WEAKEND PLANNER
APPROACHES LANDFALL
THE POPCULT TOP 10
1. Shelby Lynne, Identity Crisis (Capitol): After a foray into streamlined pop, this supremely gifted singer-songwriter returns to her roots—literally—with an incandescent new set. Produced and written entirely by Lynne, and dominated by her voice and guitar, it’s an intimate document of a performer at ease in any genre. First single “Telephone” is a winsome shuffle brimming with easy charm; the ballad “If I Were Smart” is a timeless heartbreaker. She’s honky-tonk angelic, meanwhile, atop the classic piano-and-strings arrangement of “Lonesome,” a superb homage to forebears like Patsy Cline. But the minimalist setting doesn’t prevent Lynne from rocking, as on the fierce, Memphis-style rave-up “Gotta Be Better,” the rather shocking blues “Buttons and Beaus” and the gospel-inflected “10 Rocks.” It’s all tied together by that smoky, sexy, infinitely expressive voice. Crisis? What crisis?
—SG
2. Scarface (Universal): Brian de Palma’s 1983 cult classic has become The Godfather of the hip-hop community, its “The World Is Yours” credo taken to heart without irony by many of today’s bling-bling rap superstars. Universal is re-releasing a theatrical version to celebrate its 20th anniversary on a brand-new, two-disc DVD complete with commentary from today’s rappers, along with the standard director and writer commentaries. The studio sent out a promotional kit that includes “Don’t get high on your own supply” bubble bath, a “Say ’ello to my little friend” rubber ducky, a “Never underestimate the other guy’s greed” monogrammed hand towel and a “In dis country, you gotta make the money first” cigar. The film’s remarkable set pieces hold up well—the famous chainsaw-in-the-shower scene, Pacino busting in on his sister snorting coke in the men’s room stall at the Babylon, the bathtub scene and the climactic shoot-out remain vivid 20 years after their debut. And while many wanted to see hip-hop music added for the movie’s re-release, Giorgio Moroder’s synthetic disco score perfectly captures the era’s excess. —RT
3. Blue Moves: We know we focus a lot on events in L.A. and New York, and we owe those of you who don’t live in either city a nod. Happily, folks in the Bay Area and Chicago will have an opportunity to sample L.A. blues extravaganza Cafe R&B—featuring the astounding female singer Roach—over the next two weekends. These fiery traditionalists will be at S.F.’s Biscuits & Blues on Friday, 9/19 and Eli’s in Oakland on Saturday, 9/20; they’ll blow into the Windy City for a gig at Buddy Guy’s Legends on Saturday, 9/27. Don’t miss out. Seriously. Roach is as exciting a blues singer as has come along in decades. Keep track of the band’s movements here. —SG
4. Joss Stone, The Soul Sessions (S-Curve): She’s 16, white, English, has a voice soaked in classic soul, and her first album (all cover songs) is as good as it gets. She’s joined primarily by ’70s soul vets Little Beaver on guitar, Timmy Thomas on organ, and Benny Latimore on piano, but for her one modern track, the White Stripes’ slightly retitled “Fell in Love With a Boy,” The Roots step up and bring the funk, with Angie Stone and co-producer Betty Wright on backing vocals. Why do these luminaries lend their time? Because Stone is the real deal; a little Aretha, a little Gladys, a little Roberta, a whole lotta oh damn. For all the times you bitch about how there aren’t any good records out there, or are cynical about teenage artists, this is proof that there will always be talent somewhere, and when it shows up, you have to pay attention. Read that first sentence again. Her first album of original material will arrive next year, and she’s playing a few live shows in New York and L.A.
—DS
5. Eddie Izzard, Sexie, at Wiltern Theatre, L.A.: The English transvestite comic is probably best-known for his one-man HBO special, Dress to Kill, and his appearances in the films Velvet Goldmine and Peter Bogdanovich’s Cat’s Meow as Charlie Chaplin. Still, it was a little astonishing to find out he’d sold out six nights at the venue, with the likes of Angie Dickenson, Larry Gelbart, Stewart Copeland, Rebecca de Mornay and Mick Farren representing the wide swath of his cult appeal. Looking like a combination of Jim Bailey as Judy Garland and a butch Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot, the Yemen-born comic may appear a bit odd (he does 10 minutes on his new, prosthetic breasts), but his shtick is surprisingly normal. There are ruminations on the inner thoughts of dogs, airport security and a trip to the dentist, as well as riffs on Greek mythology, Neanderthal man and Mars getting closer to Earth. As the British version of Robin Williams, Izzard has a crowd-pleasing ability to make it seem like he’s making it up as he goes along. The audience is so adoring, in fact, that Izzard himself seems almost bemused. If the fact he can do no wrong doesn’t hurt him in the long run, he could be the biggest transvestite superstar ever…which isn’t exactly the faint praise it seems. —RT
6. No Easy Ride: Our planner’s usually about fun stuff to do, see and get. But sometimes the weekend presents an opportunity to think about other people. An increasingly paranoid and xenophobic atmosphere in the U.S. since 9/11 has made the lives of immigrant workers—no picnic in the first place—even tougher. Fortunately, the AFL-CIO’s Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride is stepping up to speak out for a frequently disenfranchised community. They’re not only preparing for a huge NYC rally on Oct. 4 (in the shadow of Lady Liberty, of course) and registering voters nationwide, but also collecting donations online. Click here to learn more. —SG
7. Good Vibrations: Speaking of good works, the Musicians Assistance Program—an incredible organization that helps musicians and industry people get access to addiction recovery and treatment resources—is among the beneficiaries of An Evening With Brian Wilson and Friends at UCLA’s Royce Hall on Oct. 16. Presented by the Carl Wilson Foundation, the evening will not only feature Carl’s brother and fellow Beach Boy Brian but also Elton John, Sugar Ray and several special guests. To be a sponsor, advertiser or Patron, call The New Philanthropy Group at (310) 899-9191. MAP’s big yearly throwdown, meanwhile, takes place Nov. 5 at the Beverly Hills Hotel; honorees will be Steven Tyler, Jimmie Vaughan and John Branca. Tyler, Vaughan and Diane Schurr are among the scheduled performers. Contact coordinator Harvin Rogas at (310) 559-9334 for more info. —SG
8. You Say Tomay-To, I Say Tomah-To: Sometimes I get scared to use certain 50-cent words because I am afraid I'll flub the pronunciation or use it in the wrong context. Well, Columbia Journalism grads, you shall intimidate me no more! Check out the Merriam-Webster dictionary online at: m-w.com. Not only will it give you the definition, it’ll pronounce it for you as well. —MR
9. Quote of the Week: Oh, the terrible things that happen to the rich and famous. Take, for example, Beyonce Knowles, who complains that a word she claims to have coined has been inducted into the dictionary. Check it out: "I wrote a song called ‘Bootylicious’ maybe three years ago. And now the word is in the dictionary. To be honest, I hate the word," Beyonce (whose Fighting Temptations flick opens Friday) told Reuters. "It's just a word, like someone is feeling confident. I wrote it because I was gaining weight, and I felt like for all the people that feel like I do right now, I'm going to write this song and make people proud of their curves. But now everywhere I go, everybody is saying, 'booty this' and 'booty that,' and it's really irritating." Poor baby. —VN
10. Minders Over Matter: San Francisco’s always offbeat and charming Future Farmer label has another appealing release in the latest from The Minders, a winsome blend of heady pop and garage gusto sparked by some truly cheesy organ. Founders Martyn Leaper and Robert Schneider met in Denver in 1995, when the latter was still in indie-pop institution The Apples in Stereo; within a year, they’d released their first seven-inch single. Leaper’s wife, Rebecca Cole, handles drums and sings sometimes. Soon, Leaper and Cole relocated to Portland and the band underwent some personnel changes. But the spirit of melody wedded to experimentation shines through on their latest disc, The Future Is Always Perfect. The songs bloom with surprising clarity out of the sonic murk, like dahlias out of dirt—notably, infectious opener “It’s So Hard,” the VU-by-way-of-XTC rocker “Here Goes Nothing,” the trippy, bouncy “Go Wave Your Wand” and the playful “Hahaha,” which features Cole in vocals. Email [email protected] to check it out. —SG
YOUR WEAKEND WEATHER
Hurricanes mean rain and flooding. Do not panic. Do not get your safety information from a sorry excuse for a music-industry website. In New York City, this hurricane thing will affect you through Friday night, but the rest of the weekend should be pleasant and cloudy. Highs in the mid-70s, lows right about 60. More clouds than sun on Saturday, but it’s all sun on Sunday. That’s why they call it Sunday. In fact, a study just published in Scientific American asserts that there is a significant change in temperatures between weekdays and weekends, proving that people have an effect on climate. Also, do not get your climatology information from a sorry excuse for a music-industry website. In Los Angeles, it will be partly cloudy, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. —David Simutis
SPLIT-SCREEN SADNESS
John Mayer, Heavier Things (Aware/Columbia): Don’t be misled by the numerous smiley faces dotting Mayer’s playful diagrams charting the “mood” of each song on his second album (see fig. 2 in the booklet). The 25-year-old artist’s follow-up effort is suffused with downbeat emotions—longing for a life wished for but not yet lived, along with a palpable sense of loss, both experienced and anticipated, as his “quarter-life crisis” seemingly intensifies. Indeed, far from intimating louder guitars, the album title refers directly to a thoughtful young man’s search for a rhyme and reason to adult life. Largely written on the road (see fig. 4), these songs imagine what it would be like to have a real home.
Far more impressionistic and introspective than Room for Squares, the new album is an extended love song to nowhere—nowhere, at any rate, that presently exists for him—and a meditation on the things that really matter. “Home Life,” “Come Back to Bed” and “Daughters” address the theme of putting in roots overtly, while “Bigger Than My Body,” “New Deep” and the gorgeous “Wheel” consider it metaphorically. Because of its subject matter, the album is necessarily more contemplative and less ebullient than its predecessor; indeed, other than the first single and the penultimate “Only Heart,” it is bravely, almost defiantly, understated, as if Mayer feels he’s earned the right to speak from the heart rather than from the top of his lungs or the side of his mouth.
For this reason, it would be a mistake to attempt to play Heavier Things as background music, an act that effectively obscures its deeply felt but delicate nuances. Better to do what a friend did on the day she got hold of the album: She pointed the car north on the Pacific Coast Highway, opened the windows and cranked it up, and when the record ended, she turned around and listened to it again on her way back home. She had exactly the right idea—this is a record made for listening to when you’re going (or wishing you could go) home.
—Bud Scoppa
RECOLLECTION OF THE FABLES
The Effects From Mixing Nostalgia and Beer at R.E.M.: Half the audience at the Hollywood Bowl had a gut-check the other night at the R.E.M. concert. No matter how great the show was—and I am of the opinion that it was a fine show—many are grumbling about the evening. All the negative responses have been comparing the Bowl show to previous tours like Fables, Document or Green—shows that occurred 14-17 years ago. The grumbles aren't about missing Bill Berry, they are about hearing "Don't Go Back to Rockville" and remembering that 15 years ago they were in college and had wild ideas about their futures. If you are not content with your place in life, that flashback doesn't react well with three beers in your system and your wife patiently enjoying the night with you.
Maybe we've been lucky with R.E.M. tours over the past decade that don't mine the hits and opt for " Star 69" and "What's The Frequency Kenneth?" We're lucky because those songs don't have the power to transport us back to the days when we discovered alternative rock on the local college radio station. But here were the hits from the last 22 years, not just "Fall on Me" but "Orange Crush" and "The One I Love." Each song was a must on a mix tape. Each song has an association with a girlfriend, a break-up or a study break.
We scoff at reunion shows with Journey, Styx and REO Speedwagon. We are going to scam our way into $250 gold circle seats to see 60-plus year-old Simon & Garfunkel close each night with "Sound of Silence." After watching the crowd watch R.E.M. and hearing the show summaries the next morning, I think I discovered that people of Gen X realized R.E.M. is their nostalgia band—a band they love dearly, but a band whose songs can express a finite distance of how far we've traveled from then to now. Man, how am I going to feel when I go see The Pixies next April? That's another rant for another time. —Michael Ruthig
MORE SHINY ROUND THINGS
Andrew W.K., The Wolf (Island): For his second Island album, the party hasn’t stopped for Michigan’s high-concept, positive-tip rock-onteur, who stretches out on this set of 12 manic, classically infused stomps without missing a beat. Opening with a triumphant refrain hinting at Vangelis’ “Chariots of Fire,” the album takes off on a rock-operatic trip that covers everything from Meat Loaf to late-period Cheap Trick to REO Speedwagon to Andrew Lloyd Weber. True, there’s only one song with the word “party” in it, but all the blood, sweat and aggro tears are still in full effect, from the ratcheted-up speed-opus “Long Live the Party” through the darker “Tear it Up,” meathead-rocker “Totally Stupid” and thumping mission statement “The End of our Lives.” “Just because this life ain’t easy doesn’t make it bad,” he sings. Couldn’t agree more.
—Jon O'Hara
Spiritualized, Amazing Grace (Spaceman/Sanctuary): Few covers have ever gone so far out into space as Spiritualized’s frenzied, droning blast of “She Kissed Me (and It Felt Like a Hit),” and given leader Jason Pierce’s drug-induced jams, the pun doesn’t go unnoticed. Nor does his take on Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, reproduced by guitars ad infinitum. The bluesy, gospel-influenced “Hold On” seesaws between Pierce’s intimate vocal performance, slide and acoustic guitars and harmonica and a blast-off of barely harnessed fuzzed-out guitars. That’s what this album does best; Pierce can make it seem like he’s telling all his secrets before obfuscating his point behind washes of looped noise and the symphonic grandeur of choirs, strings and horns. It’s as beautiful as it is sweeping. —DS
Francesca Gregorini, Sequel (www.francescagregorini.com): This Rome-born daughter of actress Barbara Bach and Count Augusto Gregorini is an actual countess, but her earthy rock has more in common with the populist accessibility of stepdad Ringo Starr. An unabashed sensuality adds alluring urgency to “My Flight,” while “Strange (Tale of Love)” and “Give My Life,” two of four tracks with Ministry’s Howie Beno (featuring backing vocals by Ally McBeal’s Portia de Rossi), ooze the androgynous eroticism of Patti Smith. Exotic touches, like producer John Avila’s charangos on “Oh My,” provide the aural seduction, but it’s Gregorini’s sultry yearning and throbbing guitar on “Big Car You Drive” that consummate the deal. The Pretenders-like “Error of My Ways” and the chemical intimacy of “Sugar Sex,” a collaboration with Moby, build to a fitting climax, leaving you to roll over and smoke a cigarette. —Roy Trakin
NEW YORK MINUTE
As the area braces for the arrival of Hurricane Isabel, concertgoers can take heart knowing that not much was scheduled anyway should power outages, flooding and roof rippages occur. There are just four events to keep on the radar. On Friday, indie-pop princess Juliana Hatfield and Heidi Gluck entertain patrons at Maxwell’s (1039 Washington St., Hoboken). On Saturday, Jonny Lang cranks it up at The State Theatre (11 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ). Also on Saturday, A Mighty Wind—no hurricane pun intended—hits Town Hall (123 W. 43rd St.). It’ll be just like the movie: Mitch & Mickey, New Main Street Singers and The Folksmen turn out the tunes. By Sunday, we’ll be Healing the Divide, literally and figuratively, when artists including Richard Gere, Tom Waits and Philip Glass drop by for a show that goes by the same name at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center (132 W. 65th St.). —Valerie Nome
TRAKIN’S PICKS TO FLICK
Anything Else (DreamWorks)
Premise: Woody Allen’s latest is about an aspiring writer living in (where else?) New York City who falls in love at first sight with an actress, then turns to an aging, struggling artist to help sort it all out.
Stars: Jason Biggs, Christina Ricci, Allen, Stockard Channing, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Jimmy Fallon, Diana Krall
Director: Allen
Thumbs Up: Advance word is it’s Woody’s best in a while, though even that’s not saying much.
Thumbs Down: Ever since the Soon Yi scandal, Allen’s sense of humor has become a lot more arch, awkward and unfunny.
Soundtrack: None.
Website: www.anythingelse-themovie.com/ offers a plot overview in pictures, photo gallery, multimedia section, production notes and a “relationship” test.
Cold Creek Manor (Touchstone Pictures)
Premise: Family moves into a sprawling country house from the city, where a former owner returns from prison and wants his home back.
Stars: Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone, Stephen Dorff, Juliette Lewis, Christopher Plummer
Director: Mike Figgis returns from the indie realm of Hotel and Time Code to the big-budget world of Hollywood filmmaking.
Thumbs Up: Horror with an artful twist.
Thumbs Down: Where have we seen this before? Plenty.
Soundtrack: Hollywood Records soundtrack includes the Mike Figgis score.
Website: www.coldcreekmanor.com features cast and crew information, previews and clips, etc.
The Fighting Temptations (Paramount Films)
Premise: An NYC ad exec returns to his Georgia hometown when his wealthy aunt dies to collect an inheritance, but he has to form a gospel choir to do so.
Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Beyonce Knowles, Mike Epps, Steve Harvey, Montell Jordan, Eddie Levert, Lil’ Zane, Rue McClanahan, Melba Moore, Ann Nesby, LaTanya Richardson, Mickey Rooney, Angie Stone
Director: Amiable hack Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny, The Whole Nine Yards, Greedy, Sgt. Bilko).
Thumbs Up: Music, energy, plenty of broad comedy and Beyonce.
Thumbs Down: Can Gooding and Beyonce strike box office gold?
Soundtrack: High visibility Sony Soundtrax release includes title track by Beyonce/Missy Elliott/MC Lyte/Free, and other cuts by Destiny’s Child, Zane/Montell Jordan, Ann Nesby, Shirley Caesar, Faith Evans, the O’Jays, Angie Stone/Melba Moore, Solange and a duet between Beyonce and P. Diddy.
Website: I couldn’t access www.thefightingtemptations.com, for whatever reason.
Secondhand Lions (New Line Cinema)
Premise: A timid teen is forced to spend the summer by his irresponsible mom with his eccentric (and recently wealthy) uncles on their farm, as he learns about their mysterious past in flashbacks.
Stars: Haley Joel Osment, Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Josh Lucas, Nicky Katt, Kyra Sedgwick
Director: Tim McCanlies (Dancer, Texas), who also wrote the screenplay (The Iron Giant, co-writer of North Shore).
Thumbs Up: McCanlies has shown a deft touch with left-of-center comedy, and Caine and Duvall appear to be acting their Oscar asses off.
Thumbs Down: Could get overly cute.
Soundtrack: New Line Records soundtrack includes original Patrick Doyle score.
Website: www.secondhandlions.com/ includes cast & crew, story, trailers, photos and downloads.
Underworld (Screen Gems/Sony)
Premise: Set in the world of warring vampires and werewolves, it’s a Romeo & Juliet-style story of a romance between a female vampire warrior and a human, who is being hunted down by werewolves for his unique type of blood that can save their race from extinction.
Stars: Kate Becinsale, Felicity’s Scott Speedman
Director: Feature debut for prop designer Len Wiseman (Indpendence Day, Stargate).
Thumbs Up: Could be the sleeper box office hit of the week, with a red-hot active rock soundtrack and the Beckinsale/Speedman sparks.
Thumbs Down: The horror, the horror.. again?
Soundtrack: Lakeshore Records album features A Perfect Circle, supergroup the Damning Well, David Bowie/Maynard Keenan/John Frusciante, Page Hamilton, Milla, Dillinger Escape Plan, Trust Company, Renholder, Finch, The Icarus Line.
Website: www.sonypictures.com/movies/underworld/ lets you watch a trailer, download a game module, downloads, order merchandise.
In This World (Sundance Film Series)
Premise: Documentary-style film follows two teen Afghan refugees as they tru to get to London for political refuge by a human pipeline through Iran, Turkey, Italy and France.
Stars: Jamal Udin Torabi, Enayatullah Jumaudin.
Director: Michael Winterbottom, whose 24 Hour Party People was one of the best films about the world of rock in the last few years.
Thumbs Up: Fascinating subject, timely as today’s headlines.
Thumbs Down: Have we OD’d on war and suffering yet?
Soundtrack: None.
Website: www.sundancefilm.com/filmseries/ has the plot synopsis and nothing more.
DENISE’S WEAKEND COCKTAIL
Since I’ve entered my thirties, I’ve developed compassion for all of those twenty-something boys who used to call me at 3 a.m., begging to come over and “hang out.” I should’ve been more understanding, because it wasn’t their fault. They couldn’t think clearly due to the loss of blood to their brains in order to fuel their most valued possessions. Back then it irritated the hell out of me, but now I simply say, “Come on over, but don’t plan on staying all night.” It’s a fact that men spend most of their twenties looking for their next lay, while most women don’t become sex-crazed until they enter their thirties. It’s a very cruel joke being played on all of us. My cocktail of the week is dedicated to all of the ladies looking for a little booty to tame their raging hormones.
Lay Down and Shut Up!
½ oz. Jagermeister
½ oz. Hot Damn
½ oz. Kahlua
Splash cream and serve over ice
Recently, a thirty-something guy I know said to me that women in their thirties are using booty calls the same way men did in their twenties. This disturbed my guy friend but made me chuckle, because I realized he was right. It seems that he and his male friends have discussed this subject in great length and are feeling discarded, because women want sex from them and then want them to leave—no cuddling, no morning-after breakfast, nothing—bye-bye. He appeared to be bothered by the fact that women are blatantly using men for sex—hmm... I guess the tables have turned. But, when did they turn. I believe single women, once they enter their thirties, have already become independent, self-supporting and no longer in need of an emotional connection in order to enjoy sex. Don’t get me wrong—we still want to find Mr. Right, but who says we have to be single and sexless until he strolls along. We’re adults and we have needs. We make our own money, pay our bills and satisfy our sexual needs, if that’s setting up a regular booty call, then so be it.
When I was in my twenties, I was concerned with how others would judge me if I was sleeping with someone who I didn’t have a relationship with. I was worried about being called a slut or a whore, but now I care a lot less about what others think and more about making myself happy. It’s just sex and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying it, as long as you’re safe and all parties agree to play by the rules.
Nowadays everyone is doing it. Booty calls, or friends with “benefits,” have become some sort of cultural phenomenon. I’ve asked around and realized booty calls are the norm instead of the exception, but unfortunately, the first experience with a new booty call isn’t always a pleasant one.
Top Five Booty Call Nightmares for the Single Gal
1. You reach down to get the first feel, only to be left thinking, “What the hell does he think he’s going to do with that little thing?”
2. It took you longer to shave your legs than it did for him to finish.
3. Upon disrobing him, you discover he likes to wear neon pink bikini briefs and has enough back hair to knit a scarf.
4. You realize your chosen one should be renamed Mr. Jack Rabbit due to his ultra-fast, pounding sexual style, which makes you nothing but chaffed.
5. He won’t leave after sex.
Top Five Booty Call Nightmares for the Single Guy
1. You realize that she’s all natural in all areas, meaning a razor hasn’t touched her armpits, legs or bikini line—ever, and she needs to acquaint herself with the Massengill line of products to fight those not-so-fresh days.
2. Her boyfriend shows up mid-sex and she lets him in.
3. There’s no room for you on her bed because it’s covered with stuffed animals and cat hair.
4. She passionately declares that she loves you after she climaxes and then asks you what you’re thinking.
5. She won’t leave after sex.
De’s L.A. bar pick of the week: If you’re having a hard time finding a booty call, there’ll be no need to look any further once you step inside this joint. The 3 Clubs, located on the outskirts of Hollywood, is a legendary but hard to find dive. The lounge sits on Vine just north of Santa Monica Blvd. and its only marking is a sign that says Bargain Clown Mart, belonging to an old neighboring shop that sold clown costumes. 3 Clubs is dimly lit and very low-key, and you’ll find anyone from young Hollywood hipsters to Harley-riding hotties lounging in the booths. It gets extremely packed on the weekends, and guys might be asked to wait in line, but fortunately, ladies never have a problem getting in.
People always ask me if my drinks are real or if I make them up each week—all of them are real drinks. I find them online, in bartending books or by flirting with hot bartenders—the sacrifices I make for my readers. So keep enjoying my cocktails and your regular booty call, maybe even at the same time. Have a safe and sexy weekend. Until next week—hugs and kisses.
—Denise Bayles
Contributors: Denise Bayles, Simon Glickman, Valerie Nome, Jon O'Hara and Roy Trakin
Special guest: EMI Music Marketing's Michael Ruthig
Edited by Bud Scoppa
