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ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, December 23, 2017 East Oregonian Page 3C JOHNNY VINYL’S TOP 10 Rock and roll isn’t dead — it’s just gone underground By JOHNNY VINYL Ride the vibe 6. Dream Syndicate: “How Did I Find Myself Here?” As one of the main purveyors of the Paisley Underground (amalgam of jangle f one were to listen to Kiss’ Gene pop, punk and psychedelic), The Dream Simmons or refer to Rolling Stone’s Top Syndicate have decided that the 2017 20 albums of 2017, it might seem that music scene really needed an influx of rock music is indeed dead. electric guitar music. “How Did I Find For those who care, rock and roll is as Myself Here?” accomplishes that task in alive and well in 2017 as it has ever been, it’s just not mainstream anymore. There were spades, especially on the 11-minute title track. Former bassist/vocalist Kendra some great albums released in 2017, maybe Smith performs on the album’s closing even a classic or two. track, “Kendra’s Dream,” bringing 10. King Woman: “Created in everything full circle. A very the Image of Suffering” welcome return. Finally something completely 5. Mavis Staples: “If All I Was fresh in the metal scene. A three Was Black” piece sludge-metal band with a Mavis Staples, along with her powerhouse vocalist in Kristina father Roebuck and various siblings Esfandiari that catapults them far as the Staple Singers, was often the from any genre limitations. This lady opening act for Martin Luther King can go from sinister to serene and Jr. when he gave public addresses. all points in between with operatic Johnny If there is anyone qualified to deal precision and control. She could Vinyl with race issues in the U.S. with give Diamanda Galas a run for her Comment credibility, it’s Mavis. However, money. The band guides her where white musician Jeff Tweedy of few have gone before. Uncle Tupelo/Wilco fame wrote all of the 9. Mogwai: “Every Country’s Sun” songs from a black perspective. On paper, To attend a show of these men from it appears to be a train wreck. In actuality, Glasgow is to experience sonic bliss. There it’s one of the most compelling releases is truly nothing quite like them. Sadly, they of the year. Together, they make some are one of those artists who have a really pretty bold statements. Musically, it’s all difficult time recreating that feeling in the over the place. As you’d expect a gospel studio. Mogwai have been focusing on groove exists throughout, but there are soundtracks (Zidane, Atomic, Before the jams heavier than anything Wilco has done Flood) as of late and it has helped them in years. This is the third time that Tweedy harness the studio more effectively than has produced Staples and there’s an ever before. “Every Country’s Sun” is the obvious mutual love and respect that flows soundtrack for you, the listener, to play as equally between the two that permeates you live. these proceedings. 8. Lincoln Barr: “Trembling Frames” 4. New Pornographers: “Whiteout Lincoln Barr has taken off his Red Jacket for this intimate jazz record. With song titles Conditions” All three internationally recognized like “Admit You’re a Monster,” “How To Escape,” “Desperate Tormentors,” “Memory Canadian musical collectives (Broken Social Scene, Arcade Fire and New Pornographers) Up and Die,” “Giving Up My Inheritance,” released albums in 2017. Broken Social “Tell it to the Judge” and “Fellowship of Scene’s “Hug of Thunder” is a pleasant Hunted Things” you know going in that it’s though largely innocuous affair; Arcade not a party record. What it is — it’s one of Fire’s “Everything Now” is one of the worst the most poignant collections of music to albums ever released, by anyone! The New come out this year. Pornographers “Whiteout Conditions” is the 7. Robyn Hitchcock: “Robyn Hitch- sublime, “feel-good” record of the year. It’s cock” one of those releases that gets better as the Robyn Hitchcock’s 21st solo release is listeners’ familiarity with the songs increase. his first eponymous album. His career is How can you lose when one of your five what Syd Barrett’s should have been. Few can infuse their songs with such clever word singer/songwriters is Neko Case? 3. Ryan Adams: “Prisoner” play, self-deprecating admissions, wry and Ryan Adams used to record every song dry sense of humor while adding social that he wrote. Some years would see three or commentary in such an articulate presenta- tion. Musically, “Robyn Hitchcock” is much more releases. Every album had a few gems, some mediocre and a serious dud or two. closer in sound to Hitchcock’s former band, Then he married Mandy Moore. A normal The Egyptians, than his more recent solo offerings. Magical storytelling from a master life for a while. The songs came much fewer and farther between. He and Moore divorce. of the craft. I Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP Contributed photo CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Mavis Staples performs at the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival on Sept. 24, 2017, in Franklin, Tenn. Lincoln Barr has played in Seat- tle-based bands and recently moved to Eastern Oregon. “Hot Thoughts” by Spoon is Johnny Vinyl’s top album of 2017. He immediately puts his emotions down in song. The result “The Prisoner” is Adams’ most complete, rewarding release of his career. The pain is clear and so is the fact that he still has a tremendous amount of love and respect for his ex. The best “breakup” record in a long time. 2. Grails: “Chalice Hymnal” They hail from Portland, but they hardly ever perform anywhere on the West Coast. They recently started playing infrequently on the East Coast. They tour Europe regularly; they’re huge in France. They do an instrumental form of rock that incorporates whatever is necessary to convey the groove. “Chalice Hymnal” is intense and pastoral, beautiful and brutal, mighty and meek. Progressive music at its most majestic. 1. Spoon: “Hot Thoughts” Indie, alternative band from the Austin, Texas, that is equal parts R.E.M. and Dr. John infuse their rock with southern hospi- tality and charm. Spoon have steadily released entertaining alternative music with a southern vibe since the late ’90s. While all of their releases have their moments, a minor criticism of the band has been that they are a little monochromatic — everything begins to sound similar. As evidenced by the psychedelic human skull on the cover, that has all changed with “Hot Thoughts.” On their ninth album, they finally feel comfortable in the studio to literally try anything, even a five-minute instrumental as closing statement that may be the boldest of the album. This studio confidence has helped make this their most consistently engaging album. Dance beats smash into indie rock social melancholia creating an amalgam that makes you go “hmmm” while shaking your booty. ■ 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 MOVIE REVIEW ‘Jumanji’ sequel goes back to the jungle with stars, good hearted fun By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer More than two decades after Robin Williams conquered that pesky board game, “Jumanji” has been resurrected with more and glossier stars (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black), a comedy director and a “modern” twist. The result, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” is a very sweet, and generally entertaining body swap lark with some nice messages about being, and believing in, yourself. Why it had to be “Jumanji” is the head-scratcher. Even speaking as someone who was 12 when the first came out, and genuinely enjoyed the Joe Johnston-directed adventure and the fantasy of being swept up in a board game come to life, the idea that a die-hard “Jumanji” fanbase exists, or that the “brand” is so rock-solid that it needs a reboot, seems dubious at best. There are pointless sequels everywhere of course, and questioning the purpose for their “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” ★★★☆ PG-13, 119 minutes group of mismatched teens sharing the same detention, including the nerdy, shy Spencer (Alex Wolff), the football player Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), the superficial popular girl Bethany (Madison Iseman) and the too-smart for gym class Martha (Morgan Turner), transform into avatars played by Dwayne Johnson (Spencer), Kevin Hart (Fridge), Jack Frank Masi/Sony Pictures via AP Black (Bethany) and Karen Gillan This image released by Sony Pictures shows Karen Gillan, from left, (Martha). Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart in “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” It’s a role reversal for everyone existence is a fruitless exercise. it had evolved into a video game — the nerdy girl is hot now (and The only reason I bring it up here is by 1996. scantily clad), the hot girl is a because Jake Kasdan’s “Welcome The conceit here is that when soft, middle aged man, the skinny to the Jungle” spends a fair you’re transported into the game, guy is The Rock and the big amount of genuinely unnecessary you are suddenly a character in the football player is now tiny and time straining to justify how it is game, in body, voice and skillset but wimpy — and they all have to go connected to “Jumanji” including with your earthbound personality through the stages of learning to a whole prologue establishing how pretty much intact. This is how a accept their new bodies, talents and shortcomings. There is of course a lot of easy comedy in these situations. And all the main actors/avatars are kind of great at imitating the facial expres- sions of their teenage counterparts, especially Johnson and Black. How can you argue with a bunch of movie stars acting goofy and hawking a “believe in yourself” message? There are some odd beats and choices, especially around Gillan’s Martha, who is costumed in nearly nothing (surely as a send up of what female characters usually wear in video games, but however meta it might have been intended to be, it is still literally her costume). There’s also a plot line that hinges on her learning how to flirt from Bethany (because they all decide that flirting with the bad guy security guards is the only way they can get past them). But “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” probably doesn’t warrant that much scrutiny. Its surface pleasures are strong enough for a fun holiday afternoon at the movies. WHAT TO DO Festivals Christmas Light Show •Begins Dec. 1; nightly •SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road www.visitsage.com Free. Light show accompa- nied by Christmas music (tune into 106.9 FM on car radio). Melonville Comedy Fes- tival •Saturday, Jan. 27; 8 p.m. •Hermiston Conference Cen- ter, 415 S. Highway 395 www.facebook.com $35. 21-and-older show fea- tures co-headliners Kermet Apio and Derek Richards. Opening the show is Cory Michaelis. Tick- ets available at the conference center. Food available for pur- chase. Art, Museums & Authors 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. Gallery features cre- ative gifts from craftspeople from across the nation. Runs through Dec. 30. Great Gifts Show •Tuesday-Sundays, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. •Peterson’s Gallery and Chocolatier, 1925 Main St., Bak- er City www.petersonsgallery.net Free. Features hand-select- ed recommendations for Christ- mas gifts from new productions by local favorite artists. Items include ornaments, vases, pho- tography and unique pieces that can be used as stocking stuffers. “Art of Survival - Enduring the Turmoil of Tule Lake” •Monday-Saturdays, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., •Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, near Wildhorse Resort & Casino. www.tamastslikt.org $10/adults, $9/senior citi- zens, $6/youths, free/5 and un- der or $25/family of four. Exhibit probes the complexity of the Jap- anese-American confinement site in Newell, California, during World War II. Runs through Jan. 7. Music Nuketown •Saturday, Dec. 23; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission James Dean Kindle •Historic Balch Hotel, 40 S. Heimrich St., Dufur No cover. Bring your favorite instrument and share the tunes. Extra percussion available for musicians to play. Night life •Saturday, Dec. 23; 9 p.m. •Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s, 137 S. Main St., Pendleton No cover. J.D. Kindle per- forms late-night lounge set, in- cluding country & western, jazz standards and sombre Christ- mas tunes. Karaoke w/DJ David Open Mic at GP Mac’s Trivia Night •Thursday, Dec. 28; 7-9 p.m. •Great Pacific Wine & Coffee Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton No cover. All ages are wel- come during the last Thursday of each month. Bring your instru- ment, voice, family and friends. Funk Factory •Friday, Dec. 29; Saturday, Dec. 30, Sunday, Dec. 31; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission. Jam Night with Josiah •Friday, Jan. 19; 6:30-9 p.m. •Saturdays; 8 p.m. •Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth St., Umatilla DJ & Trivia •Saturdays; 9 p.m. •Midway Tavern, 1750 N. First St., Hermiston •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. Wine tasting •Fridays, 4-8 p.m. •Sno Road Winery, 111 W. Main St., Echo. Karaoke w/DJ David •Fridays; 8 p.m. •Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth St., Umatilla DJ and dancing Swim Team Talent Show •Fridays, 8 p.m. •The Pheasant, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston •Saturday, Jan. 6; 7 p.m. •Hermiston High School com- mons, 600 S. First St. $10/person, $30/family. Rais- es money for transportation costs for Hermiston High School swim team. Intermission includes a bake sale and a raffle for an iPad and numerous gift cards. Karaoke •Fridays; 9 p.m. •Midway Tavern, 1750 N. First St., Hermiston Cimmi’s Late Night Martini Lounge •Fridays; 9 p.m.-midnight •Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s, 137 S. Main St., Pendleton No cover. Features martinis, mixology and music. Theater, stage, film & lectures “As the Ball Drops on Times Square” •Sunday, Dec. 31; 5:30 p.m. •Maxwell Siding Event Cen- ter, 145 N. First Place, Hermiston $45. Murder mystery dinner theater presentation features prime rib or lemon chicken din- ner. Also, party favors and toast- ing in the new year with sparkling cider. Formal wear encouraged, but not required For tickets, call 541-571-7293 or 541-567-8774. Cabin Fever Concert •Saturday, Jan. 13 & Satur- day, Jan. 20; 6 p.m. •Hermiston Conference Cen- ter, 415 S. Highway 395 $15/show only, $38/dinner & show. Limited tickets available for the Dutch oven dinner by Sha- ron’s Sweet Treats. John Wam- beke & Friends provide an eve- ning of music and humor. Tickets available at Cottage Flowers, 1725 N. First St., Hermiston. Hot tickets •Dirty Voltage. (AC-DC trib- ute band) Dec. 31, Pheasant Bar & Grill. Tickets ($20) •Dancing with the Hermis- ton Stars. Jan. 13, Hermiston High School. Tickets ($10-$20) via www.desertartscouncil.com Want to get your event listed in our calendar? Send information to community@eastoregonian.com, or c/o Tammy Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street, Hermiston, OR, 97838.