Posted December 05, 2012in Recent Posts, Sound Check
The Austin Taft Soundtrack ‘War of the Songs of Light Against the Songs of Darkness’ Independent “War of the Songs…” is a concept album, and Taft explores a lot of heavy themes over the course of its 80 minutes. All the greatest hits are here: war, love, hate, forgiveness. Taft
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Posted December 05, 2012in Recent Posts, Sound Notes
The final numbers are in for Kingston VanderKallen’s benefit show, played at House of Bricks in November. The event — put together by Lazer 103.3’s Samantha Knight and Metro Concerts Live’s Chad Willey, and featuring over a dozen local bands, artists and businesses — raised $3,417.28 for the VanderKallen family.
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Posted December 05, 2012in On The Tube, Recent Posts
‘Hunted’ comes to a stunning conclusion While other critics were obsessing on “Homeland,” I urged you to watch “Hunted,” an even better spy series about a troubled female heroine. After this week’s thrilling conclusion (Friday, 9 p.m., Cinemax), I know you will want to thank me in some way. Chocolates
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Posted December 05, 2012in Center Stage, Recent Posts
Look out Des Moines, the guys from “Triple Espresso: A Highly Caffeinated Comedy” are back on stage and ready to etch their brand of comedy in the minds and mouths of fans of all ages. This show is so full of energy, it’s sure to give you a comedy rush
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Posted November 28, 2012in On The Tube, Recent Posts
Our cynical age will never be able to turn out a convincing movie about a Christmas miracle like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Filmmakers keep trying, though, especially in December TV movies. It’s refreshing that “Finding Mrs. Claus” (Sunday, 8 p.m., Lifetime) declines to play this losing game, instead embracing 21st
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Posted November 28, 2012in Joe's Neighborhood, Recent Posts
Convenience is not a bad thing. You can buy your milk, pick up your dry cleaning, fill your prescriptions, gas your car and — is that your girlfriend in the canned-goods aisle? — go on a date, all in the name of one-stop shopping. Not bad. Moreover, the neon and
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Posted November 28, 2012in Recent Posts, Sound Check
Ke$ha ‘Warrior’ RCA It’s winter, my friends. Don’t let the fair local weather fool you: Now is the season for long, cold evenings of the Great Reaping. The renewal of spring is a long, long way off, and all we have to look forward to are feelings of isolation and
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Posted November 28, 2012in Book Review, Recent Posts
Courtesy of Beaverdale Books Review by Harriet Leitch Vintage Books July 24, 2012 $16.95 720 pp. From the best-selling author of 1491, Charles Mann’s latest work studies the impact of the arrival of Europeans in the New World. Known as the Columbian Exchange, the reader (or in this case,
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Posted November 21, 2012in Joe's Neighborhood, Recent Posts
OK, here’s a game. I’m going to give you 34 letters. Absolutely no more. You get 34 letters to express all your love, sadness, joy or pain — about anything. Thirty-four letters to sum up your life or the life of another. I’m sorry, that’s all the directions there are
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Posted November 21, 2012in Book Review, Recent Posts
Courtesy of Beaverdale Books Review by Catherine Rihm Balzer and Bray September 2012 $17.99 559 pp Talented husband-and-wife team Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis reveal part two of their middle-reader, adventure story with the recently published “Under Wildwood,” a sequel to last fall’s bestselling “Wildwood.” Ellis masterfully illustrates the text,
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