Arts Hound

Oregon’s story wouldn’t be complete without Ken Kesey, and OPB took that to heart with “Ken Kesey,” part of its Oregon Experience film series. The one-hour special premieres 7:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 16, at the McDonald Theatre; tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis at mcdonaldtheatre.com or at the door. OPB TV will air the special on Jan. 20 at 9 pm.   Continue reading 

A Folk Odyssey

Of all the things to appreciate about the new Coen brothers film, Inside Llewyn Davis, I’m hung up on the color and the light. These days, it’s easy to give your photos a retro feel; just open Instagram and let the magic happen. It’s not so easy to make your entire film evoke the cover of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, right down to the cars, the streets and the color of Dylan’s jacket, which is echoed by the bag schlepped around by Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac).  Continue reading 

Bitter, Bittersweet

Nebraska’s black-and-white cinematography, all wide skies and one-story main streets, is a signpost, an indicator that Alexander Payne wants you to think old. Think old movies; think old men; think old-school values. But start with old men. We meet Woody Grant (Bruce Dern, with a frizz of white hair and a loping stagger of a walk) making his way onto the highway. After the Billings cops pick him up, Woody explains to his son David (Will Forte) that he was en route to Nebraska to claim a million-dollar prize. Continue reading 

Float On

Definitely putting [something] together

Floater

Nowadays fans get itchy for new material if a band hasn’t released anything in three and a half months, so the fact that Floater hasn’t released any new material in three and a half years (2010’s Wake) is saying something. Of course when you’ve been around for two decades, you can get away with it, but that’s not to say the band is making people wait on purpose; the timing just hasn’t been right. Continue reading 

Breaking Chains

The spirit of punk rock rejection

Chain and The Gang

Chain and The Gang is an “anti-liberty” group, jokes Ian Svenonius. This doesn’t mean Svenonius takes personal freedom lightly. “We’re a little bit perverse,” says Svenonius, formerly of legendary D.C. punk bands Nation of Ulysses and The Make-Up. “We’re not interested in playing out this one idea of prescribed rebellion.”  Continue reading