ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, April 30, 2016
BRIEFLY
SAGE Center
awakens ‘Star Wars’
BOARDMAN — Luke
Skywalker, Hans Solo,
Princess Leia and the rest of
the cast take movie-goers on
another adventure in “Star
Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Three decades after the
defeat of the Galactic Empire,
a new threat arises. If you
haven’t seen it yet, be sure
to attend a viewing during
the SAGE Center Movie
Weekend.
The PG-13 lick will be
shown Friday, May 6 at 7:15
p.m. and Saturday, May 7 at
2:15 p.m. at the SAGE Center,
101 Olson Road, Boardman.
The cost is $5 per person and
includes a free bag of popcorn.
In addition, water is available
for purchase.
The SAGE Center is an
interactive visitor center
highlighting sustainable
agriculture and energy. An
on-site store features local art,
jewelry, food, wine and gifts.
For more information, call
541-481-3257 or visit www.
visitsage.com.
Music association
offers free piano
workshop
PENDLETON — A free
workshop for pianists and
piano teachers is being offered
by a Boston University
graduate who studied with
the renowned pianist and
pedagogue Leonard Shure.
Presented by Deborah
Cleaver, “The Taubman
Approach” is Saturday, May
7 from 10 a.m. to noon at the
First Presbyterian Church, 201
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton.
It’s open to anyone who is
interested. Pre-registration is
not required.
After inishing her degree,
Cleaver worked closely
with Shure as his teaching
assistant at New England
Conservatory. She also has
spent many years studying
the performance practice
of the Baroque and Classic
periods with such luminaries
as Sandra Rosenblum, Edward
Parmentier and Elisabeth
Wright.
Cleaver teaches at Lewis
& Clark College and Reed
College as well as in her
private studio. An avid
performer, she has appeared
with many ensembles and has
had performances aired on
the classical music program
“Played In Oregon.”
The free workshop is made
possible by the Umatilla-
Morrow District of the Oregon
Music Teachers Association in
partnership with the Oregon
Community Foundation and
the Nellie Tholen Fund.
For more information,
contact Sue Nelson at
musicdoc3@mac.com. For
more about the Oregon Music
Teachers Association, visit
www.oregonmta.org.
Maryhill offers
poetry, art
workshops
GOLDENDALE,
Washington — The public is
invited to get their creative
juices lowing during with a
poetry workshop with Tim
Barnes.
Presented at Maryhill
Museum of Art, participants
will draw inspiration from the
Columbia River Highway and
historic photographs by Albert
Barnes to create poems and
a handmade book. The free
workshop is Saturday, May 7
from 1-4 p.m. at the museum.
Although it’s free, registration
is required.
Other upcoming workshops
include an Evening Art Party
with hors d’oeuvres and wine.
Participants will explore wet
felting with Nancy Skakel
Thursday, May 26 from 6-8
p.m., and oil painting with
Cathleen Rehfeld Thursday,
June 28 from 6-8 p.m. The
evening workshops are $40
for non-members and $35 for
members.
Maryhill is located off
Highway 97 at 35 Maryhill
Museum Drive, Goldendale,
Washington. To get there,
drive west on Interstate 84 and
take Exit No. 104.
To register for any of the
events, call 509-773-3733
extension 20. For more
information about Maryhill
programs, visit www.
maryhillmuseum.org.
———
Contact entertainment
editor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
East Oregonian
Page 3C
Art from a hotel room
Thomas Paul’s latest album recorded during Boise music experiment
T
he title of Boise musician
Thomas Paul’s third full-
length album, “Singalongs,”
is obviously ironic: There is not a
single vocal on the entire record
(unless you count the light strains
of casual conversation picked
up by the microphone during the
recording session).
On Friday,
May 6, Thomas
Paul, a longtime
counselor at
Pendleton’s
Rock and Roll
Camp, will bring
his album of
J.D.
impressionistic,
Kindle
art-rock
Comment
instrumentals
together for a
rare full band performance at the
Pendleton Arts Center.
The album production
for “Singalongs” was rather
unorthodox. The recording
sessions were part of Modern Art,
a First Thursday event in Boise
at The Modern, a boutique hotel.
Modern Art, which is entering its
tenth and inal installment this
May, is an annual event where
the hotel turns each of its rooms
into a makeshift art studio for
a night. Each room houses a
painter, photographer, performing
musician(s), theater troupe, etc.,
producing their craft. Attendees
wander from room to room
observing works of art in progress.
In Thomas Paul’s case, he
decided to go one step further
than presenting a live musical
performance and turn his hotel
room (Room 242) into a recording
Contributed photo
Thomas Paul will perform Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Pendleton
Center for the Arts.
studio. The main bedroom sported
Paul on guitar, bassist Bob
Nagel, drummer Todd Chavez,
and recording engineer Nate
Agenbroad, while the bathroom
became an isolation booth for
saxophonist Eric Dewitt, violinist
Jonah Shue, and lautist Jeffrey
Barker. Audiences would ill up
what little space was left in the
hotel room, be hushed while the
band knocked out a take, listen to
the irst 15 seconds of playback,
then be ushered out so the next
group could observe the recording
process.
Being an instrumental album,
one can’t help but conjure up
images to associate with each
song. This was certainly by design.
“A lot of these songs started
with a cinematic idea,” says Paul.
“Some pieces go back as far as
the early ‘90s — they’ve been
percolating for a long time. There
are all kinds of origin stories for
each piece. Each was written as a
‘short ilm.’”
Many of songs on “Singalongs”
have an ominous, ilm noir-esque
vibe and are indebted to composer
Angelo Badalamenti, best known
for his soundtracks for the ilms of
David Lynch.
Paul is quick to note the
inluence saying, “The song ‘Thrift
Shop Noir’ is dripping with David
Lynch. I remember when I was
23 I saw ‘Fire Walk With Me’ and
purchased the soundtrack. There
are only two songs on that album
that have lyrics. The music said so
much. It probably helps that I was
enamored with the ilm — at least
Festivals
their families and community.
Also includes adult artists.
WHAT TO DO
Music
Wooden Shoe Tulip Fes-
tival
Debbie McIntosh
Razzvio
•March 18-May 1; 9 a.m.-6
p.m.
•33814 S. Meridian Road,
Woodburn
www.woodenshoe.com
$5/person or $20/carload.
Stroll through 40 acres of color-
ful lowers. Bring a picnic lunch
or purchase food onsite. Catch
a ride on the cow trains or enjoy
daily wine tasting available from
the Wooden Shoe Vineyards.
View the website for the current
ield report and special weekend
events.
Cinco de Mayo Celebra-
tion
•April 30-May 1
•East Main Street, Hermiston
Free admission. Live music,
parade, food and family-friendly
fun.
Milton-Freewater Jr. Show
•May 2-8
•M-F Jr. Show Grounds
www.mfjrshow.com
Free. Area youths compete
in home economics, natural sci-
ence, livestock and other 4-H
contests. Also features a youth
dance, livestock auction and
awards.
Eastern Oregon Arts
Festival
•May 6-7
•East Main Street, Hermiston
www.desertartscouncil.com
$10/Friday; free/Saturday.
Regional artists display their
work. Event includes live mu-
sic, art activities and food. Fri-
day evening gathering features
meet-and-greet with the artists
and juror, live music and light
refreshments.
Art & Museums
“Central Dreams”
•Saturday, April 30; 2-4 p.m.
•Arts Portal Gallery, 508 N.
Main St., Milton-Freewater
Free. Features Central Mid-
dle School student-created art-
work communicating their hopes
and dreams for themselves,
•Monday-Fridays; 10 a.m.-5
p.m.
•Saturdays; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
•Pendleton Art + Frame, 36
S.W. Court Ave.
Free. An exhibit featuring the
Pendleton photographer’s imag-
es will be on display and for sale
through April 30.
“Figuratively Speaking
...”
•Monday-Fridays;
noon-4
p.m.
•Nightingale Gallery, Loso
Hall
•Eastern Oregon University,
La Grande
www.eou.edu/art/nightin-
gale-gallery
Free. Features artwork of
graduating seniors Erica Hitz-
man of Pendleton and Victoria
Davis, Sheyenne Johnson, Don-
ni Later and Madeline Royce,
all of La Grande. Runs through
May 6.
Open Regional Photogra-
phy Exhibit
•Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4
p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Features amateur
and professional photographers
from across the region. Visitors
can cast votes for the $200 Jac-
queline Brown People’s Choice
Award. Runs through May 27.
Explore Evolution
•Monday-Saturdays; 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
•Tamástslikt Cultural Insti-
tute, near Wildhorse Resort &
Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
$10/adults, $9/senior cit-
izens, $6/youths, free/5 and
under or $25/family of four. The
exhibit features the work of sci-
entists who are making leading
discoveries about the evolution
of life. The interactive displays
provide visitors with an opportu-
nity to experience how scientists
conduct research on evolution.
Runs through May 28.
•Saturday, April 30; 6 p.m.
•Nookies/Hermiston Brewing
Co., 125 N. First St., Hermiston
No cover.
Design
•Saturday, April 30, 8 p.m.
No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
Brass Fire
•Saturday, April 30; 5-7 p.m.
•Sweet Productions Restau-
rant & Bakery, 233 N. Main St.,
Heppner
No cover. All ages event fea-
tures regional brass band play-
ing jazz, blues and rock.
Northwest Community
Gospel Choir
•Saturday, April 30; 7 p.m.
•Power House Theater, 111
N. Sixth St., Walla Walla
www.phtww.com
$35. Directed by Pilot Rock
native Gary Hemenway, the cul-
turally diverse Portland-based
group performs a rare concert in
eastern Washington.
Corey Peterson and
Linderstrom
•Saturday, April 30; 9 p.m.
No cover
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston.
Walla Walla University
Big Band
the visuals.”
That isn’t to say that all of
“Singalongs” will make the
listener feel like they are about to
stumble upon a body in wrapping
plastic. “Billy’s Lullaby” was
written as a lullaby for a friend
to play his twin daughters while
“Look!” functions as a rooftop
chase sequence.
Of the sentimental and pastoral
opening track, “East River Road,”
Paul says it “was written at
my childhood home, out in the
country. If you wanted to go into
the town of Idaho Falls I would
have to walk or bike three miles.
At the time, being a younger
person, it seemed like an epic
journey. It used to be more of a
country road — now it is golf
courses and subdivisions — but 25
years ago it was very rural.”
“I’ve always thought of
(Stanley) Kubrick and the way
he used music,” says Paul. “It’s
very prevalent in his ilms. I’ve
always noticed the music part of
movies. I noticed early on that I
didn’t care for grand, sweeping
Hollywood themes like ‘My Heart
Will Go On.’ It seems like with big
Hollywood ilm composers, the
music is telling you what you’re
supposed to be feeling. I tended to
like movie music that asked you
what you were feeling, but then
maybe I was drawn more to those
movies.”
■
J.D. Kindle is a Pendleton
musician and executive director
of the Oregon East Symphony.
Contact him at jamesdeankindle@
eastoregonian.com.
www.pendletonarts.org
$12. Album release event for
“Singalong,” an all-instrumental
album recorded live at The Mod-
ern Hotel in Boise. (see story on
this page).
pendletonopenmic
Bart Budwig
DJ and dancing
•Tuesday, May 17; 7 p.m. All
ages, no cover.
•Great Paciic Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
Hillfolk Noir
•Saturday, May 21; 8 p.m. All
ages. No cover.
•Great Paciic Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
Night life
80s Party
•Saturday, April 30; 9 p.m.
•Sub Zero Restaurant &
Lounge, 100 W. Highway 730,
Irrigon
$3 cover. Coyote Ugly-style
‘80s party, dress up in favorite
decade attire and party all night
long with DJ music and dancing.
DJ music
•Saturdays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
Whiskey Wednesday
Game Night
•Wednesdays; 3-7 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
No cover. Drink specials,
Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Play-
Station 3 and Nintendo 64.
Thursday Night Comedy
Cinco de Mayo Party
Wine tasting
Thomas Paul
•Friday, May 6; 7 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
•Fridays 8 p.m. (9 p.m. if
game on)
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
Theater, stage &
ilm
“Star Wars: The Force
Awakens”
•Sunday, May 1; 6:30 p.m.
•Milton-Freewater Commu-
nity Building, 109 N.E. Fifth St.
$7/advance, $10/door. Un-
der the direction of Michael
Agidius, the concert will perform
classic and contemporary big
band music. For tickets, contact
509-527-2563 or music.walla-
walla.edu
•Thursday, May 5; 9 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
No cover. Features DJ mu-
sic, $1 tacos and drink specials.
Karaoke
•Thursdays, 8 p.m. No cover.
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
Digital Karaoke
•Thursdays and Fridays, 8
p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo.
Open Mic
•First/third Friday each
month, 8 p.m.-midnight
•The Packard Tavern, 118
S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
www.facebook.com/groups/
•Friday, May 6; 7:15 p.m.
•Saturday, May 7; 2:15 p.m.
•SAGE Center, 101 Olson
Road, Boardman
www.visitsage.com
$5/person. View movie and
receive free bag of popcorn with
admission.
Hot tickets
•Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat. May
10, Windermere Theater, Ken-
newick. Tickets ($47-67) avail-
able via www.ticketmaster.com
•KISS. July 10, Toyota Cen-
ter, Kennewick. Tickets ($39.50-
$125) via www.ticketmaster.
com
•Umatilla County Fair Main
Stage entertainment: A Thou-
sand Horses (Aug. 9), The Bel-
lamy Brothers (Aug. 10), Broth-
ers Osborne (Aug. 11) Baile
(Aug. 12), Creedence Clearwa-
ter Revisited (Aug. 13). Festival
seating free with fair admission;
reserved seats are $12. (541-
567-6121).
•Hunter Hayes. Aug. 26,
Benton-Franklin Fair, Pasco.
Also Salt N Pepa (Aug. 23).
Tickets ($15) available via Ken-
newick Ranch & Home or www.
bentonfranklinfair.com
———
Want to get your event
listed in our calendar? Send
information to tmalgesini@eas-
toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.
MOVIE REVIEW
In Key & Peele’s ‘Keanu,’ the true gangster has paws
By JAKE COYLE
AP Film Writer
If you dropped a cute
kitten into Michael Mann’s
“Heat,” would Robert De
Niro have gone all soft
and goo-goo eyed? Might
Wesley Snipes’ drug empire
in “New Jack City” been
brought to its knees by a
cuddly face with whiskers?
Could Al Pacino’s rage
in “Scarface” have been
melted away by a feline
“little friend”?
Such is the question of
“Keanu,” Keegan-Michael
Key and Jordan Peele’s
satisfyingly ridiculous
and consistently funny
big-screen debut for the
slyly disarming brand
of humor they nimbly
practiced on their recently
ended sketch comedy
series, “Key & Peele.”
Much of that show’s
easy rhythm and skillful
unmasking of masculinity
have been transferred
“Keanu”
★★★☆
R, 98 minutes
intact. “Keanu” was
written by Peele and Alex
Rubens, a former “Key &
Peele” writer, and directed
by Peter Atencio, also an
alumnus from the show.
Whereas some in their
leap into movies opt for
grander, swaggering
personas, Key and Peele
have instead chosen a
movie centered on a cat
named Keanu, who, in one
dream sequence, is voiced
by Keanu Reeves. This,
and this alone, is enough to
warrant a Nobel, if not an
Oscar.
The kitten, formerly
a drug lord’s pet, shows
up on the Los Angeles
doorstep of Rell Williams
(Peele) like pint-sized
salvation for the recently
dumped Rell. But soon
after Rell begins posing
him in movie scenes,
Keanu is taken from him.
Rell pursues Keanu
with his cousin Clarence
(Key). One is a lazy
pothead, the other a nerdy,
high-strung father; both
are about the furthest
thing from “hard.” Their
search leads them from
their comfortable suburban
environs and into a violent
crime underworld where
the kitten is surprisingly
valuable currency. No one,
not even Method Man’s
drug kingpin Cheddar, can
resist him.
Clarence and Rell
unconvincingly improvise
thuggish identities but
manage to be mistaken
for fearsome hit men. The
jokes come out of not
just their poor gestures at
being tough guys but of
the soft hearts within even
murderous gangsters.
See “Keanu” for its
divine absurdities. Do not
see it for its neat narrative
or scene-to-scene tonal
consistency — things
which are, after all, less
vital for movies revolving
around a kitten named after
the guy from “The Matrix.”
There also isn’t quite as
much of Key and Peele’s
trademark social justice
satire here, even once the
cops show up; the parodies
of “Keanu” are more
cuddly than biting.
But few make better
playthings of racial
stereotype than Key and
Peele. Take, for instance,
the white, hip-hop-loving
weed dealer (Will Forte)
who cries when his De La
Soul albums are smashed.
This is Key and Peele’s
love letter to 1990s
action movies. Driving a
minivan and chasing a cat,
they enter a movie land
populated by Hollywood
clichés of black men,
and emerge ludicrous,
triumphant heroes, kitty in
tow.
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