Q & A with Cobra Starship
IDS reporter Danielle Paquette caught Cobra Starship band members Ryland Blackinton, Alex Suarez and Victoria Asher on their way to dinner before Victoria Secret’s PINK B-Town Bash. Here’s part of the exclusive interview.
63 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
IDS reporter Danielle Paquette caught Cobra Starship band members Ryland Blackinton, Alex Suarez and Victoria Asher on their way to dinner before Victoria Secret’s PINK B-Town Bash. Here’s part of the exclusive interview.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A celebration of cream, crimson and PINK dominated Dunn Meadow on Thursday.DJ Girl Talk, top-40 artists Cobra Starship and local band Dot Dot Dot drew hundreds of fans to the Victoria’s Secret PINK Nation B-Town Bash, hosted by model Behati Prinsloo and MTV reality star Whitney Port.A steel, pink stage, nearly as tall as the Indiana Memorial Union, broadcasted “PINK Hearts IU” in glittering letters from attached video screens. As 5 p.m. neared, lines of colorfully attired attendees stretched down Seventh Street and filled the back stairways of the Union.Prinsloo, a Victoria’s Secret PINK spokesmodel, giggled as her image flashed across one of the big screens.“It’s weird,” she said before the show started. “I guess I’m used to it, though. Sometimes it gets a little crazy, but it’s cool.”Prinsloo, wearing Victoria’s Secret PINK gear and Target rain boots, said she arrived in Indianapolis a few hours before the event.“The campus here is beautiful, the colors especially,” she said. “IU is my favorite school that I’ve visited.”As Prinsloo posed for pictures with fans, games such as “Fire in the Hole” and cornhole offered entertainment around Dunn Meadow. A “Hope Wall” displayed Sharpie-scrawled wishes like “End this war,” “Lifelong happiness” and “For my ex to get punched in an undesirable place.”A Victoria’s Secret pop-up shop attracted women interested in the brand’s IU apparel.Sophomore Tabitha Atwood waited in line for almost two hours to purchase a Victoria’s Secret stuffed dog.“They’re only selling two, and I’ve always wanted one,” she said, after spending $80 to secure the pooch. “I skipped class to come out tonight. Everything’s amazing.”Midway through the event, as crowd members pulled out their umbrellas and ponchos distributed by WIUX, “The City” star Port appeared on a golf cart and was ambushed by screaming fans.“I reached out and shook her hand as she was driving away, then started crying,” sophomore Julie Jarasek said. “When I found out Whitney was coming, I literally had a panic attack. She’s my idol.”After Cobra Starship induced a large-scale sing-a-long with their hit single, “Good Girls Go Bad,” Girl Talk took the stage and invited crowd members to join him.“Those who persisted and stayed close to the stage fence were able to dance for everyone,” said sophomore Hannah Kinkead, director of the Union Board Public Relations committee.As crowd energy increased and Girl Talk’s mash-up beats neared sound climax, the DJ jumped atop his sound equipment and screamed, “IU, come on now!” Freshman Brandi Chang, Union Board public relations committee member, said the evening was a party for all involved. The Union Board was in charge of setting up and running part of the event, along with the collaborative efforts of WIUX. “We just found out about things recently, and it was stressful at first,” she said. “Everything came together and it was an amazing turnout.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Celebrities, charities and polka-dotted panties will join forces today to celebrate the power of pink.DJ Girl Talk and chart-topping band Cobra Starship will entertain for the Victoria’s Secret Pink Nation B-Town Bash at 5 p.m. in Dunn Meadow. The festival-style event, hosted by supermodel Behati Prinsloo, will feature a pop-up shop vending IU gear, a “Hope Wall” for attendees to decorate, cornhole and giveaway items.Hoosiers secured today’s event by a small margin of online votes. “It all started with a contest this summer,” said junior Mary Deneen, Victoria’s Secret Pink campus representative. “We were competing against five other schools to win a bash here, and it was very close. We beat Auburn University by about 1 percent.”Deneen said IU was eligible to compete after Victoria’s Secret began selling cream and crimson gear in the Pink Collegiate Collection: a selection of sweatshirts, sweatpants and hoodies decorated with school colors and mascots. Senior Caitlyn Kuhs, Union Board concerts director, said the stage and other event sites have been under construction in Dunn Meadow since Tuesday.“We’re setting up big,” she said. “There are a lot of reasons for people to come. Girl Talk and Cobra Starship will bring in different crowds.”Aside from grooving to live music and mingling with celebrity guest MTV reality star Whitney Port, students will have the opportunity to benefit a local charity organization.Pink recycling bins will be stationed throughout Dunn Meadow to collect gently-used garments and toiletries to benefit Bloomington’s Middle Way House, a domestic violence and rape crisis center.All proceeds from limited edition B-Town Bash T-shirts will also be donated to the House.“Pink is a brand for women,” Deneen said. “Why not support women facing struggles?”Though the B-Town Bash is a celebration of femininity, men are encouraged to attend.Junior Lizzy Gerard, a Victoria’s Secret campus representative, said the event will be a great venue for men to meet women.“It’s for everyone,” she said. “Many guys I’ve talked to want to see Girl Talk. Plus, it’s a fun, free thing to do before you go out Thursday night.”IU radio station WIUX will broadcast live from Dunn Meadow and offer giveaways throughout the evening. Junior Kat Coplen, WIUX public relations director, said she’s looking forward to the station conducting an interview with Girl Talk.“Nothing can beat a free concert with amazing artists,” she said. “There will be tons of fun things to do and literally thousands of people.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Celebrities, charity and polka-dotted panties will join forces Thursday to celebrate the power of pink.DJ Girl Talk and chart-topping band Cobra Starship will provide entertainment at Victoria Secret’s Pink Nation B-Town Bash at 5 p.m. in Dunn Meadow. The festival-style event, hosted by supermodel Behati Prinsloo, will feature a pop-up shop vending IU gear, a “Hope Wall” for attendees to decorate, cornhole, free items and more. It is also a charity event benefitting Middle Way House, a local shelter for battered and abused women and their families. The money to be sent to the shelter will come from the limited edition B-Town Bash T-shirts.Hoosiers secured Thursday’s event by a small margin of online votes. “It all started with a contest this summer,” said junior Mary Deneen, Victoria’s Secret Pink campus representative. “We were competing against five other schools to win a bash here, and it was very close. We beat Auburn University by about one percent.”See tomorrow's paper for the full story.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Drama and film lovers of all ages attended the IU Theatre renovation and IU Cinema groundbreaking ceremony Saturday.IU President Michael McRobbie stood behind a podium on the steps of University Theatre and addressed a coat-clad crowd.McRobbie delivered a speech about the importance of film and theater and discussed IU’s dedication to the arts despite difficult economic times.“Both facilities will reinforce IU’s strong commitment to the arts,” he said. He motioned to the building behind him and recounted bits of the IU Auditorium’s history.“The Chicago Symphony played here six times,” he said. “Ray Charles mesmerized audiences.”Also speaking were Karen Hanson, IU provost and executive vice president, and Bennett Bertenthal, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.After speeches by Hanson and Bertenthal, McRobbie turned the attention to four silver shovels protruding from a dirt-filled wooden box.“Our groundbreaking ceremony, as you can see, is largely symbolic,” he said.After five rounds of shoveling by McRobbie, trustee members, professors and architects, the ground was officially broken.Senior Jessica Schul, president of Residence Halls Association, sat among spectators as brown particles flecked the steps.“It was very interesting to be part of this ceremony,” she said. “It gives you insight on the theater’s potential.” Schul received a “backstage pass” to tour the theater’s currently gutted interior. Inside, she and other participants were able to view the open space, as well as designs of how it will look once it’s completed in fall 2010.Graduate student Juan Berumen munched on a complimentary Indiana-shaped cookie as he toured the theater. He said he attended the ceremony to learn more about IU happenings.“I’m in cinema and theater and am excited to see what the University is doing to develop it,” he said. “I enjoyed McRobbie’s speech. He was able to connect the significance of cinema with other artistic expressions.”Berumen said focusing on something meaningful, such as art, takes the edge off otherwise tough economical times.“It’s instinctual,” he said. “When times get hard, you want people to come together.”
IU President Michael McRobbie and Provost Karen Hanson will lead a ground-breaking ceremony to kick off renovation of the Theatre and Drama Building and construction of the new IU Cinema at 2 p.m. Saturday. The event, open to students and the public, will take place on the north side of the IU Auditorium.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Amid oxymoronic creativity and a continuous flow of green beer, Kosher Ham was born.“I was probably about a dozen beers deep during St. Patrick’s Day of ’07 when I started thinking, ‘Everyone gets to be Irish for a day. Why can’t everyone dress Jewish for a day?’” said Jeremy Bloom, founder and president of the ironically named T-shirt company. “I was starving and thought, ‘Kosher Ham – I’ve got a great idea!’”Bloom said many people donning his T-shirts are college students – a demographic from which he draws inspiration.“I’ve been to Bloomington multiple times,” he said. “So many kids from Chicago, where Kosher Ham is based, go to IU. It’s prevalent.”Bloom, a self-proclaimed fan of humorous apparel, said he began brainstorming immediately. By February 2008, a Web page peddling the shirts was up and running. Since then, orders have been delivered daily to comedy lovers in 50 states and 12 countries.One of every three orders is sent to a campus address, Bloom said. “I’m not a designer by any means, but I’m sarcastic and witty, and so are many of my friends,” Bloom said. “We also keep fan submissions. ‘I’m Kosher, but I love to pork’ came from a fan.”The shirts, characterized by clever puns and a small cartoon pig logo, have caught celebrity attention. Notorious blogger Perez Hilton was photographed wearing actor Zac Efron’s face across his chest with “I Efron love you” inscribed below.“The sarcastic messages and bluntness of some of the shirts add to the Kosher Ham appeal,” said Julie Bloom, Jeremy Bloom’s sister and T-shirt model. “I wore the ‘Tony Danza is the Manza’ tee to Lollapalooza this year and had multiple people coming up to me to find out where the shirt was from.”When the Kosher Ham Web page received more than 11,000 hits in one day, Jeremy Bloom said thinking of lines such as “Friends don’t let friends drink and dreidel” and “Michelle Obama is one hot momma” was no longer just a hobby. Now, he hires designers who contact him from New York and Los Angeles, and he works closely with his business partner, Ian Harrison, for financial advice.“I see the company growing from just a site with funny shirts to a brand representing creative expression,” said Harrison, Kosher Ham’s primary accountant. “It will be a culture – thousands of people wearing funny, thought-provoking products as a form of self expression.”But once the shirts are on bodies, the shirts become world travelers. “In each order, we give away a button and a sticker,” he said. “People send us pictures of themselves wearing the button and sticker, sometimes in inappropriate places, from states around the U.S. to Oktoberfest in Germany.”Bloom said starting a company with worldwide influence wasn’t easy, but it’s an achievable concept for dedicated young entrepreneurs.“Go with your heart, and do your research,” he said. “I know nothing about the apparel industry, but I would spend countless hours studying it. It’s about having your bases covered and not giving up.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From her earliest memories, senior Kathleen Clark said she was captivated by the eclectic, eccentric world of garage sales.“I remember waking up early with my parents so we could get there first,” she said. “I told people that I was probably raised on the floor of a garage sale.”Now, Clark draws inspiration from remnants of the past to provide gently used, recycled goods for current vintage-lovers. She founded the Urban Market on a chance entrepreneurial impulse. Her local business specializes in the sale of shirts, slacks, jewelry, art and other items.“It started at the beginning of last May,” she said. “We were here after school ended, and nothing much was going on.”Bored by her summer internship, Clark decided she wanted to make enough money to purchase a beer. She grabbed a selection of extra vintage-style clothes from her closet and displayed them on a blanket in Dunn Meadow next to a sign reading, “Make an offer.”“It was probably illegal,” she said, laughing.After earning a profit of $30 that day, Clark said she was inspired to expand her venture. She and her boyfriend, senior Jacob Kowalczyk, began peddling more items from Peoples Park, a paved area on Kirkwood Avenue. But now, she has more business than what fits in a backpack.“As time went on, it got bigger and bigger and bigger,” she said. “Now, instead of a backpack, we have wagons and a bike buggy. My apartment is stacked with boxes up to the ceiling with old stuff.”After attracting substantial community attention, the market encountered an obstacle: the law. Without a valid city permit, the duo wasn’t allowed to conduct street-side transactions with their another-man’s-treasures.“I remember thinking, ‘If the police kick us out, we’re going out to dinner because that means we’re a big deal,’” Clark said.After temporarily leaving Kirkwood Avenue, Clark and Kowalczyk obtained insurance and a permit three weeks and $400 later. Soon, the Urban Market flourished from a simple business to a community event.“It goes way beyond selling clothing,” Kowalczyk said. “There’s always music, lots of discussion. It transcends the idea of just a business.”Clark said the Market adds intimacy and invitation to the Kirkwood sidewalk. Friends chatter and musicians play around the selection of goods any given Friday between 2 and 8 p.m. A box marked “free” is available for those who enjoy rooting through ancient oddities, sans expense.“We’ve made at least 30 new friends,” Kowalcyzk said.Among the new comrades is Will Burgett, a local artist who is now in business with the Market.“I was hanging out at Peoples Park when I saw them, talked to them and asked to get involved,” Burgett said. “I support the whole grassroots aspect.”Burgett said he supplies the Market with his artwork regularly.“You can find some really good bargains,” he said.Clark said she and Kowalcyzk plan to continue running the Urban Market post-graduation. Ideally, she said the business would grow to be run out of a warehouse with sewing machines and sequins and a bar to have frequent dance parties.“I think I always had a romanticized image of gypsies and what they do,” Clark said. “I look for things that are colorful, things that speak of another time. I can’t explain it, but I can see it. It’s my art to a certain extent.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>An evening of screaming fans, trance-like dancing, rhythmic guitar chords and vibrant varieties of tie-dye culminated to one predominant theme: You must jam.Genre-bending Umphrey’s McGee played before an enthusiastic crowd Thursday night at the IU Auditorium. The band, founded in South Bend 12 years ago, is famous among fans for its signature improvisation and musical unpredictability.Bloomington resident Kellen McCormack said he was excited to see Umphrey’s for the seventh time.“I think they attract such a large following because of an extreme versatility that branches many genres,” he said. “There’s a lot of free form. They consistently put on a great show and it’s always something new.”Outbursts of “Yeah!” and “I love you!” filled the auditorium as lights dimmed and the band appeared on stage. Swirling rings of smoke were visible beneath flashing red, blue, yellow and orange lights moving according to the music’s intensity.“If I walk away, you’ll bury me,” lead singer Brendan Bayliss belted out into a powerful combination of drums, bass, keyboard, synth and guitar. Bobbing and swaying to the beat, audience members pumped their fists into the air and sang along.After the song, featuring a six-minute instrumental interlude, Bayliss addressed the crowd: “What’s up, Btown?”His inquiry was met by an eruption of unintelligible shrieks. One fan, attired in a rhinestone-studded silver cape and oversized goggles, ran into the Auditorium lobby and declared: “I’m here to rage!”“This is one of the more wild and crazy events since Umphrey’s appeals to mostly students,” said sophomore Brittany Martin, who is a student manager of ushers at the auditorium.She said 1,104 tickets were sold prior to the event, not including walk-up sales the day of the show.Security guards patrolled the main floor to insure safety within the large crowd. But that didn’t stop passionate displays of dancing.Butler University student Bill Buehler said he heard about the show from IU friends. He traveled from Indianapolis to see the band for the 32nd time.“I follow Umphrey’s because they offer such a fresh variety of progressive, regressive improvisation,” he said. “They’ve got an ever-changing set list, and sometimes they throw covers in.”Junior Sara Stanley said she’s been a die-hard Umphrey’s fan for five years. She said songs such as “Bad Poker“ and “Andy’s Last Beer” frequently play on her iPod.“It’s awesome to be here because they play great shows,” she said. “They’re from Indiana, and they know they have a big fan base in Indiana. They play better here than anywhere else.”
A passion for fashion doesn’t have to be rationed, and to prove it, the Fashion Scholarship Fund awarded $270,000 in design and apparel merchandising scholarships this year.
Fierce strides. Bold swagger. Predatory prowling. Every style of walk was represented at the Epiphany Modeling Troupe auditions Wednesday night.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>An eclectic array of graphic artists, musicians, photographers, cake lovers and art fans flooded the Lodge, located on Sixth and Walnut streets, for FOUND, an evening of art appreciation.The event featured the Electric Junkyard Gamelan, a touring musical group distinctive for producing sounds on everyday objects, and The Canary Project, a collaboration of artists focused on visual media and artwork applications.Terry Dame, the self-proclaimed founding member of Electric Junkyard Gamelan, said FOUND was perfect for her style of music.“It fused my two passions together – making music and inventing things,” she said. “That’s what I do. We use pots, pans, electric rubber band harps, drums.”Art from IU students and staff members was also displayed.Leslie Sharpe, professor of fine arts and the festival’s exhibition director, said FOUND was an evening for everyone to enjoy.“We held the event in the community as opposed to on campus so we could reach out to the community,” she said. “There are students, professors and local artists here. There’s so much talent in Bloomington, so it was easy to come up with so many artists.”On one wall, a collection of “Lost” signs were connected in display.“There’s an absurdity about it, but also sweet melancholy,” Sharpe said. “You can imagine this piece growing.”Sharpe said each featured piece exuded similar originality.Graduate student and photographer Sara Brooks found her inspiration at a garage sale. As musicians performed in front of visual aids on large projection screens, Brooks stood behind a table offering pieces of her exhibit to bystanders.“I’ve been baking since Sunday,” she said, motioning toward eight decorative cakes. “I found the recipes in a box at a garage sale and decided to make them all.”Brooks photographed her baking process and attached the pictures to a collection of forks for cake-eaters to keep as souvenirs.Dame said the group stopped in Bloomington at the request of Andrew Bucksbarg, director of the evening and telecommunications professor, who she met at the California Arts Institute.“I like the town,” she said. “Although I haven’t seen an enormous amount, I had an excellent burrito.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The second annual Retail and Design forum, presented by the Retail Studies Organization, brought high-profile figures from top industry companies to address and advise students eager to follow in their merchandising footsteps.The event took place Tuesday at the Indiana Memorial Union and featured speeches and networking opportunities from past and present executives, including Gap Inc.’s Cynthia Harris, who is also former president of Disney stores and resorts; Glenn Lyon, CEO of Finish Line; Jennifer Warner, Target Sourcing Service’s senior product manager and Sam Sato, Finish Line’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer.“Every year the event is great for students and RSO members to get exposed to people in the industry, develop networking skills and get the inside scoop on what’s going on,” said senior Elaine Gilbert, the organization’s vice president of marketing and design. “It’s the biggest thing we do all year. We’ve been working on it since May.”After attending individual presentations from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., students participated in an open-forum panel with speakers seated on the Whittenberger Auditorium stage.“I thought the open panel was very insightful,” said senior Krista Lepore, the organization’s vice president of finance. “I enjoyed listening to the same things we discuss in class.”The panel of Harris, Lyon, Warner and Sato covered topics ranging from professional to personal, including questions such as “How often should you change jobs,” “How do you balance a family with hectic workloads,” and “Have you faced ethical dilemmas?”The panelists passed around a microphone and answered each question individually.Sato offered words of encouragement to young up-and-comers.“Take opportunities as they come to you, and believe it or not, they’ll benefit you,” he said. “I didn’t want to sell shoes for the rest of my life.”Harris said sometimes it’s necessary to start at the bottom of an industry so one can excel at the top.“What’s really dynamic right now is customer involvement,” she said. “Go get a job selling. Learn how to listen to customers and understand their needs.”Lyon said the retail business, similar to many other contemporary industries, is always growing and changing.“Don’t make a 10-year plan,” he said. “You’ve got to be nimble, ready for things to change.”However, Lyon said one aspect of sales will never change: A successful businessperson must please the customer.“I recently had dinner with Tom Crean, and you know what he asked me?” he asked the audience. “He wanted to know if we sold more IU stuff than Purdue stuff. Now, I told him, ‘Of course we sell more IU stuff.’ But I know I’ll tell Purdue what they want to hear next week.”As he and the audience laughed and the evening came to an end, one student asked, “Who really sells more?”Lyon smiled and said, “Really, we sell much more IU stuff.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You’ve seen the chalk.Pastel blue-and-pink markings on the steps of Ballantine Hall, Herman B Wells Library, Jordan Hall and other concrete fixtures encourage students to give IU band South Jordan a listen.“We apologize to anyone annoyed by our chalking campaign,” said junior Michael Hall, lead vocalist of South Jordan. But Hall said such promotional tactics won’t be necessary anymore. Since the pop-rock quintet comprised of Hall, seniors Bobby Campbell, Mike Chan, Greg Olsten and sophomore David Witucki formed a little more than a year ago, original songs such as “Fatal Flaw” and “Not the One” have been featured on airwaves around the world. At 9 a.m. Thursday, local radio station 96.7 WBWB-FM – commonly known as B97 – will premiere the band’s newest single, Firefly, an emotional ballad about a woman in Hall’s past.“The music is spreading itself,” he said. “We’re so excited about what’s going on for us – new songs, this school. We are lucky to be a band in Bloomington.”Aside from being a great place for local music to flourish, Bloomington provides useful social connections for the band, Hall said. He met radio show host Josh Dodds, a B97 DJ who made the band’s airtime on the station possible, in a business class. He met his best friends. And most importantly, he met his bandmates.“It was luck,” pianist and guitarist Campbell said. “I was in a recording arts program with Mike, and we had to record a song for a class.”Campbell said he heard Hall’s voice in the Jacobs School of Music and invited him over for a jam session.“Things clicked really well,” he said. “Shortly after, we recorded our first song.”Campbell, Chan and Hall soon discovered palpable, musical chemistry when playing together. However, during live performances, the trio agreed something was missing.“Recording is different than playing live,” Campbell said. “We needed a bigger sound, so we brought in George as a drummer. We meshed really well.”Hall said the four Jacobs students shared musical talent, personal traits and residences on the same street – a combination that catalyzed South Jordan from playful fun into a serious venture.“We get along so well because we are four silly, antisocial boys,” Hall said. “We don’t go out or party much.”Hall said the band added bassist Witucki in July to complete the group’s sound.After months of practice, the band drove 18 hours to perform at a music festival in Florida that would lead to career-advancing exposure. Alex Seif, a United Entertainment Group manager, said South Jordan impressed him and his colleagues.“It was after that show and meeting that we knew we wanted to help the band reach their goals,” Seif said.The entertainment group guidance company works with artists such as Nickelback, Hinder and Steven Tyler and added South Jordan to its roster in June.“They have an extremely bright future ahead of them,” Seif said. “They write songs that people can relate to, and their music addresses real emotions and situations. We plan to bring their music to as many people as possible.”As for “many people,” the band currently has nearly 6,000 fans on Facebook sending greetings and asking for local performances from Los Angeles to France to Vietnam.Hall said the band plans on touring post-graduation.“So many people are interested in coming to shows. It’s mind-blowing to have 60 fans from Australia,” he said. “We’re excited to see where this year takes us.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From drunken brawls to midget strippers, “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” is the perfect blend of debauchery and douchebag-ery. The film version of Tucker Max’s bestselling book depicts an unlikely trio – womanizing Tucker (Matt Czuchry), caustically witty Drew (Jesse Bradford) and good-guy Dan (Geoff Stults) – as they journey through law school, bachelor parties, faraway strip-clubs, fancy hotels and multiple sex partners.Though the plot is loosely based around Dan’s wedding – which will be a highly Christian ceremony thanks to his bride’s extremely religious mother — every group valuing morality will probably denounce this film. However, the dialogue is so hilariously well executed that even the most politically correct viewers won’t be able to suppress a giggle. Tucker’s character, a boyish charmer who carries the writer’s legendary arrogance and narcissism well, is kept constantly in check by Drew, who is responsible for most of the movie’s shockingly inappropriate one-liners. During one particularly comical bar scene, Tucker tries to persuade a waitress that he has children and loves them. “Yeah, he does,” Drew cuts in. “They’re all in the compost heap behind Planned Parenthood.”And that’s what makes the film – obscene verbal exchanges between three obscene men. This movie is not for those seeking profound, artistic brilliance. Though slightly unrealistic, locker room lingo on the big-screen takes gross humor to the next level, inducing serious laughter when one isn’t offended. Luckily, Tucker’s descriptive post-sex storytelling, hooker jokes and jarring insults distract viewers from noticing the lack of strong plot. Similar to his collection of autobiographical short stories, the film is one drunken folly after another after another.Beneath the lewd banter and frequent appearances of naked women, “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” has enough rare glimpses of goodness to save the film from being a complete moral abomination. The protagonists eventually realize when they fuck up, two strong female characters provide the voices of reason, someone actually deviates from one-night stands in favor of monogamous love, and Tucker, the king of douchebags himself, reaches some form of a conscientious epiphany – though it awkwardly contradicts his carefree, careless attitude. Even still, Satan probably has a cooler of Coors Light ready for the rascal.
After the Sept. 11 Bloomington showing of his new movie, “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,” novelist and screenwriter Tucker Max let WEEKEND reporters Jordan Greenberg, Danielle Paquette and Alex Benson onto his tour bus for a post-premiere interview. The movie is based on Max’s collection of short stories by same name, specifically the one titled “The Austin Road Trip.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>More than 30 years after the Beatles’ untimely dissolution, a video game allowing fans to go where no fan has gone before rises from the ashes. Today, “The Beatles: Rock Band” is released worldwide, enabling gamers not just to see John, Paul, George and Ringo perform psychedelic hits in legendary venues, but to be the band as well.“John Lennon would be thrilled,” said Glenn Gass, IU professor of rock ’n’ roll. “He was always trying to reach people in the biggest ways. I’ve learned from my kids that songs played on Rock Band and Guitar Hero are among the music they love most. The game gives them inner workings of the music.”Gass, a self-proclaimed Beatles fan since 1964, said that though the music is decades old, it won’t be stale for today’s generation.“I don’t think it will sound like a bunch of oldies, because the music is so strong,” he said. “Beatles songs never get old. People could play this game again and again.” ‘Come Together’ Josh Randall, creative director and project leader of Harmonix Music System, said creating the game – from brainstorming to development to shipping – was a two-year process. However, the idea for a Beatles Rock Band was conceived quickly and unexpectedly.Randall said the concept actually came about because of a chance meeting during the family vacations of Van Toffler, the president of MTV Networks Music Group, and George Harrison’s wife, Olivia, and son, Dhani. “Dhani Harrison is a huge fan of Harmonix and had some smart ideas for music games, so Van connected him with Alex Rigopulos, CEO and cofounder of the company,” he said.Randall said Harrison, Rigopulus and MTV Games’ Paul DeGooyer then contacted Apple Corps and its shareholders to commence game production. Apple Corps is a British conglomerate owned by Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison that guards Beatles music and brand rights.‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ Help from those who’d lived and traveled with the band at the height of 1960s Beatlemania proved to be a constant factor in the game’s creative development. McCartney, Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison were the game’s most influential editors, according to MTV Games press information and “were actively involved every step of the way,” said Mariana Agathoklis, manager of communications for MTV Games. “They approved everything you see in the game.”From early tour dates at The Cavern Club in Liverpool to the final performance on Apple Corps Rooftop in London, the band’s journey is captured in the video game, said the four famous game consultants.“We’ve been overwhelmed by the access Harmonix has been given to both the resources of Apple Corps and the personal time and perspectives of Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as Yoko Ono Lennon, Olivia Harrison and the entire Apple Corps team,” Randall said. “It’s a better game and one that’s truer to the Beatles in all the ways that matter.” ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret?’ An MTV press release revealed that by purchasing the game, Beatles fans will have access to never-before-heard conversations between the band at Abbey Road recording studios more than 40 years ago. Other features, such as extra songs and 1960s-inspired backdrops, can be unlocked through the game’s story mode. Replicas of Lennon’s Rickenbacker 325 guitar, McCartney’s Hofner bass, George Harrison’s Gretsch Duo Jet guitar and Starr’s drums with Ludwig-branded Beatles kick drum head allow gamers to rock out in true Beatles fashion to more than 45 famous tracks.‘Getting Better’ Star-studded success didn’t come without obstacles.“One challenge was how to adapt original master recordings for the game,” Randall said. “We’ve gone back to the multi-track masters of each song so that we can isolate the sound of each instrument and use that sound as feedback during game play.”Randall said many Beatles songs had multiple instruments recorded on a single track, which made it difficult for producers to separate instrumental parts for Rock Band players to reproduce. However, with the aid of English record producer Giles Martin and his team at Abbey Road studio in London, multi-track audio was constructed to fit the game’s format.‘Here Comes the Sun’ “The Beatles: Rock Band” is also a charitable opportunity, according to an MTV press release. Downloads of “All You Need Is Love” – released exclusively on Xbox 360 and made as an additional track for gameplay – will benefit Doctors Without Borders, a medical humanitarian organization active in 60 countries. Randall said while the game is good for mankind, it’s fun for mankind too.“The Beatles’ songs have the ability to transport people into a sort of daydream,” he said. “They invoke emotion. From my experience both making and playing the game as well as seeing others play the game, we’ve been pleased and sometimes surprised to see ‘The Beatles: Rock Band’ deliver a little bit of that emotional impact. People get these huge smiles, and sometimes even a little choked up.”
Photographer displays artwork downtown.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Feathers. Exotic gowns. Angel wings. Nudity. Bloomington artist Yelena Yahontova knows no bounds.The Belarusian-American photographer’s exhibit decorates the walls of Bloomington’s Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gifts. Her artist’s reception will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday. Known to clients as “Photographer of Joy” for her ability to capture emotion, Yohantova will display select portraits until Sept. 19 as part of her photo exhibition, “The Best of Yelena.”The gallery, located on the north side of the Courthouse Square, will feature 20 portraits hand-picked by Visual Arts Director and gallery owner Jaime Sweany. Many of the portraits have never been exhibited before.“I like Yelena’s work because she loves her subjects, and her passion for people shows through in her portraits,” Sweany said. “She can capture an intimacy between people that sometimes eludes other photographers.”Yahontova’s studio is white-walled and lined with portraits. A mother and son adorned with feathery white wings embrace and smile, a family surrounded by green, leafy trees laughs together and women pose in lavish costumes. All come from Yahontova’s personal collection. Her colorful, laminated flyers persuade potential patrons – “Imagine your family as a work of art.”“It’s been my love for so long,” said Yahontova, a former journalist, poet and translator with a doctorate degree in Slavic languages.“Photography became a huge hobby when I was 15 or 16,” she said. “My friend and I would dress up and photograph each other all night, sometimes for 16 hours straight.”Since moving to Bloomington seven years ago, Yahontova has established steady clientele, but photographs no more than two sessions a day.“I like to spend a lot of time with my clients,” she said. “We sometimes spend two or three hours at a time at a location of their choice. It’s about value, and value is priceless. People will cherish these photos for the rest of their lives.”Sweany said she advises photography lovers to seize the opportunity to see new art and meet Yahontova.“This selection of her work is a wonderful representation of portraits that have not been shown before,” she said. “Her fans will be pleasantly surprised by her versatility.”
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If runway fashion and advisory blogging spawned a Big Ten hybrid, its name would be College Fashionista.Founded by IU alumna Amy Levin, the blog offers style suggestions to students balancing hectic schedules and realistic budgets. “Students from the West Coast can see what people are wearing in the Midwest,” Levin said. “You view different looks and cultures and alter them to fit your own style.”Since its launch on Aug. 3, the blog has expanded both in staff and in fans. What began with six schools grew to eight, including Purdue University, Ohio State University and Northwestern University. Another eight schools will be added Sept. 14, including the University of Southern California and Western Illinois University.Levin said she expects the blog to cover more universities in the coming months.Social networking allows feedback from students so improvement can continue, Levin said. Several thumbs-up icons indicate “likes” across the blog’s Facebook page from more than 1,000 fans nationwide. A Twitter feed also delivers daily updates, courtesy of student bloggers called “Fashion Gurus.” Three IU Fashion Gurus prowl campus to capture trendy streetwalkers, who they dub Fashionistas and Fashionistos, and upload their images alongside instructional text.“I’ll be shopping or grabbing a Starbucks coffee when I see someone whose style I like, so I’ll walk up to them and ask if I can take a picture for the blog,” said senior and IU Fashion Guru Katherine Dolecki. Dolecki, who contributes fashion opinions and advice every Monday and Tuesday, draws inspiration from Vogue to Style.com to Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf.“I am honestly always looking for new things,” Dolecki said. “Fashion is everywhere, or at least it is in the world I live in. Being well dressed is a power within itself, which is why it’s important to always be looking.”Sophomore Kelsey Finn, an IU Fashion Guru and an Indiana Daily Student reporter, writes for College Fashionista. She said the site is a good place to gather ideas from trendy designers and translate them to daily life.“It’s college kids writing about other kids on campus,” she said. “Everything is really relatable.”After witnessing the blog’s growth two weeks post-launch, Levin said she would like to consider it a full-scale business someday: a site constantly updated and visited, with advertising and revenue opportunities. The site can be found at http://www.collegefashionista.com/.“The reality is more than a majority of college students cannot afford $1,000 shoes every season or an $800 coat,” she said. “This site is a place where every style is shown and students can actually have the opportunity to wear the looks of their peers. It’s realistic fashion.”