I Love You, Man Q&A (Uncut & Uncensored)
Friday, March 27, 2009
'I Love You, Man' Q&A--Uncut and Uncensored
Friday, March 20, 2009
SXSW: Wednesday / Thursday
But something special has happened in the past few years. The people outside this loop realized the goings-on and kicked off even more day shows packed with free music, free food and free booze. It's changed the festival from an introverted shell into a cracked egg. Meaning: pretty much anyone can have a blast here.
So, The NT Daily nabbed two wristbands. Note: badges take precedence for admittance at evening shows, which tonight prevented us from seeing my favorite modern punk band Black Lips & the classic, trail-paving Primal Scream gig, but got us into one of the best hip-hop shows I've seen; but we'll get to that soon. But we grabbed a camera and a notepad and headed down to the fest.
WEDNESDAY
Had us setting our feet into the constantly changing mud that is Austin, TX for a week in the middle of March. We scrambled to the Austin Convention Center, took an hour to register and strap on our bands, and headed back to our cars -- parked in a thirty minute zone, mind you -- and settled in.
Wednesday was a myriad of DJ sets, dance punk and crowded streets. With a weak evening line up, frankly, we figured out the terrain. We wandered those crowded sweets and mapped out what would be a very crowded Thursday.
THURSDAY
I almost had my night ruined. Think of one of your favorite songs, and then think of it covered by a band fronted by a dude playing a key-tar -- minus any and all irony- - with plasma TV's lined against the 35+ foot stage and a band populated by a host of folks hoping to look 1/10 as neat as Daft Punk live. Dallas Austin pulled its proverbial pants down and defecated all over T. Rex's "Children of the Revolution." But luckily, it only opened for Big Boi, who tore the roof off, built it up again, lit it on fire and....well, dude killed it.
But first we caught a couple day shows. The first was a severely underpopulated set at The Art Collective, which is on the opposite side of the freeway from downtown Austin. The small art gallery/warehouse proved to be quite the spot: Free beer, free tacos and incredibly interesting tunes.
Seattle, WA's Wildlife was the first we caught. To put it simply, think of if Black Sabbath was a drone band. The three-piece really put a smile on my face, these guys infused classic rock to a droning guitar and brought out an incredibly visceral sound...to the eight people in the room.
Next came Cruddy, a band which has a name that I would actually go out of my way to avoid. But their sloppy Austin-based punk music sounded like the Dead Kennedys stripped of pretension and chock full of start/stop melodies that really impressed the hell out of me. Proof that Austin's punk scene isn't dead, if you will.
The last band we caught here was DD/MM/YYY. The band's been getting a ton of notice around the indie community, and it's kind of interesting to see its progression. This is essentially the Spoon of noise rock. They're extremely calcuated and well-paced; it's rare to see a band in this genre to rely so strictly on succinct patterns belted out by other band members. Definitely well worth catching.
But across town was the real kick-in-the-throat. The Hold Steady and No Age played a set at Red 7, the former rocking the outside stage and the latter belting out inside. The Hold Steady was as good as it always is. Lead singer Craig Finn's lyrics still resonated as strongly as they do on the albums -- especially on highlight "Multitude of Casualties" -- but the energy was off the map. I've seen this band, (I kind of hate admitting such things but...) five times, and its SXSW show was one of the most energetic. If only all the crowd would've been as into it as they typically are when they fork over cash to see them.
No Age, though, were pretty jaw-dropping. The California duo previously opened up for Liars at Haileys in Denton, and provided a fairly similar experience to listening to the records real loud. This time, though, the cards have turned. The songs are tighter, the music is louder and the two band members are even more rowdy. As the highlight of the set, the guitarist jumped into the crowd mid-solo, guitar still plugged into the amp, crowd surfing the whole way. Look for an interview with them next week, by the way.
Denton's Sleep Whale, formerly known as MOM, really brought a wonderful variation to all the punk-rock. The mostly instrumental beauty these guys produce is just fantastic, as its nearly hypnotic instrumentals command the crowd's attention: It's too pretty and too interesting to look away. Even after the band before them shorted their amp, Sleep Whale pulled off what they claimed to be the best show in a long while, and I'm inclined to agree. Interview's on the way with these guys, as well.
To explain the highs and lows of the next four hours at the Austin Music Hall is very difficult. I'll start from here: this terrible, god-awful, atrocious, vomitous, waste called Dallas Austin opened for Outkast's Big Boi. Dallas Austin, somehow, has somebody fronting the bill for the most elaborate presentation of garbage I have ever seen. These cats have light-up headphones, Mexican mariachi masks, ongoing plasma TV's lining the stage, a keytar, platforms set up on stage of varying heights and what seemed like someone manning a CD player off-stage that keeps the band on a uniform track of the random images projected on the excessive plasma screens.
In addition to Ludacris, they covered T. Rex's "Children of the Revolution." I don't normally walk out of shows, but guess what happened.
Thank Christ Big Boi followed. Talk about a showman. He ran through an Outkast heavy set: I honestly don't know which to brag more about, seeing "So Fresh, So Clean" followed by "I'm Sorry Miss Jackson" or "Southernplayalisticaddillacmuzik" followed by "Players Ball." He brought out "Rosa Parks" he got the entire room crunk with "Kryptonite;" his set was so powered up that we left the front of the press area to get back into the rowdy crowd. Did I mention he was backed by a full band? Oh, because he was.
But now it's late, and we've got a full day tomorrow too. Just think of how great all your favorite Outkast tracks are live, and that sums up the highlight of our experience so far. Tune in tomorrow night, folks.
-Matt Goodman, Editor-In-Chief
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Israeli trio redefinies rock show in last night of NX35
The last night of NX35 couldn't have been more perfect. Take Denton's Fishboy playing at Banter, The Drams at Boiler Room and two high-energy sets at Hailey's and whoa, whoa, whoa... It goes without saying that Monotonix, a half-naked-mosh-pit-inducing-phenomenon from Israel, put on the best show of the weekend. The one-man band, Show is Rainbow got the energy (and the beard) worked up. Then the Israeli trio tore down the house. Monotonix's set redefined the definition of a rock show. They started at the edge of the floor, drifted to the center of the dance floor, to on top of the crowd, out in the street and back inside. Lead singer, Levi mooned the audience, stole beer from a few unsuspecting guys and successfully sweated on everyone in the club -- and it couldn't have been more appropriate! Why more bands don't take those same liberties is astounding. I'm sold. Thinking back to comic book author, Harvey Pekar's Saturday afternoon discussion about free jazz, he would probably have enjoyed, or at least appreciated Monotonix. Pekar talked about how music and the arts need to be constantly evolving and inventing so they avoid becoming stagnant. NX35 stirred up the setting water in Denton's arts community. While the conferette has plenty of growing to do and a few kinks to work out, overall it was an awesome experience. Fans didn't have to drive to Austin or Dallas to see the more than 100 acts booked and the camaraderie between audience members made the weekend particularly enjoyable. It will be exciting to see how the conferette turns out next year. Order your 2010 tickets in advance, folks. I can guarantee they won't last long.
-Melissa Crowe
Video and pictures courtesy of Rachel Watts
Saturday, March 14, 2009
New Science Projects takes the floor at Rubber Gloves
By Rachel Watts
If you're into being discontent with some of life's principles, enjoy shaking a tambourine or like wearing war paint, you were probably at Rubber Gloves on Friday night, helping chant along with New Science Projects' lead singer, Dale Jones.
"I was an angry, white suburban teen," Jones said, "so of course I have to write songs about being mad at my dad, right?"
The audience bursts into laughter. Some of the locals who've been coming to Dale's shows for a long time seem to have caught on to his random, sarcastic outbursts. He sits in a chair on the floor rather than the stage, when he sits at all, or he jumps up and down in your face, sometimes smearing red paint from his face or arm all over your new blouse.
"Grab a tambourine! I need help playing this song," Jones said, as he chunked a bag full of tambourines onto the floor in front of him and watched them get snatched up one by one.
He encouraged everyone to come closer, so that they were literally a foot from his chair. This heightened the sense of cameraderie in the room and set a good vibe for his next song, "Homebody Stomp," where everyone stomped their feet and shook their tambourines, as Dale shouted out incomprehensible words.
"He's a completely different person offstage," said Charlie Hunter, a fan of the Denton local music scene. "When he isn't into his onstage character 'Swamp Man' he's a such a nice guy."
If you weren't at the NSP show, you've may've opted for something a little more chill, like Doug Burr over at Dan's Silver Leaf or something more cohesive like The Heartstring Stranglers at The Hydrant.
Yes, there were many bands to choose from last night, as there will be again tonight, so I've learned that being very selective is key with having a good time at NX35. Many bands' sets overlap with one another, making it difficult to catch all you want to catch. It seems as though by the time you've seen two or three sets and the last part of a final set, the night is over.
We'll see what tonight has in store for our Denton community, as NX35 eases into the third night of music, beer and good conversation.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Dan's puts on entertaining crowd for first night of NX35
The crowd at Dan's Silverleaf Thursday night for the first night of North By 35 was nearly as entertaining as the music. Fans of James McMurtry, son of the successful writer Larry McMurtry, piled in the venue for a heart wrenching opening set by Clair Small of Austin.
"How do you like love now?" she sang with a sarcastic, Feist-ey tone. If every failed relationship didn't come to mind, well, you were probably too busy ordering drinks at the bar.
Next up, Denton's band The Heelers, sang along the same wavelength. I couldn't stop thinking of Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows and Bob Dylan. And of course, Isaac Hoskins, the lead singer, made the crowd wait till the very end to hear their best song - Which set the mood perfectly for Jonny Burke, of Austin, before McMurtry played.
But James McMurtry was the most entertaining of all. Or maybe it was the 40 and older, ass-shakers working their money-makers in the center of the venue.
Either way, McMurtry stayed true to his Americana rock groove - Country music for KISS fans. Keep an eye out for The Heelers, who play in venues across Denton, and Jonny Burke.
-Melissa Crowe
Sunday, February 22, 2009
AMC Best Picture Showcase Recap
By Kip Mooney
SCENE Editor
This year's crop of Best Picture nominees have made less money than any group in recent memory, but don't count 'em out: at least three of the five deserved their nominations, though I could easily think of four to fill the other slots (the ones not occupied by "Slumdog Millionaire," which, after three viewings, is still 2008's best film). That said, here are my mini-reviews and ratings of all five Best Picture nominees, based on my impressions following their screening at Saturday's showcase.
"Milk"
Starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Yes, you can believe the hype. My biggest problem with biopics is that they're always too boring, and, despite great performances, never capture what made these figures so compelling. "Milk" defies all these expectations. Giving the film actual context, thanks to archival footage in the opening credits (showing the systematic abuse and discrimination of gays by police) and in its expository shots (showing the transition of the Castro District of San Francisco from its early days as a safe haven to a mecca for LGBT groups). The original script (from first-time screenwriter and Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black), deft editing, fascinating direction and mesmerizing performances from Penn (who won the Oscar) and Brolin (who received his first, long overdue nomination), make this a riveting history lesson come to life.
*****
"The Reader"
Starring David Kross, Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Lena Olin
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Every year, the Academy nominates an unbelievably self-important film that no one saw, taking the place of an artistic crowd-pleaser. Two years ago, that film was "Babel" (filling a slot that should have belonged to "Pan's Labyrinth"). This year, it's Stephen Daldry (who, for unknown reasons, has tied Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood for nominations this decade) adaptation of a German novel, filled with sex and Nazi guilt. Other than Kate Winslet's Oscar-winning performance (which wasn't all that remarkable--great work is expected from an actress who's been nominated six times at age 33; here, she's merely good) and an excellent score, the movie is just a nicely-shot PSA for literacy. And its inclusion as one of the year's five best movies becomes more appalling by the second.
**
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson
Directed by David Fincher
Not quite as magical as when I first experienced it opening weekend, but it's still a technical marvel. Brad Pitt, upon second viewing, didn't do most of the heavy lifting of his performance; it was the F/X wizards who put his animated head on someone else's body. And even though it's a carbon copy of "Forrest Gump," it still manages to captivate, something nearly impossible in our ADD society. Fincher has made movies darker ("Se7en") and deeper ("Fight Club") and more fully realized ("Zodiac"), but none quite as dazzling as this.
****
"Slumdog Millionaire"
Starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Irrfan Khan
Directed by Danny Boyle
I called it the best film of 2008 back in November, and two viewings later, it still stands as a crowning achievement. An uplifting, well-crafted, truly original tale that never once hits a false note, never once feels repetitive, never once wastes a second of celluloid. The large cast is uniformly excellent, despite the fact that most lacked formal training. It all feels wholly authentic and organic, and a movie that earned its slew of Oscars and audience the old-fashioned way: by making a great film.
*****
"Frost/Nixon"
Starring Michael Sheen, Frank Langella, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell
Directed by Ron Howard
What should have been a cinematic bore (it's really just two dudes talking the whole movie) becomes a nail-biter, with the audience on the edge of their seats for most of the film. Frank Langella gives no mere imitation here; he actually embodies the man. Played with a touch of sadness, we understand how desperately the disgraced ex-President wanted to be liked. He has a human side, yet the film never justifies his actions. And Michael Sheen (snubbed just two years ago as Tony Blair in "The Queen") gets the shaft again. His counterpoint David Frost is a brilliant foil for Tricky Dick, and gets under the skin of a man who staked his entire career on this series of interviews. Keep up the good work, everyone.
*****
Friday, October 31, 2008
In theaters today...
Starring Angelina Jolie, Jeffrey Donovan, John Malkovich
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Eastwood’s ’30s-set thriller stars Jolie (who’s supposed to be a Best Actress frontrunner) as the mother of a missing child. She takes on the corrupt LAPD when she claims the child they return is not her own flesh and blood.
(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)
Poster courtesy Blogger
“The Haunting of Molly Hartley”
Starring Haley Bennett, Chace Crawford, Jake Weber
Directed by Mickey Lidell
On her 18th birthday, Molly Hartley turns evil. Blah blah blah. Go rent “Carrie” instead.
(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.com
“RocknRolla”
Starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Ludacris, Jeremy Piven
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Perhaps his marital troubles with Madonna have allowed Ritchie to reclaim his awesomeness as a filmmaker. Buzz says this British gangster flick brings him back to the fun-loving, f-word laden glory days of “Snatch.”
(Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.com
“Zack and Miri Make a Porno”
Starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson
Directed by Kevin Smith
You may find the words “Make a Porno” excised from ads and tickets, but that’s really cheating you out of what you’re getting yourself into. Basically, two platonic roommates resort to making an amateur skin flick to pay their bills. In hands other than Kevin Smith’s, I would expect this to be terrible.
(Denton Movie Tavern, Cinemark Denton, AMC Highland Village, Rave Hickory Creek, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.com
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Showtime: Oct. 17
Blog Editor
For my full take on this week's releases, check out NTDaily.com.
In theaters today:
- "Max Payne" (PG-13)
- "The Secret Life of Bees" (PG-13)
- "Sex Drive" (R)
- "W." (PG-13)
- Denton Movie Tavern
- Cinemark Denton
- Rave Hickory Creek
- AMC Highland Village
- Studio Movie Grill Lewisville
- Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall
All posters courtesy moviegoods.com
Friday, October 10, 2008
TV Review: Kath & Kim
In theaters today...
Blog Editor
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong
Directed by Ridley Scott
Featuring the hardest working group of individuals in Hollywood (Leo, Crowe, and Scott—whose “American Gangster” is still vastly underappreciated), “Body of Lies” goes a step further than the “Bourne” franchise to deal directly with spying and counter-intelligence in the Middle East.
(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.com
Starring Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Toby Jones, Mary Kay Place
Directed by Gil Kenan
Post-apocalyptic kids’ movie is probably a phrase you never thought you’d hear, but this adaptation of the first book in the Ember series follows two youngsters (Ronan and Treadaway) who try to escape from a dying underground city led by a corrupt mayor (Murray).
(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.com
Starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Feinnes, Charlotte Rampling
Directed by Saul Dibb
Oscar buzz is strong for this “wig movie,” starring Keira Knightley as the independent title character and Ralph Feinnes as her cruel husband. The movie expands after its limited release on Sept. 19.
(Rave Hickory Creek, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.com
Starring Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton
Directed by Gary Fleder
This biopic tells the true story of Ernie Davis, the lightning-fast Syracuse runningback, and the first African-American to take home the Heisman Trophy.
(Cinemark Denton, Denton Movie Tavern, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Studio Movie Grill Lewisvile)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.comStarring Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Columbus Short
Directed by John Erick Dowdle
In this remake of the Spanish horror flick “[rec]” a reporter and her cameraman attempt to investigate strange goings-on in an apartment complex sealed off by the CDC.
(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)
Poster courtesy moviegoods.com