October 3, 2012 The Signal page 17
Arts & Entertainment
Mixed Signals and alumni put on a show
Vicki Wang / Photo Assistant
Mixed Signals entertain the College’s students with their special brand of improv comedy and audience participation games. By Mike Herold Correspondent Typical college students’ idea of a fun Friday night does not usually involve sitting around their campus student center for nearly two hours watching other people do things. At the College this past Friday, Sept. 28, however, that activity would definitely have made the cut. In front of an audience that was not nearly as big as it should have been, both alumni
and current students gave great comedic performances at the Lions Latenight event. The fun began with a performance by the College’s improv group, Mixed Signals. Despite having barely a day to prepare for the show and being short three of their eight members, the crew managed to entertain the crowd with a series of “Whose Line”style games, including Ding, Storybook, Half-Life, Drunk Game and Challenge. The biggest hit was most likely the Drunk Game, which featured the Pope and his gettingdrunker-by-the-minute 10-year-old daughter.
It goes without saying that junior history education major Jonathan Bowler, junior nursing major Nina Shulgach, sophomore women’s and gender studies major Morgan Teller, sophomore music education major Shannon McGovern and sophomore biology major Garrett Verdone knew how to please their audience their improv chops. After Mixed Signals left the stage, the main event of the evening featured two graduates of the College turned comedians who made their old campus laugh. Leading off was Vinnie Nardiello, ’99, and closing out the show was headliner Jay Black, also from the class of ’99, who originally studied to be an English teacher — and was one until his stand-up career took shape. (Black has also recently had a screenplay, “How Sweet It Is,” produced) The two began their friendship at the College, both worked as teachers and now often work comedy shows together. They also host a podcast called “Hungry Trolls” together. Interestingly enough, they also attended the College with the founder of Mixed Signals, Jeff Ryan, and were all too happy to give the current members advice after the show. Perhaps the most interesting info the two shared concerned who exactly become comedians. “It isn’t typically the ‘Whoo’ people,” Black said. “Comedians are more observers of life. To us, class clowns are hacks.” Nardiello agreed, saying, “When people laugh at what you say, it’s like a kind of validation — I knew I was funnier than that guy.”
As for the acts themselves, both comedians focused on self-deprecating humor alongside funny stories on the ridiculous people they’ve encountered in their lives. Nardiello got the crowd going describing how he once watched a guido punch a seagull, along with a tale of what happens when a not-so-great teacher has a bit too much to drink at a staff party … and loses some control over bodily function, to put it lightly. Black’s routine covered a broader range of topics, as he managed to cover religion, politics, his hairy body and several “rules” which he doesn’t make but are true nonetheless. Also in the act was a somehow flawless transition between poop jokes and porn jokes, and his belief that everyone would be a lot better off if they still did a “baby dance” every time their favorite song started playing. Despite the meager audience, both performers were thrilled to be back. “To me, doing a show at the College in front of 25 people is more meaningful than performing at a different college in front of 2,000,” said Black, who has performed at over 400 colleges. “And I want to do better here. Nobody wants to go to the place you called home for four years and mess it up.” It’s safe to say that they were validated one more time. To see these performers in the future, Mixed Signals’ next show will be Oct. 7 in the Library Auditorium. Jay Black also has a free CD available on his website at jayblack.tv.
‘Babel’ satisfies, doesn’t surprise The Killers make a comeback
newstimes.com
Mumford returns to their roots for their sophomore album, ‘Babel.’
By Dan Jurcisin Correspondent
Mumford & Sons stays true to their sound on their sophomore album, “Babel.” Characterized by pulsating bass drum, strong vocal harmonies, and lightning-fast banjo, this album picks up right where its predecessor, “Sigh No More,” left off. On this album, the British band continues to create a sound that is full, rich, and powerful. The tracks on this album are loaded with aggressive guitar strumming, triumphant horn sections, and beautiful vocal melodies. The band presents these elements with great energy that makes for a very passionate and intense-sounding album. Many of the tracks on “Babel” are like novels in their musical progression. They begin quietly and with minimal instrumentation, usually with just a guitar to accompany the vocals, but then they begin to build. Additional instruments are introduced, and
backing vocals and percussion become prominent as the track progresses towards its crescendo. The song leaves no empty space — it is all filled by the crashing of symbols, the droning of horns, and the strumming of guitar, as evident in “Lover Of The Light.” Additionally, the band contrasts the intense, climactic nature of many of the songs with quiet and softsounding sections. This technique causes the volume of the songs to rise and fall, which keeps the tracks from getting dull. The tone of the album is overall bright, cheery and hopeful. In “Holland Road,” lead singer and guitarist Marcus Mumford sings passionately, “And when I hit the ground / neither lost nor found / when I’m on my knees I’ll still believe.” In spite of everything this album has to offer, it may still leave some listeners unsatisfied. Some may consider the intense and epic nature of many of the songs to be overblown or too dramatic. Furthermore, the steady, driving beat of the tambourine and bass drum can come off as repetitive. And if you were expecting a fresh, new sound from this band then you will probably be disappointed with their decision to stick to their roots. Regardless, “Babel” is a fine album that defines Mumford & Sons’ sound very well. Fans of “Sigh No More” will most likely find something they enjoy about this album, and “Babel” is also a good place to start for people who are new to the band. The powerful, yet melodic and creative nature of this album provides a listening experience that is, to say the very least, entertaining.
New material takes a turn from usual themes
caeserlivenloud.com
Flowers eclipses the rest of The Killers on their newest album, ‘Battleborn.’ By Christopher Minitelli Correspondent I have been a big fan of The Killers for quite a while now, so when I heard they were releasing a new album, I definitely had high expectations. After a four-year hiatus, The Killers released their fifth studio album, “Battle Born,” on Sept. 18. Although the band took a long break after their last tour, they definitely picked up right where they left off. With Brandon Flowers’ distinctive and recognizable voice leading The Killers once again, “Battle Born” seems to describe the story of a relationship, from beginning to end. Among the first couple of tracks of the album, the song “Runaways” is a nod to young love and the ignorance that often accompanies it. After this track, songs like “Here With Me” and “Miss Atomic Bomb” go through the heartbreak and melancholy that people experience after a relationship ends. Throughout the album, The Killers
show the difficulty of moving on and recovering with the songs “Be Still” and “Battle Born.” The Killers end the album on a high note with the track “Prize Fighter,” proving the idea that people are able to move on and eventually find things worth fighting for. Overall, I thought that The Killers were able to stick to their roots, with Flowers’ voice only getting better, and with similar subjects as their previous three albums. However, I think they definitely included a number of tracks that wandered away from their usual topics. One track in particular that did this was “Heart of a Girl.” This song delves into the relationship between a father and daughter, which seems unusual for this album. However, the track includes great lyrics and instrumentals, which probably make it one of my favorite off of this album. In the end, I definitely like “Battle Born” — but I feel like some of the tracks are pretty forgettable since many of them sound very similar to one another. Although I am well aware that Brandon Flowers is essentially the backbone of The Killers, I think they focused a lot more on his voice and did not include many tracks that had either memorable or noteworthy instrumentals. In their earlier albums, The Killers were able to strike a balance between Flowers’ voice and the instrumentals (for instance, my personal favorite, “Mr. Brightside”). Many of their tracks on this album failed to do so. Even with all of this in mind, I think that The Killers came out with a long-awaited album that is definitely worth listening to.