The Reader Feb. 17, 2010

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feb. 17 - 23, 2011 VOL.17

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diah 16 Brews Cruise

culture 21

The Morals of Mozart

music 29 Let’s Get Lost

A night to remember sports 40 Ready to Roll

hIghlights from the fifth annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts awards cover story ~ Page 12

OMAHA JOBS 2

Weird 42

MOjo 44

FUNNIES 45

Full-time

Full-time

WIRE-N-I.T. needs INDEPENDANT LOW VOLTAGE SUBCONTRACTOR Must have own working vehicle, insurance and valid drivers license. Experience a must. Call 402-546-9479 For more information go to OmahaJobs.com.

ACADEMIC PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON BC/BE fellowship-trained hand surgeons. The position involves patient care, teaching of residents and medical students, and research opportunities. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Data Support Systems Programmer position swelchert@datasupport. com For more information go to OmahaJobs.com. Premier Therapy Assoc. Receptionist and Patient Care Tech chris@mypremier therapy.com for more information go to OmahaJobs. com. N & W Transfer Inc. Driver debrahobscheidt@ yahoo.com For more information go to OmahaJobs. com. Metro Area Cleaning Cleaners smhuckins@hot mail.com for more information go to Omahajobs. com. Graphic Designer Work with creative team designing advertisements for our print publications such as The Reader, El Perico, Directorial Latino, Vision Latina, Today's Omaha Women and numerous other client print publications. Check out OmahaJobs.com. Project Manager. Serves as the primary advisor regarding all projectrelated issues. Provides pro-ject direction, decisionmaking, activity planning, and coordination to meet the project milestones, objectives, and control the project scope. Has collaborative relationships with departmental user liaisons and managers, physicians, analysts, consultants, vendor(s), and other project team members. 80% travel. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

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Senior Consultant, Implementation position. Able to Project Manage any and all project phases. Provide technical and advisory support to membership to ensure the development and implementation of products provide adherence to business requirements. TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT WWW.MASTERCARD.COM/CA REERS <http://WWW.MASTERCARD.COM/CAREERS> (POSITION #2506). For more information, go to OmahaJobs.com. JOB FAIR – APRIL 6, 2011 MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! OmahaJobs.com will be hosting their first of five job fairs for 2011 on April 6th at CoCo Keys Resort from 10a.m. to 5p.m. FREE to the public. Many great companies have already signed up to do recruiting that day. Bring plenty of resumes and dress for success. Adults looking for employment, career change and education opportunites.Please plan to attend Omahajobs.com job fair. Sales Representative WE are excited to announce that at this time we are looking for Sales Representatives to join our team of over 7,000 global field representatives in several regions making over 20 million product details annually for our pharmaceutical and biotech clients. In this role you will be supporting the largest specialty eye care company in the world and have the opportunity to become part of their team at the end of contract. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Full-time

Sales REPS Support the largest specialty eye care company in the world and have the opportunity to become part of their team at the end of contract. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com.

UTILITIES DIRECTOR A community of nearly 47,000 residents, is seeking a highly organized, strategic planner and articulate communicator with exceptional management skills to lead the Utilities Department. The Director plans, directs and reviews the activities and operations of the electric and water utilities, coordinates assigned activities with other City departments and outside agencies. The Director provides technical and administrative support to the Mayor, City Council and City Administrator. The filing deadline is March 4 2011 EEO/AE/M/F/D/V/G. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Team Captain Accounting & Finance. Primary responsibility is to lead and manage joint business and IM task forces dedicated to defining, designing, and building accounting and finance enterprise software solutions including general ledger and other accounting master data, those required to account for construction operations (including joint ventures), transactional accounting, tax accounting, managerial and financial reporting (including consolidations), and overhead budgeting and reporting. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Family Physician Department of Family Medicine is currently recruiting for two full-time academic faculty positions. Highly desired are faculty with clinical experience (one position to include OB experience) and a desire to further develop and share these skills. Candidates must be Board Certified. Obstetrics is required for one of the positions. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Local data entry needed immediately. $400/ PT-$800/FT weekly. Flexible schedule, work from own PC. (800) 920-4851 (AAN CAN)

Privacy Investigator Performs work at an advanced level by providing administrative and requlatory coordination of and complex technical assistance in directing Privacy and Information Security activities. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com.

Fantastic Beginnings Child CARE/PRESCHOOl NOW ENROLLING ALL AGES 4102 South 13th Street Title XX Welcome www. fantasticbeginnings.com (402) 408-0395 Traveling Coding Specialist National company looking for qualified professionals to join our team. Excellent salary, benefits and paid time off. Reimbursement for continuing education and AHIMA dues. Laptop with encoder and coding references. Retirement plan with company contribution. Full Medical, Dental and Life Insurance benefits. Sign-on bonus and relocation assistance. For more information, visit Omaha Jobs.com. Supervisor Primary responsibilities are to provide direct supervision, guidance and direction, quality control, training to all assigned, subordinate officers for a large federal security force contract. Provide supervision for large security force operations in order to ensure the security and safety of client employees, facilities and assets against unauthorized, illegal, and potentially life-threatening activities. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com. Counsel In-house Counsel position will provide legal support to the organization on technology-related matters including the company’s Research & Development (R&D) function on Intellectual Property (IP) matters, with an emphasis on patent matters, including portfolio management, new filings and filing strategies, clearance and patentability evaluations. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com.

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Volunteer and events manager Revitalize and manage an effective volunteer program and execute special events to fulfill the goals of Fontenelle Nature Association. Primary duties: Manage volunteer program including recruitment, training and communications. Coordinate six to eight public events and designated member events annually. Work with Marketing Director to plan and implement annual exhibits. Work within FNA teams to set and attain organizational goals. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com. Clinical Specialist Franchise Sales. Develops long-term relationships with physicians and other customers for the customer accounts in the assigned territory. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com. ASSt. STORE DIRECTOR Manages, plans and leads the day to day activities of an individual retail store in conjunction with, or in absence of, the Store Director, ensuring profitable operation of all departments. Implements company merchandising and inventory programs. Schedules work loads; hires and trains store associates; and resolves all store associate relations issues. Has total responsibility for store operations when Store Director is absent. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

omaha jobs

SMALL ANIMAL INTERNIST we are seeking a small animal internist who is ACVIM board certified or has completed residency training with the intent to take the certification exam. Third year residents with commitments through July 2011 are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com. COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST A multi-disciplined civil, structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering firm has an immediate opportunity for a talented full time Communications Specialist in our Lincoln or Omaha, NE office. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com. Marketing Communications Account MANAGER Full-service marketing communications and advertising agency, seeks an Account Manager for our Omaha office. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Graduate Assistant. The Department of Health, Human Performance, and Sport is soliciting applications for graduate assistantships in Exercise Science and Sport Management to begin fall semester 2011. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com. Full Time Merchandiser position in Omaha, The position pays $14.90/hour and has benefits including health, dental, 401K and pension. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com. Practice Admin Provides leadership and direction to Eye Surgical Associates and Sutton Ryan Dermatology to ensure accomplishment of strategic goals. Informs the Board of current trends, problems and medical activities to facilitate policy making. Represents the clinics in its relationships with other health organizations, government agencies and third party payers. For more information, visit OmahaJobs. com.

Account rep respiratory Leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. We have42,000 employees worldwide in more than 60 countries, and our products are sold in over 140 countries. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

PHYSICIAN Midwest OB-GYN Oncology in Omaha, NE has a great opportunity to join a busy, established practice that is the largest provider of gyn oncology services in Nebraska and western Iowa. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Administrative asst. Full time entry-level position. The primary duties include serving as receptionist and chief greeter to all arriving visitors as well as providing staff liaison and administrative support. This is an opportunity well suited for an individual seeking experience in and knowledge of cultural nonprofits. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Documentation/Coding Reviewer (Auditor) Responsible for reviewing physician documentation and clinic medical records for proper coding, documentation, and compliance with medical record standards. minimum of 3 years experience in physician coding. Physician documentation auditing experience is extremely helpful. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Clinical Charge Auditor Works under the direct supervision of the Director of HIM, and will serve as the central point person for all government claim recovery activities. This position is responsible and accountable for timely and accurate release of recovery audit contractor requested patient medical information, proper documentation, tracking & follow-up of requests for information, and timely coordination of appeals & associated deadlines. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Marketing Specialist Write and proof marketing material including direct mail pieces, advertisements, brochures, news releases, case studies, white papers and newsletters. Help develop marketing campaigns, analyze data and qualify customer leads. Develop e-mail lead generation campaigns and ana= lyze results. Produce monthly e-newsletters for multiple target audiences. Coordinate tradeshows, customer events and lead generation efforts. For more information, visit OmahaJobs.com.

Ambitious? Creative? Outgoing?

Now Hiring!

Pioneer Publishing, a fast growing local media company with over 10 channels, both print and online, is seeking Marketing Solutions Experts for full-time, part-time and freelance positions. Successful candidates must be ambitious, creative, outgoing, super helpful with a passion for solving problems and building relationships. If you have a background in sales, marketing or customer service, especially in the bar, restaurant, automotive or media industries, we want to talk to you! We need team members who are ready to meet new people, understand marketing needs, close the deal and deliver ongoing value. Spanish proficiency is a plus. Graphic and Web Design Openings Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, Expression Engine experience a PLUS. Work with creative team of Local Print and Digital Media. Varying M-F schedules. English and Spanish required.

Drop your resume and goals to work@thereader.com

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To learn more, visit uscellular.com or call 1-888-BUY-USCC. Things we want you to know: Two-year agreements (subject to early termination fees) required for new customers and current customers not on a Belief Plan. Current customers may change to a Belief Plan without a new agreement. Agreement terms apply as long as you are a customer. $30 activation fee and credit approval may apply. Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee applies; this is not a tax or government-required charge. Additional fees, taxes and terms apply and vary by service and equipment. Promotional phone subject to change. U.S. Cellular Visa Debit Cards issued by MetaBank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Allow 10–12 weeks for processing. Card does not have cash access and can be used at any merchant location that accepts Visa debit cards. Card valid for 120 days after issued. Smartphone Data Plans start at $30 per month or are included with certain Belief Plans. Application and data network usage charges may apply when accessing applications. BOGO: Mail-in rebate and activation required on each handset. Service credit requires new two-year agreement and Smartphone purchase. $100 credit will be applied to your account in $50 increments over two billing periods. Credits will start within 60 days after activation. Account must remain active in order to receive credit. No cash value. Kansas Customers: In areas in which U.S. Cellular receives support from the Federal Universal Service Fund, all reasonable requests for service must be met. Unresolved questions concerning services availability can be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. Android and the Android Robot are trademarks of Google, Inc. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. Other restrictions apply. See store or uscellular.com/project for details. Limited-time offer. ©2011 U.S. Cellular.

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Paid Advertisement

Local Residents in Amazement Yesterday as Collectors Provide a Stimulus Package to Omaha! By KEN MCINTOSH STAFF WRITER

What We Buy:

ICCA will be placing ads in newspapers, radio and running television spots this week asking people to bring in any old silver and gold coins made before 1965. Those that do bring in their coins will be able to speak with collectors one on one and have their coins looked at with an expert set of eyes. With the help of these ICCA members, offers will be made to those that have coins made before 1965. Offers will be made based on silver or gold content and the rarity of the coins. All coins made before 1965 will be examined and purchased including gold coins, silver coins, silver dollars, all types of nickels and pennies. Those that decide to sell their coins will be paid on the spot. If you are like a lot of people, you might have a few old coins or even a coffee can full lying around. If you have ever wondered what they are worth, now might be your chance to find out and even sell them if you choose. They could be worth a lot according to the International Coin Collectors Association, also known as ICCA. Collectors will pay a fortune for some coins and currency for their collections. If they are rare enough, one coin could be worth over $100,000 according to Eric Helms coin collector and ICCA member. One ultra rare dime, an 1894S Barber, sold for a record $1.9 million to a collector in July of 2007. While that is an extreme example, many rare and valuable coins are stashed away in dresser drawers or lock boxes around the country. The ICCA and its collector members have organized a traveling event in search of all types of coins and currency. “Even common coins can be worth a significant amount due to the high price of silver and gold,” says Helms. Washington quarters and Roosevelt dimes and worth many times their face value. Recent silver markets have driven the price up on even common coins made of silver. Helms explains, “All half dollars, quarter and dimes made before 1965 contain 90% silver and are sought after any time silver prices rise. Right now it’s a sellers market.” The rarest coins these collectors are looking for include $20, $10, $5 and $2 1/2 gold coins and any coin made before 1850. These coins always bring big premiums according to the ICCA. Silver dollars are also very sought after nowadays. Other types of items the ICCA will be purchasing during this event include U.S. currency, gold bullion, investment gold, silver bars, silver rounds, proof sets, etc. Even foreign coins are sought after and will be purchased. Also, at this event anyone can sell their gold jewelry, dental gold or anything made of gold on the spot. Gold is currently trading at over $1,300.00 per ounce near an all time high. Bring anything you think might be gold and the collectors will examine, test and price it for free. If you decide to sell you will be paid on the spot – it has been an unknown fact that coin dealers have always paid more for jewelry and scrap gold than other jewelers and pawn brokers. So, whether you have one coin you think might be valuable or a large collection you recently inherited, you can talk to these collectors for free and if your lucky you may have a rarity worth thousands. Either way, there is nothing to lose and it sounds like fun! For more information on this event visit the ICCA website at: www.internationalcoincollectors.com.

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FEB. 17 - 23, 2011

| THE READER |

COINS Any and all coins made before 1965, rare coins, entire collections, Silver Dollars, Half Dollars, Quarters, Dimes, Half Dimes, Nickels, Three Cent Pieces, Two Cent Pieces, Cents, Large Cents, Half Cents and all others. PAPER MONEY All denominations made before 1934. GOLD COINS Including $20, $10, $5, $4, $3, $2.5, $1, Private Gold, Gold Bars, etc.

Here’s How It Works: • Gather items of interest from your attic, safe deposit box, garage, basement, etc. There is no limit to the amount of items you can bring • No appointment necessary • If interested in selling, we will consult our collector’s database to see if a buyer exists. 90% of all items have offers in our database • The offer is made on the spot on behalf of our collectors making the offer

INVESTMENT GOLD Kruggerands, Canadian Maple Leafs, Pandas, Gold Bars, U.S. Eagles and Buffalos, etc.

• If you decide to accept the offer, we will pay you on the spot!

SCRAP GOLD Broken and unused jewelry, dental gold.

• You get 100% of the offer with no hidden fees

JEWELRY Diamond rings, bracelets, earrings, loose diamonds, all gem stones, etc. PLATINUM Anything made of platinum. SILVER Flatware, tea sets, goblets, jewelry, etc. and anything marked sterling. WAR ITEMS Civil war, WWI AND II, all others, swords, daggers, bayonets, etc. OTHER ANTIQUES Toys, trains, dolls, advertising, banks (basically anything old we want to see).

We Buy Gold 10k, 14k, 18k & 24k

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7 Top News 8-9 News Hound ————————————————

heartland healing

11 Bee Healed ————————————————

f e b . 1 7 - 2 3 , 2 0 11 V O L . 1 7 n o . 5 2

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cover story

32 Found at Sea ————————————————

A Night to Remember:

hoodoo

Highlights from the fifth annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts awards ~ Page 12

33 OEAA Honrs, Music Around Town ————————————————

film

dish

18-19 This Week’s Top Events ————————————————

37 Just Get It Over With 37 Cutting Room: Film News 38 Less Than Some 38 Report Card: Film Grades 38 DVD Discovery: Sci-Fi Indi Flick ————————————————

21 The Morals of Mozart 21 Booked: Literary News ————————————————

40 Ready to Roll 40 The Jump: Sports News ————————————————

16 Brews Cruise 16 Crumbs: Food News ————————————————

eight days culture

sports

theater

news of the weird

42 Booty Contest ————————————————

22 Magical Acting 22 Cold Cream: Theater News ————————————————

art

26 Another Nebraska 26 Mixed Media: Art News ————————————————

DALE HEISE

P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107 Phone 402.341.7323 Fax 402.341.6967 www.thereader.com OUR STAFF

this week

music

29 Let’s Get Lost 29 Backbeat: Music News 30 Large and Live ————————————————

mojo

44 Planet Power Horoscopes ————————————————

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45 Modern World, Red Meat, Dr. Mysterian ————————————————

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feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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notableevents

Q Voices from the Tomb: Thursday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Thompson Alumni Center, 6705 Dodge St. Fort Hays State professor Steven Trout lectures on the tomb of the unknown soldier and its role in American culture. 554.3476 Q Nebraska Robotics Expo: Saturday, Feb. 19, 8 a.m., Strategic Air and Space Museum, 28210 West Park Hwy. Elementary, middle and high school students participate in robotics expo co-hosted by UNL and UNO. strategicairandspace.com Q 2011 Renard Lecture in Philosophy: Tuesday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m., Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza. Dr. Johnathan Lear of the University of Chicago delivers the 2011 Henri Renard Lecture in Philosophy. Creighton.edu

Legislature gets tools to help shape child welfare reform

But, regardless of problems, the reform process is moving forward. In January, the two remaining agencies took over case management responsibilities from the state. “We need to make sure that there’s enough resources for the lead agencies to use and good by Andrew Norman enough oversight and monitoring on the part of HHS so we know kids are safe and that they’re getresolution adopted last week in the Legis- ting the best services possible,” Forrest says. Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell’s resolution allows lature would allow the Health and Human Services Committee to investigate and as- the legislature’s Health and Human Services Commitsess the effects of Nebraska’s child welfare reform — a tee, which she chairs, to consult with the state’s Health process that has produced many problems and ques- and Human Services department, Foster Care Review tions since the state privatized its services in November Board, the courts, lead agencies and other stakehold2009. Since then, three of the five lead agencies hired ers to use studies, reports and other information to improve the child welfare in the reform have dropped out or system. The committee declared bankruptcy, leaving just could hold public heartwo agencies to provide services ings, subpoena and take for thousands of Nebraska’s most depositions of witnesses vulnerable children and families. to consider the reform’s Critics say the process has goals, measurable outbeen wrought with confusion: comes, coordination and including unclear work responsilong-term planning. And bilities and lack of training for case it could request a fiscal and workers; case workers who lack performance audit. knowledge about the families they KVC Behavioral represent and, in some cases, the Healthcare Nebraska and experience to deal with complex the Nebraska Families Cochild abuse and neglect cases; and state Sen. Kathy Campbell operative, the remaining lack of documentation and records that leaves government agencies and advocacy groups lead agencies, supported the resolution. Sarah Helvey, staff attorney and director of Neunclear about how they can help. “Because of all the problems, because of the finan- braska Appleseed’s child welfare program, says the cial difficulties of lead agencies, this is going to give the fiscal and performance audits are critical. “We think it’s really important to understand legislature the tools to look at what happening to increase transparency, because I think there’s been a lot what went wrong and what went right over the of questions that haven’t been answered,” says Sarah course of the last year,” she says. “It can inform our Forrest, policy and research associate for Voices for steps moving forward.” Forrest hopes the resolution will lead to legislative Children in Nebraska, a child advocacy group. A Shelters in North platte and Kearney have options that haven’t been considered. “In a lot of other states that have privatized, the closed since Visinet and Boys and Girls Home pulled out of their contracts. Forrest says kids are being legislature has played big role, but they haven’t at all in Nebraska,” she says. “[The resolution] provides a way shipped as far as Columbus to stay overnight. “It’s really bad in western Nebraska,” Forrest says, for them to get into that action and for some leadership and transparency to take place.” where services have been largely depleted.

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The committee will produce a report to the Legislature by Dec. 15, but Forrest thinks the resolution’s effects will be evident sooner. She expects the committee to begin holding hearings in March. And she thinks the resolution’s impact will be seen on reform-related bills introduced this session, including four measures being heard in the committee Wednesday, Feb. 16. These bills include: forcing DHHS to create a methodology for payment of foster parents and require timely payment by contractors; requiring DHHS to create and publicize a statement of rights and responsibilities for foster parents; and requiring the Foster Care Review Board to bid out an independent program audit to investigate foster care placements and interview stakeholders with the goal of improving services. “[The resolution] can help inform how we can use those bills that have been put forward to best reform the system,” Forrest says. Another Campbell-introduced bill, set for a hearing in the committee March 16, would put some basic limits on privatization. LB 433 would ensure that the child abuse and neglect hotline is never privatized, and it would install rules requiring timely payments to subcontractors. Boys and Girls Home still owes more than $1.5 million to subcontractors after terminating its contract with the state last October. Forrest says Nebraskans should care about this issue because it affects the state’s most vulnerable children and families. “We have a huge responsibility to them,” Forrest says. But it’s also an issue that affects taxpayers. Right now, no one’s quite clear about where the money is going. “If we don’t have a system that’s secure and stable, we’re going to end up putting a lot of money into something that’s not serving our families well, not providing efficient and good services,” she says. “Potentially, we’re going to lose a lot of money if we don’t establish something that really works.” The reform, although really bumpy, Forrest says, has potential to succeed if the state uses its resources correctly. “Because of the way our statutes are written, we will always have to pay for those kids,” she says. “It’s a question of how you invest our money.” ,

numberscruncher LOSING GROUND: Number of farms in Nebraska in 2010: 47,200 Number of farms in Nebraska in 2000: 52,000 Percent increase in number of farms nationwide over the past decade: 1.57 Percent decrease in number of Nebraska farms over the past decade: 9.23 Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service

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TransCanada adds $1 billion to pipeline cost estimate

upfront

Increasing Transparency

topnews The price of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline just went up. In a statement released Feb. 15, Canadian oil company TransCanada announced it had added $1 billion to the projected cost of the 2,000mile-long pipeline. It cited regulatory delays and increased building costs. The company now expects to spend $13 billion on the pipeline if given the right to pump tar sands oil from Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico. The decision on whether or not TransCanada will get a Presidential Permit to transport oil over international boundaries might not be coming anytime soon. Company officials adjusted their timeline for the project, saying they now expect regulatory approval of the project from the U.S. State Department in “mid- to late-2011” after previously planning to break ground in the first quarter of the year. While State Secretary Hillary Clinton has remained quiet on the subject, Congressmen have continued to fill her mailbox with letters of opposition and support. On Feb. 10, 30 House representatives wrote to Clinton in support of the project, claiming it could enhance national security by reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. Eleven of the signees were among the 39 members who signed a Dec. 23 letter urging the State Department to act quickly. The letter was came in response to a Dec. 3 letter from 28 lawmakers requesting an additional Environmental Impact Study. None of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation signed any of the letters, but Sens. Mike Johanns and Ben Nelson have both individually urged Clinton to conduct additional studies into the pipeline’s environmental impact — a request reiterated by 21 state senators in a Feb. 8 letter. Last week, the Nebraska Legislature held its first public hearing on three proposed bills that would beef up state regulations over oil pipelines. One bill, LB 340, would require oil companies to seek approval for permits from the Nebraska Public Service Commission. Two other bills, LB 578 and LB 629, would hold pipeline operators fiscally responsible for clean-up of spills and the restoration of land. The Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee could vote on the proposed bills as early as March. — Brandon Vogel

theysaidit they “We’re competing for jobs with other states and other countries, and I’m trying to do it in a healthy and positive way.””— Gov. Dave Heineman to the Wall Street Journal. Faced with a $1 billion deficit, Heineman has proposed a $16.5 million initiative aimed at job growth in Nebraska.

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feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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P O L I T I C O | L AW A N D O R D E R | B U S I N E S S A N D D E V E L O P M E N T Winford reappointed resident commissioner of Housing Authority

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In 1988, Father Gregory Boyle founded Homeboy Industries, an intervention service that has offered job counseling, tattoo removal and employment to thousands of rival gang members in East Los Angeles. It has since grown into the largest gang intervention program in the country. On Feb. 24, Boyle will present his story and meet with community leaders at a 7 p.m. lecture at the MCC South Omaha Campus Industrial Training Center Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Boyle will be signing copies of his book, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, following the lecture.

Nell Winford was reappointed to the Omaha Housing Authority board for the second time in a month on Feb. 8 by a 6-1 vote by the Omaha City Council. The Council unanimously approved Mayor Jim Suttle’s reappointment of Winford as resident commissioner on Jan. 11 but reversed that decision a week later after some residents said they had been given until Jan. 28 to submit nominations. The debate over whether the OHA had followed proper protocol emerged again at the Feb. 8 Council meeting with city attorneys ultimately recommending the approval, despite the protests of some OHA board members. Immigration tuitionbill killed Councilwoman Jean Stothert votNELL WINFORD Children of undocumented imed against. migrants in Nebraska will conWinford, who lives in Underwood Towers, has served as the lone resident on tinue to be eligible to receive in-state tuition after the Legislature’s Education Committee voted the OHA board for seven years. “My first concern is always the residents,� on Feb. 14 to kill a bill that would have repealed Winford said at the hearing. “It would be my the 2006 DREAM Act. The bill, LB 657, was introduced by Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen who pleasure to continue to serve them.� maintains that the current legislation violates Her five-year term began Feb. 13. federal law. “It doesn’t matter what ICE says, it doesn’t Noted gang interventionist visits Omaha Through the first nine months of 2010, gang- matter what a lawyer says, and it doesn’t matrelated homicides in Omaha had nearly tripled ter what the Education Committee says, this over the previous year, according to the most law puts us in violation of Title 8 United States recent statistics available from the Omaha Police Code Section 1623,� he said in a Facebook postDepartment. Now the man who cleaned up the ing following the 6-1-1 vote. “By not providing so-called “gang capitol of the world� is bringing in-state tuition to citizens from other states, his story of curbing violence through compas- we leave our state vulnerable to lawsuits. We as a state set a dangerous precedent when we sion to Metropolitan Community College.

murderink they Quincy Coleman, 25, was shot and killed at 3421 N. 21st St. on Feb. 1. Police have made no arrests. 2011 HOMICIDES: 5 (THERE WERE 2 HOMICDES AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR)

start picking and choosing which federal laws we choose to ignore.” At a hearing Feb. 7, civil rights attorney Shirley Mora James told the Education Committee that’s not the case. She cited a November 2010 ruling by the California Supreme Court that found a similar state law to be in federal compliance and a 2008 letter from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement giving state’s the right to grant tuition breaks to children of undocumented immigrants.

Sen. Johanns seeks high-ranking GOP position Sen. Mike Johanns announced Feb. 10 that he would seek the third-ranking Republican position in the Senate following the retirement of current party whip, Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, next year. Johanns will seek the position of chairman of the Republican Conference, a spot currently occupied by Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Alexander said he will be a candidate for party whip in 2012.

Omaha teen hit by school bus James Lagrange, 14, is expected to survive after being hit by an Omaha Public Schools bus near 66th and Maple on Feb. 14. Lagrange was hit while crossing Maple St. after exiting a Metro Area Transit bus. Speed and alcohol were not factors in the accident, police say.

Police officer dragged by SUV Omaha Police Officer Bryan Miller was treated for cuts and bruises after he was dragged 15-feet by an SUV during a traffic stop near 129th and West Maple on Feb. 10. Two men, a woman and an infant were inside the vehicle when it sped off

before being recovered a few blocks away. Victoria Jimerson, 18, was arrested at the scene and booked as an accessory to a felony. A second passenger was later apprehended, questioned and released. Police are still searching for the driver.

Shooting Rounds Anthony Gutierrez, 34, survived after being shot by Omaha Police Officer Adam Fisher, 25, during a burglary attempt at 2881 Washington St. on Feb. 14. Gutierrez struck Officer Kenneth Porter, 27, with his vehicle leading Fisher to fire. Adam Neitzel, 30, and Steven Deluna, 39, were arrested at the scene in connection with the burglary. Porter was released from the hospital the same day. Both officers are on administrative leave pending an internal department review. No arrests or injuries were reported after shots were fired outside the Applebee’s at 6222 N. 72nd St. on Feb. 14. Witnesses say a fight between two groups of teens spilled into the parking lot where investigators believe shots were fired into the air. The investigation is ongoing.

Latino Center Seeks New Director State Board of Education member Rebecca Valdez has resigned her position as executive director of the Latino Center of the Midlands. LCM board member Mark Foxall told the Omaha World-Herald that her departure was “not related to the recent closing of the Latino Center’s substance abuse counseling program.” According to its 990 tax returns, LCM has operating losses of $386,431 from 2007-2009, drawing its reserve fund down to $339,894. No board members were available at the time this went to press. — Brandon Vogel

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feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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heartlandhealing

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Bee Healed: A Tip for Allergy Season

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t’s time to think about it. Spring blossoms will be here sooner than we realize. Although the first pollens are weeks away, now might be a good time to prepare the immune system for the springtime onslaught collectively called “hay fever.� Honey of a deal. People have been using honey medicinally for thousands of years. Vials of honey found in the pyramids were perfectly edible when found five thousand years later. Pure honey does not spoil. It may naturally crystallize but gentle, low heat will bring it back to its liquid state. Many people find that using honey in the springtime is a natural way to avoid allergies. Understandably, since Big Pharma could never patent honey and make billions, little official research has been done. But anecdotal evidence supports that beginning a regimen of eating local honey several weeks before pollen season can essentially immunize a person against the symptoms of sneezing and itchy eyes that are called hay fever. Anyone looking for an alternative to allergy drugs and their nasty side effects could look into beginning with honey by the end of February. One friend found success with a tablespoon a day. Bee food is our food. Bees visit flowering plants and collect two main items: flower nectar and pollen granules. Nectar is drawn up into a pouch-like structure called a crop. Pollen is trapped by hairs and moved into pouches in the back legs. When the bees have collected nectar, they return to the hive, communicate their findings to other worker bees, and then deposit their goods. The primary foods that bees eat are nectar, pollen and honey. In the hive, flower nectar is treated with enzymes and deposited into honeycombs. Bees beat their wings to remove some of the moisture and thicken the honey before capping the cell with additional wax. Pollen is usually fed to the larvae since it is high in protein. Throughout the process, small bits of modified flower pollen mix with the honey. This is an important part when it comes to allergy immunity for humans. Pollenoscopy. The agents that cause the human immune system to overreact into allergy mode known as hay fever are the protein molecules of the pollen grain. Seen under a powerful microscope, one can see why. These grains look like little burrs. They could irritate a monk! In the process of making honey, the protein is modified by the bees. When we eat the honey, we are acclimating the body to a slightly “weakened� version of the pollen. That’s why there are some important criteria to follow when using honey as a deterrent to allergy season. First, the honey should be local. The theory is that only local honey will confer allergy immunity because local honey contains local pollens. You don’t need to be immune to pollen from flowers or grasses

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in California if you live in Nebraska, do you? So why eat honey from California? Or China, for that matter. That’s part of why local is best. Additional criteria include the little-understood terms “unfiltered� and “raw.� Those characteristics are important but like the term “natural,� are somewhat hard to define. It is generally understood that unfiltered honey will contain more of the semi-modified pollen proteins than highly processed, highly filtered honey. But my beekeeper friends tell me that technically speaking, all honey is filtered to some extent. It’s a natural product and there is a need to remove larger artifacts that can get into it, like a piece of leaf or other such debris. The trick is to use as coarse a filter as practicable. When honey is described as “raw,� it generally refers to whether the honey was heated to an extreme. Honey is free of bacteria so it does not require pasteurization, but some processors heat the honey to higher temperatures so it is easier to handle in a more liquid form. This higher temperature destroys some of the vital enzymes in honey; so if you can determine that the honey you purchase was only minimally heated, it is best. Bee advised. Most people are allergic to gravity if exposed to it incorrectly and gravity has been known to be fatal when experienced at the end of a long fall. The point is that like many things in nature, honey and bee products have the potential to cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. Allergic reactions can be fatal. Bees in crisis. Anyone reading the news these past few years would know bees are in danger of extinction. Large numbers of beehives are being wiped out by a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder. With CCD, entire colonies of bees disappear. It’s believed that they become disoriented or suffer the effects of some neurotoxin. CCD could be considered a byproduct of industrial agriculture. That may sound odd at first because bees are known as one of the most prolific pollinators. Fully one-third of the food we eat is directly reliant on bees for pollination. If there were no bees, our food system as we know it would collapse. So why would industrial agriculture be to blame? The answer is simple. Agribusiness uses millions of tons of insecticides to make farming easier and make billions of dollars selling the insecticide to the farmer. Insecticides kill bees. And why would agribusiness ignore that? They don’t care. The major commodity foods agribusiness makes junk food out of — corn, wheat and rice — are wind-pollinated. They don’t need bees. Since the majority of the farmers in our lovely grain belt don’t grow foods that use bee pollination — for example nuts, melons and berries, citrus fruits, apples, onions, broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, peppers, avocados, cucumbers, coconuts, tomatoes and broad beans, coffee or cocoa — why should they care? We’ll have more on the bee crisis and what you can do about it. For now, get some of that local honey. Be well. ,

HEARTLAND HEALING by Michael Braunstein examines various alternative forms of healing. It is

provided as a source of information, not as medical advice. It is not an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or The Reader. Access past columns at HeartlandHealing.com

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FEB. 17 - 23, 2011

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coverstory

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER An unforgettable evening: highlights from the fifth annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts awards

MUSIC:

ter the well-dressed metal band picked up their crystal obelisk. Other winners were more emphatic in expressing their joy at winning an OEA. DJ Kobrakyle, Kyle Richardson, marched triumphantly with his award. The Kris Lager Band and Matt Cox each took the podium to say thanks for their awards. Meanwhile, Little Brazil’s Oliver Morgan made sure to cart along his bottled beverage up front when Little Brazil took home the best alternative/indie trophy. Secret Weapon had fun with their speech after winning for best cover band. One of the members remarked the welcomed peculiarity of their band winning an award for playing songs by other bands. Becka also brought a note of seriousness, as he led the crowd in a round of applause for Luigi Waites. Waites, who died in April 2010, served as a tireless advocate of local music and one of the principle figures of Omaha’s jazz scene. The moment brought most of the attending musicians in the crowd to pay their respect. Waites’ band Luigi Inc. still holds a Sunday night residency at Mister Toad in the Old Market.

ALL YOUNG GIRLS ARE MACHINE GUNS

Crystal Visions: Musicians snag up OEA Awards after setting the night to music s the Grammy Awards dispensed their hardware with plenty of over-the-top theatricality on television screens across the country Sunday night, Omaha’s crop of musicians celebrated their own successes with a humbler bit of pomp and circumstance. The Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards program brought together local musicians with their artistic compatriots in theater and visual arts for the fifth annual awards show inside the Grand Ballroom at Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs. The evening’s biggest music winner at the OEA Awards was Adam Hawkins. Hawkins and his band It’s True garnered the evening’s main honors, artist of the year and album of the year. Hawkins, however, was out of sight, forgoing the event after relocating to Iowa just after the release of his award-winning record. The awards program opened with dance and drums from the African Culture Connection, followed by a handful of theater and visual arts awards. Those awards dominated the proceedings of the first half of the show, with musical performances being placed at intervals to preview some of the music award categories later in the event. All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, the project of ukelele player and vocalist Rebecca Lowry, set the unassuming tone of the musical side of the OEAAs with a stripped down song detailing the changing nature of quietude in a relationship. Joined onstage by a violinist, Kaitlyn Maria Filippini, it’s easy to see why Lowry has a growing following in Omaha’s singer-songwriter community. She’s able to pair her adult pop sensibilities with her uniquely stripped down approach to instrumentation. All Young Girls Are Machine Guns ended the night by taking home the Best New Artist and Best Jazz/Easy Listening awards. Steve Raybine and his band brought up the energy with upbeat, groovy pop-jazz, highlighted

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THEATER:

Playing it Cool: Performing Arts winners stage antics belie roles that got them there JUSTIN BARNES

A

by Chris Aponick

by well-articulated and clean blues guitar riffs, saxophone and Raybine’s rhythmic vibraphone playing. Later on, a group of slam poets took the stage with a lyrical performance that was music in its own right. The Filter Kings closed out the musical performances with a confident swagger, playing the ballroom like a barroom. They quickly kicked their set into gear, with their bassist garnering plenty of looks for his upright bass tricks. No-shows for the first few awards threatened to be a distraction, but Best Adult Alternative

| THE READER |

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Singer Songwriter winner Brad Hoshaw did end up thanking fans for the OEA award on his Facebook page later in the night, after having missed the ceremony. Best Rock winner Cursive also did not attend the event. Event emcee Tom Becka loosened up as the musical portion continued, with off-the-cuff remarks and callbacks to the accountants who tabulated the OEA ballots. The best of which came after Paria accepted the award for best hard rock act. “Back in my day though, hard rock musicians didn’t look like accountants,” Becka hollered af-

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by Warren Francke

prinkle theater folks generously in a common crowd and they might seem exciting. But surround them with rockers or other artists and let the yawning begin. How lively were the theater winners at the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards? By far the liveliest was 90-ish Elaine Jabenis, the grande dame of the metro stage, who fired back with class at emcee Tom Becka who mispronounced her long-familiar name. Next liveliest was Kevin Lawler, who hugged Jabenis upon receiving the Best Director of a play award for The Death of a Salesman, one of many top honors taken by the Omaha Community Playhouse. Lawler looked shaggy and rumpled enough to have crawled out of a “La Boheme” attic.

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That was another challenge for the emcee who pronounced Les as if it was short for Lester. You know, like that famous Frenchman, Lester Miserables. When Mark Thornburg was honored for playing Tevye in Fiddler, he completed a sweep of such awards, having been recognized by the Playhouse with a Fonda-McGuire award and by the Theatre Arts Guild. Best actor went to the great John Beasley for his theater’s Jitney. That appeared in the Monday morning World-Herald as “Jitney John,” a play we suspect is known for its freaky-fast delivery. That’s the reason, by the way, that Becka claimed he was chosen to emcee: his freakyfast delivery. (It wouldn’t do to tease the daily without noting that this weekly ran the previous year’s nominations in an “official program” published last week. Still, the Reader got the right list ready in time to appear at place settings the night of the show.) Everything didn’t fall to the Playhouse, Blue Barn or Creighton. This writer’s favorite musical of the awards season, Rent by SNAP! Productions, brought a Best Actress Musical award for Audrey Fisher and a supporting honor for Angie Heim. Its director, Todd Brooks, picked up Audrey’s hardware, noting that she was off dancing somewhere. Angie’s honored performance was one of many nominated from Rent, which had Wayne Moore and Sean Buster nominated in a supporting category won by Tim Abou-Nasr, who was busy rehearsing at the Playhouse. Andrew McGreevy got a shot at the spotlight when he won for Best Premiere of New, Original or Local Script. He explained that his writing of Brick: An a Capella Musical, contrary to the common claim that the script is the thing, wasn’t more important than the entire team that put that show together for SkullDuggery Theatre. The fullest podium comments came from Robin Welch on receiving Best Local Dance Production for Rainforest by the Omaha Theater Ballet. She was proud that her company’s final production was recognized as one of its best. DALE HEISE

The rest of the award recipients who weren’t off rehearsing or performing somewhere belied the dazzling talent that earned their honors. Exclude the beaming Amy Lane, bare-shouldered in bright red, as the only one who picked up prizes for two theaters: Best Actress in a play for her lead role in the Blue Barn’s Rabbit Hole and Best Comedy for Almost, Maine, which she directed for the Playhouse. She could have completed a hat trick if a third theater where she works, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, hadn’t been shut out despite a number of nominees, especially the Miracle Worker. Anyway, while emcee Becka complained about musicians who looked like accountants, the theater winners specialized in looking good and saying little. Most weren’t invited to the podium for acceptance speeches. Especially striking was a young nominee, Ashton Taylor, who didn’t win in her category but performed her big number from Annie, and shined vocally and personally while promising that “The sun will come out tomorrow.” It was also notable as the only theatrical performance amidst musicians and slam poet Felicia Webster. FELICIA WEBSTER If we can claim her for theater after her performance in For Colored Girls at the John Beasley Theater, then her rap about reciprocity and “let go,” backed by D. Kevin Williams among others, negates most of the above by bringing a lot of life to the stage. And then there’s Katie F-S, named the Best Local Slam Poet. She posed, hanging a studded tongue, as she accepted her award. Maybe actors should adopt catchy names such as All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, which won two music awards. Closest to the 10 honors awarded the Playhouse (most were accepted by Susie Baer Collins who won as director of Fiddler on the Roof which also won best musical) were five for the Barn, including three for Rabbit Hole, adding Jordan Rundingen’s Young Actor award and Mary Beth Adams for Supporting Actress to Lane’s acting award. The Blue Barn’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde won in sound design for Martin Magnuson and lighting for Carol Wisner, often-honored for her craft. When she accepted she added thanks for her husband, Bill Van Deest, who won the scenic design trophy for his work on Creighton University’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

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ART:

JUSTIN BARNES

Ladies Night: Led by Leslie Iwai, female artists dominate Visual Arts categories By Sarah Baker Hansen

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DALE HEISE

JUSTIN BARNES

cée. Omaha will surely miss Iwai, who dabbles in performance art, sculpture, fashion design and installation simultaneously and with incredible grace. Over the years, she’s created such memorable shows as 2005’s “Chambers: Gleaning in Cracks of Light” at the Bemis Center, which included a light installation, confessions written on rose petals, seven hundred dove sculptures and a performance piece on the Bemis roof. Her public sculpture “Sounding Stones,” now installed near UNO, is a serene, conceptual sculptural piece that, after some controversy, seemed as though it had never been anywhere but Elmwood Park. Her most recent installation “Holding my Horses” at the Florence Mill garnered rave reviews. The awards she took home

DALE HEISE

JUSTIN BARNES

PHOTO BY DALE HEISE

JUSTIN BARNES

omen artists dominated the Visual Arts categories in Sunday night’s show. In fact, they won every category but two. Omaha artist Leslie Iwai took home the biggest award of the night — Best Visual Artist — and got a second nod in the Best New Media Artist category. Iwai bested formidable male artists like Tim Guthrie, Jamie Burmeister, Larry Ferguson, Bart Vargas and Josh Powell, among others. Iwai said after the show the two awards were a fine way to leave Omaha behind — she’s moving to Madison, Wisc., to be with her fian-

women set against grain of wood and divided in some cases by thick color bars of paint. The re-contextualized erotic images played with ideas of loneliness and isolation; there are things we all want to say but can’t and Herskovitz touched a chord with the show. Her career is one to watch.

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sculptures made from this seemingly ho-hum media can be anything but. Omaha art collector and philanthropist Phillip Schrager, who died after a battle with cancer last June, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Visual Arts. The Hot Shops’ Leslie Bruning and Bemis Board member Todd Simon presented the award, and a video tribute marked the occasion. Schrager’s mark on the Omaha art scene won’t soon be forgotten. As he said in the tribute video, art in Omaha didn’t exist the way it does now when he arrived in the 1970s. “Omaha’s art scene was once barren,” he said. Phillip Schrager’s brother, Harley Schrager, said in the tribute that his brother only had a few passions: his family, his business, art and philanthropy. “He liked art that moved his senses,” Harley Schrager said. Phillip Schrager’s family accepted the award on his behalf. ,

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DALE HEISE

PHOTO BY JUSTIN BARNES

Sunday are well deserved. She promises to keep us posted as to what she does next. Rebecca Herskovitz took home the award for Best Emerging Artist. Herskovitz’s “The Things I Cannot Say” in the Bemis Underground was provocative and engaging at once. She showed slightly retro silhouettes of nude

Another of the city’s most engaging — and steadiest rising — women artists took home the Best 2-D artist. Claudia Alvarez won for her show at the RNG Gallery, “Corn Eaters.” Her paintings — engaging, challenging and beautiful are words that come to mind — were as much a focus at the RNG show as her sculpture installation. The images of children eating corn was about more than food — they dove into culture, notions of childhood, indulgence and other emotions. Mary Day took the prize for best 3-D artist. She was recognized for her show “Scaffolding” at the Fred Simon Gallery, though her citywide contributions include a largescale banner for the Emerging Terrain Project. Therman Statom took home the award for his show featuring New Work at the RNG Gallery. His memorable, colorful glasswork is a favorite of many and deserving of an OEAA nod. The award for Best Group Show went to Out of the Woods at the Hot Shops Nicholas Street Gallery. Focusing on artists who work with wood — an oft under-recognized medium — the artists in this group proved to the city that

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Call 402-934-3402 or visit cox.com

Available to residential customers in Cox Omaha serviceable areas, adding new services. $4.95 for three (3) months applies to Cox High Speed Internet Preferred or Premier, Cox Digital Telephone primary line, Cox TV and Cox Advanced TV. Equipment is extra. On the fourth month, regular pricing will resume. For current pricing, please go to www.cox. com. Cox TV Starter service required for local HD channels. Cox Advanced TV and Essentials required for expanded HD channels. Some On DEMAND programming is extra. Names of programming services, features and/or programmers are the property of their respective owners. Cox TV Starter at a minimum, digital receiver or CableCard rental, and Advanced TV required. An HDTV set and HD receiver or CableCard required for Cox HD service. Cox does not charge extra for HD equipment or for the HD versions of most HD channels included in your digital subscription. If you own a One-way Digital Cable Ready (DCR) TV or other display device that is CableCard™-compatible, you may lease either a CableCard or a digital set top receiver in order to receive Cox Advanced TV. Digital receiver required for Interactive Programming Guide (IPG), On DEMAND, Pay-Per-View, and all digital programming options.. If you wish to rent a CableCard in lieu of a digital receiver, you must obtain the CableCard from Cox. CableCard is a registered trademark of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs®) and is used with permission. Promotional discount can not be used in conjunction with bundled discount. Bundled discount may be applied once regular pricing resumes. Modem required for Internet service. Uninterrupted or error-free Internet service, or the speed of your service, is not guaranteed. Actual speeds may vary. Telephone modem (no additional cost to consumer) may be required for phone service. Modem uses household electrical power to operate and has backup battery power provided by Cox if electricity is interrupted. Telephone service, including access to e911 service, will not be available during an extended power outage or if the modem is moved or inoperable. Promotional discount can not be used in conjunction with bundled discount. Bundled discount may be applied once regular pricing resumes. Installation fees, taxes, franchise fees and other surcharges are additional. Other restrictions may apply. Offer expires 2/26/2011. ©2011 Cox Communications Omaha, LLC. All rights reserved.

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| THE READER |

FEB. 17-23, 2011

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Brews Cruise

Bailey’s Best breakfast in town. “King of Eggs Benedict.” 1 block south of 120th & Pacific • 932-5577 absolutelyfresh.com Attic Bar & Grill Great food and great drinks with live music. 3231 Harney St. • 932.5387 atticbarandgrill.com Blue Planet Natural Grill Healthy People. Healthy Planet. 6307 Center St. • 218.4555 blueplanetnaturalgrill.com Cascio’s Steakhouse Established 1946, 63 years of selling great steaks. 1620 S. 10th St. • 345-8313 casciossteakhouse.com Dundee Dell Omaha’s Finest Neighborhood Restaurant & Pub 5007 Underwood Ave. • 553.9501 dundeedell.com Hector’s Boasting the only Baja-style Mexican cuisine in the city, Hector’s serves fresh food with panache from Baja California and northwest Mexico. Two Locations: 1201 S. 157th St. • 884.2272 3007 S. 83rd Plz. • 391.2923 hectorsomaha.com La Casa Pizzeria Fine Italian Dining Since 1953. Located on historic Leavenworth street in midtown Omaha, La Casa has the freshest pizza in town. 4432 Leavenworth St. • 556.6464 lacasapizzaria.net La Mesa An authentic Mexican experience, from mouthwatering enchiladas to fabulous fajitas. Top it off with one of La Mesa’s famous margaritas. Voted # 1 Mexican Restaurant seven years in a row. Locations: 156th and Q • 763.2555 110th & Maple • 496-1101 Ft. Crook Rd. and 370 (Bellevue) • 733.8754 84th and Tara Plaza (Papillion) • 593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit (Council Bluffs) • 712.256.2762 la-mesa.com Matsu Sushi Downtown’s Original Sushi Restaurant 1009 Farnam St. • 346-3988 matsusushi.wordpress.com

Shucks Fish House & Oyster Bar Great Seafood. Great Prices. Southwest corner of 168th & Center 1218 S 119 St. • 827.4376 absolutelyfresh.com Ted & Wally’s Premium Ice Cream Voted best ice cream in Omaha! 1120 Jackson St. • 341.5827

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By Lainey Seyler

anana is what polite people would call an interesting quality in a beer. But with the Nebraska Brewing Co.’s EOS Hefeweizen, it works. It’s what the Papillion brewpub’s owners Paul and Kim Kavulak were drinking, so I thought it best to follow suit. The EOS was light with a clean flavor, and there it was at the end, the suggestion of banana. Creativity and diversity is the mantra of this three-year-old brewery that has been turning heads of late in the nebraska brewing co. craft brewery industry. Nebraska Brewing Co., located at South Pointe in Papillion, distributes its lagers and ales in 10 states: Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Oregon and North Carolina. It just inked a distributing contract to deliver beer to markets in California and Pittsburgh. Those areas will start receiving shipments March 9, a year after distributions to the East Coast began. The brewery is putting out a reserve series of barrelaged beer about once a month, and sells seven beers plus one experimental concoction on any given night. All the beers on tap, including the EOS, are well decorated with awards from U.S. and world beer championships. Paul Kavulak credits the brewery’s pilot system, which has the team constantly experimenting. They go through as many as 30 brews a year, and only eight make it to the tap as a seasonal. “The difference is if you experiment, if you push beyond what you know,” says Kavulak about making superior beer. “I think if we didn’t have the pilot system we’d be an average brewery.”

| THE READER |

dish

Kavulak and head brewer Tyson Arp started as homebrewers with a burgeoning hobby. The Kavulaks said Sunday was beer day in their household. Paul says he had an epiphany moment with the Cardinal Pale Ale, which is on the menu. “I came home from work. I was still in my suit. I was so angry, I picked up all the hops and was either going to throw them away or throw them in (the fermenting beer).” He threw them in. Several weeks later, he went down to check the beer “to see how bad it was.” He continues, “I opened it and smelled it and thought ‘this is better than something I could buy.’” That was the trajectory that put Paul and wife Kim elbow-deep in the diverse world of craft beer.

adam brubaker

Anthony’s Steakhouse/The Ozone Club For more than 38 years, Anthony’s has been known for its steaks, using premium black angus beef aged on premises. Anthony’s is dedicated to bringing customers a truly special dining event every visit. 7220 F St. • 331.7575 anthonyssteakhouse.com

Papillion brewpub does Nebraska proud

crumbs

84th Street Café Serving delicious cost-conscious food. 8013 S. 83rd Ave. • 597-5003 www.facebook.com/84thstcafe

n Would-be chocolatiers have a new weapon in their arsenal via the latest iPhone app from master chocolatemaker Jacques Torres. His new app, MrChocolate, offers a virtual tour of his Brooklyn chocolate factory/retail outlet, a chocolate glossary, and the history of chocolate, all for free. An upgrade will get you access to how-tos, techniques and recipes. n If you’ve been avoiding eggs for health reasons, the USDA just gave you the okay to start ordering omelets again, though not on a daily basis. The agency randomly sampled eggs from across the country and found that commercial eggs now have 14% cholesterol and 64% more vitamin D than was previously thought. Despite that drop in cholesterol, one egg still has 185 milligrams, and two eggs exceed the recommended daily dose of cholesterol. — Kyle Tonniges

“The cool thing about the craft beer industry is that people can say ‘Oh, I like Fat Tire, maybe I’ll try something else,’” Kim says. “They won’t like everything, but they’ll find something.” The couple opened Nebraska Brewing Co. at South Pointe in 2007 (on the eve of the economic meltdown), serving good pub food to the south Omaha market. Nebraska Brewing Co. is available at a few locations around town, including the Crescent Moon and Beertopia, Brass Monkey, Brix, the Foundation, the Library, CRAVE, the Grey Plume, and also the Brick Top and Yia Yia’s in Lincoln. The reserve series, including the intriguing Melange a Trois, which is aged in a

n Chefs square off in the annual Art and Soup fundraiser held by the Visiting Nurses Association. Twenty-four area chefs are coming to the event on Feb. 27 to raise money for the VNA, which provides low-cost healthcare to the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Attendees can sample all the soup and have a chance to bid of art at a silent auction. Admission is $50 in advance and $55 the day of the event. Visit TheVNACares.org/ art-soup-soups.htm for more information. n Blanc Burgers + Bottles is the latest installment in a series of restaurants to open at Midtown Crossing. This is the upscale burger joint’s third restaurant (the other two are in the Kansas City area). The restaurant serves up such sandwiches as the Reuben, a meatloaf burger and a kobe beer burger in addition to a wide selection of bottled gourmet soda. For more information, visit BlancBurgers.com. — Lainey Seyler Crumbs is about indulging in food and celebrating its many forms. Send information about area food and drink businesses to crumbs@ thereader.com

chardonnay oak barrel, sells for $20 in Omaha and up to $45 in New York (thanks to high demand). Paul says they’d like the prices to hover around $20, but retailers can sell for more. “We don’t bottle in six-packs,” explains Paul. “We don’t exist in the cheap six-pack market.” And I, for one, am glad. , Nebraska Brewing Co., located at 72nd Street and Hwy 370, is open Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.Sat. 11 a.m.-midnight and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Visit nebraskabrewingco.com or call 934.7100 for more information.

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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8 days

Feb. 24

Coming to Omaha: Father Greg Boyle Lecture and Book Signing Metro Community College South Omaha Campus South 27th Street and Q, 889.8410 7 p.m., FREE

Pastor and author Father Gregory Boyle will be in Omaha next Thursday to give a lecture at Metro Community College’s South Campus. For 20 years, Boyle has led an organization called Homeboy Industries that works to provide jobs, training and encouragement for troubled young people in a neighborhood of Los Angeles known to have the city’s highest concentration of murderous gang activity. Recently, he penned Tattoos on the Heart, a memoir recollecting his experiences. Boyle’s tales from the barrio include everything from a tattooed gang member readjusting to life after prison to a 10-year-old girl searching for acknowledgement in her troubled neighborhood. A book signing follows the 7 p.m. lecture. — Sean Brennan

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THURSDAY17

omaha lancers

Through May 8

The Glory of Ukraine

Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Free with regular admission, Hours vary 342-3300, joslyn.org The promo for a new Joslyn exhibition had me at “centuries old, rarely seen icons and relics from the Ukraine’s Monastery of the Caves.” After all, it’s not every day you see ancient religious artifacts from a spooky labyrinth of catacombs devoted to Orthodox Christianity buried deep within the Slavic hinterland. That’s not all. See a selection of tools, weapons, decorative objects and worship items from various cultures, including the horse-riding nomadic groups the Cimmerians and Scythians, as well as the Sarmatians, the Greeks, the Celts, the Goths and the Huns. Taken together, it’s a display of Ukrainian spiritual and national treasures not likely to be seen in the same place at the same time outside the Ukraine. The Joslyn is presenting a series of related educational programs during the exhibit’s run. — Leo Adam Biga

FRIDAY18 Feb. 18

Step Afrika!

Holland Performing Arts Center 1300 Douglas St. 8 p.m., $19-$35, 345.0606 omahaperformingarts.org or ticketomaha.com Step Afrika! should be a real treat for anyone who loves dance but has never seen a step show. Stepping, which is very popular in African-American fraternities and sororities, gets blended here with traditional African dances. Step Afrika! is the world’s first professional step company and this show should be mandatory for fans of world music as well as dance. Its roots grow out of African dance and military marching while using the body as a dynamic instrument, amplified by the dancers’ hard-soled shoes. Think Lord of the Dance, only an African-American version. Truly a rare treat. ­— Andy Roberts

| THE READER |

picks

Feb. 18-19

Omaha Lancers Hockey

Friday vs. Green Bay Gamblers Saturday vs. Lincoln Stars Omaha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol Ave. 7:05 p.m. both nights, $14-$16 800.745.3000, lancers.com In their 25th season on the ice, the Western Conference-leading Omaha Lancers have provided entertainment for hundreds of thousands of area sports fans. They’ve inspired countless kids to lace up their skates and take up the great game of hockey (yours truly included) and sent their top

players into the collegiate and minor league ranks, including a lucky few into the National Hockey League. While the names and faces have changed over the years, the rivalries remain the same, including a cross-division skate Friday night against Eastern Conference leader Green Bay and Saturday night donnybrook against arch-rival Lincoln. Perhaps no rivalry in the United States Hockey League is as fierce as the battles between the Lancers and the Stars. The teams have combined for 245 penalty minutes through the first five games against each other this season, with another two on tap after this weekend. — Adam Froemming

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SUNDAY20

Feb. 19

Feb. 20

Loom Weaves Brasil’s Carnaval Nomad Lounge, 1013 Jones St. 9 p.m., $5, 21+, 884.1231 brentcrampton.typepad.com

Loom brings the dance to Nomad Lounge this Saturday for a Brazilian themed Carnaval celebration promising an “explosive cultural exploration.” The famous holiday is in the same vein as Fat Tuesday — one last chance to party down before repenting ahead of Easter. This installment of the popular dance party promises spectacle and merriment right in step with the original, featuring live Afro-Latin percussion over samba, batucada, tropicale, baile funk and south-of-theequator tracks spun by co-creator and Reader contributor Brent Crampton. Come decked in festive yellow and green, a la Brazil’s flag, or other flashy, tropical flair. Order a caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail made with cachaça sugar and lime, and let the swirling beats and sweaty dance floor transport you. ­— Sarah Wengert

Murder by Death w/ The Builders And The Butchers & Damion Suomi And The Minor Prophets

Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. 9 p.m., $12, onepercentproductions.com Can someone please tell Bill Murray and Harold Ramis to make amends and get Ghostbusters 3 out? Because I thought I just heard the ghost of Johnny Cash’s voice. Murder by Death’s Adam Turla’s vocals bleed shades of the Man in Black and are

p i c k s

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the linchpin for the band’s post-punk, rock, altcountry sound that makes use of an electric cello to achieve a sporadic western outlaw feel with a touch of southern American gothic. Known for their bad/good archetype concept albums, lead singer Turla explores the same themes with their latest studio album, 2010’s Good Morning, Magpie, but with a twist to their traditional modes of inspiration. This time, Turla went off the map, spending an extended period in the seclusion of the Tennessee mountains where he penned all 11 title tracks accompanied only by his thoughts. Together since 2000, Murder by Death’s set-list has taken on the feeling of a travelogue that could’ve been authored by Billy the Kid. ­— James Derrick Schott

murder by death

Feb. 19

Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole

Holland Center Scott Recital Hall 1200 Douglas St. 8 p.m., $25, 345.0606, ticketomaha.com

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Idris Goodwin SLAM Poetry Metropolitan Community College Elkorn Valley Campus 204th and Dodge, 1 p.m., FREE

Idris Goodwin is a man of many hats — educator, hip-hop artist, HBO Def Poet, essayist and awardwinning playwright. When Goodwin speaks, you have no choice but to listen, as almost every word he utters is a lesson in itself. These Are The Breaks is Goodwin‘s debut collection of poetic essays that touches on topics such as race, culture and class, delivered with an unmistakable cadence. Born in Detroit, Goodwin has branched out to Los Angeles, Chicago, Albuquerque and Iowa City and has witnessed all sides of American culture and, more specifically, hip-hop culture. “The concept of hip-hop as a culture has become more and more pervasive across the world. I’m showing how hip-hop presents an alternative polycultural paradigm,” Goodwin says. “Most people’s misconceptions are in the world of entertainment. They think of it as just music — not as hip-hop being a culture. It’s become part of American capitalism. Before Sugar Hill Gang, hip-hop had always been polycultural. Only when we started messing with corporations did it become about sex and race. You can’t sell culture. You can only experience culture.” Goodwin will read from These Are The Breaks Thursday at Metro’s Elkhorn campus. — Kyle Eustice

Feb. 22

Dine Out for the Arts

Various Council Bluffs and Omaha locations 712.328.4992, bluffsarts.org

The upbeat, soaring blues-inflected vocals, fiddling and accordion of multi-instrumentalist Cedric Watson and his band are the perfect warm escape from the cold, and a foreshadowing of spring. Nominated twice for Grammys, the 27year-old Texas-born, Louisiana transplant Watson plays a variety of old-school folk, original material and Creole traditions, and polyrhythmic sounds of Africa and the Caribbean to top the evening. His creative style and evident elation in playing are said to make him an engaging and exciting performer who moves with ease and playfulness between instruments. — Sally Deskins

Fifteen local restaurants are doing their part to support the Omaha area’s vibrant art scene Tuesday for the fifth annual Dine Out for the Arts. This benefit for the Bluff ’s Art Council pairs the work of local artists with area restaurants, and delivers a portion of the proceeds to the Council. So, if you’ve been having a craving for Indian food, save it for this night — the Indian Oven is one of the participating restaurants. Some locations will include live music. Check the Council’s website (bluffsarts.org) for the list of participating merchants, then get out and eat up for the greater good. — John Wenz

picks

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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So Much To See And Do... www.oldmarket.com

25 Y E A R S

PREMIUM HOMEMADE

12th & Jackson Old Market 341-5827 Ice Cream made the Old-Fashioned way using Rock Salt & Ice

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Best Ice Cream Shop

| THE READER |

The Morals of Mozart Don Giovanni is the classic story of karma

kelly markgraf

By Patricia Sindelar

on Juan’s first known appearance in the arts is the 1630 play, El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra (The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest), by Spanish author Tirso de Molina. Since then, Don Juan was literally reinvented in, or was the inspiration for, countless creative works. Arguably, his most popular incarnation is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous opera, and Opera Omaha’s next production, Don Giovanni. The story is familiar: Don Giovanni is the womanizing nobleman who racks up conquests and breaks hearts all over town, and ruins some lives in the process. Nobody can stop his rampage except for one supernatural force (the “stone guest”). Don Giovanni gets his comeuppance when he can’t seduce, pay off or dodge the “stone guest.” What may not be familiar is the depth that Mozart and his librettist, Lorezno DaPonte, bring to the legend of Don Juan. “The story, as told by Mozart and DaPonte, hinges on the age of enlightenment,” says Garnett Bruce, Opera Omaha’s Artistic Adviser and Principal Stage Director. “Is there an almighty God out there who will deliver retribution? Is there is an ultimate punishment for those who abuse society? And at the end of the story, there’s an inherent warning. That’s part of the appeal of Don Juan.” After speaking by phone and tracking his cast as they flew into Omaha during an earlyFebruary snowstorm that crippled a large part of the country, Bruce sent an e-mail translating the last few lines of Don Giovanni, which will be performed in Italian with English subtitles: “Let the villain rot in hell! Wickedness always meets its just reward, And a sinner’s death is always equal to his life.” Though his flaws are apparent, Don Giovanni has some redeeming qualities according to Kelly Markgraf, who will perform Opera Omaha’s title role in his debut. “It really depends on how you view him,” Markgraf says by phone during a brief rehearsal break. “The good side of him is more evident if you try to

Ylva Yrevall

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put yourself in his shoes. He views himself as not necessarily doing anything wrong. There’s a monologue in Molière’s Don Juan [Dom Juan ou le Festin de pierre or translated, Dom Juan or the Feast with the Statue] and in the monologue, he gives this long explanation of how he’s not doing anything wrong, because if he were to be faithful to one woman, it wouldn’t be fair to all the other women. It’s convoluted, and from most people’s perspectives, it’s totally deluded. But if you detach yourself from any kind of judgmental morality, there’s a forthcoming-ness about him. Life should be about pleasure, and he obviously he thinks he’s God’s gift to women. If we just go with it, it sort of makes sense. There is something sort of honest and straightforward about it.”

Don Giovanni’s prolific ability with women is another admirable, if not complex quality. “I think any man can actually identify in some way with Giovanni,” Markgraf says. “There are always situations in which you can see some shade or reflection of yourself in him because there are inner yearnings in which men want to be a great lover, or men want to know how to talk to women better, or approach that woman. Giovanni, as a character, always seems to know what to do. He’s also very wily and crafty and knows how to get out of a situation. The flip side of the coin is that all those characteristics and capabilities that make men want to be him, make women simultaneously despise and want to be with him.”

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Continuing to peel back the layers, Mozart’s Don Giovanni reveals some of the inner workings about the composer. “Mozart’s father died and Mozart felt guilty for having run to the freelance life,” Bruce says of Mozart leaving the cushy life of a court composer. “Some later thinkers feel he was punishing the errant Don Giovanni because of his guilt. I don’t think it changes how you play the character, but you have to recognize what the writer was going through. The music for the retribution scene is unlike anything else that he wrote — minor keys, swirling cords, and the brass to add another layer of sound. That’s part of the tradition of Don Giovanni. Is it a symbol of Mozart’s father? Or is it a symbol of those who have been wronged by errant nobility that is out of control?” There’s even more to Mozart and DaPonte’s version of the story. “There are biblical layers,” Bruce adds. “Mozart grew up Catholic and was very faithful to his wife. He did flirt and play, but he was faithful to his wife, and he did believe in the divine. DaPonte was technically a Catholic priest, exiled from Italy and defrocked, but he kept the title. DaPonte knew Casanova, so there is some element of honoring his friend, Casanova. You can imagine the dialogues Mozart and DaPonte must have had. Mozart with his Catholic guilt, versus the theological arguments of DaPonte, when you’re looking at Don Giovanni, whose morality they were defining. Don Giovanni asks that of its cast and therefore of its audience.” In order to be true to Mozart’s interpretation, Bruce brought in conductor JoAnn Kulesza, who Bruce says is a Mozart expert. He also brought back Markgraf, a baritone, who was in Opera Omaha’s Marriage of Figaro last year. While it’s Markgraf ’s first time as Don Giovanni, it’s also Bruce’s first time at the helm of a Don Giovanni production, and he’s grateful to have Kulesza with him. “Since this is my first time doing Don Giovanni, I’m excited to have someone keep me honest about delivering the ideas of Mozart.” , Opera Omaha’s Don Giovanni runs Friday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Tickets are $19-$79 and available by calling 345.0606 or at ticketomaha.com.

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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theater Barb Ross carries Circle Theater’s one-woman Didion play

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by Warren Francke

Barb thinks of one friend who lost her husband in the last two years and another who lost her husband last November. “She’s still inching her way” through grief. Director and actress take seriously the challenge of presenting Didion’s journey to such friends. So they’re trying to make it an intimate experience, transforming the stage below Central Presbyterian Church into the storyteller’s living room. Schweiger decided to hold an early rehearsal in the Ross home, inviting a few friends, and giving Barb the opportunity to tell the story in a more one-on-one setting.

ew will fail to find universal value in Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. It’s about one of America’s great observers, a master of non-fiction writing, facing the void of catastrophic loss. Fortunately, the pair chosen by the Circle Theater to tell us her story, director Daena Schweiger and Barb Ross, the onewoman cast, have suffered nothing so traumatic as the sudden death of a husband while an only child was comatose in a hospital. But both have lived long enough to know grief, and to know that the theater’s founders, Doug and Laura Marr, had given them a challenging opportunity. Both were working on a rowdier, less poignant play, Sordid Lives for SNAP! Productions, when they began collaborating on Didion’s memoir. It begins with the actress portraying the author the years of magical thinking urging that we remember her words because, while “The details will be difThat meant director Daena sitting on a ferent, this will happen to you.” In other words, couch, with three Ross dogs — Cecil the rat teronly those who die young escape the experience rier, Sugar the Boston terrier and Kip, the 150of losing a loved one. pound Rottweiler and German Shepard mix For Ross, Didion’s story has helped her bet- — piled on her lap and complaining when she’d ter “understand more about my mother’s situa- remove her hands to turn a page of script. tion” when she lost her husband, Barb’s father. One quote, “Don’t do that,” captures the He died when Barb was 19. drama of what began as a quiet evening at home For Schweiger, the play helps face the inevi- for Didion and her writer-husband, John Gregotable for Vlasta, her 100-year-old grandmother. ry Dunne. With the fireplace warming the room, “She always says, ‘I’m ready to go,’ but it’s still he was reading a book about World War I and going to be a shock.” Daena has also endured she brought him a second scotch. He wondered if the loss of a close friend, and now both hear it was single malt. from others who’ve faced losses and wonder Then she looked over and said, “Don’t do about their play. that.” He had slumped, like one might do to ex-

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| THE READER |

theater

aggerate being tired after a long day. He wasn’t pretending. He was leaving. Thus began what she called her Year of Magical Thinking. Magical because this very unsentimental, straight-thinking Episcopalian wife of a Catholic husband found herself keeping his shoes in case he returned. It was the sort of thinking that began at the emergency room when some recognition of the reality came from learning she had been assigned a social worker. She knew that was ominous, but she still found herself thinking much later that if she just did the right things, somehow he might return. You should understand that he was not only her spouse of many years but her writing partner. As one of Omaha’s most experienced talents, Barb Ross still finds the role unique. “I’ve seldom had a role where I had to carry the entire show.” She has help, of course, from Schweiger, who has added variety to the 90-minute no-intermission drama through movement. “On Broadway,” she notes, “Vanessa Redgrave sat in a chair most of the time.” To avoid “stagnation,” Daena has Ross moving about the “home” setting of desk, couch and bookcase. And she has added variety through thematic music composed for the production by one of Nebraska’s most prolific young composers, Amanda Louise Miller. “We talked about themes we wanted to highlight, and she went home and wrote stuff so on point. She’s a dream to work with and we’re very, very lucky to have her.” , The Year of Magical Thinking runs Feb. 18-March 12, Thurs.-Sat. with a dinner at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m., at Central Presbyterian Church, 55th and Leavenworth. Tickets are $23 for dinner and play, $13 for play only. Call 553.4715 for details.

coldcream

Magical Acting

n Hilarity (h-i-l-a-r-i-t-y, hilarity) awaits when we get to see some of our favorite local talents playing the comic characters in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, opening Friday at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Dan Chevalier brings his wide-eyed innocence to Leaf Coneybear, the child of hippies who makes his own clothes and sings, “I’m not that smart.” Tim Abou-Nasr plays Chip Tolentino, a Boy Scout facing the embarrassment of puberty, while Bailey Carlson is the girl whose name requires a spelling expert: Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, daughter of two homosexual dads who can be a bit overbearing. Analisa Swerczek plays the overachieving Marcy Park, who becomes a bit bored with her success; Eric Micks does William Barfee (pronounce it Bar-fay, please), the boy who spells with his magic foot, and Jennifer Tritz is Olive Ostrovsky, who can only dream about parental support since her mother is off in an Indian Ashram and her father works late. Theresa Sindelar plays the ex-champ who moderates the spelling bee and fends off the smitten judge, a vice principal played by Gordon Krentz. Roderick Cotton supplies grief counseling for the losers. Director Carl Beck will continue the show’s tradition of allowing a few audience members on stage to compete with the kids. The Putnam County competition will run through March 27 in the Howard Drew Theatre. n Great news to hear while walking my dog Max on a Sunday morning: A neighbor walking her dog Nickel reported her delight at being part of an overflow crowd at Saturday night’s performance of Distant Music, the Irish pub hit at the Brigit Saint Brigit. It helped that playwright James McLindon was on hand for a talkback, but rave reviews and word-of-mouth make this a tough ticket for the upcoming final weekend. n Nobody generates more progress reports than Andrew McGreevy, whose SkullDuggery Theatre enjoyed/suffered such a roller-coaster season. The latest: He’s now overseeing the arts offerings at P.S. Collective, the Benson Pizza Shoppe he again calls home. And it was great to hear about the good Minnesota fortunes of two University of Nebraska at Omaha theater grads, Paul R. Coate and Kathleen Bagby Coate. Paul recently performed in Evita in St. Paul and made his Minnesota Orchestra debut in Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute. Kathy, formerly with Iowa Western’s theater department, teaches the same in Normandale. — Warren Francke Cold Cream looks at theater in the metro area. Email information to coldcream@thereader.com.

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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Young Professionals Summit From I to We: Changing the Conversation March 3

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Qwest Center Omaha The Summit is the place for young professionals! If you’re interested in contributing to business and the community, join us and get inspired.

Keynote Speaker

Cory Booker

Mayor of Newark, New Jersey Community activist who redefines what it means to lead.

Opening Speaker

Jason Seiden

Young professional and award-winning author who made an art of failing spectacularly.

Cost: $125 Register by Feb. 24, at

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feb. 17 - 23, 2011

| THE READER |

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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art

Bemis exhibit of NAC winning artists a unique variation on ‘The Good Life’

T

by Michael J. Krainak

he current exhibit of the 2010 Nebraska Arts Council fellowship winners isn’t just another art exhibit, says curator Hesse McGraw. As the show’s title explains, “it’s Another Nebraska.” Every three years the NAC honors visual artists living and working in Nebraska. This year nine were awarded a total of $23,000. Winners of the $5,000 Distinguished Artist Award were Jamie Burmeister (sculpture/installation) and Liz Vercruysse (sculpture/installation). A $2,000 Merit Award was given to Anthony Hawley (sculpture/installation), Michael Morgan (sculpture/installation, Francisco Souto (printmaking), Therman Statom (sculpture/installation), Peter Walkley (painting/drawing) and Mary Zicafoose (craft/textile). In addition, Mary Day (sculpture/installation) won a $1,000 Merit Award. The NAC recognizes the art- by peter walkley ists not only for their past creative work but because of “their important contributions to the quality of life in this state.” It’s the latter that motivated the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts to begin exhibiting the winners in 2004, and it helps explain this year’s title choice by McGraw, the venue’s curator. “There is another Nebraska,” he said, “and this exhibit is a further recognition of public support for its artists at a time when the 1% for Art program is under threat. It proves there is a need for additional narratives in this state.” To organize this exhibit, which continues at the Bemis Center through April 9 and at the Fred Simon Gallery through Mar. 4, all artists were asked to contribute current work according to what qualified them. Interestingly, aside from the paintings of Walkley, the tapestry of Zicafoose and the drawings by Souto, the 2010 judges showed a strong preference for installation, mixed media and non-traditional sculpture. All of which gives this show a very contemporary vibe lending itself well to the urban/industrial environs of both Bemis and the Fred Simon. Overall, the exhibit is quiet, sophisticated and unassuming. The tone then is inviting with the bright, vivid wall hangings of Zicafoose on the far wall and pleasant, environmental music enticing both eye and ear into what can only be described as a Zen-like experience. This is another Nebraska, and it features work that is largely spare, minimal and mostly monochromatic

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in neutrals of whites, blacks, beiges and grays. The understated lighting and careful arrangement of open and filled spaces and sightlines lend some pieces a particular dignity, others an element of surprise. For example, Day’s corner installation of blonde poplar and reed sculpture and complementary charcoal drawings sits serenely to the right of the gallery entrance. The willowy, organic sculptural pieces are characteristic of her cosmic, visionary style as they spin in orbital fashion over and around their multi-level pedestals. Yet, the heavier charcoal drawings that support the sculpture design seem an unnecessary interruption in her otherwise lyrical Conversation. A more pleasant distraction is the sudden appearance of bare light bulbs flashing on and off above the window wells on the east wall. These “bright ideas” pulsate in Morse code to Burmeister’s site-specific light installation outside at both Bemis and the Fred Simon. No one does more than this gifted artist to suggest that not only is contemporary art often outside the box, it is the box. Two sculptors, Hawley and Morgan, continue this alternative vibe with their non-traditional approach to a more conventional medium. With If We Fall in Love Tonight and You Are the One, Hawley lends both a personal and esoteric touch to ordinary natural and manmade objects. The former is particularly effective as a whimsical 3-D emulation of a sonnet containing the title line. Made of branches, a Rod Stewart tape, paper and nails, this is stuff that wishes and dreams are made of: fragile, precious and elusive. Conversely, Morgan’s Hearth Series made of stoneware brick and enjoying center stage is totemic and primitive. Both sturdy and graceful, this layered and lattice-like column would be at home on the plains or on an urban patio, either functional or ornamental. Morgan has created a “found object” that is timeless and universal. Two artists more preoccupied with time and place are Walkley and Souto, though their very different work is more conceptual than purely representational or figurative. Walkley has three acrylic paintings that impress with their palette and precision in a style that references George Ault, particularly his August Night at Russell’s Corner. In his own style that varies from the stark realism of The Rainy Day to the operatic expressionism of Clouds, Walkley uses dramatic angles, light and shadow to suggest that some special moments and places “choose” the artist or anyone with a curious eye and an open mind.

| THE READER |

art

Souto also offers a different perspective with his three minimalist graphite drawings, but his exquisitely etched mark-making is more abstract and selective in POV. In Through the River of Time 1,2 and 4 he composes standing figures waist down at the top of the frame and a wide gap of a patterned floor between them and the viewer at the bottom outside the margin. In this less-is-more but challenging scenario, only the viewer can complete the narrative or simply enjoy the view. Two well-established Nebraska artists, Zicafoose and Statom, show interesting variations on their signature work. She continues to draw upon 2-D inspiration for her abstract and painterly tapestry, particularly her triptych Blueprint # 7 in stark black and white, two thumb or finger prints that lend a larger-than-life heroic treatment to a simple universal code. In her colorful Prairie #3 she demonstrates that the earth has a blueprint also, manmade and natural as a vibrant blue sky hangs over a planted, wind driven and sun-baked, yellow and orange field of grain. Statom is well-known for his mythical and personal glass and iconic installations, but nothing quite prepares the viewer for his installation on the dock, Transparencia, made of mirror and wood or the mixed media marvel, Thirty Eight, consisting of mirror and video projection. The first is somewhat reminiscent of Statom’s previous gallery filling, multi-installation Nascita, but the latter is an ethereal moment of crystal blue and silver persuasion. Two additional works outside the gallery, one in Bemis’ main hallway, the other at Fred Simon, are also persuasive. Vercruysse is partial to her own totemic clay, steel and bronze pod-like forms, but Made in China, a variation on a Siberian Elm standing tall in the hall reminds one of her past creative Manipulation of Trees installation. In this work her elm sprouts fortune cookies, which invite the viewer to pluck and enjoy, leaving the fortune on the ground to sprout good luck to others. Meanwhile, Burmeister invites the viewer to join his crowd of Vermin.me multi-installed at Fred Simon. His signature set of mini-clay androgynous figures are here, there and everywhere in a set of small installations that in the aggregate mimic society’s self-gratification and love of mainstream pop culture. His social satire, however, is never strident. It varies here from vermin adulating the creation of one of their own on TV to a group attempting to “hustle” aboard an interactive record player in a suitcase. Exhibits like these prove how deserving NAC fellowship winners are of the money and encouragement it brings; but unless politicians, the public and the private sector continue to support 1% for Art in this state there may not be “Another Nebraska” three years from now. , Another Nebraska is on display at the Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St., through April 9, and at the Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St., through Feb. 25. Visit bemiscenter.org or nebraskaartscouncil.org for more information.

mixedmedia

Another Nebraska

n If you’re a supporter of the arts, it’s likely you received an urgent email sometime in the past two weeks about LB497, which proposes to put a moratorium on Nebraska’s 1% for the Arts program. Introduced by Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha, the legislature heard the bill on Feb. 14. Sen. Howard introduced the bill as a “cost saving” measure; it’s a response to Gov. Dave Heineman’s call to reduce state spending. Nebraska’s program has been in effect since 1978, making it one of the oldest public art programs in the nation, and the loss will be detrimental for practicing artists in Nebraska. It will also mean that state buildings that the legislature votes to build or renovate (the only ones that get considered for the program) won’t have any money devoted to the creation and installation of public art. I don’t usually use this space to preach, but public art is simply too important to cut. If you’re an artist, a gallery owner, a museum employee or simply a person who loves art, make your voice heard. Once things like this get cut, it’s rare that they ever return. Don’t let this happen. Write to the Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Lavon Heidemann and Sen. Gwen Howard. Nebraskans For the Arts has all the contact information on its website, NebraskansForTheArts.org. n MEDICI – the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Art and Art History fundraising arm – is celebrating its 15th year with a special fundraiser. The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 26 from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery inside Richards Hall on the UNL campus. Over the years, MEDICI has raised more than $100,000 for the department; that money brings visiting artists to campus, funds catalogs and buys equipment like kilns and cameras. Each year, artists that support the department are invited to donate a piece that will be for sale at the event. To purchase general admission, premium and “buy-it-now” tickets, contact LaVonne Keller in UNL’s Department of Art and Art History at 402.472.5522 or lkeller@unlnotes.unl.edu. n Council Bluffs’ annual Dine out for the Arts is slated for Feb. 22, and 15 restaurants are participating this year. Each restaurant will give a portion of its proceeds to the BAC. Participating restaurants and artists include the 1892 German Bier Haus featuring artist Julie Stueve and music by the Don Jacobson Sax Quartet; Barleys, featuring artwork by Machaela Morrissey and Pat Barton and Cirkle of Fifths band playing during the dinner hour; Boxer B-B-Q featuring music by the Jerry Potter group during the dinner hour; Omaha’s Cantina Laredo featuring artists Mary Mancuso, Michelle Graham and Julie Thorsen; Cellar 19 Wine and Deli featuring artwork by Steve Dunn and Nicki Luth and Dennis and Laura Hopp on guitar during dinner; Christy Creme featuring artist Jacqueline Wintour; Omaha’s Dixie Quicks Magnolia Room featuring work in the gallery; Crescent’s Garden Grove Deli featuring art by Kate Jobe and music by clarinetist Joann Arbaugh; Omaha’s Indian Oven, featuring art by Matthew Jones and music for dinner by Kenneth Be’ on the lute; Jack Binion’s Steakhouse at Horseshoe Casino featuring artists James Laurent and Lynn Kvigne; Omaha’s Jackson Street Tavern featuring artwork by H. Marquez and Shannon Flynn and music during the dinner hour by Jazz Explosion; Kitchen Emporium and Wine Shop; Old River Pizza featuring music at dinner by the Aaron Rodenburg Duo; Scott Street Pub; and Tish’s featuring art by Holly Young and music by Da Band. — Sarah Baker Hansen Mixed Media is a column about local art. Send ideas to mixedmedia@thereader.com.

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www.midtowncrossing.com | THE READER |

FEB. 17 - 23, 2011

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OpeningS

EISENTRAGER-HOWARD GALLERY, Richards Hall, Stadium Drive and T, Lincoln, 472.5025, unl.edu/art/facilities_eisentragerhoward.shtml. WORK MAKES THE WORK: New work curated by Jeff Thompson, through Feb. 18. MEDICI FUNDRAISING EXHIBITION: Opens Feb. 21-26, reception Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m. HILLMER ART GALLERY, College of St. Mary, 7000 Mercy Rd., 399.2400, csm.edu. RECENT PAINTINGS: Jeffrey Spencer, through Mar. 4, reception Feb. 17, 5 p.m. INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. “THE FRENCH CONTRIBUTION TO THE FASHION WORLD, 1680 AND BEYOND”: Talk by Dr. Barbara Trout, opens Feb. 22, 12 p.m. JOSLYN ART MUSEUM, 2200 Dodge St., 342.3300, joslyn.org. FROM HOUDINI TO HUGO: Brian Selznick, Feb. 19-May 29. THE GLORY OF UKRAINE: Two part exhibition that forms an unprecedented celebration of this large European nation, through May 8. KIECHEL FINE ART, 5733 S. 34th St., Lincoln, 420.9553, kiechelart.com. SHARED HISTORY: Anthony Benton Gude, Thomas Hart Benton and Dale Nichols, through Apr. 8. METROOMAHA, 1000 N. 72nd St., spiritofomaha.com. NEW WORK: Justin Beller, opens Feb. 18, 3 p.m. OLSON-LARSEN GALLERY, 203 5th St., Des Moines, IA, 515.277.6734, olsonlarsen.com. NEW WORK: Group show, opens Feb. 18-Apr. 9, reception Feb. 18, 5 p.m. SIDE DOOR LOUNGE, 3530 Leavenworth St. ROMANTIC PROJECTIONS: New work by Tony Bonacci, opens Feb. 22, 6 p.m. UNO ART GALLERY, Weber Fine Arts Bldg., 6001 Dodge St. 2011 JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION: Curated by Brigitte McQueen, opens Feb. 18-Mar. 17, reception Feb. 18, 5 p.m. UNL ROTUNDA GALLERY, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, 472.8279. MFA SCULPTURE GRAD EXHIBIT: Group show, reception Feb. 18, 5 p.m. 2ND ANNUAL UNL EMPLOYEE QUILT SHOW: Opens Feb. 21-Mar. 3, reception Feb. 21, 5 p.m. UNL HILLESTAD TEXTILES GALLERY, 35th & Holdrege, Home Econims Bldg., Lincoln, textilegallery.unl.edu. ADDRESSING THE BODY: LESSON IN QUILTING: Opens Feb. 21-Mar. 18.

ONGOING

ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART OLD MARKET, 1108 Jackson St., 884.0911, aobfineart.com. NEW WORK: Jenny Gummersall, through Feb. 20. ARTISTS’ COOP GALLERY, 405 S. 11th St., artistsco-opgallery. com. EVERY ARTIST HAS A STORY: New work by Ken Heimbuch, Katrina Methot-Swanson & Tom Sitzman, through Feb. 27. BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY GALLERY, Hitchcock Humanities Center, 1000 Galvin Road. S., 293.2048, Bellevue.edu. ART AND MEDICINE: New work by Mark Gilbert, through Mar. 7. BEMIS CENTER, 724 S. 12th St., 341.7130, bemiscenter.org. STILL LIFES: New work by Vera Mercer. ANOTHER NEBRASKA: Group show by the Nebraska Arts Council individual artist fellows. Both shows through Apr. 9. BEMIS UNDERGROUND, 724 S. 12th St., 341.7130, bemiscenter.org. GROUP SHOW: New work by Kenneth Adkins, Dan Crane and Victoria Hoyt, through Feb. 26. BLUE POMEGRANATE GALLERY, 6570 Maple St., 502.9901, bluepom.com. THE ARTFUL HEART: An artful celebration of the Heart as an iconic form, through Feb. 28. CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER, 3900 Webster St., 551.4888, cathedralartsproject.org. NEW WORK: Dennis Wattier and Deborah Murphy, through Apr. 1. CREIGHTON LIED ART GALLERY, 2500 California St., 280.2392, finearts.creighton.edu. DRAWING OMAHA FROM MANHATTAN: New work by Edgar Jerins, through Mar. 4. DRIFT STATION GALLERY, 1745 N St., Lincoln, driftstation.org. REDACTED PERFECTION: Group show curated by Jeff Thompson and Angeles Cossio, through Mar. 2. DURHAM WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, 801 S. 10th St., 444.5071, durhammuseum.org. SCHOOL HOUSE TO WHITE HOUSE: THE EDUCATION OF THE PRESIDENTS: Through Mar. 27. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition, through Mar. 20. EL MUSEO LATINO, 4701 S. 25th St., elmuseolatino.org. MOLAS EXHIBIT: Textiles created by the Kuna people of Panama. NEBRASKA MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS: Group show, through Apr. 16. EL CABALLO: The horse in Mexican Folk Art, through May 4.

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FRED SIMON GALLERY, Burlington Building, 1004 Farnam St., nebraskaartscouncil.org. NAC IAF VISUAL ARTS SHOW: Group show, through Feb. 25. GALLERY 9, 124 S 9th St., Lincoln, 477.2822, gallerynine.com. NEW WORK: Larry Griffing, through Feb. GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE EXHIBITION, 1425 H St., Lincoln, nebraskaartscouncil.org. NEW WORK: Marcia Bauerle, through Mar. 11. GRAND MANSE GALLERY, 129 N. 10th St., Lincoln, grandmanse.com. GROUP SHOW: Celebrating Lincoln Photofest, through Feb. 26. GREAT PLAINS ART MUSEUM, 1155 Q St., Hewit Plc., Lincoln, 472.0599, unl.edu/plains/gallery/gallery.shtml. DOUBLE VISION: New work by Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie, through Mar. 27. HAYDON CENTER, 335 N. 8th St., Lincoln, 475.5421, haydonartcenter.org. UNREAL LANDSCAPES: Steve Ryan & Diane Fox, through Mar. 12, reception Mar. 4. HOT SHOPS ARTS CENTER, 1301 Nicholas St., 342.6452, hotshopsartcenter.com. ARDENT: Presented by G Thompson Higgins Photography, featuring readings on the topics of love, lust, obsession and passion. DRAWING FROM LIFE: Work from drawing from life sessions. ART CHALLENGE 2011: Juried show. All shows through Feb. 27. INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. MARSEILLE: WHITE CORDED QUILTING: Through May 8. REVISITING THE ART QUILT: Through Apr. 3, gallery talk Apr. 3, 3 p.m. JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, 333 S. 132nd St., 572.8486, jccomaha.org. SCREAM TRUTH AT THE WORLD: Emanuel Ringelblum and the Hidden Archive of the Warsaw Gutter, through Feb. 25. KRUGER COLLECTION, UNL Architecture Hall, 10th and R, Lincoln, 472.3560, krugercollection.unl.edu. THINK GREEN: Interior/green design and miniatures, through Mar. 18. LAURITZEN GARDENS, 100 Bancroft St., 346.4002, omahabotanicalgardens.org. A TROPICAL PARADISE: Amazing tropical plants, through Apr. WEEDS/PODS/SEEDS: New work by Kristin Pluhacek. THE LANDSCAPES: New work by Kristin Pluhacek. Both shows through Apr. 17. LUX CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 48th and Baldwin, Lincoln, 434.2787, luxcenter.org. VIS-A-VIS: Group show, through Mar. 1. PULP: Group show. SELECTIVE MEMORY: New work by Arjan Zazuety. AS YOU WERE: New work by Matthew Dercole. All shows through Feb. 26. METRO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Fort Omaha Campus, 30th & Fort St., North Building #10. LUIGI WAITES EXHIBIT: Artwork honoring Luigi Waites, through Mar. 30. MODERN ARTS MIDWEST, 800 P St., Lincoln, modernartsmidwest.com. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Group show, through Feb. 26. MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART (MONA), 2401 Central Ave., Kearney, 308.865.8559, monet.unk.edu/mona. THE ANIMAL KINGDOM: Through Jun. 5, 2011. A GREATER SPECTRUM: African American artists of Nebraska, 1912-2010, through Apr. 3. OF PEN, PAPER, PENCIL: Group show, through Feb. 27. NOMAD LOUNGE GALLERY, 1013 Jones St., 884.1231, nomadlounge.com. THE LONG CON: New work by Timothy Siragusa, through Feb. 27. OLD MARKET ARTISTS, 1034 Howard St., Lower Level of Old Market Passageway, oldmarketartists.com. GROUP SHOW: Featuring 13 local artists, through Feb. 28. OMAHA ARTISTS INC., The Designers, 12123 Emmet St., omahaartistsinc.com. ARISTS IN RESIDENCE: Group show, through Feb. 27. PARALLAX SPACE, 1745 N St., Lincoln, parallaxspace.com. PRIVACY AND THE PLAINS: Kimberly Thomas, through Feb. PROJECT ROOM, 1416 O St., Lincoln, projectroom.us. NEW WORK: Matt Hilker, Ying Zhu, Maggie Tobin, through Feb. RETRO, 1125 Jackson St., 934.7443. NEW WORK: Group show curated by Pope Katherine of Ralston Costume, through Feb. SHELDON ART GALLERY, 12th and R, UNL, Lincoln, sheldonartgallery.org. BETTER HALF, BETTER TWELFTH: Women artists in the collection, through Apr. 1, 2011. AN AMERICAN TASTE: THE ROHMAN COLLECTION: Through May 1. POETICAL FIRE: THREE CENTURIES OF STILL LIFES: Group show, through May 7. TRANSFORMING VISION: PHOTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTION IN SHELDON’S COLLECTION: Group show, in conjunction with Lincoln Photofest. TUGBOAT GALLERY, 14th and O, 2nd floor, Lincoln, tugboatgallery.com. LANDSCAPE/LANDSCAPED: Group show curated by Kim Thomas, through Feb. 26.

| THE READER |

art/theater listings

FRIDAY 18

check event listings online! UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM, 200 Pearl St., Council Bluffs, 501.3841, uprrmuseum.org. ABRAHAM LINCOLN COLLECTION: Through Mar. WORKSPACE GALLERY, Sawmill Building, 440 N. 8th St., Lincoln, sites.google.com/site/workspacegallery. NEW WORK: Priya Kambli, through Feb.

theater oPENING

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com. Opens Feb. 18-Mar. 27, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $40, $24/student. ALICE IN WONDERLAND BY EUGENE BALLET COMPANY, Lied Center, 12th & R St., Lincoln, 472.4747, liedcenter. org. Opens Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m., $24-$25, $12-$17.50/ students. DARK PLAY OR STORIES FOR BOYS, UNO Theatre, 6001 Dodge St., unomaha.edu. Opens Feb. 23-26, Mar. 2-5, 7:30 p.m., $15, $10/seniors, $5/students, FREE/UNO Students. PUBLIC PLAY READING: ASYLUM, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse. com. Opens Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m., FREE. STRING OF PEARLS, Angels Theatre Company, Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St., Lincoln, 489.7529, lincolnplayhouse.com, angelscompany.org. Opens Feb. 18-20, 21-16, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 20 & 27, 2 p.m., $20, $10/students. THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, Circle Theatre, 55th & Leavenworth, 553.4715, dlmarr@cox.net. Opens Feb. 18-Mar. 12, Thu.-Sat., 7 p.m., $23/show & dinner, $13/ show.

oNGOING

DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE, Nebraska Wesleyan, Miller Theatre, 51st and Huntington, 465.2384, nebrwesleyan. edu. Through Feb. 20, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $10, $7.50/seniors, $5/students. DISTANT MUSIC, Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre, 614 S. 11th St., 502.4910, bsbtheatre.com. Through Feb. 19, Thu.Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $22, $18/students, seniors & military. HAPPY DAYS: A NEW MUSICAL, TADA Theatre, 701 P St., Lincoln, 402.438.8232, tadatheatre.info. Through Feb. 10-20, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $20.

poetry/comedy thursday 17

AS THE WORM TURNS, The Bookworm, 87th & Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 6:30 p.m. (3rd Thursday.) GREATER OMAHA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SUMMIT PREPARTY, Nomad Lounge, 1013 Jones St., 6 p.m. Slam poetry competition for charity. NEBRASKA WESLEYAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Olin A Lecture Hall, 50th & St. Paul Ave., nebrwesleyan.edu, 7 p.m. Featuring the film Broken Embraces. PROVOKE, Benson Grind, 6107 Maple St., 7 p.m. Hosted by Jack Hubbell. (1st & 3rd Thu.) STEVEN TROUT, W. H. Thompson Alumni Center, 6705 Dodge St., unomaha.edu, 7 p.m. Lecture: “Voices from the Tomb: The Unknown Solider and American Culture, 1921-1941”. THE WHIRLWIND COMPANY, Harper Center Auditorium, Creighton University, 2500 California Plz., 6 p.m., $5 suggested donation. Performance poets Mindy Nettifee, Brian S. Ellis, Jon Sands and Mike McGee. LAVELL CRAWFORD, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m.

A NIGHT OF MOVIES & MUSIC, Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., Lincoln, bourbontheatre.com, 8 p.m. Featuring the movies Brilliant Derrick by Jordan Riggs, Countdown 2 Destiny by Robby Defrain, Reversal by Cullen Wright, 2 a.m. by James Fouche. NEBRASKA WESLEYAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Olin B Lecture Hall, 50th & St. Paul Ave., nebrwesleyan.edu, 7 p.m. Featuring the film Micmacs. WEISENHEIMERS, Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 8 p.m, $10. Improv comedy troupe. LAVELL CRAWFORD, Funny Bone, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m, 9:45 p.m.

SATURDAY 19

NEBRASKA ROBOTICS EXPO, Strategic Air and Space Museum, 28210 West Park Hwy., Ashland, strategicairandspace. com, 8:30 a.m., $12, $11/seniors, $6/children. NEBRASKA WESLEYAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Olin A Lecture Hall, 50th & St. Paul Ave., nebrwesleyan.edu, 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Featuring the films Our Mother & Still Life. NEBRASKA WESLEYAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Olin B Lecture Hall, 50th & St. Paul Ave., nebrwesleyan.edu, 10 p.m. Featuring the film Waltz With Bashir. POETRY OUT LOUD REGIONAL SEMI-FINAL, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St., 342.3300, 2 p.m. LAVELL CRAWFORD, Funny Bone, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday 20

AN EVENING WITH STEVEN SODERBERGH, Holland Center, 455 N 10th St., filmstreams.org, $35. Interview with Steven Soderbergh by Kurt Anderson, introduction by Alexander Payne. JOHN H. AMES READING SERIES, Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors, Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 South 14th St., Lincoln, 2 p.m. John Janovy. NEBRASKA WESLEYAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Olin A Lecture Hall, 50th & St. Paul Ave., nebrwesleyan.edu, 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Featuring the films The Miracle of Bern & Munyurangabo. SUNDAY SCIENTIST, University of Nebraska State Museum, 14th & Vine St., Lincoln, museum.unl.edu, 1:30 p.m. Staff and students of the museum’s Parasitology Division. LAVELL CRAWFORD, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7 p.m.

monday 21

DUFFY’S COMEDY WORKSHOP, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3543, myspace.com/duffystavern, 9 p.m., FREE. (every Mon.) POETRY AT THE MOON, Crescent Moon Coffee, 816 P St., Lincoln, 435.2828, crescentmoon@inebraska.com, 7 p.m. Open mic and featured readers. (every Mon.)

tuesday 22

SHOOT YOUR MOUTH OFF, The Hideout, 320 S. 72nd St., 504.4434, myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff, 9 p.m. Spoken word, comedy, music and chaos (every Tue.) UNORTHODOX SPEAKER SERIES: JONATHAN BENJAMINALVARADO, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., unomaha.edu. Lecture: “Which Way to Your Amerika?”. WWI HISTORY BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP, The Bookworm, 87th & Pacific, 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday 23

ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC FOR MUSICIANS & POETS, Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso, 1624 S. St., Lincoln, 8 p.m., 477.2007. Hosted by Spencer. (every Wed.) COMEDY NIGHT AT THE SIDE DOOR, 3530 Leavenworth St., 8 p.m., $5. Every Wed. MARILYN JOHNSON FARR, Milo Bail Student Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., unomaha. edu, 12 p.m. Lecture: “Culture and Racial Isolation: African American Women in the Workplace.” MIDWEST POETRY VIBE, Irie, 302 S. 11th St., 9 p.m., poetry, R&B and Neosoul music. (Every Wed.) PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL: AMERICAN RADICAL, McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Farnam, 7 p.m., FREE. A look at the life of Norman Finkelstein. (every Wed.) POET SHOW IT, 1122 D St., Lincoln, 8 p.m. Hosted by Travis Davis. (1st & 3rd Wed.) VINE OF THE SOUL: ENCOUNTERS WITH AYANHUASCA, Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 7 p.m. Documentary explores the Amazon.

music

Pete Yorn returns to the Heartland

I

backbeat

Let’s Get Lost pete yorn

by Tim McMahan

t’s late in the day; the sun barely blinks over the horizon. The familiar bleached light bounces off the pavement and through the dirty windshield while white stripes flicker below like a busy signal on the highway. The man behind the wheel is lost. That man is Pete Yorn, his trademark Prince Valiant mane tossing in the wind blowing through an open window. He wears the same Tshirt and jeans he wore earlier that day in ARC Studios, where he stood behind a microphone, “cans” on head, singing, while producer Mike Mogis listened and twisted the dials atop the massive control board, glancing up occasionally to watch Yorn through the window. It was 2008 when Yorn found himself in Nebraska only a few weeks after finishing recording sessions with producer and living legend Frank Black of Pixies fame for Yorn’s self-titled rock record, which has become known by some as “the Black album.” Between those Frank Black sessions and the release of the “Black album” in September 2010, Yorn released the Mogis-produced Back and Fourth (in June 2009), along with a collection of duets with Scarlett Johansson called Break Up, recorded two years earlier but released in September 2009. It is only now that Yorn has had a chance to really perform the songs on the “Black album.” “Ever since I recorded those songs I’ve been excited about the opportunity to play them live,” he said from his home in Santa Monica, Calif. “I haven’t been out touring in a bus in a year. I’m ready to play some good rock shows again.” Yorn recalled the contrast between Frank Black’s recording style and working with Mike Mogis. “They’re both guys who I really respect a lot and enjoy working with,” he said. “Mike is more detailed, more layering and I knew that going in. I also knew with Frank that I’d only have five days (in the studio) to capture something fast and not be too fussy about it. It was the antithesis of what we did in Omaha. That said, it’s all rock and roll, and both have different energies.” The final products also couldn’t be more different. Yorn’s eponymous album, which will be

the center point of Saturday night’s concert at the Whiskey Roadhouse, is barebones and abrasive, a rough ride that, on songs like “Velcro Shoes” and “Badman,” sideswipes garage rock without losing any of Yorn’s songwriting depth. Black’s influence saturates every track, from the chugging guitars to Yorn’s gravelly vocals. In comparison, Back and Fourth is downright ornate; a soulful, personal album with the subtle touches that Yorn — and Mogis — are known for. Instead of five days, Yorn spent two-anda-half months in Omaha working on Back and Fourth. Over that time, he became immersed in the Omaha scene, hanging out at a wine bar in Dundee, eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant downtown, becoming involved in the spiritual center of Omaha, and going to rock shows. Maybe you were at one of the clubs on a night when someone leaned over, pointed and whispered: “Pssst ... look. Pete Yorn’s here tonight.” “I never go out when I’m home; it’s very rare that I go to bars,” Yorn said. “But when I was there, I wanted to take it all in. I went to a number of shows at Slowdown. I remember going to see The Notwist after a group of kids told me about the show. I’d never even heard of them. That night I ran into the guys in Cursive and a bunch of other people I’d met. I started to realize that there was a cool group of really creative people that made up the scene, a tightly knit

n Back when I wrote for another publication in town, I briefly did a short column of live concert reviews succinctly titled Show Notes. After two major sold-out shows this weekend, it’s maybe time to revisit the concept. On Wednesday, I checked in on the sold-out Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., for Interpol. The moody New Yorkers picked songs mostly from their indie records, leaving songs from their lone bow on Capitol, Our Love To Admire, off the setlist. The loss of Carlos D may not have detracted from the band’s style, but the addition of a new bassist and a full-time keyboardist seems to have muddied the dynamics of the band’s live show. Instead of peaks and valleys, Interpol plowed through their monochromatic set a step fast. Fashionista opening act School of Seven Bells hewed closely to Interpol’s post-punk indie, with an added dollop of ’80s shoegazer rock. Unfortunately, they also lost momentum on too many songs, which seemed to plateau after intriguing introductions to each. n Saturday night’s Best Coast and Wavves show at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St., was a case of two sides of a genre often considered to be one thing. After a forgettable My Bloody Valentine tribute act by No Joy, Wavves unleashed an easy-going but energetic set of lo-fi garage rock that was light on lo-fi and garage rock. Instead, Nathan Williams and his two bandmates messed around with a pogo-inducing take on early ’90s Lookout Records pop-punk. If you were into early Green Day, watching Wavves struck the perfect chord. Best Coast then took the stage and provided a relaxed pop counterpoint to Wavves’ faster-paced set. Singer Bethany Cosentino introduced a cadre of family members sitting just off the stage, before playing most of her first album Crazy for Love, plus choice Lesley Gore and Loretta Lynn covers. n If you’re looking to judge politicians on some sort of indie-rock hipster scale, Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry may just rate the highest on some sort of Pitchfork-meets-Politico rating system. Terry was spotted enjoying Saturday’s sold-out Best Coast/Wavves show, from beginning to end. Meanwhile, former Terry challenger Jim Esch took in the packed Interpol show.

scene, and from an outsider’s perspective, it was refreshing to see.” But just as memorable about his months in Nebraska were the times Yorn spent exploring the highways alone. “After we laid down tracks, there was a lot of down time,” Yorn said. “I like to go on drives. I had a car and drove around for hours, exploring the area. “One time I was driving in the middle of the day and heading south. I was on my cell phone talking to someone in New York and became distracted. I looked around and thought ‘Where the hell am I?’ I was surrounded by cornfields. I love getting lost in cornfields.” Yorn said for Saturday night’s show, expect to hear not only songs off the “Black album,” but from his full catalogue, including his landmark first album, musicforthemorningafter. “When I go see a band and they play 20 songs I’ve never heard before, I think, ‘What the f*** is this?’ I’m not interested in doing that. It’ll be a balanced show. I’m excited to see what the catalyst in every room will be. There are always different people yelling different s***. I love it when people yell at me.” , Pete Yorn plays with Ben Kweller & The Wellspring, Saturday, Feb. 19, at Whiskey Roadhouse at The Horseshoe Casino, 2701 23rd Avenue, Council Bluffs. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit horseshoecouncilbluffs.com.

music

— Chris Aponick Backbeat takes you behind the scenes of the local music scene. Send tips, comments and questions to backbeat@thereader.com.

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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music Hotter Than a Pistol Smith Westerns shoot out of Chicago with a hook-laden new record

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By Chris Aponick

isten once to Smith Westerns’ Dye It Blonde to pick out all the reference points, then listen some more for the gleeful abandon evident as this young Chicago band makes The Beatles, T. Rex, Brit-pop, David Bowie and power-pop signifiers in their own slapdash image. Guitarist Max Kakacek doesn’t dodge those influence questions, but instead admits that he’s more drawn to songs than certain bands or music genres. Random songs that one member ends up digging will get passed around by the four guys in the band. At times, it’ll serve as a springboard for their own ideas. “Certain things creep into our songwriting,” Kakacek says. Singer Cullen Omori brings about the Britpop appreciation that is at the heart of Dye It Blonde’s best moments, specifically the love for big moments that made Oasis the brief kings of Brit-pop. “For me, Suede was a bigger influence than Oasis,” Kakacek says. Omori and Kakacek are joined in Smith Westerns by drummer Colby Hewitt and bassist Cameron Omori, Cullen’s brother. The brothers, as well as the rest of the band, get along well, Kakacek notes, adding there’s little chance of the Omori brothers becoming feuding siblings like Oasis’ Gallaghers.

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The band of barely 20-somethings received a bunch of buzz in 2009 with their self-titled album and have just released their second album, Dye It Blonde, on Fat Possum Records. The release has cemented just how well-deserved the praise has been. Songs like “Weekend” and “Dance Away” leap from the band’s garage-rock roots to embrace a bit of glam rock glitz and power-pop oomph. Around the time of the album’s January release, the band had toured Europe opening for MGMT for about a month. The experience helped Smith Westerns step up their game on stage, Kakacek says. “It was cool to see how they approach performance,” he says. Kakacek said the first album was recorded in the band’s basement without too much consid-

| THE READER |

music

eration of who might listen. After signing to Fat Possum, the band knew there was an audience out there ready to listen to new Smith Westerns by the time they recorded the new record. That attention didn’t create pressure to deliver though, Kakacek says. From day one, Dye It Blonde had no burden of not reaching lofty expectations. “Even when we were doing the demos, we were confident that they were better than the first record,” he says. After recording what Kakacek says were fairly well-thought-out demos, the band went to New York to work with producer Chris Coady. Coady helped the band realize some of the sounds they wanted on the album. Compared to the basement where the band previously recorded, the professional studio pro-

vided a wider selection of instruments, but put the band on a 30-day time crunch to finish the entire album. The songs for the record were written during the year previous to the recording sessions, in bits and pieces. Kakacek says he and Cullen Omori usually do half and half on the songwriting, with Kakacek taking guitar parts and Cullen Omori doing vocal melodies and lyrics. As pieces are created the band seeks to save them, whether they become full songs or not. “We kind of record as we write,” Kakacek says. Those pieces then can resurface as parts of other songs down the road. “We will mix and match until we find the right fit,” Kakacek says. “For this record, we went through a lot of different parts and we threw stuff out often.” The band’s other two members will weigh in on what works and what doesn’t. Kakacek says the criticism is always constructive and the disagreements never get aggressive. “We’re never at each others’ throats or anything,” he says. The approach also leads to experimentation for the young band, as they figure out how to match the sounds they make with the sounds they are trying to create. “We’re ambitious enough to keep moving forward,” Kakacek says. , Smith Westerns w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra play the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St., Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit onepercentproductions.com.

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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hile they were learning to survive at sea, the thought of making music — or making an album for that matter — never crossed the minds of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore, the indie pop duo known as Tennis. The story began when the Denver refugees bought a boat in Tampa Bay and set off into the Atlantic, sailed along the East Coast, then to the Bahamas for the winter, then back up the U.S. coastline to Chesapeake Bay, all the time living the life of two young, upwardly mobile pirates trying to find themselves among the dark green waves. During lapses into sun-soaked boredom or backbreaking exertion or gale-driven fear, Moore reminded herself that the whole thing had been her idea. “It was me who wanted to do it initially,” she told me from her Denver home. “I consider myself to have an adventurous spirit, but had never put myself in an adventurous situation.” She said that while at sea the thing she missed the most was the stability and comfort of life on land, in a home that doesn’t move and float or could be blown away or tipped over. “At any given moment I was completely responsible for my home, the vessel and Patrick if he was asleep,” Moore said. “It was a huge responsibility that I didn’t take lightly. Patrick was the one who would motivate me to not give up in the earliest months, when everything was brand new and almost no fun at all, just tons of work.” They hadn’t brought along any musical instruments except Patrick’s “child’s guitar.” It didn’t matter because they weren’t planning on making music, anyway. Music was something that Riley and Moore, at this point in their relationship, hadn’t shared with each other. “We both had dabbled playing music growing up,” Moore said. “We never thought of it in a serious way at all.” But music provided a consolation during difficult moments on the boat. “There were times when I would have my shift at the helm and I would sing as loud as I could to keep myself awake and keep from being nervous,” she said. Throughout the eight months, they dealt with several storms, “most of the time at anchorages,” Moore said. “The storm would blow in like a gale and we would have to watch to make sure the boat was safe and be prepared to sail out into the middle of the ocean to keep it from being dashed on the coral reef. We would listen to (Paul Simon’s) Graceland or the Beach Boys or something totally opposite of the situation. Your state of mind is what can put you in real danger.” Though they planned on being together always, they hadn’t planned on getting married. “After our

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sailing trip was done, it had tested our relationship beyond what most people go through during 50 years of marriage,” Moore said. And so, they tied the knot. Back in Denver, Riley landed a good job as a facilities manager at the Museum of Contemporary Art, while Moore worked as an assistant manager of a small retail store. After putting in a long day’s work, they were looking for something creative to do together. “We thought it would be fun to make music,” Moore said. “It was in the first two or three times of casually sitting down and playing together that allowed us to recall living on the boat. Something would remind me of Bimini and the Bahamas, and an hour later, we had a song written.” The couple randomly met the young bucks behind Underwater Peoples Records at a house party and played them their demos. Within days of releasing their first 7-inch, the press run of 300 copies was sold out. “We thought it was so crazy, so we ended up writing more music and friends helped us put together a tour,” Moore said. Among the stops was Slowdown last August, the couple’s third show ever. “They played a set of easy-going throwback rock featuring Riley’s glowing Telecaster that sounded like it was transported out of a jukebox from Happy Days,” I wrote on lazy-i.com afterward. “Moore’s voice had that uneasy Natalie Merchant lilt [when it was in key].” “I was so scared,” Moore recalled. “It was my second show at a venue; all the others were house shows or in back yards. I still wasn’t sure I wanted to do this.” But they already had signed a deal with Fat Possum Records, who had commissioned them to finish an album in two months. Moore and Riley quit their jobs and recorded and mixed their debut themselves because they didn’t want anyone to change their sound. Cape Dory was released Jan. 18 and already is something of a smash. Paste gave it 8.8 out of 10; SPIN said, “Where Best Coast is too cool for school, Tennis seem (almost) too good to be true,” and gave it an 8 out of 10. “The fact that it’s being treated as a serious album, as a major debut, absolutely blows our minds,” Moore said. “Our goal is to make music because we enjoy it. I feel very uncomfortable desiring anything as far as the industry goes. The authenticity can’t help but be tainted by the nature of becoming a big band. We keep turning down offers that would take us to the next level.” In fact, Moore said the couple doesn’t plan to make a career out of music. Instead, she hopes to attend grad school and continue studying philosophy. “As much as I enjoy making music, I don’t see us in this world of press releases and constant touring,” she said. “I’m always reminding myself how this whole thing started, and what we wanted from it.” Tennis returns to Slowdown Jr. Friday, Feb. 18, with Holiday Shores and Kosha Dillz. Catch them before they head back out to sea. ,

LAZY-I is a weekly column by long-time Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on the Omaha music scene. Check out Tim’s daily music news updates at his website, lazy-i.com, or email him at lazy-i@thereader.com.

hoodoo Reasons to experience Reasons to experience

LIVE THEATRE b l u e s ,

r o o t s ,

a m e r i c a n a

a n d

m o r e

B y

B . J .

h u c h t e m a n n

OEAA Honors, Music Around Town

and Todd Snider. Zollo also is founder/owner/operator of Trailer Records based in Iowa City.

f you missed the show Sunday, Feb. 13, you can tune in to a recap of the 5th annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. on WOWT Channel 6. The OEAAs were given out in a celebration at the Harrah’s Convention Center ballroom. Awards included Best Blues artist to the Kris Lager Band, Best Roots/Americana/Country/Bluegrass to the Matt Cox Band, Best Soul/R&B to Satchel Grande, Best Gospel to Salem Baptist Choir and Best Ethnic to Son del Llano. Best Adult Alternative Singer-Songwriter went to Brad Hoshaw. Newcomer Rebecca Lowry’s All Young Girls Are Machine Guns took home both Best Jazz/Easy Listening and Best New Artist. See OEA-Awards.com for the full list of this year’s honorees. Remember public voting selects the nominees, so watch for next year’s public nomination period and have your voice heard. A group of judges with specialized knowledge in each category vote for the final awards. (Full disclosure: I am a judge in the music category.)

The Sunday Roadhouse series is back in action. Mark your March calendars for the great Tom Russell on Sunday, March 27. Dave Alvin fans take note; Russell is the songwriter who wrote “Blue Wing,” a song you’ll recognize from Alvin’s recordings. If you like Alvin’s acoustic work you should check out this rare Nebraska appearance by Russell. On Sunday, April 3, it’s a double bill of rockin’ Americana. Electrifying rock-based Americana songwriter James McMurtry from Austin plays with his band plus iconic roots-rockers The Bottle Rockets perform. Both of these shows are at The Waiting Room. Doors open at 4 p.m. and music starts at 5 p.m. See SundayRoadhouse.com for links to artist sites, interviews and reviews along with show details.

LIVE THEATRE

commercials. I#74aNo ! Get Re l

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Reasons to experience

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LIVE THEATRE

KBAs & BMAs The Keeping the Blues Alive Awards and International Blues Challenge were held the first weekend of February in Memphis. The runner-up in the band category, Kansas City’s Mary Bridget Davies, plays The New Lift Lounge on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 5:30 p.m. The winners were the Lionel Young Band, who played The Lift/Murphy’s last summer. The Randy Oxford Band, who performed at The Lift on Jan. 12, was a finalist. See Blues.org for the complete results. You can become a member of the Blues Foundation at Blues.org and vote in the national Blues Music Awards to support your favorite artists. Local favorite Curtis Salgado is nominated again in the Soul Blues Male Artist category, which he won the award for last year. Voting ends March 1, 2011. Winners will be announced at the May awards ceremony in Memphis.

#151 No two shows Live & Local

are alike!

There is a truly remarkable amount of local creativity in our area. The critical component is that the audience shows up and participates. With warmer weather that should get easier. Schedules are available online including the free listings collected by the Blues Society of Omaha at OmahaBlues.com. Lincoln’s Zoo Bar now offers a weekly entertainment calendar email, including any late-breaking updates and a few long-range highlights, too. Sign up to receive the historic blues club’s ecalendar at ZooBar.com. You can find listings beyond roots and blues music at SlamOmaha.com and OmahaNightlife.com. Two new websites offer calendars and articles. The Reader colleague Andrew Norman’s HearNebraska. org is up and running with music schedules, reposts of music-related content from local writers (including this column as time permits), and even historic looks back at Nebraska music history. Meanwhile Omahype.com covers music, arts and entertainment. That site bills itself as a “curated calendar,” which means the organizers are giving you their take on the scene by selecting what events to highlight.

! l a e R Get

www.theatreartsguild.com

As noted above, Mary Bridget Davies, an IBC finalist, is at The New Lift on Thursday, Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. The Bel Airs play next Thursday, Feb. 24. The Holland’s 1200 Club has a cool weekend of roots music. Jazz and multi-genre guitarist Julian Lage gigs on Friday, Feb. 18. Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole perform blues and zydeco on Saturday, Feb. 19. (See 8 Days.) Visit TicketOmaha.org for details and tickets. The Kris Lager Band plays two acoustic shows before taking off on a five-week tour. Catch them at the Zoo Bar on Thursday, Feb. 17, and at P.S. Collective inside the Pizza Shoppe on Wednesday, Feb. 23. On Friday, Feb. 18, at Barley Street Tavern hear All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, Brad Hoshaw, Kyle Harvey and Michael Trenhaile. On Sunday, Feb. 20, at O’Leaver’s catch Platte River Rain, Travelling Mercies and South Dakota’s Jami Lynn. ,

LIVE THEATRE David Zollo

Havana Garage Cigar Bar presents David Zollo this Friday and Saturday. Zollo is a notable artist from the nationally recognized Iowa roots music scene. He is a multi-talented singer-songwriter and keyboard man. He’s worked as a sideman with artists from William Elliott Whitmore and Greg Brown to Bo Ramsey

LIVE THEATRE #162

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! l a e R t Ge

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Hot Notes

Reasons to experience

#10

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Julia Roberts doesn’t need another million dollars.

Hoodoo is a weekly column focusing on blues, roots, Americana and occasional other music styles with an emphasis on live music performances. Hoodoo columnist B.J. Huchtemann is a Reader senior contributing writer and veteran music journalist who has covered the local music scene for nearly 20 years.

Reasons to experience

LIVE THEATRE #24

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hoodoo

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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livemusiccalendar

SEND CALENDAR INFORMATION — including addresses, dates, times, costs and phone numbers — to The Reader’s calendar editor. Mail to or drop off information at P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107; email to listings@thereader.com; fax to (402) 341.6967. Deadline is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to issue date.

thursday 17

CARLITO, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. DIGITALLOVE, (DJ) 9 p.m., Bricktop, FREE. UN CUT, (rock) 8 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. NOVAK & HARR, (jazz) 6 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen. E-NUTT, (hip-hop) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers. VIRUS WOLF, BETSY WELLS, (rock) 8 p.m., LIV Lounge. MARY BRIDGET DAVIES, (blues) 5 p.m., New Lift Lounge, $8. CHAD STONER, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. ACOUSTIC JAM W/ JASON LEE, 6 p.m., Prestige, FREE. ZACH SHORT, MIKE GOODE, SOPHIA CUNNINGHAM, (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $6.

READER RECOMMENDS

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feb. 17 - 23, 2011

EASTERN TURKISH, THE SHIDIOTS, IT’S ME SWEETUMS, BIG ELEPHANT, DRUGSTORE COWBOY, (punk/rock) 7 p.m., Sokol Underground, $7. JR HOSS, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. YAMN, BLUE MARTIAN TRIBLE, (jam/electronic) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $8. THE NEGATIVES, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE. KYLE PARK, (country) 8 p.m., Whiskey Tango. KRIS LAGER BAND, (blues/rock) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

FRIDAY 18

JULIAN LAGE GROUP, (jazz) 8 p.m., 1200 Club, $30/adv, $35/dos. MYTH, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5. ON THE FRITZ, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

BRAD HOSHAW, ALL YOUNG GIRLS ARE MACHINE GUNS, KYLE HARVEY, MICHAEL TERNHAILE, (folk/rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5. A NIGHT OF MOVIES & MUSIC W/ TONY GOT A HAIRCUT, H.E.M.P. W/ ALEX WALKER, (rock) 8 p.m., Bourbon. ROUGH CUT, (cover) 9 p.m., Brewsky’s Park Drive, FREE. HARD ATTACK, (rock) 9 p.m., Chrome. OPEN MIC W/ JES WINTER, 4 p.m., Clancy’s, FREE. DAFT PUNK’D, BASSTHOVEN, DJ SHIF-D, CARLITO, POLARI-STEP, (tribute/DJ) 8 p.m., Club Patrick’s, $5. LIVE FROM NEW YORK W/ SCOTT ROBINSON, 2011 YOUNG LIONS ALL-STAR BAND, (jazz) 7:30 p.m., Cornhusker Marriott. TONY CHURCH, (guitar) 8 p.m., Cultiva. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 9:30 p.m., Firebarn Bar & Grill. 5 MAN TRIO, (cover) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. KNUCKLE DEEP, (cover) 8:30 p.m., Grove. STEP AFRIKA, (dance/world) 8 p.m., Holland Center, $19. STREET RAILWAY COMPANY, (jazz) 7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen. J.V. ALLSTARS, A NO COAST NOVEMBER, LEARNING TO FALL, (punk/rock) 6 p.m., Knickerbockers. J.V. ALLSTARS, A NO COAST NOVEMBER, TOPPER GO, ONE HEADLIGHT HIGH, (punk/rock) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers. PERSONICS, (cover) 9 p.m., Loose Moose. MINT WAD WILLY, DOOMSDAY OVERDRIVE, GARFAN, (rock) 9 p.m., Louis, FREE. JUMPIN KATE, (blues) 7 p.m., Meadowlark Coffeehouse. PAUL HART, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Myth. WAGON BLASTERS, DEAN THE BIBLE, (rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5. DESPERATE BANDWIVES, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone, FREE. LEMON FRESH DAY, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Pieces, FREE. QUARTUS, (cover) 9 p.m., Prestige, FREE. HIFI HANGOVER, (cover) 9 p.m., red9. TWITCH, 3 DAY MEAT SALE, WICKED ME, FIZZ!, (rock) 9 p.m., Shamrock’s.

| THE READER |

music listings

AMES PIANO QUARTET, (classical) 8 p.m., Sheldon. TENNIS, HOLIDAY SHORES, KOSHA KILLZ, (indie/rock) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $8/adv, $10/dos. THE STYLES, THE BEAT SEEKERS, MR. IMPORTANT, (rock) 9 p.m., Stir Live, $5. LAVA ROCKETS, (cover) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. BREAKAWAY, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ron’s.

READER RECOMMENDS

GUNK GOES BLACK & YELLOW W/ SAMMY BANANAS, (DJ) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $7. CONSPIRACY THEORY, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE. THE FABTONES, (blues) 5 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4. MAGIC SLIM, (blues) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

SATURDAY 19

COMRADE, GARRICK, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5. CEDRIC WATSON, BIJOU CREOLE, (cajun/zydeco) 8 p.m., 1200 Club, $25/adv, $30/dos. FORK IN THE ROAD, (rock) 8:30 p.m., Ameristar, FREE. GROOVE PUPPET, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. LIFE OF A SCARECROW, OMNI ARMS, GREEN TREES, (rock) 9 p.m., Bourbon, $5, $7/under 21. HARD ATTACK, (rock) 9 p.m., Chrome. QUARTUS, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Cunningham’s. KURT PETERSON, WOVEN SYMBOL, MEGA HERBS, (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m., Cultiva. FREEDOM ROAD, (rock) 9:30 p.m., Dinkers, FREE. HIFI HANGOVER, (cover) 9 p.m., Gator O’Malley’s. HARVEY & HONEYBOY, (blues) 6:30 p.m., Heartland Cafe.

READER RECOMMENDS

THREE DOG NIGHT W/ OMAHA SYMPHONY, (rock/ symphony,) 8 p.m., Holland Center, $35-$100. NOVAK & HARR TRIO, (jazz) 7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen. DUSK BLED DOWN, SILENT HAVOK, DIRTFEDD, (rock/ metal) 6 p.m., Knickerbockers. THE ESCAPE CLAUSE, FOR EDWARD, FADED BLACK, LUCKY LOSERS, (rock/metal) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers. PERSONICS, (cover) 9 p.m., Loose Moose. BATTLE OF THE MIDWEST BANDS Q/ RISE FROM RUIN, STRAIGHT SHOT, COLDSWEAT, SKIN’D, (rock) 8 p.m., Louis, $7. LUTHER JAMES BAND, JOHN CREWS, US AND THEM, (blues) McKennas. LOOM WEAVES BRAZIL’S CARNIVAL W/ JAY “RHYTHM SOULDIER” KLINE, JOAO DEBRIOT, RACHEL RICHARDS, BRENT CRAMPTON, (DJ) 9 p.m., Nomad Lounge, $5.

READER RECOMMENDS

THE F***ING PARTY, DEAD RINGERS, SAUDI ARABIA, (rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5. THE LABELS, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone, FREE. HIFI HANGOVER, (cover) 9 p.m., Prestige, FREE. DJ ROMEO, (DJ) 9 p.m., Pulse. E-ROK, CHIEF, (DJ) 9 p.m., red9. R-STYLE, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Rookies, FREE. SECRET WEAPON PRESENTS: THE HEARTBREAKER’S BALL, (cover) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $8. A SUMMER BETTER THAN YOURS, SHERIDAN BREAKDOWN, (rock) 9 p.m., Stir Live, $5. YESTERDAY AND TODAY: THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE, (orchestra) 7 p.m., Strauss Center, $40. LIL MIKE AND THE CIRKLE OF FIFTHS, (blues) Tin Lizzy. MOON JUICE, (cover) 9 p.m., Two Fine irishmen. BREAKAWAY, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ron’s. BLUE HOUSE AND THE RENT TO OWN HORNS, (blues) Vintage Bar. DEERHOOF, BEN BUTLER & MOUSEPAD, (indie/rock) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $12.

READER RECOMMENDS

PETE YORN, BEN KWELLER, THE WELLSPRING, (rock) 8 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, $25. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8 p.m., Wilderness Ridge, FREE. SON DEL LLANO, (blues) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $6.

SUNDAY 20

SUNDAY GOLD W/ GREG K, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. WATCHING THE MOON, JOHN KLEMMENSEN, THE PARTY, (rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5. 80’S NIGHT W/ OL’ MOANIN’ CORPSE, (DJ) 8 p.m., Bricktop, FREE. LIVE GUITAR, 6 p.m., Espana, FREE. VIRTUOSO WINDS, (classical) 2 p.m., First United Methodist, $30. TRAVELING MERCIES, PLATTE RIVER RAIN, JAMI LYNN, (rock) 9:30 p.m., O’Leaver’s, $5. MURDER BY DEATH, THE BUILDERS & THE BUTCHERS, DAMION SUOMI & THE MINOR PROPHETS, (rock) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $12. AUDITION NIGHT, (cover) 7 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE.

MONDAY 21

SOUP AND SONG W/ KYLE & ANDY, (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, FREE. ACOUSTIC OPEN STAGE, (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m., Bourbon, FREE. MONDAY NIGHT BIG BAND W/ MARC LACHANCE, (jazz) 7:30 p.m., Brewsky’s Jazz Underground, $6, $5/students. TEPETRICY, (rock) 9 p.m., Louis. MIKE GURCIULLO AND HIS LAS VEGAS LAB BAND, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. ANJA MCCLOSKEY, (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Side Door. SAY HI, BLAIR, MIDWEST DILEMMA, (folk/rock) 9 p.m., Slowdown, $8/adv, $10/dos. PIANO HAPPY HOUR, 5 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE. Z-JAM OPEN STAGE, 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE.

TUESDAY 22

VIC NASTY, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. NOISE NIGHT, (rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern. TRUTH & SALVAGE CO., RYAN HRUSKA, GREAT PLANES, (rock) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers, $8. WANNA BE HEARD OPEN MIC, (acoustic) 6 p.m., Oasis. JES WINTER, (acoustic) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8 p.m., The Phoenix, FREE. MARK “SHARKY” SANFORD, (piano) 6:30 p.m., Prestige, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

THE DAVE POLSON ORCHESTRA, (jazz) 9:30 p.m., Side Door, FREE. PM TODAY, THE STORY CHANGES, THE SEEN, VICTOR DRAWS THE SON, (rock) 8 p.m., Slowdown, $7. TIES, LIGHTNING BUG, BEAR STORIES, (punk/rock) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $5. JAZZOCRACY, (jazz) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE. NOMADIC FIESTA, PRODUCERS OF THE WORLD, (world) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4.

Wednesday 23

MOM - E BROWN, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. WAHNDER LUST, VOODOO METHOD, HIGHER EMPATHY MOVEMENT, (rock) 8 p.m., Bourbon, $5, $7/under 21. DICEY RILEYS, (celtic) 7 p.m., Brazen Head. KILLS & THRILLS, OH, MANHATTAN, WORDS LIKE DAGGERS, (rock) 7 p.m., The Commons, $8. DJ J.A.B., (DJ) 9 p.m., Firewater Grille, FREE. THE STORY CHANGES, PM TODAY, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE DINOSAURS, (rock) 6 p.m., Knickerbockers. THE LINKS, (oldies) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. OPEN MIC, 9 p.m., Sean O’Casey’s, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS

SMITH WESTERNS, UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA, (rock) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $10. BLU SIMON, (blues) 9 p.m., Your Mom’s Downtown Bar. WEEZIL SQUEEZINS, BUCK AND FAVER, (rock) 9:30 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

VENUES

Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Rd., Council Bluffs, ameristar.com Arena Bar & Grill, 3809 N. 90th St., 571.2310, arenaomaha.com BarFly, 707 N. 114th St., 504.4811 Barley Street Tavern, 2735 N. 62nd St., 554.5834, barleystreet.com Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., Lincoln, 730.5695 Downtown Blues, 1512 Howard St., 345.0180 Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3453, myspace.com/duffystavern The Hideout, 302 S. 72nd St. Knickerbocker’s, 901 O St., Lincoln, 476.6865, knickerbockers.net LIV Lounge, 2279 S. 67th St., 884.5410, livlounge. com Louis Bar and Grill, 5702 NW Radial Hwy., 551.5993 McKenna’s Blues, Booze & BBQ, 7425 Pacific St., 393.7427, mckennasbbq.com New Lift Lounge, 4737 S. 96th St., 339.7170

2234 South 13th Street Omaha, NE 68108 346 - 9802 www.sokolundground.com

0 O’Leaver’s Pub, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Rd., 556.1238, myspace.com/oleaverspub Ozone Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, 72nd and F, 331.7575, ozoneclubomaha.com. Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 556.9090, pscollective.com Qwest, 455 N. 10th St., qwestcenteromaha.com Side Door, 3530 Leavenworth St., 504.3444. Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., 345.7569, theslowdown.com Sokol Hall, 2234 S. 13th St., 346.9802, sokolundergound.com The Sydney, 5918 Maple St., 932.9262, thesydneybenson.com Stir, 1 Harrahs Blvd., Council Bluffs, harrahs.com Venue 162, 162 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, 712.256.7768, myspace.com/venue162 Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge.com Whiskey Roadhouse, Horseshoe Casino, 2701 32nd Ave., Council Bluffs, whiskeyroadhouse.com Zoo Bar, 136 N.14th St., Lincoln, zoobar.com

UPCOMING SHOWS

Having formed in 1994, Deerhoof is now that fateful age and by rites it’s the band’s turn to go out and challenge the world. The same way a rebellious adolescent turns tough and irrational, Greg Saunier, Ed Rodriguez, John Dieterich, and Satomi Matsuzaki just up and split from San Francisco, the only home they’ve ever known as a band, and left behind all notions of what a “Deerhoof record sounds like.”

SATURDAY, 2/19/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM

DEERHOOF

THURSDAY, 2/17/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM

YAMN

w/ Blue Martian Tribe

THU 2/17/2011

THU 2/27/2011

FRI 3/03/2011

WED 3/04/2011

WED 3/05/2011

WED 3/08/2011

EASTERN TURKISH W/ THE SHIDIOTS, IT’S ME SWEETUMS, BIG ELEPHANT, AND DRUGSTORE COWBOY DOORS @ 6:00, SHOW @ 7:00

SPOTLIGHT SHOW

w/ Ben Butler And Mousepad & The Show Is The Rainbow

SATURDAY, 2/19/11 9:00PM @ SLOWDOWN SECRET WEAPON PRESENTS: THE HEARTBREAKER’S BALL

AFTON LIVE DOORS @ 6:00, SHOW @ 6:30

FRIDAY, 2/18/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM - 18+

GUNK goes BLACK & YELLOW

w/ Special Guest Sammy Bananas

SUNDAY, 2/20/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM MURDER BY DEATH

w/ The Builders And The Butchers & Damion Suomi And The Minor Prophets

FRIDAY, 2/18/11 9:00PM @ SLOWDOWN TENNIS

w/ Holiday Shores & Kosha Dillz

MONDAY, 2/21/11 8:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM

WAITING ROOM PINBALL PARTY

Tilt: The Battle To Save Pinball

GLASSJAW W/ TBD DOORS @ 6:30, SHOW @ 7:00 AFTON PRESENTS: DOORS @ 6:00, SHOW @ 6:30 AFTON PRESENTS: DOORS @ 6:00, SHOW @ 6:30 THE ATTICUS METAL TOUR III BORN OF OSIRIS, DARKEST HOUR, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT, AND MORE TBA DOORS @ 5:00, SHOW @ 5:30

TUESDAY, 2/22/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM

TIES

w/ Lightning Bug & Bear Stories

WEDNESDAY, 2/23/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM SMITH WESTERNS w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra

2/25/11 NOAH’S ARK WAS A SPACESHIP 2/25/11 TEN CLUB 2/26/11 BACK WHEN 2/26/11 JAVIER’S BIRTHDAY BASH 2/27/11 SCHOOL OF ROCK 2/27/11 DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS 2/28/11 OMAHA ROLLERGIRLS MOVIE 3/01/11 HEAD FOR THE HILLS 3/02/11 INNNERPARTYSYSTEM 3/04/11 ELI MARDOCK

THURSDAY, 2/24/11 9:00PM @ THE WAITING ROOM

TAPES ‘N TAPES w/ Oberhofer

3/05/11 WALK 3/06/11 GENITORTURERS 3/7/11 JOSHUA JAMES 3/08/11 RYAN BINGHAM & THE DEAD HORSES 3/08/11 THE ATTICUS METAL TOUR III 3/09/11 JOHN KLEMMENSEN & THE PARTY 3/09/11 ALPHA REV 3/10/11 SUGAR & GOLD 3/11/11 FUNK TREK 3/11/11 MARNIE STERN / TERA MELOS

More Information and Tickets Available at

WWW.ONEPERCENTPRODUCTIONS.COM

music listings

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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An Evening with Steven Soderbergh. Academy Award-winning director of Traffic, Erin Brockovich, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Out of Sight, The Informant!, and the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy.

Interview by Kurt Andersen, with an Introduction by Alexander Payne.

Sunday, February 20, 2011 Holland Performing Arts Center

Event Chairpersons: The Weitz Family

More information and tickets at filmstreams.org or (402) 933-0259 ext. 13. All proceeds support Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater, Omaha’s nonprofit cinema. FEATURE PARTNERS

DESIGN PARTNER

7646 Cass Street

Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 14th & Mike Fahey Street (formerly Webster Street) More info & showtimes 402.933.0259 · filmstreams.org

This Week Oscar Shorts! The 2011 Academy AwardNominated Short Films (Animated, Live-Action & Documentary categories) Now showing exclusively at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater!

Facebook & Twitter: /filmstreams

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| THE READER |

Somewhere First-Run (R) Directed by Sofia Coppola. Through Thursday, February 24 “A fascinating, mature, beautifully crafted work of art, from a director who continues to surprise us.” —Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com

Steven Soderbergh Series The Spirit of the Beehive

1973 Friday, February 18 - Thursday, February 24

Family & Children’s Series The Marx Brothers:

A Day at the Races 1937 Februay 19 - March 3 (Saturdays, Sundays, Thursdays)

Film Streams’ Feature III An Evening with Steven Soderbergh Sunday, February 20 Holland Performing Arts Center

E D I T E D

Sandler and Dugan do it again, unfortunately

J

by Justin Senkbile

ust Go With It is the latest Dennis Dugan– directed Adam Sandler vehicle. Standing at the ticket counter, the title reads more like a des- JUST GO WITH IT perate plea for audience members. That probably isn’t the case, since it was basically designed to make lots of money. But it’s such a benign and unnecessary movie that it’s nice to imagine. It takes a while to get to the meat of things, but the idea is this: Sandler plays a plastic surgeon named Danny who wears a wedding ring to get younger girls. Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) is young enough to still be mourning the death of N’Sync, but Danny somehow ends up “connecting” with her when they meet at a party. When she finds his wedding ring prop, he has to fabricate a failed marriage in order to keep her around. To play his faux ex-wife, Danny enlists the help of

his loyal assistant Katherine (Jennifer Aniston). Things get out of control (don’t they always?), and Danny finds himself in Hawaii, fumbling to keep his fake family together long enough for Palmer to finally trust him. It very quickly becomes evident that we’re watching little more than the story of man trying to pick which hot girl he wants to marry. Com-

edies like this don’t need to be profound or insightful, but why do they have to be so dumb? There are, surprisingly, some genuinely funny moments. Most of them involve Sandler and Aniston in conversation, scenes that feel remarkably breezy and loose. If not improvised on camera, they feel like they could have been. And besides being simply funny, they make you think that maybe Sandler still has something to give comedy-wise. These scenes shine pretty brightly, but there are just too few of them. The rest of the movie is populated with the usual lows of this kind of comedy: chronically juvenile taste peppered with painfully few bits of real wit, a half-baked concept of women and copious crotch shots. As the director of several other popular Sandler comedies, Dugan at least deserves a hand for being so unapologetic in his continued attempts to amuse the masses. If not a noble ambition, it is a relatively harmless one. And fortunately for him and Sandler, Just Go With It is probably just amusing enough to make a few bucks. ,

GRADE: D

B Y

R Y A N

S Y R E K

■ I don’t know a word in French that wasn’t in “Lady Marmalade,” so someone needs to tell me if “Le Figaro” translates to “Liars with Pants of Fire.” Why? Well, a French newspaper with that name is reporting that Marion Cotillard was just cast in The Dark Knight Rises. If the French aren’t lying to me again, I’m ecstatic. My only regret is that Anne Hathaway beat her to Catwoman’s spandex. ■ The best part about watching The Room is knowing you’ll never watch a movie that bad ever again. The so-wretched-it’s-awesome cult classic has played the midnight run at our own Dundee Theater (DundeeTheatre.com) specifically because it is so beyond reason in its awfulness. Yet a man named Sandy Schklair, whose IMDB resume need not have the stain of The Room on it, is fighting to put that hyperlink on his bio. Basically, Entertainment Weekly is reporting that writer/ producer/star/probable-maniac Tommy Wiseau may not have directed the infamous train wreck, having hired Schklair to do the dirty deed. A battle is brewing over ownership of The Room. The only comparison would be if two dudes in an elevator both tried to claim they were the fart maker. ■ Park Chan-wook, director of Oldboy and Thirst, is set to make his English-language film debut with Stoker, which will star Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth. They’re probably excited to be in the genius director’s new film, but if they’ve seen any of his other movies, I’m guessing their excitement will be tempered by the time they finish reading the script and they find out what horrible, horrible things they’ll be doing to one another. — Ryan Syrek

CUTTINGROOM

Just Get it Over With

film

Cutting Room provides breaking local and national movie news … complete with added sarcasm. Send any relevant information to film@thereader.com. Check out Ryan on the radio on CD 105.9 (Fridays at around 7:30 a.m.), on his blog at thereader.com/film/ C19 and on Twitter (twitter.com/thereaderfilm).

Send off Party

Satchel Grande Waiting Room

monday march 14 film

| THE READER |

$5 Cover Benefit for Band’s SXSW expenses

FEB. 17 - 23, 2011

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film m o v i e

FEELING BORING AND RESTLESS?

r e v i e w s ,

c o m m e n t a r y

a n d

m o r e

e d i t e d

b y

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s y r e k

somewhere

Stop by The Attic and get a special advance screening ticket to HALL PASS!

Thursday, February 17th 5:30 PM No purchase necessary. Limit ONE (admits two) pass per person. 50 passes will be available while supplies last. Rated R for crude and sexual humor throughout, language, some graphic nudity and drug use.

D

by Ryan Syrek

evoid of music or dialogue, the opening frames of Somewhere capture a sports car driving repeatedly in a circle for, like, a really long time before the car stops and an obvious douchebag exits the vehicle and stands there … for, like, a really long time. Had writer/director Sofia Coppola rolled credits immediately thereafter, the experience of Somewhere wouldn’t have changed an iota. The remaining 90-some minutes are full of tediously depicted, marginally significant events in the life of a character so bland and unoriginal that they had to unearth Stephen Dorff to play him. There’s a fine line between soft-handed realism and self-absorbed naval gazing, and Somewhere is a finger plugged in a belly button. Because the majority of the film is dialogueand plot-free, at least it’s easy to sum up. Johnny Marco (Dorff ) is a Hollywood star who spends his days watching strippers bump-and-grind in the bedroom of the hotel suite he calls home. He sometimes bangs random ladies and smokes so much that Joe the Camel is contemplating an intervention. He has an 11-year-old daughter named Cleo (Elle Fanning) and, as is mandated

www.hall-pass-movie.com

IN THEATERS FEBRUARY 25!

alliedim.com 312•755•0888

Less than Some: Somewhere goes nowhere

Film: Hall Pass Paper: KC Reader Run Date: Thursday, February 17 Ad Size: 5x5 Publicist: D. Collins Artist: L. Hassinger

reportcard

Black Swan A It’s like Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” … only with more sexytime. Blue Valentine A Love hurts, but Williams’ and Gosling’s performances sure don’t. The Fighter If you can be punch-drunk on crack, Bale nails it.

B+

The King’s Speech BNot the best movie of the year, but lots of people will tell you it is.

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| THE READER |

film

by the law of character archetypes, he neglects the crap out of her. When Cleo’s momma bounces town, she ditches Cleo with Johnny. So the deadbeat dad is forced to tote his tween to press junkets and such. Don’t worry, Coppola never skips out on the most thrilling part of their time together: slow, silent drives from place to place, shot from a camera trailing the car so you can’t even see what’s happening inside. Whereas Coppola’s Lost in Translation was a masterwork of understated, subdued emotional catharsis, Somewhere is mostly just boring. When Dorff gets weepy and laments, “I’m nothing,” he’s not wrong. His twiggy frame is perpetually draped in ratty T-shirts and his charisma meter may swing negative. Yes, real life is full of minor moments stacked loosely atop one another, and Coppola’s ability to deftly replicate that sensation is her gift. But watching someone who is too boring to even dislike as he eats, sleeps and runs errands set to indie rock music sure feels like wasting the precious allocation of life. Somewhere will resonate for some folks who cotton greatly to quiet introspection, no matter how vapid the introspector. Coppola’s talent is unquestionable, but she won’t be using Somewhere as evidence to prove it. ,

GRADE: CThe Mechanic Jason Statham is a one-man Jiffy Lube of pain.

C+

No Strings Attached C+ No strings and even less originality … but at least it has Nat-Po. True Grit AYippee ty yi yay! The best Western since The Unforgiven. READER RECOMMENDS

Waiting for Superman (ON DVD) A You’ll learn more by watching this documentary on public education than most students do by attending public schools.

M O V I E

R E V I E W S ,

C O M M E N T A R Y

A N D

DVD Discovery: Sci-fi indie flick creates bigdollar effects with a peso budget

D

by Ben Coffman

on’t let the generic title of Monsters fool you — it’s really a pretty unique film. With an estimated budget of $800,000, which is the latte and donuts budget for most Hollywood movies, Monsters offers some surprisingly big-time special effects. But the real story behind the film’s creation is its super-cheap on-location guerilla shooting style, in which the film’s crew (one writer/director, two cameramen and two actors) would show up unannounced, film their scene in front of whatever happened to be going on and then skedaddle. The result was a highly realistic low-budget sci-fi flick that manages to do more right than wrong. The plot is simple enough: A NASA probe that collected alien life samples has crashed into northern Mexico, which is now “the infected zone,� a playground for War of the Worlds-type aliens. Photojournalist Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) has just arrived in Central America on assignment when his mission changes. Instead of photographing the aliens’ northward migration, he now must find the injured Samantha (Whitney Able), the daughter of an all-powerful Rupert Murdoch-

M O R E

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type, and get her out of Mexico and back to the safety of the United States. Monsters is heavily derivative, no doubt about it. The occasional handheld camera shot feels like Cloverfield. The aliens-living-amongus theme recalls District 9. The setting is occasionally reminiscent of Predator or even Jurassic Park. But unlike these movies, in which the special effects take center stage, writer/ director Gareth Edwards instead focuses on the budding relationship between his two main characters. This is likely out of necessity, as giant, glowing squid-like aliens and small arms fire is expensive, but improvised dialog is cheap. Lead actors McNairy and Able are probably given too much free rein in creating their dialog and developing their characters, as these areas (along with some under-realized themes) eventually begin to stand out as the film’s weaknesses. But given the unusual circumstances surrounding the filming of Monsters, as well as the legions of non-actors who they interact with on-screen (only two actors appear in the film’s IMDB.com credits), they do a sufficiently good job. Cool music and justright special effects help smooth over these wrinkles. In short, there’s nothing cheap-looking about Monsters, which re-sets the bar in an expanding field of DIY indie films doing increasingly more with less. Viewed in this light, Monsters is an amazing accomplishment and a worthy rental. ,

5+2!).%

Through May 8

subject Only at Joslyn will these two collections, Sacred Images and Golden Treasures, merge into one exhibition celebrating the cultural heritage of this large Eastern European nation.

In cooperation with the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) and with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, The Glory of Ukraine is presented by the Foundation for International Arts & Education (FIAE) (Bethesda, Maryland). IMAGE: Necklace (detail), 5th century BC, gold, PlaTar Collection

www.joslyn.org | (402) 342-3300 | 2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE

GRADE: B

CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

March 4 - 5

Spend a weekend with national and local experts to learn how to restore and preserve older structures. If you care about preservation, this is the event for you! For more information and to register call Nicole Malone at 402-968-3349 or visit

w w w. r e s t o r e o m a h a . o r g )PTUFE CZ .FUSPQPMJUBO $PNNVOJUZ $PMMFHF t .FEJB TQPOTPS Ç°F 3FBEFS

| THE READER |

FEB. 17 - 23, 2011

39

Ready to Roll

T

by Sarah Wengert

week. They host an annual Boot Camp (2010’s spanned 12 weeks) to vet prospective members; and while Parker asserts derby is harder than it looks, both she and Pirrone welcome women to try out. “It’ll change your life. You find out what you’re really made of,” says Pirrone. Anyone questioning the legitimacy of derby as a “real” sport need only witness ORG in action to become a believer. “I work with all guys, so they see short shorts and cute girls and think, ‘Oh, I want to go for that.’ Then they come and see that we’re actually

he Omaha Rollergirls suit up for a bout in much the same gear as any athlete: kneepads, helmets, mouth guards … fishnets. OK, so that last bit of garb isn’t standard in the sports world, but it’s a fitting component of ORGs’ stunning cocktail of sport and style, skill and spectacle. Visiting their bunker at the old Cheap Skate near 90th and Maple for omaha roller girls a practice/scrimmage it’s clear that while the skaters’ tattooed-rockermeets-retro look is hot, their derby names hilarious and their pin-curls on point, the aesthetic is only as bangin’ as the fierce athleticism. Angela Parker, an Air Force unit program coordinator who skates as Alice D. Tripp, is a new skater in 2011, but she’s refereed in previous seasons. “It’s fun, fast-paced. It’s kind of like chaos on wheels. I’ve always been an athlete and so it’s great to be able to do this,” says Parker. Roller Derby has kitschy origins but ORG plays the real deal, full-contact, competitive sport on quad roller skates and a flat track — as opposed to the banked-track style seen in 2009’s Whip It. Regulation bouts are two 30-minute periods broken into two-minute jams. Five players from each team hit athletes, we work hard at this and it’s a real sport, the track, each with one pivot, one jammer and then they get drawn into it,” says Parker. ORG began as a grassroots effort in 2006, three blockers. Jammers wear starred helmets, start at the back of the pack and fight their way to and after an early incarnation with two local the front to score points for each member of the teams that played each other — the Low Down opposing team they pass, or lap. The pivot sets Lucy’s and Victoria’s Secret Service — brought the pace at the front of the pack and acts as the the best of the players together to form the last line of defense. Blockers keep the pack thick Omaha Rollergirl All-Stars. In November 2008, and tight in the middle, checking and bumping ORG joined the Women’s Flat Track Derby Asto keep the opposing team’s jammer at the back sociation (WFTDA). The league’s growth was as swift as a cunning and also assisting their own jammer to the front. The AAA team plays a shorter bout of two jammer and its popularity proved explosive. The 20-minute periods ahead of the main event. ORG 2011 season brings more watershed moments PR Director Jenifer Pirrone, retired from skating as ORG upgrades its venue from west Omaha’s as Soul Crusher Sally, says it gives the “newbies” Skate Daze to Council Bluffs’ Mid-America Cena chance at for-real game play. ORG also practic- ter. The league needed more space to accommoes for two to three hours, three to four times each date its swelling fan base, some of whom they’d

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Feb. 17 - 23, 2011

| THE READER |

sports

had to turn away from sold-out bouts last season. After feedback from fans ORG knew they had to make a move. “I’m kind of stunned,” says vet Megan Martin, a forecast analyst for Oriental Trading Company and ORG coaching director who skates as Midlife Crashes. “Everything happened this year. We got our own practice space, we doubled our league with the recruit process and now we’re skating in an arena. It’s so rewarding that we’ve come this far.” “We were in a position financially to swing it, and decided to take the leap,” says Pirrone. ORG dues finance practice and performance spaces. Pirrone says the league searched Omaha but got the best deal at MAC. Even with their own tight purse strings ORG gives back to the community, raising funds at events like Relay for Life, Polar Bear Plunge and an upcoming Wheels and Reels movie night at The Waiting Room where they’ll collect donations for Film Streams. Tina Stading, who works in financial aid at UNO and skates as Gracie Gloom, says she loves everything about the sport, the fun, the physicality, but mainly the sisterhood. “Finding a group of girls that are just like me was really awesome,” she says. “Derby becomes your second family,” echoes Parker. “Everybody has different jobs and backgrounds, but we all kind of have the same attitude and respect for the sport.” Derby also does wonders for the ladies off the track. “When you get involved in such a physical sport you really know what you’re capable of, so you start thinking about yourself differently and you feel like you’ve really come into yourself,” says Stading. “For my 39th birthday I bought skates and gear and re-learned how to skate, which was terrifying at first,” says Martin. Her jersey number is 39 in honor of her age the year she began. “All of the skills developed in roller derby are amazing: smarts, endurance, agility, speed, strength.” Newbie Shawna Eves, traffic manager at Redstone who skates as Shaw No Fear and was just added to the AAA roster, has reaped the same rewards. “It has been a blessing to develop an athletic skill I didn’t even realize I was capable of, findFrontPagePictures.com

Omaha Rollergirls have come a long way, baby

thejump

sports

n Over the past 20 or so years there have been two men’s collegiate teams in the state that could reasonably start any season with national title aspirations: Creighton soccer and Nebraska football. There are other national powers, Nebraska bowling and UNO wrestling for example, but as far as spectator sports at the state’s two Division I schools, the Jays and Huskers different brands of football occupy the same realm when it comes to expectations. That makes their differing approaches to recent coaching hires all the more interesting. After the losing the “next great thing” in Jamie Clark, Creighton AD Bruce Rasmussen made a big splash by luring Elmar Bolowich away from North Carolina. Bolowich has a national title to his name along with appearances in the College Cup, soccer’s version of the Final Four, in each of the past three years. It’s tough to come up with a good analogy here but I’d liken it to Gonzaga basketball hiring Maryland’s Gary Williams. Or maybe Boise State football getting Bob Stoops. Better yet, call it Chief Brody shelling out for Quint. Creighton’s been in the hunt before. Now they have a grizzled vet who has been on big game safaris. Bo Pelini is going the other way. While nothing’s official yet, it looks like Nebraska is going to hand play-calling duties to a rookie offensive coordinator at this level and also bring in the following: a golf pro from Boston, a former head coach from Hastings College, an intern and a former pro who was last coaching at Utah State. That’s bold in a different way, but I like it all the same. n As long as Dean Blais is in town UNO hockey might be the next tent pole sport in Nebraska. The Mavs announced the biggest donation in the team’s history last week, an undisclosed sum from Ron and Connie Brasel. UNO AD Trev Alberts says the gift is not tied to the long-rumored on-campus arena, but that’s unlikely to stop Mavs fans from thinking that’s precisely the next step. n Fun fact: Dan Lawrence, the Nighthawks new 73-year-old offensive line coach, played college football with Paul Hornung at Notre Dame. Hornung won the Heisman Trophy before Cam Newton’s dad was even born. — Brandon Vogel The Jump takes you behind the local headlines. Email jump@thereader.com and look for daily updates at twitter.com/brandonlvogel.

ing an inner strength to mentally keep pushing myself and, in the end, becoming part of a new family of strong, independent women.” , Omaha Rollergirls’ home opener is Feb. 19 at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs, versus the Fox Cityz Foxz (Appleton, Wisc.). The AAA bout begins at 7 p.m. followed by the All-Stars. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 advance/$12 day-of. Visit omaharollergirls.org.

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Men’s basketball home games played at Qwest Center Omaha (10th & Cass St.) Women’s basketball home games played at the Ryan Athletic Center/D.J. Sokol Arena (19th & Webster St.)

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FEB. 17 - 23, 2011

41

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all, slim, facial symmetry” and “good teeth,” along with classic makeup and dress and graceful movement, might comprise the inventory list for any beauty contest winner, and they are also the criteria for victors in Niger’s traditional “Gerewol” festival — except that the contestants are all males and the judges all females. Cosmetics are especially crucial, with symbolic black, yellow and white patterns and stripes (with white being the color of “loss” and “death”). A special feature of the pageants, according to a January BBC television report, is that when the female judges each select their winners, they are allowed to marry them (or have flings), irrespective of any pre-existing marriage by either party.

Can’t Possibly Be True It was a prestigious hospital on a worthy mission (to recruit hard-to-match bone marrow donors to beef up dwindling supplies), but UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, Mass.) went hardcore: hiring young female models in short skirts to flirt with men at New Hampshire shopping centers to entice them to give DNA swabs for possible matches. Complaints piled up because state law requires insurance providers to cover the tests, at $4,000 for each swab submitted by the love-struck flirtees, and the hospital recently dropped the program, according to a December New York Times report.

In December, McCaskey East High School in Lancaster, Pa., established a dynamic new program to improve their students’ educational outcomes: racial segregation. At least three of the 11 junior class homerooms were designated as black-only with black girls “mentored” during homeroom period by black female teachers and black boys mentored by black male teachers (on the theory that kids will learn more from people who look like them). Vietnam veteran Ronald Flanagan, in the midst of expensive treatment for bone cancer, had his medical insurance canceled in January because his wife mistakenly keyed in a “7” instead of a “9” in the “cents” space while paying the couple’s regular premium online, leaving the Flanagans 2 cents short. Said the administrator, Ceridian COBRA Services, that remittance “fit into the definition in the regulations of ‘insufficient payment’” and allows termination. (Ceridian said it warned the Flanagans before cancellation, but Ron Flanagan said the “warning” was just an ordinary billing statement t h at did not draw his attention.)

Unclear on the Concept From a December memo to paramedics in Edmonton, Alberta, by Alberta Health Services: Drivers should “respond within the posted speed limits even when responding with lights and siren.” “Our job is to save lives,” AHS wrote, “not put them in jeopardy.” According to drivers interviewed by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News, police have been issuing tickets to drivers on emergencies if they speed or go through red lights. In January, Thalia Surf Shop of Laguna Beach, Calif. (named by OC Weekly in 2009 as Or-

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weird news

COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK SHEPHERD. Visit Chuck Shepherd daily at NewsoftheWeird.blogspot.com or NewsoftheWeird.com. Send Weird News to WeirdNewsTips@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, FL 33679. Illustrations by Tom Briscoe (smallworldcomics.com).

ange County’s best), ran a special Martin Luther King Jr. promotion featuring “20 Percent Off All Black Products,” illustrated with a doctored photograph of Dr. King, himself, in one of the shop’s finest wet suits (black, of course). (Following some quick, bad publicity, the shop’s management apologized.)

First Things First As of early November, 150 people had been killed by the 2-week-old, erupting Mount Merapi volcano in Central Java, Indonesia, and the government had created shelters in stadiums and public halls for 300,000 jammed-together evacuees. By that time, however, some had petitioned authorities to open up private shelter locations so that the displaced could attend to certain romantic, biological needs. Apparently some evacuees had become so frisky that they had left the shelter and returned to their homes in the danger zone just so they could have sex. Jerrold Winiecki, 56, was lifted into an ambulance on Dec. 8 for the 25-minute ride to a hospital in a Minneapolis suburb, after paramedics were unable to keep his airway fully open because of infection. Minutes later, the struggling-to-breathe Winiecki noticed the ambulance stopping at a familiar location en route — a Subway sandwich shop near his home, thus increasing his distress. The stop was brief; Winiecki later recovered; and doctors said the ambulance ride was not life-threatening. The ambulance company said proper protocols were met, in that the driver did not stop for food but to use a restroom because of diarrhea.

Least Competent Criminals Three men and two juveniles were charged with burglary in Silver Springs Shores, Fla., in January following a December breakin that netted them electronics and jewelry and what they thought was a stash of cocaine. The men told police they had snorted some of the powder. The police report identified the powder as the ashes of the resident’s late father and of two Great Danes. (Some of the ashes were later recovered.)

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Recurring Themes Respect for All Cultures: In January, in Village One in Cambodia (about 12 miles from Phnom Penh), local residents alarmed by a spirit-possessed boy gathered, about 1,000 strong, for a good-luck wedding ceremony marrying two pythons — “magic” animals that have the power to bring fortune and happiness. Customs and Border Protection officers at Washington, D.C.’s Dulles Airport often receive international passengers carrying reminders of home — such as the visitor from Ghana who, according to a Baltimore Sun report, landed on Dec. 3 carrying a hedgehog, elephant tails, chameleons, skins from cat-like “genets,” sheets soaked in the blood of sacrificed chickens, and a package of dirt.

The Redneck Chronicles Johni Rice, 35, eating at a Waffle House restaurant in Spartanburg, S.C., was charged in January with beating up two diners at another table over the quality of their conversation — a man and a woman who were discussing “women with hairy armpits.” Rice was assisted in the pummeling by two other diners, and weaponized food was involved.,

weird news

| THE READER |

feb. 17 - 23, 2011

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planetpower w ee k l y

h oroscopes

H

appy Full Moon, February 18th at 2:36 a.m. (Omax time) in the last degree of Leo on the first day of Pisces. One more month to dream, or so it may/will seem. Your dreams (Pisces) will bring your Spring (Aries). From what I’ve heard, it all starts April 3rd. Here’s a picture of me getting some Sun on my honey bun. I’ll be brown all around when I get back to town. Rrrrrroooooaaarrrrr......! Michael De Lyon — 2011 — Year of the Cat. — MojoPoPlanetPower.com k AQUARIUS (1.21-2.19) Gone but not forgotten? The eternal question. What “mark” can/will/shall I leave? For these last seven years your ruling planet, the planet Uranus, has been in Pisces, while Pisces’ esoteric ruler Neptune has resided in Aquarius. This is called “mutual reception.” Get ready for the “seven-year itch” involving situations incurred on or around New Year’s 2004, when the planet Uranus first entered Pisces. (Or is/was it the other way around?) Forge your arrow’s head from these/your recent Piscean dreams and fire your rocket into the stars — but wait for Mars. Wait until the Aries (ruled by Mars) New Moon, April 3rd, to light your fire! Wear red to get ahead so then (!) you can CHARGE LARGE! l PISCES (2.20-3.20) Please read Aquarius’ first half above. You’re still holding onto the residue, like you always do? How does the MOJO know? Hey it’s your turn to burn! Happy Pisces! (Is that an oxymoron?) How about Happy 50/50 Pisces! More in the pocket? Hey speaking of in the pocket, just between us, how’s the/ your gitas? Maybe this year the Happy Birthday mail won’t fail? It’s your turn next. Keep an “opti-mystic” Third Eye out; at least 50/50? a ARIES (3.21-4.20) With Mars entering Pisces next Tuesday the 22nd, you’re about to enter the Ocean of Devotion. Your emotion expands you into a dimension where space (Jupiter) and time (Saturn) no longer have any meaning. You’ve initiated this esoteric path (not your best suit!?) since mid-January. Now you’re getting further “far out” (maybe it’s “far in?”) to seek out any esoteric, subconscious root of your idiosyncrasies. You’ve got one short month to clean out your “closet,” Sigmund (He was a Taurus). How does the MOJO know? Ask Carl? (A Leo.) b TAURUS (4.21-5.20) With your ruler Venus in Capricorn, it’s business as usual until March. You’ll have a very hairy, scary February to bury by then, my Friend. Maybe it’s your Daddy? Maybe his caddy? The Full Moon (the 18th) has your EGO playing your/its own worst enemy at home. Hint: Just don’t mention anything to anybody and it will be over sooner rather than later. c GEMINI (5.21-6.21) Please read Aries above. Your ruler Mercury is tiptoeing through the tulips, hand-in-

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| THE READER |

mojo

b y

mo j opo

hand through the Zodiac’s Disneyland. You’re Cinderella or her Fella reveling together in the balmy weather. Whether you like it or not — you’re HOT! Here comes the unexpected fantastic! It’s a crazzzzy week until once again we speak! Enjoy it. d CANCER (6.22-7.22) Ka-BOOM! Full Moon in Leo early Friday morning the 18th. That makes Thursday night your night to get it right on. Starts you early to get your freak on for the week on. Wake up with the Sun in Pisces and dream away your day, your week, your Moon until June. You’ll know why by the end of July. Party Hearty! (Leo Full Moon rules the heart.) e LEO (7.23-8.22) Well, well, well ... aren’t we having fun, yet? Party at your house? Oops ... I forgot... Lion in Winter and all that scat. Hey! Here starts your comeback. The planet of the unexpected (the planet Uranus) is leaving after setting up shop with his/her hip-hop, bebop, slip-slop, pit stop these last seven years on March 11. Feel the cool ... you’re on your way back starting now. But please, low profile for a while somehow. f VIRGO (8.23-9.22) Please read Gemini and then the prescribed Aries. The unexpected raises its ugly purple head one more time in the realm of health and work design. You’d be wise to exercise your Third Eyes. Seeing is believing. Magique needs a belief structure/system. g LIBRA (9.23-10.22) Please read Taurus. Write or read some science fiction. Party at/with a Leo. Expect the unexpected. Dream and fantasize. If you can lose your adult chauvinism, maybe the gift of true wisdom can come through for you from a/your child. h SCORPIO (10.23-11.22) It’s crazy for you, too. The only difference is you like it ... you love it ...(?) you need it ... with nothing above it? How does the MOJO know? Get your (Fourth) House together and the creativity will continue to flow — right through you. Your house is your body and your room is your mind. Clean up and see what you might/can find? Can you learn to balance your use of your Third Eye with your fame and fortune? Or are they the same? i SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.21) Ahhh … fresh air ... Sunshine! Spring of the mind. Your ruler Jupiter just entered Aries, the sign of new starts and beginnings for this next coming year. Put your head down and CHARGE LARGE; but wait until April 3rd. That’s the word. Get in shape early this year. j CAPRICORN (12.22-1.20) Rough Spring coming up? Get on it! Get ready now. April has you play da Fool. Let’s see? Your thoughts/dreams of wealth, health, fortune and fame (10th House, you) against/versus the reality/necessities of your everyday home/family life (Fourth House). Seek balance, music and harmony as partners in your art. Luck will have nothing to do with it in this coming year. ,

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