Campus Circle Newspaper Vol. 19 Issue 41

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October 28 - November 3, 2009 \ Volume 19 \ Issue 41 \ Always Free

Film | Music | Culture

TROY DUFFY

Shoots for Redemption with The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

© 2 009 Campus Ci r cl e • ( 3 2 3 ) 9 8 8 - 8 4 7 7 • 5 0 4 2 Wilshire Blvd., #600 Los A ngeles, C A 90036 • www. campus cir c le.c om • One Free Copy per person


FROM THE DIRECTOR OF “NACHO LIBRE” AND

STARRING

JEMAINE CLEMENT OF “FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS”

MOBILE USERS - FOR SHOWTIMES - TEXT BRONCOS AND YOUR ZIP CODE TO 43 KIX (43549) HOLLYWOOD At Sunset & Vine

EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30


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inside campus circle 13

Editor-in-Chief Jessica Koslow editor.chief@campuscircle.net Managing Editor Yuri Shimoda managing.editor@campuscircle.net Film Editor Jessica Koslow film.editor@campuscircle.net Art Director Alance Ward Editorial Interns Melissa Russell, Marvin G. Vasquez   Contributing Writers Priscilla Andrade, Lauren Barbato, Jonathan Bautts, Sarah Bennett, China Bialos, Erica Carter, Richard Castaneda, Kehinde “Doxx” Cunningham, Nick Day, Natasha Desianto, Zach Hines, Joe Horton, Jonathan Knell, Becca Lett, Lucia, Ebony March, Samantha Minton, Azin Mirchi, Athalia Nakula, Brendan Newton, Samantha Ofole, Brien Overly, Ariel Paredes, Sasha Perl-Raver, J. Poakwa, Parimal M. Rohit, Mike Sebastian, Doug Simpson, C. Molly Smith, David Tobin, E.S. Turrill, Stephanie Vasquez, Mike Venezia, Anna Webber, Kevin Wierzbicki, Candice Winters

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04 NEWS LOCAL NEWS 05 NEWS WOODEN NICKELS 06 CULTURE HALLOWEEN EVENTS 07 CULTURE FUN FOR LESS 07 CULTURE EXHIBITIONS 08 FILM TONY KAYE Calling all "Exentrics" 08 FILM REVIEWS 09 FILM PAGES 10 FILM JARED & JERUSHA HESS Wrangle up more Oddball Humor in Gentlemen Broncos 12 FILM SCREEN SHOTS 12 FILM DVD DISH

Contributing Artists & Photographers Rudy Sanchez, David Tobin, Emmanuelle Troy

ADVERTISING Sean Bello sean.bello@campuscircle.net Joy Calisoff joy.calisoff@campuscircle.net Jon Bookatz Music Sales Manager jon.bookatz@campuscircle.net Ronit Guedalia ronit.guedalia@campuscircle.net

Calendar Editor Frederick Mintchell

13 FILM TROY DUFFY Delivers Sequel to His Indie Cult Classic with Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day 14 MUSIC WHITE RABBITS Give the El Rey a Fright 16 MUSIC SILVERSUN PICKUPS Something to Swoon About 18 MUSIC FREQUENCY 18 MUSIC MUSIC REPORT 20 MUSIC LIVE SHOW REVIEWS 20 MUSIC CD REVIEWS 21 MUSIC THE BASS LINE 21 MUSIC L.A. UNDERGROUND 22 CULTURE GAMES & GADGETS

Campus Circle newspaper is published 49 times a year and is available free at 40 schools and over 800 retail locations throughout Los Angeles. Circulation: 30,000. Readership: 90,000. PUBLISHED BY CAMPUS CIRCLE, INC. 5042 Wilshire Blvd., PMB 600 Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 939-8477 (323) 939-8656 Fax info@campuscircle.net www.campuscircle.com © 2009 Campus Circle, Inc. All rights reserved.

22 CULTURE L.A. FACES 23 CULTURE THE ART OF LOVE 23 CULTURE BOTTOMS UP 24 SPORTS THE SPORTS WANDERER 24 SPORTS PIGSKIN BLITZ 24 SPORTS CENTER ICE 25 SPORTS PAC-10 CROSS COUNTRY 25 SPORTS DODGERS411 26 EVENTS THE 10 SPOT Cover: Troy Duffy Photo by: Shane Sato

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lawa.org

NEWS

Since 1995 plans have been in the works to expand and improve LAX.

THE LAX MASTER PLAN A $1.3 Billion Facelift BY MELISSA RUSSELL When was the last time you were at Los Angeles International Airport? As Los Angeles’ primary airport (and the country’s third busiest), LAX shuffles more than 60 million passengers every year (not to mention the people who drop off/pick up passengers or go to work in the restaurants and gates every day) and in a lot of ways, it shows. The lines for security continue to get longer, parking in the massive, multi-level parking lots gets harder and the gates just smell like there have been thousands of people crowding around the doors every day. Apart from the Theme Building’s major renovation in 2007, the airport has remained largely unchanged for the past 25 years, with only minor construction updates being done here since then. But all of that is about to change. Since 1995, plans have been in the works to expand and improve California’s busiest airport. The project has been in and out of the public eye since its inception, but unless you happened to catch Mayor Villaraigosa’s presentation of design concepts in November of last year, it’s mostly been out. Though it hasn’t garnered a lot of media attention, the LAX Master Plan is finally past the planning stages and, with the airport commission’s

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approval of a $1.3 billion contract on Oct. 19, primed to start some new construction. While the new Bradley West wing will not encroach upon LAX’s surrounding residential neighborhoods, it aims to both modernize and simplify the passenger experience and streamline traffic – both air and auto. In order to improve safety measures for the airport, plans for Bradley West include larger than average gates to provide room for airplanes that hold more passengers, but the most major development in this arm of the project is the alteration to the taxiways. LAX plans to reconfigure its entire runway system to include a center taxiway in the hopes of creating better separation between runways and prevent collisions on the tarmac. But in doing this without disturbing the homes surrounding the airport, Terminals 1 through 3 will be entirely torn down to be replaced by a Satellite Concourse to the west of the Tom Bradley International Terminal and the two will be connected via an automated underground people mover. But that’s not the only place where safety is going to be improved. In the terminal itself, new security measures will be implemented in a Central Terminal Area. This area will be the only place to check your luggage, but it will

also be LAX’s primary security checkpoint. Here, new levels of passenger screening will be put in place to ensure passenger safety. Now, when I say “new” here, I really mean “still in development,” but LAX’s Master Plan Web site indicates we should definitely expect more stringent scans of checked baggage and stricter employee security screening. The creation of this Central Terminal Area is going to mean the demolition of existing parking structures and automotive access to it is going to be limited (in case of a car bomb). What does that mean for you? In part, it means that random vehicle searches won’t bottleneck at the entrance to the airport and the drug dogs have a little more room to do their jobs. But mostly it means that unless you’re in LAX’s new FlyAway Program, there will be no more curbside drop-off and pick-up. Instead, LAX plans to build a Ground Transportation Center where Lot C currently is and will install an automated people mover to get you from the car to the ticket counter. Speaking of automated people movers, the Master Plan calls for three more. First, there will be the one that connects the Intermodal Transportation Center (Yay, short-term parking!) to the Central Terminal Area. In that same area, there’s also the train that connects the Metro Green Line (Yay, public transportation!) to the Intermodal Transportation Center. And let’s not forget the people mover that connects both the Transportation Center and the Terminal Area to a shiny, new Consolidated Rental Car Facility. So in short, automated people movers are the way of the future that will arrive in Los Angeles (providing all construction goes as planned) in 2015. But until then, please continue to enjoy the LAX of yesteryear, in all of its sticky, crumbling retro design glory.


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WOODENNICKELS

FATHER OF BALLOON BOY

The Hero of the Heene Hoax BY JOE HORTON Let me, as a native Coloradan, come to the defense of Richard Heene, the infamous father of the “balloon boy” whose apparent flight over the skies of the Centennial State in a homemade silver flying saucer took much of the country for a ride. Yes, Heene, bitten by the reality TV bug after twice appearing on “Wife Swap,” perpetrated an elaborate hoax to get his own reality show – his son Falcon, found safe and sound and not aboard the silver balloon, said to his father during a CNN interview, “You said we did this for a show.” – and in turn made his family and the media who ceaselessly covered the bizarre story look buffoonish. Yes, he’s a modern-day mad scientist, looking to squeeze a few bucks out of television producers in the new aristocracy instead of looking for rich patrons to fund his research, as da Vinci might have deigned to do in his time. And yes, he has revealed himself to be a relentless and somewhat delusional self-promoter. But my question is this: How far is he really from the true ideals of the American Dream, writ large as the determination of the self-made man to provide for his family and make a name for himself in a classless, ceiling-less society?

Heene probably took a long, hard look at himself in the mirror one day and decided to do the most with what he had. What did he have? Kookiness, a penchant for invention and a capacity to act “real” with cameras following him around. Heene then, no doubt, took a look at the world in which he lives, where reality TV is the express highway to fame and fortune and the 24-hour cable newscasts a fount of free and ferocious publicity the likes of which he could never buy.

I’d rather have a dozen Richard Heenes than a single Wanda Hollo‌­ way (who hired a hitman to kill her daughter’s cheer rival) or Thomas Junta (a father convicted of involuntary manslaughter after beating his son’s ice hockey coach/referee to death). How then, is he different from the (insert name of ethnic group here) immigrant fresh from the shadow of the Statue of Liberty and the delousings of Ellis Island, setting his feet down on new soil and filling a niche in his adopted society? And to be perfectly frank, he’s also not the first man to put his family at risk – emotionally or physically – with high-minded thoughts of providing them a better life. What of the coal miner who conscripts his son into service when he’s young with the hopes that their combined income will facilitate a permanent move out of the dangerous bowels of the earth? What of the “stage mother” who vamps up her daughter for beauty pageants and screen tests, yanking her out of class for any and every audition, with the surefire belief that

she (and, concurrently, the family) will make it big? If anything, we should be celebrating Mr. Heene, not for his actions per se or his atrocious handling of the particulars of his farce, but for his spirit to grab at a hope or ideal long since forgotten by most of our country. There will always be bad parents and bad parenting decisions, and I do not excuse lines of thought that expressly jeopardize the safety of children, but to go all out in pursuit of a goal, to strike out fresh for new ground, to take a broad and long look at one’s life and the possibilities it holds rather than a narrow glance at the next week on the calendar, is an invaluable lesson to show, and not tell, our children. Somewhere along the way from “America” to America, throwing a tantrum at a son’s game and brawling with a referee or plotting the downfall of a rival cheerleader so a daughter can take her place has become not condoned but commonplace, while a father gambling everything on an invention and his relatively keen understanding of the voracious nosiness of our media and culture is “crazy” and “bizarre” and “what’s wrong with society.” Well call me crazy and bizarre, but I’d rather have a dozen Richard Heene’s than a single Wanda Holloway (who hired a hitman to kill her daughter’s cheer rival) or Thomas Junta (a father convicted of involuntary manslaughter after beating his son’s ice hockey coach/referee to death). Heene, after all, named his son Falcon – preparing him to take flight in his life – and had previously tried his hand at acting and stand-up comedy with, I’m sure, his eyes on greatness. Do we believe what we opine, that everyone should ‘shoot for the moon, because even if they miss they land among the stars?’ At least in this case, shouldn’t we all shoot for 7,000 miles above the eastern Colorado prairie and land 12 miles east of Denver International Airport?

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SPECIALFEATURE

Shipwreck: 15 Nights of Terror

shipwreckhalloween.com

Queen Mary, 1126 Queen’s Hwy, Long Beach; shipwreckhalloween.com Now-Oct. 31/7 p.m.-12 a.m./$29 Board the haunted Queen Mary ship and get lost in the five terrifying mazes. Good luck escaping the crazy clowns, criminally insane, angry pirates, walking corpses and bloodthirsty vampires. There’s also a dance floor in Club Dead where you can make friends with the scariest and party it up, only if you make it out of the mazes in one piece. Plus, live bands, DJs and celebrity hosts.

SPOOKY, CHILLING HALLOWEEN HAUNTS Scare Up Some Fun BY SAMANTHA MINTON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28 The Classic Haunted Hollywood Tour Starline Tours kiosk, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; hauntedhollywoodtours.com 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. daily/Tix start at $35 This year-round tour takes you to see the real thing if you’ve got tough blood. Visit historical and haunted spots around Hollywood where the Black Dahlia actress was found slain and Marilyn Monroe died. You can even book a tour to see the departed fashionably, in a classic limousine.

Dearly Departed Tours dearlydepartedtours.com Daily/$40 Hop on the Dearly Departed Tomb Buggy and relive the horrific deaths of

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Hollywood’s past. Tour through almost 100 haunted destinations of famous scandal, murders and mysterious celebrity deaths. Spend up to three hours learning the tales of where blood was spilled and fans have gathered after dark events, so you can say you’ve been there, too.

Haunted Walking Tours at Fullerton Museum 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton 714) 738-6545 Oct. 28-29 & 31, Nov. 4-5/6 p.m./$18 ($25 for Oct. 31 tour) Ghost hunting is the thing to do in Fullerton; the city has a past rich with the supernatural. This 1-1/2 mile tour of downtown Fullerton will introduce you to the spirits of Louis E. Plummer and the “angry woman” who haunts Plummer Auditorium and highlight the horrors of the local police station.

12th Annual Monster Massive

FRIDAY, OCT. 30

Los Angeles Sports Arena/Grounds & Exposition Park, 3939 South Figueroa 
St., Los Angeles; monstermassive.com All Ages/7 p.m.-4 a.m./Tix start at $50 This massive party (65,000 in attendance last year) features dozens of DJs from around the world, including Armin Van Buuren and Felix Da Housecat, in four rooms of constant dance, strobe lights and playful debauchery. Get-ups are recommended; just make sure you can identify your friends when the costumed crowds roll in.

Halloweekend

“Nosferatu”

The Highlands Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., 4th and 5th Floors, Hollywood; thehighlandshollywood.com Also Oct. 31/7 p.m./Tix start at $20 (Fri) and $30 (Sat) On Friday, it’s Beacher’s Madhouse Costume Ball! Boasting the atmosphere of a circus and energy of a nightclub, you’ll be dazzled by gorgeous dancers, outrageous variety acts and magicians and jump into audience participation contests. Saturday is the official Playboy Halloween Lingerie and Costume Ball hosted by Playmate Brande Roderick with DJ Graham Funke, DJ Crystal Ellis, DJ Rhiannon, DJ Summer Altice and DJ Prophecy on the 1s and 2s.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Downtown; laphil.com 8 p.m./Tix start at $32.75 Try to stay in your seats watching vampires hunt and listening to live music from one of the world’s tallest pipe organs. Clark Wilson will play the soundtrack to the silent 1920s German horror film Nosferatu that was inspired by the novel Dracula. This classic shares the essence of vampires dead on.

SATURDAY, OCT. 31

Hop aboard the Queen Mary for terror during Shipwreck.

every woman receives a black rose and every man gets a fortune telling fish.

22nd Annual West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval Santa Monica Blvd. (between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Blvd.); weho.org 6 p.m.-11 p.m./FREE It’s called the largest Halloween celebration in the world and this year several hundred thousand people are expected to parade in the streets with the most extreme costumes ever seen. If it’s craziness and costumes you crave, this is your scene. Check out the live music and performers on the many stages throughout the streets.

KCRW Masquerade: A Halloween Costume Ball & Dance Party The Legendary Park Plaza, 607 South Park View St., Los Angeles; kcrw.org 21 +/9 p.m.-2 a.m./$75-$85 Music from 11 KCRW DJs and live performances – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Little Dragon and Sea Wolf – will fill the five dance rooms at this historical Elk Lodge now known as the Legendary Park Plaza. Arrive hungry because you can munch at the Kogi, Border Grill, Coolhaus and Sprinklesmobile trucks.

Magicopolis’ “Escape Reality” 1418 4th St., Santa Monica; magicopolis.com 8 p.m./$27 Spend two hours watching magic tricks that vary from escape and ESP to levitation and sleight of hand, performed by a husband-and-wife team. Guests receive a complimentary candy eyeball and soda;

Silverlake Conservatory of Music’s 5th Annual Halloweenabaloo Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles; silverlakeconservatory.com 6 p.m./$150, $35 SCM students, call (323) 665-3363 for tix Get blown away by live performances by Ben Harper, Linda Perry and Andy Summers alongside Silverlake Conservatory of Music’s co-founder, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. This annual concert and auction will benefit the conservatory. Wear your costume and watch out for the neon skeletons because this party also celebrates el dia de los muertos.

Trashy Lingerie’s Annual Halloween Ball 2009 KeyClub, 9039 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; trashygirls.com 7:30 p.m./Tix start at $30 Show up in your skimpiest to a costume ball with more than 100 Trashy Lingerie models. Dance to DJs on two floors and watch the Darling Stilettos, a female dancing and singing act with a rock band. Girls can show off their stuff and guys can be surrounded by beauty.

Rob Zombie Hollywood Palladium, 6215 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles; robzombie.com All ages/8 p.m./Tix start at $39.50 Launching his Hellbilly Deluxe 2 Tour, named after his new album that releases Nov. 17, Rob Zombie never fails to rock hard and include blood as décor, making this concert a perfect choice for Halloween. Plus, psychobilly band Nekromantix, Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures and the host, Uncle Seymour Coffins, recently featured in Halloween II. Costumes are encouraged, but no masks.


FUNFORLESS

EXHIBITIONS

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

SEEING THINGS: GHOST POLAROIDS

Dressing Up in a Down Economy

Wright, 4” x 4” unique Polaroid spectra print, 1992-1993

Now-Nov. 1 @ drkrm.gallery

BY EBONY MARCH

BY CANDICE WINTERS fredericks.com

The other day I was perusing a clothing Web site looking for ideas for Halloween. I immediately thought about that hilarious line from Mean Girls where Lindsay Lohan’s character explains that Oct. 31 is pretty much the only day of the year where girls can dress slutty and not get crap from other girls. Funny. As much as I hate to say it, it’s true. Whether you’re going to be a Naughty Nurse or Halloween, particularly in Los Angeles, is Tinkerbell, there are tons of shopping options. full of theater, flash and butt cheeks. But where does one go to procure the perfect costume? Whether body-conscious styles or something more paint-by-numbers is wanted, there are plenty of places to find inexpensive ways to express one’s creativity on a budget. One company I can always count on for cool ideas is American Apparel (americanapparel.net). This clothing powerhouse has more locations than Starbucks and even better bang for your buck. Looking to dress up as a 1980s roller skater or a crazy pimp? Well, truck on over to any of this store’s locations and get your shop on. Supporting American Apparel also means supporting the local economy; all their clothes are made here in Los Angeles. Not only that, but they fit like a glove and are usually reasonably priced. For good ideas on ways you can incorporate your shopping spree into your Halloween costume, just visit A.A.’s Web site. For all those girls with killer bodies who are gearing up to let it all hang out, there are multiple choices. Fredericks of Hollywood (fredericks.com) has a to-die-for selection of trampy duds that will have onlookers screaming, “Ooh-la-la!” If a naughty nurse or sultry sailor is your thing, you can grab both looks here for just $49. What’s even better is that Fredericks carries plenty of matching undergarments and accessories to make your look absolute perfection. Another great place to pick up erotic clothing is Romantix (3147 N. San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles; romantixonline.com). With several locations in the area (open late), last-minute shoppers will be able to find great ideas for the sexy kitten, zebra or vampire lurking within. A good friend of mine is attending an “adults only” masquerade ball. I know she’ll probably end up checking out Secret Desires (2414 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; 310255-0506). This west side playground for sensual adults is a virtual toy chest of everything any would-be dominatrix could dream of owning. Want something a little more traditional? No problem. Party America (2011 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank; partyamerica.com) has a great selection of masks, wigs, makeup and costumes to propel you to a first-place win at any Halloween party. The great thing about shopping in the valley is that many stores cater to the studios and therefore, offer items much cheaper than in touristy areas. However, if you’re a Hollywood dweller seeking something special on a budget and a short timeline, your best bet will be Hollywood Toys & Costumes (6600 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; hollywoodtoysandcostumes.com). They have an insane selection of ... well ... everything. Trekkies can live long and prosper here as Spock, Uhura or Picard. Like Star Wars instead? Well, you can be the best wookie in the world just by heading to this location. They’ve also got a fine selection of grills, gold chains and afro wigs to make you the flyest soul brotha on the block! Still, one must not discount Vine American Party Store (5969 Melrose Ave.; vineamericanparty.com). You’ll find tons of sunglasses, hats, beads and capes here. You can also stock up on items such as cups, streamers and balloons to throw your very own wild and crazy party that your friends will be talking about through the new year. Finally, if this year’s recession has hit you where it hurts, hit back. Out of the Closet (outofthecloset.org) is a great store with multiple locations that sell all kinds of nifty second-hand clothes and accessories. What I like most about them though is that their proceeds go toward charitable work, including AIDS research. And, one must not forget about clothing staple, Goodwill (goodwill.org). The G has been going strong for decades as a kick-ass shop with all kinds of quirky ball gowns, suits, platforms and Cosby sweaters to make you the belle or beau of the ball.

Courtesy of drkrm.gallery

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I have to admit, October is one of the best months of the year. I get a rush of adrenaline when I can smell the change of the seasons, however slight it may be, and the long hours of darkness make me believe that perhaps there is something real about Halloween. It was on one of the darker nights so far that I made a trip to drkrm.gallery in Glassell Park, a neighborhood on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles a few streets past Chinatown. I not only believe in ghosts, but I embrace them, look for them, yearn to be susceptible to their type of communication though, sadly, I don’t think I am. But the moment I exited the 110 North on Figueroa Street, I got a creeping suspicion that I was in for a real treat. The streets of the sleepy town were deserted. Very few cars littered the streets, and the sidewalks were empty of life form altogether. I pulled up to 2121 N. San Fernando Road and reveled in awe of the building. A 1920’s Art Deco-style construction, it is a magnanimous sight even if the exterior is a faded white and the walls reflect the neon lights of the Arco next door. There is a mystery to the place nonetheless. The interior is a long concrete hallway with inconspicuous doors; I feel like there should be creepy 1920’s elevator music playing on repeat throughout the dormant building. I’m given a tour by Jay Lopez, the gallery director who informs me that the doors lead to live-work spaces for artists. The barrenness that pervades the entire place is, in its own way, very modern and very conducive to inspiring the talented. Suite 3 is the home of drkrm.gallery. It’s a good size room with white walls and a ceiling that allows the space to breathe. Lights are strategically placed, like any professional gallery, and the photos that will be displayed in the exhibit have just been mounted. The photos in question are actually Polaroids dating back to 1992, before the time of Photoshop and digital editing. The snapshots reveal what I drove 10 minutes down the freeway to experience. A mystical, white, hazy substance permeates the confines of the pictures that would otherwise be normal in construction. Seeing Things: Ghost Polaroids is drkrm.gallery’s special Halloween exhibition of the paranormal images that will leave you questioning your beliefs about the afterlife. The quaint gallery will not only feature the original photos, but will also provide explanations for the images. The owners of a home in Glassell Park first started noticing the wispy, ghost-like apparitions that appeared in their Polaroids dating back to the early ’90s. They began taking hundreds of pictures, hoping to find the mysterious substance once again. As it turns out, their wish came true as dozens of photos show signs of the paranormal. Then something even stranger happened: messages began to appear in the film. Definitive words were discernible in response to questions that were asked of the spirit. This entity that called himself “Wright” showed signs of intelligence by giving his answers in English as well as Latin. Spooky, right? Just to make it clear, “Wright” is a real-life Casper: he’s a friendly ghost. When the homeowners asked why he was there, he replied, “to help,” going as far as to say that he was there for them. The original Polaroids are simply unreal. I was given the precious opportunity to hold one in my hands, and – as far as I could tell – they are untampered pieces of ghost lore come to life. This is a fascinating exhibit that will change you, shake you, haunt you and maybe scare you a little. No doubt I went home and took tons of pictures of nothing with the intent of capturing the spirit in my room. Naturally I was left empty-handed. However I came to the realization that this exhibition got me back in the spirit of believing in something, however fantastical it may be, for the hour I was there. I was forced to question my beliefs and develop a new theory about the twisted world in which I live. In the spirit of Halloween, embrace the strange and accept the possibility of ghosts. drkrm.gallery is located at 2121 N. San Fernando Rd., Ste. 3, Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 223-6867 or visit drkrm.com.

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FILMINTERVIEWS

Seth Smoot

TONY KAYE Is American History X’s director “Exentric?”

BY SASHA PERL-RAVER Hollywood loves second acts. If you’re willing to pay your penance, dust yourself off and return with a head held high, elbow greased and primed for hard core diligence, the Klieg lights might still be waiting to shine on you. That’s what Tony Kaye is hoping for. Following a highly publicized flip-out surrounding his only major theatrical release to date, 1998’s American History X, a period in his life Kaye describes as “crazy, reckless, idiotic, ego-filled nonsense where I destroyed myself,” he was sent into cinematic exile. After over a decade where he made only one other film, Lake of Fire, a 2006 abortion documentary, the director is venturing back into Hollywood with a small, Web-based project that is guaranteed not to end up in the editorial hands of Edward Norton. Kaye has teamed with Fox Digital to create a web series, which he says is “‘American Idol’ meets Ingram Bergman meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” In layman’s terms, the show, titled “Exentrics,” is Kaye’s attempt to build a contemporary band with a new sound. Like P. Diddy’s “Making The Band” or CBS’ “Rock Star” series, the show is part reality TV, part audition. The real difference with his project is that you have to be more than a great musician to earn a slot with Kaye; you also have to be

(Untitled)

ADAM GOLDBERG

MARLEY SHELTON

“ACUTELY WITTY!” - Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“SMART AND FUNNY!” - Gary Goldstein, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“GRADE A-”

- Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“A COMEDY SURPRISE!” - Pete Hammond, BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE

“LAUGH-OUT-LOUD!” - Marshall Fine, HUFFINGTON POST

“ROUSINGLY FUNNY!” - Kurt Loder, MTV.COM

Q&A with actors ADAM GOLDBERG & MARLEY SHELTON FRIDAY 10/30 after the 8:00pm sho at The LANDMARK. w Check theater for details.

CALLING ALL INTERNS

Are you looking to break into…

Journalism? Photography? Advertising & Marketing? CAMPUS CIRCLE is seeking a few enthusiastic, creative journalists, photographers and aspiring sales people to join our team. Intern Perks Include: • Free Movie Screenings • Free Music • Opportunity to explore L.A. like never before!

© 2009 UNTITLED MOVIE CO., LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Take the next step in your career:

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❋ IRVINE Edwards University Town Center 6 (800) FANDANGO #143 SORRY, NO PASSES ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT ❋Presented in

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extremely eccentric. When asked if he’s choosing to document and celebrate the eccentricities in others because he himself is so uniquely creative, Kaye initially plays dumb about his own kooky labeling before balking at the title. “I don’t think I am eccentric to be perfectly honest,” he says, his voice inching toward annoyance. “I think I’m a very normal person who came from a very normal home and hated that I was as normal as I am. All my life I’ve tried to be as eccentric as I could be because I’ve always been a fan of people who are eccentric, but I think I am a fake, a fraud and I want to go out there with my camera and gather what I consider to be real eccentrics. I am absolutely NOT an Tony Kaye is looking for a few "Exentrics." eccentric person.” David Brooks, Kaye’s longtime friend anywhere from 20 to 100 members. and the man at Fox responsible for shepherding their project, While the series’ goal ultimately is entertainment, Kaye laughs hysterically when he hears Kaye denied his infamous has high hopes that this group will cultivate a new sound peculiarity. for the next generation. He doesn’t believe in mourning the “His pre-existing notoriety is the show!” Brooks chuckles. “The thing that distinguishes the ‘Exentrics’ is Tony, who is loss of bygone years when record shops and radio ruled the 180 degrees from what the audience would expect. The show music scene. Instead, he believes music has arrived at its most exciting time thanks to the Internet. is just as much about him as it is about the musicians. People are fascinated by the random movement of his brain; it draws “You can look at any era, put yourself in it and say, ‘This is the worst time. What a shame. Where are the good old you in.” Brooks explains that while one camera crew films the days?’ I don’t subscribe to the loss of anything,” Kaye says. aspiring musicians, another is trained on Kaye as he works For more information and to book an audition, visit myspace. with both music industry professionals and a team of com/tkexentrics. psychiatrists to build a group which they believe could swell

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1/8 page (2.3135” x 5.9”) CAMPUS CIRCLE

MOVIEREVIEWS Skin (Jour de Fete) A powerful and poignant drama based on real events, Skin is the true story of a black child born in the ’50s to white parents in apartheid South Africa. Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo) is distinctly black – in appearance at least – despite the fact that both her parents, Sophie Okonedo as Sandra Laing in Skin Abraham (Sam Neill) and Sannie (Alice Krige), are white Afrikaners. Store owners in a remote area of Eastern Transvaal, South Africa, Abraham and Sannie are unaware of their own individual black genetics and have lovingly raised Sandra as their white little girl. Things soon drastically change when she is sent to an all-white boarding school in the neighboring town of Piet Retief. Ridiculed and shunned by her classmates, she’s finally examined by state officials after several complaints pour in from other parents and teachers. After being classified as colored, she is expelled from the school, and the story soon becomes an international scandal as her parents take the case all the way to the Supreme Court to have the classification reversed. The movie follows Sandra’s 30-year journey from rejection to acceptance, betrayal to reconciliation, as she struggles to find a footing in a prejudiced world. Desperate to resemble her parents and brother, Leon (Hannes Brummer), she even attempts to scrub her skin white by using household cleaners when lightening creams fail. With scenes carefully structured to tug at heartstrings, particularly poignant is the test state officials perform to ascertain Sandra’s race. This involves seeing if a pencil delicately placed in her curly hair would fall out with a slight headshake. Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) puts on a breathtaking performance as an older Sandra, while the younger Sandra is beautifully played by Ella Ramangwane. A heartbreaking drama, Skin is one of the most moving stories to emerge from Apartheid-era South Africa and has already won numerous accolades. Grade: A+ —Samantha Ofole Skin releases in select theaters Oct. 30.

Umberto Adaggi

NEWS


Join CAMPUS CIRCLE www.campuscircle.com PAGES Her Fearful Symmetry: A Novel (Scribner) You’re probably looking at the name Niffenegger and wondering why it looks so familiar (And if you’re not, you should be!). What with a movie adaptation of her debut novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife, having been recently released, now seems like the perfect time to drop her second novel, Her Fearful Symmetry. Twins Julia and Valentina Poole live in sleepy suburban Chicago, and apart from being rather overly attached to one another, lead relatively happy lives. That is, until they receive a letter informing them that their mother’s estranged sister, the late Elspeth Noblin, has bequeathed her London flat and a rather large sum of money to them. In the course of their residency in Elspeth’s flat near Highgate Cemetery, the twins learn about themselves and their neighbors, both in and out of the graveyard. Written in the same beautiful, intimate-yet-sassy style as The Time Traveler’s Wife, Niffenegger has once again created a novel that is as affecting as it is beguiling. Rest assured that although it is stylistically similar, Her Fearful Symmetry is a on a completely different track than Niffenegger’s previous work. The novel is set in a darker world, and while some readers may still find the writing a touch melodramatic, this book should be celebrated; it’s a well-crafted story. Grade: A —Melissa Russell Her Fearful Symmetry is currently available.

Juliet, Naked (Riverhead) Rejoice, my friends, Nick Hornby – the author of High Fidelity and About a Boy (among other novels) – has released another clever piece of fiction. In his latest novel, Juliet, Naked, Hornby returns to writing about what he writes best: dysfunctional, musicobsessed lovers. Although I suppose that Duncan and Annie were never really in love. Living in a dreary seaside town in Britain, they exchanged passion for a united front against the greasy gray walls of Gooleness and a love of the mysterious American singer-songwriter Tucker Crowe. But one day, a new Crowe album arrives in the mail and Annie listens to it without Duncan, and to add insult to injury, writes a review disagreeing with his point of view. Over the next few days following the release of Annie’s first review of the album, their 15-year relationship unravels. And then the unthinkable happens: Tucker Crowe contacts Annie. Harkening back to the story of High Fidelity, Juliet, Naked is poignant and funny (both in that dry, British way and the American way that can literally make you lol). In the end, it’s a well-told story of relationships and hope embroiled in music. It’s what your life would look like if you dated a hipster, without feeling all the self-doubt yourself. Grade: A+ —Melissa Russell Juliet, Naked is currently available.

YOU DEMANDED IT! NOW IT’S THE

#1 MOVIE!

“’Paranormal Activity’ is a horror phenomenon.” “It’s freaky and terrifying.” “This movie will haunt you.”

Sherlock Holmes in America (Skyhorse) I always enjoy pastiches. It’s exciting to see different people’s takes on one subject. The thrill is the different directions that subject invariably goes in. This is a collection of Sherlock Holmes adventures, which all share the theme of taking place in the United States. The settings, naturally, run the gamut from the streets of New York to the Texas plains to the wharfs of San Francisco. The authors are just as varied as the settings. Steve Hockensmith has been contributing exciting Western mysteries to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine for years, while Lyndsay Faye’s first book (also a Holmes mystery) only just came out. The stories, as a whole, do a good job of retaining the original flavor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. Grade: A- Sherlock Holmes in America will be available Nov. 1.

“No doubt Hitchcock is smiling.”

—Brendan Newton

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Seth Smoot

FILMINTERVIEWS

(l to r) Jemaine Clement, Jared Hess and Michael Angarano on the set of Gentlemen Broncos

GENTLEMEN BRONCOS

Husband and wife dynamos salute oddball adolescence – again. BY SASHA PERL-RAVER Jared and Jerusha Hess are masters of the awkward. After bursting onto the scene with their idiosyncratic opus Napoleon Dynamite, the young couple co-wrote and co-directed the Jack Black vehicle Nacho Libre before embarking on their latest effort, Gentlemen Broncos. The film stars Michael Angarano, an actor who’s appeared in films such as Lords of Dogtown, Sky High and Snow Angels, but who is most often recognized for playing young William in Almost Famous (who shouts “ELEVEN?!”), as Benjamin, a fatherless, homeschooled, near mute pushover who dreams of writing sci-fi novels like his idol, Dr. Ronald Chevalier (“The Flight of the Conchords”’ Jemaine Clement, who is absolutely brilliant at channeling Michael York in Logan’s Run). After attending a writer’s camp, Benjamin’s world is thrown into turmoil by fellow students who option his book, Yeast Lords, only to turn it into a horrendous, no-budget, VHS massacre of a movie, and his hero, Chevalier, who steals the story and passes it off as his own to keep his career from hitting the skids. For their third outing, Jared and Jerusha maintained a co-

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writing relationship, but this time Jared took sole directing credit, yet the film maintains all the hallmarks of their former work: the perky opening sequence showcasing beloved, if overlooked, inanimate objects (for Dynamite it was lunch room delicacies like tater tots; this time it’s sci-fi cover art), a quirky outsider with big dreams despite limited social skills and financial means and an obsession with home perms and mom jeans. Asked if the new division of labor changed the flow of production, Jared smiles at his wife and offers, “She can predict every single dumb idea I bring to the table.” “I’m so fine with him being the director,” Jerusha shrugs contentedly. “I’m fine with having my stamp on it in the beginning, but he’s such a great director, I know what [the film’s] going to be, and I trust him completely.” “Every film we’ve done, we’ve written together,” Jared continues. “The process gets better as we go along. We spend a lot of time incubating our ideas. Usually we talk through it driving around or doing everyday things. By the time we finally sit down and write we have a pretty good idea of where it’s going. Then we go to the office and write for four or five hours a day.” “When we finally nail a scene, we make out,” Jerusha adds. “I WISH that would happen!” Jared laughs, incredulously. “It totally happens that way! Every time something good is written, he’s like ‘Hey, baby,’” she hoots. Part of their “organic” writing process, as Jared calls it, is mining their own lives for character inspiration. In Gentlemen Broncos not only is Benjamin based largely on Jared, but his mother, Judith (played by Jennifer Coolidge), is a blown-out version of his and Jerusha’s mothers, from the handcrafted popcorn balls to the career in the modesty nightgown industry to the term “chest ends” used in place of nipples. “My mother is mortified we used anything from her,” Jerusha laughs, “but she’s a funny lady!”

“Jennifer [Coolidge] actually went to lunch with my mother to see if there were any nuances she could pick up,” Jared says. “My mom was so nervous to be meeting one of her favorite actresses, she got her hair done and got all dressed up. She did a whole song and dance. When I saw Jennifer afterward, she said, ‘Your mom is nothing like the character in the script. She’s gorgeous and totally normal.’” Their upbringing has always been a huge inspiration for the Hesses. They’ve used friends, family and childhood memories throughout their careers to create worlds all their own. In fact, even the movie’s title comes from a parenting book Jared remembers his mother reading often while he was growing up in a house with five younger brothers. “It was called [something like], So You Want to Raise a Boy? written in the ’50s,” Jared recalls. “There’s a chapter in there where it talks about the age from 16 to 17 and the author referred to it as ‘The Gentleman Bronco Phase of Life’ when teenage boys like to take their shirts off and mow the lawn or something,” he laughs. The film’s general production values and occasionally premeditated lack of production value were also born in the pre-pubescent mind of the director. Several pivotal scenes demand low-rent VHS video quality and others some seriously schlocky special effects. Those were the greatest delights of the filmmakers. “Jared was behind the camera, living out his little fantasies,” Jerusha ribs. “The camera system I know best is VHS,” Jared counters. “I probably made more movies on that than I’ll ever make on film.” Whether it was the script or the special effects, Jared declares the film’s battle cry was three simple words: “Embrace the cheese!” he beams. Gentlemen Broncos releases in select theaters Oct. 30.


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in theaters november 6


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SELECT QUOTES FROM MY FAVORITE FILMMAKERS

SPECIAL FEATURES

BY ZACH HINES Today is a special day. Instead of going on another hypocritical, self-righteous, inarticulate, ignorant rant about films and filmmaking, I’m going to do something special. I’m going to give you some selected quotes from some of my favorite filmmakers. I’m not going to comment on the quotes because I think they will speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Woody Allen – “Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.” – “In California, they don’t throw their garbage away – they make it into TV shows.” – “I am not afraid of death, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” – “If my films don’t show a profit, I know I’m doing something right.” – “If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.”

Francis Ford Coppola – “I don’t think there’s any artist of any value who doesn’t doubt what they’re doing.” – “I was the kind of kid that had some talents or ability, but it never came out in school.” – “The stuff that I got in trouble for, the casting for The Godfather or the flag scene in Patton, was the stuff that was remembered, and was considered the good work.” – “Usually, the stuff that’s your best idea or work is going to be attacked the most.” – “You have to really be courageous about your instincts and your ideas. Otherwise you’ll just knuckle under, and things that might have been memorable will be lost.”

Alfred Hitchcock – “A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it.” – “Always make the audience suffer as much as possible.” – “I’m not against the police; I’m just afraid of them.” – “Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it, as well as contributing to the need for it.” – “When an actor comes to me and wants to discuss his character, I say, ‘It’s in the script.’ If he says, ‘But what’s my motivation?,’ I say, ‘Your salary.’”

Stanley Kubrick – “Any time you take a chance you better be sure the rewards are worth the risk because they can put you away just as fast for a 10 dollar heist as they can for a million dollar job.” – “I never learned anything at all in school and didn’t read a book for pleasure until I was 19 years old.” – “It’s crazy how you can get yourself in a mess sometimes and not even be able to think about it with any sense and yet not be able to think about anything else.” – “The great nations have always acted like gangsters, and the small nations like prostitutes.” – “There are few things more fundamentally encouraging and stimulating than seeing someone else die.”

Martin Scorsese – “I think there’s only one or two films where I’ve had all the financial support I needed. All the rest, I wish I’d had the money to shoot another 10 days.” – “It seems to me that any sensible person must see that violence does not change the world and if it does, then only temporarily.” – “More personal films, you could make them, but your budgets would be cut down.” – “Now more than ever we need to talk to each other, to listen to each other and understand how we see the world, and cinema is the best medium for doing this.” – “There’s no such thing as simple. Simple is hard.”

Quentin Tarantino – “I couldn’t spell anything. I couldn’t remember anything, but I could go to a movie and I knew who starred in it, who directed it, everything.” – “I don’t believe in elitism. I don’t think the audience is this dumb person lower than me. I am the audience.” – “I like it when somebody tells me a story, and I actually really feel that that’s becoming like a lost art in American cinema.” – “I was kind of excited about going to jail the first time and I learnt some great dialogue.” – “Movies are not about the weekend that they’re released, and in the grand scheme of things, that’s probably the most unimportant time of a film’s life.”

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BY MIKE SEBASTIAN The

Horror! The Horror! Need some recommendations for your Halloween film festival? Burnt Offerings: Oliver Reed, Karen Black and Bette Davis star in this ’70s ghost story, about a house that exerts its evil force over a family. A case could be made for its influence on the more famous The Shining, predating King’s novel by several years. But it stands on its own merits, with some genuinely disturbing scenes. Evil Dead II/Bubba Ho-Tep: Have a Bruce Campbell double feature with these two horror-comedies. Evil Dead II, the godfather of gore-comedy, is pure cinematic enjoyment, with as much energy behind the camera in Sam Raimi’s visceral style, as in front, with Campbell’s slapstick chops. Bubba was tailor made for cult status, with Campbell starring as a retirement home Elvis impersonator battling a demon. Stranger Than Fiction: Join such luminaries of horror as John Carpenter, Neil Gaiman and Guillermo del Toro in exploring the life of the 20th century’s answer to Edgar Allan Poe in Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown. H.P. Lovecraft’s influence is felt from Stephen King to Jorge Luis Borges, from the songs of Metallica to the Alien franchise. This feature-length doc examines the New England writer’s life and the legacy of cosmic horror. The Vault: Seven films from legendary maverick filmmaker Sam Fuller make their DVD debuts in The Collector’s Choice: The Samuel Fuller Collection. They include: Fuller’s film noir directorial debut The Crimson Kimono, the ripped-from-the-headlines Underworld U.S.A. and five early films written by Fuller: It Happened in Hollywood, Adventure in Sahara, The Power of the Press, Shockproof (directed by Douglas Sirk) and Scandal Sheet. Included in the collection are conversations with Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Curtis Hanson and Tim Robbins. Foreign Fare: Il Divo is Cannes’ Jury Prize-winning film of political corruption in Italy, focusing on real-life demigod and seven-time Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti. Toni Servillo (Gomorrah) gives a powerhouse performance in this tale of violence and decades-long corruption traveling from the Vatican to the Mafia. It’s a stylish and vibrant film. Death in the Garden is an atypical adventure story from the Mexico Period of surrealist director Luis Buñuel. It takes place in a small South American village where a group of miners rebel against the fascist police force. A ragtag group made up of a prostitute, an adventurer and a priest must fend for itself in the jungle. International star Simone Signoret leads the strong ensemble cast.

The Idiotbox: “Tales from the Darkside” is a horror anthology show in the tradition of “The Twilight Zone” and “Night Gallery.” George Romero created the show, which premiered in 1983. Stephen King and Steven Spielberg are among the rotating talent behind the camera. The Second Season is now available. Monty Python: The Other British Invasion contains two documentaries previously only available in the Flying Circus Megaset. The first, Before the Flying Circus, traces the Pythons’ influences, incorporating early home movies and university-era cast recordings. The second, Monty Python Conquers America, details the troop’s lasting impact on the comedy world, with commentary from Hank Azaria, Judd Apatow, Trey Parker and Matt Stone and more. Also available: Expedition: Africa Made in Japan: In Tokyo Majin: the Complete Series Box Set, dark otherworldly evils are rising in the streets of Tokyo. Only a group of high schoolers endowed with mystical powers can save the world from the undead! Also available: Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid - The Complete Series Blu Notes: In time for the miniseries remake, The Complete Series of the original ’60s cult classic “The Prisoner” comes to Blu-ray. Patrick McGoohan, king of ’60s British spy TV, starred in and created the series about a secret agent who, following his resignation, is taken prisoner in a creepily idyllic village where everyone is a number. The iconographic series is full of great ’60s touches. The Blu-ray collection comes loaded with extras including a feature length documentary. Also Available: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins


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Writer/director Troy Duffy on the set of The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

THE BOONDOCK SAINTS II: ALL SAINTS DAY

Troy Duffy is Back: Bigger, Badder, Better BY MELISSA RUSSELL OK, so let’s list the Top Five mafia movies of all time (and for the sake of argument, let’s lump the good parts of The Godfather trilogy into one movie). In no particular order, mine would have to be The Godfather, Casino, Goodfellas, The Departed and 1999’s The Boondock Saints. Sure, this last one was only sort of about the mafia (and mostly the Russian one at that), but it was still a spectacular piece of dark, actionpacked violence with just a hint of sort-ofinappropriate, but totally necessary humor mixed in for good taste. If you missed the film in theaters, there’s good reason. Because of a series of massive, convoluted issues related to the film’s financing and casting, the original The Boondock Saints was only released in two cities and played for seven days. Born out of director/writer Troy Duffy’s firsthand experience with the consequences of poverty and crime, the film’s then-shocking portrayal of violence (What? Hostel and Saw weren’t made yet!) drew comparisons to Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and whisperings

from those who took a chance in the theater ensured that when it finally made it to home video, The Boondock Saints had become an underground hit. And now, to my and many fans of this cult phenomenon’s delight, Duffy has finally (Finally!) managed to secure a major theatrical release for the film’s sequel, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. But it certainly wasn’t easy. Plans for All Saints Day had been in the works since 2002, but considering the problems Duffy ran into with the first movie, perhaps a quick and painless road to a sequel was just too much to ask for. Once again, although Duffy had most of the original cast interested and attached from the beginning, financial and legal difficulties made actual filming impossible. “I’m not the type of person to fold with the wash,” says Duffy. “I’ve been going out there for the past 10 years just making more and more fans. The film became a virtual financial juggernaut, so I knew we were going to make it, it was just a matter of time.” And in a lot of ways, it was really the

fans that made the film. Much like the fabled “Arrested Development” movie, the rollercoaster of news of the film’s production was updated frequently and watched religiously by hardcore fans. In fact, Duffy says, “They’re the reason this film got made. I mean, there’s a pretty simple equation in Hollywood, something that makes money, they want to do that. And financially speaking, Boondock Saints was made very successful by the fans. They kept buying it and spreading the word and it got to the point where it would be financially irresponsible for the powers that be not to make this film.” Luckily for all involved, when the film made it into production, most of its original cast was still interested and available for last October’s two-month shoot. In All Saints Day, the MacManus men (Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus and Billy Connolly) are hiding out in Ireland, but are called back to Boston when a hitman kills an Irish Catholic priest using the Saints’ signature style. The MacManus brothers return to the city and team up with the passionate, scrappy Romeo (Clifton Collins Jr.), who has ties to the Latino mob, to clear their reputation and take out whoever dared to sully it in the first place. Along the way, they must try to dodge FBI Special Agent Eunice Bloom (Julie Benz of “Dexter” fame) and try to stay one step ahead of the ghost from their father’s past. The Boston detectives that pursued the brothers in the first film also return to reprise their roles, as does David Della Rocco. “It was just a phone call,” says Duffy of reuniting the cast. “People ask me how I got them back, but the truth was they never really left.” Because so much of the cast was original members, the set was very relaxed. “It was like riding a bike. It was like not a

day passed, almost,” says Duffy. This relationship between the cast really came out on screen, too. Instead of the dark, brooding tone of the first film, All Saints Day is almost lighthearted, with much bolder, brasher, more frequent humor. “I feel like I’ve got a million pounds off my shoulders,” says Duffy after having been to a few of the film’s advanced screenings. “I’ve seen the fans’ responses and they have been everything I’ve hoped for and more.” And that’s not all that’s returning in All Saints Day. Part of what made the first film great was the fight scenes, and Duffy has undoubtedly surpassed its legacy in spectacle. All Saints Day displays an amazing array of tight gun fighting and seamless cinematography to craft scenes that are exciting in a very visceral way. “I took everything that Boondocks was and tried to push the bounds and push it that one step further,” says Duffy. “You know, bigger gun fights, bigger stunts, more humor. More of everything we liked from the first movie. We took every aspect and pushed it further. So all the stunt work and the gun work and the body count and the guns … I mean, everything’s just bigger, badder, better.” If you haven’t seen the first film, you probably should, just for the sheer enjoyment of it. But Duffy says, “ I cut it together to sort of protect the newbies, you didn’t necessarily have to see [the first one] to understand Boondock II. We found that we were successful in that.” So rest assured, loyal fans and curious newbies, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is sure to take you for a wild ride. The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day releases in select theaters Oct. 30.

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Catch a White Rabbits performance at the El Rey Nov. 2.

WHITE RABBITS Oh, What a Frightening World BY ANNA WEBBER Brooklyn based six-piece rock ’n’ roll band White Rabbits have hit the road on their fall tour with the Brooklyn duo Glass Ghost. White Rabbits are making waves with their latest full-length, It’s Frightening, produced by Britt Daniel of Spoon and featuring their big hit, “Percussion Gun.” Although they’re on many indie music blogs and most often categorized as indie rock music, singer Stephen Patterson does not think the classification is appropriate for them. “I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as indie rock, as we often get classified. I’m not really a huge fan of indie rock. We’re not trying to go for a jangly guitar pop thing. I don’t ever try to sing like a typical indie rock singer. I think we are just naturally inclined to a lot of drums and a heavy written aspect to our songs,” he says. The music, especially It’s Frightening, is extremely layered and propelled by an incredibly percussive rhythm section, texture-rich piano and vocal harmony. It is frightening. The 10-track, 35-minute album starts off with the catchiest machine gun-like attack duet of tribal drumming, leading into increasingly dynamic vocals, but extremely refined. The inception of guitars in the song is always bone chilling. The rest of the record is most definitely cohesive. The influence of Spoon and Radiohead is felt on the record, though probably not contrived or intended, but simply by osmosis and proximity. “There definitely seems to be a cohesive sort of vibe and arc to it that we consciously work towards – and a general sound arrangement – instrumentation wise,” says Patterson. “We demoed a lot of these songs before we went to the studio on this record, which we didn’t do last time. We were able to write, and record as we were writing. Record an idea in one take, and play it back. That made real good listeners out of us, as it came right out of the speakers.” Their previous album, Fort Nightly, went fairly unnoticed in the mainstream – as did the band as a whole – until they toured with the Walkmen, got picked up by TBD Records and made a national appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman” just before It’s Frightening’s release in May 2009. With roots in ska, punk, R&B and jazz, each of the group’s six members brings something very unique and intricate to the table. “All of us were in crappy punk bands at one point or another. That’s pretty much where we all have common ground,” shares Patterson. Just when you thought every song had been written, there are endless possibilities with these guys. When you put different people like Stephen Patterson, Gregory Roberts, Alex Even, Brian Betancourt, Matt Clark and Jamie Levinson together, all coming with different musical backgrounds and ranging tastes, anything can happen, really. The band essentially launched at Austin’s South By Southwest music conference in 2007 with their discovery by Phil Costello of TBD Records (Radiohead, Other Lives, Hatcham Social, Local Natives). According to Patterson, Phil was checking out Bat for Lashes at a bar in Austin during SXSW. “We played either before or after her set, and Phil really just stumbled on us. We had a lot of sort-of coincidental connections. We got to talking and kind of bonded over St. Louis and people we both knew,” he says. The rest is history. On the band’s name, we no longer have to wonder. No one is the hookah-smoking caterpillar, it’s not for their love of Jefferson Airplane and it is not for their exceptional babymaking skills. The name White Rabbits, essentially, means nothing according to Patterson. “It’s not really a reference to anything. It’s not a Jefferson Airplane reference, or an Alice in Wonderland reference. It basically just sounded good at the time and wasn’t taken. All band names are pretty silly.” It’s Frightening is currently available. White Rabbits will perform Nov. 2 at the El Rey. For more information, visit whiterabbitsmusic.com.

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Finding the Balance

BY JONATHAN BAUTTS

(l to r) Joe Lester, Christopher Guanlao, Nikki Monninger and Brian Aubert of Silversun Pickups

Silversun Pickups grew up in East Los Angeles and started doing the DIY club scene there in 2003. Six years of hard work later and the band has become one of the hottest in the country. “We started going to shows and a lot of our friends had bands. It became this universe where playing music was actually tangible. It took the myth away,” lead singer and guitarist Brian Aubert recalls. “It gave us confidence to really start playing music.” Looking back on it now, he credits the experience for helping mold the band into what it is today and is nothing but grateful to have a job playing music. “I think the moment we thought our band was successful was the time where we didn’t have to put any money into it,” Aubert says. “We weren’t making any money from it, but it didn’t cost us anything to do. We were so happy.” The band, which also consists of bassist Nikki Monninger, drummer Christopher Guanlao and keyboardist Joe Lester, saw its debut album, Carnavas, sell more than 350,000 copies and “Lazy Eye” end up a rock radio hit. Little did the group know this was only the beginning. “Once we started writing the new one, we sort of left all that behind and forgot about that a little bit,” Aubert says. “Clearly, we knew there were going to be more people listening to this one than maybe when the first one came out, but we had no idea it was going to grow further.” KROQ started playing “Panic Switch” literally the second after the record was mixed, and the single soon reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Chart. Silversun Pickups were just

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the third independently released band to capture that honor, joining the Offspring and Everlast. “That was a pretty big shock,” Aubert admits. “The response that it’s gotten and everything that’s happened, it is a massive shock. We feel really lucky and humbled.” As it turns out, “Panic Switch” almost didn’t make the record. It was one of the last songs Aubert wrote, at a time when the band members were emotionally drained from recording their second album, Swoon. “It was just something that represented some sort of nervous breakdown to me,” he explains. “I thought that if I’m getting that from it right now, then I think there should be something on the record that probably shoots that point more than any of the other songs do, so I started writing ‘Panic Switch.’” “It’s funny because near the ending of your run with the record you’re writing, just before you have no more metaphors left and before you’re really cast out, there’s this little moment where you really pay attention to what you’re thinking,” Aubert continues. “The latter stuff you’ve put into the album is probably the most critical to it because you’re so ingrained in it now.” As he did with “Panic Switch,” Aubert pulls directly from his own life, although he admits he’s a little too timid to write in a directly fundamental way. “It’s not so specific from my life that I’m the only person who can go through it,” he explains. “It’s something that everybody generally goes through, but to describe the meaning I use really minute details of my life which you’d only be able to know if I told you.”

“Because of using small details to color a song, sometimes people will think, like, ‘Oh, man. That sounds like drugs or something.’ It’s like, ‘No. There’s no drugs in there. It’s just shit that happens,’” he laughs. In fact, writing Swoon turned out to be a critical process Aubert needed. “It’s definitely a snapshot of my life from February to October of 2008. I really feel all those things, but I’m not in that same place,” Aubert says. “There’s a lot of different things going on, a lot of insane self-reflection that was pretty awful and amazing overall. It was very therapeutic and cathartic.” Now that Swoon has been out six months, the band is touring nonstop with plans to continue until the end of 2010. Silversun Pickups started as a live band years before they started recording and find that setting is where they thrive the most, even with all the ups and downs. “Playing music is an interesting experience because just when you’ve probably had a little too much of it, just when it’s run its course, the whole thing changes and you’re now quiet and getting creative by making an album. It’s a whole different universe, and you get really involved in that,” Aubert says. “Then just when you begin to want to tear your head off, it flips around again and you’re out on tour playing shows. I think that yin/yang of those two things really balances out the psyche.” Swoon is currently available. Silversun Pickups will perform Nov. 3 at Gibson Amphitheatre. For more information, visit silversunpickups.com.



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FREQUENCY

MUSICREPORT

BY BRIEN OVERLY

BY KEVIN WIERZBICKI

New Found Glory battles zombie vixens in their new video.

Zombies Attack New Found Glory New Found Glory raises the dead, literally, in their new video for “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down.” The video starts out with a couple arguing about whether Twilight is a chickflick or a vampire movie, but the pair soon finds themselves sucked right into their own movie as they join the members of New Found Glory in battling a group of flesh-starved zombie vixens. The video can be seen on the band’s MySpace page, and while you’re there, you can get details on the upcoming release of “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down” as a limited edition colored vinyl 7-inch single. NFG will be playing zombie-free shows at the Bren Events Center in Irvine Nov. 14 and at the Palladium Nov. 15.

Bouncing Souls/Bayside

Dead Man’s Bones

Oct. 28 @ The Glass House Oct. 30, 31 @ The El Rey I’ll start by saying that Bouncing Souls are one of the great iconic bands of modern punk. They’ve been playing music together almost as long as I’ve been alive. Yes, I’m aware of how much I’ve dated both them and myself by saying that. Hopefully they can forgive me. Jersey punks are not on the list of people I’m willing to piss off in writing. Regardless, they’ve been penning fun, upbeat punk since the ’80s, so they know how to do it right and how to give an audience what they’ve paid for when they play. More than that, though, Bayside by themselves are worth the price of admission. You’ll be hard pressed to find another band in their scene that is as committed to writing good songs and having integrity while doing so as they are. And they’ll actually give you a good show while you’re at it, with their unique brand of melodic and emotive, but still rough and gritty punk. Buy them a beer or something while you’re there, too, they’re great dudes.

What kinds of music do Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields – a.k.a. Dead Man’s Bones – play? The duo describes their repertoire thusly: “The sound is a strange and delightful mix of otherworldly doo-wop songs about werewolves, haunting melodies telling tales of zombies with broken hearts and children singing the joys and pains of being alive or being dead.” ANTI- has just released the self-titled debut from the macabre cabaret act, and Gosling and Shields are looking for a ghoulish choir to help them out during their local concert appearance. If you’d like to have a chance to share the stage with Dead Man’s Bones, then show up for the talent show that’ll precede the concert when the duo performs at the Regent Oct. 30.

Andrew McMahon Oct. 29 @ The Troubadour I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Andrew McMahon will singlehandedly restore your faith in humanity and existence. I’m pretty sure every time he strikes a piano key, he cures someone of cancer. There was a study done on it a while back or something. Whatever your issue is, McMahon will fix what ails you when you put him behind a microphone and a keyboard.

The Shys/Aushua/The Color Turning/Yellow Red Sparks Oct. 29 @ House of Blues Anaheim There are so many talented but underrated musicians on the bill for this show. Reviving everything that was awesome and epic about classic rock, headlining act the Shys promise to bring the fun, anthemic kind of rock that begs to be sung along to. More of the indie variety, Aushua brings a multitude of ways to turn four instruments into some very big sounding garage rock. More of the atmospheric variety, the Color Turning will get your thoughts and your emotions moving while still being the perfect music to get your feet moving to. And lastly, more of the folky-acoustic variety, Yellow Red Sparks, might turn you into a sobbing mess using only six strings, but they’ll provide ample reason to get to the show early enough to see them play. And just think, if you see all these bands together, you don’t have to hear me piss and moan on multiple occasions about how underrated they are individually.

Black Gold Nov. 1 @ The Troubadour Apparently, the atmospheric electronic rock duo of Black Gold had one of their songs featured on an episode of “One Tree Hill” or one of the million other interchangeable teen dramas where the kids face mortal peril with sexy results on a weekly basis. Whatever. Point being, regardless of where else you might have heard the masterful mood-creating Brooklynites, they’re much better at what they do than the actors whose “acting” they’ve been the soundtrack to.

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Marty Watson

Oct. 28 @ The Troubadour Being a journalist (well, by which I mean “a guy who likes to call himself a journalist depending on how elitist he feels like being on any given day”), I’m a guy who is big on words. Syntax, semantics and pragmatics are all things I totally geek out on when analyzing music for its lyrical content. I also say this in the hopes that no actual linguists read my column and decide to call me out for bastardizing the English language with my casual usage of Pelican prove great music doesn’t always need vocals blog-speak. Now knowing this, to be complete. why the hell would I highlight a band that doesn’t use any words in any of its songs? Because even without the utterance of a single word in their music, the Chicago-bred four-piece is proof that skilled musicianship doesn’t always need vocal constructs to be complete. As powerful and emotive as any of their contemporaries with the traditional singer-fronted-band setup, if not more so, Pelican give a full aural experience with their live show.

Matt Grayson

Pelican

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String Cheese Incident: Trick or Treat String Cheese Incident are known to perform special concerts comprised heavily of cover tunes each Halloween, and now fans can hear the best cuts from these shows via a mammoth nine-disc deluxe box set. Trick or Treat contains seven full sets from shows recorded all over the country going back to 1998 and includes cover versions of songs by the Beastie Boys (“No Sleep Till Brooklyn”), KC & the Sunshine Band (“Get Down Tonight”) and Phish (“The Wedge”). The big box set also contains special commemorative mini-posters, a photo booklet and other surprises. If you don’t want to pop for the box set, a pared-down two-disc set is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download.

Win Powerman 5000’s Robot Mask Powerman 5000 have teamed with harddriveradio.com to give away a robot mask that was used in the making of the video for “Super Villain,” the first single off PM5K’s just-released album, Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere. “We made this record with a clear vision and a purpose,” says Spider, the band’s frontman. “We wanted to reclaim a sound we created and represent certain influences only a band like Powerman 5000 can. While writing we would watch Godzilla or Ultraman films to ensure the sonics were on point. We knew that this record needed to sound like the footsteps of a giant robot!” The video was directed by Robert Hall (Fear Clinic) with help from award-winning cinematographer Brandon Trost (Halloween II) and stars actor Johnathon Schaech as the “super villain.” Details on how to enter the contest can be found at harddriveradio.com, and the winner of the mask will be announced Nov. 20.

Meredith Meyer: It’s Spooky to Be Young Meredith Meyer is from Los Angeles, but her new album, It’s Spooky to Be Young, was recorded in Chicago in a place that many might see as scary – a studio located in the industrial part of town in an old spice factory situated on a drawbridge over the Chicago River. But Meyer says the setting was not the inspiration for the album title. “The building was possibly haunted, but the title of the album was based upon the song, which was written long before. The album covers a lot of ground from personal experience but the whole thing together is really about finding innocence and magic despite weird times.” Meyer is currently also at work co-writing songs for a movie musical.


See 5 dinosaurs + Join Us On Twitter @KDTheatre Nickodemus & Mariano compile a set of homegrown tunes from the last decade that that gives the

listener a feel for the diverse and upbeat nature of Turntables on the Hudson and their legendary parties!

AVAILABLE NOW IN FINE RECORD SHOPS & www.eslmusic.com/shop

{ Campus Circle 10.28.09 - 11.03.09

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CDREVIEWS

LIVESHOWREVIEWS

Ben Frost

Chaca Chaca

By the Throat (Bedroom Community Label) From the moment I hit play, I half expected to see a lion-flanked Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre behind me, revving his chainsaw and anticipating my every move as his lion friends snarled at me. Icelandic-based Aussie Frost is widely recognized for his experimental music, and I must say it’s unlike anything I’ve heard. Call me sheltered or uncultured, but it’s amazing, the kind of talent people possess. Frost’s 2007 release, Theory of Machines, was hailed as “simply awesome – this is Arvo Pärt as arranged by Trent Reznor” by Wire Magazine. Fast-forward three years, and Frost returns with his second full-length, By the Throat. It isn’t the typical catchy music that’s continuously being repeated on radio stations today. Frost has his own interpretation of music that includes snarls and groans from wolves and lions, the unmistakable clicks of killer whales on the hunt and a human gasping for breath. His music is very experimental, to say the least, and I constantly became surprised on how his sounds played into every human emotion. If his goal was to leave the listener feeling simultaneously euphoric, relaxed and scared – mission accomplished. Grade: B+ —Melissa Evalle By the Throat is currently available.

Toby Keith American Ride (Show Dog Nashville) I know we don’t seem to have a lot of country music coverage in the newspaper, but please, rockaholics, bear with me here. Because you know what? Toby Keith’s new album, American Ride, is filled with driving vocals and enough electric guitar to keep you rocking. Of course, country fans shouldn’t worry, it’s still got that signature country twang, but Keith’s lyrics take a departure from typical country fare. Sure it talks about other guys dancing with your woman, but many of the songs – like “If You’re Tryin’, You Ain’t” – also examine the pressures of everyday life that can lead to (but not excuse) our vices. Undoubtedly, though, the most touching song is “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song),” dedicated to jazz musician Wayman Tisdale, Keith’s friend who died on May 15 of this year. Songs like this and “Tender As I Wanna Be” reveal an emotional evolution that, while sometimes kind of a downer, succeed in showing a vulnerability that Keith has never before brought out in his work. Grade: A- —Melissa Russell American Ride is currently available.

Mayday Parade Anywhere But Here (Fearless) One of the bands most of us know from the Vans Warped Tour has come out with a brand new album that, for the first time in a long time, really understands how human beings feel when dealing with finding love and not being able to make it through another day. With powerful messages like “Save your heart for someone who is worth dying for,” Mayday Parade have created a utopia where everyone knows they are not alone. Like most other people, we choose music that defines us, and every message portrayed in their music is like looking into a person’s soul. Their music throughout the years has changed rapidly, and through everything, they manage to improve and remind us that love exists for everyone. Pain is something we all have to face, but in the long run, we’ve got each other and we have Mayday Parade’s music to remind us of that. Grade: A- —Jessica Goodman Anywhere But Here is currently available.

Persia White Mecca Fans of the long-running CW comedy “Girlfriends” can rejoice! Persia White – otherwise known as the flaky but lovable Lynn Searcy – has finally dropped her debut album, Mecca, on adoring ears. These 12 tracks are a moody and breathy look into an old soul. Each is beautifully produced and showcases an artist who is seductive and has a lot of angst. White’s release is the next generation of acts like LAMB and Tricky (who guest starred on “Girlfriends” and collaborated on Mecca) but with a deconstructed approach. Songs such as “3 a.m.” and “Receive” (featuring poet extraordinaire Saul Williams) are crazy cool and just the kind of thing to kick off any beach bonfire or steamy make-out session. But what is most exciting about this effort is that it’s the promise of great things to come from an inventive artist who has a lot to say and has found a sophisticated and chic way to say it. Grade: A —Ebony March Mecca is currently available.

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Oct. 15 @ The Conga Room As a means to celebrate Latin alternative music, four bands performed at this Chaca Chaca event: Palenke Soultribe, Maleco Collective, Los Hollywood and Minimal. Los Hollywood was up first and presented an electrifying show. The vocals of lead singer Heidy were phenomenal. Minimal, based out of Miami, and Maleco Collective followed, both offering a unique vibe of alternative music. Led by Malverde on vocals, Maleco Collective pleased the crowd. Palenke Soultribe was the last to be on stage. Their diverse style, from European Chester Bennington of Dead By Sunrise beats and Colombian sounds, made the night complete – especially when Mr. Vallenato appeared suddenly to play the accordion and collaborate on “Corazon Bonito.” Chaca Chaca was a true success, for the bands and especially for those who attended and got to witness every performance. —Marvin G. Vasquez

Monsters of Folk Oct. 18 @ The Greek Theatre Forget Velvet Revolver, Audioslave and maybe even Them Crooked Vultures. Monsters of Folk is a true supergroup for the ages, one that would be allowed to be said in the same breath as Crosby, Stills and Nash and Traveling Wilburys. Comprised of Bright Eyes’ multi-instrumentalist/producer Mike Mogis and singersongwriter Conor Oberst, My Morning Jacket vocalist/guitarist Jim James and singersongwriter/guitarist/pianist extraordinaire M. Ward, Monsters of Folk – accompanied by Centro-matic’s Will Johnson on drums – captivated the crowd for a whopping three hours straight. No opener, no intermission, just the five musicians (all donning suits and ties) taking turns on the various instruments arranged throughout the stage and a plethora of songs. And oh, what a collection of songs it was. At one point James commented on the range of music being played: “Folk music shows can be confusing because sometimes it’s loud, and sometimes it’s quiet.” Besides the gems from their self-titled debut (“Say Please,” “Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.),” “Slow Down Jo”), tunes from each of their solo catalogs were performed. Ward captivated with his stunning guitar work on “One Hundred Million Years,” “Chinese Translation” and “Outta My Head.” James’ vocals soared on “Golden” and the beautiful “Look At You.” Throughout the night, Mogis shined on the pedal steel and mandolin. And Oberst’s signature frenetic vocals on “At the Bottom of Everything” and “We Are Nowhere and It’s Now” made the evening complete. Although each member was a powerhouse musician alone, the strongest moments were when all the members collaborated together on stage – whether on songs from Monsters of Folk or from their other individual albums. As much as I love My Morning Jacket, Bright Eyes and M. Ward, I cannot wait for another Monsters of Folk album and tour. —Yuri Shimoda

Dead By Sunrise Oct. 19 @ The Roxy Merging known acts is always an interesting feat. This time, we take two parts Orgy and mix with one part Linkin Park. The result is a stripped-down version of the rap rock genre that gives way to the thrash-based riffs that were long covered by synthesizer in Orgy. With three great musicians helming this new project, Dead By Sunrise offers music fans a very polished, fast-paced and more honest version of Chester Bennington’s vocal ability. Here, we actually get to listen to singing (and some yelling), but in a more hard rock timbre than the white boy rap that was found in Linkin Park songs. The live show is energetic, and Bennington is all about his fans, yelling at one point: “I want everyone’s e-mail address that’s here tonight so you can get in free to the next show. This is what it’s all about.” Guitarist and songwriter Amir Derakh then leaned into the crowd to be greeted by grabbing hands trying to get a piece of their favorite rock star. Despite the band’s ability to play a great live set, it’s the songs that leave some wanting more. The Linkin Park sound is very hard to get out of your head, and the songs come off as more of the same kind of thing heard on the radio. The big difference with this band is that you have a very solid live show that can’t be replicated by other bands with the same style. With this being the jumping off point for Dead by Sunrise, it’s going to be their next few albums that show the true potential of this act. As long as Linkin Park doesn’t get in the way and push this band to the side, we could have a new band that will keep overproduced rock ’n’ roll at bay. —David Tobin

David Tobin

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DOUGLAS PLUS Join Us On Twitter @KDTheatre THEBASSLINE BY KEHINDE “DOXX” CUNNINGHAM

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 28

Rakim

El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles; theelrey.com All Ages/8 p.m./$22-$25/ Rakim moves the crowd. The God MC Rakim Allah will be blessing Los Angeles with jewels and gems on stage at the El Rey. Rakim is in town supporting The Seventh Seal, the first album on his own label, Ra Records, which allows him the creative control that he has sought since his first recordings. This is an opportunity to see one of the greatest MCs in hip-hop history and a pioneer to the culture. Get educated and witness an artist many people call the best ever.

SATURDAY, OCT. 31

Grand Star, 943 Sun Mun Way, Los Angeles; RSVP to flyballers@yahoo.com 21+/9 p.m.-2:30 a.m./$5, ladies free before 11p.m., free admission with a costume Music junkies and dance addicts rejoice at this monthly party occurring every fourth Saturday (except this month). Pulling out all the stops for Halloween night, the downstairs stage will feature the live band Beautiful Calimari that will jam out all night long as the resident DJs keep the beat going on the upper level. Kogi BBQ will provide food for the event.

The Fly Ball Presents Beats & Treats

Send events for consideration to spincycle@ campuscircle.net.

BodyRock LA Vine Bar, 1235 N. Vine St., Hollywood 21+/9 p.m.-2 a.m./FREE A new party is starting in Hollywood dubbed BodyRock LA. Held at Vine Bar, DJ MikeCheck and Estereo will be spinning hip-hop, jazz, funk and soul that will be the catalyst for the weekend. To quote the Geto Boys, “This year Halloween fell on the weekend.”

Working between records & tours as lead guitarist/backing singer and co-songwriter with the legendary New York Dolls, Conte has produced his band’s debut album. Sonically, The Crazy Truth lies somewhere between garage rock and punky blues with hints of Latin-soul.

VARESE SARABANDE

FRIDAY, OCT. 30

1298CD STEVE CONTE & THE CRAZY TRUTH

6400 SUNSET BlVD. at cahuenga • (323) 245-6400 Mon-sat 10:30aM-11pM • sun 11aM-9pM • www.aMoeba.coM BUY-SEll-TRADE: CDs, lPs, DVDs, BlU-RAY, VHS, ViDEO gAmES, TAPES, POSTERS, 45s, 78s, mEmORABiliA & mUCH, mUCH mORE!

L.A.UNDERGROUND

SINK TO SEE BY DAVID TOBIN It’s the simplicity in music that makes it the most effective. When you’re dealing with rock, it needs to be raw and unfiltered. It needs to have some passion and (l to r) Tariq Mills, Dony West, Jason Napier and a hook. When you start to add more to the Shawn Bathe of Sink to See equation, it strays away from its roots and no longer can be classified as just rock and roll. Sink to See has done this once again. Their first album had the makings of something special, but it wasn’t until their latest, 2012, that the band came together to bring something solid to the music world. Dony West, lead guitarist, had similar feelings about the new release: “We grew in the process of this record. 2012 is about the end of the world, and we took home that feeling and put it into music. This album is more introspective. We thought about the lyrics a lot more.” The new songs offer insight to daily life and mimic the band’s own will to get through to the masses on their own terms. Focusing on their online presence and ways to actually interact with their fans is a big part of what has garnered the growing buzz around this act. Bassist Shawn Bathe put the online campaign into focus: “You reach listeners on a first person basis now, that’s very valuable. We exist virtually 24/7 when, in actuality, we are only interacting ‘live’ a small portion of time.” West adds, “Online presence is the face of your band these days, you don’t have to tour Russia to reach your fans.” Not only is this band using the Internet in more ways than conventionally thought, they are also being heard in commercials for Nissan and TV shows on networks like Bravo.

David Tobin

Straightforward Rock ’n’ Roll

2012 is currently available. For more information, visit sinktosee.com.

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Part 2: Terror at the Movies BY JONATHAN KNELL

As Scream and other self-aware modern horror films have mentioned, there are rules to surviving a horror film. For gamers, there are also rules on surviving video games based on films. The top of this list is that the better the movie is, the more soul-crushingly horrible the game will be. Granted, there are reasons for this. Most often, the game developers hope that familiar characters and voice acting will be enough to cover the license, allowing them to just haphazardly force elements from the movie onto a half-developed game. Thus, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory becomes an uninspired platformer where you jump and throw gumballs. Fortunately, some game companies actually attempt to capture the soul of the film and use that as their starting point. This October saw the release of two movie franchise-inspired games that did just that, but they both shared two major flaws. The first of which is that they went a bit far with the experience, and the second is that they don’t seem to have had any advertising. Considering the nonstop flood of Saw VI commercials, it is amazing that the “Saw” video game was released with nary a blood curdling scream. This is strange considering that the game was obviously made by people who genuinely loved and got the gory holiday tradition. The game picks up after the first movie with the player taking control of Detective David Tapp. Jigsaw has given the detective the challenge to hunt him down on Jigsaw’s terms, meaning that you will get to experience a wide variety of familiar death traps in pursuit of the psycho. “Saw” does a great job of turning these fatal games into virtual life-or-death struggles, but sometimes it struggles to explain why things are going on. The idea that Jigsaw has sealed a key to the other asylum inmates’ freedom inside of the detective is a nice touch, but sometimes it feels like the random tripwires and the repeated times the pig-masked man knocks you unconscious to place you in a new trap is just a device to lengthen the game. It also feels like Jigsaw’s game is too likely to kill the player without teaching a lesson or offering a chance at redemption. That said, it is a nice, gory romp through Jigsaw’s world. You get quite a bit of backstory on the franchise, the asylum and Jigsaw himself. Plus, you get a chance to fulfill the famous quote: “Live or die – Make your choice” by getting one of multiple endings. On the other end of the horror world is the Japanese movie franchise Ju-on. This series, simply called “The Grudge” in America, featured a curse created when a person develops a grudge when they die due to intense violence. This manifests in the form of the longhaired Kayako and her mewling son, Toshio, haunting and ultimately killing anyone who enters their house. In the interactive version of the franchise, “JUON: The Grudge – Haunted House Simulator,” you take control of various members of a cursed family as they wander through the darkness with just a flashlight for protection. As the title implies, this is not so much a game as an experience with game elements. Exploring is slow and nerve-wracking, made more intense by occasional quick-time events and tons of visual and audible scares. The game does a great job of capturing the more subtle form of Japanese horror, but it doesn’t offer much of anything by way of introduction. The player is never truly introduced to the characters or how they got the curse. If you haven’t seen the movies, many aspects will not make sense and the ending will seem completely random. Perhaps the strangest element of this title, however, is that it judges you on how big of a chicken you are. The results screen comments on your composure while playing, often telling you how big a coward you are. This is enhanced by the odd addition of Panic Mode where a second player can mess with you by pressing buttons on a second controller. All of this adds up to a unique horror title, but don’t expect any explanation or mercy from Kayako.

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Campus Circle 10.28.09 - 11.03.09

Club Junkies Get a New Fix BY EBONY MARCH

It’s holiday season again. Starting with Halloween, cities come alive with myriad ways for their inhabitants to create and share good times. That’s great news for everyone in Southern California. I, like so many others, labor over trying to figure Brett Hyman and Tomik Mansoori of Night Vision Entertainment out how to celebrate all the big days of the year. I don’t really like enduring holidays with my dysfunctional family, nor do I want to hang out with my weirdly domesticated friends and their yuppie crew of nouveau-riche 20- and 30-something friends. Sometimes it’s great to just kick it with strangers, knock back some hooch and dance the night away. This decade has seen Los Angeles shed its skin as the less popular left coast to becoming the premier spot for partying and kickass nights. There have also been a number of event planning companies to reach success during this boom. However, one group on the horizon has carefully married its unique view of the club scene with some serious business chops. That company is Night Vision Entertainment. Brett Hyman and Tomik Mansoori are the dynamic duo behind this new era of clubbing. What this means for you and me is that we’ve now been given a vastly improved upon model for gettin’ our grooves on socially. Mansoori and Hyman have their skilled hands in clubs all over town. They’ve got a number of winning nights including Guys and Dolls (8713 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood) on Tuesdays and Wonderland (1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood) each Saturday. This is their latest club venture and proud collaboration with the Dolce Group – the nightlife and restaurant company responsible for Geisha House and Les Deux. When you talk to Hyman about his company, he speaks with a cool sense of clarity and professionalism that you just don’t hear from other entrepreneurs. Much of that has to do with his academic background. Hyman attended Tulane University in New Orleans. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina cut short his stint there. Down, but not out, he transferred to USC and began studying Entrepreneurship at his new school. After writing a term paper on the subject, Hyman decided to turn his studies into an actual venture. He feels that’s one of the things that sets his clubs apart from the pack. “Well, the No. 1 thing that makes Night Vision different is that I’m substantially trained in business,” he says. “That’s Night Vision’s No. 1 thing – that we’re a business.” Hyman feels that the two main objectives of his company are “to be profitable and to provide entertainment experiences for people across the United States.” This will be evident as Night Vision gears up for the costumes and wildness of Halloween. Hyman and company will launch Pandora. This is the group’s own take on ventures like New York’s Limelight (which was a popular night club in the 1990s that was formed in an abandoned church, of all things). Pandora is a nightclub exclusively created for Halloween and will usher in a weeklong celebration (from Oct. 27-31) at the beautiful Vibiana cathedral in Los Angeles. Pandora boasts such visually stunning treats as hot performances, awesome lighting setups and something that is near and dear to my heart: streamlined operation that will limit those obnoxious and pointless lines that we all hate waiting in. Pandora is seriously raising the bar on holiday celebrations, particularly for people who are so over the West Hollywood parade or dull house parties. So what sets Los Angeles apart from all the other party scenes the world over, particularly the other hot spot, Las Vegas? That’s easy. “L.A. nightlife is about exclusivity,” explains Hyman. “In Vegas, it’s probably the retro-opposite. It’s about, ‘How do I have the best time?’” He says that Vegas revelers can experience the best the city has to offer with cold, hard cash. Then there’s the difference in music. Night Vision takes great care to offer its patrons variety. “The electronic thing is interesting; it’s just not taking hold here in L.A.,” admits Hyman. “I think we’re going to start to see more electro. I think right now there are just too many options. It’s the same type of DJ playing the same songs to the same type of people.” For everyone bored with the norm, take comfort in knowing that someone out there is ready to give you everything you ever wanted, packaged just the way you’d like it. For more information, visit pandoranightlife.com.

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Join CAMPUS CIRCLE www.campuscircle.com THEARTOFLOVE BY LUCIA Dear Lucia, I met a very attractive, successful, younger man online who lives in another Lucia state. We have passed the last several months talking via phone, e-mail and IM. He has already said he will fly out to visit with me, which I am looking forward to. He is 26-years-old. Can this really work? I tried asking my girlfriends and family members, but everyone just laughed and said, “No.” I am a hopeless romantic. Am I reading too much into this? —Hoping in Florida Dear Hoping, There is nothing wrong with being a hopeless romantic, as long as you are also a cautious romantic! When you ask if this can work, I’m assuming you mean as a relationship. That will depend on his level of maturity and what he’s looking for at this point in his life. While some 26-year-old men are ready to settle down, most aren’t. Let him show you who he is. Are the majority of your conversations sexual? How hard will he be pushing to have sex when he comes to visit? If you get the vibe that it’s just about sex, then it is. A guy who is interested in a relationship will not want to offend you by bringing up sex too soon and too much. As usual, time will tell. So just lean back, relax and watch to see if he’s interested in you, or just in sleeping with you. Hi Lucia, If a guy is 30 minutes late for a first date, should I dump him? —J.A. Hi J.A., That may be a bit harsh. When someone is late the first time, I usually say, “Thanks for being on time,” in a lighthearted tone. That way you let them know being punctual is important, without making a big deal out of it. If someone is continually late, then either plan to be ready 30 minutes later than they said they would arrive or tell them to arrive 30 minutes earlier. If you are meeting them somewhere, you always have the option of leaving after 15 minutes. Actions speak louder than words, and it just may be the wake up call they need. Read an excerpt from Lucia’s Lessons of Love at lessonsoflove.net. Listen to Lucia live every Sunday at 3 p.m. PST on latalkradio.com. Remember: Love inspires, empowers, uplifts and enlightens.

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Campus Circle 10.28.09 - 11.03.09

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The Galaxy’s Bruce Arena is a strong contender for MLS Coach of the Year.

ARENA COACHES OUT OF THIS GALAXY BY PARIMAL M. ROHIT Oh what a difference one man can make. For the Los Angeles Galaxy, that one man is certainly not David Beckham. While all eyes are on team ownership for spending some serious moola on the aging futból megastar it duly “borrowed” from that little European isle across the Atlantic Pond, perhaps everyone is wasting time looking at the wrong man. After all, since Becks arrived in Los Angeles, the Galaxy posted the two worst records in franchise history, going 9-14-7 (34 points) in 2007 and an even worse 8-13-9 (33 points) last season. Alas, excitement was anew as the Galaxy took to the field for their final regular season home game Oct. 24. Rest assured, anyone who vociferously cheered for a man other than general manager/head coach Bruce Arena clearly was not paying much attention to what had been happening on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills throughout the 2009 MLS season. For those of you who have missed it, here is the latest and greatest out of Carson: Arena has made a clear-cut case for MLS Coach of the Year. In a season that started in turmoil, it took the steadiest hand on the sideline to make the unthinkable happen this season – take what was considered an average soccer team, at best, and return a once-proud franchise back to prominence. That was the job bestowed upon Arena when he was hired in August 2008 to replace coach Ruud Gullit and general manager Alexi Lalas, and Arena did not disappoint. In a short time, Arena built a team to his liking and gave the Galaxy a chance to return to the Promised Land, and he did it by guiding his team to a 12-6-12 record (48 points – a 15-point improvement from 2008). Of course, Arena says he was just doing his job. “We’ve just been trying to do things tactically that make sense at a given point of the season to get us some points and results,” the coach tells Campus Circle, humbly rejecting the notion he should be this season’s Coach of the Year. “For the most part, we put together a much more competitive team compared to teams in the past. We’ve established ourselves where we feel we can give a good effort every game and keep us in a position to win.” Yet, those around him understand Arena’s true value, especially current assistant coach Cobi Jones, who says Arena is responsible for the Galaxy’s drastic one-season turnaround. “If you look at our standings last year as compared to now, I don’t think there is any other coach in the league that has much of an impact or drastic change to their teams. It’s logical for him to be Coach of the Year,” the former UCLA standout shares in an exclusive interview. “He creates an atmosphere where everyone believes they can flourish and do their job to the best of their abilities.” One player who believes he will flourish under Arena’s tutelage is veteran striker Edson Buddle. Despite scoring just five goals in an injury-plagued season, Buddle says Arena’s ability to be a true X’s and O’s coach helps him learn the game from the inside out. “He stresses watching [game] tape over and over and making sure we are tight on the field,” Buddle tells Campus Circle after a late-morning practice session in the shadows of the Home Depot Center. “He makes us realize that if we play together, defensively, we will win games, and with the results we have had this year, we tend to believe in him a little more.” Indeed, the results even turn Becks into a believer, as the British midfielder makes an emphatic case for Arena’s Coach of the Year candidacy. “We are more than happy with Bruce being our manager,” Beckham says. “He brought togetherness to the team and the players. He’s got so much experience in this country, in this league and in this game. We’re lucky to have somebody like that.” The Galaxy is certainly lucky to have Arena. As the playoffs near, the AEG-owned franchise hopes some of that L.A.-sized luck is strong enough to carry the squad all the way to an MLS Cup victory in Seattle Nov. 22.

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Campus Circle 10.28.09 - 11.03.09

Rudy Sanchez

BY PARIMAL M. ROHIT

A record crowd witnessed Trojan running back Allen Bradford put USC’s Allen Bradford carries the ball to a recordon a career-best performance as USC (6breaking finish against Oregon State Oct. 24. 1, 3-1) barely escaped defeat for a second week in a row, this time narrowly defeating Oregon State, 42-36, in front of 89,718 fans at the Coliseum on Saturday evening. Bradford broke free for 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, and quarterback Matt Barkley tossed for 202 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 15-of-25 passes, as Southern Cal’s offense was just enough to put the Beavers to rest. “This was a different game than we hoped to have,” says USC head coach Pete Carroll. “We scrambled. We tried to slow them down. But, the thing that was so cool about this game was how the offense carried us.” It was an offense that was actually out-performed by the Beavers, who had 482 total offensive yards, compared to 429 for USC. Yet, Bradford’s first-ever 100-yard rushing game was enough for the Trojans to control the clock and prevent Oregon State (4-3, 2-2) from putting on a game-winning drive. USC led the entire game, at one point holding a 42-23 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. But a Barkley interception and two Oregon State touchdowns cut the Trojan lead to 42-36 with 3:45 remaining. However, USC stuck to its running game to milk out the clock and hold on for the victory. Sean Canfield completed 30-of-43 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns for Oregon State, while Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 113 yards and scored one touchdown on 20 carries. For the Trojans, Ronald Johnson caught six passes for 99 yards and a touchdown, while Curtis McNeal amassed 119 yards on kickoff returns. The No. 5 Trojans head to Eugene to face the No. 10 Oregon Ducks (6-1, 4-0) Oct. 31. for a battle between the two top teams in the Pac-10.

CENTERICE

Sharon M. Steinman/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT

Chuck Myers/MCT

TROJANS AVOID BEAVERS’ BITE

KINGS, DUCKS BOOKEND PACIFIC DIVISION BY PARIMAL M. ROHIT

The Kings’ Alexander Frolov

Maybe the Kings should reconsider trading away Alexander Frolov. Amidst months of rumors that he would be traded, many wondered if Frolov would have any hockey left in him in his remaining days in Los Angeles – especially after he was benched against Dallas Oct. 19. Yet, in three games since returning to the ice, Frolov has notched two goals and four assists; in his previous eight games, the left-winger scored just one goal and notched four assists. His production has helped the Kings win three of four consecutive games and move into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division (8-4-0, 16 points) entering this week’s play, which includes games at San Jose (7-4-1, 15 points) Oct. 28 and against Vancouver (6-5-0, 12 points) Oct. 29. Since losing at Columbus Oct. 17, the Kings defeated the Stars (twice), Coyotes and Blue Jackets to move atop the division, thanks to Frolov and Anze Kopitar (six goals, three assists during streak). Los Angeles posts its second four-game winning streak of the season. The Kings won four in a row after dropping the opener to Phoenix, but then dropped three straight on the road before their current four-game run. Meanwhile, things are not looking so hot for the Anaheim Ducks, who dropped three in a row and four of their last five games heading into this week’s games. Dropping to 3-5-1 (seven points) during the tough stretch, the Ducks set up camp in the cellar of the Pacific Division. The Ducks are the only team with a losing record within the division, with Phoenix (63-0, 12 points) the closest team within Anaheim’s reach. Only Nashville (3-6-1, seven points) and Minnesota (3-7-0, six points) have worse records in the Western Conference. Needless to say, the Ducks hope for a change of fortune this week, but with a groin injury to Jean-Sébastien Giguère and Evgeny Artyukhin serving a three-game suspension, their struggles may continue. All stats as of Oct. 26.


Join CAMPUS CIRCLE www.campuscircle.com

PAC-10 CHAMPIONSHIPS UCLA, USC Look to Make Noise BY MARVIN G. VASQUEZ The Cross Country Pac-10 Championships for both men and women are scheduled to take place Oct. 30 in Long Beach, and both UCLA and USC have a lot of competition ahead of them. The Bruins’ men’s team is ranked 10th in the West Region, while the women are ninth. USC doesn’t have a men’s program, so only the women’s group will make an appearance; they are ranked

14th regionally. Junior Zsofia Erdelyi, who recently placed third at CSUN’s Invitational, will lead the Trojan unit. For the Bruins, junior Shannon Murakami is the group’s top runner, and she will be looking to place in the top five. On the other side for UCLA, senior Marlon Patterson is the leader of the men’s team. Patterson is coming off a top finish at the Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. Oregon has the most balanced squads, as they are both ranked No. 2 in the West Region. For the men, Stanford is ranked No. 1 overall nationally, while Oregon is No. 2. Washington holds the No. 1 ranking for the women, while Oregon is No. 8 in the country.

DODGERS411 Kathy Kmonicek/Newsday/MCT

CROSSCOUNTRY

DODGERS ON THE VERGE BY PARIMAL M. ROHIT

Retirement is still a question mark for Joe Torre.

Southern California baseball fans are a tad upset. They wanted an Interstate 5 World Series. Instead, the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies will be playing in the Interstate 95 World Series, disappointing many baseball fans here on the West Coast. The Dodgers, of course, did not really care which American League team they would have faced, so long as it was the Blue Crew staking claim of the 2009 National League pennant. Yet, for the second consecutive year, that honor belongs to Philadelphia. Losing in consecutive League Championship Series in back-to-back years, the Dodgers are not at all happy they stalled in their quest for their first World Series appearance since 1988. “There is still a bitter taste in my mouth, the way it ended,” outfielder Andre Ethier tells Campus Circle about the Dodgers’ recent playoff loss. “I hope we are making strides, and the day we are not, I guarantee you they will start making some moves around here.” Indeed, there will definitely be some changes this off-season, what with 16 free agents for Ned Colletti to deal with. Some of those players will not be back. However, manager Joe Torre believes Los Angeles is on the verge of winning big. “The Dodgers, the last couple of years, have been a presence,” he tells Campus Circle. “I’d like to believe that is not going to change anytime soon.” Torre adds the Blue Crew have indeed made significant strides this year, but also acknowledged some changes have to be made. “Overall, I think we’ve come a little bit. But there are certain areas we have to address,” Torre quips. “We understand we have to look at pitching. That is one area you can never be too strong in.” As for whether Torre will return to the team after his contract ends in 2010, the manager is noncommittal. “I keep saying I will never do it beyond my contract, but I’ve waffled many times. My wife still doesn’t believe me when I tell her I am going to retire.”

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Campus Circle 10.28.09 - 11.03.09

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CALENDARTHE10SPOT

CampusCircle.com >Events

BY FREDERICK MINTCHELL WEDNESDAYOCT. 28

FRIDAYOCT. 30 Blake Griffin Jersey Giveaway

Carrie

Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Downtown; nba. com All fans in attendance will receive a Blake Griffin jersey T-shirt, courtesy of Kia Motors, when the Clippers host the Phoenix Sun. 7:30 p.m. Tix start @ $18.

Regency Fairfax Cinema, 7907 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; regencymovies.com If you’ve ever been on a stage and looked up at the rafters to make sure there wasn’t a bucket of pig’s blood, then you must see this classic on the big screen. 11:59 a.m. $8.

SATURDAYOCT. 31

THURSDAYOCT. 29 Ski Dazzle – Ski Show and Snowboard Expo

Dusk-to-Dawn Horror-thon

Fernando Leon

L.A. Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Downtown; skidazzle.com The 46th Anniversary expo features over 375 exhibitor and sponsor booths showcasing a world of skiing and snowboarding under one roof. Runs through Sunday.

THURSDAYOCT. 29

12th Annual Fresh Faces in Fashion LA

Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; americancinematheque.com A full night of terror featuring the six horror classics: The People Under the Stairs, Day of the Dead, Maniac, Society, The Terror and The Brood as well as between-film free food, giveaways, trailers, crazy shorts and surprises. 7:30 p.m. $20, $18 students.

SUNDAYNOV. 1

Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles; genart.org Plastics Make It Possible and Gen Art kick off Rock Fashion Week in Los Angeles, where cutting-edge designers use the latest innovations in plastic fabrics to push the limits of fashion. Entering its 15th year, the show has launched the careers of leading designers such as Zac Posen, Rebecca Taylor, Shoshanna and Milly. 7p.m.-11 p.m. Tix start at $55.

FRIDAYOCT. 30

David Koechner presents Monty Python and the Holy Grail Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles; cinefamily.org After 30 years of influencing a generation of comedians, it’s still as funny as ever. 8 p.m. $14.

MONDAYNOV. 2

Les Deux, 1638 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood; myspace. com/rockmondays Sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. Well, actually it’s more like porn, alcohol and rock ’n’ roll with all rock music, all the time, porn playing in the background and $3 shots and beers. 18-and-over. Every Monday in November. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Free before 11 p.m., $5 for men after 11 p.m.

Phish Festival 8 Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio; phish. com/festival8 Granted, Phish has an intensely loyal following, but you have to be curious about how they will cover the entire Oracular Spectacular album by MGMT. Runs through Sunday.

TUESDAYNOV. 3

FRIDAYOCT. 30

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Campus Circle 10.28.09 - 11.03.09

Rock Mondays

Heaven & Hell Weekend

The Floor Show

Ecco, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; hell-ecco. eventbrite.com Highlights of the weekend include Pam Anderson on Friday (Heaven), the cast of HBO’s “True Blood” and the No. 1 adult film stars on Saturday (Hell) and a $7,500 costume contest. 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Also Saturday. Tix start at $40.

King King, 6555 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; thefloorproductions.com A live music event that spotlights incredible local musicians, highlighted by amazing acrobatic and talented dancers performing impromptu vignettes that will occur in every corner of the space. Also Nov. 10 and 17. 8 p.m. Tix start at $15.




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