{ title: 'The herald. (Geneva, N.Y.) 1942-current, February 27, 2009, Page 6, Image 6', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/np00050001/2009-02-27/ed-1/seq-6/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00050001/2009-02-27/ed-1/seq-6.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00050001/2009-02-27/ed-1/seq-6/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00050001/2009-02-27/ed-1/seq-6/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Hobart and William Smith Colleges
6 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY27,2009 Arts and Entertainment The Smith is Fun? What? On a Friday night the Smith is silent. An eager crowd stares at an empty stage. The lights are off. The speakers hum. A guitar string moans in the distance, and four men and a woman without instruments walk on stage, greeted by a curious applause. The guitar buzz begins to morph into a rhythm as the five take their places. The crowd continues to cheer, still wondering... “Where is he?” Drum sticks clap together, he is ready. Bass strings shimmer as familiar hands gently graze them. They are muffled. A spot light shifts the crowd’s focus to the center of the stage, where a man holding a glistening, hot red telecaster stands with a smile from ear to ear. He is exactly where he wants to be, and the crowd could not be more excited to see him. This is Robert Randolph. For those who are not familiar with jam bands do not be ashamed, I am one of you. This was my first experience of such an event; and surely it will not be the last. Robert Randolph and the Family Band graced the stage with a poise, and familiarity that invite the listener to participate. In fact, the band was so involved with the crowd that I am sure each member would slap me twice for addressing them so formally. Maybe afterwards I would be asked: “Are ya feelin’ good?” That is what this band was all about. Playing originals mixed with classic hits in a delectable fusion of fun, Robert Randolph truly made time fly. In terms of musical expertise, one would be hard pressed to find a group more ‘in-synch’ (no pun intended) with its style and its sound. Robert Randolph’s never-ending riffs mixed with fast and tight bass, energetic drums, complemented by perfectly appropriate keys never sounded so good. In fact the second guitarist By Nicholas Petros ’09 Herald Contributor actually played lead parts as well. He and Robert Randolph coordinated solos that formed their own unique and almost impossible melodies. I say impossible in the sense that two talented guitar players are required to constitute one melody like this. But that’s not all. The show was breaks, pure fun, from 9 to just past 11. Anyone who left the auditorium without sore feet was either a senior citizen or did not have feet. That’s right, for two hours, this band was a time machine. They managed to pull everyone young and old, including myself, away from their musical prejudice and into a shoulder swaying, head-bobbing groove that lasted most of the night. Unfortunately words cannot describe such an experience. This time “you had to be there.” Interestingly, Robert Randolph and the Family Band weren’t the real stars of the show. The Scope opened the show with an equally engaging display of rhythm and musical expertise. Singers Chris Stripp ’09, and Danielle DeVito ’09 were each celebrated with greater applause than the following act. Sarik Kumar *11, having become a familiar face to HWS show-goers, made his mark once again as one of the colleges’ musical elite. Andrew Mahoney ’10, although a more reserved presence on stage, proved his bass prowess and earned himself celebrity recognition by the end of the night as well. Members of the crowed actually began to cheer for the bassist, demanding more volume. Mike Buccino ’09 repeatedly wowed the crowd with unimaginably fast and complex keyboard riffs, proving that he could play with the pros. Danielle was actually invited to take the stage by Robert Randolph himself during the encore, and was greeted with the loudest applause of the night. Finally, Chris Stripp is a talent unmatched at Hobart and 'William Smith; his vocals on Friday night surpassed those of many professionals touring today. Not a note was missed as Lauren Wells/Photographer ftg captured the Crowd’s attention non-stop, no and engaged his listeners; producing cheer after cheer. I hope we will be hearing more from him soon. It was a show worth seeing for countless reasons, but I strongly believe this group had as much to do with the night’s success as their professional counterparts. The music scene at the colleges is growing. Maybe someday bands like Robert Randolph will come here to open for our own talent. However, until then I am more than happy to attend events hosted by crowd pleasers like them in the future. Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Featuring The Scope taurcD Wells/Photographer After dedicating my Facebook status to promoting the Robert Randolph and the Family Band featuring The Scope show, I joined Amanda Townsend ’09 on various trips around Geneva. We were in charge of securing all the hospitality arrangements, setting up the dressing rooms for the bands, and cleaning the rooms after the show. We were to have the dressing rooms set up by 11 A.M., and we did so successfully. With our creative juices flowing, we even spelled out “SCOPE” using granola bars, Orbit gum, and beef jerky. We can only hope that it was much appreciated after battling the wind, the cold, and dealing with various irate townspeople yelling at us for blocking the back entrance of the Smith while unloading everything. The load-in crew enjoyed “to- go” lunches from Parker’s, while Amanda and I returned to campus for our classes. After my two classes and Amanda’s meeting, we returned in the middle of the headliner’s sound- check, while members of The Scope stood in the wings admiring their talent. After Robert Randolph and the Family Band finished their 5:30 RM. sound-check, it was time for The Scope to test out their equipment and make sure that everything was in place for their 8 P.M. stage call. At 7 P.M. people started to file in as I stood behind the merchandise table with Kim Kochin of Student Activities. I could not help but start By Lauren Wells ’12 Herald Contributor dancing to the pre-show background music, and! was then pulled aside by Robert Pool. I reasoned that I might be told not to dance in such a manner while the general public was being ushered in, but, on the. contrary, I was asked if I would like to introduce the show. Without much hesitation, I accepted. Drew Shumway ’11 and WEOS-FM station manager Greg Cotterill joined me on stage to introduce the bands and explain the role of the live from Geneva Concert Series committee, as well as the music grant that allowed us to put on the show. After we walked off the stage, immediately following us was the opening act: The , Scope. Singers Danielle DeVito ’09 and Chris Stripp ’09 took turns singing while drummer Andrew Tarnas-Raskin ’11, keyboardist Mike Buccino ’09, guitarist Sarik Kumar ‘11, and bass guitarist Andrew Mahoney ‘10 soaked up their amazing opportunity to open for a band that they have long admired. Their excitement only enhanced their performance. They were well-received by the crowd of over 950 people, and their gig of a lifetime was a success. Now it was time for them to enjoy the headlining act. As the large backdrop with the band’s insignia was lowered from the ceiling, the crowd went wild. The Family Band came on the stage, followed by Robert Randolph, donning a red collared shirt and a black vest As I continued to watch the show from backstage, I was informed that there is a point during their set in which women are ushered from the crowd to dance onstage with the band. When this ZZ Top-esque song’s opening riffs began, one lone girl was helped onto the stage by the security guards. After her, a dozen more girls rushed the stage, and I decided to join in the fun. When two men tried to get on the stage, they were immediately rushed off, for this was “a song for the ladies only.” After the song ended, the dancing women were rushed off stage and given green passes allowing them to meet the band after the show. Later on in the set, Robert Randolph brought an audience member on stage to play guitar with the band. A few minutes passed, and he then pulled Danielle DeVito from the wings of the stage to sing with him. Both performed very well under the amazingly unexpected circumstances. Fortunately, WEOS was recording the live show and will soon be broadcasting it for the community to hear. Lauren Wells/Photographer After two encores, Robert Randolph and the Family Band left the stage and returned to their dressing rooms. The ladies with the coveted green passes were taken to the hospitality/dressing room area and were greeted by the band members. After half an hour of small talk, autographs, photographs, and light guitar playing, the Family Band returned to the hotel, while Robert Randolph brought the small party to Kappa Sigma. The band had a 4 A.M. flight, so their manager made sure to return Randolph to the hotel at a somewhat reasonable hour. The next morning, Saga was buzzing with stories of the previous night’s activities. I overheard one Hobart student saying that he wished he had gone to the show because he felt as though he had missed out. And he had. Supernatural By Annica Crouse ’10 Herald Contributor www.viaiot.com Sam and Dean Winchester have been fighting monsters ever since their mother was brutally murdered more than 20 years ago by a yellow-eyed demon. The brothers were raised by their demon-hunting father and continue to follow his footsteps as the fourth season airs on the CW. The previous season of Supernatural ended with Dean (Jensen Ackles), the elder Winchester brother, being dragged to hell as a consequence of exchanging his soul for his brother’s life. You’ll then understand why it comes as a surprise that the opening scene of season four shows a very surprised Dean appearing outside of a.gas station in the middle of the rural, western United States. Dean’s younger brother Sam Oared Padalecki) has been desperately attempting to find a spell to rescue his brother but has had no luck. He is thus very stunned when Dean shows up on his doorstep. As the brothers struggle to discover why and how Dean has been brought back, they find themselves involved in a war between good and evil. Although previous seasons of Supernatural have involved the moral implications of war and death, season four penetrates new depths as it introduces a war between heaven and hell. Identifying allies and enemies is not easy for the Winchester brothers, who are not always sure if they can trust each other anymore. This series is a must-see for its intricate and engrossing plot and enthralling acting. Each monster that appears was carefully researched, crafted, and based off of folklore, legends, and religious scriptures from various cultures. The appearance of angels in season four draws specifically on' Christian mythology, pulling Supernatural down a path that many television dramas do not dare to tread. As the brothers fight to find the balance between good and evil, they are constantly reforming themselves. Throughout the series each character has matured and changed in ways that will greatly affect the choices that they will ultimately make. Watch Supernatural on the CW, Thursdays at 9 p.m. to get the full picture. Play R eview: J o h n G a b r i e l B o r k m a n By Bevin O’Connor ’12 Herald Contributor A man who hasn’t spoken to his wife in eight years, a humiliated wife’s schemes for redemption, a dying woman’s last hope for happiness - all melded together through the overarching of a delusion: John Gabriel Borkman. This play by Henrik Ibsen was portrayed in an excellent performance directed by Robert F. Gross at the Bartlett Theater over Valentine’s Day weekend. However, the play is definitely not a romance in which love conquers all. After returning home from prison for embezzlement, John Gabriel Borkman, retreated upstairs and didn’t emerge for eight years. It is here .that our chilling tale of false hopes and isolated misery begins. • The three main characters, John Gabriel Borkman, Gunhild Borkman, and Ella Rentheim, played by Steven R. Owens, Hallie Franz Martenson, and Reina Apraez, respectively, have all lived isolated from one another. They are finally forced to face each other during the play as they try to bring their delusional fantasies to fruition. John Gabriel spent the last eight years upstairs, pacing, and dreaming of the day he was sure must come when the bank will beg him and his “vision” to return. Meanwhile, his wife, Gunhild, and her sister Ella have been creating their own individual unrealistic dreams with a common ingredient: the loyalty of Gunhild’s son Erhart. The entire play revolves around these three characters’ delusions and their struggle to achieve their goals, all without ever leaving the house, a tangible barrier separating their false hopes from reality. The play takes place in a realistic setting, the house owned by Ella. However, the set design in the Bartlett Theater gave the overall appearance of the play a surreal and macabre essence. The whistling wind sound effects and simple, yet eerie lighting, created the striking image of constant winter, stagnation, and misery - the world that the three characters are stuck in. Although the play focuses on death, stagnation, and delusion, the acting and directing brought a refreshing comic undertone in many parts of the play. The comic timing of many ofthe actors allowed the audience to breathe and even laugh at the hopeless existence of the characters. The combination of excellent acting, a ghoulish set, and Chilling sound effects created a theatrical experience that told the story of John Gabriel Borkman, holding the audience captivated in their seats. NEW YORK PIZZERIA o f GENEVA FiW> H»od 5tr»tch*V OM<|h Hwl* Wr»rjdTlm** /mu* W E DELIVER G r n e v i O n i y 1 I $ -71i9 6 2 9 7
