ZooTunes 2011 Opens With Osborne, Closes With The Weepies

April 29, 2011 Michael van Baker 1 Comment

Dear old people who don’t feel that old but your children have just graduated high school: BECU ZooTunes presented by Carter Subaru is returning for the summer of 2011 with a lineup of all your old-person favorites. The whole series is a fundraiser for the Woodland Park Zoo, so even if you don’t remember where you were when you learned k.d. lang wasn’t straight, it’s a great way to spend a series of summer evenings in the North Meadow.

Taj Mahal and Joan Osborne open the series on June 22, and then you have your Chapin Carpenters and Cohns, your Williamses, your Robert fucking Cray Band ladies and gentlemen!, your Afrocubisms, your Indigo Girls (“Galileo”!), your Carliles, langs, and Go-Gos, your Carolina Chocolate Drops, and winding up August 21, your Manns and your Weepies.

New this year, Woodland Park Zoo members can buy ZooTunes tickets before the hoi polloi can elbow you out of the way. Member pre-sale is online only, starting 8:00 a.m. on May 5. You get up to eight pre-sale tickets per show (plus the usual free admission for one child 12 and under with each ticket purchased). Regular tickets go on sale online on May 6 at 8:00 a.m.

NB: “Concerts are held rain or shine—no ticket refunds.”

Full list of performers below:

June 22 – Taj Mahal / Joan Osborne

Taj Mahal

Composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and Grammy winner Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music. Though his career began more than four decades ago with American blues, he has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the world—West Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Hawaiian islands and so much more. What ties it all together is his insatiable interest in musical discovery. Over the years, his passion and curiosity have led him around the world, and the resulting global perspective is reflected in his music today. His 2008 release, Maestro, marks the fortieth anniversary of Taj’s rich and varied recording career by mixing original material, chestnuts borrowed from vintage sources and newcomers alike. Taj continues to tour tirelessly throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

Joan Osborne

Singer-songwriter Joan Osborne is best known for her massive hit single “One Of Us,” which she released in 1995. She was nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for “One Of Us”), and Album of the Year (for Relish). Her most recent album Little Wild One reunites the critically acclaimed artist with the same team that worked on her “One Of Us.”

June 26 – Marc Cohn / Mary Chapin Carpenter

Marc Cohn

Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Marc Cohn—perhaps best known for his hit “Walking in Memphis”—has enjoyed a long career filled with commercial success and accolades. His fans are dedicated and loyal to the tunesmith, who delivers live performances that are both intimate and powerful, creating a special environment for each audience. On his latest album, Listening Booth: 1970, Cohn deconstructs iconic songs that were released that year. Rolling Stone raved that “Cohn hits just the right note, letting the drama emerge from the songs themselves … He takes you from shattered dreams to spiritual deliverance.”

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Mary Chapin Carpenter celebrates her latest album, The Age of Miracles, which was released last spring to widespread critical acclaim. Over the course of a 12-album recording career, Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards and sold over 13 million records. Of the new music, The New York Times heralds, “…quietly spellbinding…the music of Ms. Carpenter is an unclassifiable hybrid of pop, folk, and country…” Carpenter has always professed a love for all kinds of music, and those influences come together in songs that speak to the most personal of life’s details as well as to the most universal.

June 29 – Lucinda Williams

It’s not all that hard to find an artist who’s capable of offering a guided tour of life’s dark clouds—nor is it rare to come into contact with one who can hone in on the silver lining. But the ability to do both with equal grace, well, that’s an altogether rarer gift, and it’s one that Lucinda Williams displays remarkably on her latest album, Blessed. Williams has never hesitated to wave that flag of iconoclasm, but she’s never used it as a shield. Ever since the release of her 1978 debut Ramblin’ on My Mind, the Louisiana-bred singer-songwriter has been ready, willing and able to call upon both her natural affinity for roots music and her familial literary tradition.

June 30 – The Robert Cray Band

As a five-time Grammy Award-winning, singer/songwriting guitar legend, it would be hard to overstate Robert Cray’s impact on rock, rhythm and blues. He is considered “one of the greatest guitarists of his generation” and since his 1980 album debut Who’s Been Talkin, Cray has been inviting audiences along on his epic musical journey—breaking through the pop ceiling with his gate crashing/blues-edged trademark sound, distinct playing style and daring innovations. Robert Cray has released 20 award winning multi-platinum albums, received 15 Grammy nominations, and with the Robert Cray Band has performed thousands of sold-out shows worldwide. Robert Cray will be inducted into the 2011 Blues Hall of Fame in the spring.

July 6 – AfroCubism

AfroCubism is the long-awaited collaboration between Cuban and Malian musicians meant to take place when the Buena Vista Social Club was born, a “collaboration well worth the wait,” says The New Yorker. The New York Times describes it as “a rich yet subtle fusion of African and Cuban sounds.” Fronting the Cuban team is the cowboy-hatted singer and guitarist Eliades Ochoa, singer of the great Buena Vista theme “Chan Chan.” The two original Malian invitees are multi award-winning ngoni lute master Bassekou Kouyate and the extraordinary Rail Band guitarist Djelimady Tounkara, both universally agreed to be among the world’s great instrumentalists. Joining them are Eliades’ Grupo Patria, amongst Cuba’s longest running and most revered bands, the mercurial kora genius Toumani Diabaté, legendary Malian griot singer Kasse Mady Diabaté and the innovatory balafon player Lassana Diabaté.

July 20 & 21 – Indigo Girls with Mount Moriah

Indigo Girls

Devoted environmental and social justice activists and lifelong music-industry mavericks, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, known as the Indigo Girls, have spent over two decades pushing musical and social boundaries. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriters celebrate their long-standing passion for live performances on their new release, Staring Down the Brilliant Dream on IG Recordings/Vanguard Records including 31 live performances from 2006-2009, hand selected by the band.

Mount Moriah

Heather McEntire (of post-punk veterans Bellafea) and Jenks Miller (of heavy-psych/metal outfit Horseback) met in 2005, while working at a record store in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After collaborating as Un Deux Trois on the stripped-down, pop-inflected Lovers EP (2007), they established Mount Moriah as an outlet for their mutual interest in classic American folk and rock music. Mount Moriah’s 2010 EP, The Letting Go, highlighted the band’s thematic range, moving from delicate acoustic narratives to a dark, fuzzed-out, soulful stomper in just three tracks. Mount Moriah’s long-awaited, self-titled debut—recorded by Brian Paulson and featuring guest instrumentation by members of St. Vincent, Megafaun, and many other North Carolina-based musicians—is cut from the same cloth, offering a far-reaching and non-traditional take on classic folk themes like devotion, tribulation, redemption and an indelible sense of place.

July 29 – Brandi Carlile

After debuting with her self-titled album in 2005, the Washington state-bred Carlile saw her fanbase mushroom with her sophomore disc, The Story. Among the growing legion of Carlile fans is Elton John. “Brandi has an amazing voice,” he says. “She’s a great songwriter and has a tremendous career ahead of her.” The Story upped the ante considerably, selling over 350,000 copies and rising to No. 41 on the Billboard album sales chart. Along the way, she’s toured with the likes of Ray LaMontagne and Sheryl Crow. She released her third album, Give Up the Ghost, in 2009 and toured relentlessly with her longtime bandmates. This May, the acclaimed singer-songwriter will mark another milestone with the release of Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony. The live performance features arrangements from Elton John’s legendary arranger Paul Buckmaster as well as Sean O’Loughlin, renowned for his work with Chris Isaak and Belle & Sebastian.

Aug. 10 – k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang

Sing it Loud, released this year, is lang’s first record made entirely with a band of her own since the pair of albums with the Reclines that launched her career more than 20 years ago. lang has won four Grammy Awards, eight Juno Awards, a BRIT, an AMA, a VMA, and four awards from GLAAD. In 1996, she received Canada’s highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada.

Aug. 14 – The Go-Go’s Ladies Gone Wild Tour

Thirty years after the release of Beauty and the Beat, their double-platinum debut album that cemented in our hearts and our pop-vernacular such smash hits as “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat,” the Go-Go’s and their fans prepare for a slew of 30th anniversary activities for the 2011 summer kicking off with the Ladies Gone Wild nation tour with the legendary Go-Go’s Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock, Jane Wiedlin and Kathy Valentine. In August, the Go-Go’s will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Aug. 17 – Carolina Chocolate Drops

Nonesuch Records released the label debut of North Carolina-based string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops in 2010. Produced by critically acclaimed recording artist and songwriter Joe Henry, Genuine Negro Jig features string band interpretations of Blu Cantrell’s beat-box driven R&B single “Hit ‘Em Up Style” and Tom Waits’ “Trampled Rose,” as well as a pair of original compositions, alongside traditional tracks such as “Cornbread and Butterbeans” and “Trouble in Your Mind.” It is the band’s second record; their 2007 release, Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind, was praised by Paste for “bravely and expertly reclaiming the string band tradition for modern African-American culture,” while NPR’s Weekend Edition calls the band “the hottest thing to hit the old-time music community in decades.”

Aug 21 – Aimee Mann with The Weepies

Aimee Mann

After originally breaking onto the music scene during the ‘80s leading the post-new wave pop group ’Til Tuesday, Aimee Mann has gone on to establish herself as one of the most prominent singer-songwriters of her generation. Her successful solo career has spanned across several critically acclaimed albums, including the massively popular soundtrack for the film Magnolia, which garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Song in 2000. Time magazine has said of her, “Mann has the same skill that great tunesmiths like McCartney and Neil Young have: the knack for writing simple, beautiful, instantly engaging songs.” Aimee has been touring on the heels of her most recent album, Smilers (SuperEgo Records) and is currently writing a musical based upon her concept album The Forgotten Arm.

The Weepies

Since they met in a Cambridge folk club nine years ago, The Weepies have progressed from an indie duo playing house concerts to ranking on the Billboard Charts. Crystallizing their organic acoustic sound and pop harmonies, the California duo has come up with their deepest, most accessible record yet in Be My Thrill. Third in a trilogy for Nettwerk Records, The Weepies once again worked with drummer Frank Lenz, guitarist Meg Toohey and string player Oliver Kraus, adding bass legends Tony Levin and Larry Klein to the mix.

News, Sports

Seahawks Pick OT James Carpenter and More in NFL Draft

April 28, 2011 Seth Kolloen

Wooo! New Seahawks! By taking offensive linemen with his first two picks, Pete Carroll is clearly trying to get on new O-line coach Tom Cable’s good side. (Smart move, given Cable’s history of punching fellow coaches.) It was Alabama OT James Carpenter with pick one, Wisconsin G John Moffitt with pick two. Says Cable: “I told John (Schneider) a week ago, if your wildest dreams, if you could pick two guys to get in the draft it would be these two.”

On Saturday, the focus has turned to defense–and more specifically, the defensive backfield–as the Hawks have taken three defensive backs. The final tally: 9 picks–3 offense, 6 defense.

James Carpenter, OT, Alabama (1st rd., 25th overall)

Where he fits:
Carpenter played left tackle at Alabama, and could also play guard. Probably, the Seahawks expect him to win the starting RT job, with incumbent Sean Locklear unlikely to be re-signed.

What he’s done:
After playing two seasons in junior college, Carpenter started all 27 games of his career for Alabama. He was second-team All-SEC his junior year, first-team All-SEC as a senior. ‘Bama RB Mark Ingram won the 2009 Heisman running behind Carpenter.

Raw stats:
6-4, 321 lbs. 5.28 40-time. 23 reps at 225 lbs. in bench press.

Pick talk:
The Seahawks last picked an offensive tackle last year, when they took Russell Okung with the 6th overall pick. Carpenter is the fourth offensive tackle taken in the 2011 draft, behind Tyron Smith of USC, Nate Solder of Colorado, and Anthony Castonzo of Boston College.

What they’re saying:
“I don’t see it at this point.” — Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
“His initials are J.C. and he’s a f***ing Carpenter!” — My friend Ivan
“Don’t be surprised if Carpenter is a quality NFL starter.” — Lindy’s Sports
“The Seahawks would like to see him step in at RT to give them bookend edge protectors for the next 10 years.” — ESPN.com
“The line just got a LOT better and that’s something we all have wanted.” — Danny Kelly, Field Gulls
“I had him graded as an early- to late-second round pick.” Mike Mayock, NFL Network
“I was so shocked. I thought I was going to go in the second, but somebody had faith in me.” — James Carpenter
“(Carpenter is) tough, nasty, aggressive and solid.” — Seahawks GM John Schneider
“This guy is a road-grader. He wants to bury you.” — Seahawks coach Pete Carroll

(The Seahawks traded their 57th, 157th, and 209th overall picks to Detroit for the Lions’ 75th, 107th, 154th and 205th overall picks.)

John Moffitt, OG, Wisconsin (3rd rd., 75th overall)

Where he fits:
The Seahawks will hope Moffitt can solidify one of the guard spots, or, possibly, play center. Each was a revolving door last season due to injury and poor performance. Moffitt also started 15 games at center in his college career.

What he’s done:
First-team All-American last season, twice first-team All-Big-10. Started six games as a redshirt freshman. Wisconsin was 12th-best rushing team in nation last year.

Raw stats:
6-4, 319 lbs., 5.51 40-yard dash. Ran the fastest 20-yard shuttle run of any OG at combine (4.53). 23 reps at 225 lbs. on bench.

Pick talk:
Seahawks last took an OG in 4th round of 2007 draft, Mansfield Wrotto. Moffitt is the fifth guard taken in the 2011 draft. First time since 1989 draft Seahawks have taken offensive linemen with first two picks (Andy Heck, Joe Tofflemire).

What they’re saying:
“He’s not overly athletic, but he’s nasty, he’s tough.” — Mike Mayock, NFL Network
“Elite run blocker…fair in pass protection.” — Lindy’s Sports
“Minor concern about reputation for entertaining media with sound bites.” — Scouts Inc.
“His technique is suspect at times in pass pro; more often than not, he stays in front long enough for the quarterback to get the ball out.” — ESPN
“Can play either guard spot and then he also has played center in a very good league in the Big Ten” — Tom Cable
“I think I bring a lot of physicality to the line, and I’m an intelligent player as well.” — John Moffitt
“Everything about him exudes what we want to be about on our offensive line.” — Pete Carroll

K.J. Wright, LB, Mississippi St. (4th rd., 99th overall)

Where he fits:
Wright provides depth at a thin linebacker spot, as top two backups Will Herring and Matt McCoy are free agents. Will also play special teams.

What he’s done:
Played 47 games in four-year MSU career. Has 98 tackles, 3 sacks, and 9 pass breakups in coverage. Top hoops player in high school.

Raw stats:
6-3, 246 lbs. 4.75 40-time. 20 reps at 225 lbs. on bench.

Pick talk:
Last LB picked by Seahawks was Dexter Davis in 2010. Seahawks haven’t waited so long to pick a defensive player since 1995.

What they’re saying:
“Plays faster than his 40 time. Could provide some pass rush.” — Mel Kiper Jr, ESPN
“Athletic, durable, productive, and a leader on the field.” — Lindy’s Sports
“Possesses the athleticism to hold up in underneath zone coverage.” — Scouts Inc.
“He is a strong and reliable tackler but lacks instincts.” — ESPN

Kris Durham, WR, Georgia (4th rd., 107th overall)

Where he fits:
At 6-5, gives the Seahawks another big receiver, something they don’t have other than Mike Williams. Will compete for playing time at wide receiver with likely starter Ben Obomanu, disappointing Golden Tate, and Deon Butler, who’s recovering from a badly broken leg.

What he’s done:
Played 47 games, started 15 in four-year Georgia career. Had 32 catches and 3 TDs as a senior, including a 100-yard game vs. #12 Arkansas. Garnered several academic honors. Was a sprinter in high school.

Raw stats:
6-5, 214 lbs., 4.46 40-yard dash.

Pick talk:
Seahawks have taken a receiver three consecutive years: Golden Tate in 2010 (2nd rd, 60th overall) and Deon Butler in 2009 (3rd rd., 91st overall).

What they’re saying:
“Possesses an excellent combination of size and top-end speed for the position.” — Scouts, Inc.
“Developed into a dependable possession receiver” — NFLDraftScout.com
“He is another big, possession-type guy who should help them on third down and in the red zone.” — ESPN

Richard Sherman, CB, Stanford (5th rd., 154th overall)

Where he fits:
Has what no other Seahawks cornerback does: Height. Sherman will play in nickel and dime packages and help out on special teams.

What he’s done:
Stanford’s leading receiver his freshman and sophomore years, Sherman converted to cornerback after suffering a knee injury his junior season. Granted a medical redshirt, he played two seasons at corner and was an All-Pac-10 honorable mention last year.

Raw stats:
6-3, 195 lbs., 4.54 40-yard dash. 38-inch vertical leap at combine, one of the best among CBs.

Pick talk:
The Seahawks also took a Pac-10 cornerback in last year’s draft, Oregon’s Walter Thurmond.

What they’re saying:
“Best fit at the next level as a press corner where he can use his length and above-average balance to his advantage.” — Scouts Inc.
“Sherman brings above-average size, range and ball skills as a CB.” — ESPN

Mark LeGree, S, Appalachian St. (5th rd., 156th overall)

Where he fits:
Provides depth at defensive back, especially needed if Lawyer Milloy retires. Will also play on special teams.

What he’s done:
LeGree was a three-time FCS All-American, and ended his four-year college career as the active D1 leader in interceptions with 22.

Raw stats:
5-11, 210 lbs., 4.49 40-yard dash. 21 reps at 225 lbs. at combine, one of the best among safeties. But his 31-inch vertical was among the worst.

Pick talk:
The Seahawks took two safeties in last year’s draft: Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

What they’re saying:
“Reads quarterback’s eyes and flashes above-average route recognition.” — Scouts Inc.
“He has above-average movement skills and excellent top-end speed” — ESPN

Byron Maxwell, CB, Clemson (6th rd., 173rd overall)

Where he fits:
A special teams whiz in college, he also started at corner his senior season. At 6-1, Maxwell is bigger than anyone who played CB for the Seahawks last year.

What he’s done:
Known for hard hits on special teams and as a DB, he forced six fumbles in a 53-game Clemson career. Was ranked #2 CB in nation coming out of high school, but tore ACL his senior year.

Raw stats:
6-1, 210 lbs. 4.43 40-yard-dash, 24 reps at 225 lbs. on bench at combine (top among CBs was 26 reps).

Pick talk:
Makes the third defensive back the Seahawks have taken in this draft, and the sixth in the Carroll era.

What they’re saying:
“Possesses above-average overall measureables and top-end speed for the position.” — Scouts Inc.
“An instinctive, tough CB.” — ESPN.com

Lazarius “Pep” Levingston, DT, LSU (7th rd., 205th overall)

Where he fits:
A big body who could provide depth on the defensive line in running situations.

What he’s done:
Played 48 games, starting 22 in four-year LSU career. Had 70 career tackles, 3 sacks. Played defensive end his first three season before moving to DT as a senior. Part of one of the nation’s top rushing defenses.

Raw stats:
6-4, 280 lbs. 4.86 40-yard dash. 31-inch vertical leap. 20 reps at 225 on bench at LSU pro day.

Pick talk:
First DT taken by Seahawks since 2008 (Red Bryant). Eight of last ten Seahawks’ 7th rounders have appeared in at least one game with team.

What they’re saying:
“A one-gap wave reserve who flashes good strength, but is extremely limited as an athlete.” — ESPN

Malcolm Smith, LB, USC (7th rd., 242nd overall)

Where he fits:
Linebacker depth and special teams.

What he’s done:
A two-year starter at weak side linebacker at USC. Smith was the Trojans’ second-leading tackler in 2010 and had eight tackles for loss. Was rated #4 WLB in nation out of high school (and was recruited by Pete Carroll, obviously). Note: Malcolm’s brother Steve is the Steve Smith who’s a WR for the Giants.

Raw stats:
6-1, 227 lbs. 4.48 40-yard-dash. 28 reps at 225 lbs. on bench. 38-inch vertical leap at USC pro day.

Pick talk:
Second linebacker taken by Seahawks in this draft. Last time they took two linebackers in a draft, it was 2005: They took four, two of whom were Lofa Tatupu and LeRoy Hill. That worked out okay.

What they’re saying:
“He is undersized and will have problem taking on blocks, however he is a good overall athlete.” — ESPN

Arts & Entertainment, Film & TV

SIFF Offers a Peek at 2011 Film Festival

April 28, 2011 josh 1 Comment

This morning, SIFF invited some of its media friends over to Pacific Place for light snacks, coffee, and mimosas to reveal some details of this year’s multi-week city-wide film festival. Based on this year’s trailer, the theme of this year’s festival seems to be “Acrostics!” Before we get to the nuances and highlights, some relevant logistical details. The festival runs from May 19 until June 12 at nineteen venues–ranging from the core Seattle cinemas for daily screenings, the freshly opened SIFF Film Center in the Alki Room, the bar at Boom Noodle, and as far away as the performing arts centers of Everett, Kirkland, and IKEA. Passes have been available for a while, tickets for some special events are already on sale, but you’ll have to wait until May 5 to see the full schedule and start buying tickets to individual films.

The festival opens at McCaw Hall with a screening of The First Grader, the true story of an octogenerian Mau Mau fighter turned farmer who cashes in on a Kenyan government initiative to claim the primary education that he missed while, I don’t know, rebelling against British occupation. Stick around after the misunderstandings, controversy, hijinks, tears, cute kids, inspirational teacher, general power of the human spirit, and other heartwarming hijinks ensue for a gala at a glamorized Exhibition Hall where Don Q rums and Barefoot Bubbly will be stocking the bar. Over the three-week festival, there will be hundreds of films from all over the world (this year, hotbeds of political turmoil will also be hotbeds of cinema) and galas celebrating the festival’s midpoint (Service Entrance, in which a bougie French couple hires a boisterous Spanish maid), the gays (August), new American cinema (Miranda July’s allegedly amazing The Future), and a tribute to ski and snowboarding film maven Warren Miller at Benaroya Hall. This all leads up to a closing night presentation of the Ridley (and Tony) Scott-produced Life in a Day, a hyperkinetic look at the whole camera-toting world, as enabled by YouTube.

Oh, and of course the festival wouldn’t be complete without some out-of-town guests paying a visit to Seattle. The biggest news is that Al Pacino will be making a rare appearance to talk about his life, craft, put on a show, chew the scenery, and possibly even answer your questions at the Paramount Theater on June 11 (tickets go on sale Saturday, but presale is in effect now with passcode “pacino”). Ewan McGregor will be stopping by to claim his Golden Space Needle and show new films Beginners (Mike Mills’ dramedy about a city-dwelling guy in search of love, his cute dog, and a newly-gay dad) and Perfect Sense (a science fiction take on a pandemic that robs people of their feelings), as well as old favorites The Pillow Book and Moulin Rouge.

Since the festival is so massive in scope and duration (and it might eventually compete with decent weather, maybe), the programmers have tried to help viewers navigate the program by creating “pathways” that group hundreds of films into ten categories: Love Me Do (matters of the heart); Make Me Laugh (films comedic); Thrill Me (suspenseful features); Creative Streak (A&E); Open My Eyes (revealing stories along the lines of triumphant West Indian cricketeers); Sci-Fi & Beyond (science, fictional and factual); Take Me Away (world cinema); Spellbinding Stories (long-running times); To the Extreme (taste-pushing matters like troll hunters); and Face the Music (live events and music movies). Expect to peruse all of these pathways when the festival’s free 45-page magazine-style guide (and, we hope, the latest version of their fantastic SIFFter app) hits the streets next week.

We still haven’t had a chance to digest the full program, but we did get to soak up a half hour’s worth of trailers. A poll of SunBreakers who’ve perused the offerings suggest some automatic must-sees:

Audrey: Based on description alone, I’m down for Angel of Evil, a slick and well-shot Italian crime film. A bevy of SIFF docs already got great reviews at Sundance: Being Elmo, about the Sesame Street muppet’s puppeteer; Project Nim, on the famous language-learning ape Nim Chimpsky; Tabloid, the latest clinical examination from Errol Morris; and Page One: Inside the New York Times (pretty self-explanatory). There’s also celeb rehab comedy Treatment, written and co-directed by Sean Nelson, which just had its world premiere at Tribeca. Other SIFF films with Northwest Connections include Catechism Cataclysm, The Off Hours, Without, and Late Autumn, a Korean film which shot here last year.

Josh: In addition to some of the movies already mentioned, I’m excited to hear the score that Jonny Greenwood composed for Norwegian Wood, the new adaptation of the old Murakami Novel, as well as the newish Alex “Arctic Monkey” Turner’s songs featured on the soundtrack for Richard “IT Crowd” Ayoade’s Submarine. An IMAX presentation of Tornado Alley (narrated by Bill Pullman, naturally) looks both timely and terrifying. I’m also generally interested in getting a peek at SIFF’s new home in Seattle Center as well as the freshly-renovated Neptune Theater (now part of Seattle Theater Group), which returns to the mix of regular screening venues with new seats and a new bar.

Tony: Alex de la Iglesia’s The Last Circus stirred a hornet’s nest of controversy with its bloodily, brutally allegorical tale of two circus clowns jousting violently for the affections of a beautiful trapeze artist amidst the Spanish Civil War. Quentin Tarantino’s jury at the Venice Film Festival threw the movie’s direction and screenwriting major prizes, and it’ll be interesting to see if it lives up to those hosannas. Another Earth received raves at Sundance, and looks to be the kind of mind-expanding but emotionally resonant sci-fi film that used to thrive in the early seventies. I’m an avowed fan of France’s favorite balladeer in dirty-old-man’s clothing, Serge Gainsbourg, so I’m likewise stoked that SIFF’s presenting a new documentary on this accidental music innovator. And you gotta love the notion of the silent version of The Thief of Baghdad, accompanied by select cuts (by Shadoe Stevens!) from the Electric Light Orchestra. From those, and the highlights mentioned by the programmers, it looks like we’re in for another year of obsessive moviegoing.

News, Sports

Jake Locker Drafted 8th Overall by Tennessee Titans

April 28, 2011 Seth Kolloen

State schoolboy legend and Washington Huskies star Jake Locker is headed to Nashville, where, with the Tennessee Titans’ unsettled quarterback situation, he’ll have a chance to be an NFL starting quarterback this September.

Locker becomes the highest-drafted quarterback in University of Washington history (Don Heinrich, 35th overall in 1952) and the highest-drafted Husky since Steve Emtman (1st overall in 1992). Reggie Williams (9th overall in 2004) was the last Husky to be picked in the first round.

Tennessee thought they had their franchise quarterback in 2006, when they drafted Vince Young 3rd overall. But Young’s personal problems and clashes with Titans coach Jeff Fisher caused the Titans to release him. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen says a football source called Locker, known for his humility and leadership qualities, “the anti-Vince Young.” Kerry Collins started 7 games for the Titans next season, but he’s a free agent. The only Titans QB under contract is Rusty Smith, who started once last season in a shutout loss.

Locker is the second quarterback taken in this draft, a big surprise, as Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert was considered by most to be the second quarterback taken after Cam Newton. ESPN’s Todd McShay predicted that Locker wouldn’t be drafted until the second round.

If the NFL schedule stays the same, with NFC teams playing a matching AFC division on a rotational basis, Locker will first face the Seahawks at some point in the 2013 season. Unless the two teams meet in the Super Bowl. ;)

Drinks, Food

It’s South America in Seattle, Thanks to Piscologia at Havana Tonight

April 28, 2011 Audrey 2 Comments

There’s a movement afoot to make South American white brandy pisco the new tequila. Surely you’ve heard of the traditional Peruvian libation, the pisco sour? (Yes you have, and I won’t call you Shirley.) While I’m happy keeping tequila the new tequila, trading in the margarita for the paloma, there’s nothing wrong with adding a little pisco to your liquor life.

And now you actually can: Piscologia Pisco Acholado is the first pisco to be sold by the Washington State Liquor Control Board. To celebrate, Piscologia has been hosting events at bars around town, no doubt because the co-owner of Topa Spirits, the company which imports and distributes their pisco, is Seattleite Meg McFarland.

The Piscologia people hit up Rob Roy and Sambar a few months ago, and Grim’s earlier this month. Tonight’s your latest chance to party with pisco, this time at Havana.

From 5:30-8:30 p.m., stop by what’s being called “Pisco Happiness in Havana” to check out three three new pisco cocktails designed by Havana’s mixologists specifically for this event:

Piscochino, featuring Maraschino Liqueur
Pisco Lemonade, a great alternative to the traditional pisco sour
Cam-Pisco, with Campari

I can testify that Piscologia makes some easy-sipping pisco, with light citrus and honey notes, as opposed to some piscos which more closely resemble turpentine.

If you make it to Havana tonight, you’ll receive a raffle ticket to be entered to win a Piscologia prize pack filled with goodies. And if you’re willing to be a corporate shill, feel free to tweet the following message in order to get an extra raffle ticket and a “tasty bonus surprise”: I’m toasting with @piscologia at Piscología Presents… Pisco Happiness in Havana. #pisco

Environment, News, Transportation

Local Environmental Groups Can’t Find Environmental Angle on Transportation Megaproject

April 28, 2011 Michael van Baker

The Seattle Times has a story on Mayor McGinn’s opposition to the tunnel that, refreshingly, casts him as a Machiavellian power-broker able to sway the national levels of environmental organizations: “Sierra Club digs into tunnel fight; too cozy with McGinn?”

This provides balance to their view that he’s completely incompetent.

But much more interesting than that is the conclusion of the article, which contains a roundup of the environmental groups that either support the tunnel or haven’t taken a position.

Not all environmental groups in the region share the Sierra Club’s view that the tunnel is the worst environmental option to replace the viaduct.

Several point out that tearing down the viaduct allows the city to create an appealing green space along the waterfront, reduces surface-water runoff into Puget Sound, eliminates a huge source of noise pollution, and combats sprawl by making the city a more desirable place to live.

I would suggest that if you support any of the following organizations for actual environmental reasons, you might want to rethink that support, or at least ask them to rethink their responses to the media: Washington Forest Law Center, Washington Conservation Voters, People for Puget Sound, and Washington Environmental Council.

The Times quotes Clifford Traisman, lobbyist for Washington Conservation Voters and Washington Environmental Council, saying, “It’s not a black-and-white environmental issue.” (According to WSDOT’s SDEIS, only the I-5/Surface/Transit option helps lower greenhouse gas emissions, which in principle is a top priority of the state.)

For a rebuttal to that position, visit the policy wonks at Sightline for their extensive analysis of what the tunnel’s impacts are. This vociferousness isn’t like them, by the way–it’s just that they can’t find a worthwhile benefit the tunnel provides for the cost. It could hardly be less black-and-white, unless you’re of the opinion that single-occupancy vehicles are greener than transit.

Note the benefits, above, which are not at all exclusive to the tunnel, though they are presented that way. Certainly a waterfront green space and reducing surface street run-off are not. (I want to take issue with “eliminates” a huge source of noise pollution, as the tunnel would exhaust both car exhaust and tunnel noise into the city above.) The notion that the tunnel “combats sprawl” (what an active verb!) is new to me, and I note that there are no data points associated with this startling claim.

In short, it’s simply intellectually indefensible to suggest that the tunnel is a green option, or that it is “as green as” an option that seeks to shift capacity concerns from vehicles to people. I expect tunnel proponents to elide the difference, but theoretically environmental organizations would know better.

Speaking of intellectually indefensible, the Seattle Chamber’s Tayloe Washburn has penned an op-ed in which he asks readers to use their imaginations when planning traffic flow for transportation projects: “Now close your eyes for a moment and picture your commute on a rainy Friday evening if the mayor got his way and 110,000 additional cars and trucks were forced onto I-5 and city streets.”

Washburn hasn’t gotten his statistics right: it’s 110,000 vehicle trips, not different cars and trucks, unless he’s imagining–and it occurs to me this is where the problem might be–commuters driving off from home each day and never returning. But I think we can agree that, in general, we don’t want to leave transportation planning to a large group of people standing around with their eyes closed.

The SunBreak

Monthly Archives: April 2011