09.17.09
The Kickback makes it to RollingStone.com
Former local band The Kickback has been mentioned in the Sept. 17 Hype Monitor section of RollingStone.com:
The Band: The Kickback
The Buzz: High drama Chicago-based rock band (with at least one very rabid fan) conjures the very best parts of the Veils and the Walkmen and the Killers, writing lean, nervy songs that snarl and snap. Guitarist Billy Yost has a marvelously agonized voice and he wrenches notes from his larynx, hurling himself against the songs’ propulsive rhythms.
Listen If: You’ve got a thing for high drama, or you like songs that move fast and singers that collapse faster.
Key Track: The sneering “Roman Regret,” a song boasting a guitar line that snaps and crackles like a cut electrical wire and Yost at his worked-up, Pentecostal best.
For more information on The Kickback, check out this The Volante article from Fall 2008.
09.15.09
Kayne West is a meme!
In case you were avoiding contact with anything on the Internet or TV the past two days, you might’ve missed Kayne West interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech during the VMAs Sunday night. While initial viewing of said video will cause a strong case of secondhand embarrassment and righteous anger in regard to Mr. West, the Internet has been quick to turn his rude behavior into a hilarious new meme.
Whether its subbing Kayne’s outburst for Rep. Joe Wilson’s during President Obama’s speech last Wednesday:
Or photoshopping Kayne into other speeches, important historical moments, or moments in cinema:
The denizens of the Internet are bringing the lulz at Kayne’s expense.
RIP Patrick Swayze
Actor Patrick Swayze, known for his iconic roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost,” has passed away at 57. Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008, and according to his publicist, he died at home with his family by his side.
02.01.09
Super Bowl Teaser Spots: Part Two
Here’s part two of the post on the Super Bowl teaser spots. Please see the first post for trailers of G.I. Joe, Transformers 2 and Star Trek.
Land of the Lost
My childhood is crying in despair right about now. It could be entertaining, but I guess I was expecting a bit more than just Will Ferrell doing his usual routine with dinosaurs involved.
Up
Oh, Pixar. You certainly know how to come up with some interesting concepts for animated features. Looks good and visually stunning, but I think I need another trailer to convince to go see this one.
Fast and the Furious 4
Does this even need a comment? The action scene at the end of the spot had me rolling my eyes instead of squealing about the special effects.
Year One
Hilarious. I hadn’t heard anything about this movie before I saw this spot, but I definitely want to go see it now.
Super Bowl Teaser Spots: Part One
The Super Bowl teaser spots are now online – including the first Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen trailer, which Michael Bay said wasn’t supposed to go up online until next Friday, as well as ads for Pixar’s Up and – I know everyone is chomping at the bit for this one – Fast and the Furious 4.
G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra
Looks interesting enough and it has all the qualifications for a summer movie flick, but it’s not high on my must-see list. Maybe once more commericals come out and I get more of a feel of the plot, it’ll start looking more appealing. The Eiffel Tower effect looked amazing though.
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
…
I will get back to you as soon as I pick my jaw up off the floor. Transformers 2 is at the top of my “Must-See-in-Theatres” list and just think: if this is 31 seconds of complete and unending awesome, what’s the rest of the movie going to be like?
(Answer: Plenty of crass humor, explosions, lots of gratuitous shots of Megan Fox, slow motion heroic shots of the military, explosions, cool cars, giant robot fight sequences, oh and did I mention explosions? This is Michael Bay we’re talking about, after all.)
Star Trek
Many of the shots are from one of the earlier trailers, but there’s some new footage in there, including what looks like an attack scene on San Francisco and a cool sky diving scene.
Please see the second post for the trailers of Up, Land of the Lost, Year One and Fast and the Furious 4.
So what do you think? What Super Bowl teaser spots have you wishing it was summer movie season already? Which ones have you shaking your head and mourning the loss of all good things in the world? Share your thoughts below.
Edit: It appears the Transformers 2 trailer may be getting yanked from YouTube. My original link disappeared shortly after this post and I’ve put a second one in place. If it doesn’t show up, that’s probably why and you might have to go hunt down a version to see it for yourself.
11.19.08
Plain White T’s concert photos
I attended the Plain White T’s show at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls yesterday, and here’s a couple photos of the Plain White T’s and their opening act, Meg & Dia.
The PWT’s played songs from their latest album “Big Bad World,” including “Sunshine” and “1, 2, 3, 4.” They closed the show with “Hate (I Really Don’t Like You)” and came back for an encore of their famous hit, “Hey There Delilah” which had the whole crowd singing.
Dia from Meg & Dia.
Meg & Dia
Plain White T’s lead singer Tom Higgenson came out to perform a duet with Meg & Dia titled “Bored of Your Love” to a live audience for the first time.
10.06.08
Photos from “The Voice of the Prairie”
Here are several photos from the USD Theatre 2008 production of John Oliver’s “The Voice of the Prairie,” starring Phil Johnson, Ty Hudson, Kevin Kelly, Katie Henrichson, Erin Gallion, Miles Brindley, Krysta Dziak, Tom Crouse and Eric Adams.
“The Voice of the Prairie” is the story of David Quinn and his unlikely rise to fame on the radio in the 1920s. David tells stories of his childhood adventures with his Poppy and his childhood love interest, Frankie the Blind Girl. Directed by Roberta Rude, “The Voice of the Prairie” performs Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Wayne S. Knutson Theatre.
Leon Schwab (Kevin Kelly) tries to convince David Quinn (Ty Hudson) to tell his stories on air for Schwab's program, "The Voice of the Prairie."
Davey Quinn (Phil Johnson) holds Frankie (Katie Henrichson) after an emotional moment in the play.
Davey and Frankie prepare to jump off a moving train boxcar.
David and Frankie are reunited after many years.
Photos by John Larson/The Volante.
