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New Hess film oddly hilarious

By Tyler Weaver

- Thu, 11/05/2009 - 22:28

For about an hour and a half it’s OK to be a nerd. In fact, if you don’t get in touch with that inner, sci-fi loving self while watching “Gentlemen Broncos,” you’ll probably find yourself twiddling your fingers out of boredom.

The new film from Jared Hess, director of “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre,” takes us into a new world of spacey awkwardness.

In classic Jared Hess fashion, this movie opens with a creative montage filled with retro sci-fi book covers for each prominent member of the cast and crew. The 1969 hit from Zager and Evans, “In the Year 2525,” sets the tone and hurls the viewer back in time. Lasers, spacesuits and rockets: you’ll get it all.

“Broncos” tells the story of Benjamin, a home-schooled introvert with the social tenacity of a grapefruit, who aspires to be a prodigious sci-fi novelist like his idol, Dr. Ronald Chevalier.

New album is 'typical Taylor'

Thu, 11/05/2009 - 21:53

By KELLI KING

Country star Taylor Swift has been doing pretty well with her albums topping charts and receiving the VMA award for best female video for the song,“You Belong with Me.” This probably contributed to the release of Taylor Swift’s newest album.

On Oct. 26 the Platinum Edition of Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” album became available to the public. Along with all the songs that were on the original album that came out last November are six new tracks and a DVD.

Five of the tracks are new songs never released before, “Jump Then Fall,” “Untouchable,” “Come in with the Rain,” “Superstar” and “The Other Side of the Door.” There is also a piano version of her hit “Forever and Always.

"The Book of Basketball" more than just stats

By David Mortimer

- Thu, 11/05/2009 - 21:51

At first glance, “The Book of Basketball” is 700 pages worth of NBA facts and figures provided by ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons, affectionately known as “The Sports Guy” by his legion of readers.

Those statistics, however, are not the heart of Simmons’ monumental work, nor were they intended to be. Simmons himself argues that basketball and its players are impossible to grasp on stats alone, which is why he conducted three years’ worth of research watching game film and reading dozens of basketball books to put the numbers in their place.

Blogs: “The Pioneer Woman Cooks,” is adored by all

Thu, 11/05/2009 - 18:27

By EMILY JAMES

BYU folk dancers perform in Iranian performance

By Alexandra Hall

- Thu, 11/05/2009 - 15:36

Politics aside, the tradition of Iranian music and dance will live on by educating and entertaining audiences in a folkloric performance.

Eastern Arts presents Worldance 2009: Iran Zamin, honoring Robert de Warren, performing tonight at 7 p.m. at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah.

The performance will feature folk dancers from BYU, Eastern Arts International Dance Theatre and AVA Persian Music Ensemble.

“Eastern Arts has been doing this show for about 20 years and we have been at Kingsbury Hall for about 10 of that and we have done world dance featuring different countries in Eurasia, countries with a large Muslim community,” said Katherine St. John, director of Eastern Arts.

Gallery Stroll offers new shows and exhibits

By Kristin Neil

- Thu, 11/05/2009 - 15:01
Photo courtesy of Elise Lauren Photography.

For all the art lovers, the Gallery Stroll will have new and exciting shows and exhibits for all to see young or old.

The Gallery Stroll tonight in Downtown Provo from 6 to 9 p.m. will have artists, musicians and exhibits on display to see and hear all night long.  From the Covey Center to the Terra Nova Gallery there will be plenty to see. Outside The Vintage Flea Market at Velour Live Music Gallery, the band Moses will play along with an artist doing a demo at the Window Box Gallery.

Moses has been playing together for more than a year. The members came together because they are passionate about playing and writing music. They will be playing folk and folk/rock songs, and said they get inspiration from just about everywhere and love to do what they do.

School of music faculty composer recital tonight.

By Damon McNeil

- Thu, 11/05/2009 - 14:55

 

Hours of hard work come to life tonight in the sounds of a music professors newest pieces to be performed for the first time.

Brigham Young University’s School of Music will present associate professor and composer Neil Thornock in a free concert tonight at 7:30 in the Madsen Recital Hall. The recital will feature seven of Thornock’s pieces being performed for the first time.

“His music is post minimalist … very ecstatic and exciting to listen to,” said Christian Asplund, an assistant professor in the school of music. Asplund said his music invokes several emotions. “It carries you away, it’s like a roller coaster ride.”

Jason Hewlett to perform at Covey Center

By Jason Sweat

- Thu, 11/05/2009 - 14:48
Photo courtesy of Covey Center for the Arts

Elton John, Jim Carrey, Ricky Martin, Led Zeppelin, Louis Armstrong, facial exercises, The Chipmunks and the Raptor are all elements of a local comedian’s show to take place tonight.

Jason Hewlett is a Utah native who has gained recognition nationally for his one-man comedy routine. Danae Friel, marketing coordinator for the Covey Center for the Arts, said in a press release that Hewlett has done many high profile shows, most notably “Legends in Concert” in Las Vegas and also CBS’s “Jerry Lewis MDA telethon.” His show will be at the Covey Center for the Arts tonight at 7:30.

Hewlett is no stranger to Utah Valley and particularly BYU.

Interactive Graphic: A look at Battle of the Bands

By Ashley Anderson

- Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:57

Let the battle begin: Our Dilemma

By Kristin Neil

- Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:33

Eight bands take the stage, three songs to perform and only two votes to determine the winner of BYU’s Battle of the Bands. One of the bands, Our Dilemma, will take the stage tonight in the WSC Ballroom.

Our Dilemma consists of four musicians from BYU: Casey Duke, Tarun Ash, Peter Chun and Adam Wadsworth. Duke and Ash had been playing together for about 10 years when Chun joined them three years ago. Wadsworth recently joined the band as the missing piece that completed its sound.

“For lack of a better description I would say that we play alternative rock,” Chun said. “Our sound blends the cleanliness of an acoustic guitar with the grunge of an electric and a driving rhythm section while Casey’s unique vocals punch through.”

Let the battle begin: Goodnight Annabelle

By Kristin Jensen

- Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:33

Goodnight Annabelle is ready to take Battle of the Bands by storm.
The band is comprised of Sam Giovanini, Mike Shaver, Morgan Shaver, Jaren Soelberg and Byron Garvin.

“We’re kind of alternative rock, with pop-punk influences,” said Garvin, who plays guitar.
The name, Goodnight Annabelle, comes from the name of Mike and Morgan Shaver’s hometown, Annabella, Utah.

“We thought Annabelle sounded like a cool name to put another word in front of,” said Morgan Shaver, who joked that he was considering changing his name to Ricky Shox, “and… it was night time.”

On their MySpace, the band cited Dashboard Confessional, Something Corporate and Relient K as a few of their influences.

Let the battle begin: Can't Stop Won't Stop

By Tyler Weaver

- Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:31

Provo and hip-hop are usually two ideas you wouldn’t want to entertain in your brain at the same time for fear of spontaneous combustion. Can’t Stop Won’t Stop may not make you burst into flames, but this two-piece group is blowing up.

The forging of this ’90s-esque hip-hop duo began back in May as the collaborative effort of Davey Hawkins and David Peterson.

“I’ve been into hip-hop ever since I was 12 years old,” Hawkins said. “Me and the kids I grew up with were into freestyle rhyming. I was always really into hip-hop culture.”

The two immediately began recording and collaborating with local talent. They even recruited members of BYU Jazz Synthesis to lay down horn tracks, giving Can’t Stop Won’t Stop the refreshingly funky sound that brands them.

Let the battle begin: The Young Hurricanes

Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:30

By PARKER SMITH

A lot of crazy things can happen in a college dormitory, especially when a battle of the bands is on the horizon.

One such dormitory phenomenon is the electro-rock group The Young Hurricanes.
The group formed three weeks ago, plenty of time to prepare a repertoire for the upcoming contest.

Emmet Florence, who plays keyboards and sings for the group, said their performances make up for the lack of experience.

“We’re really focused on giving our viewers a good show,” he said.

According to Florence, The Young Hurricanes use uncommon instruments like trombones to create a unique sound.

One song, for example, features the ticking of a wristwatch amplified through a guitar pickup.
The band’s influences include The Killers, U2 and Shiny Toy Guns.

Let the battle begin: Atl Atl

By Alexandra Hall

- Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:29

Who knew that when these four middle school tikes met in Brigham City they would one day form together to create the band Atl Atl.

With Tom Brinton and Dallin Gunther on guitar and vocals, Tim Eaton on bass guitar, keyboards and back-up vocals and Taylor Spencer on drums, Atl Atl will be sure to entertain.
Brinton describes the band’s sound as a conglomeration of different styles but could be compared to The Strokes or Phantom Planet.

The band was formed in 2003, took a two-year leave when the four served missions and reformed when all were reunited at BYU.

“We love writing music. We want to change the world and third and mostly we want to meet babes,” Brinton said.

Atl Atl said that they believe that there is enough degrading music out there and it is about time for someone to bring something uplifting.
 

Let the battle begin: L.O.U.D

By Jason Sweat

- Wed, 11/04/2009 - 22:28

A new band, L.O.U.D, is making a lot of noise around the area and will be competing in the upcoming Battle of the Bands.

The band recently formed and consists of four people: Jordan Rose plays drums and also plays in Synthesis, Jared Young is the singer and has performed lead roles in the Young Ambassadors, Aaron McMurray plays bass and toured internationally with a rock band before his mission, and Dave Lemke plays the synthesizer and has played in Imagine Dragons, Synthesis and Young Ambassadors.

The group decided spur of the moment to perform for Battle of the Bands and joined hastily to compete. The band’s interesting sound was sufficient for it to qualify to compete.

“We play electronic/dance music,” Lemke said. “We sound something like if you had Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20 singing for Daft Punk.”