Arts & Culture - The Daily Tar Heel

"The Blue Room" Examines Communication, Sexuality

By Caroline Lindsey | Mar. 1, 2002

Intimate and honest in its survey of modern sexual relationships, David Hare's "The Blue Room" will be performed by Lab! Theater starting today. A contemporary version of Arthur Schnitzler's 19th century play, "La Ronde," "The Blue Room" was originally produced off-Broadway before its celebrated Broadway debut in 1998, starring Nicole Kidman and Iain Glen. The play's cast is made up of only one woman and one man, each portraying 10 different characters in 10 scenes that make up a year's time.

WXYC's New Music Director Has His Listening Ears On

By Aaron Freeman | Mar. 1, 2002

David Strader is a pretty mild-mannered guy -- shy even. But bring up music in his colorful, wall-to-wall decorated office and get ready to talk. Passionate about music and now about his new position as music director of the campus radio station, WXYC 89.3 FM, the veteran DJ has been slowly growing into his position since early January. Strader took over for 10-year veteran Franz Kunst, who helped establish a large part of the station's image. "I'm going to need to grow into the position," Strader said.

UNC to Host 2nd Annual Improv Festival

By Elliott Dube | Mar. 1, 2002

Those nutty cats from the improv comedy troupe the Chapel Hill Players are at it again. But this time they have company. The second annual Dirty South Improv Festival will take place at UNC from Friday to Sunday. CHiPs, the host troupe, will be joined by many performers from across the Eastern seaboard, particularly the South.

Introverted Band Weezer Becomes Classic, Gains New Fans

By Sarah Kucharski | Feb. 28, 2002

Weezer Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena Friday, Feb. 22 4 Stars Nerd rock is dead. While it might not be as drastic as selling out, Weezer has fallen victim to countless hipster pre-teens. The once charmingly introverted, alternative band's image has listed toward the trendy and commercialized. The figurative sweater has been destroyed.

Nature Wallows In Mediocrity; Satellite Expresses Anger, Depression

By Staff Editor | Feb. 28, 2002

Course of Nature Superkala 2 Stars Today's popular rock is sadly becoming a case of "been there, done that." Alabama threesome Course of Nature hasn't done much to buck the trend. The band's debut, Superkala, is a technically sound record. Each instrument is played with skill and precision, and the production is polished. Unfortunately, bands like Course of Nature need quite a bit more than good chops to turn the most cynical rock fans' heads, and the band just isn't fresh enough. The album simply doesn't have enough to distinguish itself.

Will Folk For Food Contemporizes Folk, Supports Women's Issues

By Michelle Jarboe | Feb. 28, 2002

Folk rock artists Lis Harvey and Sarah Pinsker will overturn past conceptions of the folk genre and garner support for women's issues with their Will Folk for Food tour, which comes to the Carrboro ArtsCenter on March 9. Will Folk for Food, coined by the 24-year-old friends, is a series of shows co-sponsored by companies headed by women -- including Erlendahle Records and SpinEpiphany Design -- that ties women's rights together with a noncommercial indie sound.

Comedian to Perform in Raleigh

By Nick Parker | Feb. 28, 2002

The party never stops for comedian Dave Attell. After his numerous stand-up shows, he can be found roaming the streets of cities as exotic as Miami or as simple as Boise, Idaho, filming his hit show "Insomniac" until the break of dawn. Attell will be bringing his adult brand of humor to Raleigh's Charlie Goodnight's Comedy Club for three consecutive performances, running tonight through March 2. He said during his time in the area, he will spend some time visiting the sites and drinking at the bars -- two things that have garnered him much recognition.

Sunshine Fix Shines On 'Age of the Sun'

By Caroline Lindsey | Feb. 28, 2002

The Sunshine Fix Age of the Sun Four Stars The Sunshine Fix isn't just walking on sunshine. It's dancing, and it makes you want to do the same. On Age of the Sun, the Athens, Ga.-based group has put out a psychedelic, upbeat blend of light-hearted tunes, most of which are paeans to the sun and its amazing ability to ... well, come out every day. Like, whoa, dude. The Sunshine Fix often shows its sun-shiny bliss through clear inspiration from other bands. These influences are best heard in "Sail Beyond the Sunset."

Collection of Bluegrass Artists Revisits Folky Roots

By Evan Lucas | Feb. 28, 2002

Various Artists Cool, Blue and Lonesome: Bluegrass for the Broken-Hearted 4 Stars Cool, Blue and Lonesome is a great collection of classic songs about heartbreak and loss from the best bluegrass artists of the past century.

'No Man's Land' Analyzes Horrors of Trench Warfare, Blurred Enemy Lines

By Trafton Drew | Feb. 28, 2002

"No Man's Land" 3 Stars By focusing a microscopic view on a conflict most Americans objectively observed from afar, "No Man's Land" forces its audience to address the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina firsthand. The film is the story of three soldiers (two Bosnian, one Serbian) who get stuck in a trench between the two opposing lines. Unfortunately, the film meets a fate similar to its characters -- lost somewhere between a thought-provoking anti-war feature and a dull examination of what movies taught us long ago: War sucks.

Astronauts of Antiquity Muddle Music With Science

By Aaron Freeman | Feb. 28, 2002

Astronauts of Antiquity Saturday, Feb. 23 Carrboro ArtsCenter Two Stars It's always weird to see those motorcycles that are decked out with every accessory in the catalogue -- five rearview mirrors, purple glowing lights, 10-disc CD players -- but only packing 10-horsepower engines. In a sense, the Astronauts of Antiquity rode seven of these cycles into the ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Saturday night.

Dive Recommends

By Kristen Williams | Feb. 28, 2002

"It's a Chick Thing," Ame Mahler Beanland This is a hilarious and thoughtful collection of short stories written by a diverse group of women. Among a tight group of girlfriends, you might find some new ideas for adventures. The Madding Crowd, Nine Days The majority of the songs on the album are bouncy and fun, but some dive deeper into feelings of loss. The result is a well-rounded debut that showcases their talent and range. Kristen Williams may be reached at kriwi@email.unc.edu.

Pickin' Some Grass

By Harmony Johnson | Feb. 28, 2002

From breakneck banjo riffs to high-lonesome vocals, from Appalachian square dances to Carrboro contra dances, North Carolinians have nurtured the growth of bluegrass music since the late musical icon Bill Monroe fathered the style more than 50 years ago. But until just a few years ago, Chapel Hill bluegrass lovers were scrambling for their place in the music mix. That is, until a renewed national interest in acoustic music -- sparked partly by the success of the soundtrack to the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou" -- fueled the style's surge in popularity.

Video Showing Offers Perspective on Al-Jazeera

By Graham Parker | Feb. 27, 2002

Students and faculty will get a rare inside look at the Arab world today, courtesy of a unique presentation by UNC Professor Gorham Kindem. Kindem, a communication studies professor at UNC, has put together a video presentation about al-Jazeera, a little-known Arab television network, and its view of the terrorist attacks, women in the Arab world and the ongoing war in Afghanistan. "Al-Jazeera, An Arab Voice for Freedom or Demagoguery? The UNC Tour," will show at 2 p.m. today in the Carolina Union film auditorium. Al-Jazeera came under intense global scrutiny after Sept. 11.

Toned-Down Jazz Festival Back on Campus

By Jill Spivey | Feb. 22, 2002

Sandwiched between two historic events, the 24th annual Carolina Jazz Festival is a more scaled-back affair. Last year's festival occurred in the midst of several noted events for the music genre, including the centennial of the birth of Louis Armstrong, and in 2003, the festival celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Classic Disney Elements Fail to Rescue Modern Disney Sequel

By Brooks Firth | Feb. 21, 2002

"Return to Never Land" 2 Stars The story always ends the same. Peter leaps off Wendy's windowsill, yells "Goodbye Wendy!" and Wendy always believes in Peter, fairies and pixie dust. But what do you do when you run out of fairy tales to tell, the world is full of kids who act older than their actual ages and your studio just isn't bringing people in like it used to? If you're Disney, you create a sequel. With a plot usually reserved for a straight-to-video release, Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell are back in theaters with "Return To Never Land."

dive recommends

By Michelle Jarobe | Feb. 21, 2002

Sun Ra Lanquidity Recorded in 1976 during the Arkestra's sojourn to Philadelphia, Lanquidity is the perfect mix of astrofunk with loose, grooving jazz. "High Art" So much for the Brat Pack -- Ally Sheedy throws off the mantle of "The Breakfast Club" and astounds as a heroin-chic lesbian photographer-in-hiding in this Sundance indie hit.

Capleton Fails to Produce Sparks; Mosley Channels Usher

By Staff Editor | Feb. 21, 2002

Capleton Still Blazin' Three Stars Jamaican reggae master Capleton is angry, and he wants to tell you about it -- too bad you won't be able to understand him. Throughout his newest album, Still Blazin', Capleton's edgy, ragged voice fires a barrage of unintelligible lyrics at the listener with the ferocity and impact of a machine gun. Capleton has taken all his anger and frustration, mixed in a few handfuls of Rastafarian soul and hip-hop rhythms and added a dash of social commentary to produce his latest work.

Blind Boys Make Believers Out of Cradle Audience

By Joanna Pearson | Feb. 21, 2002

The Blind Boys Cat's Cradle Sunday, Jan. 17 5 Stars If the second coming had happened Sunday night, I would have been right there. When Jesus does come back, he's going to look for The Blind Boys of Alabama -- and from the way they sing, Jesus shouldn't have a hard time finding them. The Blind Boys performed at the Cat's Cradle, transforming the place from a smoke-filled den of slinkers into a room of rollicking, hand-clapping folks just hollering for the Holy Spirit to descend.

Owens' Devout, Skilled Warbling Neglects Secular Sensibilities

By Allison Rost | Feb. 21, 2002

Two Stars The proliferation of young female sirens on the airwaves today, from Michelle Branch to Jewel, leaves little room for generic competitors to break through. But Nashville-based songstress Ginny Owens has one foot in the door: when Lilith Fair came to town in 1999, she was selected from 300 local musical groups to represent the area by performing in the show. The 26-year-old also possesses another characteristic that distinguishes her from the rest of the crowd: she has been completely blind since age 2.