Comment Archives: stories: Music, Arts & Culture
Re: “Heavy Load”
After reading (trusting?) David's reviews for some time now, I must say this scathing commentary shows little to do with reality. I saw this production this past weekend and found it to be totally wonderful. The Circus pre-show was totally unique (and fun) and I was fascinated to see this small 'experimental' theatrical space so easily transformed into many diverse locations - "three to four minute scene changes" is also fictitious. The characters were real and the acting was engaging and there wasn't one person in the audience with me that did not appear to be emotionally touched. My hat goes off to Mr. van der Horst and his marvelous cast for taking something cinematic and bringing it to life for a grateful audience. From now on I'll take David Templeton's reviews with a block of salt.
Re: “Hall of Fame”
Rohnert Park is anything but uneventful. There is always activity here, and it is a hub of education(SSU and Credo and Tech Highschools),shopping, resources for industry, and much more. It just turned 50 therefor it is still aquiring a culture. It has a more open door when it comes to allowing commerce because it is not trying to hold onto the past. The community is young and cultures are well mixed. In the years to come the Green Music center will have a big impact. I hope a bigger impact than gaming and Hooters.
Re: “Steee-rike!”
I'm the actor who spoke the line with which this review begins. It was a sell-out house the night David Templeton attended, and the second the show ended, the audience, after an hour of rapt attention and visible tears, was on their feet wildly applauding. For an hour the whole theater had felt like a troubled union hall, actors improvising as angry, hungry workers in and around the audience, as scenes unfolded before them. After the play there was a passionate discussion of current labor and immigration issues in Santa Rosa that felt like Act 2 of Odets' play. If you prefer rehashed Broadway comedies and musicals, God bless you. This is theater with cajones for people who have same (mutatis mutandis for gender.) PASSION, PULSE, AND POWER: that's my idea of theater, but, like I say, if you haven't got the ha'penny to feel it, God bless you. There's plenty of kultchural events around town (a few of which this reviewer lovingly describes) that will make you laugh and leave catchy melodies in your head without the bother of an opened heart or an exploded mind. On the other hand, if you want theater that will take your breath away--well, not my friend David's, apparently, but most of the rest of the audience--THIS IS IT.
Re: “Full Speed”
Hell yea Gabe way to hit the nail on the head -Sebastian a.k.a. Johnny Haggard
Re: “Pease Porridge”
It's a rare and wonderful romp of joy-suitable for all ages-in fact kids love it.
Re: “Pease Porridge”
This is a great play! Corrections : The director is also the playwright, Thomas Patrick Devon Chapman, and the show time is just under 2 hours.
Helen Moran
Re: “North Bay Music Awards: Success!”
Thank you so much Gabe and everyone who made this night such an incredible success! I could not have dared dream that we would get a full-time band out of this crazy experiment. The crowd was amazing and all of the performers were outstanding. We have a vision to collaborate with all the talent in this area and document it well to put this place on the map as a cultural mecca. We want to collaborate with other artists to form a collective to make this happen. If you are in on this project, holler at me on DyaTribal's Facebook page.
Re: “North Bay Music Awards: Success!”
Congratulations to all the winners as well as the spontaneous talent that erupted on that stage. Thank you to the judges and audience for such an overwhelming response to our project, formerly known as "band #5". As Gabe announced the night of the event we have, indeed, decided to enter into a relationship as a "real" band. Keep an ear out for DyaTribal.
Re: “Sea Change”
To some, a modern masterpiece. To others (like Targét), a threat to civilized society. How odd...
Re: “Humpin' Around”
I sold my vinyl copy of that album to The Last Record Store so I could afford a Betty Davis reissue. Total win.
Re: “Come Together”
Lennon's musical roots went deep, and I'm sure he is proud to see his roots sprout new life. Refreshing article from a writter that truly "gets it".
Re: “Come Together”
Another great piece coming from Ms. Abrahams. She has a way of reporting the subject without getting in the way of the swing.
Meanwhile, she inspires me to order this LP.
Re: “Come Together”
Compelling article. This writer not only has compelled me to dig out my old Lennon LP's but has compelled me to enter the Napa Valley Opera House's phone number on speed dial.
Re: “Fierce Love”
Delightful!!! Ms. Miller will be fun to watch as she refreshens Eleanor and brings her to life once again!
Re: “Doin' It Again”
JBoog came in strong this evening! Even knew my name .. #SNWMF
Re: “Lapse of Reason”
I love The Floyd as much as the next person who grew up in the 70s and 80s but the reissue craze IS getting out of hand. I remember picking up the double LP of "The Wall" at Caldor (an East Coast department store) for $9.99 when "Another Brick In The Wall, pt. 2" was still topping the charts. I was ten years old and had very little idea what I was in for.
You might say I "grew into" the album as it inspired me to go back into the rest of the catalog and acquire everything they ever released. I purchased the 8-track of "Dark Side Of The Moon" at an antique store in Kingston, NY for a quarter and was peeved when I found out that the two hits, "Time" and "Money" had been spliced in the middle due to the technological limitations of the format. Yes, I even have sought out most of the solo albums (Nick Mason's horrible experiments with Carla Bley, "Fictitious Sports" being the worst of the bunch).
The deluxe 180-gram audiophile vinyl reissue of "The Wall" that comes with bonus stickers or whatever is $50-- that's as much as I paid to see Gilmour's version of the band live in 1987...after waiting in line and camping on pavement for a day and a half (Syracuse, Carrier Dome). I saw The Wall performed by Waters and friends in BERLIN (1990) for $22 a ticket. And that was a benefit show!
This current wave of releases makes one ponder whether the greed is driven more by Capitol or the Band. I'm guessing David, Nick and Roger are doing quite well and have been for some time. These new reissues are for fetishists who have extra money to spend on unnecessary items and/or are Capitol Records stakeholders.
Re: “Rockin' the Vines”
Very, very happy with music offerings that keep appearing. For so long the creativity of the prog rock era has been stifled by the three minute formula...... So to hear of a group that is compared to "Supertramp" and Fleetwood Mac makes my heart sing.
I will look for this group and their creative offerings, as well as enjoy the opportunity one of the founding members of Supertramp, Roger Hodgson the "Voice" and creater of most of that groups hits. For his concert dates check out: http://www.rogerhodgson.com/documents/tour…
As for "Rockin the Vines" I hope to experience them at our "Summerfest" in Wisconsin soon...... Thank you for your creativity......
This Week's Issue
Re: “Heavy Load”
With all due respect to the Bohemian, I also had the absolute incredible fortune of attending The Elephant Man at Spreckles this Sunday afternoon and was nothing short of impressed. I found the performance excellent, and thought it honored John Merrick's legacy beautifully. Not an easy play to pull off, and not light fare, granted. Excellent acting, great scenery (no three or four minute scene changes, nor any actors who took an accidental misstep only to find it publicly written about(!)), took risks that paid off, and excellent costuming. BRAVO! Apparently my sentiments weren't alone given the standing ovation from every audience member. I'm kind of hard on plays too, admittedly. I have spent time onstage myself, teach children's theater, grew up attending theater (thanks, mom!!) and most likely have higher expectations than the average attendee. The play affected me emotionally afterwards, as this play should. I highly recommended it if you appreciated the film by the same name. The experimental side show at the beginning was the risk that paid off! We were instantly transformed into Merrick's world upon entering the space, and walked through an old fashioned carnival freak show just to get to our seats! I feel strongly about putting in a good word here after the obvious dedication of the cast, crew and director has largely gone unacknowledged, or worse, ruined. The one thing I do, however, agree on is David Templeton's take on Peter Warden's performance. ABSOLUTELY STELLAR! Really and truly. What talent! Everyone involved should be proud, proud, proud. All I can think is perhaps this review is strangely akin to Merrick's misunderstood life. Catch it while you can!!!