MUSIC REVIEW
AFTER DARK, CONT. “Singin’ on a Star.” The Rep’s Young Artists Program production, conceived and directed by Nicole Capri. Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Thu., Nov. 1, 7 p.m.; Fri., Nov. 2, 7 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 3, 2 and 7 p.m. 601 Main St. 501-378-0405. www.therep.org. “The Woman in Black.” Stephen Mallatratt’s thriller based on Susan Hill’s book of the same name stars El Dorado native and stage and screen actor William Ragsdale. Rialto Theater, through Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.; through Nov. 4, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; through Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.; through Nov. 11, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., $16-$34. 113 E. Cedar St., El Dorado. 877-725-8849. www.eldofest.com.
GALLERIES, MUSEUMS
BRIAN CHILSON
NEW EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: Playing the hits.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Verizon Arena, Oct. 25 BY KELLEY BASS
T
he Red Hot Chili Peppers took a slightly different musical path to its May induction into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame than most of their fellow honorees. Yes, they have had a boatload of hits and sold tons of albums — precursors for Hall consideration — but they’ve done that with music that mixes more styles than most hit bands. The RHCPs are all about rock … and funk … and hip-hop/rap (or at least what passes for hip-hop/rap for old white folks) … and punk … and metal. And they’ve always been about energy — frenzied energy — that is infectious and keeps its fans on their feet and into the music. The 10,479 who attended the Peppers’ concert Thursday night at Verizon Arena were treated to a greatest-hits type show — it included almost all the big songs along with an up-tempo, thumping cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” and four of the best tracks from “I’m With You,” the album that debuted in August 2011 and the band’s first album in five years. The record’s release spawned this epic, grueling tour that started Sept. 11, 2011, in Bogota, Colombia, and ends Feb. 5, 2013, in Cape Town, South Africa. It included only one extended break (three months) and made its way to six continents (all but Antarctica — unlucky penguins), including three European legs. The Verizon concert was the 106th of 128 on the tour, which means the band was absolutely skin-tight. Practice makes perfect, which the Peppers proved in an 18-song, 105-minute set. RHCP may be the only band whose bass player is the 38
OCTOBER 31, 2012
ARKANSAS TIMES
undisputed leader. Flea (born Michael Peter Balzary) is the band’s musical and emotional spark plug, and nine days after turning 50 he was non-stop action — flitting to and fro across the stage, his trademark slap-bass style establishing the crucial bottom end to the band’s funk-filled hits. Catalysts to the high-energy atmosphere were well-choreographed videos displayed on a number of smaller screens staggered at different depths relative to the front and back of the stage. Typically, they sometimes showed live concert footage, but many times cartoons and other images accentuated the songs’ themes. And, oh the songs. After “Monarchy of Roses,” the first cut on “I’m With You” and the tour’s usual show-opener, the band moved through “Dani California” and “Scar Tissue.” Lead singer Anthony Kiedis, whose foot surgery postponed this show from March to October, showed off both his full-throated and more subdued styles, respectively, on these hits, two of the band’s three Billboard Top 10 singles. The show never really lost momentum, but it picked up noticeable steam in the homestretch, a five-song closing set that kept the always-standing crowd at a fevered pitch: “Under the Bridge” (the third Top 10 hit), “ Factory of Faith” (one of the rockingest songs off the new album), “Higher Ground,” “Californication” and “By The Way,” another huge hit. The three-song encore ended the way all RHCP shows do, with “Give It Away.” The band’s quintessential anthem, though not one of its biggest pop hits, revolves around its most famous line — “What I’ve got you’ve got to get it, put it in you” — and shows off almost all the musical themes that make up the Chili Peppers’ blended style.
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSEUM VISITOR CENTER, Bates and Park: “American Spring: A Cause For Justice,” quilts dealing with societal issues such as racism, civil rights, violence, discrimination, social justice and intolerance, in partnership with Fiber Artists for Hope and Sabrina Zarco, through Nov.; exhibits on the 1957 desegregation of Central and the civil rights movement. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. 3741957. HISTORIC ARKANSAS MUSEUM, 200 E. Third St.: Cornbread Festival Kickoff event: “Cornbread, Beans and Collard Greens,” lecture and lunch with culinary historian Jessica Harris,” noon Nov. 2, light lunch and booksigning to follow,; “Arkansas Contemporary: Selected Fellows from the Arkansas Arts Council,” work by 17 artists, through Nov. 4; “Barbie Doll: The 11 ½-inch American Icon,” through Jan. 6, 2013; “A Collective Vision,” recent acquisitions, through March 2013. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9351. LAMAN LIBRARY, 2801 Orange St.: “Norman Rockwell’s Home for the Holidays,” exhibition from the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., Nov. 2-Dec. 9. 758-1720. L&L BECK GALLERY, 5705 Kavanaugh Blvd.: “Still life,” through Nov.; drawing for free giclee 7 p.m. Nov. 15. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 660-4006. MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY, 500 President Clinton Ave.: “Science After Dark,” the science of illusion, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31, for ages 21 and older; “GPS Adventures,” ages 6 to adult, through April 1; “Wiggle Worms,” science program for pre-K children 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m. every Tue., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun., $10 ages 12 and older, $8 ages 1-11, free under 1. 396-7050. OLD STATE HOUSE MUSEUM, 300 W. Markham: “Two Party Arkansas, Then and Now,” annual fund-raiser supper, 6 p.m. Nov. 1, $100; “Battle Colors of Arkansas,” 18 Civil War flags; “Things You Need to Hear: Memories of Growing up in Arkansas from 1890 to 1980,” oral histories about community, family, work, school and leisure. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 324-9685. PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE, 3000 W. Scenic Drive: “It’s About Time,” work by Warren Criswell,” Nov. 1-Dec. 15, Bank of the Ozarks exhibition space, Ottenheimer Library, talk by the artist 10 a.m. Nov. 1, library; lecture and animation presentation, 12:30 p.m., R.J. Wills Lecture Hall. 812-2200. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK: “Faces of the Delta,” drawings by Aj Smith, through Nov. 16; “Photographing the Landscape,” work by Jay Gould, Frank Hamrick, Chad Smith and Luther Smith, through Dec. 5; “BA and BFA Senior Exhibitions,” Gallery III, Nov. 4-mid-December. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.Fri. 569-3182.
FAYETTEVILLE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS: “Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature,” nine etchings by Louise Bourgeois from the Louise Bourgeois Studio, Nov. 7-Dec. 13; lecture by ceramicist Pattie Chalmers, 7 p.m. Nov. 1, Room 213, Fine Arts Center, reception for the artist at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1; “Tenses of Landscape,” invitational group painting show, through Nov. 4, Fine Arts Center gallery. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.Fri., 2-5 p.m. Sun. 479-575-7987. HAMBURG ASHLEY COUNTY MUSEUM, 302 N Cherry St.: “Small Works on Paper,” Nov. 5-30. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wed. and Fri. 870-853-2244 HOT SPRINGS BLUE MOON, 718 Central Ave.: Work by Randall Good, through Nov., artist talk 3 p.m. Nov. 3. 501-318-2787. FINE ARTS CENTER, 626 Central Ave.: “Nature Transformed,” quilts by Martha Maples, fiber art by Donna Dunnahoe, glass and multimedia by Patty Collins, opens with gallery walk 5-9 p.m. Nov. 2, through the month; “Self Portraits,” through Oct. 27. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 501-624-0489. GALLERY CENTRAL, 800 Central Ave: Blown glass and personalized Christmas ornaments by James Hayes, “Spiritiles” by Houston Llew, open 5-9 p.m. Nov. 2, Gallery Walk. 501-3184278. GARVAN GARDENS: Work by Bob Crane, Nov. 1-30. 501-262-9300.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
The Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs has issued a call to artists for its “Wintertide Exhibit” in December. There is no entry fee, but a $10 hanging fee for the juried show. For more information, call Donna Dunnahoe at 501-624-0489 or e-mail donna@hsfac.org. Artworks should be submitted in jpeg form to info @hsfac.org.
CONTINUING EXHIBITS
ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER, MacArthur Park: “50 for Arkansas,” work donated by Dorothy and Herbert Vogel, through Jan. 6; “Multiplicity,” exhibition on printmaking from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, through Jan. 6; “Formed from Fire: American Studio Glass from the Permanent Collection,” through Nov. 4. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. 372-4000. BUTLER CENTER GALLERIES, Arkansas Studies Institute, 401 President Clinton Ave.: Arkansas League of Artists exhibition, through Jan. 26; “Solastalgia,” work by Susan Chambers and Louise Halsey, through Jan. 26. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 320-5700.
ONGOING MUSEUM EXHIBITS
CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, 1200 President Clinton Ave.: “Dorothy Howell Rodham and Virginia Clinton Kelley,” through Nov. 25; permanent exhibits about policies and White House life during the Clinton administration. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $7 adults; $5 college students, seniors, retired military; $3 ages 6-17. 370-8000. MOSAIC TEMPLARS CULTURAL CENTER, Ninth and Broadway: “A Voice through the Viewfinder: Images of Arkansas’ Black Community by Ralph Armstrong,” through Jan. 5, 2013; permanent exhibits on AfricanAmerican entrepreneurial history in Arkansas. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. 683–3593. More art listings can be found in the calendar at arktimes.com