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VerThe Vanderbilt Hustler’s Arts & su Entertainment Magazine s FEBRUARY 25—MARCH 3, 2009 VOL. 47, NO. 7

That “Joan of Arc,” always a rabble rouser. Page 3

An overture to music festivals from East to West. Page 4

Singing Disney songs is cool … when John Legend does it at the Oscars. Page 5

I spy with my little eye something … that looks like Spring Break! Road games for your traveling pleasure. Page 6

PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 The Regulars

THE RUTLEDGE Trent Willmon, The Parks, Alvarado Road Show Joan Baez — Tennessee Performing Arts Center Mozart in Wonderland — Schermerhorn Symphony 410 Fourth Ave. South 37201 — 3rd and Lindsley She may be a name from the past, but Joan Baez has a remarkable Center 782-6858 Legendary local venue 3rd and Lindsley hosts a fundraiser for voice that still touches your heart today. See this folk legend and The Nashville Symphony is presenting Mozart’s 40th symphony as Jake Deaton, an 8-year-old from Gallatin, Tenn., diagnosed with social activist sing some of hits across the decades. ($39.50 a classic counterpart to David Del Tredici’s “Final Alice,” inspired THE MERCY LOUNGE/CANNERY terminal cancer. Artists featured include The Parks, Trent Willmon, and up, 8 p.m., 505 Deaderick St.) by “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Featuring Hila Plitmann’s BALLROOM Ray Scott, Alvaredo Road Show and more. ($10, 6:30 p.m.) soprano vocals and Leonard Slatkin as conductor, the show will 1 Cannery Row 37203 The Nashville Nightlife Awards — The Mercy also feature a bluesy edge on classical music by employing banjos, 251-3020 Shannon Cain — Edgehill Studios Cafe Lounge/Cannery Ballroom accordion and two saxophones. ($TBD, 8 p.m.) Shannon Cain is a country artist whose music brings out the true Pay homage to the actors and agents responsible for turning BLUEBIRD CAFE emotion and history of Texas. His music is best served live, but his Nashville into a cornucopia of night life excitement! Only a few Peter Moon Band — Wildhorse Saloon 4104 Hillsboro Road 37215 recordings certainly do not disappoint — the passion behind his years ago, Music City stagnated in its own repetitive sound. No This southeastern rock ’n’ roll band has been charming audiences 383-1461 songs comes through no matter what. (Free, 7 p.m., 1201 Villa more. The great people at The Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom at clubs, colleges and casinos over the course of the last year. Place) hope to honor those responsible for this great transformation. Claiming to try to reach out to fans from every walk of life, the (Price TBD, 6 p.m.) band has opened for everything from pop stars to outlaw country EXIT/IN 2208 Elliston Place 37203 Eric ‘Guitar’ Davis — Bourbon Street Blues and artists. Boogie Bar The Good Side — 12th and Porter ($TBD, 8:15 p.m., 120 Second Ave. North) 321-3340 Davis showcases his guitar skills at shows throughout , Nashville natives The Good Side are releasing its newest delve into enjoying the prime of his musical career. His blues vocals and the world of , EP “Walk on the Moon,” this Friday. Andy Davis — 3rd and Lindsley STATION INN skillful guitar picking have earned him a wide following in some Come celebrate with the band at 12th and Porter, as they entertain This alternative pop pianist and singer has been compared to 402 12th Ave. South 37203 of the city’s most popular blues clubs. (Tickets TBA, 9 p.m., 220 with a bangin’ set. They will be joined by The United Front and , Paul Simon and even Billy Joel. A Nashville native, he 255-3307 Printers Alley) Jessica Dawn Band. (Price TBD, 8 p.m.) promises to deliver “distinctive melodies and infectious layered vocals.” What’s more, this show will benefit the Mocha Club — so THE BASEMENT The secondhandheroes — 12th and Porter Corleone and Truly Grimy — The Basement come enjoy some great music and feel good about it. ($10, 10 1604 Eighth Ave. South 37203 The secondhandheroes have recorded multiple and toured Check out Music City-spawned Corleone for a robust mix of guitar, p.m.) 254-1604 all throughout the southeast. Their style is similar to that of bass, keys and drums, a minimalistic approach to a maximal music popular modern rock bands such as Fuel, Lifehouse and Edwin experience. This group of rockers will be joined by Truly Grimy, a Kindercastle — The Mercy Lounge/Cannery F. SCOTT’S RESTAURANT AND McCain. The secondhandheroes, however, bring their own style to group ready to get you movin’ and groovin’ before the main act Ballroom BAR the table. (Free, 6 p.m., 114 12th Ave. North) hits the stage. ($7, 9 p.m., 114 12th Ave. North) Kindercastle is releasing an EP at The Mercy Lounge/Cannery 2210 Crestmoor Road 37215 Ballroom, and they want you to come. This strange amalgamation 269-5861 Satellites and Sirens, The Antennas and Andy Peter Moon Band — Wildhorse Saloon of ’70s and strings is supposedly fun and magical, and Hackbarth — Exit/In Over the past year, Pete Moon and his rowdy and talented band of course funky. For something different, but fun, come check it SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY Famous Nashville concert venue the Exit/In hosts a night of mates have been touring the country, bringing their universally out. ($8, 9 p.m.) CENTER music to benefit the Middle Tennessee Soccer Association. Artists appealing style and great live performances to new listeners just 1 Symphony Place 37201 performing include Satellites and Sirens, The Antennas and Andy like you. Their reputation has been on the up-and-up; perhaps Christie’s Ex — Music City Bar 687-6500 Hackbarth. This show is 18+. ($5, 8:30 p.m.) you should take a chance on ‘em. (Price TBD, 7 p.m., 120 Second If only the good die , and you’re not good, then you have Ave. North) plenty of time left to come check out Nashville’s premier Billy 3RD AND LINDSLEY Utah Green — Cafe Coco Joel tribute band. Have the men sing you a song and enjoy 818 Third Ave. South 37210 Hailing from the hills of western North Carolina, Utah Green has a Off the Wagon — Station Inn a drink while they do so. (Free, 9:30 p.m., 2416 Music Valley 259-9891 great appreciation for the traditional Americana folk tradition. She Off the Wagon does not apologize for its rough and tough Drive) is described as a “song painter, a story singer.” Her lighthearted authenticity. Keeping the spirit of bluegrass alive in the face of CAFE COCO sound and smiling eyes have earned her fans on both coasts and strong adversity, this group leaves the frills and gags at the door; Lorien — 12th and Porter 210 Louise Ave. 37203 everywhere in between. (Tickets TBA, 8 p.m.) they give their music to the audience straight, no chaser. If you If you’re into this kind of thing, the experimental music of 321-2626 can handle working-man’s bluegrass, this is the show for you. Nashville’s own Lorien will continue being all experimental with ($10, 9 p.m.) its newest CD being released this Saturday. Incorporating breathy vocals, classical piano, progressive rhythm and melodic guitar work, this band should be something new and potentially exciting. Check them out. ($5, 8 p.m., 114 12th Ave. North)

East Side Scooters is giving away a Buddy 50 scooter this Wednesday, Feb. 25. from Look on the back page of today’s paper to learn about 718 Gallatin Ave. • 226-1100 • www.eastsidescooters.com your chance to win! THIS ISSUE Versus Bits & Pieces FEBRUARY 25—MARCH 3, 2009 VOL. 47, NO. 7 3 • Your life in the stars, 2 • Overheard at Vanderbilt, 2 Versus FROM THE EDITOR • Words to live by in 17 syllables, 2 Magazine EDITORIAL BOARD Entertainment • And the Oscars went to ..., 3 Editor in Chief • An age-old tale can still inspire passion for Chris Gearing 4 a new-age audience, 3 Managing Editor Sara Gast Music • Festivals! What fun! 4 Features Editor • You should know-ah Noah and the Courtney Rogers Whale, 4 • Who are you listening to, Vandy? 5 Culture Editors Trip Cothren Holly Meehl If you’re like me, your jaw was on the fl oor when Sean Penn won the Best Actor award at the Oscars this past Sunday. Spring Break Mickey Rourke’s once-in-a-lifetime role as Randy “The Ram” 6 Music Editors • We help you go road trippin’, 6 Charlie Kesslering Robinson was a lock. Almost every critic agreed Rourke • Don’t worry — there’s still plenty of deserved it. I even saw a statistical breakdown of likely Oscar Avery Spofford time to get in shape for break, 6 winners, and Mickey Rourke was the second most likely to win with a 97 percent likelihood (second only to Heath Ledger at 99 Head Writer percent for Best Supporting Actor). Kris Stensland Features Do you want to know the dirty secret of the Oscars? It’s not about the best performances or movies — it’s a political • Q+A with AnnaLynne McCord, 7 machine. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? We • Letter from an Angry WASP, 7 all remember a fi ne little movie called “Shakespeare In Love.” 7 Art Director It won the Best Picture award some years ago, and all was well. Matt Radford Unless if you remember which fi lm lost … oh that’s right, “Saving Private Ryan.” Perhaps the best World War II fi lm of all time. Seriously, this happened. Other travesties of the past PIC OF THE WEEK Designers few years include “Chicago” beating “The Pianist” and “Crash” Irene winning anything at all. Ever. Gosh, that movie sucked. Hukkelhoven Kat Miller The Academy is less concerned with what was the best Morgan Webb performance of the year than they are with the political climate of the time. I thought Sean Penn was electrifying as Marketing Director Harvey Milk, but Rourke was the clear winner. Beyond their George Fischer performances, Penn has already won a Best Actor Oscar (for “Mystic River”) and Rourke will never have a role better suited to his body, acting abilities and life (if you haven’t done the Advertising Manager research, the story is oddly analogous to his own). The Academy Angela Booker wasn’t picking the best acting performance of the year — they picked the most timely performance. “Milk” is an uplifting story VSC Director about a man who fought for gay rights, and with Prop 8 and Chris Carroll other recent events, this is truly the civil rights movement of our generation. That’s why Penn won. Assistant VSC But hey, don’t be mad. This week we’ve got starlet AnnaLynne Directors McCord on page 7, Spring Break suggestions on page 6 and Jeff Breaux which music festivals to catch on page 3. It’s gonna be an issue Paige Clancy to remember. Big fun!

Journalist in And how the heck did “Slumdog Millionaire” do so well? It was Residence good, but not that good … Tim Ghianni Stay legendary, Chris Gearing NICOLE MANDEL / VERSUS MAGAZINE

HAIKUS BITS & PIECES Words to live by “IF YOU DIE IN AN ELEVATOR, BE SURE TO PUSH THE UP BUTTON.” in seventeen syllables — SAM LEVENSON After our spring break Two months til graduation. Real world, here we come.

Would you rather have H ROSCOPES No mid-terms and fi nals, or PISCES 2/19-3/20: Try to quote Disney songs as much as possible this week. Fail a test? “Hakuna Matata.” Trying new things? “A A worthwhile degree? Whole New World.” Frat party? “Heigh Ho.” ARIES 3/21-4/19: The stars may be aligned, but your teeth are not. I know a great orthodontist I could refer you to if you want. TAURUS 4/20-5/20: Just because Valentine’s Day is gone doesn’t mean a desperate and overzealous romantic maneuver is a bad idea. You’ll win that heart if it’s the last thing you do. OVERHEARD GEMINI 5/21-6/21: When you write for a publication, they’re not Some people on this campus just don’t think before stalkers, they’re fans. they speak. Sometimes we are lucky enough to overhear what they say.

CANCER 6/22-7/22: You’re going to get wing-manned by the stars Compiled from the Facebook group “Overheard at Vanderbilt” this weekend and horo-score. Guy: “Pro-tip: Chain it to your ass.” LEO 7/23-8/22: Oh? Really? If THIS is a knife, then what the heck do you call a sword, dick? Rando: “You should never drunk dial a ghost.” VIRGO 8/23-9/22: Whoever designed palm trees clearly didn’t have climbing in mind. Appreciate our arboretal status by scaling an Girl: “I’m pretty sure ‘Kung Pau’ isn’t a last name.” oak instead. LIBRA 9/23-10/22: If something is worth making the last thing you Rando: “So we talked about it, and we do, maybe you should just do it now. Plus, the last thing you’ll do is decided that it’s OK to have sex as long die, so it doesn’t even count. as we’re up in time for church.” SCORPIO 10/23-11/21: Your ability to make minor changes to Girl: “Small boobs are TOTALLY in right words to make them suggestive is not as clever as you think it is. now.”

SAGITTARIUS 11/22-12/21: It’s cool to have a drinking alter ego. Guy: “Question: Would you rather be the Just make sure he’s not a better person than sober you is. principal or the secretary?”

CAPRICORN 12/22-1/19: You did a great job getting in shape for Professor: “No worries, Daddy’s here and I’ll Spring Break. Too bad you can’t afford to go to the beach. slay the dragon with my credit card.”

AQUARIUS 1/20-2/18: Don’t worry about the debauchery dying; Mardi Gras will live on forever in your heart. PHOTOS: ickr.com Versus • February 25—March 3, 2009 • 3 ENTERTAINMENT And the Oscar goes to... Best Motion Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire” Performance By An Actor in A Performance By An Actress in A Leading Role: Leading Role: Sean Penn Kate Winslet in “Milk” in “The Reader”

topnews.in washingtonpost.com

Performance By An Actor in A Supporting Role: Performance By An Actress in A Supporting Role Heath Ledger in “The Penelope Cruz in “Vicky Dark Knight” Christina Barcelona”

impawards.com

sammyray.com ALLMOVIEPHOTO.COM

Achievement in Directing Best Animated Feature Film Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire” “WALL-E”

Adapted Screenplay Best Animated Short Film “Slumdog Millionaire” by Simon Beaufoy “La Maison en Petits Cubes”

Original Screenplay Best Live Action Short Film “Milk” by Dustin Lance Black “Spielzeugland (Toyland)”

Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song) Best Documentary Feature “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire.” Music by “Man on Wire” A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar Best Documentary Short Subject Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score) “Smile Pinki” “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman Best Foreign Language Film Achievement In Cinematography “Departures” — Japan “Slumdog Millionaire” Achievement In Visual Eff ects Achievement In Film Editing “The Curious Case of Benjamin “Slumdog Millionaire,” Chris Dickens Button”

Achievement In Costume Design Achievement In Makeup “The Duchess” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Greg Cannom Achievement In Art Direction “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” Achievement In Sound Editing “The Dark Knight” Achievement In Sound Mixing “Slumdog Millionaire”

‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’ is a triumph of lm art

BEN GRIMWOOD imprisoning close-ups, she is largely other reason, the visuals of “The Passion of Joan of Staff Writer silent as the religious of cials who “The Passion of Joan of Arc” Arc” was shown recently as Eat your heart out, Mel Gibson. Carl constantly surround her condemn maintain its place in lm part of the International Lens, Theodor Dreyer’s meditative “The her as a heretic. Her tears, wide eyes history and become the reason a lm series with a global Passion of Joan of Arc (La Passion de and upturned gaze are the only that viewers should continue perspective that promotes Jeanne d’Arc),” a lm over 80 years con rmations that viewers require to to see it. Try to forget that you dialogue among Vanderbilt’s old, reigns over all “passion lms.” comprehend her state. Even then, she know the story — you have community of students, Dreyer chooses to omit the martyr’s turns Joan into one of the most tragic never seen visuals like these. faculty and staff.  days of glory and to instead humanize characters on lm as the anguish on her her nal hours, which have become face, with the help of cinematography the stuff of legend. His potent lm and no makeup, ardently conveys. attempts to bring the tale to life While I have found it dif cult through stunning close-ups and sharp to connect to “passion lms,” the angles, replete with the angry faces of lm’s revolutionary visual artistry religious of cials and the tormented is undeniable. The plot itself can face of Joan herself. However, because sometimes become a little tedious, the story is already known from the especially when it feels like the lm rst second, the events and especially drags its feet a bit in its transition the inexhaustible close-ups of Joan from trial to torture to execution sobbing before the camera become a (with a runtime of only 80 minutes!). I bit tiresome. personally grew weary of the seemingly Nevertheless, often cited as a marvel millions of close-ups of Falconetti of signi cant visual innovativeness for with a body of water gushing out of its use of close-ups, “The Passion” uses wikimedia.org her eyes. Although I realize all of those the camera extraordinarily effectively. shots are critical to communicating The close-up shots have astounding cheek in “Ghost,” Falconetti showed her anguish, a good deal of the lm visual artistry, certainly revolutionary the world how it was done (the award might as well be one close-up shot on for its time. Close-ups had never been for Most Tears on Film goes to…). Joan as she cries and cries and cries utilized in such an innovative way to While silent cinema stars were often some more. (Did Dreyer never hear communicate human emotion. directed to act a bit exaggeratedly that “less is more”?) The emotional rawness of Renee for the camera, the genuineness of In terms of the visuals, “The Passion Maria Falconetti certainly stands out Falconetti’s performance runs contrary of Joan of Arc” is a masterpiece. The in “The Passion.” Before Demi Moore to this notion. Emotionally stripped story itself seems treated rather banally, was rolling perfect tears down her before the camera’s proliferation of so something feels lacking. If for no 4 • February 25—March 3, 2009 • Versus

TODAY THURSDAY, FEB. 26 FRIDAY, FEB. 27 Since you just can't get enough of You have seen Jim Breuer Enrich your college life with a little America's favorite awards show, on the boob tube as part of the big city culture. Head over to the MUSIC join The Belcourt Theatre as they "" cast. Now Frist Center for the Visual Arts from bring the Oscar experience a little is your chance to catch his out- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., dressed to the “Famous people are just more bit closer to home. Tonight at 9 rageous antics fi rst hand, when nines, for a relaxing evening of p.m., for only $6.25, watch all the he visits Zanies Comedy Night art, wine and live music. Wayne interesting.” great live action short fi lms nomi- Club for an evening of hilarity. Avers will be playing in the — Penny Lane nated for Academy Awards this Tickets cost $20 for the 7:30 Grand Lobby for your scot-free SETLIST year. p.m. set. enjoyment.

Festival Season 2009 The Versus music staff brings you a compilation of some of the most anticipated acts at a few of this summer season’s biggest festivals.

Bonnaroo (June 11-14, 2009 in Manchester, Tenn.) Rites of Spring (April Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Phish, Beastie 16-18, 2009 in Nashville, Boys, , , Wilco, Al Green, Snoop Tenn.) Dogg, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Wouldn’t you like to Yeahs, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, MGMT, moe., Girl Takl, know? Bon Iver, of Montreal, Galactic, Animal Collective, , Vanderbilt.edu Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Ting Tings, Crystal Castles, The Knux, Delta Spirit (more to be announced). Sasquatch! (May 23-25, 2009 in George, Wash.): Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Deviantart.com Yeahs, The Decemberists, Coachella (April 17-19, 2009 in Indio, Calif.) Animal Collective, Bon Iver, Franz Ferdinand, , Morrissey, N.A.S.A., Paul King Khan and the Shrines, McCartney, The Hold Steady, White Lies, Amy Winehouse, Passion Pit, Jane’s Addiction, Band Of Horses, Fleet Foxes, , The Killers, Liars, Nine Inch Nails, TV on the MSTRKRFT, The Bloody Beetroots, Friendly Fires, Groove Radio, The Avett Brothers, Armada, , Lykke Li, My Bloody Valentine, Okkervil Ben Harper & Relentless7, River, Public Enemy, The Kills, , The Cure. Erykah Badu, Silversun Pickups, Fleet Foxes, Girl Coachella-tickets.com Talk and various comedic Downtotheleft.com performances. (August 7-9, 2009 in Chicago, Ill.) While the 2009 Lollapaloooza lineup has not yet been announced, the festival promises to be one of the summer’s best. 2008’s lineup included established artists such as Kanye (May West, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, and Rage Against 2 and 3 in East Rutherford, the Machine as well as then-up-and-comers like Holy Fuck, N.J.): MGMT and Duffy. Rumors have arisen that , , , Rise Aainst, Tenacious D and electro-pop favorites Passion , The Get Up Pit may be playing the festival. Kids, , Metro Deviantart.com Station, , The Bloodhound Gang, The (March 13-22 in Austin, Texas): Cab, Cartel, Danger Radio, The full SXSW lineup has yet to be announced, but artists , Set that have con rmed thus far include Ra Ra Riot, Friendly Your Goals, , Fires, , Pete and the Pirates, , Explosions , Rise in the Sky and Ben Harper. Last year’s festival lineup bodes Against, , , well for this year’s, with performances from artists including 3OH!3, The Ataris and The Van Morrison, MGMT, Hanson, The Cool Kids and The Black Thebamboozle.com Maine.  Keys. i lm.com

Kasiisi Project blends music and philanthropy

philanthropists Sarah Quirk plight to the attention of e d u c a t i o n alike, to help them bring and drinks, and all types AVERY SPOFFORD and Alice Bator, Vanderbilt’s the Vanderbilt community systems of awareness to their new and styles of performers Music Editor branch of the project is and involve Vanderbilt Uganda. project. The organization are welcome — from the rst extension of the students in helping build T h e will be hosting an open spoken word to bands, the This spring, Vanderbilt’s Kasiisi Project International, brighter futures for the Kasiisi mic night on March 18 in Project is calling out to all singer-songwriter crowd will a national non-pro t young of Uganda through Project is order to gather donations of the community to come enjoy a new opportunity to bene ting school children at funding for educational reaching for the project’s current to the aid of these Ugandan showcase their skills (and nine secondary and primary projects. From funding for out to all objective — providing a students. for a good cause, to boot): schools in Western Uganda. physical classroom buildings Va n d e r b i l t full scholarship for one Performers should sign the freshly founded Kasiisi The Vanderbilt branch, to providing scholarships, performers, Ugandan student. The up before Spring Break by Project Vanderbilt. founded in fall 2008, aims moneys raised by Kasiisi students event will be a “coffee e-mailing kasiisivanderbilt@ Founded by sophomore to bring these children’s go toward improving the and faculty house” style with desserts gmail.com. aasentertainment.net

Kweller mounts different Dive into the music of style in 'Changing Horses'

from the “top of a Greyhound MATT SHELTON ALEX GOLDBERG station.” The pedal steel Staff Writer Staff Reporter guitar wails alongside this Ben Kweller has challenged vocal performance with a Noah and the Whale are a himself to create a new sound carefree air to it. Something few guys and a female vocalist in the biographically named tells me this may be the new from who have “Changing Horses.” In each sound of Ben Kweller, a mix earned their way onto the track, Kweller embraces his of his old indie-pop with a country in uences and has Texas twang. created a twangy, pedal steel On the other side of the guitar-infused awash Musicdirect.com equation was “On her Own.” with his witty songwriting. In his “Ballad of Wendy Loaded with catchy lyrics, The all-analog album shines Baker,” I really noticed the great hooks and a strong Myspace.com with tracks that remind me growth of Kweller’s range and female in , I was of older Ben Kweller, such tone since his last album. The half-expecting it to be a duet soundtrack of my life. Their showing and having too much as “Things I Like to Do.” two most controversial songs with Carrie Underwood. I instrumentation consists of love for your own good. This appropriately simple are the album are “Sawdust found myself enjoying the the typical guitars, bass and I have been waiting to hear tune re ects the simple Man” and “On her Own.” In lyrics, but feeling that it drums, but what really makes their music in commercials — pleasures so in “Sawdust Man,” my personal was getting away from the them an artist to know is their it is the quintessential song that country and western music, favorite, Kweller delivers a boyish charm I’ve become interesting use of ddle, ukulele no one knows yet cannot get out but doesn’t seem to have vocal performance akin to enamored with in his music. and keyboards. of their heads when they hear it the stale “I love my dog a roadhouse love song. “I Overall, Kweller has stuck Their lyrics echo themes of on an Acura commercial. Noah and my woman,” cliche of wanna kiss you from your his foot in the water of a new love. “5 Years Time” talks about and the Whale has provided me mainstream country. Other head to your toes/Take this musical stream. Whether he how the moments we live in with a place to escape whether tracks like “Old Hat” and thing as far as it goes,” takes a follows it down river or not, now are the moments we will I am studying in the library, “Hurtin’ You” recapture the much different connotation his successful experiment look back at and talk about running on the treadmill or essence of Ben Kweller: his than if uttered by an ’80s hair shows his growth as an artist, in ve years. “2 Atoms in a cruising down West End. Give boyish charm and simple band compared to Kweller and as a budding midstream Molecule” is a love letter, and these guys a few years and they wit. and his carefree plea for love headliner. Deathandtaxesmagazinecom “Shape of My Heart” is about could be the next Beatles.  Versus • February 25—March 3, 2009 • 5

Saturday, feb. 28 Sunday, Mar. 1 Monday, mar. 2 Tuesday, mar. 3 Scoot on over to the Renaissance If you're sticking around Nashville If you have never been before, the Support Nashville's up-n-comers soundtrack Center of the Jackson Foundation during spring break, don't fret. There Hall of Fame at The Basement. Admission is for a presentation of Pink Floyd's is plenty to keep you occupied during is awaiting your visit. It would be free to the venue's "New Faces" seminal album "The Wall.” The these off days. Grab a dog and soda an utter travesty to live in Nashville show, which features promis- to the issue show uses laser effects, 3D graph- at Hawkins Field and root on your for four years and turn a blind ing acts such as The Cliche, ics and a sound system that packs very own Commodore baseball eye to the history and heritage Last Good Year, Labeling much more than a punch. Tickets team against Vermont. Entrance is contained on the walls’ permanent Deloris, Auto Defiance, Red are a steal at six duckets. The music free for students. The game starts at and temporary exhibits. The expe- Shepherd and more. Doors starts at 9 p.m. 1 p.m. rience costs $16.50. open at 8 p.m.

Jackman and friends dazzle at Oscars We at Versus have excellent taste in music. Below, the editors share proceeded to express his love to Though the act seemed a what tracks we’ve been spinning as charlie kesslering Kate Winslet (“I would swim a sea bit scattered for awhile, once we create the glory you’re holding Music Editor of human excrement”), interview Beyonce crooned “The truth is While stories of tragedy turned Anne Hathaway’s Richard Nixon I never left you,” a solitary line in your hands. triumph may have emerged from and poke a considerable amount from Madonna’s masterpiece this past Sunday’s Academy of fun at himself — all the while “Evita” (thank you high school “neighborhood #1 (Tun- Awards as the most prominent , dancing and turning on Spanish class), things became nels)” occurrences, the interspersed middle-aged housewives. more electric and magical — 1. moments of singing and dancing much to my delight. The Arcade Fire proved the most entertaining. Other performances went on Despite the attempts of Static.guim.co.uk with mixed results. Sure, John "John wesley harding" “Slumdog Millionaire” to Bob Dylan wrestle attention away from Hunter” meets “Goosebumps”) 2. Hugh Jackman’s melodious in Van Helsing failed to garner voice, Beyonce’s sparkle-infused much support at the box office. “Kilo (feat. raekown)" leotard and Zac Efron’s physical However, when People Magazine’s 3. Ghostface Killah inability to show emotion, the “Sexiest Man Alive” straps on a cordless mic, relieves himself of all inhibitions and takes to the "sweet baby james" stage, the result is damn exciting. 4. James Taylor Sadly, the evening’s "At the Chime of a city Tamilwire.com 5. clock" Legend sang someone else’s Nick song in his “my stage name says Msn.com it all” kind of way, but if he’s not "If I had" expelling the words “give me the Eminem Later in the show, Jackman green light,” who really cares? 6. Metro.co.uk teamed up with the booty-licious A.R. Rahman, playing music Beyonce, heartthrob Efron and that had nothing to do with "Idioteque" rags-to-riches hit just couldn’t Efron’s girlfriend (of Internet noodles, enthusiastically brought Radiohead muster the might necessary. scandal fame) to present the some songs from “Slumdog 7. From its opening number to the world with a somewhat messy, Millionaire” to my ears and kept "N.y. state of mind" swan song, the Oscars delivered but fun, amalgamation of a me fairly entertained (despite musical performances drenched century’s worth of musicals. This M.I.A. being, well, M.I.A. on the 8. in quality. provided me with one of those song “O Saya”). This year’s host Hugh Inquisitr.com rare moments of simultaneous In summary, the Hollywood "The dress looks nice on Jackman, unlike Chris Rock and performance peaked only a pride and remorse; I found myself infused Broadway fare (tentative 9. you" Billy Crystal, has never drawn few minutes after the curtain recognizing many of the musical title) simply blew me away. Here’s Sufjan Stevens crowds with his humor; even spread. In the face of a recession, snip-its, but unsure whether to to hoping “Wolverine” does not his unintentionally hilarious Jackman made the opening count these as successes or grave tear down my newfound respect performance (“Dawg the Bounty act’s scenery “in his garage” and failures. for Hugh Jackman. " is the reason" 10.

Tickets available at all outlets, Kroger, the Ryman Box Office, ryman.com, or (800) 745-3000. 6 • February 25—March 3, 2009 • Versus SPRING BREAK Here are some foolproof ways to make new BFFs the most about music. One person sing and dance with Beyonce? Yes. once you’ve nished some of these HOLLY MEEHL “Where’s the Alphabet?” controls the iPod and plays a song Ohhh, Hugh Jackman! Yes! games you will all be the best of Culture Editor This is a simple game which can — whoever guesses the correct title friends. You’ll have so much fun you As Spring Break approaches, get any passenger’s heart racing at and artist rst, wins. If no one wants “Alphabet Categories” won’t even want to get out of the many of us will be piling in a car the anticipation of nding that last to be the iPod master, hit shuf e This game can also be played in car once you’ve reached the Virginia and heading out on a long, long Z. Basically you compete to see who and hide the iPod screen. a variety of ways. Pick a category coast. Well, maybe.  road trip. Being in a car, whether can nd every letter in the alphabet such as movies, songs, cereals, you’re headed to balmy south rst. You can look at license plates, “20 Questions” whatever. Then you go Florida or chilly North Dakota for road signs, gas stations, anywhere This can be played in a variety of around person by person an Alternative Spring Break trip, a letter might appear outside your ways. I personally like to keep the and say an answer that can be a dull experience. And when window. But once a letter has been rules pretty open. Basically, one corresponds to the letter your iPod battery has run out on the spotted, no one else can use it. So person gets to think of a person in the alphabet you are fth hour of your epic journey, life get those distant glasses out and or an animal or really anything at on. For example, let’s is looking pretty bleak. But keep your eyes peeled to all. Some people like to start the say you pick movies and never fear, car games complete your alphabet game asking: “Animal, vegetable, or you’re on the letter “S” are here! Check out rst. mineral?” But just pick something, — you would go around these entertaining human or not, and have the other and each say a movie that activities for you “Name That Tune” people in your car ask questions begins with the letter “S.” and your This is a great game for to guess what it is. For example “Slumdog Millionaire,” road trip us college students let’s say I picked Hugh Jackman “Sleepless in ,” buds and a who can never get in lieu of his recent emceeing of “Sahara.” long car ride enough new songs the Oscars. Questions may go will never uploaded onto our something like this: Is it a male? There you go — some easy seem boring iPods and are in Yes. Is he tall, dark and handsome? entertainment for your unbearably again. constant competition Yes. Is he Australian? Yes? Has he long car ride with people you may tips-for-camping.com cultureby.com to see who knows seen “The Reader?” No. Did he or may not even know. Don’t worry; Only three days to lose weight? Do what Brad Pitt does. research on the most effective 1. The celery diet especially for those with guaranteed. The downside: there are a few side effects. MATT SHELTON diet regimens; I have come up The myth is true: Eating large appetites. For extra While a favorite of Brad Pitt The rst is the obvious smell Staff Writer with three methods that will cut celery burns more calories  avor, sprinkle some lemon before magazine shoots, the emitting from your body. With Spring Break only the fat quick: than the food contains. The juice or pepper on the Mayo Clinic announced in No one wants to sit by the three days away, I know bene ts of this diet are stalk, or even cook it for 2007 that colonics caused person who smells like a foot. a lot of you are racing immense. You can eat a different texture. The anemia and heart failure Another side effect is the to the gym, trying to get as much celery downside: Celery doesn’t with prolonged use. Add annoying sound caused by that swimsuit bod for the and water as have any protein, vitamins this to the fact that a tube the rubbing together of any beach. Even those who are possible. or minerals. Extended is going up the backside appendage with said rubber just going home for break This diet use of this diet results in to suck your insides, and suit. While rubber suits are attempting to prevent works malnutrition and starvation, this is one of the more come in many neon colors, the parental once-over which actually causes a unappealing options. none of them are appealing, inspection for that “freshman bloating of the stomach. and I don’t think they will be 15” you’ve sworn would never 3. Rubber suits: en vogue anytime soon.  happen to you. Well have no 2. “Last minute” colonic Take a note from wrestlers. fear — after months of While some commercials Throw on those garbage claim you could lose ve bag-looking rubber suits and pounds “fast,” they have sweat it out. As long as you nothing on the tube up the, don’t re-hydrate, the weight well, you know. Patients “melts” away. The downside: walk out ve pounds lighter, When one sweats all day, hyscience.com wendi.com Go ahead. Expose yourself to the North. possibilities for any college ALLENA BERRY spring-breaker looking for Staff Writer a good time. Over the past week, For starters, there’s I’ve frequently been the wide array of dining asked, “So where are you options. Looking for the going for Spring Break?” world’s largest cheese In the array of answers factory? We’ve got that that include Mexico, the covered. Want to tour Bahamas or volunteering the Miller Brewing map-of-usa/images.com to administer free medical Factory? Done and done. care to the homeless, Sauerkraut, bratwursts to head up north, let me my simple response of and more kringle than you tempt you with the various outdoor options Wisconsin can offer you. I mean, after all, who said it had to be warm to go outside? You could engage in ice shing, snowshoeing or practice your archery skills as you head out in the tundra before dawn to go hunting. All of this and more could be yours with one trip to Wisconsin. So if you see me walking around campus, and you ask, “Hey! Where are you going over break?” blog.pennlive.com and I respond, “Home to “Wisconsin” elicits some could ever imagine will be Wisconsin,” don’t feel laughs, questioning stares waiting for you on the icy bad. Actually, I believe the or the ever popular, “God, shores of Lake Michigan appropriate response would that sucks.” Contrary to this Spring Break. be jealousy. Where else can popular belief, my home If that’s not enough to you nd the state beverage state of Wisconsin can convince to be beer, the state dance offer myriad you to be the polka and the ratio of cows to inhabitants to be roughly 1:5? Nowhere but Wisconsin. For that, I say willkommen to America’s Dairyland. 

kontrastblog.com Versus • February 25—March 3, 2009 • 7

LETTER FROM AN ANGRY Q&A WITH WASP Every movie needs a good villain, Each week, and in “Fired Up,” actress AnnaLynne our resident McCord up to the plate. In a movie centered on two jocks who head to Angry WASP cheer camp, she plays Gwyneth, off on things scheming overenthusiastic captain that make him buzz. of a rival cheerleading squad, the (see what we did there?) Panthers. Versus chatted with her about bi-coastal fi lming, the transition from the small screen to the silver screen and what it’s like to play the bad girl. COURTNEY ROGERS it was so funny but visually, Features Editor they actually played it back for me, and it was so obnoxious! Versus Magazine: What made you want to play If anyone did that in real life it the character Gwyneth? would be the most messed up AnnaLynne McCord: I really got turned on to thing in the world. But it’s fun to the role because it’s a comedy. I’ve done a lot of do those things and then step off Dear Whoever dramas, and I haven’t really done anything too the set and be a nice person in funny so I wanted to be funny, and I got a chance to Made the real life. Maybe it’s getting back do that on “Fired Up.” It was a lot of fun. Elevators Beep, at someone who did that to you. VM: How would you describe your sense of humor? VM: Do you prefer shooting in ARE YOU SERIOUS? What makes you laugh? or Los Angeles? Do we really need AM: I love to laugh at myself. In the fi lm, I’m a real AM: I love New York. I am biased. I to have every fl oor straight shooter, super serious. That can always be lived there for about four years, and counted off for us? I funny when things are a light matter and someone I’m happiest when I’m in New York. takes them way too seriously. Gwyneth is very, very have yet to fi gure out In L.A., the weather is perfect and we serious about her cheerleading, so it’s pretty funny. what the purpose of don’t really ever have to have rain this obnoxious sound days. When you’re shooting a fi lm VM: Did you audition for the role? like “Fired Up” and you’re outdoors a is. I can tell we’re AM: Yes. It was kind of a funny story. I went in and lot, it’s nice to know that every single going up because I I did the whole audition process, and there’s a part day we would shoot what we can feel us moving, of the fi lm where I do a little thing with my hands planned to shoot because it’s not and there’s that nice and I make a claw and say “Panthers out” and the going to rain. It’s diffi cult on the whole team does it with me. The director was like, big LED display East Coast because you don’t “Can you just do some kind of claw thing?” And I indicating that the know whether a cloud is going did it. Once I had been offered the role and was in fl oors are indeed to come over and start pouring the rehearsal process, he asked me, “What was that passing by. So who rain, and that can put us behind thing you did in the audition?” and I showed him schedule. There’s good and bad thought, “Wow, maybe again and it became something throughout the fi lm to both. we should make a that my team did at the end of a conversation. beeping sound so VM: How is “Fired Up” different people can tell the VM: I read that you were homeschooled. Did you from “Bring it On”? ever want to be a cheerleader? elevator is moving.” AM: Our director, Will Gluck, AM: I was homeschooled, and I obviously didn’t That was you, douche. knew that in some way, shape or form the movie get an opportunity to cheering as a student. I did Beyond how stupid would be compared to “Bring It On.” In the movie, a lot of boot camp after I was offered the role. We there’s a where the cheerleaders watch “Bring even HAVING a sound had a couple weeks where we came in 8 to 5 every It On” in the park at cheer camp, and you see is, why did you pick day and did rehearsals and had a choreographer. It several of the cheerleaders lipsynching the lines. that particular sound? was a lot of work, and I defi nitely have to say, any The two movies are different because “Bring it On” I swear it’s just slightly of you out there who are cheerleaders, major props. focuses on the cheerleaders, and this fi lm focuses It’s a dangerous sport and you guys work your butts off of any actual on the two guys and how they are football players off. It’s incredible, the amount of skill and focus that pitch, which somehow who have been through the mill of the girls at school goes into being a cheerleader, and I had a lot of chips away slowly at and now they want to go through all the girls at fun learning about it. cheer camp. It follows their storyline more than just my sanity. It isn’t a the cheerleaders, but we defi nitely realized that they pleasant sound by any VM: How was shooting “Fired Up” different from would be compared and so we said, “OK, we’re means, and is enough fi lming a TV show? going to compare it for you,” and put “Bring it to make me want to AM: It’s very different. Filming “Fired Up” was a On” in the fi lm. big production and there’s a difference in shooting take the stairs if I didn’t days. Whereas I will shoot seven pages on a TV live up so high in VM: Did you do your own stunts? show in one day, I’ll only shoot two pages on a Towers. AM: Yes, I did my own stunts and I was very movie in one day. There’s a lot more repetition and And couldn’t you proud of myself. I didn’t have as many days a lot longer hours. There’s also a lot more focus on training as the rest of the cast because I was have at least aligned bigger details — with fi lm it’s all about the setting working on a project in New York, so I pretty the pitches on the and the place and making the audience feel like much walked in and they said, “All right, are different elevators they’re really there. A TV show is more about the you ready to go? We’re throwing you up in so they weren’t dialogue and what’s going on. the air!” I actually learned three air stunts, totally discordant on two of which were cut out, but I really loved VM: How do you approach the role of the overlapping fl oors? the fact that they let me do my own stunts. antagonist? That bare miss makes Sometimes they don’t like the actors to do that AM: It’s an interesting process, playing the bad because you can incur injuries, but I did all me cringe every girl. It’s a lot of fun because I have the opportunity right. I had one incident where someone else time and feels like to play around and really build some layers onto fell and hit me and I kind of saw stars for a sandpaper on my soul. my character. But it’s something you step into and few seconds. But other than that, it was a Plus, did you really something you make sure you step out of because good time. you don’t want to be that person in real life. I have to set the volume listened to music with my iPod and on the set, I was on that beeper so VM: Do you think it’s kind of pioneering to pretty set in who I wanted Gwyneth to be and I high? I can hear have a cheerleading movie about two guys? wanted to stay serious. It’s a funny fi lm, and a lot of AM: This story is actually based on two of the elevator arriving times between takes, the actors will be making jokes our producers. In high school, they got into from my shower. At and it’s important for me to be serious. So I would cheer camp to go meet girls, which the point where the go off by myself and stay clear on what I wanted to to me is kind of genius. In obnoxiousness passes do and I kind of separated myself from the rest of its own right it might be the cast. I was kind of a loner on that fi lm. through six inches of pioneering, but there have isolated concrete, I defi nitely been guys VM: Why do you consider cheerleading a sport? feel like we have a who’ve said, “Hey, AM: Personally I label cheerleading a sport problem. 300 girls who are because a lot of times, people don’t give the credit out there in little tiny At fi rst, I thought that’s due to cheerleaders. It’s incredible, the miniskirts. Let’s go be it was just being amount of athleticism that goes into cheerleading a part of that.”  hungover that made and putting up even a simple stunt. You have to be the beeping so bad. a true athlete to play a sport and you certainly have to be an athlete to be a cheerleader. But no, it really is all the time. Who thought VM: What was the most fun part about playing of this? These torture Gwyneth? devices are fi t for Abu AM: The fun part was getting to be a mean Ghraib, not Towers person! You get to take out your aggression and West. it’s allowed! Really, the fun part was this scene where Gwyneth does this miming thing where I take out a napkin and proceed to wipe imaginary Sincerely, drool from the other team captain’s lips. Reading An Angry WASP www.sonypicturespublicity.com 8 • February 25—March 3, 2009 • Versus flip side

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