A&E
Movie Review
The Parade Passes By
A repressed gay man has one chance to be himself in this feel-good love story
June 2nd, 2011
When his wife dies after 45 years of marriage, a repressed gay widower comes out of the closet at age 75, finds a young boyfriend, shocks his grown son speechless with his new declaration of independence, and enjoys the first brief period of happiness in his wasted life before he dies of lung cancer, four years later. This is the autobiographical premise of Beginners, based on the real-life experiences of writer-director Mike Mills, told with understated warmth and compassion, and featuring an exemplary cast. Read more »
A&E
Partners for Life
The Kwak Ballet Academy is the product of a love that spans half the globe
May 26th, 2011
It’s an unassuming place—a suite in a building on Jones Boulevard just south of Charleston—with the exception of one grand gesture: an oil painting depicting an elaborately costumed Kyudong Kwak and his wife, Yoomi Lee, dancing principal roles in the classic ballet La Bayadère. The painting gestures at once to the dancers’ illustrious past and to the future of their academy and the fledgling Las Vegas Ballet Company, which Kwak founded. Read more »
Show Review
BeatleShow!
May 26th, 2011
BeatleShow! is pure Disneyland, for better and worse. As the lights went down on the Saxe Theater, we were invited to be 16 again. Monochrome TV “ON AIR” and “APPLAUSE” boxes lit up, and a single spot hit Ed Sullivan (a convincing Paul Terry), who announced a new act he was sure was going to make it big. And then, in black coats, white shirts and skinny ties, the lads we were waiting for jumped right into “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” just like they did on Feb. 9, 1964. Read more »
Music
Taking It to the Streets
Puerto Rican band Calle 13 prepares to cross over to the English-speaking masses
May 26th, 2011
The members of Calle 13 are controversial—not for wearing a dress made of meat, but for their words. Not only did these two Puerto Rican stepbrothers—Residente (René Pérez) and Visitante (Eduardo Cabra)—begin their latest album Entren los Que Quieran (Enter if you please) by criticizing their label Sony for cheating them out of money, they also called out artists for doing pay for play. Read more »
Soundscraper
Stenchcore, Zeppelins and Wolves
May 26th, 2011
Lucky for us Zep fanatics, late Zep drummer John Bonham had a son. This month, that son, a celebrated drummer in his own right, pays tribute to his father and the greatest hard-rock band of all time with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience, which concludes its summer tour 8 p.m. May 28 in the Access Showroom at Aliante Station. Read more »
Concert Review
Glee Live!
May 26th, 2011
The television juggernaut that is Glee continued on May 21, as the “Glee Club” stormed the Mandalay Bay Events Center playing to thousands of screaming fans. Merchandise lines were as big as I’ve ever seen pre-show. Read more »
Concert Review
System of a Down
May 26th, 2011
These Armenian-American alt-metal rockers haven’t released any new music since 2005, but you wouldn’t have known it from the sold-out crowd at their May 22 concert at the Pearl at the Palms. Read more »
Concert Review
Experience Hendrix
May 26th, 2011
Jimi Hendrix often expressed a desire to turn his live shows into an “electric church,” a place for his faithful to open their ears, free their minds and receive his soulful musical sermon. Read more »
Concert Review
The Gypsy Den’s Fashion Night Out
May 26th, 2011
No words were needed May 19 as instrumental bands Dinner Music for the Gods and Thee Swank Bastards performed at the Gypsy Den’s Fashion Night Out fundraiser. DMFTG played on the wagon stage first. Read more »
