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Gregory Alan Isakov's Hemisphere

eric@rednow.com (Eric Kuiper) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0000

I have this small, black, fits-in-your-pocket, piece of technology that I currently refer to as me Gregory Alan Isakov Player. You probably have one to—you call it an iPod—that is only because you have yet to upload Gregory into your iTunes libaray.

Every summer deserves a soundtrack and This Empty Northern Hemisphere is likely my choice for ‘09. Hemisphere has a sound that demands a warm evening, a laid back gathering of friends and few good drinks.

Another Sunny Day for Enigk: OK Bear

eric@rednow.com (Eric Kuiper) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:19:34 +0000

One of the pioneers of the emo-rock genre, it is probably fair to call Jeremy Engik (melo)dramatic. His 2006 album World Waits is has a huge, sweeping sound that can only be described as drama in instrumental form. With rumors of Sunny Day Real Estate once again getting the band back together (this time with Nate Mendell peeling himself away from the Foo Fighters to make it a complete reunion) and another solo studio album dropping, Engik is keeping the drama rolling.

The Work of Banksy: Seer, Seeing & Seen

eric@rednow.com (Eric Kuiper) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:19:00 +0000

What makes something art? Is it the intent of the creator? Is it the judgment of those experiencing it? Is it the location something is placed? Marcel Duchamp famously signed his name on a urinal he found and tried to enter it into an art show—he called it “Fountain.” It wasn’t accepted. But now, the statement he was trying to make is seen as so profound that replicas can be found in museums around the world.

Banksy is an infamous graffiti artist from London who is continually pushing the limits of art and expression. Scathing social commentary and political critique flow from his spray cans and paintbrushes. While his exact identity remains a mystery many people are jumping at the chance to define him. Some write him off as a vandal while others have embraced him as an artistic genius. He may very well be both.

Webb's Loophole: Derek Webb's Stockholm Syndrome

matt@rednow.com (Matt Browning) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0000

NEW UPDATED (time sensitive) INFO (at bottom of post)

It's still a secret, so keep your voice low... but Derek Webb has found a "loophole." We're still trying to piece it all together, but Webb seems to have had some dispute with his record label over a song on the album he is currently working on, "Stockholm Syndrome." Over the past few years Webb (the former front man of the Christian band Caedmon's Call) has grown increasingly controversial (at least in the circles where Caedmon's Call traveled) writing scathing songs about the marriage of Christianity and the Republican party, the marriage of Christianity and material wealth, the marriage of Christianity and... well, you get the picture.

Grace and Hope Found in Frozen River

bob@rednow.com (Bob Davidson) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:38:29 +0000

The tension surrounding the immigration debate has been the launching point for many filmmakers in recent years. Film such as In America, In Between Days, Fast Food Nation and the recently released Sin Nombre all tackle the numerous obstacles of immigrant travel and (non) assimilation. First time director/writer Courtney Hunt peers into the practice of border smuggling in her 2008 award winning (Sundance Grand Jury Prize) film Frozen River.

Set along the border of Quebec and the Mohawk reservation in New York, Hunt unveils the familial and financial hardships of two single mothers - one American (Melissa Leo) and one Mohawk (Misty Upham). After encountering each other in seemingly desperate situations, the tension brought forth by racial differences begins to subside within the discovery of shared realities. In attempts to rid themselves from the bonds of poverty, the two begrudgingly decide to partner in a number of border smuggling runs. And it is in these high-risk efforts that we discover this is not simply a narrative about the realities of poverty and/or immigration smuggling, but a story that centers itself on sacrifice, grace and the hope of humanity.

Searching For Beauty in 'The Kingdom of Rust'

eric@rednow.com (Eric Kuiper) — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:00:00 +0000

When it comes to bands from the other side of the pond, everyone knows the likes of U2, Oasis and Coldplay, but not enough are engaging with a band that has now released their fourth quality studio album: Doves.

Taking flight in 1998, Jez Williams, Andy Williams and Jimi Goodwin have moved from an indie rock band playing pubs in England to opening for everyone of the aforementioned British mainstays. Their sound continues to have a much edgier, gritty, indie feel than any of the “big boys,” but it is no less filled with feeling, thought and ‘let me hear that again!’ hooks.

Seeing & Hearing via The Lives of Others

bob@rednow.com (Bob Davidson) — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:18:15 +0000

Coffee shops are quite misleading. What appears to be a small and innocent space setup to enjoy your favorite beverage is often overshadowed by your friendly neighborhood “loud talker”. I typically spend a portion of each day in such a venue inevitably seeing and hearing more about other people’s lives than I care to. The ideas of seeing and hearing are no stranger to this site – nor are they to director/writer Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (what a name), who took the task seriously as he literally peers into the “lives of others” in his Oscar winning film Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others).

Can Knowledge and Power Expel Intelligence?

thomfred@sbcglobal.net (Thom) — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:23:58 +0000

Thinking about the relationship between power and knowledge causes me to consider whether or not we are truly free to ascertain the knowledge that shapes our reality. One way to consider this is to wrestle with how knowledge is created. In Expelled:No Intelligence Allowed, we are taken on an exploratory ride into the wonderful academic jungle of power and knowledge, using the Intelligent Design theory as our tram and Ben Stein as our tour guide. Actually, I think Stein would have looked quite perfect in khaki Bermuda shorts and a safari-style hat but his slightly disheveled lawyer-like appearance suits him and the documentary much better. Regardless of Stein's wardrobe selection, the exploration into the creation of knowledge is an important one.

Synecdoche, NY: Kaufman's Parables Continue

eric@rednow.com (Eric Kuiper) — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:53:33 +0000

No one creates films quite like Charlie Kaufman. Best known for his screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kaufman constructs stories filled with strange details that demand his audience suspend their disbelief. This doesn’t make Kaufman unique, many of the films we watch every year do the same thing (this month will bring a slew of such films: Wolverine, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation). But before you settle into your comfy, stadium style seat this summer for some explosions and sci-fi, check out a film you almost certainly missed this year: Synecdoche, NY.

Festival of Faith & Music

staff@rednow.com (Eric Kuiper & Matt Browning) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:30:21 +0000

This weekend rednoW will be hanging out at Calvin College's Festival of Faith & Music. We're pumped for the David Bazan show tonight & Lupe Fiasco tomorrow. We'll be sharing some thoughts here on the shows and workshops as the weekend goes on . Feel free to share your thoughts and comments as well [let us know how The Hold Steady show went!]. You can follow us on our twitter feed at twitter.com/rednow. We'll let you know where we are grabing beers after the shows if you want to come and talk about what is going down.