Action-Packed Collection
Befitting of the word “triple,” three movies are included: “Georgia Peaches,” “The Great Texas Dynamite Chase” and “Smokey Bites the Dust.” But before you call shotgun, note that only one them qualifies as good; we’ll start with that one. Give producer Corman his due: He gave audiences what they wanted. In 1976’s “The Great Texas…
Emily Arin — Patch of Land
But Emily Arin’s “Patch of Land” bursts through those categories and creates a mesmerizing album that can’t be pinned down. Her instrument is the acoustic guitar, and she sings in a haunting tone that falls just south of soprano. Her songs incorporate modern singer/songwriter, folk, ‘50s pop, country, waltzes and more. The whole album is…
Smith Westerns — Dye It Blonde
The new wave of “it” bands remember good songs and have decided to write some. Like Brits Yuck and New Yorker Luke Rathborne, the Chicagoans in Smith Westerns have put their heads together to make solid guitar rock tunes on “Dye It Blonde.” Nothing new under the sun, for real. But the reason that Smith…
Source Code
On a commuter train heading into Chicago, a young man jolts awake in the middle of a conversation with his girlfriend, Christina (Michelle Monaghan, “Due Date”), and clearly has no idea who she is, where he is or how he got there. He excuses himself to the restroom and doesn’t recognize the face in the…
Jazzed up
Those are two of the strongest stereotypes local jazz musicians fight when trying to find ears for their increasingly diverse offerings. With Kenny G the farthest thing from their minds, artists are creating a vital, progressive jazz scene in bars, concert halls and festivals. But it’s still a struggle. “It’s not America’s most popular music…
Hanna
That last problem is the chief one facing the title character of “Hanna,” a sleek thriller opening Friday, buoyed by smart performances and a director eager to prove his action chops. As the story opens, Hanna (Saorise Ronan, “The Lovely Bones”) and her father, an ex-CIA agent named Erik (Eric Bana, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”),…
‘Strip’ down
Metal musicians make for fun interviews, and Soul Crisis front man Riley Hahn has never disappointed. He mixes bombastic theatricality with a surprisingly sober view of modern metal to discuss how the Oklahoma City band is working to carve out a living and finally make good on the long-awaited album, “Strip.” “There’s not even one…
The kids aren’t all right
One might wonder what sort of person is capable of coming up with a line like “Dookie in her panties / That ain’t Hershey’s whore / Nasty-ass slut trying to get on ‘Jersey Shore.’” Look no farther than the boys of Purple Mouth Bandits, a hip-hop collective born out of wine-sipping sessions in Moore less…
Flock rock
In the midst of winter, when most bands hole up and hibernate, Oklahoma City’s The Wurly Birds bundled up, packed their instruments and made their way to the Paseo to play for the passersby. They plunked down a guitar case to hold any tips the modest crowds might be willing to donate and played for…
Not-so-little Lamb
There’s no better escape than Tishomingo. At least that’s what country music megastar Miranda Lambert has found. A few years back, the Texan supplanted to the tiny town to be closer to her fiancé and fellow musician, Blake Shelton, and found that its solitude the town offers the perfect anchor for her meteoric rise through…
From Red to Randy
But his $25,000 vintage metal hollow-body instrument pales in comparison to a former guitar of the National brand that he once owned: Tampa Red’s. In the early 1900s, Tampa Red was a famous and prolific bluesman, making 300 recordings of his own tunes and 400 accompanying other people. In addition, he pretty much invented the…
Dressed to thrill
Kiss usually plays arenas, of course, but Faux Kiss plays anywhere and everywhere. The year-old, Oklahoma City-based tribute band is not comprised of the original rock ’n’ roll soldiers, but the band is having a blast playing as the real thing; the crowds are just as enthusiastic. “We were at the El Reno show, and…
Cello, goodbye
“Every piece has a story,” said Magrill, professor of music at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. “It’s a sonic snapshot of a particular time.” After 23 years at UCO, Magrill has an abundance of pieces and stories to go with them. His latest collection of them is the album “Cello Music of Samuel…
O yeah!
After all, this is the group that named a song “Peggy Sue Pepperoni Pants” and seriously considered naming its debut album after a Harley-Davidson T-shirt slogan. So when I asked its members to let their iPods do the talking, they were all about the unconventional interview style. For every question I asked, they answered with…
Is the ‘rip move’ a rip-off or a smart tactic?
Recently against the Warriors, Durant got two calls with it. One in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer on Dorell Wright, and then a big one in overtime on David Lee, which gave KD three shots and put OKC up one with a minute left. As you might imagine, Golden State Warrior coach Keith Smart…
Shutter sounds
Picking up his new book, “Adventures of a Rock Photographer,” will get you stories and pictures from one of rock music’s most fertile periods: 1976-1986, with 165 of its 200 pages dedicated to 1977-1980. To illustrate just how top-heavy the era was in good music, consider Gowdy’s first assignment as a photographer at the University…
Hitting a Homer
Written by award-winning playwright and director Mary Zimmerman, the University of Oklahoma’s production of “The Odyssey” brings Homer’s epic to the stage through a modern conduit: a young woman struggling with Robert Fitzgerald’s 1961 translation. “Zimmerman’s adaptation has taken the language of the cumbersome Fitzgerald translation and truly breathed a spark of life into it,”…
Lift off
How about a good word for the properties designer for a change? Lyric Theatre’s mildly entertaining, if tepid production of “Boeing Boeing” by Marc Camoletti is set in the early 1960s, so properties designer Elizabeth Rescinito has assembled a highly authentic collection of spot-on furniture — a sunburst clock, lava lamp and a spiffy retro…
Hipper than now?
But that’s changing, as the metro’s diverse strands of hip-hop slowly unite into a community. “We’ve identified 600 acts statewide,” said local rap promoter Marcus Hayes. “There’s a good culture and community that is growing.” That group doesn’t just include black males, either; Hayes noted the growing prominence of female, Caucasian, Hispanic, American Indian and…
It’s a puzzle
Over the course of his career as a constructor of crosswords, the Ponca City native has seen his work appear in such publications as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Newsday. But he didn’t always know it was something out of which he could make a career. “I first discovered my liking for…
Blade brigade
Bold, beautiful and brash, the Bowie knife became an American icon in the early 19th century, predating the widespread use of Winchester rifles and Colt revolvers during the Western expansion. Its massive sales were fueled partially by the cult of celebrity surrounding its namesake soldier whose legend was just as rooted in myth as in…
Art gets a sense of humor
The show highlights the humorous side of more than two dozen participating artists. All of the pieces make light of different aspects of American Indian culture. Examples include a piece titled “Don’t Squeeze the Shaman,” and another that depicts Sitting Bull as Superman. Benjamin Harjo Jr., creator of “Humor Without Reservations,” said it’s important to…
DIY or die
It’s a way of life for Lindsay Zodrow, owner of the handmade-centric Collected Thread, 1705-A N.W. 16th. Staying true to do-it-yourself sensibilities, she began hosting Saturday crafting classes last week. “These classes go along with the whole purpose of the store: promoting handmade work,” Zodrow said. “Taking methods that have been passed down — and…
On the cheap
We’re not all rich. We can’t all afford socks woven of golden unicorn hair. So what’s out there for those on an actual human budget? Lots. Great finds are available at fabulous prices. In its small, bright shop, Tulips and Truffles (5633 N. Penn; 840-5633) stocks both of its namesake products. If you’re there for…
Digs
Buyers were swayed in part by lower prices, with median sales at $150,000, representing an 11.2-percent drop from 2009. Research showed that among buyers: • 27 percent wanted a personal family retreat; • 12 percent sought potential for price appreciation; and • 11 percent took advantage of lower mortgage rates. ARCHITECTURE TOURFor the 10th annual…
smag 7
Jam out and chow down Here are seven places to hang when you want to catch some musical talent and tasty cuisine. These places have developed loyal customers that chill out, and not to worry, you don’t have to get all gussied up. Here, it’s all about the food and music. —Carol Smaglinski, photos by…
Missionary position
“Quality is high across the board,” he wrote. “I have yet to find a bad one, nor a boring one.” Another reason for its popularity is the high quality-to-price ratio. It’s rare to find a Torrontes for more than $15; many can be purchased for $10 or less. Argentina’s diverse topography makes for a variety…
Electric slide
The Electro Lounge has been a go-to spot for the hipster sect for a full decade now, but a recent venture inside its unassuming, bottom-floor office building spot is bringing in more customers than ever. Inventive sliders and sides fill the menu at S & B’s. Owner Bryan Neel was looking to cater to his…
Wine studies
The event, which features 35 wineries and more than a dozen of Oklahoma’s best chefs, will be held on the Stillwater campus of OSU. Steve Ruby, a professor at OSU and the event’s coordinator, said this year’s theme is Cowboys & Gauchos. The emphasis will be on the similar cultures of Oklahoma and Argentina, particularly…
Twist off
With the onset of spring comes the beginning of tornado season, that magical time of year wherein your regularly scheduled programming is preempted and your skies turn a foreboding shade of green. Dust off your beer glasses and spray down the rim of your toilet: It’s time for the Gary England drinking game. Invented by…
Dez’s ‘dark place’
Get ready for your jaw to drop: Now Dez is facing three lawsuits totaling $850,000 for alleged unpaid loans, jewelry and tickets for items purchased on credit, according to the Fort Worth Star- Telegram. Another suit involving nonpayment of rent in Stillwater has surfaced, the Tulsa World reported. How’s Dez holding up? “He wants to…
CFN Quote of the Week
—from a press release for Edmond resident Rebecca Morsman’s “Ravenous Decay,” an “Oklahoma zombie novel”
Barber brawl
That’s just how it goes. Not, apparently, for Juvonnie Varner. According to KWTV, Mr. Varner visited EJ’s Barber Cuts in OKC a couple weeks back and asked how much it’d be to get a little off the top. He apparently liked what he heard, because he got the cut then also asked for a shave.…
Drive-through hand jive
However, the latest dispatch from the Fox affiliate up the turnpike has video evidence to back up its story. While this report doesn’t involve child molestation, it seems a man arrived at an east Tulsa Sonic one night in early March with a hankering for more than a cherry limeade. With what appeared to be…
Woody would pick ’er
BEST IN ROCK The Non The Non describes itself as “experimental,” and obviously, its four members’ willingness to stretch boundaries has paid off. That the band does it without words — being instrumental — makes it all the more amazing, crafting melodic soundscapes that move listeners’ minds as they quicken the pulse — from 2007’s…
Thou still shalt not supersize
To refresh your memory, he found that nine states are in the top 10 rankings for both religiousness and obesity, with Oklahoma being one of them — ninth in loving God, sixth in loving fried foods on a stick. Turns out, Covell may be onto something, now that a study from Northwestern University Feinberg School…
Park and go
The city already owns eight parcels of land in the 40-acre upper park area, which is located between what will be the boulevard and the future Interstate 40 and between South Hudson and South Robinson avenues. The city has also made offers on 11 other parcels of land within the park area, and all landowners…
‘Got it going on’
Bush served as governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007, and currently serves as chairman for the Foundation for Excellence in Education. Gov. Mary Fallin praised Bush for his work on reforming education in Florida, and for his conservative philosophy and governing style. “Gov. Bush truly is a man who believes in the limited government…
Urban outfitters
Construction began in January on the $24 million, 228-unit Level Urban Apartments at the corner of Northeast Second Street and Oklahoma Avenue. According to local developer Richard McKown, who heads City Center Properties, the project will be a mixed-use community housed in a contemporary, four-story building with an urban grocer and a restaurant located on…
Taking a SIP
At its March 29 meeting, the City Council gave staff permission to negotiate a deal with Chesapeake Energy and Boeing Co. to receive financial incentives from the city’s strategic investment program, in exchange for a combined 900 new jobs paying an average of more than $90,000 a year. The strategic investment program, a $75 million…
Corn to run
Why don’t they slam the tax credits for oil companies? Both these individuals have consistently supported the crippling use of oil and gasoline to power our nation’s automobiles. Ethanol is a superior fuel for automobiles, having a natural octane rating of 113. The very first internal combustion engine was designed to run on a biofuel:…
The great outdoors
Arguably the metro’s premiere venue for such is the OKC Zoo Amphitheatre, 2101 N.E. 50th. And it has extra reason to celebrate its summer concert series: a 75th anniversary. Already announced is a loud, May 13 bow with Avenged Sevenfold, Three Days Grace and Bullet for My Valentine. On the next night, go south —…
‘Quit writing like a crank’
In regards to “Battle: Los Angeles,” there is a class of films that are violent fantasies, including such film masterpieces as “Battle: LA,” “300,” “Alien vs. Predator” and every film ever made by the governor of the state you love to hate. These movies do not enlighten us, instruct us on moral values, or generally…
App for gas
You should, as the price of gasoline has increased more than 25 percent in the last 12 months. To help you — or at least iPhone users — find the lowest prices to refill your vehicle’s thirsty tank, AAA has designed a free app for that. Utilizing the smartphone’s GPS capabilities, AAA TripTik Mobile displays…
Mid-session legislative awards
The Legislature is getting close to the halfway point, and before you know it, lawmakers will be adjourning for the year. Have they fulfilled promises, or are they just playing the political version of the four-corners offense? Most Frustrated Representative This is a tie between state Reps. Randy Terrill and Paul Wesselhöft. The two Moore…
Hinder comes home
With Kentucky rockers Black Stone Cherry also on the bill, Hinder fronts an 8 p.m. concert at Lucky Star Casino, 101 N. Indian Hospital in Clinton. For tickets or more information, call 262- 7612 or visit zooamp.com. If you’re not partied out, attend the second of Oklahoma Gazette’s four Soundcheck parties, Saturday night at Wormy…
Accept food stamps
As a history and English major from Cornell University in 1978, Bill Maher is obviously educated, but is an intellectual joke. In Phil Bacharach’s cover story “‘Real Time,’ red state” (March 16), Maher accuses taxpayers of just not getting it. According to CNNMoney.com, “the top fifth of households made 56 percent of pre-tax income in…
Totally tubular
For the creator of “The Aluminum Show,” inspiration fell from above. Literally. Inspired by the innovative theatrical productions of Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil, Ilan Azriel wanted to do something similarly out-there. He was at a hardware store searching for materials when a small aluminum tube tumbled from a top shelf. “It was…
Not your average race
Camels and ostriches will invade Sunday at Remington Park, 1 Remington Place, for the second annual Extreme Racing event. Last year, the event attracted more than 10,000 people to the track; this year, between 18,000 and 20,000 people are expected, said Scott Wells, Remington Park president and general manager. “Kids are used to seeing these…
Talk amongst yourselves
“Conversations are the building block of relationships,” said Kuzmeski, Red Zone Marketing founder. “Without it, we form relationships that are devoid of substance.” She said conversation is an art that: • puts quality of ahead of speed; • is the only way to “see” what someone is saying; • creates opportunities; • allows you to…
Bite Size
“The original spicy sauce and crispy crust makes it an all-time favorite, and we knew we had to make it part of our 50th celebration,” said Greg Lippert, president and CEO of Mazzio’s. Mazzio’s now has 166 locations in 10 states. For more information, visit www.mazzios.com. FIRST WATCH OPENS First Watch, a breakfast, brunch and…
PR BS
—“UCO’s Centre For Global Competency Awards First Cohort of Students Certificate of Global Competency” —“SHERYL CROW TO TOUR THIS MAY/COOKBOOK IN STORES TOMORROW!” —“GigaSpaces and SuperDerivatives Combine Technologies to Increase Clients’ Competitive Edge” —“Autopsy reveals ‘Macabre Eternal’ cover art and track list” —“House Committee Approves President George W. Bush Bridge” —“Is Snooki the Secret Love…
Invitation to the Dance
Warner Archive’s burn-on-demand “Invitation to the Dance” makes for a great intro. The 1956 picture is among the most rare of cinematic sub-genres: the dance anthology. Completely silent, the film is divided into three segments, each showcasing a different style, all starring Kelly, who directed and choreographed this pet project. It’s like the Whitman’s Sampler…
Yogi Bear
This live-action/CGI hybrid adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon classic — which, ironically, is too old a property for most kids to have knowledge of — is as bad you may have heard (or, God forbid, spent valuable time during your holiday season seeing). Poor Tom Cavanagh, so good on TV’s “Ed” and miscast ever since,…
Excalibur
I recall finding it boring and tiresome, but I was 15 — what did I know? In the 20-plus years that have intervened, I’ve revisited it several times, each more pleasurably than the last. It’s a film that just gets better with age, and it looks fabulous in its Blu-ray debut. The iconic early scene…
Bunny and the Bull
The two entities share director Paul King, here making his feature debut, and a sharp, surrealist approach to comedy. Don’t expect a fairy tale, although the title certainly suggests as much. Stephen (Edward Hogg) is an OCD-inflicted hermit who cannot and will not leave his apartment. Initially, we do not know the reasons, but all…
Buried Beds — Tremble the Sails
Buried Beds accomplishes the former on “Tremble the Sails,” but the latter has struggles. Rare is the group that can have it both ways. Buried Beds relies on piano to carry their poppy side and guitars to carry their darker ideas. That’s enough to throw red flags up in my mind; something about a house…
These Magnificent Miles: On the Long Road with Red Wanting Blue
Rock band Red Wanting Blue has put out eight totally independently. They’ve also played more than 2,000 shows in 14 years. People all over the country know their songs and sing them back at shows. Why has this band not gotten signed? (It’s not for lack of trying.) First-time documentarian Ken Davenport’s “These Magnificent Miles”…
Shadow
This Italian-made but English-language thriller is an expectation-subverter, whose opening minutes of beauty belie the ugliness to come. Your first hint rears its head when our hero, David (Jake Muxworthy), stops for a beer in a mountaintop watering hole … where a Ouija board hangs on the wall. The trouble begins when two rednecks (Chris…
Chefs’ Feast serves success
Proceeds from the annual bash benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s “Food for Kids” backpack program. Last year, the event raised more than $100,000 in proceeds — enough to support 500 children in the program. Through “Food for Kids,” chronically hungry elementary school children receive a backpack filled with nonperishable food on weekends and…
No One Knows About Persian Cats
And if the authorities had their way, there wouldn’t be any. “In Iran, there are laws against blasphemy, free speech and rock and roll,” screams the opening card of the trailer for “No One Knows About Persian Cats,” the lauded feature film/documentary from Iranian filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi. The incredible film shows exactly what Iranians are…
Embodiment of Evil
The bearded, beady-eyed, bald Brazilian — aka actor/writer/director José Mojica Marins — dresses in all-black like a past-his-prime TV horror host, complete with cape, medallion, top hat and fingernails so dangly and Guinness World Records-long, it makes one wonder, “How does he even wipe?” The character is best known in circles of international cult cinema…
The Inheritance
Such is the case with the debut from writer/director Robert O’Hara, which could be called a slavery slasher. That’s new. Taking the classic Agatha Christie setup of everyone invited to quite a spread arriving at the same time, “The Inheritance” gathers five African-American relatives and their respective partners for a family reunion in the snow.…
Unwritten Law — Swan
The guitars were as much inspired by modern rock and metal tones as they were pop-rock, and that fine balance of heavy and pop intrigued me. Unwritten Law was in that mix as well; where other bands have hung up their laces (or, in the case of Blink, tossed their shoes around in the air…
Elbow — Build a Rocket Boys!
So when the band’s new album, “Build A Rocket Boys!,” showed up with a bunch of mushy, mid-tempo pop tunes, I was very, very confused. There is nothing on “Boys!” that even suggests that this is the same group of “Grounds for Divorce.” There are string-laden arrangements, maudlin lyrics, weird arrangements that include steel drums, and…
Lelia Broussard — Masquerade
Lelia Broussard’s “Masquerade” is an unassuming, bouncy, acoustic-based female singer/songwriter record that I unabashedly love — even though there’s absolutely nothing unique about it. It’s an inversion of Adele’s “21”: While Adele is working hard to take the world by storm with her gravitas and emotive power, Broussard will soon be breezing through the indie…
Ricky
Allow me to explain: Single mom Katie (Alexandra Lamy) meets Paco (Sergi López, “Pan’s Labyrinth”) at the factory where they both work. They share a cigarette, then a bathroom stall and, thus, bodily fluids. From this one-break stand, Katie gets pregnant and, presumably because she and Paco work with chemicals, the resulting son, whom they…
The Squeeze
The other, a decade-earlier crime drama now available as a manufactured-on-demand DVD through Warner Archive, is perfectly surprising — in part because it features Stacy Keach donning a British accent and occasionally his birthday suit. Keach plays Jim Naboth, ex-Scotland Yard and current alcoholic. His first words in the movie? “Piss off!”That utterance sets the…
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry / Race with the Devil
Even the lowest of his low-budget vehicles bear far greater repeat value. Case in point — or two, to be exact: Shout! Factory’s double feature of “Dirty Mary Crazy Larry” and “Race with the Devil.” With regard to 1974’s “Dirty Mary Crazy Larry,” those title adjectives aren’t just there for rhyme; they have reason. Fonda…
Emergency!: The Final Rescues
Detailing the goings-on of Los Angeles County paramedics, firemen and medical practitioners, the Jack Webb-produced “Emergency!” lasted six long seasons on NBC. Its unofficial seventh comprises the contents of Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s double-disc “Emergency: The Final Rescues,” collecting all six of the 90-minute made-for-TV movies that aired between 1978 and 1979. These telefilms play…
Mad Men: Season Four
The good news: That gives newbies plenty of time to catch up. True, that’s no salve for the chapped hides of fans, but season four, now on Blu-ray and DVD, was so splendidly rich, a revisit is worth the effort. Plus, once 2012 comes around, you may need the refresher. “Mad Men”’s fourth year —…
South spark
“Is that what Oklahoma sounds like these days?” he yelled. Yes, it is. Held March 15-17, the first official SXSW showcase for Oklahoma bands, sponsored in large part by the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, went a long way to taking Sooner music out of stereotypes and into reality in listeners’ minds. From the Ramones-esque…
Kids get opportunity to ‘Shine On’
“Shine On!” will show kids and their parents how to build simple circuits using LED lights, which they then will turn into an accessory that can be worn, said Laura Vaughn, education officer for the museum. “The workshop is very hands-on and allows the kids to get up-close and personal with science,” she said. “I…
