life. and how to have one.

DECEMBER 4, 2008
ALSO INSIDE
EYE SPY: Peep the population as
a people-watcher
CULT STATUS: Its in the feeling,
not the flm
EVERYTHING OLD
IS NEW AGAIN
Rockabilly enthusiasts revive
the 40s and 50s way of life
2
December 4, 2008
Buy one
get one
when you bring in a toy to Ben & Jerrys
for our Christmas charity.
785-841-0015 Giving back to Lawrence
FREE
Giving back to Lawren
any menu item
BIGGEST
DANCE
PARTY
18 to dance
21 to drink
841-5855 ABEJAKES.COM
$2
$2
BACARDIS
ZWACK
BOMBS
Jayplay
CONTENTS
notice 4-8 | health 9 | contact 13-14
play 15-17 | reviews 18 | speak 19
10
December 4, 2008
Volume 6, Issue 14
students discover the simple joys of
people-watching 5
all eyes on you
a writer found that dancing picked up
where words left off 19
a dance to remember
the music, the cars and the clothes of the 40s and
50s embody the rockabilly culture that, for some,
is a way of life rather than a temporary trend
retro renaissance
Cover photo
illustration by
Ryan McGeeney
3 December 4, 2008
thursday, dec. 4
Fair Trade Holiday
Sale. Ecumenical Christian
Ministries, 11 a.m., all ages,
FREE.
Holiday Open House.
Kansas Union, 12 p.m., all ages,
FREE, www.suaevents.com.
Hinder/Trapt/
Revelation Theory.
Uptown Theater, 7 p.m., all
ages, $27.50.
American Civil Liberties
Union Beneft with
Samantha Clemmons/
Panda Circus/Brother
Bird. Eighth Street Tap
Room, 10 p.m., 21+, $3.
That Damn Sasquatch.
The Jazzhaus, 10 p.m., 21+,
$3, www.myspace.com/
damnthatsasquatch.
Opposite Day/New
Franklin Panthers.
The Replay Lounge, 10 p.m.,
21+, $2, www.myspace.com/
newfranklinpanthers.
FREE PLAY at the
Replay (Pinball). The
Replay Lounge, 3 p.m. to 6
p.m., all ages, FREE.
A Christmas Story.
Lawrence Community
Theatre, 8 p.m., all ages, $14-
$20.
Juliana Hatfeld/
Everyday Visuals/
Kirsten Paludan Band.
Record Bar, 9:30 p.m., 18+,
$10-$12.
American Civil Liberties
Union Beneft with
Gerald Strokes/
Snugglebugs/Sadie Soul.
Eighth Street Tap Room, 10
p.m., 21+, $3.
The Sunshine
Rains/1,000,000 Light
Years. The Jackpot, 10 p.m.,
18+, $5-$7.
Cosmic Bowling. Kansas
Union, Jaybowl, 10 p.m., all
ages, FREE.
friday, dec. 5
Horse and Buggy
Christmas Parade.
Downtown Lawrence, 11 a.m.,
all ages, FREE.
Paul Green School of
Rock. Record Bar, 4 p.m., all
ages, $5, www.schoolofrock.com.
The Tooth of Crime.
The Bottleneck, 7 p.m., all
ages, $7.
A Christmas Story.
Lawrence Community
Theatre, 8 p.m., all ages, $14-
$20.
Ad Astra Arkestra/
Black Christmas/
Spirit of the Stairs.
The Jackpot, 10 p.m., 18+,
$5-$7, www.myspace.com/
spiritofthestairsmusic.
Trucker. The Jazzhaus, 10
p.m., 21+, $5.
Cosmic Bowling. Kansas
Union, Jaybowl, 10 p.m., all
ages, FREE.
saturday, dec. 6 tuesday, dec. 9
wednesday, dec. 10
Symphonic Band and
University Band. Lied
Center, 7:30 p.m., all ages, $5.
Tuesday Night Concert
Series. Signs of Life, 8 p.m.,
all ages, FREE.
Tuesday Nite Swing.
Kansas Union, 8 p.m., all ages,
FREE.
Aaron Neville. The
Voodoo Lounge, 8 p.m., 21+,
$30-$40.
Jacks Mannequin/
Eagles of Death Metal/
Anberlin. The Midland
Theatre, 6 p.m., all ages,
$19.65.
Bob Walkenhorst and
Friends. The Record Bar, 10
p.m., 18+, $7, www.myspace.
com/onefortheteam.
Pride Night. The Granada,
9 p.m., 18+, $5.
monday, dec. 8
Holiday Shopping Expo.
Holiday Inn Holidome, 10 a.m.,
all ages, FREE.
Eldridge Hotel
Gingerbread Festival.
Eldridge Extended, 12 p.m. to
6 p.m., all ages, FREE.
Smackdown! The
Bottleneck, 8:30 p.m., 18+, $5.
Limbeck. The Jackpot, 10
p.m., 18+, $7-$8, www.limbeck.
net.
Rural Grit Happy Hour.
The Brick, 6 p.m., 21+, $3.
Karaoke. Jazzhaus, 10 p.m.,
21+, FREE.
Sissy Wish/Andrew
Morgan/Fiat. The Record
Bar, 10 p.m., 21+, $7.
Metal School with DJ
Motley Cruz. The Replay
Lounge, 10 p.m., 21+ $1.
sunday, dec. 7
Every
holiday
season, my
moms side
of the fam-
ily gathers
round the hearth for a lively viewing of
the movie National Lampoons Christmas
Vacation.
The way we get excited about watch-
ing this flmthe way we recite entire
scenes and laugh at every joke even
though weve heard them dozens of
timeswould make you think Christmas
Vacation is some genius work of cinema.
An Oscar-winning masterpiece that
rocks viewers souls, if you will.
But as we know, the flm is in fact not
even close to genius. Its a raucous romp
through the holiday season with the dys-
functional Griswold family.
So why is this flm so appealing to us?
Maybe its because we live in Kansas,
and the movies trashiest, crudest charac-
ter, Cousin Eddie, lives in Kansas.
It could also be because were from
Topekacodename: The Dirty Dirty
and for some reason the same domestic
catastrophes depicted in the movie
tend to pop up in our local newspapers
headlines.
Or maybe its just because weve
always watched this movie together and
always loved it. Its a tradition, and so
watching it makes us feel connected to
each other.
So is the appeal of many flms we
know as cult flms. Theyre not neces-
sarily great because of whats in the flm,
but because of their quirkiness, their
exaggerations, their clichs and how all
these things resonate with us in our lives.
We have the obvious cult classics of
our generation such as Donnie Darko
and Napoleon Dynamite. But rather than
relishing the campiness of recent flms,
Ive always found it more entertaining to
dig into cult flms of the past. Cult clas-
sics from the 1980s are my favorite, as
I get to see Christian Slater before he
outgrew his good looks (Pump Up the Vol-
ume), Winona Ryder before she robbed
Saks Fifth Avenue (Heathers) and Johnny
Depp before he was Disneys demigod
(Cry-Baby).
Check out Dereks story on page 15,
which explores just how certain flms get
elevated to cult status, as well as what
makes us love these flms.
No matter how dysfunctional my
family is, we know we can never top the
Griswolds and their misadventures in
Christmas Vacation. Maybe thats the real
reason we watch it.
l Megan Hirt, editor
editors note
Editor Megan Hirt
Associate editor Sasha
Roe
Photo editor Jon Goering
Designers Drew Bergman,
Peter Soto, Becky Sullivan
Contact Carly Halvorson,
Matt Hirschfeld
Health Asher Fusco, Susan
Melgren, Realle Roth
Manual Heather Melanson,
Ariel Tilson
Notice Matt Bechtold, Nina
Libby, Sean Rosner
Play Brianne Pfannenstiel,
Derek Zarda
Contact us
jayplay08@gmail.com
Jayplay
The University Daily Kansan
111 Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4810
Contributors Mark Arehart,
Clayton Ashley, Darron Carswell,
Francesca Chambers, Matthew
Crooks, Miller Davis, Chance
Dibben, Chris Horn, Dani Hurst,
Mia Iverson, Amber Jackson,
Danny Nordstrom, Meghan
Nuckolls, Abby Olcese, Amanda
Sorell, Elise Stawarz
Creative consultant
Carol Holstead
jayplayers
venues
The Brick
1727 McGee St.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 421-1634
Eighth Street Tap
Room
801 New Hampshire St.
(785) 841-6918
Lawrence Community
Theater
1501 New Hampshire St.
(785) 843-7469
The Midland Theatre
1228 Main St.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 471-9703
The Record Bar
1020 Westport Road
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 753-5207
Uptown Theater
3700 Broadway St.
Kansas City, Mo.
(816) 753-8665
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4
December 4, 2008
NOTICE
with Hawley Shoffner,
winner of KJHKs 2008
Farmers Ball
Hawley Shoffner, Wichita senior, won
KJHKs 2008 Farmers Ball, the annual bat-
tle of the bands that features Lawrences
best new musical acts. Shoffner performed
fve songs and beat out seven other musi-
cal acts to win studio time at Black Lodge
Recording in Eudora, merchandise from
Blue Collar Press and a photo shoot. The
folk singer plays the kazoo, ukulele, pia-
no, guitar and accordion. Jayplay recently
spoke with Shoffner about her music and
recent success.
How would you describe your
music?
I would call it as minimal as you can get.
I like to play the instruments myself so I
dont have to depend on others to make
music. Sometimes I talk about things that
have happened to me, but I mostly make
music about other people. Im a history
major, and I read a lot about old Hol-
lywood. Ill fnish a book and then write a
song about a character.
What artists have infuenced
your music?
The DeZurik Sisters. Theyre a folk band
from the 1930s. Theyre yodelers who
would mimic the sounds of chickens and
other farm animals. Another big infu-
ence is a French artist called Soko. She
plays one instrument. Its very minimalist.
Whats your writing process?
Do you write on paper or on a
computer?
I dont use computers very often. I usu-
ally get a tune in my head. It starts with a
tune or a verse, and then I start fguring
out what it would sound like if I were to
play it.
Did you think you had a good
chance at winning Farmers Ball?
I was shocked to be honest. I wasnt
going to do it, and then my friend Annie
was like, If youre not going to enter, Ill
enter for you. I just couldnt believe that
I won, because there were a lot more
people watching the artists I was up
against.
Do you think more people are
listening to your music because
you won Farmers Ball?
Defnitely. Its hard for me to make music
if I dont think anyone is listening. I heard
some of my songs on KJHK, and then
people started asking me for CDs. I only
have a cassette tape right now, but I think
more people will listen when I record a
CD.
What advice would you give to
someone who loves making mu-
sic but has stage fright?
You have to get over it. Ive been terrifed
my whole life, but I thought, If Im going
to do this, then I have to perform. Its
not so scary when you get up there.
People think drinking will relax them
before they get on stage, but I cant drink
before I perform. I also like to get really
dressed up and match my clothes to my
instruments.
Have you had any bad experi-
ences while performing?
Big time! I was in this band called Alpha-
bet City, and it was just my friend Dan
and me playing a show in Wichita. We
were playing, and all of a sudden it got
really foggy. I was like, Who turned on
the fog machine? Then we realized that
a light below us was on fre. I just kept
playing.
Do you have a favorite artist at
the moment?
Im listening to a lot of Vashti Bunyan.
Shes an English folk singer from the
1960s. I also like Civylle Baier and Comet
Gain. I mostly listen to folk music.
Do you want to pursue a profes-
sional career in music?
Ive always wanted to be a musician, but
I never thought it was possible. I want to
go to law school and hopefully become
a senator. Or if music works out, then I
would love to be a famous musician.
Nina Libby
Photo by Alex Bonham-Carter
Hawley Shoffner performs at KJHKs Farmers
Ball on Nov. 6.
5
December 4, 2008
NOTICE
Eye spy
For many KU students,
finding entertainment is as
easy as looking around
By Sean Rosner
srosner@kansan.com
Clare Higgins is interested in people.
Their gestures, their expressions, their
stories and the way they interact with others.
So when the Topeka freshman is on the bus,
in line for a basketball game or eating in the
Underground, she pays attention.
I just like watching what people do
when they think no one is watching. Its
amusing, Higgins says.
Higgins is a people-watcher. And shes
not alone. Whether its on the street, on
Facebook, in celebrity gossip magazines or
on reality television shows, young adults are
fascinated with the lives of others. But what
is it that makes other people so interesting,
and why do we spend so much of our time
watching them?
William Staples, chair of the KU
department of sociology and author of
Everyday Surveillance, says our generation
has an obsession with viewing others, and
the emergence of technology such as the
Internet has only driven this further. Staples
points to reality television and celebrity
gossip blogs and magazines as examples of
this obsession. People-watching, Staples says,
is just a more mundane version of reality
television. He says catching people unaware
is appealing because it is more real.
There is a search for authenticity in
modern culture. The more spontaneous, the
more authentic it is, Staples says.
Jon Hartner, Chicago senior, has other
interests in mind when he watches people.
An urban planning major, Hartner likes
to examine how various environments
affect the way people behave. He studies
and compares how people act on campus,
downtown and in restaurants and bars. He
hopes his knowledge of the way people act
in different situations will help him design
better cities in the future.
People are what make up cities, not just
buildings, Hartner says.
For many, though, people-watching is
appealing simply because people do funny
things when they think no one is looking.
Courtney Williams, Marathon, Iowa,
junior, says she always gets a good laugh
when she sees people singing and dancing
while listening to headphones.
I was waiting in my car outside of the
Burge Union one time, and Jake Sharp
comes out doing what he probably thought
was dancing. It was so hilarious, Williams
says.
Lauren Barry, San Diego junior, says
she does most of her people-watching on
campus during breaks between classes.
I think so far this year, the funniest thing
Ive seen was early in the semester a guy
was attempting to unlock his bike from the
racks in front of Budig Hall, only to discover
that someone had locked their bike onto
his lock. He just screamed, asshole! It was
great, Barry says.
Photo illustration by Jerry Wang
You can run, but you cant hide: People-watching offers the same form of entertainment that reality television does, only you wont feel like you have to take a shower
because you watched Flava Flav and Bret Michaels mack on some hunnies.
Spy tactics: How to people-watch without
looking like a creep
Bring reading material
Reading material gives you the
appearance of being occupied, but also
the option to glance up at any time to
see the people around you.
Sit near a window
Grab a window seat at a restaurant
or coffee shop, and all passersby are in
clear view.
Wear sunglasses
Hiding your eyes leaves them free to
wander without anyone noticing.
Bring someone else
When you people-watch in pairs, you
will simply look like youre having a
conversation with a friend. Plus, youll
have two sets of eyes to fnd interesting
subjects.
6
December 4, 2008
NOTICE
By Chris Horn
chorn@kansan.com
Fall fashion, part II
Accessories always add fare and
personality to an outft, and a scarf is a
good way to kill two birds with one stone:
keeping your neck warm and giving your
clothes a stylish boost.
First, I need to distinguish between
cool-weather scarvesthe topic of
this weeks columnand cold-weather
scarves. The latter are best for those
unbearably chilly, snowy days that are
just around the corner. Winter scarves
are generally thick, knit and made of
wool, and despite their utilitarian nature,
they lack some vibrancy in the style
department.
On the contrary, cool-weather
scarves are small, lightweight and
made from sheets of fabric. The last
characteristic is extremely important
because it makes for a plethora of colors,
patterns and styles. I must reiterate the
unisexual aspects of the cool-weather
scarf. Guys in France are sporting more
masculine colors such as navy, gray and
black, while girls are adorning themselves
in practically every color under the sun.
The most popular pattern here for both
sexes is houndstooth, but many girls are
also sporting lots of foral prints.
I suggest making a trip to any
Lawrence clothing store and searching
for a scarf that fts your style. If you have
the time and money, a weekend trip to
St. Louishome to three H&M stores
would add a defnite boost to your scarf
collection. The Swedish brand has a great
cool-weather scarf line, and depending
on which scarves you choose, you could
go home with three for about $20.
How to wear a
cool-weather scarf
If you typically wear a winter scarf,
you probably wrap it around your neck
a couple times or fold it and put the
ends through the hole. Unfortunately,
these techniques dont work well with
the scarf s cool-weather cousins. Here
are some tips to help you achieve the
perfect look:
1. Cool-weather scarves are normally
square in shape, so fold the scarf in half,
to make a triangle.
2. Bring the scarf up to you neck, putting
the bulk of the triangle on your chest.
3. Wrap the two ends around the back of
your neck, making sure the scarf is snug,
and let the ends hang over the fronts of
your shoulders.
4. Voil! You and your French-inspired
wrap can stay warm and look chic in the
brisk weather.
Note: If this look makes you think
of bandanas and the wild West, then you
can do what I sometimes do: Instead
of keeping the scarf in a triangle shape
after folding it, roll it to form a sack-like
formation. Follow the same directions,
but tuck the ends into the wrapped
portion around your neck rather than
letting them drop onto your chest.
New Location at 23rd & Naismith
A Better Way to Bank
www.kucu.org 3400 W 6th Street and 2221 W 31st Street 785.749.2224
Be seen wearing your shirt.
Win $50. Tuesday.
Ways to stay warm in your t-shirt:
1. Over a turtleneck. 2. Under a blazer. 3. As a scarf.
7
December 4, 2008
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NOTICE
Guy: We had porn and chicken night at
my place.
Girl: (to herself) And then they choked
their chickens.
Girl: People with neck tattoos are
hardcore. People with neck tattoos will
murder you.
Guy: Have you guys seen the previews
for the new Star Trek?
Girl: Wow. Thats embarrassing.
Guy: (to girl) Hurry! You only have a
few more months to drop off all your
illegitimate children in Nebraska.
Guy: Theres nothing sexier than a
bearded woman.
Girl: Does your girlfriend have a beard?
Guy: I dont know. Probably.
Girl: I am so depressed. Somebody get
me a bran muffn!
Girl 1: Did you hear that someone
found a male penis in a Tostitos salsa jar?
Girl 2: As opposed to a female penis?
Guy 1: Why does Kenny hate Adam?
Guy 2: Because Adam stole his blender.
But then he got revenge by sleeping with
Adams sister.
Guy 1: Id still rather have the blender.
Girl 1: All you need is Jesus.
Girl 2: No, all you need is a good
vibrator.
Guy 1: Why dont they make B
batteries?
Guy 2: Because it would sound like you
were stuttering.
Guy 1: I bought a knock-off watch from
that crack head at the gas station. Its
probably stolen.
Guy 2: No, no. He said that the mall was
just cleaning out their inventory.
Guy: My stomach just dropped out of
my vagina.
Guy 1: What do you think of Uggs?
Guy 2: I think they look like manatees.
Nina Libby
WESCOE WIT
8
December 4, 2008
NOTICE
By Abby Olcese
aolcese@kansan.com
Austin Ward remembers the frst time
he saw Martinez Marty Hillard. Ward,
drummer for Lawrence band the Noise FM
met Hillard when his older brother Alex
Ward, the bands lead singer, brought him to
their house to meet the band.
I thought, Wow, theres a cool guy
with dreds standing here in my basement.
He looks cool and he sounds cool, and he
seems to think Im pretty cool, Austin
Ward says. I thought, I defnitely want this
guy around more.
Hillard, a 25-year-old musician and con-
cert promoter, is a ubiquitous presence on
the Lawrence music scene, and seems to
have a hand in everything, or knows some-
one who does. Since moving to Lawrence
from Topeka a year ago, Hillard has been
involved in two bands, organized multiple
local music shows and started the online
music magazine Oh! Mr, which promotes lo-
cal bands. Hillard is recording a CD with his
band, Cowboy Indian Bear, to be released
in 2009.
Oddly enough, Hillard said that growing
up, he was never a very social person.
I was never really one to put together
parties or anything, Hillard says. When I
celebrated my birthday, it was always with
my family. I never really invited friends or
anything. It was never a big deal to me.
Hillard says his interest in organizing
concerts came from his years playing music.
A big part of organizing shows has been
being part of a band for so many years at
this point, Hillard says. Ive been playing in
bands since 1999, when I was in high school,
and with that you just kind of learn as you
go.
The popularity of the local shows Hillard
has organized with friends and fellow musi-
cians during his time in Lawrence has much
to do with the packaging.
We always like to make them seem
more illustrious than they might perhaps
be, Hillard says. If people think its just a
show and think, Thats no big deal, I can see
my friends play any time, that sort of de-
feats the purpose. Thats why local musicians
want to get out there. They want to show-
case their abilities. So we just provide that
venue by making people want to come and
making it seem like its a bigger deal.
Many of Hillards resources come from
his internship with local music promoter
Pipeline Productions.
Weve been really fortunate to be able
to talk to venues like The Jackpot and The
Bottleneck directly, Hillard says. I also
think theyve had a lot of faith with our turn-
outs that we can put together events and
organize them well.
While advertising and excessive promo-
tion may be one part of the equation, people
are also drawn to Hillards shows because of
his connections.
I can tell whenever I go places with
him that people already know him, and the
people that dont really want to, Ward says.
He knows everyone, and everyone knows
him.
Hillard certainly isnt hard to spot in a
crowd. Tall, bespectacled with long dread-
locks, friends say they found Hillard a little
daunting upon just meeting him.
Alex Ward frst saw Hillard at a concert
in which Hillard was playing with his former
band, Jenn Say Kwahs.
When I met him afterward, I was a little
intimidated, because hes a really big guy, but
it turned out that he was the nicest guy in
the world, Ward says.
C.J. Calhoun, who co-founded Oh! Mr.
with Hillard and plays with him in Cowboy
Indian Bear, says he felt the same way when
he met Hillard in Topeka six years ago at
Calhouns very frst concert.
I thought he was a big deal, Calhoun
says. I was really excited about how nice
he was, since it was my frst show and I was
really young at the time.
Calhoun describes his bandmate as very
detail-oriented.
Hes very meticulous, Calhoun says.
Hes critical of himself, but a very hard
worker, especially when it comes to promo-
tions. Hes very social, so its easy for him to
be out and about promoting whatever it is
he happens to be doing.
Hillard says hes been asked a lot about
his future and if he wants to pursue concert
promotion as a career. For him, the choice
is still unclear.
I think mostly I just want to get the
experience and see the inner workings of
all the things that are related to live music
and performing, Hillard says. There are def-
nitely certain aspects of it that I like. Im just
as enthusiastic about other peoples music
as I am about my own output.
The chillest dude youll ever meet
Local noisemaker
Marty Hillard gets the
word out on Lawrences
music scene
Photos by Chance Dibben
Friends of Marty Hillard say he always displays
humility, which is a quality that helps him network
with local venues and musicians.
9
December 4, 2008
NOTICE
Safe sex and spontaneity have always
been odd bedfellows. Its tough to stay in
the moment and still have the forethought
to have a condom handy. So, anything that
allows safe sex and even gives condoms
the mere potential to be more romantic
would be a welcome innovation, indeed.
Sadly, this isnt it.
This is, however, likely to become one
of the greatest novelty gifts of all time.
Its the Force-Sensitive, Sound-Playing
Condom. The U.S. patent holder, Paul Ly-
ons of Southbridge, Mass., has found a way
to combine tried and true prophylactic
technologyyour basic condomwith
piezoelectric sound transducersthink
old-school cell phone ringtonesto cre-
ate the frst musical condom.
Though it would look and function
just like a regular condom, this invention
would also allow the user to record a
song, message or sound effect to the tiny
chip contained in the base of the condom.
This sound would then be played on a
loop when the contacts of the circuit are
closed during use, and the transducer is
activated by forceful movements.
The recorded sound could be any-
thing from a romantic message, a clip of
your partners favorite love song, or the
dirty talk youve been thinking to yourself
but hadnt yet got up the nerve to say out
loud. If it doesnt go over well, you can
just blame it on the condom.
Though its currently just a patent, the
Force-Sensitive, Sound-Playing Condom
might not be far off. As the ringtones
of cell phones have improved, we could
soon see a polyphonic prophylactic thats
capable of producing some high-quality
audio. And if the speaker were suff-
cient, this condom could even add some
bumpin bass to your love-making.
I might just get one for the novelty of
it, just to see how it works, says Dhyana
Coil, Colorado Springs, Colo., senior. But
I think the sound would get kind of muf-
fed from all the action.
No matter how thoughtful the senti-
ment behind the musical condom may be,
the condom in its existing patent would
probably sound at best like a Casio key-
board from 1981, which isnt likely to im-
prove the quality of your sex life.
Unless youre into that sort of thing.
Matt Bechtold
TOMORROWS NEWS:
musical condoms
HEALTH
TOMORROWS NEWS: cocaine energy drink
Energy drinks are a dime a dozen
these days, so in order to grab the at-
tention of consumers, Redux Bever-
ages has introduced Cocaine, a high-
caffeine energy supplement.
Jamey Kirby, inventor of the drink
and president of Redux Beverages,
says the name for the drink came to
him while doing an Internet search in
his home offce.
I was doing some research on
energy drinks and information about
cocaine kept popping up, Kirby says.
The term is synonymous with energy.
Thats the main reason for using the
name.
Cocaine contains 18 grams of sug-
ar and 280 miligrams of caffeine, which
is equivalent to drinking three cups of
coffee or three and a half Red Bulls.
The drink doesnt actually contain
narcotics, but Kirby says it does give
people an instant rush with no crash.
We use simple sugars, which are a
little bit easier on the body than high
fructose corn syrup and cane sugar,
Kirby says.
The Food and Drug Administration
didnt approve of Redux Beverages
branding and marketing. The drink
originally said Cocaine, the legal alter-
native, but has now been changed to,
Cocaine, a high energy supplement.
The drink has been banned in
Texas and Illinois, and Connecticut has
threatened to sue Redux Beverages
because of its name.
Weve been attacked by the FDA
not because of whats in the product,
but because of the products name,
Kirby says.
Redux Beverages has started a le-
gal fund and accepts donations on its
Web site, www.drinkcocaine.com. You
can also rock out to a YouTube vid-
eo of Eric Claptons song Cocaine,
which is posted on the site.
Nina Libby
Youve got the mid-afternoon stomach
grumbles, and in an effort to be healthy, you
decide to buy a smoothie instead of your
usual snack. Although that delicious blend
of fruit and yogurt is typically thought of as
healthy, drinking a store-bought smoothie
could mean guzzling up to a quarter of
your daily caloric intake.
Sheryll Clarke, dietician at the Wichita
Clinic, says that the fruit smoothies you
fnd at specialty stores run high in calories.
Healthier smoothies may have as few as
200 calories, but some can have up to 500
or 600 calories. For someone operating
on an average diet2,000 calories a day
for men, 1,500 a day for womena store-
bought smoothie could make up enough
calories for an entire meal, Clarke says. But
most people consider smoothies a snack,
not a meal.
Sarah Wamsley, Wichita dietician, says
when it comes to beverages like smoothies,
Americans tend to consume too much. The
key, she says, is portion control.
Not all smoothies are bad, of course.
When you move into coffee shops, the
smoothies move more into taste than
health, and they tend to be highly caloric,
Wamsley says. But some specialty stores
advertise healthy smoothies, she says, and
those do tend to be better for you.
If you want to ensure your smoothie
is healthy, make one at home. It only takes
three types of ingredients: yogurt, fruit
and a liquid. Wamsley says to use low-fat
or non-fat yogurt. She recommends plain
or vanilla yogurt, because the fruit-favored
yogurt tends to have added sugar. Frozen
fruit and bananas are good choices for fruit.
As for the liquid, Wamsley recommends
skim milk as opposed to juice. Juice adds
calories. Milk does, too, but it also adds cal-
cium, Wamsley says.
So, if you want a healthy snack, make
a homemade smoothie and steer clear of
store-bought ones.
VERDICT: BAD FOR YOU
Susan Melgren
coffee shop smoothies
11
December 4, 2008
10
December 4, 2008
FEATURE FEATURE
Few genres of music
attract the kind of rabid
fans that evolve it into an
entire counter-culture,
making rockabilly more
than just entertainment,
but a complete lifestyle
Photo illustration by Ryan McGeeney
Kara Holcombe, Lawrence resident, poses in typi-
cal pin-up girl fashion. Pin-up girls balanced sexi-
ness and empowerment during the 40s, which is
an attitude that appeals to many women today.
By Matt Bechtold
mbechtold@kansan.com
Sitting on the front steps of Lindley Hall
having a smoke, Erin McColey, Wichita junior,
isn't thinking about the fact that she stands
out from the crowd in her plaid dress, Bettie
Page bangs, candy apple red lipstick and Sailor
Jerry tattoos.
But she does stand out. And thats the
point. Its an in-your-face visual statement that
McColey is a rockabilly girl, and this state-
ment is not to be taken lightly.
It's not a costume that she puts on in the
morning in order to attract attention, though
it certainly has that effect. It's become so
much a part of McColeys personality that she
says she doesn't even think about it anymore.
It's who she istake it or leave it.
What is rockabilly?
Rockabilly is the cornerstone of rock n
roll music. According to the Rockabilly Hall
of Fame, it's an exciting blend of the blues,
country and gospel sounds of American mu-
sic that was prevalent up to the mid-1950s.
The quintessential rockabilly sound was
captured at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn.,
where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins
and Jerry Lee Lewis
developed the sound
that would become
rock n roll.
Today, rocka-
billy has taken that
original sound and
expounded upon it.
New sub-genres have
even developed. Psy-
chobilly, for example,
speeds things up to
a more punk rock
pace and throws in themes from old science
fction and horror flms like zombies, were-
wolves and outer space.
Modern rockabilly is harder to nail down,
but it still has that rebellious punk rock spir-
it.
It's piss and vinegar, hell-bent fury, switch-
blade rock n roll, says Aaron Strelow, Law-
rence resident and bartender at the Replay
Lounge. It's high-octane. It gets your adrena-
line going. It makes you want to dance.
Rockabilly rediscovered
Today, the timeless nature of rockabilly
is being rediscovered, and a complete sub-
culture of rock n' roll fans have emerged to
embrace rockabilly music and all its trappings.
From the classic cars to the '50s fashion, the
iconic image of greaser guys and pin-up girls
is coming back into vogue.
In many ways, it's an attempt to return to a
simpler way of life epitomized by the 1950s.
Cherry-picked for its positives, modern
rockabilly culture is tempered with a more
enlightened perspective. It's an idealized ver-
sion of that 1950s society, as viewed through
the lens of old sitcoms or classic cinema, like
James Dean's Rebel Without A Cause.
The appeal of the 50s ideal
I remember growing up watching I Love
Lucy and Leave It To Beaver reruns, McColey
says. You got that ideal family picturethe
kids were good and life was good.And I know
that the reality wasn't actually that good.
There was segregation and race riots, the
Cold War it was a tumultuous time period
for America. Even though we know it wasn't
that good, there is this idealistic 50s image,
whether it really ever existed or not, that
people strive for.
McColey discovered rockabilly in high
school. The music and the look had defnite
appeal, but in those rockabilly kids, she also
saw a work ethic she could relate to, a per-
sonality and outlook on life that drew her in.
That work ethic was found in the do-it-
yourself mentality that everyone had, Mc-
Coley says. When it came to cars, you had
to know how to change a tire. You didn't do
anything halfway. There was an appreciation
for doing something right. And that car meta-
phor translated to everything. Rockabilly kids
cherished honesty in people. It didn't matter
if you had a million
dollars or 20 bucks
to your name, what
mattered was how
you took care of
your friends. On a
humanitarian level,
these were all things
that McColey could
agree with. She was
hooked.
For others,rock-
abilly is more recre-
ationala night out on the town dressed to
the nines swing dancing at a rockabilly con-
cert, or just out for cocktails. For them, the
rockabilly culture is found mostly in their ap-
preciation of vintage 50s design.
Irene Walker, 2004 graduate and recep-
tionist at BDCTattoo, 938 Massachusetts St.,
says rockabilly is a lifestyle for her in some
ways, because she enjoys a lot of things from
the 50s, including the music, fashion, furniture
and cars. She owns and uses a stove from the
1950s, and bought all her other appliances to
match it. For Walker, it's the asthetic of these
objectsthe lines and curves, and the way
things were built to lastthat makes them
so appealing.
Four years ago, that affnity for vintage
design motivated Walker to start a business
making leather purses, wallets and custom
upholstery, inspired by rockabilly tattoo and
hot rod imagery.
The draw of rockabilly music
Jud Kite, drummer for the Lawrence-
based band The Rumblejetts, stands behind
his drum kit on stage, jumping and dancing
as he plays. Unlike drummers in other bands,
just sitting there and keeping the beat is out
of the question for him.
The high energy of the snare-driven drum
beat, the rough-edged, countrifed rock riffs
of the guitar and the steady thump of the up-
right bass gets the audience's feet tapping in
no time. Before you know it, the young and
old alike have taken to the dance foor.
As the night goes on, the energy grows,
and the band and audience become a little
more rambunctious. The thump of the bass
becomes a rapid-fre slap, more akin to the
pounding of the dancers' heartbeats.The gui-
tarist wrings rockabilly riffs out of his guitar,
and the whirling crowd of dancers create a
little storm at the foot of the stage.
Unlike other rebellious music genres such
as punk or heavy metal, rockabilly has both
cross-generational and even cross-cultural
appeal. It retains that same rebellious attitude
that makes punk rock so appealing to the
youth, while harnessing the power of Ameri-
can roots music like jive, blues and swing to
make it appealing to older generations, as
well.
The joy of playing rockabilly and 50s rock
n roll is that it's safe, says Kite. You can al-
ways fnd an older couple who grew up with
Elvis and Jerry Lee, or you can fnd a teenaged
kid who's at least heard some Elvis or Stray
Cats and can appreciate its high-energy rock
n roll nature. It's not invasive like punk or
metal, it's something that spans the genera-
tion gap, Kite says.
Kite met his wife, Rikki, through their
shared love of rockabilly and their mutual
friends on MySpace. But it wasn't until meet-
ing in person for the frst time at a rockabilly
Photo illustration by Ryan McGeeney
Dale Smith,Topeka, owner of this 1932 Ford 3-Window Coupe, says he is happy to see the return of
rockabilly.
Everyone follows trends.
The difference is that Im
following a trend that
never goes out of style.
Outlaw Jake
Lawrence musician
continued on page 12
Ive had lots and lots of hot rods over the
years, but I always wanted to get back to
that original American street rod.
Dale Smith, Topeka
FEATURE
show at the Jazzhaus that they discovered
they had far more in common.
It wasn't long before the two were mar-
ried, and you guessed itthey even had a
rockabilly wedding. Despite the nontradition-
al nature of the wedding, the universal appeal
of the music ensured that all their guests had
a blast. Since then, Rikki has even offciated
a few other rockabilly weddings, while The
Rumblejetts played the receptions.
The punk rock
retirement plan
Walker found rockabilly by way of punk
rock, as many kids do today, citing the long-
standing joke that rockabilly is the punk
rock retirement plan.
You can only live that lifestyle for so
long before you need to slow down a little,
Walker says of her earlier years in punk
rock. It's fun to get dressed up and go out
for the night. All the girls have their dresses
and their stockings and their hair done. All
the guys have their suits and ties. Going out
for cocktails like that is just fun.
For many, with maturity also comes the
opportunity to explore the rockabilly cul-
ture further, to get immersed in the lifestyle
and trappingsespecially the more expen-
sive items like classic cars.
Kansas City's custom car club, Los Punk
Rods, hosts an annual car show and concert
called Greaserama, every Labor Day week-
end. The show attracts young and old alike,
and was most recently held at the Boulevard
Drive-In Theatre in Kansas City, Kan. The
drive-in setting only further sets the mood
for this event by putting movies like Marlon
Brando's The Wild One back up on the silver
screen.
The steady growth rate of the region's
rockabilly community has even sparked a
second car and rockabilly show. This one is
called GearGrinder, and will take place at
Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City, Mo., on
April 17 and 18, 2009.
In an age of $3 gasoline, the appeal of clas-
sic cars known more for their horsepower
than their gas mileage seems a bit illogical
to the uninitiated. Then you get behind the
wheel of one, and it all makes sense.
From the curves and lines of their design
to the pure muscle of their V8 engines, those
cars are as much a work of art as they are
a means of transportation. Driving and cus-
tomizing such a car instantly shows some-
thing about who you are, far more than the
homogeneous cars of today ever could.
It's no wonder, then, that hardcore rocka-
billy enthusiasts place so much value on their
cars. More than ever, watching a classic car
roll down the street evokes a powerful feel-
ing of nostalgia for that era when cars were
less complex under the hood.
That lack of complexity meant you could
maintain a car yourself, rather than having
to take it to a mechanic. They weren't all
computers and microchips, or engineered in
a way that you had to remove 15 parts to
get to the oil flter. That made bonding with
a parent or grandparent under the hood of
a classic car possible. This is a memory that
many rockabilly kids cherish and hope to re-
peat someday with their own children.
The pin-up girl
While the 1940s saw major changes in
the gender roles of women when the Ros-
ies went to work in factories to support
the war effort, it was the Hollywood starlets
and pin-up girls that would take empower-
ment and sexual redefnition to the next
level in the 1950s.
Blonde bombshells like Marilyn Monroe,
Betty Grable and Mae West planted the idea
that women could be more than the domes-
tic roles that had previously defned them.
Then-pin-up girls like Bettie Page, and bur-
lesque stars like Lili St. Cyr took such rebel-
lion to the extreme.
Today, the pin-up girl is making a come-
back.
Just as pin-ups and burlesque shows were
a rebellion against the 50s social construct
of the obedient housewife, the pendulum is
now swinging back in rebellion against the
way sexy has been reduced to slutty
the empowered, sexy woman reduced to
a powerless sex object in everything from
pornography to fashion.
There's a growing desire to once again
leave a little something to the imagination
while still being sexy and fun, and a return to
the pin-up makes that possible.
McColey says she appreciates the em-
powering nature of pin-ups, and their abil-
ity to take the stereotypical roles and defy
them or redefne them.
Things are so out of control, it's a way to
kind of tame it down a little again, McColey
says. You can be sexy or you can be pow-
erful, but you don't have to give everyone
everything. You can hold on to your dignity.
Racheal Major, Lawrence freshman at
Johnson County Community College, is
studying to become a photographer, and
plans to specialize in pin-up inspired portrai-
ture. She says pin-up photography appeals to
her because it encompasses the rockabilly
lifestyle with its use of the era's clothing, cars
and charisma. Whether it's the Alberto Var-
gas pin-ups of the 40s, or the Suicide Girls
on the Internet today, Major says pin-ups re-
ally speak to her.
I love that it shows a different side of a
woman. I love that a pin-up girl doesn't have
to be a size 2. I love that it gives women a
way to express their sexuality tastefully. You
can be goofy or classy or sensual. It's how
women really are Major says.
Girls who want to get that glamorous
pin-up lookor guys considering their frst
pompadour hairstyle have several options to
choose from. In Lawrence, the best-known
rockabilly stylist is Galadriel McAdams at
Headmasters. Heather Knearem at Salon
Hawk in the KU Memorial Unions also spe-
cializes in the genre. And in Shawnee, Kan.,
an entire hair salon specializing in the rocka-
billy look called ChopTops is now catering
to greasers and pin-up girls.
The genuine article
Known only as Outlaw Jake, this Law-
rence musician and bartender has taken the
rockabilly lifestyle to such a degree that it
completely defnes him.
With his greased back hair and his pin-up
girl tattoos, at frst glance, Jake looks every
bit the greaser stereotype. When he picks up
his guitar and tears into a Johnny Cash tune
or one of his own compositions, his passion
for the music lets you know that he's the
genuine article.
It's a commitment, says Jake of his high-
ly visible tattoos, including the knuckle-tats
that let you know just who you're talking to.
I have to bartend or play music. I can't be a
computer programmer or a bank teller now.
This is who I am.
The recent popularity of clothing lines
like Ed Hardy shows the growth of rocka-
billy chic. Dominated by traditional tattoo
and rockabilly-inspired art, these shirts give
anyone the ability to wear the tattoos,
without the permanence or pain.
To guys like Jake, rockabilly is more than
just skin deep, so he fnds the commercializa-
tion of his chosen lifestyle a little annoying.
Jake retorts with a smirk. Everyone fol-
lows trends. The difference is that I'm follow-
ing a trend that never goes out of style.
12
December 4, 2008
continued from page 11
Photo illustration by Ryan McGeeney
Rockabilly enthusiasts like Sarah Lockhart, Kansas City resident, say they like the lifestyle because of its
values: honesty, hard work and friendship.
13
December 4, 2008
CONTACT
Sean Allshouse, Lenexa senior, ad-
mits that the way he met Sarah Carr,
Cameron, Mo., senior, wasnt all that
interesting. Like many college couples,
they met through a mutual friend at
a party.
That was that for about a month
and a half, Allshouse says. The story
of how we actually started to date is
much better and much different than
that.
The two saw each other again at
another party, and Allshouse devised
what he calls the hug rule; which is
that he would hug Carr every time he
saw her. Carr estimates they hugged
fve or six times that night. They made
plans to hang out with their mutual
friend the next day, but, Thanks to a mi-
graine, the friend couldnt make it and it
was just us, Allshouse says. This led to
dating, which ultimately led to a relation-
ship.
Carr says she wouldnt change a thing
about the course of her relationship with
Allshouse, while he has one fnal thing to
add: Could you mention that I love her
with all of my heart?
Carly Halvorson
HOW WE MET
Contributed
photos
(Top) Allshouse
and Carr at a
Carrie Under-
wood concert in
September.
(Left) The couple
at a birthday
party in June, for
which Allshouse
dressed up as
Harry Caray.
?
five
questions
Adrianne Curry
Winner of Americas Next
Top Model Cycle 1 and star
of VH1s My Fair Brady
By Matt Hirschfeld
Whats your
favorite guilty
pleasure
movie or TV
show?
Whats your
biggest pet
peeve?
What the
oddest diet
youve ever
tried?
Whats your
opinion of
Tyra Banks?
Did you
watch The
Brady Bunch
reruns when
you were
younger?
Its not embarrassing, but
Ive watched it so much
its embarrassing. Its The
Fountain. Its incredibly deep
and philosophical. Its about
death, basically, and accept-
ing it.
I hate it when people pick
their nails. Like, when theyre
sitting there picking their
nails. Just the sound makes
me want to smash their face.
And I know its really stupid,
but thats just how I feel.
I would have to say adding
a lot of fber to my diet. I
couldnt stop pooping and it
was embarrassing. Normally,
someone will poop once
or twice a day and I was at,
like, six times a day and its
kind of scary because you
realize how youre full of
shit. We carry like10 pounds
of it with us. But, you know,
Id rather carry a little bit
around than poop that
much.
Shes incredibly smart.
Shes business-savvy. She
knows how to play to an
audience and she certainly
knows how to make a lot of
money off them.
No, I didnt. I used to hate
it. It was just one of those
shows thats like the Power
Rangers. Some person
would be like, Oh, I hate
that show, I just didnt
like it. I was more into
Diff rent Strokes and stuff.
My husbandChristopher
Knight, who played Peter
Bradyreally appreciates
that. I dont have any Brady
Bunch questions for him.
Probably Rock of Love
Charm School on VH1. The
girls are so trashy and
really fun to watch, and it
makes me feel good about
myself.
When people pop their
jaws. Im a teeth person, so
it bothers me.
I ate Lean Cuisines
nonstop for a couple
months. I lost a lot of
weight, and it kind of
messed up my knees, too.
Shes a self-centered bitch,
but fabulous. She always
talks about herself. Shell
be talking to a Hurricane
Katrina victim, and then
shell say, That reminds me
of one time when I did
Kind of. Not really, though. I
guess they were fake bitches
and not realistic.
Zach Stites
Lawrence sophomore
If its not Mexico,
its On The Border.
3038 Iowa St. 785-830-8219 Sun-Thurs 11-10 Fri- Sat 11-11
Also enjoy
On The Border
TO GO &
Catering
CONTACT
14
December 4, 2008
with Matt Hirschfeld and
Francesca Chambers
and
Matt: Sorry, Mark, but if you really
meant it when you said it, you should have
no problem saying it every time you see your
girlfriend. I love you is a phrase that should
never get old as long as your emotion backs
up your declaration.
If you try, but still cant manage to get
out the words more often, you may need to
rethink both of your love assertions. Ask your
girlfriend what makes her feel the way she
does. If she has an unconvincing answer, dont
feel as badly about not saying it too often
she may have said it too soon, as well.
But, if she has a realistic response that
considers the feelings of both of you, and you
feel the same way, go ahead and shout the L
word from the rooftops. You would have no
problem declaring facts such as the sky is blue
or the earth is round, so if you do love your
girlfriend, declaring your love for her should
just be such a fact.
Fran: Well, I think you learned an
important lesson here: Dont tell a girl that
you love her unless you are prepared to tell
her every time you talk to her from then on
out. Saying I love you translates to Im not
breaking up with you any time soon, which
is a reassurance many girls want and need to
hear every day from their signifcant other.
My ex felt the same way as you about
saying I love you. He didnt see the need to
verbalize what he thought was obvious. He
would say it back to me if I said it frst, but
that always made me feel like the only reason
he was telling me he loved me was because
he knew I would get upset if he didnt. So,
the purpose of the words was defeatedhe
knew I loved him, he did not need me to
tell himand I did not feel reassured at all,
because I had said the words frst.
You made the mistake of telling your
girlfriend you loved her before you were
ready to properly back that statement up,
and this isnt your girlfriends fault. You need
to start telling her you love her frst before
she starts to feel insecure, starts doubting
the relationship and breaks up with you.
Matt: You must have had a twinge
of interest in this guy if you went on a
subsequent date with him, so its interesting
that you consider yourself completely done
with the guy, when you had expressed
interest in him, whether it was interest in his
personality, his looks or even his money.
For you to have lost interest so quickly,
he probably said something weird or off-
putting during the date. It is justifed that
you lost interest so quickly, Janna, but to not
communicate this is sketchy.
Your date was obviously not done dating
you, and because you didnt make it clear
after your second date that nothing was
going to happen, you should have made the
courtesy call. Dwelling on the past doesnt
seem to be your forte, but for the past to
not affect your future, you need to close as
many open wounds from the past as you can,
as small as those wounds may be.
Fran: This is a classic easier said than
done situation. You dont need me to tell
you what to do hereits pretty obvious.
The mature action to take is to tell the
guy that you are no longer interested. You
thought there might be a spark, but once you
went on a date, you realized your feelings
were purely platonic. Theres no shame in
telling him this, and though he might be
disappointed, he should understand. And, if
he isnt understanding, thats his problem,
not yours.
Youre being unfair to him by not telling
him the truth when he has done nothing
wrongthat I know ofto deserve such
cold treatment. Still, if he doesnt get the
hint by now and continues to call you, hes
bringing the daily rejection upon himself.
Its really a win-win outcome if you
tell this guy the truth. He can move on,
and you can stop receiving annoying and
inconvenient phone calls.
Matt: Good for you, Erik, for resisting
this power-hungry girl you picked up. This
girl is smart for having you take her to her
house (for safety reasons), but asking you
to stay the night at her place shows she
isnt too worried about her safety and was
only wanting to be in control.
The girl didnt respect your wishes
of wanting only to make out. If she had
wanted to do more than liplock, it wouldnt
have mattered your location. You should be
hesitant about this girl whos making you
schlep around Lawrence.
Dont feel bad for not respecting this
girls wishes of staying at her place. Have
this girl show a little respect for you frst,
and then you can contemplate acting on
her requests.
Fran: Either this girl has never had
a one-night stand and doesnt know the
rules, or shes a psycho bitch. I think its
admirable that you even took her home.
I would have told her to call a friend. She
shouldnt have gone home with you if she
didnt plan to stay the night. Spending the
night at her place after she pulled that stunt
would have reinforced her inappropriate
behavior.
Because you were not planning to have
sex with her, there was no reason to go
up to her place. On the other hand, if you
were planning to have sex with her, why
not go upstairs? If shes crazy outside the
bedroom, who knows what she has in
store for you inside the bedroom.
Bitch and Moan should not be taken as a
substitute for professional, expert advice.
I brought this girl home
from the bar, not intending to
have sex with her, but just to
make out. As we were about
to fall asleep she asked me
to take her home. When we
got to her house she asked if
I wanted to come up and stay
the night. I didnt go up, but
should I have?
Erik, senior
My girlfriend and I just said I love you to each other. I meant it
when I said it, but now she wont stop saying it. Should I try to say it
more to make our relationship better?
Mark, junior
I went on two dates with a
guy and then lost all interest. I
wasnt going to call him to tell
him, but he kept calling me so
I had to finally tell him off. Is it
bad that I wasnt even going to
call the guy?
Janna, sophomore
15
December 4, 2008
PLAY
This movie is garbage. Its perfect!
A look at Lawrences cult film scene and a guide to understanding its appeal
By Derek Zarda
dzarda@kansan.com
Topeka senior Jon Tenholder had to be
smiling that night. Dozens of pajama-clad
students were gathered around the KU
Filmworks treasurer on a clear Saturday
night last September for KU Filmworks cult
kid movie night. As Filmworks celebrated its
monthly cult movie nights for its members,
Fairway sophomore Karl Wiederaenders
was busy organizing the next weekly cult
flm night for his foor at Hashinger Hall. So,
whats the deal with cult flms anyways?
This fall, the movies that have reigned
at the top of the box offce consisted of a
talking Chihuahua from Beverly Hills for two
weeks, another give-Marky-Mark-a-gun
fick (Max Payne), yet another High School
Musical sequel and a vampire fick to name a
few. During these harsh times of mainstream
movie blandness, some students are ventur-
ing into Hollywoods sleazy forgotten cousin:
cult flm.
Ill know it when I see it.
Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart
uttered these now famous words in 1964
while trying to explain how he determines
if a flm is pornographic. Trying to fnd a
suitable defnition for cult flm is equally as
hard.
The answer may lie with our northern
neighbors at the University of British Co-
lumbia, where premiere cult flmologist Er-
nest Mathijs resides. Mathijs, co-editor of the
recent Cult Film Reader and author of several
articles on the culture and reception of cult
cinema, says a cult flm is a flm with such
a devoted following that it keeps the flm
in continuous circulation, well beyond its
original screening. Films that are raised to
this status tend to be uneven, bad, naughty,
gross, gory, shocking, and disrespectful of
moral values and conventions of 'normal'
cinema-making, Mathijs says.
According to Mathijs, cult flm has been
around since the early 1930s, with cult fol-
lowings of slapstick flm stars Charlie Chap-
lin and others, mostly because of the flms
anarchic nature. However, many critics still
credit the recognition of cult flm to the rise
of midnight movie showings in New York in
the late 60s and early 70s.
Attack of the Midnight Movies
Five years ago, Liberty Hall screened a
midnight double-feature of Pulp Fiction and
Evil Dead 2, delighting many locals in the pro-
cess. One local resident, Malcom Miller, won-
dered exactly why this didnt continueand
decided to do something about it.
I remember going there and having a
good time, Miller says. I remember being
left wondering why this doesnt go on more
often.
Thus began the monthly Midnight Movie
Madness night at Liberty Hall, where Miller,
22, would personally pick the cult movie of
his choice to show to the viewing public.
There is a pretty strong following or ap-
preciation of cult flms, Miller says. Hes had
strangers come up to him to thank him for
what hes doing.
Miller tries to do the event once a month,
but the next few months he will be on hiatus
from the movie night, waiting to start back
up again in March, if not before.
Jackpots Secret Stash
Its 4:30 p.m. on Friday and students are
trailing outside of classrooms on a gray, mug-
gy day. Seeking refuge on Mass. Street from
the daily campus grind, a stop by The Jackpot
would seem strange for so early in the day.
Inside, however, customers are already fling
in and fnding their seats around the bar as
Rob Gillaspie, Jackpot bartender, lead singer
of local rockabilly outft The Spooklights and
resident cult flm purveyor pulls Beyond the
Valley of the Dolls, a favorite at the bar, out
of its case.
Every Friday and Saturday, Gillaspie, 32,
continued on page 16
Photo illustration by Ryan Waggoner
Cult flmologist Ernest Mathijs says a flm
becomes a cult flm when it has a devoted
following and wide circulation long after it is
released.
PLAY
hosts his afternoon cult flm theater to
the locals of the Jackpot Music Hall, 943
Massachusetts St. Sometimes he will take
over the Jackpot for 12-hour marathons
for theme nights, like his Halloween Hor-
rorfest last October. Gillaspies love of
cult flms is rooted in the low-budget
nature of many cult classics, as he grew
up on a steady diet of creature features
and B-movies.
When Im watching a movie that has
someone approaching an untouched sub-
ject matter with a very limited budget, it
moves me, Gillaspie says. To me, thats
important.
Its a group thing
Of course, many of the best times for
viewing cult flms are when you organize
the event yourself. But remember to
watch with friends, because its the group
nature of cult flms that give them their
appeal, KU flm professor Matt Jacobson
says. It isnt necessarily the flm that de-
fnes a cult flm, but that it has a devoted
following that will build a major part of
the life around this movie. The whole
idea behind a cult movie is that it inspires
people beyond its release time.
Picking out just the right flm is always
important as cult flms span a variety of
genres. From the campy, so-awful-its-
good sci-f flms of Ed Wood such as Plan
9 from Outer Space to the trashy, over-
the-top comedies of John Waters such
as Pink Flamingos to the surreal, eerie
big budget flms of David Lynch such as
Eraserhead, theres no one correct an-
swer to the question of which cult flm is
best. Just remember that watching a cult
flm is akin to knowing an inside joke. Its
only funny if you are around others who
are in on it, as well.
continued from page 15
Photo illustration by Ryan Waggoner
Film professor Matt Jacobson says the intrigue of cult flms like Plan 9 from Outer Space isnt just in the
flm itself, but in making a tradition of watching the flm with friends.
16
December 4, 2008
17
December 4, 2008
Its that time of year again. Finals are
nearly upon us and the holidays are just
around the corner, so why not take an
hour or two to relax, unwind and enjoy
the festive atmosphere?
Tonight is the fnal showing of
Lawrences annual Festival of Trees at
Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., from
10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Groups and individuals
all over Lawrence donate and decorate
the trees according to a theme before the
trees are auctioned off to raise money for
The Shelter, Inc., a nonproft organization
that supports troubled youth. Children get
in to the event free, and a $2 donation is
requested from adults.
But the festivities dont end there.
You can head downtown Saturday for the
annual parade full of old-fashioned horse-
drawn carriages. Shelby Lathrom, who
helped with organizing the event, says that
people come from all over the Midwest
to drive their horse and buggies down
Massachusetts Street through the parade,
which begins at 11 a.m.
Then be sure to head to the Lawrence
Art Guild Holiday Art Fair at the Lawrence
Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.,
which features decorative holiday work
from more than 60 artists. The event runs
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Brianne Pfannenstiel
THIS WEEKEND: Festival of Trees
PLAY
I like ESPN, because Im a big sports fan. I search
results for games and articles about sports events. My
favorite team is a soccer team, Manchester United.
Hardy Li, Shenzhen, China, sophomore
I usually go to Facebook. I always know whats going on
with people. I like how you can create events and invite
people without actually calling them.
Stephane Chatagnier, Toulouse, France, sophomore
The Enigma Puzzle. Its a multi-part Web puzzle, like a
problem solving game. It takes a lot of logic, but I like
it because its very mentally stimulating.
Tim Barta, Lawrence freshman
Pitchforkmedia.com. Its a review site. I like reading
about albums that just came out, and they have
information on different shows and compilations and
stuff.
Patrick Mathay, Littleton, Colo., senior
Probably ABC.com. I watch the shows that I miss
during the week. I watch Greys Anatomy and Desperate
Housewives.
Jordan Leiker, Wichita freshman
I like the blog Maddox.xmission.com. Its pretty crude. It
provides a lot of social commentary, and its not afraid
to be politically incorrect.
Alisha Patterson, Kansas City, Kan., senior
Google. Because Im such a geek, Im always looking
for something for school. Or checking my e-mail. Im
probably the only KU student who spends more time
on Outlook Express than on Facebook.
Ray Segebrecht, Lawrence junior
Besides Facebook? I like Pandora. I like the music
selection it gives me and how I can discover new music.
Jessica Brooks, Rich Hill, Mo., sophomore
I visit Kanye Wests blog often. He always keeps me
posted on the craziest fashion and art. He even talks
about architecture. Its just a lot of stuff Kanye likes,
which is stuff I usually like.
Bodie Agada, Topeka freshman
Brianne Pfannenstiel
Whats your favorite
Web site?
o
u
t

&
ab
o
u
t
$1 WELLS
(Every Saturday)
Voted
Best Pool Hall
by Students
Tonight
$ 2 Imports
$ 3 Jager Bombs
$ 3 Guinness
FREE POOL
POKER
GAME DAYS
Sun-Thurs (after midnight)
Sun & Wed Cash Prizes
10 ft. HD TV
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(B
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9
18
December 4, 2008
REVIEWS
MOVIE: Synecdoche, New York
Movie: Australia
MUSIC: Sin Fang Bous, Clangour
Director Charlie Kaufmans Synecdoche,
New York had an uncommon amount of
expectations attached to it for a frst-
time director. His previous work in
screenwriting and storytelling (Adaptation,
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) have
secured such anticipation. With little doubt,
it must be said that these expectations will
not be met, but only because this movie
wont be at all what you expect. This, I
think, is a good thing.
Certain of his imminent death, theater
director Caden (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
sets out to create a piece that is personal
and brutal and truthful. As he mounts
his masterworka massive recreation
of reality in an abandoned warehouse in
ManhattanCaden struggles to keep his
life and all the relationships in it from
deteriorating. The artwork becomes his
life, while his life becomes part of the work.
However, this synopsis greatly simplifes
the complexities of the conceptual and
narrative framework.
Kaufman delivers a unique work
that explores art and artifce, life and
death. It is a moving and beautiful
flm with wonderful performances
from the entire cast. Writer/director
Kaufman has the ability to capture and
focus on the subtle interactions between
people. Slight gestures, embarrassed looks
and anxious tension are paramount in the
construction of this world. Its refreshing
to see a flm that tackles major cerebral
concepts without sacrifcing the humanity
of its characters. Like Kaufmans other
works, it is a depressing, but ultimately
hopeful story. Synecdoche, New York is a flm
to be celebrated and contemplated.
Darron Carswell
Simultaneously a celebration of the
countrys culture and history and a mixture
of great Australian dramas, Australia rises
above director Baz Luhrmanns previous
ventures like Romeo + Juliet and Moulin
Rouge, but doesnt quite live up to the
legacy set by the many flms it references
and tries to resemble.
Australias whirlwind beginning is
classic Luhrmann. We meet Sarah Ashley
(Nicole Kidman), who travels from her
home in England to Australia to get her
husband to sell their near-bankrupt cattle
farm. She arrives in Australia and meets
Drover (Hugh Jackman), a cattle driver-
for-hire. All of this takes place in the frst
10 minutes.
Luhrmann, who co-wrote the script
for Australia, isnt one for exposition, and
doesnt let the audience get to know his
characters. Fortunately, the rest of the
flm does not follow suit.
Upon returning to the farm, Sarah
discovers that her husband is dead, and
that a magical and freakishly adorable child
named Nullah (Brandon Walters) is hiding
out on her farm. Sarah eventually decides
not to sell the place, and to try and fnish
her husbands work. In the process, Sarah
and Drover fall madly in love.
In addition to the action and romance,
Australia is also a massive cinematic collage.
It references the gamut of Australian flms,
from classics (The Man from Snowy River)
to more recent releases (Rabbit-Proof
Fence).
Australia is a love letter to the country
and its rich culture. Rocky to start and
irritating to fnishit has more endings
than Return of the KingAustralias saving
grace comes from its well-executed
middle section, and from a heartbreaking
performance by Brandon Walters, who is
enchanting as Nullah.
Abby Olcese
Sometimes we must step out of our
comfort zone in order to explore the
wondrous world of music. In doing so, its
not diffcult to discover tunes from around
the world, such as Sin Fang Bous debut
release, Clangour.
Hailing from Reykjavk, Iceland, Sindri
Mar Sigfusson created Sin Fang Bous as a
side project from his previous work with
the popular Icelandic band Seabear. Sin
Fang Bous seems to be a creative outlet
for Sigfusson, as the albums electronic and
experimental sounds differ from Seabears
folksy feel.
Clangour blends harmonic pop melodies
with an assortment of electronic and
acoustic sounds to create one incredibly
unique sound. Sigfussons soft, tranquil
vocals are perfectly intertwined with the
melodies, and his voice slightly resembles
that of Sufjan Stevens. Although Sigfusson
is from Iceland, the lyrics are entirely in
English, making the music relatable for
frst-time listeners. There is also excellent
texture in the music, with elements of
piano, xylophone, guitar and drums coming
together in ways one might never have
thought possible.
Each song on the album is
unique in its own way. While some songs, like
Advent In Ives Garden and Fa Fa Fa are
structurally fundamental and have upbeat
pop melodies, others, like Take Me Up To
Smell Pine, are more experimental and
take on interesting thematic developments.
Clangour is the type of album you might
listen to while sitting at the freside, reading
and sipping coffee on a cold winter day. If
youre into Icelandic music like Sigur Rs,
or are just looking for some creative new
tunes, check out Clangour.
Danny Nordstrom
19
December 4, 2008
SPEAK
By Brianne Pfannenstiel
bpfannenstiel@kansan.com
I dont remember much about the way my
grandmother was before she developed Alzheimers.
My memories of her are tarnished by the disease and
by her slow decline. I dont remember my grandmother
cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but I remember how awful
I felt when she couldnt anymore. I dont remember her
coming to watch my junior high band concerts, but I
remember how disappointed I was when she couldnt
tell me what instrument she played when she was young.
I remember the way I felt when she couldnt remember
my name anymore, and then the way I felt when she
couldnt remember me at all.
As the Alzheimers took over, she slowly began to lose
everything. It started with words. She would wake up in
the morning and words like kitchen and stove, which
had been the foundation of her vocabulary for years, were
suddenly and mysteriously absent. The kitchen had always
belonged to her. It was her refuge and she was protective
of it, but she began to gradually forfeit pieces of it to the
disease. After kitchen and stove were gone, cheese
and spoon and coffee were quick to follow, until just
being in the kitchen frustrated and confused her.
She lost how to say I love you and she lost Brianne,
and then she lost what those words even meant in the
frst place. She started to forget the people and the places
and the stories that had brought her to that point in her
life. I watched, powerless, as the foundation of a lifetime
of memories crumbled and then collapsed. I watched as
the Alzheimers slowly blurred the lines of her memory,
before erasing them altogether. Seventy-fve years of
memories vanished, one by one, as if they had never even
happened.
My grandmother slipped further and further away
from reality until she barely resembled the strong, caring
individual we had all grown up admiring. But there was
one thing my grandmother never did lose. Up until
the end, my grandmother remembered how to dance.
When there was nothing left except broken sentences
and confusionwhen she had lost everything elsemy
grandmother never let go of dancing.
My grandparents spent years dancing together. Their
family had always been musical, but it wasnt until after
their four children had grown up and moved away that
they started attending the monthly dances at the Scott
County American Legion, or traveling the 40 minutes to
Garden City to two-step the night away.
Dancing was a tradition they continued right up until
the end of my grandmothers life. Alzheimers would
cause her to throw irrational fts of anger, and only
dancing could calm her down. My grandpa would calmly
take her hands in his, lead her around the living room and
patiently wait for her anger to subside.
One Thanksgiving, a year or two before she died,
the whole family was gathered around the piano after
dinner, and my uncles never able to pass up a good jam
sessionpulled out their respective instruments and
started up some traditional, old-time, two-steppin music.
My grandmother stood up, a little unsure at frst, but after
my grandpa took her hand, everything seemed to fall into
place. My uncles threw in an extra verse as grandpa and
grandma took a couple turns around the living room, and
for a few brief minutes, we had her back with us. There
was such a simple moment of beautiful recognition in the
way she hummed the melody and shuffed her feet
with the music, like it was completely natural.
It seemed odd to me. Of all the things left
at the end of her life, of all the loves and losses
and joys and tears, what was it about dancing and
music that stayed with her? At the end of a lifetime,
what is it that we are all going to be left with? What
will endure?
Science would explain it as a simple matter of long
versus short-term memory. It might throw around
words like neurotransmitters and synapses, but
for my family, its something more than that. Dancing
was the very last tie my grandmother held to her
past and to us. It was something that we could all
hold on to, and it was something that let
us smile and remember her for the life
she had led, not just for her disease.
At her funeral, my grandpa chose
two songs to be played. The piano player
addressed the crowd that had assembled
and told us that these were two of the
oddest songs she had ever been asked
to play for a funeral, but at the request
of my grandpa, she would play them
completely up to temponothing slow
or sad. We all sat, smiling to ourselves as
the sounds of Rock Around the Clock
and The Maple Leaf Rag echoed from
the baby grand and reverberated around
the tiny church. It was a tribute to the
thousands of miles my grandparents had
traveled across the dance foor during
their time together. We all sat quietly, tapping
our toes to the last strains of the rag, remembering my
grandmother for the one thing she could never forget.
Save the last dance
How learning to let
go taught me what it
means to hold on
Contributed Photos
(From top) Brianne on her birthday with her grandmother before
she was diagnosed with Alzheimers; Brianne with her grandpar-
ents at Scott County Lake; Briannes grandparents share a dance
at Thanksgiving in November 2005; Brianne and her grandmother
holding Briannes newborn brother, Jake.
Jayplay
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