20 ARTS 12.04.07 The RetrIever Weekly This weekend at UMBC, Mack is HEARD the MUSIC? back in town! by Michael Reid Now Playing > from THEATRE [16] could (or already did) die. The sets, while minimal, were flexible enough THE 9:30 CLUB (8:15 V ST. around. What’s not to love? Aside Damageplan, and Mudvayne, a sure that Macheath is captured and to be used in multiple scenes. This NW, WASHINGTON, D.C.) from the 13-year-old hipster girls triumvirate of horrid metalcore. who will comprise the vast majority Would I recommend this concert to hanged before the queen's corona- made it possible for the audience www.930.com tion ceremony. Aware of how he is to focus on the acting and story at of the audience, not too much. anyone with working eardrums? Hellno. GWAR w/ Three Inches of Blood wanted by the police, Macheath hand. Rasputina w/ Mathematicians & Mensrea must try to stay alive, but his old The acting in this production was Sunday, December 9, $20, 8:30 p.m. Since these are all the concerts of Thursday, December 6, $20, 7:30 (seated show) interest for next week (and since lifestyle is too hard to avoid, and amazing. There was so much dia- p.m. Rasputina is quite a unique band my editor requires a 400-word he continues to make the same mis- logue and the actors never appeared If you’ve never had the pleasure of that I adore. They combine the best minimum for articles), I’ll wish takes again, which eventually catch to have stumbled on so much as one experiencing GWAR — and let me parts of artists like Final Fantasy everyone good luck on fi nals and tell you, this band is an experience up to him. line. The voices were great, as well. and Andrew Bird (the violins) and happy holidays and a merry New — you might want to go to this This story focuses on the reality of It was clear that a lot of time and Rilo Kiley and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs Year. Here’s a list of venues, in addi- show. Essentially, they’re four (or (female vocals). It’s hard to say stuff tion to the two above, that you can life and how there may not be such energy was incorporated into this fi ve, or six, who’s counting?) dudes about a band that you actually check out over UMBC’s obscenely a thing as right and wrong. It shows production. It was so good to see from Virginia Tech whose shows really like, so I’m gonna leave it at long winter break. how cruel the world can be, with such a fantastic musical being put involve ridiculous costumes, heavy this: Go to this show. metal, and voluminous amounts the temptation of money and fame, on through the collaboration of the Sonar (Baltimore) of fake blood. In high school, I of seduction and of love. The musi- theatre, dance, music, and art de- www.sonarbaltimore.com actually had a bunch of friends col- RAM’S HEAD LIVE (20 MAR- The Recher Theater (Towson) cal may end on a happy note, but it partments. The audience fell in love lectively buy me a GWAR DVD. Not KET PLACE, BALTIMORE, www.rechertheatre.com clearly emphasizes that life is not al- with the characters and the plot al- a music DVD, mind you; this was MD) The Black Cat (Northwest DC ways that forgiving. It proves that, if most as soon as the play began. On a a full-blown epic story about evil www.ramsheadlive.com www.blackcatdc.com marketing executives and GWAR we don't learn from the mistakes we side note, I really give credit to Dan- The Ottobar using the power of rock n’ roll to Hellyeah w/ OTEP & Blood- make, then there may not be any- iel Townsend, who plays Macheath, www.ottobar.com destroy them. Needless to say, I simple thing to look forward to in life. because he had to sing such power- am no longer friends with those Wednesday, December 5, $23, 6:00 And just for the hell of it, if you This musical alludes to many con- ful songs and act like a playboy of a people. p.m. cepts that define people as a society thief, but also have the audience be I was REALLY excited when I saw fi nd yourself bored at your par- ents’ house over break and want Ted Leo and The Pharmacists w/ this band’s name. Hellyeah. Not and culture. It plays upon the idea able to relate to him and have both to discover new music, check out Kristeen Young & Ris Paul Ric “Hell Yeah,” just Hellyeah. How of corruption and how greed im- sympathy and empathy for him. He Last.FM/Audioscrobbler at www. Friday/Saturday, December 7/8, $15, awesome do you have to be to last.fm for a (fairly) accurate pacts daily choices. There is a con- had to be versatile in his character's 7:30 p.m. have a band name like that? Ap- music-fi nding engine. See you stant hidden joke that could only personality, and he pulled it off An exciting two day set with one of parently not very: Hellyeah consists next year! be described as British humor, and without any trouble. the most popular indie(-ish) bands of members from Nothingface, the music is clearly inspired jazz I encourage everyone to go see this compositions. This play is meant to production, and I give it full marks be something that the audience will in every category! The Threepenny learn from, and hopefully we can Opera will only have three more take lessons away from it and im- showings, December 7, 8, and 9. It prove our own existence. begins at 8 p.m., except on the last The music in the show is very showing on Sunday, Dec. 9, which catchy -- I found myself humming begins at 4 p.m. The show costs $5 a few songs on the way out of the for students and seniors, and $10 theater. The costumes were perfect for general admission. The theatre mirror images of the time period is most likely to fill up quickly, so that surrounds this production. The reserve your tickets by visiting the makeup is unbelievable! Abbi Un- theatre department. ger, who plays Mrs. Peachum, was transformed into an old drunk who Matthew Jones is a Staff can barely walk and had aged years Writer for The Retriever IRESE WONG — TRW beyond her true self. Even the beg- Weekly and can be reached for gars were made up to look as if they comment at [email protected]. > The UMBC Percussion Ensemble, directed by Tom Goldstein, put on a lively show. Have a happy holiday without breaking the bank!

Sarah Evans ing, “Well my friends would never go a big tape dispenser (courtesy of Five Another great way to save is by be- ciated. Also, listening to your parents STAFF WRITER for that,” but really, everyone was OK Below), buttons with Chuck Norris ing a little crafty and making those when they talk will make it easier to with the idea; actually, a lot of people sayings written on them, a role of heartfelt gifts that anyone would ap- buy for them. Generally, they drop The holiday season is here, and were relieved that they wouldn’t have caution tape…the possibilities are preciate. If you know how to knit or hints just the rest of us, so if you’re along with those greetings of good to be the fi rst to admit they didn’t endless, and you know the sense of crochet, scarves are always popular, stumped on what to get Mom and cheer comes the realization that you have the money, either. So, if you are humor your friends have. and if you want to get really fancy, Dad, call them up and ask them what still need to buy gifts for everybody really strapped for cash, a nice ges- And if you don’t have the time to I bet hats would be a hit, as well. it is they want; while it may not be and their uncle. Now normally this ture for all of you friends is always fi nd a different gift for each of your Anything with pictures is always a the way you want to spend ten min- realization is a horrifying one because an option. friends, you can always buy a bag of good idea, because they bring back utes of your time, you may get them as college students, we just don’t have If you are the kind of person who little stocking stuffers, like candy or memories, and you can never have something they will actually use this that kind of cash. However, there is really likes giving gifts, though (I cute holiday decorations, and agree too many pictures. Making a scrap- year. no need to panic because there are happen to suffer from this problem, to exchange those. For this one, you book page or decorating a picture The main thing to remember over plenty of simple and creative solu- as well), you don’t need to spend could even do a different take on the frame with one of your friend’s fa- the holiday season is that there is no tions to cover everyone on your gift hundreds of dollars to satisfy that idea and exchange the free items that vorite photos inside will always get a need to stress out over gifts. Your list – without breaking the bank! desire. Five Below is probably one you get on campus. There are always warm reception. friends know that you care about Friends are easier to buy for be- of my favorite stores, because you opportunities to get UMBC pens, This can also be a great idea for them, and your parents will still love cause they usually understand and can fi nd any random thing your notepads, t-shirts (if you’re willing parents, as we all know they are al- you, even if their gifts are not ex- can relate to the strain that the holi- heart desires for around fi ve dollars to part with them), and trading these ways diffi cult to buy for. Anything travagant and over the top. Have fun, days put on your wallet. In fact, you or less. You can scour the store for items with your friends can be a fun sentimental will make Mom cry and bake some cookies together, drink don’t necessarily have to buy gifts for unique gifts that will be a hit, or at way to save on gifts. Along the same Dad proud to be parent, so pictures hot chocolate and actually enjoy this all of your friends; I have a friend least cause a laugh, from everyone lines as a stocking stuffer is the clas- are always an option. Presenting pic- time of year. who explained to everyone she knew in your group of friends. That is an- sic idea of having a “Secret Santa” gift tures in a different way, like getting that she just didn’t have the money other thing to remember – not every exchange. If you can get a large group a personalized calendar printed or Sarah Evans is a Staff Writer for The to buy gifts for everyone this year, so gift has to be serious! Joke gifts can together, then you only have to buy having a mug with a family photo on Retriever Weekly and can be reached instead, she would exchange Christ- be so much easier to fi nd and a lot one gift for your person and get a free it, while they may be cheesy, is rela- for comment at [email protected]. mas hugs. Now you might be think- more enjoyable; I’ve bought someone pass on the rest of the group. tively inexpensive and will be appre-