Entertainment – Page 73 – The Western Howl

Stephanie Blair | Staff Writer

On Jan. 15, Rusty Clanton released his EP “Big Bear, Little Bear.” The Tennessee-native singer-songwriter has grown a substantial following in the last five years through YouTube and touring with the likes of Tessa Violet, dodie and Emma Blackery.

For those unfamiliar with his work, when Clanton asked his fans on Twitter to name other acts that his work sounds similar to, followers listed acts from Vance Joy to Bonnie Tyler, from Bon Iver to Sleeping at Last and Passenger.

This addition to Clanton’s discography brings a new aspect to his work: more complex arrangements. Typically, Clanton’s recordings have a fairly low production value on the instrumental side of things — his vocal arrangements are more processed or layered, with many a self-made harmony to be found. However, this new album incorporates piano, keyboard and drums, among other things. All of this new for fans of the folk-turned-indie rock singer.

Though all of the tracks bring something to the EP, “Comfort” is, by far, the best of the seven. Tackling themes of loneliness, faith and the road to self-growth, the vocals and melody carry the otherwise minimal lyrics.

However, “Dirty Words” comes in at a close second place. An upbeat sounding, jarringly juxtaposed piece about breaking up, the song is a true gem for those who have lived through the same experience: “If one more person tells me / ‘hey listen, man, at least I bet you’ll get some good songs out of it’ / I’ll sell my things / and drive my car as far out west as it will go / and keep on going if I can”.

If I were to have a complaint, it would be that the songs don’t flow in a connected way, which I only want because I’ve come to expect it, since his last EP did that so well.

Clanton’s last EP “Calm and Normal,” was released in 2016. Though the two EPs are not distinct from each other thematically, this album holds the production value that “Novels” brought to the table in every song.

For those looking for an easy listen, “Big Bear, Little Bear” is an excellent choice. For longtime fans, it’s a signal of big things to come from Rusty Clanton in the coming years. As a longtime fan of the person and faithful listener of his music, I could not be more heartened by Clanton’s latest effort.

Contact the author at sblair13@wou.edu

Photo by: rustyclanton.bandcamp.com

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Harmonica player steals spotlight in jazz performance

Stephanie Blair | Staff Writer

Under a wash of colored lights — which would shift throughout the night, from reds and purples to blues and greens — four men took the Rice Auditorium stage on Jan. 19 for one purpose: to play jazz.

The quartet was composed of: DJ Ginyard on bass; Shedrick Mitchell on keyboard, organ and piano; Nathaniel Townsley on drums; and headliner Gregoiré Maret on harmonica. The group were old friends, Maret explained after their introduction.

But the four were not the only musicians on stage that night. For a few songs before the intermission, the quartet was joined by vocalist Christie Dashiell.

“An incredibly talented young woman — I honestly think she is one the most talented singers of her generation,” Maret said of Dashiell, just before she took the stage. “I feel really honored … that she accept the invitation and she’s going to be here performing with us tonight.”

The group played songs off of Maret’s newest album, “Wanted,” which was released in April 2016. In the performance program, Maret is quoted as saying, “There’s a lot about this record that is about my past to where I am now. I wanted to acknowledge not just who I am but how I came to be what I am now.”

Part of that story is growing up in Geneva, Switzerland to an African-American mother and Swiss father. Part of it is going from studying at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Genéve to New School University in New York. Part of it is transitioning from a student and a backup musician to taking the spotlight.

Maret has received praise from critics at The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Zeal NYC and many others for his melodies and ingenuitive harmonica compositions. And critics aren’t the only ones who love him. Though Maret was the focus of the Smith Fine Arts stage on the night of the performance, he’s built a strong career out of working alongside legends both in the jazz world and out: Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Elton John and Sting, to name a few.

Maret’s music is available on iTunes, Amazon, sunnysidezone.com and Soundcloud.

Contact the author at sblair13@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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New exhibits come to Hamersly

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

For Hamersly Library, the beginning of term means the opening of new second and third floor art exhibits. The exhibits officially opened on Jan. 8 and Jan. 5, respectively. “Painting for the fun of it,” a watercolor display by local business owner Larry Sykes, is located on the second floor and “Beyond Watching,” a mixed media exhibit by visiting professor Xianzhu Tu, is located on the third floor.

The work shown in “Painting for the fun of it” is the result of Sykes being hesitant to learn how to paint. Before he and his wife moved to Monmouth, she bought him watercolor lessons. His artist’s statement describes the initial hesitation he felt towards the craft, “he knew nothing about painting watercolors but eventually gave in and found he had a knack for it. After a couple lessons his teacher said, ‘no more lessons, you get it, just paint.’”

As the work on display showcases, Sykes has an affinity for near-photorealistic pieces. His sense of detail is what initially drew Jerrie Lee Parpart, Archives and Exhibits Coordinator, to his work, “I see the exhibits program as a way to teach outside of the classroom … to spark interest in things that you normally wouldn’t have in your classroom, or to augment that which is already being taught in a class,” she said. “Specifically with Larry’s work, it’s a different way of looking at the world. He has an eye to look at mundane things … to just see the details.”

In Tu’s “Beyond Watching,” the artist has chosen to display multiple digital and ink images, as well as sculpture and installation pieces. One installation involves a bunch of small heads arranged in a pile, while another utilizes a large, square display case to show sand-made mountains atop a mirror.

“The exhibition shows a series of art practices based on my personal cultural experiences of self-reconstruction from observation, perception, questioning, reflection, and awakening. Beyond watching, returning to one’s real self is the ultimate appeal of my artistic expression,” explained Tu in her artist’s statement.

While the foyer of the third floor gallery is used to display the aforementioned pieces, the two gallery rooms are arranged with Tu’s digital and ink images.

“With her work, I was very excited about the idea of combining both communication and art,” said Parpart.

In addition to these two exhibits, Hamersly Library is also hosting a smaller exhibit on the second floor for the Polk County Historical Society. In February, the library will also house a 22-panel collage that traces 3,000 years of disability history.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

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Cannon Gallery highlights digital magic

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 17, artist Ryan Woodring came to the Cannon Gallery of Art for the reception of his installation, “Unveiling World Tour.” The installation has been up since Jan. 11 and will remain in the gallery until Feb. 9.

In his series of projected pieces, Woodring performs a digital magic trick — he alters pre-existing video clips from the various unveilings of the replication of the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra. The recreated arch was made into a 3D model and then sent around the world on an unveiling tour. In Woodring’s altered clips, rather than the cloth being lifted to reveal the recreated arch, it’s lifted to reveal nothing.

“Unlike most monument unveilings, the recreated Triumphal Arch is not aimed at permanence. It is meant to be disassembled and reassembled for the purpose of unveilings and digital dissemination,” says the artist’s statement. “Woodring’s act of removal looks to isolate the magic trick, allowing the fullness of the unveiling spectacle to circulate while making room for emptiness, hypocrisy and loss to be revealed.”

Woodring’s clips — the unveilings from New York City, London and Florence — are projected onto the walls of the Cannon Gallery.

“This is the first show we’ve ever had that is only projections and video,” noted Paula Booth, Director of the Cannon Gallery. In the past ten years, the gallery has featured five exhibits that use projection as a focal point.

Solely using projection in this exhibit may allow viewers to extract more meaning from the collection of pieces. “You can almost think of it as one artwork, like the gallery itself becomes the artwork. You can look at it really superficially, just watching the video and seeing what’s going on … it’s captivating just to watch. But then when you read his statement and realize that there’s many layers to what’s happening visually,” said Booth.

The next exhibition in the Cannon Gallery will open on Feb. 21 and will feature hanging relief sculptures by David George Andersen, the late Chief Preparator for the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, “I think it will be a slightly challenging exhibit for some folks. His work is commentary on politics, on religion, on all those things that make us uncomfortable to talk about,” said Booth.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

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Review: “The Post”

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Before going to see the film, I had heard relatively nothing about “The Post” or the Pentagon Papers scandal that it follows. Regardless, the film was an engaging and empowering political thriller that boasted impeccable acting.

The film follows the publisher and executive editor of The Washington Post — Katherine Graham, played by Meryl Streep, and Ben Bradlee, played by Tom Hanks — as they try and play catch-up with The New York Times in an effort to expose Vietnam era U.S. war secrets. Before The Washington Post can obtain enough evidence to write their own articles about the secrets, President Nixon tries to shut The New York Times’s articles down.

The release of this film couldn’t have come at a better time; “The Post” felt like an homage to the free press. The movie pits The Washington Post and The New York Times against each other, emphasizing The Washington Post’s involvement and stifling The New York Times’s. Though this made for a more intense and dramatic storyline, it felt unjust. I loved the sense of journalistic fervor presented throughout the storyline.

For the greater part of this film, I was ready for Spielberg to blow it with Graham’s character. True story or not, I almost resigned myself to the fact that Streep’s character would be lessened to the part of frail, flighty woman and that her male counterparts would have to intervene to save the paper. However, instead I witnessed an incredibly moving comeback. Streep could play publishers for the rest of her career and I would be content; her depiction of Graham was incredibly moving.

Hanks was extraordinary in his role as well; his character is driven and unrelenting.

One of my favorite things in “The Post” was the underlying sense of female empowerment. It would’ve been easy to make Graham the only speaking female role. However, the movie is powdered with minor female characters that emphasize Graham as a role model to women.

“The Post” was fantastic. It isn’t the type of movie that will keep you thinking about it for days after you see it. That being said, it’s memorable, it’s engaging and the acting is incredible.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

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Western welcomes Celtic music

Nikita Williams | Freelancer

On Jan. 13, musicians Eric Rigler, Dirk Freymuth and Kira Ott held an exciting and high energy concert as part of Western’s Smith Fine Arts Series.

Rigler and Freymuth had just come back from their 2017 PBS TV special “Celtic Journeys: Songs and Soundtracks,” where they created a musical panorama of the Celtic spirit and energy that revealed parts of the Celtic culture.Together, the three musicians played wonderful music from Ireland and Scotland as well as music from the movies “Braveheart” and “Titanic.”

Rigler is a legendary bagpipes player and has played in movie soundtracks such as “Braveheart,” “Titanic,” “Men in Black 3” and “Cinderella Man.” He has performed on “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” as well as other TV shows.

In addition to being a professor at Western, Freymuth is also a gifted player in guitar, lute, baroque mandolin and viola da gamba.

Ott is one of the most in-demand musicians of the Celtic scene in Los Angeles, California. Ott teaches, performs and records traditional Irish fiddle.

During “Celtic Journeys: Songs and Soundtracks,” Rigler played Irish Uilleann pipes, Scottish small pipes and whistles; Freymuth played acoustic guitars; and Ott played the fiddle. During the concert, both Rigler and Freymuth noted how much they enjoyed using a looping pedal both while recording traditional Celtic music and while playing it live. It was amazing to see something so intricate being played on the Rice Auditorium stage.

The concert was high energy, fast-paced and interesting to watch. All three performers had an amazing on-stage connection with each other. Their movements while playing their instruments and their enthusiasm after the show had finished were evidence for how much each performer loved the music they played. It displayed their love of Celtic music and happiness in sharing it with the audience.

Rigler, Freymuth and Ott played with energy and enthusiasm — you could see their passion for this type of music. With a packed show and such wonderful music being played, it was truly a night to remember. The next show in the Smith Fine Arts series show is “Grégoire Maret: The Gospel According to Grégoire Maret,” on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.

Contact the author at nwilliams15@wou.edu

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Low-key shows to stream

Michelle Bonilla | Freelancer

“The OA”

When a young woman returns home after having been missing for the past seven years it becomes a joyous event for the once small town who have all but assumed her dead. However, everyone is shocked once they discover that the once missing blind girl who lived down the street has regained her sight. Her parents and the FBI plead for her to tell them about her disappearance but she just won’t talk. This trippy sci-fi show will have you questioning faith and reality as your mind reals to discover who is telling the truth and why are they lying.

“Castlevania”

She showed him kindness and love and they burned her at the stake. Inspired by the classic video game series by the same name, take a journey into this animated series in a midlevel land called Wallachia. The legendary Count Dracula takes his vengeance upon the town that brutally murdered and falsely accused his beloved wife. He unleashes an army of monsters upon the land and the only ones who can stop him is a disgraced demon hunter a magician and his exiled son. This show has a perfect mixture of dark humor and drama that perfectly in captures this gritty tale of vengeance and bloodshed if you like movies like Nosferatu and Berserk then you will have very high regards for “Castlevania.”

“Frontier”

Jason Momoa from “Game of Thrones” shines in this gritty and intense historical drama series as he plays a part-Irish, part-Cree outlaw named Declan Harp. Harp goes head to head against the Hudson Bay Company and their monopolization of the fur trade within the Canadian borders. Declan Harp is a smart and dangerous fur trader with a dark and mysterious past who enlist the help of an Irish pauper who doubles as a spy for both Harp and the english soldier in the New world. If you enjoy TV shows like “Outlander,” “Viking” and “Penny Dreadful,” then you will love Frontier.

North and South

“North and South” is a British television series based upon the Elizabeth Gaskell’s Victorian novel by the same name. The show follows a young woman named Margaret Hale as her and her family leave the quaint countryside in the south of England after her father leaves the church and moves up into the industrial city in the north. The family struggles to adjust themselves socially especially after they meet a predominant family known as the Thornton’s who own a successful cotton mill within the city. Margret is faced with many issues facing gender, class and social expectations. However, her feelings for the town’s people seem to clash with her unknown attraction towards the cold young bachelor Mr. Thornton, the owner of the mill. If you have ever enjoyed films like “Jane Eyre,” “Pride and Prejudice” or “Anne of Green Gables” then you will enjoy this romantic series that proudly features a strong female lead who is not afraid to question society and all of it’s injustices.

Contact the author at mbonilla17@wou.edu

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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Review: “Big Bear, Little Bear”

Harmonica player steals spotlight in jazz performance

New exhibits come to Hamersly

Cannon Gallery highlights digital magic

Review: “The Post”

Western welcomes Celtic music

Low-key shows to stream

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