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About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2007)
Entertain Yourself Diverse alternative bands travel to Portland u C hris G arfield _____________ Page Editor March and April are big concert months in Portland with hip-hop, rock and pop bands stopping by. Here are a variety of bands that should please everyone: but this time it's going to be an all ages show. Pepper, April 1, $15, Crystal Ballroom - The reggae-ska-punk band from Kailua-Kona, HA are regular Rata tat, March 26, $13, Wonder Ballroom - Ratatat, an "indietronica" duo from New York, is a band like no visitors to the Rose City. They are known to play a good show and this one should be no exception. The Crystal Ballroom, where these guys will be playing, is a cool venue so if you have never been there this concert is a good first. If you miss this show, don't worry, you can catch them on all the dates of the 2007 Warped Tour. other. They play songs that have synthesizers, guitar solos and growling cats that should result in a live show that can't be missed. Ratatat has visited Portland before, Astronaut Farmer rockets into theaters but fails liftoff , M c G innis _______________ Staff Reporter Billy Bob Thorton (Bad Santa, Friday Night Lights) takes on a different role in the film "Astronaut Farmer" which opened on Feb. 23. It is a good family film (even though I was the only one in the theater who couldn't pass for the senior citizen discount) about following your dreams. Thornton plays Charles Farmer, an aeronautical engineer graduate and ex-Air Force pilot, who put his dream of being in space on hold for his family. He works on a farm and builds a rocket in his bam. Despite financial, family, governmental and alleged psychological problems, Farmer pushes to go into space by continuing to work on the rocket. He is the hero who rises above every obstacle, which actually, aside from every other movie made, is one of the most "original" storylines I've ever thought about. There were some little surprises in the film like Bruce Willis playing an ex astronaut who doubts him. storyline also shakes up in the middle when a huge unexpected problem occurs. I enjoyed many of the scenes and it was a fun storyline, if you do not take the story so seriously, but I found the kids in the film were really annoying. The girls' names were Stanley and Sunshine which made me think Thornton and his wife (Virginia Madsen) were astro-NUTS, ha, ha. But seriously, the kids, it reminded me of why I hate kids and why I don't spend much time with my own. The children end up being a driving force in Thornton's dream though he had trouble with his childhood when he saw his father give up on his dream. Oh yeah, and for the ladies, Thornton looked absolutely bod-tastic in . this film. Basically, I'm really excited to see "Black Snake Moan" which stars Samuel L. Jackson ("Snakes on a Plane!" and that's all that matters) because it's a Samuel L. Jackson film with snake in the title. I will never see "The Astronaut Farmer" again. Gym Class Heroes, March 24, $15, Hawthorne Theatre - Another band from New York, Gym Class Heroes are on tour again after a four- month break. They play hip-hop with good beats and transitions which should make an interesting show. Maybe you will hear their most unusual song, which includes a million references to bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Kiss, Bright Eyes, Brand New and The Postal Service to name a few. They will be playing at a smaller venue, the Hawthorne Theatre, so be sure to get there early to snag a spot up front. Lily Allen, March 28, $22, Aladdin Theatre - An import from London, England, Lily Allen is a singer whose lyrics reflect real life experiences. She sings about her family, her problems and her life. Allen’s rise to fame is strange in that she became known through MySpace music. She regularly updates her site, despite her label telling her not to, with new songs that she has written and blogs on her life. More and more people are starting to visit her site and her popularity is growing. Her new album, "Alright, still," reached number one on the UK Billboard album charts and will for sure become a hit here. She will be playing at the Aladdin Theatre. Expect a big show with little room. Tickets seem to be selling faster and faster. Great bands and singers such as The Arcade Fire, The Shins, Modest Mouse and Regina Spektor are already sold out, some in a matter of hours. Scalpers like buying multiple tickets at a time and then selling them for unbelievable prices. This growing (sometimes illegal) trend is a downer for concert goers, especially those with a tight budget, who just want to see their favorite bands. "On the Verge" takes audience on wild ride m H llll CiAVARELLQ________ Staff Reporter "On the Verge" takes the audience on a whimsical journey in the company of realistic, imaginative, language intensive and has a pervasive sense of whimsy. I chose it for the three strong female characters Fanny Cranberry (Georgina Cohen) speaks to Mr. Coffee (Dylan Stark) in the Feb. 28 rehearsal of "On The Verge." Mr. Coffee is a prognosticating time traveler, not unlike the three ladies whom the show is about. The play ran from March 1-10 and starred Brooke Aus, senior, Georgina»Cohen and Rosie Dickson, juniors. Photo by Jon Ares three wonderfully different women. Traveling through time and space, the show was like no other. With a small and talented cast of six, it was highlighted by its unique stage use, thanks to the crew of 20, and the script's unique use of language, thanks to writer Eric Overmyer. Chosen for its eclectic aspects, it helped the Theatre Department show a more creative side. "It [the play] is non- and because I wanted to do something more artistic and intimate after the big musical," Jessica Murray, director, said about choosing "On the Verge" for the spring play. As the play begins, the three main characters, Mary, Fanny and Alexandra embark on an expedition through Terra Incognita, but soon they come to realize that they have journeyed into "a strange new world where life as we know it is not as we know it." The actors portray these well-worded women as if they were them. The uncommon language is believable when spoken by Brooke Aus (Mary), senior, Georgina Cohen (Fanny), junior, and Rosie Dickson (Alexandra), junior, and you come to understand exactly what they are saying, even when you haven't yourself studied the words. Tech theatre students created magic with lighting, props and costuming. It was especially important for the unusually small cast. "We have six cast members, but 20 crew—a great opportunity for tech theatre students. The creative, hard working people behind the scenes are just as important as the actors on stage. This is a tech intensive show and highlights the skills of the techies, although if they are doing their jobs, you will never notice them. It will be magic," Murray said. "(I chose this play) For the conversation that follows the show—how the audience will respond and react," Murray said. "The show is really a metaphor for the journey of our lives— how we progress through time, the people you meet along the way, and all the discoveries we make."
