Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 14, 2012

3

ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, April 14, 2012 


SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS: 


The Book Report

By Jeff Brown

Review By Sean Kayden

THE PRESIDENTS CLUB: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity 
by TIME Magazine's Executive Editor Nancy Gibbs 
and Washington Bureau Chief Michael Duffy

 The inside story of the world's most exclusive fraternity; how presidents from Hoover 
through Obama worked with and sometimes, against each other when they were in and 
out of power.“This is a brilliant idea for a book, wonderfully written! At Eisenhower’s inauguration, 
Hoover and Truman half-jokingly decided to form a ‘President’s Club.’ With 
surprising reporting and insights, this book reveals the relationships and rivalries among 
the few men who know what it’s like to be president. It gives a new angle on history by exploring 
the essence of the presidency.” —Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of Steve Jobs 
and Benjamin Franklin

DRIFT: The Unmooring of American Military Power 

by Rachel Maddow 

"One of my favorite ideas is, never to keep an unnecessary soldier," Thomas Jefferson wrote 
in 1792. Neither Jefferson nor the other Founders could ever have envisioned the modern 
national security state, with its tens of thousands of "privateers"; its bloated Dept. of Homeland 
Security; its rusting nuclear weapons, ill maintained and difficult to dismantle; and its 
strange fascination with an unproven counterinsurgency doctrine. Written with wit and 
intelligence, Drift argues that we've drifted away from America's original ideals and become 
a nation weirdly at peace with perpetual war, with all the financial and human costs that 
entails. To understand how we've arrived at such a dangerous place, Maddow takes us from 
the Vietnam War to today's war in Afghanistan, along the way exploring the disturbing rise 
of executive authority, the gradual outsourcing of our war capabilities to private companies, 
the plummeting percentage of families whose children fight our constant wars , and even 
the changing fortunes of G.I. Joe. She offers up a fresh, unsparing appraisal of Reagan's 
radical presidency. Ultimately, she shows us just how much we stand to lose by allowing 
the priorities of the national security state to overpower our political discourse. Sensible 
yet provocative, dead serious yet seriously funny, Drift will reinvigorate a political debate 
about how, when, and where to apply America's strength and power and who gets to make 
those decisions.

The Cove: A Novel by Ron Rash 

The bestselling author of Serena returns to Appalachia, this time at the height of World War 
I, with the story of a blazing but doomed love affair caught in the turmoil of a nation at war. 
Deep in the rugged Appalachians of North Carolina lies the cove, a dark, forbidding place 
where spirits and fetches wander, and even the light fears to travel. Or so the townsfolk of 
Mars Hill believe, just as they know that Laurel Shelton, the lonely young woman who lives 
within its shadows, is a witch. Alone except for her brother, Hank, newly returned from the 
trenches of France, she aches for her life to begin. .This lyrical, heart rending tale, as mesmerizing 
as its award winning predecessor Serena, shows once again this masterful novelist 
at the height of his powers. 

WHIRR

Whirr is a sextet from the Bay Area. Prior to their debut album, 
“Pipe Dreams,” the band (formerly known as Whirl) released the EP, 
“Distressor.” While that record seemed a bit green as far as the band 
mastering a comprehensive sound, the group appears to now be more comfortable than 
ever. Whirr has tirelessly been compared to early 90s shoegazers, My Bloody Valentine. It’s 
obviously these California natives have taken more than a note or two from M.B.V. In spite 
of that, the young group are still able to structure a defining sound all on their own merits. 
Call it nostalgia or paying homage, Whirr is bringing the dreamy, heavy-reverb guitar riffs 
back to 2012 and doing it amazingly well. 

“Pipe Dreams” is comprised of ten 
sprawling, seraphic tracks. The band 
displays a full wall of sound. The 
indecipherable vocals are painfully 
haunting and at times both distant and 
desolate. With the combination of gloomy 
chords and melodies, this isn’t your feel 
good record of the year. Nevertheless, 
Whirr knows how to change up the pace 
when needed such as with the sublime 
“Junebouvier” and equally as enthralling, “Toss”. 

However, the band is at their utmost supreme when they are conveying a subtle, atmospheric, 
ambient resonance that can become a harrowing experience. The second to last track, “Wait” 
fits that abovementioned description. It’s a dazzling showcase of deep reverb, edginess, and 
pensive bliss. I think Whirr takes a misstep with “Home Where Is My Head Is”, the shortest 
in length song that is too simple and moderately uninspiring. All in all, “Pipe Dreams” is 
a work of art that may encourage a listener to seek out the bands responsible for making 
this one all, but possible. However, if you’re new to the shoegaze genre, “Pipe Dreams” is a 
terrific place to start.

Unfortunately, an album like this will inexplicably get lost within the crowd. To those 
who find the time to pay attention to Whirr, be cautiously aware that you may quickly 
discover yourself rapt with each heavenly track. I would like to note that upon first listen to 
“Pipe Dreams,” the spectator’s disposition should correspond precisely to what this album 
bestows—a wistful, early 90s driven vibe, and if you allow it to do so, a deep feeling that 
will permeate through your body and assuage your taxing spirit. If you’re feeling broken 
and ineffective, Whirr will rescue you from the depths of darkness to the heights of full 
illumination. 

Grade: 8.4 out of 10 
Key Tracks: “Junebouvier”, “Flashback”, “Toss”, “Wait” 

Artist: Whirr

Album: Pipe Dreams

Label: Tee Pee Records

Release 

Date: March 13, 2012

PASADENA ARTWALK 
CALL TO ARTISTS

The 7th Annual Pasadena ARTWalk is accepting artists 
submissions.

PASADENA, CA (April 2012) - The Pasadena Playhouse 
District Association is inviting artists to submit artwork for 
the 7th annual Pasadena ARTWalk. The Pasadena ARTWalk 
will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 
11 am until 5 pm at El Molino Ave. between Colorado and 
Green St.

All artists are welcome to apply to exhibit in the Pasadena 
ARTWalk. Artists submitting work must fall in one of the 
following categories: 

Drawing 

Mixed media

New media 

Painting 

Photography 

Sculpture 

 

Application fees*:

- $100 - early submittal fee for applications received 
before June 29, 2012

- $150 - application fee submitted after June 29, 2012 

 

*Artists work will be juried. If not selected, application fee 
will be returned

 

Deadline for submission: July 27, 2012

Notification date: August 21, 2012

 

The Pasadena ARTWalk is a free multi-faceted celebration 
of the arts in the Playhouse District. The festival offers an 
eclectic selection of art ranging from visual, written and 
spoken word, to performance, and culinary art. The Pasadena 
ARTWalk is presented by the Pasadena Playhouse 
District Association. 

 For more information on how to participate in this year’s 
Pasadena ARTWalk, visit www.playhousedistrict.org/artwalk 
or call 626.744.0340. 


“Morning’s at Seven.” 

March 30- May 12.

Aaronetta and Ida Gibbs have lived next door to each other 
most of their lives and along with Esther, all of the Gibb 
sisters are an open book to each. Husbands not included. 
Into the fray comes Myrtle Brown, perpetually engaged to 
Ida's son Homer. But Homer can't seem to pop the question. 
Taking matters into her own hands, Myrtle finally gets 
a proposal by compelling Homer to fly the nest. Sort of. This 
perennially charming portrait of small town America was 
first produced on Broadway in 1939 and revived in 1980 
and in 2002 to critical acclaim. By Paul Osborn, Directed 
by Bob Hakman

 Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Ample free parking 
behind theatre. Tickets: $25. Seniors (65+) and students 
(13-17), $22. Children 12 and under, $15. Musicals: $25 all 
seats. Reservations: (626) 355-4318. Online ticketing: www.
sierramadreplayhouse.org

A NIGHT OF FOLK 
MUSIC AT 

SIERRA MADRE 

PLAYHOUSE ON 
APRIL 22

 Musicians Tim Tedrow and 
Terry Vreeland return to the 
stage of Sierra Madre Playhouse 
and welcome musical 
guests Ryan Sy, TVVT, The 
John Zipperer Band, and Bill 
Mesnik (creator of the hit show 
“Three Songs”) in a concert of 
folk music with great singer/
songwriters.

 A Night of Folk Music. At 
Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 
W. Sierra Madre Blvd. , Sierra 
Madre , CA 91024 . Ample fee 
parking behind theatre. Sunday, 
April 22, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. 
Admission: $15. Reservations: 
(626) 355-4318. Online ticketing: 
www.sierramadreplayhouse.
org