Entertainment

Review rmy of Me opens for O.A.R., CD release coming “Thank You for By Libby Rice ^______^ Staff Writer Smoking” is For a relatively sparse and ado- ;scent crowd, a band from the 'ashington, D.C. area, Army of money better e, opened up for O.A.R Tuesday ight at the Thomas Wolfe uditorium. spent on Camels Through catchy and poppy gui- By Brett Albers riffs and lyrics, Airoy of Me lergetically played to a dead irned owd awaiting the real reason “Thank You For Smoking” is a ities, ,ey were all there; O.A.R. movie with a message, but is it the tbaii “I could see them hitting it big right one? atei in Total Request Live,” said Judy The film, featuring an all-star rniaj oskowstz, music major and sax- cast including Robert Duvall, Ipled iphone player at Appalachian William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, !tate. “ITiey’re definitely MTV Aaron Eckhart and Katie Holmes, itten- laterial.” failed to make a strongly-support­ kens I After about seven years of hard ed statement. peo- ork, the band is where they are The previews before the movie tten-1 lay. were more entertaining and inter­ than “It was pretty hard to get here,” esting than the movie itself. aid Vince Scheuerman, lead The premise of the movie is a over linger of the band. “A lot of peo- lobbyist for “Big Tobacco,” played have ile think being in a band is just by Eckhart, who is an amazing jetting on stage and playing, and spin artist and can make cancer lops. len drinking beer and partying, victims from tobacco into support­ ers of his product. lut it’s not really like that. In real- After Eckhart is kidnapped and ieof it’s more work than any day nearly killed by an overdose of )ther b you could ever have.” nicotine patches, his life changes Five songs, distorted guitars, significantly. ipetitive sappy lyrics and high A. u j » Ann Grover - Staff Photographer Army oi Me, who opened up for O.A.R. at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on Tuesday, is releasing their first feature CD this summer. The D.C. His secrets are spilled to the itch choruses bombarded the native band credits a number of bands as influences for their unique sound. Info on the band can be found at www.armyofmeonline.com world when his lover, a reporter ludience. for a Washington newspaper, I “We just got a new bassist, Paul Banner Elk. “They’re the kind of Roberson High School. “They’re lacking, they potentially have the British sound.” played by Katie Holmes, prints a lichel,” Scheuerman said, who group people in Boone would just not my style. It’s like putting look and poppy sound to carry Army of Me’s first record story divulging all the private lanced and wagged himself like.” System of a Down before Billy them on to the screaming, teeny- comes out this summer. information that Eckhart told her icross the stage through their Opening for a band like O.A.R, Joel. Army of Me is definitely no bopper scene. “We haven’t named it yet, but m passing. intire set. a group with a sound closer to O.A.R. They had talent though, “Bands like The Beatles, it’s really great and we’re really Soon after, Eckhart is fired from The audience was left to wonder O.A.R would be more accepted just different.” Radiohead and Jeff Buckley have excited about it,” Scheuerman his job, and the only man on his vhat was so wrong with the first r and expected by the audience. “They have a famous presence,” definitely influenced us,” said. “We’ve put out a few side, head hauncho of “Big (assist. Army of Me seemed to take the Moskowstz said. “Especially Scheuerman said. albums on our own, but this is our Tobacco,” (Robert Duvall) dies. •- “They don’t have the same audience farther than they wanted since it looks like they are their “We’re a different sort of band, first album on a big label, Atlantic Eckhart is left with the world ound as other groups,” said to go. own roadies.” not world’s apart from O.A.R, just Delta. It’s been a lot of work to get hating him, and yet he still feels Vendy Harris a performing arts “They’re not bad,” said Austin Their famous presence yearns on a different plane than them. to this point, but we realize that that he must face the Democratic Indent at Lees-McRae College in Hughes, a student at T.C. for the MTV screen. Musically We’re more rock, with a little there’s still a lot of work left.” senator, played by William H. Macy, who is trying to place a Review skull and crossbones symbol on all cigarette packages. The end of the movie is confus­ Hipelo Honey a late-night slice of heaven in downtown ing and disappointing becaus'e after all Eckhart has been through, By Jessica Chale Asheville, that is the first place I for some reason he still defends Staff Writer go. I drag my mom out because I tobacco companies. Tupelo Honey offers late-night have to get the pimento cheese One issue that the movie hits on, S’ M louthem food “with a twist” in a dip.” although it does not fully address, omfortable casual environment. Tupelo Honey serves a variety is that cigarette smoking is vil- We take the basics of Southern of items, including breakfast dish­ lainized. ood and kind of make it a little bit es, like omelets, hash browns, bis­ In society, those who smoke lealthier,” said Sharon Schott, cuits and sweet potato pancakes. become ostracized and can no iwner of Tupelo Honey. “We were on the Food Network longer have the freedom to smoke “We use a lot of organic and for our sweet potato pancakes,” where they want and need to. ocal ingredients. All of our chick- Schott said. “They are a pretty big It seems a bit strange when the in is free-range and hormone-free, hit from that. Rachel Ray (“30 main character, who is a smoker, ind some of our beef is too. We Minute Meals”) was in here from does not light up even one ciga­ ry to use a lot of the local ingredi- the Food Network, and she made rette throughout the course of the nts, but still try to make good them pretty famous.” movie. lomfort food.” Another customer favorite is the Perhaps this is where the actual Tupelo Honey, located at 12 shrimp and grits, which are really statement of the movie is supposed college St. in downtown popular, according to Schott. to lie, but then again, who could Asheville, stays open until raid- “I designed the menu, so I love tell? light on Friday and Saturday, and everything on it,” Schott said, who The movie, although trying to 10 p.m. 'Tuesday through has worked in the restaurant busi­ make a statement about freedom of ihursday. Tupelo Honey opens for ness for over 19 years in a variety choice, even freedom of speech, lininch at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on of positions and has a degree in falls short of doing so by present­ Sundays. hotel restaurant management. “I ing the audience with a highly un- I live in Charlotte now, and I love everything that is on the relatable topic, the promotion of wven’t been able to find a restau- menu or we wouldn’t serve it.” cigarettes. as good as Tupelo Honey,” Tupelo Honey also serves dinner The protagonist of the story is a said Elizabeth Hunter, a UNCA items, like spice-crusted tuna and Anne Grover - Staff Photographer cigarette lobbyist who tries to con- A.J. Cerqueira, Clemson computer science student and Melissa Swanyngim, WCU clinical laboratory ilumna. “When I come home to SEE TUPELO PAGE 61 science student, sit down for a bite to eat at Ihpelo Honey, located at 12 College St. in Asheville. SEE Movie page 61

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