Paul McCartney.  What’s left to say really?  He was and always will be a Beatle.  Anything he does is good.  His new album is a foray into standards but with Paul’s magic touch.

Paul takes a different approach on this album and takes a Tony Bennett vocal and musical turn.  It’s romantic and perfect for the month of February.  It’s smooth music, perfect for putting on some fancy clothes and splitting a bottle of wine with your lover or a simple night in trying that new recipe you found on Pinterest.  Think “When I’m Sixty-Four,” but now that Sir Paul is older than 64, it’s a more enlightened take.  “Bye Bye Blackbird” seems to pick up where The Beatles “Blackbird” left off, and it’s interesting to hear the rest of the story.  There’s a delightful string arrangement in “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and will have you whistling along to the rest of the tune.

This Beatle has gotten older and wiser, and so has his music.  It’s a great listen that will instantly make you relax and smile.

Grade: A
Recommended Songs: “My Valentine” and “Baby’s Request”

AmesForever.com owner Matt Spurlin wants to put the Ames creative community at your fingertips. His not-for-profit site will host a “comprehensive local events calendar” as well as music, paintings, drawings, photography, poetry and more, specifically for Ames residents.

“It’s a digital version of what you’ve seen before in person and a great way to share it with people who aren’t here,” Spurlin said.

The site will celebrate its opening this Friday with the release of a free mix CD featuring exclusively local artists such as Mumford’s, Doctor Murdock, Jordan Mayland, The Glashtens and Tires. Spurlin said the site’s debut would also include the release of some “non-physical” tracks from other local artists.

In a show at The Space for Ames featuring seven local bands, AmesForever.com will release its new CD alongside Gestalt’s first printed “art-zine.” Spurlin anticipates more collaborative work with Gestalt in the future as well.

“We may be hosting some of the material that didn’t quite make it into the ‘zine,” he said.

Any creative individual in Ames can share their work on the site simply by sending an email to share@amesforever.com. Spurlin said the Ames music community has been especially supportive and interested in the site. Jason Parry, senior in English, has been doing his part to help promote the site as well.

“I was working on a different site with my buddy, when I heard Matt was working toward this, so I jumped in and started directing everything toward collaboration,” Parry said. “I’ve been talking to Bryon Dudley at the Spacement to see if we can use some of his archives, too.”

“Jason helped me refine my ideas and develop it into more,” Spurlin added. “It seemed the ‘Gestalt’ community wanted to use their Facebook to share their poetry and art, but it’s really not a good platform for that.”

He also commented that while sites like BandCamp, SoundCloud and deviantART provide sharing services, none are localized.

Spurlin cited his own introduction to the Ames creative community as inspiration for AmesForever.com’s creation.

“It was kind of a foreign area to me when I first came here,” he said. “I hope people can use the site as a kind of introduction without having to leave their home, without the effort of going out.”

“It was important to make it accessible for new people coming into the scene and also continue supporting everyone else,” Parry added.

Spurlin concluded that his website is “not about who you know,” but rather “what you have to share.”

Ames Forever & Gestalt Release

Featuring Tires, MSGW, Lesbian Poetry, STEWARDESSES and more
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24
Where: The Space for Ames
Cost: Free, including CD and Art-zine

Harper Lee wrote a novel 52 years ago that would later win her the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the title “Best Novel of the Century” in a 1999 Library Journal poll. Now, ISU Theatre is paying tribute to Lee in the upcoming production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

The play, adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel, will open in Fisher Theater this weekend.

“I have talked about doing ‘Mockingbird’ for a long time,” said Jane Cox, the show’s director. “It has wonderful characters with a wonderful plot that has so much to say.”

Cox said this theater season seemed like an appropriate year to perform the show, as it is the 50th anniversary of the Oscar-winning film version of “Mockingbird.”

Though she has never seen the film version, Kiah Kayser, sophomore in performing arts, has read the novel three times. Kayser reread the book for the first time since her teenage years shortly after she found out she was cast in the lead role of Scout Finch.

Kayser said it has been a “weird” experience to play the classic character, but she and the rest of the company have been working to “stay true” to the play and script, but also pay tribute to the book.

“This book means so much to so many people. You can’t ignore the fact that it’s not just a play,” Kayser said. “Everybody has these connotations and what they think Scout is to them, what they think Scout is in general. That’s something we’ve really had to balance.”

Along with Kayser, Brent LeBlanc, sophomore in performing arts, and Taylor Sklenar, freshman in English and chemistry, are also portraying the well-know roles of Jem and Atticus Finch, respectively. Although Kayser and Sklenar are familiar with “Mockingbird,” LeBlanc is fairly new to the story. While relying solely on research he has done for his role, LeBlanc said he “didn’t have a model” for playing Jem.

“I go with what the text gives me and I try to build a character true to [Jem's] actions and his words in the text,” LeBlanc said.

Like Kayser and LeBlanc, Sklenar is also working to create a familiar version of his character, Atticus. He said playing the role has been “intense,” but he has created a strategy to get ready for portraying the 50-year-old lawyer.

“It’s a mindset sort of thing,” Sklenar said. “I like to find a place where it’s quiet and just sort of puff out my chest and hold my posture up. You get the physicality and then the mindset follows.”

While the actors are hard at work to perfect their characters, Cox hopes the production will be a successful interpretation of the novel.

“Everybody has expectations of what the characters will be like,” Cox said. “We’ve done our best with what we think they’re like from Harper Lee’s novel.”

Symphony, prelude, choral, suite and divertimento are all examples of classical forms of music. The Symphonic Band, an auditioned band of approximately 50 members, will present these types of music in its “Forms” concert Friday.

The Concert Band will also play at the concert and present a set of music with southern themes. Both the Concert and Symphonic Band will play a large amount of music, compared to the number of pieces the bands have usually prepared for each concert this year.

The Symphonic Band’s classical pieces in the concert were composed from years 1870 to 1950. The Russian prelude by Dmitri Shostakovich is slightly out of the band’s comfort zone, partly because it was transcribed from piano to wind instrument music. The prelude is extremely dark and has an unusually foreboding tone, said Steven Smyth, director of the Symphonic Band. In contrast, the closing John Philip Sousa suite “is like cotton candy for band” because of its light, easy nature, Smyth said.

All of the Concert Band’s music is somehow southern-based in varying ways, such as in the variation of “Amazing Grace” or the southern hymn-based movements of “Angel Band.” “Sweet Like That” is a more “laid back and fun” piece because it is less focused on technicalities and allows for more work on musicality, said Zach Howell, junior in music and trumpeter in Concert Band. “Sweet Like That,” composed by Christopher Theofanidis, is part of a composition series called “BandQuest” where experienced composers write songs for younger bands. The piece is unusual because the composer is focused on his own imaginings of how the song should sound instead of usual classical music structures, said William Staub, director of the Concert Band.

As far as preparation for the concert, Staub said it has gone well, although that is not the most important thing.

“I think they’ve enjoyed it. That’s the most important thing to me, is that they’re getting something musical out of it and they enjoy it,” he said.

Concert and Symphonic Band concert
When: Friday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ames City Auditorium
Cost: $5 students, $7 adults

The women’s choir, Cantamus, intends to present music using especially good expression, balance and tone quality for its concert Sunday. These are skills Kathleen Rodde, director of Cantamus, has been focusing on when improving songs Cantamus has already performed this year, said Emily Junge, junior in mathematics and economics. Five songs already familiar to the choir will be included in the eight-song concert.

“Psuedo-Yoik,” one piece which will be presented Sunday, is sung in nonsense syllables the composer created. These syllables are meant to closely represent the style the composer Jaakko Mäntyjärv intended for the song. Compared to the other concert repertoire, “Psuedo-Yoik” has a “really bright” sound, said Megan Kirkpatrick, junior in child, adult and family services.

In addition to the Cantamus choir, a smaller auditioned group called Count Me In, comprised of approximately 13 members, will perform three songs in the concert. Count Me In  singers are also members of Cantamus.

The transition from the fall to spring semester has created a small change in choir members, which introduced new singers in exchange for ones who left after first semester. They had to learn many songs already familiar to Cantamus from the fall semester, a process that has impressed other members of the choir, Kirkpatrick said.

During rehearsals, singers have consistently participated by raising hands and bringing up suggestions for the music. In this way, the choir can be described as “extremely social compared to other years,” which is helpful for working together and preparing for the concert, Junge said.

Cantamus Concert
When: Sunday, Feb. 26, 3 p.m.
Where: Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall
Cost: Students $2, adults $4

Kiah Kayser, sophomore in performing arts, plays the lead role of Scout Finch in the upcoming ISU Theatre production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” She is also a set painter for the show. “To Kill a Mockingbird” opens at Fisher Theater this Friday, Feb. 24.

Q: How long have you been performing?
A: I’ve been doing theater stuff since I was nine, eight, and [have been] continuously doing it. But this is my second year here at ISU Theatre.

Q: What other ISU Theatre performances have you been involved in?
A: Recently, I stage managed “Christmas Carol” and “Miracle Worker,” and I’m the artist at Fisher Theater, so I do lots of the painting and the sets.

Q: What is it like to play Scout?
A: It’s definitely different, because this is one of my first acting roles at ISU Theatre. It’s just different being on the other side of things, because I’m usually stage managing or backstage or working on things there. It’s really different to actually be in the role. But it is fun because she’s a kid, she’s a nine year old. It’s always fun to be a kid.

Q: How is the production going so far?
A: It’s been really fun. The cast members are fabulous to work with. I think that’s one of the greatest parts about the whole process, is bonding and forming that family feel with them.

Q: What do you hope to do in the future?
A: In the future, I’ll either really want to stage manage or do scenic painting. But I think having this acting role has helped me learn things. … It just gives you more of a well-rounded balance to theatrical life.

Sony’s newest handheld gaming device, the Playstation Vita, looks promising. But can it compete with the mobile phone market?

The device is set to be released on Wednesday. Customers willing to pay a premium were able to purchase the First Edition Bundle (MSRP $349.99) early, which included the Vita as well as “Little Deviants,” a 4GB memory card, and a hard carrying case. The Playstation Vita comes in either the $249.99 Wi-Fi model, or the $299.99 3G model.

First and foremost, the product was extremely well packaged, and the goodies included with the bundle didn’t hurt either. The Vita’s design is very reminiscent of the Playstation 3 controller, with the added SIXAXIS support and a touch pad of the back on the device. The home screen is based entirely on the front screen’s touch controls, and cannot be navigated with the actual buttons. It is apparent that Sony is pushing the digital market for selling PS Vita games when looking inside the case of Little Deviants. The only thing included is the actual game, with no manuals or extra information.

The difference between this and an iPhone? The PS Vita has no phone capabilities. It’s a dedicated gaming device with app functionality. It has a variety of apps similar to what you’d find on an Android/iPhone, such as internet, music, videos and even Google Maps. However, I don’t see the Vita breaking any sales numbers. Many casual gamers would only carry around one device rather than two, and with the ever- expanding market of apps on phones, it’s hard to justify spending more than $250 for the Vita when you could get a PS3 for $300.

CORRECTION: The original article stated Allen’s display included “neon art pieces.” The exhibition only includes one neon piece, “Heaven Now What,” while the rest of the exhibit displays Allen’s drawings of his work on the public neon art in the State Gym Expansion. The article also said the Live Talk with Allen was on Feb. 29. The lecture is on March 1 at 6 p.m. in 2019 Morrill Hall. A reception will follow from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in 1017 Morrill Hall.
This month, the Christian Petersen Art Museum is welcoming a new and old guest, Terry Allen.

Terry Allen is a renowned songwriter and artist who has had a love for his craft since high school. His new piece, “Heaven Now What,” is made out of  neon gas and will be presented in the campus museum. Allen said the art of songwriting and art go hand-in-hand for him.

“When writing down a song, I think of images, and when drawing out piece ideas, I think of songs,” Allen said.

Allen is a graduate from Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles and has received numerous awards throughout his career since 1966 including the Guggenheim Fellowship, National Endowment for the Art Fellowships and Awards for the Visual Arts in Washington, D.C.

The neon-only work is a type of piece that Allen has never done before. Though he is not new to incorporating neon into his work, and it is shown in the pieces that are displayed in the new student recreation center.

Along with the neon art pieces, Allen’s exhibit also display notebooks of ideas that he has done or that he has thought of but has not attempted.

“It’s what gets me to begin,” Allen said about the notebooks.

Allison Sheridan, collections manager and communications coordinator for University Museums, said Allen’s exhibit may confuse viewers at first, but seeing the works makes it come together.

“People are not quite sure what the exhibition is, but then when they see the art, they understand,” Sheridan said. “They see that Allen’s work has irony and that he has a sense of humor.”

Sheridan hopes quite a few classes and students come and ask great questions. The reception for Allen on Feb. 29 will not be a typical museum reception with wine and cheese but is much more casual and gives people a chance to talk with Allen and get to see his humorous personality.

Allen just hopes for people to enjoy themselves at the exhibit.

“I have learned not to hope and anticipate what others will think or how they will react to my pieces,” Allen said. “It’s a waste of time to think of it that way. I just put it out there.”

The exhibition is currently up in the Christian Petersen Art Museum in the Campbell Gallery, 1017 Morrill Hall. It will be up until May 4.

“Live Talk with Terry Allen”
Where: Morrill Hall
When: Feb. 29

“Tumbling, hat juggling and hand balancing” are listed as only a few of the many talents associated with the ZuZu acrobats on their promotional poster. The ZuZu acrobats will appear  on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. The event is scheduled in honor of Black History Month.

The ZuZu acrobats originally were known as “Zuma Zuma” and wowed the judges on NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent.” Their act combines strength, skill and African dance into a live show.

Anna Prisacari, a member of the Student Union Board, said the booking of the ZuZu acrobats was due to a growing trend found at Iowa State.

“After a great success with Chinese acrobats back in spring 2011, we saw a great demand and interest in multicultural, family-oriented show,” Prisacari said. “After watching the videos from ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I said, ‘Wow, I must bring these guys to Ames’.”

The group is from Mombasa, Kenya, and incorporates the traditional dances of the region into their show. SUB describes the show as “a show you would see in a nightclub in the coastal region of Kenya and Tanzania”.

“It’s just something different,” said George Micalone, director of student activities. “There are a lot of other Black History Month events planned outside of our program, but we thought this would just add to the program.”

Mary Creswell, associate professor of music with specialty in voice at Iowa State, has extensive experience in performing and teaching classical styles of music to students. She attended the University of Michigan, a common education background she shares with William David, professor of music and pianist in their upcoming duo concert on Sunday.

Q: When and why did you first realize your interest in teaching vocal music?
A: I knew I wanted to be a singer. As a child I loved to sing, and I received a lot of attention for singing, so I pursued that just because of the encouragement I had received and also because I was born with this ability to sing loudly. I trained and worked very hard at it. But in high school, I saw my first opera, and I was very excited to be involved and learn more about opera. I pursued a career as an opera singer, and I also found out that I really enjoy teaching as well. In college, I had an assistantship where I worked with students, and realized that I loved teaching as much as I loved performing, so that’s sort of how I ended up here in Iowa at Iowa State.

Q: How have your experiences in varying types of music, such as opera, shaped you as a musician?
A: Opera incorporates all the arts and performance, and probably one of the most complicated forms of vocal performance – having to be a strong singer, and also having to work very hard on being a good actor on stage… . The training that goes into that is quite extensive. I’ve learned a lot about theater, I’ve learned a lot about acting, and I’ve worked very hard at developing my voice and singing well and singing healthy. So, I’m able to, because of that experience as a performer and because I continually perform, I can bring that to my students… . That really helps me understand what the students are going through, and how important it is to stay in shape, and to vocalize every day, and to keep your instrument in good shape, and to be a healthy person and all of that, because our body is our instrument. I feel because I am an active performer it helps me be a better teacher. I really love working with young people, too.

Q: What have you learned from your experiences with teaching students?
A: We have fantastic vocal performance majors and vocal music education majors here, and they’re very inquisitive and always have a lot of questions. I have to be on top of my game, I have to do my research, and I have to be ready to answer their questions, as all professors have to. I find that really stimulating and exciting, and I love it when they ask me a question that I don’t know the answer to because that sort of makes me work harder at learning and staying active and studying.

Q: What is in store for you next?
A: I’m performing a recital with Dr. David, a fantastic pianist also on our faculty. We’re singing Sunday… at 7:30 p.m., and we are doing a recital of songs from all over the world, and he’s also doing a solo piano piece. This is a collaboration that I’ve looked forward to for a long time. We’re both from Michigan, and we’ve studied at the University of Michigan. I’ve wanted to work with him for a long time, and he’s retiring soon, so this is sort of my last chance. I’m also singing in Michigan. I’m one of the soloists for the Mahler 8th Symphony with the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan. As soon as this is over, I’ve got to start preparing that music, not to mention my teaching load. So it’s going to be a busy spring, but a very exciting spring.