Vol. 1 No. 6 by Waco Weekly

11.13.13 - VOL. 1, NO. 6 - WACOWEEKLY.COM

contents

11.14-11.20

meet the team PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Shepperd EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matt Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brittany Hicks ASST. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bekah Skinner LAYOUT/DESIGN Sally Franckowiak WRITERS

Sara Gilmore Topher Hawkes Luke Murray Brandon Nowalk

Essentials:

Listen 3 Taste 7 Discover 8 Calendar 11 Play 12 Look 14

Feature Story:

Dichotomy is moving down the street into a much bigger home and will now offer coffee, spirits, and even more culture.

INTERNS Kathleen Callison Claire Hand Chandler Hodo Olivia Montagna Cheyenne Mueller Catherine Neil Kaitlin Vickers Dani Wilkins

Waco Weekly is an independent, publication and is not affiliated with the city of Waco.

Taste

7 - Gameday finger food just got upgraded, and on the cheap, too.

Listen 4 - James Blunt’s new

album reawakens the dormant musician’s career and reaches back to Blunt circa 2005.

Look 15 - Brandon gives a rundown of this week’s top 20 box office films.

Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editor, publisher or the newspaper staff. Waco Weekly is not liable for omissions, misprints or typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher.

1st copy is FREE, additional copies are $0.50 each

LISTEN

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Brandon Rhyder at Wild West Waco

By Luke Murray Eight years after releasing his debut album, Rhyder got an opportunity to record a live album at Billy Bob’s in 2011, the world’s largest honky-tonk. It was that release that sparked a shift in his career. Unlike a customary Billy Bob’s record, Rhyder chose not to stand in front of the packed house and solely play his previously released material. Seizing the opportunity and potential for the record to sell big, Rhyder and his bandmates broke out brand new tracks, songs recorded for the first time on the live record. “I just didn’t want to play all previously released songs,” said Rhyder. “I wanted the fans to have something different and something with some new perspective mixed in with the songs that helped get us to where we are now.” Thinking outside the box vaulted Rhyder’s career to the next level. He’s now touring in support of his newest album—his first since Billy Bob’s—titled That’s Just Me. Like the name implies, Rhyder gets back to the basics with 12 tracks that focus on his raw vocals and simple musicality. The August release charted fairly high on the U.S. Top 100 Country chart and has surpassed his Billy Bob’s album in sales. He’ll be performing at Wild West Waco on November 15.

wacoweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • WACO WEEKLY • p 3

By Luke Murray

James Blunt Album: Moon Landing

Release Date: October 21, 2013

Rating: Sounds Like: Daniel Powter Keane Damian Rice

Track Listing:

Face the Sun Satellites Bonfire Heart Heart to Heart Miss America The Only One Sun On Sunday Bones Always Hate Me Postcards Blue on Blue Miss America

In his return to the spotlight after a three-year hiatus, James Blunt has dropped his fourth studio album, Moon Landing. The five-time Grammy-nominated performer has reignited the passion and poise that vaulted him into prominence in 2005. After the rise and fall of Blunt’s iconic smash, “You’re Beautiful”, it seemed the English native had plunged into an abyss of anonymity. He still carried his faithfuls through album two, selling far more records across the pond than in the states. Album three brought mixed reviews, getting mediocre praise on the right and slightly heavier disparagement on the left; most critics claimed Blunt showed no advancement and had become lodged in a state of dormancy. After a three-year pause to recollect himself, we can say that Blunt’s newest endeavor gives listeners the eclectic sound we grew to love and shows the promise of a developing musician. Twelve tracks—including an acoustic bonus—show us the ballad-master’s ability to strap in his fans for a rollercoaster of love and longing, sorrow and solace. Laden with Blunt’s unique vocals and an array of acoustic melodies, ecstasy evoking bass lines, and unbridled confidence, Moon Landing transports us to a place Blunt has taken us to before—a good place.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

pg 4 • WACO WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • wacoweekly.com

••••••

Bonfire Heart Bones Postcards

LISTEN

Recommended Tracks

Jake Miller

“Us Against Them”

Release Date: Nov. 5, 2013 With so many new faces emerging in the rap game, it’s hard to keep track of the Lil Whos and the Young Whats (much less find one with a unique sound worth our time and attention). Jake Miller finds time to be—not only relevant—but to be an accomplished hip-hop artist while attending school at the University of Miami. The D.C. native released his debut album (not including two EP’s) to pair with a 43-stop nationwide tour. With 13 tracks, including two bonuses, the album showcases Jake’s talent to find epic beats that aren’t the lazy, jaded ones we here on the radio. As for subject matter, his flows don’t preach on illicit drug use, booze-cruises, the colors of his clothes, or his copious amounts of swag. And for that, we say thank him. Recommended Tracks: Collide, Me and You

The Wanted

“Word of Mouth”

Release Date: Nov. 5, 2013 With their third studio album, The Wanted has seen their Brit-pop roots break ground in the U.S. With modern American pop revolving primarily around the party anthem, it’s easy to see why their popularity spike has sprouted so abruptly. Word of Mouth, an album that was long overdue in the eyes of their fans, drops 16 tracks—including their hit single “Glad You Came” that has sold more than 3 million copies in the states—each of which has a distinct electro-vibe rhythm and boy-bandish lyrical onset. In short, the album gives fans the party-pop they crave. The album contains an excess of collaborations—featuring Pitbull, LMFAO, and Chris Brown, to name a few—along with some lyrics penned by their label-mate, Mr. Bieber-Fever himself. Recommended Tracks: Walks Like Rihanna, Chasing the Sun

Scott Stapp

“Proof of Life”

Release Date: Nov. 5, 2013 When Scott Stapp made his initial debut as a solo act—separate from Creed—we thought it was maybe a one-time occurrence to get a little of the “lone wolf” out of his system. Obviously not the case with the release of his second solo album, Proof of Life. Although still a member of his beloved wolf pack, Stapp’s solo career is putting the Grammy award-winners name in lights without Creed being branded in the same picture. With 11 tracks, this album showcases Stapp’s ability to put a new spin on his iconic gritty vocals, bringing out powerful and reflective lyricism with the same melodic approach that his faithfuls expect. Stapp’s troubled past, with alcoholism, drug use, and suicide contemplation, have provided him with an immense passion for testimony and a unique voice of expression. Recommended Tracks: Jesus Was a Rockstar, Slow Suicide wacoweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • WACO WEEKLY • p 5

LISTEN

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This Week at Common Grounds By Luke Murray

NOVEMBER 14 – SAVION + THE STANDARD, EMILY EARLE (FROM THE VOICE) Savion Wright is a multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist whose love for music is evident. Hailing from Jasper, Texas, Wright has captivating soul and stage presence. With a potential to escalate into mega stardom, Wright’s YouTube channel is full of covers spanning John Legend to Led Zeppelin that—while holding the original bones—carry their own weight and flavor with Wright’s iconic spin of soul and jazz. Emily Earle, a Colorado native, was writing, singing and performing long before her smooth vocals caught the ear of Cee Lo Green on The Voice. Her rise to national prominence, however, has modest beginnings that’ve helped shape the relatable image she enjoys today. With influences ranging from Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, and Hall & Oates—even a little Johnny Cash—it’s easy to see how this singer/ songwriter stole Hollywood’s hearts from the get-go. NOVEMBER 15 – GLENMERLE Self-described as “music that reminds you of home”, Glenmerle—a Waco native—will be bringing his live show to Common Grounds on November 15. Carrying all the charm that you would find in a John Mayer album, with much of the grit and energy you associate with Dave Matthews, Glenmerle has the ability to rock a crowd and then bring them right back to…you guessed it…home. NOVEMBER 20 – OPEN MIC NIGHT: FEATURING AUSTIN MURRAY A change of pace for the middle of the week, Common Grounds will be hosting their Open Mic night on Wednesday, November 20. This week’s featured artist is Waco native, Austin Murray. Join Austin for a night of self-expression, whether you have a song to sing, a joke to tell, or something you just need to get off your chest—get behind the mic and leave it all on stage. There are still plenty of slots open for performers.

pg 6 • WACO WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • wacoweekly.com

TASTE

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Get the Goods:

Finger friendly food bites Cheesy Bacon Bombs

Like us

Cheap Eats Easy to Make and Easy on Your Green

By Chandler Hodo

Facebook facebook.com/wacoweekly Tweet @ us

Twitter @wacoweekly Check us out on

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Who needs a fork? This is football season, the holy grail of finger-licking food. Besides, utensils are overrated; you can’t high-five someone with a fork without causing a major accident, and c’mon now, ain’t nobody got time fo’ dat. Bite-sized morsels that require limited clean up and let you high-five without a trip to the emergency room? It’s a win-win for everyone… and hopefully your sports team of choice.

Cheesy Bacon Bombs Bacon? Cheese? Crescent rolls? Yeah, our mouths are watering, too. Wait, did you say that they’re fried? Sign us up!

Directions: 1. Cube mozzarella and cut each biscuit into fourths. Place one piece of mozzarella inside a biscuit quarter, and enclose cheese in the dough.

Ingredients: • 1 can Pillsbury Grands flaky layers 2. Wrap each rolled bomb in a slice of biscuits bacon, securing it with a skewer or toothpick. • cubed mozzarella cheese (1-in. cube per bomb) 3. In a medium or large pot, heat up approximately 2 inches of oil (350°) and • 2 lbs. of bacon (1 slice per bomb) proceed to fry the bombs in small batches; one or two at a time. • skewers or toothpicks 4. Drain the bombs on a napkin or paper • oil for frying towel, but be sure to prepare them where they can still be served warm. wacoweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • WACO WEEKLY • pg 7

Educating Palates, Encouraging Creatives: Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits Set to Open New Location Downtown

DISCOVER

••••••

For about a year, 508 Austin Ave. has been under construction to debut the long-awaited main location of Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits. Next week, artist-gone-baristagone-coffee-shop owner, Brett Jameson, will finally open the doors to his new shop.

Coffee & Spirits has been housing a space in the bottom floor of the Croft Art Gallery on Austin Ave. Jameson had begun negotiations for a space in March 2012 but finally halted that process in August 2012 after hitting several dead ends.

Several years back, Jameson was an artist who would sit and process at Starbucks when he couldn’t focus at his house. Sitting there every day led to him becoming a barista there, which opened a door to a different kind of art form: the art of great coffee.

“About August of last year is when we started looking again for a different space, and we closed on this property about a year ago,” Jameson said. “It was a total shell before. There were spots where you could look up straight through the roof and see the sky.”

Jameson said he enjoyed working at Starbucks, but he would travel to Austin to buy coffee that he actually liked drinking. Bringing different beans back and having tastings with some coworkers and friends is what led him and a few others eventually to deciding to do their own thing — and so Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits was born.

A year after closing on the property, the complete remodel of the space is finished and ready for opening. It sits in a prime downtown location, almost on the corner of Austin and Fifth. If you’re sitting on the shop’s rooftop deck and

What began as a couple of Starbucks baristas with an insatiable appetite for a better bean has grown into a community of sophisticated coffee connoisseurs. But before you assume that sophistication comes with pretentiousness, let us assure you that these guys are as down to earth as it gets. The shop started pretty grass roots, just making coffee at the Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market every Saturday. That wasn’t exactly Jameson’s plan, but negotiations for a main space were not going as smoothly as he had hoped, and the market was an opportunity to grow.

the little details from the floors to the tabletops, all the way to the ceilings, are impressive. The thought put into the building, though, is only a fraction of the thought and attention given to the true craft of Dichotomy: the coffee. The shop’s new location boasts the very first Mod Bar in the state of Texas. The Mod Bar was released at the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) Expo in April of this year. The difference between it and the majority of espresso machines out there is that the majority of the components, the boilers, and most of the electrical components are in modular boxes that go below the counter. Most espresso machines have big boxes that sit on top of the counter, so the Mod Bar gives you that kind of clean

“We want people to feel comfortable and enjoy being in here.” - BRETT JAMESON, OWNER - DICHOTOMY COFFEE & SPIRITS looking out, you have a perfect view of the ALICO building to the right and the Courthouse straight ahead.

“We intended really to be open August 2012, as far as a main location, but because everything else got so dragged out, that didn’t happen,” Jameson said. “The farmer’s market was great because we’ve kind of grown with the market.”

With wanting to keep some of the building’s character through the remodel process, the new flooring is an imitation of the original floor. The marble tabletops on the outdoor table were recycled from an old marble wall torn down at the Waco Public Library. And since Jameson and his crew have such a heart for supporting local artists, all the wooden tabletops inside are hand made by Harrison Connally of Good Hand Woodworks.

In addition to the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, Dichotomy

The aesthetics of the new building are outstanding; all

pg 8 • WACO WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • wacoweekly.com

look with more open counter space. The customer can see what the barista is doing as far as pulling their shot and making their drink, and to the artistic barista, that is a valuable part of the coffee shop experience. Dichotomy is what people of the coffee world would refer to as a “third wave” coffee shop. Barista Cody Fergusson explained the different waves of coffee in simple terms. “You had kind of a first wave, which I describe as your at home coffees like Folgers and Maxwell House, before people were going to coffee shops for a place to work or hang out,” Fergusson said.

“Your second wave was the big explosion of espresso bars, such as Starbucks. That’s also when coffee became a lot more complicated with syrups and these big giant lattes and caramel sauce on top—all these different things.” Then came the third wave, after agricultural studies and different scientists were finding that when coffee is grown according to the kind of soil and environment it needs and is then prepared the correct way, there’s actually a lot of natural flavor in it. “It’s just about the simplicity of doing things that are more detail oriented to bring out those natural flavors in the beans, so you don’t need all the cream and sugar,” said Fergusson. “So the third wave push is a coffee shop environment but with attention to detail, and quality, and simplicity of bringing out just good quality coffee the way it is.” The one thing the guys at Dichotomy want to avoid is the reputation that a lot of shops of their kind seem to have acquired. A recent Yelp! survey found that the number one complaint of coffee shop patrons is that they are “snooty.” “We want to take away some of the pretension of the third wave coffee shop,” said Jameson. “We will absolutely tell people, if they’re interested, about where the coffee bean comes from and how it was prepared, but we don’t want to shove it down their throats.” There’s also this sort of “adding cream and sugar is taboo” expectation of the third wave coffee shop. If somebody wants to do that, though, Jameson said it’s totally fine. They would love it if customers would at least try the coffee first by itself, because they believe they’re offering a quality product that people probably aren’t used to. But if customers still don’t like it without cream and sugar, they will gladly be given some. “It’s not all about us and our preference, although we believe in our product,” Jameson said. “We want people to feel comfortable and enjoy being in here. If they want to just take their coffee and go sit down, that’s great.” Fergusson added, “Another thing about the third wave push is this idea of bringing back the artistic barista. Latte art is a very obvious form of that, but everything about the detail and craft of pulling a shot or preparing a cup of coffee is an art form.” Coffee isn’t the only art of the new place, though — it also has a full bar (hence the “Spirits” in the name). Starting mid to late afternoon each day, Dichotomy will open the bar side of the new space and serve cocktails and specialty drinks. Allow us to suggest the Moscow Mule, if you’re into ginger beer and mint. They’re also bringing in catered appetizers and finger foods on the bar side and traditional pastries and cookies on the coffee shop side. Jameson said the details are still being ironed out as far as what food will go on each side. Make sure you’re following the Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits Facebook page, as well as following them on instagram and twitter (@dichotomy_cs) to participate in some preview nights this week, and be sure to make it out for the opening next week.

wacoweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • WACO WEEKLY • pg 9

DISCOVER

••••••

Q&A

5 minutes with Thomas Wilson - Glenmerle By Sara Gilmore

This Friday night at Common Grounds, catch local band Glenmerle in concert, led by 22-year-old Baylor alum Thomas Wilson. We spent a few minutes chatting with Wilson this week about his band, his writing style, and the ungodly amount of Christian rock he used to listen to in junior high. Don’t worry, though, his music today isn’t a reflection of that season of his life. Tickets to the show are only $5 presale/$7 the day of —which you’ll realize is a steal once you’ve heard these guys.

and whenever I have spare time I look through them and develop whichever ones inspire me. On a free evening when I’m feeling inspired and full, I’ll finish 2 or 3 at once. It’s cool — the songs end up feeling authentic because the impetus was authentic; but they end up more mature, because I have more time than if I had tried to write them in the moment.

Waco Weekly: How would you describe Glenmerle? How many of you are there?

TW: I write them all. Sometimes I ask people for help with lyrics or melodies, but since what I write about is so personal, it’s just been me so far.

Thomas Wilson: My friend and I were actually talking about this last night. You know, indie rock means next to nothing…but it’s probably the closest thing you could use to describe it. There are 6 of us playing two electric guitars, bass, keys, drums, and then a few other random instruments at different times. WW: How long have you guys been together? TW: Me, Tyler (bass player), and Brooks (electric guitarist) have been together as Glenmerle since we played a random show in Dallas last fall. But Glenmerle as you see us now has only existed for about 3 months.

WW: Do you write most of Glenmerle’s songs yourself or are there co-writes?

WW: I know you’re heavily involved in being a part of the worship team at Antioch Community Church. What’s the difference between writing/playing music for the church and writing/playing music outside of the church? Do you prefer one over the other? TW: Worship music, to me, at least corporate worship music, is very purpose-oriented, and I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be. When that purpose is removed and the audience is not just Christians, aka Glenmerle, there are a lot of new liberties you get to take, which is fun. Still, I’m a worshiper through and through, so from a satisfaction standpoint, I definitely prefer worship music. And I love that worship music is experiencing more and more creative liberty musically these days. WW: Do you have a favorite song you’ve written for Glenmerle?

WW: How was the band born? Was that something you always wanted to do, or was it more of a “Hey, we’re a bunch of friends who play music, let’s do it together” sort of thing? TW: Well all 6 of us have individually wanted to be in a band and play shows forever. Glenmerle was just a dream I had when I started writing songs at the beginning of 2012. I didn’t know what to do with them, but I wanted people to hear them. And I knew I needed several other musicians to bring what I was hearing in my head into reality. So when a friend’s band in Dallas asked me to open for them, it was the perfect incentive to make it happen. I thought through all my musician friends and who I would want to work with, and asked five of them. I’m privileged that they all said yes!

TW: I like this question. Um...I love all our songs in so many different ways. My favorite right now is called “Familiar Breeze.” I started writing it on a bus in Israel and finished it in a pub in Mongolia. So that’s cool. I just really like how it ended up lyrically. The metaphor is really fun, dandelion vs. wind, and it expresses kind of the lowest of lows from the last year of my life in a really thankful and hopeful way. My other favorite that we’re playing Friday is the last song, tentatively titled “Quarried Pain”, because it has this super long instrumental outro that gets my adrenaline running. WW: Is there a certain style of music or just musicians you look up to that you draw inspiration from? TW: I get inspiration from anyone who can communicate simple truths or common experiences in a fresh way. I think Ryan O’Neal from Sleeping At Last does this really well lyrically. I think Justin Vernon is a genius at doing this musically. I love listening to music that takes time to understand. WW: How, as a musician, do you keep developing your sound and your writing in a way that keeps things fresh and not always sounding like the same thing done over again?

WW: What does the process of songwriting look like for you?

TW: It’s hard. Listening to a variety of genres of music helps. And it really helps to have 5 other people’s musical tastes in the equation to keep us in check.

TW: It’s kind of like pooping. What’s inside always comes out. Haha. But seriously, if I’m sad, it comes out; if I’m happy, it comes out; confused, etc. I record any melodies, lyrics, or ideas that come to my head throughout the day on my Evernote,

WW: What’s your leadership style like with the band? Does everyone have a good bit of creative reign and freedom in sort of putting “their stamp” on the sound?

pg 10 • WACO WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • wacoweekly.com

TW: I definitely think so. When I write a song, I write it hearing drums, keys, guitars, strings, and many other instruments in my head. So, I am learning how to lead in a way that allows everyone to surprise me with their take on my song before I say how I expected it to sound. And then sometimes, if it’s really not what I was originally going for, we can reevaluate. But 9 times out of 10, what the band does affirms or trumps my original idea.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

TUESDAY-SATURDAY

Savion + The Standard takes the stage at Common Grounds.

Brandon Rhyder is back in town at Wild West Waco.

Baylor Department of Arts presents: Shipwrecked: An Entertainment!

PAGE 6

PAGE 3

PAGE13

WEEKLY // EVENTS OF

NOVEMBER 14 - NOVEMEBER

20,

2013

FIND MORE AT: WWW.WACOWEEKLY.COM/CALENDAR

SATURDAY 11/16 FARMER’S MARKET

The Waco Downtown Farmers Market is a year-round riverside market located at 400 South University Parks Drive. Since November 2011, the Market has been and will continue to be open every Saturday from 9am to 1pm, featuring the best local agricultural producers and artisan vendors within 150-miles of Waco. DOWNTOWN WACO Nov. 16, 2013 9:00 AM

JOANNA BARBERA KYLE PARK

FRIDAY

GLENMERLE

11/15

Glenmerle is a local band, and it’s only right they’re playing in their hometown; they produce music “that reminds you of home.” A mixture of indie rock and folk, Thomas James Wilson’s imaginative songwriting is supported by Brooks Whitehurst, Jonathan Isenberg, Tyler Noblett, Johanna Six, and Jeff James. Tickets are available online at cgwaco.

com. COMMON GROUNDS 1123 S. 8th, Waco, Nov. 8, 2013 8:30 PM $7-10

BRANDON RHYDER

Rhyder has released seven albums and boasts an impressive four #1 singles on the Texas Music Charts. His most recent album, That’s Just Me was released on August 20, 2013. Tickets are available online and $8 in advance, $10 for 21+ day of show, and $12 for 18-20 day of show. WILD WEST WACO 115 Mary St., Waco, Nov. 15, 2013 8:00 PM

Joanna Barbera is an Austin, TX based singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. Her musical roots lie in the world of folk, but her sophomore album, Forget, Barbera presents a collision of solid rock and power prose. She is slated to perform with indie phenoms Quiet Company, The Tontons, and as a featured performer at the W Hotels “Living Room Live” series. TRUE LOVE 414 Franklin, Waco, Nov. 16, 2013 9:00 PM

SUNDAY

JAZZ ENSEMBLE

11/17

said, “Jazz is restless. It won’t stay put and it never will.” Fast forward 25 years, and Johnson hit the nail on the head. Baylor University’s continuing lecturer in jazz studies, Alex Parker, will be leading a group of nineteen young jazz musicians for an event free of charge and open to the public. BAYLOR Nov. 17, 2013 7:30 PM

MONDAY

11/18

A CAPPELLA CONCERT

A cappella became a collegiate phenomenon thanks to the surprise box office hit, Pitch Perfect. If you’re interested in watching some live-action vocal instrumentation, Baylor University’s director of choral ensembles, Alan Raines, will be conducting a choir of sixty-nine voices. The event is free of charge and open to the public. BAYLOR Nov. 18, 2013 7:30 PM

Have an event for our calendar? Submit it at

www.wacoweekly.com

In a 1988 interview, trombonist J. J. Johnson

CALENDAR

••••••

WEEK

Design | Branding | Web

wacoweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • WACO WEEKLY • pg 11

PLAY

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Junk Hippy Roadshow By Dani Wilkins Pinterest addicts, vintage shoppers, handmade fanatics, and junk gypsies unite! Lose yourself in aisles of vintage goods, refurbished furniture, and oneof-a-kind fashions at the Junk Hippy Roadshow. Kristen Grandi of Oklahoma City finally saw her business take off after “years of planning and dreaming and waiting for the stars to align.” Junk Hippy is a travelling roadshow that totes vintage pieces, antiques, homemade goods, and you guessed it, junk.

Electric Zombie Run

@ Waco Convention Cneter By Dani Wilkins

In a zombie apocalypse-obsessed world, television and film such as The Walking Dead, World War Z, and Zombieland have taught us how to survive amongst the living dead and further intensifying our obsession with the infected. The key to surviving any apocalypse is cardio, and the Electric Zombie Run gives you the chance for a test run without the threat rotting flesh or the danger of turning into a monster. For the event, runners are in the dark, with only the soft light of a glow stick and LED headbands to light the way. With adrenaline pumping through their veins, runners will have to outwit and avoid any undead as they come out from the gloom. The 5K run kicks off at 7:15pm, and for only $35, runners will get loaded up with the official Electric Zombie t-shirt, 2X reflective LED light bands, glow sticks, glow in the dark finisher medals, race bib, and entrance to the liveliest party in town.

The recent trend of “junk” has taken off as people begin to get more into DIY projects, eclectic home furnishings, and the ultimate vintage shopping experience. It’s okay if you don’t know what you’re looking for – sometimes that’s the fun in it. The Junk Hippies will be taking over the Waco Convention center on Saturday, November 16 from 9am-6pm. General admission is $5 and kids 13 and under get in for free. For more information, check out junkhippy.com.

the scoop WHAT: LAWRENCE BROWNLEE WHERE: WACO HALL WHEN: NOV. 7 - 7:30 PM pg 12 • WACO WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • wacoweekly.com

Should you decide that you would rather be a zombie than Rick Grimes, you can choose to be a flesh-eater instead. It’s free to become a creature of the night, and you still get the official t-shirt and race medal. Keep in mind – you’ll have to arrive two hours before the race starts. If you haven’t had your zombie fill by the time you’re done running, there will be a post-race party for all participants. There will be food, drinks, music, plenty of free stuff, and a brain-eating contest… you know, normal party stuff. The zombie attack begins on November 16 at the Waco Convention Center. For more information, check out electriczombierun.com.

PLAY

••••••

3 Apps You Won’t Regret Downloading

Baylor Department of Arts Presents

Shipwrecked By Cheyenne Mueller

Born in Paris but raised in England, Louis is constantly ill and bedridden and passes the time by listening to his mother’s stories of foreign worlds and adventure. Inspired by wonder and charged with curiosity, Louis abandons his mother and his bed to go see the world for himself. Fortunately for Louis, he quickly joins cahoots with a sea captain. Together, they embark on a pearl fishing expedition to the Coral Sea. While at sea, they encounter a man-eating octopus, they're stranded on a deserted island, and eventually Louis marries an Aboriginal woman and returns to London, where he becomes a national hero and writes an autobiography. However, when Louis returns to London, he starts losing track of his own story. Were his adventures just fantasy or fabrication? As a result, the audience is left to judge whether Louis is an imaginative genius or a mere con man. Baylor University’s Department of Arts is presenting “Shipwrecked: An Entertainment! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)”, a thesis production directed by John Michael Sefel. Written by the Pulitzer-prize winning playwright, Donald Marguiles, “Shipwrecked” is a family-friendly tale about daring adventure and reveals the power of the imagination. The story is based upon the questionable memoirs of a real-life Victorian showman. The shows will be performed at Baylor’s Mabee Theatre November 19-23 at 7:30pm and November 23-24 at 2pm. Individual tickets are now available, and there will be a post-show discussion on November 19. Tickets can be purchased online at baylor.edu/theatre or at the theatre box office, located on S. University Park Dr. Hours are Monday-Thursday, from 9am5pm. Contact them at theatreboxoffice@baylor.edu or 254.710.1865 for further information.

By Luke Murray ALGEBRA TOUCH Unless you have a degree in finance or engineering, chances are that you’re one of the millions of people who has serious issues with math. You can only cling to the “I’ll never use this” argument for so long before you begin to realize that you’re up a creek without an algebraic paddle. Finally, there’s an app designed for the numerically inept. Algebra Touch has the ability to teach you all the number-crunching concepts that you’re middle school math coach couldn’t pound into your pre-pubescent skull. With an engaging interface that breaks down the concepts into easyto-understand models, this app is purposed with making algebra a cakewalk. Cover skills like factorization, basic equations, order of operations, exponents, factoring and variables in a way that was never simpler. – $2.99 IBOTTA – CASH NOT COUPON There are always ads on TV or Facebook about getting paid to shop, but someone finally developed an app that turns such a dream into a reality. Imagine getting paid for purchases that you already make regularly. Ibotta—featured by everyone from Google to Good Morning America—has taken the concept of advertising and flipped it over to put money back in the consumer’s pocket. More than 50 stores that include Walmart, Kroger, CVS and Home Depot participate with this app that rewards you with cash for the purchases you make at the store. Users are able to send their cash rewards directly to the bank through PayPal or redeem them for gift cards for favorite retailers such as Starbucks and Redbox. With more than $3.7 million given out already, you should probably make some green from spending it, too. – FREE STAR WARS: TINY DEATH STAR Come to the dark side, we have…really cool apps? Any devotee of Star Wars fandom with dreams of building their own craft of mega destruction need wait no longer. Disney and LucasArts have developed a game that puts users right in the heat of the turbulent galactic empire. Join the Emperor and Lord Vader on their quest to fund and construct the largest, most destructive space station from here to the Dagobah system. Hire bounty hunters and interstellar minions of all shapes and dialects to carry out your dirty deeds. Use the power of the dark side to unlock new tasks, capture rebel spies, meet your favorite characters (from Chewbacca and Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt), and play within the Sith’s evil schemes to forever rule the galaxy.

wacoweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • WACO WEEKLY • pg 13

- By Brandon Nowalk -

All Is Lost

DRAMA (PG-13)

Thor: The Dark World ACTION (PG-13)

Robert Redford is the only actor in All is Lost, the fictional story of a shipwreck. It begins with Redford writing a letter stating the title in regards to his situation and then flashes back eight days to the morning he work up to discover his sailboat had collided with a shipping container, creating a few-inch hole in his hull. From there it’s all the usual survival stuff: he tries to patch up the hole as best he can, he faces an impending storm, he runs low on rations. At the end, well, you can guess what happens. The thing is, writer-director JC Chandor (Margin Call) is cultivating a muted documentary style that considers anything too bold/ loud/dramatic as false. So here we are in the wide open sea, but everything’s so contained and restrained, including Redford’s climactic breakdown. So that’s how all is lost; not with a bang but with a whimper.

Thor 2 doesn’t really hold together. It opens with a dumb Lord of the Rings-style prologue about some mystical macguffin that everyone will spend the movie chasing without explaining what exactly they plan to do with it. There are other comic book stories, but the Marvel films are pretty much just pseudomystical substances, from Iron Man’s military technology to Captain America’s Nazi voodoo. Anyway, from there we visit four of the nine worlds, and eventually everything gets going. Loki’s back to double-cross the audience, but only the audience. It’s eye-rolling, in the moment, and then you find out it was all for show, which necessitates even more eye-rolling. But the thing is, Thor: The Dark World is kind of a blast. It’s not a great movie in the typical sense of story and performance and direction. Director Alan Taylor manages some excellent stuff, but the monstrosity is ultimately out of his control, cutting action scenes to nonsense and never holding long enough on the gorgeous spectacles so carefully designed by the visual effects team. The screenplay, for that matter, sets a whole bunch of moving parts in motion, but only Thor and his Oedipal family issues get more than a scene or two. Every time Chris Hemsworth stares into space boringly, you wonder why we’re not watching Kat Dennings. So, Thor is just the sum of its parts. But what parts! There’s Hemsworth beefcaking for the cheap seats, Tom Hiddleston almost convincing you Loki should rule, Idris Elba with a bit more to do than last time as guardian of Valhalla, and Rene Russo rocks her big scene. The whole milieu is beautifully balanced between Norse mythology and sci-fi (literally, this is about a Norse God and a scientist), so we get this breath-taking digital cosmos with starships and laser guns. The action, particularly in the last half, is a trip, finding these playful little moments for Dennings running around while Hemsworth saves the day. Oh, and stay for two extra scenes in the credits. The first builds a bridge to more Marvel movies, and the second puts a bow on this one.

pg 14 • WACO WEEKLY • November 13, 2013 • wacoweekly.com

The Story of Film CLASSIC

Every Monday evening, all semester long, Turner Classic Movies has been airing a 15-part British documentary called The Story Of Film set to wrap up in early December. Hosted by Mark Cousins, the series explores the development of movies starting with the earliest experiments in the late 1800s. Each episode takes on a specific period—right now we’re moving out of the big ‘70s movements in gritty American cinema and international new waves and into the ‘80s independent movie era. The history is streamlined, but it makes a fine intro survey. What really sets this apart, though, is how TCM programs each episode with five to ten movies mentioned in the episode, so you can see the overall history of New Hollywood in the ‘70s and then see specific examples like The Last Picture Show. This is further confirmation that TCM is the most valuable resource for movie buffs outside big cities.

1. Thor: The Dark World

A valuable mystical substance infects Jane (Natalie Portman), so Thor (Chris Hemsworth) brings her to Valhalla while dark elves conspire to retrieve the substance. Also starring Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, and Rene Russo. PG-13 (112 min.)

2. Bad Grandpa

Johnny Knoxville gets out the old-age make-up to play an 86-year-old man taking his 8-year-old grandson across the country. Their goal? To prank an unsuspecting populace, like a cross between Borat and Jackass. R (92 min.)

3. Free Birds

Just in time for Thanksgiving, two turkeys get the bright idea to travel back in time and prevent turkey from becoming a holiday staple in this cartoon. Voice cast includes Owen Wilson and Amy Poehler. PG (91 min.)

4. Last Vegas

Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Morgan Freeman go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party in this fish-out-of-water comedy. Think The Hangover meets Grumpy Old Men.

5. Ender’s Game

The director of X-Men Origins: Wolverine condenses and regurgitates Orson Scott Card’s compelling young adult novel about a boy genius advancing through strategy school in order to destroy a potentially invading alien force. PG-13 (114 min.)

6. Gravity

In this revolutionary 3-D rollercoaster, a space mission gone awry forces astronauts Sandra Bullock and George Clooney to fend for themselves among various space stations and to get back home. PG-13 (90 min.)

7. 12 Years as a Slave

The Toronto Film Festival winner by chic arthouse director Steve McQueen chronicles the abduction of a free northern black man (Chiwetel Ejiofur) and his enslavement for 12 years on

southern plantations. R (133 min.)

8. Captain Phillips

Based on a true story, Tom Hanks stars as the captain of a U.S. ship transporting supplies to Kenya when his ship comes under attack by Somali pirates in this journalistic depiction of international institutions colliding. PG-13 (134 min.)

9. About Time

The latest English rom-com-drama from the writer-director of Love Actually is this story about a young man who learns he can time travel within his own life and the woman (Rachel McAdams) he falls in love with. R (123 min.)

10. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Our hero, Flint Lockwood, voiced by Bill Hader, leaves his job when he finds out the machine responsible for the original is still in operation, leading to another avalanche of foods crossed with animals. PG (95 min.)

11. Carrie

After getting picked on at school, a young outcast, Carrie, develops telekinetic superpowers. Then one of the girls feels guilty and gets her boyfriend to take Carrie to the prom; the rest is horror history. R (100 min.)

12. All Is Lost

Robert Redford plays “Our Man,” a survivor of a shipwreck that leaves him stranded on a life raft with diminishing resources as he tries to get home. Directed by JC Chandor (Margin Call). PG-13 (106 min.)

13. Escape Plan

In this high-concept action flick, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger team up to escape from a dangerous, off-the-grid, maximum-security prison that puts all the prisoners in clear glass boxes on stilts. R (116 min.)

14. The Counselor

Michael Fassbender stars as a lawyer who gets involved in a cartel deal

that goes wrong in this hard-bitten, star-studded neo-noir. Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, and Javier Bardem co-star. R (117 min.)

15. Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey plays a reallife Texan who was diagnosed HIVpositive and begins a ring to fasttrack meds not yet approved by the FDA by importing them from Mexico for HIV-positive Americans. Costarring Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto. R (117 min.)

16. Enough Said

Julia Louis-Dreyfus befriends a hippie poet (Catherine Keener) and her exhusband James Gandolfini at the same party. Her relationships with each start to threaten each other. Her college-bound daughter only cranks up her emotions. PG-13 (93 min.)

17. Despicable Me 2

The heroic Anti-Villain League hires Steve Carell as a grumbling supervillain turned adoptive father to help fight a new supervillain. Featuring the voices of Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, and Russell Brand. PG (98 min.)

18. Blue is the Warmest Color

The most recent film to win the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival is this story of a French teenager named Adele who falls for a local college student named Emma. NC-17 (179 min.)

19. Planes

Disney goes Pixar with a Cars-style take on a world of sentient planes. Dane Cook as a cropduster dreams of competing in a race around the world.. Brad Garret, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and John Cleese co-star. PG (91 min.)

20. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Percy Jackson and his friends must hunt down the Golden Fleece to defeat the rising tide of monsters and restore their sanctuary in this freewheeling Greek mythology/coming-ofage mash-up. PG (106 min.)

wacoweekly.com • November 13, 2013 • WACO WEEKLY • pg 15