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Book explores musical stories
In his take on Rod Stewart's classic song, Lester Bangs spins a tale of an aging prostitute and a young man's tumultuous relationship.
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Only longtime fans will benefit from seeing new Dylan DVD
The newly released Bob Dylan DVD is "totally unauthorized" and only for hard-core fans. "Rolling Thunder and The Gospel Years" came out Tuesday and chronicles the folk/pop/country/rock 'n' roll legendary lyricist's career between 1975 and '81.
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The Flaming Lips produce so-so concept album
By Erik Adams For The State News Following the release of The Flaming Lips' 2002 album "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots," the band became seasoned travelers, spreading a gleeful in-concert gospel with the aid of confetti, rabbit costumes, fake blood and a giant balloon that enabled frontman Wayne Coyne to walk on the hands of devoted fans.
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Guster to perform Thursday
Guster hits the local scene tomorrow night for a show at the Auditorium. Drummer and youngest member Brian Rosenworcel recently conversed with The State News about an upcoming Guster studio album, MySpace.com and Ping-Pong balls. State News: What's the band's pre-show ritual? Brian Rosenworcel: Generally, everyone takes a dump in the dressing room during the half-hour changeover between the opener and our set.
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Mexican culture focus of exhibit
Nestled in a corner room of Kresge Art Museum is a display that brings warmth and expression from our neighbors to the south. In "Obras de México: Images of Hispanic Life and Culture," five pre-Columbian sculptures are encased alongside 16 prints and photographs to create a small, yet varied collection. All the artists in the exhibit are either Mexican or have been active with their artwork in Mexico.
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Songwriter's raw 1st album refreshing triumph in honesty
You might call it "freak folk," but better yet, it sounds like Jana Hunter's just letting it all hang out with honest, intimate tunes. It's like eavesdropping on a personal conversation Hunter is having with herself.
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Bridesmaids shine in witty performance
In "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" at Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive in Lansing, five bridesmaids from Knoxville, Tenn., knock the audience's socks off with witty repartee that's played off so naturally that you feel as though you're sitting and chatting with them. The script was written by Alan Ball, who also wrote "Six Feet Under" and "American Beauty." Set in the early '90s, the women touch on a few serious issues, but the tone is hardly heavy.
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Fashion week measures up
Monday kicked off the Student Apparel Design Association's first-ever fashion week, in which they host a fashion-themed event every day leading up to their annual fashion show Friday night at the Auditorium. An informal and lively renegade fashion show was held Monday afternoon at the Union.
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Broaden your film rental horizons; try a foreign flick
It's a rainy Saturday afternoon and you're going to rent a movie. How do you decide what to select?
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'Meltdown' a letdown
In the original "Ice Age," the earth was being overrun by glaciers, and the animals had to find a way to survive the cold.
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Five favorites
1 Author C.S. Lewis' book-turned-movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is released today on DVD and is surprisingly true to the novel.
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Carved stones tell world travel stories
Some people spent their Sunday afternoon basking in nature with fish, sky and rocks at Mackerel Sky Gallery, 217 Ann St.
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Punk rock prof
Most of their students and colleagues know Steve McCornack, John Sherry and René Weber as professors, and Jayson Dibble as a graduate student. But on Thursday night, they will become Pug Muckfe, Johnny Pustular, Kärl Messer and Gurgle McPhestus, as their old-school punk band "Stooge City Liberation Front" takes Harper's Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., by storm. "We call ourselves a punk rock band, but we really play stuff from before there was punk to after there was punk," said Sherry, an assistant communication professor.
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Neko Case's voice, music full of awe
Neko Case charmed a standing-room-only audience Saturday night with a delicately twangy performance in Lansing.
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Hank Williams III gives rowdy show
Broken bottles, vomit and country music — an equation for rowdiness that amounted to fun for many at the Hank Williams III concert.
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MSU faculty member nominated for Juno
The director of MSU's Jazz Studies program has been nominated for a Juno Award, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy. Rodney Whitaker collaborated with musicians Phil Dwyer and Alan Jones on "Let Me Tell You About My Day," which was nominated for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year. The awards will go out Saturday and Sunday in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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Festival's Audience Choice winners announced
The East Lansing Film Festival has come to a close, after nine days of screening films in the area. Throughout the festival, attendees voted for their favorite films.
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Student to perform, debut album Sunday
MSU freshman Jon Rajewski, the latest artist to sign a record deal with indie artist alliance New Model Records, will be playing a free concert at 7 p.m.
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Students put twist on classic
MSU students embrace classic Shakespearean comedy with just two twists — the newest play is set on an 18th century Southern plantation and the character commonly played by a man, Dogberry, is played by a woman. "Much Ado About Nothing," which opens this weekend, uses a bit of Southern charm to put audiences at ease with Shakespeare. Theater senior Katie Canavan plays Dogberry, the sheriff captain of the night watch.
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'Cops' spoof show to be full-length movie
"Reno 911!," the Comedy Central spoof of "Cops" will be coming to a theater near you this summer. "Reno 911!: Miami" follows our favorite Nevada law-enforcement officers as they attend a police convention in Miami.