VerThe Vanderbilt Hustler’s Arts su & Entertainment Magazine s JANUARY 20—JANUARY 26, 2010 VOL. 48, NO. 1 NASHVILLE NATIVES

JUSTIN TOWNES JUSTIN EARLE KASE PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 The Regulars

Agent Orange – The Muse JEFF the Brotherhood with MARJ & SPECIAL SECRET GUEST – The End The Claire Lynch Band – Station Inn THE RUTLEDGE Legendary surf/punk rock band Agent Orange roll into Nashville The brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall guarantee to rock your face off Boasting the No. 1 bluegrass album in the country, The Claire Lynch 410 Fourth Ave. South 37201 this Thursday night for a show at The Muse. Such a high-energy, as they take The End by storm this Friday. Embarking on the band’s Band has proven to be a force in the bluegrass community. Touting a 782-6858 adrenaline-fueled show will be explosive at a venue as small biggest tour yet, prepare yourself for melting riffs and surging metal voice that Sara Watkins called “clean and clear as mountain water,” THE MERCY LOUNGE/CANNERY and intimate as The Muse. Formed in 1979, Agent Orange was guitar. Also, prepare yourself for MARJ, an “angry” band born in Claire Lynch offers an evening of bluegrass classics and originals. BALLROOM the fi rst band to actually fuse punk and surf rock, creating a “the bowels of Nashville’s digestive system.” Have fun, and don’t For true bluegrass fans or those just looking to get their feet wet in 1 Cannery Row 37203 very interesting sound that came to help defi ne the Southern forget your brass knuckles. the genre, this band provides the perfect performance. Get your fi ll 251-3020 California scene and infl uenced the genre that came to be known ($5, 9 p.m., 2219 Elliston Place) of twangy banjo this Saturday at the Station Inn. as skate punk. ($12, time TBA, 402 12th Ave. South) BLUEBIRD CAFE ($15, 7 p.m., 835 4th Avenue South) The Breakfast Club – Exit/In 4104 Hillsboro Road 37215 Serving up all your favorite ‘80s hits, The Breakfast Club, the self- Lovedrug w/All the Day Holiday & Empires – Exit/In 383-1461 The Dirty Dozen Brass Band – Exit/In proclaimed “most well-respected, well-traveled, longest-established Exit/In provides audiences with a night full of fresh sounds. Enjoy Since highlighting them in a recent Plug Your Scene feature, it ‘80s music tribute band in the USA,” allows you to throw on your the newly invented music form, “cloud rock,” as Lovedrug rocks out. EXIT/IN 2208 Elliston Place 37203 seems that we can’t escape the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. This Jazz jean jackets and spandex. A local favorite, step into their time Also, be sure not to miss All the Day Holiday, one of Rolling Stone’s 321-3340 and Funk band out of New Orleans brings passion, excitement, machine of rock this Friday night at the Exit/In. 2009 bands to watch, and the cool music of The Empires, a Chicago and a damn good time to wherever they end up. .” Better yet, ($10, 8 p.m., 2208 Elliston Place) band fresh off their debut album. With a lineup like this, it might be STATION INN the show is only a block away from campus at the Exit/In, so you worth the short trip behind campus to check out the show. 402 12th Ave. South 37203 really have no excuse NOT to go. Rachel Pearl w/Kristin Porter & Annie Sellicknd – The Rutledge ($12, 8 p.m., 2208 Elliston Place) 255-3307 ($15, 7 p.m., 2208 Elliston Place) Want a relaxing evening fi lled with blues and jazz? Look no further than The Rutledge. Renowned up and coming jazz vocalist Rachel Black Diamond Heavies w/ Silver Lions 20/20, & Charvelle Swank– THE BASEMENT Sugar Glyder – The Rutledge Pearl graces the stage, offering up 20th century classics from the The 5 Spot 1604 Eighth Ave. South 37203 Indie/alternative rock band Sugar Glyder return to Nashville likes of Ella Fitzgerald and many of Pearl’s own original tunes. Bluesy rockers Black Diamond Heavies will be performing Saturday 254-1604 tonight, taking the stage at the famous Rutledge. The Charlotte ($10, 7 p.m., 410 4th Ave. South) at The 5 Spot. The greasy cigarette-charred duo provides an ideal natives have become renowned for the depth and variety soundtrack for a night of heavy drinking. Grab a friend or two and F. SCOTT’S RESTAURANT AND JAZZ BAR Mercy Lounge 7th Anniversary Celebration: head over to East Nashville — Reax Magazine described the band’s of sound, drawing comparisons of Blind Melon, Remy Zero, 2210 Crestmoor Road 37215 Radiohead, and even Peter Gabriel. If you’re looking for The Non-Commissioned Offi cers, De Novo Dahl & MUCH MORE! – sound as “whiskey sliding down the pulsating human hatch, and 269-5861 something new to add to your iPod, give this band a shot and The Mercy Lounge hitting an empty stomach with a discomforting thud.” What could you’re sure to fi nd at least something you like. Nashville native indie rockers The Non-Commissioned Offi cers take possibly be more persuasive than that? SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY ($ TBD. 8 p.m., 410 4th Avenue South) the stage at the annual Mercy Lounge bash. With cool tunes like ($5, 9 p.m., 1006 Forrest Ave.) CENTER “You Don’t Even Know Her” and “No Means No” the band, led by 1 Symphony Place 37201 Trip Bare & Southbound – 2nd Avenue Live brothers Eric and Jordan Lehning, ensure an electric performance. Mercy Lounge 7th Anniversary Celebration: 687-6500 Join Trip Bare & Southbound as they kick off a new college night Also, be sure to check out the “sometimes glammy, sometimes retro” Space Capone, Heypenny, The Protomen, How I Became the Bomb, series at Nashville’s newest club and bar, 2nd Avenue Live. With rockers De Novo Dahl. Tallest Trees & Armed Forces 3RD AND LINDSLEY a lineup boasting several Vandy grads (remember the student (Free for 21+, 9 p.m., 1 Cannery Row) An army of Nashville heavy hitters is slated to cap off the second-to- 818 Third Ave. South 37210 259-9891 band 4 Play 7?) who have temporarily postponed grad school in last night of The Mercy Lounge’s weeklong celebration. As the venue’s website asserts, it will be a night of “indisputable awesomeness.” favor of pursuing music, Southbound is as true a hometown band Point of Grace — The Ryman CAFE COCO as any, highlighting the essence of Nashville. Having just opened Christian contemporary band Point of Grace bring a new spirit to Known for fun and entertaining performances, How I Became The 210 Louise Ave. 37203 for national touring country artist Trent Tomlinson, Southbound Music City with their unique sound. With two platinum and fi ve gold Bomb is sure to blow your mind. R&B up-and-comers Space Capone 321-2626 is now headlining a show of their own in order to introduce their records, as well as 27 consecutive No. 1 hits, this all-female group and the rough and tumble Protomen guarantee that this is one event sound to more and more people. is worth checking out. you do not want to miss. ($5, 10 p.m., 154 2nd Avenue North) (Tikets TBA, 116 5th Avenue North) (Free for 21+, 9 p.m., 1 Cannery Row) Versus JANUARY 20—JANUARY 26, 2010 VOL. 48, NO. 1 From the Editor Versus Magazine PARTY PICS

EDITORIAL BOARD “I have no alcohol left, and this could pose a serious problem to me.” — A concerned citizen Editor-in-Chief As I write, arguably the greatest day of the spring semester is upon us. Avery Spofford While students at other universities across the nation celebrate the life Life Editor and work of one of the greatest civil rights activists of all time, Martin Chris McDonald Luther King, Jr., our campus will be deep in the throes of a different 1. holiday: Black Monday (no pun intended). Culture Editor Matt Shelton 3. The widespread blackouts (hence the name), hospitalizations, walks- of-shame and general misbehavior inspired by this day should come as Entertainment Editor no surprise — it seems, in fact, that our administration has conspired to Charlie Kesslering the express purpose of creating such a day. Music Editor I read somewhere that for every action, there is an equal and opposite Grant Darwin 2. reaction. Fashion Editor After a week of every Greek or would-be Greek woman being on a Lauren Junge Panhel-imposed social lockdown (the fi rst week back from Winter Break, no less!), strictly prohibited from having any fun whatsoever (or, more specifi cally, from drinking or going out to bars or frats), the backlash is Art Director bound to be vicious and unpredictable. Matt Radford And, by the same rule of physics, Tuesday’s hangover experience should Designers be equally unmerciful. Large numbers of our student population may, in Irene Hukkelhoven fact, still be hung over as they read this on Wednesday. And so it is with Kat Miller 4. you in mind, dear reader, that I present the semester’s fi rst issue of Versus. Marketing Director Grab a copy, crawl back into bed and do our crossword. If you’re feeling George Fischer ambitious, maybe check out our new Fashion section, with a feature on the Rodarte for Target line, or read our review of Vampire Weekend’s new Advertising Manager Carolyn Fisher album. Check out our new party pics section (to the left), and hope that your evening’s festivities don’t land you there next week. VSC Director Chris Carroll Happy Holidays,

Assistant VSC 5. Directors Jeff Breaux 1. Kappa Kappa Gamma bid day 2. Taryn Shipley Paige Clancy and Courtney Goldman 3. Lauren Steinberg, Allie Avery Spofford Goodchild, Alexandra Pearson, Lauren Fung, Nikki Editor-in-Chief Journalism Fellow Bogopolskaya and Megan Schwinger 4. Madison Erin Prah Akerblom, Sarah Corsaro and Rachel Hesling. 5. Members of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Words to live by in seventeen syllables Horoscopes What’s the difference

Between a pledge and “Pledge” house CAPRICORN 12/22–1/19 Due to your acceptance of a bid, you will accidentally Cleaner? One is free. become a slut this week. Whoopsie.

AQUARIUS 1/20–2/18 Just because you’re in a sorority doesn’t mean you should eat Why did the chicken the food they give you.

Cross the road? She got cut from PISCES 2/19–3/20 One of the top three. So sorry you didn’t get into the sorority you wanted, maybe next time.

ARIES 3/21–4/19 Even though OASIS’ crash ruined your schedule this semester, that Western Bolivian Feminist Politics of the 19th century class won’t be that bad.

TAURUS 4/20–5/20 So there aren’t any cute girls in your class; it’s a good thing, OVERHEARD you need to work on your GPA anyways in this economy. Some people on this campus just don’t think before they speak. Sometimes we are lucky GEMINI 5/21–6/21 enough to overhear what they say. Enjoying the warm weather? Well, beware … The day you choose to forgo wearing a coat, it’s sure to get cold again.

Compiled from the Facebook group “Overheard at Vanderbilt” CANCER 6/22–7/22 How’s that new year’s resolution going for you? Oh, you Random girl: “If you ask a Korean person if already broke it? Shame on you. It’s going to be a looooong they are a Japanese person, they will year. stab you.” LEO 7/23–8/22 Add/Drop period ends today … Bet you wish you had Philosophy Professor: “This class is like an dropped that 9 a.m. MWF by now, huh? intellectual condom.” VIRGO 8/23–9/22 Do not send out that YouTube video of “David at the Dentist.” Girl at Rand: “OMG! Your salad is SO Seriously, everyone has seen it. Stop. Take your mouse off the cute!!!” send button.

Math Professor: “This class is about 2/3 LIBRA 9/23–10/22 You still won’t be able to fi nd the Droids you’re looking for. probability and 1/2 statistics.” SCORPIO 10/23–11/21 Boy on the phone: “Mom, let me call you Challenge yourself to fi t as many text-type hearts <3 as right back, I need to potty.” possible when changing your Facebook status to I LOVE MY BABY____.

Someone at Rand: “Australia must be like an SAGITTARIUS 11/22–12/21 all-bro continent ... like a brontinent.” Accomplish #156 on your bucket list. Trust me, its time to cross that one off. scrapetv.com Versus • January 20—January 26, 2010 • 3 culture Finding the gizmos and gadgets for 2010 at CES

will make it onto shelves soon stranglehold on the Smart intriguing technologies to Nikon may not have had matt shelton to be swept up by Vanderbilt phone market may take a big come out of CES was the “pictures from last night” Culture Editor in only a few short months. hit with last week’s release of proliferation of 3D TVs. in their minds when they A perennial powerhouse, These are my top three, based the Nexus One, introduced by While these expensive TVs created their new Cool CES (Consumer Electronic on innovation, and relevance none other than the world’s may not make it into any Pix S100 PJ model, they Show) begins the year with a to Vanderbilt culture. most lovable corporation, dorm rooms any time soon, played into every sorority Las Vegas-esque explosion of • The Google Nexus One. Google. The phone, boasting look for Greek Row to girl's hand. “OMG, you did winarco.com gadgets and tech that would Apple is so “cool” right now processor and internet adopt them early. Why? The THAT?!” she cries as she put a present day Sherlock that a counterculture is speeds that dwarf the iPhone, Toshiba ZX900 CELL TV media frats cram into the presses the next button on Holmes to shame. This bound to form eventually: a supplemented with the comes packed with more basement to see will now the camera. A loud murmur year was no different, and trek back to the brands that seamless integration of its than ten times the power be telecast in 3D, "Avatar begins in the gaggle of girls, a multitude of gizmos were deliver much more than other products (anyone know of a normal TV, equipped Style." While expensive, each wanting to see the presented to the public that brushed chrome. Apple’s how complicated it is to sync with a CELL processor no brother will mind the alluded to picture. The girl VUGmail to their default that is so powerful it spike in dues (that their with the camera presses a E-mail on the iPhone?), converts 2D TV into 3D in parents pay anyway) for button and a 40” projection Gmail, search engine, maps, real time. Sporting events, the opportunity. of the picture flashes on etc., make this a powerful movies and any other • A group of girls gather the wall, with all the quality competitor in the market. awkwardly around a of the little screen. All the The final note: it’s an friend's digital camera to girls share a laugh as one of unlocked phone. You can see the hilarious pictures their friends chugs a bottle take the Nexus One to any from last night. As they of champagne on top of the service provider and pick a play hot potato passing bar during New Year's. Yes, plan that suits you, not the around the camera when Nikon packaged a projector over-priced AT&T plans a particularly “epic” pic is to a mid-priced phone for that drop service once you found, each girl watches the sole purpose of sharing enter the Rec. the one with the camera to pics with your friends. joeyalarilla.com • One of the most devicemag.com gauge her reaction. While “Epic.” Spring break 2010: Everyone can learn something A Versus Guide from kanyeuniversecity Joe aguirre in South Carolina, Florida, offer wild revelry, but Staff Writer California and Alabama be warned that cheaper all averaging under $500 arrangements can be unsafe The new year and a new per person for groups or uncomfortable. semester are well underway. of 10-20. This option is Less conventional options Classes have begun and certainly affordable, since are worth exploring, as well. If weekly raging has begun Vanderbilt’s Spring Break you want a break from beach to settle into familiar technically falls outside destinations, think about patterns. With so much to of peak season pricing for a ski trip or a backpacking look forward to, it can be most rental companies, thus trip in Europe. Considering easy to overlook the most allowing discounted rates. my own potential plans, important week of the year: Feeling more adventurous I priced flights to Dublin Spring Break. That’s right, and ready to see the and Glasgow. Using www. Commodore Nation, it’s world? Trips to Mexico, the expedia.com, I found time to begin planning for Bahamas and beyond can round-trip flights for $800, this most glorious epoch offer the experience of a but a travel agent informed in the party calendar. If lifetime. However, these me that rates would drop you haven’t sorted out your options generally tend to be as the break approached. plans, here are some quality more expensive than fun in Www.dublin-bnb.com is options to get you started. the states. one of many sites that can First of all, nothing’s Searching for trips on be used to find discounted better than a good old- www.studentcity.com, I bed and breakfasts fashioned party in the found all-inclusive 5-night throughout Ireland and can USA. Conventional wisdom trips to Nassau in the be invaluable in building a dictates that a stay on Bahamas or Cancun, Mexico trip. With a little foresight, a America’s southern coast that ranged from $800- Spring Break trip in Europe is a refreshingly sunny $1200, including flights. can be comparable in cost to break from the chill of Other similarly priced a stay in more conventional Cashville. Numerous houses options include stays in beach destinations. at excellent prices can be Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta Be open to the experiences found at the appropriately in Mexico, Punta Cana in Spring Break may hold for named www.beachhouse. the Dominican Republic you. With some creativity com. While surfing the site, and Negril, Jamaica. These and a healthy amount of stupiddope.files.wordpress.com I found accommodations popular student destinations cash, anything is possible. grant darwin accompanied by taglines audience readily awaiting his Music Editor like, “THIS SPREAD IS next post and, delightfully, Kanye West has certainly DOPE AS HELL!!” It’s readers are never sure what made it painful to give him remarkable how well the to expect. Although there credit for anything. Self- blog manages to encompass are assertions that the site absorption aside, if Kanye Mr. West’s persona. Yes, it employs a ghost writer to pen lives on the cutting edge, is certainly egomaniacal. postings on the artist’s behalf, his blog, kanyeuniversecity. Kanye readily flaunts his nonetheless, it is remarkable com is the razor. While he media accolades on the site. how this blog has exposed does, at times, use the site Yet, simultaneously it is clear a vast hip-hop community to promote his record label, that he finds inspiration in to the type of artistry often G.O.O.D Records, posting the vibrant sculpture and reserved for bourgeois- free tracks and music peculiar Japanese music urbanite magazines. Just videos, it seems he is more videos that litter the blog’s because not all readers may concerned with passing on pages. Postings are sometimes be able to afford what’s on his enthusiasm for refined funny, like a Dolce and display doesn’t mean that all culture to his myriad of Gabbana shoot of Madonna cannot learn to appreciate followers. Averaging about with the tag “MILF,” and at it. Whether truly written by two posts a day, everything times serious, like a PBS Kanye or not, his blog has from a Lego kitchen island to video about a 14-year-old the tools to inspire readers, an Architectural Digest style stock investor with a single- college educated, drop-out springbreakfla.com layout of luxurious tropical parent mother. Kanye’s or otherwise, to value his mansions can be found, often ego has birthed a captive edge.

steals the decade

Stuart bryan of the Decade.” is merely a dying fad. By Society also named “tweet” Staff Writer Beating out words like googling the word “google,” word of the year for 2009. Unless you haven’t operated “blog,” “text” and even “9/11,” I even discovered that there The word refers to the social a computer in the last ten the verb “google” continues existed an older use of the networking and blog site years, you may have noticed the trend started by the 1990s’ word dating back to before Twitter that allows uses to that Google has become Word of the Decade, “web,” it was officially added to post short messages called one of the most well-known of Internet and technology- the dictionary in 2006. The “tweets.” Unlike “googling,” and powerful brands in the related words. “Google,” Oxford English Dictionary however, where you can world. Not only does nearly which means to search for lists an alternate definition learn any possible interesting everyone on the internet use information on the web, has of “google” as throwing or fact, by reading “tweets” Google.com as their go-to enhanced people’s access to bowling a googly in the game you can only learn the daily search engine and Fortune web content and has opened of cricket. Words of advice: thoughts of B-list celebrities Magazine consistently rank new avenues of the job and Next time a British friend like Ashton Kutcher, Ryan Google as one of the top few technology market. The uses the word “google,” be Seacrest and Kim Kardashian companies to work for — win by the word “google” sure to clarify his or her … Here’s hoping that “tweet” now the company can boast helps to silence some senile meaning as he or she could doesn’t become as relevant that the American Dialect critics who have claimed be avid cricket player. as this score's word of the Society voted its name “Word for years that the Internet The American Dialect decade. 4 • January 20—January 26, 2010 • Versus entertainment OSCAR WATCH: Our picks

ben ries charlie kesslering Staff Writer Entertainment Editor

Best Picture – “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow’s masterpiece “The Hurt Locker” Best Picture – “The Hurt Locker” centers on Staff Sergeant William James (Jeremy A remarkable ride, this Iraq War drama on the roadside, bombs in the market, Renner), the new leader of an Explosive Ordnance packs an unparalleled cinematic punch. A bombs stuffed into the bowels of human Disposal (EOD) team operating in Iraq. The immersive sensory experience to rival “Avatar,” the film carcasses. “The Hurt Locker” is two hours character study shows as Sergeant James, often clad in is set in a world as strikingly foreign as James of on-the-edge-of-your-seat movie magic — a clumsy bomb suite, slowly dissects active bombs in Cameron’s “Pandora,” a desert purring with a brilliant, stomach-turning portrayal of an scenes of riveting intensity. “The Hurt Locker” is a movie bullets and riddled with bombs — bombs American bomb squad’s hellish reality. that sticks with you— in the end, you find the aisles of an American supermarket just as dumbfounding and Best Director – James Cameron, overwhelming as James. “Avatar” While his screenplay (“Pocahontas” sans theblackboxoffice.com the adorable raccoon) deserves no Oscar Best Director – Wes Anderson, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” for originality, Cameron’s most recent The hilarious stop-motion romp lovable possums, mice, badgers and foxes. masterpiece smacks of directorial genius. Not “Fantastic Mr. Fox” further solidifies Wes George Clooney voices the perfectly suave only did Cameron pioneer the 3D medium Anderson’s status as a reliable creator of title character whose thievery from nearby in the feature market, but he did it with a high-quality character-based comedies. farmers sets the plot in motion. The script, directorial finesse and prowess unrivaled in Here, Anderson defies Hollywood’s animation and voice acting combine to his field of contemporaries and reflective of reliance on purely digital effects, creating create possibly the most delightful film of a decade-long quest for perfection. sets of rare imagination inhabited by the past year. movieset.com Best Actor – George Clooney, “Up In the Air” Best Actor – Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker” Perhaps he’s played this guy five “The Hurt Locker” opens with a times before. Perhaps he’s just jarring quotation — “The rush of battle playing himself. Or maybe, just is a potent and often lethal addiction, maybe, these things don’t matter for war is a drug.” The statement applies at all. What matters is his ability to to Renner’s Sergeant James, whose entrance viewers, that unmistakable obsession with danger drives him to presence, that natural swagger repeatedly put his own life — and that’s so refreshingly anti-Daniel eventually the lives of his fellow squad Day-Lewis. “Up In the Air” puts members — at risk. Renner excels in these things on beautiful display. his first notable starring role, delivering Perhaps George Clooney is one of a performance of riveting complexity the reasons people still go to the that perfectly conveys Sergeant James’ movies, still search through listings paradoxical personality. We see him adrift and reviews for a rare gem worth in everyday conversation, enveloped by ten bucks, worth a Friday night. the process of defusing a bomb, and stanzedicinema.files.wordpress.com Perhaps that’s worth an Oscar. wetprints.files.wordpress.com triumphant after each narrow success.

Best Actress – Marion Cotillard, Best Actress – Mo’Nique, “Precious” “Public Enemies” Though the Academy may ultimately Those frustrated by Johnny Depp’s plunk this remarkable feat of masquerade seemingly enigmatic portrayal of into the “Supporting Actress” category, infamous bank robber John Dillinger in Mo’Nique’s shocking performance Michael Mann’s “Public Enemies” need nonetheless deserves a statuette and to take a closer look at Marion Cotillard’s then some. Portraying an abusive, performance as Billie Frechette, a waitress destructive and entirely deranged who becomes Dillenger’s lover and the mom bent on making her daughter as key to his character. “Public Enemies” pits pitifully reliant upon welfare as herself, Dillinger’s gang of cold-blooded criminals she screams, curses and, ultimately, against an equally brutal police force, cries her way through the year’s most leaving Cotillard to carry the emotional heartbreaking film. However, the biggest weight of the story. Cotillard won a Best achievement of Mo’Nique’s portrayal Actress Oscar just two years ago for La doesn’t lie in her ability to play the Vie en Rose (2007), but she is likely to be character convincingly, but to make the overlooked for “Public Enemies” — a real viewer think — believe — any mother pity considering the depth she adds to the could be so damn cruel to her child. movie. sagawards.com moviewallpaper.net

A PRESUMPTUOUS REVIEW The Endorsement A predictive preview of the year in film

matt shelton interpretation of a dark Culture Editor childhood classic. I wasn’t shocked when it won, but Many didn’t think that felt bad for Leonardo until 2010 could even begin to he won Best Actor for compare to the worldwide “Inception” (what a year he success of movies during had huh?). the worldwide recession in Pixar, which, it seems, 2009. But it did. can do no wrong, is floated Thanks to the studios’ on the success of “Up” and handstosoul.wordpress.com careful eye to only release released one of the most movies with a chance at anticipated children-movie- 'Community' success, big budget films crossovers in “Toy Story Thursdays at 7 p.m. on NBC once again came out with 3” to a box office of over a healthy showing. Re- 300 million domestically, grant darwin wreck over-achiever; boots and TV conversions making it the top grosser Music Editor Shirley (Yvette Brown of were again a trend, with of the year and winning in Nick’s “Drake and Josh”), “Iron Man 2,” “The Green its category. A close second NBC’s "Community" an aggressively maternal Hornet” and the “A-Team” was Garry Marshall’s thrusts ex-lawyer/bullshit divorcee with rejection all debuting in 2010 with “Valentine’s Day,” which artist Jeff Winger (The issues; Abed (newcomer little critical, but a sea filled theatres weeks after Soup’s Joe McHale) into Danny Pudi), an idiot- of commercial, success. the holiday. It also saw the the demeaning throes of savant who believes Of these crossovers, the largest DVD sale of the Greendale Community his life is a sitcom, and greatest letdown was M. year, second of all time College after it is discovered Brita (Gilliam Jacobs), Night Shamalayan’s “Avatar: next to “The Dark Knight.” that his law degree does Winger’s pseudo-hippie The Last Airbender.” After Perhaps the most successful not come from Columbia love interest. Incredibly an amazing “The Sixth impawards.com low-budget shock came University but, rather, original plots and witty Sense,” critics and fans facing off against each champion, Russell Crowe, in with the “anyone can be a from Colombia. dialogue chronicle gave Night chance after other. After the success of his shocking departure from superhero”-themed “Kick- Aiding Winger on his desperate efforts of a chance until he turned “The Departed,” Scorcese a fairy tale interpretation of Ass”, which found indie- quest for mediocrity is a group trying to save one this 120 million budgeted had found his new DeNiro “Robin Hood,” an instant cult love instantly after its unique collaboration of another from themselves. “Avatar” into another in Leonardo DiCapro. testosterone classic. It wasn’t release. seven pitiful, but lovable, If that’s not enough, John blunder. While it saw After having the release of shocking that the National With twenty-ten wrapped individuals who come Oliver (“Daily Show”) commercial success, critics “Shutter Island” pushed Association of Archery up, one wonders if 2011’s together to form a study plays a delusional physics attributed it to audiences’ from awards season 2009 to tripled in membership in schedule will produce as the group. Included are Pierce professor and Ken Jeong confusion, thinking that 2010, audiences grew weary 2010. Finally on the ballot past 2’s have. Will “Smurfs (Chevy Chase), a semi- (“The Hangover”) is a the title meant the film was until they finally went to was the 3-D Spectacular 3D,” the final installment of racist dirty old man; Trey volatile Spanish teacher,. a sequel to the world’s top see the film. Its eerie mood “Alice in Wonderland,” “Harry Potter” and a new (Donald Glover of YouTube At times touching, but grossing movie ever, James was grabbing, and DiCaprio in which Tim Burton “Pirates of the Caribbean” sensation “Derrick mostly side-splitting, Cameron’s “Avatar.” captured a best Actor nod combined an A-list cast deliver the same quality as Comedy”), a naive former "Community" is the best The Oscar for best film for his performance. (filled with Johnny Depp, 2010’s reboots or leave the jock; Annie (Allison Brie show on TV that you aren’t was a close race, with three The second film saw Anne Hathaway and more) audience tired of the creative of “Mad Men”), a nervous watching. director-actor combos Ridley Scott return to his with a purely imaginative decay? Only time will tell. Versus • January 20—January 26, 2010 • 5

Add your experience to ours.

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Please join us for the following event at Vanderbilt University: Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst Private Wealth Management Information Session – Chicago Opportunities

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010 Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Venue: Student Life Center – Meeting Rooms 1 & 2 310 25th Avenue South

Summer Analyst Program Application Deadline: January 21, 2010.

Apply online at www.gs.com/careers and through your school’s career services office.

Goldman Sachs is an equal opportunity employer. © The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. 6 • January 20—January 26, 2010 • Versus MUSIC Album reviews MUSIC STAFF Versus Magazine

“Ghosts on the Boardwalk” Bouncing Souls New Jersey alternative rockers Bouncing Souls released their ninth studio album this month. Complete with blaring power chords and crashing myspace.com drums, what the album lacks in sophistication it more than makes up for in nonsensical e23sky.com fun.

RATING: Songs of note: "Gasoline" "The Mental Bits" Vampire Weekend bites “Before I Self Destruct – Selects” 50 Cent ALEX DALY Staff Writer 50 re-released selections back with "Contra" from his most recent album in late December. Bland and I rst heard Vampire Weekend’s second album debut generic beats and monotonous lyrics remind listeners why they on Letterman, when they performed their funky-sharp, did not buy the G-unit head soulfully charged single “Cousins” — a performance honcho’s album in the rst place. executed with perfect delivery and boundless energy. imageshack.us The song highlights the band’s transition to embracing Songs of note: RATING: "Psycho (feat. Eminem)" all that is eccentric, all that is brave — although it’s clear "Death to my Enemies" that they are still holding on to those pumping Afro beats and ska-inspired tunes, the indie band’s sound exhibits a “Y Not” new kind of vitality; it represents a newly born musical life. Ringo Starr In many ways it is everything Unlike their last album, which was comfortably sweet and you would expect from Ringo. delightful to the ear, “Cousins” is jarring and fast-paced. Namely, calls for world peace and allusions to John Lennon. It’s lacking that sense of leveled control, but in a good way. Although a little corny at times, Lead singer Ezra Koenig speaks of his success, tracing this album proves that the aging drummer still has something to back through his paternal history: “Dad was a risk taker/ offer. With fun upbeat melodies His was a shoe maker/You, greatest hits 2006, little list- beetlesbible.com and solid vocals, “Y Not” give it a listen. maker.” But his commentary isn’t arrogant — it’s humble. RATING: Instead of dwelling on the band’s quick rise to power, he Songs of note: "Time" talks about their passion for music and the ambition he "Walk With You" feels in his blood: “You were born with ten ngers and you’re gonna use them all.” Koenig is aware of his gift and “Transference” he’s not afraid of using it. Spoon Building off the success of This counterintuitive sense of modesty is accompanied their hit album “Ga Ga Ga by the band’s intelligent sound. The album kicks off with Ga Ga,” Spoon returns with sharp lyrical hooks, progressive “Horchata,” a melodic, gentle tune that sucks you in with drums and precise rhythmic a feeling of fairytale, happy holiday cheer (much like the arrangements on guitar and bass. As with most standard airy, smooth second track, “White Sky”). But, even more Spoon affairs, the production important than the sound, the listener is blown away by the popmatters.com and execution on “Transference” remains relatively minimalist. lyrics themselves. They rhyme such words as “horchata” RATING: The album has a stripped-down with “balaclava,” “aranciata,” and “masada” (wait, what?). and immediate feeling to it. Sure to appeal to diehard fans, And although all you haters out there think these very it does not offer nearly as much smart dudes write such lyrics in a snobby, “we-went-to-an- to a casual listener. (For more on this album from Oliver Han, Ivy” kind of way, instead they represent how being nerdy visit InsideVandy.com) can be so cool. Again, their intelligence doesn’t come Songs of note: "Mystery Zone" off as self-righteous, but rather as subtle and modest. In "Got Nuffi n" fact, the band condemns rich kids’ super cial elitism: in “California English” the band denounces fakeness and “Animal” embraces the basics by concentrating on what’s real. Ke$ha Laying claim to the number Ultimately, “Contra” roots for all that is substantial, one album on the Billboard authentic and creative. This is clear in the beautifully 200 and the top selling song on iTunes, pop starlet Ke$ha has orchestrated “Giving up a Gun” — a song dedicated to kicked 2010 off with a bang. Koenig’s nostalgia for being young and just jamming on Her debut album unloads the ideal soundtrack for a night of the guitar. This is also clear in the band’s embrace of spontaneous and carefree fun. new sounds, ranging from electronic to reggae to just mariahcareycollection.com With st pumping, high energy tracks like "Tik Tok," this album straight up weird. But, most importantly, it is obvious in RATING: inspires listeners to get tipsy the way that the band sticks to what they believe in. In and have fun. (For more on this album from Imani Ellis, visit “I Think Ur a Contra,” a perfect ending to a great album, InsideVandy.com) Koenig reemphasizes his passion for music, his love for Songs of note: "Backstabbers" it all, and for us especially: “But I just wanted you, I just "Stephen" wanted you.”  myspace.com

January 11th battle colon cancer. During his career the Philadelphia has cancelled more concerts in an effort to recover in time A new studio album entitled “Valleys of Neptune” native was nominated for fi ve Grammys and had had ten for an upcoming three-month international tour. featuring an hour of previously unavailable Jimi Hendrix platinum-selling albums. recordings will be released in early March. January 15th January 15th Rapper Mystikal was released from Louisiana State Prison January 14th Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo was cleared by after serving a 6-year sentence for felony extortion charges. Memphis punk rock legend Jay Reatard was found doctors to return to performing a month after breaking dead in his home at the age of 29. The cause of death is fi ve ribs and injuring his lungs in a tour bus accident. January 18th still unknown. Reatard was considered by many to be one World Entertainment News Network reports that Child of the most prolifi c punk rock musicians of the 1990s. January 15th Abuse Prevention advocates are furious with the choice What you need to According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Lady Gaga of classic rock legends The Who to perform as this year's know to be IN the January 14th cancelled a recent show at Purdue University at the very last Super Bowl half time entertainment. Lead guitarist Pete know. The music community said goodbye to R&B legend minute, citing an irregular heartbeat (the result of exhaustion Townshend was arrested in 2003 for under the suspicion Teddy Pendergrass at the age of 59, as he lost his long and dehydration). Further reports indicate that the pop star of possessing child pornography.  Versus • January 20—January 26, 2010 • 7

"Rock ‘n’ Roll is the most brutal, ugly, vicious form of expression – sly, lewd, in plain fact, dirty … rancid smelling, aphrodisiac … the martial music of every delinquent on the face of soundtrack the earth." – Frank Sinatra to the issue Alpha Tau Omega kicks off the semester with a Chiddy Bang

Throughout the “Swelly” mixtape, likely Charlie Kesslering to be the bulk of Friday night’s set list, Entertainment Editor Below, the editors share what such quality flows unabated, as Anamege tracks we’ve been spinning This Friday night, ATO will host spits everything from boastful rhymes on “Ballers and Dollars” featuring a rap “Fresh Like Us” to longing lyrics on “All as we create the glory you’re group you’ve likely never heard of. Things Go” (featuring a creative Sufjan holding in your hands. Don’t let that fool you. Stevens sample). Not to be confused with the 1968 British Certain to rival blowout frat row cinema classic of a similar name, Chiddy concerts of last semester, Chiddy brings "Fake Empire" Bang brings fly tracks to the scene, not together the ecclectric, electric appeal — The National flying cars. Composed of two Drexel of Super Mash Bros. and Milkman and 1. undergrads, emcee Proto (born Chidera the swagger of Nappy Roots, producing a Anamege) and producer Xaphoon Jones, surplus of party-ready bangers to boot. "Nothing On You" the duo is no stranger to campus venues. In short, cancel your Friday night plans. — B.O.B. Raiding the Northeast college scene over ATO’s doors open at 10 p.m.  2. the past year, they’ve ferried their crafty blend of techno and hip-hop down the ear "White Sky" canals of countless coeds. After releasing — Vampire Weekend their debut mixtape, “The Swelly Express,” 3. this past October, their popularity spread virally from Philly; they gained wider "All the Young Dudes" national appeal, eventually catching the myspace.com — Mott the Hopple ear of Vandy students. 4. According to ATO Social Chairman David Webster, the decision to book "Everywhere" Chiddy Bang was a simple one. “My friend — Fleetwood Mac from Villanova [in Philadelphia] sent a 5. YouTube link to me of one of their songs ... It sounded like they would make a good "Up, Up and Away" live act,” he said. A good act indeed: an — KiD CuDi intriguing concoction of upbeat production 6. and synthy samples (from Passion Pit and MGMT, for example) topped off with onsmash.com "6th Avenue Heartache" intelligent rhymes, Chiddy’s sound wages onsmash.com — The Wallflowers war on commercial hip-hop yet smacks 7. of pop appeal. In the same vein as KiD CuDi, the duo creates soul music — more "Imagination" operatic than gangster, more uplifting than — Earth Wind & Fire cynical, more accessible than beguiling. 8. Fancying himself a poet, Proto stuffs each track with enough word play to "I'm Beaming" make Talib Kweli jealous. On “Never,” the — Lupe Fiasco young rapper spits, “I got more gigs than 9. an Apple store/And yo you wildin’ boy, you ain’t even smilin’ boy/It’s like I’m on "Who’s Got the Hooch" a boat, feelin’ lonely on this island, boy.” myspace.com prettymuchamazing.com 10. — Sublime

Q&A with Dee Goodz Local emcee kicks some knowledge on life, liberty and the pursuit of a deal

Charlie Kesslering 1,” he sat down with Entertainment Entertainment Editor Editor Charlie Kesslering to drop some knowledge. Nashville, Tennessee: Country Versus Magizine: What artists have music capital of the world. Not the influenced your style/sound? You’ve spot you’d expect to find a well- probably drawn comparisons to Lil’ armed rhyme-slinger hoping to Wayne ... make a name for himself in the Dee Goodz: Ha! Wow! Wayne? Really? fire-fight of the hip-hop industry I take that as a huge compliment, but I … right? Wrong. just love music. I think we both share Meet Dee Goodz, born Donald that common factor. I’m really a fan of Goode, a Music City local and ’90s east coast hip-hop. I try to pay a Alabama A&M graduate with the tad bit of homage in my music. But, if Ameri-can-do attitude to make I could sum it up ... I’d want Kanye’s such a dream come true. Fresh off emotion, keep it playa like T.I., the the release of his debut mixtape swagger of a Fabolous, business mind “College Kids & Dropouts, Volume of Jay-Z, creativity of Andre 3000 and be lyrically inclined as a Lupe. VM: How do you feel about the state of rap these days? DG: Kinda glad the way it is, for the simple fact that people will hopefully start doing music for the love and not for revenue. Money has saturated and killed the creativity in hip-hop. If I could, I would do music even if I made no income off of it. I love it that much. Music changed my entire outlook on life. VM: Why did you bring your dream to Nashville? DG: I’m, in a sense, from here. Been here since high school. I feel that the city is ready, just needs someone to act as the martyr. VM: Does Nashville have a solid hip-hop scene? Or are you trying to build one? DG: Yeah, it’s a rap scene. I’m not knocking what’s been here, just trying to put my mark in the game. I feel I have something to bring to the table. 

Read the full interview with rapper Dee Goodz at www.insidevandy.com.

blogspot.com blogspot.com 8 • January 20—January 26, 2010 • Versus FASHION Rodarte for Target and Editors’ picks for 2010

the thrill of the hunt 1. Faux Fur your hands on a one-of- Avery Spofford, Editor-in-Chief a-kind piece or nd faux Worn right, fur can add a touch fur for less at trend-manic LAUREN JUNGE and lace cardigans. Also available are fun of glamour to an out t. Worn chains Forever 21 and H&M. Fashion Editor accessories like bow belts, an array of wrong, and images of Snoop Stick to the fake stuff unless bathing suits, a patterned raincoat and Dogg, Cruella Deville and shag you’re shopping vintage or Despite the world of waspdom that lace tights. carpet come to mind. A faux fur inherited your grandmother’s surrounds me, I have never been hunting. Prices for this collection offer high vest is a good way to dip into this winter coat — new (real) fur As a vegetarian, I nd something terribly fashion at a low price. With clothes trend with little risk of overdoing is gratuitous and tacky, not to ironic in throwing on a pair of Wellies beginning at $9.99 for cutout knee it — shop vintage stores to get mention inhumane. Mizposh.com to hunt quail. Despite my aversion to socks and reaching $39.99 for most hunting, however, I truly appreciate ‘the dresses and $79.99 for the faux-leopard hunt’ – except, I sniff out leopard print pea coat, the Rodarte sisters have 2. Geek Glasses new ‘it’ specs have managed belts rather than the real thing. This love truly created a high-low collection. Lauren Junge, Fashion Editor to fuse the line between nerd for the chase presented itself Such prices are possible Normally reserved for the and natty. However, glasses are over this past winter break thanks to the Target GO likes of scene nerds or Kanye meant to be more than just a as I found myself hunting International program, West, Ray-Ban Wayfarer- style sweet accessory to spice up down piece after piece which aims to provide geek glasses are no longer your look in your latest default, of the Rodarte for Target affordable fashion by world- stuck on the long list of ‘stuff so I suggest taking these fab collection. renowned designers to scene kids like.’ Instead, these frames a step further – actually As if to tease the hordes of women everywhere. Since glasses have become the get your prescription lenses salivating shoppers, someone 2006, GO International has ultimate pair of sunglasses, put in! But, if you nd yourself at Target decided to release focused on up-and-coming party accessory and even real blessed with 20/20 vision, go the collection a day early. designers such as Rogan, life glasses (formally known ahead and imposter it up with Originally, the collection was Thakoon and Tracy Feith. as ‘prescription lenses’) for this scenester staple, which supposed to hit stores on Though initially each everyone — on, and off, the can be found at any Ray-Ban December 20th, but to my designer’s collection was scenester list. The days of four- retailer or at the knock-off dismay, a friend frantically available for three months, SeaOfShoes.com eyed kids being picked on for superstore Urban Out tters. bbmed me the day before that now each is in stores for just wearing glasses are over — these yes, she was in fact standing 45 days. Despite this length, in a Target surrounded by collections are actually the collection and there was CollegeFashion.net scooped up within the rst gray/black scarf or a bright and hardly anything left in her week of sales. These limited 3. The Man Scarf colorful one, this accessory is size. This news reached out from my edition releases also offer reasoning Chris McDonald, Life Editor fast on its way to becoming Blackberry and shattered my hopes. behind my madness. For example, I still Too long has the scarf been commonplace. Dress up a suit Although this news de nitely wear a Luella for Target dress I purchased regarded as the ultimate accessory with an overcoat and scarf to dampened my determination, I still back in 2006 and I know I will have the for women, children and hipsters. look like something out of the managed to acquire 23 of the 55 pieces same devotion towards my new leopard- And snowmen. But recently, more pages of GQ, or just wrap one available. Although it took visits to print Rodarte dress. and more men are nding that you up under your winter jacket six different Targets in two different Overall, the Rodarte collection is don’t have to look and act like the for an added layer of warmth boroughs across two states, I had done tantalizing mix of feminine and modern, guy from “Rent” to successfully — with the man scarf trend on encyclolydia.blogspot.com it — stylish success! So, why go to such patterns and fabrics and pretty much pull off the scarf. Whether it’s the the rise this w inter, you can’t extremes for the collection? To answer, anything else. The collection is full of understated, conservative dark go wrong. one needs to know more about the pieces that can stand alone or be worn masterminds behind Rodarte. together, creating endless possibilities. Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the sisters Personally, I’ll be gushing over the 4.The Casual Sport Coat serve as less of a fashion statement who created the line, cite lms like priceless (yet price-appropriate) pieces Charlie Kesslering, Entertainment than a sorority sticker collage. This “Harold and Maude” as the inspiration I managed to hunt down for years to Editor year, take a page out of Italy’s style for their Target collaboration. You can see come. The blazer — the suit’s cooler guide, and introduce your sports a hint of the young Harold’s outerwear So, embrace your inner huntress, half brother, your khakis’ faithful coat to main campus — dress in the faux lambskin vest or glimpse his immerse yourself in the fashion jungle, spouse, long relegated to the down this tailgate staple with a fascination with death in the sequined visit a Target or two (or three or four…), dressed-up debauchery of a fall v-neck and jeans to create a casual skeletal dress. Alongside such pieces are sniff out, hunt down, and capture a piece thesartorialist.blogspot.com Saturday afternoon, forced to yet conscious look. eccentric essentials such as polyester of the  eeting Rodarte collection before slip dresses, a demure black lace dress it’s too late!  Embrace a fashion faux pas (sometimes)

LAUREN JUNGE / polyvore.com

Bean-shaped hard clutch, Emilio Pucci (in navy); bow bracelet, J. W. Anderson (in navy and gold); earrings, Chanel (in black and gold); Tribtoo pumps, Yves Saint Laurent (in black patent); light- weight denim leggings, J Brand (in black); sunglasses, H&M (in black); paint-splattered denim blazer, Alexander McQueen (in navy); loose-fi t jersey tank top, L’Agence (in navy); stud dome gold- plated ring, Stephen Webster (in gold); bow bracelet, J.W. Anderson (in black and gold).

IMANI NAOMI ELLIS base. In recent years, ‘don’ts.’ Instead of Staff Writer I’ve noticed an array of being constricted by examples where brown a million different Earn your law degree in a balanced When I was 14 years and black can actually fashion faux pas, you environment with the nation’s #1-ranked old, my fashionista compliment each other should realize that mentor gave me a — therefore, I have fashion is completely advocacy program, outstanding professors piece of advice that come to realize that opinionated. Although and a friendly atmosphere. has stuck with me to sometimes it is perfectly there are de nite lines this day: “Don’t wear ne to embrace a that should never be black and brown in the fashion faux pas. crossed, there is still a Through its full-time and part-time same out t ... ever.” I Wearing black and lot of room for creativity. programs, Stetson prepares lawyers wasn’t quite sure why blue, another traditional Everything you wear I shouldn’t wear black fashion faux pas, doesn’t doesn’t have to match to through practical experience, leadership and brown together, necessarily have to be a T. For example, often training and public service. but she assured me that a bad thing. It really times bright colors can this was a fashion no- depends what pieces compliment each other, no and I would thank are worn, what shades or compliment a duller Contact Stetson today: her later. In years to of color are used, and color. Mixing textures, • (877) LAW-STET come I found this rule how the overall look is spicing up an out t or grew increasingly hard put together. However, thinking outside the • [email protected] to follow. For example, this does not mean that box will often generate • www.law.stetson.edu/admissions cheetah and leopard every fashion faux pas more compliments • facebook.com/StetsonLaw had its season and I should be explored. I than expected. The became aware of one of am perfectly ne leaving basis of fashion is “The academics are rigorous, but professors are always two things: Either no fashion fatalities such understanding what available to answer questions and to meet with you to one else had received as tights with open-toed you like and trying to talk about career goals (or life in general). My fellow the ‘no mixing black shoes, socks with thong nd ways to radiate the classmates are not competitors, but friends. People and brown’ memo, or  ip- ops and ’90s- image of who you really work hard, but they respect and support each other.” my fashionable mentor esque hair scrunchies are. — Sarah Hanafin, 2L Tampa Bay, Florida was in fact a wee bit off as permanent fashion Versus • January 20—January 26, 2010 • 9 NASHVILLE NATIVES JUSTIN JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE KASE

www.myspace.com/justintownesearle www.myspace.com/justinkase

CHRIS MC DONALD Life Editor

VERSUS MAGAZINE: You’re playing a show in Nashville on January 27th. VERSUS MAGAZINE: I’d really like to talk with you about your relationship with What do you most look forward to about playing a hometown crowd? Nashville. How has it been as a DJ and electronic artist on the rise in a city so JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE: Hometown shows are always curses and blessings renowned for really any other genre but your own? at the same time. It’s always great to get in front of a hometown crowd, but JUSTIN KASE: I love Nashville; I think that we have a great community of electronic you have to shelter yourself a little bit better at a hometown show, because artists that really love what they’re doing. You know, it’s small, but even for the everybody comes crawling out of the woodwork: friends of yours from second parties that we throw on Saturdays, there are DJs that come from other cities grade who you haven’t talked to in twenty years suddenly want backstage and have loved it, more so than even their own hometown sometimes. I think it’s passes, everybody is trying to get into the dressing room, etc. So it comes amazing – I really love this city. It’s a small scene but it’s a healthy scene and with its ups and its downs, but I do love playing in Nashville. I love the is always fl ourishing. hometown crowd, and I love being able to go out and hang out with old friends after the show. VM: So Nashville might not have the biggest scene, but does it feel like the community just really wants it more? Is there more of a connection here? VM: How have your experiences in Nashville infl uenced you and crafted your JK: Really, it seems like this year, everything kind of broke. When I was asked that music? kind of question before, stuff was really starting to pick up and now it’s … I JTE: Well, I was born and raised in Nashville, so it defi nitely shaped me in many don’t know. When I left for this tour and Jeremy [DJ Coach] took over full time ways, b but I had a very hard time there. Nashville was very tough on me, for CvK (the Coach vs. Kase series), it was kind of on the turn. And now, we and I was tough on myself in Nashville. I damn near killed myself in the don’t really even have to promote it and the party blows up every week. A lot streets of Nashville. So it holds a very troubled past for me. has changed in the past year.

VM: Let’s talk about your latest record, “Midnight at the Movies.” Listening to the VM: You are currently touring as Ke$ha’s DJ. How has the tour with her been album, it seems to have a much more accessible, much smoother feel to it. going? Was this intentional? JK: It’s everything I wish it could be. Right now, we have the top two singles on JTE: It defi nitely is a much more atmospheric record — there’s a lot of ambiance iTunes, the number one record in the country, the fastest selling single of a going on, and that was defi nitely intentional. Me and Skylar Wilson, my right female artist in history… and it all went from a small van tour to what we are hand man in the studio, we are very surgical about how we make records, doing right now in literally almost ten months. so everything is in its place. What we do is make records that represent the songs in the best way. I’m not a country songwriter, I’m not a hillbilly VM: When DJing a live set, how do you select which tracks to use? songwriter — I’m a songwriter. Period. The best way to describe what I do JK: It’s totally spur of the moment. I think as a DJ, you can’t plan a set. You can’t go is that I’m a “Southern Music Preservationist.” But I was born in the ’80s and in expecting to play something. I mean, you can have an idea that the song is grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, so along with your Charlie Pool and your great and you want to test it out, but that’s really all it is. You always have to test Carter Family infl uences, you’re going to get some George Jones, some Elvis new tracks out, see what works, and see what doesn’t. Every night is different. Costello, some George Strait … It goes all over the place, and I add all my Some nights, people are really feeling the disco stuff and other nights people little fl avors where I can fi t them. just really want to hear more of the worldly, Latin and African stuff. Really, you just have to read a crowd. VM: As a songwriter, do you ever or have you ever written for anyone else, or do you exclusively write for yourself? VM: More and more, DJs and remixers are gaining notoriety through blogs. Whether JTE: I exclusively write for myself. There’s been talk of some other people recording through introducing new music or fi nding new music to use, it seems blogs are some of my songs, and if they do that’s fi ne. I mean, anybody can record my extremely important to your art. songs, because I’ll be happy to be the businessman and take the paycheck. JK: The big blog-house boom about three or four years back really changed But no, nobody ever tells me what to write and who to write for. I don’t play everything. It really made any kind of sound acceptable for house and really the fucking Music Row assembly line game. That’s bullshit, not art. Don’t get spread the genre out. There wasn’t such a formulated kind of sound. There are me wrong, there are a lot of great songwriters that are down there on the so many different infl uences coming from different angles, but they all ended Row. But, you know, it’s very rare. You put fi ve people in a room and tell them up being house music. Because of what happened, there is a different style to write a song about a fucking tractor, and you’re going to get a soulless today. piece of shit. VM: So what do you think is next for the electronic genre? Do you feel that more and VM: So, I guess this attitude goes back to your feelings on Big Country in more you and your peers are trying to break away from the concept that they general? are all so similar? JTE: You know, it’s a hard thing about country music, because people have a JK: I think that with any good artist, whether it’s electronica or in anything else, it’s misconception of what country music is. Everybody needs to make no bones all about evolving and moving around. I don’t think anybody should ever hold about it, but when Hank Williams, Sr. was at his height at the Grand Ole on to any sort of dead horse. The electro thing is slowly becoming something Opry, he was a fucking pop star. He was the biggest pop culture phenomenon different and becoming more pop music, which is amazing. It’s sort of becoming that the world had seen at that point. And that’s what Nashville has always a genre of its own, outside of dance music even. Every time I feel like I’m going been, since its induction as a music city. But now, pop music has just gotten to call a trend, sometimes it comes, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes my bad, and it seems that Nashville is just following pop music into the hole. tastes are just a little to extreme for the mainstream. I think right now stuff like Hopefully pop music will come out of it, and hopefully Nashville will come out Major Lazer or more of the African or Latin infl uenced house music is kind of of it too. But, it’s like everyone says — every country act that comes out now setting the tone for 2010. sounds like a bad Bon Jovi cover band with a fi ddle player. VM: Any last thoughts you’d like to leave us with? VM: Given what you think country has become and given the diffi culty most people JK: I think Nashville is a very special place to be for DJs and electronic artists. have trying to defi ne your sound, how would you describe yourself? There’s something that was brewing there a year ago that’s brewing even more JTE: I don’t try to avoid labels, I just manage to dance around them. My goal is now, and people are just eating it up and loving it. And there are a lot of kids to basically do what Dylan did, which is take the bones that Woodie Guthrie that are younger and coming up in the city that are really talented. I’m really left us and bring them into a new time and update them a bit. That’s the idea looking forward to seeing what Nashville has to offer in the future.  — you need about 90% old and 10% new. Again, I’m a Southern Music Preservationist.  10 • January 20—January 26, 2010 • Versus flip side

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