Mount Hood

Western dispara la luz fantástica

Por: Ashton Newton
Redactor de Entretenimiento

Western students have been hard at work rehearsing for the 2017 Spring Dance Concert. Directed by Darryl Thomas, the Spring Dance Concert features 12 different dances from student and faculty choreographers, including a performance from Rainbow Dance Theatre and a guest piece from Tim Cowart.

Students have been rehearsing since January for multiple days a week for the performances, which will be May 11-13 at 7:30 p.m.

One student, Brooke Cross, sophomore elementary education major, recounted her experience preparing for Spring Dance Concert as a positive one.

“It was fun right away. I really enjoy learning choreography. Technique is good in dance classes, but I miss the whole learning a dance, performing it, having the lighting and costuming – everything like that is just really fun,” said Cross.

Cross is performing in two pieces, which has kept her swamped since the first auditions in January.

“I’m performing in a faculty piece done by Sharon Oberst. It’s a tap number and it’s done to three box songs. One is a minuet, one is a rondo and one is badinerie. We wear tuxedos and it’s very fun,” said Cross. “The other one, I’m in a student piece by Jordan Daniels called ‘The Place That Never Changes,’ she’s basing it off of a story about her grandparents house, a special place for her.”

The 12 dances each incorporate the different styles of the choreographers, and each dancer brings their own unique style to it as well. Coming from a dance team background, student dancer Jesse Johnson, first-year undeclared, expressed that working on these dances has been a much different experience than anything she’s done before.

“It’s not dance team, so staging and where your formation is doesn’t really matter necessarily,” said Johnson. “It’s not about the big overall movement, it’s about the little cool things that you get to do because you only have around eight people. Creatively you can do so much.”

The Spring Dance Concert auditions were open for any Western student, so the performance is filled with both dance students and students who just love to dance.

“It’s cool to see everyone from different dance backgrounds come and do a piece that a student choreographed. It’s really cool to be in something like this,” said Johnson.

Johnson is also performing in two dances, both of them student-choreographed.

“One of them is Caitlin Rose’s piece ‘Primordial Awakening.’ It’s kind of a druid dance. There are two main people and we fight until the end, until we come together. It’s powerful and really cool. It’s more ballet heavy, which isn’t my forte, but I really like the music, it’s very tribal,” recounted Johnson. “I’m also really excited for Brittany Hortert’s piece ‘Incognito.’ We’re pretty much running away from something the whole time. We wear sunglasses and a jacket, we look like spies the whole time. We get to play around with character and facial expressions, it’s just a lot of fun.”

Johnson also expressed her excitement for seeing some of the other dances in the Spring Dance Concert that will be performed alongside hers.

“There’s one piece that I’m particularly interested in watching called ‘Nasty Woman.’ It’s a solo piece and the way [Hayleyann Evers] has recorded some choreography ahead of time and will put that out as she dances to music is going to be one that I really want to see. It pertains to what’s going on right now and that’s really cool,” expressed Johnson.

Both Cross and Johnson are excited to put their hard work to the stage and to see the other dances that their fellow dancers have rehearsed.

“I’m excited to perform for the other students and the members of my family that are coming. I’m really proud of the dances that I’m in and I think they’re great,” said Cross.

The Spring Dance Concert will run from May 11-13, beginning at 7:30 p.m. each night in Rice Auditorium. Tickets are available now for $12, or $7 with a Western I.D.

Póngase en contacto con el autor en journalentertainment@wou.edu

Selecciones del editor

Por: Ashton Newton
Redactor de Entretenimiento

Editor’s Recommendation
NPR Music is a great place to hear all about new music, popular artists and music news. Their Tiny Desk Concerts feature a great diversity of artists that actually come to the NPR offices and perform a small concert.
Tiny Desk Concerts will feature anyone from T-Pain to Adele to Alt-J. They’re a great way to see high quality performances from popular artists and to discover new music. The sets can go anywhere from 10 minutes up to 30 minutes.
Each year NPR holds a Tiny Desk

D.R.A.M. performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Jan. 4, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR)

Contest, where musicians can submit their own Tiny Desk Concert and one will win a chance to go to the NPR Offices and perform. 2017’s winner was Tank and the Bangas. In addition to their Tiny Desk Concert, the group also gets to tour through the U.S.
Tiny Desk Concerts support local artists and provide great entertainment. Tiny Desk Concerts are available at npr.org/music and on NPR Music’s YouTube channel.

El descrédito del editor
“Doctor Who” has had a serious decrease in quality over the last few seasons. Episodes frequently feel rushed and supporting actors rarely give passionate performances. The story arcs don’t pack the same dramatic punch as they used to and the Doctor has changed so much in the timeline that he’s lost a lot of the core values that made up his character.
The newest season is no different. The addition of new companions helped to make the show less repetitive, but the episodes are still rushed and the storytelling isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be. The new characters are fun and add a new dynamic to the show, but they aren’t enough to save it from the unmemorable “monsters of the week” and the deus ex machina at the end of every single episode.
Due to it being Peter Capaldi’s final season, the show promises a dramatic season with some familiar faces, but four episodes in, the quality is still subpar.

Review: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”

Por: Ashton Newton
Redactor de Entretenimiento

Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a huge success in 2014. Featuring a cast of obscure characters that fans instantly fell in love with, “Guardians” expanded the Marvel Universe and laid the groundwork for many films to come. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a fun film, like the original, but set on a much smaller scale.

At the film’s start, the team is established and stronger than ever before. Where the first film had to set up a team dynamic, this film just enforces it. The focus is put on strengthening the bonds between the characters, rather than simply making them tolerate each other.

The movie has an expectation that viewers have already seen the original, allowing for them to jump straight into the action. There’s no hand holding as the movie picks up speed, but the character interactions and some jokes would have had very little effect without having seen the original.

That said, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” fails to match the original’s huge scale. The stakes are lower, the villains are weaker and there’s nothing that feels too risky in the film. The original movie expanded the Marvel Universe so much, with connections to other films and diverse locations, that the smaller scale in “Vol. 2” feels off-putting and takes away from the movie.

Marvel is criticized for having overpowered heroes and forgettable villains, but Marvel toys with this concept in new and exciting ways in this film. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” feels very different from other Marvel movies throughout based on its setup and dynamics.

The character interactions are definitely the highlight of the movie. The Guardians are each so unique and their actors have found their groove in such a way that the characters are both hilarious and sympathetic throughout. The newcomers, Yondu, Mantis and Nebula, offer even further depth and more laughs to the team.

Interactions between Starlord and Rocket Raccoon, as well as those between Drax and Mantis, stand out the most in the film. These characters were great foils of each other and added to the overall quality.

Just like the original, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is a fun and hilarious film. Even on a much smaller scale, the sequel offers some fantastic moments of character interaction and humor. It’s not the best or most memorable Marvel film, but that doesn’t stop it from being some great fun.

Póngase en contacto con el autor en journalentertainment@wou.edu

Reseña: "Girlboss"

Por: Zoe Strickland
Redactora jefe

Knowing virtually nothing about the aim for the series, besides that it was based off of a bestselling memoir by fashion connoisseur Sophia Amoruso, I was excited when Netflix announced that they would be making a show aptly-named after the memoir of the same title.

“Girlboss” was overall enthralling and I’ll most likely watch it again.

However, I mistakenly went into “Girlboss” thinking that it would pack the same female empowerment punch that the memoir did; that it would be a show that would make me want to sit down and get stuff done.

At the beginning of every episode, it reminds you that, though the show is based off of a memoir, it’s still a “loose retelling of real events.” Readers of the book should take this warning to heart.

My main complaint about the series is that “Girlboss,” to put it bluntly, is a show built for 20-somethings. The main character Sophia, played by Britt Robertson, is snappy and a bit too immature to find endearing. She’s abrasive, a bit entitled and has a problem with taking any criticism or accepting that she needs help from others- even though she clearly does.

On one hand, these attitudes make her more realistic by not presenting her as an idealized go-getter. On the other hand, it plays into her own inability to connect with the characters around her; Sophia’s narcissism leads to the lack of sustained secondary relationships with the other people in her life, which make it difficult to connect with the character on a deeper level.

The cast of secondary characters is gold: RuPaul as Lionel, Sophia’s firecracker neighbor, and Mobias, a vintage shop-owner played by Jim Rash, were my personal favorite members of the cast. They were vibrant and acted almost as older siblings to Sophia. Sophia’s best friend Annie, played by Ellie Reed provided a breath of fresh air in contrast to Sophia’s tendency to be standoffish. However, the main love interest in the show, Shane, played by Johnny Simmons, occupied space as a doormat for Sophia’s problems.

These characters are all delightful in that they did a good job of being harmless, but they’re all too busy coming to Sophia’s aid to actually get their own sufficiently developed storylines. I cared more about them than I cared about the person the series is devoted to. Their storylines have the potential to be far more interesting than Sophia’s.

The plot was strong enough to maintain my interest, but I don’t expect the show to gain many accolades. There were certain threads that could have ended up either making or breaking the integrity of the show’s heroine, and I found it fulfilling to see how the writers dealt with balancing out everything that Sophia has to deal with.

However, the timing of the show needed a lot of work; they packed two years in a mere 13 episodes, and were inconsistent with how each year was represented. The show takes place between 2006 and 2008, but had references to media and events that occurred after the time period that’s shown. It was difficult to look past those minute details and focus on the storyline at hand.

One of the highlights for me was the soundtrack. The music accompanying “Girlboss” was beautifully chosen; the tracks complement the scenes that they accompany while also being kick-butt anthems suited for a heroine like Sophia Marlowe. The soundtrack is somewhat ‘90s and extremely empowering.

“Girlboss” was good, but that’s all it was. If you’re looking for something that will make you want to rally, I’d skip this and go read the book. If you’re looking to kill a few hours and get your mind off of things, “Girlboss” may be the show for you. “Girlboss” is enjoyable, but I’m not about to shout my love for it from the rooftops.

Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu

Superheros, tacos and fireworks

Por: Ashton Newton
Redactor de Entretenimiento

If April showers really bring May flowers, here’s hoping those come up soon. In the meantime, there are plenty of fun local events both inside and outside to keep busy with.

Keizer Homegrown Theatre’s latest show, “Hearts Like Fists,” is running May 5-7 and 11-13 at 7 p.m. in the Chemeketa Community College Auditorium. “Hearts Like Fists” is a superhero romance that plays to fans of both genres.

“The play is very smart in that there’s nothing supernatural and no super powers. They are crime fighters. It’s grounded in reality,” Director Jay Gipson-King told the Statesman Journal.

Tickets for “Hearts Like Fists” are available now for $15 and can be found at keizerhomegrowntheatre.org.

Salem’s Pentacle Theatre opens their newest show “Leading Ladies” on May 26 at 7:30 p.m. and runs until June 17.

“Leading Ladies,” originally written by Ken Ludwig, is a comedy that finds two down-on-their-luck Shakespeare actors posing in drag as an old lady’s nieces in order to get ahold of her fortune but, when romance gets in the way, things don’t quite go as planned.

Tickets for “Leading Ladies” cost $25 and can be found at pentacletheatre.org.

Leading up to Cinco de Mayo, Salem is hosting the annual Taco Crawl. On May 3-5, participating downtown restaurants will be open for guests to come in and try all the tacos they can eat. The event is all day long and ends with a performance from the Orquestra Pacifico Tropical at Venti’s on May 5.

For more information and a list of participating restaurants, check out tacocrawlsalem.com.

A little further from Monmouth, Portland’s famous Rose Festival begins on May 6 and has events throughout the month. The biggest event in the festival is Portland’s CityFair, running May 26-29. On May 26, the fair opens at 5 p.m. and includes a firework show at 8 p.m. Each day following, the fair runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

CityFair will have exotic animals, music, rides and more. The fair is held at the Portland Waterfront and only costs $8 to get in. Tickets can be found at rosefestival.org.

There are plenty of events this May to take a break from class and hopefully enjoy the sun.

Póngase en contacto con el autor en journalentertainment@wou.edu

Window into the life of a composer

By:Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Western hosted the 13th annual Composers Workshop with guest speaker Dave Metzger on April 28. Metzger is an award winning composer and orchestrator who has worked on feature films such as “Frozen,” “Moana,” “The Avengers” and “X-Men: First Class.” He also orchestrated the music for the “Lion King” broadway musical.

Originally from Corvallis, Metzger found his passion for music at a very young age. In middle school, he began writing music and, after seeing “Star Wars” in 1977, decided that he wanted to become a composer.

Metzger started the workshop by talking about how he entered the entertainment industry. He made a point to note that his success partly came from the friends that he made in the industry.

“I can trace my entire professional career back to one trombone player in college,” joked Metzger.

With a room packed full of student and non-student guests alike, many of whom were in Western’s film composing class, Metzger’s expertise on the subject was met with many questions and a great amount of enthusiasm. Members of the audience asked questions about his connections in the industry and what it was like working with different composers.

One member of the participants asked if working for months at a time in New York and Los Angeles was tough on his family. Metzger made a point that living in Oregon has definitely helped his family life, but on projects like “Lion King” where he’s gone for six months, it can be difficult.

The most recent project that Metzger worked on was “Moana,” so he brought in a sample of the song “We Know the Way” and talked about working alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda to compose it, recounting the experience as a positive one.

Questions from the audience then shifted toward the technical side of composing. Metzger brought in pictures of his setup from home and gave recommendations on equipment and software to buy. Metzger mainly works on film scores from home, video chatting with colleagues in other parts of the country, so having up to date technology and an efficient workspace is important.

Many participants asked about their specific equipment and how to better their setups, especially while being on a college budget. Metzger gave advice on the best equipment and software to buy for maximum efficiency while composing.

Metzger ended the talk with some stories from working on “Frozen.” He first joined the project when he had a single day to create a mockup for the song “For the First Time in Forever” using only the rough draft animation. Impressed by his work, Disney offered him the job to work on every song in the film.

Western’s Composers Workshop offered a great look into the life of a composer and gave guests and students a plethora of tips and inspiration.

Póngase en contacto con el autor en journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “Solid State”

By: Darien Campo | Designer

“Dance like they are watching you – because they are watching you.”

This is one of my favorite lines from Jonathan Coulton’s brand new album, “Solid State.” The 17-track concept record tackles a story about the internet, trolls, artificial intelligence and how love and empathy will save humanity. It’s a complex, gorgeous album and a huge step forward for the internet-based musician.

In 2005, software developer Jonathan Coulton quit his job to pursue his dream of being a musician. He launched the “Thing-a-Week” project wherein he wrote, recorded and released a brand-new song every week for a year straight. Using the internet and Creative Commons licensing as his tools, Coulton managed to completely circumvent the crumbling music industry and build his own rabid fan base by writing geek-rock songs like “Code Monkey,” “RE: Your Brains” and Portal’s “Still Alive.” His 2011 album, “Artificial Heart,” broke away from the geek-focused storytelling of his previous music in favor of a more “elliptical” rock album inspired by producer John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants.

“Solid State” pushes Coulton even further from his monkey-and-zombie-song roots. While the album is a concept record, telling a very specific story, each track stands on its own without needing to be supported by the rest of the tracklist. Songs like “Brave” and “Don’t Feed the Trolls” are very reminiscent of the “Artificial Heart” indie-pop-rock vibes and are very hard to not dance to, even if they are watching you. And then there are tracks like “Wake Up” and “All to Myself” that have a very droning, Beatles-esque feel to them. “Solid State” is a wonderful blend of Coulton’s own soft-rock tendencies with a bit of synth-pop and psychedelic rock thrown in as well.

It’s a challenging album, which is a wonderful surprise, but might be a bit off-putting to some returning fans. Coulton’s previous work covered easy-to-follow, quirky narratives. Co-workers who have turned into zombies, mad scientists who fall in love with their captives – you know, the usual stuff. But “Solid State” tackles much more complex and difficult-to-parse ideas. The record follows a particular narrative, but each song’s lyrics swing wildly around what they’re trying to say.

“That’s my favorite songwriting trick,” said Coulton in an interview with Paste Magazine, “is to say a thing without saying it directly, to let something be revealed by what you’re saying rather than saying it out loud. That’s the kind of songwriting that has always delighted me, and the thing that I always aspire to do.”

“Solid State” is released under SuperEgo records, Aimee Mann’s label. Mann can be heard all throughout the album, providing backup vocals on songs like “All this Time.” Coulton and Mann also collaborated on her most recent album, “Mental Illness.” They are currently on tour together.

For fans who want a little more, Coulton also offers a companion graphic novel on his website. The comic is 132 pages long, written by Matt Fraction and drawn by Albert Monteys.

“Solid State” a challenging album, and you may not like every song the first time you hear it, but this record is worth the relisten. You will find yourself discovering more and more things on every play. Coulton is ever-growing as a musician, and “Solid State” is easily his best work yet.

Contact the author at dcampo13@wou.edu

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