Posted inCulture

Aesthetically Idiosyncratic Existentialism

The Phoenician Scheme is Wes Anderson at his most playful.

I‘m tired of apologizing for my love of the films of Wes Anderson. Here’s my hard line: I don’t begrudge anyone who doesn’t like Anderson’s movies. The combination of quirk, whimsy, intricate sets, obsessive symmetry, bright color palette and hyper-specific aesthetic isn’t for everyone, and nor should it be. BUT, where I do take issue […]

Posted inCulture

The Next “Barbenheimer?"

Can “Stitch-ion: Impossible” be the next cultural juggernaut?

While I wouldn’t completely give them all the credit, the simultaneous release of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” on July 21, 2023, did a lot to revive interest in returning to the movie theater. While the movies were both critically and financially successful, it wasn’t wholly the films themselves that generated so much excitement; rather, it was […]

Posted inCulture

Strangers, Cheerleaders & Lovers

A few under-seen queer movies to celebrate for Pride

Happy Pride, everyone! While there have been amazing queer films being produced for the last several decades, Hollywood still doesn’t promote them with as much effort as they should unless they think there’s a chance for the film to win awards or make a lot of money. So many incredible LGBTQIA2S+ films completely miss audiences […]

Posted inCulture

May theatrical roundup

Planes, Cage and a Really Good Boy

Cinema is robust enough to feel almost limitless as an art form. Although movies are nearly 130 years old, a few filmmakers continue to push the medium forward every year, finding innovative and groundbreaking new ways to tell stories. While it’s rare to come across a film that feels wholly singular, I still find joy […]

Posted inNews

Shakti Farms

Cultivating a sustainable future in Central Oregon

If Shiv Shakti isn’t yet a household name in Central Oregon, he should be. The man is on a mission. His goal? To put Bend on the map as a model of self-sustainability where citizens have access to fresh, healthy and locally grown food. Shakti’s passion for agriculture began in Punjab, India, a region known […]

Posted inMusic

‘Half a Hundred Years,’ and Then Some

Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel’s decades-long revival of Western swing rolls on

“I never thought I’d last a half a hundred years,” bellows the smooth baritone of Ray Benson on Asleep at the Wheel’s “Half a Hundred Years” โ€” not a lot of folks have had this kind of longevity in the music industry. From behind a big white beard, Benson’s answer to his showbiz success is […]

Posted inMusic

Spreading Love: A Q/A with The Motet

New year, new vocalist, new songs

For 26 years, The Motet has been bringing funk and soul music to stages, shaking booties and spreading good vibes. Based out of Denver, today’s lineup features bandleader and drummer Dave Watts, Joey Porter on keys, Garrett Sayers on bass, Drew Sayers on keys and saxophone and Ryan Jalbert on guitar. With the release 2024’s […]

Posted inMusic

The Multifaceted Steve Poltz

The folk singer and songwriter defies definition

Does everything an artist says have to be true? Musicians surely take us on journeys with their songs, weaving together tales based on experiences and imagination. Steve Poltz is one of those singer/songwriters, a troubadour who spins stories in his songs and from stages. He can pull your leg while also baring his soul. It’s […]

Posted inCulture

From Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z

Robbie Williams struggles to be a “Better Man”

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: So, you take the traditional musical biopic like “A Complete Unknown” or “Walk the Line,” but instead of casting some popular actor like lil’ Timmy Chalamet or Joaq Phoenix to play the subject, you instead have the musician played by a computer-generated monkey. Yeah, me neither. But […]

Posted inMusic

Who’s Teaching Who?

Sisters Folk Fest’s video sessions document impactful experiences for instructors and students at last year’s Americana Song Academy

Raise your hand if you’ve ever written a song about peanut butter and boogers. Singer/songwriter Jenner Fox has, alongside a gaggle of 7-year-olds. These are the stories told in the classroom that is the Sisters Folk Festival’s continuing education program the Americana Song Academy. Last year’s classes took place in late September at the picturesque […]

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