The Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling trio Nickel Creek—Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), Sara Watkins (fiddle/vocals, and Sean Watkins (guitar/vocals)- officially reunites for the first time since its 2007 self-described “indefinite hiatus” with a new album, A Dotted Line, on April 1,2014
As Nickel Creek’s 25th anniversary approached, the band members decided they ought to mark it in some way, so they got together to write music in Chris Thile’s apartment last year. They ended up with six new co-written songs, which they eventually took to a Los Angeles studio, along with one tune by Thile, one by Sean Watkins, and two covers
Formed in 1989 when Thile and Sara Watkins were eight years old and Sean Watkins (Sara’s older brother) was eleven, Nickel Creek earned a loyal following playing the festival circuit for nearly a decade. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2000 to commercial and critical acclaim: it sold nearly one million copies. Nickel Creek released two more records: 2002’s This Side, which won a Best Contemporary Folk Album Grammy, and 2005’s Why Should the Fire Die?.
Tickets can be purchased at Booth Amphitheatre
Tuesday- Friday, noon – 6 p.m
Through etix.com.
By phone call (800) 514-3849
Etix hours: Monday-Friday/ 9 a.m.-8 p.m. EST
Saturday/10 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST & Sunday/12 p.m. – 8 p.m. EST
for intense sequences of violence, gunplay and action throughout
Captain America: The Winter Soldier lived up to my expectations, almost completely. As I look back on the movie, there are only a couple of minor things that I would have liked to have seen done better.
In general, sequels often have a hard time living up the standards established by “part ones”, forget about being better. In my opinion, Cap 2 has done an excellent job of building on the successes of the previous film and correcting the flaws at the same time. The cool is cooler and the dull is gone.
In regards to the story and plot, we should all be in tune with the way Marvel like to turn its movies in to episodes instead of all-encompassing stories by now. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is no different, as soon as the movie is over you are ready for the next one. The story that is told sets up at least two more sequels and GREATLY impacts The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. from the small screen.
If you were to try and categorize The Winter Soldier, I think you would have to put in with spy mysteries. The story is ripe with espionage and shifting alliances with very little being as it seems. Some of the good guys do some very bad guy like things and vice versa. You are in a position of wondering who is good and who is bad for a large part of the movie. Some of the assumptions that you go in with are proved to be horribly off from the real story by the time it is over, all with an eye for the future.
As you would expect, the characters are the driving force behind this movie. As with any comic book inspired film, the story is interchangeable as long as the fans accept the character as a whole. If you screw up a character, like Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the fans will destroy the whole movie without prejudice. Making sure to not “screw anyone up” was obviously a point of emphasis for the creative team.
The characters that we have seen before that are back for another round are all more dynamic, as compared to their previous portrayals:
Captain America – Chris Evans
He is still the guy trying to adapt to waking up to a world he knows nothing about, but he doesn’t feel as lost. Humor and wit are inserted into the character so that he doesn’t seem to be quite as moody. More emphasis was put on him being a highly trained fighter and tactician this time around too.
Nick Fury – Samuel L Jackson
FINALLY! We get to see him in do more than walk around and jibber-jabber like a bureaucrat.
Black Widow – Scarlett Johansson
The writers and director made a great decision in actually letting her have some personality this time around. She is still the ass-kicking redhead from the previous movies, but now we get to see her as a human being too.
The new characters that are introduced mostly met my expectations as well:
The Winter Soldier – Sebastian Stan
If you know the history of this character from the comics, you will be happy with the big-screen adaptation. If you know nothing about him, you will be impressed with him as well. He is portrayed as Cap’s equal in almost every way. In any area where he is not Cap’s equal, he is better. He is very much like Bane, but thankfully nowhere near as chatty.
The Falcon – Anthony Mackie
This is where things could have been just a little better. Not enough time was spent on developing Falcon. I do not want to say that he was just dropped into the scene with no development, but it was still lacking. He is very much Cap’s sidekick. To the movie’s credit, any scene of him in action was given as much attention as would have been given to Iron Man.
Alexander Pierce – Robert Redford
Pierce is another character that can be a bit confusing or even misunderstood. To avoid spoiling the story, all I will say is that he is portrayed as a figurehead, or personification, for the underlying story instead of Nick Fury’s friend and ally since “the old days.” As the story unfolds Pierce becomes less and less important which mitigates my issues.
Another aspect to the Marvel movies that adds to the excitement is the use of Easter Eggs and credit scenes. This movie has a plenty of Easter Eggs and two credit scenes that are intriguing. There is a good bit of foreshadowing to other projects and characters as well: Doctor Strange for one and Moonstone as another.
A couple of words of caution:
If you are a fan of The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and are behind in watching the most recent episodes, get that done first! The story told in this movie is the resolution to part of the story on the TV show. If you watch the movie before catching up the whole “hunt for the clairvoyant” is going to be less than fulfilling to say the least. If you are like me, and make that mistake, you might jump to the same question I did, “so are they cancelling the show now?”
This weekend make the time to get out of the house and go see this movie. It is not going to let you down.
In addition to EasternCarolinaStyle.com, Michael Smith is also a regular contributing writer for the Fayetteville, NC weekly newspaper, Up and Coming Weekly.
This week’s edition of Up and Coming Weekly features an article about a new barbecue restaurant in the area, Mac’s Speed Shop.
Click the link below to read more
(You will be routed to UpandComingWeekly.com)
O.A.R. is renowned for their incredible live shows and sell-out performances at massive venues such as Red Rocks and Madison Square Garden. The band has just wrapped up production on a brand new album – The Rockville LP – which is set for release June 10th on Vanguard Records. The anthemic song “Peace,” the debut single from The Rockville LP, is climbing the charts and has already become a mainstay on radio station playlist across the country.
Since their formation in 1996, O.A.R. (singer Marc Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, guitarist Richard On, bassist Benj Gershman and saxophonist Jerry DePizzo) has logged millions of miles on the road and released seven studio albums, spawning such hit singles as “Shattered” “Heaven” and “Love and Memories.”
Phillip Phillips is also in the midst of a hit single with “Raging Fire,” the first track from his highly anticipated Behind The Light album, set for release on May 19th on 19 Recordings/Interscope.
Behind The Light is Phillips’ follow-up to his hugely successful debut album, which spawned the single “Home,” one of the biggest tracks of 2012, selling more than 4 million copies. That debut album, The World from the Side of the Moon, sold well over a million copies and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and #1 on the Billboard Rock Album chart. Successful tours both as a headliner and with such artists as Matchbox 20 and John Mayer followed. Phillips just wrapped his first headlining tour of Canada.
Boston will play Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Friday, August 22.
Tom Scholz’ band, Boston, will embark on a highly anticipated summer tour following the successful release of their latest album, Life, Love & Hope. The tour will kick off on June 5 at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL. Always a huge crowd pleaser with their high-energy stage show, out-of-this-world sound, and remarkable musicianship and singing, Boston will feature the personnel and music from their highly acclaimed 2012 tour with some exciting additions. The band prides itself on performing a totally live show without the use of prerecorded music or technical enhancements, delivering the exceptional sound that is faithful to their studio recordings.
Tickets on sale at:
livenation.com Duke Energy Center box office Belk box office at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre Ticketmaster outlets, and by phone 800-745-3000.
Boston burst onto the music scene with their eponymous best-selling debut album in 1976, and never looked back. With over 17 million copies sold, Boston generated hits such as “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” and “Smokin’,” rock staples that are still in heavy rotation today. Their second effort, Don’t Look Back was another chart-topper that confirmed their place in rock history, followed by Third Stage, which hit #1 on the charts, with the top single of 1986, “Amanda.” With over 31 million albums sold to date, their music has stood the test of time, as evidenced by live Boston audiences that span generations.
Last December, Boston released their newest studio album, Life, Love & Hope on Frontiers Records. More than a decade in the making, Life, Love & Hope features 11 tracks embodying the classic and beloved Boston sound, as well as the latest in the evolution of Tom Scholz’ musical artistry.
Scholz has been a longstanding advocate of the vegetarian lifestyle, and prevention of cruelty and suffering to animals both nonhuman and human. This summer, at selected concerts on the tour, there will be a promotional sale of the Boston CD, Greatest Hits. Every CD sold comes with a chance to win an Epiphone guitar signed by Tom Scholz. The winner from each show will be announced later that night. Net proceeds of the guitar contest will be split between Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
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Melissa Anne Cain
Eastern Carolina Style 