The Pat Metheny Trio performed two sold-out shows at the State Theatre in Virginia on Feb. 19. The always intelligent, always passionate, always energetic concert was, at its essence, always Metheny.
On Tuesday night President George W. Bush went through the ceremony of his sixth State of the Union address. This year's speech had a noticeably calmer tone, being more idealistic and less polarizing. It is the speech he should have given last year.
President George W. Bush came to Blair to host an event to promote his plan to add personal investment accounts to the Social Security system, on Thursday, June 23. His appearance in Silver Spring drew about 400 protesters to the Four Corners area.
Junior John Kim was awarded a spot on the U.S. Physics Team, after being nominated by his teacher James Schafer and passing the preliminary and semifinal rounds of testing.
In a six to three vote on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that state laws legalizing the use and protection of marijuana could not protect citizens from federal prosecution on charges of possession and distribution.
When I first saw "Monroe's Marbles," the first game by designer Donald Monroe, I had no idea what it was. The apparatus consists of four divergent transparent tubes connected by an opaque ring at the top, which together holds seven red, blue, green and yellow marbles. When I found out that the object of the puzzle is to separate each color into a different tube, I thought that solving it would be both exceedingly difficult and horribly unwieldy. It turned out to be neither.
The new season of "Family Guy" begins with Peter Griffin, the patriarch buffoon, listing all the shows that Fox has cancelled in the past few years, which takes about a minute to rush through. Afterwards his wife, Lois, asks him what possible chance they have of surviving. "Well, I guess if they all got canceled, we have a shot, " Peter replies.
Superintendent Jerry D. Weast suspended the pilot program for the new health education curriculum, which was scheduled to begin May 5, following a ruling by US District Court Judge Alex Williams, who issued a temporary restraining order blocking the pilot.
Between the screams, growls and distortion it may be hard for many listeners to hear the music on Fantomas' latest album "Suspended Animation." But for fans of extreme artists like Frank Zappa, John Zorn and Dillinger Escape Plan the disk may be a great treat in a genre with few albums as realized as they are challenging.
County Executive Doug Duncan spoke to students after school on Wednesday, April 20 in the auditorium. The Young Democrats sponsored the event.
Jazz guitarist Pat Martino and his quartet played four sold-out shows at Blues Alley on April 8 and 9. Martino treated the audience to his addictively energetic brand of hard bop, leaving any fan of good music wanting more.
Terry Lierman, Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, spoke to and answered questions from approximately 60 students gathered to reflect on the Day of Silence on Wednesday, April 13. The discussion centered on the rights of homosexuals and bisexuals, issues about which the Day of Silence was meant to raise awareness.
The Bush administration has decided to reject the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) opinion that government-produced news stories constitute illegal and unethical propaganda. The videos in question look like real news stories and are distributed to local news stations across the country and run without any disclaimer that they are produced by the government.
With the passing of Pope John Paul II, President George W. Bush has emphasized that he supports the late Pope's vision of a "culture of life." Interesting, seeing as the Pope had often criticized the President's humanitarian policies. Why would he do such a thing?
It's a rare treat to see Kurt Rosenwinkel perform in this country, now that he has relocated to Zurich. A lucky audience had the pleasure of seeing the dazzling guitarist perform along with his quintet last Thursday evening, March 17, at Blues Alley. The group was touring in support of Rosenwinkel's new album, "Deep Song," released earlier this month.
NBC unveiled the third spinoff to its hugely popular "Law and Order" series, "Law and Order: Trial by Jury," on March 3. Unlike the outrageous "Criminal Intent" and the perverted "Special Victims Unit," "Trial by Jury" is the first "Law and Order" in the same league as the original.
Four Israeli university students spoke after school to a group of approximately 20 Blazers and teachers for two hours to present a new perspective on Israeli life. The event was sponsored by the Jewish Culture Club on Tuesday, March 1.
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the newly opened Strathmore Hall in Rockville held its first jazz concert, presenting the Mingus Big Band, a 14-member ensemble dedicated to the musical legacy of the late bassist and composer Charles Mingus. The event's theme was "Blues and Politics."
On Friday, Feb. 18, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove performed at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., on their "Directions in Music" tour. Their nearly three-hour performance was as powerful, complex and inexplicable as any music being played today.
On Tuesday, Feb. 15, the period of public comment ended on Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.'s (R) proposed intercounty connector (ICC), a highway that would link Interstate 270 near Rockville with Interstate 95 near Laurel. Ehrlich has labeled the ICC "his top transportation priority,” and the Maryland General Assembly is expected to vote on the project before the legislative session ends on April 11.
Miles Davis was born in 1926 and grew up in East St. Louis, where he began playing the trumpet at age 13. By the time he was 15, Davis was already playing professionally in local jazz groups. After high school, Davis moved to New York to attend the Institute of Musical Art and search out his idol, Charlie Parker.
Born in 1926, John Coltrane grew up in High Point, North Carolina. He played E-flat horn and clarinet, switching to alto saxophone at the age of 15. Coltrane studied at the Ornstein School of Music in Philadelphia and served in a Navy band in Hawaii. In the late 1940s, Coltrane played for bandleaders Eddie Vinson, Jimmy Heath and Dizzy Gillespie, and in 1953, he joined the Johnny Hodges Septet, playing tenor saxophone full-time.
James Baldwin was born in 1924, the oldest of nine children, and grew up in poverty in Harlem. Early in his life, Baldwin followed in his father's footsteps and became a preacher. Baldwin's spiritual work gave him an awareness of the suffering within the black community and instilled in him a passion for writing.
It was 9:15 a.m. on Dec. 27. Lisa Dobbs waded back to the island where she was vacationing. All of the sudden, she noticed that the usually ankle-deep water was up to her knees. She looked ahead to the island, and it seemed unusually far away. She turned her head to look back at the beach, but it wasn't there anymore. The water was up to her chest.
Imagine the 15 or 20 minute climax of the generic action movie, the part that saturates the trailers; the part with the most extensive use of explosions, sweeping camera shots, stunt doubles and special effects; the part that most people came to the movie to see. String a series these nonsensical, indulgent passages into a feature length extravaganza and voilà: "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” is born.
On Saturday evening, Jan. 22, despite the lousy weather, an audience filled most of the seats in the Kennedy Center's small Terrace Theater to see the Dave Holland Big Band.
Much controversy surrounds Wheaton's Col. Joseph Belt Middle School, scheduled to re-open this fall. Many PTA and community members argue that the school's name should be changed because Belt, a member of the Board of Education during the Colonial Era, was a slave owner.
How could they do it again? In the first season, Jack Bauer saved a presidential candidate's life, Bauer's daughter was kidnapped several times and his wife was raped and murdered. In the second season, Bauer prevented a nuclear attack, single-handedly averted a war that would have engulfed the Middle East, was tortured essentially to death and later brought back to life. In the third season, Jack's lover (the wife of a drug lord) was killed and Jack, though addicted to heroin, managed to save the country from a biological attack that would have wiped out 90 percent of the population.
The headline of the Jan. 5 Washington Post article "Environmentalist Group Backs Md. Connector" referred to the African American Environmental Association (AAEA), an organization that supported the proposed Intercounty Connector (ICC) at a public meeting. However, the AAEA is a "small home-based organization," according to its founder and President Norris McDonald, who appears to be the organization's only member. In addition, McDonald seems to be more of an advocate for black economic interests than for the environment.
The Washington Post published a news article on Wednesday, Jan. 5 headlined "Environmentalist Group Backs MD Connector," which focused on the African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA), a group that supports the construction of the Intercounty Connector (ICC), a project opposed by nearly all other environmental organizations.
Math teacher Kathleen Robens is a new and welcome face at Blair. She has the slim body of a dancer and a personality that conveys her exuberance. She smiles excitedly, yet thoughtfully, as she reflects upon her life. \"I used to catch lizards when I was a kid in the mesas,\" Robens remembers of her childhood in Albuquerque in the midst of the New Mexican desert.
On the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 28, the Ahmad Jamal Trio painted the air of Blues Alley with vibrant tones and timbres. The group played more with its ears than with its fingers, using subtle variations to convey a broad range of colorful moods.
The Blair chapter of Amnesty International collected signatures on Dec. 10 in the SAC petitioning Maryland Senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski to raise questions at the confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales.
Although they may be overlooked, many Blazers will be celebrating Kwanzaa from Sunday, Dec. 26 through New Year's. This week of non-religious ceremony celebrates family, community and culture and pays tribute to African traditions, according to the History Channel.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's political success, with an approval rating of 70 percent, has led many to draw parallels between him and the late President Ronald Reagan. Will Schwarzenegger, too, go from Hollywood actor to Hollywood Governor to Commander in Chief?
Unlike its subtle and finely crafted predecessor Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve is spectacularly unspectacular. The execution of the sequel is as colorful as the original's, the cast as impressive, the acting as fresh and the actors as attractive. But the disjointed pace and plot leave the viewer unfilled.
Radios should be fitted with a warning: "May cause a change in appetite, disruption of sleep habits, poor concentration, fatigue, agitated motor function, diminished interest in daily activities and feelings of guilt or worthlessness." For the freshman readers who have not yet taken Health, these are the symptoms of depression.
Medeski, Martin and Wood (MMW) performed for over two and a half hours at the 9:30 Club in D.C. into the wee hours of Sunday morning. The jam band once again proved that they are one of the most energetic, virtuosic and loud acts around.
Republicans don't like to share. They have captured the flag, laid claim to the nation's values, created a monopoly on Jesus and, some say, stolen an election. They dominate the majority of governorships and state legislatures, both houses of Congress, the White House and soon, most likely, the Supreme Court.
New York Times and New Yorker columnist Seymour Hersh's new book, Chain of Command, provides an eye-opening look at the inner workings of the executive branch after 9/11 and shows the disturbing reality of the United States' Middle East policy. Hersh's insight into the military, White House, FBI, CIA, NSA, and State, Defense, Homeland Security and Justice Departments depicts a side of government that is only loosely bound by reason and by law.
The sub-par Thirteenth Step cannot prepare you for the abomination that is Emotive. I don't know whose bright idea it was to make an anti-war cover album, but those responsible should be identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. What is irritating about this album is that any band could have covered these songs badly, but A Perfect Circle seems to have actively tried to make this album as unlistenable as possible. Upon hearing Emotive this album, it's hard to imagine that the same group released the groundbreaking Mer de Noms just four years ago.
Legendary jazz pianist McCoy Tyner will be performing along with Charnette Moffett on bass and Eric Gravatt on drums as the McCoy Tyner Trio. The band has been performing at Blues Alley all week and will play twice a night this weekend.
Tuxedo is covered with John Kerry stickers. Tuxedo is a black mutt, traveling down the empty streets of Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the back of Kim Allen's pickup truck. It's noon on a peculiarly warm and sunny Halloween. I'm sitting with Tuxedo and Kim, talking about the election, while my mom and Kim's husband Mike sit in the front, and the wind reverts my hair to its post-nocturnal discord.
Local lawmakers, law enforcement officials and victims gathered in Blair's Colesville Road parking lot on Friday, Oct. 29 for a press conference for Safe Neighborhood Day to promote driver and pedestrian safety, especially among teenagers. Speakers included County Executive Doug Duncan, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Police Chief John King.
With Oct. 31 just around the corner, the question most Blazers are surely asking themselves is "How can I get my hands on good, spooky Halloween tunes?" Luckily, when Blair asks, Silver Chips Online answers. The following four tips are meant to be a guide to acoustic madness as well as to off-the-wall trick or treat insanity.
As rosy as both political campaigns would like America to believe the future of our economy is, it is in fact a slumbering dragon that neither party dares disturb, lest they be devoured. But the dragon grows hungry even as it sleeps. It will be awakened by its hunger within a decade. Unfortunately, Bush is no Saint George, and Kerry is no Bilbo Baggins.
Junior Andreas Voellmer has battled knights, slain dragons and cast spells, all the way to the National Championships, simply by playing cards. He is one of the many Blazers who plays the often seen but not often understood tradable card game (TCG) Magic: the Gathering. Voellmer is also last year's State Champion, and he hopes to repeat his performance today at this year's State Championship.
President George Bush and Senator John Kerry have gone through a role reversal over the past two weeks. Before the first debate, Kerry was behind in the polls and running a reactive campaign, a strategically awful position. He seemed to be undefined, inconsistent, the weaker candidate on national security and not particularly likable overall. But Kerry has turned the tables.
At last night's town-hall-style presidential debate in St. Louis, Missouri, Senator John Kerry built upon his success last Thursday and connected to the audience on a personal level, while President George W. Bush played defense – at least he didn't scowl.
With even Fox News declaring Kerry the winner,and poll after poll confirming it, there is little ambiguity about who won last Thursday's presidential debate. However, both candidates effectively defined the differences in their positions and set a powerful precedent, a high hill for their running mates to climb. Last night, although Cheney bested Edwards, Edwards did more for Kerry than Cheney did for Bush.
Many see this election as a crossroads in determining the direction of America's future. On November 2, Americans will vote to determine the U.S.'s domestic and foreign policies. The following is a non-partisan compilation of viewpoints of the candidates, Senator John Kerry and President George Bush, for the 2004 presidential election. This is meant to inform, not to persuade.
festival express
A 46-year-old, female Starbucks employee was robbed and assaulted near the CVS at Four Corners at 11:00 a.m. last week on Wednesday, Sept. 1, according to Montgomery County Police Media Services.
Ralph Nader, Presidential candidate for the 2004 election, is scheduled to speak and conduct a book signing at Barnes & Noble-Bethesda on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 7:00 p.m.
On Saturday, August 28 at approximately 12:30, the band Oddzar will perform live at Six50 in Spencerville, Maryland, along with nine other bands as part of Six50 Fest. The local hard rock group from Columbia, Maryland, has signed to Baltimore's DCide Label (Trust Company, Nothingface), and their self-titled debut album will be released on September 14.
Lebanese Taverna, celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, opened a new café in the heart of Silver Spring this summer. The restaurant is located on Ellsworth Street, between the AFI and Majestic movie theaters, surrounded by inviting outdoor tables, a fountain lit with multicolored lights and live music every Thursday and Saturday night.
Three elementary school kids are covering complex Frank Zappa tunes on kazoo, trumpet and keyboards in front of their enthusiastic yet bewildered fifth grade music class. Kazoo is what young guitarists with broken arms play until they get their casts off. Suddenly we discover that kazoos are a lot like arms; they can break.
When most people think of Metallica, they think of the most violent, aggressive thrash metal ever produced, whether it be the debut, Kill ‘em All, or their latest album, St. Anger. Or maybe they think of the corporate giant that has sold over 90 million albums since 1981, or the band's well-earned nickname, Alcoholica. But as filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky show in their new documentary, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, the beast is just three middle-aged men who need therapy sessions to get along. As the premise suggests, the film contains its fair share of psychobabble, but it also turns out to be one of the funniest rockumentaries ever.
With her arms folded in front of her, Marcy Jacobson leans forward against the cold black stone chemistry desk. All her students have left for the day and for a second she looks as if she wishes she had joined them. But when she speaks, there is an enthusiasm in her voice that says her work with students is not a chore - it's a passion.
On paper, Clerks, amateur writer and director Kevin Smith's 1994 comic masterpiece, is just another generic Hollywood teen movie, except without any budget, celebrities, or graphic sexuality. And once you scratch the surface, other problematic aspects of the film begin to present themselves:The acting has the sincerity of a politician, the cinematography might as well consist of a camcorder on a tripod, and the entire film seems to be the work of a couple of convenience store clerks who decided to blow off a day of work, round up their buddies and make a movie.
Blair students perform in Freedom Plaza as part of the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, during the first annual Big Band Jam on Saturday, April 23. The event celebrated National Jazz Appreciation Month.
Duncan speaks to Blazers in the auditorium after school on Wed., April 20.