Cass McCombs’ Mangy Love Lacks Bite

Cass McCombs, Mangy Love.

This Friday, August 26, marks the release of Mangy Love by Cass McCombs, a fascinating singer- songwriter based out of California. The album is McCombs’ eighth full-length, produced by Elliot Smith alum Rob Schnapf and Dan Horne, featuring appearances by California guitar wiz-kid Blake Mills and NC-based singer Angel Olsen. Known for being a quiet drifter-type, he’s not well-known, but well-worth seeking out. He has a huge body of incredible songs, but none would be considered “that one you’ve probably heard.”

I feel that I should disclose that I’m a huge Cass McCombs fan, but am fairly underwhelmed by this latest release. His albums are usually notable for their refreshing lack of uniformity; he’ll go from folky ballads to punk without any of it sounding forced. The tunes on Mangy, however, blur together into an overly chill swirl of overproduced jamming, and the album lacks a gut punch that breaks everything up.

Mangy would be more at home on Lite Rock 105 than college radio, with its synthy ’80s white bread on “Cry” or relaxed reggae on “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” “Low Flying Bird” is a slow dirge that never seems to end. Five songs clock in at over five minutes, and pretty much all of them seem like they could’ve been slashed by at least a minute. It’s not to say anything sounds particularly bad, but not much stands out as great, either.

The heavy production lends itself well to a few of the tracks. The best of the lot, “Medusa’s Outhouse,” incorporates the best elements of McCombs’ softer side: odd time, pedal steel and whispery, high- pitched vocals. The song is a great example of McCombs’ signature abstruse lyrics, which make the album worth checking out if you’re into that sort of thing:

“Calliope dancing on thin air / Ambrosia cotton candy until we’re free from care / All the rest is up to dreams”

Like many of his lyrics, the abstract imagery doesn’t plainly relate to anything substantial, but is beautiful nonetheless. The video for “Medusa’s Outhouse” takes a NSFW look at a porn set, and seems to focus on the broken dreams of those involved. Of course, that could have nothing to do with anything, but sometimes it’s fun to decipher even when you probably won’t get anywhere.

The album’s opener, “Bum Bum Bum,” is a catchy, bouncy tune with similarly thought-provoking lyrics.

“It ain’t no dream. It’s all too real, how long until this river of blood congeals / bum bum bum / Eulogies pour from the stage but nothing changed, the dog was caged/ bum bum bum.” He pairs images that are violent and vaguely political over “bum bum bum,” a calming musical platitude.

Many songs on McCombs’ other albums definitely tend to be “growers,” so perhaps I just didn’t give these enough time to percolate. While Mangy Love is certainly not prime Cass, there are definitely layers to unlock here, if you want to sit through all the hazy jams. For a better primer, seek out the treasure trove that is his other seven albums.

Foo Fest Is Descending

AS220’s Foo Fest, a hallmark of summer in Providence, is happening all day on Saturday, August 13. If you’re not familiar with Foo Fest, questions you may ask yourself could include: “Is this one of those conventions for those UFO believers? Or Foo Fighters fans? Am I completely overthinking this?” The answers are no, no and maybe. Foo Fest is AS220’s annual ragin’ summer block party with music, art, food and more, and the name comes from the original incarnation, The Fool’s Ball. It started in 1995 as an indoor carnival event, but expanded to a full-on festival in 2009. When AS220 started as a one-room space, they probably did not imagine one day having the resources to throw a giant 20 band block party.

This year, the masses can look forward to music from electro-wizard Dan Deacon, local psych group Arc Iris, literary enthusiasts Harry and the Potters and plenty more. And if you’re a malcontent who hates music, the festival is worth attending to experience the Mini Maker Faire alone. It’s a family-friendly showcase for the area’s best tinkerers and inventors to show off their creations. If you’re about the DIY lifestyle, it’s definitely worth checking out what your neighbors have been up to in their garages.

All this standing/rocking/looking will probably get you pretty hungry; Foo Fest has got you covered there, as well. Poco Loco, FUGO (asian-latin fusion), Noble Knots, Championship Melt, Tina’s Jamaican and Nico Bella (Italian home cooking) will all be there, but that’s just a taste (heh) of the options.

I talked to AS220’s artistic director, Shey Rivera, about some of the art fest-goers can expect. “In addition to installations and hands-on, family-friendly activities, we will have eight small booths with really cool, cool creations from local artists,” said Rivera. “We like to keep those a secret until the event, so you’ll have to come check it out!”

Some exhibits:

Mimi Chrzanowski & Tycho Horan artist booth: “GIF Adventures in Babytown” Computer Computer Paper Presents: Brian 4 Ever (performance art) Providence Poetry Slam artist booth: Community curated poetry and performances RI Bicycle Coalition Providence Anarchist Book Fair

And perhaps the most thrilling component: wrestling! Foo Fest will have a full on ring set up with independent wrestlers from Beyond Wrestling.

Rivera is proud that this whole show is conceived of and run by creative types. “Foo Fest shows that contrary to popular belief, artists can handle of the logistics of a large event, and make it a success!”

Foo Fest takes place on August 13 from 1pm to 1am on Empire St in PVD. For more information, visit foofest.as220.org. Tickets to Foo Fest can be purchased at foofest.as220.org/tickets and children younger than 10 get in for free! Foo Fest also needs volunteers; those interested can find out more at the Foo Fest website: foofest.as220.org.

Don’t Forget About Darlington

Last month I said a fond farewell to the East Side and all its hipster glory, leaving behind top-notch establishments like Cook & Brown, Seven Stars and Wurst Kitchen. I loaded my Subaru and made the precarious trek across the Seekonk River to Darlington, and with the move comes a new collection of eateries to explore. The Darlington neighborhood covers a large portion of eastern Pawtucket, just east of Seekonk (think right near the Patriot Cinema in EP).

The restaurants in Darlington aren’t exactly akin to the trendy new places Motif usually reports on. Darlington isn’t the hippest area (though I hear we do have a farmers market in Slater Park), but it also doesn’t pretend to be. If cryptic buzz words like “molecular gastronomy” aren’t essential to your dining experience, some of these may be right up your alley. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that no meal described in this article was “locally sourced” or “farm raised.” In the span of just a few weeks, I tried to indulge in as many local places as I could to get an idea of the go-to spots. It’s been quite an unhealthy stretch, but it’s all for you, dear readers.

*Disclaimer: I am by no means an authority on this area, and these are first impressions based on one visit, in some cases just for take out.

Kip’s Restaurant

The American Flag adorning the cover of the Kip’s take-out menu is the perfect primer for the vibe. Open since 1959, this greasy spoon diner looks like it hasn’t seen a makeover since then: plastic booths, baked goods under glass, cash only. This is a place where the wait staff consistently forgoes any kind of uniform and is not shy about indicating that they’re about to close. A place where your placemat introduces you to your local mechanics and realtors. But there is something comforting about being at a place that doesn’t take kindly to what’s hip this month. Will this food change your life? No, but you can sup on the ham steak special for just $7.59, and there is no mystery about what you’re getting.

Another reason to rep Kip’s: They specialize in hot wieners! They even offer the cold pack: a dozen wieners, a dozen rolls and a pint of their famous wiener sauce. They might as well just erect a 20-foot gold statue of Roger Williams. The wiener I had was excellent, but I was disappointed that the chef did not utilize his sweaty arm during the construction. It’s probably encouraging news to the health inspector, though.

Kip’s Restaurant, 826 Newport Ave (at Armistice Boulevard)

Sullivan’s Publick House

This Irish Pub-style establishment is owned by Tapp’d restaurant group, purveyors of the Doherty’s empire. I enjoy every one of their places I’ve tried, and this one didn’t let me down. It has a small, intimate feel with a bar and tables and seems to serve as the local watering hole. Sadly there’s nowhere near as much beer as Doherty’s in Pawtucket or Warwick, but I’d say there’s 30+, so hopheads and porter fans alike should be fine.

The menu includes a plentiful offering of signature burgers (like the “3 Little Pigs” with pulled pork, jalepeno bacon, and maple brown sugar bacon), and comfort food choices like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips.

The burger I ordered (that had some kind of caramelized onion, I think) was not as good as I’ve had at the sister locations, but I consoled myself by eating 800 calories worth of the delicious buffalo fries that came with it. For the brainy among us, there’s trivia every Thursday night.

Sullivan’s Publick House, 572 Armistice Blvd

Taste of Europe

Taste of Europe may just be the gem of the entire neighborhood. It’s the epitome of an old-school, family-run business, and it will be my go-to for bread and cold cuts. When I sat down for lunch, the granddaughter of the original owner told me to watch whatever I wanted on TV; it is great that there are still places like this around. There are multiple different kinds of pre-made pierogis in the fridge and freezer, and they offer Polish candy, pickled goodies and anything else you can think of. I ordered a great kielbasa sandwich with sauerkraut that came with pasta salad for under seven bucks. And on my way out, I decided to force down one of the delicious beef empanadas they have by the register. Not because I wanted to, but because Motif readers need to know that it was warm and buttery.

Taste of Europe, 560 Armistice Blvd

Bella Pasta

For those not fluent in Italian, Bella Pasta means “beautiful pasta.” In fact, as I’m writing this article, I’m eating Bella’s beautiful penne alla bolognese take-out. What a rush this gonzo journalism is! Now I understand the way Hunter S. Thompson felt on the campaign trail!

Anyway, this dish is excellent, with a minced beef, Italian sausage and diced veggie sauce. You wouldn’t guess high-quality food like this would come from such an unassuming location. Seventeen bucks for a meal is on the high end for Darlington, BUT my take-out order came with four pieces of bread, dipping oil, and a side of cream of chicken soup!

And to get a sense of what your golden years might be like, they have a pretty generous early bird special: $12.99 for options like seafood ravioli, pan seared Cajun salmon, and haddock puttanesca. It looks like the interior can get a bit cramped, but based on the food, it’s no surprise that it was packed on a Wednesday night.

Their business card says, “Nothing fancy, nothing pretentious, just a place the Rat Pack would have loved.” I’m not sure the rat pack ever would have rolled through the Bucket, but I think that pretty much sums it up. Of the establishments featured here this would probably the one most likely to bring in Rhode Islanders all the way from PVD.

Bella Pasta, 514 Benefit St

Li Lai Wok

Every neighborhood needs a place to get their General Tso’s, a place that’s just going to give you the comfort food you grew up with. Li Lai Wok is not reinventing the wheel, but the giant portions and friendly service go down easy.

I had the sweet and sour pork, which was exactly the fried, salty and sweet treat that makes you hate yourself before you even finish the meal (which is exactly what you want). My dining compatriot had the vegetarian chow mein, which was admittedly better, with leeks, onions and bean sprouts. Instead of those fold-up paper boxes, they provide the foil ones with plastic tops (classier, in my opinion), and they offer some serious lunch combos for $6.25 that come with an egg roll and rice.

Li Lai Wok, 655 Central Ave

Honorable Mentions:

Dot’s Dairy Bar, 1476 Newport Ave. This place is exactly what you want from your neighborhood creamery. They have plenty of soft and hard serve ice cream, and they gave me an egregious amount of hot fudge on my sundae, which I always enjoy. Open all year round and has hot food as well. Darlington Market, 614 Central Ave. On the outside, Darlington Market looks like your regular neighborhood food/cigarette/weed accessories mart, which it is. But it’s also a secret stash of Middle Eastern riches — think grape leaves, tabbouleh, tahini, etc.

Pride Fest Returns to Rhode Island June 18

Three Saturdays from now, get ready for the 41st annual Rhode Island Pride Fest! Everyone should be proud of who they are, but there’s no group that celebrates bigger and better than the LGBTQ community. The fest will feature over 120 vendors; a beer, wine and spirits garden; and family-friendly activities, so make sure you mark your calendar and join in the celebration.

Many Pride festivals take place in June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that occurred in New York in 1969, when activists rallied against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn gay bar. LGBTQ history also has a major Providence connection; David Cicilline, who served from 2003 until 2011, was the first openly gay mayor of a US state capital.

Joe DiMauro is this year’s Mr. Gay Rhode Island, and along with Miss Gay Rhode Island 2016 (Neoki Feytal) and Ms. Lesbian RI (Ally P. Sha), he will be helping to lead the celebration at Pride Fest. The “Mr. Gay RI” title lasts one year (like a pageant title), and allows the winner to be a voice in the community and raise awareness for issues they care about.

”This year, one of the things I’m trying to focus on is body image,” said DiMauro. “Forty-two percent of men who have an eating disorder identify as gay, while gay men make up only about 5% of the population. I also want to highlight the importance of the Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, pill, which can be an important safety net for preventing HIV.”

Sponsors for this year include Providence gay/LGBTQ bars Allycat and Dark Lady, as well as Ego and The Village. Live entertainment will be on from noon until 7:30! Here’s a look at what you can expect:

Glenn Stewart will provide his patented “country that kicks” and has opened for acts like Grand Funk Railroad and Tim McGraw.

Joslyn Fox is a drag performer from Worcester, Massachusetts who was featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 and tours the world.

Ephraim Adamz is a DJ and musician who spins hip-hop and club music samples and variety of sounds including, pop, Miami bass, vogue, ballroom and RnB.

Nina Sky, the R&B duo made up of identical twins.

Straight outta Smithfield, The Voice sensation Sarah Potenza will be bringing her brand of roots and rock ‘n’ roll.

The bill also includes acts like the Carrie Ashton Band, Jonny Blazes & The Pretty Boys and Complete Destruction. The program is far too loaded to mention every performer, so check out a full list at prideri.com/entertainmentlineup.

And taking visitors through the day’s performances will be seven emcees, including Boston comedian Reece Cotton and Lulu Locks, local designer and owner of Suite Tart salon on the West Side.

In spite of those great acts, the crowned jewel of Pride Fest will, as always, be the illuminated parade, starting at 8pm.

Come celebrate RI’s vibrant LGBTQ community by getting outside and having some fun! It’s going to be turnt up, as the kids say (if that even makes sense).

If you think your business or organization could benefit from a sponsorship or a table at Pride Fest, you can get the details at prideri.com.

Pride Fest kicks off at noon on June 18, and takes place on South Water Street, along the Providence River waterfront. The Parade starts at 8pm at Kennedy Plaza and works its way down Washington Street.

RI Innovation Fellowship Grant Awarded to Raymond Watson Photo Credit: Rhode Island Foundation

The Rhode Island Foundation’s 2016 Innovation Fellowship Grant was awarded to Raymond “Two Hawks” Watson, a Providence native with some big ideas about the future of tourism. Over the next three years, Watson plans to use the $300,000 award to raise RI’s cultural profile and promote the state’s diversity on a national scale through his organization, Providence Cultural Equity Initiative. He was honored at a ceremony led by President and CEO Neil Steinberg on Wednesday at the RI Foundation’s headquarters in Providence. The grant is made possible by financial support from John and Leticia Carter, who came to the Rhode Island foundation looking to fund innovative ideas that will make life better for people in Rhode Island.

Photo Credit: Rhode Island Foundation

Watson’s take on RI’s multiculturality is an original one. He sees it is an underutilized natural resource, the same as our beaches or green spaces, which we should be doing much more to highlight. “We’re unique in that we have a huge diversity in such a small area. Here, you can eat incredible Italian food on Federal Hill and grab Dominican food on Broad Street,” Watson said in his speech. He also wants to use RI’s cultural diversity as a means of easing racial tensions and promoting social cohesion.

This announcement of a new tourism initiative comes at an interesting time, at the heels of the state’s “Cooler and Warmer” fiasco a few weeks ago (Steinberg even joked that “cultural tourism is a good word when it’s used correctly”). Perhaps this will provide some of the damage control the state needs. Photo credit: Rhode Island Foundation

Watson says he has been aware of this issue for at least the past seven or eight years, as a member of the Eastern Medicine Singers (nominated for a Motif Music Award!). But his idea really began to take shape when he did some traveling a few years ago. “When I went to Mexico for my honeymoon, I saw how they promote both their indigenous and colonial history, to the benefit of both cultures,” said Watson. His goal: to “turn the greater Providence area into the cultural capital of the Northeast.”

Watson was chosen by a six-member selection panel out of a field of over 200 applicants. Finalists included an initiative to train women from low-income communities in computer programming, a program that would bring together youth and police in an effort to develop role-plays that can help de- escalate conflicts, and an educational program to increase the number of licensed health care professionals who can prescribe medications for behavioral health disorders.

Big Things to Come at DownCity Gala Night

Motif got a lead on a new gallery project, so I decided to trek through the brutal aftermath of winter storm Regis last Monday and check it out. I attended the kickoff event of DownCity Gala Night, a twice monthly art show/concert/all-around good time held at Tarragon Bar (attached to Rosemarin, formerly Aspire Kitchen) at Westminster and Mathewson Street. Every first and third Monday from now on, a different local artist and musician/band will be featured from 7 to 10pm.

Ryan Bergstrom is the lead architect and organizer of DownCity Gala night. He used to work for the owners as a bartender, but doesn’t have any formal experience in gallery work. “I’m currently in school for art therapy and I wanted to do something in the field, so I figured, why not? I think once we build an audience, this will be an event people will really look forward to,” Ryan said. It’s also a commission-free event for the artists, which is not often the case with galleries.

I like art, but I can’t say I’m very schooled; my knowledge pretty much begins and ends with Van Gogh and that whole ear business. I did, however, genuinely enjoy the work of Jennifer Gillooly Cahoon, that week’s featured artist. Cahoon uses an often mono-chromatic palette to feature creative types like Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Janis Joplin. Each piece incorporates a subtle motif: a heart, worn or carried by the subject. My favorite piece: Neil Degrasse Tyson on a backdrop of Starry Night (Check out her awesomely creepy Day of the Dead celebrity photos on her Etsy site).

Tarragon Bar is a hip, modern space in the heart of downcity with lots of windows and limited wall surface — not the kind of place you would imagine as a typical gallery. Some great (and free) hors d’oeuvres like fried fish sandwiches, truffle balls and ceviche were served with a complimentary glass of champagne. The bar also has an extensive list of cocktails and a menu of bar food.

Filling the music slot after a last-minute cancellation was Scarlett, an acoustic trio. Their laid-back covers fit the opening of a gallery perfectly. Taking care of the musical side of the events going forward will be Anie McAdams, who works at B08 Studios in Pawtucket. “My goal for every DownCity Gala showing is to book musicians who match the mood of the art on display,” Anie said.

For now, Ryan is focusing on creating a roster of featured artists and getting the event into Gallery Night Providence, a board of gallery owners that would add considerable exposure. But that’s not all: When it gets a bit warmer, they plan to hold the event outdoors. “We’re really excited to take advantage of the beautiful courtyard, and I think that will draw traffic from all over downtown. We’ll hopefully get some belly dancers, and we’re also looking into getting the permits together for fire dancers!”

If you are looking for the cultural experience of a gallery in the comfort of a fully stocked bar, stay tuned for more DownCity Gala Night developments!

DownCity Gala Night takes place every first and third Monday at The Tarragon Bar, located at 311 Westminster. If you’re a local artist or musician looking to be featured, reach out to Ryan Bergstrom at bergstromryan at gmail.com or Anie McAdams at markita1993 at icloud.com From Fringe to Phenomenon: The Rise of the Tattoo

In case you haven’t noticed, tattoos are all over the place. Once the territory only of military men and drifter types, tattoos are now sported by your IT guy, your accountant and maybe even your aunt. And today it’s not just drawings of the naked lady or the heart that says “mom;” the 21,000 tattoo parlors in the US employ artists who are breaking boundaries and turning this rebellious outlet into an bona fide art form.

While it’s pretty much a requirement for rockstars, Pew Research statistics show that 36% of US adults ages 26 to 40 have at least one tattoo (with one more added to their ranks last week — see story on page XX), and Americans spend $1,650,500,000 a year on them. And if you want some fast cash, some companies will pay you to put their logo on your forehead.

Surprisingly, tattoos have been around way longer than 2000s alternative bands. The word “tattoo” comes from the Polynesian word tatau meaning “correct.” According to the Smithsonian, the earliest known example of ink was found on female mummies dating back to 2000 BC, and many cultures have evidence of tattoos that goes back millennia.

In the US, tattoos have been popular with soldiers and sailors since the Civil War, when Martin Hildebrandt, widely regarded as country’s first tattoo artist, traveled around from camp to camp tattooing soldiers. For a period of time after the war, tattoos were fashionable among upper-class youth. But by WWII, the elite status disappeared, in part because the electric tattoo machine took away the exclusivity, and ink was associated with criminals and rogue types. Through the 20th century, people like Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins in Hawaii and Ed Hardy helped to expand the art form, but it wasn’t until the past few decades that Americans started flocking to tattoo shops.

For a more interesting study, take Japan; they’ve had tattoos since wooly mammoths roamed the earth, but still it remains taboo. There is evidence of tattooing as far back as the Paleolithic era, and around 700 AD the Japanese started using them as a mark of punishment on criminals. In ensuing centuries, the art flourished in many places, but was dealt a huge blow in modern-day Japan when the yakuza, or mafia, co-opted tattoos as their own symbol. The stigma exists to the point that it’s difficult to even find a tattoo shop.

So what makes something go from the ranks of drifters, sailors, criminals and outcasts to the guy down the street? To explore this question and talk more about the art, I spoke to a few local tattoo heavyweights.

I was curious about how the early adopters got into this then-sordid business. Kevin Borowski, owner of Iron Hand Tattoo in Cranston, was attracted to the rebelliousness associated with the movement from a young age. “I would go to punk shows in the ‘80s as a kid and was really intrigued by the people with tattoos. My folks hated it, which also helps.”

In his teens, Kevin learned about the history of tattoos and fell in love with the art. But devoting your life to it wasn’t exactly an accepted career path. “It was a pretty despised thing; it used to be that you would tell people you were going to draw tattoos for a living and they would look at you like you were going to join a violent cult or something,” said Borowski. “Now we have housewives coming in, saying ‘My son is becoming a tattoo artist!’” He got his start in Boston, eventually moving to RI and setting up shop in 2010.

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the tattoo’s rise is in the workplace. There’s still stigma, but having ink is no longer an automatic disqualification. Dennis Del Prete, owner of Providence Tattoo, has been tattooing for 16 years and believes much of the reason is sheer numbers. “Nowadays, many employers have no choice. So many people are getting tattoos, you’d be cutting out a huge percentage of the qualified candidates.”

Employers seem to be smartening up to the fact that a tattoo on a candidate’s arm does not make them any less able to file paperwork, teach a classroom or run a fortune 500 company. It’s a predictable cycle: Tattoos become more popular, they become less taboo, they become even more popular.

Del Prete thinks the advent of the internet was a big reason for the change, as is the case with many underground movements. “Before the internet, the scene was so closed off. [The internet] created a community and then an audience, so it made tattoos feel less like a stigma. And clients and artists now have access to photos and portfolios to take inspiration from.”

But the internet has also, in some cases, taken the artistic element out of the process. “People today are shopping for tattoos when they should be shopping for tattoo artists. They can go to Pinterest or Google, print something out, and say, ‘Give me this exactly,’ which is fine, but people should know they have the option to get creative. It’s our job to make sure we can cater to both kinds of customers: the ones who want the exact replica and the people who want help in creating something original, and our priority is [creating] something that will withstand the test of time,” said Del Prete.

Luke Taylor, artist at Hope Street Tattoo, thinks the media is a big part of the acceptance of tattoos. “Shows like ‘Miami Ink’ may not always be super realistic but they showed viewers that it’s a real art form. I think it also showed the value of the tattoo artist in the process. The media exposure brought people around to the idea that you could seek out a shop that you’re interested in for the artistic value, instead of just going to the guy down the block,” said Taylor.

If asked if he could go back to the early days, Del Pete has mixed feelings. “The movement was so much smaller and everyone had to be more creative by necessity, which was exciting. But the past tends to get romanticized a bit; for example, the best equipment you could find was usually low-quality knockoffs from a magazine.”

When it comes to hindsight being 20/20, Borowski agrees. “People tend to look at the earlier days with rose-colored glasses. I’m happy to have lived through that time because it will never happen again, but I think the popularity has only enhanced the scene. Think about it; it’s a personal and social movement, everything about it is radical, so of course it’s a matter of time until people get into it. Who knows … eventually it could all go back to square one.”

Tattoos, once an indicator of a criminal record or naval service, have gone the way of gay marriage and cannabis: they’ve become mainstream enough to show your in-laws. Perhaps a general softening of attitudes toward inked skin deserves the credit for tattoo’s ascent to the mainstream. If you’re against tattoos for some reason, you’re likely to get left behind by history. And if tattoos continue to grow in popularity and evolve, who knows? Your grandkids could very well make fun of you someday for that antiquated piece of ink on your back. David Bowie’s Blackstar – A Weird Star is Born

I found out about Bowie’s death just a few hours after turning this review. In retrospect, Blackstar is the kind of swan song only an unpredictable innovator like him could’ve produced.

When you hear the words “David Bowie,” which version of him pops into your head? Perhaps it’s Ziggy Stardust, the White Duke, or that goblin guy from Labyrinth? Enter one more: The wizened icon willing to try literally anything. Released on Bowie’s 69th birthday [and just days before his untimely passing], his new album Blackstar combines elements of jazz, avant-garde and industrial instrumentation, and plunges him farther into the dark musical rabbit hole than he’s ever been. Two years ago, The Next Day, a serviceable rock record, marked Bowie’s first original material in a decade. But most of Blackstar gives the finger to his well-established musical sensibilities. Helping him to this end is longtime producer Tony Visconti, but he also enlisted New York jazz heavyweights Donny McCaslin (sax, woodwinds), Ben Monder (guitar) and Mark Guiliana (drums).

The disregard for conventions that made him notable in the ‘70s has apparently not reached its limit. The bulk of Blackstar’s seven tracks are bizarre and experimental in their own way, so if you’re looking for three-minute tunes for your pre-game playlist, you may want to skip this one.

The title track is probably the biggest departure, a behemoth clocking in at 9:55. It begins with a kind of bleak Gregorian monk chant with some abstract religious imagery (“In the villa of Ormen stands a solitary candle/On the day of execution, only women kneel and smile”), and switches completely to ghostly soul with a menacing refrain (“I’m a Blackstar”).

My favorite is “Lazurus,” written for a musical of the same name. It builds on an atmospheric groove, with sax lines that fade in and out and guttural, Pixies-like guitar. As usual, Bowie’s lyrics remain cryptic on the album: “This way or no way/I’ll be free-just like that bluebird/Ain’t that just like me?” “Sue (Or In a Season of Crime)” is an eerie eardrum assault, with heavy, distorted riffs, off-kilter vocals, and a sludgy outro that borders on metal.

Horns punctuate the album, but this isn’t your father’s “Young American” saxophone – it’s jazzy flourishes and impressive solos. Also notable throughout Blackstar is the subtle yet aggressive drumming by Guiliana. The insanely intricate groove in “Sue” isn’t the type of playing you’ll often hear from rock sessions players.

The few tracks on Blackstar that aren’t aggressively anti-pop fail to make a big impression: “I Can’t Give Everything Away” is a tepid synth and “Dollar Days” is a fairly forgettable ballad.

Still, give Blackstar a chance. These songs aren’t exactly easy listening stuff you’ll be humming in your car for days on end, but for an artist that has constantly stretched the boundaries of what he’s capable of, it’s not that surprising. If you’re trying to recapture the ‘glory days’ of Bowie, this album is definitely not for you. But in that case of a man constantly changing, was there ever any real Bowie anyway?

New England’s 501st: Bad Guys Who Do Good

When you were a kid, chances are you looked up to the good guys: Luke Skywalker, Superman, that guy from those wizard movies, etc. But have you ever thought about being the bad guy? Since 1997, The 501st Legion, a.k.a “Vader’s Fist,” have been dressing up as the villains from Star Wars and showing up to do some good at everything from Knights of Columbus blood drives to huge conventions.

You may think the life of a Star Wars villain costumer is all groupies and partying, but these guys are all about giving back to their communities. They’ve worked with a long list of charities around the country, including The American Cancer Society, The Jimmy Fund and March of Dimes. They don’t charge for appearances, but instead encourage donations to your favorite charity.

The legion, a worldwide organization with thousands of members and chapters all over the U.S., has left its mark on the whole Star Wars universe, earning their way into the fake history books. Founder Albin Johnson admits that he just made up an official-sounding name to make his fan club sound badass. But in 2004, Timothy Zahn, author of many Star Wars expanded universe novels, added the fighting 501st into his writing. The legion has since gone on to be featured in much of the Lucas universe, including the Battlefront video games and toys.

To find out more about the 501st, I talked to Tim McMahon, representing Maine in the New England 501st.

Jake Bisaro (Motif): How did you get started in the 501st? Were you into costuming before this?

Tim McMahon: I’ve been in the battalion for the last four years. I heard about the group probably 15 years ago, and it had been in the back of my mind since then. I had never done anything like it, but I’ve always loved the aesthetic of the Stormtrooper costume, and the idea of having a legit one was too good to pass up.

JB: From the pictures I’ve seen, the costumes from the 501st look like they were lifted straight from Lucas’ warehouse. Where do you get such quality threads?

TM: Yeah, it’s pretty serious; to even get into the 501st, you need a screen accurate costume, which means the same grade as the movies. We construct them ourselves, bartering and selling things within the group.

JB: But it’s not just Stormtroopers, right?

TM: Nope, it’s pretty much any Star Wars baddie you can think of. There’s usually a Darth Vader and Boba Fett in any given chapter. We have an agreement with Lucasfilm that allows us to use the costumes, and we’re already in the process of making the Episode 7 Stormtrooper.

JB: So does that mean you have a screener of the movie?!

TM: No chance!

JB: I know many Star Wars fans consider the prequels to be the dark ages of the franchise. Do you think the new movie will be a step up?

TM: I’m super excited! I think the filmmakers have been saying the right things, and I love the way the promotion has been rolled out. In general, I try not to hate on the prequels too much … I think of them more as missed opportunities. For big Star Wars fans, the real dark ages were the late ’80s or early ’90s, where there was absolutely nothing — no movies, books, video games, stuff like that.

JB: What recent events stick out in your memory?

TM: For our group as a whole, I’d say it was the Star Wars Night at Fenway Park last May 4 (May the fourth be with you). We’ve been trying to get it to happen for years, but the MLB front office is a bit conservative. But the crowd was loving it, and I think management was really impressed. I think there’s this idea that we’re just a bunch of rowdy nerds, but we try to promote a positive image and do some good.

On a personal note, it was getting to take my son onstage at a Weird Al show this year. He has some Star Wars-related songs and he regularly reaches out to the 501st to get characters on stage.

JB: Do you seek out the events or do they come about by invitation?

TM: I would say the vast majority is invitation. Many times a community organization will invite us to help draw a crowd and generate some interest. As nerds (and proud of it), we also enjoy suiting up at the big events like Comic Con, where we’ll put out a jar to raise money for a charity.

If you’d like to look like a cold-blooded killing machine, but actually do some good, maybe the 501st is for you! If you feel your upcoming event could benefit from the power of the Dark Side, request a New England 501st appearance here: 501neg.com/commlink/event-invite/ (note: Lucasfilm, LTD discourages mock fighting, so don’t even ask for a re-enactment). If you’d like to have the 501st help you recreate that dream you had one time … they probably won’t be into that.

Eye-Catching Cloud Eye Control

On November 21, FirstWorks Providence, in cooperation with the Columbus Theatre, will host Cloud Eye Control, a group that is sure to raise eyebrows – be it for pure amazement or total confusion. Since 2004, the Los Angeles-based performance group has been provoking audiences with an unpredictable collection of sounds and images that may simultaneously perplex and entice the senses. An act with confounding labels like “a retro-futuristic performance piece” and “a back-up system for our genetic imprint and the sum total of our personal memories,” Cloud Eye Control may be just the thing to give you a friendly push out of your comfort zone.

Artists Miwa Matreyek, Anna Oxygen and Chi-Wang Yang teamed up to form the group, and have since been creating projects with the common theme of human adaptation in a technological world. With backgrounds in animation, music and directing (respectively) the three collaborate to create multimedia one-of-a-kinds. Each live performance uses projection, costume and dance to depict a meandering story, and the slow pace gives the audience time to consume, but not quite digest, each scene.

Cloud Eye kicks off FirstWork’s new series, “New Frontiers.” This event also marks the beginning of a new partnership between FirstWorks and The Columbus Theatre, a combination that can only mean more intriguing performances to come. In this performance, Cloud Eye Control will examine the “psychological fallout of global disaster” in Half Life. Funded in part by a 2013 MAP Fund grant, Half Life is one of three original works the trio has produced and performed. It’s inspired by the fear that stung in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and it addresses the human reaction to mass catastrophe.

The performance will use high-tech imaging and low-tech set design to construct a world all their own; pre-rendered animation is projected onto different surfaces and the actors move within them. If this sounds like your cup of tea, don’t hesitate to get yourself there; it’s doubtful there’s anything else like Cloud Eye Control in the country.

I could go on, but no description in a magazine can properly prepare you for the bizarre combination of light, sound and movement, so step outside the box and into this visceral performance art piece. And this way you can enjoy a psychedelic experience without having to commit to the hard drugs!

Cloud Eye Control will perform Half Life on November 21 at The Columbus Theatre, located at 270 Broadway in Providence. Doors open at 7.