Arts: Page 253

Comedy’s Top Mensch

Molière’s 17th-century French farce gets a 21st-century makeover

Theater

Playwright David Ives (A Flea in Her Ear, Venus in Fur) calls his play The School for Lies a “translaptation” of French playwright Molière’s classic 1666 farce The Misanthrope. Lies is now playing at University Theatre under the direction of Tricia Rodley. Ives has maintained much of the source material’s language. The play is written in rhyming verse, and Ives adds well-timed modern zingers for comic effect.  Continue reading →

Hip-hoppapalooza

Vince Staples

Music
Vince Staples

The “Rocky and Tyler” tour features A$AP Rocky and Tyler the Creator, but Vince Staples is the rising star to watch. Staples, who supports two of the biggest names in rap on this tour, says he’s glad to make his “contribution to hip hop” and “do these nice little shows.” But shows like the gig at Matthew Knight Arena are going to be the furthest thing from small. This is a huge hip-hop lineup, especially for Eugene.   Continue reading →

Mainstream Blues

Jonny Lang

Music
Jonny Lang

Jonny Lang made his name as a 16-year-old blues guitar prodigy. Since then, he’s dabbled in rock, blues, gospel and pop — all the while remaining one of the most respected guitar slingers in the business.  Like John Mayer meets Eric Clapton, Lang’s got the voice — and good looks — of a teen pop idol, evidenced in 2013’s pure pop-leaning record Fight for My Soul.  All in all, there ain’t much left for blues purists in Jonny Lang, despite the record kicking off with a boogie-blues riff from track “Blew Up (The House).”  Continue reading →

Happy 10th Anniversary Grrrlz Rock

Music
Liz Vice

Happy 10th Anniversary Grrrlz Rock! Thank you to all the musicians, teachers, volunteers, parents and students who make music education and performance a priority during this month-long music and arts festival for the young girls and women in this town, especially when they may not be seeing much gender diversity on stages the rest of the year. Come celebrate with headliner, the Canadian-born, California-based rocker Lila Rose, who’s touring with new album WE.ANIMALS, 6 pm Friday, Nov. 6, at WOW Hall. Continue reading →

Nostalgia Blitz

Blitzen Trapper

Music
Blitzen Trapper

In their 15-year career, the five members of Blitzen Trapper have traversed wide musical landscapes, from the layered, progressive rock of small dive bars to the rustic alt country of Appalachia. Even within individual albums, Trapper is known for a range of sound that varies dramatically from song to song.  Continue reading →

Happy Returns

Returning musicians mark November music calendars

Music

Much of Oregon’s music is made by immigrants from back East, but a few native Oregonian musicians have reversed the process, going on to glory far from their native Northwest. Case in point: flutist Elizabeth Rowe, the Eugene native and South Eugene grad who now holds down the principal flute position with the Boston Symphony. She returns to her hometown to lead workshops and master classes at the UO, and joins the Oregon Mozart Players for a concert at 7:30 pm Saturday, Nov. 7, at Beall Concert Hall. Continue reading →