We see Samson wake up in a dirty, grimy, nearly dilapidated room. He goes outside and tries to play guitar with some older men, but even having just woken up he wants to rock out on the electric guitar. They want to play a mellow tune, thus they take the guitar from him and send him on his way. We then see Delilah, a pretty girl sleeping under a tent outside with her grandmother. They live in an aboriginal community in the outback of Australia. It’s a modern community, but resembles a third-world village. Many people live in poor conditions like hollowed out houses made of cement blocks, working on crafts that others, specifically whites, sell for them. Samson and Delilah is a different film than we’re used to. It doesn’t have action. It has left the melodrama of star-crossed lovers on the cutting room floor. It’s a film that barely has dialogue. To make this clear, Samson says less than a sentence throughout the film. It’s a film about proving something, about taking pride, and yet knowing when you need help.
Been in a music slump lately? Is the radio seemingly refusing to play your song and you’ve played your favorite cd so many times that you’re half-tempted to throw it out the car window? Or maybe you’re just looking for a new band to check out. In either case, I have a solution. A band that has been growing in popularity among college students, The Gallery, has released a new album titled Restless. Their new album was released Feb. 26 and is expected to be another hit for the band.
Olde Madrid on 6th Street in Racine is a quiet restaurant (or at least it was when I visited, which was the day after Valentine’s Day). My date and I were greeted by a very nice woman who kindly showed us to our seats in a matter of seconds, without making us feel rushed. The restaurant we walked into was romantically lit with several small tables lining the walls and larger ones in the center of the floor. Considering it was a cold night, being greeted warmly and being seated in a comfortable spot for two near the wall of the establishment was greatly appreciated. When our waitress appeared, she kindly asked for our drink orders and left us to look over the menu by candlelight. There are a great variety of tapas, both cold and hot, not to mention other menu items, including paella. My date and I decided to go warm with the tapas and to partake in the baked goat cheese tapas, baked in a sweet tomato sauce, and served with grilled slices of baguette drizzled with olive oil. It was sweet and yet savory, and very filling on its own. With a burst of familiar flavors, the baked goat cheese was a genuinely tasty treat.
This past Friday night I stepped out to McAuliffe’s Pub off of Taylor Ave. in Racine to check out the Beatles tribute band, The Mania. McAuliffe’s Pub has a long history of showcasing great local bands, as well as pulling in talent from Milwaukee and Chicago. They feature a wide range of import beers on tap and in bottles, and host Trivia every Sunday in between episodes of The Walking Dead. The band is made up of six members that have all known each other since childhood. Alex Ramos plays bass, as well as sings backup vocals; Patrick Hennessey and Bryce Lehman are both on guitar and backup vocals; and Becky Leonard plays the keyboard, piano, and sings. Roger Fuerstenau is on lead vocals.
Straylight Literary Magazine’s open mic nights have become rather infamous in the Racine/Kenosha area. On Feb. 22, 2013, the organization hosted a much anticipated open mic in the Den after taking a semester-long hiatus. Folks mingled and greeted one another as the sign-up sheet was passed around the tables, including former Straylight interns that traveled back to UW-Parkside for the event.
