Page 12 | ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 | Hilltop Views
Teen musicians rock out for a cause Michael McNally On Saturday, September 12, several teen musicians got together to rock the socks off a crowd of over 250 young people at the Austin Music Hall to raise awareness of autism. The concert was the first event sponsored by the fledgling non-profit organization Teens 4 Autism (T4A). Tina Napolitano was inspired to start T4A in June 2009 after she attended a luncheon held by the Thoughtful House Center for Children with her 17year-old daughter Georgia. Thoughtful House provides medical, educational and recreational opportunities for children with developmental disorders.
“[The idea behind T4A] was to have teenagers joining together to raise awareness for autism,” Tina said. “Today autism remains an unsolved mystery, but at least via awareness and funding, there are some amazing teams of people dedicated to finding the answers.” The Napolitano family has a strong connection with the Austin teen music scene as daughter Georgia is an accomplished vocalist herself, having been nominated for Austin Idol. Tina thought it would be a great idea to incorporate this significant part of their lives into T4A. “We decided it would be amazing to bring the world of charity together with teen bands and create a win-win [situation] for everyone,” Na-
politano said. Among the eight bands featured at the show, Sam Debold, a twelve-year-old autistic boy, performed on the piano. “He plays the most incredible piano,” Napolitano says. “Children with autism are some of the most incredible children you could meet. They have skill sets off the charts, and many of them bring incredible musical skills and talent to the table. If you know a child with autism, give them a chance to shine.” Aftermath, one of the bands that played on Saturday night, has a special reason to support T4A. Justin Beamon, the drummer for the melodic rock quartet, also struggles with a developmental disorder.
Tom Hefner
Edison Chair delivered the final performance of the evening.
“This issue is especially close to Aftermath’s heart. Our drummer was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when he was six years old,” the band said. “When you know you are supporting a good cause, it gives [the show] extra meaning.”
The band members of Edison Chair, a rock and roll trio from Dripping Springs, agree. “We think it’s great to use music as a way to help a worthy cause,” Edison Chair said. The show was considered
a success by bands and organizers alike. “It was well organized and [Tina Napolitano and Susan Bennet] did a superb job of advertising,” Chair said. “We were thrilled with the attendance and the event was just incredible and beyond our wildest dreams,” Tina said. “We are already looking at dates for the next Teens4Autism at the Austin Music Hall in 2010.”
mmcnall@stedwards.edu
For more information on Teens4Autism visit: http://www.teens4autism.com/
Beatles geared to fans
Duo’s effort, mediocre
Proctor Anderson
Jacqueline Slanley
The Beatles: Rock Band is an incredible way to experience the history and music of one of rock and roll’s most influential bands, but is it worth the hefty price tag? The game lets you play through 46 of The Beatles most famous songs in chronological order. As you progress in the game, the members of the band and the venues in which the band play change to reflect the changes The Beatles made. Gamers start in 1963, playing as The Beatles at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, and end with band’s last performance, on the rooftop of the Apple Corps building in 1969. In between, gamers play through several concerts from the band’s history, including performances for The Ed Sullivan Show, Japan’s Budokan arena, and several performances in the Abbey Road studio.
Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn’s new collaborative album, cleverly titled “The Break Up,” tells the story of a deranged love affair in nine tracks. Yorn wrote eight of the album’s nine songs, the other being a cover of “I Am the Cosmos” by Big Star’s Chris Bell. But just halfway into the fourth track, the songs start to blend together. Perhaps the album is appropriately titled, foreshadowing the relationship between Johansson’s music career and the general public. The very idea of Johansson venturing into the world of music is peculiar to some. The idea that she is actually a decent vocalist is even more out of this world. But that fact alone does not make up for this mediocrity. She speaks the language of the drugged- pop world
For Beatles fans, that may be more than enough to sell them on the game. For gamers who are used to all the bells that previous Rock Band and Guitar Hero games have provided, this title may leave them disappointed. The game is simple: you play every song in order to win. The game lacks the difficulty of previous games and it offers no customization options to the player. While all the 46 songs are classics when compared to re-
cently released Guitar Hero 5’s 85 songs, its list seems a little bit lean. If you love The Beatles or are looking for a way to experience their music for the first time and don’t mind spending the money, then The Beatles: Rock Band is a must buy. Unfortunately, if money is an issue the game may be a hard sale. panders2@stedwards.edu
very fluently, enticing a decent number of delusional fans to be hypnotized by her beauty. If you are in the mood for a mildly narcotic world, then you might just have found it. Just like a blissful chocolate bar, Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn just might melt your midnight craving in their new album. But like any other midnight candy cravings, the sweet melodies can get old
fast, leaving you with an upset tummy. If you are looking for originality, you are barking up the wrong tree, but for light-hearted lovers looking for something sugary with no depth, you have officially found your fix. jslanle@stedwards.edu