Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 21, 2013

14

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 21, 2013 

SEAN’S SHAMELESS REVIEWS: 


JASMINE’S CORNER

Book Reviews by Jasmine Kelsey Williams 

Review by: Sean Kayden

VOLCANO CHOIR

Justin Vernon, better known as the mastermind behind Bon Iver, is a part 
of another experimental band called Volcano Choir. The group consists of 
Vernon on vocals and members of Wisconsin post-rock act Collections of 
Colonies of Bees. The sextet indie folk rockers have collaborated once again 
for the release of their sophomore record, “Repave.” This is not another Bon 
Iver album or Bon Iver revisited, but a few similarities do cross over. “Repave” is a lot more expansive 
than the music crafted in Bon Iver or Collections of 
Colonies of Bees. For only eight tracks, it runs short but 
despite inscrutable lyrics, the record shines most of the 
way. The record wavers between understated beauty and 
explosive stadium rock arena tracks. “Repave” doesn’t 
abandoned its experimental roots found on their debut 
record, but navigates through a more accessible listen 
than one may have been anticipating. 

 There’s a feeling of hope and loss that surrounds the 
album. Where this is dark, light comes shining on. In 
“Alaskans,” the album’s half waypoint, this meditative song is pure storytelling. It’s a slow burn track 
and while not the best song off the record, it’s the most spiritual. Soft, tender, and sensitive, there are 
chills to be had. One of my favorite tracks is, “Dancepack,” the thundering, powerful, and hypnotic 
style of it is marvelously crafted. With the combination of Vernon’s incomparable vocal range (falsetto 
singing at its best) and the experience Collection of Colonies of Bees has in post-rock, the two together 
works majestically. In the track, “Comrade,” Vernon’s vocals glimmer with the tight and beautifully 
developed arrangements permitting the song to float on with uncompromising ease. 

“Unmap,” the debut album, was dense and difficult to really get involved with. It took a lot more 
patience and several listens to sink into it. That’s not the case with “Repave.” There’s plenty to enjoy 
this time around that hits both somber and uplifting notes. About half way into the closing track, 
“Almanac,” Vernon just pulls you in tighter and closer than ever before. I’m not entirely sure what 
he always means with his skewed lyrics, but he can sure sell it with strong conviction. Volcano Choir 
seemingly started off as Vernon and company producing experimental tracks for the sake of being 
experimental. What once was merely a footnote in the Bon Iver era has now turned into a full-fledged 
band with equal passion and commitment. “Repave,” isn’t perfect but where it shines is something to 
marvel at least until the next Bon Iver record. 

Grade: 7.5 out of 10 

TOOTHIANA: QUEEN OF THE TOOTH FAIRY ARMIES By William Joyce

 The middle of September brings us to our next read, 
and a delightful one at that, as we continue through Book 
Three of the Guardians of Childhood series: “Toothiana: 
Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies”. William Joyce is back 
again with this third book of the Guardians, this time 
providing his unique take on the Tooth Fairy and her role 
in the story of working with the Guardians and the fight 
against Pitch, the Nightmare King. Readers will still be 
delighted at the return of the previous characters such 
as Nicholas St. North, Ombric, Katherine, Nightlight, 
and even E. Aster Bunnymund, while smoothly 
transitioning into the introduction of Queen Toothiana, 
who by William Joyce’s hand, is more than just a mere 
fairy. Queen Toothiana is sure to charm young readers 
(or older), as she is presented as a swift-winged flyer, a 
warrior, the protector of children’s teeth and the one who 
returns their memories when the children have grown up. 

 However, their battles reach new heights as Pitch has 
returned not just to steal the teeth, but an old enemy 
of Toothiana’s is aiding him as well. The pacing is still 
smooth, and the tone of this book still holds its excitement 
and adventure, but readers at this point should notice a slight difference here: the story (and 
any backstories) take their time to build up, highlighting differences in character interactions, 
and then eventually introducing Queen Toothiana towards the middle of the story. There is 
no need to worry, as the backstories and interactions do not overlap or bog the story down, 
but instead provide insight to the Guardians as a whole working unit, with each individual 
Guardian combining their own ideas and wisdom, so that one could think of them as the 
Avengers for those younger in age and in spirit (which is this columnist’s little tidbit of POV). 

 Copyrighted in 2012, complete with new illustrations, and perfect for those a little older or 
for young readers in the range of 7 to 11 years; as well as receiving praise from various critics, 
Amazon.com, and Booklist, “Toothiana: Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies” is the next perfect 
pick to complete the Guardians of Childhood series, as well continuing to enchant and delight 
any reader who comes across it. And to still add to its delightful charm, scout out the animated 
film “Rise of the Guardians”, which includes Isla Fischer as the voice of the Tooth Fairy. 

http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344401377l/13547152.jpg
Artist: Volcano Choir

Album: Repave

Label: Jagjaguwar 

Release Date: 

 September 3, 2013 

ROBERT K. TANENBAUM AND LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ

TO HEADLINE 11TH ANNUAL DUARTE FESTIVAL OF 
AUTHORS, OCT. 5

 Bestselling crime writer, Robert K. Tanenbaum, and poet, activist, and award-winning author, Luis 
J. Rodriguez will headline the 11th annual Duarte Festival of Authors on Saturday, Oct. 5. The festival 
will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Westminster Gardens, 1420 Santo Domingo Ave. in Duarte. 
Admission and parking is free.

 The Duarte Festival of Authors presents a unique opportunity in an intimate setting for the public to 
meet and hear from some of Southern California’s top writers as well as exciting, new talents. 

More than 50 authors will participate in talks, panels and book signings throughout the day at the 
festival presented by the Friends of the Duarte Library. The festival showcases a rich sampling of the 
diversity of literary talents and books to appeal to a wide variety of tastes: fiction and non-fiction, 
adventure, suspense, romance, travel, mystery, inspirational, spiritual, poetry, educational, historical, 
young adult and children’s titles. 

 There will be fun activities for children at the festival’s Kids’ Corner including games, story reading, 
and face painting. Children can read aloud to therapy dogs, have their picture taken with their 
reading buddy and keep the book, all for free. Festival-goers are in for a host of other treats as well 
with an on-site book store and a choice of food and refreshments served up by the popular Pie’n 
Burger restaurant truck and Duarte’s Lemonade Brigade. 

 Robert K. Tanenbaum, a real-life crime fighter as well as crime writer of 25 novels and three non-
fiction books, is one of the country’s most successful trial lawyers, having never lost a felony case. To 
readers he is best known for his bestselling series of novels featuring Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi, 
lawyers for the New York District Attorney’s office. His latest novel, Tragic, a murder mystery, was 
published this August. Echoes of My Soul, published in May, is considered his signature masterpiece. 
It is the true story of one of the most intense manhunts in police history and of the young D. A. who 
exonerated the unjustly accused, brought the killer to justice and forever reformed law enforcement 
practices. Tanenbaum is scheduled to speak at 11:45 a.m.

 Luis J. Rodriguez first rose to fame as a powerful voice in Chicano literature by telling his own 
story in the bestseller, Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. The vivid memoir explores 
the motivation of gang life and cautions against the death and destruction that inevitably claim its 
participants. His latest book is the sequel to Always Running, entitled It Calls You Back: An Odyssey 
of Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing. He is also an accomplished and award-winning poet, 
his latest being His Nature is Hunger. His books for children, America is Her Name and It Doesn’t 
Have to Be This Way: A Barrio Story, both published in English and Spanish have also won honors. 
Rodriguez will speak at 2 p.m.

 Other authors scheduled to appear include: Mystery writers: Gerald Schiller, Gayle Bartos-Pool, 
Alice Zogg, Robert Rotstein, Connie Dial, Terry Ambrose, Michael D. Mayo, Anne Louise Bannon, 
Teresa Burrell, Jim Stevens, Anne Carter, and Gayle Carline. 

 For those who enjoy reading history, Duarte authors Claudia and Alan Heller will appear with 
Life on Route 66: Personal Accounts Along the Mother Road to California, and Duarte Chronicles. 
Mark Thomas McGee, also of Duarte, has authored 10 film history books. His latest , You Won’t 
Believe Your Eyes, relates behind-the-scenes stories about the sci-fi/horror movies of the 1950s. John 
Jung has published four books relating to the history and contributions of Chinese immigrants to 
American society, while James Aguirre relates American history from the Native American point of 
view. 

 Authors of books for children and young adult readers include Cynthia Andrews, Michael Mullin, 
Lori R. Lopez, and Evelyn De Wolfe.

 A visit to the festival website, www.FriendsoftheDuarteLibrary.com provides visitors with 
information on all of the author participants and links to their own websites, and other details on the 
festival. 


COMING SOON 
TO 

SIERRA MADRE 
PLAYHOUSE


THE CALIFORNIA PHILHARMONIC UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

From Arcadia’s Best

The California Philharmonic has composed a new and more stable financial future, shifting ownership 
to Pasadena Entertainment.

The orchesta’s funding arm, the non-profit CalPhil Foundation, is being phased out through 
bankruptcy.

The for-profit Pasadena Entertainment, owned and managed by Andre Vener, the son of Cal Phil 
conductor Victor Vener, has served as the production and marketing firm for the Cal Phil and its 
concert series for the past four years. The transition of Cal Phil to Pasadena Entertainment began 
earlier this year.

“We value the professionalism of Pasadena Entertainment as part of our marketing and production 
team,” said Pete Siberell, Director of Special Projects for Los Angeles Turf Club. “Teaming up with 
California Philharmonic has been a great opportunity to develop Santa Anita Race Track as a premier 
concert venue.”

The shift in ownership comes after several years of struggling to pay its own musicians as well as its 
former summer concert home of the L.A. County Arboretum in Arcadia.

See April 30, 2011 story and video report of news conference to announce Cal Phil move from Arboretum 
to Santa Anita.

See Nov. 26 story about complaints filed over non-payment by Cal Phil.

Under its new organization, all past and present professional obligations with Cal Phil musicians have 
been met. A new collective bargaining agreement has been set and Cal Phil is moving forward with 
the Musicians Union and its members in good standing.

“AFM, Local 47 is pleased to announce that all back wages owed to California Philharmonic musicians 
for services rendered have been paid,” comments John Acosta, Vice President of Local 47. “Local 
47 and its new partner Pasadena Entertainment look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

“Maestro Vener and California Philharmonic create the kind of energy that John Mauceri, Arthur 
Fiedler and Leonard Bernstein brought to the concert stage,” says Dennis Karmazyn, California Philharmonic’s 
principal cellist. “California Philharmonic takes the audience on a musical journey.”

The popular Cal Phil orchestra based at Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia just concluded its second 
season of Festival on the Green outdoor summer concerts on Saturday nights in the infield at Santa 
Anita Park, followed by a Sunday afternoon show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Combined attendance 
for the five concerts at Santa Anita was more than 20,000, with another 10,000 people in 
audiences at Disney’s downtown L.A. venue. Cal Phil is set to play both venues again in 2014. Subscriptions 
and tickets are available for the 2014 summer season.

“It’s been our pleasure to work with Pasadena Entertainment since 2009,” says Sharon Stewart, Director 
of Scheduling and Events for the Music Center of Los Angeles County. “We look forward to working 
with them in future summers, and to another successful summer classical music series.”

– By Scott Hettrick, Arcadia’s Best

 “The Lion in Winter,” a comedic drama, takes place in King Henry II of England’s castle at Chinon, 
France at Christmastime, 1183. King Henry has three surviving sons by his estranged wife, Eleanor 
of Aquitaine: Richard (The Lionheart), Geoffrey and John. Henry wants the kingdom to stay united 
after his death, but all three sons want to rule and it is likely to be torn apart by revolution. He favors 
the youngest, John, while Eleanor favors the eldest, Richard. Middle son Geoffrey hopes to play both 
ends against each other and come out on top. And, fuel is added to the yule log fire by King Henry 
wanting to have another heir by his mistress-in-residence, Alais. When King Henry and Eleanor 
maneuver against each other to position their favorite son in line for succession, they raise domestic 
turmoil to an art form.

“The Lion in Winter,” originally produced on Broadway in 1966 and made into an Academy Award 
winning film in 1968, is an enduringly popular stage comedy that combines keen historical insight 
with humor that bristles and burns.

(Michael) Cooper’s cast for “The Lion In Winter” stars John Rafter Lee as King Henry and Diane 
Hurley as Queen Eleanor. With: Clay Bunker, Adam Burch, Macleish Day and Alison Lani. John 
Rafter Lee’s stage credits include “Stuff Happens”, “Homebody/Kabul” and “Arcadia” at the Mark 
Taper Forum. Diane Hurley has been seen on stage in “A Delicate Balance” at Pacific Resident Theatre, 
the National Tours of “Nine The Musical” and “The Gingerbread Lady” and is the recipient of 
Chicago’s coveted Joseph Jefferson Award and Sarah Siddons Award.

THE LION IN WINTER

September 27 thru November 16

The Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 W Sierra Madre Blvd Sierra Madre, Ca 91024

info@SierraMadrePlayhouse.org

OCTOBER 6: FAURE, RAVEL, CHAMINADE IN CONCERT AT 
SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE

 The inaugural concert in the series jointly presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse and the 
Colburn School of Music features Colburn alumni and students with guest artists from L.A. Opera. 
The program:

 Fauve: La bonne chansons, Op. 61

 Ravel: Sonata for violin and violincello

 Ravel: Chansons Madecasses

 Chaminade: Portrait: Valse chantee

 Performers include: Rebecca Nathanson, soprano, LA Opera; Yi Zhou, viola, LA Opera; Yi-Ju 
Lai, piano, Colburn alum; Eloise Kim, piano, Colburn; Natalie Helm, cello, Colburn; Evin Blomberg, 
violin, Colburn; Radu Paponiu, Colburn; Ridge Davis, flute, Colburn.

 At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Ample free 
parking behind theatre. Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. $20. Seniors (65+) and students (to age 
21), $15. Reservations: (626) 355-4318. Online ticketing: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org