The Split / The Slams
Proof positive comes in DVD debuts of The Split and The Slams, both from Warner Archive. More popular entries exist on his filmography, but these two are important all the same, for putting a black man front and center, above the title, in pictures meant for mass consumption. Both also sound alike in title and…
Hare hear
The 18-year-old from Oklahoma City recently released a full-length debut album through the online music service Soundcloud. Under the name Hare Tracks, Kennedy — now a freshman at the University of California at Santa Barbara — recorded and produced it almost completely by himself, while a student at Heritage Hall. “I tried taking guitar lessons…
Band of brothers
Oklahoma City alt-rock outfit Aranda has come a long way from its first gig, which saw brothers Dameon and Gabe Aranda playing air guitar and lipsynching for their grandparents. Aranda has been nearly a lifetime in the making, but it almost didn’t happen after a record deal with Sony fell apart in the early 2000s.…
Kick it
“I work two jobs, and my car doesn’t have a front bumper,” said Oklahoma City rapper Jabee Williams. “I’m a real-life person.” But crowd-funding website Kickstarter.com gives musicians worldwide the opportunity to release the same quality product as major labels. “Basically, it takes the place of a record label,” said Brandon Lovelace, lead singer of…
Randy melodies
Now, the Oklahoma City man has completed quite the musical feat himself: writing 100 songs in 100 days. Songwriting has served as a stress reliever for him his entire life. After getting involved in drugs — “I could write a whole book on the effects of lacquer on a human being,” he wrote on his…
Swing sets
Looking more like a folk troubadour, Dustin Prinz doesn’t fit the stereotype of a lounge performer. But his guitar skills, ability to adapt to the crowd, and litany of original ballads and unique covers — from INXS to Bon Iver — has charmed many a restaurant, bar and lounge owner. He has standing gigs at Bin…
The Descendants
An attorney, Matt’s laid-back life is hit with a metaphorical tsunami — not once, but twice — when his wife (Patricia Hastie) is thrown from a boat and into a vegetative state. The news from doctors that she’s not expected to recover is worsened by the accidental revelation that she was invested deeply in an…
Getting a Woody
Best in Pop: Brianna Gaither Last year, Brianna Gaither won this category by winning over listeners with her debut album, Love Is Patient. Apparently, her fans are just that, because here she is again. Gaither’s been testing out some new indie-pop tracks and — here’s some good news — last month recorded an intimate, live…
Music Made Me: Cameron Neal
Neil Young, Harvest (1972) Choosing this album was harder than I thought it’d be, since I’m truly in love with almost everything Neil’s put out. Even to this day, he’s able to experiment with his style. This album needs to be regularly spinning for any songwriter — the lyrics are heavy and inspirational. The Beach…
My name is ____
Magnificent Bird“A few years back, a former bandmate and I were exchanging mix CDs of some of the stranger music we were into, and we were giving the CDs these long, ornate titles, mostly to make each other laugh. I believe I titled one Magnificent Bird: Or How to Fall All the Way Down and…
Peep show
The comedy Drama Queens takes on a voyeuristic feel as the audience watches eight personalities clash in a male chorus dressing room. Writer and director Robert Matson gathered his inspiration for the show during his years as a dressing assistant at Lyric Theatre. “I wanted to create that ensemble feel,” said Matson, an Oklahoma City…
Purple prose
Regionally, the Poteet Theatre is the first community theater to perform The Color Purple, a stage adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-winning novel. Before director Jay Prock even received the script, he spent two years researching for the production. “We want to tell stories that bring hope to people’s lives,” he said, adding that he believes…
Union labors
You’re already familiar with Dan Tyminski whether you realize it or not. Currently Alison Krauss and Union Station’s resident guitar and mandolin picker, Tyminski lent his stark bluegrass tenor to the singing voice of George Clooney’s character in the Coen brothers’ 2000 film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? His performance of “Man of Constant Sorrow”…
The game is afoot
Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles chronicles a case in which the Great Detective and his colleague, Dr. Watson, are hired by a country doctor to discover the truth behind a mysterious family curse. The charming adaptation by Harvey Mackie, a beloved figure in the Oklahoma…
Stripped down
Deborah Draheim fans (count me among them) have been eager to see her in the consummate musical-theater role for the mature woman, Mama Rose in Gypsy. The buzz was she’d be good in the role, and it proved true, as seen in the modest production now at the Civic Center Music Hall’s Freede Little Theatre.…
Weighty achievement
“Really it was an awareness campaign. The numerical goal was a million pounds, but the real goal was to get a conversation started about obesity,” said Cornett. There’s more cause for celebration than the shedding of pounds. Men’s Fitness magazine moved Oklahoma City from “fattest” in 2009 to “fittest” in its recent ranking of 50…
Tannins for tubas
Ashley Tarver, Oklahoma’s Gallo wine representative, said William Hill has promised a minimum donation of $150,000, and that the program reflects the passion of William Hill winemaker Ralf Holdenreid, who has two children who play instruments. According to Tarver, 15 metro elementary schools will benefit from the initiative. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that…
Needle points
Who cares if you can list 10 bands named for odd animals and random fruit? I sure don’t. The point is, it’s imperative you let your musical tastes reflect what makes you happy, the stuff that makes you hum along or tap your toe. For example, I unabashedly love pop music — especially the ultra-tacky…
Smag 7: Difficult, but delightful
Sweets & Eats 110 N. Robinson 235-3010 Open every day from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch, the eatery specializes in honest home-cooking. There is a blue-plate special; don’t miss the beef stroganoff this week. Owner Bill Gold said you can find meals such as roast beef, gravy, potatoes and green beans, with everything…
Bite Size: 3-21-12
Joining in the effort is Integris Health. It will present a healthy-cooking demonstration 6 p.m. Tuesday at Whole Foods Market, 6001 N. Western. You’ll learn about preparing heart-friendly meals at home by making minor adjustments. Make reservations early for this free event and enjoy the interactive discussion and complimentary dinner. Call 951-2277. Spreading the seed…
Nuts for coconuts
Popularized by such celebs as Madonna, Rihanna, Alex Rodriguez and Matthew McConaughey, the clear liquid found inside young, green coconuts is quickly growing in popularity. While the taste is slightly acerbic, it is touted as natural hydration — especially after a postworkout session — and it might offer a host of other health benefits. The…
Picasso Cafe
Picasso Cafe, 3009 Paseo, is an easy place to be. That might not seem like an essential part of your optimal restaurant experience, but it was part of owner Shaun Fiaccone’s vision. “We wanted a place that felt comfortable,” he said. “The kind of place where we’d want to hang out.” On that count, he’s…
Taking it to the house
TMZ reports that Kevin Durant recently put his 5,910 square-foot Seattle home for sale; asking price $2.7 million. In case you’re curious, the CFN math department informs us that that sale would fetch 29,463 pairs of Durant’s most recent basketball shoes, the Nike Zoom KD IV. CFN is of course elated to hear that KD…
Barry dramatic
According to comingsoon.net, Switzer’s 1990 autobiography, Bootlegger’s Boy, is being shepherded to a theater near you by producer Molly Smith (pro: The Blind Side; con: Something Borrowed) and, possibly, the screenwriting team of Patrick Massett and John Zinman (pro: Friday Night Lights; con: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider). Because it’s never too early to think about…
From forest to first course
“The flavor of wild edibles is incomparable,” said Jonathon Stranger, co-owner and executive chef at Ludivine, 805 N. Hudson. “Garden-grown is good, but the flavor of wild edibles is so pure and loud.” Stranger started foraging in 2006, but got involved at a deeper level when he moved to Oregon. Upon return to Oklahoma, he…
PR BS
—“Flavor Flav Now Serving Up Fame And Fried Chicken In Las Vegas: Yeah, Boy!” —“Genie Francis And Ted McGinley Reunite In NOTES FROM THE HEART HEALER, 5/13 On Hallmark Channel”
Identity crisis
Senate Bill 1569, authored by none other than Sen. Ralph Shortey (he of fetus-food bill notoriety) requires candidates in Oklahoma’s presidential primaries to present the state Election Board with a photo ID and proof that they satisfy all requirements for office. Cue the “natural-born citizen” arguments. In a news statement on the bill’s passage, Shortey…
Mick ’n’ Maher
Maher, a liberal, bomb-throwing comedian, has been a whipping boy for Republican pundits who’ve tried defending Rush Limbaugh by pointing out that, hey, Maher says crappy things, too. On Maher’s program, the nattily dressed Cornett sported a dark suit and lavender tie on a panel that included talk-show host Dylan Ratigan and conservative columnist Amy…
I will always suspend you
News anchor Andrew Speno was cooling his telegenic heels for the week, handed a weeklong suspension after making a wisecrack about Whitney Houston on the March 8 newscast. About a story in which the deceased pop singer left her entire estate to her daughter, Speno quipped that the bounty even included Houston’s crack pipe. Speno…
PR BS
—“Flavor Flav Now Serving Up Fame And Fried Chicken In Las Vegas: Yeah, Boy!” —“Genie Francis And Ted McGinley Reunite In NOTES FROM THE HEART HEALER, 5/13 On Hallmark Channel”
For women
Davis grew up in Oklahoma City and later attended Mount Holyoke College, a liberal arts women’s school in Massachusetts. She attributed her passion for women’s advocacy to her education there. “It’s an amazing place with such a renowned history,” she said. “It opened my eyes to women’s studies and showed how far we’ve come and…
Like a prayer
In a news release, Ritze cited the 2005 assault on a Tulsa reverend; the 2009 killing of an Anadarko pastor; and recent bomb threats against Edmond’s Fairview Baptist Church after its pastor, the Rev. Paul Blair, spoke out against an Oklahoma City Council resolution prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Conspicuously absent in the release…
Tour de force
Soulforce, an activist group started by Mel White, former ghost writer for Jerry Falwell, started Equality Ride in 2006. The riders are people of faith, many from backgrounds that also teach that homosexuality is a sin. Jason Conner, an Equality Ride codirector who grew up Mormon, said Bethany’s SNU was chosen because of its “biblical…
Drip, drip, drip
The legal battle has ensnared the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, government of Oklahoma City, state Legislature, Gov. Mary Fallin, Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, several officials from southeastern Oklahoma counties and advocates of water rights in that area. Tensions began in 2010, when the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, trying to obtain more water for a…
School’s out
“Many of our sisters are getting too old to work in the school,” said Sister Patricia Ann Miller said. “While we’ve talked about bringing others in to work, the core of the school has always been Carmelite spirituality. We believe the school would eventually lose that focus.” Since its founding in 1933, Villa Teresa has…
Ledger report
Garrett, however, contends the report actually showed the opposite: that the department took steps not to illegally comingle private and public funds in order to pay for its annual leadership conference and other events. The report, released March 7, came about after Superintendent Janet Barresi asked Jones to look into questionable travel expenses by former…
A smarter criminal justice system
Oklahoma leads the nation in incarcerating women and outranks all but a few states in its overall incarceration rate. Our incarceration rate has doubled since 1989, and 50 percent of those in prison are there for nonviolent property or drug crimes — at a cost of more than $460 million annually. Each year we pass…
The country’s in trouble
Look back to the 1950s and ’60s. Then, a young man, 18 years old and recently graduated from high school, could easily find a “good” job at a factory (probably a unionized factory), and make “real” money. He could afford to get married, buy a car, buy a house and probably be able to start…
No school takeover
Here’s why: Oklahoma City Public Schools were like a stalled-out train languishing on the tracks when I became superintendent three-and-a-half years ago. The 10 years prior averaged one superintendent per year, and each had a unique vision and plans to tackle this district’s enormous problems; but laying the tracks and the path for success require…
Die
Awaking in adjoining glass cages are those unlucky half-dozen strangers: a police detective (Elias Koteas, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas), a compulsive gambler, a doctor, a nurse, a young prostitute and her billionaire client. Jacob takes turns bringing them out in pairs; one is strapped to a chair, the other presented with a…
The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch
Neiro is killed on his yacht in the film’s opening moments, so Winch International is temporarily without a CEO. Ann Ferguson (Kristin Scott Thomas, Sarah’s Key) fills the shoes until Largo can be located and filled in on the deets. Assuming the mantle is his destiny, no matter how little he wants it. Naturally, with…
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
However, those who have seen the original may wish to approach this version only to witness what Fincher brings to it, as the story remains unchanged in all but minor details. Many scenes seem shot on the very sets of Niels Arden Oplev’s 2009 film. What Fincher grants is a sharper, crisper look; a brisker…
Breaking Wind
I kid. Clearly, there are jokes, fired at a regular, near-rapid pace. It’s just that none is funny. Consider these random examples:• A Capt. Jack Sparrow impersonator holding salad tongs asks a group of frightened women, “Anyone in the mood for a good salad tossing?” • An Edward Scissorhands impersonator lets loose a fart, sniffs…
Wizards
Spanning 3,000 years, give or take, the DayGlo colorful tale of warring wizards — siblings at that — doesn’t even attempt to disguise its political leanings, but kids today can appreciate it just for the pointy-eared fairies and various beasts, especially the low-IQ goons armed with laser guns. Splendidly drawn on cels, the fantasy epic…
Urbanized
Having previous explored how our life is affected by typefaces (Helvetica) and manufactured objects (Objectified), director Gary Hustwit provides the final chapter of a trilogy of sorts by exploring the language of urban city design. More thought is put into it than you realized, by more people than you would have guessed. An early observation…
Splintered
If that sounds like a familiar trope, how about another? Like, say, a killing on such a spree that it requires tracking via a complex wall map peppered with thumbtacks, Post-it Notes, newspaper clippings. There are more, from scenes of terror that turn out to be dreams, to nocturnal campground “didja hear that?” exchanges. This…
Camel Spiders
The giant spider invasion begins after U.S. military forces fight a Middle Eastern enemy in an unspecified desert, and not everyone survives the gunfire or, in case of the enemy, the spiders who pull their bodies into caves for feasting. One spider clandestinely crawls into the coffin of a dead American soldier, and upon return…
Presidential visit
Obama is scheduled to travel to Cushing on Thursday as part of a four-state tour that includes New Mexico, Nevada and Ohio, according to a White House media release. While in Cushing, Obama will discuss how his administration hopes to improve and support infrastructure to help leverage domestic resources while ensuring those projects are developed…
Pigging out
Mercy for Animals, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing cruelty to farm animals, has taken issue with how the swine are housed in Oklahoma pig farms. “The pork industry’s secret ingredient is egregious animal abuse,” said Phil Letten, national campaign coordinator for the Los Angeles-based Mercy for Animals. He said pigs are kept in “filthy,…
Another Iguana
Mexican food lovers barely will have time to miss the closing of Chicas Mexican Cafe in Nichols Hills Plaza, now that the Iguana Mexican Grill has announced plans to open a second location in Chicas’ old site at 6482 Avondale Drive. Scheduled to open in the spring, the new Iguana location will offer a limited…
The Typist — Midwestern High Life
It gets sprayed all over the place, in fact. Matt Moran’s desperate punk hollers; his messy, confessional-to-the-occasional-point-of-embarrassing lyrics; his band’s well-coordinated, super-loud melodic rock arrangements all sound so much like a release, at times vindicating, at others reaching for (and grasping) the anthemic. Every song on the sardonically titled Midwestern High Life, is a rock…
Flight pattern
Performing as Sister Sparrow, Arleigh Kincheloe travels with a large flock. She and her eight-member band, The Dirty Birds, spread their wings and left their New York nest for a national tour. Getting that many people on the same page proved to be quite a feat. “It’s crazy logistically, but we have it down…
Rock solid
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: ” times=”” new=”” roman”;color:#222222″=””><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: ” times=”” new=”” roman”;color:#222222″=””>Can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Well, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Case in point: Chicago rock act Chevelle.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: ” times=”” new=”” roman””=””> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:.1pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:.1pt; margin-left:0in”><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: ” times=”” new=”” roman”;color:#222222″=””> Swiftly approaching two decades since forming, the group remains…
Remembering Davy
There was the time they tipped a golf cart at Joe DiMaggio’s charity tournament. There were the times they hung out with fellow Monkee Micky Dolenz, Harry Nilsson and Alice Cooper in Los Angeles. There was the time White’s 1971 Chevy Malibu SS ran out of gas by the San Francisco International Airport, so Jones…
Grand Ambassadors
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:” times=”” new=”” roman”;color:#222222″=””>Violin sighs give way to a harmonious chorus on “(O Death),” the funniest, shortest song on Ambassadors’ debut album, Litost. The ironically titled tune is so purposely not serious as to toss a lyrical red herring into the middle of a meditation on the afterlife: “O death, show me your teeth / For I’m trained in the art of dentistry!”…
