Campus Circle Newspaper Vol. 21 Issue 5 by Campus Circle

February 2-8, 2011 \ Volume 21 \ Issue 5 \ Always Free

Film | Music | Culture

LEIGHTON MEESTER Wants to be Your Roommate

PLAIN WHITE T’S Unveil New Wonders

SNAG THAT JOB Stand Out from the Pack

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Vol. 21 Issue 5

Editor-in-Chief Jessica Koslow editor.chief@campuscircle.net Managing Editor Yuri Shimoda managing.editor@campuscircle.net

04 NEWS COLLEGE CENTRAL

Film Editor Jessica Koslow film.editor@campuscircle.net Cover Designer Sean Michael Editorial Interns Daeun Jeong, Deepthi Cauligi

04 BLOGS D-DAY 12 BLOGS TREND BLENDER 22 BLOGS COLORS OF CULTURE 23 BLOGS THE WING GIRLS 06 FILM PROJECTIONS

Contributing Writers Tamea Agle, Mary Broadbent, Erica Carter, Richard Castañeda, Amanda D’Egidio, Natasha Desianto, Gillian Ferguson, Stephanie Forshee, Jacob Gaitan, Christian Goss, Denise Guerra, Elisa Hernandez, Zach Hines, Cindy Kyungah Lee, Danielle Lee, Tom Kidd, Ebony March, Mike Matusiewicz, Samantha Ofole, Brien Overly, Ariel Paredes, Sasha Perl-Raver, Mike

07 FILM MOVIE REVIEWS 08 FILM THE ROOMMATE Leighton Meester goes crazy for fellow coed Minka Kelly. 09 FILM DVD DISH

Sebastian, Doug Simpson, David Tobin, TJ Webber, Kevin Wierzbicki, The Wing Girls, Candice Winters

Contributing Artists & Photographers Tamea Agle, Jacob Gaitan, Mike Matusiewicz ADVERTISING Sean Bello sean.bello@campuscircle.net Joy Calisoff joy.calisoff@campuscircle.net Jon Bookatz Music Sales Manager

12 MUSIC NOTES 13 MUSIC PLAIN WHITE T’S Dress Up Their Sound 14 MUSIC LIVE SHOW REVIEWS 15 MUSIC FREQUENCY 16 MUSIC GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS Bring Musical “Medicine” to the El Rey 16 MUSIC REPORT

jon.bookatz@campuscircle.net Ronit Guedalia ronit.guedalia@campuscircle.net

Calendar Editor

17 MUSIC CD REVIEWS 06 CULTURE COMEDY 09 CULTURE GAMES & GADGETS

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GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS Campus News College Central Local News U.S. News World News

COLLEGECENTRAL

GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR

Job Tips for the Newly Hirable by MARY BROADBENT Alright guys, spring is creeping up, and summer is not too far behind. Even though fun in the sun is tempting, what you should probably start considering is getting a move on bulking up your resume to find a job. Yes, it’s unfortunate but true, the economy hasn’t been doing so well over the past few years. For college kids, this puts a damper on things, because they’re not only faced with the need to compete for their first job amongst their peers, but also are in line behind those who have recently become unemployed who have the advantage of a resume that’s already packed with more experience. So for those needing ideas to overcome these hurdles and get your foot in the door, here are a few to get you going. The way to any employer’s confidence in you is to have a strong resume and a cover letter that stands out. Using unique words such as proficient, bright, career driven, detail oriented or anything that adds a little flair helps tremendously and provides the interviewer with your personality to boot. For those who are a little unsure as to how to create the

Campus Circle > News > College Central ‘perfect you’ on paper, there are sites online and classes you can take for building your resume such as theresumebuilder. com, universalclass.com and nationalseminarstraining.com. There might be a fee included in some of these to access any information, but ones such as theresumebuilder.com have free resume templates for all kinds of careers that you can view as well as information on the dos and don’ts when creating a resume and cover letter. If you’re just looking for a template, just search for ‘resume’ and thousands will pop up that you can probably nab for free online. Now that you’ve got the idea for building a resume and cover letter, you probably want to spend some time bulking it up. Of course, there are the obvious choice of class activities and internship programs you can throw on there. Your guidance counselor should be able to provide an array of different clubs or social networks that you can join to help you get the leadership skills that will benefit you when going up against the unemployment line. However, there are also volunteer work options and summer abroad programs you can find nationally or internationally that might add a bit of zest. Some places you can check out are gviusa.com efcollegebreak.com, transitionsabroad.com and experimentinternational.org. These all have great programs that not only give you something fun to do in the summer but help educate and provide unforgettable experiences for students. If you can’t fit this into your summer, then fit it into your next semester. Many students take semester abroad courses to change things up and add some depth to their education. Programs such as semesteratsea.org, summertravel.ucr.edu or any of those offered at your school are all worth checking out and applying for. Just touch base with your guidance counselor for more information on what works for you and your degree.

D-DAY

LOVE AND ART EVERY DAY by denise guerra

She wakes up at 5 a.m. every day to start a collection of drawings. He wakes up at 8 a.m. for a 12-hour immersion in his music studio. Together Kristina Collantes and Aaron Freeman make their contribution to the world one day at a time. The L.A.-based couple has taken on an ambitious project suited to their forte following a trend nowadays for bloggers to start chronicling a masterpiece, a song, a picture or anything every single day. One blogger on the Web site everyhouronthehour.com even goes as far as to take a picture, any picture, every hour for one year. The most famous, The Julie/Julia Project had one blogger record her doing a recipe from Julia Child’s cookbook every day and became an instant phenomenon with a book deal and movie. For Collantes and Freeman, they’re not looking too far into the same dimension of popularity, but simply to enhance their skills. “I have a lot of illustrator friends that do the same exercise and over time you see them improve so much from drawing small things,” says Collantes. “My main goal is to sharpen my drawing skills and be just as creative as I can be. I plan on doing the project for a year if I can; that’s my goal.” She describes some of her drawing on her blog, kristinacollantes.tumblr.com, as “some pretty finished pieces

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To snag the job you want, start researching places you’d like to work. Now that you’ve got a few ideas for adding a little meat, here are extra pointers. Start researching places you’d like to apply for and call them for an informational. Also, when sending in your resume, if at all possible, make sure you can do a followup call or e-mail a week later to ensure the company you’re applying for has received it. This shows you are proactive and persistent to whomever you’re corresponding with, and gives you a better shot at getting that interview. Also, keep in mind that interviews work both ways because you are also seeing if this company is right for you. Consider asking questions in regards to the turnover rate and if they promote from within. These are all important because you don’t want to be stuck at a dead-end job that might pay a little more to begin with if there’s another one that’s more hands-on with growth and experience. Well, you’re ready to go, so get started on planning, whether it’s your summer, the next four years or your life. Hopefully, this information will help you overcome the job search jitters and keep you from joining the unemployment line.

Campus Circle > Blogs > D-Day and some that are just shit and giggles.” Collantes already has a large following in the blogosphere with her dark avantgarde style of illustrations. The project has taught Collantes to focus and hone her ideas. “I’m extremely fickle with my drawing style, which is kind of frustrating sometimes because my portfolio is messy with different styles. I learned I’m very fickle, and I can’t get out of the cycle,” offers Collantes. “Usually I have tons of ideas when I’m sitting in front of my drawing table and I want to draw everything out. It’s just hard to stick with one idea. Sometimes I’ll go off on a tangent, and it will turn into a totally different idea. It’s hard to make one cohesive illustration sometimes.” Her boyfriend Aaron Freeman had other plans with his song-a-day project on his blog, asongadaywithaaronfreeman. blogspot.com. Freeman just finished college and was unemployed, so he had a lot of time to do what he wanted to do. Initially, it took Freeman 12 hours to complete a song, but his project has helped him to lessen that amount to eight hours a day. Instead of one year, Freeman will continue his project for 30 days and is almost halfway there. “I wanted to figure out a way without overextending my energy and cut it down to 30 days that way it’s concise and people can access it anytime,” states Freeman. One unique aspect of Freeman’s blog is his use of collaborations, especially with Collantes. “The collaborations are the best. It’s easy to come up with stuff myself, but it’s more difficult to perform with other people. The best one so far is with Kristina. She’s such a good songwriter, I can just sit back and let her do the songwriting and just record it.” In fact, it was the song written by Collantes and recorded

asongadaywithaaronfreeman.blogspot.com

NEWS

Kristina Collantes recording in Aaron Freeman’s studio by Freeman that received the most fanfare on his site. It’s a track titled “Please More Scary,” and it easily takes you away with its wistful, ethereal quality. “There’s a room in my house that’s just an arsenal of gear,” says Freeman, who plays and records all the instrumentation for each of his songs himself. For now Freeman and Collantes will be using their sites not for fame, but simply for posterity. Freeman says, “It will be nice to be done. I don’t think it will get me anywhere. It’s just a matter to establish a constant productivity or creativity in my life, which is kind of lacking. It’s kind of nice to go to the extreme and see how much I can actually do all at once.”

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PROJECTIONS

HENRIGEORGES CLOUZOT

Feb. 4,5 @ New Beverly Cinema by candice winters Film is very much still a fine art. Though it is often separated, forced into other categories, including entertainment or digital media, there are plenty of films that are just about the farthest thing from entertaining and pleasurable. Experimental film has been an important part of film history and rhetoric starting just a couple decades after the world was introduced to the moving image. Sergei Eisenstein was one such pioneer. He was a filmmaker from Soviet Russia who dedicated his career to creating films that broke the young narratives that had been developed by silent film directors like D.W. Griffith. Eisenstein is considered to be the ‘Father of the Montage’ because of his tendency to play with juxtaposing images, but also with light, film editing and shapes on screen. Eisenstein argued in many of his writings on film that the montage was the essence of true cinema. Eisenstein opened the doors for many filmmakers after him, all of whom tended to come in waves and in art movements predominantly in Europe. Films like The

Campus Circle > Film > Projections Bicycle Thief and Germany Year Zero were a product of this movement in Italy. Filmmakers at this time tended toward long takes and on-location shooting, often employing the help of nonactors for parts. The French, however, went another route entirely. Somewhat inspired by the Italians as well as classical Hollywood cinema, French New Wave filmmaking of the 1950s and 1960s reflects a certain link to a self-conscious rejection of classical cinematic techniques. Youthful in spirit, New Wave filmmakers yearned to create not just a film but art that was formed from social and political upheavals that were happening at the time. Visually, such films saw changes in framing, narrative structure, less editing and a paradigm shift. Though we cannot wholly shove him into the peg hole with other New Wave auteurs just because he is of the same nationality, Henri-Georges Clouzot makes a strong case for the inventiveness and forward thinking of the French throughout film history. Sometimes likened to Alfred Hitchcock, Clouzot was a proponent of psychological thrillers, and his work did much to further the genre. Having already had a successful career, Clouzot took to heart the articles and reviews in the famous film publication, Cahiers du cinéma. His thrillers were often not taken seriously by the film community, and this left Clouzot downtrodden and almost unable to work. In 1963, Clouzot started preproduction on what would be one of his last films as director. L’Enfer tells the story of a man whose psychological state is compromised and hence deformed by male jealousy and desire. In his personal life, Clouzot had become obsessed with the Austrian-born multilingual actress Romy Schneider. Clouzot spent months of sleepless nights preparing storyboards, changing plans for the color palette of the film and obsessing over details in the script. When the film began

COMEDY

‘JAY & SILENT BOB GET OLD’ Fridays @ Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, Citywalk by candice winters If you are expecting long, flowing hair as blonde as a surfer’s that is partially covered by his distinctive beanie, then you are almost two decades late. The hair is noticeably shorter and now a shade of light brown. He has retained the slightly baby face he had in the early ’90s, but what distinguishes him as the Jay we all knew and loved is the raspy, bordering on hoarse, voice that brings out the angsty teenager in us all. Clerks came out in 1994 and was the first film for its stars Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, more famously known as Jay and Silent Bob. Predominantly financed by credit cards and donations from family members, Clerks found a large following of young, grunge-happy teens who could relate to the do-nothing attitude of its title characters. For the stars, however, the film was an homage to their New Jersey upbringing and their unusual friendship. “We’ve always had this weird relationship,” says Mewes, talking to me instead of doing some last-minute preparation for his live podcast with Smith. “He’s just more put together than I am. I was doing drugs, and he was starting a family. It’s

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Romy Schneider in Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno, screening Feb. 4 production, the production crumbled within weeks. Leading man Serge Reggiani fell ill (or according to some reports, was driven off the set by Clouzot), and the director himself suffered from a minor heart attack. Often considered one of cinema’s most notable films gone awry, L’Enfer was dropped after weeks of obsession on Clouzot’s part. To get the whole story of Clouzot’s unfortunate downfall into depression and, to some extent, madness, the New Beverly Cinema is having a double feature on Feb. 4 and 5 in honor of the French director. First, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno (2009) is a documentary by Serge Bromberg that recounts the downfall of one of the best filmmakers of French psychological thrillers. Also screening is Diabolique (1955), which is often noted as the most chilling work of his career. He is a master of suspense; he just let the work get to him. New Beverly Cinema is located at 7165 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, visit newbevcinema.com.

Campus Circle > Culture > Comedy been this weird older brother relationship. It’s too close of an age difference to say it, but some people do say that there’s even a stepfather type of thing. It’s groovy.” However you’d like to describe it, Smith has undoubtedly taken Mewes under his wing. Smith has cast his ‘little brother’ in every film he has written and directed, except for two. Now, the duo performs their podcast in front of a live audience at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club on CityWalk. “Jay & Silent Bob Get Old” has existed exclusively online since last summer and is taped every Friday night at the club. Reliant on drugs for over a decade, Mewes is on the right track, finally settling down and cleaning up his life free of substance addiction. Jordan, his wife of two years, keeps him on the right path, helping him with the littlest of things every day. “She’s the one who makes sure I wake up to do stuff. She feeds me. She spanks me and showers me. She’s a big part of keeping things going.” Jordan even helps with the show, ordering T-shirts and remembering props for Smith and Mewes whose cult following provides a packed audience. They haven’t forgotten about the ’90s crusaders who used to hang out at a convenience store and who have maintained a dynamic relationship that is fascinating to watch. Mewes will tell a long-winded and often tragic story about memories from his childhood. Smith will jump in periodically with a sarcastic comment and quick punch line. For their finale, they play a little game with the audience. “It’s called ‘Let Us Fuck,’” says Mewes who couldn’t control a mischievous grin while describing it. “We play with the audience, and they can win prizes. [Kevin Smith] calls out a sex position, and me and an audience member have to imitate it, come up with what our version would be, based on

Jason Mewes, aka Jay, is all grown up. what the name sounds like.” OK, so immaturity isn’t something that goes away over night. The friends have grown up and grown wiser since they first started making movies in the Garden State, though Mewes admits that children are still not quite in the picture. “I still don’t feel like I’ve grown up totally. Physically, I’ve gotten older. I’m married now. I have two dogs. They aren’t kids, but I’m cleaning up poop and waking up in the middle of the night. I need to make sure I can pay bills. I want to own a house and make sure things are secure. I don’t want to have kids and not be situated.” Jon Lovitz Comedy Club is located at 1000 Universal Studios Blvd., #222, Los Angeles. For more information, visit smodcast. com/getold.

Follow CAMPUS CIRCLE on Twitter @CampusCircle MOVIEREVIEWS The Other Woman (IFC) It’s official: Natalie Portman is, quite literally, everywhere. In theater four she is shattering mirrors and doing crazy pirouettes as a self-possessed ballerina, while in theater seven she is passionately making out with Ashton Kutcher in a hospital storage room. And soon, she will appear in theater 10 as Scott Cohen’s second wife holding a little boy’s hand. With her strong performance in The Other Woman, Portman once again proves to the world that there is absolutely no role she can’t bring to life. The Other Woman is a truly heartbreaking chronicle of a woman trying to balance her own needs to get over her grief of losing a child and her obligation to hide her feelings in order to protect others. Jack (Cohen) divorces his wife Carolyn (Lisa Kudrow) and marries Emilia (Portman) when he finds out that she is pregnant with his child, who dies shortly after her birth. Although Emilia has not quite recovered from her shock, she must take care of Jack and Carolyn’s son, William (Charlie Tahan). She is constantly struggling to be a good mother to William, but her emotional instability steps in from time to time and prevents her from paying full attention to him. In contrast to her previous films such as The Other Boleyn Girl or Black Swan, this movie does not have a climactic ending or a conflict resolution. It is rather a process, an ongoing story filled with small yet significant details: Carolyn’s hateful comments, William’s childish words and Emilia’s hidden photos of her lost child. From beginning to end, Emilia’s fear and frustration are visible in her voice, actions and facial expressions, openly inviting the audience to reach out their hands and touch her inner scars. The plot mainly deals with the complicated web of relationships between Emilia, her father, Carolyn, Jack and William. It is unfortunate that some of these relationship issues remain unspecified or unresolved. For instance, the film fails to adequately address the irony of Emilia marrying a man who cheated on his wife when she herself has issues with her cheating father. Characterization of Carolyn also seems unfair in a sense that she is portrayed as solely an antagonist when she is also a victim who lost both her husband and her son to a stranger overnight. Overall, the film itself was well structured, and another brilliant Portman performance is enough to move the audience’s heart. If you are searching for a quiet quality movie amongst blockbusters and romantic comedies, The Other Woman fits the bill. Grade: B+ —Daeun Jeong The Other Woman releases in select theaters Feb. 4.

Waiting For Forever

Freestyle Releasing

(Freestyle) For the all the love-struck individuals out there whose love for that special someone would cause you to, in the words of Bruno Mars, catch a grenade for her, then imagine this. Imagine moving from city to city, barely scraping by on the $40 a day you can make as a curbside clown so that you can get by purely on the knowledge that you’re living in the same city as the Emma (Rachel Bilson) and Will (Tom Sturridge) one who has your heart. Ironically for Will Donner (Tom Sturridge), he found his heart in San Francisco … and any other city that Emma Twist (Rachel Bilson) inhabits. He had loved her since they were kids, but after his parents were killed in a tragic train accident, Will was forced to leave Emma. They were pen pals for a while, but then that stopped too; Will couldn’t cope with the prospect of being far and disconnected from her. So he did what any normal, sane man would do: He followed her across the country without telling her. When Emma returned home to be at her father’s deathbed, Will hitch hiked back to their hometown. His condescending, though very concerned, older brother (Scott Mechlowicz) and his childhood friends (Nikki Blonsky and Nelson Franklin) encouraged him to speak to Emma and reveal the shocking truth about what he has been doing for the past decade. However, Emma has enough trouble as it is. She returns to her father and mother (Richard Jenkins and Blythe Danner) who bicker in order to cope with his impending death, and she’s having problems with her boyfriend (Matthew Davis). When Will suddenly comes back into her life, Emma is at first taken by his youthful spirit and connection to her once happy and simple life, but may not be prepared for his intense love and dedication. Aptly titled Waiting For Forever, the film takes several fantastical approaches to the issues it tackles, particularly in regards to the romance between Will and Emma, which, thanks to a less than simmering chemistry between Sturridge and Bilson, is not so appealing. Will isn’t a character for whom we want to give a drop of sympathy. He is certifiably crazy, not only because of his stalking habits, but because Emma is an uninteresting character who doesn’t deserve his time or energy. Jenkins and Danner are delightful, and Sturridge is endearing for the material he is forced to put up with. However, star power and romantic undertones can’t save the film from failing to meet our expectations. Grade: C —Candice Winters Waiting For Forever releases in theaters Feb. 4.

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Jaimie Trueblood

Campus Circle > Film > Interviews

Leighton Meester stars as Rebecca in The Roommate.

THE ROOMMATE

Leighton Meester is one creepy coed. by sasha perl-raver Freshman year: a thrilling time of dis– covery and new beginnings as you strike out on your own for the first time. But with all the exhilaration of total freedom comes lurking terror as you embark on a journey that requires flip flops in the shower, a symposium on how to live on something besides cereal and ramen and the potential horror of an assigned roommate. Dun dun duuuuh! Worse than any boring 8 a.m. lecture class or TA with a vendetta, the person randomly selected to share your living space for nine months can make or break your initial college experience. Years ago, when I moved into my apartment-style dorm at the University of Southern California, I thought I’d hit the jackpot with my three roommates, who all seemed smart and sweet. It was only later that I discovered I was living with a bulimic ballerina who left our bathroom reeking of iceberg lettuce and sugar-free Jell-O barf, a born-again Christian who showered and went to the bathroom in the dark because she was afraid of the sin of seeing her own body naked and a girl who gyrated in music videos but dreamed of becoming an NBA players’ trophy wife and thought it was OK to use my hairbrush (eww) or “borrow” my car without asking (That’s not borrowing, that’s stealing.). I spent as little time in that place as was humanly possible.

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But at least none of them boiled my bunny the way Leighton Meester’s character in The Roommate might have. In the vein of Single White Female and Fatal Attraction, Meester stars as Rebecca, a privileged girl from Pasadena assigned to a dorm room with Sara (“Friday Night Lights” star Minka Kelly). The pair becomes fast friends, sharing clothes and nights out on the town, but when Sara befriends a fun-loving party girl (Aly Michalka from “Hellcats”) and scores a hot new boyfriend (Twilight and Burlesque stud Cam Gigandet), Rebecca’s obsessive and erratic behavior spins dangerously out of control. It’s a part that’s a far cry from Meester’s poised perfection as Blair Waldorf on “Gossip Girl” and a challenge she was thrilled to undertake, diving into research so she could cultivate a believable brand of crazy. “This is the story of the psychological deterioration of a human being who has no real identity of her own and is trying to appropriate another person’s,” Meester says. “The character has so much depth. I had to find whatever I could in her to love, because I don’t think she means anybody any harm. It wasn’t an easy movie to make, but it was always interesting.” The idea for The Roommate first occurred to writer Sonny Mallhi when he was a development executive at Vertigo Entertainment. Mallhi, who submitted the script under an assumed name to avoid favoritism, explains he’d spent years refining other peoples’ scripts, but always had the idea for a thriller that would combine two elements primed for tension. “First, the whole freshman college roommate thing has always seemed uncomfortable to me,” he explains. “You are forced to live with someone you don’t know at all for a full school year. Things happen, for better or worse. You either end up being friends for life or never speaking to that person again. “I also had this idea about stalking that I wanted to develop. Everyone stalks at some point in their life, whether they admit it or not. In high school, when you drove past

someone’s house because they didn’t answer the phone or rode your bike past someplace they said they were going to be – it’s all stalking. When I melded the two scenarios together, I came up with the idea for The Roommate.” Though she laughs off any suggestion that she has indulged in Facebook or online stalking (come on, haven’t we all done that?), Meester, who was already a successful actress in her teens and didn’t go to college to have a harrowing living experience, says she prefers to think of the process like a bad dating set-up. “Being assigned the person you’re going to live with for the next eight or nine months sounds a lot like a blind date,” she says. “It’s strange to think that when you come to college, you have to live with someone you don’t know at all. The idea of sharing some totally intimate moments with somebody you don’t know that well is disconcerting and a great jumping off point for this story.” With the script in place, Academy Award nominated Danish director Christian E. Christiansen, whose first fulllength feature, Razone, explored the phenomenon of girls who bully in a stark, thought-provoking way, was hired to helm the film, whose tension, he says, comes from establishing a feeling of normalcy and then slowing upending it. “When I read the screenplay, I could see the movie from beginning to end,” the director offers. “I thought it was sexy, it was hip and, most of all, it was dark and scary, which really turned me on. I love thrillers, especially from the ’70s and ’80s, and being offered the chance to do something similar was really exciting.” Christiansen also reveals, “Leighton was the first person we cast for this movie. She is a fantastic actress. The role of Rebecca requires an actress who can go from normal to insane in very little time. Leighton did a lot of research for the role, trying to figure out what kind of person this would be.” “She can turn creepiness on and off like a switch,” Mallhi adds. “She builds the small moments into bigger moments as the story goes on, giving the audience a feeling that Rebecca has done this before, maybe more than once. The audience doesn’t know what happened to her to make her behave this way. Was it something with her parents? Why is she a little ‘off?’ And Leighton plays her in such a way that I think people will want to hate her, but instead find themselves feeling sad for her as her story is revealed.” Meester signed on after reading an early draft of the script and speaking to Christiansen at length about the movie he wanted to make. “He was so open to everything,” Meester says. “It was really fun to watch the process of developing it. Everybody was bouncing ideas off of one another. Christian had a very specific vision of how he wanted things, which made me confident that it would turn out beautifully.” Once on set, Meester discovered Christiansen, “does what I think of as ‘ninja’ directing. He doesn’t spell anything out; he just plants an idea in your head. Even if it’s not something that’s in the front of your mind, it’s back there, and the wheels are still turning. He conjured as much from me as he possibly could. He’s all about making things as real as possible and getting the most honest performance out of everyone.” Meester’s Roommate co-star Minka Kelly adds, “When I first met with Christian, we talked about making an intense psychological thriller. On set, he was very patient and took the time to talk through each scene with the actors. There’s nothing cheesy or silly in the film. It is understated, very classy and honest. I just hope the audience is taken for a ride throughout the whole thing, and that they are perched on the edges of their seats wondering what’s going to happen next.” Asked about Kelly, Meester grins, “Minka is very sassy, which is a really good quality for Sara to have. She is also approachable and very kind – and she’s gorgeous. You can understand why Rebecca loves her.” The Roommate releases in theaters Feb. 4.

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SPECIAL FEATURES by mike sebastian

Under the Radar: A fantastic young cast, including Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley, brings to life Kazuo Ishiguro’s neo-classic Never Let Me Go. Like much of the author’s work, it is a quietly mounting, small-scale tragedy. Set in a seemingly idyllic English boarding school, the film follows three friends who have to come to grips with their feelings for each other and the reality of the grim life that they have been prepared for. James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart and Melissa Leo give powerful performances in the Sundance drama Welcome to the Rileys. Gandolfini plays the father of a dead teenaged daughter who finds a runaway (Stewart) living in New Orleans as a stripper. Together with his shattered wife (Leo), Gandolfini tries to save Stewart and himself. Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell lead a stellar cast in the award-worthy drama Conviction. Based on an incredible true story, the film follows a high school dropout and working mother who puts herself through law school in order to secure the release of her brother, who is wrongly imprisoned for murder. Juliette Lewis, Minnie Driver and Peter Gallagher co-star. Also included is an interview with the real Betty Anne Waters. Bonded By Blood follows the violent rise and fall of one of England’s most notorious gangs, the Essex Boys. Also available: Sophie Okonedo and Sam Neill in the Apartheid-era Skin, Gerard Depardieu in Claude Chabrol’s final film, Inspector Bellamy The Vault: Four under-seen gems of Hollywood’s second golden age come to DVD, including the heist comedy 11 Harrowhouse starring Charles Grodin and Candice Bergen, Stanley Donen’s bootlegging comedy Lucky Lady starring Gene Hackman and Burt Reynolds and the action/adventure double feature Butch & Sundance/Death Hunt. The first half of that bill is a prequel to the Redford/Newman classic directed by Richard Lester and starring William Katt and Tom Berenger as the outlaws. The second half has two of cinema’s greatest badasses, Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson, squaring off in the frozen Alaskan wilderness. Four new TCM Greatest Classic Film Collections highlight the work of some of Hollywood’s biggest legends, including Jean Harlow, Errol Flynn, John Ford and everyone’s favorite canine, Lassie. Harlow made some of cinema’s most charming romantic comedies, including Dinner at Eight and Libeled Lady, and does anyone epitomize adventure better than Errol Flynn? Included are two of his classic swashbucklers, The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Sea Hawk. The director who defined the western, John Ford, offers some classics of the genre, including She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and 3 Godfathers. Then catch a young Elizabeth Taylor and her heroic hound in the Lassie series. Each of these moderately priced sets includes four classic films. Also available: aerial action series Airwolf: Season Four

The Horror! The Horror! Let Me In, a remake of the Swedish vampire drama Let the Right One In, preserves the original’s haunting mixture of horror thriller and coming-of-age drama for one of the most effective and original horror films of the decade. A bullied teenage boy finds a friend in his mysterious new neighbor, a young girl who turns out to be a vampire, cursed in having to move from town to town with her caretaker (Richard Jenkins). Elias Koteas co-stars. A group of teens become targets of a deranged killer when they receive a chain e-mail in Chain Letter. Nikki Reed and the always-creepy Brad Dourif star.

Blu Notes: Jamie Foxx embodies musical legend Ray Charles in Taylor Hackford’s electrifying biopic Ray now on Blu-ray. The Oscar-winning musical drama looks and sounds better than ever and is packed with extras, including a jam session between Foxx and Charles. 10

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GAMES&GADGETS by mike sebastian Final Draft 8 There have been a lot of pretenders to the throne over the years, but Final Draft remains the most intuitive, easy-to-use screenwriting software around. Its strong suit has always been that the program disappears and lets you get on with the writing. That said, it hasn’t offered many innovations over the years either. While Final Draft (finaldraft.com) has rested somewhat on its industry standard laurels, a few other programs out there have come up with some welcome ideas. After a somewhat buggy version 7, Final Draft is back with version 8, a solid update with some great new features. Topping the list of additions is a long overdue Scene Navigator. With this floating window you can track up to nine categories of information, including scene title, page number, length, location and more. An additional program-wide color-coding option adds the ability to group scenes and track a character, storyline or scenes that need work. Along with the Navigator, there is now a Scene Properties Inspector, in which you can assign specific information to each scene, which you can then choose to view in the Navigator. You can add a summary, outline story beats and assign a color and title. The existing Index Card view has been improved. The cards are now double sided, allowing you to switch between viewing a scene and viewing its summary. Changes you make in this summary (i.e. a line of description) can easily be inserted directly into the script using the new “send to script” feature. In addition, there is a new Scene View in which you can take a step back and look at your script in an outline-style scene by scene level. You can drag and drop multiple scenes, choose how much information to display and use the color coding to easily distinguish and track a specific element of your script. The final change to version 8 is the new XML file format, which allows for a greater flexibility in importing and exporting of scripts, cutting down on annoying reformatting. With version 8, Final Draft has made an update that was a long time coming, fulfilled some of its most wanting features and maintained its crown.

Wacom Intuos4 Whether you’re looking to become an art professional or you just like to experiment with Photoshop, sooner or later you’re going to find yourself limited by the use of a mouse. Increasingly, even work done in a traditional medium like paint will at some point need some digital treatment. Comic books are most often colored and lettered on computers. Even hand-drawn animation gets help from computers these days. A graphics tablet is an essential tool of the trade. You can’t do much better than the Wacom Intuos4 (wacom.com/intuos). Wacom is the industry standard when it comes to graphics tablets. They make a wide array of models, from the top of the line Cintiq to the scaled down Bamboo. The Intuos is the perfect marriage of professional level equipment and affordability. It comes in four sizes: small, medium, large and extra large. With an 8.8-inch by 5.5-inch working area, the medium size fulfills most needs. It features eight easily customizable ExpressKeys, as well as a touch ring with four further settings, and two side switches on the stylus. All of these make for a totally intuitive workflow that you set to how you work. These keys can be assigned to have global functions or to execute specific commands in a given application. Switching between brush sizes, layers, tools, zoom level and other Photoshop commands has never been easier. You can customize the mapping of the tablet to the screen, but the default setting has the full tablet workspace mirroring your display. This saves all of that picking up and resetting of the mouse. Plus, it makes for more intuitive drawing. The sensitivity of the stylus is incredible and can mimic various drawing techniques faithfully. It comes with 10 replacement nibs for various uses, plus a pen stand and a wireless mouse. The tablet is ambidextrous, so lefties can flip it around and not lose any usability. It is Mac and Windows compatible and comes with a software bundle, including specially designed brushes for Photoshop. You’ll wonder how you did without it.

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INTEREST-FREE STUDENT LOANS. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. Loans averaging $3,000 are available for students of all faiths in L.A. or Ventura County for: • Tuition costs • Books and other school-related expenses • Small living expenses while enrolled in school For more information, please contact (323) 761-8830 x109 or (818) 464-3331 (Valley Office) www.JFLA.org

UCR Summer Sessions 2011 All UC and visiting students welcome – just an hour on the freeway! • Classes offered in 8 sessions from 3 to 10 weeks in length • Get back on track or finish your degree • Convenient day & evening classes • Easy online application process • Easy freeway access and parking

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TRENDBLENDER

MY BOYFRIEND’S CLOSET

What’s new, what’s in and what’s hot on young L.A’s fashion scene.

BY eva recinos

There was hardly anywhere online this past week that didn’t mention the Coachella lineup. The three-day-long music festival holds a reputation for jam-packing each day with performances from a range of bands that transport you to a different musical realm altogether. At Coachella, fans unabashedly sweat together and throw their hands in the air freely to the same pulsing beat. With months still left until the actually weekend reverie (April 15-17), the expectations are high, and the excitement is building. But so is the disappointment. For a festival known for its alternative choice of bands – performers from Caifanes to Gogol Bordello to !!! and even the classic Duran Duran – fans were a little distraught and outraged at their favorites next to a few seemingly unfitting names. Sitting comfortably in the list for the third day is controversy-causing Kanye West himself. The guy is not the only mainstream musician gracing the list – “Fuck You”famed and Gnarls Barkley member Cee Lo Green will visit the festival along with Irish punk band Flogging Molly and mellow men Interpol – and that’s just Friday. Green fans may have no idea who bands like Neon Trees and the Aquabats are, but there’s nothing wrong with mixing things up a bit. West performed in 2006, so what is the big deal? For fans of the musical festival, it seems that the mainstream does not go too well with the indie. Not only does West boast of larger fame and popularity than some of the smaller bands listed, but his antics are the exact opposite of anyone wishing to get away from mainstream media. It’s no wonder that one of the musicians most talked about is also greatly disliked by quite a few music fans. Those that attended the festival last year are probably experiencing quite a case of déjà vu. Hip hopper Jay-Z took the Coachella stage last year on the same turf as Muse. There on the stage and present at the festival was a well-known rapper and his wife, high-profile, butt-shaking, go-getter diva Beyoncé. The gal joined Jay-Z on stage and boosted the mainstream meter up a notch. Despite the seemingly disparate appearance of the two, a crowd still gathered round. Hardly any music fans would pay the hefty price for a Coachella ticket just to see Jay-Z and ignore all the other bands. What occurred was that music fans let go a little. And so did Jay-Z and Beyoncé. They arrived in completely unfamiliar territory and B even went so far as topping her thick locks with a fedora and wearing a cut-off T-shirt with prominent swear words and a feminist mantra. In her plain but challenging tee and a pair of cut-off shorts, the girl posed as another member of the crowd and eased out of her expected image. Was it a weak attempt at fitting in, or was she actually in the spirit of Coachella? You travel miles and sometimes even camp out for the opportunity to not only see your favorite musicians but get away from everything else and feel the unity of an event that only happens once a year. For Beyoncé, the freedom was in straying from her usual wardrobe and writing whatever she felt on a cotton tee. West’s unexpected appearance definitely shakes things up, but musicians don’t get anywhere without garnering attention – whether positive or negative. West is a different person from 2006, but the talent he inarguably exudes, attitude or not, remains intact. If the spirit of Coachella is to coalesce, let go and find utter freedom in the power of music, the fans can find that freedom even with West’s performance. Watching him perform does not mean signing on to his biggest fans list. But for a small span of time, West can find refuge from the faces of angry pop stars, and indie fans can dance to a new genre without committing anything to an iPod. With the sun blazing high overhead and everyone from a 5-year-old to a blooming teenager sharing the same lawn, almost anything can happen. And that anything can mean history going down as a hipster crowd sways to the rhythm of Kanye West.

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Oversized Shirts A simple white oversized shirt brings out the class in you – only if worn in the right way. Make sure that at least one part of your body, whether it is your waist or your legs, stays fitted. Using a belt to take in the shirt in the middle defines your feminine figure, while pairing with thigh-high socks or leggings gives you a schoolgirl vibe. lookbook.nu

COACHELLA 2011

Coats Menswear-inspired coats not only keep you warm but also add urban feel to your outfit. Keep in mind that these coats are pretty long – unless you are a 5-foot, 10-inch supermodel, you are going to look like a little kid playing dress-up in his father’s closet if you pair with flats. Opt for a pair of classic pumps. If you are a skirt fan, choose a skirt of same length as the coat’s hemline. style.com

Jay-Z and Beyoncé let loose at last year’s Coachella.

If you are obsessed with loose-fitting items like me, you probably had one or two embarrassing experiences wandering into the men’s section looking for an oversized white shirt or a simple blazer. If you are lucky enough to have access to your boyfriend’s closet, you probably discovered that his workout T-shirts are so much better to sleep in than your own pajama tops. Well, the runways have been bringing good news to us: Menswear is very in at the moment, this time in the women’s section. So no need to use that awkward excuse at the register – “This is for my boyfriend!” – and follow these simple styling tips to be comfortable and classy.

Wide-legged Pants Rejoice, the time has come for us to throw out our super-tight skinny jeans. Wide-legged pants have hit the runways in such fashionable variations – finally, pants that we can breathe and eat in! Keep things simple with a cleancut shirt or a blouse, preferably in a similar color palette, to join the relaxed minimalism wave. Tucking in your top maximizes the length of your legs. style.com

beyonceworld.net

by daeun jeong

Join CAMPUS CIRCLE www.campuscircle.com MUSICINTERVIEWS

PLAIN WHITE T’S Reveal New Wonders by Tamea Agle While I was waiting to speak with Tom Higgenson, frontman for the band Plain White T’s, I listened, again, to their latest album, Wonders of the Younger. I had been familiar with the band’s well-known love songs for quite some time, but I was happy to hear that there is even more to their sound and mood on this new release. Higgenson, enthusiastic about the new feel of the album, begins, “Some people only know us from the songs on the radio, the slower, acoustic love songs feel, which is a big part of what we do, but there are a lot more faces to the band.” “Especially with this album, we tried to make a roller coaster of songs,” he continues. “We wanted to make an album that really takes you somewhere you’ve never been before. It takes you on a bit of a journey. I think people will be very excited to hear what we’ve been doing.” Higgenson and the band – consisting of Dave Tirio, Tim Lopez, De’Mar Hamilton and Mike Retondo – have always written from the heart. The songs come from “our personal experiences that we all bring to the table,” says Higgenson. “‘Rhythm of Love’ and the song ‘Body Parts’ on the album, both that Tim Lopez sang, they are his true life experiences that he wrote about. For me, there are a couple

Campus Circle > Music > Interviews really personal moments, like the song ‘Last Breath’ and ‘Our Song’ are both very personal to me.” To connect with the audience, Higgenson says, “You have to write from the heart and tap into it; the more intimate you get, the more other people can connect to it.” As a longtime admirer of Tim Burton, I was happy to learn that the band had been asked to include a song of theirs in the 2010 Alice in Wonderland compilation. “I was in this wondrous, dreamy state for the songwriting, and it just so happened that the day after I wrote ‘Welcome to Mystery’ our label contacted us,” Higgenson says. “Tim Burton is a huge influence on us, always has been. So that was a huge honor to be part of something.” From the first day of recording, Burton’s influence was ever-present. With full control over their own studio, the band made it into a creative wonderland and, of course, “There was an Edward Scissorhands action figure there from the beginning.” As for now, the band heads out on tour this month. “Last time we played in L.A., we played the House of Blues, so it will be great to get back here. It’s always good to have an excuse to get back to L.A.,” Higgenseon says. Later in the year, the band hopes to expand their tour overseas. Higgenson’s longtime collaborator, Ian Kirkpatrick, came on board as the album’s producer, and the band was able to take over Higgenson’s in-house studio. “[Kirkpatrick] helped push the band to the next level I think,” he says. “He was great with the songs like ‘Cirque Dans La Rue.’” The writing and recording processes melded into the production with a lot of on-the-spot trial and error throughout.

“Some of it worked, some of it didn’t, so we took it out. Everyone just came by every day and we went to work. It was a very nice and laid-back atmosphere,” reveals Higgenson. That laid-back atmosphere and from-the-heart writing resulted in a new and exciting album that will bring new fans as well as keep everyone coming back for more. Wonders of the Younger is currently available. Plain White T’s perform Feb. 7 at House of Blues Anaheim and Feb. 8 at House of Blues Sunset Strip. For more information, visit plainwhitets.com.

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february 11 » the music box

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Campus Circle > Music > Live Show Reviews Good,” and reworked classics of her own (“Fujiyama Mama” and “Riot in Cell Block No. 9”), she shared bits about her one-time paramour Elvis Presley and likened White to a “velvet-covered brick” in describing his insistency that she cover certain songs. White didn’t disappoint either, providing sick guitar licks throughout the night, especially on closer, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates’ “Shakin’ All Over.” Over the years, bands from Social Distortion to the Cramps have covered Jackson songs, and now, with White at her side, she’s poised for more critical and crossover success. —TJ Webber

Mike Matusiewicz

Ages and Ages

Sad Robot’s Katherine Pawlak had the Roxy crowd competing to get to the front of the stage.

Slow Burning Car Jan. 20 @ Crimsin Los Angeles ends at the Santa Monica Freeway, or at least it might as well. The fact is, you can always get people to drive up from the South Bay or the beach for a night of music in Hollywood, but almost no one has the gas to go the other way. Pity those poor Hollywood types. They are missing out on bands who are truly pushing the envelope; bands who are intelligent, bands who rock, bands like Slow Burning Car. This guitar-driven machine plays full-throttle rock like you seldom hear further north. Call them metal if you will, but this is metal that’s been tempered with the heat of passion, fun and the kind of intimacy that just isn’t possible at those larger clubs up on the Sunset Strip. For this show at the comparably intimate Crimsin in San Pedro, singer/bassist Troy Spiropoulos led the band through an impressive set of songs from Blowback, their debut, and the recently released Vol. 2 – The Scattering. Spiropoulos uses his lyrical melodies to really connect with his audience, most notably on “Marry Me,” a song written for his wife. He was singing directly to her on this night, and by the time he got finished, there wasn’t a woman in the house who wasn’t feeling he was singing directly to them as well. Spiropoulos, who hosts the Internet radio show “Troy’s Room” on LA Talk Radio, is the star of the show, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the band is just along for the ride. Guitarist Brian Butler plays with a passion, emotion and intensity characteristic of the greatest axesmiths in rock. Victor Bishop adds a completely different level to the metal with his keyboard work. Drummer Mike Zimmerman keeps the whole fire cooking whether propelling the harder tracks or subtly underlining the softer works. This is a band that deserves something bigger. If they keep up the quality, there’s no reason opportunity shouldn’t come their way as long as opportunity isn’t afraid to drive a little farther than it’s used to. Did I mention that parking is a whole lot easier in San Pedro than it is in Hollywood? That alone almost makes the trip worthwhile. —Tom Kidd

Sad Robot Jan. 21 @ The Roxy It’s not often that a person in the midst of a severe seasonal cold can drag themselves out of their house, let alone attend a live show in Hollywood at the Roxy. That is what happened this past Friday. While sitting (and coughing) through the usual lineup of opening bands, I found myself wishing I were at home and in

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bed nursing myself back to health. That thought immediately changed the moment Sad Robot took to the stage and began what would turn out to be a very impressive show. The instant the curtains went up, Sad Robot and their incredibly gorgeous and captivating Katherine Pawlak (vocalist and keys) had the crowd at the Roxy on their feet and competing to get to the front of the stage. Opening with the song entitled “You’ll See in Time,” Pawlak’s soulful yet powerful and commanding voice instantly worked the audience into an indie-rock-induced frenzy. Throughout the night, Pawlak’s vocals were complimented by a solid performance from fellow band members Nick Perez (guitar), Chris Razze (drums) and Michael Marigliano (bass). Pawlak definitely knows how to entertain a crowd. She constantly engaged the audience members during her songs and spoke to them directly in between. By doing so, she made the audience members feel as if they were more like close friends than just fans. Those lucky enough to be up front were treated to an eyeful of Pawlak’s unique and seductive stage moves that continued to draw enthusiastic screams from the crowd throughout the night. Judging from the audience’s reaction, every song played that night was a hit. Not once throughout the entire show was there a drop in the decibel level being generated by the cheers and screaming coming from the audience. Enough cannot be said about Sad Robot’s rock solid performance and Pawlak’s mesmerizing vocals and stage presence. This band was without a doubt born to perform and bring audiences to their feet. Not to mention they also seem to be a cure for the common cold. —Mike Matusiewicz

Wanda Jackson Jan. 24 @ The El Rey Just like when he produced Loretta Lynn’s Grammy-winning Van Lear Rose album in 2004, Jack White is instrumental in bringing another member of music royalty back to the forefront. This time, it’s 1950s rock pioneer Wanda Jackson, aka the First Lady of Rockabilly. White was at the helm for the recording of Jackson’s latest, a collection of cover songs called The Party Ain’t Over (released on White’s Third Man Records), and accompanied her on stage with the Third Man Band and her two backup singers, the “cupcakes,” on the eve of the album’s release, the second of two sold-out nights at the El Rey. As the 73-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer yodeled, wailed and growled her way through songs from The Party Ain’t Over, like Amy Winehouse’s “You Know That I’m No

Jan. 26 @ The Satellite As they promote their upcoming album Alright Your Restless, Ages and Ages took the stage while receiving a warm welcome. Currently on a West Coast tour, the Portland-based group quickly energized the crowd with their enthusiasm and intensity. Much like they reiterate, they are not a cult, as the seven-member group stand tall on stage. They are a group of individuals eager to spread their music with the world. Musically, Ages and Ages sound as if they channel the peace and love movement from the ’60s and combine present-day roots into their songs. Frontman Tim Perry led the group with his electric guitar riffs as every member provided backup vocals. The audience became the eighth member of the band by clapping along with the group. The entire performance involved crowd participation as everyone on the floor learned the lyrics. Singers Sarah Riddle and Kate O’BrienClarke balanced the vocal harmony while completing the soothing sounds they are known for. Each song included tranquil vibes that forced smiles and joy across the floor. What separates Ages and Ages from other live acts is their carefree spirit and attitude. Their purpose is to entertain the masses and they excelled. Most importantly, they appear to be a family; their bond is instantly detected. Singing in unison sparked crowd reactions as the band shouted at the top of their lungs and often shifted from male to female vocals. The latest single, No Nostalgia, captures the essence of the group with its tambourines and keyboards mixing perfectly with guitars. With every member pouring their souls into microphones, they complete a perfect choir that invites everyone to participate at any degree. Ages and Ages played with raw passion and ambition. Their music included ingenuity that carried them through the entire performance. —Jacob Gaitan

EkoTren Jan. 27 @ The Key Club After talking with frontman John Sheldon, I was eager to see EkoTren take the stage at the Key Club on the Sunset Strip. EkoTren followed a darkly entertaining set by Fashion Bomb, hailing from Chicago, Ill. Ekotren took to the stage with heavy beats of drum and metal and instantly won over the audience. The audience response was in and of itself entertaining as they made a mini mosh pit consisting of a rotating group of 10 excited, running audience members while the rest of the crowd danced and jumped with the band. While not everyone in the club knew every word, by the end of the night the band had more than a few new fans. Ekotren, on tour from Cape Coral, Fla., has played with Ill Nino for years and were happy to continue their tradition of opening for them at the Key club, which they did in support of their last album in 2008. The band – made up of John Sheldon in lead vocals, Keith Finnell on Guitar, Derek Desantis on Bass, Frank Jargiello on Drums – have been together for years and are now touring in support of their new album. The Dead of Night (released on Jan. 25) has had a great response, and the band is thrilled with the tour, which will continue through February. —Tamea Agle

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Interpol will give you your money’s worth ... or Brien Overly will literally eat his words.

by BRIEN OVERLY Yelawolf Feb. 3 @ Detroit Bar Man, this dude was not what I had anticipated his music to be the first time I listened to him. Granted, it was something of a blind listen to see what the buzz was about, with only a few photos having been referenced, but … yeah, unexpected. Maybe I was more shocked because I was prepared to be disappointed. Given his style, his music was either going to be insufferable Never Shout Never brand tween-pop or adolescent innuendolaced joke synth-rap à la 3OH!3. Color me surprised to find out he’s mercifully neither of those awful scene trends that kids buy into these days. Instead, he can put down some very slick sounding rhymes and beats, somewhere in the middle of Eminem and Atmosphere in the hip-hop for white people spectrum. What that translates to is that he sounds like a badass without sounding like he’s posturing pretentiously, he’s as infectiously catchy as the mainstream club bangers without sounding like his lyrics were co-written by elementary school children and he’s 100 percent legit. He’s also going to be on this year’s Warped Tour, which means that the tour might once again actually have some street cred, after the epic fail of letting Mike Posner try to hold down that fort last year.

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Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Feb. 4 @ The El Rey The first instinct when listening to Grace Potter sing might admittedly be to involuntarily write her off. Attractive blonde songstress hires backing band to give her cred while she performs adult contemporary ballads she had no hand in writing herself. Been there, done that, with countless girls who have followed this tried-and-true formulaic method, right? Except, y’know, that’s really not the case at all with Ms. Potter. Unlike those other “frontwomen,” who start bands because they need breaks from their difficult lives as models and actresses, Potter is actually a very legit musician. The fact that she looks like if Heidi Klum dove headfirst into Silver Lake is really a minor point by comparison. Underneath her modelesque stature, Potter’s got the soul of a purebred rock ’n’ roller. Mixing smooth and sultry crooning with the occasional sandpaper-andJack Daniel’s howling, Potter evokes everything from the Followill brothers to Johnny Cash to Courtney Love in her music. That is, if Courtney could actually sing, play an instrument or not be a train wreck for like, more than two minutes. I don’t even care that VH1 seems to apparently love her, I still jam to Potter’s tracks. And my loathing of VH1 is well documented in the annals of Frequency, so you should all know by now just how much that says about how good Potter is and how worth your time she is as well.

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Interpol Feb. 4 @ UCSB Events Center I don’t care that Santa Barbara is a long drive up north for you. When Interpol plays a show, you ask when and how much. You don’t contest either of the answers you get, or anything else for that matter. If you think Interpol isn’t worth riding in the back middle seat of your friend’s Jetta for an hour and a half, you are sorely mistaken and should promptly go find yourself better taste in music. By going to an Interpol show. Ironic, no? Point being, if the band doesn’t give you your money’s worth with their musicianship and stage presence, I’ll eat a copy of this issue. This page specifically. Not even kidding right now*. Point being, precious few bands short of that other one fronted by the great El Casablancas manage to effectively jump from indie to mainstream without any sacrifice of artistry. Interpol is one of that small handful who manage to do the near-impossible however, writing hit jam after hit jam that are still artistic and intellectual. All while looking like a GQ cover story, no less. The rest of us mere mortals might as well just quit at life, because Interpol just does everything better. *On the condition you can publicly identify me and present me with a copy of said page, at which point statement becomes purely facetious and is no longer literally binding.

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GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS Melting Faces and Hearts by TAMEA AGLE Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are no strangers to busy and bustling life on the road. As I spoke to Potter, she was just getting off a plane in Spokane, Wash., getting ready for yet another night on the road. Spokane may not be on every band’s tour, but Potter has an appreciation for the time spent outside the major venues in Los Angeles and New York. “I always look forward to the cities that we stop through that most bands don’t get to play. We were just in Boise, Idaho, and now we’re in Spokane, Wash. There’s something about these smaller towns where people are in that shock and awe phase of going to see music.” The mood and electricity from the audience are somehow different in cities where a major concert may not be an everyday occurrence. “They really put it out there, enjoy and scream.” The band – made up of frontwoman Potter, Matt Burr on drums, Scott Tournet on guitar, Catherine Popper on guitar and Benny Yurco on vocals – has been described as a genre-

Campus Circle > Music > Interviews bending rock ’n’ roll homage to the past. On their self-titled record released last summer, they brought in some hip-hop, and Potter was excited to work with producer Mark Batson who is most known for his collaborations with big names such as Dr. Dre and Eminem. “Working with Mark took me out of my shell and out of my comfort zone to work with someone with such a hip-hop background,” Potter shares. For the new record, “he brought in these beats with so much soul and character and sexuality.” The band has recently played more than just in front of live audiences while on tour. They were on “The Tonight Show” and “Lopez Tonight.” And the appearances have been helping to bring their music into more homes. “We play for groups of people every night on tour but to play one moment on TV, it can change hundreds of thousands of peoples’ minds about your music, and that’s pretty great to be able to touch so many people all at once.” While home in Los Angeles, as well as on tour, the band is working hard writing and perfecting new songs. “‘Medicine’ was written by Scott, our guitarist, and our drummer Matt. They were in the basement jamming. They came up with the loop, recorded it and sent it to me. I sat with it a couple days, and it just made sense,” she says. The writing process is not always the same.: “Sometimes I just lock myself in a room til something gets done.” Nevertheless, the outcome is always music from the heart. Inspiration for music comes to Potter in old and new artists and influences. “Just today I was listening to Frank Sinatra for inspiration,” she says. “But I love the new music coming out now, bands like the Black Keys, Wilco. There’s so much music coming out that is really beautiful.” Making their own mark with their music, the group takes

MUSICREPORT by kevin wierzbicki Kid Infinity 3-D Show Using technology originally intended for Michael Jackson’s farewell tour, L.A. electro-punk/hip-hop duo Kid Infinity (kidinfinity.com) presents a 3-D concert at the Alexandria Hotel on Feb. 5. This isn’t 3-D like you’ve experienced it before; this is a fully immersive stage show where the band performs in front of a screen and is able to build a virtual stage around themselves and the audience. The animations are customized to the music and objects such as cubes pulsate, spin next to you, float above you and come at you to the tempo of the music. This type of 3-D show has never before been presented in a concert environment. The 87 Stick Up Kids and Captain Ahab open the show with non-3-D performances.

Coachella! Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire and Kanye West are the headliners of this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Kings of Leon perform on Friday, April 15, along with an impressive roster that includes Cee Lo Green, the Black Keys, Interpol, Ozomatli, the Chemical Brothers, Robyn, Sasha, Brandon Flowers and Caifanes. The Kills, Animal Collective, Bright Eyes, Mumford & Sons, Fedde Le Grand, Gogol Bordello, Wire and Big Audio Dynamite are some of the acts leading up to Saturday’s Arcade Fire show, and the whole shebang closes out on Sunday with the Strokes, Duran Duran, PJ Harvey, Wiz Khalifa, Jimmy Eat World, Nas & Damian Marley, CSS, She Wants Revenge and the Bloody Beetroots among those warming up the crowd for West’s closer. Find the full listing of performers and ticket and camping pass information at coachella.com.

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over the studio when it’s time to record. “We come in hot, and I would feel bad for anyone who would have to share a studio with us. We do tend to take over.” They prefer to work in more private studios when they can. “Small studios that can feel more like home, more intimate down and dirty rock ’n’ roll style, you know? Less luxury and more work getting done.” Fans of the band will not have to do without them after the tour comes to a close later this year. Potter reveals, “We’ll probably end up in L.A. doing more TV spots and hopefully, roll right into the studio. Not to say we’re shooting to put out a new record anytime soon, we are still enjoying the youth of this one, but it’s always good to continue to make music.” Anyone looking forward to seeing Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will be happy to hear that the shows are all about excitement. The band brings energy and in Potter’s words, “dynamics, melting faces and melting hearts all at once.” Grace Potter and the Nocturnals perform Feb. 4 at the El Rey. For more information, visit gracepotter.com.

Campus Circle > Music > Music Report The Band Perry Double-dog Dares You Grammy-winning sibling trio the Band Perry has teamed with Purina dog food to give fans a chance to win some money and also help out the canine community. The group’s members are appearing in promotional spots asking fans for charitable ideas like “I double-dog dare you to refurbish my city’s animal shelter.” Three ideas will come to fruition, and the person who submitted the “dare” will get $5,000 and a year’s supply of Purina Dog Chow. Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry are all dog lovers, and their pets appear alongside them in the commercials for the contest. The band doesn’t have a local appearance scheduled until their June 4 show with Tim McGraw in San Bernardino. Submit your dare at daredogchow.com.

Misra Records Free Sampler Durham, N.C.-based Misra Records is offering a free download of the 15-track Misra Legacy Compilation Vol. 1. The comp features new music from forthcoming releases by Sleeping States, Southeast Engine, Summer Hymns, Bears, the Black Swans and Theodore. Others representing on the Misra freebie are Phosphorescent, the Mendoza Line, Destroyer, Great Lake Swimmers, Palomar, Hallelujah the Hills, the Bruces, Emily Rodgers and Centro-matic. Grab your copy at misrarecords.com.

Slash Horror-fied Iconic Grammy-winning rock guitarist Slash has partnered with Michael Williams and Rob Eric of Scout Productions to form Slasher Films with the intent of making low-to-medium budget original character-driven horror films reminiscent of the visionary horror fare of the late 1970s and ’80s. “I’m a lifelong horror movie fan and horror movie

Kid Infinity stimulates the senses with a 3-D show Feb. 5. critic,” says Slash. “I’m from a generation that appreciates the great horror movies of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s that really scared the hell out of you.” With that in mind, Slasher Films plans to focus on supernatural, psychological thrillers and terrifying horror as they begin producing one or two movies a year starting this year. In the meantime, Slash, who’s scheduled to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year, is on tour as a solo act and with Ozzy Osbourne.

Clandestine: The Invalid L.A. progressive hard rock/metal band Clandestine is about to release a new album called The Invalid. Clandestine is fronted by singer June Park who wields an impressive and otherworldly voice (and equally impressive purple hair) and their music draws comparisons to that of other femalefronted bands like Lacuna Coil and Evanescence as well as Dream Theater, Rush and Tool. The Invalid is produced by Sylvia Massey (Tool, System of a Down) and drops on the Nightmare Records label on Feb. 15.

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Barton Hallow (Sensibility) After releasing a live album and a four-song EP, the Civil Wars have finally released their much-anticipated debut. Barton Hallow features 12 soothing tracks filled with tranquility and poise. Every song travels seamlessly into the next as it captures the attention of each listener with its gentle acoustic guitars and strong piano chords. Singers Joy Williams and John Paul White create a perfect duo throughout the album. Williams’ tender voice quickly becomes addicting as the songs begin. Her soft vocals express deep emotion and sensibility, which are easily portrayed in every song. White provides a stellar blend with his deep voice that creates an excellent fusion with Williams’. His voice maintains a serene harmony that exposes a fragile man engaged with emotion. Together they create a magnificent album that wanders effortlessly inside each listener’s mind. Barton Hallow proves that simplicity and ease can easily be the key factors to a successful album. “Poison & Wine” exposes a very fragile and tender view of the group. With docile guitars strumming along hollow piano keys, the Civil Wars excel as they sing directly to one another and deliver a warmhearted performance. The song “Barton Hallow” transcends to an upbeat catchy track that sends its listeners to the southern part of the country with acoustic guitars and tambourines. “Falling” displays a brittle and vulnerable position as Williams lowers her defenses in a wonderful performance. Each track differs greatly from the previous one as they expand their musical style from acoustic rock to indie folk and slight elements of country with rhythm and blues. This album illustrates their immense potential for success. The chemistry Williams and White share is unforgettable. Their talents shine bright from beginning to end. It’s easy to get lost in each song as the lyrics demand attention and the music swirls with emotion. Grade: B —Jacob Gaitan Barto Hallow is currently available.

Kushinator Self-titled (Spacerock) With a band name like Kushinator, there’s no doubt that this album is going to be, uh, smokin’. And for full disclosure, you should know that Kushinator frontman Sean “Mister Insanity” Kush is also the head honcho at the Medical Kush Beach Club, a medical marijuana dispensary in Venice. With that in mind, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine the music offered here as a set of goofy odes to rolling fatties presented with a carefree sloppiness. But surprise, bassist/singer Kush and his cohorts (guitarist Tommy “Gun” Demers and drummer Johnny Dunn) are serious about the music, and while songs like “Green Marbles” are clearly about the bud, the band rocks like a heavier, thrashier version of Primus with Kush’s popping and clicking fivestring bass-playing pushing the song way past typical stoner rock. Kush sings with an emphatic if not angry shout on most of the songs and a cursory listen will bring comparisons to any number of nu-metal and rap-rock groups, but there’s also a sophisticated level of musicianship here that harkens back to acts like King Crimson. These guys may or may not like to partake once in awhile, but there’s no way they could perform like this if they’re glued to the bong all day. Grade: B —Kevin Wierzbicki Kushinator is currently available.

Amos Lee Mission Bell (Blue Note) “I’ve learned a lot. I’ve really learned a lot. I hope you found what

Tec Petaja

The Civil Wars

Joy Williams and John Paul White of the Civil Wars you were looking for.” These words from Amos Lee’s song “Learned a Lot” prove to be undeniably true. In his fourth album, Mission Bell, Lee has definitely learned a lot. On his musical journey of a career, he has genuinely escalated the level of talent he has to offer and will not disappoint fans with his latest collection of songs. If Lee can sign Willie Nelson up on the making of his album, he must be doing something right. In their duet, they deliver a remarkable performance. Among the other standouts on the album are the gritty and soulful “El Camino,” the eloquent “Cup of Sorrow” and “Windows Are Rolled Down.” This album could change the direction of Lee’s career in the best of ways. Grade: B+ —Stephanie Forshee Mission Bell is currently available.

The Young International Self-titled (Self-released) In the “what’s-in-a-name” department, the Young International certainly seem to live up to the “young” part, and I’m talking about as a band, not about the members’ ages (which are also young). The guys say they’ve been honing the tunes for this five-song EP for five years, but then again the Nashville-based quartet just played their first gig last December. You have to wonder what’s up with that, but regardless, the situation is not a reflection on the quality of music, which is quite polished. In fac,t TYI had a song, not included here, good enough to be placed on the soundtrack of the recent NBC movie A Walk in My Shoes. The leadoff track on this debut recording is called “Ruckus,” but it’s not literally about making noise; it’s about diving headlong into a love relationship. “Gravity” is also a relationship song and, like “Ruckus,” is a slickly produced pop number featuring guitars that ring clear, emotion-laden vocals from Kaleb Jones and most importantly, a catchy chorus. “Straight Line” though is perhaps this brief offering’s best number; the mash-up of U2 and L.A. cool assures that “everything is gonna be alright” even though Jones’ vocals convey the feeling that things could go off the rails at any moment. Grade B+ —Kevin Wierzbicki The Young International is currently available.

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CURTAINCALL “The Diviners” Now-Feb. 20 @ Pierson Playhouse Whether you are religious or not, you will feel the power of the Holy Spirit in “The Diviners.” Years after his mother drowns, the troubled young boy Buddy Layman (Nicholas Podany) is afraid of water. With the help of his sister Jennie Mae (Stephanie Hawkins), a new preacher in town C.C. Showers (Brett Chapin) and his entire concerned community, Buddy searches for the healing power. Like any community theater, the performances are typically hit or miss. Because of a few very exceptional actors, “The Diviners” can be considered one not to miss. Jim Leonard, Jr.’s story is touching and inspiring for all ages. If you frequent Theatre Palisades, you’ll recognize quite a few of the faces from various previous shows and even catch some new ones. Hawkins is adorable as the 16-year-old Jennie Mae (and you could never tell that she just graduated college). Emma Hawley plays Darlene Henshaw flawlessly. Her humor is impeccable, and her performance will take you back to hilarious performances from Iola Boyland on “Mama’s Family.” Among the most talented in the cast is actually the youngest performer, Podany. His portrayal of Buddy is beyond precious and incredibly moving. Podany is a star in the making. Director Tony Torrisi deserves praise for the tough job of keeping this play moving along, despite a challenging script. Make a night of it, and take a stroll on the beach or even have a picnic or glass of wine before the show in the beautiful Pacific Palisades. —Stephanie Forshee

Campus Circle > Culture > Theater Pierson Playhouse is located at 941 Temescal Canyon Rd., Pacific Palisades. For more information, visit theatrepalisades. com.

“Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein” Now-Feb. 13 @ International City Theatre Sometimes one art form ought to remain within its respective origin, rather than crossing over into another terrain. While most Broadway composers nowadays are throwing any remotely financially successful film up on the stage, Tony award winners Stephen Flaherty and Frank Galati make a futile attempt to follow the trend of blending the mediums in “Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein.” For some reason, they venture far off track into the unmined territory of composing a musical from the works of 20th century writer and poet Gertrude Stein. “Loving Repeating” explores Stein’s early life but leaves too much to be desired. The musical is approximately one and a half hours long, but the first half hour (at least) is filled with confusion and an extremely vague storyline. The good news: The performers are all pretty magnificent. The bad news: They are breaking musical theater’s biggest rule by singing repetitive lyrics by Gertrude Stein over and over and over. However beautiful the lyrics may be, it just doesn’t stand a chance at holding the audience’s attention. Cheryl David (Gertrude) is outstanding at keeping your attention. Her role is unique and challenging in the sense that she plays the lead character in a musical, but she strictly narrates without singing. Shannon Warne (Young Gertrude) is also terrific and she does sing. Her vocals are stellar and her chemistry with the

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SAFFRON

230 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills by ariel Paredes I just ate at this little spot called SAFFRON located in Beverly Hills. The concept behind the restaurant is simply stated in their slogan: Fast. Fresh. Indian. I didn’t know what to expect because it is a fast-food concept for Indian food. I’m not saying that you can’t get great food for cheap, but Indian really is a specialty that you would not consider for fast food. I immediately wanted to rethink why I chose this place and I was afraid I was in for bland, greasy and mediocre food. To my surprise, it was absolutely delicious! Owners Peter Stris and his wife Radha Pathak were searching for local Indian cuisine that was not only delicious but also affordable. They were unable to find a spot that satisfied what they were yearning for. Five years ago, they partnered up with Ben Karlin and started putting together a plan. Their first Saffron opened up downtown in the financial district two years ago. They had to come up with price points that would drive business in but also create good food. “Our business model has always been affordable, delicious food,” stresses Stris. He continues, “We spent awhile looking for someone who was really talented and that could develop authentic recipes with a limited menu and offer healthier options.” Through family and friend connections, they were able

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Leland Burnett, Jay Donnell and Tyler Milliron in “Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein” equally talented Melissa Lyons Caldretti (Alice B. Toklas) is superb. For those of you guilty of rolling your eyes when you’ve heard a director say, “The ensemble is just as important as the leads. If you do your job well, you can stand out even more than them,” this is the show for you. The ensemble in this show has just as much stage time as the leads, and the four ensemble members each have multiple features and solos. Carly Bracco (Woman 1) really does steal the show quite a bit. Her adorable golden locks mixed with her mature vocals are impressive. —Stephanie Forshee International City Theatre is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center at 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. For more information, visit internationalcitytheatre.org.

Campus Circle > Culture > Food to bring in Bhupender Sing, a well-renowned Indian chef, as their executive chef. “He is such an artist, and it was definitely hard to get him to stay focused on the limited menu that’s restricted to chicken and vegetarian dishes,” Stris chuckles. Not only did they thrive at that location, they just opened their second located on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. The menu at the Beverly Hills location is a little more expansive, and the eatery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., as opposed to their downtown location, which is only open for lunch on weekdays. This was a bit of a larger venture on everyone’s part. There are eight plates you can choose from, ranging from a traditional Tikka Masala and Chicken Curry to Aloo Gobi and Tofu Tikka Masala. You can select either the combo plate, which offers two main dishes and basmati rice, or a bowl of any one entrée over rice. They now offer a Tandoori chicken salad for those seeking no carbohydrates or a Tandoori chicken platter, which is only offered at this location. For people with sensitive stomachs, most of their food is gluten free except for the obvious and scrumptious naan bread, offered in both plain and garlic. They make everything fresh, and you can watch them literally making the naan bread constantly throughout the night. They have a neat concept with a house-made chutney bar, including favorites such as mint, tamarind, mango and chili chutneys. The chili chutney almost singed my taste buds off, but then again I can barely do spice! “Everything is made pretty mild so you can add different chutneys to add spice, because we didn’t want to scare people away from trying Indian food,” states Stris. Aside from the Tandoori chicken being so tender, moist

Saffron’s dishes are fast, delicious and flavorful. and flavorful, they have a mango lassi that is off the charts. As my friend guzzles it down and comments on how good it is, Stris beams, “That’s my mother-in-law’s recipe!” There are also side dishes such as samosas and Cucumber Raita. For a limited menu, there are more than enough options to choose from. “My dream is to remove some things from the menu because we want to keep it simple,” Stris expresses eagerly. They want to continue to expand and grow and build more locations from the Westside to South Bay. “Our Yelpers have been outrageously good to us, which is great,” smiles Stris. I am looking forward to heading back to this location to eat, and I’m interested to see where they go from here. It is fast, delicious and flavorful food that won’t break your wallet. Saffron has another location at 505 S. Flower St., Los Angeles. For more information, visit saffronindia.com.

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Linebacker Clay Matthews is one of the Green Bay Packers’ biggest defensive weapons.

STEELERS VS. PACKERS Super Bowl XLV Preview BY elisa hernandez Lights, camera, action: The stage is set in Dallas, Texas, to host Super Bowl XLV where the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers will face off in the biggest game of the year. The Steelers and Packers bring in the two most talked about defenses and explosive offenses in the NFL. These two teams have now combined for a total of 13 Super Bowl berths – eight of those belonging to the Steelers, who tie with Dallas for most all-time appearances – and nine championship titles – three of which belong to the Packers – which is the most ever for two teams heading into a Super Bowl matchup. Last time both teams met was during week 15 in 2009 in an offensive shootout. The game ended with a game-winning touchdown by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to wide receiver Mike Wallace as time expired; final score 3736. Both quarterbacks, Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers, combined for almost 900 passing yards in a fourth quarter that had more than five lead changes. The Steelers are going into Sunday’s matchup with great confidence, winning two of the past five Super Bowls, while the Packers are now the first sixth seed from the NFC to ever reach the Super Bowl. Although these are familiar waters for Roethlisberger and the Steelers, this is Rodgers and the Packers first Super Bowl since he was drafted in 2005, and the Packers went back-to-back in the 1996-1997 seasons. The Steelers have had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs beating the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets. Largely this is thanks to their fierce defense, one of the best in the NFL. The Steelers completely shut down the running game of the Jets, only allowing them 70 yards rushing. The Steelers run zone defense works to put pressure on the quarterbacks. Linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley combined for almost half of the Steelers league-leading 48 sacks. One of their biggest weapons on defense continues to be All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu. For the past two seasons the Steelers were 17-4 with Polamalu on the field and 6-7

Campus Circle 2.2.11 - 2.8.11

without him. Those numbers speaks loudly of the leadership, dedication and production he brings to the team. In this season alone Polamalu has had 63 tackles, seven interceptions and one forced fumble. He has battled with an injured Achilles tendon throughout the playoffs but participated in a full practice this past week, and the two weeks of rest should have helped him get ready. His presence on the field is crucial to the Steelers’ success in the Super Bowl. But that’s not the only injury the Steelers are faced with as center rookie corner Maurkice Pouncey suffered a broken bone in his left ankle along with a previously noted high ankle sprain. Regardless of his remarks that he would play, his status for playing in the Super Bowl remains “highly doubtful,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If Pouncey doesn’t start, center and right guard Doug Legursky will take his place at the starting position. The Steelers’ starting cornerback Bryant McFadden has a strained abdomen, being limited in minutes during the Jets game, and his appearance is still questionable. McFadden had 81 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in the 2010 season. If for any reason McFadden does not start, cornerback William Gay will take his place. And the list only gets longer as Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and left tackle Jonathan Scott both have a foot injury, and special teams’ Will Allen has a knee injury. Although all three did not practice, Allen is the only one whose injury might keep him out of playing in the Super Bowl. Looking on to offense, the Steelers have developed other players throughout the season, such as running back Rashard Mendenhall, who had over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns during the 2010 season. Mendenhall’s consistent performance in the playoffs has allowed the Steelers to spread out their offense. His running game provides balance to the Steelers, who have been known to mostly throw the ball. Roethlisberger will have to be almost perfect as he goes head-to-head with Rodgers. Roethlisberger is known for his footwork and ability to extend plays and/or running to get the first down. In this season alone, he has over 3,000 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He will have to maneuver outside the pocket and place the ball in the hands of wide receiver Hines Ward, who had more than 700 yards on the season with five touchdowns. Wide receiver Mike Wallace is one of the young players on offense whose explosive talent gives the passing game a vertical element. Since Ward continues to make tough catches up the middle, Wallace provides a deep threat. Regardless of the Steelers’ injuries, they have one of the most complete offenses.

The Steelers will win if they can contain red-hot Rodgers and keep him off the field, limiting his time. Rodgers struggled against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship (He threw two interceptions.). If the Steelers replicate that pressure, they will create turnover opportunities. But Rodgers is not one to be intimidated easily by black and yellow or any other colors. Throughout the playoffs, Rodgers has produced the highest passer rating in postseason history. Rodgers passed for almost 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in the regular season. Rodgers, like Roethlisberger, has the capability to move in and out the pocket and make plays using his legs whether he is running for a touchdown or a first down. He is the main reason why the Packers have won three playoff games on the road, taking out the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears. Rodgers does a great job of distribution of the ball. Although he has relied on his receiver Greg Jennings most of the postseason, he has had four other players with 45 or more catches. Jennings has to be one of the Packers’ most explosive offensive players. His outstanding athleticism has led him to his third-straight, 1,000-yard season. His versatility also provides a deep threat that matches up well with that of Wallace. The Packers are just full of surprises. Rookie running back James Starks got his first career start in the wild card game versus the Eagles. Since then, he has made a name for himself. The Packers running game has gotten a late-season boost from this unlikely hero. His breakthrough performance in the playoffs added much-needed balance to this football team. Starks has 263 yards rushing in the playoffs and is the postseason leading rusher. This allows the Packers to spread the Steelers’ defense, helping them utilize their running game effectively. But Starks isn’t the only rookie making a name for himself this playoff season. Rookie cornerback Sam Shields has produced two crucial interceptions during the NFC Championship game versus the Bears, one of them being the game winner. The game-winning interception came during the final minute of the fourth quarter when Shields intercepted quarterback Caleb Hanie as he aimed for the end zone, sealing the Packers’ 21-14 win. On the defensive end, the Packers have one of the biggest weapons in line backer Clay Matthews. Matthews ranked fourth in the NFL for most sacks with 13, adding 3.5 more in the playoffs. His ability to read offensive plays has allowed him to put pressure on quarterbacks. In only his second season in the NFL, Matthews leads the candidacy for NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The Packers’ defense has gotten stronger as well with the presence of cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. Woodson had 92 tackles, five forced fumbles and two interceptions on the season, while Williams led the Packers with six picks in the regular season, adding three more in the playoffs (one which was a game winner). Williams intercepted Michael Vick in the end zone during the wild card game, sealing their 21-16 win over the Eagles. In order for the Packers to bring home a fourth Super Bowl title to their franchise, they must contain Roethlisberger and not allow him to break free from the pocket and extend plays. They have to keep down the Steelers’ third-down conversion rate and make plays on the ground as well as in the air. In this Super Bowl matchup, expect both defenses to come out aggressive and ready to make pivotal plays. Although the Steelers are 6-1 in the Super Bowl and have won their last three games against the Packers, anything can happen on any given Sunday. Although the Steelers have 25 players on their current roster with previous Super Bowl experience, as opposed to only two players on the Packers, the Packers have what it takes to create one of Super Bowl’s biggest upsets and bring home the Lombardi Trophy. In the words of Woodson, “See you at the White House. Go Packers.”

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Modern 50’s style diner Kobe Bryant surpassed 27,000 points, but the Lakers lost to the Celtics Jan. 30.

by marvin vasquez

The Lakers have yet to panic about their current form on the hardwood, but everyone else is. In fact, their true color of purple is practically turning blue for the Lakers spectators. They have lost two consecutive games, including a surprising defeat to the Sacramento Kings Jan. 28, not to mention a lethargic loss to the Boston Celtics Jan. 30. What is worse is that both came at the Staples Center. What is wrong with the Lakers? A few things here and there, but their inability to be defensively consistent needs to improve. Yeah, the above par statistics are present to depict otherwise. Sure, the team carries several great individual defenders. Nevertheless, the team’s effort image is plaguing their woes as of now. Point guard Rajon Rondo was an integral element in the Celtics’ 109-96 victory over the two-time defending champions. Rondo amounted 10 points and 16 assists to go along with five rebounds. “We knew we could run on L.A.,” Rondo declares. “L.A., given the personnel that we have, we thought we could outrun them.” And the Celtics did just that. “I think he called an absolutely perfect game. He’s our pitcher. [We] lost our senses in the second quarter for a stretch,” Celtics head coach Doc Rivers says of Rondo. “We got into complaining about everything, except for playing basketball, and I told them at halftime just keep playing through anything.” SoCal native Paul Pierce garnered 32 points, Ray Allen recorded 21 points and Kevin Garnett’s double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds gave Boston a big boost. “It feels good to come back in this building and get a win,” Pierce admits. For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant experienced a great individual day after collecting 41 points on 16-of-29 from the field, including three treys. In addition, Bryant surpassed the 27,000-point plateau in his career, but he was not happy about it. “I think guys are upset, and they should be. We’re not playing very well against these top teams, so we need to elevate our level and need to get better if we’re to defend our throne,” Bryant comments. “There’s no other option but that.” Lamar Odom added a quiet 15 points and five boards, while Pau Gasol had 12 points and seven rebounds in what was almost a nonexistent game for him. Andrew Bynum connected for 11 points and six rebounds, but his committing fouls and soreness in his left knee kept him in trouble and pain, respectively. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson does not hit the panic button after the affair. “Is it the playoffs yet?” he utters. “No. We’re still playing regular-season games. We’ll get there in time.” Bryant seems to carry the same attitude. “I never panic. It’s just fuel to get better,” he confesses. “Would we like to win these games? Absolutely. But the point is to continue to get better.” Even Odom is not panicking. “You can’t allow yourself to hit the panic button. It doesn’t matter how much time is left,” he says. “It’s time for us to get better as a team and get this thing down pat consistently so we can play the same way all the time offensively and defensively.” However, the Lakers are 0-4 against some of the best teams in the league thus far this season. That includes losses to the Celtics, Heat, Mavericks and Spurs. “We’re not playing very well against the top teams,” Bryant says. “So we need to elevate our level, and we need to get better if we’re to defend the throne.” The Lakers are done with games in January, but the first two weeks of February are no charm. They host the Spurs (Feb. 3) before heading out on a seven-game road trip, which has its third and fourth games in Boston and then New York. “It’s going to be measured down the road if this team is going to be better or worse, but I like our team. I like our chances,” Gasol states. “Obviously, Matt [Barnes] is out, and that hurts us a little because it shortens our rotation. But we pretty much have everybody we need back.”

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Lakers All-Access

by elisa hernandez

Luke Walton spoke at Lakers All-Access.

The Staples Center hosted its Lakers All-Access event spon– sored by the L.A. Sports and Entertainment Commission Thursday, Jan. 27, where fans could get up close and personal with the team who has brought five NBA championships to their current home in downtown Los Angeles. Fans of all ages were able to shoot around on the Lakers basketball court, run drills, participate in a silent auction, tour the Lakers locker room and take pictures with the Laker Girls and NBA Finals Championship trophies. Regardless of the free food, fans were eager to hear from head coach Phil Jackson, assistant coach Brian Shaw, forward Matt Barnes, forward Luke Walton, five-time championship winner Derek Fisher and seven-time championship winner Robert Horry; Fox Sports West broadcaster Bill Macdonald hosted the panel. Macdonald started off the discussion by asking Fisher where he felt the team’s focus was this season and their chances of a possible second three-peat. “We have what’s necessary to win the championship,” Fisher said. “We’re built to handle it, and not only handle it but get it done; ultimately, there is no fear on this team.” The Lakers would face the Sacramento Kings on Friday, but it seemed their focus was more on Sunday’s matchup against the Boston Celtics. Fisher stressed how they can’t overlook teams and look onto just Boston, and how important it is that they take everything one game at a time and not neglect any team, regardless of record. With the start of February, it seems the Lakers are awaiting the All-Star break. Fisher and Shaw spoke of fatigue amongst the players, and how the Lakers are now a veteran team that needs to “save their legs.” This break allows them to regain focus and get ready for the rest of the season. After a short break, fans received a chance to view a one-on-one interview between Macdonald and Phil Jackson. The coach spoke of his experience in the NBA and how he never thought basketball would play such a huge part in his life. “Basketball has fulfilled this competitive urge I have,” Jackson said. Looking back in his career, Jackson stated how fortunate he is to have worked with great athletes over the years, including Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Jackson earlier this season claimed that win or lose this would be his last season as head coach for the Lakers. “I’ve had my life organized for 265 days,” he said. “Sometimes it gets a little bit weary.” Whether this final decision changes or not, Phil Jackson is one of the greatest NBA and Lakers coaches of all time, winning two championships as a player and 11 as head coach.

Campus Circle 2.2.11 - 2.8.11

FILM

MUSIC

CULTURE

EVENTS

DVD GAMING SPORTS MEDIA BLOGS Art Beauty Books Fashion Food Gaming Special Features Theater Travel

COLORSOFCULTURE

JOHN LENNON, SONGWRITER Now-March 31@ The Grammy Museum by cindy KYUNGAH lee ‘Imagine there’s no heaven…’ Well, no of– fense to John Lennon, but it is kind of hard for all those Lennon and Beatles fans out there to imagine that there is no heaven, when rare artifacts of him are gathered in one place. Displayed on the fourth floor of the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles, is a special exhibition dedicated to John Lennon that continues until March 31. Born John Winston Lennon on Oct. 9, 1940, in England, Lennon was one of the most productive artists of his time, starting his career as one of the Beatles and later as a solo artist. Lennon stirred up much craze for music by creating many great hits. Today, his pieces as a Beatle and solo artist have become universal classics. It is quite hard to go five meters without running into someone who knows and/or likes the songs of Lennon. Such famous classics that drove him to stardom include, but are not limited to, “Imagine” and “All You Need Is Love.” The songs written by the Beatles and Lennon serve as inspiration and, even today, are enjoyed by many people. Framed in angelic white light, the exhibition is closer to

Campus Circle > Blogs > Colors of Culture being a shrine dedicated to Lennon rather than an exhibition. In some ways, it may be more accurate to describe the exhibition this way. The artifacts displayed command a sort of respect for the artist. Yes, even when you have been indifferent toward him your whole life. The collection includes a variety of rare and significant items, footage and pictures from both his personal and professional life. Anything from his signature round glasses to handwritten lyrics of his songs and original guitars as well as an exclusive interview with his wife, the exhibition contains bits and pieces of Lennon. And, of course, there are many more artifacts of Lennon and the Beatles at the exhibition than what is mentioned here. On the walls and in the captions are excerpts from his life. Captions talk about the history of the item and its significance, and writings on the wall inform the visitor about the artist’s personal life, his life as one of the Beatles and his marriage to Yoko Ono. There is also a discography of his work, and some key dates in the artist’s life are highlighted on one of the pillars formed from multiple microphone heads. The exhibition also has a high-quality listening room of one of Lennon’s most rare concert videos, for those who just want to immerse themselves into Lennon’s world on stage. If your life revolves around the Beatles or Lennon, you may want to have a paramedic by your side just in case you faint from asphyxiation. This rare opportunity to get a peek into Lennon’s life will be extremely memorable if you are a fan. The Grammy Museum has been under-recognized despite its rare collections and exhibitions. Even if you are not a Lennon fan, or a Beatles fan for that matter, you can still enjoy a visit to this museum if you are a lover of music. A

JETSETTER

O.C.? OH YEAH! Beach and Inland Fun in Orange County by kevin wierzbicki You might think that all the excitement to be had in Orange County is confined to places like Disneyland. But Mickey Mouse isn’t the only “animal” bringing a smile to O.C. adventurists. Spend some time outdoors visiting these places in the Irvine area and you’ll run into lots of interesting creatures! There is a half-day OC Wildlife & Beach Tour (ocwildlifebeachtour.com), an eco tour through coastal Orange County, also known as the California Riviera and the Gold Coast. With a knowledgeable guide leading the tour, your coach will stop at wildlife viewing areas where you may see seals and sea lions and also at scenic ocean overlooks, at one of which you’ll relax with a box lunch and soft drinks. While you’re picnicking, your guide will tell you about what you can see at your next stop, the tidal pools at Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach. And what you can see is amazing! Your visit takes place at low tide so that you can walk out onto the pitted rocks and see the colorful, usually hidden world thriving in the water-filled pools the sea left behind when it ebbed. The pools are the equivalent of tiny cities for sea life where sandcastle worms live in harmony with sea hares and opaleyes, where several kinds of starfish cling to

Campus Circle 2.2.11 - 2.8.11

Iain Macmillan, (c) Yoko Ono

NEWS

Among the items on display at John Lennon, Songwriter are pictures from his personal and professional life. total of four floors, the museum is constructed in a way for the viewer to work their way down each floor. The fourth floor usually has special exhibitions whereas the rest of the floors have collections of rare items of artists such as Elvis Presley. The museum also gives the viewer important dates in the history of music and has a wall dedicated to showing all the past Grammy Award winners. The Grammy Museum is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, visit grammymuseum.org.

Campus Circle > Culture > Travel the rocks among sea fingers, abalone and sea anemones and where on occasion you may even see an octopus. You’ll also visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach) where their mission is to rescue, medically treat and rehabilitate marine animals that strand due to injury or illness. Here you’ll see California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals and Northern elephant seals that are getting ready to be released back into the ocean. Irvine Regional Park (1 Irvine Park Road, Orange) is where you’ll find the Orange County Zoo (ocparks.com), an easily navigated facility where you can see everything from cute coatis to not-so-cute collared peccaries, bobcats, an ocelot and even a chuckwalla or two. The most popular residents here are ones you certainly wouldn’t want to run into out in the wild; a pair of big black bears named Nacho and YoYo. When the zookeepers are working with the bears the animals come right up to the fences, only a yard or so away from the viewing area, standing on hind legs and with their scarily impressive claws poking through the fence openings. You might notice that the bears are actually brown in color; oddly this is actually normal for some kinds of black bears. Around the corner from the bear pen is where the zoo’s mountain lion lives; Simba likes to pace his enclosure but he’s been known to stand up at the fence too. Staring into this magnificent animal’s intense eyes is mesmerizing, but you tend to snap out of it pretty quickly when he lets out a growl or flashes his massive paws. Bring your cell phone into the zoo and use it to get information about the animals via a free phone audio tour; just call the number found on the zoo map and punch in the exhibit number corresponding to the animal you want to

Soar over Orange County in the orange Great Park Balloon. know about. Also in Irvine Park, about a five-minute walk from the zoo, is the Irvine Park Railroad. Not just for kids, the 1/3-scale train departs from an old-fashioned depot and follows a scenic route through the park on a narrated 12-minute ride. Chances are at the Orange County Great Park (7000 Trabuco Road, Irvine; ocgp.org) the only animals you’ll see will be your fellow human beings. But it’s fun to watch them shrink to the size of ants as you soar 400 feet into the air aboard the Great Park Balloon. The giant orange (of course!) balloon, filled with helium and with a gondola that holds up to 30 people, is always tethered to the ground by steel cable and is the first of its kind in the U.S. Unlike a hot air balloon, the Great Park Balloon rises silently, making the ride all the more enjoyable. The balloon ride is free but you’ll need to pay for parking. For more information, visit irvinecvb.org.

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CALENDARTHE10SPOT

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BY FREDERICK MINTCHELL TUESDAYFEB. 8

Find your sweet spot this Valentine’s Day.

Andy Snow

“Spring Awakening” Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles; broadwayla.org The winner of eight 2007 Tony Awards – including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score – “Spring Awakening” has been called “the best musical of a generation” (The New York Observer). Runs through Feb. 13. Tix start at $25.

WEDNESDAYFEB. 2 Equality Night Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Downtown; clippers.com/equality Every ticket purchased comes with an Equality Night T-shirt when the Clippers take on the Bulls, and a portion of every ticket benefits Equality California. At 6 p.m., there is also a pregame reception on the City View terrace. 7:30 p.m. Tix start at $20 with promo code “Clippers.”

THURSDAYFEB. 3 College Night at Mountain High Mountain High Resort, 24510 State Highway 2, Wrightwood; mthigh.com Ride for only $20 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a college ID, plus live demos from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tent city at the Bullwheel from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and party at the Bullwheel from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with DJs, Monster drink specials, $1 hot dogs, 1/2 off draft beer and more.

FRIDAYFEB. 4 “Groundlings Singles Cruise” Groundlings Theater, 7307 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; groundlings.com If this ship’s a rockin’, then PLEASE DO come a knockin’! Your cruise director, Mikey Day, guides you through the sea of original sketches and improvs performed by this humorous group of cruisers. Fridays and Saturdays through April 23.

SATURDAYFEB. 5 Chinese New Year chinatownla.com Chinatown rings in the Year of the Rabbit with the 112th Annual Golden Dragon Parade, plus the LA Craft Experience, cultural workshops, a ping pong tournament, the Great Chinatown Hunt and food from Chinatown restaurants and Los Angeles’ favorite gourmet food trucks. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. FREE.

SATURDAYFEB. 5 Cupcake Challenge Renaissance Hotel, 1755 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood; drinkeatplay.com/ cupcakechallenge The baking gloves are coming off as the best cupcake bakeries are squaring off and allowing you to pick the winner. The event

See our in-store specials & free gift with purchase offers PLUS: features Los Angeles’ best mini-cupcakes. The public and a panel of celebrity judges each vote on their favorite cupcakes, culminating in the crowning of the city’s best traditional and nontraditional cupcakes. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. $40.

SUNDAYFEB. 6 Super Bowl HD TV Giveaway at Hooters hooters.com If you watch the big game at any Hooters location, you are automatically entered to win a 42-inch LCD HD TV. Each location will have a winner. The game starts at 3:30 p.m., but get there early to get a seat when Green Bay takes on Pittsburgh.

SUNDAYFEB. 6 USC Women’s Basketball vs. UCLA Galen Center, 3400 S. Figueroa St., USC; pac10.org Both teams are off to hot starts (with UCLA sporting its best start in 30 years), hoping to end Stanford’s 10-year stranglehold on the Pac-10. 1 p.m.

MONDAYFEB. 7 MTV Winter Comedy Showcase Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; laughfactory.com Featuring new comedians and talented performers from across the West Coast, please join them as they try to force the execs to bring back music videos to the network. Hosted by the lovable Josh Macuga and Ricardo Martinez, expect surprises all night long with music videos and live sketches, young stand-ups and even a jaw-dropping musical performance. 8 p.m. $20.

TUESDAYFEB. 8 Brooke Burke: The Naked Mom Barnes & Noble; 189 The Grove Drive, The Grove; barnesandnoble.com Motherhood revealed by the celebrity mom, dynamic CEO and “Dancing with the Stars” co-host and winner. 7:30 p.m.

For more events, visit campuscircle.com/calendar. To submit an event for consideration, e-mail calendar@campuscircle.net.

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THEWINGGIRLS

TOP FILMS FOR DATE NIGHT For a first date all the way into your 90s, there Is nothing better than a movie night with that special boo boo bear. The Wing Girls suggest a movie, then dinner. It gives you something to talk about while you’re getting yo grub on, especially for a first date or even when your relationship hits that “What do we have left to talk about?” phase. 1) Black Swan: If you haven’t seen this one, you must be living under a rock, but maybe there are some of you out there. Date Potential: Any couple. It seems like a girl movie but it isn’t, so you look like a hero taking her to this one. This movie is crazy, scary and sexy. No real love stuff in it, so you won’t feel awkward if you aren’t there yet. Perfect for a first date. 2) The Dilemma: Vince Vaughn really can’t go wrong in our book. We will admit we haven’t seen it yet, but plan on it this weekend. Date Potential: Faithful couples only. Do not take a date to this movie if you have any cheating issues. It’s a movie about cheating, so the conversation will turn into your relationship later. Stay away. For faithful couples it’s a good choice for guys and girls. 3) Blue Valentine: This is an amazing movie about love, relationships and growing apart. Date Potential: Strong relationships or couples ready to break up. This movie can be really heavy. A certain boyfriend has been rumored to be pretty bummed out by this movie, but a certain someone else didn’t care because she loved it so much. It definitely brings things up, so if you are open to that, it should be a good choice. 4) No Strings Attached: We haven’t seen this movie yet, but we don’t have to. We get it. It’s laughable that women are out there dying for friend peen, but we heard the dialogue is pretty funny. Date Potential: Friends who want more. The movie is about turning friends into lovers. It could open a girl’s eyes to the cute but awkward guy right in front of her. For more information, visit thewinggirls.com.

Campus Circle 2.2.11 - 2.8.11