Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Unlike most musicals, the story of Hamilton is told almost exclusively in song. So when I first heard that History Has Its Eyes On You: A Hamilton Music Revue would be doing a concert featuring the music of Hamilton "but none of the songs with plot," I wasn't too sure what to expect.
It turns out, the Stateside Presents performance didn't have any trouble celebrating the music of Hamilton without veering into the story behind the music. They focused instead on songs (from the musical, the Mixtape and the Hamildrops) that people can resonate with today; songs about love, lust, parenthood and the endless and revolutionary impact of immigrants. The show isn't a performance of the musical, but a celebration of the timeless themes and transcendental music—and performed on a stunning level, of course.
Singer Alyssa Chiarello at one point delivered a note so impressive—so high, held for so long, so beautifully—that her castmates essentially stopped the show to congratulate her on it, and to have the audience do the same.
Alex Ncube and Eddie Maldonado's love for the music they were performing was palpable in the audience. Ncube dedicated a touching rendition of "Dear Theodosia" to her daughter and demonstrated special appreciation to the lyrics about inclusivity. Meanwhile, Maldonado delivered every single one of his lines with a brash smirk one would believe of Alexander Hamilton himself.
And while Maldonado did perform many of Hamilton's lyrics, the cast didn't stick to dedicated roles. Sean Mullaney, whose high-energy performance was definitely a crowd pleaser, represented Schuyler's baby sister "Peggy" in one song, and transitioned into George Washington's commanding role in the next. Matravius Avent mastered both the calm, measured tone of Aaron Burr's opening lines and the tremendous speed of Marquis de Lafayette's rap in "Guns and Ships."
The organizers of the show said from the beginning that they wanted the show (much like the original musical itself) to be a tribute to hip hop, and that was apparent in the room before the first note was sung. The performers ditched Hamilton's typical 1800s garb for leather and mesh. They substituted Hamilton's full orchestra for DJ Kim E. Fresh and a modern band. During "Cabinet Battle," the cast transitioned their rap battle into a dance off, which segued into a kind of break dance intermission. These steps took the much-loved music and transitioned it seamlessly into a show that stands apart from the original work it honors.
The show accomplished the goal it set out with: To celebrate the music of one of the most-loved modern musicals outside of the original (high-priced) theater setting. I sincerely hope this show returns to Tucson, because it is a hell of a good time.
Tags: music , review , Hamilton , live show , musical , Hamildrops , history , Stateside Presents , Image
Longtime LA Times sportswriter Chris Dufresne was kind enough to sit down with Tucson Weekly's resident sportswriter, Christopher Boan on Wednesday.
The two covered a wide variety of subjects, including the state of USC's football team, the UCLA mens basketball coaching search, and what the state of the Pac-12 is at the moment.
Dufresne worked for the LA Times from 1981-2015, covering everything from the LA Rams to the Trojans and Bruins, while also serving as the Times' college football and basketball columnist.
Tags: All Bets Are On , Tucson Weekly , Chris Dufresne , LA Times , Los Angeles , USC Trojans , UCLA Bruins , Christopher Boan , Steve Alford , Chip Kelly , Dan Guerrero , Andy Enfield , Clay Helton , Lynn Swann , Image
With flowers strewn through their hair, critically lauded Flor de Toloache took to the stage at 191 Toole, on Tuesday, Jan 22. From the outset, the audience was left to ponder… Was this sisterhood compromised of florid roses born out of love? Or the beguiling blooms of chrysanthemums wrought from heartache? It was hard to tell. Regardless, their reputation as NYC’s first and only all-female mariachi preceded them.
Vocalist/vihuelista, Shae Fiol expands, “We are women of New York City absorbing its diversity and putting it into our sound. It’s all about the love of music.”
The fact that their 2017 album Las Caras Lindas (Chulo Records) won Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album at the 18th Latin Grammy Awards only added to their street cred.
The posies that comprised this evening’s vibrant bouquet: Founding member, vocalist/violinist Mireya Ramos, trumpeter Jackie Coleman, guitarronista Amanda Lozano and Fiol. Hailing from diverse cultural and musical backgrounds—Australia and Italy to Puerto Rico, classical and jazz to hip hop—the result of this coalescence is an edgy, fresh and iconoclastic take on traditional Mexican music which breathes new life into a too-often staid and testosterone permeated genre.
Early into their 90 minute set, promulgating a message of empowerment, Ramos said, “A grito can resemble a laugh or a cry. And, a shot or two of tequila doesn’t hurt.” Echoing mariachi icon Lolá Beltran from days of lore, reclaiming this spontaneous burst of emotion for a new generation, Flor de Toloache called out to the audience to engage in a bit of primal scream therapy, Latin style, and release “one unified grito.” “Aye yai yai yai,” resounded throughout. From that moment until the final bow—not unlike the effect of the legendary toloache flower used by Mexican curanderos as a potent love potion—this band of soul sisters mesmerized, casting a spell over the audience.
Tags: Flor de Toloache , Mariachi , In The Flesh , Live , XOXO , Image
Tags: comics , politics , Claytoonz , cartoons , Starbucks , Schultz , 2020 , election , announcement , Image
Cookies and Cocktails at the Playground Bar & Lounge. This annual event honors the “fierce, fearless girls and women leading Southern Arizona today,” but for those not in the know, it means there are Girl Scout cookies! The event features Girl Scout Cookie-inspired cocktails and craft beers, cookie-and-wine pairings, and desserts made by local restaurants, each starring a different cookie! 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. 278 E. Congress Street. $55. 21+. Details here.
The Unruly Mystic: John Muir. Also known as “John of the Mountains” and “the Father of the National Parks,” John Muir was, well, a lot of things: a hiker, an environmentalist, an author and more. This movie explores Muir’s life and how he wound up being considered a “patron saint of environmental activism.” The screening is calling, and you must go. 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. The Screening Room. 127 E. Congress St. $12. Details here.
Sue Betanzos - Reflections Of Nature on Display. January 12th-February 13th (Wednesdays-Sundays 10AM-3PM) Sue creates new glass paintings, acrylic paintings, and glass mosaic artworks inspired by the beautiful diverse Sonoran Desert. This sweet natural oasis is the perfect place to observe both nature and fine art. Agua Caliente Park Ranch House Gallery 12325 E. Roger Road. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , events , things to go to , art , film , food , Girl Scout Cookies , cookies and cocktails , fundraiser , Wednesday , Jan. 30 , Image
Get Back: A Tribute to the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles Rooftop Performance brings some of the best local musicians together—Al Perry, Amy Munoz, Luminarios, Mike Hebert, Billy Sedlmayr, Van Christian, Mark Insley and The Sidewinders—with a headlining performance from Loveland on the plaza at Hotel Congress. Donations to benefit the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen. Details here.
Tags: music , live , shows , concerts , where to rock , XOXO , local live music , Image
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
"Oja is an easy going and incredibly smart bear," said Dr. Alexis Moreno, Reid Park Zoo Veterinarian, in a release. "She has adjusted really well and is enjoying the enrichment the Animal Care Team has provided for her behind the scenes in the Animal Health Center."
Oja was born at Zoo Zürich in Zürich, Switzerland as part of its breeding program. According to Reid Park Zoo, Oja is “inquisitive and bold, and her favorite foods are peanuts, raisins and strawberries.” She’s currently getting used to her new surroundings behind-the-scenes at the zoo, and the public can meet Oja in March.
Bringing Oja to the zoo allows for an opportunity for Worf, Reid Park’s male Andean Bear, to a new companion.
Her fifth birthday is Saturday, Feb. 16.
Tags: zoo , Oja , Andean Bear , new animals , new bear , Image
The Wildcats, who are coming off a 43-16 season in 2018, are one of five Pac-12 teams to make the list.
They're joined by UCLA (2), Washington (3), ASU (12) and Oregon (25) in the rankings, the second-most of any conference, behind the SEC.
Arizona kicks off its season at the USF Opening Weekend Invitational in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 8, playing Michigan, South Florida, Illinois State and North Carolina State during the event.
The team's home schedule begins on Friday, Feb. 14, when the Wildcats host New Mexico in the inaugural game at the renovated Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.
Tags: Arizona Wildcats , NCAA softball , Tucson , Arizona , Image
Rep. Gallego said more than 20 million Americans have healthcare because of the Affordable Care Act, while Republicans have “waged a war” against it. He said Democrats need to fight back in order to keep coverage for those who need it most.
“Americans shouldn’t have to choose between paying for healthcare and buying groceries,” he said.
A push for Medicaid expansion and financial assistance for families who need extra help keeping their loved ones healthy is a top priority of the representative from Phoenix, who has held his seat in Congress since 2015.
Held shared a personal story of how access to affordable health care changed her life permanently. She was unexpectedly diagnosed with a tumor in her pituitary gland. Before that time, she had no insurance policy so it took eight years for her diagnosis to happen.
Because of that delay and lack of access to care, Held is now permanently disabled by the condition, which comes with ongoing prescriptions for expensive pharmaceutical drugs just to keep her alive.
Her brain surgery costed $50,000, a price that was paid by her parents through their life savings fund.
“A lot of people were not as lucky as I am to have that family support and financial resources at their disposal,” Held said.
Because of the major sacrifices and life-long effects caused by her condition, Held has become an advocate for affordable healthcare for all, including those with pre-existing conditions, and lowering the costs of prescription drugs.
“I’ve worked my entire life, I have a masters in social work, my family is living on the edge of poverty because of the cost of medical care and the cost of keeping me alive,” she said.
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who has represented Arizona in several state and federal elected offices, said affordable healthcare is so important because you can never expect these financial burdens before they arrive.
“I’m dedicated to keeping people on their health insurance,” she said. “In Arizona we expanded Medicaid which provided almost 400,000 Arizonans with coverage and a 37 percent drop in the uninsured rate.”
Kirkpatrick, who indicated that she is a supporter of Medicare for All, listed the following things she’d like to see changed in either the ACA or national politics regarding healthcare:
- An end to the “war on people with pre existing conditions” and laws passed to make that permanent
- Lower costs for prescription drugs, and pharmaceutical companies held accountable by Congress
- An end to the Republican “sabotage” on health care
- Oversight conducted on the Trump administration’s actions
Tags: Medicare , Medicaid , ACA , Affordable Care Act , Ann Kirkpatrick , Ruben Gallego , CD-2 , CD-7 , Healthcare , Congress , Image
Slug, the stage name of Sean Daley, is one half of the band Atmosphere, and co-founder of the legendary independent hip hop record label, Rhymesayers Entertainment.
“My five favorite albums, like of all-time?” Slug said. “I don’t even know what the fuck that means… But I’ll say this, in no particular order: Sign of the Times, by Prince. Controversy, by Prince. Purple Rain, by Prince – You see where this is going – Dirty Mind, by Prince. Around the World in a Day, by Prince.”
Part of Minneapolis’s microcosm of conscious hip hop, it’s not too surprising Slug was greatly influenced by Prince, who created the “Minnesota Sound” of music.
“When I want to just hang out and play some shit, I play Prince.” Slug said. “And I always will.”
Slug says Prince’s influence started when he was very young, and continues to this day, though other influences come from De La Soul, N.W.A., Ice Cube, and Public Enemy.
“I feel like the reason Prince became an icon for me was because of my family,” Slug said. “To be honest, I’d probably still be a Prince fan if I wasn’t from Minnesota, but I might not have modeled myself after him… Prince was a huge part of my transition from being a boy to being an older boy. I’ve always put some weird awkward sexuality in my albums, and I feel like I got that from him.”
In particular, Slug says a line about his wife from his recent album, Mi Vida Local, sounds like it could possibly be a Prince line: “I'mma need you to peel off those mommy jeans.”
“He had this line, ‘If I was your girlfriend’. He said it and made the rest of us say, ‘holy shit,’ you can say that?” Slug said.
Even as he grows older, now 46, Slug doesn’t see his love for Prince ever diminishing, saying the albums that change your life at 17 stay with you forever. Some things do change for him, though.
Slug started making music in 1989, and is now married and a father. Atmosphere’s live shows have transitioned with him.
“I believe we evolve and transition every few years,” Slug said. “We started working with a live band in ‘05, and it’s still a work in progress. I feel like we’re still not done. I’d almost suggest the live show kinda drives the music now... So many people are putting out music, it’s like why would the audience want to fuck with us?”
Slug says this new focus on live performances, as opposed to recorded music, allows for more artistic freedom, which he certainly appreciates. Before performing at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson on Feb. 5, Atmosphere has a few days of break in their tour schedule, allowing Slug to go home to Minnesota just in time for a massive cold front to bring sub-zero temperatures to much of the northern U.S. Slug actually looks forward to this, however, as his kid’s school is closed, allowing for some quality board game time.
“It’s like negative 800 degrees here. It’s so cold here it burns,” Slug said. “I love it.”
Atmosphere performs at the Rialto Theatre w/ Dem Atlas, The Lioness, DJ Keezy. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5. 318 E. Congress St. $25-29. All ages.
Tags: music , Slug , Atmosphere , Rialto Theatre , concert , live music , show , Know Your Product , top five , Prince , Image
