Oscar nominee to rock Downtown Brew

Whenever I think of Juliette Lewis, I picture her sucking Robert DeNiro’s thumb in “Cape Fear,” and I know that probably means I’m pretty twisted.

Because, really, it’s not like that’s the only role she ever played. In fact, she’s a well-respected actress, who has worked with some of the industry’s finest, including directors like Scorsese, Tarantino and Stone.

Early in her acting career, she was the quintessential teen, appearing in movies like “Christmas Vacation” and “My Stepmother is an Alien.” Then she became a slightly off kilter young adult with a bad taste for guys in movies like “Kalifornia” and “Natural Born Killers.”

By the time she was 30, the Oscar-nominated actress had appeared in dozens of movies. Yet, all along, she has said, she was inspired by music. So what does a rich actor/actress with a love of music do?

Just ask Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, and Don Johnson.

That’s right — you form a band. Just like Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Russell Crowe. Just like Eddie Murphy, Philip Michael Thomas and Dennis Quaid.

You get the idea, right? If you’re rich and famous, you form a band, which often — OK, usually — sucks. (Did anyone else endure Billy Bob’s show at the Mid-State Fair a few years back?)

Except Lewis’s band, Juliette Lewis and the Licks, is actually pretty good – and has the reviews to show it.

The band, seen in this video, performs at Downtown Brew in San Luis Obispo Sunday.

Lewis first flirted with music videos years ago, when she appeared in Melissa Etheridge’s “Come to My Window” video. (Lewis played a suicidal mental patient.) Later, in the movie “Strange Days,” she sang P.J. Harvey’s “Hardly Wait.”

Her sound is often compared to Harvey’s, in fact. Her moves on stage recall Mick Jagger. And her Spandex-heavy stage outfits might draw comparisons to Olivia Newton John, circa the ’80s.

Okay, so the Spandex part is not so good.

But thanks in part to her co-writing with Linda Perry (“What’s Up,” “Get The Party Started,” “Beautiful”), she has garnered respect as a musician.

Lewis hasn’t given up acting. But, she’s said, she’s taking fewer roles these days so she can pursue her music career.


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OK, so I’m occasionally slow with technology, but eventually I embrace it.

In 1995, for example, I bought my first CD (Van Morrison’s greatest hits), forever ending my fling with cassettes and vinyl. A little slow, I know. But I made the transition.

Then just last night, for the very first time, I downloaded music from the Internet.

I hear you. It’s almost 2008.

The thing is that downloads always seemed ideal for me since I happen to like a lot of one-hit wonders and yet I don’t want to pay for an entire album just to get one song.

For some reason, I still resisted.

But last night I entered the download world by purchasing George Harrison’s “All Those Years Ago.” I’m doing a little nostalgic video project for my mom and wanted to include that song on it. Then I downloaded Ray Charles’s version of “Yesterday” — also for the video project. Then I downloaded a Phil Collins song just because I really like Phil Collins.

Downloading music is so easy. And with each song, you’re like, “Eh — it’s only a buck.” So I quickly downloaded three more Phil Collins songs. Then I started thinking about all the other songs I could download, which then made me think of the money I could be dropping, which then made me realize why I had resisted iTunes for so long.


--Pat P.

Nerd to the core

When I heard The Aquabats were storming into San Luis Obispo tonight, a giddy shiver shot up my spine.
Spawned from the Southern California punk and ska scenes of the 1990s, The Aquabats are that rare nerd band with a cool edge – fully accessible, totally fun and utterly geeky. And because they float just below the radar, we get to see them in places like SLO.
Just how awesome are they?
We’re talking about a band that dresses like refugees from some unknown episode of “Super Friends.” (Think short pants, goggles, rubber helmets and really big belts.) A band that performs with scores of stage props, including footage of Saturday morning cartoons and Asian martial arts flicks.
The Aquabats sing songs about snakes, pirates, robots and Martian girls. They go by names like MC Bat Commander, Chainsaw and Crash McLarson.
They are, as the song of the same title states, “Super Rad.”

The Aquabats play an all-ages show tonight at Downtown Brewing Co., 1119 Garden St. in San Luis Obispo.
Hunter Revenge, led by AFI bassist Hunter Burgan, and DJ Lance open the show at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call 543-1843 or visit www.downtownbrew.com.

-- Sarah L.

Happy Gilmore gets stoked: Celebs who surf

I may be a dork of great magnitude. Because I recently became pretty excited when I learned that Jeff Bridges was a surfer.

I mean, it just seemed so right: The guy who played The Dude in “The Big Lebowski” – and a penguin named Big Z in “Surf’s Up” -- just had to surf.

An avid surfer in high school, the Santa Barbara resident apparently dropped out of the sport for about 25 years before recently returning to the lineup.

“It’s a wonderful metaphor, catching a wave, for how you look at other challenges in life,” he told moviesonline.com.

Right on, Dude.

So that got me thinking about other celebrities who surf. Back in the 30s, Jackie Coogan – a famous child actor who later gained fame as Uncle Fester in “The Addams Family” – was frequently found surfing Malibu. More recently, celebs like Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck and David Beckham have flirted with The Stoke. But Paris Hilton probably just wanted to be seen on a surf board. And Beckham’s insurance companies usually won’t permit him to play anything but soccer.

Still, there are plenty of celebrities who have really surfed. Here are a few:

• Chris Isaak. Isaak took up surfing later in life (his early 30s), but he got the fever in a big way. A friend of big wave surfer Doc Rennecker, he has often been spotted paddling out at the notoriously treacherous Nor-Cal spot, Maverick’s, on 15-foot days. "Surfing, if anything, helps me be relaxed enough so I can want to go back and write," Isaak told the Tribune in 2003. "It just keeps you kind of mellow and balanced."

• Ben Harper. Another surfing musician, Harper grew up a skater. But like Isaak, he gets musically inspired by the waves. “The ocean is extremely melodic,” he told Surfing Magazine. “Whenever I am in the ocean and paddling out, ideas come to me in a way that they don't in other places. I think anybody who surfs will tell you, you hear music when you surf; it's a weird phenomenon.”

• Adam Sandler. A regular in the Malibu line-up (when he’s not making gazillions on a movie), he’s known to be a decent surfer and a down-to-earth guy, even when guys in the lineup pitch movie ideas to him.

• Aaron Carter. The ‘tween heartthrob was hospitalized after a "minor surf accident" that required brief hospitalization in San Diego last year.

• Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen was known to surf the Jersey shores as a kid. I’m not sure if he still does surf, but in the book “Springsteen: Songs,” there’s a photo of an adult Springsteen sitting in front of three surfboards at his home.

• Cameron Diaz. (That's her at the top in a still photo from "Charlie's Angels") A good friend of surf legend Kelly Slater, she told Self Magazine: “Surfing is a religious experience for me. You get to be a part of Mother Nature and experience its power. I have great respect for the ocean. It's full of life and its energy is constant. When you ride a wave, it comes from across the ocean, from 1,500 miles away, and you get on it and ride it to shore, where its journey ends.”

• Jack Johnson. During my surf trip to San Onofre last summer, the campground was alive with the music of Jack Johnson, whose mellow tunes provide the soundtrack for many surfers. A former pro surfer, he frequently writes music on surf trips.

• Minnie Driver. According to various accounts, Driver, seen surfing in this video, once nearly got pounded by another surfer in the lineup. She was about to yell at the surfer when, upon a closer look, she saw it was Bruce Willis.

* Orlando Bloom. Well, I don't know a whole lot about Bloom's surfing abilities. But here's a shot of him on a decent-looking wave in Hawaii.

• Eddie Vedder. With all his dark and moody Pearl Jam lyrics, you might be surprised to learn that Vedder is a ukulele-playing surfer. But he turned to the waves, in part, as a reaction to a tumultuous childhood. When asked the difference between performing for a packed house and riding big waves, he told Outside Magazine: “With a packed house, unless you say something incredibly offensive to God or country, a crowd of 15,000 people will not kill you. I guess they could if they wanted to, but they will not all jump on you at the same time and hold you down for two minutes. That's the difference between a big crowd and a big wave. When Kelly (Slater) takes me to Waimea Bay, that wave does not give a sh-- who I am.”
--Pat P.

Fresh powder and sweet stunts

For some, winter means mountain sunshine glinting off a mound of fresh powder, strapping on skies or a snowboard and making the snow fly.
Obviously, those folks don’t live on the Central Coast.
While the rest of the nation is basking in a winter wonderland, we sun-baked masses have another option: “Warren Miller’s Playground.”
Created by acclaimed director Warren Miller, the winter sports movie features impressive stunts against the breathtaking backdrops of Sweden, Japan, Dubai and Alaska.
“Playground” will be screened at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Spanos Theatre, at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $15.
Each moviegoer will receive a lift pass to Sierra Summit Mountain Resort, near Huntington Lake.

Snowboarders get a dose of harsh reality Sunday with “Optimistic?”, a documentary about the future of the sport.
Absinthe Films follows 15 individuals as they examine weather trends this winter and the effects of global warming.
“Optimistic?” will be screened at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Spanos Theatre. Tickets are just $5.

For more information on both screenings, call 756-2787 or www.pacslo.org.

-- Sarah L.

Can I Get a Witness: Kato Kaelin in town

Though he was often portrayed as a typical California surfer dude, Kato Kaelin wasn’t ever a surfer. In fact, he wasn’t even from California.

He had ventured out to California from Wisconsin, with dreams of playing baseball at Cal State Fullerton. When he found the baseball studs at Cal State too intense for him, he concentrated on the entertainment industry, landing a commercial spot for Coke in his first ever audition in 1986.

Not long after that, he made his second TV appearance – on the lip sync show “Puttin on the Hits.” (He pretended to sing “Born to be Wild.”) After that, he landed small roles in movies like “Beach Fever,” “Save Me,” and “Hail Caesar” before a gruesome double homicide placed him in an international spotlight.

Kaelin will appear at the Spyglass Inn in Shell Beach this weekend, opening for the Unknown Comic, Murray Langston. The shows are put on by comedian Bob Zany, who often performs the Thanksgiving weekend shows himself but couldn't make it this year.

Some tidbits from our interview with Kaelin:

• Kaelin was asked to do “The Surreal Life,” a reality show that threw several B-level celebs into one house for several days, but he had to pass since he was making a different reality show called “Houseguest” for Fox FX. “It’s just me knocking on door with luggage saying, ‘I’m TV’s Kato Kaelin and can I live here?’” Kaelin said. A pilot was made, but the show was ditched after an executive in favor of the show went to NBC.

• On the prospect of meeting O.J. again: “Maybe when he does go to trial, I’ll go up there and do some sort of news reporting. And I’m sure I will be confronted. But there’s nothing really to say. If he says, “Hi, Kato,’ I guess I would just say hi.”

It might be more awkward, though, after this video he made for National Lampoon:

• Some of the viewer comments about that video oddly veer off to a tangent about the war in Iraq. The viewers probably didn’t know that Kaelin’s nephew was killed in Iraq.

• Kaelin was also recently the subject of a recent About.com commercial featuring 200 dancing Katos.

• On doing O.J. jokes: "I told Murray I didn’t want to talk about the trial, but I’m going to now. I’m probably just going to do five minutes and get that all out of the way and talk about the stuff people always ask me . . . and just do some of the comedy from that.”

• On being a frequent guest at the Playboy Mansion: “It’s what you make of it. You can have the most wild time and be crazy if you want to, but I bring my girlfriend all the time. My friends say, ‘Why do you bring a sandwich to the buffet?’”

• On being asked to do TV shows about O.J.: “If I have something to publicize, I’m all for it now. Because it’s been 13 years and I figure, ‘You know what – my life goes on and I like people to know what’s going on.’ And I love talking about Lampoon wherever I go. I grew up on ‘Animal House,’ and it’s a tradition.”



-Pat P.

Art, love, drama and indie cinema

Bored of those holiday blockbusters?
The Palm Theatre, San Luis Obispo’s sole arthouse movie theater, has a solution: thoughtful documentaries, indie comedies and dark dramas.
“The Rape of Europa,” a stunning new documentary about the fate of European art during World War II, opens this week.
Narrated by Joan Allen, “The Rape of Europa” chronicles the Nazis’ 12-year campaign to plunder Europe’s treasures, looting museums and robbing countless priceless artworks while destroying others deemed “inferior.”
Countries sought to hide their most prized pieces while soldiers, art historians and curators battled to save centuries of Western culture.
Filmmakers Richard Berge, Bonni Cohen and Nicole Newnham examine the aftershocks half a century later, using newsreel footage, eyewitness accounts and interviews with historians.
With rave reviews from The New York Times, The Boston Globe and Variety magazine, “The Rape of Europa” could be in the running for a best documentary Oscar.
Showtimes at the Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo, are 4 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. weekdays, and 1:15 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The film’s runtime is 1 hour, 57 minutes.

Also playing at the Palm:

“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”
Two brothers plot to rob a mom-and-pop jewelry store … owned by their own parents. Another dark, complex drama from auteur Sidney Lumet.

“Bella”
A single day in New York City transforms three lives: a waitress, an international soccer star-turned-cook and his brother.

“The Darjeeling Limited”
Three feuding brothers search for spiritual enlightenment in India in Wes Anderson’s quirky new comedy.

“Into the Wild”
The fascinating true story of Christopher McCandless, who, after graduating from college in 1992, abandoned his possessions and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness.

For more information, call 541-5161 or visit www.thepalmtheatre.com.

-- Sarah L.

Name dropping with the Unknown Comic

Before he ever donned a bag on his head and called himself the Unknown Comic, Murray Langston was a computer operator hoping to break into show business. When he asked what he had to do to get on the show “Laugh-In,” he was told, “Do something unusual and call us.”

So for his first ever TV appearance, Langston did an impression of a fork.

More “Laugh-In” spots followed, and he eventually found a gig on “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.”

As noted in Thursday’s Ticket, he became the Unknown Comic because he was broke and embarrassed to be seen on “The Gong Show,” where he made his first appearance for $250.

Langston appears with Kato Kaelin at the Spyglass Inn this weekend. (See more about Kaelin in this blog Friday.)

Though he never would earn more than $150,000 a year, Langston’s Unknown Comic would ironically become a household name in the 70s and 80s. And Langston would form relationships with some of the most recognizable names in show business.

Here’s more from our interview with Langston:

* For years the true identity of the Unknown Comic was a mystery – until Langston removed his bag on an episode of “Real People.”

* Being unknown led the way for others to say they were the Unknown Comic.

“I remember this one time – this was absolutely true – I was at a restaurant at the counter talking to this girl,” Langston said. “Eventually, I said I was the Unknown Comic, and she said, ‘No, you’re not,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I am.’ And she said, ‘I met him in Chicago and had an affair with him.’ So there she was having sex with some other guy, and I was left holding the bag.”

* Langston appeared on “The Dating Game” as a contestant three times as himself and once as the Unknown Comic. As a contestant, he won every time. “I had the sense of humor going for me so I always won,” he said. “But during that period, I was living with a girl, so I couldn’t go on the dates. So what happened in those days was if one person cancelled the date, the other person just got to go with someone of their own choice. So I ended up walking away with luggage and some union (money).”

* On partying with Elvis at Presley’s Vegas suite: “Every time I made him laugh, my brain would go, ‘You made Elvis Presley laugh.’ It was unbelievable. . . I partied with him until, like, five in the morning. We sat in a circle, and he sang, ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ on guitar.”

* On Mickey Rooney: “The first celebrity I met was Mickey Rooney when I was 12 or 13. He was in Montreal, where I’m from, and he was in a restaurant . . . and I went over there and saw him, and he was fairly rude. And it was weird because ten years later, I did a movie with him, and he was still rude. And years after that I did a movie called ‘Up Your Alley,’ about homeless people . . . It was moderately successful for a little movie, and Mickey Rooney heard about it. And I get this call from Mickey Rooney – he wanted me to help him do a low budget movie. But because he’d been rude those first two times, I said, ‘Yeah, well look – let me get back to you.’ And I never got back to him. I didn’t want to work with a guy who was rude.”

* On Sonny Bono: “He was not a nice guy. Sonny Bono and Billy Crystal are two guys who have the same thing, I noticed: They don’t relate to you on a social level if you’re not at their level or above.”

* A quick Cher story: “Every Halloween I played the werewolf – I had those two hours of makeup on – and so the first time I did it, they did my hands all hairy with these ugly nails. So I walked into the rehearsal hall and Cher had her back to me – she was talking to one of the dancers – so I thought I’d scare her. So I sneak up and put this grotesque, hairy hand on her shoulder from behind, and she just looks at it and, quick as a whip, she turns and says, ‘Sonny – your mother’s here!’”

* In the 2002 movie “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” ‘Gong Show host Chuck Barris is portrayed as a songwriter, game show host and CIA assassin. Based on Barris’s 1984 autobiography, Barris has been coy during interviews about how much of the story was fabricated.

“Of course, that was all B.S.,” said Langston, who appears in the movie as the Unknown Comic. “(Barris) said he was sitting at a bar before he had his first game show, and he was struggling. A CIA guy actually befriended him and used to tell him, ‘You’ve got the kind of personality to make a good CIA agent.’ Of course, he never did, but years later when he decided to write his bio, he thought it’s be too boring so he said, ‘I wonder what would’ve happened had I taken that guy up’ and embellished it.”


-- Pat P.

Holiday movies: Hit or flop?

Moviegoers, the holidays are upon us.

Today's box office bonanza marks the beginning of the oh-so-lucrative holiday movie season, full of explosive blockbusters, goofy comedies and heart-warming family films.

Here's a sneak peak of the movies opening today in Central Coast theaters, based on previews and trailers:

"August Rush" (Pictured above)
August Rush loves music. In fact, he's a bit of a musical genius, able to master any instrument the way some kids learn multiplication.
More than writing his own symphony, however, the boy longs to find his parents.
Freddie Highmore is darling as ever as the title character. Plus, Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers fit well as musicians and lovers.
The plot itself? Saccharine. Forget "August Rush;" this movie is a sugar rush.

"Enchanted"
We're torn about this fractured fairy tale.
On one hand, playing a Disney princess trapped in the real world could make adorable Amy Adams a star.
On the other, Disney seems to be laying on the family-friendly elements with a trowel: a perfect prince (James Marsden), chirping birdies and chipmunks, and a lonely real-life hunk (Dr. McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey).
With any luck, however, it'll be "happily ever after" for holiday moviegoers.

"Hitman"
When archaeologists sift through the dung heap of history, here's hoping they never find a copy of "Hitman."
"Hitman," starring "Deadwood's" Timothy Olyphant as a bald assassin on a deadly mission, is the latest hit video game to be turned into an inane movie.
There are explosions, scantily clad women and carefully choreographed
gun battles. Too bad this movie is missing the most crucial element: a reasonably credible plot.

"The Mist"
A group of citizens take shelter in a supermarket when a mysterious, deadly mist that invades their small town. As tension mounts, terrifying things emerge from the storm.
Nobody does scary better than Stephen King.
Still, we're a bit surprised to see this movie in the hands of Frank Darabont, director of "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Green Mile."
He usually handles King¹s softer side.

"This Christmas"
Other than Santa spoof "Fred Claus," there doesn't seem to be a lot of holiday spirit at the movies this year. "This Christmas," about a family's long-awaited reunion, is one exception.
Despite a predictable plot -- feuding siblings, family secrets, etc. -- "This Christmas" boasts a solid cast, including Regina King, Delroy Lindo and Sharon Leal ("Boston Public," "Dreamgirls").
Still, the biggest reason to see this movie might be yummy R&B up-and-comer Chris Brown.

Check out The Tribune tomorrow for a closer look at this winter's releases.

-- Sarah L.

I'm No Ernie Pyle

Every now and then someone will ask me, “Would you cover a war if you had the opportunity?”

It’s a good question. After all, for a journalist, covering a war represents a chance to make your mark – to do something meaningful. Meanwhile, you’re doing something exciting, creating stories you can one day share with your grandkids.

And, of course, I can’t forget the legend of Ernie Pyle, the great World War II correspondent who attended my alma mater, Indiana University.

“No way,” I answer without deliberation. “Not a chance.”

There are many things I consider when taking a job. But one factor I’ve never overlooked is the likelihood of getting killed.

To me, posterity just isn’t that big of a deal.

But, hey, I can still write about those who do cover war, like Ashley Gilbertson.

Gilbertson, who has shot photos for the New York Times, Newsweek and Time, will sign copies of his book, “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: A Photographer’s Chronicle of the Iraq War” (University of Chicago, $35), at Borders in San Luis Obispo tomorrow at 7 p.m.


Gilbertson, who was recently featured in a lengthy NPR piece, is a native Australian, who started out shooting photos of his skater friends at age 13.

Now 29 and living in New York City, he has put together an impressive resume, having covered conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. (The photos on this blog entry, as you might have guessed, are his.)

His book chronicles many of the early battles in Iraq, often with stark (a.k.a., bloody) images of violence’s aftermath, highlighting crucial events, like the battle of Falluja, the elections and the growth of the insurgency. He also writes about his experiences, which includes his bouts with post traumatic stress disorder.

So if you want to read about war, check out his book. Meanwhile, I’ll be here, writing about the Unknown Comic and Kato Kaelin. (See Thursday's Ticket for more.)


--Pat P.

Latino life at the movies

This month, HopeDance Magazine offers two perspectives on Latino life.
On Tuesday night, the magazine will screen “Cuba: An Accidental Revolution” at the San Luis Obispo Library.
The documentary shows Cuba making strides in education, health care, agriculture and free enterprise toward an independent, sustainable economy.
It’s narrated by David Suzuki, the scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster most recently featured in enviro-doc “The 11th Hour.”
Catch the two-part “Cuba: An Accidental Revolution” Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the library, 995 Palm Street in San Luis Obispo.
A donation of $5 is suggested.

HopeDance offers another documentary about social change next week.
“Made in L.A” follows three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles’ garment sweatshops. The film chronicles their struggle to win basic labor protections from a trendy clothing retailer.
According to the online Internet Movie Database, director Almudena Carracedo co-wrote the documentary and did extra duty as the 2007 film’s cinematographer, producer and editor.
“Made in L.A.” will be screened at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, at the San Luis Obispo library. Donations of $5 are encouraged.

For more information on both events, visit www.hopedance.org.

-- Sarah L.

Clean out your closet!

With the holidays on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to clean your closets, garages and crawl spaces.
Bring your old computers, busted televisions and shot stereos to the Paso Robles Event Center today and Saturday.
Electronic waste can no longer be dumped at landfills, and it’s often expensive to recycle.
Organizers will accept electronic waste for free, regardless of how much junk you unload. They’ll take both broken and intact appliances.
The recycling drive continues through 4 p.m. today at the Oak Tree Parking Lot, and continues on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Paso Robles Event Center is located at 2198 Riverside Ave. in Paso Robles.
Call Colleen at 239-0655 with any questions.

The following items will be recycled for free:

LCD televisions and monitors
Laptop computers
Televisions
Computer towers
Printers
PDAs (Palm Pilots, etc.)
DVD players
Copy machines
Fax machines
Calculators
Stereo systems
Speakers
VCRs
Keyboards
Computer mice
Telephones
Cell phones

***

Meanwhile, the county Sheriff’s Department is collecting used bicycles and tricycles for needy children.
Started in 1987, the Sheriff’s Annual Christmas Bicycle program supplies a fresh set of wheels to underprivileged kids throughout the county, complete with new helmets.
Honor Farm inmates refurbish the bikes and trikes with supplies donated by the community.
Drop your old wheels off at the Honor Farm, located across from Animal Services at 880 Oklahoma Ave. off Highway 1, or at any of the sheriff’s sub-stations.
Donations will be accepted Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Need a bike?
Applications for refurbished bikes must be received by Saturday, Nov. 24.
For more information, call Lt. Barry Shortz at 788-2103.

-- Sarah L.

That giving spirit

You gotta give a little to get a little.
The San Luis Obispo Optimist Club shows its holiday spirit Saturday with “Variety is the Spice of Life 4.”
The variety show, which will raise money for music and drama scholarships, features solo and group acts from across the county.
“Variety is the Spice of Life” starts at 2 p.m. at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave. in Arroyo Grande.
The fun repeats with a second show at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10. Call 489-9444 or visit www.clarkcenter.org for more information.

This weekend, it's good to give

Giving has never felt so good.
This weekend, two community groups mix charity with entertainment, offering two fun-packed events while collecting donations for local non-profits.
Why not give a little?


The hard-hitting ladies of Central Coast Roller Derby tackle their Los Angeles rivals Saturday at the Paso Robles Event Center.
They'll battle the Angel City Derby Girls in a bout they're calling "The Ultimate Throwdown."
Proceeds from the Throwdown and September's School Yard Smackdown will go to the deGroot Nursing Home, which provides care for terminally ill children in San Luis Obispo County.
Since its formation in January 2006, the all-woman league has donated more than $7,000 and hundreds of hours to local non-profits.

The Ultimate Throwdown begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Paso Roble Event Center, 2198 Riverside Ave. in Paso Robles. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Arrive early to enjoy beer and barbeque provided by Downtown Brewing Co. of San Luis Obispo.
Tickets are $12 per person, Kids under 10 get in free.
Tonight, they can be purchased at the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market from the KZOZ booth or at a pre-bout party at Downtown Brew.
Otherwise, order at Vallitix outlets -- via phone at (888 825 5484, and online at www.vallitix.com.
For more information, check out CCRD's Web site.

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On Sunday, the San Luis Obispo County Band offers up popular music from Gilbert and Sullivan, Camille Saint-Saens and John Philip Sousa.
The community band celebrates its 133rd anniversary this year.
Saturday's concert includes a special appearance by Wilmar “Tog” Tognazzini, a Morro Bay educator, historian and musician. He'll make his debut Saturday as a Central Coast conductor.
Although the event is free, the County Band is seeking donations for San Luis Obispo homeless shelters. All money collected will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
The concert starts at 3 p.m. Sunday at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Frederick St. in San Luis Obispo.
Call 543-5691 or visit www.slocountyband.org for more information.

The hills of SLO County are alive …

Fans of “The Sound of Music” have two great opportunities to enjoy the warm, wonderful musical this month.
Tonight, there’s a special screening of the 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews at the Fremont Theatre.
The movie starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Fremont, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Arrive early for a trivia contest with prizes.
Tickets are $7 to $9.

Local theatergoers can enjoy the stage version of “The Sound of Music,” playing through Dec. 23 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria.
PCPA’s production features a cast of 43 people, stunning backdrops and all the musical’s popular tunes, including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Every Mountain” and, of course, “The Sound of Music.”
Show times are 2 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $16.25 to $27.75 for the show.
For more information, call 922-8313 or visit www.pcpa.org. The theater is located at
800 S. College Drive in Santa Maria.

(NOTE: The above picture shows PCPA's production of "The Sound of Music." Photo by Luis Escobar.)

-- Sarah L.

Absolutely Zany, with an artistic touch

Comedy may be an art form, but you rarely encounter comedians who are actually artists.
Chris Fairbanks, the headliner this weekend at Bob Zany’s Comedy Outlet, is an exception.
A stand-up comic and actor whose credits include “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Comedy Central, Fairbanks creates oil paintings and graphic designs featured in Snowboarder and Freeze magazine.
He’s currently an action sports correspondent for Fuel TV, a cable network covering sports and music. Check out his work at www.chrisfairbanks.com.

Performing with Fairbanks is prison guard-turned-comic Jim Summers.
According to his MySpace profile, Summers spent fifteen years at a guard at prisons in Soldedad and the Salinas Valley. At the same time, he kicked off his comedy career by performing after work at San Francisco coffee shops and clubs.
Summers retired due to back injuries, and now works as a comic full-time. Hear his schtick at www.myspace.com/jimsummers.

The comedians will perform two shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday at Bob Zany’s Comedy Outlet – just days before Fairbanks heads to Las Vegas for the HBO Comedy Festival.
The venue is located upstairs from the Embarcadero Grill, 801 Embarcadero in Morro Bay. Tickets are $15.
Call 772-0716 or visit www.bobzany.com for more information.

-- Sarah L.

Teen review: "Across the Universe"

Flower children of all ages will bloom while watching the new musical film, “Across the Universe.” And for those of you who are looking to take yourselves back to the’60s, this movie will serve as your time machine. There is hardly a band of the times that challenges The Beatles, and their music permeates the film.

My friends and I walked into the theater humming some Beatles songs. By the end, we were singing to them, along with the rest of the audience. Spectators were cheering for the protagonists and booing the antagonists — everyone was totally into it. The beautiful story and powerful camera angles drew me in within the first scene. Throughout the movie, bold and brilliant messages were presented through dance, psychedelic images, captivating special effects, and plain old hippies.

Choreographed by Julie Taymor (who is famous for the Broadway production of “The Lion King”), the film leads the viewer through a world of magic buses and blooming artists, and the actors and actresses sweep you away.

The interpretations of the Beatles’ songs are amazing, and beautifully portrayed. From the bombs of Vietnam to the protests against them, the spontaneous-feeling scenes will make you feel like you’re surrounded with the epic grandeur of the 1960s.

The movie portrays a realistic view of the revolution of the era, presenting even the dark side of it. Yearning for the war in Vietnam to end and the draft to disappear, some revolutionaries even became violent for peace, an irony offered in the movie.

The audience was taken into the characters’ individual lives to see how the war affected them, such as being moved to burn draft cards or “see God” through hallucinogens. Elements like this symbolize the efforts that the people were so passionate about, including the willingness to risk their lives in riots and protests.

Though the film has powerful and depressing elements, it is filled with hilarious and mind-blowing scenes and, overall, will make you really believe, “All You Need Is Love.”

— Anya Rossa-Quade

Anya Rossa-Quade, a junior at Arroyo Grande High School, loves to write and watch films with her friends.

Songs to die for (funeral music)

Ever since I interviewed Chris Hillman, the former bassist for the Byrds, I’ve been thinking about funerals.

Not that it was a morbid interview. It’s just that “Turn! Turn! Turn!” — one of the Byrds’s most famous songs — tends to be a popular burial primer. And it got me thinking about other songs that would be appropriate for a final send-off.

To be a good funeral song — and we’re talking about contemporary songs here — a tune basically has to be about death, the passing of time, spirituality or something that makes you reflect. The best might even have a lugubrious feel to it.

Or you can be like Dave Barry and vow to have “Louie Louie” be your swan song.

That said, here are my top ten Songs to Be Buried By:

10.) Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds. Pete Seeger’s song quoted the Bible: “There’s a time to be born, a time to die.” Doesn’t get more clear than that.

9.) Remember, Harry Nilsson. There wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house with this one (also recommended: Randy Newman's cover). Other good Nilsson funeral songs: “Don’t Forget Me” and “Turn on the Radio,” which implores, “Now that I am gone, I hope the wind that’s blowing helps me carry on.” Sniff, sniff — anyone have a hanky?

8.) Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton. Written after Clapton’s 4-year-old son tragically fell from a high-rise apartment window, the lyrics are general enough to apply to others who have passed on.

7.) Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Warren Zevon. I know — it’s a Dylan song. But it was most dramatically sung by Zevon when he knew he was dying.

6.) I Wish You Peace, Eagles. A good going-away gesture, Bernie Leadon’s song, co-written by girlfriend (and daughter of Ronald Reagan) Patti Davis, caused strife with some of the other band members, who said it didn’t sound like an Eagles tune.

5.) There Will Be a Light, Ben Harper. A great gospel song performed with the Blind Boys of Alabama, it starts, “I wish we could live forever ...” Amen to that.

4.) Yesterday, Ray Charles. Pretty much anything sung by Ray Charles is beautiful, but I especially like his cover of the Beatles classic, which makes you yearn for a bygone era.

3.) My Sweet Lord, George Harrison. Combining Hindu prayers, with “Hallelujah” and Hare Krishna chants, Harrison made this a spiritual song for many. And if you’re going to get spiritual, this would probably be the time to do it.

2.) My Way, Frank Sinatra. According to The (London) Guardian, this is the most popular contemporary song played at British funerals. Told from the view of an old man facing “the final curtain,” it expresses a satisfaction with a life lived well. Ironically, Elvis’ version became a hit shortly after The King died.

1.) Dust in the Wind, Kansas. It’s said that writer Kerry Livgren, despite all of Kansas’ success, was still humbled by what would happen in the end, which explains the line, “All your money won’t another minute buy.”

— Pat P.

I'm "Movin' Out"

Throughout last night's performance of "Movin' Out," the ushers at San Luis Obispo's Performing Arts Center had one request: Read the program.

Granted, some of the action in the Tony Award-winning Broadway extravaganza can be puzzling. But the basic premise -- love, loss and social change against the backdrop of the Vietnam War -- couldn't be clearer.

I caught the first, sold-out performance of "Movin' Out" last night. A second show starts tonight at 8 p.m. at the PAC.

My conclusion? "Movin' Out" is more than a musical.

It's best described as a dance-ical, a high-energy burst of modern dance movements choreographed by Twyla Tharp and narrated by pop icon Billy Joel's piano rock hits.

Perched above the stage with a capable six-pece band, the Piano Man (Matthew Friedman last night, Kyle Martin tonight) comes aross as a omnsicient uncle -- winking at his charges' foibles and expressing sadness and anger when it all goes wrong.

Below, dancers with tight abs and impressive stamina add their own flavor to every song. Styles range from elegant classical ballet to saucy salsa and airborne kicks and jumps.

The audience grows so used to the interplay between song and dance that the few lines of spoken dialogue are almost jarring.

As for the music, a few selections in "Movin' Out" seem like a strange fit. (I fail to see the link between "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" and enlisting for the U.S. Army.)

Most, however, mold nicely to the story.

"Movin' Out" uses "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Goodnight Saigon" to chilling effect to reflect the horror and confusion of Vietnam. And handful of love songs -- "She's Got A Way," "Shameless" -- make the onstage romance seem even sweeter.

It's a tribute to Joel's skill as a storyteller that the unusual pairing of wordless dance and motionless songs works so well.

For more information about "Movin' Out," call 756-2787 or visit www.pacslo.org.

-- Sarah L.

Do the truffle shuffle tonight!

So, you couldn't score tickets to tonight's sold-out performance of "Movin' Out"?

Lucky for you, we've got a solution: "The Goonies."

For those who don't remember the 1985 movie (shame on you!), "The Goonies" celebrates childhood adventures and hunts for hidden treasure with a sweet, goofy sense of humor that appeals to both kids and nostalgic adults.

It's a gem of a movie, full of gentle humor, touching moments and downright pathetic villains.

What's more, the film singlehandedly launched the careers of several actors, including Sean Astin ("Rudy," the "Lord of the Rings" triology), Josh Brolin ("American Gangster"), Martha Plimpton and Corey Feldman -- who, together with Corey Haim, basically ruled the 1980s.

Too bad the same can't be said for Jonathan Ke Quan, a.k.a Short Round in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."

"The Goonies" plays tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Fremont Theatre, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Arrive early for trivia and prizes.

Tickets are $7 to $9.

***

The Fremont offers a screening of "The Sound of Music" on Tuesday, Nov. 13, also starting at 7:30 p.m.

Chris Hillman of the Byrds, continued

Every now and then we interview someone whose career is so packed that’s it’s difficult to summarize all the key points in one newspaper feature.

Fortunately, we have this blog, so I can tell you more about Chris Hillman, former member of the Byrds, who will perform in Nipomo on Saturday.

Here are a few highlights from our interview that didn’t make it into Thursday’s Ticket story:

* The Byrds song “So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star” wasn’t about The Monkees.

Not totally, anyway.

“They were good guys — and pretty good players,” said Chris Hillman, who co-wrote the song.

Hillman said the song was less about the band and more about the idea of creating one for TV.

“It was about the fact that Hollywood had made a weekly sitcom based on ‘A Hard Day’s Night,’ which was a wonderful movie. (The sitcom) was very contrived. Maybe we shouldn’t have. It was never meant as any malicious thing.”

Ironically, Stephen Stills, whom Hillman would later perform with in Manassas, had auditioned for The Monkees but was rejected.

* Of the many artists who have covered Byrds songs through the years, Hillman likes Tom Petty’s covers the most.

“I think Tom nailed ‘So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star’ and ‘Feel a Whole Lot Better When You’re Gone,’” he said. “He did those just like we did, but just every so much better – just a little lighter.”

* On former band mates Stills and David Crosby, whom he performed with in Manassas and the Byrds, respectively: “I don’t think I could have handled both of them in one band, though, I’ll tell you right now. It would have been too much for a normal human to deal with,” he said with a laugh. “But they’re brilliant.”

* On former band mate Gram Parsons (Byrds,Flying Burrito Brothers), who was fired from the Burrito Brothers because of drug use. (Parsons later fatally overdosed): “He’d show up late or he’d show up too inebriated, stoned or whatever, to perform. So we fired him. And that’s when he went to live with Keith Richards at Keith’s house in England. But they eventually had to tell him to leave. ... Sometimes you see people and you almost expect, ‘When is this going to happen?’ It’s like with poor Gene Clark, one of the great songwriters and singers with The Byrds, who had a great career. But there are times when you go, ‘This man isn’t going to survive.’ ”

* After seeing Emmy Lou Harris perform at a small club, he introduced her to Parsons, giving Harris her big break.

* On the war in Iraq: “I’m sorry these kids are over there,” he said. “I hate kids getting killed in war and all that. I’m going, ‘Gosh, I don’t know -- we shouldn’t have gone over there. But we’re dealing with some really crazy people that don’t want us to exist as a country and don’t want Western Europe to exist. Not all followers of Islam, of course, are in that fanatical end.”

— Pat P.