page 16 The Signal March 22, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
Concert / Turnover returns for CUB Alt
Kimberly Ilkowski / Staff Writer
Left: Turnover ends its most recent tour with a show at the College. Right: Peaer plays a math-rock influenced set of songs to a receptive crowd. continued from page 1 The addition of two new members has allowed the band a fuller sound, which helps old songs like “The Dark Spot” gain a new, sturdier feel. The members of Peaer were all smiles throughout the set, noticeably at ease with the crowd and enjoying the lengthy jams they would dive into mid-song. Turnover wasted no time after getting onstage, going right into 2015’s “Peripheral Vision” opener “Cutting My Fingers Off,” rallying the crowd and even prompting a few crowd surfers. As the band cycled through all of the album favorites, it was interesting to see the band a bit out of its comfort zone. Just a day earlier, Turnover wrapped a two-month touring cycle with emo heavyweights Circa Survive for the band’s 10-year anniversary of its monumental second album “On Letting Go.” Vocalist and guitarist Austin Getz spoke to the crowd about how the intimacy of the venue was not something they were used to anymore, but
a small-scale show like this one was a nice way to end the band’s experience on the road. The band buzzed through a speedy rendition of “Take My Head” before settling back down into more mellow territory a la “Humblest Pleasures” off the record of the same name, as well as the night’s closing number “Dizzy On The Comedown,” one of the band’s standout tracks. The evening’s crowd was a dedicated one — across the room people sang along to every word while some started a mosh pit in the middle of the crowd. Although a strange dichotomy between the band’s laid-back energy and the audience’s sudden jolt of life, this isn’t a new territory for the band. Turnover has been on several hardcore show lineups in its history, such as the Back To School Jam in Freehold, N.J., last September. In an interview with The Signal, the band members credited their ease in these environments to growing up in Virginia Beach, Va., listening to hardcore music, despite their own music not reflecting the styles of the genre. With a third album in the works, it’s worth noting the
prolific rise in popularity “Peripheral Vision” attained, as it redefined the band’s sound and scope from pop punk to more melodic, washed out tones. Turnover told The Signal that the band continued to experiment with new ideas, but kept true to what it created on “Peripheral Vision.” While the group admits they don’t take quite as big of a leap as they did from 2013’s “Magnolia” to “Peripheral Vision,” there’s still plenty of growth to be heard. “I’d say it’s more dynamic,” Getz said. “There’s probably some songs that could fit ‘Peripheral Vision’ and there’s some that would definitely surprise you.” The band also noted how inspiring it was to come back to the College to such a large and welcoming crowd. The fans’ strong support is something that has not been lost on them. “It’s been a wild ride for ‘Peripheral Vision,’” Getz said. “We’ve been touring for a long time and in the last two years, and the growth has been very quick and very large. We’ve been working hard for it, and we’ve been very lucky.”
Wolverine is gory and gruesome in ‘Logan’
By Kevin Shaw Staff Writer
I came into “Logan” with high hopes. Even with my high expectations, the movie blew me away. It is supposedly Hugh Jackman’s last performance as Wolverine –– my undisputed favorite X-Man –– and its R rating made for a really refreshing superhero movie. “Logan” is set in Texas in 2029 when mutants are a dwindling species, an alternate timeline from the rest of the X-Men films. This is Jackman’s ninth portrayal of Wolverine –– 10th if you count his cameo in “X-Men: First Class” –– but there is something different about the character this time around. Director James Mangold chose to adapt this movie’s storyline from genius comic book writer Mark Millar’s “Old Man Logan” version of Wolverine. In this movie Logan is old, weak and drinks whiskey like it’s water just to get through the day. Logan and mutant Caliban (Stephen Merchant) care for a failing Professor X (Patrick Stewart). Their relative peace is shattered
when Logan is recognized as the iconic X-Man and introduced to a young mutant girl named Laura (Dafne Keen) whose character impressed me throughout the film. From the first Red-Band trailer, which featured a man being stabbed in the skull with adamantium claws amongst other gruesome acts, it was clear that this was going to be a violent movie. But the trailer did not do justice to the film’s true violent nature. There was a plethora of blood, guts and severed limbs, but the violent scenes were tastefully done –– the action was incredibly well choreographed and masterfully executed by movie veteran Jackman and first-time movie actress Keen. Logan’s diminishing powers added suspense to the realistic thrills of the movie, always leaving me wondering which punch would be the one to break him. The heart and soul of any movie is in the actors’ performances. A dry performance would betray a well-written script. Luckily, Jackman and Stewart are masters of their craft. Keen, however, was the most surprising of all given her
age. Her role as X-23 is both physically and emotionally demanding, but the 12-year-old delivered a stunning performance. Thanks to the R rating, the typical allotment of one non-sexualized use of the f-word allowed in PG-13 movies was replaced with a multitude of viciously delivered swears. I often feel that dialogue constrictions forsake the theme of
a movie. The characters are usually restricted to unrealistically clean-mouthed dialogue because of a movie’s rating, but “Logan” does not have this problem. A grumpy, alcoholic ex-super hero would play fast and loose with his word choice, and the dialogue of this movie reflects that. It’s a little thing, but something I really appreciate.
“Logan” has proved that with a dedicated cast and crew, and a director with a vision and a passion for the art of filmmaking, it is possible to create an unparalleled movie masterpiece. With the recent success of both “Deadpool” and “Logan,” two R-rated X-Men movies, I have high hopes for the future of adult superhero films.
Jackman reprises his role as an aging Wolverine with diminishing powers.
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