Hump Day, and it couldn't have come sooner. Things have been dragging this week at the office and the sunny days and high 80 degree temps have made none too excited to be inside from 8-5, but today's offering of free chili dogs, elephant ears, ice cream, and soda from the HR department should appease anyone who's got their finger on the fishing pole hiding under their desk for the time being.
War and Censorship at Wilton High
By Amy Goodman
Last Sunday night, as millions of Americans tuned in to the two Tonys—the final episode of “The Sopranos,” to see whether Tony Soprano lived or died, and the Tony Awards, celebrating the best in American theater—actor Stanley Tucci (who played “Nigel” in “The Devil Wears Prada") was in an off-Broadway theater, the Culture Project, watching high school students perform a play about war.
The production, “Voices in Conflict,” moved the audience to tears, ending with a standing ovation for the teenage actors, still reeling from a controversy that had propelled them onto the New York stage. Their high school principal had banned the play.
Bonnie Dickinson has been teaching theater at Wilton High School in Connecticut for 13 years. She and her students developed the idea of a play about Iraq, initially inspired by the Sept. 3, 2006, death of Wilton High graduate Nicholas Madaras from an IED (improvised explosive device) blast in Baqubah, Iraq. The play uses real testimonials from soldiers, from their letters, blogs and taped interviews, and Yvonne Latty’s book “In Conflict,” with the students acting the roles. The voices of Iraqis are also included.
In mid-March, after students spent months preparing the play, the school administration canceled it. Superintendent Gary Richards wrote: “The student performers directly acting the part of the soldiers ... turns powerful material into a dramatic format that borders on being sensational and inappropriate. We would like to work with the students to complete a script that fully addresses our concerns.” (The students have modified the script; they perform Richards’ letter, its cold, condescending bureaucratese in stark relief with the play’s passionate eyewitness testimonials.)
The story struck a chord with Tucci. He was already producing a video piece about his high school alma mater, John Jay High School in Cross River, N.Y., where high school girls were suspended for performing an excerpt of Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues.” Their crime: uttering the word “vagina” after being warned not to.
Following the performance of “Voices in Conflict,” Tucci participated in a public conversation with the student actors, noting that “Cross River and Wilton are only 15 miles apart. There’s obviously something in the water.” [READ MORE]
MUSIC
New Track from Iron & Wine
Iron & Wine - Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car"
DAVID VANDERVELDE preps new CDEP; Announces US tour with Blitzen Trapper and European tour with Magnolia Electric Co.
It's been a busy year for Chicago's DAVID VANDERVELDE. Mojo rejoiced in "the arrival of an eccentric talent whose head is firmly inclined toward the past" when he released his debut album The Moonstation House Band in January, and he and his band then duly took to the road on tours of the US and UK with Spoon and Richard Swift. Now, it's getting ready to get busier, as the summer dawns and on June 19th Secretly Canadian releases the second single from The Moonstation House Band. A paean to young lust and getting high, "Nothin No" is a modern rock classic that recalls the spirit of glam rock's most earnest & timeless teen anthems. The CD single also contains three other non-album tracks.
Vandervelde will be heading back across the Atlantic at the end of the month for seven solo dates, opening for label mates Magnolia Electric Co. in the UK, Austria and Germany.
Upon returning from Europe, Vandervelde and his Moonstation House Band immediately embark on another full US tour - this time with Portland's Blitzen Trapper, with a few odd dates with Montreal's The Besnard Lakes and Austin's The Black Angels sprinkled in to add extra flavor. The tour will triumphantly end in Vandervelde's home town of Chicago where he'll be playing at Lollapalooza.
David Vandervelde - "Nothin' No"
David Vandervelde - "Jacket"
Princeton's "Psychofunctionalist"
A couple of days ago we featured Los Angeles trio Princeton, and recently I received another email from the band letting me know about their track "Psychofunctionalist." Jesse wanted to send me the track after reading an article about Harry Frankfurt on the site. As Jesse says in his email,
Although I have not read on bullshit or on truth, I have read a lot of essay's by him regarding free will and i thought it was interesting that he would be brought up on a blog. Anyways, if you are at all interested in philosophy of mind I have written a song about Ned Block's article 'Troubles with Functionalism' I can send it to you if you like. I sent it to Ned and he enjoyed it.
Intrigued? You should be. Check out the Veritas Lux Mea exclusive song "Psychofunctionalist" by Princeton below:
Princeton - "Psychofunctionalist"
Featured Artist: Bitter Bitter Weeks
Philly's own Bitter Bitter Weeks brings their low fi indie sound to the world with new June release of Peace is Burning Like a River.
Brian McTear started Bitter bitter weeks some time around 2001 as a solo performer. He always knew it would need to become a band, though. Now, the third record, Peace is burning like a river, has just been completed. Release details are to be announced.
McTear is a record producer, who has worked with many great bands over the last ten years (Matt Pond PA, Mazarin, Danielson, The A-sides, Hail Social, ....).
Amy Morrissey is the singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitar player for the Novenas. She is also an artist. Her work is exceptional and unique. She will never sell it, though it can be viewed at Amymorrissey.com. Her work has been featured on all three Bitter bitter weeks albums. Amy is also an engineer and co-owner of Miner Street Recordings in Philadelphia with McTear. She produced and engineered Peace is burning... with McTear at their studio...[READ MORE]
Bitter Bitter Weeks - "Terrified"
Bitter Bitter Weeks - "Kings"
Bitter Bitter Weeks at Myspace