The Free Press is bringing back a Reviews section after some absence. We hope to review plenty of events around town. Check back frequently and if what\'s going on is any good.
Arts & Culture
If you want to get your political
juices flowing early this crucial
election year, reading George W. Bush vs. The Superpower of Peace by Harvey Wasserman and Bob Fitrakis should do the trick.
The book’s subtitle, How a failed Texas oilman hijacked American democracy and terrorized the world, effectively summarizes this compilation of Columbus Free Press columns by Wasserman and Fitrakis.
The paperback begins with a cogent compilation of evidence that Bush would have lost both the popular and electoral vote in the 2000 presidential election if it hadn’t been for the pre- and post-election dirty work done by his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and the conservative U.S. Supreme Court, which stopped the recount of votes in the Sunshine state.
Wasserman and Fitrakis draw on numerous credible sources to document that Bush wasn’t elected president so much as he was coronated king. The product of a royal family whose roots of power were nurtured by the profits of a banking company that allegedly laundered money for Nazi Germany, Bush quickly changed the nation’s course as if by divine right.
The book’s subtitle, How a failed Texas oilman hijacked American democracy and terrorized the world, effectively summarizes this compilation of Columbus Free Press columns by Wasserman and Fitrakis.
The paperback begins with a cogent compilation of evidence that Bush would have lost both the popular and electoral vote in the 2000 presidential election if it hadn’t been for the pre- and post-election dirty work done by his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and the conservative U.S. Supreme Court, which stopped the recount of votes in the Sunshine state.
Wasserman and Fitrakis draw on numerous credible sources to document that Bush wasn’t elected president so much as he was coronated king. The product of a royal family whose roots of power were nurtured by the profits of a banking company that allegedly laundered money for Nazi Germany, Bush quickly changed the nation’s course as if by divine right.
A Review of We are Everywhere: the irresistible rise of global anticapitalism, Edited by Notes from Nowhere collective; Verso Books, 2003
(AGR)-- There is a rumbling beneath the global foundation of money and power. Sometimes you have to listen carefully, putting your hand to the floor to feel the vibration of thousands of people hacking away at their concrete cage as they organize their neighborhoods into self-governed communities, or when South African activists illegally hook up water to a family's house that could not afford to pay the water bill. Other times you can't help but notice as the foundation cracks in places like India as farmers burn a field of genetically modified cotton planted by Monsanto; or when thousands of activists lay siege to the IMF/World Bank meetings in Prague. For those who have not felt this rumbling of discontent, reading We are Everywhere: the irresistible rise of global anticapitalism may very well feel like an earthquake.
(AGR)-- There is a rumbling beneath the global foundation of money and power. Sometimes you have to listen carefully, putting your hand to the floor to feel the vibration of thousands of people hacking away at their concrete cage as they organize their neighborhoods into self-governed communities, or when South African activists illegally hook up water to a family's house that could not afford to pay the water bill. Other times you can't help but notice as the foundation cracks in places like India as farmers burn a field of genetically modified cotton planted by Monsanto; or when thousands of activists lay siege to the IMF/World Bank meetings in Prague. For those who have not felt this rumbling of discontent, reading We are Everywhere: the irresistible rise of global anticapitalism may very well feel like an earthquake.
I hadn't seen Jackson Browne in five years and I was really excited. The last time I did see him, all I can clearly
remember was the beautiful gold trimmed bouquet of white flowers that Jackson had given me. This was the first gift Jackson
gave me; I had no idea that it wouldn't be the last.
Men and women more than two and three times my age filled the lobby. I tried to listen into random conversations, but all the noise seemed to blend together. In the ocean of people, the attire varied; fan-wear of Jackson Browne, extremely fancy clothes, and sweatshirts. Most fans were in line for overpriced beer, probably asking them selves the same questions. What could they expect from the new acoustic tour? Would Jackson still be the same now as he was thirty years ago?
The auditorium was completely black. Jackson appeared onstage, a white light directly on him, and everything fell silent as he strummed his guitar; a shiver ran down my back. Browne sounded full and his voice was beautiful and all that interrupted him were his excited fans.
" Play 'The Patriot!' "
Men and women more than two and three times my age filled the lobby. I tried to listen into random conversations, but all the noise seemed to blend together. In the ocean of people, the attire varied; fan-wear of Jackson Browne, extremely fancy clothes, and sweatshirts. Most fans were in line for overpriced beer, probably asking them selves the same questions. What could they expect from the new acoustic tour? Would Jackson still be the same now as he was thirty years ago?
The auditorium was completely black. Jackson appeared onstage, a white light directly on him, and everything fell silent as he strummed his guitar; a shiver ran down my back. Browne sounded full and his voice was beautiful and all that interrupted him were his excited fans.
" Play 'The Patriot!' "
COLUMBUS, OHIO---"I'm running for Queen of the World," says Bette Midler, who
may already have won the title. "I'm sure I can do a better job than that
schmuck in the White House."
For those of you unfamiliar with the Yiddish language, the word "schmuck" has many translations, but "duly elected competent and honorable President of the United States" is not among them.
As for Ms. Midler, words---even in Yiddish---fail to describe her talent, range, wit and humor, though "Divine" is a good start. Her Saturday night "Kiss My Brass" show here at a packed Nationwide Arena (population: about 7,500) was a total knockout. Anyone in a city about to be graced by her amazing tour (check www.bettemidler.com) should get thee to the venue.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Yiddish language, the word "schmuck" has many translations, but "duly elected competent and honorable President of the United States" is not among them.
As for Ms. Midler, words---even in Yiddish---fail to describe her talent, range, wit and humor, though "Divine" is a good start. Her Saturday night "Kiss My Brass" show here at a packed Nationwide Arena (population: about 7,500) was a total knockout. Anyone in a city about to be graced by her amazing tour (check www.bettemidler.com) should get thee to the venue.
The most damning indictment of George W. Bush's administration occurred at Victorian's Midnight Cafe on October 17. The performance by social issue satirist and songster Dave Lippman gave new meaning to the Bush-CIA riff.
Lippman, portraying George Shrub, the world's only known singing CIA agent, invoked a political power last captured in the film "Bob Roberts." Lippman, like Tim Robbins, understands the need for singing reactionaries.
Shrub billed himself as a member of the Committee to Intervene Anywhere. The organization's philosophy sounded strikingly similar to Richard Pearl and Dick Cheney's Project for a New American Century. Shrub's explanations have that "I'm a half-wit on speed" with a low-IQ quality so reminiscent of our incumbent President. His parody of a CIA agent proves hilarious primarily because the rhetoric is so near to classic Bush-isms.
Lippman, portraying George Shrub, the world's only known singing CIA agent, invoked a political power last captured in the film "Bob Roberts." Lippman, like Tim Robbins, understands the need for singing reactionaries.
Shrub billed himself as a member of the Committee to Intervene Anywhere. The organization's philosophy sounded strikingly similar to Richard Pearl and Dick Cheney's Project for a New American Century. Shrub's explanations have that "I'm a half-wit on speed" with a low-IQ quality so reminiscent of our incumbent President. His parody of a CIA agent proves hilarious primarily because the rhetoric is so near to classic Bush-isms.
Jackson Browne is a class act that keeps getting classier.
From "Running on Empty" and "Doctor My Eyes" to "For Everyman," "The Pretender" and "Late for the Sky," Jackson has been a mainstay of the rock scene for thirty years. He's also been a pillar of strength for the movements for social justice and environmental sanity. His countless benefits have helped grassroots organizations work for peace in Latin America, fight nuclear power, and much more.
Now he's on that riskiest and most demanding of musical ventures, a solo acoustic tour.
How many rock icons could sit on a stage alone and truly hold an audience for a full concert? A loud band armed with riffs and theatrics, amps and antics, can roll over a lack of real talent. Rock is an industry built on hype, short-term profits and one-hit wonders.
But with more than a dozen albums, Jackson is still writing and recording songs that resonate emotionally, politically and spiritually. He can also perform them acoustic, on a bare stage, with warmth and genius.
From "Running on Empty" and "Doctor My Eyes" to "For Everyman," "The Pretender" and "Late for the Sky," Jackson has been a mainstay of the rock scene for thirty years. He's also been a pillar of strength for the movements for social justice and environmental sanity. His countless benefits have helped grassroots organizations work for peace in Latin America, fight nuclear power, and much more.
Now he's on that riskiest and most demanding of musical ventures, a solo acoustic tour.
How many rock icons could sit on a stage alone and truly hold an audience for a full concert? A loud band armed with riffs and theatrics, amps and antics, can roll over a lack of real talent. Rock is an industry built on hype, short-term profits and one-hit wonders.
But with more than a dozen albums, Jackson is still writing and recording songs that resonate emotionally, politically and spiritually. He can also perform them acoustic, on a bare stage, with warmth and genius.
1) "The Cuckoo," a humanist, pacifist, feminist, indigenist film
about a Soviet soldier, his Finnish enemy, and a Lapp woman who takes
them both in, when they have each escaped sentences of execution by
their respective armies. None of them speaks a language either of the
others can
understand. There is no preaching by any of them about anything. But
when a Russian writer or director wants to be humanist, no one of any
other nationality can hold a candle to him.
2) "Camp," not a documentary but filmed in an actual summer camp for would-be theater and other performers in their teens and younger. As performers they are so extraordinary that I think the casting directors (plural) deserve Oscars. But the film is about adolescents. There isn't a single false touch.
2) "Camp," not a documentary but filmed in an actual summer camp for would-be theater and other performers in their teens and younger. As performers they are so extraordinary that I think the casting directors (plural) deserve Oscars. But the film is about adolescents. There isn't a single false touch.
It's easy to bash the movies we've been fed this summer. ANGELS2, MATRIX 2,
X2, BLONDE 2, T3... so many of them mere shadows of their mediocre predecessors.
Boring boring boring. Of the mainstream summer stuff, only PIRATES seems to
have some zip. And, to put it in perspective, PIRATES is based on something
in a Disney theme park.
But in reality, summer theater goers have no reason to complain. There are three---THREE---world-class winners to be seen on the silver screen right now. They're all kid-friendly. They've all been at one theater---the Drexel East---though SPELLBOUND has moved to the Arena Grand.
SPELLBOUND was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. It lost to BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, which gratefully gave Michael Moore his 45 seconds to blast the Bush Administration in front of the entire world. Thank you, Michael. We needed that, and we hope you get the chance again next year, and for many years to come. .
But in reality, summer theater goers have no reason to complain. There are three---THREE---world-class winners to be seen on the silver screen right now. They're all kid-friendly. They've all been at one theater---the Drexel East---though SPELLBOUND has moved to the Arena Grand.
SPELLBOUND was rightfully nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. It lost to BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, which gratefully gave Michael Moore his 45 seconds to blast the Bush Administration in front of the entire world. Thank you, Michael. We needed that, and we hope you get the chance again next year, and for many years to come. .
Published by: Foxrock Books
(Dec. 2002)
Paperback: 201 pgs., 10 illustrations by author: $12.95
It didn’t take me seven days, the length of mourning for the dead in Judaism, to read Sitting Shiva – more like seven hours straight. But it was time well spent with the first book of Elliot Feldman’s Detroit trilogy. There’s a dash of Elmore Leonard here, mixed with a pinch of Bukowski’s realism, but I like to think of the terse prose as Hemmingway on acid.
Not that Feldman wrote the book on acid, but it reads like a Woodstock generation acid flashback. Feldman’s been a cartoonist since the 60s, appearing in the early underground press including Detroit’s legendary Fifth Estate. His ten illustrations give the book that 70s Hunter S. Thompson/Ralph Steadman feel.
Having worked 20 years in Hollywood crafting one-liners and game shows for TV producers, Feldman doesn’t waste prose. When he’s funny, it’s often poignantly so. The lines are honed into gritty, tragic humor reflective of the fate of my hometown, the Motor City.
Paperback: 201 pgs., 10 illustrations by author: $12.95
It didn’t take me seven days, the length of mourning for the dead in Judaism, to read Sitting Shiva – more like seven hours straight. But it was time well spent with the first book of Elliot Feldman’s Detroit trilogy. There’s a dash of Elmore Leonard here, mixed with a pinch of Bukowski’s realism, but I like to think of the terse prose as Hemmingway on acid.
Not that Feldman wrote the book on acid, but it reads like a Woodstock generation acid flashback. Feldman’s been a cartoonist since the 60s, appearing in the early underground press including Detroit’s legendary Fifth Estate. His ten illustrations give the book that 70s Hunter S. Thompson/Ralph Steadman feel.
Having worked 20 years in Hollywood crafting one-liners and game shows for TV producers, Feldman doesn’t waste prose. When he’s funny, it’s often poignantly so. The lines are honed into gritty, tragic humor reflective of the fate of my hometown, the Motor City.
DRALION: Cirque du Soleil
At the Arena District
At the Arena District
Used to be, going to "the circus" meant the smell of sawdust, roasted peanuts
and elephant droppings everywhere. There were funky ringmasters, fat ladies,
trapeze artists and burbling snotty children running wild.
Such shows do still exist. They may, indeed, be with us forever, their hokey
charm and cheap admission price hopefully proving sufficient to sustain them
in a jaded, high-tech age.
But as everyone knows, there's a new circus in town---the Cirque du Soleil, a
$500 million multinational mega-monster on the brink of establishing its own
Las Vegas venue (as opposed to CircusCircus, which is SO 20th Century). Right
now the Cirque plays Treasure Island, which also features an hourly pirate
show on the strip.
But one of its many travelling affiliates has set up shop in the Arena
District, right where the old Ohio Pen used to sit. It's playing to justly packed
houses, to the extent that---despite its pricey admission tab--- its stay here
is being extended.
A tent it has, one that indeed seats 2500 people. Sawdust? Elephants?