[email protected] Technique Entertainment Editor: Patricia Uceda 17 Assistant Entertainment Editor: Friday, Entertainment Zheng Zheng April 8, 2011 DashboarD Confessional By Mac Clayton Contributing Writer By Matt Cohen Contributing Writer In 2000, while being the lead singer for the band Further Seems Forever, a young Chris Carrabba began writing songs on the side as a way of channeling his thoughts Band ofBand Horses has not reshaped ofthe music industry.Horses They haven’t established an and emotions. This collection of acoustic songs was recorded and released as The entirely new style of music or paved a fresh road for aspiring musicians to trek. In- Swiss Army Romance. Soon after, Carrabba started Dashboard Confessional. The stead, like many other bands, Band of Horses has loosely clung to their roots and has band rose to prominence after recording an acoustic set on television entitled MTV mimicked some of their influences. However, the band has surpassed mere emula- Unplugged 2.0 that would sell over a million copies. This year, Chris Carrabba em- tion and has formed a niche of its own, one with recognizable elements of classic and barked on a solo acoustic tour celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his first album, melodic rock, of Southern styling and folk instrumentation. Furthermore, it always with the final show here in Atlanta at the Masquerade. comes with a twist and something fresh and stirring thrown into the mix. Walking into the upstairs “Heaven,” one was immediately greeted by a large, A lot of this is due to the delivery of vocalist Ben Bridwell, whose high registered boisterous crowd, eagerly anticipating the show. vocals and unrivaled falsetto has prompted comparisons to My Morning Jacket’s Jim CONCERT The grungy atmosphere was surprisingly warm James and singer-songwriter Neil Young. Bridwell’s way of enunciating his words in Dashboard Confessional and inviting, with the simple stage lit in a dim such a fluid manner causes the lyrics to flow in an effortless, distinct fashion that blue haze. The setup was just a microphone, a complements the strong instrumentation throughout the albums. PERFORMER: Dashboard piano and a couple of acoustic guitars. Band of Horses kick-started the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater’s concert sea- Confessional Suddenly, a buzz arose from the crowd as a son on Saturday night with a 22-track LOCATION: Masquerade lively John Lefler walked up to the microphone. set list that encapsulated their finest As the lead guitarist and keyboard player of songs and validated their ever-increas- DATE: April 3 the band, he was a familiar face for many. He ing success, which includes a Grammy opened with “Ordinary Guy” a bright guitar nomination for their third studio al- OUR TAKE: ««««« tune crooning about ignoring social pressures bum, Infinite Arms. The band opened the show with a fiery new track titled See Dashboard, page 18 “Bats” and continued from there to the title track of their most recent album, Infinite Arms. It, unlike the studio version containing light gui- tars, gentle timpani rolls and soft harmonies, contained the same See Horses, page 21 CONCERT Band of Horses PERFORMER: Band of Horses LOCATION: Verizon Wireless Test Monday Amphitheatre DATE: April 2 Study slides and notes OUR TAKE: ««««« Photo by Basheer Tome / Student Publications Photo by Jarrett Skov / Student Publications Wrestlemania smacks down on Georgia Dome EVENTS for various titles. The interior of tler remaining in the ring. Rock is cookin’?” It was, to say the The match itself saw Edge cele- Wrestlemania XXVII the Dome was overhauled to set Despite the star-heavy cast of least, impressive. brate his easy win by using a crow- up for the event, with a ring set WrestleMania XXVII, nobody The Rock wrapped things up bar to scratch, smash and other- PERFORMER: World up in the middle of the arena, a drew a more powerful reaction after a few minutes, and Wrestle- wise destroy Del Rio’s car. While Wrestling Entertainment massive stage in the backdrop for from the crowd than the man Mania XXVII formally got un- an exhausted Del Rio cut a pitiful LOCATION: Georgia Dome wrestler introductions and sev- who was guest host for the eve- derway with Alberto Del Rio fac- figure as he watched helplessly, the eral thousand floor seats added to ning: Dwayne “The Rock” John- ing Edge in the opening match. crowd had no sympathy, cheering DATE: April 3 make up for the seats blocked off son, the wrestling legend-turned- Here, the ridiculous, over-the-top every time Edge struck the car. by the stage. The result was that movie star who was making his entrances that are so emblematic Of the matches that fol- OUR TAKE: ««««« 71,617 people were in attendance, first significant appearance at a of pro wrestling emerged in full lowed, some were excellent in a record for an event staged at the major WWE event since 2004. force as Del Rio rode onto the all respects. The match imme- By NIshant Prasadh Georgia Dome. The Rock was true to his usual stage in his black Rolls-Royce and diately after Edge-Del Rio fea- Online Sports Editor One of the three formal title form, frequently speaking in the Edge strolled in to an introduc- tured Cody Rhodes, a native of contests, the lumberjack match third person and making constant tory video seemingly designed to The greatest spectacle in pro- between Shaymus and Dan- references to “the people,” and the cause epileptic seizures. See Wrestle, page 19 fessional wrestling made its way iel Bryan for the United States crowd loved it. to Atlanta for the first time as Championship, was the under- For all the stereotypes that may WrestleMania XXVII, the latest card for the event and took place exist about pro wrestling fans, rendition of the wildly success- while fans were still filing in. during that opening sequence ful annual event produced by The bout did not last long be- they produced a truly awesome World Wrestling Entertainment fore the 20 lumberjacks (wrestlers moment. Consider, for a moment, (WWE), took place at the Geor- outside the ring tasked with mak- the trouble that fans at just about gia Dome on Sunday, April 3. The ing sure the wrestlers in the ring any sporting event often have in pay-per-view event did have its stay there) were invited to join in coordinating even the simplest of slow moments, but by and large the action. chants. it delivered on its promise as an The result was a chaotic Now consider that at one action-packed, star-studded four- 22-person battle royal that served point, prompted by the Rock, the hour thrill ride. its purpose, providing an amusing entire arena—virtually every one WrestleMania XXVII featured appetizer before the main event as of the 71,617 people in the Geor- nine matches, including tradition- the Great Khali—who stands at gia Dome—shouted the Rock’s al singles matches, tag-team bouts 7-foot-1 and 420-pounds—took catch phrase in absolutely perfect and three championship fights home the victory as the last wres- unison: “Can you smell what the Image courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment 18 • April 8, 2011 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT Dashboard from page 17 and emotions of love lost in “The Sharp Hint of New Tears,” but and the extraordinary feeling of also the hope and excitement of having a girlfriend. In his most beginning new relationships, as in Insidious, incident of clutter memorable song, “Dream Your “So Impossible.” For many teen- FILM Life Away,” he battled notions agers and young adults struggling Insidious from his father about failing as a with finding love and a sense of son. belonging, his songs are anthems GENRE: Horror After Lefler, Memphis, Tenn. for hope of a better life. STARRING: Patrick Wilson native Corey Branan took the After concluding the album stage. While the crowd was hospi- with “Shirts and Gloves,” Car- DIRECTOR: James Wan table, his acoustic-country didn’t rabba began playing some crowd RATING: PG-13 excite. Still, his most memorable favorites and songs from other song, “Girl Named Go,” had the albums, starting with “As Lov- RELEASE DATE: April 1st crowd singing along on the cho- ers Go.” Throughout the show, ruses. he expertly entertained the audi- OUR TAKE: ««««« Twenty minutes later, the ence with a seasoned blend of fast stage went dark and the entire songs mingled with his trademark By Hank Whitson room erupted. Walking on stage, slower laments. Staff Writer acoustic guitar in hand, Carrabba Almost two hours later Carrab- strode to the front. Playing the ba closed the last show of the tour One can tell director James entire The Swiss Army Romance with two crowd favorites. Scream- Wan and writer Leigh Whannel album, he opened with “Scream- ing lines from “Vindicated” and love supernatural horror films. ing Infidelities.” The soaring, “Hands Down,” body dripping They love creepy kids, haunted Image courtesy of FilmDistrict shimmering sound of his acoustic with sweat and voice drenched houses, spirit mediums, ghosts, Predictable creepy stuff ensues. that keeps popping up. There is guitar blended perfectly with his in emotion, he pleaded with the demons and exorcisms. They love Objects are knocked off shelves a little boy, a guy who looks like smooth voice and the roar of the crowd to release their hurt and them all so very much that they or mysteriously misplaced. Mali- vampire, before they started to crowd. On just his second song, pain. They obliged, pouring out could not bear to choose between cious whispering is overheard on sparkle, and an entity that bears Carrabba began to harmonize their souls and screaming with al- them.