Nov 20, 2009 6:01 PM Posted by cwmusic The second installment of the Twilight Saga: New Moon comes out today, and like an anxiously giddy fangirl, I bought my ticket a couple of weeks in advance for the midnight showing (as in late last night). I did all of the necessary prep work, re-reading the book cover to cover, listening to the film’s soundtrack on non-stop repeat, and even putting aside the usual routine of watching my precious Vampire Diaries (sorry my TVD friends), all in order to get ready for what was to come. With new director, Chris Weitz, at the helm and a bigger budget, New Moon has definitely taken on a different direction from its predecessor. Even with Bella moping around for most of the time, the tone is noticeably more upbeat and fun, with the film even daring to take a few funny jabs at itself. The visuals are bigger and better, standing out with colors that are more vibrant, grander scenery locales, and the inclusion of some stellar CGI effects. What sticks out most about the New Moon novel is the absence of Edward Cullen. Although the character himself is not actually there for a good portion of the film, members of Team Edward will be delighted to hear that he has a constant presence as a stunningly looming apparition. You see, no need to fret, plenty of RPatz to go around! As much as we love our beautiful bloodsuckers, this story was all about the rise of the werewolf. With Edward out of the picture, the blooming relationship between Bella Swan and recently-turned wolfman Jacob Black took front and center. I don’t want to get all nitpicky about what did or didn’t transpire between the book and film, but I can’t help but feel that the connection between the two BFFs wasn’t as strongly conveyed as it could’ve been. In the book, the bond between the two is built through a long series of special and tender moments, but I know with the limited time constraints, it’s kind of hard to include all of that. A little more time spent on that development would’ve gone a long way (plus, more of a shirtless Taylor Lautner wouldn’t have been half bad either). If you’re a fan of the books and the previous Twilight film, you’ll probably end up loving this one, as well. For the most part, the final product stays true to the basics of the book. From the nonchalant slow-mo struts to the half-naked chiseled bodies glistening in the rain (because let’s face it, that’s we came for), New Moon delivers on all the hot studly action to be expected and more. The third chapter of the Twilight Series, the Eclipse movie, is scheduled to be released June 2010. Already looking forward to it! Nov 17, 2009 7:45 PM Posted by cwmusic   
In this week’s episode of Gossip Girl, Dan, Olivia, and Vanessa were all feeling the after effects of last week’s threesome. Another new love triangle came about when Serena found herself caught between Nate and Tripp. And, of course, Lady Gaga dropped by to pay our Upper East siders a visit. Let’s retouch on all of last night’s events:
Threesome Gone Wrong
Coming off the ménage a trois, last night’s episode opened up with Dan doing an obligatory post-threesome strut, reliving his glory through some very…umm…indulgent flashbacks. I have to say, those flashbacks were pretty hot and steamy, and more than made up for last week’s underwhelming performance. Nate (who suddenly became the all-knowing relationship guru) shook his head in disapproval and brought Dan back to reality, seeing as how the stud broke the golden rule of threesomes: “the third person is always supposed to be a stranger.”
Olivia became jealous of Dan and Vanessa’s bond, and tensions rose when the budding playwright enlisted his co-threesome partners for his wacky, but very hip, Snow White remake. Of course, the claws came out between Olivia and Vanessa. But, Blair, being the lovely egocentric bee-yotch that she is and insisting that the show must go on for her own sake, blackmailed O and V into cooperating. Dan finally realized his true feelings for V, but it was too late. Our Lonely Boy became lonely once more when he ended up losing out on both girls. V started to crush on theater buff Paul and Olivia had to leave for the filming of the Witches of Eastwick.
Going Gaga for Lady Gaga
Blair impressed the NYU theater kids by bringing in Lady Gaga via B’s entertainment lawyer stepdad Cyrus Rose (who supposedly was the inspiration for Poker Face haha). Lady Gaga’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. There were ladders, hot male dancers, and a 30-foot-long dress. What else could you ask for? “Bad Romance” was the perfect encapsulation of the episode.
Serena is Trippin’
Serena needs to get her act together and stop going crazy over every guy that she comes across. Tripp is a MARRIED CONGRESSMAN. S shouldn’t even mess with that. She has a perfectly great guy waiting in the wings, who is not only younger and has less baggage, but is way hotter! Serena and Nate’s hook-up in the first season is what changed everything, so it would only be fitting if things came around in full circle, culminating with them getting back together. Team SerenNate all the way! S has made some awful decisions over the course of this season, but leaving with Tripp had to be the worst. I guess it’s only what we could expect from Serena. She’s that one hot mess of a trainwreck that you hope will get back on track. Well, there is still the rest of the season left, and until then I’ll continue to have hope that S will somehow redeem herself.
Jenny’s Walk on the Wild Side
Little J put her Queen Bee crown aside to help out Chuck by showing the son of his client, Damien, around town. This son of an ambassador turned out to be one badass drug dealer, and he even got Little J to join him in his dangerous trade. Chuck Bass came just in time to save the day, swooping up Jenny from partaking in any more bad behavior. Jenny has already teetered on the dark side, but this is whole new territory. By the looks of it, Little J is down to do some exploring, sending a text to Damien saying that she had fun and that they should do it again sometime. Not a wise choice, Little J, but if it means more Damien, then that’s fine by us (Good job by casting! He’s a hottie!).
Catch Gossip Girl on Mondays @ 9PM on the CW 44Cable12.
Nov 13, 2009 6:06 PM Posted by cwmusic Move over, Blair Waldorf! A new queen is out to dethrone you, and it isn’t Jenny Humphrey. Next week, as you all well know, the Queen of Pop herself Lady Gaga, is taking over the realm of Gossip Girl. This season has been filled with plenty of big-name guest spots, and Lady Gaga has to be the hottest celebrity the show has nabbed to date. However, she isn’t just looking to make a mere appearance. This pop star is pulling out all the stops. In an article from MTV.com, Lady Gaga explains that she made sure the writers took heed of her grand vision: "I was like, 'Look, I want to do this, and the reason I want to do this is because I am trying to say something that is not mainstream in a mainstream capacity. So if I can say it on your show, that would be, like, a real coup d'état for me as a performance artist.' " And what would that vision be, if she didn’t appear in dramatic fashion? The style icon has been known to sport some ostentatious and eccentric outfits, and her attire for next week will no less get the fashion world a-buzzin’, as she performs in a 30-foot-long gown. In the episode titled “The Last Days of Disco Stick,” Lady Gaga is brought in by Blair, as the Queen Bee tries to prove herself by impressing the theater kids of NYU. Gaga will be performing her latest single, “Bad Romance,” which is only fitting for the Dan, Olivia, and Vanessa jumble. Apparently, Lady Gaga will somehow be involved in the threesome storyline, as they all must work together to execute this private concert. Can Lady Gaga help fix the whole threesome mess and restore peace to the land of Gossip Girl? Or will she end up stirring more chaos? In any case, I can’t wait to see what the pop diva has up her sleeve! Nov 13, 2009 6:03 PM Posted by cwmusic   
Throughout this season, I’ve been clamoring to see and learn more about Bonnie and her witchery. In this week’s episode of The Vampire Diaries, we finally got to see the good witch in action and take center stage. We also were introduced to a new character and got to learn some revealing stuff about the Salvatore brothers. Let’s recap all of last night’s events:
Invasion of the Bodysnatcher
Emily kept continuing to haunt Bonnie in her dreams, and it all had to do with that darned necklace. In a desperate attempt, Damon demanded to get the necklace back and convince Bonnie that he would protect her (psh…you may be pretty, Damon, but we don’t believe that for a second). Bonnie decided to take matters into her own hands, disposing of the necklace into an open field. Later, Bonnie, Elena, and Caroline came together at Elena’s house for a sleepover that soon turned dramatic when Caroline discovered Bonnie’s necklace. The trio held a séance to summon Emily, but the girls got more than they bargained for when Emily took hold of Bonnie’s body. Emily wasn’t doing this to terrorize Bonnie. She had a mission to stop Damon (which I’ll discuss in a bit). This was the first time we’ve seen the three girls come together and bond like this. Up till this point, they’ve each had their own thing going on, but it was nice seeing them band together, even if it was just for a little bit. They need to have an episode where the BFFs have an all-out girl’s night out into town. Now that would be totally fun.
Hot for Teacher
The show gave us some new eye candy to drool over this week. We were introduced to the new history teacher—Alaric Saltzmann (played by Matthew Davis, the hot dude from Legally Blonde). I guess he’ll be filling in the role of the young, suave, and much-admired adult mentor. Immediately, Mr.Saltzmann gave us a good impression, giving Jeremy a second chance to boost his grade. It seems that he’ll be doing more than just teaching, though. Aunt Jenna is lonely and needs a new man in her life and, perhaps, Alaric could step in and be the one. The two seemed to hit it off pretty well. But, wait, is Alaric really as perfect as he seems? First off, I don’t know if I could buy his whole story of why he moved into Mystic Falls. Second, that big ring of his looks awfully similar to the one of the Salvatore bros. Also, he seemed to linger at Aunt Jenna’s door for a bit too long. Could it be…another vampire? Things got really eerie when the supposedly-dead Logan stopped by for a visit. Uh oh! This could spell trouble for Aunt Jenna’s love life. Is this another potential love triangle, involving two vampires? I hope so.
Love and Revenge
This week, Damon’s Diabolical Master Plan was unraveled, as Stefan worked to get the truth out from his brother. We actually got to see the two brothers bond in a very brotherly way through a fun round of booze, darts, and football. Though, I love the constant competitive banter between Damon and Stefan, it was definitely a nice change, seeing the two get along. In a candid moment between the two bros, Stefan revealed that his love for Katherine wasn’t real. Yet, as it turned out, Damon’s love was the real thing, and it was the main reason why he returned to Mystic Falls. He wanted to bring Katherine back from the dead (Yep, she’s still there!) However, in doing so, he would also unleash 27 other vampires. Damon didn’t care, though, because it was all part of his master plan of revenge. The key to his plan was Bonnie’s necklace. Emily, who took over Bonnie’s body, came in to save the day, burning the necklace and eliminating all hope for Damon to revive Katherine. As much as I despise Katherine for her evil ways, I can’t help but feel sorry for Damon and how he’ll never be reunited with his true love.
So much happened in this week’s episode, but next week should get even better with the mid-season finale. Catch The Vampire Diaries on Thursdays @ 8 PM on the CW 44Cable12.
Nov 10, 2009 6:56 PM Posted by cwmusic Listen up music fans, we’ve got the 411 about some great shows coming up: A Fine Frenzy @ Great American Music HallYou may not be very familiar with the name A Fine Frenzy, but chances are, you’ve heard their music. Their sparkling ballads have been featured all over the place from One Tree Hill to The Hills. A Fine Frenzy is fronted by the fiery and spunky redheaded singer/songwriter Alison Sudol, who has all the makings of a great artist. Not only did she teach herself how to play the piano, but she also has a strong love for fine literature, which emanates through her whimsical yet refined lyrics. Sudol & co. are ready to take the music world by storm with their sophomore release Bomb in a Birdcage. Catch A Fine Frenzy @ the Great American Music Hall on Thu, Nov 12, 8 PM. Tickets are available online here. http://www.myspace.com/afinefrenzy Peter Bjorn & John @ Great American Music HallWe all best know the Swedish trio of Peter Morén, Björn Yttling, and John Eriksson for that one catchy whistling tune. Peter Bjorn & John (or as I like to call them, PB&J) bursted onto the scene with their ubiquitous hit “Young Folks,” which was featured everywhere from commercials, Gossip Girl, and was even sampled by the infamous “outburster” himself, Mr. Kanye West. The indie-rock imports, now in their tenth year, want to show that they’re not just some one-hit wonder. With their latest release Living Thing, PB&J are out to prove that they’re in it for the long run. Catch Peter Bjorn & John @ the Great American Music Hall on Thu/Fri, Nov 19/20, 9 PM. Tickets are available online here. http://www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn Nov 10, 2009 1:52 PM Posted by cwmusic   
In this week’s episode of Gossip Girl, Jenny tried to nab the hottest date for the Cotillion, but Eric set out to sabotage her plans. Serena and Blair made up, but they didn’t make out, unlike Dan, Olivia, and Vanessa. Hello, threesome! Let’s touch up on all of last night’s Gossip:
Eric’s Evil Streak
Eric was totally M.I.A. from the last episode, but this week he came back and with a vengeance! We saw a whole different side to Eric, as he went behind Jenny’s back and deleted a text from her potential escort Graham Collins. The thing was, Eric wasn’t just doing this to be spiteful. He had good intentions. As Eric explained through a Star Wars metaphor, he saw Jenny as the young Anakin, and he was the Obi-Wan trying to keep her away from the dark side. Unfortunately, his scheming backfired when Jenny found out what he had done, getting all Darth Vader on everyone. By sinking down to Jenny’s level, Eric ended up losing Jonathon in the process (it’s okay, he was kind of dull, anyway). It’s cool how Eric was trying to steer Jenny in the right direction, but he just went about it the wrong way. Now that he has teamed up with the newly introduced Kira, I’m looking forward to seeing him take down the Queen Bee.
Love in an Elevator (syke!)
Serena and Blair still hadn’t apologized to one another, so Chuck took it upon himself to do some behind-the-scenes plotting in order to reunite the former BFFs. He got the two together the best way he knew how: by trapping them in an elevator until they both caved in, leaving enough whiskey and macaroons to last them for days (very classy and considerate). Of course, they couldn’t stay mad for long, and eventually kissed and made up, so to speak. Though Chuck did encourage some lip action, chiming in through the elevator intercom, “If you want to kiss, it won’t count as cheating.” Oh, silly Chuck! He’s such a great boyfriend. He came up with this elaborate plan because he knew how much Blair missed Serena and just wanted to do what was best for Blair. How sweet!
Serena Pulling a Monica Lewinsky
Aside from all the drama with Blair, Serena stirred a little trouble on her own by taking a job with Tripp Vanderbilt. Last week ended with a WTF moment, as Tripp and Serena shared some late night cocktails (and who knows what else). Both Serena and Tripp weren’t able to get that special night off their minds. Just as Serena was about to resign, Tripp, instead, pleaded for her to stay. He revealed that Serena is one of the only people he could trust and that he found her both smart and charming (Really, Tripp, really?). I’m not sure if Serena’s smarts was what Tripp was after. As Tripp told Serena that he still owed her a favor from last time, he gave her a touch that seemed to linger on for a bit too long. Serena shouldn’t even get involved in this one. Tripp is a married congressman, after all. Plus, she isn’t just messing with Tripp, she’s messing with the whole Vanderbilt clan. If she were truly smart, she would stay away, unless she wants to face the wrath of Grandpa Vanderbilt.
The Ultimate College Experience
Olivia learned that she had to leave NYU since another Endless Knights movie was in the works. Dan and Vanessa wanted to give her a good taste of the college life as a send-off. Their plans went off with a bang. Literally. I had a feeling that the much-hyped about threesome would involve these three. Though, I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed about how it all went down. I know there are censorship standards to follow, but couldn’t they have made the threesome a tad steamier? All we got was a few awkward kisses here and there. Oh well. If anything, this threesome has set up a very interesting storyline between Dan, Olivia, and Vanessa. Now that the fun is over, they’ll have to deal with all the repercussions in the next episode. Catch Gossip Girl on Mondays @ 9PM on the CW 44Cable12.
Nov 6, 2009 7:15 PM Posted by cwmusic   
On this week’s episode of Vampire Diaries, one of Stefan’s agelong friends paid him a visit, but did this mysterious guest spell trouble between him and Elena? Also, Stefan turned 162 years old, and, to help celebrate, Damon threw him a party he’ll never forget. Let’s recap all the events of last night’s festivities:
A Blast from the Past
At first, I didn’t know what to make out of Lexi. It was cool how they brought another female vampire into the mix, but I had my reservations. Who was she? Why did she come to Mystic Falls? Did she have a thing for Stefan? Lexi appeared to be a threat to Stefan and Elena’s reunion, but it was later revealed that she was nothing more than a dear friend. She also turned out to be pretty awesome! Like Stefan, she was one of the good ones, not entirely off the human blood (thanks to her phlebotomist BF that supplied her with IV pouches), but she was definitely making an effort not to cause a disturbance. Just as I was beginning to like Lexi, the rug was pulled from under us, yet again, as Damon fatally staked her. Vicki was killed off last week, but I had no idea that another central vampiress would be put to rest (and so soon!). I wish they had kept Lexi on board for a bit longer, because she was able to get the usually stoic Stefan to loosen up and smile. She was also one of the only people to keep Damon in check, not only verbally, but she was much physically stronger than him, as well. R.I.P. Lexi. We hardly knew ye.
Damon’s Diabolical Plan
We all know that Damon is evil, and we love him for that, but, this week, he took his mean-streak to the extreme. By bringing a supply of verveine and doing his usual smooth-talking, Damon was able to fool Sheriff Forbes into thinking that he was helping out the town council with catching the vampires. Later on in the party at The Grill, Damon quenched his appetite by feeding on one half of a teenage couple who were making out behind an alley. Damon hypnotized the female victim into pointing out Lexi as the culprit, and eventually staked her as a part of his big “diabolical plan.” Well, I guess that was all we would expect from Damon, but he took it way too far when he called Caroline a vapid waste of space. That was just plain mean. Shame on you, Damon, for crushing a fragile cheerleader’s spirit like that! Damon got his dose of karma when Stefan gave him good butt-whipping after learning he was behind Lexi’s death. See, Damon, that’s what you get! (j/k…I can never be mad at that pretty mug of his).
A Feather in Bonnie’s Witch Cap
The cat was let out of the bag when Bonnie confessed to Elena that she was a witch. She performed some nifty magic trick, where she made some feathers float around Elena. When asked why she revealed her secret, Bonnie told Elena that she would never keep anything hidden from her BFF (slap in the face to Stefan!). The scheming duo of Damon and Caroline plotted to take Bonnie’s talisman away from her. However, Bonnie showed that she wasn’t going to take any of their crap, even when Caroline gave her the worst insult one female can give to another by calling her fat. The episode ended with Bonnie waking up barefoot at the cemetery after having some weird and ominous dream. I wonder what that was about?
We’re already 8 episodes into the series, yet we still don’t know much about the fledgling witch. That will probably start to change next week, when we’ll have a whole episode full of Bonnie. Catch The Vampire Diaries on Thursdays @ 8 PM on the CW 44cable12!
Nov 5, 2009 7:45 PM Posted by cwmusic The Bay Area music scene has always been a busy and bustling hotbed of incredibly diverse and unique new talents. Here are some of my favorite local acts that I feel are right on the verge of breaking out: Audrye SessionsGenre: Indie/Rock/Alternative Sounds Like: Radiohead, Muse, Manchester Orchestra http://www.myspace.com/audryesessionsAudrye Sessions, who describe their sound as having a "very Brit-rock feel like The Beatles meet Muse,” craft guitar-powered pop that blends brooding energy with lush arrangements and delicately tender vocals. The Oakland-based quartet got their start playing gigs at local coffeehouses, eventually becoming one of the Bay’s most recent buzzed-about bands, playing for Noise Pop and SxSw and opening for the Dandy Warhols and Louis XIV. Earlier this year, the group made the leap to major-label status, signing with Black Seal, and released their self-titled debut album. What’s most striking about this band is frontman Ryan Karazija’s voice. His wispy falsetto is so similar to that of Thom Yorke’s, it’s downright eerie. Dizzy Balloon Genre: Rock/Pop/Indie Sounds Like: Queen, The Beatles, The Morning Benders http://www.myspace.com/dizzyballoonDizzy Balloon (formerly known as Panda) is a five-piece pop group hailing from Piedmont. Their self-titled debut, which was released last year, features infectiously upbeat and punchy pop numbers that make you want to get up, clap your hands, and boogie down. These rowdy youngsters were barely juniors in high school when they began to gain popularity around the Bay Area, garnering steady airplay on KITS (Live 105) and packing venues, including Slim’s and Bottom of the Hill. They’ve become known for their high energy live shows and beat out over a hundred other Bay Area bands last year to win the opening spot for Not So Silent Night, sharing the stage with rock heavyweights such as The Killers, Bloc Party, and Franz Ferdinand. Catch them at the Rickshaw Stop in SF on November 28, and see all the Dizzy buzz for yourself. LoveLikeFire Genre: Indie/Rock/Pop Sounds Like: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead, The Killers http://www.myspace.com/lovelikefireThe San Francisco-based indie rock quartet know how to take initiative, forging a truly independent path of their own, without the aid of a label, as they independently released two EPS and promoted their music through a self-organized and self-financed national tour. The group was formed in 2006 when vocalist Anne Yu and drummer/keyboardist David Farwell met at a show playing in other bands, eventually teaming up with bassist Eric Amerman and guitarist Marty Mattern. Anne Yu’s hauntingly enticing vocals are set against a multi-layered wall of sound, similar to the style of Arcade Fire, that treads into darkly brooding territory, taking the listener to a rhythmic and artful trip through a dream-pop landscape. Recently, the group signed to Heist or Hit records and released their latest album Tear Ourselves Away in the UK, but I have a feeling soon enough they’re going to makes waves across the ocean here in the US. Nov 3, 2009 7:15 PM Posted by cwmusic  
The Claws Come Out
The tension between Serena and Blair continued, as the former BFFs refused to apologize to one another for last week’s betrayals. We haven’t seen a battle between these two since Season 2, so you know a good one had to be coming our way. This week’s catfight did not disappoint. You had it all. There was name-calling, backstabbing, one-upping, and cake pushing (so hilarious when S pushed B into that cake). Chuck had it right when he called out Serena on her immaturity. Blair, on the other hand, started to show some maturity when she explained how Serena was drifting away from the people most important to her and was selling herself out by putting up with that PR job (calling S a prostitute was a bit too harsh, though). It looked like Serena took what some of Blair said to heart when she dumped her phony RPatzz-inspired boo and told KC that she quit. But Serena’s efforts might’ve been too little too late, as the status of her and Blair’s friendship was up in the air.
Dirty Politics
We haven’t seen much of Nate this season, so putting the Vanderbilt campaign front and center was a nice change of pace. Okay, so this political storyline may have been sort of dull, but, hey, it’s better than seeing Nate whore himself out again or not seeing him at all. It’s surprising to see Nate take all this political stuff so seriously. He was even willing to deal Vanessa a low blow to ensure Tripp’s victory. At first, I thought Nate might’ve been behind the Hudson River hoax, but it turns out that Tripp’s wife was the scheming mastermind. Who knew? I guess she’s not just some harmless trophy wife, after all. We’ll have to keep an eye out on her. But we’ll also have to keep an eye out on Tripp. What was that ending sequence between Serena and Tripp all about? Tripp hasn’t even started his job as a congressman, but it already looks like he might be involved in another scandal.
Bathroom Boy
Who else was let down by this whole “bathroom boy” story? With all of the build-up, I was expecting a totally mortifying story about Dan, but all of the hubbub turned out to be about a spider and an inside-out shirt. Yawn. Well, at least we got to some Jimmy Fallon in the mix.
This week’s episode was a little lukewarm, but things should heat up on the next episode, especially with the highly-anticipated THREESOME about to go down. Catch Gossip Girl on Mondays @ 9PM on the CW 44Cable12.
Oct 30, 2009 6:54 PM Posted by cwmusic Singer-songwriter Joshua Radin stopped by SF last night, along with the Watson Twins, to play a show at the Great American Music Hall. I was very curious to see how well he could translate his melancholy and subdued music into a live show. His performance was a delightful mix of honesty and humor. The candid singer-songwriter entertained the crowd by providing charming insight and commentary about his songs as he played them. With just him and acoustic guitar at-hand, Joshua Radin didn’t need much else to command the attention of the crowd. Radin’s sweetly stunning voice and emotionally open delivery easily captivated the audience, lulling them into a “pin-drop” hush and outright awe. If you missed it, check out his music at http://www.joshuaradin.com. | |
