Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 15, 2014

THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 15, 2014 
10 THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 15, 2014 
10 
SEAN’S SHAMELESS 
REVIEWS: 


By Sean Kayden 

FEBRUARY’S PLAYLIST 

Work Drugs – “Heaven Or Farewell” – Another year, another Work Drugs 

album. Perhaps the hardest working musicians around, Thomas Crystal and 

Benjamin Louisiana, the duo from Philadelphia is prepping their new record, 
“Insurgents” for a March release. “Heaven or Farewell” is a boisterous new jam. In vein of the Work 
Drugs’ signature sound of synth-pop and smooth-fi, the new track is extremely catchy. If you’re not 
dancing to this 80s style tune, something is terribly wrong. Once you get a taste of this one, you’ll be 
coming back for some Work Drugs in no time flat. 

Fanfarlo – “Cell Song” – Fanfarlo just released their third LP, “Let’s Go Extinct.” The London indiepop 
rockers change up their style a bit for this latest endeavor. “Let’s Go Extinct” is a little slower than 
previous efforts, but still effective. “Cell Song” is a smooth, really interesting tune that throws in a lot 
of instruments, including the piano and saxophone. Their unique blend of multiple instruments is 
quite laudable. It even features female vocals in the background for a nice touch. In fact, this record 
continues on the path of their previous 2013 EP, “The Sea,” where the band stated their music will be 
part of a science fiction/Utopian concept project. The lyrical content is consistent of where humanity 
has evolved from and where it’s heading. This is one of the more innovative tunes of 2014 thus far. 

Woods – “Leaves Like Glass” – Folk rockers are back with their seventh studio album, “With Light 
And With Love.” For this go around, there is more of a psychedelic element. They’ve definitely 
expanded their already unique tone. From jam type songs, they’re now displaying a more melodic 
sound. With this new record hitting shelves this April, I hope to see more tracks like “Leaves Like 
Glass.” The band’s first several records weren’t always the most accessible listening experience, but 
the path they’ve found themselves on now hits all the right chords for me, literally and figuratively. 

Snowmine – “Plans” – Mellow, deep, and pulling you in as if there’s no tomorrow, Snowmine’s new 
song “Plans” is absolutely breathtaking. The band’s sophomore release, “Dialects” was self-released 
earlier this month. It follows the band’s superb debut record, “Laminate Pet Animal.” The band 
navigates new waters since “Dialects” is more structured than their debut. “Plans” is incredibly 
dramatic and cinematic. High pitched vocals come around and really lifts the song to new heights. 
The guitars dazzle and swirl as the euphoric vocals provide a spiritual guide for your mind to wander 
off to. Get lost in these four minutes and you’ll never want to come back. 

NEWS FROM THE SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE 

News Flash: On February 16 @ 7:00 pm Les Sauvages Americains returns to the Playhouse for a duet of 
late 18th Century violin and viola music! 


The Sierra Madre Playhouse is currently presenting the play, 
An Ideal Husband, by Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde. The play 
runs through February 23rd on Friday and Saturday nights at 
8pm as well as 2:30 on Sunday afternoon. This play was Wilde’s 
second favorite play, next to The Importance of Being Earnest. 
It displays Wilde’s biting wit which made him enormously 
popular as a prominent social critic of the upper classes in late 
Victorian England. It’s easy to see parallels with the political and 
sexual intrigues being played out today in our nation’s capitol. 
We have had excellent reviews for this one! 

March 7, 2014 will see the opening 
of our next play, Battledrum. 
This musical follows the frontline 
experience of three young drummer 
boys who become unlikely comrades 
as they find themselves part of 
our nation’s most tragic conflict. 
Battledrum will not only be presented 
in the evenings to our regular patrons, 

but will play to public and private school audiences now studying the Civil 

War as part of their regular curriculum. School kids will experience theater 

in our intimate 99 seat playhouse, talk with members of the cast and staff

after the play and listen to 

Civil War historians provide supplemental information. 


MUSIC AT THE PLAYHOUSE 

 
Our Sunday Music Series continues 
this month with a program of 
violin and viola duets from the 
late 18th Century. Members of the 
performance group Les Sauvages 
Americains (The Savage Americans). 
JP Tobin, Viola/Artistic Director 
and Lindsey Strand-Polyak, Violino, 
will appear this February 16, 2014 at 
7:00pm. The music comes to us from 
Revolutionary France with works by 
Lorenziti, Pleyel, Boulougne, and 

Mozart. Please contact the Playhouse for tickets. 

Next up will be the return of performers from the Colburn School with an offering of a “Tribute to 

Astor Piazzolla.” Look for them on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 7pm. 

FUNraising EVENT 

Join us at California Pizza Kitchen in Pasadena for a flavorful FUNraising event on February 19, 
2014 in support of the Sierra Madre Playhouse. All day long 20% of your check will be donated 
to our organization. Purchases include dine-in, take-out, catering and all beverages! Print out the 
event flyer available on our website at http://sierramadreplayhouse.org/playhouse/california-pizzakitchen-
fundraiser/ and present it to your server to make sure we get the funds. Click where it says 
For Details Click Here. 
The Pasadena Pizza Kitchen is located at 99 N. Los Robles on the corner of Los Robles and Union. 
They will be open from 11am to 10pm. 


FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION 

The Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 West Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, Reservations can be made 
online http://sierramadreplayhouse.org or by calling (626) 355-4318. 

We’d like to hear from you! 
What’s on YOUR Mind? 
Contact us at: editor@mtnviewsnews.com or www.facebook.com/ 
mountainviewsnews AND Twitter: #mtnviewsnews 
SIERRA MADRE FARMERS 
MARKET


 The Sierra Madre Farmer’s Market hours have changed to 3:00pm through 7:00pm 
every Wednesday. Vendors include Dry Dock which has fresh and wild caught fish, 
Rustic Loaf with artisan breads, Cutie Pie with fresh pies and much more!

For those interested in being a vendor contact Melissa Farwell with Raw Inspira


tions at 818-591-8161 ext. 806. 


Jeff’s Book Picks By Jeff Brown 

THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: A MURDER MYSTERY 

by B. K. De Paolis 

Sierra Madre resident B. K. DePaolis's The Root of All Evil is an 
amazing debut mystery novel. The plot and characters are very 
enjoyable. I particularly liked that it's set in the Pasadena area, 
and all of the details surrounding the locale and police work. Vacations 
can be fun, meant to refresh, or recharge one's batteries. 
Not for LAPD's Detective Stas Nowak, who finds himself caught 
up in the suspicious death of Sybil Hansen, one of Hollywood's 
most infamous madams. What he learns soon sets him squarely in 
the cross-hairs of politicians, religious leaders, ex-cops, and those 
who would do anything to silence the detective.The author's style 
is clear and engrossing. An all around good read. B. K. De Paolis is 
an assistant professor of English at Pasadena City College. 

GREEN-EYED LADY: A MYSTERY by Chuck Greaves 


Set in Sierra Madre and Pasadena, Jack MacTaggart is back, in this 
rollicking sequel to Chuck Greaves’ award winning novel Hush Money.U.S. Senate candidate Warren 
Burkett has a history of marital infidelity. Three weeks before Election Day, Burkett comes to the aid 
of a beautiful green eyed lady, only to find himself alone and naked in a stranger’s home from which a 
priceless painting is missing. As the resulting scandal threatens to tilt the election, the painting turns 
up in a most unexpected place . . . and so does a dead body. Hired to defend Burkett and unravel 
the deepening mystery, Jack must traverse a mine field of ruthless politicians, felonious art dealers, 
swarming paparazzi, the amorous wife of Burkett’s billionaire opponent, her mobbed-up brother, and 
a District Attorney with an old score to settle. With the electoral clock ticking and the press following 
his every move, Jack’s investigation leads him on a roller coaster ride through the lofty heights and 
gritty depths of Southern California, lending new meaning to all’s fair in love and politics. An except:

 "Mayday looked up from his cold salad....We were sitting in our usual booth at the Only Place in Town, 
a homey neighborhood eatery in the sleepy suburban village of Sierra Madre, Ca." 

Many more local descriptions continue in this exciting enjoyable read. Greaves is a former resident 
of both Sierra Madre and Pasadena who spent 25 years as an L.A. trial lawyer before turning his attention 
to fiction.