Is 21 Jump Street another dead end?
Hollywood is out of ideas. Go to any movie theatre in the summer and all you will see are sequels, prequels, reinventions, and re-imaginations of your favourite, or your grandfather’s favourite story.
Tag: review
April 2, 2012
Album review: Andrew Bird’s Break It Yourself
I sat in my treehouse at midnight to listen to Break It Yourself, the fourth solo release by Andrew Bird. Darkness and rustling leaves provided the perfect backdrop to the album, which crafts an old-time sound by focusing on two-part harmonies and using violins, bells, or whistling for melodies.
April 2, 2012
Black Lemon EP
It is easy to get stuck in a rut musically: you have a band or artist that you love, and you generally listen to things that sound similar. If you are a country music lover, you generally listen to country, folk, some rock, and keep to that musical family.
March 26, 2012
The rush that the cockroaches feel at the end of the world
Six years after Every Time I Die initially graced the citizens of Thunder Bay with their presence at the Community Auditorium opening for Alexisonfire, the band returned on their headlining tour to rock the stage at Crocks on Feb. 28.
March 19, 2012
Project X marks the spot…for chaos!
Project X is not meant to be a movie, it’s meant to be an experience. A chance to re-live your high school days, or what you wished your high school days were like. An opportunity to go to that monster party and to be the center of attention, and not just a mathlete with a sister for a prom date.
March 19, 2012
400 kilometres between who you are and what you are…
“I like taking Native stereotypes and twisting them inside and out,” writer Drew Hayden Taylor commented after the show. This is precisely what Taylor did in his play, 400 Kilometres. Brought to life last week by Michelle Latimer (Janice) and Jonathan Fisher (Tonto), the production was another resounding success by director Mario Crudo.
March 12, 2012
Roman Conquest conquered: a victory!
Cambrian Players hits the stage with flair Amanda McAlpine Arts and Culture Editor Two American girls and a few crazy Italian men—if this doesn’t make for comedic theatre, I don’t know what else does. John Patrick’s hilarious comedy Roman Conquest was recently put on by Thunder Bay’s Cambrian Players. This is a story about two [...]
March 12, 2012
In depth looks at Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and American Gods
Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is an almost perfect book. Its protagonist, Oskar Schell, is a charming, disarming, inventive, odd boy. He weaves a spell that has you speaking his dialect and hoping with all your being that he can solve his increasingly mystifying mystery.
March 6, 2012
By Scott, Seann William can fight!
We’re Canadians, and whether we like it or not, hockey is a big part of our cultural identity. No one understands this better than Jay Baruchel, the co-writer and co-star of Goon.
March 6, 2012
Loopy leap year
“Amy, I can’t believe you dragged me to this, I don’t even like live music!” my friend, who we’ll call Steph, said as we entered the Study for Loopy Leap Year — a show featuring Jean-Paul DeRoover and special guests Ocean City Defender, Jamie Smith of the Auditor General, and Illusions from the Bates Brothers.
March 6, 2012
There’s No Biz like Show Biz
A collection of songs by Slightly Off Broadway Amanda McAlpine Arts and Culture Editor Slightly Off Broadway is a performing arts studio run by Jacqueline McMahon and Connie Fairbrother. The studio was formed in 1995 when McMahon and Fairbrother were looking to establish Thunder Bay’s first triple threat school. For those unfamiliar with musical theatre [...]
March 6, 2012
Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra stirs up the clouds
Stormy weather by Haydn, Brotons, and Mozart Amanda McAlpine Arts and Culture Editor The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra has always been highly recognized across the country. Under the loyal direction of Arthur Post, the orchestra continues to bloom in their 2011-2012 season. With a programmed evening of Haydn, Brotons, and Mozart, the TBSO offered an [...]
March 1, 2012
Album review: Gangrene – Vodka and Ayahuasca
Gangrene is a duo comprised of California-based hip-hop producer/rappers Oh No and The Alchemist. The Alchemist has a deep history with rappers from both the east coast – Mobb Deep, Cormega, and Pharoahe Monch – and from the west coast –Dilated Peoples, Fashawn, Soul Assassins – while Oh No has kept the underground independent scene on lockdown.
February 14, 2012
Shame
There are films that are bold in their depictions of addictions – Requiem for a Dream, for instance, comes to mind. Portrayals of sex addiction, though, have usually been dismissed as pornographic. To label Shame as pornographic trash would be a severe disservice to Steve McQueen’s engaging and emotionally raw glimpse into the life of a sex addict and his inner turmoil.
February 14, 2012
“Mmmbop”‘s gone electric
Hanson’s Saturday night show was a high energy, non-stop, 100-minute rollercoaster, a tribute to the band’s enthusiasm. The interactive concert had the crowd jumping, singing, clapping, dancing, and—perhaps most significantly for a band who still boasts much of their boy band appeal—grabbing the hand of their favourite Hanson brother.
February 14, 2012
Russian composer the first of heavy metal?
Who are the grandfathers of heavy metal music? Some would argue that they are Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin. Others say that Judas Priest or Ozzy are the obvious answers. But Igor Stravinsky? Up until 24 hours ago, I had never heard mention of the name.
February 7, 2012
Lumina: music in common
The most recent installment in the Lumina concert series, which is put on by Lakehead’s music department, showcased three accomplished performers – Heather Morrison on piano, Peter Shackleton on clarinet, and Derek Conrod on French horn.
February 7, 2012
Kakabeka beckons
On the Trans-Canada highway and amidst the boreal forest nestles the quintessential Canadian café and bakery: the Metropolitan Moose.
February 7, 2012
Wahlberg leaves his mark on this crime caper
Marky Mark and his funky bunch of smugglers Simon Worley Mark Wahlberg has done well for himself. From underwear model and rap artist to respected actor and producer, he has made his mark in Hollywood as a leading man whose movies consistently gross over $100 million. Contraband has Wahlberg playing Chris Farraday, an uncomplicated character [...]
January 30, 2012
In depth with Mendelssohn
To some, it’s a difficult concept to grasp: a song without words. What does that mean? When you hear the word “song,” often thoughts of pop artists come into your head. You imagine words that speak to you, or perhaps lyrics that have no meaning, or lines that tell a story about that musician’s life experiences.
January 24, 2012
