Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.

Leisure

Decemberists: a major label band with an indie mindset

When The Decemberists announced that they would release their fourth full-length album with mega-label Capitol Records, indie music-loving eyebrows around the world shot up in surprise. Visions of peeling back the cellophane packaging on The Crane Wife only to find a pepped-up, TRL version of the band mingled with self-righteous cries of “sell-out” from high school cafeterias around the nation. Yet a month after the release of The Crane Wife, it would seem that those people can safely shut up.

By October 26, 2006

Leisure

Circular revolutions with line-breaks

Mark Z. Danielewski’s highly anticipated “Only Revolutions” shocked his loyal readership when it hit shelves. Three hundred and sixty pages of bright text with jagged linebreaks and sentence fragments make for dazzling if intimidating read.

By October 26, 2006

Leisure

Wrens land at Bulldog

The only thing better than an afternoon concert is a free afternoon concert. Indie rock aviators the Wrens are set to play at Georgetown’s Bulldog Alley this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. before heading down to the Black Cat to play a show at a more conventional time—9:30 p.m.

By October 26, 2006

Leisure

The Voice goes on a date with the dietitian

A new face in Leo’s is living behind the fro-yo machine. In an unassuming office ironically close to the tempting dessert section, you can now find Georgianne Belknap, R.D., L.D., Georgetown University’s Dietitian.

By October 26, 2006

Leisure

The ashes of CBGB

On Monday morning fans of punk rock said goodbye to a landmark. Rock poet Patti Smith played the final concert at CBGB, the hallowed rock venue located in Manhattan’s East Village.

By October 19, 2006

Leisure

Brilliant acting saves Gospel

Though the program beckons with the promise of smoke machine haze and strobe lights, don’t get too excited for The Gospel at Colonus, a production that is, in a word, fine.

By October 19, 2006

Leisure

Overthrowing the gov’t, one page at a time

In their long and arduous search for a career path, students seem to be forgetting one option—radical activism. Sure, it’s not exactly the job your parents envisioned you working, but being an activist has its perks. Luckily for D.C., the Provisions Library provides a perfect opportunity to learn about this intriguing calling.

By the October 19, 2006

Leisure

History lessons in hardcore punk

If you’re feeling burnt out by midterms and looking for a bit of distraction, we here at the Voice urge you to get outside on what may be the last nice weekend of ‘06. Load up your iPod with some Fugazi, Bad Brains and Black Flag, and head out for a walking tour of D.C. punk rock.

By October 19, 2006

Leisure

Critical Voices: Beach House and Califone

Displaying a strong use of texture and restraint, Beach House is one of the most impressive debuts of the year.

By October 19, 2006

Leisure

Last King is a regal power in film

The Last King of Scotland follows Nicholas Garrigan, a young Scot fresh out of med school. Stifled by his stuffy home, Garrigan decides to go to Uganda and soon becomes one of the men closest to Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) at the beginning of his tyrannical reign.

By October 12, 2006

Leisure

Robin Williams gives students more pleasure than Hardball

When comedians take the place of politicians, it’s a wild ride, but nothing gets done. Barry Levinson tried to show it in his new movie Man of the Year. Robin Williams demonstrated it last Friday in Gaston. On Friday, Georgetown University was honored as the first stop along Chris Matthews’ Hardball College Tour.

By October 12, 2006

Leisure

Disco World/Inferno

New York’s World/Inferno Friendship Society is touring the world, bringing their cultish circus entertaining to cities all over North America and Europe.

By October 12, 2006

Leisure

A musician’s secret weapon

How do bands without much money get the word out to people? Dave Stein, a senior at SUNY Binghamton, has the answer: CDarmy.com.

By October 12, 2006

Leisure

Parents’ Weekend: there is such thing as a free dinner

The smell of fall is in the air and Leo’s is serving decent food for a change—it can only mean that Parents’ Weekend is right around the corner.

By October 12, 2006

Leisure

C’est chic

Grab a pack of Gauloises and dust off your beret for “C’est Chic,” the District’s first-ever French film festival.

By October 12, 2006

Leisure

Scorsese’s cinematic genius has Departed

It appears that in his old age Martin Scorsese, one of the great American directors of the 20th century, has gone soft.

By October 5, 2006

Leisure

The RETROspective: The Voice’s guide to D.C. thrift shops

Whether you’re looking to add an eclectic flair to your style or simply searching for the perfect Halloween costume, you’ll want to check out this shop.

By October 5, 2006

Leisure

Power to the people

In The U.S. vs. John Lennon, the Beatle and his fellow radical, anti-war activists such as Abbie Hoffman and Bobby Seale represent life. Richard Nixon and conservative, pro-war politicians such as G. Gordon Liddy and J. Edgar Hoover represent death.

By October 5, 2006

Leisure

“Real” hip-hop: a group effort

Nearly everybody has that one annoying friend who clings to dusty copies of what he considers “real” hip-hop while shunning much anything else that enters the rap market.

By October 5, 2006

Leisure

Vice and virtue in art

The power of contradiction in Erik Sandberg’s latest exhibition, Contrary, is not to be underestimated despite the show’s small size and intimate setting.

By September 28, 2006