Wow. There hasn’t been a post since March. Don’t worry guys: I’m here to fix that.
In case you missed it, today’s women’s lacrosse game was against both Liberty and breast cancer. In order to show their support for breast cancer awareness, the women’s lacrosse team wore pink and lined out the field in pink marking.
As if this wasn’t enough, the women’s lacrosse team thrashed their opponents with a score of 17 to 2.
PINKHOSE GO!
My previous article was a touting of the band Jessie’s Girls before the concert on Saturday night, but after the concert I can’t help but spew praise about the performance that Shapiro put on. I have never been a huge fan of the style of music that bands such as Shapiro play but after the first song I was immediately hooked. From the vocal styling of the lead singer to the immense amount of incredibly difficult key and tempo changes, this band is the ideal image of a progressive style of rock band. Every single member of the band was highly skilled at their instrument and came to the presbyterian college bookstore with professional sound system and ready to show the audience a good time.
I had a conversation with the lead singer, Jeremy Shapiro before the show started and found that he was drinking a product called “throat coke” which is a type of hot drink that soothes and prepares the vocal cords before a performance. To say it worked might be a vast understatement. Every single note was spot on. I was blown away by his incredible range and command over his portion of the musical entirity that made their music. Beyond the part of the lead vocals, every element of the musical entity that was Shapiro was incredible from the synthesized keyboards to the thumping bass line. The guitars were never overwhelming or the star of the show but rather a perfect compliment the music, often breaking off into complex harmonies and simple but incredible melodies. They transitioned between key signatures and tempos like they were born to do it. The drummer not only kept the beat but drew the entire band together to form a completely unified sound. His multiple fills and bang on transitions really added the final element to the sound that is Shapiro. This band is not only a group of highly competent musicians but a family of musical performers that created the amazing music that I was priveleged to hear Saturday night.
Finally, the music was not only incredible but the performance of the music itself was breathtaking. Between the guitarists and the bassist, someone was constantly headbanging, sending their long hair flying through the air in beat to the constant rhtyhm of their guitars. On a funnier note, before the show started, the band put Rupaul’s Drag race on the projector screen so that drag queens were prancing about behind them while they played. Most of the audience thought that it was initially a mistake but later found out that it was just another part of the antical show that Shapiro was putting on. The music that Shapiro played was strongly felt through the lead singer and songwriter Jeremy, which was evident in his performance of every single one of the songs. Shapiro was one of the best original bands that has yet to make it big that I have seen in a long time. If they don’t land some sort of professional record deal in the near future, it is in this writer’s very humble opinion that they have been short changed. If the opportunity ever arises to see Shapiro again in the near future, I would highly recommend taking the chance to see this incredible band.
Many of us know the tale of Orpheus. It’s a myth where a musician loses his wife and descends into the Underworld to get her back. The only rule is he can’t look back, to make sure she’s there, until he is all the way out of Hell; however, at the last second he turns around and she is gone forever.
The play Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl, is the story of Orpheus (and his wife Eurydice) but from her point of view. In this play, the audience follows Eurydice down into the Underworld where she meets her father. I won’t give anymore away, except with the love story, there is also a powerful love story between Eurydice and her father.
The entire cast did an amazing job. Lauren Johnson (Eurydice), Josh Martin (The Father), and J.R. Thomason (Orpheus) did such a compelling job playing their parts that many members of the audience were moved to tears at the end. Eric Robertson (The Nasty Man) really made your skin crawl as he came out as different versions of himself. And the Stones (Natalie Heath, Lanier Smith, and Savannah Truesdale) provided comic relief when needed. The show is by no means a sad play all the way through, it will make you laugh, but it is a tragedy.
Another topic to note is the amazing set. When you first walk in all you see is a balcony, some pipes, a latter and not much else. But, this set if full of surprises, including a raining elevator.
The show only runs for two more nights (tomorrow and Saturday) it is a short play and well worth the time to go and see it. Tickets for students are only $5. If you miss this performance of this incredibly well written play, you’ll wish you hadn’t.
This saturday at the book store Jessie’s Girls and Shapiro will be performing at the book store. While Shapiro is the opening event I would like to spend the word allotment I have on this article introducing the opening band Jessie’s Girls. The band name is not inspired by the Bruce Springfield song “Jessie’s Girl” but rather by the former lead guitarist in the pep band at PC, Jesse Isley, and the lead guitarist’s ex-girlfriend, Jessi Prestia. The lead singer of the band, Doug Henrick grew up singing and playing guitar in various rock bands but has become a recent convertee to clasical technique after his enrollment in the PC choir as a second tenor. The lead guitarist, Will Robinson is very strongly routed in the heavier styles of rock and roll such as metal. One of his biggest influences is Metallica which is heavily reflected in his hard hitting style of soloing and rhythm guitar. Will plays out of a modern setup consisting of a Jackson and schecter guitar and an all tube Line 6 amplifier. The bassist, Jim Brannon is a new addition to the band and is a music major at Presbyterian college. He too is heavily influence by harder rock and roll styles such as metal. The final member of the band is the drummer Justin Bethel, a music minor and football player. To say that Justin is rhythmically gifted is a vast understatement. He grew up playing drums in his church and plays completely by ear easily mimicking some of the most difficult rhythmic aspects of the worlds most famous rock and roll and jazz drummers. The entire band is an assembly of music students from PC and therefore is extremely sound in all the aspects of performing and playing music. Their setlist is a trip through the spectrum of rock music encompassing old bluesy classics such as “Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughn and “Hard to Handle” by the black crows to much more contemporary and newer rock sounds such as “I Believe in a Thing called Love” by the Darkness” and “Good Love is on the Way” by John Mayer. From the thumping baselines and screaming guitar solos to the intense rhtymical aspect of the drums, Jessie’s Girls is a quality rock band. The vocal stylings of Doug and hard guitar solos by Will leave nothing to be desired. This will be an epic event worth spending fourty-five minutes of your saturday to come see.
I recently attend the rock and roll revival concert at the book store and was pleasenty surprised by the sheer musicality of the event. The first band, Crowns, was new to the concert scene. As a matter of fact it was their first concert. All of the songs were originals. The lead singer/guitarist walked onto the stage with a black eye and cowboy boots…the definition of rock and roll. He played out of a Fender deluxe amplifier and used a gretsch semi acoustic jazz guitar which allowed for their unique sound and was accompanied by a very simple classic jazz drum set missing both toms. Their sound was not only interesting but simple and very indy. There were no complex guitar solos just a very stripped down and pure rock sound slightly reminiscent of the Avett Brothers without a banjo. From the first chord strummed to the last note sung, intensity seeped from their fingers, voice and drumsticks. The lyrics were angsty, clearly from the heart of a songwriter. I was enthralled. The concert was already off to a good start. When the first band finished the headliner took a few minutes and then dove right into their set. This band played mostly classic rock covers. Of their entire set, the song that spoke most to me was “Gimme some Lovin” by the Spencer Davis Group. They started right in with the thumping octave bass line. The lead singers vocal quality reminded me heavily of the lead singers voice from the Allman Brothers Band, a bit of a twang to lead to a country rock sound but not enough to hurl them into the category of country music. Their sound also found itself escaping to the simple roots of Classic rock. Unlike the opening band the headliner found themselves indulging in extened solos and “jam sessions”. At one point the lead singer got so into the music that he ended up inadvertantly flinging of his glasses in a sheer moment of rock. Being able to see…unnecessary to rock out. They finished their set with just as much intensity they started it, ending with a huge breakdown and vamping on that single section until they left everything they possessed musically on the table. I left with my eardrums ringing and the spirit of rock and roll in my heart.
For those of you who aren’t aware, PC is lucky enough to have an improv group; Improv Underground. The name might be a bit misleading however they don’t actually perform underground. The group started back during the 2006-2007 college year and they started performing in Inklings (which is kind of underground); however since then Inklings has been condemned and now they perform in the bookstore which is an awesome venue.
For this article I interviewed Rachel Smith, one of the founding members of Improv Underground and a senior. Talking to Rachel gave me a better understand on what Improv really is and how it is performed. I hope that many of you are familiar with the TV show Whose Line is it Anyway? It’s an Improv show. The Improv Underground shows are structured in a similar way. They have specific games that they play and to practice for shows they run through drills. This isn’t to say that the show is scripted, because it’s not. Everything is made up on the fly, but the actors and actresses are better prepared than one would think. There is a method to their madness.
The crew doesn’t just perform. No. They have weekly practice where they are drilled on basic elements of scenes. Then the week of the show the team has extra practice and is also in charge of putting the stage and all of the sound equipment up.
When I asked Rachel about performing and what to keep in mind and how it made her feel she said that you always have to “keep up that energy and keep up a positive force” otherwise scenes aren’t as engaging. She said that to do well a performer must stay on their toes and always support their partner in the scene. Rachel said that “[Improv] is like nothing else. It’s the best form of theater out there because anything can happen.”
So, you are in luck. There are a handful of shows left this year. Check them out. It is an awesome way to spend an hour of your Saturday night. If you have questions or need information be on the lookout for fliers around campus and check out Hal’s e-mails. Improv might just be PC’s best-kept secret… But it shouldn’t be a secret anymore.
The title of this article says it all. And it rhymes. What more could you want? So here are the details about this magnificent play. Eurydice is an adaptation of the greek myth Eurydice done by Sarah Ruhl. In the original story, Eurydice marries Orpheus, and then dies and goes to hell. Orpheus goes down to hell to get her back, and when he gets there Hades tells him that he can’t look back at her but she will be behind him and if he looks back then she’ll stay in hell forever (I hope I’m making sense here).
So of course he looks back and she stays in hell. In this version, this all happens of course, but it focuses more on Eurydice’s stay in hell and the relationship she develops with her father who is also chilling down there. There is also the presence of three hilarious stones who are the comic relief (one of whom is played by me!) and a really groovy set. Lauren Johnson plays Eurydice, Josh Martin is the Father, J.R. Thomson is Orpheus, Eric Robertson is the devil/very interesting man, and myself, Savannah Truesdale, and Lanier Smith are the three stones. Tickets are on sale now and are $5 for students in the Harper Center Box Office! (They are $10 for non students). So go get your tickets now guys! It will be so worth it, and I’m not just saying that because I am in it. THE PLAY IS NEXT WEEKEND! MARCH 25-27th!!!!!!! BE THERE!!!!!
love,
natalie
There was an Improv Show last Saturday in case some of you missed it (which most of you did because there were staggeringly few people there). I’ve missed a few myself so I don’t hold any grudges, but I would like to tell you what you missed.
To start, the show was very funny and really high-energy. People who missed it, missed a lot. There was Replay, where the a scene is acted then reenacted based on suggestions from the audience. The suggestions were the Victorian Era, Shakespeare, and Greece. All the scenes involved cheating, but there were more differences between the plot of each scene then there should have been (but the Victorian Era was so funny–you really can’t mess that up).
There was Props, where various random objects are presented and the players must use them any way but the normal way. There were some good Star Trek references (though I don’t know if LeVar Burton knew Scotty) and a nice Lincoln parody from Josh–both of which involved a head band. Sunglasses as a braw or a shooting star or even a ukelele. Whatever the case, it was sold.
Another game was Story, Story, Die and it was about the Pygmies of Switzerland (who were apparently Smurfs). It had a very Dances with Wolves vibe which reminded me of Avatar a bit (since they’re blue–get it?) but it was still very funny. Everyone died at the hands of a bloodthirsty audience from things as random as a drinking straw to Voldemort.
There you go, a quick recap of the games. I missed a lot, because I forgot a lot but it was terrific and worth watching. For those of you who missed it, come out next time. Improv Underground has nowhere to go but up (onto the surface).
I know that that may seem like a silly concept, but the time has come to start getting excited about the PC Wind Ensemble’s Spring concert! The concert is this coming Thursday, the 11th, at 7:30pm. It will feature five amazing pieces that will highlight the talents of each and every one of our PC musicians. Be sure to come out and support your fellow students as they entertain us with their marvelous melodies!
For those of you who were here last year, you might remember a kid with a yellow/blonde mohawk typically seen double fisting a Mountain Dew and Coffee while somehow managing to smoke a cigarette at the same time. Well, that’s Dustin.
For those of you who don’t know, he was last year’s Blue Stocking Editor. While Baker is an awesome editor, I thought it might be nice to see where recent PC grads are now and hopefully answer the question that is on many Seniors’ minds, “What is life really like after college?”
I sent Dustin a few questions via Facebook since he is currently in New York. And rather try to rephrase Dustin, I figured I could copy/ paste it all here.
CT: What is life after college really like?
DW: I’m sure that experiences differ, but I will try to relate aspects about post-college life that seem the most universal. I’ll just list a few things because I am too lazy to attempt complete sentences. This is a perk of no longer being in school.
A) If you’re like me then you will no longer be convered by your parents’ health insurance after you graduate and the coverage offered by most jobs is lacking. This is the point where you become a hypocondriac. Your liver starts to hurt, your teeth feel loose, and you check moles for irregular edges. While this sounds bad, it actually forces you to consider the possible ramifications of the very stupid thing you may be about to do.
B) You find yourself beginning most of your stories with, “When I was in school…” These stories will almost always be more interesting to you than to the person to whom you are telling them.
C) You will watch all of your favorite tv shows online because there is no longer any real point in paying for cable. Save your money for internet, heat, and alcohol.
D) Life remains rather busy, if not moreso, but manages to do this in a way that seems more boring than college. Luckily, four years at PC have prepared you to finds ways to make your own fun out of seemingly nothing. This is an essential life skill.
CT: What jobs do you have?
DW:I have a position editing scientific papers for a graduate department at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York. It is a sad, little city full of college students and deformed people. Both groups are the focus of my constant, childish mocking because, like I said earlier, “make your own fun.” I also worked the night shift in a local grocery store for a while.
CT: Do you miss the Bluestocking?
DW: I miss a few things about running and writing for the Bluestocking. I had the opportunity to work with some fun, interesting people and several people I genuinely hated. I worked during a big election year and was able to enjoy all the political infighting amongst the staff and write about something important. And I worked for a newspaper that was actually printed, which is becoming increasingly rare. I miss all that and the fame and the money and the drugs.
CT:If you still write for a newspaper how is it like the BS? How is it different?
DW:I do not do this. It is almost like the newspaper business just isn’t hoping to expand and hire on new fresh talent.
CT: What are your top 5 (if you have that many and can remember them) favorite stories you wrote for the BS?
DW:I don’t know if I can think of five stories of my own, but I can think of a few favorite stories published by the Bluestocking during my time with the paper.
A) I interviewed visiting author Brad Land along with the help of fellow writers Tom Stillerman and Caroline Todd. Brad was very easygoing and it was fun to conduct an question and answer session like that.
B) There was a big stir when we printed a letter from a student who was arguing against evolution or gay marriage because his church teaches against such. The Bluestocking received a good bit of feedback over the letter. You can never be sure if anyone really reads the paper, but this time it was nice to see that people were listening. It is just a shame that it takes awful hate speech to get attention. And that some people use religion to justify ignorance.
C) I wrote an article about Bruce Springstein’s performance during the Super Bowl. He slid crotch first into a camera. This scene was witnessed by almost everyone with a television and this act entitled me to use the term “cockblast.” This was awesome.