Monday, December 30, 2024

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Features

FEATURES

Bands set for friendly battle in 'U' contest

The time to shine for local bands is tonight at the second annual Battle of the Bands. Due to the phenomenal success of last year's show, the International Center is expected to be packed when doors open around 9 p.m. The event is presented by the University Activities Board and will feature 10 bands performing original tunes from genres including punk, funk, jam, rock and retro blues.

FEATURES

Weekend best bets

Comedy If the warmer weekend weather has you aching to take the old beater on a road trip, head down to Ferndale Saturday night for a show like no other.

FEATURES

Hooked up

Without having to move much from behind a computer screen, you could order dinner, get help with homework and meet a possible soul-mate by the end of one night.

FEATURES

'Johnson Family' isn't just a cheap rip-off of Chase's 'Vacation,' it's worse

If John Hughes sniffed glue as he penned the immortal Chevy Chase comedy "Vacation," the result would likely be as mildly funny and forgettable as "Johnson Family Vacation," a lackluster venture into family comedy that has its moments, but ultimately falls flat. Surprisingly, though, "Johnson Family Vacation" does not completely rip off "Vacation," but simply borrows the premise of a cross-country family trip.

FEATURES

Seasonal duck feedings need to stop, or else

I love spring. The weather warms up from the frigid frost we lived in for months, flowers begin to bud beautifully, animals - and humans - start to mate like crazy and people seem to be a few notches happier than they were five weeks ago.

FEATURES

New Releases

BLUES"When You Rock and Roll," Marvin Jackson, Collector/White Blues guitarist Marvin Jackson has appeared on albums by well-known blues artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and Albert Collins.

FEATURES

Modest Mouse brings 'Good News' with latest release

There are a few things music fans can rely on consistently: a Rolling Stones tour until 2020, a new MP3 downloading program to whet their illegal music palette, the local Best Buy being out of popular discs during a sale and Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock's apparent fear of death. With last week's release of "Good News For People Who Love Bad News," rumors swirled (among people who hadn't downloaded the album) that the Washington musician might have lightened up.

FEATURES

Thrills mix Cali-pop, twang

Given the number of references to America's West Coast in its debut album, "So Much for the City," it's surprising that The Thrills, one of the best California-style pop bands currently around, are actually Irish boys from Dublin. Drawing on obvious influences from '70s bands such as The Beach Boys and The Byrds,The Thrills master the Californian sound in its album with upbeat, simple tunes, breathy vocal harmonies and steel guitars.

FEATURES

'Lounge' sees other side of 8 Mile

Nearly three years after James Carter was recorded at the historic Detroit jazz bar at Livernois and 8 Mile, the Motor City saxophonist is allowing his fans to relive the beautiful music they heard that night.

FEATURES

Brown double disc screams, 'Get Up'

Until recently, I was never properly introduced to the music of James Brown. This is very unfortunate, but I suppose it's better late than never. If you were like me and haven't yet had a true James Brown experience, for the love of your ears and soul, pick up "The 50th Anniversary Collection." This two-disc set has 50 songs on it.

FEATURES

Best bets

Music • Indie rockers Phantom Planet, touring with their latest self-titled release, will be playing a concert Monday night at the MSU Union Ballroom.

FEATURES

Local 3-piece has Nirvana, coffeehouse tribute on brain

John Toman was a fourth-grader when Nirvana turned him on to rock music. He vividly recalls watching the grunge trio perform "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Territorial Pissings" on Saturday Night Live in 1992. Now, as an English senior, the singer and bass player wants people to recognize the band for what it produced - great punk rock. Toman, along with two other Nirvana fans, will perform 20 of the band's lesser-known songs tonight at Caffe Latte, 110 Charles St.