Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 26, 2011

ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT

9

 Mountain Views News Saturday, March 26, 2011 


SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS: 

HELIOSCOPE


I hope I didn’t miss anything! Keep those cards and letters coming.....

 

SUN. 3/20 - BARRY “BIG B” BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El 
Centro. 626-441-2443. Sunday BLUES Brunch! http://www.bigbbrenner.com/ 

 

SUN. 3/20 - ANNUAL WISTARIA FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN SIERRA MADRE, 9am - 5pm. Arts & crafts 
fair, food booths, tons of live music and purple blossoms! ALUMINUM MARSHMALLOW, HORSES ON 
ASTROTURF, ? AND THE WISTARIANS, LEN MENDOZA, DAVE SHELTON and many more. I drove by the 
world-famous vine today and I think it’s going to be a great bloom this year.

 

SUN. 3/20 - “OPERA TO BROADWAY” VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 
7-10pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-

5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Every Sunday evening. Get there early - they pack ‘em in! 

 

TUES. 3/22 - “JC & Friends Songwriter Serenade” @ MATT DENNY’S ALEHOUSE & RESTAURANT IN 
ARCADIA, 7 - 9:30pm. 145 E. Huntington Dr., between 1st & 2nd Aves. 626-462-0250. Full bar & kitchen, all 
ages. A weekly acoustic show of songwriters playing original songs, either as a solo or duo act, outside on the 
covered, heated patio. This week’s artists: Brooke Williams, Jeffrey Michaels, and Sweet Potatoes. http://www.
jchyke.com/

 

WED. 3/23 - LISA FINNIE & JOHN PALMER re-duet @ RED CARPET WINE & SPIRITS IN GLENDALE, 
7 - 8pm. 400 E. Glenoaks Blvd. Indoor musical delights and three-option tastings via the in-house Enomatics 
in the Red Carpet Wine Bar. Outdoor temptations available just outside courtesy of Vizzi Food Truck. www.
redcarpetwine.com

 

FRI. 3/25 - THE MELLOW D’z (Dave Osti & Deanna Cogan) @ Cafe 322 in Sierra Madre, 5:30 - 7:30pm. 322 
W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Great happy hour discounts on food and drinks from 4:30-6:30. Acoustic 
Rock faves.

 

FRI. 3/25 - SWING DANCE PARTY with FLAT TOP TOM & HIS JUMPCATS @ CAFE 322, 8 - 11pm. 322 W. 
Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar, great Italian food, dance floor. 

 

SUN. 3/27 - “OPERA TO BROADWAY” VOCAL PERFORMANCES @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 
7-10pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Every Sunday evening. Get 
there early - they pack ‘em in! 

 

WED. 3/30 - LISA FINNIE & JOHN PALMER re-duet @ RED CARPET WINE & SPIRITS IN GLENDALE, 
7 - 8pm. 400 E. Glenoaks Blvd. Indoor musical delights and three-option tastings via the in-house Enomatics 
in the Red Carpet Wine Bar. Outdoor temptations available just outside courtesy of Vizzi Food Truck. www.
redcarpetwine.com

 

WED. 3/30 - The Mellow D’z @ Oceanview Bistro in Montrose from 7:30-10:00 PM. 3826 Ocean View Blvd. 818-
248-2722. Great food and drinks to go with cool acoustic jams. www.ovbistro.com

*****NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR THE 2011 DOO DAH PARADE! Parade Day is Saturday, April 
30th, 11:00am in East Pasadena. Be part of one of the most colorful and unique experiences around! Go to: 
pasadenadoodahparade.info -- and under “Entry Form” sign up now! Queen tryouts will be held on Sat. 4/2 @ 
the American Legion.

 

ADAMS’ PACK STATION at Chantry Flat, Angeles National Forest is now booking music for the Spring/
Summer season. Email Deb Burgess for info. dburgess@burcon-group.com (From the 210 Fwy in Arcadia/
Sierra Madre, Take Santa Anita Avenue North until it dead-ends at the parking lot.) Stay tuned to the Music 
News for artists, dates and times. JC Hyke, Jeannie Willets, 2 Frets Lower, Tom Renaud, Lisa Turner & Friends, 
Tim Tedrow and many more! 

 

Please remember to call and verify all info. before making plans. Everything is subject to change. This is show 
biz, after all... Hope to see you out & about, SierraMadreSue sierramadresue@yahoo.com 

A helioscope is “a telescope for viewing the sun, adapted 
to protect the eye of the viewer from the sun’s glare.” The 
Leeds five-piece band, Vessels have developed their own 
auricular version. Their latest record, Helioscope, feels like 
you’re staring directly into the sun because the intensity 
keeps on escalating to unparalleled heights. A harrowing, 
beautifully intrepid, and enormously intoxicating album 
has been graced upon us in the form of Vessels’ sophomore 
compilation. 

Kicking things off is “Monoform”, a multi-layered, wall-to-wall sounding juggernaut of a 
track. Monumental in every way, this song is enthralling from beginning to end. Next up 
is the “The Trap”, not nearly as tumultuous 
and aggressive as the first track, but melodic 
and structured in a well-balanced fashion. It 
isn’t until the last minute of the song where 
it dips slightly into stentorian territory. 
Much of the album comes in the shape of 
aggrandizing instrumental crescendos. 
There are many aspects to Vessel’s latest 
oeuvre that share similarities to other post-
rock experimental bands such as Explosions 
in the Sky and Mogwai. However, these Brits are no imitators and have produced such 
an idyllic, evocative residence that’s very uniquely their own style. Only a few tracks 
demonstrate lead singer Stuart Warwick’s tranquil vocals. The real highlight is from 
“Meatman, Piano Tuner, Prostitute”, which the vocals exceptionally bear a resemblance 
to Thom Yorke from Radiohead. This standout gem has the capacity of transcending your 
mind, body, heart, and soul to supreme bliss. Vessels clearly defines a loud and significant 
statement with their latest release. Let’s be honest here, they don’t make songs like this 
anymore. 

Sorrowful and serene, yet energetic and piercing in moments, Helioscope is one 
unpredictable voyage you’ll want to take multiple times. So much is to be discovered with 
repeated listens that one will find themselves floating through a cloud nine, atmospheric, 
awe-inspiring wonderland. Your emotions will undoubtedly be running rapid and wild. 
Helioscope is a massively intense and stimulating piece of work that’s stunningly original 
and arousing. Strap on your seatbelt, take a deep breath, and be ready to embrace the most 
unexpected ride of your newly suggested music discovery. 

Grade: 8.5 out of 10 

Key Tracks: “The Trap”, “Meatman, Piano Tuner, Prostitute”, “All Our Ends” 

Sean Kayden

Artist: Vessels 

Album: Helioscope

Release Date: March 14, 2011

Label: Cuckundoo Records


The Book Report

The Long Road Home: The Aftermath of the Second World War 

by Ben Shephard

 At the end of World War 1, the millions killed on the battlefields 
were eclipsed by the millions more civilians carried off by disease 
and starvation when the conflict was over. Haunted by memories, 
the Allies were determined that the end of World War 11 would 
not be followed by a similar disaster, and they began to lay plans 
long before victory was assured. Confronted by an entire continent 
starving and uprooted, Allied planners devised strategies to help all 
‘displaced persons’, and repatriate the millions of Latvians, Poles, 
Ukrainians, Jews , Yugoslavs,etc. in addition to several hundred 
thousand Germans. Including new documentation in the form 
of journals, oral histories, and essays by actual DPs unearthed 
during his research for this illuminating and radical reassessment 
of history Shephard brings to light the extraordinary stories of the 
war experienced by the refugees .This is the true and epic story of 
how millions ultimately found relief, reconciliation and a place to 
call home. 


Heist Society by Ally Carter

 

For Grades 6–10. Author of the bestselling spy series “Gallagher 
Girls,” Ally Carter has another hit with “Heist Society.” Main 
character Katarina Bishop is away at boarding school and 
trying to have a regular life. Fortunately for readers, there’s a 
twist: She comes from a family of professional thieves. When 
her father is accused of stealing some paintings, a crime he 
didn’t really commit, the gutsy teen decides to embrace her 
past. Katarina ditches school (she was kicked out, actually), 
plots an Ocean’s Eleven like plan, and flies off to Europe to 
save her family. This is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure, and 
the details of thieving tools and techniques, lavish settings, 
and cast of great characters, including possible spies and love 
interests, all add texture and depth to the action. Heist Society 
mixes classic elements of adolescence into a high-stakes 
escapade.


RICH Johnson

USEFUL NEW WORDS

Languages are not static parts of society and culture. They are fluid. 
Words come and go, find use and then are dropped as they become obsolete 
and vanish. I remember an opportunity to view an 1898 edition of Webster’s 
Dictionary (1898!). So, just for yucks I looked up the word “computer” to see if 
it was in our vernacular in the 19th century. And folks, it was!! Can you guess the 
definition of “computer” in 1898? Easy: “One who computes.”

 

 Some suggestions for additions to our language have crossed my desk and I 
thought I would include them for your perusal. The ones we like we will try to 
include in the next edition of Webster’s.

Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to 
begin with.

Shindig, (n.) The dent you leave when you walk into a piece of furniture.

Bozone, (n.) An invisible substance that surrounds stupid people stopping bright ideas from 
penetrating.

Cannibal,(n.) Someone who is fed up with people.

Portly, (n. ) A left handed person in the Navy.

Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

Improper, (n.) Someone who ropes imps.

Inoculatte’: Taking coffee intravenously when you are running late.

Pantry, (n.) A place where you put pants.

Decaffalon, (n.) Getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

Glibido: All talk and no action

Dopeler Effect, The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you quickly.

Beelzebug, (n.) Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at 3am and cannot 
be cast out.

Coffee, (n.) The person upon whom one coughs.

Flabbergasted,(adj.) Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

Abdicate, (v.) To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Esplanade,(v.) To attempt an explanation while drunk.

Lymph, (v.) To walk with a lisp.

Gargoyle, (n.) Olive-flavored mouthwash

Balderdash,(n.) A rapidly receding hairline.

Testicle, (n.) A humorous question on an exam.

Pokemon, (n.) A Rastafarian proctologist.

Oyster, (n.) A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

I made a couple of glaring errors in last weeks column. (So, what else is new?) I misspelled the names of two 
employees of Mary’s Market. First, Connie’s real name is Concetta not Conchita. The difference is Italian as opposed 
to Hispanic. My apologies to Concetta (hey, she might be Sicilian.) And John aka Giovani is really Jonathan aka 
Giovanni. Carolyn is till Carolyn and not Mary. 

Acting classes for REAL people, at the...
Join the “FOR THE LOVE OF ACTING” class.
Saturdays 2:00 to 5:00pm on our STAGE. No experience necessary! 
NEW BEGINNERS class starts APRIL 02. 
For reservations and class info, call June Chandler (626) 355-4572