360 March 12, 2020

Thursday, March 12, 2020 - E1

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

CHRIS EGER BAND

A plethora of musical choices PAGE 9

GIN GYPSY

THE BLOKES Skagit Valley Herald Thursday March 12, 2020

ON STAGE PAGE 8 Northwest Ballet Theater presents “The Little Mermaid” MOVIES

PAGE 14

Ben Affleck stars in well-done underdog story, “The Way Back”

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

NEW ON DVD THIS WEEK

YOUR ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN SKAGIT COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Inside Out & About........................... 4-6 Music........................................... 7 On Stage...................................... 8 Tuning Up................................... 9 Get Involved.............................10 SONY VIA AP

Kevin Hart (from left), Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan and Jack Black star in “Jumanji: The Next Level.”

“JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL”: The “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” gang has split up after high school, as have couple Spencer (Alex Wolff) and Martha (Morgan Turner). Home for the holidays and panicking about a holiday reunion with the group, not to mention longing for the confidence and romantic connection he had with Martha as the heroic Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), Spencer re-enters Jumanji.

When he’s a no-show at brunch, the group decides to rescue Spencer from the game and heads back in themselves, with Spencer’s grandfather (Danny DeVito) and his grandfather’s ex-business partner (Danny Glover) inadvertently getting sucked in too.

The team must find Spencer, but they also face a new game objective: to save Jumanji from drought by rescuing a special jewel.

This time around, the body swapping of the main characters into their game character counterparts is next level (sorry). Karen Gillan as human machine Ruby reprises Martha’s character, while

Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain) ends up as the much-less athletically inclined cartographer Oberon (Jack Black). But it’s The Rock doing his best crotchety New York accent as DeVito and Kevin Hart as zoologist Mouse embodying the slow-talking Glover who completely steal the show.

“Hart’s nuanced mimicry of Glover is downright inspired, and the story offers up a few chances for the characters to avatar swap, showing off the actors’ abilities to embody the different jock/nerd/cheerleader/cantankerous grandpa personas,” wrote Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. “Once again, this is a one-joke movie, but for the time being, that joke still has some tread on the tires, especially with such charming stars and some light innovation.”

“RICHARD JEWELL”: A security guard (Paul Walter Hauser) is accused of being the prime suspect in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.

“BLACK CHRISTMAS”: A college student (Imogen Poots) and her sorority sisters

seek revenge against a campus killer.

“A HIDDEN LIFE”: After refusing to fight for the Nazis in World War II, an Austrian farmer (August Diehl) faces extreme consequences.

“ABIGAIL”: Amid closed borders from an epidemic, a girl (Tinatin Dalakishvili) discovers she has special powers while looking for her father. In Russian and English.

“CRASHING: S3”: Comic Pete Holmes continues navigating the New York stand-up scene while staying on friends’ couches in the final season of the HBO sitcom.

“SUPERMAN: RED SON”: This animated take on the DC Comics character follows him as a Soviet hero.

“THE DUSTWALKER”: Residents of a desert town begin transforming into murderous beings.

OUT ON DIGITAL HD MARCH 17 “CATS”: A clowder of Jellicle cats decide which one will venture to the Heaviside Layer and return to start a new life in this CGI musical directed

by Tom Hooper and based on the stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray April 7.

“SEVEN STAGES TO ACHIEVE ETERNAL BLISS”: A Los Angeles couple discovers that a cult is using their home for a suicide ritual. Kate Micucci, Sam Huntington and Taika Waititi star.

“STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER”: In the final installment of the ninepart epic space opera, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the Resistance against Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order after Palpataine (Ian McDiarmid) has returned. Also starring Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Out on DVD and Blu-ray March 31.

OUT ON DIGITAL HD MARCH 20 “INTERNATIONAL FALLS”: An aspiring comic (Rachael Harris) meets a jaded comedian (Rob Huebel) in a snowy town.

– Katie Foran-McHale, Tribune News Service

Hot Tickets...............................11 Travel.........................................12 At the Lincoln..........................13 Movies................................. 14-15 SUBMISSIONS Email: features@skagitpublishing.com Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday for the following Thursday edition Phone 360-416-2135 Address Skagit Publishing 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 Online events calendar To list your event on our website, visit goskagit.com and look for the Events Calendar on the home page

HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact Features Editor Craig Parrish at 360-416-2135 or features@skagitpublishing.com

TO ADVERTISE 360-424-3251

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Postponed — Burton Cummings shows at the Skagit Casino moved to December

By KERA WANIELISTA @Kera_SVH

Area fans of late 1960s and early 1970s garage rock will have to wait a while for legendary rock ‘n’ roll star Burton Cummings to visit The Skagit Casino Resort.

Cummings was scheduled to perform this Friday and Saturday, March 13-14, but due to COVID-19 concerns, the shows have been rescheduled for Dec. 11-12.

Cummings, best known as the keyboardist and voice behind the Canadian rock band The Guess Who, will perform classics and new hits from his solo career, including “Stand Tall” and “My Own Way to Rock” from “Above the Ground,” Cummings’ 2008 album that was the first to feature all of his own original songs.

Many will also recognize Cummings as the voice and either writer or co-writer behind the classic rock ballads “American Woman,” “These Eyes” and “No Sugar Tonight/

MORE INFORMATION Numerous events and performances have been affected on short notice by safety concerns regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Readers are advised to contact the venues to confirm that performances will go on as scheduled.

New Mother Nature” as part of The Guess Who, whom many call the first Canadian rock ‘n’ roll stars.

While Burton left the band after a decade in 1975, he has continued to tour both in ensembles and solo, including stints in the 1980s and 1990s with Ringo Starr’s All Star Band.

“I still try my best to recreate the records just the way they sounded,” he says on his website, burtoncummings.com. “I have no trouble with singing these songs the rest of my life.”

— Reporter Kera Wanielista: 360-416-2141, kwanielista@skagitpublishing.com, Twitter: @ Kera_SVH, facebook.com/ KeraReports

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OUT AND ABOUT

PechaKucha goes full blast

By Skagit Valley Herald staff

MUSEUM OF NORTHWEST ART

PechaKucha

ART

DAFFODIL FESTIVAL ARTIST RECEPTION: View the finalists’ artwork for the Daffodil Festival poster until March 15 at the Lux Art Center, 603 Morris St., La Conner. Guests can vote for their favorite work of ark.

STEVEN R. HILL: The pastel work of Lopez Island artist Steven Hill is featured at the Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, until March 31.

ARTIST’S BEST: A juried gallery show with new works in a variety of mediums is on display until March 31 at The Good Stuff Arts gallery, 604 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Peggy Woods is the featured artist for the month.

VINTAGE WATER-

COLORISTS OF WASHINGTON: John Ebner, Carla O’Connor, Joan Pinney, Joan Reeves, Tony Turpin and Jack Dorsey are featured in the invitational watercolor show open for viewing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, March 14 and 21, at Sunnyshore Studio, 2803 E. Camano Drive, Camano Island.

317-209-6768.

ESPECIALLY SPECIAL: Betty Black’s collection of art has been curated for display at the Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St., La Conner, until March 15.

LISA MCSHANE: The interaction between water, land and light is the main element of Lisa McShane’s paintings, which are featured until March 29 at Smith & Vallee Gallery, 5742 Gilkey Ave., Edison.

MUSIC

JOVINO SANTOS NETO TRIO: Enjoy Brazilian music at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25, at the Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island.

THEATER

“GENRE LEGENDS”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in March at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. The audience will suggest genres, and the cast will select three to perform. $12. theupfront.com.

MUSICAL IMPROV WITH LAURA HALL: Laura Hall, best known for her musical improv on the show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” will join the main-stage cast as they make up songs and lyrics to her music at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Upfront

Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. theupfront. com. ”SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS”: iDiOM Theater brings a new three-play adaptation of the Norse epic “The Saga of the Völsungs” from March 13-April 4 at the Sylvia Center for the Arts, 207 Prospect St., Bellingham. sylviacenterforthearts.org.

LECTURES & TALKS

ACROSS GENERATIONS: WOMEN IN POLITICS: Noon Thursday, March 12, Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham. The advocate panel discussion will include activists, representatives and political leaders. whatcommuseum.org. ”MY ANXIOUS LIFE”: Kayla Day, a young wom-

PechaKucha: In Japan, it means “chatter” or “chit chat”; in the United States, it means a good time is in store.

PechaKucha is a fast-paced presentation in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each. The theme for the presentations is “Especially Special.”

The event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St., La Conner.

Seven speakers, including local photographers and artists, will give their quick presentations, sticking to 20 seconds per slide.

Attendance is free.

an living with cerebral palsy, total blindness and a generalized anxiety disorder who wrote a memoir about her experiences, will host a book talk at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Village Books, 1200 11th St., Bellingham.

LIONS: Friends of Skagit Beaches presents a talk on “Seals and Sea Lions: Pinnipeds of the Salish Sea” from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, March 20, at Northwest Educational Services District, 1601 R Ave., Anacortes. Free.

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR: Barney Saltzberg will read from his new book “One of These is Not Like the Other” at 10 a.m. Friday, March 13, at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave., Burlington.

WOMEN HAND IN HAND: Author, speaker and mother-of-three Rebekah Metteer will be the featured speaker at the Dwelling in Hope women’s conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Inspire Church, 805 Township St., Sedro-Woolley. $20, includes lunch. womenhandinhand.com.

ALZHEIMER’S COMMUNITY FORUM: The public event, hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association Washington state chapter, will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, March 14, at the Burlington Senior Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington.

SEALS AND SEA

AUTHOR TALK: Abbe Rolnick, author of the “Generation of Secrets” series, will present the third book “Founding Stones” with a talk at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at Village Books, 1200 11th St., Bellingham.

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OUT AND ABOUT CHINESE IN EARLY NORTHWEST AMERICA: Authors Chuimei Ho and Bennet Bronson will talk about the history of Chinese immigration in the Northwest at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25, at the Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes.

AN ARTIST’S APPROACH TO WRITING: Prominent Pacific Northwest artist and writer Jack Gunter will talk about how to write a memoir at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave., Burlington.

MORE FUN

VIETNAM VETERANS PARADE: The George Baldridge American Legion Post 43, Sedro-Woolley, will celebrate National Vietnam Veterans Day with a parade at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, through downtown Sedro-Woolley. A ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at the American Legion hall, 701 Murdock St., Sedro-Woolley.

BREAKFAST AT THE ELKS CANCELLED: The Swedish pancake breakfast scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at Mount Vernon Elks Lodge No. 1604 has been cancelled.

360-848-8882.

PIE AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Enjoy pie and ice cream, bid in a silent auction and raise money for the La Conner town flower baskets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Maple Hall, 104 Commercial St., La Conner.

MODEL RAILROAD OPEN HOUSE: The

Whatcom Skagit Model Railroad Club will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at 1469 Silver Run Lane, Alger, off Old Highway 99. $3 suggested donation.

PECHAKUCHA NIGHT: Stories are shared in a fast-paced presentation of 20 slides for 20 seconds each at this unique event from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Museum of Northwest Art, 121 First St., La Conner.

The theme is “Especially Special.”

GARDENING WORKSHOP: The Master Gardeners of Island County presents the 32nd annual Whidbey Gardening Workshop on March 13-14 at Oak Harbor High School. The event, featuring internationally known keynote speaker Richie Steffen, offers classes for both novice and experienced gardeners, a floral design competition, a marketplace and raffle, two lunch options, and a pre-Workshop Field Trip Day. For more information and to register: whidbeygardening.org.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Celebrate the Irish holiday by dancing to the South End String Band at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at the Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. There will be leprechauns, appetizers and a bar. $20.

GENEALOGICAL SEARCHERS: Whidbey Island Genealogical Searchers will present “Women In History” from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at Oak Harbor

Village Books hosts author of ‘My Anxious Life’

By Skagit Valley Herald staff

Kayla Day is a young woman living with cerebral palsy, total blindness and a generalized anxiety disorder.

While overcoming these obstacles, Day has become a role model

for others experiencing hardships.

So, she decided to write a book.

“My Anxious Life” is a memoir about Day’s struggles and triumphs and at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, Day will read from it at Village Books, 1200 11th St., Bellingham.

Day will give examples of her own regrets and advice about what she’s learned along the way.

The talk is free.

Lutheran Church, 1253 NW Second Ave., Oak Harbor. 360-675-5035.

DAFFODIL TWEED RIDE: Dress in tweed, or any smart-looking outfit, to ride through a scenic route into daffodil fields to enjoy a picnic lunch with friends and families, at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, leaving from the La Conner Coffee Co., 604 S. First St., La Conner. Return at 2 p.m. to join a party until 6 p.m. at Hellam’s Vineyard, 109 N. First St., La Conner. This a British-themed event. sprocketscience.com/ thedandydaffodil.

DECADES BINGO: Dress up and represent your favorite decade and play bingo at 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21, at the Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. $16 for 10 games of bingo.

March Marc h 17 17

WIN UP TO $500!

GAMING | DINING | EVENTS | GOLF | LODGE 1.888.288.8883 | SWINOMISHCASINOANDLODGE.COM Must be 18 to gamble. Management reserves all rights.

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OUT AND ABOUT MEET YOUR FARMER CSA FAIR: Join Sustainable Connections for a CSA Fair for Bellingham and Whatcom residents to learn about getting farm fresh food in a weekly box, at noon Saturday, March 28, at Boundary Bay Brewey Mountain Room, 1107 Railroad Ave., Bellingham.

CAMP FIRE SAMISH DINNER AUCTION: The 14th annual Camp Fire Samish and Camp Kirby dinner and auction event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 28, at the Swinomish Casino & Lodge, 12885 Casino

Stunning Venue Exquisite Cuisine Exceptional Service Convenient Location Event Planning Support Full Beverage Service Ample Free Parking Lodging Packages & More!

Weddings & Special Events

360.416.7622

mcintyrehall.org

Drive, Anacortes. $75 per person, $600 per table. campfiresamish. org/annual-auction.

ANACORTES SPRING GIFT SHOW: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 28, Anacortes Senior Activity Center, 1701 22nd St., Anacortes.

SHARE THE BOUNTY SWAP: Share gently used items and pick up other items from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the Anacortes Senior Center, 1701 22nd St., Anacortes. Free.

LOOKING AHEAD ”HANSEL & GRETL & HEIDI & GUNTER”: Village Theatre will present a new musical penned by two Northwest natives from April 24-May 17, at the Everett location, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. villagetheatre.org.

DEEP SEA VOLCANOES: Friends of Skagit Beaches will present a talk on “Deep Sea Volcanoes: A Fiber-optic Look at Eruptions, Hot Springs & Life Forms” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. April 17, at Northwest Educational Services District, 1601 R Ave., Anacortes.

Free.

INTERWOVEN LIVES: Candace Wellman will present

Bellingham celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with multiple events

By Skagit Valley Herald staff

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day a few days early with traditional Irish festivities this weekend in Bellingham.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 13, the Penk O’Donnell Dancers will perform Irish dances in the taproom at Boundary Bay Brewery, 1107 Railroad Ave. The festivities pick back up on Saturday, March 14, when live music will ring throughout Boundary Bay Brewery and the dancers will return at 2 p.m. for more entertainment and continue to perform every two hours.

“Interwoven Lives” Indigenous Mothers of Salish Coast Communities” at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 22, at the Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes.

MODEL RAILROAD OPEN HOUSE: The Whatcom Skagit Model Railroad Club will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at 1469 Silver Run Lane, Alger, off Old Highway 99. $3 suggested donation.

TULIP FESTIVAL: The Street Fair will be

Bellingham’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday. The held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, April 17-19, in downtown Mount Vernon.

For more information on the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which runs April 1-30, visit tulipfestival.org.

VILLAGE GALA 2020: The nonprofit Village Community Services will host its annual black tie fundraising gala with dinner, raffles and a live auction on Saturday, April 18, at Angel of the Winds Casino Resort, Arlington. $75 per person or $500 for

route goes along Railroad Avenue and past the brewery.

On Sunday, March a table. villagegala2020. eventbrite.com.

SPAGHETTI OPEN HOUSE: Get to know the Camp Kirby grounds and enjoy some spaghetti from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at the camp, 4734 Samish Point Road, Bow. $10 suggested.

SCHMOOZE FAIR: Win prizes, sample foods and connect with friends and colleagues at this business-to-business trade show from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Van Zyverden Bulb Ware-

15, the dancers are back for two performances at 2 and 5 p.m. at the brewery. house, 12035 Higgins Airport Way, Burlington. $15. skagit.org.

BUILDING DREAMS AUCTION: The second annual Building Dreams dinner and auction to support families and affordable homes will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, April 24, at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge, 12885 Casino Drive, Anacortes. There will be live and silent auctions. $60 per person, proceeds support Home Trust. my360tix.com.

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MUSIC

How McCoy Tyner revolutionized jazz piano

By HOWARD REICH Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Through the decades, a few visionary musicians have changed the way jazz piano is played.

Jelly Roll Morton’s buoyant left-hand rhythms, Bud Powell’s trumpet-like right hand lines, Art Tatum’s allover-the-keys wizardry, Thelonious Monk’s piquant dissonances and Oscar Peterson’s astonishingly fleet technique — among others — opened the instrument to sounds previously unimagined.

McCoy Tyner, who died Friday in his New Jersey home at age 81, belonged to this elite class of piano innovators. Before him, no jazz pianist had conjured such sonic force, ferocious rhythmic drive and quasi-orchestral eruptions.

Stylistically and technically, he defied much of what had preceded him, dispensing with the keyboard clarity of earlier pianists to produce great swirls of sound bathed in unrepentant dissonance.

Yet the music proved so thrilling to experience — so dynamic in tone, touch and pulse — that listeners who recoiled at the jazz avant-garde widely embraced Tyner’s art.

This music emerged in his native Philadelphia, a vibrant jazz city where Tyner encountered saxophonist John Coltrane and pianist Powell, both profound influences on him. Tyner toured and recorded with Coltrane in the 1960s, and the saxophonist’s obsessiveness about music rubbed off.

“He practiced all the time,” Tyner told me in

AP FILE

McCoy Tyner performs during the 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival in 2009 in Montreux, Switzerland.

2015. “When we traveled, we got to the hotel, John would take out his horn.

He was very devoted to it, very devoted.”

Coltrane’s devotion reached its highest and most celebrated peak with the masterwork “A Love Supreme,” a 1965 album in which Coltrane articulated his faith via jazz, with Tyner at the piano.

“During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life,” Coltrane wrote in the album’s liner notes. “At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD.” The recording gave Tyner a measure of jazz immortality. “‘A Love Supreme’ was a testament — John’s testament to a higher power,” Tyner told me in 2004.

“His spiritual inclinations were very strong, which means he believed in something that is more powerful than any of us but is still in all of us.

“When we made that

recording, it was as if we were saying, ‘We’re here now, we’re going to play, we’re going to praise You.’” Yet during the recording session — in Rudy Van Gelder’s New Jersey studio in December, 1964 — Coltrane didn’t fully reveal his musical intent.

“Just about everything we had recorded with John already had those spiritual feelings, but this recording was much more important to him in specific terms of spirituality,” Tyner told me in 2004.

“But I did not even know that this music was going to be a suite. I knew the pieces were tied together, but that’s all. He didn’t talk about it to us.

He came in, we talked a little about the music, and we played.

“But as I was leaving, John was recording a (vocal) chant over a Jimmy Garrison bass line,” added Tyner, referring to Coltrane’s incantation of the phrase “A Love Supreme.”

“And then when I read the liner notes, when the record came out, I thought, ‘Ahh, that’s what he was trying to do.’”

The pianist managed to forge an identity apart from Coltrane, who died

of liver cancer in 1967 at age 40. Tyner compositions such as “Passion Dance” and “Blues on the Corner” became part of the jazz repertory, while his galvanic pianism influenced generations.

Some of Tyner’s most rousing work occurred with his big band, which amplified the near-frenzy of his pianism. In the aforementioned “Passion Dance,” a chorus of braying horns and a combustive rhythm section echoed Tyner’s leonine pianism.

Ever the experimenter, Tyner — and his trio — partnered with dancer Savion Glover at the Ravinia Festival in 2005.

But Tyner didn’t merely accompany the celebrated tapper — he pushed him with unstoppable rhythmic drive and ever-accelerating tempos. Even in more lyrical moments, there was no mistaking the rhythmic tension Tyner brought to Glover’s art.

As the years went by, Tyner inevitably lost some of the muscularity and heft of his playing but never its focus, intensity or purpose. At a celebratory 2015 concert in Orchestra Hall featuring Tyner on a bill with two younger pianists — Geri Allen and Danilo Perez — Tyner looked thin and a bit frail but gathered momentum with each piece.

“Sitting ramrod straight at the piano, Tyner opened with a poetic solo on his ‘Fly with the Wind,’ those fat chords, rumbling octaves and streaks of dissonance instantly recognized as signatures of his pianism,” I wrote in my review.

CD REVIEW

Soften the Glare frantic and slamming on ‘Glint’

By CRAIG PARRISH Entertainment/Lifestyles Editor

Soften the Glare, the North Carolina-based trio that crosses more stylistic boundaries than should be allowed by law, sets a new artistic standard — again — with its new record “Glint.”

It’s nearly an hour of instrumental acrobatics that run the spectrum from slamming funk, two-beat country and atmospheric hard rock, but limiting the scope of Soften the Glare’s genius by assigning labels to the music is pointless.

The core of the band is Bon Lozaga (guitars), Ryan Martinie (bass guitar) and Mitch Hull (drums and percussion), joined by a myriad of guests and friends adding to the concoction with strings, horns and percussion.

It’s a given that great artists are going to steal; or, at the very least, borrow a bit from those who came before. There are hints of Bootsy Collins, Frank Zappa’s odd-metered soul (“Hedonic 7”), even a Allan Holdsworth-infused mambo (“The Adventures Of Ed F”) that slams on the brakes midway for a slap workout from Martinie. “... And Her Cousin Too” straddles the line between slinky Parlia-

ment/Funkadelic chaos and soaring-melody arena rock, and “Because I Love You” is as tender as the name suggests.

Lozaga and Hull exhibit limitless chops and taste, but Martinie is the straw that stirs the drink.

A necessary backstory: Martinie first earned well-deserved notoriety as part of Mudvayne, the slamming metallic juggernaut that achieved notable success from about 2000-10.

The band was lumped — lazily — with other nu-metal acts of the time, but stood apart from the movement helmed by Korn and the Deftones by a couple of key factors.

One was the frequent use of unusual time signatures not often heard in such an environment, which resulted in more tension and aggressiveness in a genre that quickly went stale.

More importantly, Martinie was a near-revelation in terms of bass tone and technique. His sound was both funky and suitably thunderous, as he combined slapping, tapping and sliding in a completely original way.

Martinie continues to raise the bar for bassists with his work in Soften the Glare. It’s an animal that arrives with far less volume, but with an equal amount of toe-curling quality.

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

ON STAGE in the Skagit Valley and surrounding area March 12-22 Thursday.12

MEREDITH WILSON’S “THE MUSIC MAN”: 7:30 p.m., Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. 425-258-6766 or yourhistoriceveretttheatre.org.

COMEDY THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: 7:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham. 360-7338855 or theupfront.com.

”THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS: VOLUME II: WHAT THE BIRDS SAID”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

Friday.13 COMEDY GENRE LEGENDS: 7:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

”THE SMELL OF THE KILL”: 7:30 p.m., Bellingham Theatre Guild, 1600 H St., Bellingham. $8-16. bellinghamtheatreguild.com.

DYNAMIC DUOS: 9:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

COMEDY GENRE LEGENDS: 7:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

THEATER ”THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS: VOLUME I: THE SWORD IN THE TREE”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

DYNAMIC DUOS: 9:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

Saturday.14 COMEDY GENRE LEGENDS: 7:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

DYNAMIC DUOS: 9:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

THEATER ”THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS: VOLUME I: THE SWORD IN THE TREE”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

Saturday.21 Saturday-Sunday.21-22

”THE LITTLE MERMAID” Northwest Ballet Theater, Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

Thursday.19

Friday.20

THEATER ”THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS: VOLUME II: WHAT THE BIRDS SAID”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org.

THEATER ”THE MUSIC MAN”: Theatre Arts Guild, 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $15-28.

360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

BALLET ”THE LITTLE MERMAID”: Northwest Ballet Theater, 7:30 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

THEATER ”THE MUSIC MAN”: Theatre Arts Guild, 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $15-28.

360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

MEREDITH WILSON’S “THE MUSIC MAN”: 7:30 p.m., Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. 425-258-6766 or yourhistoriceveretttheatre.org.

”THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS: VOLUME I: THE SWORD IN THE TREE”: 4 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org. ”THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS: VOLUME II: WHAT THE BIRDS SAID”: 7:30 p.m., Sylvia Center for the Arts, 205 Prospect St., Bellingham. 360-305-3524 or sylviacenterforthearts.org. ”THE SMELL OF THE KILL”: 7:30 p.m., Bellingham Theatre Guild, 1600 H St., Bellingham. $8-16. bellinghamtheatreguild.com.

COMEDY GENRE LEGENDS: 7:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

DYNAMIC DUOS: 9:30 p.m., The Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St., Bellingham.

360-733-8855 or theupfront. com.

Sunday.22 THEATER ”THE MUSIC MAN”: Theatre Arts Guild, 2 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $15-28.

360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

BALLET ”THE LITTLE MERMAID”: Northwest Ballet Theater, 2 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

”THE SMELL OF THE KILL”: 2 p.m., Bellingham Theatre Guild, 1600 H St., Bellingham. $8-16. bellinghamtheatreguild.com.

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TUNING UP Playing at area venues March 13-19

Wednesday.18

JEFF NICELY AND RANDY NORRIS 6 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial

Sunday.15 ORVILLE JOHNSON BAND: 5:30 p.m., The Old Edison, 5829 Cains Court, Bow. 360-7666266 or theoldedison. com.

Monday.16

Saturday.14

THE BLOKES 7:30 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

Friday.13 GALLOWGLASS IRISH BAND WITH ROSIE O’NEIL & LYDIA MCCLARAN: 7 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook.com/TheFireflyBham.

BURTON CUMMINGS: 8 p.m., Pacific Showroom, The Skagit Casino Resort, 5984 Darrk Lane, Bow. 877275-2448 or theskagit. com.

RED NOT CHILI PEPPERS, GREEN DAZE: 9 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. 360746-8733 or wildbuffalo. net.

MOONWATER: 8 p.m., Honey Moon, 1053 N. State Street Alley, Bellingham. 360734-0728 or honeymoonmeads.com.

THE KATIE GRAY: 8 p.m., Make.Shift Project, 306 Flora St., Bellingham. 360-9331849 or makeshiftproject.com.

SCRUB HUBNER: 7 p.m., 122 West Brewing Co., 2416 Meridian St., Bellingham. 360306-3285 or 122westbrew.com/events.

SAVAGE BLUES BAND: 9 p.m., Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-293-2544 or brownlantern.com.

Saturday.14 SKERIK BAND: 9 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook. com/TheFireflyBham.

THE BLOKES: 7:30 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-5881720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

BIG LITTLE BAND: 7:30 p.m., Crossroads Sports Bar, 1263 Barkley Blvd., Bellingham. 360306-3624.

BURTON CUMMINGS: 8 p.m., Pacific Showroom, The Skagit Casino Resort, 5984 Darrk Lane, Bow. 877-2752448 or theskagit.com.

ANISSA QUARTET: 8 p.m., Skylark’s Hidden Cafe, 1308 11th St., Bellingham. 360-715-3642 or skylarkshiddencafe. com.

THE MCHUGHS: 8 p.m., Honey Moon, 1053 N. State Street Alley, Bellingham. 360734-0728 or honeymoonmeads.com.

GIN GYPSY: 8:30 p.m., The Old Edison, 5829 Cains Court, Bow. 360-766-6266 or theoldedison.com.

CHRIS EGER BAND: 8:30 p.m., Loco Billy’s, 27021 102nd Ave. NW, Stanwood. 425-7375144, 360-629-6500 or locobillys.com.

JULIAN MACDONOUGH, BRAD SHIGETA, JACK STAFFORD, NOAH GODFRIT: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Makeworth Market, 1201 N. State St., Bellingham. makeworthmarket.com or 360-933-1678.

Tuesday.17 LIQUID STRANGER, LUZCID, HYDRAULIX, INZO: 9 p.m., Wild Buffalo, 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham. 360-7468733 or wildbuffalo.net.

Wednesday.18 OLD SALT UNION: 7 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook. com/TheFireflyBham.

JEFF NICELY AND RANDY NORRIS: 6 p.m., Rockfish Grill & Anacortes Brewery, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720 or anacortesrockfish.com.

GUILIANI & FRIENDS: 7 p.m., Fir-Conway Lutheran Church, 18101 Fir Island Road, Bellingham. $15-25. 360-445-5396 or salishseafestival.org.

Thursday.19 LUKE HOGAN AND CHANDLER TREY JOHNSON OF BIRD AND SHOOTER: 7 p.m., Firefly Lounge, 1015 N. State St., Bellingham. thefireflylounge.com or facebook. com/TheFireflyBham.

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GET INVOLVED

ART

98221 STUDIO TOUR CALL TO ARTISTS: Applications for the fifth annual 98221 Studio Tour through the Anacortes Arts Commission are available to artists living or operating out of a studio within the 98221 Zip code. Available at anacortesartscommission.com or various art shops around town. Applications due by Tuesday, May 15; the tour is Oct. 17-18.

ART CLASSES

MUSEUM OF NORTHWEST ART: 121 S. First St., La Conner. monamuseum.org. n Whimsical Watercolors: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 28. n My Adult & Me Painting Class: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18. For kids (ages 3-9) and parents to learn together. $25 per pair. n Color Theaory with Acrylic Paints: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9. $18, ages 13-plus. n My “Dad” and Me: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16. Open to children and any male figure. n Drawing in the Galleries with Jean Behnke: 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30. $30.

TRI DEE ARTS WORKSHOPS: Art classes on a variety of topics are available at Tri Dee Arts, 215 S. First St., Mount Vernon. trideearts.com.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST QUILT AND FIBER ARTS MUSEUM: Varied exhibits and classes are available to the public at 703 S. Second St., La Conner. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission: $7, $5 students and military, free for members

and children ages 11 and under. 360-466-4288 or laconnerquilts.org. n Fiber Fridays: bring any type of fiber art project, quilting, knitting, embellishing, etc., to work on while visiting with other fiber artists from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday. Free and open to all.

GAIL HARKER CENTER: Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts offers a variety of art classes and workshops for artists of every level at 503 Morris St., La Conner. Online courses are also available.

For information and a complete schedule: 360466-0110 or gailcreativestudies.com.

PACIFIC NW SCHOOL: Choose from painting, photography, fiber and 3D art workshops taught by professional artists at the Pacific NorthWest Art School, 15 NW Birch St., Coupeville.

For information and a complete schedule: 360678-3396 or pacificnorthwestartschool.com.

DAKOTA: Dakota Art Center offers a variety of art classes and workshops at 17873 Highway 536, Mount Vernon. 360-4166556, ext. 5, or dakotaartcenter.com.

ANACORTES SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER: The senior center hosts a variety of art programs each week at the center, 1701 22nd St., Anacortes.

360-293-7473. n Creative Circle: 9 a.m. Mondays. n Woodcarving: 9 a.m.

Mondays. n Acrylics: 9:30 a.m.

Mondays. n Rock Painting: 1 p.m.

Mondays. n Miracle of Art: 1 p.m.

Tuesdays.

n Mosaics/Stained Glass: 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays. n Color Me Calm: 10 a.m. Thursdays. n Drawing Animals: 2:15 p.m. Thursdays. n Watercolor: 9:30 a.m.

AUDITIONS

”CLUE: THE MUSICAL”: By appointment between 1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, and 4-7 p.m.

Sunday, March 22, in the Star Studio at the Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Boulevard, Oak Harbor. Prepare a Broadway song. Email media@ whidbeyplayhouse.com to make an appointment. ”EURYDICE”: Audition for a modern twist of the Orpheus myth at 3 and 6 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, April 8-9, at Skagit Valley College.

Performances May 15-31 in the Phil Tarro Theatre.

For more information, seach for “SVC Drama” on Facebook.

WRITING

WOOLLEY WRITERS GROUP: The Woolley Writers meet twice per month for workshops, exercises and breaking through blocks. Sessions are 5 p.m. first Tuesdays and third Wednesdays at Central Skagit Library, 802 Ball St., Sedro-Woolley.

TEEN POETRY CONTEST: Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to enter original poems for the annual anthology “A Forest of Words” until March 15. Selected poets will receive a copy of the book, which is also distributed to schools and libraries in the area. Apply at www. wcls.org.

POETRY CONTEST: Area poets are invited to apply to the fourth annual

Phyllis L. Ennes Poetry Contest. Poets should submit three unpublished works in a word document to skagitcontest@ gmail.com by April 30.

A separate document should include contact information. $20 submission fee. The winner will be notified in August and invited to read their work at the Skagit River Poetry Festival, Oct. 1-4, and receives $500 in cash. skagitriverpoetry.org.

BOOKS

BOOKS N’ BREWS: Talk about books while sipping local beer at this community book club held 6-8 p.m. the last Sunday of each month at Skagit River Brewery, 404 S Third St., Mount Vernon.

SILENT BOOK CLUB: Share a book you have read and silently read another at 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Pelican Bay Books, 520 Commercial Ave., Anacortes.

DANCE

SKAGIT SEEDLINGS: Learn a variety of different dances at Skagit Seedlings, 1909 S. Second St., Mount Vernon. Next up: n Adult West Coast Swing: 5-7 p.m. the first Sunday of each month. $7 per class. n Adult Ballet: 3-4 p.m.

Wednesdays until June 3. $65. n Adult Belly Dancing: 5:45-6:45 p.m. Mondays through March 30. $75.

DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE: Join an spiritual practice that draws inspiration from sacred traditions around the world from 5:45-8 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship,

500 W. Section St., Mount Vernon. By donation.

CONTRA DANCE: Dance to live fiddle music with a caller, no experience necessary, starting with a beginner’s workshop at 7 p.m. and dance at 7:30 p.m. on the second, fourth and fifth Saturdays through June at Fairhaven Library, 1117 12th St., Bellingham.

Suggested donation $7-15. bellinghamcountrydance. org.

BEGINNING LINE DANCING: 7-8 p.m.

Tuesdays, Burlington Community Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington. $6 drop-in, $25 for five classes. Adults and teens 13 and older.

Register: burlingtonwa. gov/recreation or 360755-9649.

FOLK DANCING: Skagit-Anacortes Folk Dancers meet Tuesdays at Bay View Civic Hall, 12615 C St., Bay View.

Learn to folk dance to a variety of international music from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

First session free, $5 thereafter. No partners needed. Gary or Ginny, 360-766-6866.

SCOTTISH HIGHLAND AND IRISH STEP DANCE: The Clan Heather Dancers offer year-round Scottish Highland and Irish step dance classes in Bellingham, Everett and Mount Vernon. clanheather.com.

MONDAY DANCING: Dance to The Skippers or Good Vibrations from 1-3 p.m. Mondays at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Ave., Mount Vernon.

Public welcome. Information: Kenneth Kossman (360-336-3682) or the

center (360-416-1585). $7 per person.

MUSIC

SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL: Harmony Northwest Chorus, a women’s a cappella group singing four-part harmony barbershop style, welcomes all voice parts ages 15 and up. Meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Ave., Mount Vernon.

Contact Carol Ward: 425-232-9171 or contact@ harmonynorthwest.org.

OPEN MIC NITE: 6-8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Lil’Nut Cafe and Diner, 330 Cherry St., Sumas.

SCOTTISH MUSIC SESSIONS: Musicians from around the valley meet at 3 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at Littlefield Celtic Center, 1124 Cleveland Ave., Mount Vernon. The jam session generally focuses on Scottish music.

UKULELE FUN & SONG CIRCLE: 12:301:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland St. Free. Beginners welcome and loaner ukuleles available. Song sheets provided. 206-790-4862 or yogaheartspace0@gmail. com.

BARBERSHOP HARMONY: Join the An-O-Chords, a fourpart barbershop harmony group that meets at 7 p.m.

Thursdays at Bethany Covenant Church, 1318 18th St., Mount Vernon.

No experience necessary, no auditions required.

Learn by rote, you don’t have to read music. All ages welcome. anochords. org. 360-679-7473.

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HOT TICKETS VICTOR WOOTEN: March 12-15, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

BURTON CUMMINGS: March 13-14, Skagit Casino Resort, 5984 Darrk Lane, Bow. 877-275-2448 or theskagit.com. ”SISTER ACT”: March 13-April 5, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle. 206-625-1900 or 5thavenue.org.

CARNIFEX: March 16, El Corazon, Seattle. 206-2620482 or elcorazonseattle. com.

THE ACACIA STRAIN: March 18, El Corazon, Seattle. 206-262-0482 or elcorazonseattle.com.

AMANDA SHIRES: March 20, The Crocodile, Seattle.

877-987-6487 or eventbrite. com.

TYLER FARR: March 27, Angel Of The Winds Casino Resort, Arlington. 360-4749740 or angelofthewinds. com.

ORLEANS, FIREFALL: March 27, Tulalip Resort Casino Orca Ballroom, Tulalip.

360-716-6000 or tulalipresortcasino.com.

TOWER OF POWER: April 2-5, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

AMY GRANT: April 4, Pantages Theater, Tacoma.

253-591-5894 or tacomaartslive.org.

CORB LUND: April 10, Tractor Tavern, Seattle. 866777-8932 or ticketweb.com.

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD: April 10, Tulalip Resort Casino Orca Ballroom, Tulalip. 360-716-6000 or tulalipresortcasino.com.

BILLIE EILISH: April 10, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

CARLY RAE JEPSEN: April 14-15, Moore Theatre, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

ALICE COOPER: April 20, McCaw Hall, Seattle. 800745-3000 or ticketmaster. com.

DAUGHTRY 2020: April

24, Tulalip Resort Casino Orca Ballroom, Tulalip. 360716-6000 or tulalipresortcasino.com.

MILKY CHANCE: April 24, Moore Theatre, Seattle. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH: April 23, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

DARKEST HOUR, MISERY SIGNALS: April 25, El Corazon, Seattle. 206-262-0482 or elcorazonseattle.com.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE: April 28, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

ALLAGAEON, FALLUJAH, ENTHEOS, ETHERIUS: April 29, Club Sur, Seattle. 206-607-4929 or seattleclubsur.com.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE: May 1, Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C. stubhub.com.

STURGILL SIMPSON, TYLER CHILDERS: May 20, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

DEAD CAN DANCE: May 3, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 360-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

CHER: May 4, Angel of The Winds Arena, Everett.

866.332.8499 or angelofthewindsarena.com.

COMMODORES: May 8, Tulalip Resort Casino Orca Ballroom, Tulalip. 360-7166000 or ticketmaster.com.

ROLLING STONES: May 12, BC Place, Vancouver, B.C. rollingstones.com. ”ONCE ON THIS ISLAND”: May 12-24, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle.

206-625-1900 or 5thavenue. org.

APOCALYPTICA: May 14, Showbox at The Market, Seattle. 888-929-7849 or AXS.com, JOURNEY, THE PRETENDERS: May 16, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

TESTAMENT, BLACK

KEVIN WINTER / GETTY IMAGES VIA TNS

BILLIE EILISH April 10, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

DAHLIA MURDER, MESHIAAK: May 24, Showbox, Seattle. testamentlegions.com, 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

TOOL: May 29, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM: May 29, El Corazon, Seattle.

206-262-0482 or elcorazonseattle.com.

SHAUN CASSIDY: May 30, Tulalip Resort Casino Orca Ballroom, Tulalip. 360-7166000 or tulalipresortcasino. com.

SYMPHONY X: June 1, El Corazon, Seattle. 206-2620482 or elcorazonseattle. com.

HALSEY: June 2, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

ALANIS MORISSETTE: June 3, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

STEELY DAN, STEVE WINWOOD: June 4, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

HALL & OATES, SQUEEZE, KT TUNSTALL: June 5, White River Amphi-

theatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or ticketmaster.com.

BRANDI CARLILE, SHERYL CROW, YOLA: June 6, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com. ”EVITA”: June 12-July 4, 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle.

206-625-1900 or 5thavenue. org.

ULI JON ROTH: June 6, El Corazon, Seattle. 206-2620482 or elcorazonseattle. com.

BON JOVI, BRYAN ADAMS: June 10, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

CHRIS STAPLETON: June 20, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

KENNY LOGGINS: June 25, Tulalip Resort Casino Amphitheatre, Tulalip. 360-7166000 or ticketmaster.com.

SANTANA; EARTH, WIND & FIRE: June 27, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

MONSTA-X: July 1, Accesso Showare Center, Kent.

866-973-9613 or livenation. com.

BLACK KEYS, GARY CLARK JR., JESSY WILSON:

July 7, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

LINDSEY STIRLING: July 13, WaMu Theater, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

CHRIS YOUNG, SCOTTY MCCREERY, PAYTON SMITH: June 13, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

INCUBUS: July 15, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

PHISH: July 17-19, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

GREEN DAY, FALL OUT BOY, WEEZER: July 17, T-Mobile Park, Seattle. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

KENNY CHESNEY, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE: July 18, CenturyLink Field, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

FOREIGNER, KANSAS, EUROPE: July 18, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

PRIMUS, WOLFMOTHER, BATTLES: July 24, Marymoor Park, Redmond. 206-4777275 or marymoorconcerts.

com/events.

MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM, IN FLAMES: July 25, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-7453000 or livenation.com.

GUNS ‘N ROSES: Aug. 2, T-Mobile Park, Seattle. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

TAME IMPALA: Aug. 7, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

BACKSTREET BOYS: Aug. 8, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

KORN, FAITH NO MORE, SCARS ON BROADWAY: Aug. 11, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

THE LUMINEERS, GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV, DANIEL RODRIGUEZ: Aug. 15, Gorge Amphitheatre, George. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

MAROON 5: Aug. 15, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

HARRY STYLES: Aug. 18, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

JANET JACKSON: Aug. 23, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

LAUV, CHARLOTTE LAWRENCE, ALEXANDER 23: Aug. 26, WaMu Theater, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

ALICIA KEYS: Aug. 30, WaMu Theater, Seattle. 800745-3000 or livenation.com.

MOTLEY CRUE, DEF LEPPARD, POISON, JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS: Sept.

2, T-Mobile Park, Seattle.

800-745-3000 or livenation. com.

STEVE MILLER BAND: Sept. 4, Washington State Fair, Puyallup. 888-559-FAIR (3247), thefair.com/activities/steve-miller-band.

BLACK CROWES: Sept. 4, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

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TRAVEL

FA M I LY T R AV E L FI V E

Take a hike on the wild side

By LYNN O’ROURKE HAYES FamilyTravel.com

Take a hike — and take the whole family with you. Here are five scenic destinations where you’ll find fresh air and fun.

1. SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, VA. More than 500 miles of trails snake through this national park in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, just 75 miles from Washington, D.C. Access family-friendly trails via Skyline Drive, a historic National Scenic Byway that traverses the park. The highway also offers dozens of scenic overlooks, making it easy to stop and appreciate the region’s natural beauty. Within 200,000 acres of protected lands, visitors can choose from hikes that feature waterfalls, wooded hollows and wildflowers. Be on the lookout for songbirds, deer and the occasional black bear.

The 3.5-mile Lewis Springs Fall Loop is popular with families and offers scenic views and waterfalls. nps.gov/shen/index.htm 2. LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK, CALIF. Known for its geothermal attractions, Lassen Volcanic National Park offers hikers all three kinds of our national trails: scenic, historic and recreation. Seventeen miles of the Pacific Coast Trail also passes through the park.

Visitors can look forward to exploring amid lush forests, high mountain lakes and scenic meadows. Venture along the Boiling Springs Lake trail to observe mud pots, incense cedar, ponderosa pine and colorful wildflowers. Thanks to the steam vents under the lake,

MARK BOSTER / LOS ANGELES TIMES

Crowds of visitors on the wooden walkways at the Midway Geyser Basin walk through the steam clouds around the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring in 2015 in Yellowstone National Park.

the lake’s water temperature remains at about 125 degrees. nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/ hiking_boiling_springs_lake. htm 3. CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL HISTORIC PARK, MD. Once a lifeline for those who lived and worked along the Potomac River, the C&O Canal is now a pathway for steeping in our rich history while enjoying the surrounding natural beauty. From April through November, families can learn more about life in the 1870s aboard a boat pulled by mules. Presenters in period clothing provide a glimpse into a time gone by for the people living, working and floating on the canal. Your crew will also learn how locks were used to navigate the waterway and how coal and agriculture products floated their way to markets. In the same area, consider interpretive trails, and the popular Billy Goat trail.

Be on the lookout for herons, hawks and bald eagles along the Potomac River. nps.gov/choh/index.htm 4. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, MONTANA AND WYOMING Within this wonderland’s 2.2 million acres, hiking options are plentiful. To begin, stop by a ranger station for important information about trail conditions and possible area closures. Consider the family-friendly hikes in the Upper Geyser Basin and Midway Geyser Basin areas, home to remarkable hydrothermal features including Old Faithful, Sapphire Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring.

The 4.5-mile (there and back) Lone Star Geyser trail, which follows an old service road aside the Firehole River, is a scenic option. Time it right and you’ll catch the 45-foothigh eruption that emits from a 12-foot cone approximately

every three hours. Yellowstone is grizzly country so carry bear spray and review “bear aware” precautions. visitmt.com; nps.gov/yell/ index.htm 5. DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIF. Visit this dramatic desert landscape to explore colorful canyons, volcanic vistas, amazing sand dunes and the low-lying swaths of desert at Badwater Basin. A waterfall seems an unlikely destination in the Mojave Desert but Darwin Falls, in the park’s Panamint Springs area, delivers. The modest cascade flows year-round, tumbling down a mossy rockface to a grotto. As always, be sure to take plenty of water on this two-mile desert hike. oasisatdeathvalley.com; www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm – Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (www.LOHayes.com) is an author, family travel expert and enthusiastic explorer.

Local travel briefs OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Skagit Guided Adventures offers a variety of tours daily in the Skagit Valley and surrounding areas. Reservations required: 360-474-7479. n Winter Birding for Kids: An “I Spy” Adventure in Skagit Valley. Through March, Saturdays and Sundays, 2:30-4:30 pm. Transportation and binoculars provided. Reservations required by phone, 360-474-7479. n Hike n’ Cruise to Cypress Island, daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Departs from Skyline Marina, Anacortes. Kid- and dog-friendly. Reservations required.

SKAGIT SENIOR TOURS: Skagit Guided Adventures offers a variety of local nature and hiking day tours for seniors. Reservations required: 360-474-7479.

WHATCOM SENIOR TOURS: Sign up by calling 360-733-4030, ext. 1015, or visiting the tour office at 315 Halleck St., Bellingham.

OAK HARBOR DAY TRIPS: The Oak Harbor Senior Center, 51 SE Jerome St., offers day trips for members. For details, call the travel desk at 360-279-4587.

STATE VISITOR CALL CENTER: The Washington Tourism Alliance’s ExperienceWA Call Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. 1-800-544-1800 or tourisminfo@watourismalliance.com. Staff members assist travelers who have questions, refer them to specific destination marketing organizations and other travel resources across the state for more detailed information, and take orders for the Washington State Visitors Guide.

PASSPORT APPLICATIONS: Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes, accepts new passport applications and applications for passports that have been expired for more than five years by appointment from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Passport forms and information on fees and how to apply are available at travel.state.gov, or pick up an application and passport guide at the library.

Burlington Municipal Court accepts passport applications from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 311 Cedar St., Suite A, Burlington.

New and renewal forms are available. 360755-0492.

Post offices in Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and Oak Harbor accept passport applications by appointment. Contact individual offices for available days and times.

Oak Harbor Senior Center, 51 SE Jerome St., Oak Harbor, accepts passport applications Monday through Friday. Appointments are recommended. 360-279-4580.

Thursday, March 12, 2020 - E13

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

AT THE LINCOLN

Secret treasure awaits at Leprechaun Quest

By Skagit Valley Herald staff

The documentary centers on four foster youths preparing for life outside the foster care system. Summer, 17 and transgender, yearns to be adopted. Glorianna, 19 and an artist, struggles to live on her own after spending 12 years in a residential care facility. Jaloni and Kalonji, 18-year-old twins, grew up in poverty, but become star athletes and scholars with the help of two loving adults.

This community event will include a Q & A with Laurie Parker, one of the film’s co-producers, as well as information from a few local organizations involved with foster care.

The event is co-presented by the Lincoln Theatre and Underground Writing, a literature-based creative writing program serving migrant, incarcerated, recovery, and other at-risk communities in northern Washington through literacy and personal transformation. undergroundwriting.org.

Free or by donation.

‘Parasite’ 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MARCH 13-14

Experience Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film in its new black and white release, as he brings his work home to Korea in this pitch-black modern fairytale.

Meet the park Family: the picture of aspirational wealth; and the Kim Family, rich in street smarts but not much else. Be it chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and the Kims sense a golden opportunity.

Masterminded by college-aged Kiwoo, the Kim children expediently install themselves as tutor and art therapist, to the Parks. Soon, a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families. The Kims provide “indis-

“Parasite” will be shown on Friday and Saturday at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon.

pensable” luxury services while the Parks obliviously bankroll their entire household. When a parasitic interloper threatens the Kims’ newfound comfort, a savage, underhanded battle for dominance breaks out, threatening to destroy the fragile ecosystem between the Kims and the Parks.

The social satire thriller walked away with four trophies at the Academy Awards and made Oscar history as the first South Korean film to be nominated for (and win) an Academy Award and the first non-English language film to win Best Picture, as well as the first non-English language film to win both Best Picture and Best Director.

Rated R. $11 general; $10 seniors, students, and active military; $8.50 children 12 and under.

Calling all those with eagle eyes: There’s a quest afoot.

That’s right, now’s the chance to get in on Leprechaun Quest in downtown Snohomish.

Until March 17, nearly 20 businesses will have a secret leprechaun hidden

DINING GUIDE

Evgeny Nikitin is the mysterious seafarer searching for salvation. Director François Girard returns to stage Wagner’s eerie early masterwork. Valery Gergiev conducts.

Adult $23, senior $21, student (with I.D.) and $19, child (12 and under) $17, plus applicable fees. Lincoln members receive $2 off all price levels.

— The Lincoln Theatre is located at 712 S. First St., downtown Mount Vernon. lincolntheatre.org or 360-3368955.

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At least 15 stamps must be on each form in order to be eligible for one of five “Pot O’Prizes.”

For a list of participating merchants, visit historicdowntownsnohomish.org/leprechaun-quest.

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E14 - Thursday, March 12, 2020

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK

MINI REVIEWS

‘The Way Back’ succeeds as classic underdog story

By RICHARD ROEPER Chicago Sun-Times

Jack Cunningham has the moves of a veteran alcoholic.

When Jack drinks at home, he puts one can of beer in the freezer to make it extra cold. Every time he’s ready for a fresh one, he grabs a can from the fridge, puts it in the freezer and subs it out for the can already there.

When it’s quitting time at the construction site, Jack heads to his truck and pours a can of beer into a fast-food beverage cup, so he’ll have something to drink on his way to Harold’s Bar, his nightly hangout.

He also drinks in the shower, and in the office, and pretty much wherever and whenever he’s awake.

Ben Affleck plays the hard-drinking former high school basketball star now coaching at his alma mater in “The Way Back,” and it’s impossible not to acknowledge how this story has distinct parallels to Affleck’s long and very public struggles with addiction.

There’s an early scene when Jack shows up at his sister’s house for Thanksgiving with a box filled with booze. It’s all too reminiscent of the infamous tabloid photos of a relapsing Affleck taking delivery for a box of liquor and beer.

Still, to the credit of Affleck’s performance, an involving script by Brad Ingelsby (who penned the scripts for “Out of the Furnace” and “American Woman,” two of the most criminally underappreciat-

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Ben Affleck (center) stars in “The Way Back.”

ed films of the last decade) and strong, docudrama-style direction from Gavin O’Connor (“Warrior,” the Affleck-starring “The Accountant”), “The Way Back” stands on its own as a sports drama following the classic underdog story arc — and an unflinching portrait of a broken man staring down the barrel of two options: get help and start repairing his life, or die.

Jack is 25 years past his days as a local high school basketball legend who threw away a full ride to Kansas. (Shades of Affleck’s character in “The Town,” a onetime pro hockey prospect who made one bad decision after another.)

He grinds through his construction job, gets loaded at the local bar or at home, passes out, wakes up and does it all over again.

Even the people who love Jack the most, including his sister Beth (Michaela Watkins) and his estranged wife, Angela (Janina Gavankar), are at or near the breaking point with him.

In a not entirely plausible

but necessary plot contrivance, when the head coach at Jack’s alma mater, Bishop Hayes High School, is put out of commission, Jack is offered the job — even though he’s never coached in his life and hasn’t picked up a basketball in nearly a quarter-century.

At this point, “The Way Back” shifts gears to become a root-for-the-little-guys sports movie a la “Hoosiers.” Even though enrollment at the parochial school is way down, and there are only 10 players on a woeful hoops team with exactly one victory on the season, Jack finds a way to motivate the squad, and in the process appears to be making some progress on the personal front.

(Though he’s still drinking too much, and his obscenity-laced sideline outbursts concern the team chaplain, mostly to comedic effect.)

The basketball scenes are impressively choreographed, as Bishop Hayes goes on an unlikely winning streak and is positioned to make the playoffs for the first time since Jack’s

playing days. Jack becomes a positive force, on and off the court, in the lives of these kids.

Until ...... well, let’s just say there’s a lot more movie still to come, and a lot of lingering subplots still to be addressed.

Religious symbolism and references to faith abound in “The Way Back,” from the obvious (it’s a priest at Bishop Hayes who offers Jack his chance for redemption) to small visual touches, e.g., Angela’s gold cross pendant, and the small crosses on the backs of the team’s jerseys, to one character’s passionate outburst about not believing a deceased loved one is “in a better place.”

Moreover, nearly every supporting character in this film has a heavy cross to bear, e.g., when Jack asks Dan (Al Madrigal), the assistant coach and a full-time teacher at Bishop Hayes, why he didn’t take over the head coaching job, and Dan explains his mother has MS, and he and his sister split the caregiving duties, and there are only so many hours in the day.

At times, “The Way Back” skirts the edges of melodramatic overkill with an overabundance of heartbreaking backstory subplots. (Even a late-arriving character who is literally out of focus for much of her brief onscreen time seems to be a mess.)

But despite those momentum-stalling and unnecessary detours, the irresistibly cheer-worthy basketball sequences and Affleck’s resonant and authentic performance are more than enough to carry the day.

– 1:49. Rated R. HHH (out of four stars)

Compiled from news services.

Ratings are 1 to 4 stars.

“Extra Ordinary” — Expect big things from Maeve Higgins, who plays a paranormally gifted driving instructor recruited to protect a teenage girl from a pop star (Will Forte) who made a deal with the devil. The breezy, cheeky romcom/possession movie has some of the biggest laughs in any film this year — and some pretty nasty and cool special effects as well. Horror comedy, R, 94 minutes. HHH “Spenser Confidential” — Mark Wahlberg is in familiar territory playing author Robert B. Parker’s Boston-based private eye as a rabble-rousing tough guy with an essentially good heart. This is a fantastically over-the-top, drive-in B-movie for the streaming generation. Crime action comedy, R, 110 minutes. HHH½ “The Banker” — Charismatic Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson play real-life entrepreneurs who bucked the system in the ‘50s and ‘60s by hiring a white frontman. While delivering an impactful message, this also is a crackling good, emotionally satisfying thriller. Drama, PG-13, 120 minutes. HHH “Greed” — In director Michael Winterbottom’s thudding, one-note takedown of a fictional avaricious fashion mogul (Steve Coogan), we spend day after day with this cad, learning nothing new as everything he says and does merely reinforces what we already know. Satire, R, 104 minutes. HH “The Invisible Man” — This version of the classic horror story shifts the focus from the largely unseen sociopath to the target of his torment (Elisabeth Moss), and the result is a fresh, original, heart-stopping and bloody good tale. Horror, R, 122 minutes. HHH½ “Seberg” — There’s about one-third of a good movie in this highly stylized and fictionalized biopic of the actress Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart), who fell under FBI scrutiny after taking up the causes of the Black Panthers in 1968.

Too much time is wasted on a conflicted, fictional FBI agent charged with digging up dirt on her. Biographical drama, R, 103 minutes. H½ “Emma” — This adaptation of the classic Jane Austen story is a tart little gem, bolstered by a bounty of clever and winning performances. Anya Taylor-Joy puts an original stamp on the title role of a young, early-19th-century woman fond of meddling in people’s business. Romantic comedy, PG, 122 minutes. HHH “Ordinary Love” — While the performances by Lesley Manville as a cancer patient and Liam Neeson as her supportive husband are finely calibrated and the script never feels anything less than believable, there’s something a little bit stagey and underwhelming about a film so heavily dependent on dialogue. Drama, R, 92 minutes. HH½ “Standing Up, Falling Down” — There’s something wonderful, albeit borderline shameless, about a movie that gives Billy Crystal a hall pass to indulge his corniest instincts playing a dermatologist who befriends a would-be stand-up comic half his age (Ben Schwartz). Comedy drama, not rated, 91 minutes. HHH “The Call of the Wild” — Nobody has been better suited to the role of prospector John Thornton than Harrison Ford.

But the dogs and wolves he encounters in this film are computer-generated, and there’s something unsettling and artificial about their overly expressive eyes. Adventure, PG, 105 minutes. HH

Thursday, March 12, 2020 - E15

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

MOVIES

How two viral thrillers speak to the coronavirus moment Some pandemics have all the bad luck: Everything’s going their way, and then a clear-thinking American hero comes along to save the human race.

In Elia Kazan’s superb, pungent 1950 thriller, “Panic in the Streets,” the U.S. Public Health Service doctor played by Richard Widmark faces a 48-hour deadline to stop the spread of pneumonic plague, bubonic’s even more serious relation. He’s up against a skeptical police chief; a phalanx of fearful citizens and craven politicians; and a killer, played by Jack Palance (then Walter Jack Palance) in his film debut.

If the plague spreads, Widmark’s character warns early on, “the result will be more horrible than any of you can imagine.”

He also says the thing a lot of people are thinking right now, in early March 2020, as we watch, wash our hands again and wait to see how rough the worldwide coronavirus gets with us: “Whoever’s carrying it is

still wandering around.”

The public health medic in Kazan’s film noir is a spiritual grandfather to the unsung heroine played by Jennifer Ehle in another key pandemic scare picture. In director Steven Soderbergh’s scarily plausible 2011 drama “Contagion,” which an awful lot of people are streaming these days, Ehle portrays Dr. Ally Hextall of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, racing against time to create a vaccine against the virus wiping out millions. The virologist Hextall risks her life for the sake of others, but no less astonishingly, in Ehle’s hands she says things like, “I can see some structures on the surface that look like glycoproteins, but there’s nothing morphologically pathognomonic,” as if anyone could.

So many movies, old and new, feed our collective nightmares of pandemics and paranoia. The walking dead of “Night of the Living Dead,” George A. Romero’s seminal 1968 war-at-home allegory, morphologically transformed into the running, screaming victims of a

“rage virus,” as exploited in the comics-derived “28 Days Later,” followed by its superior sequel, “28 Weeks Later.” We’re 10 seasons into the zombie apocalypse with “The Walking Dead,” another graphic novel adaptation. They’re hard to keep straight.

Right now, we wait, and some prepare, while others tell us to stay calm in notably agitated tones.

In the current, wait-andsee-how-bad phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, millions continue to go about their business — and continue to go to the movies for escapism, not yet giving in to the social distancing concept.

But if escapism’s really what we crave, how do you explain the shelf life of a cold-creeps offering such as “Contagion”? The 9-year-old pandemic movie, as of Sunday, remains at No. 8 on the iTunes Top 10, just behind “Jojo Rabbit” and just ahead of “Parasite.”

The resurgence of the Soderbergh-directed, Scott Z. Burns-scripted drama sparked a BuzzFeed interview last week with veterinary pathologist Tracey McNamara, a

“The Lodge” — I suppose we should thank the dad (Richard Armitage) who leaves his children at an isolated mountain home in the care of his troubled fiancee (Riley Keough), because his terrible decisions set the table for this smart, increasingly chilling horror gem. Horror, R, 108 minutes. HHH½ “Fantasy Island” — I loved the idea of turning the cheesy “Fantasy Island” TV series into a horror film, but this movie is all empty calories. It feels like

someone planted a half-dozen different scripts all over the island, and the attempt to tie all the stories together is such a stretch, it’s a wonder nobody pulled a hamstring.

Horror adventure, PG-13, 109 minutes. HH “Downhill” — In this pale, tame, broad and soft-edged remake of the far superior Swedish film “Force Majeure,” a dad (Will Ferrell) on a ski vacation ditches his family in a moment when an avalanche seems imminent, to the

disgust of his wife (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Comedy drama, R, 86 minutes. HH “Come As You Are” — Three men with physical disabilities embark on a road trip to a Montreal bordello in a charming film that’s alternately laugh-out-loud funny and reach-for-the-tissues emotional without resorting to maudlin manipulations or shameless grabs for laughs.

Comedy drama, not rated, 106 minutes. HHH½

By MICHAEL PHILLIPS Chicago Tribune

scientific adviser on the project. “If people are watching it again, and if federal and state officials are watching it again, I hope they’re realizing that the movie was really about what can happen with a novel pandemic threat ….

I wish people had paid closer attention to it when the film came out, because it really was a warning to the federal government that this could happen and you need to prepare.”

In one scene, Kate Winslet’s “Contagion” character, a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service expert, barks out four words we’ve heard a lot lately. In a politically divisive time, with the White House under fire for what many scientists and medical experts characterize as a sluggish and factually shaky response to the COVID-19 outbreak, those four words may be the only four words everyone can agree on: “Don’t touch your face.”

In contrast to the faces in “Contagion,” which are often cast in a sickly digital glow whether we’re in Hong Kong or Minneapolis, the faces in “Panic in the Streets” go nose to

nose in tight, threatening black-and-white compositions.

“Foreigner, huh?” one detective asks another at the start of the movie, when the body of the first plague victim is discovered. Yeah, comes the reply. “Something like that.” From one angle, “Panic in the Streets” (originally titled “Port of Entry,” later replaced by “Outbreak,” then “Panic in the Streets”) plays the nativist fear-mongering card, blaming the plague outbreak on an Armenian who hopped a steamer to New Orleans. He may have caught the plague from a rat on board the steamer. Or he may have had a bad piece of shish kabob at a Greek diner.

By the end, though, thanks to Kazan’s deft location work, we see the setting of “Panic” the way the Widmark character sees it: a vulnerable American community like any other, or any city anywhere in the world, connected to every other city in the world. This was a positively progressive outlook at the 20th-century’s midpoint. Kazan complicated the scapegoating,

at least. He didn’t give his studio a hit; shooting “Panic” in New Orleans was expensive. But he gave us a movie that holds up and makes us twitch at every hand-to-shoulder contact.

In “Contagion,” global connectivity doesn’t need a speech to explain it. The origin point of the fictional pandemic that kills millions may be a mystery, at least until the epilogue, but it isn’t really the point of Soderbergh’s chilling depiction of a fast-moving crisis — a cure-hunt, as opposed to a manhunt.

My favorite close-up in “Contagion” is utterly still: Ehle’s Dr. Hextall staring, smiling, at a lab monkey, a monkey that may hold the key to the population’s survival. It’s a weirdly prescient image of social distancing: two creatures in isolation, but connected. And, perhaps, more germane to our near-future lives than we realize.

— “Contagion” and “Panic in the Streets” are currently streaming for $3.99 and up on YouTube, Amazon Prime, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play and other platforms.

At area theaters ANACORTES CINEMAS March 13-19 The Metropolitan Opera: Der Fliegende Holländer: Saturday: 9:55 AM King Kong (1933): Sunday: 1:00 Onward (PG): Friday-Sunday: 1:30, 3:45, 6:15, 9:00; Monday-Thursday: 1:30, 3:45, 6:15 The Invisible Man (R): Friday-Sunday: 1:00, 4:00, 6:30, 8:45; Monday-Thursday: 1:00, 4:00, 6:30 Fantastic Fungi: Friday-Saturday: 1:15, 3:30, 6:45, 9:15; Sunday: 3:30, 6:45, 9:15; MondayThursday: 1:15, 3:30, 6:45 360-293-7000 CONCRETE THEATER 360-941-0403

STANWOOD CINEMAS March 13-19 King Kong (1933): Sunday: 1:00 I Still Believe (PG): Friday-Saturday: 1:15, 4:00, 6:40, 9:15; Sunday-Thursday: 1:15, 4:00, 6:40 Onward (PG): Friday-Saturday: 1:00, 1:30, 3:30, 4:00, 6:30, 7:00, 9:00, 9:30; Sunday: 1:00, 3:30, 4:00, 6:30, 7:00; Monday-Thursday: 1:00, 1:30, 3:30, 4:00, 6:30, 7:00 The Invisible Man (R): Friday-Saturday: 1:20, 4:10, 6:50, 9:00; Sunday-Thursday: 1:20, 4:10, 6:50 The Call of The Wild (PG): Friday-Saturday: 1:10, 3:40, 6:40, 9:30; Sunday-Wednesday: 1:10, 3:40, 6:40; Thursday: 1:10, 3:40 A Quiet Place Part II (PG-13): Thursday: 7:00 March 13-19 360-629-0514

E16 - Thursday, March 12, 2020

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

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