I once played in a band where members lived in Virginia, Baltimore and New Orleans. The long distance relationship may be hard, but it can be done. Adam Smith of Truman Sparks (www.myspace.com/trmnsprx) has been figuring out where he wants to live. He recently checked out Philadelphia, where former locals The Extraordinaires have found a […]
I once played in a band where members lived in Virginia, Baltimore and New Orleans. The long distance relationship may be hard, but it can be done. Adam Smith of Truman Sparks (www.myspace.com/trmnsprx) has been figuring out where he wants to live. He recently checked out Philadelphia, where former locals The Extraordinaires have found a […]
The Astronaut Farmer (PG) From oddball indie auteurs Mark and Michael Polish (Twin Falls Idaho, Southfork) comes this surprisingly straightforward feel-good flick about a former-astronaut-turned-rancher (Billy Bob Thornton) who wants to build a rocket ship in his barn. Everything you expect to happen in this “don’t give up on your dreams” heartwarmer does, but you’ll […]
One night last year, I was standing backstage at The Gravity Lounge listening to Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule together on stage.
“The Amazing Race: All Stars” Sunday 8pm, CBS I’m generally against “all-star” seasons for reality shows. As seen on “Survivor,” the contestants are typically so changed by their previous experiences that there’s almost nothing “real” left, just blatant posturing for the camera. But I’ll make an exception for my beloved “Race”—this is a kick-ass idea. […]
Babel (R, 142 minutes) Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of 21 Grams and Amores Perros) contributes another weighty ensemble piece. This complex, occasionally sluggish rumination on communication (or the lack thereof) in modern-day society takes place in three places at once. In Morocco, a couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) gets involved in a shooting crisis. […]
“Lost” Wednesday 10pm, ABC Delight, Losties, as starting tonight you get a whopping 16 episodes straight, no repeats, to finish out Season 3. Since the producers have started talks with ABC regarding when and how to wrap up the sprawling series, hopefully we’ll start getting some traction on a couple of the lingering plotlines. Some […]
In 1957, UVA engineering student Rowland Johnson spent part of his honeymoon delivering, in a rented truck and with the help of his groomsmen, a four-ton World War II Navy surplus radio transmitter from Washington D.C. to Charlottesville. That sort of dedication is exactly what has sustained volunteer radio at WTJU (www.wtju.radio.virginia.edu) for the last […]
Babel (R, 142 minutes) Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of 21 Grams and Amores Perros) contributes another weighty ensemble piece. This complex, occasionally sluggish rumination on communication (or the lack thereof) in modern-day society takes place in three places at once. In Morocco, a couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) gets involved in a shooting crisis. […]
Lots of great out-of-town bands will stop in town in the next couple weeks, with Yo La Tengo (www.yolatengo.com) and Jonathan Richman at Starr Hill, as well as SH presenting Jeff Tweedy (www.wilcoworld.net) at The Paramount Theater. MV and EE can sound like the Flaming Lips or the Velvet Underground or just their own bad-ass […]
“Top Design” Wednesday 11pm, Bravo First, let me just say: Did not see that coming. I’m referring to the finale of “Top Chef,” which precedes the debut of this new Bravo realty/talent competition. I had pegged either Sam or Elia as the winner pretty early on, and the fact that it’s Ilan vs. Marcel for […]