Concession Stand

by Jason Webber

A Separation (4 stars)

What It’s About: A traditional Iranian couple must make a difficult decision—leave Iran to pursue a better life for the sake of their child…and stay behind and fulfill their “obligation” to look after a family member with Alzheimer’s Disease.

What We Like: Wha…?! Subtitles? In Toledo? Whodathunkit? This winner of the 2012 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film may have earned director Asghar Farhadi one of those coveted gold nude bald guys, but it’s also given him an almost Salman Rushdie-like stigma in his native Iran by certain arts and religious organizations that find “A Separation” culturally offensive. One prominent Iranian critic said this film is “the dirty picture of the Iranian people that westerners are wishing for.” Don’t believe him. At a time when prejudice against Middle Easterners is still a serious social problem, “A Separation” is not only an enjoyable film but a necessary one.

Now playing at Rave Motion Pictures Levis Commons 12


Jeff Who Lives At Home (3 stars)

What It’s About: Jeff (Jason Segal) who—you guessed it—still lives at home in his mom’s basement gets thrown into a series of nutty existential-tinged screwball situations involving his older brother (Ed Helms) and his bro’s possibly adulterous wife.

What We Like: OK, here’s the thing. This film from the Duplass Brothers—the guys who did that “Cyrus” movie”—is fun. But the big problem with this otherwise enjoyable film is that it simply tries too hard. Not all the gags work and ultimately the character of Jeff is just another self-righteous, hipper-than-thou, poor-man’s Jeffrey Lebowski. At this point the Adorable Philosophical Slacker is a movie stock character…and he’s getting old and tired very quickly. Having said that, is the movie good? Yes. But it’s anything but groundbreaking.

Now playing at the State Theater in Ann Arbor.

A three-day party, 12 bands and a chance to break a guitar. What else could you want?

by Scott Recker


Through the recent years, a lot of us have seen quite a few good bands at the Ottawa Tavern — and the thing is, we've seen 99% of them for free. (I remember when Vandaveer and Sean Rowe played at the OT — it was free, when every other stop on the tour was a minimum of $15.) Sure, it's done wonders for their business, but, without a cover, the band's pay comes right out of the venue's pocket, not leaving much for any sort of new equipment. And as what often happens in this community, someone stepped in. Local musician and graphic designer Brandon Scott wanted to give back, so this weekend — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — he is throwing a fundraiser/birthday party. The target: replace that ancient sound system. The event: Adams Sattler's Three Day Birthday Bender — Brandon's OT Audio Fund Drive; three nights of music, drinking, raffles, donating, booths and whatever other shenanigans you can get yourself into. It's all free; just contribute what you can to help these guys keep kicking out the jams. (Also, enter the raffles — a lot of stuff has been donated — and you might even get to break a guitar on stage).

"I've lived in Toledo since summer of 2010, a short time compared to a majority of my friends and peers that share the thriving music and arts scene along with me," says Scott. "From day one there has never been a shortage of hands to help out one another to accomplish their goals. I've been inspired by people — Jerry Gray, Ryan Bunch, Maxwell Austin, and of course Adam Sattler — who all take it upon themselves to propel each other towards excellence in their endeavors. None of those people waited for an invitation to do the great things they're doing. They saw how they can make a difference, coordinated a considered plan and took action. I want to provide this community with something that it provided me: A comfortable place and a hand whenever I want to get something done."

Here's the line-up:

Thursday:
Murdock
Hemline Theory
The Leles

Friday:
Audioplay
DJ What The Bleep
Black Book Theory
DJ Abyss

Saturday:
Gashes
Prize The Doubt
The Forrest
Room & Board

For descriptions of each band and more details, check out the event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/374369389258370/

Here are TCP's Adams Street Sessions from two of the bands:

PeelanderZ Invades Toledo!!!!!

by Julian Garcia

Photography by Amanda Holman

Once again T-Town was invaded by the super hyper, super fun band of wandering Japanese-looking aliens from PeelanderZ on Monday, March 5 at Frankie's Inner City. And once again a large crowd turned out on a weekday night to make contact with the theatrical "anime-punk" group and not one soul in the room was idle. They must have brought down a contagious fun disease from outer space because unlike any other band that has come through Toledo, at least in recent months, PeelanderZ gets everybody to participate. The crowd was banging on steel drums, doing the limbo and collectively singing "E-I-E-I-O" to a punked-out version of "Old MacDonald" — and this wasn't necessarily a recreational-drug-infused festival crowd. Sure there was plenty of cheap PBR being sloshed around, but the main intoxicant of the night was pure wholesome F-U-N!

On his planet Peelander Yellow is handsome!

In the interview I did to promote the show (2/22/12 issue of TCP) with the band's leader, Peelander Yellow, he said their mission was to collect smiles, because his planet uses smiles as an energy source. Well, they hit the motherlode here in Toledo, perhaps because everybody seems so desperate for good time.

Another high energy Japanese band opened for PeelanderZ, they went by the anime-sounding moniker, Electric Eel Shock. I happened to just miss their set but everybody was buzzing not so much about the shredding style music, but because of their almost nude drummer. Sources told me at one point he was "helicoptering" and playing the drums with a particular lower extremity. I think the proof is in the pics below....

Yikes! Electric Eel Shock Drummer "Helicopters!"

One of the main features of a PeelanderZ show are the costumes. The performance heavily relies on their theatrical presence. Their tunes are the classic sound one would attribute to punk, so there is a good deal of three chord shredding and garbled screaming. However, behind trite lyrics like "Taco, taco, taco' repeated with audience participation, there is a clear sense of self-mocking and satirization of American pop-culture.

Peelander Pink proves "girls just wanna have fun!"

Ok, now bear with me as I attempt a conversational analysis of an otherwise silly NYC, Asian punk band. With their whole anime persona they embrace and control Japanese stereotypes—really they come out like Power Rangers. And their lyrics lovingly make fun of Japanese stereotypes of Americans. One of their more popular tracks is "So Many Mike" in which they point out there are a lot of people in the America named Mike. They even have a song to sell merchandise, "Get Glasses" which did sell a lot of fake Ray Ban looking PeelanderZ shades. Everyone seems in on the joke — and more importantly everyone has a blast.

But enough said about that. The audience really comes to PeelanderZ shows for the Giant Squid or human bowling. So the next time they come through Toledo on their interplanetary tours be sure to check them out for an extraordinary evening of careless revelry.

Giant Squids also make great bowling balls

P.S.—Rumor has it PeelanderZ will be back in Toledo this summer. Until then they have a big showcase show at this year's SXSW. Stay in the loop with the Toledo City Paper for more details.

Experience the syndrome

Phantom Limb Syndrome. One might think of something other than an a blossoming indie band about to take Toledo by storm, but get ready T-town — this new band is right on with haunting lyrics and soothing melodies. Phantom Limb Syndrome (Chris Antalek, Jamie Carlin, Justin Fuller and Matt Klein) recently dropped an EP that has local music gurus talking. Recorded at Little Elephant Studios, the four-song EP talks about great escapes and Indian summers, and let’s not forget the first track “Interlude In C Minor” which is surprisingly soothing with its electro-phonic tones. Phantom Limb’s album release party is Saturday (January 28) at 10pm at the Ottawa Tavern (1817 Adams St.)

Hundred year hall

It started as two rented rooms in the Gardner Building in Downtown in 1901, now the Toledo Museum of Art is maybe the most recognizable and world-renowned building in the city. It was a long road, with many generous donations along the way — most notably the Libbey fortune — but maybe the biggest stride was on Jan. 17, 1912 when people passed through the iconic Greek columns into the main TMA building for the first time. And since that means tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of those historic doors opening, it means one thing: we must celebrate. From 1-2pm in Libbey Court a commemorative ceremony — including a reading from a text by a person who was present at the opening —will take place with light refreshments, including a cake replica of the building.
"The building has become such a landmark, so it's important we celebrate the first hundred years," Kelly Garrow, director of communications, said.
Besides an extensive and exciting schedule of exhibitions and events, the TMA has serious plans of preservation in the next few years; cleaning and renovating the galleries, updating the restrooms and any other repairs that will increase the building's longevity.
"Our strategic plan for the next 4 years — our director calls it polishing the gem —is basically taking this 100 year building and cleaning it up the best we can."

The girl who interested the world

by Scott Recker

By far, the most daunting task of reading the novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is the first 150 pages— that is, unless you have a thirst for Swedish politics and economics. But, if you hold on, you're rewarded with an intense story intertwining corruption, a family's dark history, broken social systems, and, of course, this decade's favorite anti-heroine, Lisbeth Salander, an anti-conformist loner who refuses to let her shitty hand of cards keep her down or dependant — not to mention her being the best kept secret in the private security industry as an uncanny investigator with a photographic memory. In David Fincher's American film, you don't have to wait for the payout — the master of compressing intricate plot info into short scenes that often let a single shot say 2,000 words, gets right to the point.
Famous journalist Mikael Blomkvist is down on his luck: He loses a libel case, which drains his bank account. If that's not bad enough, the case shakes Millennium's (the magazine he publishes) future so badly, it doesn't look like they will be able to stay alive for more than a few months. That's when he gets an offer he can't refuse: Former dominant corporate CEO Henry Vanger hires him to write his memoir, but what he really want is for Blomkvist to investigate the most detestable people he knows — his family — regarding the murder of his niece 40 years prior. The old man has been obsessed with the case for decades, but never has come close to cracking it. When new clues are uncovered, Blomkvist demands a research assistant, which through a pretty hilarious series of events, where he finds out Salander investigated him for the Vanger job, he hires the girl with the dragon tattoo to help him out. And together they find out the truth. The dark, kind-of-happy, really messed-up truth.
Bottom line: David Fincher came through, compressing a complex plot with delicate issues into a fast-paced film with the same bite as the book. It's actually pretty amazing how he trimmed the fat without losing the story. And the visual experience is just as creepy as the read, with drawn-out, desperate situations complemented by Trent Reznor's ominous, but never overwhelming score. With the exception of the opening credits (a cover of Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song"), the former NIN frontman and digital metal genius keeps the story going (and you on the edge of your seat), without taking over the action and anticipation scenes — a place where so many movies go wrong. Strap in. It's a wild ride. And, while it's not perfect, I don't think any other director could have done it better.

They say the chicks are somethin' else On Broadway

by Julian Garcia

Theater is not for the faint of heart. It involves an incredible amount of commitment that must be earned through a preliminary process of audition before the months of strenuous rehearsal before even starting the whirlwind of show time. Rehearsal days become 12-14 hour marathons and for the perfectionists who take the work home current shows are absolute 24/7. Scripts turn into scripture, the halls backstage become impromptu places to nap and cast and crew's lives become intertwined for the whole length of production—through hell or high water. Musical theater is additionally grueling when choreography and elaborate musical numbers are heads added to the beast.

Nobody gets involved in theater because it is easy, or to just earn a paycheck—theater "people" get into it for that roar at the

end of the show—for that ultimate high of putting on a hell of a show and receiving an ovation as for the entertainment. And no high compares to the ecstasy of performing on arguably the planet's biggest stage, Broadway!

Toledo native Cassie Okenka knows all about the rigors and thrills of pursuing a life on stage. She caught the acting bug at an early age here in Toledo beginning in area youth theater at The Children's Theatre Workshop at the Collingwood Arts Center and other area youth productions. After graduating from the now defunct Performing Arts School of Metro Toledo, she went on to attend the prestigious Conservatory of Music at Baldwin-Wallace College, and after earning her degree she eventually moved to the Big Apple to pursue a career in musical theater.

Cassie has quickly achieved success by earning the role as Dorothy in the national touring production of The Wizard of Oz and becoming a top ten finalist on MTV's theatrical reality show, Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods.

Now Okenka is making her big Broadway debut in the inaugural cast of Bonnie & Clyde the musical. She has been cast as the "Swing," or the understudy for all the ladies ensemble roles and the main role of Bonnie. The play follows the story of America's most infamous couple, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, and their turbulent love-fueled crime spree across the dust bowl during the Great Depression. On November 13, 2011 she made her official debut when she played Bonnie during one of the preview shows.

Cassie was gracious enough to take time out of her busy production schedule to answer a few questions about her theatrical journey and her big debut current on Broadway.

TCP: Broadway is a big deal. Is this opportunity something you have always aspired for, or is something that became a more tangible goal as your theatrical career progressed?

Okenka: Yes, yes and yes! Broadway is a HUGE deal. There are only 9 women in the cast. And to be chosen as one of those 9 is just incredible. The caliber of people involved with this production are out of this world. These are people I have seen in numerous other Broadway shows, seen their work and just been in awe of them.

When I realized that I did want to do this for the rest of my life, my final goal was Broadway. Its the ultimate. It's the highest you can get. Why not reach for the top. As I furthered my education in Musical Theatre, the possibility of Broadway was getting closer. I met more people in the business, made more business connections, bettered myself as a performer, etc. I mean there are hundreds upon hundreds of actors in NYC so getting where you want to get is a lot of luck, talent, and persistence.

TCP: How did your experience touring nationally prepare you for the leap onto Broadway?

Okenka: Being the The Wizard of Oz tour was a great stepping stone. I really learned how to carry a show, constant changes in location, cast members, along with keeping the show fresh and fun. I also learned how to handle fans, press interviews, and all the business side of show business. It also gave me experience that I can put in my "tool-box" to use later in my career.

TCP: Anything particularly exciting about this production of Bonnie & Clyde that makes it stand out above the flurry of other big Broadway shows?

Okenka: There is no one that won't enjoy this show. It is a great love story between Bonnie and Clyde, seeing how they become these outlaws. It has a TON of guns and blood (for the hesitant men who thinks musical theatre isn't for them), and its original. This is not based on the movie from 1967, its built from books from real-life encounters with Bonnie and Clyde. The use of historical evidence and pictures really create a cool piece of theatre. The music is unlike other normal musical theatre shows. It uses ukuleles, banjos, a rock and roll drum set, slide guitar, among other instruments. The music is fun, haunting, sexy, powerful, everything you would want. There aren't any jazz-hand, tap dancing numbers. Its a very honest show that can be called a play with music.

TCP: What lessons from your time working with The Children's Theatre Workshop here in Toledo still carry over to your professional experiences as an adult?

Okenka: I learned all my basics and manners there! I know how important every person involved really are. From the sound guy, to the deck hands, to wardrobe to fellow actors. Everyone is important. And people notice that. I know that if something were to happen while I'm on stage, I'm in good hands. And I learned the responsibility required. To know where you are going on stage, knowing your lines, and being prepared for everything. That has helped me in this huge step forward.

TCP: The Big Apple is the most exciting place in the world, but is there anything you miss—places or activities—back in the Toledo area that you cannot experience in New York?

Okenka: I miss the Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo!!! Also the poppyseed rolls at Haas Bakery! And just driving around and seeing the houses all decorated. Those are holiday traditions I can't really do here. Thats what makes Toledo my home.