The Game Plan
Tonight: New Silent Film Series Debuts in McLean, Laughs Ensue
Posted by Matt Basheda / Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Comedy is eternal. What makes us laugh is ingrained into our nature.
In honor of comedy’s timelessness, and building on the popularity of Oscar nominee “The Artist,” the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre begins a new film series tonight at 8 p.m.
If you like slapstick–Jim Carrey’s comedies, “Home Alone” or “Drake and Josh”–you’ll feel completely at home watching Buster Keaton or Laurel and Hardy. Skip to 1:20 in the clip below. It might as well have been made yesterday.
Tonight’s show, “The FIRST Kings of Comedy!“, features five legendary short films: Charlie Chaplin’s “The Pawn Shop,” Harold Lloyd’s “High and Dizzy,” Buster Keaton’s “The Goat,” Charlie Chase’s “Dog Shy” and Laurel and Hardy’s “You’re Darn Tootin’.”
Renowned film expert Bruce Lawton introduces each film. Time magazine-profiled accompanist Ben Model will be on hand to provide live music alongside each movie.
Tickets are only 10 bucks. It’s a cheap night out, and you’ll get a ton of laughs out of it. Here are some Harold Lloyd highlights to keep you chuckling:
Snapshot Puzzle: Do you know what this landmark is?
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Photo by Lynn Norusis
How Well Do You Know Northern Virginia? Decipher the puzzled pic above.
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Especially the Zydeco kind.
Next Wednesday, Feb. 29th, get ready for major shimming and shaking as Wolf Trap throws a mid-week dance concert. No Hump Day dreariness that night as Buckwheat Zydeco, proud owners of a Grammy for Best Cajun and Zydeco Album, tear things up.
The Beltway’s about to get a little crazy. Southern Louisiana feel + French tunes + Caribbean beats = what Buckwheat Zydeco is all about.
Want to impress your fellow zydecoites at the show? Here are a few interesting tid bits about the band:
• 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of B.W.
• Opening act for Eric Clapton (including entire North American tour and a 12-night stand at London’s Royal Albert Hall), U-2, Robert Cray, Los Lobos
• Wrote and performed theme music for the PBS TV series “Pierre Franey’s Cooking In America.” Buck and his wife cooked for Pierre and appear in a segment
• Among the Top 50 grossing touring acts in Pollstar
• Video “Hey Good Lookin’” featuring Dwight Yoakam and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos was in Five Star rotation on VH-1*
Oh, stop. You’re too kind. No need to thank us for the trivia awesomeness. So go, lay your burdens down and treat yourself to a Cajun good time. Snag your tickets here.
*All amazing facts are courtesy of this site
Buckwheat Zydeco. Feb. 29th @ 8 pm. Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna; 1 (877) 965-3872; www.wolftrap.org; $24.
– Lorin Drinkard
The Winner of Jammin Java’s Band Battle
Posted by Matt Basheda / Monday, February 20th, 2012
The winner is: The Dirty Jacks, of Rockville, Md.
The Dirty Jacks after their big win. Clockwise from top left: Erik Hildebrant, Billy Rommal, Colin Ball, Bobby Scott and Ian Hildebrant.
Their win was deserved, with a frenzied, fast-paced performance and loads of stage presence. Their fans were rowdy, and packed the floor.
Kill the Alarm.
But The Dirty Jacks were just a quarter of the show–three other bands gave it their all and helped make the sell-out band battle raucous and memorable. First up was Kill the Alarm, the New York-based vehicle for songwriter Garen Gueyikian. He belted out soulful, radio-friendly alt-rock, and brought plenty of musical diversity. He shifted from reggae-tinged flavors to anthemic numbers, and led the crowd in an upbeat sing-along.
Second was Brightwork, from Charlottesville, Va. Their set was a bit delayed by technical problems, which unfortunately carried over into their performance. Their passionate, synth-driven songs were in full effect–these guys were clearly laying out their souls. But it’s a shame when uncontrollable tech issues prevent a great young band from being completely heard.
Buster Brown & the Get Down finished up the show, and blew minds all across Vienna. Picture six super-talented guys, spinning unbelievable riffs on their respective instruments into a funky, begging-to-be-danced-to sound. Throw in dual lead vocals–one with an ultra-soulful wail, the other rapping airtight rhymes and emceeing like a champ. Then add a guitarist soloing with his teeth and out of nowhere, the lead singer tap dancing like you’ve never heard: He scratched like a DJ, spattered like a machine gun and stomped like he was going right through the stage.
Buster Brown and the Get Down.
It’s impossible for a band as talented, and with a sound as unique as Buster Brown, to not go places–provided they keep it up. So watch out for these guys. And the best part is, they’re local, so catch one of their shows in town sometime soon. You will not regret it. They play frequently at Arlington favorites like Whitlow’s on Wilson.
But The Dirty Jacks, performing third out of the four sets, took the win. They already have a dedicated fan base. A solid, jam-packed pit sung along to every tune and chanted “Dirty Jacks” at all points of the show. Their lead singer’s shimmying antics defined their stage presence.
Their sound is staccato, but spacey. They play fast and hard but still know how to jam. Their songs are complex, to say the least. Contemporary prog-rock is perhaps as close as I’ll get to categorizing it.
Best of all, even with such newfound fame, they already work with charity to help in any way they can. Proceeds from their merch sales go to Charity: Water, which provides clean drinking water to developing countries.
We caught up with ‘em after the show, and talked about how they write such tightly woven songs and their plans after this big win.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra to Commemorate Music Greats
Posted by Geoff Nelowet / Monday, February 20th, 2012
Shutterstock/Stavchansky Yakov
Who says music isn’t cross-generational?
The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra certainly does not, as their music epitomizes the confluence of contemporary and traditional Jazz.
This Saturday, February 25, Northern Virginia’s Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra will play a tribute concert at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. The performance will pay homage to musical greats such as Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and Stan Kenton. The Orchestra will take their contemporary sounds and apply them to the traditional jazz classics with respect for the stars of the musical genre.
The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is no stranger to big names, as members have made trips to Carnegie Hall, the White House, the Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall, and the Apollo Theatre while performing with the likes of Michael Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Maynard Ferguson, Billy Taylor, Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd, and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.
There will be a pre-performance discussion 45 minutes before the curtain with Jim Carroll, Founder of the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra and Director of Jazz Studies at the George Mason School of Music. Held in the Grand Tier Lobby, the discussion is a great opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes experience while being able to ask questions and learn more about the performers.
The show begins at 8:00 p.m., and tickets are sold at $20, $32 and $40 with a limited number of student tickets available.
Alexandria is Awash in George Washington Birthday Celebrations
Posted by Matt Basheda / Friday, February 17th, 2012
Alexandria’s been throwing down some serious celebrations all month long, and this weekend the party comes to a head, since Washington’s birthday is observed on Monday.
The Colonial Army marches down the streets of Alexandria. Photo courtesy Alexandria Convention and Visitors Assoc.
Sunday sees a re-enacted skirmish between American revolutionary forces and the British Army. You’ll also see historically accurate camp set-ups and tactical demonstrations. The event is all day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., though the battle itself starts at 2 p.m. Best of all, it’s free, so it’s easy to drop in or out as you please. Just head over to Fort Ward Park, 4301 W. Braddock Road.
Courtesy Alexandria Convention & Visitors Assoc.
Immediately after the grueling battle, kick back for a relaxing glass of wine. Washington enjoyed the unique flavor of Madeira wine in his day, and now you can too, at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. Tickets are $45, but include both wine and food. This event is 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is at 134 N. Royal St. Or call them at 703-746-4242.
If you’d rather take a refreshing walk around town, meet at the Ramsay House Visitors Center at 1 p.m., at which time “Walk with Washington” begins.
“Walk with Washington” takes you to some of the many Alexandria locations associated with Washington. In fact, there are 140 Washington-related spots in the city. You’ll see a few of the most significant.
The walk is free. The Ramsay House is at the intersection of King Street and Fairfax Street.
Happy Birthday (Washington)!
Alexandria Artist Sets Paper Free at New Exhibit
Posted by Matt Basheda / Friday, February 17th, 2012
A local artist is breaking extraordinary new ground in the art world.
"The Hikers." Courtesy Megan Coyle
Her name is Megan Coyle, and she paints with magazine strips. The Alexandria native calls herself a collage artist, because technically that’s what she is, but her work looks nothing like any collage you’ve ever seen. They look like paintings. But they’re not.
Coyle carefully orchestrates magazine bits into swirls of color. She does landscapes and portraits, among other genres, but her specialty is animal pictures–she even wrote and illustrated a children’s book, called “Duck & Fish.”
"Yellow Bird." Courtesy Megan Coyle.
This Saturday, Feb. 18, Coyle will talk about her work at the Manassas Center for the Arts. At 1 p.m., in the Caton Merchant Family Art Gallery, Coyle will walk listeners through her artistic process, detailing every step of the transformation from magazine to work of art.
Her artwork will remain at the gallery through March 22. The gallery is at 9419 Battle St., Manassas. Call them at 703-330-2787.
“Really Really” Is Part Kegger, Part Dynamic Portrayal Of Today’s Generation
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Leigh (Bethany Anne Lind) and Jimmy (Danny Gavigan) try to come to grips with a difficult situation. / Photo credit: Scott Suchman
In Signature Theatre’s newest on-stage premiere you won’t find Robert Aubry Davis wearing big hair and drag, or dinner party guests looking for love. Instead, “Really Really,” by playwright Paul Downs Colaizzo, zooms in on the lives of soon-to-be college grads and the tangled web of lust and lies the underage coeds are struggling to work their way through.
Studying, sex, deceit, repeat.
With its brash collegiate vibe, plus stellar presentment of societally provocative topics, there’s no tip toeing around the fact that Signature has a fantastic show on its hands with “Really Really.”
How many “tunnel of love” parties does it take to splinter friendships, romantic entanglements and future aspirations? For roommates Leigh (Bethany Anne Lind) and Grace (Lauren Culpepper), the answer is one. While Grace’s name should speak to the clemency that she dishes out, it is simply a stand-in for the meticulous finger-pointing and motherly tsk-tsking of others, namely Leigh. That, coupled with her bubbly intermittent Future Leaders of America monologues, makes for a bigtime comic relief when the drama gets, well, dramatic.
As remnants of rugby players and roommates’ Davis (Jake Odmark) and Cooper (Evan Casey)’s epic annual party propel the plot forward, we learn more about what’s at stake for each character. For Davis, family pressures and keeping appearances loom overhead. For Cooper, fitting in and taking the middle-to-low road. With Grace, it’s all being the best “me” she can be. For Leigh, ridding herself of her past and creating a sparkly future.
Generation Me star Grace in action. / Photo credit: Scott Suchman
From the first scene, Colaizzo introduces us to boozed up Grace and Leigh as they’re returning home from the kegger. Leigh has just traded her picturesque faithfulness to her rugby-playing boyfriend Jimmy (a suave Danny Gavigan) for one-on-one time with longtime crush Davis. And yet all it not as it seems (as is revealed throughout the play). As it becomes evident later on that Davis may have forced Leigh to be with him against her will, so we see the forcing of many wills from our starring coeds.
The overarching fondant of “Really Really” is slathered with shamelessly selfish choices, in which characters, representing Generation Me and the full Apple product-toting culture, repeatedly on the lookout for numero uno. Sugar coating? As scenes bounce back and forth between the girls’ put-together apartment and Davis and Cooper’s typical fratboy pad, the everyday routines of the sexes rises to attention: from fluffy flapjack breakfast and laundry runs by the ladies to the guys’ repetitive videogaming and odious namecalling of the opposite sex, no gender gets by completely unscathed from the magnifying lens from which we view male and female roles. Power tripping by both strong man Jimmy and Davis? Yes, but Leigh and her no-holds-barred sister Haley (a fierce Kim Rosen) join in the race to be in control.
Danny Gavigan (as Jimmy), Paul James (as Johnson) and Evan Casey (as Cooper) recap events from the big party. Photo credit: Scott Suchman
What Signature’s Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner has deemed as a “startling story to share about a generation of confident and driven young adults” does in deed reflect “Really Really” to its core. With potential marriage, job opportunities and college graduation on the horizon, the coeds tumble from one tricky situation to the next, while maintaining their “me first” campaign throughout. Take Johnson (Paul James, a refreshing face from TV’s hit smash Greek’s), a straight-laced, no-nonsense friend to Jimmy, Davis and Cooper. His moral lines in the sand (hates partying, constantly studying and preparing himself for life after college) come into conflict when Davis has to appear on trial for his physical and sexual mistreatment of Leigh. Does Johnson, who attends the parties he dislikes for his friends and makes study note cards for them, stand by his bud as he faces criminal charges? Nope. Johnson, like the other Generation Me-ers, upholds what’s most important to him as his reason for bailing – himself.
So should you go see Colaizzo’s world premiere this season at Signature?
We say really, really.
["Really Really" @ Signature Theatre. Jan. 31-March 25. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Virginia 22206. Tickets are available for purchase online here or by calling (703) 820-9771. Age 30 or under? Use code GEMNE when purchasing for a discounted $20 ticket.]
– Lorin Drinkard
Jammin Java Band Battle Concludes this Friday
Posted by Matt Basheda / Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
The prelims were crazy. The finals will be insane.
The biggest band battle at one of the biggest clubs in the U.S. reaches its climax this Friday, Feb. 17.
Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 6 sees the four final bands square off against each other. Instruments will clash, and musical tsunamis will flood the massive crowd.
Kill the Alarm tearing it up in the prelims. Courtesy Jammin Java.
The bands are:
Brightwork, with shimmering keyboard- and guitar-based pop music; Kill the Alarm, driving alternative rock; The Dirty Jacks, upbeat proggish rock; and Buster Brown and the Get Down, Arlington funk favorites.
The grand prize for which they’re competing is hefty: $2,500 cash, a headlining show at Jammin J, professional studio time and gift certificates for brand new instruments and equipment.
These shows are always kickin’, and consistently sold out. If you make it to one local show this year, make it this one. Tickets are still available, but buy ‘em now–seriously.
Celebrate Mardi Gras, NoVA Style
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
Shutterstock/Mike Flippo
Can’t make it to Nawlins on Feb. 21? No worries. We’ve put together the most festive places in NoVA to celebrate like you’re on Bourbon Street.
Parade
Take the party to the streets. One of NoVA’s more well-known Mardi Gras traditions is the annual parade in Clarendon. Starting at 8 p.m. along Wilson Boulevard, it will feature colorful floats, festive dancing and, of course, beads.
Have your (king) cake. For a sweet Mardi Gras treat, order a king cake from Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington), where renowned Chef David Guas bakes up the sweet tradition. Find a trinket inside, rule the day.
Wear the right colors. It’s time to break out your purple, green and gold, representing justice, faith and power. For a festive good time, costumes encouraged, check out Okra’s (9110 Center St., Manassas).
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