Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 15, 2011

11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, October 15, 2011 

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS:

THE FALL MIX


HALLOWEEN MURDER MYSTERY DINNER TO BENEFIT 
FOOTHILL UNITY CENTER


Family of the 
Year – “St. 
Croix” 

 “St. Croix” 
is the perfect 
jam for this fall 
season. Warm 
and upbeat, 
there’s no denying the magic. This is the ideal 
song to transition from the summer season into 
the autumn season. Songs like this make me 
believe how cool indie rock really just is. I can’t 
get enough of this joyous and indelible tune 
that is so light and breezy, it’d be a crime not to 
find it appealing in some way. “St. Croix”, which 
appears on Family of the Year’s latest EP album 
with the same name, is an ebullient tune that you 
really can’t go wrong with this fall season. Your 
ears will thank you and yes, you’re welcome. 

Heavenly Beat – “Desire”

 “Desire” is the first song from bassist John 
Peña of the group, Beach Fossils. “Desire” is 
slightly reminiscent of the classic Beach Fossils 
sound, but much more polished and rhythmic. 
Despite its short duration (2:18), the song goes 
through a number of tempo changes. Silky 
smooth vocals, infectious drum beats and a 
delicate arrangement, “Desire” is the latest 
hidden gem of the season. It’s hard to imagine 
something more eloquent, pristine, and striking 
as this subtle and pensive tune is.

Weekend – “Hazel”

 “Hazel” is a new song off Weekend’s EP 
album, “Red”. It’s the follow-up from their debut 
record, “Sports”. Hazel provides all the goodies—
gush bass chords, clamorous guitar hooks and a 
flawless melody that would have most pop bands 
foaming at the mouth. This track is wall-to-wall 
reverb central that supplies the ideal amount of 
aggression, abrasiveness and boisterous sound 
to make it a must hear. Heavy on tempo, dark 
undertones and just all around badass, “Hazel” 
will have you hooked faster than heroin. The 
same euphoric feeling, but with none of the side 
effects. So, what are you waiting for? 

Surfer Blood – “I’m Not Ready” 

 The aforementioned track comes off Surfer 
Blood’s upcoming EP, “Tarot Classics”. It’s 
undeniably catchy is a ridiculous understatement. 
This is a well-crafted tune that follows in the 
footsteps of Surfer Blood’s debut album, but far 
more laid-back. The 90s inspired indie rock act 
seems to be in top form with “I’m Not Ready”. 
It’s definitely an indication Surfer Blood is 
continuing down the right path. “I’m Not Ready” 
is a heavily guitar driven tune that’s as piercing 
as it is zealous. The song may be called “I’m Not 
Ready”, but I’m absolutely ready for some more 
Surfer Blood. 

Big Troubles – “You’ll Be Laughing”

 This retro-pop treasure comes off the Big 
Troubles recent sophomore album, “Romantic 
Comedy”. Light on comedy, heavy on romantics, 
“You’ll Be Laughing” is a dreamy, 80s inspired 
tune that’s polished and divine. It will move you, 
tantalize all your senses and put you in a state 
of utter bliss. Saturated with autumn vibrations 
and flourishing, swooping hooks, “You’ll Be 
Laughing” is the cure to your post-summer blues. 
If you fall in love with this track, just wait until 
you hear the entire album. 

Renaissance Murder Mystery players Chris Sands, Kent Vaughan, Isaac Deakyne, 
Karyn O'Bryant and Brian Alexander (standing) and Georgan George and Nancy 
Bryant (seated) at the crime scene interrogation in Spirits and Murder, a dinner and 
interactive murder mystery to be presented at the Monrovian Family Restaurant 
Saturday evening. October 15. All proceeds benefit Foothill Unity Center.

Spirits and Murder, a Halloween spectacular 
dinner and interactive murder mystery, will 
unfold on Saturday evening, October 15, at the 
Monrovian Family Restaurant. Reservations to 
the event, presented by the Renaissance Murder 
Mystery Players in the Monrovian banquet 
room, are $60 per person. All proceeds will go to 
Foothill Unity Center programs for local families 
in need.

The setting is the 1930s (guests are invited to 
wear period attire). The occasion is a gathering 
of friends, associates and family of Jonathan 
W. Bixby III to partake of dinner and hear the 
reading of Mr. Bixby’s will. Among the guests are 
the family’s solicitor and accountant, a duke and 
duchess, Bixby’s nephew and his girlfriend, and 
the deceased’s caregiver. One of them — possibly 
more — won’t survive beyond the salad.

Guests at Spirits and Murder will be treated 
to a lighthearted, involving entertainment 
experience while enjoying a three-course dinner. 
During the salad course, guests will meet the 
characters and witness a baffling murder. At the 
entrée, a Scotland Yard detective will arrive to 
question the characters as intriguing clues begin 
to emerge. By dessert, the baffling mystery may 
just be solved — with the audience’s help.

Part of the fun is that the audience and actors 
interact, says director Ken Salzman of the 
Renaissance Murder Mystery Players. “Guests 
play a major part in helping the investigator 
examine the clues and guess “who done it.”

The Monrovian Family Restaurant is at 534 
South Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia. For reservations 
to the murder mystery dinner, call Gerald at the 
Center, (626) 358-3486. For more about The 
Renaissance Murder Mystery Players, contact 
SanZman Productions, (626) 862-9086.


The Book Report

by Jeff Brown


Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us

by Matt Ritter

We bring the strength and beauty of the natural world into our 
urban landscapes by planting trees, and California is blessed with 
a rich horticultural history, visible in an abundance of cultivated 
trees that enrich our lives with extraordinary color, bizarre shapes, 
unusual textures, and unexpected aromas. A Californian’s Guide to 
the Trees among Us features over 150 of California’s most commonly 
grown trees. Whether native or cultivated, these are the trees that 
muffle noise, create wildlife habitats, mitigate pollution, conserve 
energy, and make urban living healthier and more peaceful. Used 
as a field guide or read with pleasure for the liveliness of the prose, 
this book will allow readers to learn the stories behind the trees 
that shade our parks, grace our yards, and line our streets. Rich 
in photographs and illustrations, overflowing with anecdote and 
information, A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us opens 
our eyes to a world of beauty just outside our front doors.

Living Reality: My Extraordinary Summer With “Sailor” Bob Adamson 

by James Braha 

After thirty years of seeking liberation, James Braha had nearly 
given up on finding fulfillment. His mind began to change, however, 
when he encountered the Hindu/Vedic philosophy of non-duality. 
Upon reading “Sailor” Bob Adamson’s book, “What’s Wrong with 
Right Now Unless You Think About It?”, James immediately invited 
Bob to come from Australia to share his knowledge with Americans. 
For five glorious weeks in the summer of 2004, Bob and his wife 
stayed with the Braha family at their home in Florida. Spiritual 
talk with arguably the greatest non-duality teacher alive continued 
from morning till night, as James’ dearest friends and spiritualists 
from around the country joined the investigations into the truth of 
reality versus the illusion of appearance. This is a story of liberation, 
friendship, humor, and love, as Sailor Bob takes spiritual aspirants 
beyond the need for help, just as Nisargadatta Maharaj did for him 
thirty years ago. It is one of the warmest, most heartfelt treatises on 
non-duality ever written.

“TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD”

Written by CHRSITOPHER SERGEL

Based on the novel by HARPER LEE

Directed by MICHAEL COOPER

Presented by SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE

Produced by special arrangement with Dramatic 
Publishing Company

October 7 - November 12, 2011

SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE 

87 W. SIERRA MADRE BLVD. SIERRA MADRE, 
CA 91024

Ample free parking behind theatre.


SOLOIST SUZANNA GUZMAN PERFORMNING AT 

PASADENA’ FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

On Friday, November 4, at 8 p.m., in the 
sanctuary of First Church of the Nazarene, 
Pasadena (PazNaz), Suzanna Guzman will be 
the featured soloist with Pasadena Community 
Orchestra, performing Gustav Mahler’s Songs 
of a Wayfarer (1897). This song cycle is one of 
the late Romantic Austrian composer’s most well 
known pieces from his early period. Inspired 
by the conclusion of an unhappy love affair, 
the songs present the contrasting moods of 
life’s struggles and delights. Also featured on 
the program will be Vaughn Williams’ Norfolk 
Rhapsody, Bartok’s Rumanian Folk Dances, and 
Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije. A reception will 
follow the concert, at which audience members 
will have the opportunity to meet the artist 
and the musicians. The church is located at 
3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, just west 
of Michillinda Avenue, and there is plenty of 
parking. For further information, please call 
626.445.6708 or visit us at www.pcomusic.org.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com