Singer/songwriter Cris Williamson has a habit of speaking in metaphor. When she discusses the recent end of a 20-year relationship with her personal and musical partner, Tret Fure, the Joni Mitchell-esque singer/songwriter uses the imagery of the phoenix rising from the ashes. "The bird willingly sets itself on fire -- I did not want this change to occur, but I took the path willingly," Williamson said.
Read More »Bandits 3 1/2 stars Usually, people don't like having the metaphorical wool pulled over their eyes. But it's a guarantee you'll never enjoy it as much as you do in "Bandits." The first five minutes of the film establishes that Terry Collins (Billy Bob Thornton) and Joe Blake (Bruce Willis), otherwise known as the Sleepover Bandits, have been killed while holding up a bank in Los Angeles after their mutual girlfriend, Kate Wheeler (Cate Blanchett), turned them in.
Read More »Dave Navarro always has been considered a sideman. But now with the release of his first solo album, Trust No One, Navarro is back on the road and drawing his own crowds. Delving into Navarro's somewhat sordid history, Trust No One is a dense, complex album that not only challenged Navarro as an artist, but also as an individual. "It's broadened my creative parameters, I suppose. I'm just grateful to still be able to make music and still be motivated to do it," he said.
Read More »the b-sides Cat's Cradle Tuesday, Oct. 2 4 Stars The stage was set up like a living room, a sagging couch at the back of the stage lit by a Tiffany lamp. A poster of James Dean hung crookedly on the back wall. The b-sides definitely made themselves at home at the Cat's Cradle, and then they had a house party.
Read More »Athenaeum Cat's Cradle October 6, 2001 3 Stars Athenaeum fed the Cat's Cradle crowd some very meaty music, but they would have done better to serve some more filler. The Greensboro rock band, which has been attracting a small legion of fans for several years, is known for its 1998 hit "What I Didn't Know" and has recently re-released its self-titled debut.
Read More »"Freeway" The classic Little Red Riding Hood gets violently made over Oliver Stone style. A pre-stardom Reese Witherspoon and an exceptionally creepy Keifer Sutherland turn in dead-on performances in this disturbing-yet-hilarious modern folk tale. Studio One Soul, Various Artists The legendary Studio One puts a reggae twist on American soul hits of 1964-74. This compilation spotlights some of Jamaica's greats -- Jackie Mittoo, Alton Ellis -- and exemplifies how musical cultures mix and match.
Read More »Serendipity 3 Stars "Serendipity" is so obvious that it comes close to insulting the audience. Thankfully, it doesn't quite cross that line -- despite the absence of rational situations or truly human characters, the film is endearing enough to be sat through for its 90 minutes. The movie focuses on the dilemma of Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale). Their lives are thrown into disarray when they meet over a pair of gloves in Bloomingdale's and quickly fall in love.
Read More »Training Day 4 Stars If "Training Day" is an accurate look at the life of a Los Angeles narcotics officer, our friends in California are in a lot of trouble. Fortunately, director Antoine Fuqua's dark portrayal of a rookie cop's first day as a narc is definitely a flight of fancy. Accurate, no. Entertaining -- very. The movie's theme is familiar -- a new cop clashes with his corrupt, no-rules teacher. But the solid acting of Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington freshen up the cookie-cutter story.
Read More »Should it stay or should it go? Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, artisans and entertainers on both a local and national level have been trying to determine whether their work is appropriate. Barely 24 hours after the attacks, announcements of rescheduled events or release dates were in the news. The Emmys have been postponed twice. Several films have been moved from their original release dates. Many projects under development were permanently held because their content either mirrored the attacks or could possibly offend a more sensitive America.
Read More »Garbage Beautiful Garbage 3 Stars It seems Garbage has contracted a massive case of advanced schizophrenia. The band's third LP release, Beautiful Garbage, runs amok. Garbage obviously couldn't choose just one genre or focus, so the band experiments and incorporates every possible option.
Read More »Dan Bern New American Language 3 Stars Like the title implies, Dan Bern's most recent album speaks of his dream for a new American language. Unfortunately, this new language sounds a lot like the old Bob Dylan.
Read More »Musician and promoter Mike Nicholson has seen enough music festivals done wrong for him to want to finally do one right. And Nicholson said he hopes his goal of orchestrating a successful and unforgettable festival will become a reality when Sparklefest opens at Local 506 on Thursday. Based on festivals like Los Angeles' International Pop Overthrow and the locally founded Sleezefest, Sparklefest is the sequel to last year's Shindig at Kings in Raleigh.
Read More »"Hot L Baltimore" Lab! Theatre Saturday, Oct. 6 3 Stars
Read More »If the Ringling Brothers joined the cast of Hee Haw, they might look a little like Rhythm in Shoes. The performance company -- an eclectic, 10-member cast whose ages range from mid-teens to middle age -- mixes tap, clogging and step dancing with juggling, comedy skits and old-time music provided by a live string band. "It's almost like a circus," said Sharon Leahy, the group's director. Leahy and her troupe have spent a weeklong dance residency at UNC.
Read More »Most readers have heard about Art Spiegelman's "MAUS," Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman" or Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' "Watchmen." And while those are all good places to begin exploring comics, many of the best introductions to comics aren't well-known. Here's a brief introduction to the most accessible of modern comics' great works.
Read More »"Comics aren't just for kids anymore." The phrase is so well-known that marketers for an anthology of child-friendly comics once twisted it, stating "comics aren't just for grown-ups anymore." So it might seem comics are for everyone, young and old alike. Sales figures suggest otherwise. Traditional comics like "Spider-Man" and "Batman" sell fewer copies today than they have in decades. In 1993, total sales of all comics reached $800 million -- that figure had dropped to $250 million six years later. Comics' visibility continues to shrink, too.
Read More »Gillian Welch and
Read More »Zoolander 3 Stars
Read More »Bob Dylan Love and Theft
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