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.k'l'! .1'~ ~ !.:!;:;'.~J September 20, 2000 The Orion 1:5
:~>Famous'! " .', relates". . '70s rock VOODOO: Punk-O at Ridgemont High." ' :""':Rolling Stone He went on to direct ~writer makes auto "Singles" in 1992 and then Rama back again hlUde his 'big hit, "Jerry !biographical film Maguire," in 1996. Conlil1lwd from ~ C 1 , The script fOl' "Almost , ' Famous" was writt,en in the hlIVe gone as fur as singing songs in Spanish 1ll1d even : LENEnE DORNON 'SOs, but' Crowe held off mak releasing albums in Spanish as well as English. : Staff Writer ing it until he was ready. "Mexico is a part of our heritage, and we try to keep it The film's coming~of-age real," Frank Casillas said. "We want to represent our In a time when the film theme portrays amazing culture." : industry, is corroding theaters emotion and realism that Mexico seems to like the Voodoo Glow SkulIs as weIl as : vllth one teenybopper horror demands the audience to relate influence it. Casillas said that his favorite place to play shows : flick after another, action to Crowe's characters: is in Mexico City because of the overwhelming enthllsiasm : movies with the same plot and Miller, played by Patrick from the fans. All of the shows were sold out, and the kids : re-makes of old TV shows, it is Fugit, has a boyish innocence loved it whcn the band snng in Spanish. : rare that we leave a theater and adorable smile that, along "Mexico City is the craziest place to play. The kids were : fdiJing fulfilled. with Crowe's deeply personal ,way into what we were doing," Casillas said. "They cvcn "Almost Famous," which plot, allows the audience to looked up to liS like role models. It was great.," : opened nationwide, Friday, easily relate. Besides Latin influences, the band employs hip-hop-style ; p'rovides an almost perfect Fugit's acting in the .film, bass and vocals, and horns thM draw heavily on funk. A littlc : choice for moviegoers. For the although amazingly subtle, jazziness can occasionally be heard along with a heavy-mctal : first time in quite a while, it stands out, making you love the style guitar thrashing. : won't just be your 32-ounce awkward teenager getting the The new album has been praised as containing all th.1I is : drink that leaves you feeling story behind the music. good in the Voodoo Glow Skulls' style. It contains guest appear ; rgfreshed. Russell Hammond, the ances by Mark Atkins from Guttermouth on vocals and somc : ; "The film takes an inside charismatic lead guitarist for great guitar work by Jim "The Reverend HOlton Heat" Hellth. 'lo()k at the '70s rock scene Stillwater played by Billy Epitaph founder Brett GlIrewitz also produced the ulbulll. : and focuses on William Crudup, is the rock heartthrob The Punk-O-Rama tour fits into the Voodoo Glow Skulls' : Miller, a 15-year-old child you love to hate. tradition of playing nIl-ages shows. The enthusiasm at these : genius struggling as an' Hammond is struggling with shows is something that the band members enjoy. and they : aspiring ·rock jour- his identity as an always prefer having kids attend. : nalist. ' individual and with Photo courtesy of Sacramento Bee "We always do all-ages shows," Casillas said. "We like . Miller is trying MOVIE , in the band. "Almost Famous," the brainchild of Cameron Crowe, right, stars the way that the kids respond to us as opposed to the bl\r :to 'figure out who REVIEW Crudup does a Michael Angarano, left, and Patrick Fugit as Crowe at different crowd." : he is and who his remarkable job of ages. Crowe is best known for his 1997 film "Jerry Maguire." This youthful exuberance should be' mnplificd on (he : r~ii.1· friends are, all the while portraying a rock star in the Punk-O-Rnm" tour because of the addition or Agnostic.: Front : trying to not get caught up in a '70s with mixed emotions portrays incredible realism 011 me the creeps." to the lineup. Agnostic Front hus a reputation of playing : rOck lifestyle While touring about his role as a musici,m and the big screen. There arc numerous themes shows that contain n more violent clement, and it is not very : with the fictional band his love for the music. Miller's mother and Lcster in the film. including coming of surprising to hear about an Agnostic Front show that was bro : SiiIlwater. His presence portrays a very Bangs play an intricate part in age, the turmoil of love and ken up by riot cops. .' Cameron Crowe, the film's believable "Almost Famous" his maturing as an individuul dealing with the euphoria of a "Agnostic Front has that reputation of drawing the heavy : ""riter and director, produced rock star. Although he's caught and as a writer. rock lifestyle, but a love for skinhead ini1uence, but I think that they are trying to get ; the film as a semi-biography up in the luxuries and euphoria of Real life Lester Bangs wns rock 'n' roll is displayed by all away [rom all that," Casillas s.dd. "We're hoping that it'll : of .his experiences being a the rock-star lifestyle, he strug an idol and mentor to Crowe. the characters and is still a be no big deal." : teenage rock journalist for gles throughout the movie with Frances McDorm:lI1d is 'con c\ull':lcteristic of Crowe Whatever the outcome, Punk-O-Rama will certainly be a ~ Roiling Stone magazine in the being real and true to the music. vincing as Millcr.'s concerned himself. wild show with plenty of energy. Along with the two main : f970s. However, the groupie Penny and eccentric mother. The soundtrack features bands will be All, mntle up of members from the ,As a teenager, Crowe made Lane, played by Kate Hudson, Widowed college professor some of the giants of the era, Descendents. and Straight Faced. : a' name for himself as, a adds a lot of the color und '70s McDormand is constantly fret including The Who, Yes, Led An ndded bonus to tht: show will be tht! compil ~lLOF Listen to your elders ... ... they just· . might I V\lhat they~re talking a,bout. t; II . .\', '. " , " o .... " .'. '. • .'- .. • •• .. .. '._' .. , .. ... '. ... 4. ., _. _." __