Wednesday, March 16,2011

The Screening Room

Sci-fi schlock fights a losing ’Battle’ with reality

by James Sanford

Last weekend, you could turn on any TV or access any Internet news site and see horrifying footage of Japanese cities crumbling or being pummeled by massive waves. Or you could go to the movies and watch the destruction of Southern California in “Battle Los Angeles,” an empty-headed attack-of-the-aliens flick.No prizes for guessing which sight was the more disturbing.

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Wednesday, March 16,2011

Curtain Call

On stage this weekend: Golden Tickets, gold records — and black eyes

by Christopher Horb

You don’t need a golden ticket and you certainly don’t need to be an Oompa Loompa to sample the many flavors of the strange and musical world of Willy Wonka. East Lansing High School offers everyone a chance to meet the Candy Man when the curtain rises on “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”.

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Wednesday, March 16,2011

Out of Africa

’Culture ambassador’ from Benin shares his art

by Yang Zhang

Born in the West African republic of Benin, Pierre Adjibogoun learned wood carving at age 8 from his father. As an adult, he has made it his career.Adjibogoun’s work — from wood sculptures to hand-made necklaces and earrings, from batiks to tie-dyes — is on display in the "Reflections of Life" show, through March 31, at Grove Gallery Co-op in East Lansing.

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Tuesday, March 15,2011

Turning sound around

Lansing native delves into experimental music with Loop Goat project

by Rich Tupica

A “loop” is a short section of sound that’s repeated continuously, creating an entirely new track. It’s something Jessica Arnold fully embraces with her solo project Loop Goat.

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Wednesday, March 9,2011

Out of the maw of Minnesota

Globetrotting St. John’s Chorus makes a stop in Lansing during national spring tour

by Lawrence Cosentino

When the 46-voice St. John’s University Men’s Chorus rattles the apses and naves of Lansing’s First Presbyterian Church Saturday, local music lovers will have a chance to witness one of America’s regional wonders without hitting the interstate..

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Wednesday, March 9,2011

For filmmaker-actor Michael McCallum, it's time to get LUCKY

by Mary C. Cusack

On a recent Wednesday evening, the man who just completed the feature film “Lucky” knocks on wood without irony as he discusses his filmmaking experiences. Anyone who knows anything about making movies knows that luck has very little to do with success, and despite his gesture, Michael McCallum places his faith in hard work, not luck.

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Wednesday, March 9,2011

Turn it down: A survey of Lansing’s musical landscape

by Rich Tupica

Two Brooklyn-based bands, Rex Complex and Railbird, joined forces and independently booked a United States tour, which stops at Mac’s Bar Friday. Opening the show are local rockers Narc Out the Reds and Life Size Ghost.

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Wednesday, March 2,2011

Detroit blues star Eddie Kirkland killed in car crash

Guitarist performed in November at Leroy’s Classic Bar & Grill

by Rich Tupica

Detroit blues legend Eddie Kirkland, 87, who played with the likes of John Lee Hooker and Otis Redding, was killed in an automobile accident Sunday while doing what he did since the 1940s ' touring the country and playing the blues.

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Wednesday, March 2,2011

Uncovering the underground press

Former Joint Issue reporter looks back on 1960s Lansing

by KURT ANTHONY KRUG

After writer Ken Wachsberger was released from jail for the first time in 1970 during his senior year at Michigan State University, he was a changed man and had emerged a radical. “Jail changes you; it gives you a whole new perspective," said the 61-year-old from Ann Arbor, who was one of 132 students arrested in 1970 at.

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Wednesday, March 2,2011

A heaven-sent choice

Faith led Deidreanna Potter to become a harpist; now, she's performing at Red Cedar Festival

by Yang Zhang

Growing up in a music family, Deidreanna Potter had to choose an instrument to play. But she didn’t want a common one. Inspired by her Christian faith, Potter picked the harp at age 10. “I was amazed by how many times the harp was called upon in the praise of the Lord, and I thought that must be a pretty good instrument,” she said.