ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, November 25, 2017
BRIEFLY
Irrigon drama
students present
Jekyll and Hyde
IRRIGON — A evening of
theater entertainment and dinner
is being presented by the Irrigon
High School drama club.
“The Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” will
be staged Friday, Dec. 1 and
Saturday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 pm in
the high school’s cafetorium,
315 S.E. Wyoming St. Tickets
are $5 each. The price includes
a meal of chicken strips and
steak fries, which will be served
at intermission.
Based on the novel by
Robert Louis Stevenson, the
play features the story of the
brilliant scientist who unleashes
his inner demons after partaking
of a formula he concocted. A
re-telling of the classic tale, the
adaptation by playwright Jeffrey
Hatcher is said to be hipper,
more intense and includes
well-timed humor. In addition
to the lead cast members, the
script includes characters who
speak to Jekyll as the voices in
his head.
For more information,
contact linda.pedro@morrow.
k12.or.us or 541-922-5551.
Brass Fire funks
up Christmas
PENDLETON — Some
funky Christmas tunes have
been added to the Brass Fire set
list to help people usher in the
holiday season.
The 10-piece jazz, blues,
swing and rock band will
perform Saturday, Dec. 2 from
7-10 p.m. in the lounge at the
Red Lion, 304 S.E. Nye Ave.,
Pendleton. There is no cover
charge. Food specials are
available.
The regional horn band
covers hits by Earth, Wind
& Fire, Chicago and many
other top artists. For more
information, contact Brad
Rozema at 541-314-5416,
brassfireband@gmail.com
or visit www.facebook.com/
brassfire.
Johnny Cash
boyhood home
considered for
historic nomination
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
(AP) — The boyhood home
of country music icon Johnny
Cash is being considered as a
nominee for inclusion on the
National Register of Historic
Places.
The Arkansas Historic
Preservation Program’s review
board is to meet Wednesday
to consider 14 state properties
for nomination to the list of
the nation’s historic places,
including the Cash home that
was built in 1934 in Dyess in
northeastern Arkansas, about 30
miles northwest of Memphis,
Tennessee.
The house and 40 acres
were provided to the Cash
family as part of a federal
government economic recovery
program during the Great
Depression.
Preservation Program
spokesman Mark Christ told
the Arkansas Democrat-
Gazette that a final decision
on whether the property is
included on the list will be
made by the National Park
Service.
East Oregonian
Page 3C
MUSIC REVIEW
Anchorage band offers carnival sideshow in sound
S
uper Saturated Sugar Strings
is one of those bands who
defy categorization and genre
affiliation.
This collective, hailing from
Anchorage, Alaska, have been
described as having a “nostalgic
contemporary
sound, rich
with harmonies,
string melodies
and an element
of carnival
sideshow.” What
a wonderfully
specific image and
one that could not
Johnny
be more accurate.
Vinyl
It’s that
Ride the Vibe
“carnival side-
show” vibe that
is the one real constant throughout
their upcoming release, “All Their
Many Miles.” Brass, strings,
double bass, piano, acoustic
and electric guitars and assorted
percussion instruments in the hands
of these six people create a sound
that is wonderfully unique and
immediately captivating.
While “All Their Many Miles”
is not scheduled to be released until
early 2018, SSSS will be performing
Monday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at Great
Pacific Wine & Coffee Co. The
all-ages show is free.
Contributed photo by Carly Garay
Anchorage-based band Super Saturated Sugar Strings will per-
form an all-ages show Monday, Nov. 27 at Great Pacific Wine &
Coffee Co., Pendleton.
Songwriters Kathryn Moore and
Carlye Watt alternate lead vocals.
Moore has an incredible voice that
can conduct vocal gymnastics or
delicately nuanced and emotive
crooning, often in the same song.
Watt commands a rich baritone that
provides a perfect contrast.
“All Their Many Miles” is a
collection of 10 eclectic songs that
stand completely alone from one
another, yet collectively create a
truly infectious album.
A standout track is the hypnotic
“Precipice.” According to Moore,
“Precipice” has had an incredible
journey to become a song on the
album.
It was originally inspired by
the reaction to an exhibit in Alaska
of art inspired by mental illness.
Her reaction became a poem,
which eventually inspired the song
Different manifestations of art from
the same source.
Listening to Moore explain the
song, it’s obvious she is tremen-
dously moved by the process and
experience. When asked if that
causes her to feel differently about
sharing that song with the world,
she instantly indicates otherwise.
“No, all of our songs are autobi-
ographical, so I kind of feel the same
about them all,” Moore said.
As one might expect, taking
this band live certainly required a
learning curve. With their unique
blend of instruments, learning how
to effectively perform live has
been “the bane of their existence,”
Moore said.
In addition, she added that
“they have learned how to rock out
and emote while at the same time
adjust your volume so everyone
can be heard. We’ve become better
musicians because of it.”
Catch the show at GP to get
your own glimpse of the soul-
shaking, nostalgic-contemporary,
carnival sideshow.
■
A retired educator, Johnny
Vinyl spends his days with Lucifer,
an 8-year-old German shepherd,
reading and riding the vibe. His
column, Ride the vibe, focuses on
entertainment. Contact him via
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com
WHAT TO DO
Festivals
Hermiston 5A
State Title Game
•Saturday, Nov. 25; 5 p.m.
•Maxwell Siding Event Cen-
ter, 145 N. First Place, Hermiston
$20. The football game will
be aired live; kickoff at 6 p.m.
Includes food and beverages.
Tickets available at Nookie’s/
Hermiston Brewing Co.
Pendleton WinterFest
•Friday, Dec. 1; 6 p.m., gala
event
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 10 a.m.-4
p.m., family day
•Pendleton Convention Cen-
ter, 1601 Westgate
www.sahpendleton.org/
foundation/winterfest
$35/gala event, free/Family
Day. Formerly the Festival of
Trees, the holiday extravagan-
za’s evening gala features hors
d’oeuvres, cocktails, a three-
course meal, jazz music, live/
silent auction with decorated
trees, experience packages and
gift baskets. The free Family
Day features tree viewing and
holiday activities.
Winterphest, Bazaar &
Light Parade
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 10 a.m.-2
p.m.; 5 p.m. parade
•Pilot Rock Community Cen-
ter
www.facebook.com
Free. After shopping for
homemade goodies and gifts,
get ready for the Light Parade,
followed by a chili feed ($) and
float awards.
Hermiston Festival of
Trees
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 6 p.m.,
gala event
•Sunday, Dec. 3; noon-4
p.m., family day
•Hermiston
Conference
Center, 415 S. Highway 395
www.facebook.com
$40/gala event, $5/suggest-
ed Family Day donation. The
gala event features a live and si-
lent auction for Christmas trees
and other holiday decor and gift
baskets. The Family Day fea-
tures tree viewing and holiday
fun.
Light Festival & Parade
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 5:30 p.m.
•Downtown Condon
www.condonchamber.org
Free. People are encour-
aged to come early to shop at lo-
cal merchants, caroling on Main
Street and a 4 p.m. screening of
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” at
the Liberty Theater. After party
at the Elks Lodge includes ($)
food, drinks and pictures with
Santa.
Art, Authors
& Museums
The Art of the Gift
•Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4
p.m.; Saturdays, noon-4 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free admission. The East
Oregonian Gallery features
creative gifts from craftspeople
from across the nation. Unique
stocking stuffers available for
under $10. Also, one-of-a-kind
gifts as well as functional and
wearable items for sale. Runs
through Saturday, Dec. 30.
“Say Cheese”
•Saturday & Sundays; noon-
5 p.m.
•Arts Portal Gallery, 508 N.
Main St., Milton-Freewater
www.facebook.com
Free. Exhibit features first
graders involved in the Carnegie
Picture Lab Mask Project. Runs
through Nov.
“Drawn Narratives”
•Monday-Thursdays, 9:30
a.m.-1:30 p.m.
•Betty Feves Memorial Gal-
lery, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden
Ave., Pendleton.
Free. Features Christopher
Troutman, whose work explores
the differences and similarities
of two places he lives each year:
the Midwestern United States
and southern Japan. Gallery
also open by appointment by
calling 541-278-5952. Runs
through Dec. 7.
Whit Deschner
•Tuesday-Sundays, 10 a.m.-
6 p.m.
•Peterson’s Gallery and
Chocolatier, 1925 Main St., Bak-
er City
www.petersonsgallery.net
Free. Features artwork by
Baker City artist Whit Deschner,
including images of scenes from
around the world. Runs through
Nov. 30.
“Art of Survival: Enduring
the Turmoil of Tule Lake”
•Monday-Saturdays,
10
a.m.-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. Ex-
hibit probes the complexity of
the Japanese-American con-
finement site in Newell, Califor-
nia, during World War II. Runs
through Jan. 7.
“Season of Magic”
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 2-4 p.m.
•Arts Portal Gallery, 508 N.
Main St., Milton-Freewater
www.facebook.com
Free. Holiday-themed art ex-
hibit opening. Exhibit hours Sat-
urday & Sundays, noon-5 p.m.
through Dec. 17.
Music
No cover. Show up and
share your talents. All perform-
ers get a free beverage.
•Friday, Dec. 8; Saturday,
Dec. 9; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
Night life
Fun Addicts
•Saturday, Nov. 25; 8 p.m.
No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
The Wasteland Kings
•Friday, Nov. 24; 9 p.m. No
cover
•Hamley Steakhouse & Sa-
loon, 8 S.E. Court Ave., Pend-
leton
Super Saturated Sugar
Strings
•Monday, Nov. 27; 7-9 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Funky
and alt-folky group from Anchor-
age.
Elwood
•Thursday, Nov. 30; 7-9 p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
No cover during Live Music
Thursday.
Open Mic at GP
•Thursday, Nov. 30; 7-9 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages are wel-
come during the last Thurs-
day of each month. Bring your
instrument, voice, family and
friends.
Dana Osborn Band
Santa Express Donation
Event
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 5-11 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
www.facebook.com
$10. Features UFC 218 Hol-
loway vs. Aldo 2, raffle items,
door prizes, drink/food specials.
Dancing with DJ Diego Arriola
after the fights. Benefit event
for Hermiston Police Christmas
Express.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Saturdays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
DJ & Trivia
•Saturdays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
Mac’s Trivia Night
•Tuesdays; 7 p.m. No cover
•Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton
21 and older. Eat. Drink.
Think. Teams of 2-8 compete in
trivia contest with other teams.
Live host and prizes, including
$50 gift card for winning team.
Digital Karaoke
•Thursdays and Fridays, 8
p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
•Friday, Dec. 1; Saturday,
Dec. 2; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission
Wine tasting
Brass Fire
•Fridays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 7-10 p.m.
•Red Lion Inn, 304 S.E. Nye
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Local brass band
performs an eclectic array of
music.
Jam Night
•Thursday, Dec. 7; 6:30-8
p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Join Pendleton Music
Company and other local mu-
sicians for an informal evening
of jamming. All levels of experi-
ence are welcome.
Open Mic Thursday
•Thursday, Dec. 7; 7 p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emigrant
Ave., Pendleton
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo.
Karaoke w/DJ David
DJ and dancing
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
Karaoke
•Fridays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
Cimmi’s Late Night Marti-
ni Lounge
•Fridays; 9 p.m.-midnight
•Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s, 137
S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. Features martinis,
mixology and music.
Holiday Barrel Tasting
•Friday, Dec. 8, 4-8 p.m.;
Saturday, Dec. 9; noon-5 p.m.
•Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N.
Thielsen St. & Sno Road Win-
ery, 111 W. Main St.
$5/tasting fee at both ven-
ues. Both wineries will offer
holiday wine deals and samples
of future releases straight out of
the barrel. A gift basket work-
shop is available Saturday at
Echo Ridge.
Theater, stage, film
& lectures
“The Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
•Friday, Dec. 1; Saturday,
Dec. 2; 6:30 p.m.
•Irrigon High School, 315
Wyoming Ave.
$5. A re-telling of the classic
tale by Robert Louis Stevenson
featuring suspense and humor.
Ticket price includes dinner.
“The Nutcracker”
•Thursday, Nov. 30, Friday,
Dec. 1; 7 p.m.
•Saturday, Dec. 2; 2 p.m.
•Bob Clapp Theatre at
BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave.,
Pendleton
$5/adults, $3/children under
12. Celebrate the 10th anniver-
sary of “The Nutcracker” with
the Pendleton Ballet Theatre.
Features more than 30 local
dancers under the direction of
Julie SnedenCarlson.
Journey to Bethlehem
•Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday,
Dec. 3; 5-9 p.m.
•Seventh-day
Adventist
Church,
www.facebook.com
Free. Features the sights,
smells and sounds of a bustling
village during Biblical times —
sharing the reason behind the
season. Outdoor tours followed
by refreshments indoors.
Hot tickets
•Dancing with the Hermis-
ton Stars. Jan. 13, Hermiston
High School. Tickets ($10-$20)
via www.desertartscouncil.com
•Chicks with Hits (featuring
Pam Tillis, Terri Clark and Suzy
Bogguss), Jan 26 at Wildhorse
Resort & Casino. Tickets for the
21-and-older show ($49-$79)
available via the Wildhorse Gift
Shop or www.wildhorseresort.
com
———
Want to get your event list-
ed in our calendar? Send in-
formation to community@eas-
toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.
MOVIE REVIEW
In ‘Coco,’ Pixar journeys to Mexico and beyond the grave
By JAKE COYLE
AP Film Writer
NEW YORK — Pixar films have
never been shy about death. The
“Toy Story” films are, in part, about
mortality. The poetic highlight of
“Up” is a wordless sequence of a
spouse’s passing. The Earth, itself,
was left for dead in “Wall-E.”
But Pixar plunges fully into
the afterlife in “Coco,” a brightly
colored fable surrounding the
Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos
(Day of the Dead).
The imagery of skeletons and
graves in a kids’ movie might have
put off other animation studios. But
director Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3,”
“Monsters, Inc.”) envisioned a film
about family heritage and keeping
alive the memories of deceased loved
ones so they aren’t, as he says, “just
fading photos in an album.”
It’s also a celebration of Mexico,
as seen through the eyes of a
12-year-old boy who dreams of
becoming a musician. But after a
feud with his family, he slips into
a wondrous netherworld where he
depends on his long-dead ancestors
to restore him to the land of the living.
Disney-Pixar via AP
This image released by Disney-Pixar shows characters Miguel, voiced by
Anthony Gonzalez, in a scene from the animated film “Coco.”
“Coco,”
which
opens
Wednesday, is Pixar’s first feature
film with a minority lead character,
and one of the largest American
productions ever to feature an
almost entirely Latino cast (among
them Benjamin Bratt and Gael
Garcia Bernal). That makes it
something of a landmark event,
one that has already set box-office
records in Mexico where it opened
several weeks early.
But it also took a lot of homework
and a lot of outreach for Pixar to
convince Latinos that the production
wasn’t just big-budget cultural appro-
priation. Such fears spiked when
Disney tried to trademark “Dia de los
Muertos” in 2013. After a backlash,
the studio abandoned the effort.
Charting a different path, Pixar
brought in cultural consultants,
including playwright Octavio Solis
and cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, who
had been critical of the trademark
bid. Unkrich retailored the film’s
approach, doubling down on efforts
to create an authentic celebration of
Mexican folklore, traditions and
music.
“We took every pain that we
could along the way to surround
ourselves with cultural consultants,
to spend a lot of time in Mexico,
specifically embedding ourselves
with Mexican families down there,”
said Unkrich. “I knew that there
would be a fear that we were going
to lapse into cliche and stereotype
and so we did everything we could
to not let that happen.”
It also meant pivoting from
Unkrich’s initial idea, which
centered on a Mexican-American
boy who travels to his family in
Mexico for the first time. In that
treatment, the young protagonist is
trying to get over the grief of a loss.
“It was born out of the fact
that I’m not Latino myself. I’m
American and that was at the time
my natural entrance into a story,”
said Unkrich. “We realized that
that thematically was antithetical
to what Dia de los Muertos is also
about, which is this obligation to
never forget, to never let go. We at
that point had an epiphany that we
were making the film as outsiders.”
“It didn’t really embrace the
DNA of the holiday, which is not
letting go of but staying connected
to,” says Darla K. Anderson, a
veteran Pixar producer. “When we
realized that, we definitely pivoted
to embrace more of the connected
nature of Dia de los Muertos.”
Pixar also looked within its
own ranks to help Unkrich craft
a culturally faithful tale. Adrian
Molina, an animator on previous
Pixar releases, serves as co-director
and helped steer the script.
“Growing up Mexican-Amer-
ican, I know the transformative
power that seeing yourself repre-
sented onscreen has,” says Molina.
“My hope is for anyone who’s a
small Latino or Latina kid and sees
this film that that has an impact
on how they see themselves. And
if you’re coming from a different
experience, recognizing the fact
that there’s Latino and Latina
heroes and the beauty of a Mexican
family.”