arts
6 • Spring Farewell Issue 2017
dailycardinal.com
Summer Arts Concerts Records Preview
By Logan Rude MUSIC COLUMNIST
With the last week of class coming to an end and finals creeping in, I’m sure everyone is relieved to get some well-deserved time off. Now you may be thinking, “What in the world am I supposed to do with all this free time now that I’m not drowning in assignments?” The answer is go to as many concerts as is physically possible. Luckily, Madison is a hot spot for all kinds of music, so if you’re here for the summer and need something to do, follow this semi-comprehensive guide. These are the shows I’m looking forward to, but you should always take time to find new shows as well. What better way to celebrate another semester in Madison than to kick off summer with a concert from a UW student band? Hit up High Noon Saloon May 10 to catch Trophy Dad’s first show after the release of their EP, Dogman. Be there or be square. Keep the concerts flowing through your blood a few days later by deciding between two killer choices: rapper Ab-Soul and rock band The Dear Hunter. Unfortunately for music lovers everywhere, they both play May 14 so you’ll have to choose carefully. Find Ab-Soul at the Majestic Theatre and The Dear Hunter at High Noon Saloon. The next choice is obvious. Madison favorite, Hippo Campus rescheduled their visit for May 18 after a last minute cancellation in April. They’ll be tearing up the stage at Majestic Theatre in front of what’s sure to be a big crowd, so get there early if you want to try and make eye contact with one of the band members.
May is the time to adventure outside your music comfort zone. A ton of smaller bands are performing across the city, and with a quick Google search you’ll be able to find something that could spark a new interest. June is one of the best times for concerts, and on June 15, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will be at the Orpheum. The legendary hip-hop group is definitely a must-see considering their status as a classic. Don’t miss your opportunity. This next recommendation is a bit outside Madison city limits, but if you’ve got a way to get to Eau Claire, then do everything you can to make that happen. For the third installment of Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon’s music festival, you’ll have the chance to see a slew of hypertalented artists. Taking place June 16 and 17, the Eaux Claires festival is hosting Chance The Rapper, Francis and the Lights, Sylvan Esso, Danny Brown, Wilco, Tweedy and a handful of other acts that are sure to blow your socks off. Plus, if you’re a fan of camping, that’s an option too. At this point you’re probably thinking that these tickets are going to add up quick. We’re supposed to be working to save for college right? That’s where the next recommendation (read as requirement) comes in. Concert On the Square is an absolute essential if you’re in or around Madison over the summer. The best part? It’s free. Gather up a group of friends, a few old blankets, food and drinks and join hundreds of other people on the lawn of the Capitol for a night filled with music from the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Starting June 28, you can catch
this amazing experience every Wednesday until August 2. Do yourself a favor: Go have a spectacular night with your closest friends and family. I’m going to cheat again and throw in another festival that is outside of Madison, but it’s a Wisconsin essential: Summerfest. Superstars like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Migos, Big Sean and Future will all be headlining, which means their shows will cost a bit extra, but it’s worth it. Other stars like Steve Aoki, Flume and The Shins will all be playing on side stages, which means you can see them for a super low price of admission. On top of that, there’s endless potential to discover new bands playing on one of the 11 different stages. This year T-Pain will also be performing one night which basically guarantees you’ll have the chance to hear him make “mansion” and “Wisconsin” rhyme while actually in Wisconsin. It’s pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Summerfest runs from June 28 to July 9 in downtown Milwaukee. Indie folk band The Mountain Goats will be at Majestic Theatre on July 8 to woo the crowd with a flawless combo of fun alt-rock and modern folk. Their music is extremely pleasing so grab a friend and stroll on in. Even if you haven’t heard them before, you won’t regret it. This list only goes through the beginning of July, but it’s a solid starting point for some of the bigger acts that will be in the area for everyone who’s spending the summer in town. This summer is a perfect time to explore new places, try new things and find new music. Make the most of your time off.
By Francisco Velazquez MUSIC COLUMNIST
Summer returns in cycles. Whether or not we connect most with ourselves during the summer, music has always been a platform of change. Like many artists looking to reinvent their image around this time, we would only hope that their music matches the reasons we listened to them in the first place. The music industry is fickle. Where or how it will change or impact us as listeners is never set in stone. When we look at the music industry from various angles, whether political, social or culturally conscious, we see a lot of our lives in the artists we support and listen to today. Art exists like many of us do today. For Lorde, Melodrama breaks the bottle of emotions. Set for a June 16 release, Lorde strips her world for us. She returns with a new album that touches on the emotions of being alone, being unappreciated, and losing the good and bad parts of people. Consistency over time is a work in progress. Returning to an audience involves trust. Time changes like many of our connections with ourselves and those around us. Snoop Dogg plans to return with Neva Left this coming May. After a visually-charged music video envisioning Donald Trump’s death scenarios, Snoop Dogg continuously leaves his mark and reminds us why he’s been around for decades. Like Snoop
Dogg, Sean Paul has become a household name. Whether this may rely on his classic songs like “Give It Up to Me” or “Like Glue,” Sean Paul is set to release his seventh studio album this summer. Only time will tell if he continues to bring a consistent separation from the pop mainstream that has current fans wanting more. Life is an uneven playing field. It has forgetful moments but is never at a standstill. Lana Del Rey’s Lust For Life brings Hollywood glam to a politically conscious timelapse. Set for a May 26 release, Rey has expressed how our current political climate has affected this upcoming record. She engages with the reality of a generational divide that remains among us. We feel everything through the ages. Our emotions become a lot easier to handle and express as we grow older. Perhaps the time difference does not matter all that much on Lil Yachty’s Teenage Emotions, set to release on May 26. With past singles like “Broccoli” and “1 Night,” Yachty debuts with his first studio album centered around heartbreak, happiness, the turn up and sadness. With features that include Migos and YG, Lil Yachty is set for a multidimensional album. As the summer nears us like the sunrise, music continues to help us sort out the ways in which we must speak without saying anything. The summer is set for change and its music awaits us.
Film By Jake Skubish FILM COLUMNIST
It’s easy to rewatch Netflix series you’ve already seen nine times during the summer. But movie theaters are dying, and there are lots of great features coming out this year. Here are 11 movies you should check out this summer. Alien: Covenant (May 19) We’re approaching the point where the “Alien” franchise feels completely worn out, but there’s still reason to be excited for this new iteration. Ridley Scott is directing and, at age 79, we might not have many chances to see more of his visionary work. The cast is eclectic, ranging from dramatic talents like Michael Fassbender to comedians like Danny McBride. And, as one of the seemingly few people who really enjoyed “Prometheus,” I’m excited to see where Scott takes this saga. All Eyez on Me (June 16) After the massive success of “Straight Outta Compton,” it was inevitable that we’d see more rap biopics, and this Tupac film has a lot in common with that 2015
breakout film. Both are R-rated, longer than two hours, feature relatively unknown talents and are an attempt to capitalize on nostalgia for rap’s golden age. It will be interesting to see if this film can replicate the success of “Compton” or bring anything new to the genre. Rough Night (June 16) Last summer’s premiere female ensemble comedy, “Ghostbusters,” fell flat to critics and audiences. “Rough Night,” centered on a bachelorette party gone wrong, is an opportunity for a more original endeavor. The cast is stacked (Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Ilana Glazer and many others), and unlike “Ghostbusters,” this one is also female-directed, helmed by Lucia Aniello. The Bad Batch (June 23) Described as a “dystopian love story ... set in a community of cannibals,” it’s hard to describe the vibe of the film in words. Please check out the trailer to see just how unique of a voice director Ana Lily Amirpour (“A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night”)
brings to the screen. I’m not sure if this movie will be great, but it will at least be compelling. Baby Driver (June 28) Ansel Elgort stars as a getaway driver who gets roped into a risky heist, but the real star here is director Edgar Wright. The cinematic luminary behind “Shaun of the Dead” has yet to release a disappointing feature film, and it’s been four years since his last project (“The World’s End”). “Baby Driver” is also already earning positive reviews from early screenings, and it looks like an absolute delight. Okja (June 28) The narrative in “Okja” is a familiar one: A young child befriends an unusual creature and tries to protect it from those who misunderstand the beast. Don’t expect this film to be similar to “E.T.” or “The Iron Giant,” though. Director Joon Ho Bong was behind one of the wildest, most inventive action films of late (“Snowpiercer”), and his bold style should make this retreaded plot feel fresh. “Okja”
will be streaming on Netflix. The Beguiled (June 30) This Civil War-era drama isn’t the stereotypical summer blockbuster, but it looks to be enthralling. Set at a girls’ school in the Confederacy, the film follows the drama that ensues when the women shelter a wounded Union soldier. Director Sofia Coppola’s filmography has been inconsistent, but when she’s at her best, few filmmakers are superior. Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7) Yes, it feels a bit exhausting to see a third Spider-Man reboot in the past decade. But star Tom Holland is perhaps the first Peter Parker to truly look the part—he’s just 20 years old—and from what we see in the trailer, he looks like he’s having a lot of fun with the role. Hopefully this new feature can give due care to this narrative and not simply use it as a vehicle to advance the Marvel Cinematic Universe. War for the Planet of the Apes (July 14) This franchise has quietly
become one of the most enjoyable summer staples, and the third film looks like it’ll bring the same combination of gloom and action delight. Andy Serkis, the king of motion-capture acting, returns as Caesar who is the leader of the apes. The villain this time around is a maniacal Woody Harrelson, which is truly the best kind of Woody Harrelson. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (July 21) Based on a hit comic book, this sci-fi flick looks like it could be the most visually stunning blockbuster in a while. It also stars Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan, the king and queen of beautiful eyebrows in Hollywood. Detroit (August 4) “Detroit” follows the city’s infamous riots in 1967, but the focus on civil rebellion and police brutality will likely evoke current headlines. That’s especially true considering this film comes from director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”). John Boyega, John Krasinski and Anthony Mackie star.