Update: U2 in the Triangle

09 Mar 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Concert, Playground, 0 Comments

It doesn’t look like U2 will be coming to Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium, but the N&O’s David Menconi is reporting that the Irish rockers might be making a stop in Raleigh at NC State’s Carter-Finley Football Stadium Oct. 3.

Trianglemusic first scooped the story, reporting from the band’s Web site that they had a Raleigh date which has since been removed from the tour schedule. It is still up in the air, but it looks more and more like the Edge, Bono, et. al. will be coming to the Triangle.

Pop Psychology: Britney Spears's "Womanizer"

09 Mar 2009, Posted by Jordan Axt in Music, Playground, Pop Psychology, 0 Comments

I know you got a clue what you're doing, Britney. Courtesy Shallow Nation.

It seems as if there is nothing more predictable in modern music than a song decrying the morally dubious actions of men (the best of which still remains this timeless classic). Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” is just the latest hit in pop’s own version of “Point Counterpoint.”

In Britney’s latest comeback attempt, the former Mrs. Federline attacks an unnamed male for his polygamous, “playa” lifestyle. After several verses of castration, the underlying message is clear: women will no longer humor such unfaithful men, as Britney sings:

You got the swagger of champion
Too bad for you
Just can’t find the right companion
I guess when you have one too many, makes it hard
It could be easy
Who you are, that’s who you are, baby

While the song may tend to border on overkill, some intriguing new research appears to validate Britney’s disgust. It seems as if men’s minds naturally process females as objects.

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This Week in the Arts

08 Mar 2009, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Art, Concert, Playground, 0 Comments

With Duke and UNC both on spring break this week, the Triangle’s population is going to dip a little bit and parking will be easier on Franklin St. and both campuses. And, everyone might have their eyes on today’s Duke-UNC game, there’s a lot happening in the art world. Here’s a taste of some of this week’s best offerings. Our best bets are starred.

Sunday, March 8
**Des Ark’s Aimee Argote solo, 9 p.m. at BCHQ
Jesus Christ Superstar‘s closing night at DPAC

Monday, March 9
William Elliott Whitmore with Samantha Crain & the Morning Shivers and Ben Weaver, 9 p.m. at Local 506
Roman Candle’s new EP drops Monday. Get The They Say EP free at their website.
Independent drama-comedy All Along released at Carmike 15, Wynnsong 15 and Park Place 16. It’s a one-week engagement limited to 93 theaters in the U.S.

Tuesday, March 10
Slow day. Go see Watchmen? Also, award season bait Milk, Rachel Getting Married, Happy Go-Lucky and Synecdoche, NY get their DVD and Blu-ray releases, alongside the 70th Anniversay edition of Pinnochio. Make it a day at the movies.
Also, if you just watch DVDs, don’t forget to get your Full Frame pass. Sales end March 15.

Wednesday, March 11
Modest Mouse with Mimicking Birds and Japanese Motors , 9 p.m. at Disco Rodeo
Morrissey (Tour of Refusal) with Red Cortez, 7:30 p.m. at DPAC

Thursday, March 12
**Vetiver with Megafaun and Sian Alice Group, 9:30 p.m. at the Cat’s Cradle
Clem Snide with the Heligoats, 9:30 p.m. at Local 506

Friday, March 13
**Lemming Malloy, the Physics of Meaning and Felix Obelix, 10 p.m. at the Pinhook
Che and The Class are released in the Triangle (expect them at Chelsea)

Saturday, March 14
Bishop Allen with Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Singsing & Marmar 9 p.m. at Local 506
**Red Collar‘s Pilgrim release party with the Dry Heathens and Bone Royals, 7:30 p.m. at Trianle Brewing Co. ($10 cover includes a copy of the album)
George Lopez’s Tall Dark & Chicano tour, 8 p.m. at DPAC (For mature audiences only–18+)

Who Will Watch Watchmen?

06 Mar 2009, Posted by Caleb Seeley in Film, Literature, Playground, 1 Comments

Courtesy Movie Web.

The most anticipated comic-book-movie of all time comes out today, Friday March 6, and I’m still not quite sure what to make of it. After experiencing a midnight showing almost exactly eight months after I saw the preview at a midnight showing of The Dark Knight, I haven’t quite made up my mind about Watchmen.

Watchmen is the most critically celebrated comic of all time. Even referring to the story as a comic will unnerve many a fan. Graphic novel is the more PC term. Having read the comic for the first time almost 10 years ago, I was ecstatic when the first preview appeared on the big screen. Immediately after finishing the best movie made last year (Dark Knight) I logged on to my computer and cued up the Watchmen trailer just to watch it again in anticipation of what I was sure would be the movie event of 2009.

With such high expectations it might be easy to say I am disappointed by the final product. Any film would be hard pressed to live up to the dreams of fans, and the amount of money that must have been spent on the advertising campaign. (Seriously, when is the last time you turned on the TV or went online and weren’t bombarded with Watchmen promos. I know it was an expensive film, but has any movie that ever tried this hard to convince everyone of its importance lived up to the hype?)

However, the nearly three-hour behemoth of a film left me satisfied. Not overly impressed. Not blown away. But content.
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Lost Tautology

06 Mar 2009, Posted by Nina Hu in Playground, Television, 1 Comments

This never ends well on the island. Courtesy TV Squad.

So I experienced some mild flatulence of the brain during the first 10 minutes of this episode, which picked up right where we’d left off with Sawyer and Co. at the end of “This Place is Death,” as they stood over the ground where the well that Locke shimmied down had not yet been. (As though we had just pressed pause on them while Locke was gallivanting about California and Santo Domingo, getting propositioned and thwarted and killed and all other manner of unfortunate things. And then there was that whole conspiratorial business with Plane Crash 2.0. So, yeah, a lot has happened since then.)