8 DAYS OUT WEDNESDAY MARCH 23 Workshops & Classes
300 railtees@gmail.com
400
MUSIC MARKETING IN THE MODERN ERA—Matthew Stringer, formerly of Sony Commercial Music Group, will teach musicians how to market themselves in the rapidly changing music business. See Picks, Page 16. 5:30-7 p.m. FREE. Old Idaho State Penitentiary, 2445 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, 208-368-6080, history.idaho. gov/oldpen.html. ORGANIC LAWNS AND GARDENS—Master Gardener Lindsay Schramm will share info on how organic gardening leads to a healthy garden. Call to preregister. 7-9 p.m. $10. Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise, 208-343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org. PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS—Learn about lenses, flash and digital camera operation in this Photo II class. Call 208-336-630 to register. 6-9 p.m. $95. The Cole Marr Gallery/Coffee House, 404 S. Eighth St., Ste. 134, Boise, 208-336-7630.
Literature DROP-IN WRITING WORKSHOP—Twice a month, authors and teachers Malia Collins and Adrian Kien offer writers of all levels a chance to create and share work in a friendly, informal atmosphere. 6:30-8 p.m. FREE. The Cabin, 801 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, 208-331-8000, thecabinidaho.org. LOCAL AUTHOR SERIES—Join local authors as they discuss the writing process and their books, and get a chance to ask questions. Noon. FREE. Library at Cole and Ustick, 7557 W. Ustick Road, Boise, 208-570-6900, boisepubliclibrary.com.
Talks & Lectures HIKING THE FOOTHILLS PRESENTATION—Learn about important trail etiquette, destinations within the Foothills and how to access trialheads open to bikers, horses and off-leash dogs. 7 p.m. FREE. REI, 8300 W. Emerald, Boise, 208-322-1141, rei.com/stores/boise.
Citizen BOISE BICYCLE PROJECT VOLUNTEER NIGHT—Volunteers may donate their time to help build and repair bicycles for those in need. 6-8 p.m. Boise Bicycle Project, 1027 Lusk St., Boise, 208-429-6520, boisebicycleproject.org. CAKE AND PETITION—Have a slice of cake in honor of Cesar Chavez’s birthday and show your support for making it a national holiday. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. FREE Boise State students, faculty and staff, $5 general, $3 seniors. Boise State Quad, Boise.
Kids & Teens VIDEO GAME CHALLENGE—Play video games such as Super Smash Bros., Brawl, Mario Kart, Lego Rock Band and more on six screens with other gamers. 4:30 p.m. FREE. Ada Community Library, 10664 W. Victory Road, Boise, 208-362-0181, adalib.org.
Odds & Ends KARAOKE AND WINE ROCK STARS—Unleash your inner rock star. Don’t worry, the wine will help. 8-11 p.m. $10 wine tastings. Helina Marie’s Wine and Gift Shop, 11053 Highway 44, Star, 208-286-7960, helinamaries.com.
VINYL PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF IDAHO— Meet with other analog music enthusiasts. 7-10 p.m. FREE, Modern Hotel and Bar, 1314 W. Grove St., Boise, 208-424-8244, vpsidaho.org.
THURSDAY MARCH 24 On Stage THE FANTASTICKS—Two dads scheme to get their kids to fall in love. 7 p.m. $16.50-$37.50. Knock ‘Em Dead Dinner Theatre, 415 E. Parkcenter Blvd., 208-3850021, kedproductions.org.
NOISE/CD REVIEW SUFJAN STEVENS: THE AGE OF ADZ Sufjan Stevens is an irresistible enigma. The multiinstrumentalist has the songwriting strength and appeal of a stripped-down folk pop master but also the sonic versatility to record electronic epics. This combination helps him craft technologically impressive music that still retains an organic feel. The creator of two U.S. statethemed concept albums knows that an album is an experience. The Age of Adz (Asthmatic Kitty) would be best enjoyed in its entirety on vinyl with the phone unplugged. “Futile Devices” begins the record with sweet melodic flair and warm sentimentality. Then “Too Much” throws in computer beats, synth and various electronic buzzes, hisses and whirs—a complicated delight that you’ll be pleased to have rattling in your head after it ends. When the title track begins, it sounds like a fantasyadventure film score playing inside a factory of steam-powered equipment—a factory with some top-notch acoustics. It continues in a start-stop dynamic, alternately leaving the vocals by themselves and escalating to dizzying crescendos. The layered, technical sound creates some magnificent moments but the grandiosity becomes too much. Sufjan hits the sweet spot for the first part of “Impossible Soul,” but then stacks so many sounds, effects and singers on top of each other that it begins to sound like the music editing computer threw up all over the 25-minute song about halfway through. The computerized vocal effects begin to feel unnecessary, and by the end, we’ve heard the refrain, “Boy, we can do much more together” much more than we needed to. And spellbinding as the music is, this becomes an issue on several songs, including the title track. Stevens finds the perfect balance, then oversteps it, proving that knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing how to start. However, his dulcet voice and earnest songwriting craft keep us with him for the album’s meandering entirety. —Eric Austin
18 | MARCH 23-29, 2011 | BOISEweekly
WWW. B O I S E WE E KLY. C O M