Buzz Magazine: March 11, 2004

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VOTE | MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 buzz

And Would Like To Say

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Arts | Entertainment | Community

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to the following businesses for helping to make our first year such a great success...

Dandelion David S. Palmer Arena Diageo-Guinness USA Digs Fashion Dos Reales East Asian & Pacific Studies Ellite Salon Esquire Exact Extraction Express Personnel Services Family Video Faron Properties Farren’s Fat City Saloon Fiesta Cafe First Church of Christ Scientists Foudini’s/Tommy G’s Furniture Lounge GCAP GKC GT’s Western Bowl George Klatt Glass FX Gordman’s Great Impasta Great Wall Buffet Hair Connection II Harold Hawn Hendrick House Heritage Property Management Highdive Champaign Humane Society I Spy Entertainment ISU Entertainment Committee Illini Union Illinois Program for Research Imagine Scrapbooking Intercultural Friendship Foundation International Galleries Ippatsu Jam Productions Jane Addams Jerry’s IGA Jimmy John’s Joe’s Brewery John Smith Properties

Josten’s Jupiters Kam’s Kamakura Kane & Co. Kennedy’s at Stone Creek Kickapoo Landing Krannert Art Museum Krannert Center for the Performing Arts La Piel Lava Les Cheveux Like New Appliances Lil Porgy’s Lincoln Castle Linda Scott Lindley House Lincoln Square Merchants Lix MHM Properties Malibu Bay Lounge Manchester Property Management Margaritas Matthew Green Mettler Center Mike & Molly’s Miller Brewing Company/Orange and Blue Distributing Minneci’s Ristorante Morrissey Group Murphy’s Nancy Ford Nargile Nic’s Basket Case Nifty Nuptials No Name Saloon Northern IL. University Convocation Old Vic Art Gallery Orpheum Children’s Museum Pages for All Ages Parkland Community College The Phoenix Plato’s Closet The Play Pen

Prairie Ensemble Premium Brands Princeton Review Radio Maria Rebecca’s Red Herring Refinery Rosewood Guitars Ruby Fox Saturn of Champaign County Savoy 16 Scrapbook Expressions Senior Photography Exhibition Shapemaster Inc. Shouting Ground Sigma Delta Tau Skins n’ Tins Smoothie King Snell Chiropractic Song’s Kung Fu Academy Star Course Stone Creek Golf Course Student Alumni Association Supervalu Sweet Betsy’s Tango Society Techline Ten Thousand Villages Top Dollar Travel Cuts Twisted Scissors The UPS Store United Way University Group Urbana Adult Education Urbana Business Alliance Verde Gallery Vilardo’s Vision World WEFT WPGU Women’s Health Practice Ya’Nom Yellow Checker Cab Yoga Institute Zorba’s

Buzz talks with Dennis Kucinich

Get into glass Page 4

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Milwaukee’s Decibully Page 13

In the footsteps of comedy duos Page 4

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I KNOW WHERE THOSE PENNIES HAVE BEEN & THAT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE | MARCH 11-18, 2004

buzz

editor’snote

insidebuzz

BY MARISSA MONSON | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Story

4 Dennis Kucinich talks primaries

O

n March 11, Buzz celebrates its first birthday as a community entertainment weekly. I have been with the publication since its transformation, and I am proud to be a part of the publication.

As a longtime resident of the area, it is nice to see that there are so many outlets to cover the thriving arts and entertainment community. With Buzz, The Paper, WAIT, The the public i, The Daily Illini and The NewsGazette, among others, artists and musicians can come to our town and really get some exposure.

With Buzz, some issues have definitely been better than others, and as college students, we continue to try and reach out to the community and cover our home to the best of our ability.

As a staff, we would like to thank the community for sticking with us and for displaying patience while we grow as a publication, and for assisting us in becoming a

While John Kerry may have all but secured the Democratic bid for president, Representative Dennis Kucinich continues to work his way across the country...

Arts 9 Raisin in the Sun shines With a capable ensemble cast and a shining performance by guest actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce, the Krannert Center for the Performing...

Music 14 Everbody deserves Micheal Franti In one form or another, Michael Franti has been making music and spreading his sociopolitical message...

Calendar 18 Troubled Hubble brighten things up Chicago-based rock band Troubled Hubble is guaranteed to lighten any listener’s spirits...

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY better publication.

It’s so important for us to support each other in our endeavors to promote and cover the community. The more media outlets, the better.

Boy, Buzz has really grown up. Remember that one time, when Buzz fell off its bike and got a bloody nose? Or how about that time when Buzz got really drunk and stood on the table dancing with a lamp shade on its head? Man, Buzz has really grown up ... well, maybe not.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to the staff and anyone that has supported us along the way.

-M.M.

Special thanks to

Courier Cafe & Silvercreek

buzz

for being loyal to

We Appreciate You!

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The opportunity that's available to you may not be entirely appealing to your pride. It would require you to place yourself in service to a force that's greater than you.

I compare it to the role played by Steve Williams, the caddie for golf superstar Tiger Woods. Carrying around a bag of golf clubs may not seem glamorous, but Williams earns as much as $1 million a year doing it for Woods.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Novelist Ursula K. Le Guin decries the linear perspective that dominates modern storytelling. She says it's "like an arrow, starting here and going straight there and THOK! hitting its mark." Furthermore, she complains, plots are usually advanced through conflict, as if interesting action can't possibly arise from any other catalyst. Your assignment in the coming week, Taurus, is to rebel against these oppressive conventions. Boycott any story whose narrative drive is fueled primarily by painful events. Protest movies that imply most human experiences are fraught with difficulty and resolved neatly. Most importantly, look back and celebrate the luminous mysteries that have shaped your life story: the meandering fascinations that didn't lead to tidy conclusions, the wobbly joys that fed your soul, the adventures whose success was built on sweet breakthroughs rather than triumphs over suffering.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Since your life has more than a slight resemblance to a chess match these days, I'm calling upon grandmaster Victor Korchnoi to talk a little strategy. "I like to coax my opponents into attacking," he says, "to let them taste the joy of the initiative, so that they may get carried away, become careless, and sacrifice material." Please meditate on how you might adopt this approach to use in your next gambit, Gemini. It's time, in my astrological opinion, for some smart mischief.

VANQUISHER (also known as CANCER) (June 21-July 22): Have you ever thought about becoming an astrologer? This would be an ideal time to explore the possibilities. For that matter, you will attract grace and synchronicity if you do anything to expand your understanding of how big archetypal forces interact with our little personal lives. Reading books by psychologist Carl Jung or mythologist Joseph Campbell would be excellent for your health. So would doing a meditation session under the night sky or contemplating your dreams as you take in a planetarium show. Have you ever heard the ancient mystical formula, "As above, so below"? It means the cosmos is reflected in your psyche, and vice versa. Look everywhere for evidence that it's true.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In Grimms' version of the fairy tale, "Sleeping Beauty," all the trouble stemmed from a seemingly minor mistake: The king and queen invited 12 of the realm's fairies to their daughter's party, but ignored the 13th simply

Film

26 Starsky & Hutch middle of the road Boys just want to have fun in Starsky & Hutch, a pleasing if not hilarious adaptation of the campy ‘70s cop show...

ACROSS 1 Strategic Iraqi port just

across the Kuwaiti border

8 Old green coats?

15 Paste 16 Home to Dyess A.F.B.

Volume 2, Number 9 COVER DESIGN | Meaghan Dee

Editor in chief Marissa Monson Art Directors Meaghan Dee & Carol Mudra Copy Chief Chris Ryan Music Jacob Dittmer Art Katie Richardson Film Paul Wagner Community Emily Wahlheim Calendar Maggie Dunphy Photography Editor Christine Litas Calendar Coordinators Lauren Smith, Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Photography Christine Litas, Steve Kline Copy Editors Chris Ryan, Jen Hubert, Erin Green, Suzanne Sitrick Designers Chris Depa, Adam Obendorf, Sue Janna Truscott, Glenn Cochon, Jordan Herron Production Manager Theon Smith Sales Manager Jon Maly Marketing/Distribution Melissa Schleicher, Maria Erickson Publisher Mary Cory

because they only had 12 gold plates. This last fairy came anyway, angrily crashing the feast and casting a curse as vengeance for her snub. I advise you not to make a similar gaffe this week, Leo. Even if your personal equivalent of the thirteenth fairy is an awkward character or a disruptive presence, you need that influence right now. And the practical fact of the matter is that if you don't welcome it, it'll mess with you; if you do welcome it, it'll bless you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Speaking on your behalf, I hereby give notice to the cosmos that it must try harder to please you.

Its lukewarm support will no longer be considered sufficient for your needs. Its roundabout approach to helping you fulfill your dreams must become more direct and straightforward -- or else!

Specifically, I demand that the gods, fates, dispensers of karma, or however they want to be referred to, must, no later than March 13, 2004, begin to provide you with a steady stream of satisfying interpersonal encounters. This must include, though it is not limited to, more tender intimacy, more engaging friendships, and more interesting conversations.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You still have a chance to avoid that pyrrhic victory you're spiraling towards. For those of you without a dictionary nearby, a "pyrrhic victory" is defined as a costly triumph, useless advantage, or empty success.What's your best bet for avoiding it? First, start thinking of what your soul needs rather than what your ego craves. Second, forget about trying to provide balance to a distorted situation that's too fixed to be influenced. Third, become aware of how your focus on what you dislike is reinforcing what you dislike.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I'm guessing that your imagination is both excited and perplexed; that your senses are heightened yet on the verge of being overwhelmed. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you're going through a phase that at its best might be called a medley and at its most challenging a hodgepodge. It has resemblances to the sibuxiang, a mythic Chinese animal with the head of a dragon, antlers of a deer, tail of a lion, hooves of an ox, and body covered with fishy scales. So is there anything you can do to ensure that you use this time to stir up innovative solutions to long-standing problems?

Here's one suggestion: Once a day for five minutes, close your eyes and visualize yourself pulling off rodeo tricks while riding an exuberant sibuxiang.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It's check-in time, Aquarius. What progress have you been making in your work on this year's major assignment? As I suggested last December, everything you thought you knew about commitment is due for a major overhaul. Before 2004 is over, you must transform the way you weave your fortunes together with worthy allies. By now, you should be at least halfway through this extended turning point; you should have shed outworn ideas about collaboration and conjured up fresh approaches. The next stage of the process begins soon: wherein you formally break off pacts with erratic and emotionally unavailable people, and seal deals with responsible, emotionally intelligent people.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): "Dear Rob Brezsny: As much as I enjoy reading your stuff, I have to admit that I almost always have to do the opposite of whatever you advise. It's just my nature. So here's my request: Could you write a horrorscope for those of us Scorpios who are backwards -- the negatively aligned people? Kneejerk Rebel in Sacramento."

Dear Kneejerk: Your wish is hereby granted. This week you should avoid all experiences that might result in you experiencing heaping doses of love and liberation. Repress the warm, sexy emotions welling up inside you. Devote yourself to boring tasks that make you feel numb.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Imagine that your life is a detective story. The goal is not to solve a crime, but to solve the mystery of why you're here on earth so you can carry out the special mission you've come to accomplish. Sometimes you go for months without even looking for clues. You sleepwalk through the world, reacting blindly to the tricks that the gods use to try to wake you up. Then there are those phases when hot leads and fresh evidence pop up all over the place, convincing you beyond a doubt that magic is one of the fundamental properties of reality. This is one of those times, Pisces.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What time is it, boys and girls?

It's SHADOW TIME. Are you ready to negotiate with the chaotic, confusing feelings you usually hide from? Would you consider tunneling down into your soul's darkest pit and hunting for the hidden treasure there? Here are a few morsels to take with you on your journey. 1. "That which we do not bring to consciousness appears in our lives as fate." -Jung. 2. "Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once

HOMEWORK: If you had ☎ Rob Brezsny's Free Will ✍ to live anywhere besides Astrology beautyandtruth where you are, where would it be and why? Explain at www.freewillastrology.com

@ f r e e w i l l a s t r o l o g y. c o m 415.459.7209(v)• 415.457.3769 http://www.freewillastrology. com P.O. Box 798 San Anselmo, CA 94979

Got an opinion?

E-mail us at buzz@readbuzz.com or you can send us a letter at 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820.

We reserve the right to edit submissions.

Buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. Free speech is an important part of the democratic process. Exercise your rights.

17 Before 18 Lagged 19 Fits 21 Like articles and blood 22 Steady devotion 23 1960’s chess master 24 Starts to resemble 25 Fouls up 27 Map point 28 Like ink, in France 30 Where we live 32 Scholars

All editorial questions or letters to the editor should be sent to buzz@readbuzz.com or 337-8317 or buzz, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820.

35 Some bargains

Buzz magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students.

38 Exact

Copyright Illini Media Company 2004

46 PET scan particles

36 Disinclined 37 Decalogue word 39 Still 41 Go from here to there 45 Fat letters

48 Northern forests 51 Loses focus 52 When coins came into

general use

54 Get the last bit of suds

out 55 Tower of faith 56 Less subdued 57 Parade times 58 Disburses DOWN 1 Jazz enthusiast?

2 Personification of humanity’s dark side 3 Title TV character played by Brandy Norwood 4 Pertaining to the present period in earth history 5 “Father Knows Best” family 6 Harshly criticize 7 Employees in the sugar industry 8 Grammarian, at times 9 Org. that the Indiana Pacers once belonged to

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buzz MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | I’M AFRAID OF SWIMSUIT SEASON

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feature 15 11 Not well 17 12 First or third quarter phenom19 20 enon 13 Animal with no 22 teeth 25 24 14 Like some melons 28 29 20 Decent plot 32 33 34 26 “I thought I ___ …”

37 36 27 What a tough 38 39 40 guy may not show much 46 45 29 Pair 51 48 49 50 31 Support, redundantly 52 53 32 Do a hurry-up 55 job 33 Common wed57 ding song Puzzle by Byron Walden 34 Competing narratives 35 Sad Sack’s tor43 Available mentor, in comics 44 Ethyl acetate and oth37 Cry from a tickled perers son 40 Bouts of gastritis 47 Mountaineering aid 42 “Don’t stay out here” 49 Small distraction

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I’VE GOT SPRING FEVER | MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

OPERATION HELPING HAND Kick-Off Celebration • Thursday, March 18

Could your not-for-profit organization use a hand?

Are you a not for profit organization in Champaign County that dreams about having a project completed but you lack the manpower to do it?

Operation Helping Hand is April 17-24 and it’s the perfect chance to make your dream a reality. Think big! You provide us with a short term project, supervision and the materials to complete it and we’ll provide you with the most important resource of all...volunteers!

Would you like to volunteer to lend a hand and help out?

Cuddling animals, planting flowers and clowning around with kids are a few examples of group volunteer opportunities in Champaign County.

Operation Helping Hand is April 17-24 and it’s your chance to gather your friends, have fun and give back to your community.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Attend our Kick-off Celebration on Thursday, March 18 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm at the Urbana Civic Center.

For more information or to RSVP for the Kick-off Celebration please call Kathy at the Office of Volunteer Programs 244-7675 or Teri at United Way 352-5151.

OPERATION HELPING HAND is sponsored by:

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buzz

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

WORDS FROM THAT GUY...

Unfrozen caveman fiance

BY CHRIS RYAN | THAT GUY & COPY CHIEF

I

am engaged. I have a dog. I am a graduate student. Yes, I am that guy. One day, I’m in my mid-twenties, performing stand-up comedy regularly in Los Angeles.

Before I know it, I’m 27 and living in Champaign, earning a master’s degree. And I own a sectional.

Deciding I needed a break from a break, I took a solo mini-vacation to Roscoe, Ill., to visit my friend Phil and his brother Steve. As I rode the train—the fiancée needed the car. In your late twenties, you share—I realized that in two-plus years of being one-half of a couple, I had not traveled anywhere significant by myself.

I felt like Phil Hartman’s “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer” character from Saturday Night Live; a primitive man who had been frozen for thousands of years until thawed out “by some of your scientists.” After thawing, he earned a law degree, bought a BMW and enjoyed a successful career winning slip-andfall cases in a present-day world that “frightened and confused” him.

I was the Unfrozen Bachelor.

We started our first evening with a round of Miller Genuine Drafts in the parking lot at Cascade Mountain. It was the finest beer available—at the gas station three miles back—for parking lot drinking. Donning our beer blankets, the three of us vowed to make the evening memorable.

The mischief began on the ski lift. Because the lift seats four people, the lift operator usually assigned a fourth person to our chair for the ride up. I told Phil and Steve of a trick my brother-in-law had taught me on my last ski trip: Make ridiculous untrue statements to your captive ski lift audience.

I told the kid sitting next to me that I was an unhappily married ex-professional skier and cross-Atlantic pilot for American Airlines.

Between comments like, “I’m just on a layover visiting my mistress who lives in the area” and “I only rented skis because this was an unexpected trip,” I advised the kid, “Don’t ever get married. She’ll ruin your life. Promise me.

Promise me right now.” And he did.

At the top of the hill, as we discussed which run to take, I fell. No hot-dogging, no jumping a huge mogul. I was just standing there. And I fell.

This wouldn’t have been a big deal, except I injured my knee. Hours of successfully navigating advanced hills came to an end with a stationary fall.

We returned our rental equipment and headed for the casino, my knee in horrific

pain. The 15-mile drive to the Ho-Chunk Casino took us through West Baraboo, Wisc.

As Phil drove along the main street looking for the casino turnoff, we noticed the red, white and blue flash of police lights behind us.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” the West Baraboo cop, who could not have been older than 21, asked.

“I have no idea,” Phil said.

“Well, the speed limit here in West Baraboo is 25 mph. You were clocked at 37. Any of you guys have warrants?” he asked, doing his best to emulate the mustached lawmen on COPS. “Nope,” we said in unison, each of us presuming the other two were telling the truth.

The cop came back. No warrants.

“How does a warning sound tonight?” he asked, almost too politely.

“Sounds great,” Phil replied. We were off the hook and now getting directions to the casino from a police officer who probably wasn’t even old enough to gamble.

I still had $42 left in my checking account, just enough to withdraw $40 and cover the ATM fee. Phil and I decided to hit the blackjack tables while Steve ventured off to play Texas Hold ‘Em. Our dealer, Marcus, was a large Native American man with fat hands who hatefully dealt the cards. He never spoke, except to occasionally mumble “Ace” when he dealt one, which presumably meant “Good luck on that ace.” At the end of the table sat Matthew, a middle-aged judo instructor wearing a bad sweater. He was working on his eleventh cup of coffee and his fortieth straight minute of talking without a pause.

“It’s all about self-control,” Matthew said to no one in particular. I looked down at my chips and noticed I was up $75. Not bad. I should have stopped gambling then, but I couldn’t. Matthew was so annoying, I had to stay.

“I drive a ‘91 Jimmy,” he said a few minutes later, again to no one in particular. As my chips dwindled, I realized the Matthew Show had cost me all my winnings. Phil and I got up to leave as he was telling, for the third time, the now-exaggerated story of a Porsche that had cut him off on the highway that he later saw pulled over at the casino exit.

“There is a God,” he said, this time to Marcus, who didn’t respond, perhaps because Matthew had talked enough for both of them.

It was time to go home.

The Unfrozen Bachelor had had his fun, but the thaw was wearing off.

I took the train back to Champaign the following Monday. I saw Abby and Wendell, our miniature dachshund, waiting for me at the terminal. One look at the woman I will spend my life with—and my dog in an argyle sweater—and I knew: It’s good to be that guy.

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MARCH 11-18, 2004 | BETH, I LIKE YOUR NEW CAR

It’s finally over ... The fat lady may no longer be allowed to sing

BY MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

here was a lot of news last week which, I have to say, was a pain in the ass for me. I have the attention span of a housefly most of the time, and writing my little column is the one time a week I have to focus on one particular thing. Still, there are just too many options this week, like a BaskinRobbins, or more appropriately for me, a bar with several kinds of scotch. I can’t pick just one, so I must succumb to my nature and pen something that is all over the place, sort of like a Larry King column without all the ass kissing. “It’s not over until the fat lady sings”— Dan Cook.

Soprano Deborah Voight was scheduled to sing some opera over there in London, but not so much any more. She was replaced because she’s a little on the heavy side. The casting director, Peter Katona, canceled the show, saying “It’s not just a question of how someone looks, it’s also how they move on stage.” He feels her 200-pound frame is too large for the part.

My opera knowledge is primarily limited to Bugs Bunny cartoons, but aren’t there quite a few opera stars that are pretty big? It’s like firing a baseball player for scratching his testicles or taking away the family name “Kennedy” because someone drinks too much. It seems like it’s sort of a function of the job. As far as someone moving on stage, is that really what opera is known for?

It’s not like there’s a crapload of action and pyrotechnics. I’m sure the last time Pavoratti’s fat ass made it from stage left to stage right, a forklift had to be implemented. The job is pretty much singing, right? I suppose you could go with Calista Flockhart. She’s probably extremely nimble on stage. Sure, her voice isn’t very good and she might look ridiculous in a Viking hat, but no one goes for the singing and the costumes. Geez, that’d be like buying Playboy for the pictures of naked girls.

who the big fucking cheaters are. It’s not talk of who will make the roster, but who will test positive for steroids.

Barry Bonds is the best guess so far. He says he’s not juicing, but take a look at a picture of him in 1999 and compare it to 2000.

Sure, people put on 40 pounds in the course of eight months. These people are pregnant and about to give birth to a child so the weight gain is accepted. If Barry Bonds pops a child out of his extraordinarily swollen head, then I might take back the steroid theory, but until then, I think we all know what’s going on.

We take our baseball pretty seriously. If you gamble, you’re banned for life. If you test positive for steroids three times in a row, then you’re banned for a year. If you’re just on the alcohol or cocaine, you get as many chances as you want. None of it makes any sense. I’m sure if George Bush loses the election in November, there will always be a place for him as commissioner of baseball. He’d fit right in.

“One has to be a lowbrow, a bit of a murderer, to be a politician, ready and willing to see people sacrificed, slaughtered, for the sake of an idea, whether a good one or a bad one.” — Henry Miller George Bush has just begun his presidential campaign and he’s already managed to piss me off in the first few days. He released a TV ad showing pictures of Sept. 11 in, I suppose, an attempt to show what a wonderful leader he was during the tragedy. I mean, c’mon, he wasn’t exactly Teddy Roosevelt leading a charge up San Juan hill. As soon as the trouble started, he jumped on Air Force One and hightailed it to Nebraska. I think it took another couple of weeks to get the vice president out of that undisclosed bunker.

Besides that, let’s face it, it’s an advertisement. He’s using the suffering of others to promote his own political ambitions. Was he a great leader in a time of crisis? I’d ask Osama bin Laden what his impressions were, but sadly, we don’t really know where he is yet.

Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re a great leader, you probably don’t need to go to such great lengths to convince others that you are.

“I see great things in baseball. It’s our game— the American game. It will... repair (our) losses, and be a blessing to us.”—Walt Whitman It’s been a few years since Mr. Whitman uttered those words and I fear it may be time for us to pay back the favor and repair baseball’s losses. Here it is, spring training, and we should be able to put back a few cold ones and talk about our team’s chances. Instead, we are putting back a few cold ones and talking about

Michael Coulter is a videographer at Parkland College. He writes a weekly e-mail column, “This Sporting Life” and has hosted several local comedy shows.

News of the weird Finer Points of the Law

Magnificent Obsessions

An 18-year-old man was transferred to Youth Court, with its more lenient procedures, after he was arrested and charged with stabbing a man to death at a New Year’s Eve party in Edmonton, Alberta. He will not be tried as an adult because the victim was stabbed just before midnight, and the alleged killer did not actually turn 18 until Jan. 1.

The New York Times reported in February on a Washington, D.C., man whose love of music led him, in the 1960s, to meticulously hand-make and hand-paint facsimile record album covers of his fantasized music, complete with imagined lyric sheets and liner notes (with some “albums” even shrink-wrapped), and, even more incredibly, to hand-make cardboard facsimiles of actual grooved discs to put inside them. “Mingering Mike,” whom a reporter and two hobbyists tracked down (but who declined to be identified in print), also made real music, on tapes, using his and friends’ voices to simulate instruments. His 38 imagined “albums” were discovered at a flea market after Mike defaulted on storage-locker fees, and the hobbyists who found them said they were so exactingly done that a major museum would soon feature them.

The Entreprenurial Spirit Among recent U.S. patents (according to a January story in the East Bay Express, Emeryville, Calif.): (1) a penile prosthesis with a magnet, from Deborah KnollEwers, Hercules, Calif. (to overcome erectile dysfunction with new-age magnet therapy); (2) a plastic liner for men to use beneath their underwear, from Wesley Johnson, Burbank, Calif. (to keep the clothing clean while engaged in fully dressed sex, such as lap dances); and (3) an electrically safe device that attaches to the tongue, to make it vibrate, from Eric A. Klein, Mountain View, Calif. (to enhance a partner’s sexual pleasure).

COPYRIGHT 2004 Chuck Shepard Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

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MARCH 11-17, 2004

buzz

Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich talks about his primary hopes

TAXI DRIVER ★★★★

BY THOMAS ABBATACOLA | STAFF WRITER

T

BY EMILY WAHLHEIM | COMMUNITY EDITOR

While John Kerry may have all but secured the Democratic nomination for president, Representative Dennis Kucinich continues to work his way across the country, campaigning for that same nomination.

Kucinich, a congressman from Ohio, still remains in the Democratic primary race despite Kerry’s victories in the recent Super Tuesday primaries.

PHOTO | KAREN KILROY

Kucinich is also motivated by the contrast between himself and Kerry. Though Kucinich has more in common with Independent candidate Ralph Nader, Kucinich is running on the Democratic ticket to give Democrats a chance to vote for someone who is inside the party. Kucinich stresses the differences between himself and Kerry as cruMeeting with Ohioans in Cleveland, Dayton and Cincinnati, Dennis Kucinich extends his arms and turns around to demonstrate cial to the primary race. He that he is not influenced by special interest groups ... "No Strings!" and Kerry differ in their stances on many things, including their ABOUT DENNIS J. KUCINICH views on the Iraq war and the anti-terrorism Birth date: October 8, 1946 [4] Repeal of the “Patriot Act” Patriot Act. Education: Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, The government must not be allowed, without Kucinich voted against the Iraqi war and Case Western Reserve University, 1973 probable cause or warrant, to snoop on our comthe Patriot Act, and organized 126 Democrats Career: Municipal courts clerk, 1975-1977; radio munications, medical records, library records, and against the war, while Kerry endorsed politalk show host, 1979, 1989; consultant, 1986-1994; student records. cies of war and voted for the Patriot Act, which television reporter, 1989-1992 [5] Right-to-Choose, Privacy and Civil Rights Kucinich has pledged to repeal if Elected offices and awards: Cleveland city counHis administration will protect a woman’s right-toelected to office. He also traveled cilman, 1969-1975, 1983-85; Cleveland mayor, choose. Lesbians and gays will be given equality. the country to warn Americans that 1977-79; Ohio state senator, 1994-96; U.S. repre[6] Balance Between Workers and Corporations sentative, elected 1996. Chairman of the His administration will defend the rights of workthe country was getting into someCongressional Progressive Caucus. 2003 recipient ers to organize and bargain collectively. thing that was very dangerous, something of the Gandhi Peace Award [7] Guaranteed Quality Education, Pre-K no one else did, he said.

—CNN.com through College “Senator Kerry essentially repeated the His administration will increase federal spending same story on Iraq that Bush did,” said 10 KEY ISSUES courtesy of Dennis Kucinich for on education because quality education is a core Kucinich. “I am not interested in exchanging President Web site.

American right and value. a Republican war for a Democratic war. I [1] Universal Health Care with a Single Payer Plan [8] A Renewed Commitment to Peace and have offered a plan to go to the United Kucinich would establish a publicly financed Diplomacy Nations and get U.S. troops out of Iraq once national health insurance.

Kucinich will work to implement a Space elected. Senator Kerry has every intention to [2] Full Social Security Benefits at Age 65 Preservation Treaty, and cabinet-level Department A Kucinich administration would return these of Peace ‘finish this war to the end.’ “ benefits through a new tax structure and [9] Restored Rural Communities and Family Farms Kucinich also stresses the differenreordered national priorities.

A Kucinich administration will break up agriculturces between himself and Kerry on [3] Withdrawal from NAFTA and WTO al monopolies and restore a strong, independent other matters besides the war. continued on page 6

The global trade regime of NAFTA and WTO has enriched multinational corporations while hurting the U.S. One of Kucinich’s the first actions will be withdrawal from NAFTA and the WTO and replacing them with fair trade agreements.

family farm system.

[10] Environmental Renewal and Clean Energy His administration will toughen environmental enforcement, reduce oil dependence, and spur investment in alternative energy sources

film

MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | HOW IS TWISTED NUMBER 5 AT THE BOX OFFICE?

dvdreview

The dedicated Democrat

In a phone interview with Buzz on Saturday, while campaigning through rural Texas, Kucinich said that despite the formidable task ahead of him, he is still motivated by the same thing that motivated him to come into the race in the first place: changing the direction of America.

“I want to make a more peaceful nation, moving away from war and the doctrines that create war,” he said.

“I want to create a doctrine of peace, and create programs that create jobs, education and health care for all.”

buzz

here is a reason Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver is constantly re-released for DVD and special theatrical screenings. It is a powerful film that never gets old. Its groundbreaking subject matter is imitated in many films, but nothing compares. Seeing it once is not enough. Taxi Driver should be viewed repeatedly and the collector’s edition DVD is a great way to do it.

The film opens with shots of a hell-like New York City full of neon lights, smoke and filth.

The atmosphere is critical for the viewers to understand Travis Bickle’s world. Shots of the taxi give a desperate feeling when the soundtrack plays, and the taxi becomes its own character. When Bickle gets behind the wheel, he observes the scum of the city that surrounds him.

Few characters in movie history compare to Robert DeNiro’s Travis Bickle. The lonely Vietnam veteran takes a job as a late-night taxi driver and begins his downward spiral into complete madness. DeNiro shows how a man can be isolated even in the middle of a busy city.

Anyone who has ever felt separated from society can relate.

A psychotic murderer is not the most common main character. Scorsese captures the feelings of Travis Bickle and the audience feels his alienation. It is easy to empathize with the character even while he erupts into a violent rage.

People may even question why Bickle is considered one of the American Film Institute’s top villains because he evokes so much feeling.

Controversy still surrounds this film. Some violence and censorship issues that are present today originated with the release of Taxi Driver.

A movie about a disturbed man, a 13-year-old

TOP 10s:

prostitute and a giant shooting spree is the Hollywood norm. People even blamed Taxi Driver for Reagan’s assassination attempt.

Rather than blaming this film for real-life violence, it should be viewed therapeutically.

Watching movies can be a way to vent angst.

The Taxi Driver collector’s edition offers some interesting bonus material, but it’s the film that makes this DVD worth buying. A 70minute documentary with interviews gives an in-depth look at the film. The filming of several complicated scenes is explained in detail. A photo gallery, original screenplay, storyboard and trailer make up some of the other special features. For a Scorsese DVD, the extras are surprisingly plentiful. The audio and video is of high quality considering the age of the film.

Without a doubt, Taxi Driver is best viewed on the big screen. It is no surprise that theaters often bring it back. Theatrical prints are not guaranteed to be perfect, but that is what the DVD is for. Seeing Taxi Driver for the first time is a scary and shocking experience, but repeated viewings prove that it is a masterpiece.

Those who accuse Taxi Driver of having some slow scenes that drag out have not paid enough attention. Studying the film a few times will convince anyone that every scene moves. There are so many more great scenes in Taxi Driver than just the famous “You talkin’ to me?” scene.

People keep returning to Taxi Driver because it is simply one of the best films ever made.

Whether it is a midnight showing at an art theater, or the collector’s edition DVD, Taxi Driver grabs the audience and does not let go. It is still shocking almost 30 years later and it is just as powerful. Taxi Driver is a timeless work of art.

No stars

Rentals 1. The Missing 2. Matchstick Men 3. Runaway Jury 4. Radio 5. Secondhand Lions 6. Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over 7. Intolerable Cruelty 8. The Lion King 1 1/2 9. Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star 10. Under the Tuscan Sun

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29

A list of this week’s best

Box Office 1. The Passion of the Christ 2. Starsky & Hutch 3. Hidalgo 4. 50 First Dates 5. Twisted 6. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen 7. LOTR: The Return of the King 8. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights 9. Miracle 10. Monster

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ENTER: THE DRIVE-THROUGH | MARCH 11 - 17 2004

Drive-thru Reviews

28

3/10/04

50 FIRST DATES ★ ADAM SANDLER AND DREW BARRYMORE It is quite amusing to see the same few actors show up in most of Sandler’s comedies. It works well in many of the films. But this isn’t one of them. And as far as hilarious Adam Sandler films are concerned, 50 First Dates isn’t one of them either. (Jennifer Keast) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy AGAINST THE ROPES ★★ MEG RYAN AND CHARLES S. DUTTON The camera getting up into the sweat and blood, while still focusing on the strategy and true feelings of victory that accompany a win, gives the feeling of attending a real match. The moments in the ring put the audience right where it needs to be: front and center. If the rest of the film focused its attention on the characters with the same gritty detail as the fighting, it might be more than a contender for this season’s signature sport film. (Janelle Greenwood) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy CLUB DREAD ★★★ JAY CHANDRASEKHAR AND BILL PAXTON Taking this film seriously would be a crime, and those who do are sure to hate it. With films such as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ bringing suffering and torture to millions of people, a simple, dumb film like Club Dread should be in theaters to counter some of that anguish.

Club Dread won’t make you more religious and it won’t make you a better person, but you also won’t have to suffer for some movie entertainment. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN ★★ LINDSAY LOHAN AND ALISON PILL Some would say this film would work perfectly for high school girls who love fashion and popularity. But this movie would seem to work much better for girls who are not yet in high school, and who are not yet familiar with the brutal reality of humiliation, depression and oppression in a high school setting. This movie comes off as incredibly unrealistic in almost every aspect, but the few redeeming qualities might make it worth some 13-yearolds’ $6.50. (Art Mitchell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS ★ DIEGO LUNA AND ROMOLA GARAI To call Havana Nights an expected disappointment is almost an understatement. Diego Luna, who plays the dashing Javier, does not nearly have the onscreen magnetism of a Patrick Swayze to accurately portray his character. Romola Garai as Katy does not submit a very impressive performance. These mediocre performances and a rehashed plot make a trip to Havana Nights a trip to forget. (Dan Nosek) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy EUROTRIP ★★★ MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG AND JACOB PITTS Movies such as Old School and Road Trip aren’t judged by their quality, but by how much laughter comes from the inane situations. With this qualification for excellence, Eurotrip does a surprising job at infusing the year’s raunchiest sex comedy with enough funny moments that you won’t mind pulling out a passport and spending seven dollars to go see it. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy HIDALGO ★★ VIGGO MORTENSEN AND OMAR SHARIF In past successful movies of the adventure genre, violent situations are usually modest and understated. To eliminate danger from other riders and mercenaries who wish harm upon him, Mortensen’s character does genocide on

his Arabian counterparts. Maybe Viggo can find his next job working with Gibson in his upcoming sequel, The Passion of the Rodney King. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy MIRACLE ★★★ KURT RUSSELL AND PATRICIA CLARKSON America’s victory may not have actually been a miracle in the spiritual sense of the word, but what Miracle gets right is the feeling of national desperation that was extinguished by the unpredictable triumph of 20 college-aged hockey players. It was something the country needed then and something Disney obviously thinks we need now. It’s an inspirational blast from the past, and that’s something to quack about. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy MONSTER ★★★★ CHARLIZE THERON AND CHRISTINA RICCI While the narrative slows at some points, it is never dull or repetitive. This rough, unsettling story is transfixing in its gutsy lack of style. It’s as dirty as the side of a highway and as brutal as a death sentence, and the film soars from its distinctively unsentimental objectivity. It’s a shame Jenkins felt the need to use a voiceover, which only repeats the electrifying intensity evident in Theron’s face.

The movie isn’t perfect, but Theron’s brave, breakout performance is monstrous. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy RETURN OF THE KING ★★★★ ELIJAH WOOD AND IAN MCKELLAN Even if The Return of the King doesn’t win the grand prize on Oscar night, anything short of best director victory for Peter Jackson would be an unforgivable injustice. He has raised the bar for fantasy and redefined themes of friendship, honor and courage on a grippingly grand and poignantly intimate scale. Besides its structural limitations, The Return of the King is more than a rousing ending to a celebrated legend; it’s a battle cry for epic filmmaking. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST ★★★ JAMES CAVIEZEL AND MONICA BELLUCCI The film occasionally intersects the persecution with placid shots of Jesus spreading his peaceful message and random moments of his quietly pious life. These are few and far between, however, and a half-hearted effort by Gibson and co-writer Benedict Fitzgerald to break up the monotony of innumerable slow-motion collapses and redundant reaction shots of teary-eyed women. This is a monumental, historical accomplishment, made with intense passion, courage and brains, even if its mind focuses more on shallow malevolence than spiritual catharsis. What it needs is a heart. (Matt Pais) Now Showing at Beverly and Savoy STARSKY & HUTCH ★★★ BEN STILLER AND OWEN WILSON Todd Phillips does all he can to recreate Starsky & Hutch as high-energy ‘70s nostalgia with a little 21st century gloss, it plays equally as traditional adaptation and self-referential modernization. Some scenes will truly take you back to the days of disco-dancing detectives, but the men behind Starsky & Hutch have too much fun mocking the original in a present-day context to ever really kick it old school. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

TWISTED ★ ASHLEY JUDD AND SAMUEL L. JACKSON One thing is for certain about Twisted: its faults are magnified by the cast’s and crew’s fame. If this had been an independent film circulated through the Sunset or Toronto film festivals, the inevitable notoriety which it will gain for being “the worst film of the century� would certainly not be there. (Dan Maloney) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT ★★ RAY RAMANO AND GENE HACKMAN It may be an election year, but Welcome to Mooseport doesn’t offer much in the realm of real-life commentary. In fact, the Democratic Cole continually compares his post-presidency reputation and financial status to Bill Clinton’s. But while Americans might fantasize about a different man having succeeded Clinton, moviegoers certainly don’t fantasize about such superficial slop that’s little more than an unwelcome, Capitol anthill. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

OPENING THIS WEEKEND THE DREAMERS MICHAEL PITT AND LOUIS GARREL During the 1968 Paris student riots, an American studying in the famed city befriends a French brother and sister duo. The trio of friends are drawn together by their love of film and develop a friendship despite the rioting atmosphere going on around them. (Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend AGENT CODY BANKS 2: DESTINATION LONDON FRANKIE MUNIZ AND ANTHONY ANDERSON Who didn’t want a sequal to the smash hit, Agent Cody Banks? The wait is over, and the young but suave Agent Cody Banks is back in action for another adventure.

Could he become the next 007? (Paul Wagner) Opening thie weekend SECRET WINDOW JOHNNY DEPP AND MARIA BELLO Johnny Depp goes from a swaggering pirate to a serious author for this new film. Unfortunately for him, he’s being stalked by a man who claims Depp stole his ideas for his novels. This comes at a bad time for Depp’s character who just divorced his cheating wife and moved away from the city. (Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend SPARTAN VAL KILMER AND WILLIAM H. MACY The president’s daughter is kidnapped, and two detectives, Macy and Kilmer, are charged with the task of rescuing her. As they dig deeper into the case, they uncover a more sinister crime originating from the White House itself. (Paul Wagner) Opening thie weekend DRUGSTORE COWBOY MATT DILLON AND KELLY LYNCH Boardman’s Art Theatre continues its Midnight Movie series with this classic Bonnie and Clyde style flick. The story revolves around a group of drug addicts in the 1970s who get their money by robbing drug stores, and their bonding time on the road. (Paul Wagner) Showing at Boardman’s Art Theatre this Friday and Saturday at midnight

BOARDMAN’S ART THEATRE 1-800-BEST PLACE (800-237-8752) or 1-217-355-0068 eTickets/Reservations and info. at www.BoardmansTheatres.com Exclusive HPS-4000 & SDDS/DTS/DD Presentations

126 W. Church St., Champaign

The Dreamers NC-17

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.

Highest Grossing Film in NY and LA!

Drugstore Cowboy R

Starring Matt Dillon and Kelly Lynch.

Four Stars...Roger Ebert

Four Stars...Roger Ebert SHOWTIMES Daily at 5:15, 7:30, & 9:45PM Matinees Sat/Sun at 3:00PM

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TEEN DRAMA QUEEN (PG) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:20 9:20 11:20 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 1:15 2:50 3:20 5:00 5:30 7:10 7:20 9:20 7:40 9:40 10:00 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 1:15 2:50 DIRTY DANCING (PG–13) Fri. 3:20 5:00 5:30 7:10 7:40 9:40 & Sat. 4:00 10:00 12:05 Sun. - Thu. 4:00 10:00 10:00 EUROTRIP (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:50 3:10 5:20 7:30 9:50 12:10 CODY BANKS 2 (PG) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:30 9:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:50 3:10 5:20 7:30 9:50 12:05 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 RETURN OF THE KING (PG–13) 7:30 9:50 Fri. - Thu. 12:20 4:20 8:20 ◆ SECRET WINDOW (PG–13)

PASSION OF CHRIST (R) (2 SCREENS) Fri. - Sun. 11:15 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 7:00 8:00 9:45 Mon. - Thu. 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 7:00 8:00 9:45

MIRACLE (PG) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 7:10 MONSTER (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:20 9:40 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:20 9:40

HIDALGO (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 1:00 3:10 4:00 MYSTIC RIVER (R) Fri. & Sun. 6:40 7:00 9:30 9:50 12:00 - Thu. 12:50 4:00 7:00 9:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 1:00 3:10 Sat. 12:50 4:00 9:50 4:00 6:40 7:00 9:30 9:50 TWISTED (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:40 STARSKY & HUTCH (PG–13) 3:00 5:20 7:40 10:00 12:20 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 5:20 (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 12:40 2:40 3:00 5:00 5:20 7:20 7:40 10:00 7:40 9:40 10:00 12:10 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 12:40 2:40 3:00 5:00 5:20 7:20 7:40 9:40 BELLEVILLE (PG–13) Fri. & 10:00 Sat. 12:40 3:00 5:20 7:40 9:30 11:20 50 FIRST DATES (PG–13) Fri. Sun. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 5:20 & Sat. 12:40 3:00 5:10 7:20 7:40 9:30 9:30 11:40 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 5:10 Sneak Preview: TAKING LIVES (R) Sat. 7:00 7:20 9:30

Showtimes for 3/12 thru 3/18

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MARCH 11-17, 2004

5

Thin Mints as a positive influence

Local Girl Scouts help girls and community through annual cookie sales

BY ALINA DIZIK | STAFF WRITER

J

ill Rannenbarger and her two daughters Molly, 7, and Emma, 9, will finish delivering more than 1,300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies this week.

For the past four years, Rannenbarger has been the “cookie mom� and the troop leader.

Every March she is in charge of passing out boxes of cookies to her 17-member Girl Scout troop.

Rannenbarger’s troop sold more than 3,700 boxes last year, and plans to sell even more this year.

Once she unloads the cookies from the warehouse, she gives out the orders to the troops. Her own daughters’ boxes of cookies are stacked in the trunk of the family minivan. Neat handwritten yellow Post-it notes stuck to boxes serve as handmade receipts. Molly and Emma, with the help of their mom, have been delivering cookies for the last two days. “We deliver them as soon as we get them,�

Rannenbarger said. “Because they’ll finish a box and say, ‘Mmm, I’d like another one of those.’ “ Both Emma and Molly wear their Girl Scout vests to deliver cookies; their mom wears a beige sweatshirt with a Girl Scout logo on it. The Rannenbargers ask about 12 local businesses for their support, and sell the rest to neighbors, family and friends. Every year, the Rannenbargers review addresses on the previous year’s cookie order forms to sell to the same places.

Most people can’t help but buy a box of cookies once they see the girls selling them.

Emma smiles often to reveal pink and green braces that match her pink shirt and green Girl Scout vest. Her blond hair is neatly pulled back with a headband. The girls go door-to-door around their Champaign neighborhood to ask people if they would like to buy cookies while their mother watches patiently to make sure they provide the correct information.

Rannenbarger takes her role as the “cookie mom� seriously, and encourages the girls to sell. To better prepare for the annual cookie sales, the girls practice their cookie manners.

Every year, Rannenbarger makes a door out of a cardboard box before cookie season begins. The girls pretend to knock on the door and practice answering questions of potential customers. Their favorite part is retasting all the cookies to describe the taste for questioning buyers, Rannenbarger said.

After memorizing their cookie facts, the troops offer cookies to friends, neighbors and relatives for three weeks during January. “We go out (to sell) a little bit every day, so it’s not overwhelming,� Rannenbarger said.

The Rannenbargers are also able to sell more cookies than

when the original orders are filled in January.

Their secret? They have extra boxes of cookies in the trunk to sell to people that did not give into their earlier cravings. “If you need any more cookies, we have them,� Emma carefully tells customers after they’ve received their initial orders.

After their individual orders are complete, the girls sell additional cookies at business locations as a troop. These booth sales are usually in supermarkets on the weekends in March. The girls alternate in two-hour time slots to sell at tables set up at store entrances.

For every cookie box sold, the troops keep 65 cents for their funds and activities while the other part of the money goes to the council.

The troop uses some of its cookie money to do service projects in the community. Last year, Rannenbarger’s troop shopped for Christmas gifts to donate to a needy family.

People that want to help the Girl Scouts without eating any calories also have an alternative.

Cookies may be donated to Crisis Nursery, a local short-term emergency shelter for children whose parents are going through a crisis.

Cookie sales make up 81 percent of the council’s revenue and are a key part of the financial structure of the Green Meadows Girl Scout Council. The council keeps $2.85 from each box of cookies sold by the troops.

For the girls, the money from the sale is counted toward points to redeem for money to pay for a weeklong summer camp. Also, the girls receive different prizes based on the amount of cookies they sell. Molly plans to sell 600 boxes of cookies to win a shower

radio. The girls can take more away from the cookie sales than just the prizes. “I like telling people about the cookies and getting to meet new people,�

Emma said.

Rannenbarger feels that selling cookies has even helped her daughter become more confident and independent. “Emma used to be extremely shy; even at the playground she stuck to my leg,�

Rannenbarger recalled. “With cookies, she’s really excelled. I Girl scout Emma Rannebarger sets up cookies while customers decide can see her flourishing with which ones to buy. According to Emma, selling cookies is one of her positive influences.� favorite activities within Girl Scouts.

While selling cookies is their most famous activity, Green Meadows Girl girl joins the troop. The aid comes from a comScout Council members specialist Mindy bination of council revenue, private donors and Kirkton emphasizes that the girls do more than an annual United Way grant. Financial assisknock on doors. The Girl Scouts have come a tance is available to cover the $10 joining fee, long way from the original 1912 image of a prop- activities and troop vests and insignia. Usually, er girl scout. Technology and money budgeting all girls in need receive aid; in Champaign are some of the education today’s girls receive. County, there are about 50 Girl Scouts receiving In February, the girls could sign up for an after- financial aid, Kirkton says. “We’ve never had to noon to learn about money with a BankIllinois turn anyone down.� buzz banking executives. The girls also had an activity where they could be engineers for the day and build a gumdrop dome.

The council constantly works to increase diversity among the troops, Kirkton said. “We’re working to include more girls of different ethnic backgrounds.�

Currently there are a total of 989 girl—73 percent of them white—in the Girls Scouts in Champaign-Urbana.

To further increase diversity, the council promotes programs at various public housing developments throughout the ChampaignUrbana area. Council members are also scheduled to speak with cultural groups such as C-U’s Chinese Heritage Organization. “We go out of our way to make sure that everyone is included,� said Kirkton, who admits it’s sometimes tough to break away from the “middle-class white and Christian� stereotypes of previous Girl Scouts.

Even though most meetings are held at local churches, The Girl Scouts are not religiously affiliated. However, the individual troop leaders decide religious activities. Rannenbarger says her $25 Gift Certificate given away every Friday.

Stop by each week to register. troop regularly says grace before meals. Also, many troops celebrate Christmas with themed activities, says Kirkton.

Even the need to be middle-class is no longer part of the stereotype.

Families on tight budgets can put their girls through Girl Scouts because of the Charity fashion show coming soon! opportunity to receive financial aid.

Models needed. Call store for details!

Financial assistance forms are filled out with membership forms before each PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

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MARCH 11-17, 2004

Kucinich continued from page 4 Kerry supports NAFTA and the WTO, which Kucinich feels costs Americans millions of jobs. As president, one of Kucinich’s first acts would be to cancel NAFTA and create an alternative structure, with security for workers written into it. He would also like to create universal medical care for all.

In the long run, if he was able to secure a Democratic nomination for president, Kucinich said he feels confident about his position in the general election. Kucinich has disagreed with the Bush administration on several issues and said that puts him in the best position to beat Bush come November.

“The Bush Administration lied about the war,” he said. “Who is in the best position to say that? Someone who voted for the war or against it? Who is in the best position to argue about NAFTA and the loss of jobs? Someone who voted for NAFTA or is against it?”

Kucinich has plans for several programs if elected into office, including establishing tuition-free college for students at public universities. His plan involves taking money from the recent Bush tax cut, totaling around $87 billion, and using that money to finance education. Right now, there are 12 million students who go to public universities, paying roughly $6,000 a year for tuition, totaling $72 billion a year, he said.

“It is time we stopped looking at public education as just kindergarten through 12th grade,” Kucinich said. “Public education should include college.”

To help protect college students in a different way, Kucinich stressed that if elected to office, he will make sure there is not a draft. Right now, neither Bush nor Kerry has said they will get out of Iraq right away, which is one of Kucinich’s goals.

“Sooner or later, they are going to run out of people to serve,” he said. “This is not just idle talk. I will stop it. An administration that took the United States into a war is not going to have trouble saying ‘you go next.’

College students should know there is a difference here.”

However, Kucinich says he is able to represent a wider range of people than just college students. Kucinich points to the diversity of his constituents in his Congres-sional district in Ohio as proof of his ability to represent broad interests, including working people, the elderly and young people. His district has every conceivable race, color or creed, he said.

“I appeal to people who are sick of corporations running America,” he said. “I am talking about taking the administration into a new direction.” buzz

Dennis Kucinich will be at the Illini Union Monday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m.

What is a typical day like for you?

We do programming for different age groups; we do songs and stories and felt boards and games. We have to prepare all of these things, which is fun, too. We had the kids go to the Humane Society and read to the dogs. It’s a nonthreatening situation. We always try to incorporate books. The idea is that it is a lot of fun, and books and reading are a lot of fun.

Q & A

BarbLintner

When Barb Lintner was in third grade and put all of her mother’s books in alphabetical order, she knew that she wanted to be a librarian.

Having worked in various libraries since high school, Lintner has found her home at the Urbana Free Library as the director of children’s services. From ordering children’s books to thinking up new programs to get children involved in reading, Lintner loves every aspect of being a librarian.

What do you get to do as director of children’s services?

I get to do lots of fun stuff. I am in charge of other librarians in the department. We all buy books for children from birth through fifth grade.

What made you want to work in the library?

I’ve always been a reader. I really liked books, and I just knew I wanted to work in a library.

What is the best part of your job?

I would say working directly with kids. Especially when you see a kid that starts in the library, and kind of grows up and keeps coming back.

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What do you do in your spare time?

I’m in a Christian clown troupe. We do skits with no words, so there’s not that much pressure, we just act out things. I get to use the makeup and costumes and stuff, so that’s fun. I also spend time going and visiting my grandchildren, too.

What is one thing that you can’t live without?

Of course, books. That’s a no-brainer. Something to read, always. I would be lost without anything to read.

Who is your favorite historical figure?

I suppose I ought to say Melville Dewey!

What are you most proud of?

The Urbana Free Library. I love it. I think the community supports it well, and makes it a wonderful place to work. I am really fortunate to be here and to do what I love most.

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film

MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | WHO ELSE CANNOT WAIT FOR BASEBALL SEASON TO START???

27

So happy together Comedic duo Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson follow in legendary footsteps

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

B

en Stiller and Owen Wilson know that when it comes to comedy, two heads are better than one.

Although their careers came together by coincidence, it’s evident that Stiller’s and Wilson’s combined talents make movie magic. It wasn’t until Meet the Parents that the two shared screen time, which was one moment that almost didn’t happen. In their scene, Stiller’s character meets his fiancee’s ex-boyfriend, Wilson’s character, and the two begin a competitive race for her affection. Stiller, while working on the film, felt this particular scene really contributed to the film’s atmosphere and he fought to keep it in the original cut. Other than Meet the Parents, the pair also contributed brief parts in The Cable Guy, and they provided their talents to major roles in The Royal Tenenbaums and Zoolander.

It is Zoolander that really introduces Stiller’s and Wilson’s onscreen rapport through their humorous versions of rival male supermodels. The main character, Derek Zoolander, originally created by Stiller for a VH1 skit, provided a vehicle for Stiller’s talent, and the success and popular-

ity of the character also opened the door to future opportunities.

Other actors, like Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, paved the way for this type of comedic coupling. Their frequent collaborations in film and television drew loyal audiences, like Stiller and Wilson, and helped to create classic films like The Odd Couple and Fortune Cookie. When actors pair up, audiences tend to feel more comfortable because they see the shared connection, and it also adds to the audience feeling a connection to the film itself. Usually if a pair worked well together once, they can repeat the experience, provided the script calls for it. The script is important, though, and every pair has the potential for failed moments: Matthau and Lemmon’s Out to Sea left the twilight of their careers with a big box office flop.

Now, with Matthau’s and Lemmon’s recent deaths, the film industry looks toward a new crop of comedic actors to fill the now-gaping void in Hollywood, and it looks like Stiller and Wilson may be up to the challenge and able to fill both pairs of famous shoes.

Luckily, this team’s recent history has led them on the road to success.

In their latest film, Starsky & Hutch, Stiller and Wilson team up as ‘70s television icons David Starsky (Stiller) and Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson (Wilson) to deliver an action-packed prequel to the original show.

The movie tells the story of how the unlikely partners began fighting the mean streets of Bay City, Calif.

While the premise of a remake feels overdone in Hollywood—think Charlie’s Angels—it has the potential for a new shelf life if done right. The script lifts the plot right from the ‘70s buddy cop show, but it’s

clear that the Stiller and Wilson’s onscreen dynamic will give the plot a creative spin.

Starsky and Hutch brings this duo together for the sixth time on the silver screen.

So far, through trailers and clips, the film looks more like a celebration of the show’s place in history through Stiller and Wilson’s humorous rendition of the main characters.

Stiller, in admiration for the original TV show Starsky & Hutch, recently made modest comment that his rendition of the show looks like the “failed pilot” for the original.

Even as a “failed pilot,” the premise looks like it will intrigue fans of the show as well as its great casting—Snoop Dogg and Vince Vaughn appear in the film as well.

While past films like Zoolander and Meet the Parents focus more on the pair’s lively and competitive but friendly relationship, Starsky & Hutch looks more like a team effort to showcase their camaraderie.

Onscreen teamwork seems to work well for Stiller and Wilson, considering their long-standing friendship outside the studio.

When asked about working together, Stiller said, “We just enjoy each other’s company and have fun working together.

As long as people seem to allow us to work together, I think it will kinda keep on going,” according to a recent interview for Underground Online. Wilson agreed, saying, “I think even if people didn’t allow us, I would like to think we would be in the Marina doing community theatre.”

Starsky and Hutch appears confident, and it could be the Odd Couple for both Stiller’s and Wilson’s careers. When Matthau and Lemmon worked together, an element of playful ban-

ter gave their films a comedic drive, particularly late in their career when they both appeared in Grumpy Old Men. As for Stiller and Wilson’s acting, when they parade around as police partners Starsky and Hutch, they need to act like pals, but they also need to get on each other’s nerves in order to make the film a box office success.

In The Odd Couple, Matthau and Lemmon achieved that kind of humorous relationship through living together in an apartment as two grown men, while Stiller and Wilson try to gain trust through working together as partners and spending all their time fighting crimes and picking up women. They’ll have to wait to see if this one makes film history.

If their film appearances come anything close to those of Walter Matthau’s and Jack Lemmon’s careers, this duo has nothing to worry about. Conceivably, if Ben Stiller gets his wish, he and Owen Wilson will “keep on going” and they’ll grow to become grumpy old men together. buzz Starsky & Hutch opened last weekend, landing itself at number two at the box office behind Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Starsky and Hutch is currently showing at Beverly and Savoy, and most other films mentioned in this feature can be found at your local video store.

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film

★★★

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

B

oys just want to have fun in Starsky and Hutch, a pleasing if not always hilarious adaptation of the campy ‘70s cop show. The TV series was hardly a serious enterprise, an unrelentingly goofy exercise in homoerotic tomfoolery that only sometimes knew how silly it really was. The show is, for the most part, already a joke, and that leaves director Todd Phillips (Old School, Road Trip) with the difficult task of adapting an obviously outrageous program into a spoof of itself.

Phillips has some of Hollywood’s most spirited jokers onboard, though, and the actors in Starsky and Hutch relentlessly challenge you to have as good of a time as they do.

Ben Stiller stars as Detective David Starsky, a permed, sweater-wearing tightwad who’s gone through 12 partners on the force in the last four years. When he’s teamed up with Ken “Hutch”

moviereview

HIDALGO ★★

BY ANDREW CREWELL | STAFF WRITER

T

here is only one thing to say about Hidalgo: it is nothing but average. At one end, the story is intriguing, and has the feel of older adventures like the Indiana Jones trilogy. However, some slow points and a little too much Viggo Mortensen limit what the film can achieve.

Mortensen plays Frank Hopkins in this “true story” butchered for the theater. He teams with his wild mustang Hidalgo, and together they gain notoriety as the fastest racing team in the world. Based on this reputation, Hopkins and Hidalgo are invited to the biggest race in the world, a 3,000-mile trek across the Arabian Desert of Northern Africa.

Once in Africa, Hopkins’s life starts to get crazy. Opposing riders trying to kill him and dust storms following him across the desert are just the beginning. A rich sheikh with nothing better to do than oversee this race further complicates his life, and by the end there are more subplots than there were dull moments at this year’s Oscars.

Even through the crazy Harrison Ford wannabe desert action, Mortensen is hardly

believable as an action hero. A constantly wavering accent that could have originated anywhere from Alabama to Minnesota is a perfect example of him falling short. Scenes involving deep conversation between Mortensen and his horse further the audience’s gag reflex, and by the end of the movie, everyone in the theater has completely lost their patience with Mortensen’s inconsistency.

Having recently come off the success of Lord of the Rings, Mortensen was poised to land a role as one of Hollywood’s premier movie men.

Unfortunately, this performance will not help his chances, and he can only hope that J. R. R. Tolkien comes back to write another six or seven books about midgets running all over the place and throwing jewelry around.

Aside from Mortensen and his equine adoration, the rest of the film comes together passably. Omar Sharif plays the rich sheikh, and commands his usual respect. His old school acting power makes Mortensen look like a student to the game. The idea for the film is great, too.

Seabiscuit proved to be a huge success, finding the action in real-life horse races. Hidalgo is a captivating story, one that remains a mildly entertaining film despite bad acting and some crazy direction.

However, this film isn’t without controversy.

One contention many convey centers around Hidalgo’s “true story” tag. While Hopkins and his stallion did exist, several points of the film are falsified for the sake of entertainment.

Unfortunately, it has been said that Hopkins,

buzz

Movie News

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community

MARCH 11-17, 2004

illio Shout out to:

Compiled by Jason Cantone Warner Bros Entertainment

STARSKY AND HUTCH

Hutchinson (Owen Wilson), a laid-back, blondhaired slacker with a penchant for robbing bookies, the two become the ultimate odd couple. Hutch is the corrupt, smooth-talking surfer to Starsky’s rigid, rule-abiding workhorse, but they form an unlikely bond as a murder investigation slowly leads them to Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn), a drug dealer peddling an undetectable form of cocaine that tastes and smells like sugar.

Stiller and Wilson lately are making careers playing off of each other’s complementary comedic tendencies as the straight man and his stoner sidekick. They make a great team, and they’re each cast perfectly as the title detectives.

You genuinely believe that these improbable allies enjoy working with one another simply because Stiller and Wilson, with their usual Ican-do-anything-you-can-do-better competitiveness as a cover for the love underneath, are perfectly paired partners.

Still, Starsky and Hutch doesn’t have the seam-bursting suburban dementia of Meet the Parents, the offbeat character study of The Royal Tenenbaums or even the evolutionary replay value of Zoolander, which might just be funnier in conversation than onscreen.

Its humor, more often than not, is unfocused and predictable, and each one of the film’s send-ups feels as if it has been done before.

Fortunately, the laughs are consistently fostered

by Vaughn and the rest of the supporting cast, which includes Will Ferrell as a hysterically fetishist jailbird and Snoop Dogg as a pimped-

STARSKY AND HUTCH | BEN STILLER & OWEN WILSON

“Flamboyant singer Sir Elton John has hit back at reports that he plans to marry his longtime boyfriend David Furnish, although he does support same-sex marriage,” the Associated Press reported.

Wait, wait ... Elton John supports same-sex marriage? This is about as shocking as when I found out that President Bush doesn’t.

From: Email:

Oscar-winning beauty Charlize Theron found it tough to stop laughing while filming hot, Oscarwinning lesbian scenes in Monster because her teeth kept falling out, according to the World Entertainment News Network. False teeth, 30 pounds of extra weight and skin blemishes included, she’s still one of the hottest women in the world.

out informant who truly lives the “What’s cooler than being cool?” motto.

Phillips indulges in nearly everything that made the TV show a laughably entertaining male fantasy, from the hypersexual women and cheeseball stunt work to the cheap set designs and gratuitous camera zooms. And working from existing source material largely ameliorates the scatterbrained pacing that he brought to Old School, which digressed away from its own story more than it focused on the inspired concept of grown men starting a fraternity.

But while Phillips does all he can to recreate Starsky and Hutch as high-energy ‘70s nostalgia with a little 21st century gloss, it plays equally as traditional adaptation and self-referential modernization. Some scenes will truly take you back to the days of disco-dancing detectives, but the men behind Starsky and Hutch have too much fun mocking the original in a present-day context to ever really kick it old school.

Shoutout: (75 words or less)

Insanely stupid yet insanely popular TV junk queen Jessica Simpson ran to get a pregnancy test after reading in gossip magazines that she was pregnant.

Some might ridicule her for this, but I’m just happy she proved that she knows how to read.

* GotSomething Something ToTo Say? Got Say? Place Yours Yours Today!

Place Today! $5 for 75 words $5 for 75 words *

Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital scared 14 million viewers into watching its debut Wednesday evening. The horror series about allegedly true events was the network’s best drama premiere in two years. And that’s without the key ChampaignUrbana demographic, which was probably all watching the Illini claim a share of the Big Ten title against Purdue.

Deadline is March 15

C-UViews

Compiled by Adam Young

Starsky and Hutch Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

moviereview

ONLY TWO MOVIES OPENED THIS WEEK. HOW SAD. | MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

HIDALGO | VIGGO MORTENSEN depicted as a part-Indian Pony Express rider and Buffalo Bill performer, was never in Buffalo Bill’s show and had no Indian blood in his past.

Even worse, there is a lack of evidence that this 3,000-mile race ever existed.

In the end, Hidalgo proves to be the inverse of what was expected. In past successful movies of the adventure genre, violent situations are usually modest and understated. To eliminate danger from other riders and mercenaries who wish harm upon him, Mortensen’s character does genocide on his Arabian counterparts. A film receiving a PG-13 rating is no big news, especially with The Passion of the Christ demanding the headlines by the thousands, but Mortensen is not the Messiah, and much like the aforementioned, the violence is shocking to the point that it takes away from the film’s integrity. Maybe Mortensen can find his next job working with Gibson in his upcoming sequel, The Passion of the Rodney King.

★★★ Graham Sellers Rantoul

"It wasn’t quite as funny as I expected it to be all the way through."

★★★ Kathy Sellers Rantoul

Illio office at the Y

"The soundtrack would be really cool to get."

or e-mail: illiomarketing@illinimedia.com

★★★ Brian Ketter Urbana

"It just wasn’t that funny."

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“OH YEAH, YEAH. TRACTOR BEAM; SUCKED ME RIGHT IN.” | MARCH 11-17, 2004

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Guiding Customer Conversations – Discover the four common parts of a service conversation and the four expectations customers bring to every interaction. Learn to manage customer interaction with confidence. Explore ways to use questions to uncover and confirm customer needs and present information positively. Parkland Business Development Center. Wed, 8:30am-12:30pm. $99.

Questions: 351-2235.

Glass as more than just a still life

PHOTO | RODERICK GEDEY

G

work, not necessarily the object. The paperweight is a by-product of my work. And this is an interesting question I’ve been looking at while distributing the paperweights, do people see the examination of work as the project or still only focus on the object?”

The fashioning of these objects has also helped him improve his technique. “Repetition is the key word here,” McNaught says. “In glass, doing any activity which brings you in contact with the material will strengthen and hone o n e ’ s skills. S o to some d e g r e e , t h e paperweights are helping make me a better c r a f t s m e n . ” His students are certainly benefiting from these skills.

Alison McCarthy, a senior in photography, has wanted to take his class since she was a freshman and has learned from working with multi-dimensional objects.

“The c l a s s h a s helped me think of 3-D w a y s o f doing photography, and think of different forms for photo,” says McCarthy.

Cayla Lopez, a junior in photography, says she now has a greater appreciation for glass as an art.

“Damon and I had a seminar together last semester. He is the one who actually got me interested in glass,” Lopez says.

“It was intriguing the way he talked about it. I think he really likes teaching and interacting with students.

It’s cheesy to say, but he really is inspiring.” buz z

Home Buyer's Seminar – Learn about budgeting, pre-qualification, inspection, closing, and other important steps in the home buying process.

Parkland Business Development Center. Mar 20, 9am-2pm. $20 per individual or same household couple; includes workbook. Questions: 351-2235.

MIND BODY SPIRIT Life Map Workshop – A life map is a collection of visual images, a method of connecting with your intuition, a tool for visualizing your dreams or goals. Come explore life mapping--approaches, uses, and the opportunity to create your own life map. McKinley Foundation, C. This Saturday, 9:15am-1pm. To register or for information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org.

Sunday Zen Meditation Meeting - Introduction to Zen Sitting, 10am. Full Schedule: service at 9am followed by sitting, Dharma Talk at 11am followed be tea until 12pm. Can arrive at any of above times, open to all, no experience needed, no cost. Prairie Zen Center. For information, call 355-8835 or go to www.prairiezen.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES School Tutor or Classroom Aid – Join hundreds of other bright and enthusiastic students who are involved in this award winning student-run program. What you choose to do with 2hrs/wk of your time will make a huge difference – not only in the life of a child but also in your own life. Choose to tutor one-on-one or be a classroom aid in local schools. For more information, stop by the Vis-AVis program office at the University YMCA or call 239-3614 ext 29.

Volunteer Cook – Share your love of cooking and prepare a meal for a Healthy Young Families support group. Volunteers prepare a meal in their home, and drop it off at the group meeting site. A wonderful opportunity for a large group who would like to volunteer together. For more information, call Anna Langford at 398-8080.

U T A H A N

M R H Y D E

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Q U A T E R N S A V A A V E R V E R Y E M S T A I G I R O N M I N A E A S T

A N D E R S O N S

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S C O R E

R E F I N E I R T S E M U P S G E E T R S

P A R A S C E R R E T S H T E O S P A R G E

A T I N B I L E A N L A T Y P T S S I A B O D W O F E A L T S E G I T R O C E S O E R I N A U D I X P E N

A N T E A T E R

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• All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student.

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PHOTO | ADRIANA D’ONOFRIO

decided to focus on for the day, the students put their creations into a “cooler” 950degree stove. If the glass cools at room temperature, it will crack, so the students hurlass isn’t just made of sand and riedly put on heat protective gear, which water. It’s also made from sweat. Proof of looks like the outfit the one-hour photo guy this statement is University graduate stu- dons when refilling developing liquid, and dent Damon MacNaught’s Glass I class. At bring their cubes to chill.

The task certainly isn’t easy. The glass the South Farms studio where the class is taught, the temperature reaches about needs to be hot in order for students to be 2,150 degrees Fahrenheit. This is how hot able to manipulate it, but the jump from the two ovens get that sit in the large heating in a thousands-degree stove to sitcement room where students work. And ting on a rod in room temperature makes it they’re each heating about 400 pounds of harden fast. The students have to reheat the glass if they make a mistake or aren’t workglass. That’s a lot of sand and water.

MacNaught received his bachelor ’s ing fast enough. “The key is to be fast degree in sculpture from Hartwick (N.Y.) enough in one shot,” says MacNaught, “but College and has been creating glass works it takes a long time to accumulate skills (in for eight years. He also previously worked this field).”

MacNaught certainly has developed some in a public access glass studio. He’s teaching this first-level glass class to mostly impressive skills. As he demonstrates to the undergraduate students in the class, he glides around the room like a rhythmic gymnast, easily maneuvering University’s art and design program.

Most of them aren’t majors—the through his on-looking students, shouting University only has about four glass-blow- out instructions and injecting the room with ing majors—but all of them do plenty of an invigorating energy. Though he seems to work. After watching MacNaught demon- have a great talent, he maintains he is still strate the day’s lesson, the students spend learning and points out some glass superthe next two-and-a-half hours gathering stars who have particularly impressed him.

“Josiah McElheny is pushing the edge so molten glass on metal rods, carefully shaping it into perfect cubes (which isn’t far as his design,” says MacNaught. “He’s as easy as it looks) and blowing the gath- really pushing the edge. An artist who is ered glass into a small cylinder. After really a technically proficient artist is Jim they’ve created whatever it is they’ve MuGrain. He’s got some mad skills. He’s like a glass savant. He makes these really thin and light glass Venetian goblets.”

For his part, Macnaught is currently working on a paperweight distributing project. The idea is to distribute approximately 350 paperweights to other workers at the University. The idea is to bridge the gap between creations that are labeled “art” and daily work that is also artistic, but not necessarily given that same distinction.

“The blackspheres.com project is about my work and the work of the craftspeople at Facilities and Services,” McNaught says. “It starts to compare work and examine how work can be perceived or valued, i.e., ‘I’m an artist utilizing my skill, making paperweights and here is a painter, painting walls.’ Both are valid. Both can be viewed as art in the proper context. I chose the Cayla pinches the molten glass to remove it from the rod. paperweight because I wanted the (Right): Instructor Damon MacNaught demonstrates how to focus to be on the process (of) the blow the molten glass for his students.

calendar

MARCH 11-17, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

What Managers Do – Participants will learn to use planning techniques that help operations run smoothly; organize a department for maximum productivity; match jobs with staff talents; develop performance appraisal techniques; and motivate employees. Parkland Business Development Center. Wed, 8am-5pm. $195.00 (book included).

Questions: 351-2235.

Blown away:

BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

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RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue Garage Sales 30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.

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Employment 000 HELP WANTED | Full Time Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Services

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BUSINESS SERVICES

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished 309 W Springfield, C. Well located 2 bedroom townhouse near campus and downtown Champaign, now available. $550/mo. 3528540, pm 355-4608. www.faronproperties.com

309 W. Springfield, C. Spacious 2 BR townhouse now available. $550/mo. Flexible lease.

352-8540. PM 355-4608. www.faronproperties.com

Stan’s Lawn Care Spring clean up 841-1218

CLEANING Exact Extraction. Carpet & upholstery cleaning. Free estimates. 6883101.

OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unfurnished

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding.

384-5010.

Apartments

800 W. Church, C. Now avail. Economical 2 BR. $450/mo. 352-8540, 355-4608 pm. www.faronproperties.com

400

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

Courtyard Apartments 713 S. Randolph, Champaign Renting for Fall/2 & 3 Bedrooms.

Furnished & Unfurnished From $608/mo.

Includes cable, parking, water.

Has laundry facility and seasonal pool. Near campus and downtown Champaign.

352-8540, 355-4608 pm. www.faronproperties.com CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished JOHN SMITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT www.johnsmithproperties.com (217)384-6930 “believe the hype”

Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign.

Call Manchester Property Management at 359-0248 for an appointment.

SUBLETS Live Downtown This Summer!

Student housing in Downtown Champaign. Great summer rates!

Utilities included. Call 398-4255 or check out www.robesonhall.com.

Things to Do 700 ENTERTAINMENT A Benefit dinner/concert to raise funds for the vegetarian commercial “Behind Close Doors” will be held in the Wisegarver Room at the Illinois Disciples Foundation on Saturday March 15 from 5:30 to 9:30. Dinner will be catered by the Red Herring and live music featuring the bands Free Beer and The Sacrilicious Groove Congregation will follow.

Donations will be accepted at the door. Behind Close Doors has been airing in the Champaign area on MTV, Animal Planet, E, and CNN Headline News since January and funds are still needed to keep the commercial airing through May. The commercial can be viewed at www.protectinganimals.org.

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Club Fred: Character Count – Presenters from University of Illinois Extension discuss the six pillars of good character. No registration. Douglass Branch Library. Sunday, 4-5pm. Information: 4032090.

Family Fun Day Sunday in the Square – Enjoy interactive rides this Sunday. There will also be food, shopping, games, miniature golf and more.

Lincoln Square Mall. Sun, 1-5pm. For more info, call the Urbana Business Association at 344-3872.

My Preschool Genius – A book-centered program focusing on language. Preschoolers can listen to dynamic picture book presentations and explore the art of picture book illustration. Champaign Public Library. Tue, 9:30-10am. Registration required. Call 403-2030.

Girls, Girls, Girls! – Games, crafts, and reading time for girls in grades 1-4. Douglass Branch Library. Fri, 4-5pm. No registration.

KnowZone – Homework help for school-aged children. Tue 4-5pm. Douglass Branch Library. No registration required.

T.A.C.K. – The library’s Thursday Arts and Crafts for Kids program welcomes children to come make a craft. Douglass Branch Library, Conference Room.

Thu 4-5pm.

Baby Time – Come to the library for a half-hour of lap-bouncing, nursery rhymes, music activities and play time for your infants. Douglass Branch Library, meeting room. Thu 10:30-11am.

Funfare – Come to The Phillips Recreation Center for Funfare Thur, 10:30-11am, presented by the Urbana Free Library Children’s Department, for stories, songs and films for children of all ages. No registration. For more info, call 367-4069.

Babies’ Lap Time – Babies are invited to Phillips Recreation Center for Babies' Lap Time Tue from 10-10:30am, presented by The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department. This program is for our youngest patrons, ages 6-24 months with an adult.

No registration. For more info, call 367-4069.

O Baby! – Lap-bouncing, nursery rhymes and music activities for infants with a caregiver. Champaign Public Library, main library. Mon 9:30-9:50am or 10:30-10:50am. No registration required. For more information, call 403-2030.

Storyshop – Stories, songs and rhymes for preschoolers through third-graders, 9:30-10am or 10:30-11am at Champaign Public Library, and 10:30-11am at Douglass Branch Library, both in Champaign, Mar 3. No registration.

Art-to-Go – Presentation, discussion and hands-on activity for school-age children led by Krannert Art Museum staff. Douglass Branch Library. Mar 3, 45:30pm. No registration.

Family Reading Night – Take a blanket and choose a book to share out loud. Refreshments and prizes included. No registration. Douglass Branch Library.

Mon, 6:30-7:45pm. Information: 403-2090.

Teen Advisory Board – Swap views on movies, music, and books, do volunteer projects and snack.

No registration. Champaign Public Library. Tue, 67pm. Information: 403-2070.

UPCOMING EVENTS Champaign County Audubon Society early morning bird walks – Busey Woods every Sunday morning starting this Sunday at 7:30am. Meet at Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot. 344-6803.

Arcola Marsh field trip – Champaign County Audubon Society presents this trip to search for returning waterfowl and other migrating birds.

The group will move on to eitherClinton Lake or Lake Shelbyville to continue our search. Anita Purves Nature Center, Sat 7am. Questions: 3675787.

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | MARCH 11-17, 2004

Champaign County Audubon Society Woodcock Walk – With luck and adequate light, the group may see a few of the male woodcocks perform their remarkable courtship flight. Meet at the Race Street parking lot of Meadowbrook Park, U. Mar 19, 5:45pm. Rain date: Mar 26.

“Share a Meal with Community Shares” – This fundraiser helps local non-profits. Thirty percent of your meal at Silvercreek restaurant goes to one of these charities. For information, call 328-3402.

Panel Discussion: The Anniversary of the Iraq War – The following panelists will speak at the discussion: Cliff Singer (ACDIS), John Lynn (History), Stephen Hartnett (Speech Comm.), Assata Zerai (Afro-American Studies/Soc). Susan Davis (Institute of Comm. Research) will moderate the event, which is free and open to the public. Humanities Lecture Hall, IPRH, 805 W Penn Ave, U. Mar 18, 4pm.

For more information, call 244-3344 or visit www.iprh.uiuc.edu.

Brown Sisters of Topeka, Kansas Lecture – The lecture will consist of reflections by Linda Brown Thompson and Cheryl Brown Henderson on the impact, legacy and significance of struggles to achieve the promise that the Brown vs. Board of Education case represented. Foellinger Auditorium. Mar 11, 4pm. Free.

Pre-Concert Lecture with Bruno Nettl – Musicologist Bruno Nettl discusses the life, times, and music of Beethoven in conjunction with Sinfonia da Camera's performance of the composer's Violin Concerto, Wellington's Victory, and Leonora Overture No. 3. Orchestra Rehearsal Room, Level 2. Sat, 6:45pm. Free.

Geography Trilogy, Part 3: House, A Work in Progress – Ralph Lemon and his company spend six weeks at Krannert Center working on the final development of Lemon’s Geography Trilogy, Part 3 – House, an exploration of critical events in American racial history and the rich folk culture of the southern United States. Mar 15-April 25.

Colwell Playhouse.

Concert Prep: San Francisco Symphony informal talk – Learn more about the works being presented by the San Francisco Symphony at this talk.

Tryon Festival Theatre. Wed, 6:30pm. Free.

Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology Seminar Series – "Integration of biology and engineering at the micro and nanoscale: From integrated biochips to self-assembly of electronics” – Rashid Bashir, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University will speak. ACES Library Monsanto Room, Wed 4pm.

“The Friendliest Black Artist in America” – William Pope. L is a visiting artist, lecturer and member of the Department of Theatre and Rhetoric at Bates College. Using made up objects, street performances, and installation, Pope. L negotiates the history of America’s relationship with whiteness and blackness. Krannert Art Museum, rm 62. Tue, 5:30pm. Free.

International Dinner – The University YMCA, Office of International Student Affairs and the Cosmopolitan Club will host its 21st annual International Dinner, which will have a large food buffet with food from more than 30 countries and international performers. University YMCA Latzer Hall. April 4, 6-8pm. Tickets on sale now, $10. For more information, call Becca Nieto at 337-1514.

Staerkel Planetarium Monthly Science Presentation – On the first Friday of each month that classes are in session, the planetarium will host a noted scientist from the community for a presentation on his or her expertise. Talks begin at 7pm and tickets are $1 at the door. No reservations necessary. For more information, call 351-2446.

Money Matters – With an uncertain job market and a topsy-turvy stock market, making sound financial decisions is critical. Learn how to construct and maintain an investment portfolio, choose from a cafeteria of benefit packages, and protect yourself financially in all scenarios. LAS alumnus John Micetich will share his tips for success gained from more than 20 years as an investment advisor and owner of Kensington Financial in San Diego. Illini Union, rm 407. Thur, 4-5pm.

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buzz

MARCH 11-17, 2004 | “I FIGURED THE ROCKIES WOULD BE A BIT ROCKIER THAN THIS ... THAT JOHN DENVER IS FULL OF SHIT, MAN.”

arts

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WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS Foundation of Teamwork – Competition demands that organizations do more, in a shorter response time, with fewer resources. Participants will identify their communication style and develop plans to build better working relationships with other team members. Class meets Thursday from 8:30am12:30pm at 1315 N Mattis Ave, Champaign. Course fee is $110. To register, call 351-2235.

playreview

A Raisin in the Sun

H A I R S A L ON

How to Get Hired – Learn how to find a job, prepare for an interview, negotiate contracts, and convey the kind of professionalism that will help you take that first step on the career ladder. You’ll get tips from peopl who do the hiring. Illini Union, rm 407.

April 7, 4-5pm.

Debra Weinstein

BY ELIZABETH ZEMAN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

W

Champaign County Young Republicans – Join CCYR for professional development and networking, fun events, and access to politicians and decision-makers. Happy hours on the second Thursday of each month. This month at Rock's, C. Thur, 5:307pm. For more info, call 377-3318.

Gentlemen’s Book Discussion & Social Club – The group will discuss Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides at this meeting. Borders Bookstore. Wed 7pm.

Quesstions: 351-9011.

Loose Womyn Discussion Group – The group will discuss Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich at this meeting. Borders Bookstore. Thur, 7pm. Questions: 351-9011.

Community Workshop on SSI – SSI Project to explain basics of Supplemental Security Income and help qualified residents apply for benefits.

Illinois Disciples Foundation. Sat, 10:30am-12pm.

Questions: 352-6533.

UI Ice Arena Open Skate Sessions – Sessions will be held through Mar 18. M-F 11:20am-12:40pm, Sat & Sun 1:30-4pm. Open Skate sessions will resume Mar 29 and will be offered M-F 11:20am12:40pm thru May 5. No Sat Open Skates will be offered after Mar 13. Open Skates are free to UI students, Campus Rec members, and children (5 years and younger), $5 for adult nonmembers/general public, and $4 for youth (613 years) nonmembers/general public. Skate rental is $1 for UI students/Campus Rec members and $2 for nonmembers/general public. UI Ice Arena, 406 E Armory Dr, C. Questions: 333-2081.

Campus Recreation Learn-to-Skate Spring Session II – Registration for the session is still available. Skaters enrolled will have five 45-minutes lessons from a qualified figure skating instructor followed by 15-minute open practice sessions.

Classes are available for all ages and levels of skaters. Classes begin Mar 6 and go thru April 17.

To register, go to UI Ice Arena or www.campusrec.uiuc.edu.

Career Planning Seminar – Participants will learn about the career development process; explore interests, abilities, and goals; and discover available resources. A tour of the Career Center is provided, followed by an opportunity to schedule an individual appointment with a career counselor.

Parkland College, rm A208. Tue, 6-8pm. Free.

Questions: 351-2536.

EMS Response 2004 – Presented by Edward M. Racht, M.D., this annual continuing education opportunity for EMT's will include areas of resuscitation, ethics, and domestic preparedness. Class held April 3, 8am-5pm in Parkland College Theatre. $50. Register by Mar 22. Questions: 351-2224.

Sponsored by

Resume Writing – Participants will learn how to create a resume to find employment. Parkland College, rm C123. Mar 18, 12pm. Free. Questions: 351-2536.

Saturday, March 13 9pm at

Aging Successfully: Enhancing Cognitive Vitality – Stay ahead of the aging process by learning the benefits of an engaged lifestyle and cognitive and physical fitness. Instructor Art Kramer is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the U of I with a long-term interest, both professionally and personally, in successful aging. Tony Noel Agricultural Technology on Parkland campus. Tue, 1:30-3pm.

Questions: 351-2546.

★★★

buzz

708 South Goodwin Urbana, IL 217-344-2263

ith a capable ensemble cast and a shining performance by guest actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has powerfully revived Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun in a production that captures the intensity of a historical moment while exploring how well it translates to our current moment, nearly 50 years later.

Hansberry’s play fits well into the University’s year-long commemoration of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Named after a line from Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem,” A Raisin in the Sun explores segregation in Chicago neighborhoods from the perspective of the Youngers, a black family living in a cramped apartment on Chicago’s South Side; an apartment Krannert has wonderfully represented onstage as ragged yet homey. A $10,000 life insurance check leads the family to consider moving to a white suburb and threatens to tear them apart.

Krannert invited Shirley Basfield Dunlap, coordinator of theatre arts at Morgan State University in Baltimore, to guest direct the play. Her production starts out a bit slow, feeling as though it might better suit the more intimate space of the smaller Studio Theatre, but everything falls into place once the entire Younger family is assembled onstage. United by pride, stubbornness and love, the worn down Ruth (Beau’Livea Greene), feisty Bennie (Kenya Drew), idealistic Walter Lee (Jason Dirden), sweetly innocent Travis (played impressively by fourth-grader Crofton Macallister Coleman) and pillar-ofstrength Mama (Bruce) alternately struggle against and support one another.

The portrayal of these characters and their relationships, like the realistic set, is brutally honest. Dirden’s Walter Lee is perpetually restless, and his jittery gestures and habits reflect his volatile personality throughout most of the play. His relationship with Ruth is perhaps too uneven at times, as they move almost randomly from gentle to hostile, but Ruth consistently wears her loneliness well.

Drew emphasizes the humor and honesty in Bennie as she emerges as a voice of reason.

Trying desperately to hold these characters together is Mama, impeccably performed by Bruce, as a mother who is both firm and compassionate, controlling and tolerant.

Peripheral characters Mrs. Johnson (Shaki Alliu) and Karl Lindner (Ryan Hutson) deserve mention for their solid performances of an intrusive neighbor and a representative of the neighborhood “welcoming committee.” The effect is chilling when Hutson appropriately emphasizes the phrase “you people” in Karl Lindner’s attempts to

persuade the Youngers not to move to his allwhite neighborhood.

In a play largely about tense and awkward interactions, it’s interesting that awkwardness doesn’t work so well when applied to African student Joseph Asagai (Nathan Davis) in large doses. Bennie obviously loves him, but we’re never quite convinced why he deserves the attention of one of the sassiest, sharpest women onstage.

All in all, Krannert’s production makes it easy to see why the New York Times called A Raisin in the Sun the play that “changed American theater forever” and proves that this 50-year-old play is still quite relevant.

The audience enters into a particular moment in American history but learns about much more: human struggles, racism, heritage, identity and family.

Perhaps above all, this is a play about dreams—Bennie’s dream of becoming a black female doctor, Ruth’s and Mama’s desires for a better life for their family, Walter Lee’s business aspirations and the shared dream for social equality—and what happens when those dreams shatter or conflict. Although the family refuses to let a white “welcoming committee” stand in the way of their dreams, they must figure out how to reconcile their own conflicting desires. We follow them as they fail and succeed in their attempts, and what emerges in the end is really quite beautiful.

playreview

by buying a house in a middle-class white neighborhood. Walter Lee, Travis’s dad and Lena’s son, is a struggling chauffeur, stuck in a dead-end job, who wants to join some buddies’ investment in a liquor store. Beneatha, ★★★ Debra Weinstein Lena’s college-aged daughter, has hopes of becoming a doctor and directly challenges and denies many of her mother’s traditional valBY SYD SLOBODNIK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER ues.

The play’s emotional conflicts and naturahe Krannert Center rolls out a fine old theatrical classic this month on its Colwell listic dialogue that details these dreams, the Playhouse main stage. Lorraine Hansberry’s needs for money, the wish for middle class 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun is a unique liter- housing and other values all sustain releary work by a 29-year-old playwright who vance without the inclusion and enhanceof modern street vulgarity. made her play notable by avoiding racial ment stereotypes and creating a realistic drama sur- Nonetheless, the play’s messages are still rounding a black family’s attempt to move up nonetheless vital to today’s audiences.

What’s most impressive about the play, in the world. Nearly half a century later, this tale of the Younger family is still filled with rel- and especially this production, is how fresh and distinctly drawn Hansberry’s evant messages of pride and dignity.

Guest director Shirley Basfield Dunlap three main female characters are. Mama guides her cast of 11 respectable student actors represents the strong and spiritual older and one marvelously spirited performance by generation whose memories of traditions guest Chicago actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce. and her ancestors’ past sufferings motiBruce plays the Younger family matriarch, vate her to continually hope for someLena, with the same range of intensity and thing better. Ruth, Walter ’s young wife, is heartfelt passion she displayed in the fine, the patient spouse getting along with a overlooked Julie Dash film Daughters of the n o t - s o - r e l i a b l e h u s b a n d w h o many times acts more like an impulsive boy Dust, a decade ago.

Hansberry’s central plot concerns this work- t h a n a m a n . B e n e a t h a i s a p r e ing class family’s $10,000 inheritance from the w o m e n ’ s movement free spirit, who late Mr. Younger’s insurance policy, and how defies standard conventions related to to best spend the money. “Mama” Lena career choice and marriage opportunities.

In addition to Bruce’s fine, realistic lead role, Younger is a deeply religious woman who wishA Raisin in the Sun runs through March 14 at es to use this windfall to improve her family’s living undergrad BFA students Beau ‘Livea Green’s the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. situation—especially for her grandson, Travis— Ruth and Kenya Drew’s Beneatha likewise nicely avoid overplaying their roles during their many dramatic, and sometimes slightly c o m e d i c , moments.

Greene especially brings a believable maturity and sensitivity to her role.

The only mixed elements of this production involve its pacing in the initial scenes and parts of the third act and the apparent miscasting of a couple of secondary male characters. At times, this nearly three-and-a-half hour production feel like it should move more quickly and scene changes could be more brisk.

But so many of the play’s quality features, including set designer Aaron Benson’s natural living room set, wrap you into this wonderful tale of family pride and hope.

A Raisin in the Sun runs Thursday through Saturday and ends Sunday, March 14.

This shot was taken from the film A Raisin in the Sun (1961), directed by Daniel Petrie, starring Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil.

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“SON, YOU’RE DUMB AS A MULE AND TWICE AS UGLY. IF A STRANGER OFFERS YOU A RIDE, TAKE IT.” | MARCH 11-17, 2004

bookreview

Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z

★★★

Debra Weinstein

BY NIK GALLICCHIO | STAFF WRITER

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AIT! BEFORE YOU DISMISS THIS BOOK, hold on a second. It might be written for you. It was written by a librarygoer who frequented the anonymous authors’ section, and written for people who can appreciate Sylvia Plath allusions and the perverted underbelly of James Joyce.

Weinstein includes enough high-brow literary witticisms to make the English nerd chuckle, but maneuvers the unassuming, naive narrator throughout situations without seeming pretentious.

This is a story of one woman’s loss of innocence in the poetry world.

Told with delicate details illustrated through the eyes of a natural born observer, the tale revolves around an undergraduate and her literary idol, the Flower Poet Z. While Annabelle is officially recognized as the poet’s assistant, she also serves as a cook for high poet society dinners, a seeker of lost stockings and purchaser of gifts for Z’s secret lover.

While juggling Z’s family secrets and cat food for the ornery poetry critic who made Z famous, Annabelle is caught between two warring factions of the poetry world. On one hand, there are those who glorify high literature, while on the other hand are the beflanneled modern confessional poets.

Apprentice illustrates the war that would have occurred between Alexander Pope and Jack Kerouac, had they been women in the late 20th century. Let the manicured nail pawing begin.

Like all books written by true poets, Apprentice contains a sordid affair. Naive Annabelle involves herself with a man who worships James Joyce, and sends her copies of erotic letters Joyce wrote to his wife.

Annabelle accepts the antics in the bedroom because they fit with her idea of a poet’s life.

She wants to rival the amount of lovers had

by Edna St. Vincent Millay. No longer the girl who wandered Long Island’s Walt Whitman mall for inspiration, Annabelle

finds herself living in Greenwich Village, home to millions of nameless midnight love affairs.

With a therapist who recommends masturbating more frequently, Annabelle questions her sexuality in terms of the various models of femininity that surround her. She is caught between Z’s classic elegance and the hip, mesmerizing sexiness of Z’s enemy, the modern poet Braun Brown. Trapped by her loyalty to her master, Annabelle the apprentice is torn as she forms her opinions of the people in her life. Balancing the tasks of her job and becoming a woman in her free time, Annabelle struggles to find the answer to the question: What is poetry?

When the narrator quotes Emily Dickinson, or declares “I would write a b o o k c a l l e d DeFlower. What is virginity? I would ask,” Apprentice appears to be in love with it’s own cleverness. However, it’s easy to forgive these foibles b e c a u s e they are complemented by humble counterparts. During a soiree for the who’s who of poetry, instead of discussing the fall of creativity in the world, the masters of eloquence swap strategies to avoid j u r y d u t y. T h e glamour of New York City is that balanced by life’s base d e t a i l s , such as buying i n k — ” J e t black, not midnight black, not shoeshine black”—Weinstein gently weaves a tale of a little girl finding out that her heroine exhibits faults of mere mortals.

Early on, one of the characters envisions a world in which people “think poetry like they think television.” While this utopia unravels slightly in the story, Apprentice was written for those who can imagine one to begin with.

buzz invasion

Check out our New hot spots where you can pick up a buzz Hooters 1706 S State St., Champaign Mark of Cain Tattoos 202 E. Green St., Champaign Solar Tan 408 N. Rac St., Champaign Smoke Shack 208 E. Green St., Champaign Speed Lube 901 W. Springfield, Champaign Jiffy Lube 1901 S. Neil, Champaign Midas 2102 Moreland Dr., Urbana

LaPayne Photography – Specializes in panoramic photography up to 6 feet long of different subjects including sporting events, city skylines, national parks and University of Illinois scenes. 816 Dennison Dr in Champaign. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and by appointment. 356-8994.

Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine and original art, hand signed, limited edition prints, works by local artists, art restoration, custom framing, and periodic shows by local artists. 11 E University in Champaign. Mon-Thu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am4:30pm. 355-8338.

Prairie Boatworks Gallery – Beautifully hand-crafted gift items and unique Valentine’s Day cards.

Also, over 35 regional artist to choose from. 407 E Main St in Mahomet. Tue, Fri, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-4pm. 586-6776. For more information, contact Mary at 356-8228 or tangoradesigns@aol.com.

Ziemer Gallery – Original paintings and limited edition prints by Larry Ziemer. Pottery, weavings, wood turning and glass works by other artists.

Gallery visitors are welcome to sit, relax, listen to the music and just enjoy being surrounded by art.

210 W Washington in Monticello. Tue 10am-8pm, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. www.ziemergallery.com. 762-9786.

ART EXHIBITS

Directed by Shirley Basfield Dunlap With guest artist Cheryl Lynn Bruce

Mar 4-14

BOOK REVIEW GUIDE

No stars

Laser’s Edge – Oil paintings on canvas and framed etchings by Sandra Ahten along with work from Lee Boyer now showing. 218 W. Main Street, Urbana. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. 328-3343.

Verde Gallery – The work of local artist Sylvia Arnstein will be on display in the halls and café. 17 E Taylor St in Champaign. Cafe: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm. Gallery: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

By Lorraine Hansberry

Associated lecture: "The Impact of Race on Theatre and Culture"

by Woodie King, Jr., Producing Director, New Federal Theatre, New York.

Mar 3, 5pm Levis Center, 919 W Illinois, Urbana

being matters.

Supported, in part, by the Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund/College of Fine and Applied Arts and the Chancellor’s Brown v. Board of Education Jubilee Commemorative Committee.

calendar

MARCH 11-17, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Steeple Gallery – Vintage botanical and bird prints, antiques and framed limited edition prints. 102 E Lafayette St in Monticello. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. www.steeplegallery.com. 762-2924.

KrannertCenter.com 217.333.6280

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unreadable

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Springer Cultural Center - Art Exhibition Series: Continuum – Featuring paintings by Brenda Beck and Barbara McDonnell and carved eggs from Linda Tudor. On display through Mar 14. 301 North Randolph Street, Champaign. Mon-Thur 8am-9pm, Fri 8am-5:30pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm.

398-2376. www.champaignparkdistrict.com.

Department of Theatre

Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z is available at retail bookstores and online.

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★

buzz

Creation Art Studios – Artwork by instructors Jeannine Bestoso, Amy Richardson, and Shoshanna Bauer, and the studio’s friends and family. 1102 E Washington St in Urbana. Hours: Mon-Fri 35:30pm, Sat 1-4pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

“Distant Voices Nearer: A Celebration of American Indian Art” – Featuring paintings by DeHaven Solimon Chaffins, jewelry by Ben Yellowhorse, ceramic sculptures by Lynn Hone, ceramics by Laguna Potter and Michael Kanteena, pottery from Acoma and Mata Ortiz. On display at Verde Gallery through Mar 20. Opening reception for Chaffins and Yellowhouse Thur at 7pm. 17 E Taylor St in Champaign. Cafe: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm.

Gallery: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

“Transitions” – Work from Nicole Cisne on display at Aroma Café through Mar 21. Artist statement: “The vehicle for my artwork is the female nude...

Society and the fashion industry of today are the primary causes of an epidemic of eating disorders and false body images in many young women.”

118 N Neil in Champaign. Open 7 days a week, 7am-Midnight. For more information, contact Amanda Bickle at 356-3200 or art4aroma@yahoo.com.

“Picturing Performance: Japanese Theater Prints of the Utagawa School, 1790–1868” – The focus of artistic production in 18th and 19th century Japan (Edo period) was the world of entertainment. This exhibit captures a views of this world of illusion and fantasy (Ukiyo) through richly-colored and compositionally provocative woodblock prints know as Ukiyo-e. The exhibition is on view through Mar 21. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

“Bon Coiffure: Hair Signs from West Africa” – This exhibition offers viewers a glimpse into the art of African hair styling, African hair sign painting and African hairstyles in traditional masks and sculpture. Hairdressers also hire artists to hand paint signs to advertise their skills and represent their repertoire of coiffures. Bon Coiffure is on view through Mar 21. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm.

Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

“Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artists” – The Krannert Museum has put together a traveling exhibition bringing together the work of seven major contemporary artists who share a connection to both worlds. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

“Whistler and Japonisme: Selections from the Permanent Collection” – This anniversary marks the 100th anniversary of James McNeill Whistler’s death, highlighting his works on paper and examines the influence that Japanese woodcuts had on his artistic technique. On display at Krannert Art Museum through Mar 28. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

The Fog of War – Rated PG13, Oscar Winner for Best Documentary Feature. Winner, Best Documentary, National Board of Review, Chicago Film Critics, and L A Film Critics Association..."The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara." Directed by Errol Morris: DGA Award nominee, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary. Virginia Art Theatre. Thurday, 5:15pm, 7:30pm.

The Triplets of Belleville – Rated PG13, Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Feature and Best Music, winner, Best Animated Feature, New York Film Critics Circle and Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Adopted by his grandmother, Madame Souza, Champion is a lonely little boy.

After two mysterious men in black kidnap Champion, Madame Souza and her dog Bruno set out to rescue him. Their quest takes them across the ocean to a giant megalopolis called Belleville where they encounter the renowned "Triplets of Belleville," three eccentric female music-hall stars from the '30s. Virginia Art Theatre. Thursday, 3:30pm, 9:45pm.

The Dreamers – Rated NC17, Fresh from N.Y. and LA where it is the highest grossing Independent film.

Left alone in Paris whilst their parents are on holiday, Isabelle and her brother Theo invite Matthew, a young American student, to stay at their apartment. Here they make their own rules as they experiment with their emotions and sexuality while playing a series of increasingly demanding mind games. Set against the turbulent political backdrop of France in the spring of 1968 when the voice of youth was reverberating around Europe, it is a story of self-discovery as the three students test each other to see just how far they will go.

Plays daily beginning Friday. For showtimes, go to www.boardmansarttheatre.com.

Drugstore Cowboy – Rated R. Art Theatre and Buzz Midnight Series continues with this film. It is about criminals who do not intend to be particularly bad people, but whose lives run away with them. The heroes of these films always have a weakness, and in "Drugstore Cowboy" the weakness is drug abuse. Fri & Sat, 11:59pm.

Founded after the 1991 Gulf War, this festival celebrates the power of

“Water and Wood” – Featuring the watercolors of Beverly Sanderson and the wood carvings of the Illini Carvers. On display at the Hays Center through Mar 26. 1211 W. Church, Champaign. MonFri 8am-4pm. 398-2376.

music to promote peace and understanding. On its first American tour, the "Spirit of Fès" presents an array of revered

9th Biennial Ceramics Invitational – The invitational features the work of nine contemporary ceramic artists. This year's exhibit focuses on functional ceramics, with a specific look at the rich decorative surface that clay provides. The exhibit will be on display in the gallery Mar 1-April 9. Co-curators Chris Berti and Laura O'Donnell will provide a gallery talk Tuesday at 7pm, the night of the reception, which will be in the Gallery Lounge, 6-8pm.

Parkland Art Gallery. M-F, 10am-3pm, M-Th, 6-8pm, Sat, 12-2pm. For more information, call 351-2485.

artists from around the globe reflecting Sephardic Jewish, Moroccan, Sufi, and Gospel musical traditions.

ON STAGE Facing HIV/AIDS... a collection of portraits – Inner Voices Social Issues Theatre this play that features ten minute plays: I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can by Jim Pickett, adapted by Jeffrey A. Chandler; Afterlife by Steven M. Salzman; Snapshots by Betsy Peterson and Lisa Fay. Fri & Sat, 8pm in the Armory Free Theatre. Tue, 8pm in F.A.R. Wed, 7pm in Allen Hall South Rec Room. Free and open to the public.

For more information, call 244-5919.

Elysium on the Prairie, Live Action Roleplaying – Vampires stalk the city streets and struggle for dominance in a world of gothic horror. Create your own character and mingle with dozens of players who portray their own undead alter egos. Each session is another chapter in an ongoing story of triumph, tragedy and betrayal. Fridays,“Vampire: The Masquerade.” For more information, visit www2.uiuc.edu/ro/elysium/intro.html. Check site for location, 7pm.

FILMS The Transnational Chinese Cinema Film Festival 2004 – Virginia Theatre, Fri 6pm, Sat 2pm, free, questions: 356-9063 The American Theatre production of Wizard of Oz – Virginia Theatre, Wed 10am, questions: 215-5633501 ext 445 Telluride MOUNTAINFILM Tour – Features eight films highlighting environmental concerns, culture and ethnography, and mountain climbing, river rafting and skiing. Savoy 16 Theater, Mon 7pm, $10.

Mar 30-31

FÈS FESTIVAL

Françoise Atlan and Jamey Haddad Hadra des Femmes de Taroudant

of World Sacred Music

The Anointed Jackson Sisters Gabriel Meyer and Yacoub Hussein

Corporate Silver Sponsor:

being matters.

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calendar ART NOTICES

Call For Artists: 2004 Art Exhibition Series Call for Artists – The Champaign Park District is seeking local visual artists to apply for this new venue at the Springer Cultural Center. Exhibits strive to present artistic and ethnic diversity of ChampaignUrbana and surrounding area artists. The call will continue through Mar 31. Call for more information. 398-2376.

Creation Art Studios: Art Classes for Children and Adults – All classes use the spontaneous art process to demonstrate technical instruction and the exploration of materials. CPDU's offered.

Creation Art Studios, 1102 E Washington in Urbana. Call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955 or go to www.creationartstudios.com for information.

Join Artists and Workshops at Gallery Virtu – The artist-owned cooperative Gallery Virtu invites applications from area artists. The gallery offers workshops for adults, teens and children and original works by the members. Gallery Virtu, 220 W Washington in Monticello. Thu 12-4pm, Fri 128pm, Sat 10am-6pm. For more information, call 762-7790, visit www.galleryvirtu.org or e-mail workshops@galleryvirtu.org.

ART GALLERIES Boneyard Pottery – Ceramic Art by Michael Schwegmann and others. 403 Water St in Champaign. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610.

Broken Oak Gallery – Local and national artists, original art including photography, watercolors, pottery, oil paintings, colored pencil, and woodturning. Refreshments served by the garden all day Saturday. 1865 N 1225 E Rd in White Heath.

Thu-Sat 10am-4pm. 762-4907.

Café Kopi – “Digital Evolutions,” photographs by John Sfondilias on display through February. 109 N Walnut in Champaign. Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm. 359-4266.

Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | MARCH 11-17, 2004

Creation Art Studios – Featuring original art by students and members of the studio. 1102 E Washington St in Urbana. Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm, Sat 14pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

6:00 pm 6:10 pm 8:30 pm

Yi Yi, 1999

Taiwan (173 minutes)

Saturday, March 13 2:00 pm

Iron Monkey, 1993

Hong Kong (86 minutes) 4:15 pm

Blue Gate Crossing, 2003

Glass FX – New and Antique Stained Glass Windows, Lamps and unique glass gifts. Gallery is free and open to the public. Interested in learning the art of Stained Glass? Beginning, intermediate and advanced stained glass classes offered. 202 S First St in Champaign. Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. www.glassfx.com.

359-0048.

Griggs Street Potters – Handmade functional and decorative pottery. 305 W Grigg St in Urbana. MonFri 11am-4pm, or call for appointment. 344-8546.

Hill Street Gallery Inc. – Oil and watercolor paintings, hand painted T-shirts, handmade jewelry. 703 W Hill in Champaign. Sat 12-5pm or by appointment during the week. 359-0675.

Larry Kanfer Gallery – European Collection featured in the gallery. Both limited and open edition prints by Larry Kanfer, nationally acclaimed photographer. 2503 S Neil in Champaign. Free and Open to the Public. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 3982000. www.kanfer.com.

How did you start painting?

I started getting panic attacks when I

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Unknown Pleasures, 2002 In the Mood for Love, 2001

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China/France (113 minutes) 9:00 pm

renda Beck is a painter who resides in rural Urbana. She is originally from St. Louis and earned her B.S. from the University of Missouri at St. Louis. She was selected for the Here and Now art exhibition at Krannert last summer and her work is currently on display at the Springer Cultural Center in Champaign. She works parttime for the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program as an archaeological assistant.

All bandwidth rates are symmetrical. That means both your upload speeds and download speeds are at the service level you select.

Taiwan/France (85 minutes) 6:25 pm

B

Furniture Lounge – Specializing in mid-century modern furniture from the 1920s to the 1980s – retro, Danish modern, lighting, vintage stereo equipment and vinyl records. 9 E University in Champaign. Sun-Tues 12-4:30pm, Wed-Sat 115:30pm. 352-5150.

2004

Hong Kong (90 minutes) Free Admission

All performances are at the Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign, IL

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Funded by a grant from the Freeman Foundation

Center For East Asian and Pacific Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 217-265-0640 | www.eaps.uiuc.edu

arts

MARCH 11-17, 2004 | “I JUST DON’T TRUST ANYTHING THAT BLEEDS FOR FIVE DAYS AND DOESN’T DIE.”

BY BEKEELA WATSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Framer's Market – Frame designers since 1981.

Ongoing work from local artists on display. 807 W Springfield Ave in Champaign. Tue-Fri 9:30am5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 351-7020.

Introduction to the Series Postmen in the Mountains, 1999 China (93 minutes)

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ARTIST’S CORNER

Country in the City – Antiques, Architectural, Gardening and Home Accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St in Urbana.

Thu-Sat 10am-5pm. 367-2367.

Transnational Chinese Cinema Friday, March 12

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turned forty and I was having no luck with traditional treatments. I saw an advertisement for Jenny Southlynn’s private painting class and decided to enroll.

Jenny taught me that artwork is like a “window to the soul.” She gave loose instructions and let us experiment and led me to eventually find my own style. Painting gave me something to focus on and therefore offered relief.

PHOTOS | RODERICK GEDEY

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Assembly Hall Bank Illinois C.O. Daniels Campbell Hall - WILL Campus Parking-Public Safety Bldg Campus Prop. Mgt. Cites Colonial Pantry Cookie Jar DCL Dewey’s Other Place Engineering Sciences Enterprise Works Environmental Health & Safety Envo Café Espresso Royale Faculty Staff Assistance Program Follette Green St. Coffee House Hillel Foundation Home Town Pantry Illini Union Bookstore IMPE IPRH-IL Iron Post Pub Jerusalem Middle East. Cuisine Joe’s Brewery Johnstowne Center Kams Krannert Center Krannert Museum La Bamba Larson Legend’s Mahri’s Fashion ETC Materials Research Lab Micro Electric Lab Moonstruck

What is the best environment for you to work in and why?

I have a studio in my basement that is off in a wing alone. The basement is an active place (Left) Artist Brenda Beck in her studio. (Above) One of Brenda Beck’s works which is being shown at the Springer Cultural Center. in our home. This way, I can listen to my stereo and have space to store Certain color combinations in nature along What is one of your favorite pieces and why?

I don’t have a favorite. My paintings are my work while still being able to interact with with people’s clothes, movies and books. Music my family. also inspires me in addition to certain events in like my children; they all have bad qualmy life. For example, I listen to Bubba Sparxxx, ities and good qualities but I like them all the same.

Nelly and Prince.

What inspires you?

Motorolla Research Park Newmark Lab Panera’s Papa Del’s Pizza Hut Presidential Towers Record Service Rosewood Guitars Station 211 Taft House TIS Union Union Bus Stop University Group White Horse Inn World Harvest Foods YMCA Za’s Zorbas

ABC Billard’s Bagelman’s Bread Company Café Paradiso Canopy Club Chinese Express Colonial Pantry Courier Café Crane Alley Eastland Suites Embassy Tavern Espresso Royale Fat City Saloon Holiday Inn IMC Jiffy Lube Jolly Roger Jumers

Kennedy’s Malibu Bay Lounge Margarita’s Mulligan’s Ale House Park Inn Picadilly’s Priceless Books Ramada Record Swap Silver Creek Solar Tan Strwberry Fields Market Sud’s Super 8 The Office The Office II The Rose Bowl TK Wendyl’s Urbana Courthouse Urbana Free Library Weiner WPGU

Affiliates in Oral Surgery Alexander’s Aroma Coffeehouse Aunt Sonya’s Bacchus Cigar Shop Bagelman’s Bankier Apts Barfly Barnes and Noble Basmati Baymont Inn and Suites Bentley’s Big Lots Bigfoot Boardman’s Art Theatre

Boltini’s Borders Brass Rail Buffalo Wild Wings Bus/train Station Café Kopi Café Verdant/Art gallery Carmon’s Central High School Chamber of Commerce Champaign City Building Champaign Public Library Champaign Surplus Chancellor Hotel Chester Street Chevy’s Colonial Pantry Comfort Inn Cowboy Monkey CV Lloyde Music Dallas & Co. Dandelion Discount Den Dos Reales Drury Inn El Torero El Toro Ellite Salon Esquire Fairfield Inn Farren’s Fiesta Café Fortune House Fuad’s Hair Gameday Sports Garcia’s Gillespie-Roland GKC Beverly Theaters

Great Harvest Bread Company Great Impasta GT’s Western bowl Hampton Inn U of I Hawthorne Inn and Suites Head Hunters Highdive Hooters Huber’s IGA Illini Video Jane Addams Booksore Jillian’s Johnson Rentals Jon’s Pipe Shop JSM Management Juipter Kamakura La Quinta Lando LIX Manzella’s Mark of Cain Tattoos Marriott Courtyard Merry Ann’s Diner Mettler Center Midas Mike & Molly Minneci’s Murphy’s Pub Music Shoppe Natural Gourmet Neil St. Post Office Nics Basket Case Original House of Pancakes Osco Parkland People’s Performance

Pia’s Bar & Grill Picadilly’s Pickle’s PJ Lux Plato’s Closet Premier Radio Maria Ragamuffin Rebecca’s Red Roof Robeson’s Building Rocks Ruby’s Sam’s Café Silvermine Subs Skins & Tins Smoke Shack Speed Lube Steak and Shake Sterling University TOGO’s Tommy G’s Bar Two East Main Virginia Theatre Walnut Street Tea Co. Willard Airport Johnston Sporting Goods Pages For All Spaghetti Shoppe

Bean Scene The Brown bag The Corner Tavern The East End Tavern

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arts

BEER + GD = CRAAZY TIMES | MARCH 11-17, 2004

“The Anointing of Orko”: Part 2

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BY MARQUE TERRYNAMAHR STRICKLAND | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

mulp found himself beheaded before he was able to bat an eyelash. As Sas’s blooddrenched tail wrapped itself around Huss’s throat, ensnaring a new victim, she flew forward and split Piglin’s stomach open with the nail of her index finger. His entrails spilled from the wound and he was dead as could be.

Though Huss weighed a few tons, his size was no match for the magical strength and dexterity of her tail. Acting as a noose, it crushed every bone in his throat, then threw him off the mountain. As she turned to deliver death to Asfart and Orko, she only saw the remains of smoke. They had escaped by means of magic. Sas stood taken aback for a moment, surprised that Orko had gained enough power to conjure the disappearence spell, let alone make two people vanish at once!

Dismissing the mystery for a moment, Sas quickly grabbed the young woman and flew her to safety. Upon landing, she quickly scolded the young girl as if she were her mother.

“Do try to use a bit more common sense next time! A young lady should never travel in the mountains alone, especially if she doesn’t know magic!”

“I didn’t mean to, Lady Sas. I just wanted to get some Chuku berries as medicine for me pappy. I took a shortcut through the mountains on the way to the berry fields, but those monsters grabbed me.” The young woman sobbed in despair.

Sas wasn’t surprised that the girl knew her name. Many young maidens did, as she had unintentionally earned a reputation as a guardian ... this was not the first time she had killed to protect the innocent.

As she watched the young girl’s tears splash on the rocks below, Sas cursed her sympathy within. She had to meet Nasturium in less than half an hour and she could not be late! Yet, her innate compassion for all those untainted by evil quelled her to ask.

“What’s wrong with your father?”

“Papa’s dying! He crawled through the door awhile ago, bleeding to death! It looked as if something mauled him. That’s why I need Chuku, the berry juice will cauterize the wounds. Will you not help me, mistress? I’ll be in your debt forever!” She pleaded.

“Take me to him, now!”

“But, the berries?”

“Never mind that. Give me your hand, and close your eyes. Think of your home and all that within! Concentrate, as we haven’t much time.”

The two of them locked hands, and a nauseating feeling came over the girl as she and Sas disappeared in a cloud of orange smoke.

“BITCH!!! I’LL MURDER HER IF ITS THE

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LAST THING I DO!!!” Orko, the goblin, screamed in contempt of Sas. At this, several fires erupted in different parts of the cave.

Although he was able to conjure mildly powerful spells, such as vanishing, he still had no control over them, and he was dangerous to himself and those around him.

“AAAHHHHHH!” Asfart screamed, while rolling around on the floor, attempting to extinguish his flaming buttocks. “Be careful, master! You’ll kill us both!” he warned, knowing that unpredictable spells was the price one paid the gods for attaining magical skill through treachery.

The ever odorous scent of roasted feces rose from his stench-ridden body. Orko rebuked him.

“Listen, ASS-FART ... that is how one pronounces your name, is it not? ... Don’t ever tell me how I should use my magic, or else I will turn you into a pretty flower, or something else that smells good! I doubt you would like that!”

The poop-scented beast immediately fell to his knees, begging for mercy, as the Stynk’s odor was their greatest attribute.

Being terribly proud of his hereditary stench, Asfart would have rather been dead than give up such a fine trait.

“Please don’t, master!”

“Very well then, silence, you fool!” He frowned with disgust as Asfart pulled out a nibble from his sack. Orko gagged when the buffoon bit down into a large piece of petrified shit as if it were a chocolate bar!

“Lunch time, is it?” he whispered with nausea.

When the cloud of vapor disappeared, Sas found herself in front of a large, muscular man lying on the floor. His entire body was covered in jagged lacerations and bite wounds. Sas found that she and the girl were standing in a puddle of blood. Though no longer conscious, she felt his vibrating life force, meaning that he wasn’t dead.

“Step aside,” Sas ordered.

The entire room emitted a blinding glow for a moment, and when it settled the girl’s father lay sleeping as if the incident never was. Then he leapt up suddenly, as one waking from a terrible nightmare, screaming.

“ORKO!!!!!!!!!!”

To be continued ... buz z

398-4411

THURSDAY AT 9:30 $3.00 COVER

this week Th Mar 11 Wine Tasting 5pm, free UI Wind Symphony and UI Symphonic Band I 7:30pm, $2-$5 A Raisin in the Sun 7:30pm, $6-$13 Studiodance I 7:30pm $7-$14

Fr Mar 12 Studiodance I 7pm, $7-$14 A Raisin in the Sun 7:30pm, $6-$13 Studiodance I 9pm $7-$14

Sa Mar 13 Sinfonia Student Performance Project 6:30pm, free Sinfonia Pre-Concert Lecture: Bruno Nettl 6:45pm, free Studiodance I 7pm, $7-$14 Sinfonia da Camera 7:30pm, $7-$30 Sponsors: WILL FM and TV

@

krannert center

A Raisin in the Sun 7:30pm, $6-$13 Studiodance I 9pm, $7-$14

Su Mar 14 Raisin in the Sun Dessert and Conversation 2pm, $5.50 Jonathan Faiman, piano 3pm, $5-$31 Sponsors: The Mildred Rose Estate Anonymous A Raisin in the Sun 3pm, $6-$13

We Mar 17 San Francisco Symphony Concert Prep 6:30pm, free San Francisco Symphony 7:30pm, $31-$48 Sponsors: Helen Dickerson-May and Walter May Helen and Daniel Richards Judith and Victor Feldman Joan and Peter Hood J. Michael and Mary Pat Killian and First National Bank & Trust of Clinton Barbara and Miles Klein

Mercy: a new work by Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton 7:30pm, $17-$28 Talkback: after the show, free

Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

Th Mar 18 Wine Tasting 5pm, free UI Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm, $2-$5

Tu Mar 30 Fès Festival of World Sacred Music 7:30pm, $17-$25 Sponsors:

We Mar 31 Pacifica Quartet 7:30pm, $10-$18 Fès Festival of World Sacred Music 7:30pm, $17-$25

Th Apr 1 Interval: Manoochehr Sadeghi, santur Noon, free Series Sponsor: Anonymous Wine Tasting 5pm, free Joshua Bell, violin 7:30pm, $25-$42 Sponsors: Avis and Dean Hilfinger Spring Storm 7:30pm, $6-$13

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MARCH 11-17, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

MondayMarch15 LIVE MUSIC Open Mic - Za's Italian Cafe, 7pm, free Jazz Jam hosted by ParaDocs – The Iron Post, 7:30pm, TBA The Red Hot Valentines, The Cordalene, The Greedy Loves, Spindle – Highdive, 10pm, $5

DJ 2ON2OUT – indie rock – Barfly, 9pm, free Chill in the Grill – hip hop – Canopy Club, 10pm, free DJ Betty Rocker – indie rock – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, free Case of the Mondays – house – Nargile, 10pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Community Drum Circle – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm, free "G" Force Karaoke – Kam's, 10pm-2am

COMEDY DeBono – improv comedy – Courtyard Cafe, 910pm, free

TuesdayMarch16 LIVE MUSIC Songs From the Tim Shed: Jeff Austin (of Yonder Mountain), Chris Castino – Canopy Club, 7pm, $10 Open Bluegrass Jam Session – Verde Gallery, 7pm, free Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Openingbands.com and Mike Ingram – Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 Acoustic Night: Adam Wolfe, Jess Greenlee – Tommy G's, 10pm, free Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free

DJ DJ Resonate – hip hop – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Donovan Finn – rock – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free NOX: DJ Zozo, DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats – goth & industrial – The Highdive, 10pm, $2

COMEDY Spicy Clamato – improv comedy – Courtyard Cafe, 9-10pm, free

WednesdayMarch17 LIVE MUSIC St. Patrick’s Day Rock: Motion City Soundtrack, The Red Hot Valentines, The Empyrean – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $5 St. Pat's Party: Ceili Peppers – Irish – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Orphan, Cheyenne, DJ Fritz – Nargile, 9pm, free Kilborn Alley – blues – Tommy G's, 9pm, free Openingbands.com Showcase: Lorenzo Goetz, Missing the Point, NIL8, The Timmy's – Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 Irish Traditional Music Session – Bentley's Pub, TBA, free Hard Poor Korn – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free

DJ

Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

Season Sponsors

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A Raisin in the Sun is supported in part by the Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund/College of Fine and Applied Arts and by the Chancellor's Brown v. Board of Education Jubilee Commemorative Committee.

Sponsorship for the Spirit of Fès 2004 US national tour is provided by Morocco’s National Tourist Board (ONMT). Additional support is provided by Royal Air Maroc Airlines and the Embassy of Morocco to the United States.

KrannertCenter.com 217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX 217/333-9714 (TTY) 217/244-SHOW (Fax) 217/244-0549 (Groups) kran-tix@uiuc.edu Ticket Office Open 10am to 6pm daily; on days of performances open 10am through intermission.

DJ Chef Ra – roots/rock/reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free Dream Sequence – house – Caffe Paradiso, 10pm, free DJ Boardwalk – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, $1 St. Patrick's Day Old Skool Party: DJ Otter, DJ Spinnerty, DJ Kosmopoulos – The Highdive, 10pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Elmers Club 45, 7-11pm San Francisco Symphony – Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, flex tickets: $46, sc & stu $45, UI & yth $31, single tickets: $48, sc & stu $47, UI & yth $33

C-UVENUES Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333-5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356-5144 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367-3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352-9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355-2045 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378-8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 3519011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367-3140 Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337-7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367-3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333-4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398-2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383-1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359-5565 D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356-0888 Elmer’s Club 45 3525 N Cunningham, Urbana, 344-3101 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384-9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398-5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398-5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356-7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359-7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359-1678 Highdive 51 Main, Champaign, 359-4444 Huber’s 1312 W Church, Champaign, 352-0606 Illinois Disciples Foundation 610 E Springfield, Champaign, 352-8721 Independent Media Center 218 W Main St, Urbana, 344-8820 The Iron Post 120 S Race, Urbana, 337-7678 Joe’s Brewery 706 S Fifth, Champaign, 384-1790 Kam’s 618 E Daniel, Champaign, 328-1605 Krannert Art Museum 500 E Peabody, Champaign, 333-1861 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S Goodwin, Urbana,Tickets: 333-6280, 800-KCPATIX La Casa Cultural Latina 1203 W Nevada, Urbana, 333-4950 Lava 1906 W Bradley, Champaign, 352-8714 Legends Bar & Grill 522 E Green, Champaign, 355-7674 Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328-4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344-7720 Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club 14 N Hazel, Danville, 442-8090 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328-7415 Mike n’ Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355-1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367-5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352-7275 Nargile 207 W Clark St, Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359-1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351-0068 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344-7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351-2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355-7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893-8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582-9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766-9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344-1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367-7031 Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355-1406 Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333-2360 The Station Theatre 223 N Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328-1655 Sweet Betsy's 805 S Philo Rd, Urbana Ten Thousand Villages 105 N Walnut, Champaign, 352-8938 TK Wendl’s 1901 S Highcross Rd, Urbana, 255-5328 Tommy G’s 123 S Mattis Ave, Country Fair Shopping Center, 359-2177 Tonic 619 S Wright, Champaign, 356-6768 Two Main 2 Main, Champaign, 359-3148 University YMCA 1001 S Wright, Champaign, 344-0721 Verde/Verdant 17 E Taylor St, Champaign, 366-3204 Virginia Theatre 203 W Park Ave, Champaign, 356-9053 White Horse Inn 112 1/2 E Green, Champaign, 352-5945 Zorba’s 627 E Green, Champaign

CHICAGOSHOWS MARCH 3/11 Keb’ Mo’ @ House of Blues, 18+ 3/11 Walkmen @ Metro, 18+ 3/11 Hold Steady @ Schubas 3/12 DJ SS, Grooverider, Shy FX, Twisted Individual @ Metro, 18+ 3/12 Church @ House of Blues 3/12 Antigone Rising @ Schubas 3/12 Futureman & The Isiah Williams Project @ Old Town School of Folk Music 3/12 Kid Rock @ Allstate Arena 3/12 Michael Mayer, Superpitcher @ Smart Bar 3/12 Liz Phair @ Vic 3/12 Von Bondies @ Double Door 3/12 Boy George DJ Set @ Zentra 3/12 Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown @ Buddy Guy’s Legends 3/12 Chimaira @ Oasis 160 3/12 Kenny Burns, Cedric Burnside, T-Model Ford @ House of Blues Back Porch Stage 3/12 Hackensaw Boys @ FitzGerald's 3/13 Paul Kelly @ Double Door 3/13 Sage Francis, Joe Beats, Grand Buffet @ Logan Square Auditorium

3/13 Mavericks @ Park West 3/13 Grant Lee Phillips @ Abbey Pub 3/13 Saw Doctors @ Vic 3/13 Shipping News @ Subterranean 3/13 Popa Chubby @ Buddy Guy’s Legends 3/14 Liz Phair @ Vic 3/15 Cooper Temple Clause @ Double Door 3/15 Cooper Temple Clause @ Double Door 3/15 Lyrics Born @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 3/16 Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve @ Oriental Theatre 3/16 Jamie Cullum @ Schubas 3/17 Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons @ Schubas 3/17 Bogdan Raczynski @ Empty Bottle 3/17 Cabas @ House of Blues 3/18 Australian Pink Floyd @ Rosemont Theatre 3/18 Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker @ Vic 3/18 Eric Johnson @ Park West, all-ages 3/18-19 Melissa Etheridge @ House of Blues 3/18-19 Assassins @ Schubas 3/19 Johnny Dowd @ Subterranean 3/19 Dream Theater @ Riviera 3/19 Britney Spears, Kelis @ Allstate Arena 3/19 Starlight Mints @ Abbey Pub 3/19 Dada @ Park West 3/19 Doors of the 21st Century @ Auditorium Theatre 3/19 Indigenous @ Martyrs’ 3/20 Jewel @ Star Plaza 3/20 Liars, Young People @ Logan Square Auditorium 3/20 Macabre @ Oasis 160 3/21 Amon Tobin, Kid Koala @ Metro, 18+ 3/21 Jump 5 @ Durty Nellie's, all-ages 3/21 Thea Gilmore @ Gunther Murphy's 3/22 Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson @ United Center 3/23 Ted Leo/Pharmacists @ Logan Square Auditorium 3/23 Three Days Grace @ Metro 3/24 12 Stones, Skillet, Pillar, Grits, Big Dismal @ House of Blues 3/24 Yngwie Malmsteen, George Lynch @ Joe’s 3/24 Cass McCombs @ Bottom Lounge 3/25 Distillers @ Metro, all-ages 3/25 Hoobastank @ House of Blues, all-ages 3/26 Newsboys, Rebecca St. James @ UIC Pavilion 3/26 American Music Club @ Old Town School of Folk Music 3/26 Dolly Varden @ Subterranean 3/26 Al Green @ House of Blues 3/26 Great Big Sea @ Metro, 18+ 3/26 Franz Ferdinand @ Empty Bottle 3/26 Proclaimers @ Abbey Pub 3/26 Slip @ Double Door 3/26 Southern Culture on the Skids @ FitzGerald’s 3/26 TV On the Radio @ Empty Bottle 3/26 R. Kelly @ Allstate Arena 3/26-27 Al Green @ House of Blues 3/27 Mad Caddies @ Metro 3/27 Campbell Brothers, Calvin Cooke @ Old Town School of Folk Music 3/27 John Gorka @ Schubas 3/27 Lost Sounds @ Subterranean 3/27 Insiders @ FitzGerald's 3/27 My Robot Friend @ Metro, 18+ 3/27-28 Mekons @ Double Door, (27); FitzGerald's, (28) 3/29-31 Neko Case & The Sadies @ Schubas 3/30 Ill Nino @ House of Blues, 3/30, all-ages 3/31 Adler’s Appetite @ Joe’s 3/31 George Clinton & The P-Funk All-Stars @ House of Blues

APRIL 4/1-2 Decemberists @ Schubas 4/2 Joan Baez @ Pick-Staiger Concert Hall 4/2 Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott @ Allstate Arena 4/2 Jonatha Brooke @ Park West 4/2 Graham Colton @ Double Door 4/2 Sound Tribe Sector Nine @ Vic 4/2 Star Spangles @ Lyons Den 4/2-3 Blonde Redhead @ Abbey Pub 4/3 Rod Piazza @ Buddy Guy's Legends 4/3 Preston School of Industry @ Schubas 4/3 Grandaddy, Saves the Day @ Riviera 4/3 Weirdos @ Subterranean 4/3 Particle @ Park West, 18+ 4/3 Josh Wink @ Smart Bar 4/4 Unicorns @ Logan Square Auditorium, all-ages 4/4 Floetry @ House of Blues 4/6 Chayanne @ Rosemont Theatre 4/6 Van Hunt @ Double Door 4/6 Method Man @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/7 Stereolab @ Vic 4/7 Twilight Singers @ Metro 4/7 Van Morrison @ Chicago Theatre 4/7 16 Horsepower @ Abbey Pub 4/8 Geoff Farina @ Schubas 4/8 Trapt, Smile Empty Soul @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/8 Sugarcult @ Metro, all-ages 4/8 N.E.R.D., Black Eyed Peas @ Riviera, 18+ 4/9 Weird War @ Empty Bottle 4/9 Switchfoot @ Vic

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4/9 Ruben Studdard @ Auditorium Theatre 4/9 Squarepusher @ Metro 4/9 Midnight Creeps @ Lyons Den 4/9 Roomful of Blues @ Buddy Guy's Legends 4/9 I:Cube @ Smart Bar 4/9 Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Dr. Michael White @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/9 Local H @ Metro, all-ages 4/9 & 16 Herbie Hancock @ Symphony Center 4/9-10 B.B. King @ Star Plaza 4/10 DJ Shadow @ Park West, 18+ 4/10 Wanda Jackson @ FitzGerald's 4/10 Bret Michaels @ Joe's 4/10 Tom Russell, Jim Lauderdale @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/11 Fantomas, Melt-Banana @ Metro 4/12 Story of the Year @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/13 Sleepy Jackson @ Schubas 4/13 Stellastarr @ Double Door 4/13 Rufio @ Metro, all-ages 4/14 Sarah Harmer @ Martyrs' 4/15-16 Bonnie Prince Billy, Joanna Newsom @ Open End Gallery (4/15), Logan Square Auditorium (4/16) 4/15-16 Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Kweller @ Vic 4/15-16 Willy Porter @ FitzGerald's (15), Martyrs' (16) 4/16 A Perfect Circle, Mars Volta @ UIC Pavilion 4/16 Thrills @ Metro 4/16 Orchestra Baobab @ HotHouse, two shows 4/16 Eddie From Ohio, Luther Wright & the Wrong @ FitzGerald's 4/16 Baaba Maal @ Old Town School of Folk Music, two shows 4/16 Mason Jennings @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 4/16 Peter Mulvey @ Schubas 4/17 Asylum Street Spankers @ Schubas 4/17 Mustard Plug @ Metro, all-ages 4/17 Ellis Paul @ Schubas, two shows 4/17 Pinback, Enon @ Logan Square Auditorium, all-ages 4/17-18 Rebirth Brass Band @ Martyrs' 4/18 Rasputina @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/18 Renee Fleming @ Symphony Center 4/20 Air @ Riviera 4/20 Iced Earth @ Metro, all-ages 4/20 Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/20 Sebadoh @ Abbey Pub 4/21 Delirious, David Crowder Band @ Vic, all-ages 4/21 Joss Stone @ House of Blues 4/22 Leon Russell @ Bottom Lounge 4/23 Crystal Method @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/23 Morbid Angel @ Oasis 160, all-ages 4/23 Savath & Savalas w/ Prefuse 73 @ Abbey Pub 4/23 Yellowcard, Something Corporate @ Riviera 4/23 Strokes @ Aragon, sold out 4/24 Robert Walter’s 20th Congress @ Abbey Pub 4/24 Bad Plus @ Martyrs’ 4/24 Fruit @ Schubas 4/24 Indigo Girls @ Auditorium Theatre 4/24 Tony Rice & Lonesome River Band @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/24 Pat McGee Band @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/24 Of Montreal @ Subterranean 4/25 Janis Ian @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/27 LCD Soundsystem @ Empty Bottle 4/27 Damien Rice @ Riviera, all-ages 4/28 Deerhoof @ Empty Bottle 4/28 James Murphy @ Smart Bar 4/30 Einsturzende Neubauten @ Metro, 18+ 4/30 Graham Parker @ Martyrs'

CHICAGOVENUES Abbey Pub 3420 W Grace, Chicago, (773) 478-4408 Allstate Arena 6920 N Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, (847) 635-6601 Aragon 1106 W Lawrence, Chicago, (773) 561-9500 Arie Crown Theater 2301 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, (312) 791-6190 Bottom Lounge 3206 N Wilton, Chicago, (773) 975-0505 Chicago Theatre 175 N State St, Chicago, (312) 443-1130 Congress Theatre 2135 N Milwaukee, Chicago, (312) 923-2000 Double Door 1572 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, (773) 489-3160 Elbo Room 2871 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 549-5549 Empty Bottle 1035 N Western Ave, Chicago, (773) 276-3600 Fireside Bowl 2648 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, (773) 486-2700 House of Blues 329 N Dearborn, Chicago, (312) 923-2000 Martyrs' 3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 404-9494 Metro/Smart Bar 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, (773) 549-0203 Old Town School of Folk Music 4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 728-6000 Park West 322 W Armitage, Chicago, (773) 929-5959 Riviera Theatre 4746 N Racine, Chicago, (773) 275-6800 Rosemont Theatre 5400 N River Rd, Rosemont, (847) 671-5100 Schubas 3159 N Southport, Chicago, (773) 525-2508 UIC Pavilion 525 S Racine, Chicago, (312) 413-5700 Vic Theatre 3145 N Sheffield, Chicago, (773) 472-0449

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WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | MARCH 11-17, 2004

ThursdayMarch11

FridayMarch12

SaturdayMarch13

LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC

Acoustic Music Series: Noah M.S. Harris – Aroma, 8pm, free Open Stage hosted by Joni Laurence – Red Herring, 8pm, free Jazz & Java: U of I Jazz Combo – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, $2 Sick Day, Mike Ingram – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA ShabMo Quintet – jazz – Zorba's, 9:30pm, $3 Zoso – Led Zeppelin tribute band – Canopy Club, 10pm, $6 Eclectic Theory – White Horse Inn, 10:30pm, free Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Buzz 1year birthday party – Bryan Holloway Something, Mike Coulter with comedy Dave King, Orphans, Katie Richardson reading poetry and other birthday surprises – Brass Rail, 8pm

Electric Wood – blues, southern rock covers – The Iron Post, 5-7pm, TBA Happy Hour: David Davenport – classic rock – Tommy G's 5-7pm, free Pocket Big Band – Highdive, 5:30pm, $3 IMC Folk Music Series: Charlie King and Karen Brandow – Channing-Murray Foundation, 8pm, $10 Reasonable Doubt – Hubers, 8pm, TBA Resource and Action Group for Girlz (and Womyn) Benefit Show: He Who Corrupts, Fourth Rotor, Seyarse, Dollyrots, Hollowed Out – IDF, 8pm, $5 Bullet Called Life, TBA – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, $2 Waffle Hoss Reunion Show – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA The Blackouts, The Bamboo Kids, The Bloody Hollies, Pearlene – garage – Nargile, 9pm, $5 Decibully, The Reputation, Shakin' Babies – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $5 Southbound – southern rock – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover

Grass Roots Revival – Pages For All Ages, 7-9pm, free Ronnie Baker Brooks – Highdive, 7pm, $10 Rec Records Release Show: The Ghost, Members of The Yellow Press, Bluebottle, Ryan's Hope, Big Thick Skin – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $4 Beth Davis Band – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Ben Bedford – Embassy Tavern, 9:30pm, free Fotomana, G. Lee and Jet Blonde – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $4 Lorenzo Goetz, Brief Candles, DIY – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, TBA Troubled Hubble, The Show is the Rainbow, Glorybee – Nargile, 10pm, $5 Blues Deacons – blues – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Ziggy Marley, Michael Franit and Spearhead – Canopy Club, 10pm, $20 Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover The Prairie Dogs – Anita Purves Nature Center, 3pm, free

DJ DJ J-Phlip – house – Barfly, 9pm, free Salsateca w/ DJ Bris Mueller – salsa/merengue – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $4 DJ Delayney – hip hop, house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 Electroclash DancePunk Affair – Nargile, 10pm, $5

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

"G" Force Karaoke – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm-1am UI Wind Symphony and UI Symphonic Band I – Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, sc $4, stu $2

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 7:30pm.

Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

Studiodance I – Includes four dynamic concerts presented by the Department of Dance. Studio Theatre, 7:30pm. Flex tickets: $13, sc & stu $12, UI & yth $7. Single tickets: $14, sc & stu $13, UI & yth $8.

AROUND TOWN Wine Tasting – Sample wine, learn about the different kinds and buy full glasses for $3.50 per glass.

Krannert Center lobby, 5pm, free.

DJ Electronic Music Appreciation Club and Allen Hall benefit for SWANN Special Care – 10 featured Djs – Allen Hall, 5:30pm, free DJ Bozak – house, hip hop, downbeat – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Dance Party – Canopy Club, 10pm, TBA DJ Impact – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, 10pm, $5

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 7:30pm.

Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

Studiodance I – Includes four dynamic concerts presented by the Department of Dance. Studio Theatre, 7pm, 9pm. Flex tickets: $13, sc & stu $12, UI & yth $7. Single tickets: $14, sc & stu $13, UI & yth $8.

DJ DJ Sophisto – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, 10pm, $5 Twice as Nice: DJ Mertz, DJ J-Phlip – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Historic Lincoln Castle Hotel Alumni Tap Bar, 9pm-1am Mercy – a new work by Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton – Tryon Festival Theatre, 7:30pm, flex tickets: $26, sc & stu $25, UI & yth $17, single tickets: $28, sc & stu $27, UI & yth $19 Sinfonia da Camera – Presenting Beethoven selections that simply invite celebration, Sinfonia acknowledges its 20th anniversary with the Leonora Overture No. 3, Wellington's Victory, and the remarkable Violin Concerto in D Major.

Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm. Flex: $29, sc $28, stu $11, yth $7. Single: $30, sc $29, stu $12, yth $8.

buzz

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 7:30pm.

Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

Studiodance I – Includes four dynamic concerts presented by the Department of Dance. Studio Theatre, 7pm, 9pm. Flex tickets: $13, sc & stu $12, UI & yth $7. Single: $14, sc & stu $13, UI & yth $8.

SundayMarch14 LIVE MUSIC Writers in the Round: Bruce Rummenie (from Bruiser and the Virtues), Nick Rudd, Angie Heaton, G. Lee – Cowboy Monkey, 7pm, $3 IPAN – calypso – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Washington Social Club, Lying in States, Little Black Spiders – Nargile, 9pm, $5 Broken Glass – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30pm, free The Prairie Dogs – Lincoln Square Mall, 3pm, free Spiral Seisiun – Pages for all Ages Cafe, 3pm, free

DJ Fresh Face DJ – Barfly, 9pm, free Spundays with DJ Delayney – hip hop & soul – Boltini, 10pm, free Blends By Otter – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Reel to Reel and the Wheels of Steel: Spicerack Movies with soundtrack provided by DJ Spinnerty and DJ Bozak – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, $1

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Jonathan Faiman – piano – Foellinger Great Hall, 3pm, flex: $29, sc & stu $28, UI & yth $23, single: $31, sc & stu $30, UI & yth $25, balcony: $10, UI & yth $5

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 3pm. Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

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music

DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | EVEN THOUGH IT’S RESPONSIBLE FOR MILLER LITE, MILWAUKEE ISN’T THAT BAD.

Milwaukee rock meets Polyvinyl

Decibully journeys from duo to septet, finding their sound along the way

BY JACOB DITTMER | MUSIC EDITOR

E

very day, bands are formed and bands are dissolved. The creative drive of musicians and artists keeps this a steady and recurring practice in music. Culture and music “scenes” seem to spawn new groups at an alarming rate with band members diving into side projects and new endeavors. Under these circumstances, Decibully, a talented group from our northern neighbor, Milwaukee, was born.

A band that started as a Midwestern country-playing guitar duo of William Seidel and Kenny Siebert grew into a seven-member band that played some of last year’s most unique and indescribable music. Sure, one could slap labels on their sound, but to do that would be a disservice to these complex compositions.

Lead singer and lyricist Seidel jokes how the early incarnations of the band were nicknamed “Rodeohead,” a cowboy version of the highly recognizable Radiohead. The pun isn’t far off.

These seven musicians all play a part in creating textured songs that offer a familiar country sound at first listen. But upon closer and repeated listens, the songs reveal themselves to be the layered works of ingenuity that they are.

Songs like “On the Way to Your Hotel” slowly reveal to the listener each layer and part in a delicate fashion while quiet strums of the banjo and other instruments come together in a mosaic of sound. The song starts with a slow and sad guitar that sounds like something you would hear in a smoke-filled

country bar. Seidel sings in his lyrics of contemplative love and self-questioning as the song progresses and adds new instruments and harmonies.

This song also features tinges of electronic waves and flourishes that Seidel jokingly calls “fairy sprinkles,” giving their songs a wholesome and layered sound.

“We don’t have a defined sound or a defined self,” Seidel said. “We just play music that we like and know. We usually just call ourselves a Milwaukee rock and roll band.”

Banjo, lap steel guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, harmonica and keyboards are some of the many instruments that come together on the band’s debut album City of Festivals, released last year by Champaign’s own Polyvinyl records. Naturally, comparisons were drawn to Wilco for their similarly country-influenced sound coupled with the emphasis on production technique. But Decibully travels down a different path.

“It started with me and Kenny wanting to do a bunch of old slow-countryish songs,” Seidel said. “But with adding new members came new influence and direction.”

To organize seven musicians into a singular vision on songs can be quite a task, and Seidel described the recording process as “chaos for a bit then things coming together.”

“Working on songs with seven people playing together created moments with lots of clashing and some people have to drop out or lighten their part,” Seidel said.

Decibully’s history goes as far back as 1992 with Seidel meeting long-time friend and collaborator Ryan Weber in high school. The two expressed an interest and love of music that grew into numerous bands and projects for the two.

Since then, Seidel and Weber have been

involved in the music scene and a variety of bands. Most notably, the two formed the band Camden in the late ‘90s. Seidel and Weber were both invited to join the final incarnations of The Promise Ring for their tour that featured Camden opening for several shows.

“We had been working on Decibully during that time and once The Promise Ring fell apart we pushed things forward,” Seidel said.

City of Festivals actually spans two years, as Seidel describes it. The record comes together as a variance of old and new material with some songs written two years before recording and others two weeks beforehand. A certain level of evolution occurred in several songs that were written before the full incarnation of Decibully.

Much of the band’s recording is done in their practice space with Weber working on a Macintosh with Pro Tools recording software.

Although a majority of the album was recorded in Milwaukee’s Bionic studios, Weber worked on the produced sound of the album, adding the electronic subtleties and flourishes at particular moments. The band’s true strength is in this process. So many instruments and parts have to come together in this process—finding the right levels and moments can be a difficult task. At times, banjo player Eric Holliday plays so subtly that the part is hardly noticed, while at others he sits prominent in the center of a song’s sound.

“With so many things going on, different ranges and keys, Ryan develops an ear for places that could use something more,” Seidel said. “He’ll add something that will give the song more depth and range.”

Today, aside from Decibully, Seidel is a part of several other endeavors. He is in an electronic duo with Weber called New Sense. Other members contribute to numerous Milwaukee bands illustrating the flexibility and talent of these musicians. Milwaukee has its own “scene” with people in the music culture forming

Check the buzz online archives for a review of Decibully’s City of Festivals released last October on Polyvinyl Records www.illinimedia.com/buzz a family, as Seidel described it.

“It’s a nice support network,” Seidel said.

“We all go to each other’s shows and know each other.”

All seven members will be packing up for a tour in the next week with things kicking off in Champaign at Cowboy Monkey this Friday.

From there, the band will head to Austin’s South by Southwest Festival.

Seidel is excited for the upcoming tour, mentioning that last fall’s tour was one of the most enjoyable tours he had been a part of. Traveling with seven guys in a van doesn’t sound too appealing but to Seidel, it’s like a vacation with friends. During their last tour, the band stopped at California’s Joshua Tree National Park to pay their respects to alt-country innovator and founder Gram Parsons.

Aside from embarking on this new tour, Decibully is in the process of writing and recording new songs. Seidel said there is a strong chemistry within the band that will likely yield more quality songs. Whatever the future holds, this band is going places. buzz See Decibully this Friday at Cowboy Monkey. The show starts at 10 p.m. with The Reputation and Shakin’ Babies opening. Tickets are $5.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DECIBULLY.COM

031104buzz1320

Local label Polyvinyl Records has their seven-member Milwaukee act Decibully coming to town this Friday at Cowboy Monkey.

Decibully guitarist and lyricist William Seidel.

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I WISH I COULD GROW KILLER DREADS | DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

buzz

Everybody deserves Michael Franti

BY MIKE CARBERRY | STAFF WRITER

I

PHOTO | COURTESY OF MAX MEDIA

n one form or another, Michael Franti has been making music and spreading his sociopolitical messages for the past 20 years. The San Francisco-based artist previously founded The Beatnigs and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (with Charlie Hunter) and is now the frontman for Spearhead.

With Spearhead, Franti stares down some of the heaviest issues of today. Some of the rage in previous projects has been replaced by positive messages and words of wisdom, as he learned that activism is better at solving problems than anger. Michael Franti and Spearhead’s sixth and latest album Everyone Deserves Music continues Franti’s legacy of fighting social injustice, exploring spirituality and getting you off your ass to dance. It’s lyrical content is less loaded than Franti’s previous release, Stay Human, but once again he pulls off the impressive feat of producing an album without a single weak song.

Franti lists The Clash as the band that had the greatest impact on him. This comes through in guitarist Dave Shul’s riffs on “We Don’t Stop” and “Yes I Will” on Everyone Deserves Music. Franti admires The Clash because they weren’t afraid to experiment with their style, they weren’t afraid to express their views and they weren’t afraid to have fun. These elements are the keystones of Michael Franti and Spearhead’s musical expression.

They don’t limit themselves to a genre but delve into hip hop, funk, R&B, rock, reggae and Latin music, mixing influences as varied as C u r t i s Mayfield, Bob Marley and U2. The stylistic versatility of their music makes

it available for anyone with a sense of rhythm, but the real appeal is Franti’s genuine emotion and socially conscious vision.

Franti spits his rhymes with an uninhibited voice—at times angry, at times joyous, but at all times insightful and enlightening. He sings about realizing a new world where we can overcome all the fear, deal with the chaos around us and really learn to love life.

“I view the future as a place and time where all of our ideals will be realized. When I write music I want to help us realize that future,” Franti said. In “We Don’t Stop,” he sings “Dance to the new day, sing to the new day …

Yesterday is over, tomorrow may be too late.”

A call for the people to rise up and realize that the world is in our hands.

There are those who would dismiss some of his songs as cliche or sappy, with the hippiedipped themes of peace, love and togetherness. But if these people could postpone their cynicism and really listen, they would realize the relevance of Franti’s message.

Everyone Deserves Music is a direct response to dat ass, but in “What I Be” he sings, “If I could current issues in our post Sept. 11 era. Franti’s be sex my words would protect / I’d be in the songs are brimming with political commen- lives of all who connect / Pores would be driptary, but there is also a very personal and spir- ping pure hot intellect / And the minds of the itual dimension to his music. Describing masses would all stay erect.” Metaphors like Everyone Deserves Music, Franti says, “Half the this fill Franti’s writing, making the songs record is songs about what’s going on. This poetic and inspirational. It’s true that some of spectre of war, intimidation, this nation versus the lines are downright mushy. In the same song he sings, “If the rest of the world, it I were the rain I’d wears us out. Half the wash away the record is a healthy dose of whole world’s venting anger about that, pain / And bring and the other half is the gift of cool about how to hold on to like ice-cream our spirituality, our comtrucks on sunny munity and our connect– Michael Franti days.” But a edness to each other.” beautiful and Two tracks on the new poignant mesalbum pair Franti with sage shines the reggae/funk duo of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Some of through, making Everyone Deserves Music a Franti’s material work as dance songs, such as great disc to start your day to. His powerful “Pray for Grace” and “Bomb the World and provocative songs pulse with vitality.

Michael Franti and Spearhead have spread (Armageddon Version).” These are meant to get both the speakers and the people bouncing. their music and message through relentless Fittingly, these songs are packed with some of touring, sharing the stage with such acts as the heaviest content of the album. An album Trey Anastasio, Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, standout, “Pray for Grace” deals with looking KRS-One, and Ziggy Marley on their current toward a guiding light in a world that some- tour. Franti is known for his powerful stage times seems hopeless and full of hardship. presence during a show. This comes from the Franti belts out with raw reggae vocals: “Why positive vibes of his performances as well as must I feel like this today? / I’m a soldier but the fact that he’s a six-foot-six dreadlock-laden afraid.” Then the song bursts into a Latin mass of a man. His main aim at a show is for groove over the heavy bass and Franti’s chants. everyone to have fun and get moving, and On “Bomb the World (Armageddon when he’s up on stage, Franti has the crowd in Version),” Franti sings, “Brothers and sisters the palm of his hand. He brings you into an don’t believe them / It’s not a war against evil atmosphere of jubilation, love and sexuality, as / It’s really just revenge / Engaged on the well as empowerment and inspiration. He poorest by the same rich men / Fight ter- wants you to be sweaty, he wants you to cry, he rorists wherever they be found / But wants you to dance, jump, shout. Franti’s why you not bombing Tim McVeigh’s songs are a pure outpouring of emotion. That hometown? / You can say what soul, coupled with the infectious grooves of you want propaganda television Spearhead will make you do all of the above.

Michael Franti and Spearhead also continue / But all bombing is terrorism.” to play on the festival circuit around the Need I say more?

Heavy songs like these are bal- world. In 1999, they started an annual 911 anced out by touching songs Power to the Peaceful festival in San like “Crazy, Crazy, Crazy.” It Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. It’s a day of looks at the absurdity of all social justice and activism, gathering some the violence in the world. He 30,000 people together to raise consciousness addresses this with the sim- and tackle issues about the environment, the ple yet wise words, “No life’s death penalty and war.

Everyone Deserves Music is by far Franti’s worth more than any other / No sister worth more than most complete and fully realized album. His any brother.” This is sung universal writing and the worldly grooves of in his warm baritone Spearhead really meld together to reach the voice, soothing enough to pinnacle of Franti’s funky revolution. He can only soar from here. buzz put you to sleep.

His writing really aspires to lift the listener up out of the mires of modern society.

He doesn’t sing about bump- Michael Franti and Spearhead will perform with Ziggy ing and grind- Marley Saturday, March 13 at Canopy Club. Tickets are ing or tappin’ $20 and the show starts at 10 p.m.

[

When I write music, I want to help us realize that future.

[

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music

DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | THOSE CRAZY GERMANS MAKE SOME CRAZY MUSIC

showcases his skill on the boards. Through the Lenny Williams classic “Cause I Love You,” West creates a masterpiece of his own with help from hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari. Twista’s perfectly synchronized flow carries the song to “instant hit” status. Another gem is “So Sexy.”This R. Kelly collaboration has a laidback feel that—with the aide of guitars and backing vocals of R&B duo JS—has “summer anthem” written all over it.

If there’s anything that steers Kamikaze off its course, it’s the basic nature of “Drinks.” From the mediocre beat to Twista’s slower-than-normal flow, it is one that could have been left off the disc completely.

“Badunkadunk” is another worthless song with its typical focus on female assets. However, these are only minor setbacks. The bulk of the music on Kamikaze makes it a valuable buy.

NEW BLACK New Black Thick Records

★★★

BY VIMAL SONI

For most people, ending a long-term relationship is one of the worst things that can happen in their lives. For musicians, however, breaking up can be inspirational gold, and just what they need to write that hit song.

That seems to be the case for Liam Kimball, co-lead singer of New Black. In New Black’s self-titled debut for Thick Records, Kimball channels the heartache of being left by his newlywed bride by writing songs full of heartache. This Chicago quartet, with co-lead singers Kimball and Patti Gran, along with lovers Nick Kraska and Rachel Shindelman, fuse together their musical talents with their lyrics of lost love. This tangled group of musicians and lovers creates an atmosphere of tension in the album that is felt throughout.

The album opens with arguably the strongest track, “Put it to Bed,” which lets you know off the bat that their style works quite well with two lead singers.

New Black’s greatest strength comes from the unique mix of vocals of co-lead singers Kimball and Gran. The tracks tend to alternate between the two singers, but the band is at its best when both singers are on the track and allowed to play off of each other.

Songs like “Last Wave” perfectly showcase Gran’s ability to shriek in a way that leaves listeners wondering if she is experiencing pain or pleasure, and Kimball’s ability to use his loud spastic voice to complement her.

The band goes for a punk rock, new wave sound on this album and succeeds, for the most part, with the guidance of producer Greg Norman (Guided by Voices, Detachment Kit). The quick-tempo guitars mixed with keyboards go well with the lyrics and vocals to create pop songs with dark edges. The mixture of genres, from punk to pop to new wave, allows different moods to sweep over the listener instead of one stagnant atmosphere.

TopFive

The band combines catchy pop tracks that the average person can listen to with tracks that leave you scratching your head and thinking, “What the hell was that?” The abstract sound that New Black goes for can best be described as the B-52’s version 2.0, faster and not as “happy.” Although the album fades out at the end with the last couple of songs not packing the same punch as the earlier ones, the half-hour album is diverse enough to deserve a solid listen.

isn’t disappointing when I stack this CD next to the latest piece of shit that some label in L.A. is trying to sell me.

EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN Perpetum Mobile Mute Records

JASON COLLETT Motor Motel Love Songs Arts and Crafts

★★★

BY JACOB DITTMER

I am in love with Canada. After recent viewings of Bowling for Columbine coupled with the beauteous landscapes of our northern neighbor, it just seems so much better when stacked up next to the “Land of the Free.” Some of last year’s great albums and artists are Canadians: Broken Social Scene, The Unicorns, The New Pornographers and others all add to my growing affection of these mellow Northerners.

So you can imagine my excitement when receiving fellow Canadian Jason Collett’s solo album. Collett, as you may recall, was one of the many artists featured in the talented lineup of Broken Social Scene. As it seems with many of these Canadian acts, the interchangeable lineup is ever-present with several artists guesting on songs and disappearing on the next.

Collett’s choice of an album cover has such warmth with the columns of light shining through the window that his light melodic style is apparent at first glance.

He chooses to go the route of the singer/songwriter with some pleasant pop sensibilities. At times, he sounds almost like Tom Petty would if he had not traveled down the road of traditional American rock ‘n’ roll (“American Girl,” anyone?).

This is a nice CD to listen to but it doesn’t really grab the listener. Instead, Collett’s subtle approach to his songs and sound are so well done that it’s easy to ignore what you are listening to and therein lies the problem.

Some singer/songwriters can really grab their listener with deep and insightful lyrics or amazing song construction and musicianship. But Collett’s approach is so consistent throughout that it doesn’t achieve the sort of grandeur of some of his contemporary singer/songwriters like M Ward.

Consistency is a good thing, but as stated above it can be sort of bland at times and easily ignored when plopped into the CD tray. “Little Clown” stands as the catchy pop tune with its memorable hook as Collett sings in his hushed tone,“Oh you little clown.” So there are some pleasantries found on this album, but overall it doesn’t “wow” the listener, which is a complaint that could be said about 98 percent of today’s music.

Collett is a talented musician and songwriter that will please fans of the folk/country and singer/songwriter sounds. So Canada isn’t all great, but it still

★★★

BY LOGAN MOORE

There seems to be an illogical assumption by the majority of rock music critics that the age of 30 is somehow the cut-off for musical creativity.

Unfortunately, this theory is continually validated by the offerings of once great minds who continue to drag on well after their expiration date, i.e. someone needs to tell Keith Richards to put a shirt on, he’s scaring the kids. And the critical buzz-word “mature” is often a polite euphemism for “boring as all hell.” Still, the wisdom that comes from age, the ability to see outside yourself and the idealistic strictures of youth, can lead to works of startling grace and intelligence.

Einsturzende Neubauten are a band who, early in their career, would have been considered the least likely to craft such an album, but with Perpetum Mobile, they have done just that. Along with other industrial pioneers like Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire, Einsturzende were known primarily for making the sort of noise that scares the average citizen shitless. However, the band’s level of creativity and ability to sculpt pure sound into art has yielded interesting, if occasionally uneven, dividends in the autumn of their career. Perpetum Mobile is both a culmination and summation of what will surely be considered their “quiet years.” Whereas before the menace inherent in the band’s sound was frantic and unmistakable, Einsturzende Neubauten have toned down and internalized their psychotic tendencies.

Where once songs were the ravings of madmen on killing sprees, the band has emerged to craft songs encapsulating those horrific moments of tension right before the kill, camped out in the darkness, conversing with secret voices.

The industrial noise of the past, music which incorporated everything from power tools to machine noise, has developed to reflect present day technology.

It is sleek, subtle and obsessed with movement. The songs on Perpetum Mobile are constantly in motion, propelled on a bed of instruments encompassing bass, guitar and drums all the way to amplified steel tension wire, Pythagorean tubular bells, car tires and “turntable powered wind instrument.” The songs incorporate space excellently, summoning the listeners attention to the sonic dimension of each unfamiliar thwack and growl. And percussion still plays a gigantic role in the Einstruzende Neubauten experience. Electronic noise, standard kit and elaborate combinations of junkyard scrap are either processed into the unrecognizable or allowed to breathe on their own as a testament to the band’s noisier past.

Album names

1. Swordfishtrombone Tom Waits Tossing away his former career as a neo-jazz crooner like so many of the throwaways that inhabit his songs, Waits signaled his descent into the avant garde with the title of this absolutely essential album.

The lack of capitals or spaces between words, as well as the nonsense title itself, echoed the genreless experimentation and mish-mash of traditional and cutting edge music that peppered his landscape of midgets, killers, sailors, the drunken and the broken-hearted. The title itself was later payed homage to by the likes of Sparklehorse (Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot) and OutKast (Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik).

2. Trout Mask Replica - Captain Beefheart Yeah, you knew this cat was gonna be whacko from the get go.The world needs more artists like Don Van Vilet, ones who will not only name an album Trout Mask Replica but, just to drive the point home, wear a trout mask on the cover. It did-

n’t hurt that the music contained within was an endlessly influential explosion of blues, R&B and angular experimentalism, which followed absolutely no logic but the twisted, humorous, internal variety of its ringleader. The absurdist title encapsulated all the Dadaist glory of songs like “Neon Meat Dream of an Octafish” and “Hair Pie: Bake 1.”

3. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo - Devo And so the eternal question was posed and the career of one of the most subversive, witty bands of the punk era was launched into orbit. Basing an entire band around the tongue in cheek theory that we as human beings are actually devolving rather than

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The album’s most compelling work and centerpiece is the 13-minute title track. It begins with the abrasive cracking and rumbling of sheet metal steadily rising in volume before settling into a rhythmic kraut-rock groove. The ringing of metallic percussion pingpongs out of every corner. At various points in the song, the rhythm drops away so that distorted theremins can duet with a loop that sounds like keys in a washing machine. Occasionally the bass rumbles up to jackhammer the song while Blixa Bargeld chants random passages of verse like a man possessed. It’s pretty exhilarating.

Apparently the band allowed online fans to participate in the creation of the album which may account for Perpetum Mobile’s one fault: a lack of cohesion.

Although each song is a fleshed out composition unto itself, the pacing of the album tends to either jar or blend together. Still, it seems that Einstruzende Neubauten have hit an extremely interesting point in their career where youthful experimentalism collides with the mature ideas to carry them to their logical conclusion. The old boys may have another great album in them yet.

CHARTS PARASOL RECORDS’ TOP 10 SELLERS 1. The Comsat Angels - It’s History (Nano) 2. TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch And Go) 3. Rainer Maria - Anyone In Love With You (Already Knows) (Polyvinyl) 4. José González - Veneer (Imperial) 5. Lanterna - Highways (Badman) 6. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre) 7. The Legends - Up Against The Legends (Labrador) 8. Bigger Lovers - This Affair Never Happened...

(Yep Rock) 9. Hederos & Hellberg Hederos & Hellberg (Hidden Agenda) 10. Belle And Sebastian I’m a Cuckoo (Rough Trade)

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★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

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Next week: Top five album covers (cover art) What’s yours? E-mail us at music@readbuzz.com evolving was just one of the many hilarious eccentricities of this band. The call and response nature of the title was affirmed by many of the songs on Devo’s debut.

“Uncontrollable Urge” sports a chorus of “I’ve got an uncontrollable urge” as the rest of the band answers, “He’s got an uncontrollable urge.”The title itself was the chorus of the justifiably classic “Jocko Homo.” All hail, Booji Boy!

4. And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out Yo La Tengo Lengthy, indeed, but this title does much to describe what this album is about.This counter-intuitive statement will force many to scratch their heads as to what it could possibly mean. “How can nothing turn itself inside out?” “Isn’t nothing nothing?” Their follow-up to the equally well-titled I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One delivers some sad and mellow songs that complement a feeling of nothingness. We were always told not to start a sentence with “and,” but in this case, it works just fine.

5. Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis Miles Davis was cool. This album came early in the career of a soon-to-be jazz legend that did much for what “cool” truly was. Look at the cover. He even has cool-ass sunglasses on while he plays his trumpet.

For years to come, people will try to be cool and emulate what is cool, but Miles was the founder of a revolution of coolness and hipsterism.

Reader’s top five 1. Hit to Death in the Future Head - The Flaming Lips 2. Clouds Taste Metallic - The Flaming Lips 3. Oh Me Oh My...The Way the Day Goes by the Sun is Setting Dogs are Dreaming Lovesongs of the Christmas Spirit Devendra Banhart 4. Automatic for the People - REM 5. Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant - Belle & Sebastian Submitted by Sunil Chopra

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OH STEVE YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CORPORATE REVOLUTION. | DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

CDReviews

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XIU XIU Fabulous Muscles 5 Rue Christine

★★★★

BY JACOB DITTMER

Art Rock. Pretentious.

Experimental.

Weird.

Nonsense. These words could all be used to describe Xiu Xiu’s music. But I prefer brilliant.

One of indie rocks most “out there” bands and most prolific, Xiu Xiu has come through with their fifth CD in a little over two years. Within those years, the band’s mastermind and main songwriter Jamie Stewart has definitely fine-tuned his focus and style.This post-punk band’s blend of what you could call lo-fi electronics and pseudo-synth-pop comes together in its most palatable auditory assault yet.

From start to finish, this album does not fail to entertain and intrigue.“Crank Heart”kicks off the album with classic Xiu Xiu-style sonic dissonance and underlying beats that come together sounding like something from old school Donkey Kong complete with blips and beeps. But the layers go beyond that, and deeper, to create a delightful texture of sound than one wouldn’t expect of this almost minimalist band.

Stewart’s often time-confessional style lyrics hit the ears just as hard as they did before. At times, he sings in his hushed Robert Smith-esque voice that mumbles on garbled phrases of pain and frustration while at other times he hits the wails and screams with anger. On the title track, the most simplistic of the album that offers Stewart’s voice and acoustic guitar, he utilizes his highly sexual and unique lyrics in a playful manner: “Cremate me after you cum on my lips—honey boy, place my ashes in a vase under your workout bench.”

Other songs like “Little Panda McElroy” read like an internal monologue with electronic waves of sound filling in the rushes of emotion. Other songs will likely provoke controversy like Stewart’s anti-war song, “Support Our Troops OH!,” that generalizes a soldier’s personality and doubles as a metaphor for the American way. With lyrics like, “You shot your grenade launcher into people’s windows and into doors of people’s houses—why should I care if you get killed?” A strong statement coupled with a bizarre musical

OnTheSpotReview THE REVOLUTION SMILE Above the Noise Geffen Records

BY STEVE KLINE

Before listening BUDADADADADDADAAABOOMBOOMBOOM!!!

ATARI TEENNNAAGGGE RIOOOTTT!! REVOLUTION ACTION!! BUDADADADADADADAAAAA!!!

Hey, hey, you guys, think these people don’t like the government? Ooo, how rebellious.

Insert alert! Insert alert! “A&R by Fred Durst.” Oh, let me change my opinion, this is gonna be gold. Anything connected to the Durst has gotta be genuine; this is a man who never fakes it.

More cover scrutiny: I’m very, very suspicious of these children with their brown hair styled in the almost-mullet fashion.“Children of the Damned: South

arrangement that attacks the listener’s senses with flaring horns. “Clowne Towne” stands out as a beautifully arranged piece of music complete with Asian-style strings, creating a warm and wholesome sound. This song has the trademark dark and depressing lyrics of Stewart but the song’s composition and sound come together creating a positive and warm feeling, something Xiu Xiu has done rarely.

All of Xiu Xiu’s songs are different, unique and challenging. Dynamics play such a vital role in the song construction that it is hard to catch every element without the aid of headphones. Stewart’s voice will go from a whispered and nearly inaudible sound to a scream coupled with screeching electronic that makes the spine cringe. It is not an easy task to understand this band and the listener is better off appreciating the sheer creativity of this group.

It’s hard to say who can appreciate this album but anyone who wishes to see the elements of common music structure pushed to the envelope should check out this band. Joy Division and other early post-punk bands may stand as influence but nothing truly sounds like Xiu Xiu.

JOHN FRUSCIANTE Shadows Collide With People

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The guitarist finally comes into his own as a solo artist, overtly demonstrating specifically what it is he brings to his band, proving in 18 tracks that it is indeed he that is at the heart of the Peppers’ eclecticism. The introduction to the opener, “Carvel”, hints at ambient pop influences that extend to the penultimate “23 Go Into End”, as well as manifesting themselves in a post-rock guise in “-00Ghost27” and an electronic/dance-music form for “Failure33 Object”.

Unfortunately there are occasional misfires within his versatility, including the misplaced and cliché synthesized sounds of “Regret.”

It could be cautiously claimed that this is his least sincere album and a more apathetic one, especially if one has become accustomed to the Frusciante of old, for this is a far cry from him. Certainly a great deal more restraint has been exercised. Yet with “Time Goes Back,” he takes all the fractured distraught desperation of previous works, and pours them into making an anthemic rallying cry, confessing “I was afraid to be me” and “I saw the days I lost.”

In the process, he writes the stand-out song on the album. By singing about his demons, he makes this record feel like a welcome return to sanity after a considerable hiatus. Shadows Collide With People is more conservative; gone are the often self-indulgent eccentricities in favor of a polished, well-conceived accessibility, which is a well-deserved success for an intriguing artist.

Warner Records

★★★

BY SHADIE ELNASHAI

Anyone expecting the sort of abstract experimentation with which John Frusciante’s solo work tends to be associated is likely to be disappointed by Shadows Collide With People.

Alternatively, the fans that were not overly keen on songs such as “Your P*ssy Is Glued To A Building On Fire” will probably be glad that the Red Hot Chili Peppers’guitarist has at last released a universally intelligible album.

Frusciante left the Chili Peppers after the release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, whereupon he descended into a haze of heroin addiction. He released two albums, including 1995’s Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T-Shirt, allegedly to fund his habit. They functioned merely as outlets through which to vent his more insane sentiments. Each moment of genius was buried in such a confusing mess that the resulting whole was unfortunately short on artistic merit.

After rehab, he rejoined his former band, and was responsible for one of the best guitar albums of the ‘90s, Californication.

With this release, he has evolved and grown considerably, and not only in musical terms. Whereas previously he was erratic and disorganized, now he has focused his emotions and created a passionate album that should appeal both to Chili Pepper fans as well as a less mainstream crowd. With bandmates Chad Smith and Flea helping out with drums and bass respectively, songs such as “Wednesday’s Song” strongly resemble a Chili Peppers side project with Frusciante’s harmonies replacing Anthony Kiedis’s token raps.

Carolina.” They’re psychics, as displayed by the black armbands which display the band logo. Oh, hell yeah we know you Rage Against the Machine wannabes are gonna die when this album comes out. We can read your thoughts.

Where do they find the children to pose for these covers? There’s a parental advisory logo on the bottom right but still these obviously underage kids pose for the front and inside covers. Of course, nothing says “Revolution” like “Parental Advisory.” Down with the man, but not until you’re 17. Damn the man! I’ll get my message out through a major corporate entity, Geffen Records!

The band logo is a star in a circle, an inverted Satanic logo—Oh no, I’m offended.

Authority figure,“If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t ‘ave any pudding! ‘Ow can you ‘ave any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?” This is what your life has come down to. You’re grimacing on a C-list band cover right before Satan’s children force you to jump on a broomstick handle. This, my friends, is why you should stay in college.

After listening Oh God, oh God, no. No no no, kill me, take me now, how

TWISTA Kamikaze Atlantic Records

★★★★

BY ROSALYN YATES

Before Jan. 27, 2004, the most recent solo album available for purchase by the Guinness Book’s world’s fastest rapper was 1997’s Adrenaline Rush. In the sevenyear interim, fans of the swift style of Twista were teased with his sporadic guest appearances on records from some of rap’s most popular players. In today’s world of fickle music fans, an extended hiatus can be a huge gamble for an artist hoping for a comeback.

However, Kamikaze proves that Chicago’s Twista was prepared to explode right on target.

This 16-track disc has a powerful opening with “Get Me”, one of six songs produced by Toxic. With a sampling style reminiscent of Kanye West, Toxic uses “Here I Am” (originally performed by The Three Degrees) to serve as the background for Twista’s re-introduction into the game. Following is “Kill Us All,” Twista’s continuation of the song “Adrenaline Rush.”The track sounds like leftovers from Crucial Conflict’s The Final Tic and fails to stand out as anything worth a second listen.

Naturally, the most recognized number from Kamikaze is “Slow Jamz.” After topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles charts, this brainchild of in-demand producer Kanye West is what put Twista on the train to commercialism. But it’s on “Overnight Celebrity” that West really can there be a God when I’ve forcibly spent over 50 minutes of my life listening to this for beer money? I’ve lost all hope and suddenly wish to play hamster Ping Pong.

Revolution Smile, you dared use an inverted Satanic symbol as your logo? Lucifer could sue your asses for defamation of character. “Your honor, I understand I’m blamed for all the death and disease and evil in the world but, come on, at least I didn’t suck.”

Lyric: “You’re holding me down, holding me down, making me drown, making me drown.”

If it’s not true, then don’t sing it. Someone out there, PLEASE drown this band so they can at least relate to their own songs.These songs are simple, distorted guitar licks, catchy lyrics and a screaming Foo Fighters-esque voice. Meaning:You’re gonna hear this shit 24/7 on 107.1 The Planet because it’s PERFECTLY catchy enough to hook the sixth graders while making the rest of us hate the United States for inflicting this on its populace.

Vigilante justice is all we can pray for; kill these people before they make a video and look all angry from the cover of Rolling Stone. Every time you hear this shit on the radio you’ll wonder if a red ant enema would really be that bad. Frats should ban this album since playing to recruits is a form of hazing. I’m going to go slam my head in a car door.

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DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | COULD THIS TRULY BE THE END OF CREED???

15

The Hurly-Burly Sifting through the commotion and crap of music culture

presents...

COMPILED BY | LOGAN MOORE

Woo-hoo! The Beastie Boys have announced they will release their long-awaited follow-up to Hello Nasty! sometime in June. Mix Master Mike joined the boys for the recording process and the band is reportedly finishing up mixing the album. The as-yet-untitled album will be the Beasties’ first of original material in over six years.

Sub Pop recently signed a prodigious bumper crop of bands to the label including exTristeza members Album Leaf, neo-psych noise mongers Comets On Fire, West Coast country band Frausdots, guitar poppers Helio Sequence, textural pop band Rogue Wave and creepy abrasive Detroit electronic combo Wolf Eyes.

Sonic Youth’s 19th album, Sonic Youth Nurse, is scheduled for a June release. It will be produced by punk legend Richard Hell and, according to the band, will be very different from the rest of their catalog.

\R.E.M.’s new platter is set for a spring release.

They are currently doing studio work in the Bahamas. The album will be produced by the band and Pat McCarthy and will feature longtime musical compatriots Ken Stringfellow and Ken Mcaughey and touring drummer Bill Rieflin. They’ll be following it up with a worldwide tour in September and October.

P.J. Harvey has set a summer release date for her follow-up to Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea. The album features Rob Ellis on drums and was once again produced by Polly herself and mixed with the aid of Head.

Wierdo dance rockers Liars will begin a month-long tour of the United States March 16, opting out of the South by Southwest extravaganza. Their sophomore album They Were Wrong, So We Drowned was released Feb. 27 and is scary and noisy.

What the hell?

Moment of the week According to the rumor mill, a breakup may be in the works for ... Creed. Guitarist Mark Tremonti made plans for a solo album immediately following the now infamous Chicago debacle wherein Scott Stapp rolled around on the stage in a drunken stupor for all his adoring fans. Stapp also has plans for a solo album.

Although the band’s official website denies any breakup, the band is apparently on some sort of hiatus. Somewhere, Mel Gibson is quietly crying into a stack of $1,000 bills. The rest of us will be throwing parties and joyously dancing in the streets.

Wednesday, April 7th Illini Union Courtyard Café Doors 6:30/Show 7:00 Tickets On Sale Tomorrow!!! at Illini Union Ticket Central Or call 217.333.5000 Uiuc Students $11 Public $13 www.star-course.com

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Troubled Hubble

Brighten

Ronnie Baker Brooks brings blues, jazz to town

Things Up

C

hicago-based rock band Troubled Hubble is guaranteed to lighten any listener’s spirits. The four-member band hits on everything from love and beauty to the joys of canoes, and does so with ceaseless optimism for whatever tomorrow will bring. The group has been playing together for the past four years and has recently released its third album, Penturbia. Expect to hear tightly orchestrated guitar and drum sounds, plenty of sing-along opportunities, and no shortage of handclapping at the band’s live show.

Troubled Hubble offers a break from daily life and strife, a chance to unwind and ease up, and an inclination to smile at the person singing along next to you. Catch Troubled Hubble Saturday at Nargile. The band will be joined by The Show is the Rainbow and Glorybee. The show starts at 10pm and has a $5 cover.

St.

Patrick’s Day Happenings

R

onnie Baker Brooks, son of blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks, has been playing blues music since he was nine years old and living blues music since he was born. He has been playing, touring and creating new blues and jazz music on his own since releasing his solo debut Golddigger in 1998. Brooks blends blues and rock music to successfully create unique songs and sounds that highlight his guitar playing and lyrics. He has combined his musical talents with his father’s in the past, and the two blues artists have shown that, sometimes, talent does run in the family. Brooks is not afraid to experiment with various and sometimes unusual rhythms, and can effortlessly combine these sounds with just the right touch of down-home blues to leave blues fans feeling not only satisfied but also as if they have heard something new, something fresh. Catch Brooks Saturday at Highdive.

Jillian’s and Miller Lite – Good Call!

Decibully represents local music through innovative sounds

H

owever you decide to celebrate the real St. Patrick’s Day, make sure it involves music. There are a variety of shows happening around town on the day, and plenty of music—Irish as well as rock—to entertain you and to serve as the soundtrack for your night. From rock to traditional Irish music, the following shows are set to celebrate the occasion with you: Motion City Soundtrack, The Red Hot Valentines and The Empyrean at Courtyard Cafe at 8pm; Ceili Peppers Irish music at The Iron Post at 9pm; a Irish Traditional Music Session at Bentley's Pub; and a St. Patrick's Day Old Skool Party w/ DJ Otter, DJ Spinnerty and DJ Kosmopoulos at Highdive at 10pm. Check everything out or start at one bar and stay all night long. Regardless of how your plans end up, begin the night with some quality music to kick things off.

17

T

his seven-member, pseudo alt-country band comes to us from Milwaukee, bringing a wide range of songs and sounds to entertain. Listeners will catch everything from banjo to piano to guitar sounds, all blended seamlessly together to create unique, innovative country and rock ’n’ roll music. Guitarists Kenny Siebert and William Seidel lead the band and have been making music together since the early 1990s. The band has a truly original sound, and they belong in no one category of music. They are defining themselves as they go and taking sounds of rock ’n’ roll, country, folk rock and indie rock along for the ride. The band’s lyrics are heartfelt and direct without carrying the emo banner, and the simplicity and honesty is refreshing. Catch Decibully along with The Reputation and Shakin' Babies Friday at Cowboy Monkey. The show starts at 10pm with a $5 cover.

Musicians

tell stories, sing songs

I

n the vein of VH1 Storytellers, Writers in the Round comes to you live at Cowboy Monkey. Perfect for any fan of music and song origins, this intimate concert allows four different musicians to showcase songs in acoustic sets, and to tell the stories that go with them. Bruce Rummenie hits the stage without his usual bandmates from Bruiser and the Virtues. Rummenie has been on the music scene for more than 15 years and has been writing songs all the while. He is the lead songwriter and vocalist for Bruiser and the Virtues. Nick Rudd will also perform, bringing his years of experience in songwriting and storytelling through songs to the stage. Angie Heaton and G. Lee will round out the performances. Both are songwriters and both are original, unique musicians. Catch all the musicians at Writers in the Round, going on Sunday at Cowboy Monkey. Music and conversation starts at 7pm with a $3 cover.

For extra photos, check out readbuzz.com

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4:17 PM

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buzzpicks

Troubled Hubble

Brighten

Ronnie Baker Brooks brings blues, jazz to town

Things Up

C

hicago-based rock band Troubled Hubble is guaranteed to lighten any listener’s spirits. The four-member band hits on everything from love and beauty to the joys of canoes, and does so with ceaseless optimism for whatever tomorrow will bring. The group has been playing together for the past four years and has recently released its third album, Penturbia. Expect to hear tightly orchestrated guitar and drum sounds, plenty of sing-along opportunities, and no shortage of handclapping at the band’s live show.

Troubled Hubble offers a break from daily life and strife, a chance to unwind and ease up, and an inclination to smile at the person singing along next to you. Catch Troubled Hubble Saturday at Nargile. The band will be joined by The Show is the Rainbow and Glorybee. The show starts at 10pm and has a $5 cover.

St.

Patrick’s Day Happenings

R

onnie Baker Brooks, son of blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks, has been playing blues music since he was nine years old and living blues music since he was born. He has been playing, touring and creating new blues and jazz music on his own since releasing his solo debut Golddigger in 1998. Brooks blends blues and rock music to successfully create unique songs and sounds that highlight his guitar playing and lyrics. He has combined his musical talents with his father’s in the past, and the two blues artists have shown that, sometimes, talent does run in the family. Brooks is not afraid to experiment with various and sometimes unusual rhythms, and can effortlessly combine these sounds with just the right touch of down-home blues to leave blues fans feeling not only satisfied but also as if they have heard something new, something fresh. Catch Brooks Saturday at Highdive.

Jillian’s and Miller Lite – Good Call!

Decibully represents local music through innovative sounds

H

owever you decide to celebrate the real St. Patrick’s Day, make sure it involves music. There are a variety of shows happening around town on the day, and plenty of music—Irish as well as rock—to entertain you and to serve as the soundtrack for your night. From rock to traditional Irish music, the following shows are set to celebrate the occasion with you: Motion City Soundtrack, The Red Hot Valentines and The Empyrean at Courtyard Cafe at 8pm; Ceili Peppers Irish music at The Iron Post at 9pm; a Irish Traditional Music Session at Bentley's Pub; and a St. Patrick's Day Old Skool Party w/ DJ Otter, DJ Spinnerty and DJ Kosmopoulos at Highdive at 10pm. Check everything out or start at one bar and stay all night long. Regardless of how your plans end up, begin the night with some quality music to kick things off.

17

T

his seven-member, pseudo alt-country band comes to us from Milwaukee, bringing a wide range of songs and sounds to entertain. Listeners will catch everything from banjo to piano to guitar sounds, all blended seamlessly together to create unique, innovative country and rock ’n’ roll music. Guitarists Kenny Siebert and William Seidel lead the band and have been making music together since the early 1990s. The band has a truly original sound, and they belong in no one category of music. They are defining themselves as they go and taking sounds of rock ’n’ roll, country, folk rock and indie rock along for the ride. The band’s lyrics are heartfelt and direct without carrying the emo banner, and the simplicity and honesty is refreshing. Catch Decibully along with The Reputation and Shakin' Babies Friday at Cowboy Monkey. The show starts at 10pm with a $5 cover.

Musicians

tell stories, sing songs

I

n the vein of VH1 Storytellers, Writers in the Round comes to you live at Cowboy Monkey. Perfect for any fan of music and song origins, this intimate concert allows four different musicians to showcase songs in acoustic sets, and to tell the stories that go with them. Bruce Rummenie hits the stage without his usual bandmates from Bruiser and the Virtues. Rummenie has been on the music scene for more than 15 years and has been writing songs all the while. He is the lead songwriter and vocalist for Bruiser and the Virtues. Nick Rudd will also perform, bringing his years of experience in songwriting and storytelling through songs to the stage. Angie Heaton and G. Lee will round out the performances. Both are songwriters and both are original, unique musicians. Catch all the musicians at Writers in the Round, going on Sunday at Cowboy Monkey. Music and conversation starts at 7pm with a $3 cover.

For extra photos, check out readbuzz.com

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music

OH STEVE YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CORPORATE REVOLUTION. | DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

CDReviews

18

3/10/04

XIU XIU Fabulous Muscles 5 Rue Christine

★★★★

BY JACOB DITTMER

Art Rock. Pretentious.

Experimental.

Weird.

Nonsense. These words could all be used to describe Xiu Xiu’s music. But I prefer brilliant.

One of indie rocks most “out there” bands and most prolific, Xiu Xiu has come through with their fifth CD in a little over two years. Within those years, the band’s mastermind and main songwriter Jamie Stewart has definitely fine-tuned his focus and style.This post-punk band’s blend of what you could call lo-fi electronics and pseudo-synth-pop comes together in its most palatable auditory assault yet.

From start to finish, this album does not fail to entertain and intrigue.“Crank Heart”kicks off the album with classic Xiu Xiu-style sonic dissonance and underlying beats that come together sounding like something from old school Donkey Kong complete with blips and beeps. But the layers go beyond that, and deeper, to create a delightful texture of sound than one wouldn’t expect of this almost minimalist band.

Stewart’s often time-confessional style lyrics hit the ears just as hard as they did before. At times, he sings in his hushed Robert Smith-esque voice that mumbles on garbled phrases of pain and frustration while at other times he hits the wails and screams with anger. On the title track, the most simplistic of the album that offers Stewart’s voice and acoustic guitar, he utilizes his highly sexual and unique lyrics in a playful manner: “Cremate me after you cum on my lips—honey boy, place my ashes in a vase under your workout bench.”

Other songs like “Little Panda McElroy” read like an internal monologue with electronic waves of sound filling in the rushes of emotion. Other songs will likely provoke controversy like Stewart’s anti-war song, “Support Our Troops OH!,” that generalizes a soldier’s personality and doubles as a metaphor for the American way. With lyrics like, “You shot your grenade launcher into people’s windows and into doors of people’s houses—why should I care if you get killed?” A strong statement coupled with a bizarre musical

OnTheSpotReview THE REVOLUTION SMILE Above the Noise Geffen Records

BY STEVE KLINE

Before listening BUDADADADADDADAAABOOMBOOMBOOM!!!

ATARI TEENNNAAGGGE RIOOOTTT!! REVOLUTION ACTION!! BUDADADADADADADAAAAA!!!

Hey, hey, you guys, think these people don’t like the government? Ooo, how rebellious.

Insert alert! Insert alert! “A&R by Fred Durst.” Oh, let me change my opinion, this is gonna be gold. Anything connected to the Durst has gotta be genuine; this is a man who never fakes it.

More cover scrutiny: I’m very, very suspicious of these children with their brown hair styled in the almost-mullet fashion.“Children of the Damned: South

arrangement that attacks the listener’s senses with flaring horns. “Clowne Towne” stands out as a beautifully arranged piece of music complete with Asian-style strings, creating a warm and wholesome sound. This song has the trademark dark and depressing lyrics of Stewart but the song’s composition and sound come together creating a positive and warm feeling, something Xiu Xiu has done rarely.

All of Xiu Xiu’s songs are different, unique and challenging. Dynamics play such a vital role in the song construction that it is hard to catch every element without the aid of headphones. Stewart’s voice will go from a whispered and nearly inaudible sound to a scream coupled with screeching electronic that makes the spine cringe. It is not an easy task to understand this band and the listener is better off appreciating the sheer creativity of this group.

It’s hard to say who can appreciate this album but anyone who wishes to see the elements of common music structure pushed to the envelope should check out this band. Joy Division and other early post-punk bands may stand as influence but nothing truly sounds like Xiu Xiu.

JOHN FRUSCIANTE Shadows Collide With People

buzz

The guitarist finally comes into his own as a solo artist, overtly demonstrating specifically what it is he brings to his band, proving in 18 tracks that it is indeed he that is at the heart of the Peppers’ eclecticism. The introduction to the opener, “Carvel”, hints at ambient pop influences that extend to the penultimate “23 Go Into End”, as well as manifesting themselves in a post-rock guise in “-00Ghost27” and an electronic/dance-music form for “Failure33 Object”.

Unfortunately there are occasional misfires within his versatility, including the misplaced and cliché synthesized sounds of “Regret.”

It could be cautiously claimed that this is his least sincere album and a more apathetic one, especially if one has become accustomed to the Frusciante of old, for this is a far cry from him. Certainly a great deal more restraint has been exercised. Yet with “Time Goes Back,” he takes all the fractured distraught desperation of previous works, and pours them into making an anthemic rallying cry, confessing “I was afraid to be me” and “I saw the days I lost.”

In the process, he writes the stand-out song on the album. By singing about his demons, he makes this record feel like a welcome return to sanity after a considerable hiatus. Shadows Collide With People is more conservative; gone are the often self-indulgent eccentricities in favor of a polished, well-conceived accessibility, which is a well-deserved success for an intriguing artist.

Warner Records

★★★

BY SHADIE ELNASHAI

Anyone expecting the sort of abstract experimentation with which John Frusciante’s solo work tends to be associated is likely to be disappointed by Shadows Collide With People.

Alternatively, the fans that were not overly keen on songs such as “Your P*ssy Is Glued To A Building On Fire” will probably be glad that the Red Hot Chili Peppers’guitarist has at last released a universally intelligible album.

Frusciante left the Chili Peppers after the release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, whereupon he descended into a haze of heroin addiction. He released two albums, including 1995’s Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T-Shirt, allegedly to fund his habit. They functioned merely as outlets through which to vent his more insane sentiments. Each moment of genius was buried in such a confusing mess that the resulting whole was unfortunately short on artistic merit.

After rehab, he rejoined his former band, and was responsible for one of the best guitar albums of the ‘90s, Californication.

With this release, he has evolved and grown considerably, and not only in musical terms. Whereas previously he was erratic and disorganized, now he has focused his emotions and created a passionate album that should appeal both to Chili Pepper fans as well as a less mainstream crowd. With bandmates Chad Smith and Flea helping out with drums and bass respectively, songs such as “Wednesday’s Song” strongly resemble a Chili Peppers side project with Frusciante’s harmonies replacing Anthony Kiedis’s token raps.

Carolina.” They’re psychics, as displayed by the black armbands which display the band logo. Oh, hell yeah we know you Rage Against the Machine wannabes are gonna die when this album comes out. We can read your thoughts.

Where do they find the children to pose for these covers? There’s a parental advisory logo on the bottom right but still these obviously underage kids pose for the front and inside covers. Of course, nothing says “Revolution” like “Parental Advisory.” Down with the man, but not until you’re 17. Damn the man! I’ll get my message out through a major corporate entity, Geffen Records!

The band logo is a star in a circle, an inverted Satanic logo—Oh no, I’m offended.

Authority figure,“If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t ‘ave any pudding! ‘Ow can you ‘ave any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?” This is what your life has come down to. You’re grimacing on a C-list band cover right before Satan’s children force you to jump on a broomstick handle. This, my friends, is why you should stay in college.

After listening Oh God, oh God, no. No no no, kill me, take me now, how

TWISTA Kamikaze Atlantic Records

★★★★

BY ROSALYN YATES

Before Jan. 27, 2004, the most recent solo album available for purchase by the Guinness Book’s world’s fastest rapper was 1997’s Adrenaline Rush. In the sevenyear interim, fans of the swift style of Twista were teased with his sporadic guest appearances on records from some of rap’s most popular players. In today’s world of fickle music fans, an extended hiatus can be a huge gamble for an artist hoping for a comeback.

However, Kamikaze proves that Chicago’s Twista was prepared to explode right on target.

This 16-track disc has a powerful opening with “Get Me”, one of six songs produced by Toxic. With a sampling style reminiscent of Kanye West, Toxic uses “Here I Am” (originally performed by The Three Degrees) to serve as the background for Twista’s re-introduction into the game. Following is “Kill Us All,” Twista’s continuation of the song “Adrenaline Rush.”The track sounds like leftovers from Crucial Conflict’s The Final Tic and fails to stand out as anything worth a second listen.

Naturally, the most recognized number from Kamikaze is “Slow Jamz.” After topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles charts, this brainchild of in-demand producer Kanye West is what put Twista on the train to commercialism. But it’s on “Overnight Celebrity” that West really can there be a God when I’ve forcibly spent over 50 minutes of my life listening to this for beer money? I’ve lost all hope and suddenly wish to play hamster Ping Pong.

Revolution Smile, you dared use an inverted Satanic symbol as your logo? Lucifer could sue your asses for defamation of character. “Your honor, I understand I’m blamed for all the death and disease and evil in the world but, come on, at least I didn’t suck.”

Lyric: “You’re holding me down, holding me down, making me drown, making me drown.”

If it’s not true, then don’t sing it. Someone out there, PLEASE drown this band so they can at least relate to their own songs.These songs are simple, distorted guitar licks, catchy lyrics and a screaming Foo Fighters-esque voice. Meaning:You’re gonna hear this shit 24/7 on 107.1 The Planet because it’s PERFECTLY catchy enough to hook the sixth graders while making the rest of us hate the United States for inflicting this on its populace.

Vigilante justice is all we can pray for; kill these people before they make a video and look all angry from the cover of Rolling Stone. Every time you hear this shit on the radio you’ll wonder if a red ant enema would really be that bad. Frats should ban this album since playing to recruits is a form of hazing. I’m going to go slam my head in a car door.

buzz

music

DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | COULD THIS TRULY BE THE END OF CREED???

15

The Hurly-Burly Sifting through the commotion and crap of music culture

presents...

COMPILED BY | LOGAN MOORE

Woo-hoo! The Beastie Boys have announced they will release their long-awaited follow-up to Hello Nasty! sometime in June. Mix Master Mike joined the boys for the recording process and the band is reportedly finishing up mixing the album. The as-yet-untitled album will be the Beasties’ first of original material in over six years.

Sub Pop recently signed a prodigious bumper crop of bands to the label including exTristeza members Album Leaf, neo-psych noise mongers Comets On Fire, West Coast country band Frausdots, guitar poppers Helio Sequence, textural pop band Rogue Wave and creepy abrasive Detroit electronic combo Wolf Eyes.

Sonic Youth’s 19th album, Sonic Youth Nurse, is scheduled for a June release. It will be produced by punk legend Richard Hell and, according to the band, will be very different from the rest of their catalog.

\R.E.M.’s new platter is set for a spring release.

They are currently doing studio work in the Bahamas. The album will be produced by the band and Pat McCarthy and will feature longtime musical compatriots Ken Stringfellow and Ken Mcaughey and touring drummer Bill Rieflin. They’ll be following it up with a worldwide tour in September and October.

P.J. Harvey has set a summer release date for her follow-up to Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea. The album features Rob Ellis on drums and was once again produced by Polly herself and mixed with the aid of Head.

Wierdo dance rockers Liars will begin a month-long tour of the United States March 16, opting out of the South by Southwest extravaganza. Their sophomore album They Were Wrong, So We Drowned was released Feb. 27 and is scary and noisy.

What the hell?

Moment of the week According to the rumor mill, a breakup may be in the works for ... Creed. Guitarist Mark Tremonti made plans for a solo album immediately following the now infamous Chicago debacle wherein Scott Stapp rolled around on the stage in a drunken stupor for all his adoring fans. Stapp also has plans for a solo album.

Although the band’s official website denies any breakup, the band is apparently on some sort of hiatus. Somewhere, Mel Gibson is quietly crying into a stack of $1,000 bills. The rest of us will be throwing parties and joyously dancing in the streets.

Wednesday, April 7th Illini Union Courtyard Café Doors 6:30/Show 7:00 Tickets On Sale Tomorrow!!! at Illini Union Ticket Central Or call 217.333.5000 Uiuc Students $11 Public $13 www.star-course.com

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I WISH I COULD GROW KILLER DREADS | DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

buzz

Everybody deserves Michael Franti

BY MIKE CARBERRY | STAFF WRITER

I

PHOTO | COURTESY OF MAX MEDIA

n one form or another, Michael Franti has been making music and spreading his sociopolitical messages for the past 20 years. The San Francisco-based artist previously founded The Beatnigs and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (with Charlie Hunter) and is now the frontman for Spearhead.

With Spearhead, Franti stares down some of the heaviest issues of today. Some of the rage in previous projects has been replaced by positive messages and words of wisdom, as he learned that activism is better at solving problems than anger. Michael Franti and Spearhead’s sixth and latest album Everyone Deserves Music continues Franti’s legacy of fighting social injustice, exploring spirituality and getting you off your ass to dance. It’s lyrical content is less loaded than Franti’s previous release, Stay Human, but once again he pulls off the impressive feat of producing an album without a single weak song.

Franti lists The Clash as the band that had the greatest impact on him. This comes through in guitarist Dave Shul’s riffs on “We Don’t Stop” and “Yes I Will” on Everyone Deserves Music. Franti admires The Clash because they weren’t afraid to experiment with their style, they weren’t afraid to express their views and they weren’t afraid to have fun. These elements are the keystones of Michael Franti and Spearhead’s musical expression.

They don’t limit themselves to a genre but delve into hip hop, funk, R&B, rock, reggae and Latin music, mixing influences as varied as C u r t i s Mayfield, Bob Marley and U2. The stylistic versatility of their music makes

it available for anyone with a sense of rhythm, but the real appeal is Franti’s genuine emotion and socially conscious vision.

Franti spits his rhymes with an uninhibited voice—at times angry, at times joyous, but at all times insightful and enlightening. He sings about realizing a new world where we can overcome all the fear, deal with the chaos around us and really learn to love life.

“I view the future as a place and time where all of our ideals will be realized. When I write music I want to help us realize that future,” Franti said. In “We Don’t Stop,” he sings “Dance to the new day, sing to the new day …

Yesterday is over, tomorrow may be too late.”

A call for the people to rise up and realize that the world is in our hands.

There are those who would dismiss some of his songs as cliche or sappy, with the hippiedipped themes of peace, love and togetherness. But if these people could postpone their cynicism and really listen, they would realize the relevance of Franti’s message.

Everyone Deserves Music is a direct response to dat ass, but in “What I Be” he sings, “If I could current issues in our post Sept. 11 era. Franti’s be sex my words would protect / I’d be in the songs are brimming with political commen- lives of all who connect / Pores would be driptary, but there is also a very personal and spir- ping pure hot intellect / And the minds of the itual dimension to his music. Describing masses would all stay erect.” Metaphors like Everyone Deserves Music, Franti says, “Half the this fill Franti’s writing, making the songs record is songs about what’s going on. This poetic and inspirational. It’s true that some of spectre of war, intimidation, this nation versus the lines are downright mushy. In the same song he sings, “If the rest of the world, it I were the rain I’d wears us out. Half the wash away the record is a healthy dose of whole world’s venting anger about that, pain / And bring and the other half is the gift of cool about how to hold on to like ice-cream our spirituality, our comtrucks on sunny munity and our connect– Michael Franti days.” But a edness to each other.” beautiful and Two tracks on the new poignant mesalbum pair Franti with sage shines the reggae/funk duo of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Some of through, making Everyone Deserves Music a Franti’s material work as dance songs, such as great disc to start your day to. His powerful “Pray for Grace” and “Bomb the World and provocative songs pulse with vitality.

Michael Franti and Spearhead have spread (Armageddon Version).” These are meant to get both the speakers and the people bouncing. their music and message through relentless Fittingly, these songs are packed with some of touring, sharing the stage with such acts as the heaviest content of the album. An album Trey Anastasio, Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, standout, “Pray for Grace” deals with looking KRS-One, and Ziggy Marley on their current toward a guiding light in a world that some- tour. Franti is known for his powerful stage times seems hopeless and full of hardship. presence during a show. This comes from the Franti belts out with raw reggae vocals: “Why positive vibes of his performances as well as must I feel like this today? / I’m a soldier but the fact that he’s a six-foot-six dreadlock-laden afraid.” Then the song bursts into a Latin mass of a man. His main aim at a show is for groove over the heavy bass and Franti’s chants. everyone to have fun and get moving, and On “Bomb the World (Armageddon when he’s up on stage, Franti has the crowd in Version),” Franti sings, “Brothers and sisters the palm of his hand. He brings you into an don’t believe them / It’s not a war against evil atmosphere of jubilation, love and sexuality, as / It’s really just revenge / Engaged on the well as empowerment and inspiration. He poorest by the same rich men / Fight ter- wants you to be sweaty, he wants you to cry, he rorists wherever they be found / But wants you to dance, jump, shout. Franti’s why you not bombing Tim McVeigh’s songs are a pure outpouring of emotion. That hometown? / You can say what soul, coupled with the infectious grooves of you want propaganda television Spearhead will make you do all of the above.

Michael Franti and Spearhead also continue / But all bombing is terrorism.” to play on the festival circuit around the Need I say more?

Heavy songs like these are bal- world. In 1999, they started an annual 911 anced out by touching songs Power to the Peaceful festival in San like “Crazy, Crazy, Crazy.” It Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. It’s a day of looks at the absurdity of all social justice and activism, gathering some the violence in the world. He 30,000 people together to raise consciousness addresses this with the sim- and tackle issues about the environment, the ple yet wise words, “No life’s death penalty and war.

Everyone Deserves Music is by far Franti’s worth more than any other / No sister worth more than most complete and fully realized album. His any brother.” This is sung universal writing and the worldly grooves of in his warm baritone Spearhead really meld together to reach the voice, soothing enough to pinnacle of Franti’s funky revolution. He can only soar from here. buzz put you to sleep.

His writing really aspires to lift the listener up out of the mires of modern society.

He doesn’t sing about bump- Michael Franti and Spearhead will perform with Ziggy ing and grind- Marley Saturday, March 13 at Canopy Club. Tickets are ing or tappin’ $20 and the show starts at 10 p.m.

[

When I write music, I want to help us realize that future.

[

buzz

music

DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | THOSE CRAZY GERMANS MAKE SOME CRAZY MUSIC

showcases his skill on the boards. Through the Lenny Williams classic “Cause I Love You,” West creates a masterpiece of his own with help from hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari. Twista’s perfectly synchronized flow carries the song to “instant hit” status. Another gem is “So Sexy.”This R. Kelly collaboration has a laidback feel that—with the aide of guitars and backing vocals of R&B duo JS—has “summer anthem” written all over it.

If there’s anything that steers Kamikaze off its course, it’s the basic nature of “Drinks.” From the mediocre beat to Twista’s slower-than-normal flow, it is one that could have been left off the disc completely.

“Badunkadunk” is another worthless song with its typical focus on female assets. However, these are only minor setbacks. The bulk of the music on Kamikaze makes it a valuable buy.

NEW BLACK New Black Thick Records

★★★

BY VIMAL SONI

For most people, ending a long-term relationship is one of the worst things that can happen in their lives. For musicians, however, breaking up can be inspirational gold, and just what they need to write that hit song.

That seems to be the case for Liam Kimball, co-lead singer of New Black. In New Black’s self-titled debut for Thick Records, Kimball channels the heartache of being left by his newlywed bride by writing songs full of heartache. This Chicago quartet, with co-lead singers Kimball and Patti Gran, along with lovers Nick Kraska and Rachel Shindelman, fuse together their musical talents with their lyrics of lost love. This tangled group of musicians and lovers creates an atmosphere of tension in the album that is felt throughout.

The album opens with arguably the strongest track, “Put it to Bed,” which lets you know off the bat that their style works quite well with two lead singers.

New Black’s greatest strength comes from the unique mix of vocals of co-lead singers Kimball and Gran. The tracks tend to alternate between the two singers, but the band is at its best when both singers are on the track and allowed to play off of each other.

Songs like “Last Wave” perfectly showcase Gran’s ability to shriek in a way that leaves listeners wondering if she is experiencing pain or pleasure, and Kimball’s ability to use his loud spastic voice to complement her.

The band goes for a punk rock, new wave sound on this album and succeeds, for the most part, with the guidance of producer Greg Norman (Guided by Voices, Detachment Kit). The quick-tempo guitars mixed with keyboards go well with the lyrics and vocals to create pop songs with dark edges. The mixture of genres, from punk to pop to new wave, allows different moods to sweep over the listener instead of one stagnant atmosphere.

TopFive

The band combines catchy pop tracks that the average person can listen to with tracks that leave you scratching your head and thinking, “What the hell was that?” The abstract sound that New Black goes for can best be described as the B-52’s version 2.0, faster and not as “happy.” Although the album fades out at the end with the last couple of songs not packing the same punch as the earlier ones, the half-hour album is diverse enough to deserve a solid listen.

isn’t disappointing when I stack this CD next to the latest piece of shit that some label in L.A. is trying to sell me.

EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN Perpetum Mobile Mute Records

JASON COLLETT Motor Motel Love Songs Arts and Crafts

★★★

BY JACOB DITTMER

I am in love with Canada. After recent viewings of Bowling for Columbine coupled with the beauteous landscapes of our northern neighbor, it just seems so much better when stacked up next to the “Land of the Free.” Some of last year’s great albums and artists are Canadians: Broken Social Scene, The Unicorns, The New Pornographers and others all add to my growing affection of these mellow Northerners.

So you can imagine my excitement when receiving fellow Canadian Jason Collett’s solo album. Collett, as you may recall, was one of the many artists featured in the talented lineup of Broken Social Scene. As it seems with many of these Canadian acts, the interchangeable lineup is ever-present with several artists guesting on songs and disappearing on the next.

Collett’s choice of an album cover has such warmth with the columns of light shining through the window that his light melodic style is apparent at first glance.

He chooses to go the route of the singer/songwriter with some pleasant pop sensibilities. At times, he sounds almost like Tom Petty would if he had not traveled down the road of traditional American rock ‘n’ roll (“American Girl,” anyone?).

This is a nice CD to listen to but it doesn’t really grab the listener. Instead, Collett’s subtle approach to his songs and sound are so well done that it’s easy to ignore what you are listening to and therein lies the problem.

Some singer/songwriters can really grab their listener with deep and insightful lyrics or amazing song construction and musicianship. But Collett’s approach is so consistent throughout that it doesn’t achieve the sort of grandeur of some of his contemporary singer/songwriters like M Ward.

Consistency is a good thing, but as stated above it can be sort of bland at times and easily ignored when plopped into the CD tray. “Little Clown” stands as the catchy pop tune with its memorable hook as Collett sings in his hushed tone,“Oh you little clown.” So there are some pleasantries found on this album, but overall it doesn’t “wow” the listener, which is a complaint that could be said about 98 percent of today’s music.

Collett is a talented musician and songwriter that will please fans of the folk/country and singer/songwriter sounds. So Canada isn’t all great, but it still

★★★

BY LOGAN MOORE

There seems to be an illogical assumption by the majority of rock music critics that the age of 30 is somehow the cut-off for musical creativity.

Unfortunately, this theory is continually validated by the offerings of once great minds who continue to drag on well after their expiration date, i.e. someone needs to tell Keith Richards to put a shirt on, he’s scaring the kids. And the critical buzz-word “mature” is often a polite euphemism for “boring as all hell.” Still, the wisdom that comes from age, the ability to see outside yourself and the idealistic strictures of youth, can lead to works of startling grace and intelligence.

Einsturzende Neubauten are a band who, early in their career, would have been considered the least likely to craft such an album, but with Perpetum Mobile, they have done just that. Along with other industrial pioneers like Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire, Einsturzende were known primarily for making the sort of noise that scares the average citizen shitless. However, the band’s level of creativity and ability to sculpt pure sound into art has yielded interesting, if occasionally uneven, dividends in the autumn of their career. Perpetum Mobile is both a culmination and summation of what will surely be considered their “quiet years.” Whereas before the menace inherent in the band’s sound was frantic and unmistakable, Einsturzende Neubauten have toned down and internalized their psychotic tendencies.

Where once songs were the ravings of madmen on killing sprees, the band has emerged to craft songs encapsulating those horrific moments of tension right before the kill, camped out in the darkness, conversing with secret voices.

The industrial noise of the past, music which incorporated everything from power tools to machine noise, has developed to reflect present day technology.

It is sleek, subtle and obsessed with movement. The songs on Perpetum Mobile are constantly in motion, propelled on a bed of instruments encompassing bass, guitar and drums all the way to amplified steel tension wire, Pythagorean tubular bells, car tires and “turntable powered wind instrument.” The songs incorporate space excellently, summoning the listeners attention to the sonic dimension of each unfamiliar thwack and growl. And percussion still plays a gigantic role in the Einstruzende Neubauten experience. Electronic noise, standard kit and elaborate combinations of junkyard scrap are either processed into the unrecognizable or allowed to breathe on their own as a testament to the band’s noisier past.

Album names

1. Swordfishtrombone Tom Waits Tossing away his former career as a neo-jazz crooner like so many of the throwaways that inhabit his songs, Waits signaled his descent into the avant garde with the title of this absolutely essential album.

The lack of capitals or spaces between words, as well as the nonsense title itself, echoed the genreless experimentation and mish-mash of traditional and cutting edge music that peppered his landscape of midgets, killers, sailors, the drunken and the broken-hearted. The title itself was later payed homage to by the likes of Sparklehorse (Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot) and OutKast (Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik).

2. Trout Mask Replica - Captain Beefheart Yeah, you knew this cat was gonna be whacko from the get go.The world needs more artists like Don Van Vilet, ones who will not only name an album Trout Mask Replica but, just to drive the point home, wear a trout mask on the cover. It did-

n’t hurt that the music contained within was an endlessly influential explosion of blues, R&B and angular experimentalism, which followed absolutely no logic but the twisted, humorous, internal variety of its ringleader. The absurdist title encapsulated all the Dadaist glory of songs like “Neon Meat Dream of an Octafish” and “Hair Pie: Bake 1.”

3. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo - Devo And so the eternal question was posed and the career of one of the most subversive, witty bands of the punk era was launched into orbit. Basing an entire band around the tongue in cheek theory that we as human beings are actually devolving rather than

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The album’s most compelling work and centerpiece is the 13-minute title track. It begins with the abrasive cracking and rumbling of sheet metal steadily rising in volume before settling into a rhythmic kraut-rock groove. The ringing of metallic percussion pingpongs out of every corner. At various points in the song, the rhythm drops away so that distorted theremins can duet with a loop that sounds like keys in a washing machine. Occasionally the bass rumbles up to jackhammer the song while Blixa Bargeld chants random passages of verse like a man possessed. It’s pretty exhilarating.

Apparently the band allowed online fans to participate in the creation of the album which may account for Perpetum Mobile’s one fault: a lack of cohesion.

Although each song is a fleshed out composition unto itself, the pacing of the album tends to either jar or blend together. Still, it seems that Einstruzende Neubauten have hit an extremely interesting point in their career where youthful experimentalism collides with the mature ideas to carry them to their logical conclusion. The old boys may have another great album in them yet.

CHARTS PARASOL RECORDS’ TOP 10 SELLERS 1. The Comsat Angels - It’s History (Nano) 2. TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch And Go) 3. Rainer Maria - Anyone In Love With You (Already Knows) (Polyvinyl) 4. José González - Veneer (Imperial) 5. Lanterna - Highways (Badman) 6. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre) 7. The Legends - Up Against The Legends (Labrador) 8. Bigger Lovers - This Affair Never Happened...

(Yep Rock) 9. Hederos & Hellberg Hederos & Hellberg (Hidden Agenda) 10. Belle And Sebastian I’m a Cuckoo (Rough Trade)

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ No stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unlistenable

Next week: Top five album covers (cover art) What’s yours? E-mail us at music@readbuzz.com evolving was just one of the many hilarious eccentricities of this band. The call and response nature of the title was affirmed by many of the songs on Devo’s debut.

“Uncontrollable Urge” sports a chorus of “I’ve got an uncontrollable urge” as the rest of the band answers, “He’s got an uncontrollable urge.”The title itself was the chorus of the justifiably classic “Jocko Homo.” All hail, Booji Boy!

4. And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out Yo La Tengo Lengthy, indeed, but this title does much to describe what this album is about.This counter-intuitive statement will force many to scratch their heads as to what it could possibly mean. “How can nothing turn itself inside out?” “Isn’t nothing nothing?” Their follow-up to the equally well-titled I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One delivers some sad and mellow songs that complement a feeling of nothingness. We were always told not to start a sentence with “and,” but in this case, it works just fine.

5. Birth of the Cool - Miles Davis Miles Davis was cool. This album came early in the career of a soon-to-be jazz legend that did much for what “cool” truly was. Look at the cover. He even has cool-ass sunglasses on while he plays his trumpet.

For years to come, people will try to be cool and emulate what is cool, but Miles was the founder of a revolution of coolness and hipsterism.

Reader’s top five 1. Hit to Death in the Future Head - The Flaming Lips 2. Clouds Taste Metallic - The Flaming Lips 3. Oh Me Oh My...The Way the Day Goes by the Sun is Setting Dogs are Dreaming Lovesongs of the Christmas Spirit Devendra Banhart 4. Automatic for the People - REM 5. Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant - Belle & Sebastian Submitted by Sunil Chopra

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calendar

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | MARCH 11-17, 2004

ThursdayMarch11

FridayMarch12

SaturdayMarch13

LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC

Acoustic Music Series: Noah M.S. Harris – Aroma, 8pm, free Open Stage hosted by Joni Laurence – Red Herring, 8pm, free Jazz & Java: U of I Jazz Combo – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, $2 Sick Day, Mike Ingram – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA ShabMo Quintet – jazz – Zorba's, 9:30pm, $3 Zoso – Led Zeppelin tribute band – Canopy Club, 10pm, $6 Eclectic Theory – White Horse Inn, 10:30pm, free Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free Buzz 1year birthday party – Bryan Holloway Something, Mike Coulter with comedy Dave King, Orphans, Katie Richardson reading poetry and other birthday surprises – Brass Rail, 8pm

Electric Wood – blues, southern rock covers – The Iron Post, 5-7pm, TBA Happy Hour: David Davenport – classic rock – Tommy G's 5-7pm, free Pocket Big Band – Highdive, 5:30pm, $3 IMC Folk Music Series: Charlie King and Karen Brandow – Channing-Murray Foundation, 8pm, $10 Reasonable Doubt – Hubers, 8pm, TBA Resource and Action Group for Girlz (and Womyn) Benefit Show: He Who Corrupts, Fourth Rotor, Seyarse, Dollyrots, Hollowed Out – IDF, 8pm, $5 Bullet Called Life, TBA – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, $2 Waffle Hoss Reunion Show – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA The Blackouts, The Bamboo Kids, The Bloody Hollies, Pearlene – garage – Nargile, 9pm, $5 Decibully, The Reputation, Shakin' Babies – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $5 Southbound – southern rock – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover

Grass Roots Revival – Pages For All Ages, 7-9pm, free Ronnie Baker Brooks – Highdive, 7pm, $10 Rec Records Release Show: The Ghost, Members of The Yellow Press, Bluebottle, Ryan's Hope, Big Thick Skin – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $4 Beth Davis Band – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Ben Bedford – Embassy Tavern, 9:30pm, free Fotomana, G. Lee and Jet Blonde – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $4 Lorenzo Goetz, Brief Candles, DIY – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, TBA Troubled Hubble, The Show is the Rainbow, Glorybee – Nargile, 10pm, $5 Blues Deacons – blues – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Ziggy Marley, Michael Franit and Spearhead – Canopy Club, 10pm, $20 Country Connection – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, cover The Prairie Dogs – Anita Purves Nature Center, 3pm, free

DJ DJ J-Phlip – house – Barfly, 9pm, free Salsateca w/ DJ Bris Mueller – salsa/merengue – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $4 DJ Delayney – hip hop, house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 Electroclash DancePunk Affair – Nargile, 10pm, $5

MUSIC PERFORMANCE

"G" Force Karaoke – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm-1am UI Wind Symphony and UI Symphonic Band I – Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, sc $4, stu $2

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 7:30pm.

Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

Studiodance I – Includes four dynamic concerts presented by the Department of Dance. Studio Theatre, 7:30pm. Flex tickets: $13, sc & stu $12, UI & yth $7. Single tickets: $14, sc & stu $13, UI & yth $8.

AROUND TOWN Wine Tasting – Sample wine, learn about the different kinds and buy full glasses for $3.50 per glass.

Krannert Center lobby, 5pm, free.

DJ Electronic Music Appreciation Club and Allen Hall benefit for SWANN Special Care – 10 featured Djs – Allen Hall, 5:30pm, free DJ Bozak – house, hip hop, downbeat – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Dance Party – Canopy Club, 10pm, TBA DJ Impact – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5 DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, 10pm, $5

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 7:30pm.

Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

Studiodance I – Includes four dynamic concerts presented by the Department of Dance. Studio Theatre, 7pm, 9pm. Flex tickets: $13, sc & stu $12, UI & yth $7. Single tickets: $14, sc & stu $13, UI & yth $8.

DJ DJ Sophisto – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – dance – Highdive, 10pm, $5 Twice as Nice: DJ Mertz, DJ J-Phlip – house – Nargile, 10pm, $5

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Historic Lincoln Castle Hotel Alumni Tap Bar, 9pm-1am Mercy – a new work by Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton – Tryon Festival Theatre, 7:30pm, flex tickets: $26, sc & stu $25, UI & yth $17, single tickets: $28, sc & stu $27, UI & yth $19 Sinfonia da Camera – Presenting Beethoven selections that simply invite celebration, Sinfonia acknowledges its 20th anniversary with the Leonora Overture No. 3, Wellington's Victory, and the remarkable Violin Concerto in D Major.

Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm. Flex: $29, sc $28, stu $11, yth $7. Single: $30, sc $29, stu $12, yth $8.

buzz

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 7:30pm.

Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

Studiodance I – Includes four dynamic concerts presented by the Department of Dance. Studio Theatre, 7pm, 9pm. Flex tickets: $13, sc & stu $12, UI & yth $7. Single: $14, sc & stu $13, UI & yth $8.

SundayMarch14 LIVE MUSIC Writers in the Round: Bruce Rummenie (from Bruiser and the Virtues), Nick Rudd, Angie Heaton, G. Lee – Cowboy Monkey, 7pm, $3 IPAN – calypso – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Washington Social Club, Lying in States, Little Black Spiders – Nargile, 9pm, $5 Broken Glass – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30pm, free The Prairie Dogs – Lincoln Square Mall, 3pm, free Spiral Seisiun – Pages for all Ages Cafe, 3pm, free

DJ Fresh Face DJ – Barfly, 9pm, free Spundays with DJ Delayney – hip hop & soul – Boltini, 10pm, free Blends By Otter – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Reel to Reel and the Wheels of Steel: Spicerack Movies with soundtrack provided by DJ Spinnerty and DJ Bozak – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, $1

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Jonathan Faiman – piano – Foellinger Great Hall, 3pm, flex: $29, sc & stu $28, UI & yth $23, single: $31, sc & stu $30, UI & yth $25, balcony: $10, UI & yth $5

ON STAGE A Raisin in the Sun – Colwell Playhouse, 3pm. Flex tickets: $12, sc, stu $11, UI, yth $6. Single tickets: $13, sc, stu $12, UI, yth $7.

buzz

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music

DATE MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | EVEN THOUGH IT’S RESPONSIBLE FOR MILLER LITE, MILWAUKEE ISN’T THAT BAD.

Milwaukee rock meets Polyvinyl

Decibully journeys from duo to septet, finding their sound along the way

BY JACOB DITTMER | MUSIC EDITOR

E

very day, bands are formed and bands are dissolved. The creative drive of musicians and artists keeps this a steady and recurring practice in music. Culture and music “scenes” seem to spawn new groups at an alarming rate with band members diving into side projects and new endeavors. Under these circumstances, Decibully, a talented group from our northern neighbor, Milwaukee, was born.

A band that started as a Midwestern country-playing guitar duo of William Seidel and Kenny Siebert grew into a seven-member band that played some of last year’s most unique and indescribable music. Sure, one could slap labels on their sound, but to do that would be a disservice to these complex compositions.

Lead singer and lyricist Seidel jokes how the early incarnations of the band were nicknamed “Rodeohead,” a cowboy version of the highly recognizable Radiohead. The pun isn’t far off.

These seven musicians all play a part in creating textured songs that offer a familiar country sound at first listen. But upon closer and repeated listens, the songs reveal themselves to be the layered works of ingenuity that they are.

Songs like “On the Way to Your Hotel” slowly reveal to the listener each layer and part in a delicate fashion while quiet strums of the banjo and other instruments come together in a mosaic of sound. The song starts with a slow and sad guitar that sounds like something you would hear in a smoke-filled

country bar. Seidel sings in his lyrics of contemplative love and self-questioning as the song progresses and adds new instruments and harmonies.

This song also features tinges of electronic waves and flourishes that Seidel jokingly calls “fairy sprinkles,” giving their songs a wholesome and layered sound.

“We don’t have a defined sound or a defined self,” Seidel said. “We just play music that we like and know. We usually just call ourselves a Milwaukee rock and roll band.”

Banjo, lap steel guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, harmonica and keyboards are some of the many instruments that come together on the band’s debut album City of Festivals, released last year by Champaign’s own Polyvinyl records. Naturally, comparisons were drawn to Wilco for their similarly country-influenced sound coupled with the emphasis on production technique. But Decibully travels down a different path.

“It started with me and Kenny wanting to do a bunch of old slow-countryish songs,” Seidel said. “But with adding new members came new influence and direction.”

To organize seven musicians into a singular vision on songs can be quite a task, and Seidel described the recording process as “chaos for a bit then things coming together.”

“Working on songs with seven people playing together created moments with lots of clashing and some people have to drop out or lighten their part,” Seidel said.

Decibully’s history goes as far back as 1992 with Seidel meeting long-time friend and collaborator Ryan Weber in high school. The two expressed an interest and love of music that grew into numerous bands and projects for the two.

Since then, Seidel and Weber have been

involved in the music scene and a variety of bands. Most notably, the two formed the band Camden in the late ‘90s. Seidel and Weber were both invited to join the final incarnations of The Promise Ring for their tour that featured Camden opening for several shows.

“We had been working on Decibully during that time and once The Promise Ring fell apart we pushed things forward,” Seidel said.

City of Festivals actually spans two years, as Seidel describes it. The record comes together as a variance of old and new material with some songs written two years before recording and others two weeks beforehand. A certain level of evolution occurred in several songs that were written before the full incarnation of Decibully.

Much of the band’s recording is done in their practice space with Weber working on a Macintosh with Pro Tools recording software.

Although a majority of the album was recorded in Milwaukee’s Bionic studios, Weber worked on the produced sound of the album, adding the electronic subtleties and flourishes at particular moments. The band’s true strength is in this process. So many instruments and parts have to come together in this process—finding the right levels and moments can be a difficult task. At times, banjo player Eric Holliday plays so subtly that the part is hardly noticed, while at others he sits prominent in the center of a song’s sound.

“With so many things going on, different ranges and keys, Ryan develops an ear for places that could use something more,” Seidel said. “He’ll add something that will give the song more depth and range.”

Today, aside from Decibully, Seidel is a part of several other endeavors. He is in an electronic duo with Weber called New Sense. Other members contribute to numerous Milwaukee bands illustrating the flexibility and talent of these musicians. Milwaukee has its own “scene” with people in the music culture forming

Check the buzz online archives for a review of Decibully’s City of Festivals released last October on Polyvinyl Records www.illinimedia.com/buzz a family, as Seidel described it.

“It’s a nice support network,” Seidel said.

“We all go to each other’s shows and know each other.”

All seven members will be packing up for a tour in the next week with things kicking off in Champaign at Cowboy Monkey this Friday.

From there, the band will head to Austin’s South by Southwest Festival.

Seidel is excited for the upcoming tour, mentioning that last fall’s tour was one of the most enjoyable tours he had been a part of. Traveling with seven guys in a van doesn’t sound too appealing but to Seidel, it’s like a vacation with friends. During their last tour, the band stopped at California’s Joshua Tree National Park to pay their respects to alt-country innovator and founder Gram Parsons.

Aside from embarking on this new tour, Decibully is in the process of writing and recording new songs. Seidel said there is a strong chemistry within the band that will likely yield more quality songs. Whatever the future holds, this band is going places. buzz See Decibully this Friday at Cowboy Monkey. The show starts at 10 p.m. with The Reputation and Shakin’ Babies opening. Tickets are $5.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DECIBULLY.COM

031104buzz1320

Local label Polyvinyl Records has their seven-member Milwaukee act Decibully coming to town this Friday at Cowboy Monkey.

Decibully guitarist and lyricist William Seidel.

031104buzz1221

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arts

BEER + GD = CRAAZY TIMES | MARCH 11-17, 2004

“The Anointing of Orko”: Part 2

r food u o y s e Do ce suck? servi

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! s r e t a C s Foudini

BY MARQUE TERRYNAMAHR STRICKLAND | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

mulp found himself beheaded before he was able to bat an eyelash. As Sas’s blooddrenched tail wrapped itself around Huss’s throat, ensnaring a new victim, she flew forward and split Piglin’s stomach open with the nail of her index finger. His entrails spilled from the wound and he was dead as could be.

Though Huss weighed a few tons, his size was no match for the magical strength and dexterity of her tail. Acting as a noose, it crushed every bone in his throat, then threw him off the mountain. As she turned to deliver death to Asfart and Orko, she only saw the remains of smoke. They had escaped by means of magic. Sas stood taken aback for a moment, surprised that Orko had gained enough power to conjure the disappearence spell, let alone make two people vanish at once!

Dismissing the mystery for a moment, Sas quickly grabbed the young woman and flew her to safety. Upon landing, she quickly scolded the young girl as if she were her mother.

“Do try to use a bit more common sense next time! A young lady should never travel in the mountains alone, especially if she doesn’t know magic!”

“I didn’t mean to, Lady Sas. I just wanted to get some Chuku berries as medicine for me pappy. I took a shortcut through the mountains on the way to the berry fields, but those monsters grabbed me.” The young woman sobbed in despair.

Sas wasn’t surprised that the girl knew her name. Many young maidens did, as she had unintentionally earned a reputation as a guardian ... this was not the first time she had killed to protect the innocent.

As she watched the young girl’s tears splash on the rocks below, Sas cursed her sympathy within. She had to meet Nasturium in less than half an hour and she could not be late! Yet, her innate compassion for all those untainted by evil quelled her to ask.

“What’s wrong with your father?”

“Papa’s dying! He crawled through the door awhile ago, bleeding to death! It looked as if something mauled him. That’s why I need Chuku, the berry juice will cauterize the wounds. Will you not help me, mistress? I’ll be in your debt forever!” She pleaded.

“Take me to him, now!”

“But, the berries?”

“Never mind that. Give me your hand, and close your eyes. Think of your home and all that within! Concentrate, as we haven’t much time.”

The two of them locked hands, and a nauseating feeling came over the girl as she and Sas disappeared in a cloud of orange smoke.

“BITCH!!! I’LL MURDER HER IF ITS THE

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LAST THING I DO!!!” Orko, the goblin, screamed in contempt of Sas. At this, several fires erupted in different parts of the cave.

Although he was able to conjure mildly powerful spells, such as vanishing, he still had no control over them, and he was dangerous to himself and those around him.

“AAAHHHHHH!” Asfart screamed, while rolling around on the floor, attempting to extinguish his flaming buttocks. “Be careful, master! You’ll kill us both!” he warned, knowing that unpredictable spells was the price one paid the gods for attaining magical skill through treachery.

The ever odorous scent of roasted feces rose from his stench-ridden body. Orko rebuked him.

“Listen, ASS-FART ... that is how one pronounces your name, is it not? ... Don’t ever tell me how I should use my magic, or else I will turn you into a pretty flower, or something else that smells good! I doubt you would like that!”

The poop-scented beast immediately fell to his knees, begging for mercy, as the Stynk’s odor was their greatest attribute.

Being terribly proud of his hereditary stench, Asfart would have rather been dead than give up such a fine trait.

“Please don’t, master!”

“Very well then, silence, you fool!” He frowned with disgust as Asfart pulled out a nibble from his sack. Orko gagged when the buffoon bit down into a large piece of petrified shit as if it were a chocolate bar!

“Lunch time, is it?” he whispered with nausea.

When the cloud of vapor disappeared, Sas found herself in front of a large, muscular man lying on the floor. His entire body was covered in jagged lacerations and bite wounds. Sas found that she and the girl were standing in a puddle of blood. Though no longer conscious, she felt his vibrating life force, meaning that he wasn’t dead.

“Step aside,” Sas ordered.

The entire room emitted a blinding glow for a moment, and when it settled the girl’s father lay sleeping as if the incident never was. Then he leapt up suddenly, as one waking from a terrible nightmare, screaming.

“ORKO!!!!!!!!!!”

To be continued ... buz z

398-4411

THURSDAY AT 9:30 $3.00 COVER

this week Th Mar 11 Wine Tasting 5pm, free UI Wind Symphony and UI Symphonic Band I 7:30pm, $2-$5 A Raisin in the Sun 7:30pm, $6-$13 Studiodance I 7:30pm $7-$14

Fr Mar 12 Studiodance I 7pm, $7-$14 A Raisin in the Sun 7:30pm, $6-$13 Studiodance I 9pm $7-$14

Sa Mar 13 Sinfonia Student Performance Project 6:30pm, free Sinfonia Pre-Concert Lecture: Bruno Nettl 6:45pm, free Studiodance I 7pm, $7-$14 Sinfonia da Camera 7:30pm, $7-$30 Sponsors: WILL FM and TV

@

krannert center

A Raisin in the Sun 7:30pm, $6-$13 Studiodance I 9pm, $7-$14

Su Mar 14 Raisin in the Sun Dessert and Conversation 2pm, $5.50 Jonathan Faiman, piano 3pm, $5-$31 Sponsors: The Mildred Rose Estate Anonymous A Raisin in the Sun 3pm, $6-$13

We Mar 17 San Francisco Symphony Concert Prep 6:30pm, free San Francisco Symphony 7:30pm, $31-$48 Sponsors: Helen Dickerson-May and Walter May Helen and Daniel Richards Judith and Victor Feldman Joan and Peter Hood J. Michael and Mary Pat Killian and First National Bank & Trust of Clinton Barbara and Miles Klein

Mercy: a new work by Meredith Monk and Ann Hamilton 7:30pm, $17-$28 Talkback: after the show, free

Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

Th Mar 18 Wine Tasting 5pm, free UI Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm, $2-$5

Tu Mar 30 Fès Festival of World Sacred Music 7:30pm, $17-$25 Sponsors:

We Mar 31 Pacifica Quartet 7:30pm, $10-$18 Fès Festival of World Sacred Music 7:30pm, $17-$25

Th Apr 1 Interval: Manoochehr Sadeghi, santur Noon, free Series Sponsor: Anonymous Wine Tasting 5pm, free Joshua Bell, violin 7:30pm, $25-$42 Sponsors: Avis and Dean Hilfinger Spring Storm 7:30pm, $6-$13

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MARCH 11-17, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

MondayMarch15 LIVE MUSIC Open Mic - Za's Italian Cafe, 7pm, free Jazz Jam hosted by ParaDocs – The Iron Post, 7:30pm, TBA The Red Hot Valentines, The Cordalene, The Greedy Loves, Spindle – Highdive, 10pm, $5

DJ 2ON2OUT – indie rock – Barfly, 9pm, free Chill in the Grill – hip hop – Canopy Club, 10pm, free DJ Betty Rocker – indie rock – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, free Case of the Mondays – house – Nargile, 10pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Community Drum Circle – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm, free "G" Force Karaoke – Kam's, 10pm-2am

COMEDY DeBono – improv comedy – Courtyard Cafe, 910pm, free

TuesdayMarch16 LIVE MUSIC Songs From the Tim Shed: Jeff Austin (of Yonder Mountain), Chris Castino – Canopy Club, 7pm, $10 Open Bluegrass Jam Session – Verde Gallery, 7pm, free Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Openingbands.com and Mike Ingram – Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 Acoustic Night: Adam Wolfe, Jess Greenlee – Tommy G's, 10pm, free Crystal River – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free

DJ DJ Resonate – hip hop – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Donovan Finn – rock – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free NOX: DJ Zozo, DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats – goth & industrial – The Highdive, 10pm, $2

COMEDY Spicy Clamato – improv comedy – Courtyard Cafe, 9-10pm, free

WednesdayMarch17 LIVE MUSIC St. Patrick’s Day Rock: Motion City Soundtrack, The Red Hot Valentines, The Empyrean – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $5 St. Pat's Party: Ceili Peppers – Irish – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Orphan, Cheyenne, DJ Fritz – Nargile, 9pm, free Kilborn Alley – blues – Tommy G's, 9pm, free Openingbands.com Showcase: Lorenzo Goetz, Missing the Point, NIL8, The Timmy's – Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 Irish Traditional Music Session – Bentley's Pub, TBA, free Hard Poor Korn – Rose Bowl Tavern, 9pm, free

DJ

Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

Season Sponsors

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A Raisin in the Sun is supported in part by the Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund/College of Fine and Applied Arts and by the Chancellor's Brown v. Board of Education Jubilee Commemorative Committee.

Sponsorship for the Spirit of Fès 2004 US national tour is provided by Morocco’s National Tourist Board (ONMT). Additional support is provided by Royal Air Maroc Airlines and the Embassy of Morocco to the United States.

KrannertCenter.com 217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX 217/333-9714 (TTY) 217/244-SHOW (Fax) 217/244-0549 (Groups) kran-tix@uiuc.edu Ticket Office Open 10am to 6pm daily; on days of performances open 10am through intermission.

DJ Chef Ra – roots/rock/reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free Dream Sequence – house – Caffe Paradiso, 10pm, free DJ Boardwalk – Mike 'n Molly's, 10pm, $1 St. Patrick's Day Old Skool Party: DJ Otter, DJ Spinnerty, DJ Kosmopoulos – The Highdive, 10pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Elmers Club 45, 7-11pm San Francisco Symphony – Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, flex tickets: $46, sc & stu $45, UI & yth $31, single tickets: $48, sc & stu $47, UI & yth $33

C-UVENUES Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333-5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356-5144 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367-3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352-9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355-2045 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378-8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 3519011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367-3140 Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337-7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367-3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333-4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398-2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383-1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359-5565 D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356-0888 Elmer’s Club 45 3525 N Cunningham, Urbana, 344-3101 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384-9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398-5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398-5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356-7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359-7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359-1678 Highdive 51 Main, Champaign, 359-4444 Huber’s 1312 W Church, Champaign, 352-0606 Illinois Disciples Foundation 610 E Springfield, Champaign, 352-8721 Independent Media Center 218 W Main St, Urbana, 344-8820 The Iron Post 120 S Race, Urbana, 337-7678 Joe’s Brewery 706 S Fifth, Champaign, 384-1790 Kam’s 618 E Daniel, Champaign, 328-1605 Krannert Art Museum 500 E Peabody, Champaign, 333-1861 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S Goodwin, Urbana,Tickets: 333-6280, 800-KCPATIX La Casa Cultural Latina 1203 W Nevada, Urbana, 333-4950 Lava 1906 W Bradley, Champaign, 352-8714 Legends Bar & Grill 522 E Green, Champaign, 355-7674 Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328-4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344-7720 Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club 14 N Hazel, Danville, 442-8090 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328-7415 Mike n’ Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355-1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367-5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352-7275 Nargile 207 W Clark St, Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359-1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351-0068 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344-7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351-2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355-7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893-8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582-9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766-9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344-1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367-7031 Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355-1406 Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333-2360 The Station Theatre 223 N Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328-1655 Sweet Betsy's 805 S Philo Rd, Urbana Ten Thousand Villages 105 N Walnut, Champaign, 352-8938 TK Wendl’s 1901 S Highcross Rd, Urbana, 255-5328 Tommy G’s 123 S Mattis Ave, Country Fair Shopping Center, 359-2177 Tonic 619 S Wright, Champaign, 356-6768 Two Main 2 Main, Champaign, 359-3148 University YMCA 1001 S Wright, Champaign, 344-0721 Verde/Verdant 17 E Taylor St, Champaign, 366-3204 Virginia Theatre 203 W Park Ave, Champaign, 356-9053 White Horse Inn 112 1/2 E Green, Champaign, 352-5945 Zorba’s 627 E Green, Champaign

CHICAGOSHOWS MARCH 3/11 Keb’ Mo’ @ House of Blues, 18+ 3/11 Walkmen @ Metro, 18+ 3/11 Hold Steady @ Schubas 3/12 DJ SS, Grooverider, Shy FX, Twisted Individual @ Metro, 18+ 3/12 Church @ House of Blues 3/12 Antigone Rising @ Schubas 3/12 Futureman & The Isiah Williams Project @ Old Town School of Folk Music 3/12 Kid Rock @ Allstate Arena 3/12 Michael Mayer, Superpitcher @ Smart Bar 3/12 Liz Phair @ Vic 3/12 Von Bondies @ Double Door 3/12 Boy George DJ Set @ Zentra 3/12 Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown @ Buddy Guy’s Legends 3/12 Chimaira @ Oasis 160 3/12 Kenny Burns, Cedric Burnside, T-Model Ford @ House of Blues Back Porch Stage 3/12 Hackensaw Boys @ FitzGerald's 3/13 Paul Kelly @ Double Door 3/13 Sage Francis, Joe Beats, Grand Buffet @ Logan Square Auditorium

3/13 Mavericks @ Park West 3/13 Grant Lee Phillips @ Abbey Pub 3/13 Saw Doctors @ Vic 3/13 Shipping News @ Subterranean 3/13 Popa Chubby @ Buddy Guy’s Legends 3/14 Liz Phair @ Vic 3/15 Cooper Temple Clause @ Double Door 3/15 Cooper Temple Clause @ Double Door 3/15 Lyrics Born @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 3/16 Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve @ Oriental Theatre 3/16 Jamie Cullum @ Schubas 3/17 Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons @ Schubas 3/17 Bogdan Raczynski @ Empty Bottle 3/17 Cabas @ House of Blues 3/18 Australian Pink Floyd @ Rosemont Theatre 3/18 Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker @ Vic 3/18 Eric Johnson @ Park West, all-ages 3/18-19 Melissa Etheridge @ House of Blues 3/18-19 Assassins @ Schubas 3/19 Johnny Dowd @ Subterranean 3/19 Dream Theater @ Riviera 3/19 Britney Spears, Kelis @ Allstate Arena 3/19 Starlight Mints @ Abbey Pub 3/19 Dada @ Park West 3/19 Doors of the 21st Century @ Auditorium Theatre 3/19 Indigenous @ Martyrs’ 3/20 Jewel @ Star Plaza 3/20 Liars, Young People @ Logan Square Auditorium 3/20 Macabre @ Oasis 160 3/21 Amon Tobin, Kid Koala @ Metro, 18+ 3/21 Jump 5 @ Durty Nellie's, all-ages 3/21 Thea Gilmore @ Gunther Murphy's 3/22 Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson @ United Center 3/23 Ted Leo/Pharmacists @ Logan Square Auditorium 3/23 Three Days Grace @ Metro 3/24 12 Stones, Skillet, Pillar, Grits, Big Dismal @ House of Blues 3/24 Yngwie Malmsteen, George Lynch @ Joe’s 3/24 Cass McCombs @ Bottom Lounge 3/25 Distillers @ Metro, all-ages 3/25 Hoobastank @ House of Blues, all-ages 3/26 Newsboys, Rebecca St. James @ UIC Pavilion 3/26 American Music Club @ Old Town School of Folk Music 3/26 Dolly Varden @ Subterranean 3/26 Al Green @ House of Blues 3/26 Great Big Sea @ Metro, 18+ 3/26 Franz Ferdinand @ Empty Bottle 3/26 Proclaimers @ Abbey Pub 3/26 Slip @ Double Door 3/26 Southern Culture on the Skids @ FitzGerald’s 3/26 TV On the Radio @ Empty Bottle 3/26 R. Kelly @ Allstate Arena 3/26-27 Al Green @ House of Blues 3/27 Mad Caddies @ Metro 3/27 Campbell Brothers, Calvin Cooke @ Old Town School of Folk Music 3/27 John Gorka @ Schubas 3/27 Lost Sounds @ Subterranean 3/27 Insiders @ FitzGerald's 3/27 My Robot Friend @ Metro, 18+ 3/27-28 Mekons @ Double Door, (27); FitzGerald's, (28) 3/29-31 Neko Case & The Sadies @ Schubas 3/30 Ill Nino @ House of Blues, 3/30, all-ages 3/31 Adler’s Appetite @ Joe’s 3/31 George Clinton & The P-Funk All-Stars @ House of Blues

APRIL 4/1-2 Decemberists @ Schubas 4/2 Joan Baez @ Pick-Staiger Concert Hall 4/2 Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott @ Allstate Arena 4/2 Jonatha Brooke @ Park West 4/2 Graham Colton @ Double Door 4/2 Sound Tribe Sector Nine @ Vic 4/2 Star Spangles @ Lyons Den 4/2-3 Blonde Redhead @ Abbey Pub 4/3 Rod Piazza @ Buddy Guy's Legends 4/3 Preston School of Industry @ Schubas 4/3 Grandaddy, Saves the Day @ Riviera 4/3 Weirdos @ Subterranean 4/3 Particle @ Park West, 18+ 4/3 Josh Wink @ Smart Bar 4/4 Unicorns @ Logan Square Auditorium, all-ages 4/4 Floetry @ House of Blues 4/6 Chayanne @ Rosemont Theatre 4/6 Van Hunt @ Double Door 4/6 Method Man @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/7 Stereolab @ Vic 4/7 Twilight Singers @ Metro 4/7 Van Morrison @ Chicago Theatre 4/7 16 Horsepower @ Abbey Pub 4/8 Geoff Farina @ Schubas 4/8 Trapt, Smile Empty Soul @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/8 Sugarcult @ Metro, all-ages 4/8 N.E.R.D., Black Eyed Peas @ Riviera, 18+ 4/9 Weird War @ Empty Bottle 4/9 Switchfoot @ Vic

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4/9 Ruben Studdard @ Auditorium Theatre 4/9 Squarepusher @ Metro 4/9 Midnight Creeps @ Lyons Den 4/9 Roomful of Blues @ Buddy Guy's Legends 4/9 I:Cube @ Smart Bar 4/9 Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Dr. Michael White @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/9 Local H @ Metro, all-ages 4/9 & 16 Herbie Hancock @ Symphony Center 4/9-10 B.B. King @ Star Plaza 4/10 DJ Shadow @ Park West, 18+ 4/10 Wanda Jackson @ FitzGerald's 4/10 Bret Michaels @ Joe's 4/10 Tom Russell, Jim Lauderdale @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/11 Fantomas, Melt-Banana @ Metro 4/12 Story of the Year @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/13 Sleepy Jackson @ Schubas 4/13 Stellastarr @ Double Door 4/13 Rufio @ Metro, all-ages 4/14 Sarah Harmer @ Martyrs' 4/15-16 Bonnie Prince Billy, Joanna Newsom @ Open End Gallery (4/15), Logan Square Auditorium (4/16) 4/15-16 Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Kweller @ Vic 4/15-16 Willy Porter @ FitzGerald's (15), Martyrs' (16) 4/16 A Perfect Circle, Mars Volta @ UIC Pavilion 4/16 Thrills @ Metro 4/16 Orchestra Baobab @ HotHouse, two shows 4/16 Eddie From Ohio, Luther Wright & the Wrong @ FitzGerald's 4/16 Baaba Maal @ Old Town School of Folk Music, two shows 4/16 Mason Jennings @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 4/16 Peter Mulvey @ Schubas 4/17 Asylum Street Spankers @ Schubas 4/17 Mustard Plug @ Metro, all-ages 4/17 Ellis Paul @ Schubas, two shows 4/17 Pinback, Enon @ Logan Square Auditorium, all-ages 4/17-18 Rebirth Brass Band @ Martyrs' 4/18 Rasputina @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/18 Renee Fleming @ Symphony Center 4/20 Air @ Riviera 4/20 Iced Earth @ Metro, all-ages 4/20 Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/20 Sebadoh @ Abbey Pub 4/21 Delirious, David Crowder Band @ Vic, all-ages 4/21 Joss Stone @ House of Blues 4/22 Leon Russell @ Bottom Lounge 4/23 Crystal Method @ House of Blues, all-ages 4/23 Morbid Angel @ Oasis 160, all-ages 4/23 Savath & Savalas w/ Prefuse 73 @ Abbey Pub 4/23 Yellowcard, Something Corporate @ Riviera 4/23 Strokes @ Aragon, sold out 4/24 Robert Walter’s 20th Congress @ Abbey Pub 4/24 Bad Plus @ Martyrs’ 4/24 Fruit @ Schubas 4/24 Indigo Girls @ Auditorium Theatre 4/24 Tony Rice & Lonesome River Band @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/24 Pat McGee Band @ House of Blues, 18+ 4/24 Of Montreal @ Subterranean 4/25 Janis Ian @ Old Town School of Folk Music 4/27 LCD Soundsystem @ Empty Bottle 4/27 Damien Rice @ Riviera, all-ages 4/28 Deerhoof @ Empty Bottle 4/28 James Murphy @ Smart Bar 4/30 Einsturzende Neubauten @ Metro, 18+ 4/30 Graham Parker @ Martyrs'

CHICAGOVENUES Abbey Pub 3420 W Grace, Chicago, (773) 478-4408 Allstate Arena 6920 N Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, (847) 635-6601 Aragon 1106 W Lawrence, Chicago, (773) 561-9500 Arie Crown Theater 2301 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, (312) 791-6190 Bottom Lounge 3206 N Wilton, Chicago, (773) 975-0505 Chicago Theatre 175 N State St, Chicago, (312) 443-1130 Congress Theatre 2135 N Milwaukee, Chicago, (312) 923-2000 Double Door 1572 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, (773) 489-3160 Elbo Room 2871 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 549-5549 Empty Bottle 1035 N Western Ave, Chicago, (773) 276-3600 Fireside Bowl 2648 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, (773) 486-2700 House of Blues 329 N Dearborn, Chicago, (312) 923-2000 Martyrs' 3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 404-9494 Metro/Smart Bar 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, (773) 549-0203 Old Town School of Folk Music 4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 728-6000 Park West 322 W Armitage, Chicago, (773) 929-5959 Riviera Theatre 4746 N Racine, Chicago, (773) 275-6800 Rosemont Theatre 5400 N River Rd, Rosemont, (847) 671-5100 Schubas 3159 N Southport, Chicago, (773) 525-2508 UIC Pavilion 525 S Racine, Chicago, (312) 413-5700 Vic Theatre 3145 N Sheffield, Chicago, (773) 472-0449

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calendar ART NOTICES

Call For Artists: 2004 Art Exhibition Series Call for Artists – The Champaign Park District is seeking local visual artists to apply for this new venue at the Springer Cultural Center. Exhibits strive to present artistic and ethnic diversity of ChampaignUrbana and surrounding area artists. The call will continue through Mar 31. Call for more information. 398-2376.

Creation Art Studios: Art Classes for Children and Adults – All classes use the spontaneous art process to demonstrate technical instruction and the exploration of materials. CPDU's offered.

Creation Art Studios, 1102 E Washington in Urbana. Call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955 or go to www.creationartstudios.com for information.

Join Artists and Workshops at Gallery Virtu – The artist-owned cooperative Gallery Virtu invites applications from area artists. The gallery offers workshops for adults, teens and children and original works by the members. Gallery Virtu, 220 W Washington in Monticello. Thu 12-4pm, Fri 128pm, Sat 10am-6pm. For more information, call 762-7790, visit www.galleryvirtu.org or e-mail workshops@galleryvirtu.org.

ART GALLERIES Boneyard Pottery – Ceramic Art by Michael Schwegmann and others. 403 Water St in Champaign. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610.

Broken Oak Gallery – Local and national artists, original art including photography, watercolors, pottery, oil paintings, colored pencil, and woodturning. Refreshments served by the garden all day Saturday. 1865 N 1225 E Rd in White Heath.

Thu-Sat 10am-4pm. 762-4907.

Café Kopi – “Digital Evolutions,” photographs by John Sfondilias on display through February. 109 N Walnut in Champaign. Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm. 359-4266.

Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | MARCH 11-17, 2004

Creation Art Studios – Featuring original art by students and members of the studio. 1102 E Washington St in Urbana. Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm, Sat 14pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

6:00 pm 6:10 pm 8:30 pm

Yi Yi, 1999

Taiwan (173 minutes)

Saturday, March 13 2:00 pm

Iron Monkey, 1993

Hong Kong (86 minutes) 4:15 pm

Blue Gate Crossing, 2003

Glass FX – New and Antique Stained Glass Windows, Lamps and unique glass gifts. Gallery is free and open to the public. Interested in learning the art of Stained Glass? Beginning, intermediate and advanced stained glass classes offered. 202 S First St in Champaign. Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. www.glassfx.com.

359-0048.

Griggs Street Potters – Handmade functional and decorative pottery. 305 W Grigg St in Urbana. MonFri 11am-4pm, or call for appointment. 344-8546.

Hill Street Gallery Inc. – Oil and watercolor paintings, hand painted T-shirts, handmade jewelry. 703 W Hill in Champaign. Sat 12-5pm or by appointment during the week. 359-0675.

Larry Kanfer Gallery – European Collection featured in the gallery. Both limited and open edition prints by Larry Kanfer, nationally acclaimed photographer. 2503 S Neil in Champaign. Free and Open to the Public. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 3982000. www.kanfer.com.

How did you start painting?

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Unknown Pleasures, 2002 In the Mood for Love, 2001

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China/France (113 minutes) 9:00 pm

renda Beck is a painter who resides in rural Urbana. She is originally from St. Louis and earned her B.S. from the University of Missouri at St. Louis. She was selected for the Here and Now art exhibition at Krannert last summer and her work is currently on display at the Springer Cultural Center in Champaign. She works parttime for the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program as an archaeological assistant.

All bandwidth rates are symmetrical. That means both your upload speeds and download speeds are at the service level you select.

Taiwan/France (85 minutes) 6:25 pm

B

Furniture Lounge – Specializing in mid-century modern furniture from the 1920s to the 1980s – retro, Danish modern, lighting, vintage stereo equipment and vinyl records. 9 E University in Champaign. Sun-Tues 12-4:30pm, Wed-Sat 115:30pm. 352-5150.

2004

Hong Kong (90 minutes) Free Admission

All performances are at the Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., Champaign, IL

Shouting Ground Technologies, Inc. 105 South Walnut Street, Champaign

217/351-7921 admin@shout.net www.shout.net

Funded by a grant from the Freeman Foundation

Center For East Asian and Pacific Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 217-265-0640 | www.eaps.uiuc.edu

arts

MARCH 11-17, 2004 | “I JUST DON’T TRUST ANYTHING THAT BLEEDS FOR FIVE DAYS AND DOESN’T DIE.”

BY BEKEELA WATSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Framer's Market – Frame designers since 1981.

Ongoing work from local artists on display. 807 W Springfield Ave in Champaign. Tue-Fri 9:30am5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 351-7020.

Introduction to the Series Postmen in the Mountains, 1999 China (93 minutes)

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ARTIST’S CORNER

Country in the City – Antiques, Architectural, Gardening and Home Accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St in Urbana.

Thu-Sat 10am-5pm. 367-2367.

Transnational Chinese Cinema Friday, March 12

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turned forty and I was having no luck with traditional treatments. I saw an advertisement for Jenny Southlynn’s private painting class and decided to enroll.

Jenny taught me that artwork is like a “window to the soul.” She gave loose instructions and let us experiment and led me to eventually find my own style. Painting gave me something to focus on and therefore offered relief.

PHOTOS | RODERICK GEDEY

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Assembly Hall Bank Illinois C.O. Daniels Campbell Hall - WILL Campus Parking-Public Safety Bldg Campus Prop. Mgt. Cites Colonial Pantry Cookie Jar DCL Dewey’s Other Place Engineering Sciences Enterprise Works Environmental Health & Safety Envo Café Espresso Royale Faculty Staff Assistance Program Follette Green St. Coffee House Hillel Foundation Home Town Pantry Illini Union Bookstore IMPE IPRH-IL Iron Post Pub Jerusalem Middle East. Cuisine Joe’s Brewery Johnstowne Center Kams Krannert Center Krannert Museum La Bamba Larson Legend’s Mahri’s Fashion ETC Materials Research Lab Micro Electric Lab Moonstruck

What is the best environment for you to work in and why?

I have a studio in my basement that is off in a wing alone. The basement is an active place (Left) Artist Brenda Beck in her studio. (Above) One of Brenda Beck’s works which is being shown at the Springer Cultural Center. in our home. This way, I can listen to my stereo and have space to store Certain color combinations in nature along What is one of your favorite pieces and why?

I don’t have a favorite. My paintings are my work while still being able to interact with with people’s clothes, movies and books. Music my family. also inspires me in addition to certain events in like my children; they all have bad qualmy life. For example, I listen to Bubba Sparxxx, ities and good qualities but I like them all the same.

Nelly and Prince.

What inspires you?

Motorolla Research Park Newmark Lab Panera’s Papa Del’s Pizza Hut Presidential Towers Record Service Rosewood Guitars Station 211 Taft House TIS Union Union Bus Stop University Group White Horse Inn World Harvest Foods YMCA Za’s Zorbas

ABC Billard’s Bagelman’s Bread Company Café Paradiso Canopy Club Chinese Express Colonial Pantry Courier Café Crane Alley Eastland Suites Embassy Tavern Espresso Royale Fat City Saloon Holiday Inn IMC Jiffy Lube Jolly Roger Jumers

Kennedy’s Malibu Bay Lounge Margarita’s Mulligan’s Ale House Park Inn Picadilly’s Priceless Books Ramada Record Swap Silver Creek Solar Tan Strwberry Fields Market Sud’s Super 8 The Office The Office II The Rose Bowl TK Wendyl’s Urbana Courthouse Urbana Free Library Weiner WPGU

Affiliates in Oral Surgery Alexander’s Aroma Coffeehouse Aunt Sonya’s Bacchus Cigar Shop Bagelman’s Bankier Apts Barfly Barnes and Noble Basmati Baymont Inn and Suites Bentley’s Big Lots Bigfoot Boardman’s Art Theatre

Boltini’s Borders Brass Rail Buffalo Wild Wings Bus/train Station Café Kopi Café Verdant/Art gallery Carmon’s Central High School Chamber of Commerce Champaign City Building Champaign Public Library Champaign Surplus Chancellor Hotel Chester Street Chevy’s Colonial Pantry Comfort Inn Cowboy Monkey CV Lloyde Music Dallas & Co. Dandelion Discount Den Dos Reales Drury Inn El Torero El Toro Ellite Salon Esquire Fairfield Inn Farren’s Fiesta Café Fortune House Fuad’s Hair Gameday Sports Garcia’s Gillespie-Roland GKC Beverly Theaters

Great Harvest Bread Company Great Impasta GT’s Western bowl Hampton Inn U of I Hawthorne Inn and Suites Head Hunters Highdive Hooters Huber’s IGA Illini Video Jane Addams Booksore Jillian’s Johnson Rentals Jon’s Pipe Shop JSM Management Juipter Kamakura La Quinta Lando LIX Manzella’s Mark of Cain Tattoos Marriott Courtyard Merry Ann’s Diner Mettler Center Midas Mike & Molly Minneci’s Murphy’s Pub Music Shoppe Natural Gourmet Neil St. Post Office Nics Basket Case Original House of Pancakes Osco Parkland People’s Performance

Pia’s Bar & Grill Picadilly’s Pickle’s PJ Lux Plato’s Closet Premier Radio Maria Ragamuffin Rebecca’s Red Roof Robeson’s Building Rocks Ruby’s Sam’s Café Silvermine Subs Skins & Tins Smoke Shack Speed Lube Steak and Shake Sterling University TOGO’s Tommy G’s Bar Two East Main Virginia Theatre Walnut Street Tea Co. Willard Airport Johnston Sporting Goods Pages For All Spaghetti Shoppe

Bean Scene The Brown bag The Corner Tavern The East End Tavern

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arts

“SON, YOU’RE DUMB AS A MULE AND TWICE AS UGLY. IF A STRANGER OFFERS YOU A RIDE, TAKE IT.” | MARCH 11-17, 2004

bookreview

Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z

★★★

Debra Weinstein

BY NIK GALLICCHIO | STAFF WRITER

W

AIT! BEFORE YOU DISMISS THIS BOOK, hold on a second. It might be written for you. It was written by a librarygoer who frequented the anonymous authors’ section, and written for people who can appreciate Sylvia Plath allusions and the perverted underbelly of James Joyce.

Weinstein includes enough high-brow literary witticisms to make the English nerd chuckle, but maneuvers the unassuming, naive narrator throughout situations without seeming pretentious.

This is a story of one woman’s loss of innocence in the poetry world.

Told with delicate details illustrated through the eyes of a natural born observer, the tale revolves around an undergraduate and her literary idol, the Flower Poet Z. While Annabelle is officially recognized as the poet’s assistant, she also serves as a cook for high poet society dinners, a seeker of lost stockings and purchaser of gifts for Z’s secret lover.

While juggling Z’s family secrets and cat food for the ornery poetry critic who made Z famous, Annabelle is caught between two warring factions of the poetry world. On one hand, there are those who glorify high literature, while on the other hand are the beflanneled modern confessional poets.

Apprentice illustrates the war that would have occurred between Alexander Pope and Jack Kerouac, had they been women in the late 20th century. Let the manicured nail pawing begin.

Like all books written by true poets, Apprentice contains a sordid affair. Naive Annabelle involves herself with a man who worships James Joyce, and sends her copies of erotic letters Joyce wrote to his wife.

Annabelle accepts the antics in the bedroom because they fit with her idea of a poet’s life.

She wants to rival the amount of lovers had

by Edna St. Vincent Millay. No longer the girl who wandered Long Island’s Walt Whitman mall for inspiration, Annabelle

finds herself living in Greenwich Village, home to millions of nameless midnight love affairs.

With a therapist who recommends masturbating more frequently, Annabelle questions her sexuality in terms of the various models of femininity that surround her. She is caught between Z’s classic elegance and the hip, mesmerizing sexiness of Z’s enemy, the modern poet Braun Brown. Trapped by her loyalty to her master, Annabelle the apprentice is torn as she forms her opinions of the people in her life. Balancing the tasks of her job and becoming a woman in her free time, Annabelle struggles to find the answer to the question: What is poetry?

When the narrator quotes Emily Dickinson, or declares “I would write a b o o k c a l l e d DeFlower. What is virginity? I would ask,” Apprentice appears to be in love with it’s own cleverness. However, it’s easy to forgive these foibles b e c a u s e they are complemented by humble counterparts. During a soiree for the who’s who of poetry, instead of discussing the fall of creativity in the world, the masters of eloquence swap strategies to avoid j u r y d u t y. T h e glamour of New York City is that balanced by life’s base d e t a i l s , such as buying i n k — ” J e t black, not midnight black, not shoeshine black”—Weinstein gently weaves a tale of a little girl finding out that her heroine exhibits faults of mere mortals.

Early on, one of the characters envisions a world in which people “think poetry like they think television.” While this utopia unravels slightly in the story, Apprentice was written for those who can imagine one to begin with.

buzz invasion

Check out our New hot spots where you can pick up a buzz Hooters 1706 S State St., Champaign Mark of Cain Tattoos 202 E. Green St., Champaign Solar Tan 408 N. Rac St., Champaign Smoke Shack 208 E. Green St., Champaign Speed Lube 901 W. Springfield, Champaign Jiffy Lube 1901 S. Neil, Champaign Midas 2102 Moreland Dr., Urbana

LaPayne Photography – Specializes in panoramic photography up to 6 feet long of different subjects including sporting events, city skylines, national parks and University of Illinois scenes. 816 Dennison Dr in Champaign. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and by appointment. 356-8994.

Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine and original art, hand signed, limited edition prints, works by local artists, art restoration, custom framing, and periodic shows by local artists. 11 E University in Champaign. Mon-Thu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am4:30pm. 355-8338.

Prairie Boatworks Gallery – Beautifully hand-crafted gift items and unique Valentine’s Day cards.

Also, over 35 regional artist to choose from. 407 E Main St in Mahomet. Tue, Fri, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-4pm. 586-6776. For more information, contact Mary at 356-8228 or tangoradesigns@aol.com.

Ziemer Gallery – Original paintings and limited edition prints by Larry Ziemer. Pottery, weavings, wood turning and glass works by other artists.

Gallery visitors are welcome to sit, relax, listen to the music and just enjoy being surrounded by art.

210 W Washington in Monticello. Tue 10am-8pm, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. www.ziemergallery.com. 762-9786.

ART EXHIBITS

Directed by Shirley Basfield Dunlap With guest artist Cheryl Lynn Bruce

Mar 4-14

BOOK REVIEW GUIDE

No stars

Laser’s Edge – Oil paintings on canvas and framed etchings by Sandra Ahten along with work from Lee Boyer now showing. 218 W. Main Street, Urbana. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. 328-3343.

Verde Gallery – The work of local artist Sylvia Arnstein will be on display in the halls and café. 17 E Taylor St in Champaign. Cafe: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm. Gallery: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

By Lorraine Hansberry

Associated lecture: "The Impact of Race on Theatre and Culture"

by Woodie King, Jr., Producing Director, New Federal Theatre, New York.

Mar 3, 5pm Levis Center, 919 W Illinois, Urbana

being matters.

Supported, in part, by the Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund/College of Fine and Applied Arts and the Chancellor’s Brown v. Board of Education Jubilee Commemorative Committee.

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MARCH 11-17, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Steeple Gallery – Vintage botanical and bird prints, antiques and framed limited edition prints. 102 E Lafayette St in Monticello. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. www.steeplegallery.com. 762-2924.

KrannertCenter.com 217.333.6280

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unreadable

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Springer Cultural Center - Art Exhibition Series: Continuum – Featuring paintings by Brenda Beck and Barbara McDonnell and carved eggs from Linda Tudor. On display through Mar 14. 301 North Randolph Street, Champaign. Mon-Thur 8am-9pm, Fri 8am-5:30pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm.

398-2376. www.champaignparkdistrict.com.

Department of Theatre

Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z is available at retail bookstores and online.

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★

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Creation Art Studios – Artwork by instructors Jeannine Bestoso, Amy Richardson, and Shoshanna Bauer, and the studio’s friends and family. 1102 E Washington St in Urbana. Hours: Mon-Fri 35:30pm, Sat 1-4pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

“Distant Voices Nearer: A Celebration of American Indian Art” – Featuring paintings by DeHaven Solimon Chaffins, jewelry by Ben Yellowhorse, ceramic sculptures by Lynn Hone, ceramics by Laguna Potter and Michael Kanteena, pottery from Acoma and Mata Ortiz. On display at Verde Gallery through Mar 20. Opening reception for Chaffins and Yellowhouse Thur at 7pm. 17 E Taylor St in Champaign. Cafe: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm.

Gallery: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

“Transitions” – Work from Nicole Cisne on display at Aroma Café through Mar 21. Artist statement: “The vehicle for my artwork is the female nude...

Society and the fashion industry of today are the primary causes of an epidemic of eating disorders and false body images in many young women.”

118 N Neil in Champaign. Open 7 days a week, 7am-Midnight. For more information, contact Amanda Bickle at 356-3200 or art4aroma@yahoo.com.

“Picturing Performance: Japanese Theater Prints of the Utagawa School, 1790–1868” – The focus of artistic production in 18th and 19th century Japan (Edo period) was the world of entertainment. This exhibit captures a views of this world of illusion and fantasy (Ukiyo) through richly-colored and compositionally provocative woodblock prints know as Ukiyo-e. The exhibition is on view through Mar 21. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

“Bon Coiffure: Hair Signs from West Africa” – This exhibition offers viewers a glimpse into the art of African hair styling, African hair sign painting and African hairstyles in traditional masks and sculpture. Hairdressers also hire artists to hand paint signs to advertise their skills and represent their repertoire of coiffures. Bon Coiffure is on view through Mar 21. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm.

Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

“Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artists” – The Krannert Museum has put together a traveling exhibition bringing together the work of seven major contemporary artists who share a connection to both worlds. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

“Whistler and Japonisme: Selections from the Permanent Collection” – This anniversary marks the 100th anniversary of James McNeill Whistler’s death, highlighting his works on paper and examines the influence that Japanese woodcuts had on his artistic technique. On display at Krannert Art Museum through Mar 28. 500 E Peabody in Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. Suggested donation $3. 333-1860.

The Fog of War – Rated PG13, Oscar Winner for Best Documentary Feature. Winner, Best Documentary, National Board of Review, Chicago Film Critics, and L A Film Critics Association..."The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara." Directed by Errol Morris: DGA Award nominee, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary. Virginia Art Theatre. Thurday, 5:15pm, 7:30pm.

The Triplets of Belleville – Rated PG13, Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Feature and Best Music, winner, Best Animated Feature, New York Film Critics Circle and Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Adopted by his grandmother, Madame Souza, Champion is a lonely little boy.

After two mysterious men in black kidnap Champion, Madame Souza and her dog Bruno set out to rescue him. Their quest takes them across the ocean to a giant megalopolis called Belleville where they encounter the renowned "Triplets of Belleville," three eccentric female music-hall stars from the '30s. Virginia Art Theatre. Thursday, 3:30pm, 9:45pm.

The Dreamers – Rated NC17, Fresh from N.Y. and LA where it is the highest grossing Independent film.

Left alone in Paris whilst their parents are on holiday, Isabelle and her brother Theo invite Matthew, a young American student, to stay at their apartment. Here they make their own rules as they experiment with their emotions and sexuality while playing a series of increasingly demanding mind games. Set against the turbulent political backdrop of France in the spring of 1968 when the voice of youth was reverberating around Europe, it is a story of self-discovery as the three students test each other to see just how far they will go.

Plays daily beginning Friday. For showtimes, go to www.boardmansarttheatre.com.

Drugstore Cowboy – Rated R. Art Theatre and Buzz Midnight Series continues with this film. It is about criminals who do not intend to be particularly bad people, but whose lives run away with them. The heroes of these films always have a weakness, and in "Drugstore Cowboy" the weakness is drug abuse. Fri & Sat, 11:59pm.

Founded after the 1991 Gulf War, this festival celebrates the power of

“Water and Wood” – Featuring the watercolors of Beverly Sanderson and the wood carvings of the Illini Carvers. On display at the Hays Center through Mar 26. 1211 W. Church, Champaign. MonFri 8am-4pm. 398-2376.

music to promote peace and understanding. On its first American tour, the "Spirit of Fès" presents an array of revered

9th Biennial Ceramics Invitational – The invitational features the work of nine contemporary ceramic artists. This year's exhibit focuses on functional ceramics, with a specific look at the rich decorative surface that clay provides. The exhibit will be on display in the gallery Mar 1-April 9. Co-curators Chris Berti and Laura O'Donnell will provide a gallery talk Tuesday at 7pm, the night of the reception, which will be in the Gallery Lounge, 6-8pm.

Parkland Art Gallery. M-F, 10am-3pm, M-Th, 6-8pm, Sat, 12-2pm. For more information, call 351-2485.

artists from around the globe reflecting Sephardic Jewish, Moroccan, Sufi, and Gospel musical traditions.

ON STAGE Facing HIV/AIDS... a collection of portraits – Inner Voices Social Issues Theatre this play that features ten minute plays: I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can by Jim Pickett, adapted by Jeffrey A. Chandler; Afterlife by Steven M. Salzman; Snapshots by Betsy Peterson and Lisa Fay. Fri & Sat, 8pm in the Armory Free Theatre. Tue, 8pm in F.A.R. Wed, 7pm in Allen Hall South Rec Room. Free and open to the public.

For more information, call 244-5919.

Elysium on the Prairie, Live Action Roleplaying – Vampires stalk the city streets and struggle for dominance in a world of gothic horror. Create your own character and mingle with dozens of players who portray their own undead alter egos. Each session is another chapter in an ongoing story of triumph, tragedy and betrayal. Fridays,“Vampire: The Masquerade.” For more information, visit www2.uiuc.edu/ro/elysium/intro.html. Check site for location, 7pm.

FILMS The Transnational Chinese Cinema Film Festival 2004 – Virginia Theatre, Fri 6pm, Sat 2pm, free, questions: 356-9063 The American Theatre production of Wizard of Oz – Virginia Theatre, Wed 10am, questions: 215-5633501 ext 445 Telluride MOUNTAINFILM Tour – Features eight films highlighting environmental concerns, culture and ethnography, and mountain climbing, river rafting and skiing. Savoy 16 Theater, Mon 7pm, $10.

Mar 30-31

FÈS FESTIVAL

Françoise Atlan and Jamey Haddad Hadra des Femmes de Taroudant

of World Sacred Music

The Anointed Jackson Sisters Gabriel Meyer and Yacoub Hussein

Corporate Silver Sponsor:

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Club Fred: Character Count – Presenters from University of Illinois Extension discuss the six pillars of good character. No registration. Douglass Branch Library. Sunday, 4-5pm. Information: 4032090.

Family Fun Day Sunday in the Square – Enjoy interactive rides this Sunday. There will also be food, shopping, games, miniature golf and more.

Lincoln Square Mall. Sun, 1-5pm. For more info, call the Urbana Business Association at 344-3872.

My Preschool Genius – A book-centered program focusing on language. Preschoolers can listen to dynamic picture book presentations and explore the art of picture book illustration. Champaign Public Library. Tue, 9:30-10am. Registration required. Call 403-2030.

Girls, Girls, Girls! – Games, crafts, and reading time for girls in grades 1-4. Douglass Branch Library. Fri, 4-5pm. No registration.

KnowZone – Homework help for school-aged children. Tue 4-5pm. Douglass Branch Library. No registration required.

T.A.C.K. – The library’s Thursday Arts and Crafts for Kids program welcomes children to come make a craft. Douglass Branch Library, Conference Room.

Thu 4-5pm.

Baby Time – Come to the library for a half-hour of lap-bouncing, nursery rhymes, music activities and play time for your infants. Douglass Branch Library, meeting room. Thu 10:30-11am.

Funfare – Come to The Phillips Recreation Center for Funfare Thur, 10:30-11am, presented by the Urbana Free Library Children’s Department, for stories, songs and films for children of all ages. No registration. For more info, call 367-4069.

Babies’ Lap Time – Babies are invited to Phillips Recreation Center for Babies' Lap Time Tue from 10-10:30am, presented by The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department. This program is for our youngest patrons, ages 6-24 months with an adult.

No registration. For more info, call 367-4069.

O Baby! – Lap-bouncing, nursery rhymes and music activities for infants with a caregiver. Champaign Public Library, main library. Mon 9:30-9:50am or 10:30-10:50am. No registration required. For more information, call 403-2030.

Storyshop – Stories, songs and rhymes for preschoolers through third-graders, 9:30-10am or 10:30-11am at Champaign Public Library, and 10:30-11am at Douglass Branch Library, both in Champaign, Mar 3. No registration.

Art-to-Go – Presentation, discussion and hands-on activity for school-age children led by Krannert Art Museum staff. Douglass Branch Library. Mar 3, 45:30pm. No registration.

Family Reading Night – Take a blanket and choose a book to share out loud. Refreshments and prizes included. No registration. Douglass Branch Library.

Mon, 6:30-7:45pm. Information: 403-2090.

Teen Advisory Board – Swap views on movies, music, and books, do volunteer projects and snack.

No registration. Champaign Public Library. Tue, 67pm. Information: 403-2070.

UPCOMING EVENTS Champaign County Audubon Society early morning bird walks – Busey Woods every Sunday morning starting this Sunday at 7:30am. Meet at Anita Purves Nature Center parking lot. 344-6803.

Arcola Marsh field trip – Champaign County Audubon Society presents this trip to search for returning waterfowl and other migrating birds.

The group will move on to eitherClinton Lake or Lake Shelbyville to continue our search. Anita Purves Nature Center, Sat 7am. Questions: 3675787.

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | MARCH 11-17, 2004

Champaign County Audubon Society Woodcock Walk – With luck and adequate light, the group may see a few of the male woodcocks perform their remarkable courtship flight. Meet at the Race Street parking lot of Meadowbrook Park, U. Mar 19, 5:45pm. Rain date: Mar 26.

“Share a Meal with Community Shares” – This fundraiser helps local non-profits. Thirty percent of your meal at Silvercreek restaurant goes to one of these charities. For information, call 328-3402.

Panel Discussion: The Anniversary of the Iraq War – The following panelists will speak at the discussion: Cliff Singer (ACDIS), John Lynn (History), Stephen Hartnett (Speech Comm.), Assata Zerai (Afro-American Studies/Soc). Susan Davis (Institute of Comm. Research) will moderate the event, which is free and open to the public. Humanities Lecture Hall, IPRH, 805 W Penn Ave, U. Mar 18, 4pm.

For more information, call 244-3344 or visit www.iprh.uiuc.edu.

Brown Sisters of Topeka, Kansas Lecture – The lecture will consist of reflections by Linda Brown Thompson and Cheryl Brown Henderson on the impact, legacy and significance of struggles to achieve the promise that the Brown vs. Board of Education case represented. Foellinger Auditorium. Mar 11, 4pm. Free.

Pre-Concert Lecture with Bruno Nettl – Musicologist Bruno Nettl discusses the life, times, and music of Beethoven in conjunction with Sinfonia da Camera's performance of the composer's Violin Concerto, Wellington's Victory, and Leonora Overture No. 3. Orchestra Rehearsal Room, Level 2. Sat, 6:45pm. Free.

Geography Trilogy, Part 3: House, A Work in Progress – Ralph Lemon and his company spend six weeks at Krannert Center working on the final development of Lemon’s Geography Trilogy, Part 3 – House, an exploration of critical events in American racial history and the rich folk culture of the southern United States. Mar 15-April 25.

Colwell Playhouse.

Concert Prep: San Francisco Symphony informal talk – Learn more about the works being presented by the San Francisco Symphony at this talk.

Tryon Festival Theatre. Wed, 6:30pm. Free.

Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology Seminar Series – "Integration of biology and engineering at the micro and nanoscale: From integrated biochips to self-assembly of electronics” – Rashid Bashir, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering from Purdue University will speak. ACES Library Monsanto Room, Wed 4pm.

“The Friendliest Black Artist in America” – William Pope. L is a visiting artist, lecturer and member of the Department of Theatre and Rhetoric at Bates College. Using made up objects, street performances, and installation, Pope. L negotiates the history of America’s relationship with whiteness and blackness. Krannert Art Museum, rm 62. Tue, 5:30pm. Free.

International Dinner – The University YMCA, Office of International Student Affairs and the Cosmopolitan Club will host its 21st annual International Dinner, which will have a large food buffet with food from more than 30 countries and international performers. University YMCA Latzer Hall. April 4, 6-8pm. Tickets on sale now, $10. For more information, call Becca Nieto at 337-1514.

Staerkel Planetarium Monthly Science Presentation – On the first Friday of each month that classes are in session, the planetarium will host a noted scientist from the community for a presentation on his or her expertise. Talks begin at 7pm and tickets are $1 at the door. No reservations necessary. For more information, call 351-2446.

Money Matters – With an uncertain job market and a topsy-turvy stock market, making sound financial decisions is critical. Learn how to construct and maintain an investment portfolio, choose from a cafeteria of benefit packages, and protect yourself financially in all scenarios. LAS alumnus John Micetich will share his tips for success gained from more than 20 years as an investment advisor and owner of Kensington Financial in San Diego. Illini Union, rm 407. Thur, 4-5pm.

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MARCH 11-17, 2004 | “I FIGURED THE ROCKIES WOULD BE A BIT ROCKIER THAN THIS ... THAT JOHN DENVER IS FULL OF SHIT, MAN.”

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WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS Foundation of Teamwork – Competition demands that organizations do more, in a shorter response time, with fewer resources. Participants will identify their communication style and develop plans to build better working relationships with other team members. Class meets Thursday from 8:30am12:30pm at 1315 N Mattis Ave, Champaign. Course fee is $110. To register, call 351-2235.

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A Raisin in the Sun

H A I R S A L ON

How to Get Hired – Learn how to find a job, prepare for an interview, negotiate contracts, and convey the kind of professionalism that will help you take that first step on the career ladder. You’ll get tips from peopl who do the hiring. Illini Union, rm 407.

April 7, 4-5pm.

Debra Weinstein

BY ELIZABETH ZEMAN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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Champaign County Young Republicans – Join CCYR for professional development and networking, fun events, and access to politicians and decision-makers. Happy hours on the second Thursday of each month. This month at Rock's, C. Thur, 5:307pm. For more info, call 377-3318.

Gentlemen’s Book Discussion & Social Club – The group will discuss Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides at this meeting. Borders Bookstore. Wed 7pm.

Quesstions: 351-9011.

Loose Womyn Discussion Group – The group will discuss Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich at this meeting. Borders Bookstore. Thur, 7pm. Questions: 351-9011.

Community Workshop on SSI – SSI Project to explain basics of Supplemental Security Income and help qualified residents apply for benefits.

Illinois Disciples Foundation. Sat, 10:30am-12pm.

Questions: 352-6533.

UI Ice Arena Open Skate Sessions – Sessions will be held through Mar 18. M-F 11:20am-12:40pm, Sat & Sun 1:30-4pm. Open Skate sessions will resume Mar 29 and will be offered M-F 11:20am12:40pm thru May 5. No Sat Open Skates will be offered after Mar 13. Open Skates are free to UI students, Campus Rec members, and children (5 years and younger), $5 for adult nonmembers/general public, and $4 for youth (613 years) nonmembers/general public. Skate rental is $1 for UI students/Campus Rec members and $2 for nonmembers/general public. UI Ice Arena, 406 E Armory Dr, C. Questions: 333-2081.

Campus Recreation Learn-to-Skate Spring Session II – Registration for the session is still available. Skaters enrolled will have five 45-minutes lessons from a qualified figure skating instructor followed by 15-minute open practice sessions.

Classes are available for all ages and levels of skaters. Classes begin Mar 6 and go thru April 17.

To register, go to UI Ice Arena or www.campusrec.uiuc.edu.

Career Planning Seminar – Participants will learn about the career development process; explore interests, abilities, and goals; and discover available resources. A tour of the Career Center is provided, followed by an opportunity to schedule an individual appointment with a career counselor.

Parkland College, rm A208. Tue, 6-8pm. Free.

Questions: 351-2536.

EMS Response 2004 – Presented by Edward M. Racht, M.D., this annual continuing education opportunity for EMT's will include areas of resuscitation, ethics, and domestic preparedness. Class held April 3, 8am-5pm in Parkland College Theatre. $50. Register by Mar 22. Questions: 351-2224.

Sponsored by

Resume Writing – Participants will learn how to create a resume to find employment. Parkland College, rm C123. Mar 18, 12pm. Free. Questions: 351-2536.

Saturday, March 13 9pm at

Aging Successfully: Enhancing Cognitive Vitality – Stay ahead of the aging process by learning the benefits of an engaged lifestyle and cognitive and physical fitness. Instructor Art Kramer is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the U of I with a long-term interest, both professionally and personally, in successful aging. Tony Noel Agricultural Technology on Parkland campus. Tue, 1:30-3pm.

Questions: 351-2546.

★★★

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708 South Goodwin Urbana, IL 217-344-2263

ith a capable ensemble cast and a shining performance by guest actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has powerfully revived Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun in a production that captures the intensity of a historical moment while exploring how well it translates to our current moment, nearly 50 years later.

Hansberry’s play fits well into the University’s year-long commemoration of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Named after a line from Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem,” A Raisin in the Sun explores segregation in Chicago neighborhoods from the perspective of the Youngers, a black family living in a cramped apartment on Chicago’s South Side; an apartment Krannert has wonderfully represented onstage as ragged yet homey. A $10,000 life insurance check leads the family to consider moving to a white suburb and threatens to tear them apart.

Krannert invited Shirley Basfield Dunlap, coordinator of theatre arts at Morgan State University in Baltimore, to guest direct the play. Her production starts out a bit slow, feeling as though it might better suit the more intimate space of the smaller Studio Theatre, but everything falls into place once the entire Younger family is assembled onstage. United by pride, stubbornness and love, the worn down Ruth (Beau’Livea Greene), feisty Bennie (Kenya Drew), idealistic Walter Lee (Jason Dirden), sweetly innocent Travis (played impressively by fourth-grader Crofton Macallister Coleman) and pillar-ofstrength Mama (Bruce) alternately struggle against and support one another.

The portrayal of these characters and their relationships, like the realistic set, is brutally honest. Dirden’s Walter Lee is perpetually restless, and his jittery gestures and habits reflect his volatile personality throughout most of the play. His relationship with Ruth is perhaps too uneven at times, as they move almost randomly from gentle to hostile, but Ruth consistently wears her loneliness well.

Drew emphasizes the humor and honesty in Bennie as she emerges as a voice of reason.

Trying desperately to hold these characters together is Mama, impeccably performed by Bruce, as a mother who is both firm and compassionate, controlling and tolerant.

Peripheral characters Mrs. Johnson (Shaki Alliu) and Karl Lindner (Ryan Hutson) deserve mention for their solid performances of an intrusive neighbor and a representative of the neighborhood “welcoming committee.” The effect is chilling when Hutson appropriately emphasizes the phrase “you people” in Karl Lindner’s attempts to

persuade the Youngers not to move to his allwhite neighborhood.

In a play largely about tense and awkward interactions, it’s interesting that awkwardness doesn’t work so well when applied to African student Joseph Asagai (Nathan Davis) in large doses. Bennie obviously loves him, but we’re never quite convinced why he deserves the attention of one of the sassiest, sharpest women onstage.

All in all, Krannert’s production makes it easy to see why the New York Times called A Raisin in the Sun the play that “changed American theater forever” and proves that this 50-year-old play is still quite relevant.

The audience enters into a particular moment in American history but learns about much more: human struggles, racism, heritage, identity and family.

Perhaps above all, this is a play about dreams—Bennie’s dream of becoming a black female doctor, Ruth’s and Mama’s desires for a better life for their family, Walter Lee’s business aspirations and the shared dream for social equality—and what happens when those dreams shatter or conflict. Although the family refuses to let a white “welcoming committee” stand in the way of their dreams, they must figure out how to reconcile their own conflicting desires. We follow them as they fail and succeed in their attempts, and what emerges in the end is really quite beautiful.

playreview

by buying a house in a middle-class white neighborhood. Walter Lee, Travis’s dad and Lena’s son, is a struggling chauffeur, stuck in a dead-end job, who wants to join some buddies’ investment in a liquor store. Beneatha, ★★★ Debra Weinstein Lena’s college-aged daughter, has hopes of becoming a doctor and directly challenges and denies many of her mother’s traditional valBY SYD SLOBODNIK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER ues.

The play’s emotional conflicts and naturahe Krannert Center rolls out a fine old theatrical classic this month on its Colwell listic dialogue that details these dreams, the Playhouse main stage. Lorraine Hansberry’s needs for money, the wish for middle class 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun is a unique liter- housing and other values all sustain releary work by a 29-year-old playwright who vance without the inclusion and enhanceof modern street vulgarity. made her play notable by avoiding racial ment stereotypes and creating a realistic drama sur- Nonetheless, the play’s messages are still rounding a black family’s attempt to move up nonetheless vital to today’s audiences.

What’s most impressive about the play, in the world. Nearly half a century later, this tale of the Younger family is still filled with rel- and especially this production, is how fresh and distinctly drawn Hansberry’s evant messages of pride and dignity.

Guest director Shirley Basfield Dunlap three main female characters are. Mama guides her cast of 11 respectable student actors represents the strong and spiritual older and one marvelously spirited performance by generation whose memories of traditions guest Chicago actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce. and her ancestors’ past sufferings motiBruce plays the Younger family matriarch, vate her to continually hope for someLena, with the same range of intensity and thing better. Ruth, Walter ’s young wife, is heartfelt passion she displayed in the fine, the patient spouse getting along with a overlooked Julie Dash film Daughters of the n o t - s o - r e l i a b l e h u s b a n d w h o many times acts more like an impulsive boy Dust, a decade ago.

Hansberry’s central plot concerns this work- t h a n a m a n . B e n e a t h a i s a p r e ing class family’s $10,000 inheritance from the w o m e n ’ s movement free spirit, who late Mr. Younger’s insurance policy, and how defies standard conventions related to to best spend the money. “Mama” Lena career choice and marriage opportunities.

In addition to Bruce’s fine, realistic lead role, Younger is a deeply religious woman who wishA Raisin in the Sun runs through March 14 at es to use this windfall to improve her family’s living undergrad BFA students Beau ‘Livea Green’s the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. situation—especially for her grandson, Travis— Ruth and Kenya Drew’s Beneatha likewise nicely avoid overplaying their roles during their many dramatic, and sometimes slightly c o m e d i c , moments.

Greene especially brings a believable maturity and sensitivity to her role.

The only mixed elements of this production involve its pacing in the initial scenes and parts of the third act and the apparent miscasting of a couple of secondary male characters. At times, this nearly three-and-a-half hour production feel like it should move more quickly and scene changes could be more brisk.

But so many of the play’s quality features, including set designer Aaron Benson’s natural living room set, wrap you into this wonderful tale of family pride and hope.

A Raisin in the Sun runs Thursday through Saturday and ends Sunday, March 14.

This shot was taken from the film A Raisin in the Sun (1961), directed by Daniel Petrie, starring Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil.

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“OH YEAH, YEAH. TRACTOR BEAM; SUCKED ME RIGHT IN.” | MARCH 11-17, 2004

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Guiding Customer Conversations – Discover the four common parts of a service conversation and the four expectations customers bring to every interaction. Learn to manage customer interaction with confidence. Explore ways to use questions to uncover and confirm customer needs and present information positively. Parkland Business Development Center. Wed, 8:30am-12:30pm. $99.

Questions: 351-2235.

Glass as more than just a still life

PHOTO | RODERICK GEDEY

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work, not necessarily the object. The paperweight is a by-product of my work. And this is an interesting question I’ve been looking at while distributing the paperweights, do people see the examination of work as the project or still only focus on the object?”

The fashioning of these objects has also helped him improve his technique. “Repetition is the key word here,” McNaught says. “In glass, doing any activity which brings you in contact with the material will strengthen and hone o n e ’ s skills. S o to some d e g r e e , t h e paperweights are helping make me a better c r a f t s m e n . ” His students are certainly benefiting from these skills.

Alison McCarthy, a senior in photography, has wanted to take his class since she was a freshman and has learned from working with multi-dimensional objects.

“The c l a s s h a s helped me think of 3-D w a y s o f doing photography, and think of different forms for photo,” says McCarthy.

Cayla Lopez, a junior in photography, says she now has a greater appreciation for glass as an art.

“Damon and I had a seminar together last semester. He is the one who actually got me interested in glass,” Lopez says.

“It was intriguing the way he talked about it. I think he really likes teaching and interacting with students.

It’s cheesy to say, but he really is inspiring.” buz z

Home Buyer's Seminar – Learn about budgeting, pre-qualification, inspection, closing, and other important steps in the home buying process.

Parkland Business Development Center. Mar 20, 9am-2pm. $20 per individual or same household couple; includes workbook. Questions: 351-2235.

MIND BODY SPIRIT Life Map Workshop – A life map is a collection of visual images, a method of connecting with your intuition, a tool for visualizing your dreams or goals. Come explore life mapping--approaches, uses, and the opportunity to create your own life map. McKinley Foundation, C. This Saturday, 9:15am-1pm. To register or for information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org.

Sunday Zen Meditation Meeting - Introduction to Zen Sitting, 10am. Full Schedule: service at 9am followed by sitting, Dharma Talk at 11am followed be tea until 12pm. Can arrive at any of above times, open to all, no experience needed, no cost. Prairie Zen Center. For information, call 355-8835 or go to www.prairiezen.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES School Tutor or Classroom Aid – Join hundreds of other bright and enthusiastic students who are involved in this award winning student-run program. What you choose to do with 2hrs/wk of your time will make a huge difference – not only in the life of a child but also in your own life. Choose to tutor one-on-one or be a classroom aid in local schools. For more information, stop by the Vis-AVis program office at the University YMCA or call 239-3614 ext 29.

Volunteer Cook – Share your love of cooking and prepare a meal for a Healthy Young Families support group. Volunteers prepare a meal in their home, and drop it off at the group meeting site. A wonderful opportunity for a large group who would like to volunteer together. For more information, call Anna Langford at 398-8080.

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Q U A T E R N S A V A A V E R V E R Y E M S T A I G I R O N M I N A E A S T

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R E F I N E I R T S E M U P S G E E T R S

P A R A S C E R R E T S H T E O S P A R G E

A T I N B I L E A N L A T Y P T S S I A B O D W O F E A L T S E G I T R O C E S O E R I N A U D I X P E N

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PHONE: 217/337-8337 DEADLINE: 2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

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PHOTO | ADRIANA D’ONOFRIO

decided to focus on for the day, the students put their creations into a “cooler” 950degree stove. If the glass cools at room temperature, it will crack, so the students hurlass isn’t just made of sand and riedly put on heat protective gear, which water. It’s also made from sweat. Proof of looks like the outfit the one-hour photo guy this statement is University graduate stu- dons when refilling developing liquid, and dent Damon MacNaught’s Glass I class. At bring their cubes to chill.

The task certainly isn’t easy. The glass the South Farms studio where the class is taught, the temperature reaches about needs to be hot in order for students to be 2,150 degrees Fahrenheit. This is how hot able to manipulate it, but the jump from the two ovens get that sit in the large heating in a thousands-degree stove to sitcement room where students work. And ting on a rod in room temperature makes it they’re each heating about 400 pounds of harden fast. The students have to reheat the glass if they make a mistake or aren’t workglass. That’s a lot of sand and water.

MacNaught received his bachelor ’s ing fast enough. “The key is to be fast degree in sculpture from Hartwick (N.Y.) enough in one shot,” says MacNaught, “but College and has been creating glass works it takes a long time to accumulate skills (in for eight years. He also previously worked this field).”

MacNaught certainly has developed some in a public access glass studio. He’s teaching this first-level glass class to mostly impressive skills. As he demonstrates to the undergraduate students in the class, he glides around the room like a rhythmic gymnast, easily maneuvering University’s art and design program.

Most of them aren’t majors—the through his on-looking students, shouting University only has about four glass-blow- out instructions and injecting the room with ing majors—but all of them do plenty of an invigorating energy. Though he seems to work. After watching MacNaught demon- have a great talent, he maintains he is still strate the day’s lesson, the students spend learning and points out some glass superthe next two-and-a-half hours gathering stars who have particularly impressed him.

“Josiah McElheny is pushing the edge so molten glass on metal rods, carefully shaping it into perfect cubes (which isn’t far as his design,” says MacNaught. “He’s as easy as it looks) and blowing the gath- really pushing the edge. An artist who is ered glass into a small cylinder. After really a technically proficient artist is Jim they’ve created whatever it is they’ve MuGrain. He’s got some mad skills. He’s like a glass savant. He makes these really thin and light glass Venetian goblets.”

For his part, Macnaught is currently working on a paperweight distributing project. The idea is to distribute approximately 350 paperweights to other workers at the University. The idea is to bridge the gap between creations that are labeled “art” and daily work that is also artistic, but not necessarily given that same distinction.

“The blackspheres.com project is about my work and the work of the craftspeople at Facilities and Services,” McNaught says. “It starts to compare work and examine how work can be perceived or valued, i.e., ‘I’m an artist utilizing my skill, making paperweights and here is a painter, painting walls.’ Both are valid. Both can be viewed as art in the proper context. I chose the Cayla pinches the molten glass to remove it from the rod. paperweight because I wanted the (Right): Instructor Damon MacNaught demonstrates how to focus to be on the process (of) the blow the molten glass for his students.

calendar

MARCH 11-17, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

What Managers Do – Participants will learn to use planning techniques that help operations run smoothly; organize a department for maximum productivity; match jobs with staff talents; develop performance appraisal techniques; and motivate employees. Parkland Business Development Center. Wed, 8am-5pm. $195.00 (book included).

Questions: 351-2235.

Blown away:

BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

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2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue Garage Sales 30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.

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Employment 000 HELP WANTED | Full Time Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

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BUSINESS SERVICES

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished 309 W Springfield, C. Well located 2 bedroom townhouse near campus and downtown Champaign, now available. $550/mo. 3528540, pm 355-4608. www.faronproperties.com

309 W. Springfield, C. Spacious 2 BR townhouse now available. $550/mo. Flexible lease.

352-8540. PM 355-4608. www.faronproperties.com

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CLEANING Exact Extraction. Carpet & upholstery cleaning. Free estimates. 6883101.

OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unfurnished

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding.

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Apartments

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CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

Courtyard Apartments 713 S. Randolph, Champaign Renting for Fall/2 & 3 Bedrooms.

Furnished & Unfurnished From $608/mo.

Includes cable, parking, water.

Has laundry facility and seasonal pool. Near campus and downtown Champaign.

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Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign.

Call Manchester Property Management at 359-0248 for an appointment.

SUBLETS Live Downtown This Summer!

Student housing in Downtown Champaign. Great summer rates!

Utilities included. Call 398-4255 or check out www.robesonhall.com.

Things to Do 700 ENTERTAINMENT A Benefit dinner/concert to raise funds for the vegetarian commercial “Behind Close Doors” will be held in the Wisegarver Room at the Illinois Disciples Foundation on Saturday March 15 from 5:30 to 9:30. Dinner will be catered by the Red Herring and live music featuring the bands Free Beer and The Sacrilicious Groove Congregation will follow.

Donations will be accepted at the door. Behind Close Doors has been airing in the Champaign area on MTV, Animal Planet, E, and CNN Headline News since January and funds are still needed to keep the commercial airing through May. The commercial can be viewed at www.protectinganimals.org.

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film

★★★

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

B

oys just want to have fun in Starsky and Hutch, a pleasing if not always hilarious adaptation of the campy ‘70s cop show. The TV series was hardly a serious enterprise, an unrelentingly goofy exercise in homoerotic tomfoolery that only sometimes knew how silly it really was. The show is, for the most part, already a joke, and that leaves director Todd Phillips (Old School, Road Trip) with the difficult task of adapting an obviously outrageous program into a spoof of itself.

Phillips has some of Hollywood’s most spirited jokers onboard, though, and the actors in Starsky and Hutch relentlessly challenge you to have as good of a time as they do.

Ben Stiller stars as Detective David Starsky, a permed, sweater-wearing tightwad who’s gone through 12 partners on the force in the last four years. When he’s teamed up with Ken “Hutch”

moviereview

HIDALGO ★★

BY ANDREW CREWELL | STAFF WRITER

T

here is only one thing to say about Hidalgo: it is nothing but average. At one end, the story is intriguing, and has the feel of older adventures like the Indiana Jones trilogy. However, some slow points and a little too much Viggo Mortensen limit what the film can achieve.

Mortensen plays Frank Hopkins in this “true story” butchered for the theater. He teams with his wild mustang Hidalgo, and together they gain notoriety as the fastest racing team in the world. Based on this reputation, Hopkins and Hidalgo are invited to the biggest race in the world, a 3,000-mile trek across the Arabian Desert of Northern Africa.

Once in Africa, Hopkins’s life starts to get crazy. Opposing riders trying to kill him and dust storms following him across the desert are just the beginning. A rich sheikh with nothing better to do than oversee this race further complicates his life, and by the end there are more subplots than there were dull moments at this year’s Oscars.

Even through the crazy Harrison Ford wannabe desert action, Mortensen is hardly

believable as an action hero. A constantly wavering accent that could have originated anywhere from Alabama to Minnesota is a perfect example of him falling short. Scenes involving deep conversation between Mortensen and his horse further the audience’s gag reflex, and by the end of the movie, everyone in the theater has completely lost their patience with Mortensen’s inconsistency.

Having recently come off the success of Lord of the Rings, Mortensen was poised to land a role as one of Hollywood’s premier movie men.

Unfortunately, this performance will not help his chances, and he can only hope that J. R. R. Tolkien comes back to write another six or seven books about midgets running all over the place and throwing jewelry around.

Aside from Mortensen and his equine adoration, the rest of the film comes together passably. Omar Sharif plays the rich sheikh, and commands his usual respect. His old school acting power makes Mortensen look like a student to the game. The idea for the film is great, too.

Seabiscuit proved to be a huge success, finding the action in real-life horse races. Hidalgo is a captivating story, one that remains a mildly entertaining film despite bad acting and some crazy direction.

However, this film isn’t without controversy.

One contention many convey centers around Hidalgo’s “true story” tag. While Hopkins and his stallion did exist, several points of the film are falsified for the sake of entertainment.

Unfortunately, it has been said that Hopkins,

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Movie News

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community

MARCH 11-17, 2004

illio Shout out to:

Compiled by Jason Cantone Warner Bros Entertainment

STARSKY AND HUTCH

Hutchinson (Owen Wilson), a laid-back, blondhaired slacker with a penchant for robbing bookies, the two become the ultimate odd couple. Hutch is the corrupt, smooth-talking surfer to Starsky’s rigid, rule-abiding workhorse, but they form an unlikely bond as a murder investigation slowly leads them to Reese Feldman (Vince Vaughn), a drug dealer peddling an undetectable form of cocaine that tastes and smells like sugar.

Stiller and Wilson lately are making careers playing off of each other’s complementary comedic tendencies as the straight man and his stoner sidekick. They make a great team, and they’re each cast perfectly as the title detectives.

You genuinely believe that these improbable allies enjoy working with one another simply because Stiller and Wilson, with their usual Ican-do-anything-you-can-do-better competitiveness as a cover for the love underneath, are perfectly paired partners.

Still, Starsky and Hutch doesn’t have the seam-bursting suburban dementia of Meet the Parents, the offbeat character study of The Royal Tenenbaums or even the evolutionary replay value of Zoolander, which might just be funnier in conversation than onscreen.

Its humor, more often than not, is unfocused and predictable, and each one of the film’s send-ups feels as if it has been done before.

Fortunately, the laughs are consistently fostered

by Vaughn and the rest of the supporting cast, which includes Will Ferrell as a hysterically fetishist jailbird and Snoop Dogg as a pimped-

STARSKY AND HUTCH | BEN STILLER & OWEN WILSON

“Flamboyant singer Sir Elton John has hit back at reports that he plans to marry his longtime boyfriend David Furnish, although he does support same-sex marriage,” the Associated Press reported.

Wait, wait ... Elton John supports same-sex marriage? This is about as shocking as when I found out that President Bush doesn’t.

From: Email:

Oscar-winning beauty Charlize Theron found it tough to stop laughing while filming hot, Oscarwinning lesbian scenes in Monster because her teeth kept falling out, according to the World Entertainment News Network. False teeth, 30 pounds of extra weight and skin blemishes included, she’s still one of the hottest women in the world.

out informant who truly lives the “What’s cooler than being cool?” motto.

Phillips indulges in nearly everything that made the TV show a laughably entertaining male fantasy, from the hypersexual women and cheeseball stunt work to the cheap set designs and gratuitous camera zooms. And working from existing source material largely ameliorates the scatterbrained pacing that he brought to Old School, which digressed away from its own story more than it focused on the inspired concept of grown men starting a fraternity.

But while Phillips does all he can to recreate Starsky and Hutch as high-energy ‘70s nostalgia with a little 21st century gloss, it plays equally as traditional adaptation and self-referential modernization. Some scenes will truly take you back to the days of disco-dancing detectives, but the men behind Starsky and Hutch have too much fun mocking the original in a present-day context to ever really kick it old school.

Shoutout: (75 words or less)

Insanely stupid yet insanely popular TV junk queen Jessica Simpson ran to get a pregnancy test after reading in gossip magazines that she was pregnant.

Some might ridicule her for this, but I’m just happy she proved that she knows how to read.

* GotSomething Something ToTo Say? Got Say? Place Yours Yours Today!

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Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital scared 14 million viewers into watching its debut Wednesday evening. The horror series about allegedly true events was the network’s best drama premiere in two years. And that’s without the key ChampaignUrbana demographic, which was probably all watching the Illini claim a share of the Big Ten title against Purdue.

Deadline is March 15

C-UViews

Compiled by Adam Young

Starsky and Hutch Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

moviereview

ONLY TWO MOVIES OPENED THIS WEEK. HOW SAD. | MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

HIDALGO | VIGGO MORTENSEN depicted as a part-Indian Pony Express rider and Buffalo Bill performer, was never in Buffalo Bill’s show and had no Indian blood in his past.

Even worse, there is a lack of evidence that this 3,000-mile race ever existed.

In the end, Hidalgo proves to be the inverse of what was expected. In past successful movies of the adventure genre, violent situations are usually modest and understated. To eliminate danger from other riders and mercenaries who wish harm upon him, Mortensen’s character does genocide on his Arabian counterparts. A film receiving a PG-13 rating is no big news, especially with The Passion of the Christ demanding the headlines by the thousands, but Mortensen is not the Messiah, and much like the aforementioned, the violence is shocking to the point that it takes away from the film’s integrity. Maybe Mortensen can find his next job working with Gibson in his upcoming sequel, The Passion of the Rodney King.

★★★ Graham Sellers Rantoul

"It wasn’t quite as funny as I expected it to be all the way through."

★★★ Kathy Sellers Rantoul

Illio office at the Y

"The soundtrack would be really cool to get."

or e-mail: illiomarketing@illinimedia.com

★★★ Brian Ketter Urbana

"It just wasn’t that funny."

* Illio reserves the right to deny inappropriate messages with a full refund

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MARCH 11-17, 2004

Kucinich continued from page 4 Kerry supports NAFTA and the WTO, which Kucinich feels costs Americans millions of jobs. As president, one of Kucinich’s first acts would be to cancel NAFTA and create an alternative structure, with security for workers written into it. He would also like to create universal medical care for all.

In the long run, if he was able to secure a Democratic nomination for president, Kucinich said he feels confident about his position in the general election. Kucinich has disagreed with the Bush administration on several issues and said that puts him in the best position to beat Bush come November.

“The Bush Administration lied about the war,” he said. “Who is in the best position to say that? Someone who voted for the war or against it? Who is in the best position to argue about NAFTA and the loss of jobs? Someone who voted for NAFTA or is against it?”

Kucinich has plans for several programs if elected into office, including establishing tuition-free college for students at public universities. His plan involves taking money from the recent Bush tax cut, totaling around $87 billion, and using that money to finance education. Right now, there are 12 million students who go to public universities, paying roughly $6,000 a year for tuition, totaling $72 billion a year, he said.

“It is time we stopped looking at public education as just kindergarten through 12th grade,” Kucinich said. “Public education should include college.”

To help protect college students in a different way, Kucinich stressed that if elected to office, he will make sure there is not a draft. Right now, neither Bush nor Kerry has said they will get out of Iraq right away, which is one of Kucinich’s goals.

“Sooner or later, they are going to run out of people to serve,” he said. “This is not just idle talk. I will stop it. An administration that took the United States into a war is not going to have trouble saying ‘you go next.’

College students should know there is a difference here.”

However, Kucinich says he is able to represent a wider range of people than just college students. Kucinich points to the diversity of his constituents in his Congres-sional district in Ohio as proof of his ability to represent broad interests, including working people, the elderly and young people. His district has every conceivable race, color or creed, he said.

“I appeal to people who are sick of corporations running America,” he said. “I am talking about taking the administration into a new direction.” buzz

Dennis Kucinich will be at the Illini Union Monday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m.

What is a typical day like for you?

We do programming for different age groups; we do songs and stories and felt boards and games. We have to prepare all of these things, which is fun, too. We had the kids go to the Humane Society and read to the dogs. It’s a nonthreatening situation. We always try to incorporate books. The idea is that it is a lot of fun, and books and reading are a lot of fun.

Q & A

BarbLintner

When Barb Lintner was in third grade and put all of her mother’s books in alphabetical order, she knew that she wanted to be a librarian.

Having worked in various libraries since high school, Lintner has found her home at the Urbana Free Library as the director of children’s services. From ordering children’s books to thinking up new programs to get children involved in reading, Lintner loves every aspect of being a librarian.

What do you get to do as director of children’s services?

I get to do lots of fun stuff. I am in charge of other librarians in the department. We all buy books for children from birth through fifth grade.

What made you want to work in the library?

I’ve always been a reader. I really liked books, and I just knew I wanted to work in a library.

What is the best part of your job?

I would say working directly with kids. Especially when you see a kid that starts in the library, and kind of grows up and keeps coming back.

buzz

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m in a Christian clown troupe. We do skits with no words, so there’s not that much pressure, we just act out things. I get to use the makeup and costumes and stuff, so that’s fun. I also spend time going and visiting my grandchildren, too.

What is one thing that you can’t live without?

Of course, books. That’s a no-brainer. Something to read, always. I would be lost without anything to read.

Who is your favorite historical figure?

I suppose I ought to say Melville Dewey!

What are you most proud of?

The Urbana Free Library. I love it. I think the community supports it well, and makes it a wonderful place to work. I am really fortunate to be here and to do what I love most.

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film

MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | WHO ELSE CANNOT WAIT FOR BASEBALL SEASON TO START???

27

So happy together Comedic duo Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson follow in legendary footsteps

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

B

en Stiller and Owen Wilson know that when it comes to comedy, two heads are better than one.

Although their careers came together by coincidence, it’s evident that Stiller’s and Wilson’s combined talents make movie magic. It wasn’t until Meet the Parents that the two shared screen time, which was one moment that almost didn’t happen. In their scene, Stiller’s character meets his fiancee’s ex-boyfriend, Wilson’s character, and the two begin a competitive race for her affection. Stiller, while working on the film, felt this particular scene really contributed to the film’s atmosphere and he fought to keep it in the original cut. Other than Meet the Parents, the pair also contributed brief parts in The Cable Guy, and they provided their talents to major roles in The Royal Tenenbaums and Zoolander.

It is Zoolander that really introduces Stiller’s and Wilson’s onscreen rapport through their humorous versions of rival male supermodels. The main character, Derek Zoolander, originally created by Stiller for a VH1 skit, provided a vehicle for Stiller’s talent, and the success and popular-

ity of the character also opened the door to future opportunities.

Other actors, like Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, paved the way for this type of comedic coupling. Their frequent collaborations in film and television drew loyal audiences, like Stiller and Wilson, and helped to create classic films like The Odd Couple and Fortune Cookie. When actors pair up, audiences tend to feel more comfortable because they see the shared connection, and it also adds to the audience feeling a connection to the film itself. Usually if a pair worked well together once, they can repeat the experience, provided the script calls for it. The script is important, though, and every pair has the potential for failed moments: Matthau and Lemmon’s Out to Sea left the twilight of their careers with a big box office flop.

Now, with Matthau’s and Lemmon’s recent deaths, the film industry looks toward a new crop of comedic actors to fill the now-gaping void in Hollywood, and it looks like Stiller and Wilson may be up to the challenge and able to fill both pairs of famous shoes.

Luckily, this team’s recent history has led them on the road to success.

In their latest film, Starsky & Hutch, Stiller and Wilson team up as ‘70s television icons David Starsky (Stiller) and Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson (Wilson) to deliver an action-packed prequel to the original show.

The movie tells the story of how the unlikely partners began fighting the mean streets of Bay City, Calif.

While the premise of a remake feels overdone in Hollywood—think Charlie’s Angels—it has the potential for a new shelf life if done right. The script lifts the plot right from the ‘70s buddy cop show, but it’s

clear that the Stiller and Wilson’s onscreen dynamic will give the plot a creative spin.

Starsky and Hutch brings this duo together for the sixth time on the silver screen.

So far, through trailers and clips, the film looks more like a celebration of the show’s place in history through Stiller and Wilson’s humorous rendition of the main characters.

Stiller, in admiration for the original TV show Starsky & Hutch, recently made modest comment that his rendition of the show looks like the “failed pilot” for the original.

Even as a “failed pilot,” the premise looks like it will intrigue fans of the show as well as its great casting—Snoop Dogg and Vince Vaughn appear in the film as well.

While past films like Zoolander and Meet the Parents focus more on the pair’s lively and competitive but friendly relationship, Starsky & Hutch looks more like a team effort to showcase their camaraderie.

Onscreen teamwork seems to work well for Stiller and Wilson, considering their long-standing friendship outside the studio.

When asked about working together, Stiller said, “We just enjoy each other’s company and have fun working together.

As long as people seem to allow us to work together, I think it will kinda keep on going,” according to a recent interview for Underground Online. Wilson agreed, saying, “I think even if people didn’t allow us, I would like to think we would be in the Marina doing community theatre.”

Starsky and Hutch appears confident, and it could be the Odd Couple for both Stiller’s and Wilson’s careers. When Matthau and Lemmon worked together, an element of playful ban-

ter gave their films a comedic drive, particularly late in their career when they both appeared in Grumpy Old Men. As for Stiller and Wilson’s acting, when they parade around as police partners Starsky and Hutch, they need to act like pals, but they also need to get on each other’s nerves in order to make the film a box office success.

In The Odd Couple, Matthau and Lemmon achieved that kind of humorous relationship through living together in an apartment as two grown men, while Stiller and Wilson try to gain trust through working together as partners and spending all their time fighting crimes and picking up women. They’ll have to wait to see if this one makes film history.

If their film appearances come anything close to those of Walter Matthau’s and Jack Lemmon’s careers, this duo has nothing to worry about. Conceivably, if Ben Stiller gets his wish, he and Owen Wilson will “keep on going” and they’ll grow to become grumpy old men together. buzz Starsky & Hutch opened last weekend, landing itself at number two at the box office behind Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Starsky and Hutch is currently showing at Beverly and Savoy, and most other films mentioned in this feature can be found at your local video store.

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ENTER: THE DRIVE-THROUGH | MARCH 11 - 17 2004

Drive-thru Reviews

28

3/10/04

50 FIRST DATES ★ ADAM SANDLER AND DREW BARRYMORE It is quite amusing to see the same few actors show up in most of Sandler’s comedies. It works well in many of the films. But this isn’t one of them. And as far as hilarious Adam Sandler films are concerned, 50 First Dates isn’t one of them either. (Jennifer Keast) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy AGAINST THE ROPES ★★ MEG RYAN AND CHARLES S. DUTTON The camera getting up into the sweat and blood, while still focusing on the strategy and true feelings of victory that accompany a win, gives the feeling of attending a real match. The moments in the ring put the audience right where it needs to be: front and center. If the rest of the film focused its attention on the characters with the same gritty detail as the fighting, it might be more than a contender for this season’s signature sport film. (Janelle Greenwood) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy CLUB DREAD ★★★ JAY CHANDRASEKHAR AND BILL PAXTON Taking this film seriously would be a crime, and those who do are sure to hate it. With films such as Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ bringing suffering and torture to millions of people, a simple, dumb film like Club Dread should be in theaters to counter some of that anguish.

Club Dread won’t make you more religious and it won’t make you a better person, but you also won’t have to suffer for some movie entertainment. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN ★★ LINDSAY LOHAN AND ALISON PILL Some would say this film would work perfectly for high school girls who love fashion and popularity. But this movie would seem to work much better for girls who are not yet in high school, and who are not yet familiar with the brutal reality of humiliation, depression and oppression in a high school setting. This movie comes off as incredibly unrealistic in almost every aspect, but the few redeeming qualities might make it worth some 13-yearolds’ $6.50. (Art Mitchell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS ★ DIEGO LUNA AND ROMOLA GARAI To call Havana Nights an expected disappointment is almost an understatement. Diego Luna, who plays the dashing Javier, does not nearly have the onscreen magnetism of a Patrick Swayze to accurately portray his character. Romola Garai as Katy does not submit a very impressive performance. These mediocre performances and a rehashed plot make a trip to Havana Nights a trip to forget. (Dan Nosek) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy EUROTRIP ★★★ MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG AND JACOB PITTS Movies such as Old School and Road Trip aren’t judged by their quality, but by how much laughter comes from the inane situations. With this qualification for excellence, Eurotrip does a surprising job at infusing the year’s raunchiest sex comedy with enough funny moments that you won’t mind pulling out a passport and spending seven dollars to go see it. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy HIDALGO ★★ VIGGO MORTENSEN AND OMAR SHARIF In past successful movies of the adventure genre, violent situations are usually modest and understated. To eliminate danger from other riders and mercenaries who wish harm upon him, Mortensen’s character does genocide on

his Arabian counterparts. Maybe Viggo can find his next job working with Gibson in his upcoming sequel, The Passion of the Rodney King. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy MIRACLE ★★★ KURT RUSSELL AND PATRICIA CLARKSON America’s victory may not have actually been a miracle in the spiritual sense of the word, but what Miracle gets right is the feeling of national desperation that was extinguished by the unpredictable triumph of 20 college-aged hockey players. It was something the country needed then and something Disney obviously thinks we need now. It’s an inspirational blast from the past, and that’s something to quack about. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy MONSTER ★★★★ CHARLIZE THERON AND CHRISTINA RICCI While the narrative slows at some points, it is never dull or repetitive. This rough, unsettling story is transfixing in its gutsy lack of style. It’s as dirty as the side of a highway and as brutal as a death sentence, and the film soars from its distinctively unsentimental objectivity. It’s a shame Jenkins felt the need to use a voiceover, which only repeats the electrifying intensity evident in Theron’s face.

The movie isn’t perfect, but Theron’s brave, breakout performance is monstrous. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy RETURN OF THE KING ★★★★ ELIJAH WOOD AND IAN MCKELLAN Even if The Return of the King doesn’t win the grand prize on Oscar night, anything short of best director victory for Peter Jackson would be an unforgivable injustice. He has raised the bar for fantasy and redefined themes of friendship, honor and courage on a grippingly grand and poignantly intimate scale. Besides its structural limitations, The Return of the King is more than a rousing ending to a celebrated legend; it’s a battle cry for epic filmmaking. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST ★★★ JAMES CAVIEZEL AND MONICA BELLUCCI The film occasionally intersects the persecution with placid shots of Jesus spreading his peaceful message and random moments of his quietly pious life. These are few and far between, however, and a half-hearted effort by Gibson and co-writer Benedict Fitzgerald to break up the monotony of innumerable slow-motion collapses and redundant reaction shots of teary-eyed women. This is a monumental, historical accomplishment, made with intense passion, courage and brains, even if its mind focuses more on shallow malevolence than spiritual catharsis. What it needs is a heart. (Matt Pais) Now Showing at Beverly and Savoy STARSKY & HUTCH ★★★ BEN STILLER AND OWEN WILSON Todd Phillips does all he can to recreate Starsky & Hutch as high-energy ‘70s nostalgia with a little 21st century gloss, it plays equally as traditional adaptation and self-referential modernization. Some scenes will truly take you back to the days of disco-dancing detectives, but the men behind Starsky & Hutch have too much fun mocking the original in a present-day context to ever really kick it old school. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

TWISTED ★ ASHLEY JUDD AND SAMUEL L. JACKSON One thing is for certain about Twisted: its faults are magnified by the cast’s and crew’s fame. If this had been an independent film circulated through the Sunset or Toronto film festivals, the inevitable notoriety which it will gain for being “the worst film of the century� would certainly not be there. (Dan Maloney) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT ★★ RAY RAMANO AND GENE HACKMAN It may be an election year, but Welcome to Mooseport doesn’t offer much in the realm of real-life commentary. In fact, the Democratic Cole continually compares his post-presidency reputation and financial status to Bill Clinton’s. But while Americans might fantasize about a different man having succeeded Clinton, moviegoers certainly don’t fantasize about such superficial slop that’s little more than an unwelcome, Capitol anthill. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

OPENING THIS WEEKEND THE DREAMERS MICHAEL PITT AND LOUIS GARREL During the 1968 Paris student riots, an American studying in the famed city befriends a French brother and sister duo. The trio of friends are drawn together by their love of film and develop a friendship despite the rioting atmosphere going on around them. (Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend AGENT CODY BANKS 2: DESTINATION LONDON FRANKIE MUNIZ AND ANTHONY ANDERSON Who didn’t want a sequal to the smash hit, Agent Cody Banks? The wait is over, and the young but suave Agent Cody Banks is back in action for another adventure.

Could he become the next 007? (Paul Wagner) Opening thie weekend SECRET WINDOW JOHNNY DEPP AND MARIA BELLO Johnny Depp goes from a swaggering pirate to a serious author for this new film. Unfortunately for him, he’s being stalked by a man who claims Depp stole his ideas for his novels. This comes at a bad time for Depp’s character who just divorced his cheating wife and moved away from the city. (Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend SPARTAN VAL KILMER AND WILLIAM H. MACY The president’s daughter is kidnapped, and two detectives, Macy and Kilmer, are charged with the task of rescuing her. As they dig deeper into the case, they uncover a more sinister crime originating from the White House itself. (Paul Wagner) Opening thie weekend DRUGSTORE COWBOY MATT DILLON AND KELLY LYNCH Boardman’s Art Theatre continues its Midnight Movie series with this classic Bonnie and Clyde style flick. The story revolves around a group of drug addicts in the 1970s who get their money by robbing drug stores, and their bonding time on the road. (Paul Wagner) Showing at Boardman’s Art Theatre this Friday and Saturday at midnight

BOARDMAN’S ART THEATRE 1-800-BEST PLACE (800-237-8752) or 1-217-355-0068 eTickets/Reservations and info. at www.BoardmansTheatres.com Exclusive HPS-4000 & SDDS/DTS/DD Presentations

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Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci.

Highest Grossing Film in NY and LA!

Drugstore Cowboy R

Starring Matt Dillon and Kelly Lynch.

Four Stars...Roger Ebert

Four Stars...Roger Ebert SHOWTIMES Daily at 5:15, 7:30, & 9:45PM Matinees Sat/Sun at 3:00PM

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TEEN DRAMA QUEEN (PG) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:20 9:20 11:20 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 1:15 2:50 3:20 5:00 5:30 7:10 7:20 9:20 7:40 9:40 10:00 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 1:15 2:50 DIRTY DANCING (PG–13) Fri. 3:20 5:00 5:30 7:10 7:40 9:40 & Sat. 4:00 10:00 12:05 Sun. - Thu. 4:00 10:00 10:00 EUROTRIP (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:50 3:10 5:20 7:30 9:50 12:10 CODY BANKS 2 (PG) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:30 9:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:50 3:10 5:20 7:30 9:50 12:05 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 RETURN OF THE KING (PG–13) 7:30 9:50 Fri. - Thu. 12:20 4:20 8:20 ◆ SECRET WINDOW (PG–13)

PASSION OF CHRIST (R) (2 SCREENS) Fri. - Sun. 11:15 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 7:00 8:00 9:45 Mon. - Thu. 1:15 2:00 4:15 5:00 7:00 8:00 9:45

MIRACLE (PG) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 7:10 MONSTER (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:20 9:40 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:20 9:40

HIDALGO (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 1:00 3:10 4:00 MYSTIC RIVER (R) Fri. & Sun. 6:40 7:00 9:30 9:50 12:00 - Thu. 12:50 4:00 7:00 9:50 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 1:00 3:10 Sat. 12:50 4:00 9:50 4:00 6:40 7:00 9:30 9:50 TWISTED (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:40 STARSKY & HUTCH (PG–13) 3:00 5:20 7:40 10:00 12:20 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 5:20 (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 12:40 2:40 3:00 5:00 5:20 7:20 7:40 10:00 7:40 9:40 10:00 12:10 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 12:40 2:40 3:00 5:00 5:20 7:20 7:40 9:40 BELLEVILLE (PG–13) Fri. & 10:00 Sat. 12:40 3:00 5:20 7:40 9:30 11:20 50 FIRST DATES (PG–13) Fri. Sun. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 5:20 & Sat. 12:40 3:00 5:10 7:20 7:40 9:30 9:30 11:40 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 3:00 5:10 Sneak Preview: TAKING LIVES (R) Sat. 7:00 7:20 9:30

Showtimes for 3/12 thru 3/18

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community

MARCH 11-17, 2004

5

Thin Mints as a positive influence

Local Girl Scouts help girls and community through annual cookie sales

BY ALINA DIZIK | STAFF WRITER

J

ill Rannenbarger and her two daughters Molly, 7, and Emma, 9, will finish delivering more than 1,300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies this week.

For the past four years, Rannenbarger has been the “cookie mom� and the troop leader.

Every March she is in charge of passing out boxes of cookies to her 17-member Girl Scout troop.

Rannenbarger’s troop sold more than 3,700 boxes last year, and plans to sell even more this year.

Once she unloads the cookies from the warehouse, she gives out the orders to the troops. Her own daughters’ boxes of cookies are stacked in the trunk of the family minivan. Neat handwritten yellow Post-it notes stuck to boxes serve as handmade receipts. Molly and Emma, with the help of their mom, have been delivering cookies for the last two days. “We deliver them as soon as we get them,�

Rannenbarger said. “Because they’ll finish a box and say, ‘Mmm, I’d like another one of those.’ “ Both Emma and Molly wear their Girl Scout vests to deliver cookies; their mom wears a beige sweatshirt with a Girl Scout logo on it. The Rannenbargers ask about 12 local businesses for their support, and sell the rest to neighbors, family and friends. Every year, the Rannenbargers review addresses on the previous year’s cookie order forms to sell to the same places.

Most people can’t help but buy a box of cookies once they see the girls selling them.

Emma smiles often to reveal pink and green braces that match her pink shirt and green Girl Scout vest. Her blond hair is neatly pulled back with a headband. The girls go door-to-door around their Champaign neighborhood to ask people if they would like to buy cookies while their mother watches patiently to make sure they provide the correct information.

Rannenbarger takes her role as the “cookie mom� seriously, and encourages the girls to sell. To better prepare for the annual cookie sales, the girls practice their cookie manners.

Every year, Rannenbarger makes a door out of a cardboard box before cookie season begins. The girls pretend to knock on the door and practice answering questions of potential customers. Their favorite part is retasting all the cookies to describe the taste for questioning buyers, Rannenbarger said.

After memorizing their cookie facts, the troops offer cookies to friends, neighbors and relatives for three weeks during January. “We go out (to sell) a little bit every day, so it’s not overwhelming,� Rannenbarger said.

The Rannenbargers are also able to sell more cookies than

when the original orders are filled in January.

Their secret? They have extra boxes of cookies in the trunk to sell to people that did not give into their earlier cravings. “If you need any more cookies, we have them,� Emma carefully tells customers after they’ve received their initial orders.

After their individual orders are complete, the girls sell additional cookies at business locations as a troop. These booth sales are usually in supermarkets on the weekends in March. The girls alternate in two-hour time slots to sell at tables set up at store entrances.

For every cookie box sold, the troops keep 65 cents for their funds and activities while the other part of the money goes to the council.

The troop uses some of its cookie money to do service projects in the community. Last year, Rannenbarger’s troop shopped for Christmas gifts to donate to a needy family.

People that want to help the Girl Scouts without eating any calories also have an alternative.

Cookies may be donated to Crisis Nursery, a local short-term emergency shelter for children whose parents are going through a crisis.

Cookie sales make up 81 percent of the council’s revenue and are a key part of the financial structure of the Green Meadows Girl Scout Council. The council keeps $2.85 from each box of cookies sold by the troops.

For the girls, the money from the sale is counted toward points to redeem for money to pay for a weeklong summer camp. Also, the girls receive different prizes based on the amount of cookies they sell. Molly plans to sell 600 boxes of cookies to win a shower

radio. The girls can take more away from the cookie sales than just the prizes. “I like telling people about the cookies and getting to meet new people,�

Emma said.

Rannenbarger feels that selling cookies has even helped her daughter become more confident and independent. “Emma used to be extremely shy; even at the playground she stuck to my leg,�

Rannenbarger recalled. “With cookies, she’s really excelled. I Girl scout Emma Rannebarger sets up cookies while customers decide can see her flourishing with which ones to buy. According to Emma, selling cookies is one of her positive influences.� favorite activities within Girl Scouts.

While selling cookies is their most famous activity, Green Meadows Girl girl joins the troop. The aid comes from a comScout Council members specialist Mindy bination of council revenue, private donors and Kirkton emphasizes that the girls do more than an annual United Way grant. Financial assisknock on doors. The Girl Scouts have come a tance is available to cover the $10 joining fee, long way from the original 1912 image of a prop- activities and troop vests and insignia. Usually, er girl scout. Technology and money budgeting all girls in need receive aid; in Champaign are some of the education today’s girls receive. County, there are about 50 Girl Scouts receiving In February, the girls could sign up for an after- financial aid, Kirkton says. “We’ve never had to noon to learn about money with a BankIllinois turn anyone down.� buzz banking executives. The girls also had an activity where they could be engineers for the day and build a gumdrop dome.

The council constantly works to increase diversity among the troops, Kirkton said. “We’re working to include more girls of different ethnic backgrounds.�

Currently there are a total of 989 girl—73 percent of them white—in the Girls Scouts in Champaign-Urbana.

To further increase diversity, the council promotes programs at various public housing developments throughout the ChampaignUrbana area. Council members are also scheduled to speak with cultural groups such as C-U’s Chinese Heritage Organization. “We go out of our way to make sure that everyone is included,� said Kirkton, who admits it’s sometimes tough to break away from the “middle-class white and Christian� stereotypes of previous Girl Scouts.

Even though most meetings are held at local churches, The Girl Scouts are not religiously affiliated. However, the individual troop leaders decide religious activities. Rannenbarger says her $25 Gift Certificate given away every Friday.

Stop by each week to register. troop regularly says grace before meals. Also, many troops celebrate Christmas with themed activities, says Kirkton.

Even the need to be middle-class is no longer part of the stereotype.

Families on tight budgets can put their girls through Girl Scouts because of the Charity fashion show coming soon! opportunity to receive financial aid.

Models needed. Call store for details!

Financial assistance forms are filled out with membership forms before each PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

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MARCH 11-17, 2004

buzz

Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich talks about his primary hopes

TAXI DRIVER ★★★★

BY THOMAS ABBATACOLA | STAFF WRITER

T

BY EMILY WAHLHEIM | COMMUNITY EDITOR

While John Kerry may have all but secured the Democratic nomination for president, Representative Dennis Kucinich continues to work his way across the country, campaigning for that same nomination.

Kucinich, a congressman from Ohio, still remains in the Democratic primary race despite Kerry’s victories in the recent Super Tuesday primaries.

PHOTO | KAREN KILROY

Kucinich is also motivated by the contrast between himself and Kerry. Though Kucinich has more in common with Independent candidate Ralph Nader, Kucinich is running on the Democratic ticket to give Democrats a chance to vote for someone who is inside the party. Kucinich stresses the differences between himself and Kerry as cruMeeting with Ohioans in Cleveland, Dayton and Cincinnati, Dennis Kucinich extends his arms and turns around to demonstrate cial to the primary race. He that he is not influenced by special interest groups ... "No Strings!" and Kerry differ in their stances on many things, including their ABOUT DENNIS J. KUCINICH views on the Iraq war and the anti-terrorism Birth date: October 8, 1946 [4] Repeal of the “Patriot Act” Patriot Act. Education: Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, The government must not be allowed, without Kucinich voted against the Iraqi war and Case Western Reserve University, 1973 probable cause or warrant, to snoop on our comthe Patriot Act, and organized 126 Democrats Career: Municipal courts clerk, 1975-1977; radio munications, medical records, library records, and against the war, while Kerry endorsed politalk show host, 1979, 1989; consultant, 1986-1994; student records. cies of war and voted for the Patriot Act, which television reporter, 1989-1992 [5] Right-to-Choose, Privacy and Civil Rights Kucinich has pledged to repeal if Elected offices and awards: Cleveland city counHis administration will protect a woman’s right-toelected to office. He also traveled cilman, 1969-1975, 1983-85; Cleveland mayor, choose. Lesbians and gays will be given equality. the country to warn Americans that 1977-79; Ohio state senator, 1994-96; U.S. repre[6] Balance Between Workers and Corporations sentative, elected 1996. Chairman of the His administration will defend the rights of workthe country was getting into someCongressional Progressive Caucus. 2003 recipient ers to organize and bargain collectively. thing that was very dangerous, something of the Gandhi Peace Award [7] Guaranteed Quality Education, Pre-K no one else did, he said.

—CNN.com through College “Senator Kerry essentially repeated the His administration will increase federal spending same story on Iraq that Bush did,” said 10 KEY ISSUES courtesy of Dennis Kucinich for on education because quality education is a core Kucinich. “I am not interested in exchanging President Web site.

American right and value. a Republican war for a Democratic war. I [1] Universal Health Care with a Single Payer Plan [8] A Renewed Commitment to Peace and have offered a plan to go to the United Kucinich would establish a publicly financed Diplomacy Nations and get U.S. troops out of Iraq once national health insurance.

Kucinich will work to implement a Space elected. Senator Kerry has every intention to [2] Full Social Security Benefits at Age 65 Preservation Treaty, and cabinet-level Department A Kucinich administration would return these of Peace ‘finish this war to the end.’ “ benefits through a new tax structure and [9] Restored Rural Communities and Family Farms Kucinich also stresses the differenreordered national priorities.

A Kucinich administration will break up agriculturces between himself and Kerry on [3] Withdrawal from NAFTA and WTO al monopolies and restore a strong, independent other matters besides the war. continued on page 6

The global trade regime of NAFTA and WTO has enriched multinational corporations while hurting the U.S. One of Kucinich’s the first actions will be withdrawal from NAFTA and the WTO and replacing them with fair trade agreements.

family farm system.

[10] Environmental Renewal and Clean Energy His administration will toughen environmental enforcement, reduce oil dependence, and spur investment in alternative energy sources

film

MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | HOW IS TWISTED NUMBER 5 AT THE BOX OFFICE?

dvdreview

The dedicated Democrat

In a phone interview with Buzz on Saturday, while campaigning through rural Texas, Kucinich said that despite the formidable task ahead of him, he is still motivated by the same thing that motivated him to come into the race in the first place: changing the direction of America.

“I want to make a more peaceful nation, moving away from war and the doctrines that create war,” he said.

“I want to create a doctrine of peace, and create programs that create jobs, education and health care for all.”

buzz

here is a reason Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver is constantly re-released for DVD and special theatrical screenings. It is a powerful film that never gets old. Its groundbreaking subject matter is imitated in many films, but nothing compares. Seeing it once is not enough. Taxi Driver should be viewed repeatedly and the collector’s edition DVD is a great way to do it.

The film opens with shots of a hell-like New York City full of neon lights, smoke and filth.

The atmosphere is critical for the viewers to understand Travis Bickle’s world. Shots of the taxi give a desperate feeling when the soundtrack plays, and the taxi becomes its own character. When Bickle gets behind the wheel, he observes the scum of the city that surrounds him.

Few characters in movie history compare to Robert DeNiro’s Travis Bickle. The lonely Vietnam veteran takes a job as a late-night taxi driver and begins his downward spiral into complete madness. DeNiro shows how a man can be isolated even in the middle of a busy city.

Anyone who has ever felt separated from society can relate.

A psychotic murderer is not the most common main character. Scorsese captures the feelings of Travis Bickle and the audience feels his alienation. It is easy to empathize with the character even while he erupts into a violent rage.

People may even question why Bickle is considered one of the American Film Institute’s top villains because he evokes so much feeling.

Controversy still surrounds this film. Some violence and censorship issues that are present today originated with the release of Taxi Driver.

A movie about a disturbed man, a 13-year-old

TOP 10s:

prostitute and a giant shooting spree is the Hollywood norm. People even blamed Taxi Driver for Reagan’s assassination attempt.

Rather than blaming this film for real-life violence, it should be viewed therapeutically.

Watching movies can be a way to vent angst.

The Taxi Driver collector’s edition offers some interesting bonus material, but it’s the film that makes this DVD worth buying. A 70minute documentary with interviews gives an in-depth look at the film. The filming of several complicated scenes is explained in detail. A photo gallery, original screenplay, storyboard and trailer make up some of the other special features. For a Scorsese DVD, the extras are surprisingly plentiful. The audio and video is of high quality considering the age of the film.

Without a doubt, Taxi Driver is best viewed on the big screen. It is no surprise that theaters often bring it back. Theatrical prints are not guaranteed to be perfect, but that is what the DVD is for. Seeing Taxi Driver for the first time is a scary and shocking experience, but repeated viewings prove that it is a masterpiece.

Those who accuse Taxi Driver of having some slow scenes that drag out have not paid enough attention. Studying the film a few times will convince anyone that every scene moves. There are so many more great scenes in Taxi Driver than just the famous “You talkin’ to me?” scene.

People keep returning to Taxi Driver because it is simply one of the best films ever made.

Whether it is a midnight showing at an art theater, or the collector’s edition DVD, Taxi Driver grabs the audience and does not let go. It is still shocking almost 30 years later and it is just as powerful. Taxi Driver is a timeless work of art.

No stars

Rentals 1. The Missing 2. Matchstick Men 3. Runaway Jury 4. Radio 5. Secondhand Lions 6. Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over 7. Intolerable Cruelty 8. The Lion King 1 1/2 9. Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star 10. Under the Tuscan Sun

Information provided by: Rottentomatoes.com

TELLURIDE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL Action • Adventure • Extreme Sports Animation • Personal Bios Environmental Issues

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TAXI DRIVER | ROBERT DE NIRO

29

A list of this week’s best

Box Office 1. The Passion of the Christ 2. Starsky & Hutch 3. Hidalgo 4. 50 First Dates 5. Twisted 6. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen 7. LOTR: The Return of the King 8. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights 9. Miracle 10. Monster

COLUMBIA PICTURES

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100% of proceeds go to scholarships for the Campership Program, BSA

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I’VE GOT SPRING FEVER | MARCH 11 - 17, 2004

OPERATION HELPING HAND Kick-Off Celebration • Thursday, March 18

Could your not-for-profit organization use a hand?

Are you a not for profit organization in Champaign County that dreams about having a project completed but you lack the manpower to do it?

Operation Helping Hand is April 17-24 and it’s the perfect chance to make your dream a reality. Think big! You provide us with a short term project, supervision and the materials to complete it and we’ll provide you with the most important resource of all...volunteers!

Would you like to volunteer to lend a hand and help out?

Cuddling animals, planting flowers and clowning around with kids are a few examples of group volunteer opportunities in Champaign County.

Operation Helping Hand is April 17-24 and it’s your chance to gather your friends, have fun and give back to your community.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Attend our Kick-off Celebration on Thursday, March 18 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm at the Urbana Civic Center.

For more information or to RSVP for the Kick-off Celebration please call Kathy at the Office of Volunteer Programs 244-7675 or Teri at United Way 352-5151.

OPERATION HELPING HAND is sponsored by:

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FIRST THING’S FIRST...

WORDS FROM THAT GUY...

Unfrozen caveman fiance

BY CHRIS RYAN | THAT GUY & COPY CHIEF

I

am engaged. I have a dog. I am a graduate student. Yes, I am that guy. One day, I’m in my mid-twenties, performing stand-up comedy regularly in Los Angeles.

Before I know it, I’m 27 and living in Champaign, earning a master’s degree. And I own a sectional.

Deciding I needed a break from a break, I took a solo mini-vacation to Roscoe, Ill., to visit my friend Phil and his brother Steve. As I rode the train—the fiancée needed the car. In your late twenties, you share—I realized that in two-plus years of being one-half of a couple, I had not traveled anywhere significant by myself.

I felt like Phil Hartman’s “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer” character from Saturday Night Live; a primitive man who had been frozen for thousands of years until thawed out “by some of your scientists.” After thawing, he earned a law degree, bought a BMW and enjoyed a successful career winning slip-andfall cases in a present-day world that “frightened and confused” him.

I was the Unfrozen Bachelor.

We started our first evening with a round of Miller Genuine Drafts in the parking lot at Cascade Mountain. It was the finest beer available—at the gas station three miles back—for parking lot drinking. Donning our beer blankets, the three of us vowed to make the evening memorable.

The mischief began on the ski lift. Because the lift seats four people, the lift operator usually assigned a fourth person to our chair for the ride up. I told Phil and Steve of a trick my brother-in-law had taught me on my last ski trip: Make ridiculous untrue statements to your captive ski lift audience.

I told the kid sitting next to me that I was an unhappily married ex-professional skier and cross-Atlantic pilot for American Airlines.

Between comments like, “I’m just on a layover visiting my mistress who lives in the area” and “I only rented skis because this was an unexpected trip,” I advised the kid, “Don’t ever get married. She’ll ruin your life. Promise me.

Promise me right now.” And he did.

At the top of the hill, as we discussed which run to take, I fell. No hot-dogging, no jumping a huge mogul. I was just standing there. And I fell.

This wouldn’t have been a big deal, except I injured my knee. Hours of successfully navigating advanced hills came to an end with a stationary fall.

We returned our rental equipment and headed for the casino, my knee in horrific

pain. The 15-mile drive to the Ho-Chunk Casino took us through West Baraboo, Wisc.

As Phil drove along the main street looking for the casino turnoff, we noticed the red, white and blue flash of police lights behind us.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” the West Baraboo cop, who could not have been older than 21, asked.

“I have no idea,” Phil said.

“Well, the speed limit here in West Baraboo is 25 mph. You were clocked at 37. Any of you guys have warrants?” he asked, doing his best to emulate the mustached lawmen on COPS. “Nope,” we said in unison, each of us presuming the other two were telling the truth.

The cop came back. No warrants.

“How does a warning sound tonight?” he asked, almost too politely.

“Sounds great,” Phil replied. We were off the hook and now getting directions to the casino from a police officer who probably wasn’t even old enough to gamble.

I still had $42 left in my checking account, just enough to withdraw $40 and cover the ATM fee. Phil and I decided to hit the blackjack tables while Steve ventured off to play Texas Hold ‘Em. Our dealer, Marcus, was a large Native American man with fat hands who hatefully dealt the cards. He never spoke, except to occasionally mumble “Ace” when he dealt one, which presumably meant “Good luck on that ace.” At the end of the table sat Matthew, a middle-aged judo instructor wearing a bad sweater. He was working on his eleventh cup of coffee and his fortieth straight minute of talking without a pause.

“It’s all about self-control,” Matthew said to no one in particular. I looked down at my chips and noticed I was up $75. Not bad. I should have stopped gambling then, but I couldn’t. Matthew was so annoying, I had to stay.

“I drive a ‘91 Jimmy,” he said a few minutes later, again to no one in particular. As my chips dwindled, I realized the Matthew Show had cost me all my winnings. Phil and I got up to leave as he was telling, for the third time, the now-exaggerated story of a Porsche that had cut him off on the highway that he later saw pulled over at the casino exit.

“There is a God,” he said, this time to Marcus, who didn’t respond, perhaps because Matthew had talked enough for both of them.

It was time to go home.

The Unfrozen Bachelor had had his fun, but the thaw was wearing off.

I took the train back to Champaign the following Monday. I saw Abby and Wendell, our miniature dachshund, waiting for me at the terminal. One look at the woman I will spend my life with—and my dog in an argyle sweater—and I knew: It’s good to be that guy.

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MARCH 11-18, 2004 | BETH, I LIKE YOUR NEW CAR

It’s finally over ... The fat lady may no longer be allowed to sing

BY MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

here was a lot of news last week which, I have to say, was a pain in the ass for me. I have the attention span of a housefly most of the time, and writing my little column is the one time a week I have to focus on one particular thing. Still, there are just too many options this week, like a BaskinRobbins, or more appropriately for me, a bar with several kinds of scotch. I can’t pick just one, so I must succumb to my nature and pen something that is all over the place, sort of like a Larry King column without all the ass kissing. “It’s not over until the fat lady sings”— Dan Cook.

Soprano Deborah Voight was scheduled to sing some opera over there in London, but not so much any more. She was replaced because she’s a little on the heavy side. The casting director, Peter Katona, canceled the show, saying “It’s not just a question of how someone looks, it’s also how they move on stage.” He feels her 200-pound frame is too large for the part.

My opera knowledge is primarily limited to Bugs Bunny cartoons, but aren’t there quite a few opera stars that are pretty big? It’s like firing a baseball player for scratching his testicles or taking away the family name “Kennedy” because someone drinks too much. It seems like it’s sort of a function of the job. As far as someone moving on stage, is that really what opera is known for?

It’s not like there’s a crapload of action and pyrotechnics. I’m sure the last time Pavoratti’s fat ass made it from stage left to stage right, a forklift had to be implemented. The job is pretty much singing, right? I suppose you could go with Calista Flockhart. She’s probably extremely nimble on stage. Sure, her voice isn’t very good and she might look ridiculous in a Viking hat, but no one goes for the singing and the costumes. Geez, that’d be like buying Playboy for the pictures of naked girls.

who the big fucking cheaters are. It’s not talk of who will make the roster, but who will test positive for steroids.

Barry Bonds is the best guess so far. He says he’s not juicing, but take a look at a picture of him in 1999 and compare it to 2000.

Sure, people put on 40 pounds in the course of eight months. These people are pregnant and about to give birth to a child so the weight gain is accepted. If Barry Bonds pops a child out of his extraordinarily swollen head, then I might take back the steroid theory, but until then, I think we all know what’s going on.

We take our baseball pretty seriously. If you gamble, you’re banned for life. If you test positive for steroids three times in a row, then you’re banned for a year. If you’re just on the alcohol or cocaine, you get as many chances as you want. None of it makes any sense. I’m sure if George Bush loses the election in November, there will always be a place for him as commissioner of baseball. He’d fit right in.

“One has to be a lowbrow, a bit of a murderer, to be a politician, ready and willing to see people sacrificed, slaughtered, for the sake of an idea, whether a good one or a bad one.” — Henry Miller George Bush has just begun his presidential campaign and he’s already managed to piss me off in the first few days. He released a TV ad showing pictures of Sept. 11 in, I suppose, an attempt to show what a wonderful leader he was during the tragedy. I mean, c’mon, he wasn’t exactly Teddy Roosevelt leading a charge up San Juan hill. As soon as the trouble started, he jumped on Air Force One and hightailed it to Nebraska. I think it took another couple of weeks to get the vice president out of that undisclosed bunker.

Besides that, let’s face it, it’s an advertisement. He’s using the suffering of others to promote his own political ambitions. Was he a great leader in a time of crisis? I’d ask Osama bin Laden what his impressions were, but sadly, we don’t really know where he is yet.

Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re a great leader, you probably don’t need to go to such great lengths to convince others that you are.

“I see great things in baseball. It’s our game— the American game. It will... repair (our) losses, and be a blessing to us.”—Walt Whitman It’s been a few years since Mr. Whitman uttered those words and I fear it may be time for us to pay back the favor and repair baseball’s losses. Here it is, spring training, and we should be able to put back a few cold ones and talk about our team’s chances. Instead, we are putting back a few cold ones and talking about

Michael Coulter is a videographer at Parkland College. He writes a weekly e-mail column, “This Sporting Life” and has hosted several local comedy shows.

News of the weird Finer Points of the Law

Magnificent Obsessions

An 18-year-old man was transferred to Youth Court, with its more lenient procedures, after he was arrested and charged with stabbing a man to death at a New Year’s Eve party in Edmonton, Alberta. He will not be tried as an adult because the victim was stabbed just before midnight, and the alleged killer did not actually turn 18 until Jan. 1.

The New York Times reported in February on a Washington, D.C., man whose love of music led him, in the 1960s, to meticulously hand-make and hand-paint facsimile record album covers of his fantasized music, complete with imagined lyric sheets and liner notes (with some “albums” even shrink-wrapped), and, even more incredibly, to hand-make cardboard facsimiles of actual grooved discs to put inside them. “Mingering Mike,” whom a reporter and two hobbyists tracked down (but who declined to be identified in print), also made real music, on tapes, using his and friends’ voices to simulate instruments. His 38 imagined “albums” were discovered at a flea market after Mike defaulted on storage-locker fees, and the hobbyists who found them said they were so exactingly done that a major museum would soon feature them.

The Entreprenurial Spirit Among recent U.S. patents (according to a January story in the East Bay Express, Emeryville, Calif.): (1) a penile prosthesis with a magnet, from Deborah KnollEwers, Hercules, Calif. (to overcome erectile dysfunction with new-age magnet therapy); (2) a plastic liner for men to use beneath their underwear, from Wesley Johnson, Burbank, Calif. (to keep the clothing clean while engaged in fully dressed sex, such as lap dances); and (3) an electrically safe device that attaches to the tongue, to make it vibrate, from Eric A. Klein, Mountain View, Calif. (to enhance a partner’s sexual pleasure).

COPYRIGHT 2004 Chuck Shepard Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

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I KNOW WHERE THOSE PENNIES HAVE BEEN & THAT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE | MARCH 11-18, 2004

buzz

editor’snote

insidebuzz

BY MARISSA MONSON | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Story

4 Dennis Kucinich talks primaries

O

n March 11, Buzz celebrates its first birthday as a community entertainment weekly. I have been with the publication since its transformation, and I am proud to be a part of the publication.

As a longtime resident of the area, it is nice to see that there are so many outlets to cover the thriving arts and entertainment community. With Buzz, The Paper, WAIT, The the public i, The Daily Illini and The NewsGazette, among others, artists and musicians can come to our town and really get some exposure.

With Buzz, some issues have definitely been better than others, and as college students, we continue to try and reach out to the community and cover our home to the best of our ability.

As a staff, we would like to thank the community for sticking with us and for displaying patience while we grow as a publication, and for assisting us in becoming a

While John Kerry may have all but secured the Democratic bid for president, Representative Dennis Kucinich continues to work his way across the country...

Arts 9 Raisin in the Sun shines With a capable ensemble cast and a shining performance by guest actress Cheryl Lynn Bruce, the Krannert Center for the Performing...

Music 14 Everbody deserves Micheal Franti In one form or another, Michael Franti has been making music and spreading his sociopolitical message...

Calendar 18 Troubled Hubble brighten things up Chicago-based rock band Troubled Hubble is guaranteed to lighten any listener’s spirits...

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY better publication.

It’s so important for us to support each other in our endeavors to promote and cover the community. The more media outlets, the better.

Boy, Buzz has really grown up. Remember that one time, when Buzz fell off its bike and got a bloody nose? Or how about that time when Buzz got really drunk and stood on the table dancing with a lamp shade on its head? Man, Buzz has really grown up ... well, maybe not.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to the staff and anyone that has supported us along the way.

-M.M.

Special thanks to

Courier Cafe & Silvercreek

buzz

for being loyal to

We Appreciate You!

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The opportunity that's available to you may not be entirely appealing to your pride. It would require you to place yourself in service to a force that's greater than you.

I compare it to the role played by Steve Williams, the caddie for golf superstar Tiger Woods. Carrying around a bag of golf clubs may not seem glamorous, but Williams earns as much as $1 million a year doing it for Woods.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Novelist Ursula K. Le Guin decries the linear perspective that dominates modern storytelling. She says it's "like an arrow, starting here and going straight there and THOK! hitting its mark." Furthermore, she complains, plots are usually advanced through conflict, as if interesting action can't possibly arise from any other catalyst. Your assignment in the coming week, Taurus, is to rebel against these oppressive conventions. Boycott any story whose narrative drive is fueled primarily by painful events. Protest movies that imply most human experiences are fraught with difficulty and resolved neatly. Most importantly, look back and celebrate the luminous mysteries that have shaped your life story: the meandering fascinations that didn't lead to tidy conclusions, the wobbly joys that fed your soul, the adventures whose success was built on sweet breakthroughs rather than triumphs over suffering.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Since your life has more than a slight resemblance to a chess match these days, I'm calling upon grandmaster Victor Korchnoi to talk a little strategy. "I like to coax my opponents into attacking," he says, "to let them taste the joy of the initiative, so that they may get carried away, become careless, and sacrifice material." Please meditate on how you might adopt this approach to use in your next gambit, Gemini. It's time, in my astrological opinion, for some smart mischief.

VANQUISHER (also known as CANCER) (June 21-July 22): Have you ever thought about becoming an astrologer? This would be an ideal time to explore the possibilities. For that matter, you will attract grace and synchronicity if you do anything to expand your understanding of how big archetypal forces interact with our little personal lives. Reading books by psychologist Carl Jung or mythologist Joseph Campbell would be excellent for your health. So would doing a meditation session under the night sky or contemplating your dreams as you take in a planetarium show. Have you ever heard the ancient mystical formula, "As above, so below"? It means the cosmos is reflected in your psyche, and vice versa. Look everywhere for evidence that it's true.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In Grimms' version of the fairy tale, "Sleeping Beauty," all the trouble stemmed from a seemingly minor mistake: The king and queen invited 12 of the realm's fairies to their daughter's party, but ignored the 13th simply

Film

26 Starsky & Hutch middle of the road Boys just want to have fun in Starsky & Hutch, a pleasing if not hilarious adaptation of the campy ‘70s cop show...

ACROSS 1 Strategic Iraqi port just

across the Kuwaiti border

8 Old green coats?

15 Paste 16 Home to Dyess A.F.B.

Volume 2, Number 9 COVER DESIGN | Meaghan Dee

Editor in chief Marissa Monson Art Directors Meaghan Dee & Carol Mudra Copy Chief Chris Ryan Music Jacob Dittmer Art Katie Richardson Film Paul Wagner Community Emily Wahlheim Calendar Maggie Dunphy Photography Editor Christine Litas Calendar Coordinators Lauren Smith, Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Photography Christine Litas, Steve Kline Copy Editors Chris Ryan, Jen Hubert, Erin Green, Suzanne Sitrick Designers Chris Depa, Adam Obendorf, Sue Janna Truscott, Glenn Cochon, Jordan Herron Production Manager Theon Smith Sales Manager Jon Maly Marketing/Distribution Melissa Schleicher, Maria Erickson Publisher Mary Cory

because they only had 12 gold plates. This last fairy came anyway, angrily crashing the feast and casting a curse as vengeance for her snub. I advise you not to make a similar gaffe this week, Leo. Even if your personal equivalent of the thirteenth fairy is an awkward character or a disruptive presence, you need that influence right now. And the practical fact of the matter is that if you don't welcome it, it'll mess with you; if you do welcome it, it'll bless you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Speaking on your behalf, I hereby give notice to the cosmos that it must try harder to please you.

Its lukewarm support will no longer be considered sufficient for your needs. Its roundabout approach to helping you fulfill your dreams must become more direct and straightforward -- or else!

Specifically, I demand that the gods, fates, dispensers of karma, or however they want to be referred to, must, no later than March 13, 2004, begin to provide you with a steady stream of satisfying interpersonal encounters. This must include, though it is not limited to, more tender intimacy, more engaging friendships, and more interesting conversations.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You still have a chance to avoid that pyrrhic victory you're spiraling towards. For those of you without a dictionary nearby, a "pyrrhic victory" is defined as a costly triumph, useless advantage, or empty success.What's your best bet for avoiding it? First, start thinking of what your soul needs rather than what your ego craves. Second, forget about trying to provide balance to a distorted situation that's too fixed to be influenced. Third, become aware of how your focus on what you dislike is reinforcing what you dislike.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I'm guessing that your imagination is both excited and perplexed; that your senses are heightened yet on the verge of being overwhelmed. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you're going through a phase that at its best might be called a medley and at its most challenging a hodgepodge. It has resemblances to the sibuxiang, a mythic Chinese animal with the head of a dragon, antlers of a deer, tail of a lion, hooves of an ox, and body covered with fishy scales. So is there anything you can do to ensure that you use this time to stir up innovative solutions to long-standing problems?

Here's one suggestion: Once a day for five minutes, close your eyes and visualize yourself pulling off rodeo tricks while riding an exuberant sibuxiang.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It's check-in time, Aquarius. What progress have you been making in your work on this year's major assignment? As I suggested last December, everything you thought you knew about commitment is due for a major overhaul. Before 2004 is over, you must transform the way you weave your fortunes together with worthy allies. By now, you should be at least halfway through this extended turning point; you should have shed outworn ideas about collaboration and conjured up fresh approaches. The next stage of the process begins soon: wherein you formally break off pacts with erratic and emotionally unavailable people, and seal deals with responsible, emotionally intelligent people.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): "Dear Rob Brezsny: As much as I enjoy reading your stuff, I have to admit that I almost always have to do the opposite of whatever you advise. It's just my nature. So here's my request: Could you write a horrorscope for those of us Scorpios who are backwards -- the negatively aligned people? Kneejerk Rebel in Sacramento."

Dear Kneejerk: Your wish is hereby granted. This week you should avoid all experiences that might result in you experiencing heaping doses of love and liberation. Repress the warm, sexy emotions welling up inside you. Devote yourself to boring tasks that make you feel numb.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Imagine that your life is a detective story. The goal is not to solve a crime, but to solve the mystery of why you're here on earth so you can carry out the special mission you've come to accomplish. Sometimes you go for months without even looking for clues. You sleepwalk through the world, reacting blindly to the tricks that the gods use to try to wake you up. Then there are those phases when hot leads and fresh evidence pop up all over the place, convincing you beyond a doubt that magic is one of the fundamental properties of reality. This is one of those times, Pisces.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): What time is it, boys and girls?

It's SHADOW TIME. Are you ready to negotiate with the chaotic, confusing feelings you usually hide from? Would you consider tunneling down into your soul's darkest pit and hunting for the hidden treasure there? Here are a few morsels to take with you on your journey. 1. "That which we do not bring to consciousness appears in our lives as fate." -Jung. 2. "Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once

HOMEWORK: If you had ☎ Rob Brezsny's Free Will ✍ to live anywhere besides Astrology beautyandtruth where you are, where would it be and why? Explain at www.freewillastrology.com

@ f r e e w i l l a s t r o l o g y. c o m 415.459.7209(v)• 415.457.3769 http://www.freewillastrology. com P.O. Box 798 San Anselmo, CA 94979

Got an opinion?

E-mail us at buzz@readbuzz.com or you can send us a letter at 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820.

We reserve the right to edit submissions.

Buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. Free speech is an important part of the democratic process. Exercise your rights.

17 Before 18 Lagged 19 Fits 21 Like articles and blood 22 Steady devotion 23 1960’s chess master 24 Starts to resemble 25 Fouls up 27 Map point 28 Like ink, in France 30 Where we live 32 Scholars

All editorial questions or letters to the editor should be sent to buzz@readbuzz.com or 337-8317 or buzz, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820.

35 Some bargains

Buzz magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students.

38 Exact

Copyright Illini Media Company 2004

46 PET scan particles

36 Disinclined 37 Decalogue word 39 Still 41 Go from here to there 45 Fat letters

48 Northern forests 51 Loses focus 52 When coins came into

general use

54 Get the last bit of suds

out 55 Tower of faith 56 Less subdued 57 Parade times 58 Disburses DOWN 1 Jazz enthusiast?

2 Personification of humanity’s dark side 3 Title TV character played by Brandy Norwood 4 Pertaining to the present period in earth history 5 “Father Knows Best” family 6 Harshly criticize 7 Employees in the sugar industry 8 Grammarian, at times 9 Org. that the Indiana Pacers once belonged to

10 Moonroof

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buzz MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 | I’M AFRAID OF SWIMSUIT SEASON

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feature 15 11 Not well 17 12 First or third quarter phenom19 20 enon 13 Animal with no 22 teeth 25 24 14 Like some melons 28 29 20 Decent plot 32 33 34 26 “I thought I ___ …”

37 36 27 What a tough 38 39 40 guy may not show much 46 45 29 Pair 51 48 49 50 31 Support, redundantly 52 53 32 Do a hurry-up 55 job 33 Common wed57 ding song Puzzle by Byron Walden 34 Competing narratives 35 Sad Sack’s tor43 Available mentor, in comics 44 Ethyl acetate and oth37 Cry from a tickled perers son 40 Bouts of gastritis 47 Mountaineering aid 42 “Don’t stay out here” 49 Small distraction

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VOTE | MARCH 11 - 17, 2004 buzz

And Would Like To Say

Affiliates in Oral Surgery Affordable Auto Sales Affordable Telephone Airvantage Edventure Partner Alexander’s Steakhouse Am-Ko Aroma Cafe Art Coop Artists Against AIDS Assembly Hall Atrium Apartments Austin’s Sportswear Aventis BioServices Bacardi USA Bacca Barfly Barr Real Estate Beckman Institute Boardman’s BodyWork Associates Boltini Borders Bookstore Braden Auditorium Bunny’s Tavern C-U Mass Transit C-U Theatre Company CTR’s Productions CV Lloyde Campus Massage Center Division of Campus Recreation Canopy Club Central Illinois Psycho Therapy Champaign Automotive Champaign Park District Champaign Telephone Company Chinatown Buffet Cinema Gallery Circles City of Urbana Cochrane’s Corkscrew Corson Music Counseling Center Craft League of C-U Creation Art Studio Cute Girlfriend Entertainment Dallas & Company

THANK YOU

z buz March 11 - 17, 2004

Arts | Entertainment | Community

FREE!

to the following businesses for helping to make our first year such a great success...

Dandelion David S. Palmer Arena Diageo-Guinness USA Digs Fashion Dos Reales East Asian & Pacific Studies Ellite Salon Esquire Exact Extraction Express Personnel Services Family Video Faron Properties Farren’s Fat City Saloon Fiesta Cafe First Church of Christ Scientists Foudini’s/Tommy G’s Furniture Lounge GCAP GKC GT’s Western Bowl George Klatt Glass FX Gordman’s Great Impasta Great Wall Buffet Hair Connection II Harold Hawn Hendrick House Heritage Property Management Highdive Champaign Humane Society I Spy Entertainment ISU Entertainment Committee Illini Union Illinois Program for Research Imagine Scrapbooking Intercultural Friendship Foundation International Galleries Ippatsu Jam Productions Jane Addams Jerry’s IGA Jimmy John’s Joe’s Brewery John Smith Properties

Josten’s Jupiters Kam’s Kamakura Kane & Co. Kennedy’s at Stone Creek Kickapoo Landing Krannert Art Museum Krannert Center for the Performing Arts La Piel Lava Les Cheveux Like New Appliances Lil Porgy’s Lincoln Castle Linda Scott Lindley House Lincoln Square Merchants Lix MHM Properties Malibu Bay Lounge Manchester Property Management Margaritas Matthew Green Mettler Center Mike & Molly’s Miller Brewing Company/Orange and Blue Distributing Minneci’s Ristorante Morrissey Group Murphy’s Nancy Ford Nargile Nic’s Basket Case Nifty Nuptials No Name Saloon Northern IL. University Convocation Old Vic Art Gallery Orpheum Children’s Museum Pages for All Ages Parkland Community College The Phoenix Plato’s Closet The Play Pen

Prairie Ensemble Premium Brands Princeton Review Radio Maria Rebecca’s Red Herring Refinery Rosewood Guitars Ruby Fox Saturn of Champaign County Savoy 16 Scrapbook Expressions Senior Photography Exhibition Shapemaster Inc. Shouting Ground Sigma Delta Tau Skins n’ Tins Smoothie King Snell Chiropractic Song’s Kung Fu Academy Star Course Stone Creek Golf Course Student Alumni Association Supervalu Sweet Betsy’s Tango Society Techline Ten Thousand Villages Top Dollar Travel Cuts Twisted Scissors The UPS Store United Way University Group Urbana Adult Education Urbana Business Alliance Verde Gallery Vilardo’s Vision World WEFT WPGU Women’s Health Practice Ya’Nom Yellow Checker Cab Yoga Institute Zorba’s

Buzz talks with Dennis Kucinich

Get into glass Page 4

Page 8

Milwaukee’s Decibully Page 13

In the footsteps of comedy duos Page 4