Culture
Culture
TOOP’s ‘Earnest’ brings timeless humor to Fringe
The First Niagra Fringe Festival was, once again, a huge success. It brought hundreds of performers to venues all over downtown Rochester and presented shows to thousands of audience members over the course of two weeks. “The Importance of Being Earnest”, presented by The Opposite of People (TOOP) theatre group fit right in with the […]
Culture
Stratford Festival offers weekend of theater, escape
A hearty dose of Shakespeare is a suitable cure for any malady –especially for underlying stress from your steadily accumulating assignments. I had the privilege of attending the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario with a mixture of undergrads, grad students, and faculty members from the UR English Department. Although most of the festival selections were […]
Culture
RPO strikes universal chord with season opener
The highly anticipated 92nd season of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) got underway last Thursday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 20 when new music director and Rochester native Ward Stare took the stage. Along with master violinist Midori, Stare led the orchestra in two performances of a dynamic program featuring Berlioz, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. “Music […]
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John Frusciante – Shadows Collide With People
"And you can function as someone besides who you are," John Frusciante sings on his 2004 solo album, "Shadows Collide With People." Lyrics like this are what make "Shadows" so brilliant. Frusciante subtly shifts conventional binaries and clichés and delivers them with such quiet confidence that his unconventional views almost pass you by. Unlike many […]
Culture
‘Guardians’: big laughs, little change
It’s hard to put into words exactly what kind of moviegoing experience “Guardians of the Galaxy” is. The movie is undoubtedly exuberant, full of incredible amounts of joy and fun. It can also be surprisingly resonant, filled with more emotion than you would expect from it, or from any other Marvel property for that matter. […]
Culture
Rob Compa of Dopapod talks jam band label, heroes
Dopapod, a Brooklyn-based jam-rock quartet, does it right. Between the band’s slick songwriting, future-forward sound, and top-notch musicianship, it offers something for everyone. Later this year, Dopapod will be releasing its third LP, “Never Odd or Even”. Aside from maintaining the band’s tradition of using palindromes as album titles, “Never Odd or Even” showcases Dopapod […]
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CT Recommends: The Mindy Project
The “Mindy Project” is the little show that could. It started off with dismal critical reviews caused by its poor writing and acting. There were rumors that it would be cancelled. But, like so many other shows that started off slow, the “Mindy Project” has shown itself to be on track to be a lasting […]
Culture
‘Strange Surroundings’ tells a tale of the future
If you happen to pass by Hartnett Gallery right now, you can’t help but stop and stare at the massive artwork hanging across the entrance. It’s not even the size that stops you – it’s the dense mass of colors, textures, and shapes that make you gape in awe. That installation piece is the main […]
Culture
Kanye West and Paul McCartney collaborate to change the world
If you were in touch with the news at all this summer, you’ve heard that these days, not many people are cooperating. Russia and the Ukraine? Not friendly. Republicans and Democrats? Try again. Israel and Hamas? Nope. Wait though – there’s hope on the horizon. Out of the American music industry, we’ve been hearing whispers […]
Culture
Maroon 5 remains stagnant on ‘V’
For a group that's dominated the charts for ten years, Maroon 5 has always been confused about its identity. In 2002, the band released its debut, “Songs About Jane”, an earnest and accessible rock-and-R&B album which showcased Maroon 5's high-caliber musicianship and knack for smart, catchy songwriting. The band followed up its debut with the […]