THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY November 1, 2005 17 Arts & Entertainment Welcome to the Church of Slack: live

JULIE SAGER Retriever Weekly Editorial Staff the main stage area and craned their necks eagerly as possible, keeping the energy high and the mood for any sign of the group. Rarely have I seen a strong. I have seen this band perhaps a dozen times New York City’s and favorites The crowd at this type of show so very excited just to over the last fi ve years and have never seen a bad Slackers took the stage at the Ottobar last week in catch a glimpse of a band, but the long-absent or even mediocre set, though last summer things their fi rst Baltimore show in at least three years. Slackers had the audience positively addicted. began to get a bit weaker after the departure of With local openers Captain of Industry and the What makes the Slackers a completely the spastic but endearing co-frontman Q-Maxx. Rootworkers, the much-beloved band effortlessly fascinating group is the way they manage to But with the cool, almost beatnik presence of proved to the fans present that it was more than seamlessly combine a mellow reggae attitude bassist Marcus and the infamous “Disco Dave” worth the long wait to see them again. with the high-energy political consciousness of on sax, the band remains unbeatable. It was a set The Slackers have a special place in my heart early ska. Frontman is like the Bob that left me grinning nonstop for the fi rst several as the fi rst band I ever saw live, fi ve years ago. Dylan of the genre; his minimalist but highly consecutive tracks; featuring songs whose origins Due to the complete unwillingness of a particular expressive approach to singing and songwriting spanned the band’s entire career of studio releases instructor to let one of his most reliable students makes him both admirable and unforgettable. His as well as tracks from their upcoming new release, leave two-thirds of the way through rehearsal, I ability to write love songs, political diatribes, and the set ended with a mellow cover of Dylan’s “I unfortunately missed all of the opening acts. In one disguised as the other is matched by few in Shall Be Released” that segued into the bouncy, particular, I had eagerly anticipated the fi rst show this day and age, and his thick New York accent energetic “Have the Time.” of the Rootworkers, formed by members of other and slightly monotonous singing voice make For more information about the Slackers, acclaimed local ska and reggae groups. However, him unmistakable, especially when paired with please visit http://www.theslackers.com. they received positive reviews from acquaintances the explosive energy of trombonist/vocalist Glen Julie Sager is the Assistant Arts and Entertainment of mine who were actually present, though these Pine. Editor for The Retriever Weekly, and is far too old to Courtesy of theslackers.com same people had mixed feelings about the alt- A set of at least two hours and two encores dance all night without whining for days afterward. Soul singing: Songwriting and live performances rocking Captain of Industry. Once the opening went by in a fl ash -- the band are extremely Email her at [email protected]. have gained them a worldwide fan base. bands were past, the crowd immediately piled into professional and seem to prefer as little downtime Spinning the Globe: Daylight savings time, mid-semester update and the Swedish code

ROSSI IROBALIEVA In other news, my semester is offi cially with that one because the food was absolutely at college. But for some reason, that night, at Retriever Weekly International Correspondent half done, which means that starting this week delicious! Finally, the rule concludes with her house, I forgot to take my shoes off and I I begin a brand new set of courses. I think I asking the hostess for the recipe, which is did not even realize it until it was time to go Usually I am very happy about daylight like this system — it allows me to focus on another form of complimenting the food and rent a movie. Well, I tried to redeem myself savings time — I get to sleep for an extra hour one or two subjects at a time, which is a lot making sure that she knows you truly enjoyed by taking my shoes off for the second half of one weekend and the sun goes up an hour less crazy and stressful than having fi ve or six it. the night. Luckily, my hostess is quite open earlier. However, this year things are different. different subjects going on. At the end of the night, as I was leaving, minded. It suddenly hit me last night that my day was By now, I have gotten used to living in I made sure to thank her again for the night I absolutely love living in a different going to actually get an hour shorter in just Sweden and I have even picked up a bit of the and for dinner. This was of course followed culture. It can be quite a shock sometimes, but 24 hours. What I mean is that as a result of Swedish behavior. There is a wise saying stating, later by a thank you note — yet another part for the most part it is interesting to observe how turning the clock back, now the sun sets an “When in Rome, do as Romans do,” and that of the Code. Swedes are very particular when others do things, how they think and how they hour earlier. While to you that might not seem is exactly what I am striving for. I guess I could they thank someone. They would not just say react in different situations. This experience is like that big of a deal, here the change is quite restate that as “When in Sweden, do as Swedes “thank you” but in fact they would say “thank strengthened even more by the fact that I live dramatic. do.” There is a book called The Swedish Code, you very much for ….” and explicitly state in a building full of international students. On I was fi ne with the gradual decrease of which explains the rules that Swedes live by what they are thankful for. They are always my fl oor alone, there are people from eight daylight. I could deal with it. I did not care and the cultural misunderstandings they might very polite. The Swedish word for thank you different cultures. I have learned so much much about it since usually when I wake lead to. Ever since I read it, I catch myself is “tack” and Swedes usually use it twice: “tack, from them about their countries’ customs. up the sun is already up and by the time it thinking “wait, what would a Swede do? Am tack,” which emphasizes how thankful they Everyone does things differently. (I’m still goes down, I am already done with my day. I breaking the code?” are. (The equivalent of “thank you very much” trying to get over the fact that Spanish people Yesterday sunset was at 5:09 p.m. Today it For example, I was invited over for dinner is “tack så mycket,” which is pronounced “tak kiss all the time — they will kiss you even if was at 4:05 p.m. That is quite a change. It is by a Swedish friend of mine. In Europe it is so miket.”) they just met you! Well, on the other hand, currently 4:30 p.m. and needless to say, it is typical to bring a gift, which usually consists of I kept on referring back to The Swedish they fi nd it weird that Americans shake hands DARK outside. And it is only going to get a box of chocolates or a bottle of fi ne alcohol Code all night long. I think my fi rst Swedish when they are introduced to each other.) darker (keep in mind that the shortest day of and sometimes a bouquet of fresh fl owers for dinner was quite successful, and I broke the Well, I hope that everyone back home the year does not happen until a month and a the hostess. I was careful not to forget that and code only once! What did I do? Well, it was managed to survive midterms! Until next half from now). picked up a box of chocolates on my way to her rather what I did not do — I did not take my time! We got our fi rst snow a week ago. Even apartment. During dinner, I made sure that shoes off. Let me elaborate. In Sweden, guests though it did not really stick in my area, in my I did not forget another important Swedish are expected to take their shoes off unless Rossi is currently working on practicing the world it still counts as snowfall. Luckily, the rule: compliment the food on several occasions instructed otherwise by the hosts. I usually Swedish Code to the letter. In the meantime, temperatures have been up for the past couple throughout the evening; when encouraged to have no problem with that because I ALWAYS feel free to contact her at [email protected], of days and will remain that way even though get another helping, do so at least once, but take my shoes off. That is how I was raised especially if there is something in particular that it is supposed to rain all week. preferably twice or three times. I had no issues and that is what I do even when I am away you would like her to write about!

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