Items filtered by date: November 2007

Yours truly spent Thanksgiving Eve (yes, I am making up a new holiday) at the historic Oriental Theatre for a viewing of the much anticipated Addams Family musical. The show is previewing in Chicago until January 10th where it will make its move to Broadway. The following review may oust me from the world of musical theatre but I have to confess I thought the show was a disappointment.  

As a fan of both the show and films, I was very excited to see how this beloved Goth family would translate in a musical. In order to avoid the trap of creating a continuous narrative, the producers decided to base the musical around the cartoon created by Charles Addams. This decision morphed the characters enough to distance them from the family portrayed onscreen thus creating a disconnect with part of the audience. All of the characters were watered down which caused them to lose some of their kookiness.

The curtain opens to reveal the family singing and dancing in their cemetery. Wednesday, played by Krysta Rodriguez, is a woman now and must participate in the traditional Addams family right of passage.  Although she loves her family, she is plagued by the new found feelings of love she has for a "normal" boy from school. The stage is set for the two families to meet for dinner and predictably mayhem ensues.

 The show is a staggering two and half hours long featuring a bevy of forgettable love songs and an equally weak plot. I get musicals rarely have an amazingly profound storyline but at the very least the music should be good. The Addams Family musical failed on both fronts. Thankfully they had the cast snap along to the theme song from the show which was one of the few standout moments of this production.

Nathan Lane is the equivalent of Broadway gold. However, his flamboyance did not translate well to the character of Gomez. It was over-the-top and there were a lot of unnecessary pauses for audience laughter. In my humble opinion, no one played the role better than Raul Julia. As for the visually stunning Bebe Neuwirth, she seemed like the perfect choice to play Morticia. Sadly, she can't carry a tune which doesn't fair well for a musical. Granted she is a classically trained dancer but given her flat, monotone voice sitting through her numbers became quite dreadful.    

 The standouts, as far as I'm concerned, were Grandmamma and Fester (Jackie Hoffman and Kevin Chamberlin respectively). Both characters served as the comic relief. Fester's character, however, was written into an intangible story line that thankfully led to the most memorable song and dance number of the show. For the most part, the supporting actors outshined the stars which added to the disappointment.

This, my friends, was no Spamalot. I have to confess that I was disappointed and after much review can say the sets were my favorite part of the show (they were pretty amazing).The production wasn't terrible but lacked a fair amount of standout moments. Until they work out the kinks, I'd skip the show for now and maybe check it out during its second run. It wouldn't kill them to incorporate MC Hammer's theme song either.  

If you’ve ever made a fatal relationship faux pas, a mistake so obvious, so innocent, yet so irreversibly damaging to your fledgling romance, that you kicked yourself for years and swore you’d never commit this mistake again - until it happened again, then you’ve already experienced a dose of what  “Relationship Deja Vu” is all about.

There are a few common mistakes that will end even a promising new romance on an early date that we all recognize but sometimes still fall into. For example, saying I love you too soon...or too late, or talking about old relationships too much, or even dealing out TMI - too much information - about oneself too soon - even if they invite you to do so! Don’t fall for that one, babies! The gory details of your knee surgery or the time you wet your pants in third grade art class are best saved for a later, shall we say... more intimate time.  These are all easy to avoid with just a few humbling years of dating trial and error. But there is a whole different class of mistakes, lurking just below your conscious threshold, kind of like an alien lodged in your chest cavity - unique and personal to each and every one of us, which is not so easy to avoid. I call this series of ‘miss-takes’ the Romantic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, wherein you take all of the biggest mistakes of your, now defunct, previous relationships and lovingly project them onto your new love interest!

Romantic PTSD is harder to catch because it is so obviously right in front of your face! You did this exact same thing last time or he/she did and although you swore up and down that it would NEVER happen again, here.... it.... is - happening all over again!! It’s kind of like walking your new prospect through a 3D, animated, haunted house filled with reenactments of your old relationship traumas– Bwahahahah! And I must point out, about as much fun.

One of the most common causes of Romantic PTSD in the adult male or female is being “Stood Up” or the dreaded phone version of the “Stand Up” – the “I’ll Call You... But Not Really” Syndrome.

No one who has ever been stood up can fully forget the burning sense of growing humiliation as the appointed hour comes and ... goes. Or worse still, the hours and days after the “Stand Up” of rationalizing that you were, in fact, not “Stood Up”. One reasons to oneself that this person has unfortunately been maimed in a tragic car accident and lies unconscious and therefore is unable to contact you. Now men and women are both vulnerable to these romance related injuries, but since about 90 percent of all dates involve the woman being picked up and transported to the date by the guy, it stands to reason that 90 percent of those being “Stood Up” are women. But let’s not underestimate the effect of waiting for the even more commonplace phone “Stand Up” either - for both sexes. And straight from out of the ‘Katz Meow’ diaries - I’ve got my own romance-related PTSD doozy, which haunts me still.

I had been a friend, platonically, with a musician who lived several thousand miles away for five long years. I say long because, although we were enormously attracted to each other, and enriched each others lives in many other spiritual ways, it seemed we could never get the timing exactly right for both of us to take it beyond the friend level. Finally he was scheduled to perform in Chicago – twice - at the beginning of summer and at the end. He finally said, “Let’s do this! When I come back - let’s spend the night together.”

I was very happy…and very worried. What if after all this time and all that fantasizing it turned out we had no real chemistry between the sheets? So we began to have a kind of long distance sexy phone talk, pre-dating, so to speak, every few weeks or so. One Friday, after a very sexy conversation, he excitedly said, “I’ll call you Monday!” like he just couldn’t wait any longer to talk to me again. Lovely! I was very excited and looked forward all weekend to Monday’s call/date...and then waited all day Monday and...all night...and all week... until he finally called - you guessed it - the following Monday.

I waited five years to talk to him this way - surely I could have patiently waited one more week! But... my Romantic PTSD kicked in and prehistoric traumas dating back from high school suddenly showed up at our party: that and maybe a wee, tiny, little amount of very unfortunately timed PMS, which is kind of like saying a wee, tiny, little amount of dynamite.

Anyway, I did try to refrain. My friends and family, even total strangers advised me... Not to make a big deal about it. Believe me, I rehearsed the coming conversation in advance, wherein I did not go on and on about the weeklong lateness of the call, but, what can I say – I was irritated. Still, not wanting to weird things out, I told myself aloud, even as I picked up the ringing phone - “Kimberly, do us all a favor - all of the voices in your head - and do NOT badger him about it!” But suddenly – as unexpected as a rainstorm on a sunny day - I just had to bring it up… the fact that he said, “I’ll call you Monday, not next Monday or some Monday...this Monday – and, as if in a bad dream, I turned from warm, sassy ‘Super Jew’ into cold, insecure ‘Super Shrew’ in nothing flat.

After a few awkward minutes of this, it started to seem a silly thing to argue about and we made a sort of uneasy truce and resumed the sexy talk but something had ever so subtly shifted –like one of the faces just crumbling and falling off Mount Rushmore - subtle like that. And then when my cell phone died mid-“sexy speak” and he did not call right back, I knew it was the beginning of the end. Long story short, the whole affair went from sizzling hot friendship to ice cold power struggle in five minutes. I ended up canceling the rendezvous I had dreamt about for five years. Now I know this Romantic PTSD isn’t really a pure example of an “Ill Call You” or a “Stand Up” but I think it illustrates how a little toxic memory mix of both can lead to more of both. My PTSD issues about calling etiquette wrestled with his PTSD issues about being in control of the calling... and we both lost.

Yes, we can all agree, girls and boys - that the full on “Stand Up” or “I’ll Call You - But Not Really.” are cowardly, passive aggressive, mean spirited ways to simply say goodbye to someone. It is much more hurtful to disappear than to speak out and set that other soul free. The not knowing what went wrong makes people crazy. Have a heart people! We’re all in this together, aren’t we? We all want to find that great love before the ride is over! Don’t even add a valise (Italian for small piece of hand luggage) to someone else’s already giant, heavy, “wide load”, rolling cart of Romantic PTSD baggage! If it’s too awkward to tell them the truth, that she has ‘man hands’ or that he kisses like a dead fish, just make it a mercy call and make up a believable excuse; a sick relative, an old flame, 24 hour flesh eating virus or rapidly approaching asteroid and deliver it with some gusto for God’s sake! It’s a lot better than nothing to the one waiting by the phone! After all, my next Great Love might be your Recent Reject, so be considerate. 

At the same time, those of us Romantically PTSD challenged, who have sweated out too many of the long, lonely nights staring at the phone that does not ring - we need to remind ourselves, that this is not last year’s stand up! And this is absolutely not last year’s relationship! So make that effort to give this one a chance.

Try this, when your own unique cocktail of Romantic PTSD bubbles up and you find yourself walking down those haunted halls, with an alien sticking out of your ribcage that mentioned marriage on the first date... eyes wide with horror and a surprised “What the f---?” dazed look on your face, that IT is... happening... again...  Slap yourself! Just like Cher slapped Nicholas Cage in “Moonstruck”, and say “Snap out of it, baby!”

The Casualties rocked the Metro on the 24th to two stories of skinny jean wearing, eyeliner drenched, spiky haired Chicago youths. From the beginning of their hour long set to their final number, the band seamlessly transitioned from song to song, giving an eardrum shattering, head banging performance.

During their final number, lead singer Jorge Herrera took off his sweat covered shirt revealing a Che Guevara cutoff and holding a scarf above his head. Herrera launched the scarf into the mosh-pit where hundreds of fans wrestled for ten minutes after the band had left the stage, battling screaming girlfriends, rowdy entourages, and even muscled bouncers, for one young man to hold the frayed and tattered trophy above his head and scream out “Yea! Casualties!” Talk about a loyal following.

The Casualties' music is a mix of angry anthems, hardcore punk rock, with just a touch of “I-hate-my-parents”; just the type of music 16-year-old, pre-pubescent, angry, disenchanted youths could relate to. While it's generally not the genre I would plug into my IPod, I have to give the band credit for their nonstop energy, powerful vocals, and incredible stage presence. With ‘Meggers’(Mark Eggers) on the drums, Rick and Jake on bass and guitar (respectfully), and Jorge at the mic, these four men played with an intensity and a wildness  that even an argyle-sweater wearing concert goer such as myself could appreciate.

The Swellers opened at the Metro, energizing the restless crowd, and Less Than Jake rocked as the headliner, but as the stage crew set up for The Casualties, it was clear who the audience wanted to see. The Casualties immediately began playing as soon as they took the stage, and didn’t come up for air, or to rest their hands, until their final number. This band definitely eats their Wheaties.  

As one fan with spiked orange hair (one of Jorge’s old looks as I am told) informed me, “The Casualties are old school, hardcore punk.” Hardcore? Yes. Old School? Beats me. What I can say is that amidst the extraordinarily fast drum beats, finger-crippling guitar chords, speaker-breaking bass, and vein popping vocals, this band screams (literally and figuratively) that they are a force to be reckoned with on the hardcore punk scene. They have an incredibly loyal Chicago-based following, so expect the next time they roll into Chicago to be just as rocking as this time around.

Fans of punk will appreciate this band’s style and power. For the rest of us, if you’re having a really bad day and need one song to verbalize what you are feeling, check out The Causalities’ new CD “We are All We Have” available in stores now. Songs like “Carry on the Flag,” and “Depression-Unemployment Lines,” will definitely help you get all your aggression out. For more information on this band and to upcoming tour dates check out www.myspace.com/thecasualties.

The crowd outside of the Aragon Ballroom, a historic Chicago venue, toked and were stoked right from the get go for the other night's Kottonmouth Kings and 311 show.

Most of the fans were in their teens or were 20 somethings who weren't funked, punked, rocked or hippied out. I did, though, get a glimpse of a few Grateful Dead threads and one of a Phish t-shirt drifting about.

Also, most of the fans I spoke to were residents of Chicagoland, and, some of them made passionate screams and demands to "Free Weed!" while waiting outside the Aragon to see the bands.

But, what other kind of behavior is one to expect or suspect from a band named, the Kottonmouth Kings or from a 311 show. They're 2 bands who convey it's okay to smoke pot and make it grow.

That is, one of the Kottonmouth King's songs is, "Where's the Weed,?" and one of 311's is, "Whose got the Herb?"

This article is to focus on the band 311 though, and there may be folks who after finding out the meaning of 311's name, may be a wee bit disturbed.

Here's the story, it does not mean KKK, rather it stands for the police code (311) for indecent exposure a friend of the bassist for the band was charged with, after getting caught skinny dipping back in the day. The teen wasn't allowed to put on his clothing, so his weenie was dangling freely for all to see while the cops whisked him away in handcuffs anyway.

Now, that that's out of the way, 311 describes their music as a magical potion of Rock, Hip-Hop and Reggae.

311, whose members have been together for a whopping 19 years, is comprised of Nick Hexum (Vocals, Guitar and Songwriter), SA Martinez (Vocals and DJ Scratches), P-Nut (Bass), Tim Mahoney (Guitar) and Chad Sexton (Drums, Percussion), show no signs of their musical careers together being done.

Their new and 9th album, Uplifter, is hoped by the band members to make people uplifted by listening to it, and I was really curious to see if it's the sh*t!

During the opening act, played by the Kottonmouth Kings, you didn't have to spend a dime on weed--there was a sufficient amount of smoke to be able to score a "contact high" if in need.

I'm pretty sure I got one, but I'm by no means complaining!

The anticipation to see 311 play was building and smokin' hot, and, the show emerged at about 9 p.m. on the dot.

The stage turned pitch black, except for the glow in the dark bass keys. Then, shazam--me and the rest of the audience sees white, shock-like lights to the eyes that reveal the entire band, and the "house party" quickly began!

The stage looked similar to a gigantic Easter Egg Basket with its' handle made up of blue and pink pastel flashing lights.

The crowd was singing along to 311's catchy songs from the start. The first song they played was "Sick Tight" and the last was "Feels So Good." You could tell 311 still loves to play and they do so from the heart. Tim kept bopping his head, and P-Nut smiled from time to time while they both performed their mastered art.

Nick, and especially SA, were the band's main "energizer bunnies" on stage, though, for every single song because of their amazingly tireless hopping and jumping. Although, Chad's drum solo was even more incredible and really got my heart thumping.

Chad did a spectacular, predominately primitive sounding solo, something like, da, da, da, da, BOOM! Da, da, da, da, BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! I would have been so pissed if I would have missed it because I had to go downstairs to use the bathroom!

Yet, the highlight of the show was shown when all of the band came back out on stage toward the end of Chad's solo with big drums of their own.

Imagine, intense pounding of the drums that seemingly couldn't be beat--each pound of the drum all members of the band played simultaneously, was galaxies away from being anything close to humdrum, and I didn't catch any fans in their seat.

Pound! Pound! Pound! It was a profound, entire body consuming power of immensely strong sound, that'll make a lot of people see them when they come back around.

However, I spoke to about 10 fans after the show, and they said 311's performance was good but too short--they wished it lasted much longer. They did only play for approximately an hour, but it's because the venue threatened the band that at 10 p.m.. they would shut off the power.

Since the show, 2 days after, my mind continues to play 311's new song "Jackpot" and their old one "Beautiful Disaster!"

The town of Laramie, Wyoming gained international recognition on October 6^th 1998, when young Matthew Shepard was tied to a fence followed by a brutal beating in which he was left for dead. Six days later Matthew died as the case became sensationalized throughout the world by the media as a senseless hate crime against gays. As a top story across the nation, support groups came to the aid of the Shepard family and protested such hateful acts towards another human being, especially for the mere reason of being different.  Theatre on the Hill’s production of “The Laramie Project” is hard-hitting, meaningful and resonates deep within one’s conscience long after seeing the play.

Superbly acted out, “The Laramie Project” is the voice of local townspeople as they come to terms with the tragedy and piece together the details that led to the heinous act. With accounts from such as Shepard’s friends, Laramie police, a limo driver, the bartender and owner of the bar where Matthew was last seen alive, the story is beautifully pieced together. Wonderfully directed by David Belew, “The Laramie Project” is compelling as it is important.

With over 60 characters acted out by just nine actors, audience members are treated to true acting versatility. Florence Romano’s smooth transitions from the Laramie officer first on the scene to local shop owner, Trish Steger, is flawless while both David Dimas and Joe Mennella should be acknowledged for their flexibility in their multiple roles as well.

With a theme so close to the hearts of its cast members, Joe Mennella says, “We really relate to the people represented in the show, and that connection is coming through in our performances. As a cast, we spent some time talking about what happened to Matthew and the media surge in Laramie. We discovered that despite our personal and political differences, we can relate on some level with most of the characters on stage. It's been a very exciting process.”

As the story deepens, we are taken to a gripping courtroom drama where a grief stricken father’s saddened words to one of his son’s killers, Andrew McKinney, brings many audience members to tears. Dan Vujocic luminously plays the father, Dennis Shepard as one of his many roles. As a whole the entire cast is thoroughly entertaining, playing each and every role with the conviction needed to make a show like this work. After the final scene, the actors gathered to the front of the stage teary-eyed as it became obvious to all how close at heart this production is to each of them.  

Theater President Craig J. Engel calls the script “powerful and richly layered” and he couldn’t be more correct. This gripping play is deeply haunting thanks to passionate performances, unforgettable projected images throughout and its potent subject matter.     

The Laramie Project runs for three weeks, and closes November 22 at Bolingbrook’s Performing Arts Stage, located 375 W. Briarcliff, behind the Town Center Building.

Electronic music for the last several years has been dominated by a flood of DJ's rocking dark, minimal techno. These adjectives are not ones that would typically be applied to Basement Jaxx...

35 years? Wow. It’s not so hard to believe that KISS has been around since forming in New York City in January of 1973, but what’s so amazing is their ability to still rock as hard as ever. Known for their spectacular live shows, KISS reminded everyone why they’ve always had a larger than life image

Going in to see a stage musical based on a well-loved, popular movie, one can't help but have expectations -- and big ones. This is Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein we're talking about...

Sunday night concerts are always a great way to start the week. The entire show provides a shot in the arm of adrenalin and makes you grin from ear to ear until at least midweek...

Halloween was even more intriguing and mystical this year thanks to Theatre on the Hill’s charming production of “The Spirit of Hallow’s Eve”. Written and directed by Douglas Hawksworth, the Bolingbrook theatre company’s presentation was hypnotic, featuring dazzling costumes...