ntertainment
Clackamas Pr
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005
Milwaukie’s ‘Music Haven’
Adam J. Manly
The Clackamas Print
For anyone out there wishing
for something to. do in Clackamas
County, Music Haven is the answer.
It hosts free events occurring on the
first Saturday of each month, and
is a non-profit organization which
succeeds in providing a safe, local
music venue.
The idea for Music Haven began
with the passing of young musician
Charles Loftus-Cole.
“His parents wanted to create
a venue in his memory,” said Ro
Zapanta, one of two current stage
managers. “The closest venue that Mhirch decided to offer their base-
[bands] were able to play at was in meht,” Zapanta explains. “Even
venue isn’t church
downtown Portland.”
Zapanta, who himself was oriented, they let us play anyway.”
mugged at the Pans Theater iro fl| Music Haven holds events from
Portland, says safety was oheof the I 7 to 10 p.in. on the first Saturday
things discussed by those conceiv Bevery month except January,
ing the Music Havepid^; •
ically, three bards are allowed
“We
brainstormed ideas, to play per fuiÿj^gfa However,
thoughts, and stories - like how I ‘there arc special occasions, like
got mugged - dgOedMod to try
Summer Haveh event, in which
to create a safe environment for more bands are allowed to play.
people of all ages^’eome and lis R “The nekt çvënt is Dec. 3,”
said ZapantMHMTwill be having
ten to music,” said ZapaMa.
Music Haven everiSlScg place a ‘Share The Holidays With Music
at Milwaukie Presbyterian Church . .dHayen’ey^ritvi irst ever.”
^MhaWtction will feature two
at 2416 SE Lake Rd.
“We started from scratch, we acdustic performers, Michael
needed a place and [Loftus-Cole’s] Lànsing and Zapanta’s solo project,
Curbside, and the full band Finding
Lenny. Additionally, there will be
a raffle, and the proceeds will go
to charity.
“We’ll be raffling out tickets
to The Bravery,” Zapanta added.
“They’re doing one of the series
of shows for ‘December To
Remember?”
More information on Music
Haven can be found at the organi
zation’s website, www.musichaven.
oig. Music Haven, as well as many
of the bands it features, can also be
found on the popular friend net
working site www.myspace.com.
Any musicians wishing to per
form at a Music Haven event may
contact Zapanta at 503-504-3795.
‘Walk the Line’ stays Nada Surf doesn't wipe out
loyal to Cash’s legacy
, Megan Cline
|| Contributing writer
Sometimes, when one has high
expectations for a movie, disap
pointment is often the result. When
hearing about the release of “Walk
the Line,” expectations were high.
After all, it was chronicling a
well-known music legend, and the
leads were important people in
other projects. One will go to the
movie with high expectations and
leave without disappointment.
“Walk the Line” tells the story
of the legendary Johnny Cash
from childhood to the early years
of his career. Joaquin Phoenix
(“Gladiator”), picks up the role
of Cash at age 19 when he joined
the Air Force and started writing
“Folsom Prison Blues.”
The story focuses mainly on
Johnny’s love affair with June
Carter (played brilliantly by Reese
Witherspoon) and how she res
cued him from his drug addiction.
Without her, he wouldn’t have
been the legend he became.
Phoenix is perfectly cast as
Cash. He possesses the well-worn,
world weary quality needed to
play the man in black.
The biggest surprise was
Witherspoon, who shed her
“Legally Blonde” image to por
tray Carter. It was doubtful at
first about her playing Carter. She
doesn’t bare a very sinking resem
blance to Carter and usually she’s
in romantic comedies. Within a
few minutes of her first appear
ance, all doubts were erased. She
brought a tight, charisma, and
brilliance to the role. She also
brought the right amount of com
edy.
This was especially evident in
a scene where she runs into Cash
backstage and gets tangled in his
guitar strap just as she’s expected
to go onstage. While Cash tries
to free her, she turns the situation
into a comedy routine by shputing
backstage how she got tangled in
Johnny Cash’s guitar strap.
She assures the smitten Cash
that “[she] can keep this funny for
at least two minutes.”
Phoenix and Witherspoon
recorded all of their own vocals
for their roles. Their voices were
amazing. However, in Phoenix’s
rendition of “Ring of Fire,”'5 one
can barely tell the difference. Their
vocal performances were so bril
liant that if either of them decided
to quit acting and go into music,
their albums would be popular.
The term “Oscar Buzz” has
been tossed around since before
a trailer was even released. This
is no gimmick; this movie should
get at least. four nominations:
Best Picture, Actor, Actress, and
Director for James Mangold, who
masterfully captured the intensity
of die music and beautifully recre
ated the era when this legend was
bom.
In a time where ticket prices
are at an all time high and movie
theaters are losing business to
DVDs, ‘Walk the Line” is worth
the full ticket price.
. .
ST. NICHOLAS FAIRE
Saturday, December 3, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday, December 4, 9:00 am -2:00 pm
Enjoy the fun and festivity of an old-fashioned English-style
Christmas celebration. There will be vendors, arts and crafts,
baked goods, raffles for gift baskets and an opportunity for
kids to have their photos taken with St. Nick (Saturday from
1:00 - 3:00 pm and Sundaw nooh - 2:00 pm).
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
822 Washington Street
Oregon City
Join the Fun at “Scrapbook Saturday”
Catch up on your scrapbooks or start new projects. Bring
your favorite photos and materials arid enjoy uninterrupt
ed scrap-booking time. Materials will be available for pur
chase if needed. Free morning and afternoon workshops.
Refreshments, Door Prizes, and Child Care provided
(donation requested). Mark your calendar for Saturday,
December 10, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Call Jackie Flowers at
503-657-7181 for more information. RSVP requested.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
822 Washington Street
Oregon City
INTERNET PHOTO
. Ben Maras
|| Co-Editor-in-Chief
I’m tired of having a musi
cal inferiority complex to the
British. It seems that every
rock band that comes out is
British, or trying to be British
(not that there’s anything
wrong with being British ...).
Ladies and gentlemen, I have
found the cure.
Say hello to Nada Surf. I
believe you’ve met.
Many of us remember Nada
Surf from the mid ‘90s, when
their novelty hit “Popular” was
on the lips of every high school
football hero who did not seem
to understand the irony of the
lyrics.
But popularity was
not all it was cracked up to be
for Nada Surf, and the world
closed their ears to the band
when they refused to put out a
“Popular” clone.
Disowned by their label it
looked like they were destine
for failure until a CQUple years
ago, when indie label Barsuk
Records adopted the orphans
and released “Let Go.” Music
snobs were forced to take, a
second look at what was right
under their noses the whole
time.
Now with the help of pro
ducer Chris Walla (of Death
Cab for Cutie fame) they are
at it again with their new
est release “The. Weight is a
Gift.”
Their first single “Always
Love” is a bit disappointing.
The music isn’t bad, but it’s
those damn preachy lyrics, one
of the worst songs vocalist/
guitarist Mathew Caws ever
wrote in that sense. It seems so
suffocated in its own self-righ
teousness you’d think Nada
Surf was fronted by Bono.
But even this song doesn’t
sound as forced as U2 or the
last Coldplay record. One of
Nada Surf’s best traits still
shines on. No heartless postur
ing or fake sneers here; every
thing sounds as natural as one
could hope for.
The track before it, “Do
It Again” is an example of
Nada Surf at their best. The
song starts with a twisting
bass line supported by a driv
ing drum beat and tamed by
clean-strummed guitars before
it takes off in a surprising
direction with the chorus.
What it does lack’ is another
anthemic' rocker - what “Hi-
Speed Soul” was to the “Let
Go” album. What they give us
instead makes up for it.
If there’s one thing that
makes this album worth its
cost, it’s “In the Mirror.” By
far the most creative - and
weirdest - thing the band
has done, it sounds more like
Radiohead than their typical
fare.
One continuous build-up
of acoustic guitars, feedback
and electronic drums, the band
creates order from what could,
be chaos. Although the song
never “goes anywhere,”, the
ride is so much fun the desti
nation is meaningless.
From here it goes -on to
“Armies Walk” (which could
easily be the best all-around
song, on the album), and
the final track “Imaginary
Friends.” Going from Guided
by Voices-esque ppp-rock
to an ambient jam and back
again, it provides-the perfect
close to the album.
Having played together for
more than 11 years, no one can
accuse them of being a flash
in the pan ... and they should
really get a purple heart just
for being together for that
long (anyone who has been in
a band knows what I mean).
With another tour to support
the album they show no signs
of bowing out now. Let’s just
hope their next release is as
much of a gift as this one is.
I Jeff Sorensen
II The Clackamas Print
Dear Santa:
For Christmas I would |j
leather jacket, a new car a»
X-Box 360.
It seems like nothing <
than a schoolyard rumor ffij
about the gaming community
mean sure, the new X-Box isj
posed to be out by now, but I
haven’t actually seen one«
of the demo at Target. Well $
I’ve decided that this will h
white whale, and if you can’t
through, 1 have a plan.
I didn’t have the opt«
camping out overnight in ft
my local Best Buy, and evei
knows the gaming stores 1
selves couldn’t even fill all ol
pre-orders so my new plan
named as “Plan B,” will i®
little patience, a little rnorej
ration, and a lot more pem
I’m going to start by |
a team of four people, or.
One.” Two people from Red
will be responsible for wo
their way through the Y
Pages to call every video
retailer and department store
entire Willamette Valley toft
which stores have filled prer
and which ones never took
orders to begin with. Theotk
members of “Red One” w
responsible for watching in
retailers in two alternating 12
shifts for any signs of m
before Dec. 25, or “Zero Ha
' “Red Two” will consul A
people. Within Red Two tie
be three cells of two, and®
cell there will be a dispatch
a driver with a cell phone, ft
retailer that replies to an opt
of Red One that the 360 is in
it will be Red Two’s job tot
a driver to that retailer and al
to retrieve the X-box as wei
pre-determined list of perip
such as extra controllers and
seis for online play.
As “Red Leader,” it will!
job to delegate any positive»
responses from Red One tot
the three cells in Red Wo, a
as manage food and housii
1he duration of operation “Pl
to all of the Red Team man
Now, Santa, I know
you’re thinking... how ami
to get 10 people to workfo
It’s pretty simple... all I have
is promise the Playei 2 spot
Red One operative with the
five retail response, and Play
and 4 when I get my X-B(
go to the two membt i s of th
Two cell that retrieves it
You may call me Is
Santa, because I promise th
I conquer this “Whit Whale
story will live on. I will retiit
X-Box 360 with or withou
so if you can’t come through
worry about it You see...
never grew up on Capttn
Flag and Counter-Strike.!
team will have a leg up onl
I’m willing to bet my 3rd
Pog collection that when
the phone call that my Re
operative has captured an)
it will be my finest hour.
Oil, and please make m
car black, because I wan
go with my new jacket. B
charcoal black, because tha
funny.
Thanks,
age 21
thedpad@gpwiLcM