ARTS CALENDAR
rock, their music has a powerful female vocalist, crunchy, driving, upbeat riffs, and captivating dual guitar work. If you’re not sure whether this metal documentary is for you, consider this band’s a) egotistical guitarist and founder Izg Kincaid, b) energetic (cheesy) metal-band showmanship, and c) friendship-affirming resolution that its members realize how truly important they are to one another and to the larger project for which they have all dedicated a vital period of their lives. Q& A to follow with band members and co-directors, UofC alumnae Biliana and Marina Grozdanova. Logan Theater 1, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave. Friday, May 2, 11:05pm. $10. Part of CIMMFest 2014. (773)3425555. thelogantheatre.com ( James Kogan)
Killer of Sheep
Killer of Sheep offers a glimpse into life in the black community living in the Los Angeles’s Watts neighborhood in the 1970s. The film, made in 1977, is presented as a series of events in the life of Stan, a working-class man struggling to escape a feeling of hopelessness that stems from his monotonous job and precarious financial situation. Although the film doesn’t follow a traditional narrative, its incredibly honest portrayal of one man’s life through all of its ups and downs provides new insight into an underrepresented community. The film was never widely released, but its reputation grew until it was chosen by the National Society of Film Critics as one of their “100 Essential Films,” selected also by the Library of Congress for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry. Black Cinema House, 6901 S. Dorchester Ave. Sunday, May 4, 4pm. Free. RSVP requested. blackcinemahouse.org (Eleonora Edreva)
Medium Cool
It may be nearly impossible to single out the most important political event of 1968, but the Chicago Democratic Convention has left a distinct historical mark. Medium Cool documents the Convention from street level. Inspired by the style of Studs Terkel’s Division Street, the film sets out to involve everyday Chicagoans in the unfolding action, from the most caustic of the Convention’s protesters to most average passersby. The screening, sponsored by the Studs Terkel Festival and UofC’s Film Studies Center, will conclude with a discussion with Director Haskell Wexler and special guests. Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Friday, May 9, 4pm. (773)702-2997. arts.uchicago.edu (Meaghan Murphy)
Forced Air
A collaboration between artists Jiyoung Yoon and Andy Kincaid. See full review on page 9. ACRE Projects, 1913 W. 17th St. Through May 12. Sunday-Monday, noon-4pm. Free. acreresidency.org ( Jake Bittle)
season. An arresting reimagining of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly through a post-colonial lens, Hwang’s play chronicles the affair between French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and the male Chinese opera singer Shi Pei Pu. Under the direction of Charles Newell at Court, M. Butterfly takes an aggressive look at sex, espionage, and imperialism. Hwang is a masterful and adventurous playwright and he offers a deconstruction of his source material’s Orientalist angle that is both playfully imaginative and downright powerful. Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. May 8-June 8. See website for show times. $15-$35. (773)702-7005. courttheatre.org (Shanice Casimiro and Meaghan Murphy)
Redmoon Building on its own tradition of Spectacle theater, Redmoon presents its 2014 show, “Bellboys, Bears and Baggage.” Taking the show indoors this time, Redmoon will transform its massive Pilsen warehouse into a dazzling theatrical world filled with image, dance, music, and one-of-a-kind “encounter scenes.” Conceived by Executive Art Director Jim Lasko and Blake Montgomery, the Spectacle lets audiences wander through the space throughout the night, caught up in Redmoon’s world of revelry and absurdity. Based loosely off of elements in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, the experience is sparked by that famously enigmatic stage direction: “Exit, pursued by a bear.” Redmoon Theater, 2120 S. Jefferson St. May 18-June 8. Thursday, 7pm-9pm; Friday-Saturday, 7pm-11pm; Sunday, 6pm-8pm. Audiences enter every half hour. $15-$30. (312)8508440. redmoon.org (Meaghan Murphy)
Let’s Get Working Studs Terkel, Chicago’s greatest listener, is getting a three-day festival at the UofC—just a few blocks away from its Law School where, he once said in an interview, he spent “the most bleak yet fascinating” years of his life. Terkel, who passed away in 2008 at age ninety-six, was born in New York but spent most of his life giving voice to the lives of ordinary Chicagoans. Instead of practicing law, he worked in radio, where he developed a candid style of interviewing that he would use in oral histories like Division Street, which chronicled 1960s Chicago, and Working, in which—as the book ’s subtitle declares—“People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do.” A celebration of Terkel’s life and legacy, the festival will include film screenings, panel discussions, musical performances, and art installations. Confirmed guests include NPR host Ira Glass and journalist Alex Kotlowitz. Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. May 9-11. (773)702-2787. studs.uchicago.edu (Harrison Smith)
MUSIC
Jacob
“And Jacob was left alone, in his luxurious high-rise in downtown Chicago.” Timothy Gregory, actor, director, playwright, founding artistic director of Provision Theater, and host of HGTV’s New Spaces, has wondered what every Chicagoan-with-a-luxurious-high-rise wonders to themselves when looking from their sweeping windows at the bustling loop below: what if I were to wrestle with an angel until the breaking of the day? From this, he brings to us Jacob, a new production at Provision Theater that brings Genesis’ tale of Jacob wrestling the angel to a modern Chicago. Therefore, to this day, the people of Chicago do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, even when piled beneath dripping peppers in Italian beef sandwiches. Provision Theater, 1001 W. Roosevelt Rd. May 7–June 15. (312)4550065. provisiontheater.org (Isabel Ochoa Gold)
M. Butterfly David Henry Hwang’s Tony Award-winning play, M. Butterfly hits the Court Theatre to close out the
14 SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY
¬ APRIL 30, 2014
Cyrus Chesnut Trio
Piano virtuoso and jazz visionary Cyrus Chesnut brings his trio to the Jazz Showcase for a weekend of performances starting this Thursday. Chesnut, a graduate of both the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Boston’s Berklee School of Music, has played with a number of greats, including Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Isaac Hayes, and Dizzy Gillespie. Known for a highly regarded use of space in his improvisation, he takes a multigenre and often eclectic approach to jazz, working from strong blues and gospel roots. His debut album Revelation (1994) was critically acclaimed, while his 2001 album, Soul Food rose to the Top 10 in the jazz charts. Driven by a deep appreciation for music in many forms, Chesnut promises to put on a unique and passionate performance, framed by a devotion to superior musicianship and style. Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct. May 1-4. 8pm and
10pm. $25 GA; $45 VIP. 312-360-0234. jazzshowcase.com. ( Jack Nuelle).
Dance Gavin Dance Springing out of Sacramento in 2005, Dance Gavin Dance has gained a large following in Chicago and across the country. The band was formed out of the break-ups of several other bands such as Farewell Unknown and Ghost Runner on Third, and takes a multi-genre approach to music. Although technically classified as post-hardcore, the band has managed to successfully incorporate elements of funk, screamo, soul and other genres into their experimental sound. Ragged screams mingle with upbeat bass riffs and snappy drumming in a wickedly fun amalgam. You can see them perform as well as ask who Gavin is, and why they want him to dance, at Reggies on May 9th during the meetand-greet after the show. Hot dogs and pop will be served. Reggies, 2105 S. State St. May 9. 2pm. Free. (312)949-0120. reggieslive.com. (Mark Hassenfratz)
Ashanti Early 2000s R&B hit-machine Ashanti is back for an intimate performance and meet and greet at the Shrine. Born Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas in 1980, her early career consisted mainly of duets and small acting roles, including a collaboration with Mary J. Blige and bit roles in several Spike Lee films and the Disney T.V. movie Polly. After a tumultuous trip through several bad record contracts, Ashanti was finally picked up by Irv Gotti’s Murder Inc. Records in 2002. Here she released her platinum-selling self-titled debut, which included the smash hit “Foolish,” freshly minted for the new millennium. Her sophomore effort Chapter II also went platinum and hoisted single “Rock Wit Me (Aww Baby)” to number 2 on the Billboard charts. In 2005 Ashanti made her major acting debut in the Samuel L. Jackson led Coach Carter, and in 2006 starred in comedy John Tucker Must Die. Ashanti’s 5th studio album BraveHeart was released on February 18. The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Friday, May 16. Doors open 9pm. $30; $75 with meet and greet. 21+. (312)753-5700. theshrinechicago.com ( Jack Nuelle)
CyHi the Prynce
Hailing from Georgia, CyHi the Prynce is a hiphop artist who is currently signed to Kanye West’s record label, G.O.O.D. Music, as well as Def Jam Recordings, Akon’s Konvict Muzik, and Bu Thiam’s BuVision. CyHi first appeared on the hip hop scene in 2010 after being signed to G.O.O.D. Music and making an appearance on West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy that same year. Since then he has self-released five mixtapes, been included on G.O.O.D. Music’s compilation album in collaboration with Kid Cudi and John Legend, and received writing credits for West’s Yeezus (2013). His latest mixtape, Black Hystori Project (2014), was released this past February and is described as a “conscious hip hop concept album focusing on the history of black people in America.” It also happens to be a great showcase for this gifted storyteller. The Shrine, 2109 S.Wabash Ave. Friday, June 13. Doors open 9pm. $30; $300 for VIP table. 21+ (312)753-5700. theshrinechicago.com/shows. php. (Shelby Gonzales)
Black Flag
Without Black Flag, punk rock would not exist. Well, that’s not totally true, but it would be a lot lamer if they didn’t. The band is nothing short of revolutionary when itcomes to the creation of hardcore punk, mixing elements of heavy metal into theirviolent, clangy, anti-authoritarian noise sound. They are also innovators of the punk DIY aesthetic, which they applied to their famous underground recording. Formed by Greg Ginn in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California, Black Flag have earned themselves a substantial cult following form constant touring in the US, Canada, and Europe. Unlike many punk bands, they managed to break away from the standard three-chord format of punk rock, creating a stylistically diverse discography. And, true to their punk nature, they’re still rockin’. You’ll mosh your pants off to Black Flag at Reggie’s on their VITIMOLOGY TOUR. Highly recommended to those who are brought down by the establishment. Reggie’s, 2105 S. State St. June 17. 7pm. $20-25. 17+. (312)949-1020 reggieslive.com/ show/black-flag-3 (Mark Hassenfratz)
WHPK Rock Charts WHPK 88.5 FM is a nonprofit community radio station at the University of Chicago. Once a week the station’s music directors collect a book of playlist logs from their Rock-format DJs, tally up the plays of albums added within the last few months, and rank them according to popularity that week. Compiled by Andrew Fialkowski and Dylan West Artist / Album / Record Label 1. ONO / Diegesis / Moniker 2. Death / III [Reissue] / Drag City 3. Quilt / Held in Splendor / Mexican Summer 4. Bitch Prefect / Bird Nerds / Bedroom Suck 5. Protomartyr / Under Color of Official Right / Hardly Art 6. Voight-Kampff / Voight-Kampff / Deranged 7. Eyehategod / s/t / Housecore 8. Richard Album & the Singles / DS009: Richard Album & the Singles / Public House 9. Thou / Heathen / Gilead 10. Habibi / Habibi / Burger 11. Pontiak / INNOCENCE / Thrill Jockey 12. Various Artists / Killed By Deathrock Vol. 1 / Sacred Bones 13. Coppice / Vantage/Cordoned / caduc. 14. Stoneburner / Life Drawing / Neurot 15. Frankie Cosmos / Zentropy / Double Double Whammy