of the streets and the water near One Longfellow Square, as it was their first trip to Maine. Hopefully they will come back this way soon; I would highly recommend attending one of their shows.
If anyone is curious and wants to find out more, the bands' websites are as follows:
www.lovellsisters.com
www.myspace.com/musicofguntherbrown
So, once again a grand time was had at One Longfellow Square. Anyone who has a chance should come on down and check it out!
"Americana is music that honors and is derived from the traditions of American roots music. It is music inspired by American culture traditions which is not only represented in classic man made / roots based sounds but also through new and contemporary artists whose music is clearly inspired by these great traditions. It is a great genre, vast, like jazz which encompasses a wide range of music. Like jazz, which spans from Miles Davis to Harry Connick to the Preservation Hall, Americana's range includes artists like Gram Parsons, Soloman Burke, The Band, Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Mavis Staples..."
Bluegrass is defined as a form of American roots music, drawn from Irish, West African, Scottish, Welsh and English traditional music influences. All in all, these musical styles represent a quite rich heritage, and because of that, have a unique power. It is difficult not to get drawn into these styles because of the passion and feeling that they can display.
I got treated to two bands from these American roots styles, each with their own take on the genre, on Saturday night at One Longfellow Square: Gunther Brown and the Lovell Sisters.
Gunther Brown, a local act, had a fun, pleasant and laid-back style. One example is their song "The Big 20", written about a bowling alley on Route 1 in Scarborough. Normally a five-piece band, they performed with only three members on this particular evening. The pleasant, laid-back tone actually seemed to mirror the overall personality of the band members, one of whom confessed to us volunteers an inexplicable penchant for stale animal crackers...
The Lovell Sisters are three very talented young musicians from Calhoun, Georgia, who were backed by a guitarist and double bass player. The girls, all between the ages of 18 and 23, played fiddle, mandolin/guitar, and dobro, displaying a real excitement and passion for the music. The performance was a real example of my previous statement about being irresistibly drawn in to the music. It would take a conscious effort not to tap your foot or move along with the music; but then why would you want to resist that? Being a huge fan of Alison Krauss and Union Station, I was pleased with their cover of Choctaw Hayride. They also played many of their own compositions, as well as pieces by Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix. The girls themselves were as endearing as their music, going out to take pictures of the streets and the water near One Longfellow Square, as it was their first trip to Maine. Hopefully they will come back this way soon; I would highly recommend attending one of their shows.
If anyone is curious and wants to find out more, the bands' websites are as follows:
www.lovellsisters.com
www.myspace.com/musicofguntherbrown
So, once again a grand time was had at One Longfellow Square. Anyone who has a chance should come on down and check it out!
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