A new romantic comedy just in time for Valentines day. Joaquin Pheonix and Gwenyth Paltrow take the lead roles as two building-mates who meet late one night by happenstance. One is an aspiring photographer who has moved back in with his parents after a recent heart break, and the other has just moved in to an apartment paid for by her married lover. Check out the tale of Leanord and Michelle in theaters February 13th.
January 26th marked a night to remember with the ever so calm and cool
Duncan Sheik who, a day later, was to release Whisper House, a full length album with RCA Records. Sheik opened the extravaganza with a couple tunes from his earlier days, “For You” and “Such Reveries”. The Bell House audience was hooked and couldn’t wait to hear all the beauty of his new project.
Of course more surprises ensued. The original Ilse, Lauren Pritchard, joined Duncan on stage to sing a couple of the numbers from the Tony Award winning play Spring Awakening, which won Duncan Sheik two Tony Awards for Best Orchestration and Best Musical Score. The voices of Pritchard and Sheik swelled and crooned. Holly Brook, pianist and backup vocalist on the new Whisper House album only added to the chills up my spine.
The biting brilliance was not over yet. Whisper House, a ten track album, contains songs from Duncan Sheik’s upcoming original musical by the same name to be directed by 30 Rock‘s Keith Powell. The musical tells the story of a young 11 year old boy, Christopher, during WWII. His father has died in a plane crash and his mother, so distraught by the events, is sent to a sanitarium. Christopher goes to live with his Aunt in Maine. It is there that music is heard in the wind and the old lighthouse is haunted by ghosts that sing.
With numbers like “Earthbound Starlight” and “Take a Bow” the musical is sure to captivate and inspire audiences. I know he had me at hello.
Elisabeth Charlotte Rist, nicknamed Pipilotti, is well known for her colorful and musical super 8 films. The subjects of the films vary but remain linked to issues like sexuality, gender, and the human body. The exhibit at the MOMA is found in the grande atrium in order to give the visitor’s a sense of space so their bodies can breathe and stretch. Projectors play her films all along the walls and a large seating area, also designed by the artist, is available for on-lookers to sit and relax. The exhibit is open until February 2nd, 2009. Dont forget, every Friday at the MOMA is free from 4-8!
Highly recommended by all who come in contact with them, Futurecop! is taking over the world and quite rapidly at that. Founded just over a year or so ago by Manchester’s Manzur Iqbal, the music is a sensation. Iqbal teamed up with Peter Carrol and the two are touring everywhere you want to be, from the UK to Canada, through the end of March. The inspiration behind futurecop! is the recreation of your favorite 80’s teen flicks. Think of “The Goonies”, “The Breakfast Club”, and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. Now take that feeling, add some electro-pop beats, and groove it out on the dance floor, which is exactly what we did January 24th at The Mercury Lounge. Their 45 minute set had the entire audience shaking their tails. Some from the crowd even joined the men on stage, some dressed as clowns, and all were merry. If you missed them this time do not fret because they will be back on February 27th for a show at The Studio at Webster Hall.
An EP by the duo released January 5th entitled, The Unicorn and The Lost City of Alvograth, can be purchased on iTunes for under three dollars. It’s time to spend that pocket change and revive your living room dance parties.
January 20th was not only the inauguration of President Barack Obama, but the broadway debut of former Saturday Night Live quipster, Will Ferrell. He will be playing our 43rd President George Bush in the solo comedy “You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush.” The play is co-written by Adam McKay, who wrote and directed the Ferrell movies, “Anchorman”, “Talladega Nights”, and “Step Brothers”. The Cort Theater is hosting the American comedian for a limited engagement scheduled to close March 15th, so don’t wait to get your tickets.
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