Robert Randolph and the Family Band are like a breath of fresh air in the stale music industry. "Unclassified," the group's latest release, beautifully meshes funk, blues, Latin, rock, country and gospel into a brilliant, adrenaline-filled collection of great tunes. Whether laying down instrumental jams or lyrically driven rock, the group's disc has something others lack.
Lansing - Sunny skies, smooth jazz and the aroma of barbecued pork filled the air Saturday while Webberville resident Jim Smith thoughtfully munched from a bag of peanuts as the 2003 Lansing JazzFest was swinging into full effect all around him. Old Town played host to the ninth annual JazzFest during the weekend, featuring performances by the nationally renowned Rumba Club, African-inspired Biakuye and other groups such as Sunny Wilkinson and Raw Silk featuring Beverly Robinson. The event brought an estimated 12,000 to Lansing's Old Town, organizers said. Smith said the event brought a positive influence to the district. "It's in a good, safe area that's not congested," Smith said.
When Eve 6 first burst onto the music scene nearly five years ago, almost everyone knew "Inside Out," the top-40 hit about some teenage boy putting his heart in a blender.
Hotwire is one of those bands that you hear on the radio and instantly categorize under nu-metal.
Known throughout the area as the band that provided a stepping stone for others, Jebus is calling it quits Friday, playing its last show ever at The Temple Club, 500 East Grand River Ave.
Finally, a summer movie that relies more on its storyline than on a huge budget and special effects. "Seabiscuit," the true story of a horse who beats the odds to become a champion, is a strange pick for a summer release because its absence of action.
I'm not too big on watching television. Don't get me wrong, I love watching a few cooking shows on the Food Network or even an episode of "Sex and the City," but other than that, I try and avoid the black box that sucks intelligence out of living souls. My friends, however, are another story.
Mya's image is ever-changing. She's a sex kitten, a wholesome crooner, a hoochie, a lover, a fighter, a trash-talker and a sentimentalist all on one CD. Her new album, "Moodring," is quite appropriately titled, in that she changes up her tone, her message and her image from song to song.
The bad boys are back and better than ever. Eight years after Will Smith and Martin Lawrence introduced the pair of Miami cops, they have teamed up again in "Bad Boys II," redefining the buddy cop genre by successfully adding a dose of humor compared to Hollywood's latest attempts. With more breathtaking stunts and Smith's and Lawrence's uncanny abilities to create laughs at the most intense moments, "Bad Boys II" survives a far-fetched plotline to give moviegoers a satisfying jolt of entertainment. Reprising their roles of Miami investigators, Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) become entangled in a drug smuggling ring behind the flow of ecstasy into Miami. The drug case becomes complicated when Marcus discovers his sister Syd (Gabrielle Union), a poorly cast DEA agent, is involved in a plot to expose the heads behind the drug case.
Have the day off work? Bored with the movie theater or spending nights at the same bowling alley? Tired of classes? Take a step outside East Lansing and see just what lies within the city limits of our neighbor to the west - Lansing.
The Utah-based band, The Used, sounds like two completely different bands competing during each others' songs.
Year of the Rabbit is the kind of band that is hard to put a finger on. It's poppy, yet subversive.
Summertime offers a great range of outdoor activities, but not everyone would consider watching a movie in the same category of star gazing, badminton or a concert.The East Lansing Community Events Program is seeking to change that mentality.
"The Allman Brothers rock," said East Lansing resident Nate Foster as he waited eagerly to see the band Tuesday night at Common Ground. And despite some rain before the show, Foster remained excited to see the band.
While covering music - both local and national - you meet all kinds of personalities. There are the notoriously cocky musicians who think they are changing the face of music while simultaneously walking on the people who support them.
In today's predictable record industry, Texas-based Quiet, Lovely manages to sound somewhat different.
Derivative and uninspired though at times oddly appealing, AM Radio's "Radioactive" wears its influences on its sleeve.
While Reese Witherspoon shines as the smart yet ditzy Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde: Red White & Blonde," her pursuit of Washington, D.C., does not quite measure up to Elle's fun-filled journey at Harvard Law in the first flick. The sequel tells the story of Elle Woods traveling to Washington to oppose future testing on animals after she finds the mother of her precious Chihuahua Bruiser is being used as a cosmetic test subject.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has still got it. After 12 years, Schwarzenegger dominates his role once again as the Terminator and is undoubtedly successful. Without James Cameron on board to direct and Edward Furlong and Linda Hamilton to save the day, "T3" shines as a suitable legacy to their work. The T-101 (Schwarzenegger) has been sent back to the present once again to prevent the death of future resistance leader John Connor (Nick Stahl) from Skynet's faster, stronger and smarter terminator, the T-X (Kristanna Loken). The T-101's mission also is to protect innocent veterinarian Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), whose life also is intertwined - though less importantly than Connor's - in the path the future takes after Judgment Day. Together, John and Kate realize Judgment Day is coming sooner than they expected - within three hours.
For the upcoming month, a great variety of flicks are hitting theaters between the all-important Independence Day weekend and the dregs of late summer. Back to theaters this summer is our favorite blonde.