Society offers music year-round

Bob Blackman describes the Lansing Area/MSU Folksong Society as a folk music organization, but he uses that term broadly. The volunteer organization presents a weekly series of folk-influenced artists entitled “The Ten Pound Fiddle Coffeehouse” every Friday during the MSU scholastic year. “The main purpose has been to present weekly concerts and monthly dances; the dances are both folk styles of dance,” Blackman, co-founder of the group, said.

Children create crafts at museum

Tinsel, markers, bright paper, ribbon, glitter and lots of glue engulfed tabletops at Kresge Art Museum on Sunday as families, college students and even some high schoolers came to create their own valentines.“A Celebration of Heart” allowed patrons of Kresge to create valentines and puppets for a small fee Sunday, and provided equally sweet confections and lemonade to boot.“This one’s for my mom, I don’t have any boyfriends,” said Peyton Frank, 4, of the glittery, heart-laden concoction in front of her.

Comedy of Errors proves to be no Shakespearean mistake

Mistaken identity, chaos, flailing limbs and melodramatic wailing prevailed in this weekend’s opening run of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre. And it just happened to be funny.

Hannibal offers little more than blood, gore

At some point during director Ridley Scott’s grisly take on the Thomas Harris franchise, one gets the feeling the hype over “Hannibal” just results in a conditioned response.

Björk musical film dances into E.L.

Don’t cry for the elite pop star-turned thespian club. The ranks, which include the likes of Madonna, Courtney Love and Jon Bon Jovi, consist of scenery-chewers who’ll treat any dramatic act like a shot to the heart.

Weekend Guide

Friday: One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, “Comedy of Errors,” will be presented at Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.

Hannibal

Theater community embraces hard-working student

In an upstairs bedroom on Sunrise Street, Emily Mickelson and her friend R.J. Mahaney sat in nervous anticipation, awaiting the decision of the “Sylvia” cast list to be posted the next day.“The night before, after callbacks, I was really bored and antsy,” Mickelson, a theater junior who auditioned for the uptight but likable role of Kate, said.

E.L. band flows back into town to promote CD

While most MSU students were spending time with their families and drinking eggnog next to the Christmas tree last December, East Lansing-based band, The Flow, was preparing for that evening’s concert in Colorado.They’re back in town and ready to rip it up tonight at Rick’s American Cafe, 224 Abbott Road.“We played 14 different dates and we got good crowd responses,” vocalist Ted Moss said.

Britney Spears signs Pepsi deal

NEW YORK - Oops, she drank it again. Britney Spears has signed a global marketing deal with Pepsi Cola.

Pure Bull

Unlike many of its energizing competitors, Red Bull’s revitalizing effects aren’t based on its caffeine content, said Max Gosling, an advertising junior and one of two student representatives for the Red Bull company at MSU.

Comedy of Errors comes to U

Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” will open this weekend in the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre, bringing the ever-popular theme of mistaken identity to the stage once more. “Two twins looking for each of their brothers come into a small town, are mistaken for their brothers and chaos ensues,” said Jay Burns, a theater graduate student who plays the part of the Duke.

Crouching Tigergives audience kung fu fun

Every few years, a foreign language film comes along with enough hype to make a splash on these shores.

Boy band wants respect

By NEKESA MUMBI WOODY AP Music Writer NEW YORK - O-Town, the latest boy band to make teen-age girls swoon, has a message for its critics: Don’t hate us just because we’re beautiful. “We’re going to be the best band out there, and we’re not even going to let the fact that we’re five good-looking guys in the teen market affect us musically and let it lower the bar,”group member Jacob Underwood said. Credibility is what O-Town is seeking since their gimmicky formation on ABC’s “Making the Band” reality show last May.

Tradition should be kept at Univ. of Iowa

Nobody can describe it in more eloquent terms than Homer Simpson - “Mmmm, Beer.”But not everyone is a fan of the cure-all temporary solution to life’s problems.Prime example: the residents of Iowa City, Iowa, and the administration of the University of Iowa, which calls the city home.According to an Associated Press story, school officials instructed the Hawkeye pep band to quit singing the words to the polka song, “In Heaven There Is No Beer,” three weeks ago after residents questioned the appropriateness of the song, given the university’s and city’s efforts to put underage and binge drinking in check.The song’s lyrics include the chorus, “In heaven, there is no beer/That’s why we drink it here/And when we’re gone from here/All our friends will be drinkin’ all the beer.”The band has performed the song to celebrate Hawkeye basketball victories for more than 20 years.

Local artist debuts with mellow sound

Sean Madigan Hoen The Atavan Tapes CTW Records A singing voice that is completely natural, and not changed with voice-altering machines, usually makes for a more sincere and true sound. Detroit native Sean Madigan Hoen’s debut album “The Atavan Tapes” is refreshing in this way.

Fresh faces grace stage at Wharton this spring

With spanking-new theatrical Spartan blood and lots of enthusiasm, two freshmen will put their talent to work and lead the MSU Department of Theater’s spring productions, “Sylvia” and “The Diary of Anne Frank.”“We give the roles to the talent,” said Frank Rutledge, MSU professor of theater, of his decision to cast no-preference freshman Megan Milota as Anne in “The Diary of Anne Frank.” “It’s how professional theater works, and university theater should echo pro theater as much as possible.”Anne is a character who possesses an unbridled amount of spirited girlish charm, which develops to a somber maturity beyond her years, and the play covers serious and accurate areas of history.

Band doesnt have it made yet

Brassy Got It Made Wiiija Records “Nothing, can compete, with the B-R-A-Double S-Y Beat!” At least, that’s what Brassy chants in the opening track of their debut effort entitled, appropriately enough, “No Competition.” The boggle is, they have a lot of competition.

Detroit-based rocker brings back musical variety

Wayne Kramer isn’t a fan of the “ghettoizing” of music tastes.“I don’t think it’s necessary to push everyone who likes one type of music in one corner and everyone else in another corner,” he said.

Playboy guru advises U

Have you ever wondered if astronauts have had sex in space? If so, Playboy magazine adviser Chip Rowe will be at MSU on Friday with the answer to that and other strange, sexy or hilarious questions running through your brain. Rowe is coming to Spartan country through efforts of the Campus Center, a student organization that provides weekend entertainment at the International Center and Wells Hall.