Cross Canadian Ragweed cancels Oklahoma City Family Jam, still playing Sunday’s Music and Mayhem in Eufaula
A version of this story also appears in Friday’s The Oklahoman.
Al-country group opts to cancel zoo concert
Oklahoma-Texas red dirt rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed have cancelled their seventh annual Family Jam, scheduled for Aug. 28 at Oklahoma City’s Zoo Amphitheatre.
The alt-country quartet announced last week plans to take a rare break from its busy touring schedule to give the band members more time with their families. In particular, drummer Randy Ragsdale, who lives in Yukon, expressed a need to stay home with his son, JC, who has autism.
The foursome of Grady Cross, Cody Canada, Jeremy Plato and Ragsdale has established a reputation as musical road warriors, playing played more than 220 dates annually for 13 of the last 15 years.
“For many years my band has been my top priority. Being in a touring band you have to give it your all, give it 100 percent. Right now, I need to be at home for my family, particularly my son JC, who has autism. He’s 10 years old now and still struggling in his development. I feel the only way I can help him is to be more hands-on and close to home,” Ragsdale said in the statement.
The band’s publicist this week released a revised list of tour dates, noting that the group cancelled fewer than half its planned 2010 shows. Among the dates the band will keep are Sunday’s fourth annual Music and Mayhem Concert, also featuring Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen and Mike McClure Band, at Eufaula Cove Amphitheater in Eufaula.
Ragweed also will play June 25 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville.
In addition, the band still plans to perform next month on an Armed Forces Entertainment tour in Japan and at the prestigious Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn.
But the country-rockers scrapped several shows, including the Family Jam and Red Dirt Round Up in Fort Worth, Texas, two big events for which they serve as key organizers as well as headliners.
Zoo Amphitheatre Manager Howard Pollack said the Cross Canadian Ragweed Family Jam has sold out the past five years and become an anticipated annual event for the venue’s season. Tickets had not yet gone on sale for this year’s concert.
“I’m upset about the loss of finance, but I’m not upset with the band because I can’t begrudge anyone for what they need to do. … They’re friends of mine as well,” he said. “These guys have basically toured straight for the last, what, 15 years. It could burn anybody out.”
He hopes to fill the Aug. 28 date with a rock show and is working to schedule a daylong red dirt show for fall. The latter will likely follow the Family Jam format, offering a lineup of favorites on the red dirt/Texas music scene along with other bands. Last year’s event featured red dirt standouts Mike McClure, Stoney LaRue and Brandon Jenkins as well as rockers Tesla and Toadies.
“It will be very similar to that, other than the fact that it won’t have Cross Canadian,” Pollack said. “The vibe will be the same.”
The venue will keep the door open if Ragweed wants to host the Family Jam again in the future, he said.
“The Family Jam will be there, and they’ll always be welcome to host it,” Pollack said. “The Family Jam was a mutual concept. … That was our baby collectively, but the Zoo Amphitheatre is going to keep doing what we do. And one of the things we do is the Family Jam.”
Fans holding tickets to Ragweed’s cancelled concerts are encouraged to contact the venue for refunds. The band’s final show of the year is set for Oct. 24 in Chicago.
After, the members will halt touring with no timetable for returning, their publicist said.
The foursome established Ragweed as teenagers in 1994 and eventually moved to Stillwater, where they built a following playing for the college crowds around Oklahoma State University. Half the band members now make their homes in Oklahoma, while the others live in Texas.
The band celebrated its 15th anniversary last fall, and over the years, the members have watched each other grow up, get married and start families. Bassist Plato said in last week’s statement that all four would benefit from getting off the road.
“We’ve been at this for a long time, we’ve all had to spend time away from home missing birthdays, holidays … it’ll be good for us to have a breather,” he said.
Ragsdale said in last week’s statement that he would have supported his bandmates if they wanted to “get another drummer and press on” after he told them he needed to take time off for his family. “But that’s not what they wanted to do. I was blown away by their decision and their support.”
Frontman Canada said in the statement, “We’ve always said from the start, we’re Ragweed as the four of us, or not Ragweed at all.”
Guitarist Cross indicated in last week’s statement that the band will eventually hit the road again.
“These guys, they’re my brothers, I love playing with them,” Cross said. “I’m sure we’ll be back on the road soon.”
In concert
Cross Canadian Ragweed Fourth Annual Music and Mayhem Concert
With: Ragweed, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen and Mike McClure Band.
When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at 4 p.m.
Where: Eufaula Cove Amphitheater, 399 Lakeshore Drive, Eufaula.
Information: (866) 977-6849 or www.protixonline.com.
Cross Canadian Ragweed
When: 9 p.m. June 25.
Where: WinStar World Casino, Thackerville.
Information: (800) 622-6317 or www.winstarworldcasino.com.
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Collective Soul continues to “Shine,” playing Oklahoma show Saturday
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Band pours its Collective Soul into hits
Collectively and as individuals, the members of pop-rock band Collective Soul have experienced some shining milestones in the last year.
Professionally, the group released its eighth studio effort and second self-titled album, nicknamed “Rabbit” because of its cover art, in August and then was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in September. On the personal front, primary songwriter/lead singer Ed Roland welcomed a baby boy in July, while guitarist Joel Kosche greeted his first child, also a boy, in December.
“We stay busy. This year, we’re scaling back just a little bit. … We’re trying to use this year to spend a little time with our sons,” Kosche said in a recent phone interview from his home south of Atlanta.
“It’s just a new adventure every day.”
The band is continuing to tour in support of “Rabbit,” mostly flying out for a few shows on the weekends and then heading back home for family time. This week, the itinerary includes a concert Saturday night at Shawnee’s Firelake Grand Casino.
“We’re very fortunate, we have a lot of hit songs … and we like to play those because we know they’re there to hear ‘em. And then we like to play some newer stuff or just goof off,” he said.
“We’ll break songs down and try to do our best at covering other people’s songs. It usually comes out terrible, but we try it anyway,” Kosche added with a laugh.
In 1993, Collective Soul lit up the charts with the rock anthem “Shine,” which established the band as one of the top groups on the ‘90s post-grunge scene. For the rest of the decade, the rockers rolled out hit after hit, including “December,” “The World I Know,” “Gel,” “Precious Declaration,” “Run” and “Heavy.”
Despite shifting music trends and personnel changes, Collective Soul — which now includes Roland, his singer-guitarist brother Ed Roland, Kosche, bassist Will Turpin and new drummer Cheney Brannon — has continued making music. Kosche, who started as the tour guitar tech in 1996, officially joined the band in 2003 after the departure of original guitarist Ross Childress.
Persistence has paid off for Collective Soul. The band tapped a new audience when the ballad “Tremble for My Beloved” was featured on the hit soundtrack to the 2008 blockbuster movie “Twilight,” the first in the continuing film franchise based on the best-selling vampire romance books written by Collective Soul fan Stephenie Meyer.
“We’re definitely at the point now where we’ve crossed over generations, which is cool,” Kosche said.
“The ‘Twilight’ thing definitely brought in a whole other group of people, and they’re all different ages anyway. With that genre of movies and entertainment, there’s kids all the way up to older people,” he added. “You can tell when we play the song ‘Tremble for My Beloved,’ you can see those people, they’re up front and digging it. It’s neat.”
In the past seven years, Kosche has become an integral member of the band, co-writing and co-producing the hit “Hollywood,” which was used as the 2008 “American Idol” theme. He penned and sang lead on “I Don’t Need Anymore Friends,” another song from the 2007 album “Afterwords.” On “Rabbit,” he co-wrote the single “You” and the album track “Understanding.”
“Every record it seems like we come together even more,” he said. “Ed is the primary songwriter, so we’re all there to sort of help him realize his vision for whatever that song is that he’s working on. But every record we feel like we contribute more.”
But Kosche also is planning another special delivery: He will release his first solo album, “Fight Years,” June 15 on CD Baby through his own label, Oh So Noir Music/Infinite Repeat Records. He said the solo effort chronicles his musical journey, from fronting the Atlanta band Steep to playing with Collective Soul. Ed Roland, former Collective Soul drummer Ryan Hoyle and Kansas singer Steve Walsh make guest appearances.
“It was important for me to put it out myself because the lyrics and everything are very personal, so I wanted to sing everything. And for once, I wanted to be able to put it together the way I wanted to put it together without listening to other people’s influence and opinions,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s fun in a way to collaborate with people, but sometimes you just want to do it the way you want to do it. So hence, the solo record.”
As a fixture on the Georgia music scene even before joining Collective Soul, Kosche was thrilled when the band was enshrined in the state Music Hall of Fame last fall. The band is not planning to rest on its laurels any time soon, but it’s an achievement he will want to share with his son when he is older.
“It’s so strange to think that we’re in a museum now with the Allman Brothers, REM and Otis Redding. It’s crazy to think, oh, we’re right there with ‘em. It’s definitely a highlight,” he said.
“I have a little nephew that they took a field trip down … there just from school, so he got a real kick out of being able to tell all his buddies that was his uncle right there in the picture.”
In concert
Collective Soul
When: 7 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Firelake Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Blvd.
Information: 964-7263 or www.firelakegrand.com.
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Darius Rucker remembers first big country show before playing Sunday in Norman
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Darius Rucker remembers first big country show
Former pop star recalls opening for Brooks & Dunn in Miami, OK
Darius Rucker experienced a revelation one night in Miami, OK.
Back in 2008, the former frontman for ‘90s pop sensations Hootie & the Blowfish was playing his first big concert as a country singer-songwriter, opening for Brooks & Dunn at Buffalo Run Casino.
“It was awesome. That was the first night that I really knew that my show would work. ‘Cause I’ll never forget, I’m sitting there, I’m playing, and people are there and my record’s not out yet, but they’re listening,” he said, adding that his first country single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” earned a good response.
“And I started to play (Hootie & the Blowfish hit) ‘Let Her Cry’ and when I did, everybody just exploded. And I realized at that point that I could play and everybody there knew (Hootie’s debut album) ‘Cracked Rear View.’ So I could just do it and it was fun. That was a great night,” he said.
“It was a really cool experience to see their crowd — because that was a Brooks & Dunn crowd — just listening and seem to be really happy with what I was doing.”
The Charleston, S.C., native shared the story for a national TV audience Sunday when the all-star tribute concert “ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn – The Last Rodeo” aired on CBS. The show was recorded April 19, the day after the Academy of Country Music Awards, where Rucker competed for top male vocalist — Brad Paisley won the title — and closed the ceremony with his latest twangy hit, “History in the Making.”
During the TV special, Rucker paid homage to Kix Brooks and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn with a raucous rendition of their smash “Hard Workin’ Man.”
“They’re just cool,” Rucker said. “They’re legends, and just the fact that they gave me that opportunity and just the guys they are, they definitely have a special place (in my heart).”
The duo announced last year their plans to split up after touring this summer, with their “Last Rodeo Tour” riding tonight into Tulsa’s BOK Center. Rucker, who is playing his own Oklahoma show Sunday night at Norman’s Riverwind Casino, said he is sad to see Brooks & Dunn going their separate ways.
“They make such great songs, such great albums. But I know that feeling: Everything comes to a point to where you want to do something else. I understand that,” he said. “I respect them for that, I respect them for knowing when it’s time to do that.”
After all, Rucker, 44, recently went through an equally momentous musical transition.
Back in 1986, he and three friends started Hootie & the Blowfish at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. The pop-rock quartet’s become one of the biggest success stories of the ‘90s when its 1994 major-label debut “Cracked Rear View” spun off three smash hits in “Hold My Hand,” “Only Wanna Be With You” and “Let Her Cry” and sold more than 16 million copies. After releasing four more albums, the band decided a few years ago to take a break and Rucker set out to achieve a long-held goal: to make country music like one of his musical heroes, Radney Foster.
“Nobody was really expecting anything,” he said. “It wasn’t some big full-page ad in any magazine saying the Darius Rucker single’s coming out. It was just like, ‘All right, you go make the record you want to make and then we’ll see.’ Then, we’ll go put you in the car and you’re gonna drive around the country and you’re gonna take it to all these radio stations. And if it works, it works, and if not, you know, we might make you make another record.”
“Learn to Live,” debuted at No. 1 and notched platinum sales. The album’s first three singles — “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This for Long” and “Alright” — reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list. Rucker was named best new artist at last fall’s Country Music Association Awards.
In addition to touring with Paisley and playing solo shows, Rucker is working hard on his sophomore country effort, with plans to release the first single later this summer and the album in fall.
“I didn’t think it would be, but I think it’s more stressful because I guess nothing was really being expected of the first one, so whatever happened, happened,” he said. “With this one, we’ve had success with the first one, so we’ve gotta make sure we put out a great record. … But it’s a good problem to have.”
Just as he did nearly two years ago in Miami, he continues to mix new and old material in his shows.
“I’d be ripping people off if I didn’t play Hootie songs; I’m pretty proud of those, too,” he said. “You know, me and the band want people leaving there going, ‘Man, I’d really like to see that again.’” “So we try to make sure everybody has fun.”
In concert
Darius Rucker
When: 8 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9.
Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
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Paseo Arts Festival brings arts, music and food to Memorial Day weekend
Festival-goers look at pottery at the 2009 Paseo Arts Festival. (Photo by Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman Archives)
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Paseo’s annual arts fest starts Saturday
Arts for the eyes, music for the ears, treats for the tastebuds and relief for the feet will highlight the 34th annual Paseo Arts Festival.
A Memorial Day weekend tradition, the free festival is set for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with music playing until 10 p.m. both days, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, with music until 7 p.m., in the historic Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker to NW 30 and Dewey. The three-day event annually draws 50,000 to 60,000 people.
In addition to the district’s many studios and galleries, more than 75 visiting visual artists will exhibit their works in tents. Their wares will include paintings, photographs, ceramics, woodworking, mixed media, jewelry, sculptures and fiber art.
“We have about 20 new artists this year, so people that come annually will get to see some new artists,” said Lori Oden, executive director of the Paseo Arts Association, which organizes the event. “We have artists from all over the country, but we are proud that over half of our artists are from Oklahoma.”
About 20 young and emerging artists from the Oklahoma Art Guild also will be showcased in the Paseo NOW marketplace.
“Not all artists that are new to the scene are necessarily young, so it’ll be a wide variety (including) some people that have decided to quit their day job and go be an artist full time midlife or have retired and wanted to try their hand at the business of art,” she said.
For the second year, the festival will boast two children’s art areas. Youngsters can make sock puppets, clay sculptures and spin art in the Artists of the Future tent in front of the Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo.
Theatre Upon a StarDanceSwan creative dance studio, 3022 Paseo, again will offer Paper Play Theatre, where children can transform different kinds of paper, vintage photos and more into puppets and then devise a story for their characters. With the popularity of the movie “Alice in Wonderland,” Oden anticipates youths will enjoy this year’s tea-party theme, “ImpossibiliTea!”
“It’s really amazing. They really get entranced when they go in there. They really relax and let the creative juices flow,” she said.
In addition, the festival will feature more than 40 musical artists performing on two stages. The North Stage typically offers acoustic music, including ragabilly, Americana and Spanish love songs. The South Stage, sponsored by Wimgo.com, gets electric with rock, pop and reggae. The goal is to bring a diversity of music to the Paseo, said Ed Baldwin, South Stage chairman.
On the South Stage, legendary guitarist Greg Ginn of seminal punk band Black Flag will be making his first appearance at the festival Sunday with his instrumental group the Texas Corrugators. Saturday’s South Stage headliner is another group new to the festival, Edmond-based electronica jam band the SKYS, led by singer/guitarist Wayne Allen, formerly of Green Lemon.
Although he plays classical acoustic guitar, Oklahoma musician Edgar Cruz is a Sunday mainstay of the South Stage, having played there for 12 years.
On the North Stage, world-renowned Oklahoma violinist Kyle Dillingham will play bluegrass and gypsy jazz Saturday. Tulsan Randy McSpadden, nationally known flatpicking guitarist, and his band Saint Elmer’s Fire also will take the stage Saturday. Juanita Ellington, Duke Ellington’s niece, will croon jazz and standards on Sunday.
“We work on a budget of zero,” Baldwin said, adding that the musicians volunteer their time and talent to the festival. “It’s amazing that the bands are all willing to come out and play the event … and support the Paseo.”
The event also will feature many food booths peddling festive fare such as corn dogs, gelato, Indian tacos, funnel cakes and more. In keeping with the festival’s “green” tradition, the Paseo is partnering with the Sierra Club with the goal of recycling more than 75 percent of the event’s aluminum and plastic.
Proceeds from drink sales go to the Paseo Arts Association, which uses the money to fund after-school art programs at Edgemere Elementary and other Paseo art activities, such as the Fairy Ball, Magic Lantern Celebration and monthly Paseo Gallery Walks.
“The main new thing that we’re excited about is we’re going to have a shuttle service to kind of alleviate some of the parking issues. … People won’t have to park and walk so far,” Oden said. “We’re growing and we’re kind of tucked into a little neighborhood. So it’s in part to help visitors but also to kind of alleviate some of the traffic in the neighborhood as well.”
Patrons are invited to park at First Christian Church, NW 36 and Walker, and take the free shuttle to the festival. The shuttle will run every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.
Going on
34th annual Paseo Arts Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with music until 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, with music until 7 p.m.
Where: Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker to NW 30 and Dewey.
Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
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CD review: Samantha Crain “You (Understood)”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Rock
Samantha Crain “You (Understood)” (Ramseur Records)
Oklahoma-born and bred singer-songwriter Samantha Crain established herself as a preternaturally gifted young storyteller on her 2008 EP “The Confiscation” and 2009’s LP “Songs in the Night.”
Less than 14 months after the release of her widely praised full-length debut, Crain, 23, can be found focusing less on weaving yarns out of contrasting strands of darkness and light and more on channeling raw emotions into musical form. The 11 tracks on “You (Understood),” due out June 8, microscopically examine her interactions with 16 people. The unusual approach lends an added air of mystery to Crain’s usual penchant for penning literate and enigmatic lyrics.
The Shawnee native said in an interview that the album served as a sort of therapy after she parted ways with her band, the Midnight Shivers, last winter, and she certainly comes across as an artist eager to express her feelings, as confused or confusing as they might be. The acoustic ballad “We Are the Same,” with Stillwater songbird Sherree Chamberlain on background vocals, conveys desperate sadness. The earthy “Santa Fe,” her duet with Matthew Milia of Michigan folk-rockers Frontier Ruckus, emanates wistfulness, even as Milia’s bandmate Davey Jones picks a sprightly banjo line.
With its insistent percussion and distorted guitars, “Holdin’ That Wheel” seems to bristle with resentment and admiration. Her first co-write, the foot-stomper “Up on the Table,” penned with Chicago songsmith Becky Beighley, mingles youthful uncertainty and defiance. Crain’s foggily evocative voice is one of her best assets, and she seems more in command of her instrument than ever.
“You (Understood)” may not feature a standout track like “The River,” “Songs in the Night” or “Rising Sun,” but the overall experience sets her apart as a performer who defies easy categorization.
Crain returns this weekend for a pair of CD release shows here in her home state. Tonight, she will play Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa with the Turnpike Troubadours, Ali Harter and Zeb Dewar & the Fed. Her Saturday show at Norman’s The Opolis will feature Student Film and Brine Webb.
In concert
Samantha Crain CD release shows
When: 8 tonight.
Where: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main, Tulsa.
With: Turnpike Troubadours, Ali Harter and Zeb Dewar & the Fed.
Information: (918) 584-2306 or www.cainsballroom.com.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday.
Where: The Opolis, 113 N Crawford, Norman.
With: Zeb Dewar & the Fed, Student Film and Brine Webb.
Information: www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html.
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Movie review: “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. 3 of 4 stars.
“Prince of Persia” loud, dumb but fun swords-and-sandals adventure
The sixth-century setting aside, the swords-and-sandals adventure “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” qualifies as an unabashed throwback.
Director Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”) put a modern spin on Saturday matinee romps in which the brave protagonist pulls off superhuman feats in battle, charmingly woos a feisty heroine and faces seemingly insurmountable challenges on a quest to right wrongs. Swashes will be buckled, with Douglas Fairbanks-style athleticism and Errol Flynn-esque aplomb.
For better or worse, “Prince of Persia” doesn’t stray too far from its video-game origins: The plethora of action sequences emphasize lightning-fast cuts and head-spinning stunts, and the story is riddled with ridiculous plot holes, goofy dialogue and unlikely coincidences.
Fortunately, the loud, fast-paced dumbness is offset with a rip-roaring sense of fun too often detonated right out of many summer popcorn flicks. (Yes, Michael Bay, I’m talking to you.)
Usually oh-so-serious Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the titular royal, Dastan, a former orphan boy adopted after good King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup) witnessed an instance of his courage and kindness. His Highness is passing on the family business of conquering and empire-building to his sons, with elders Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell) leading the army proper while the bold and nimble Dastan captains a band of guerrilla fighters.
When their uncle Nizam (Ben Kingsley) presents evidence that the holy city of Alamut is arming for an uprising, the brothers attack against their father’s orders. During the pitched battle, Dastan comes to possess an unusual dagger, despite the efforts of Alamut’s leader, Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), to hide it.
An act of betrayal makes Dastan a wanted man and puts him on the run, with Tamina pursuing him in the hopes of recovering the dagger, which has powerful mystical properties. As they trek through beautifully brutal deserts, mountains and cities, they encounter a wily sheik (Alfred Molina), his knife-throwing sidekick (Steve Toussaint) and a fierce assassin (Gísli Örn Garðarsson) who can control snakes and whirlwinds.
Gyllenhaal establishes himself as a worthy cinematic action hero, shares smoldering chemistry with Arterton and plays well with the colorful cast of supporting characters.
Although the film might have benefited from more culturally-accurate casting, the star is having so much fun sword-fighting, back-flipping and wise-cracking as Prince Dastan that his enthusiasm for “Prince of Persia” proves contagious.
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DVD review: “Armageddon” on Blu-ray
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“Armageddon” on Blu-ray
The end of the world gets a high-definition upgrade as “Armageddon,” the biggest blockbuster of 1998, detonates on Blu-ray.
With its killer asteroids, painfully awkward romance and all-star cast willing to endure humiliatingly dumb dialogue and plot twists, “Armageddon” in many ways qualifies as the quintessential Michael Bay movie. In the first eight minutes, the action filmmaker/demolitions enthusiast blows up the space shuttle and most of New York, rendering with scorching care the opening salvo in a seemingly unending barrage of enormous explosions.
For all its overly long, increasingly loud popcorn flick silliness, “Armageddon” at least has its share of fun and engaging moments. A few witty one-liners, colorful characters and cool action sequences provide at least a glimmer of redemption, something that couldn’t be uncovered with high-powered microscope in Bay’s last project, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”
When vicious meteor showers begin pummeling Earth, NASA leader Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thorton) and his team discover an impending disaster: A humungous asteroid hurtling through space will demolish the planet in a mere 18 days. Because of its size and speed, the scientists determine the only way to avert global calamity is to land a shuttle on the space rock, drill 800 feet below its surface and detonate a nuclear bomb inside it, splitting it in two and propelling the halves around Earth.
Truman recruits an unlikely hero to save the world: Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis), a renowned deep-core oil driller. So, Harry and his ragtag team of roughnecks — including his best pal Chick (Will Patton), womanizing geologist Rockhound (Steve Buscemi) and risk-taker A.J. (Ben Affleck), who is in love with Harry’s whip-smart daughter Grace (Liv Tyler) — undergo hasty astronaut training before embarking on their collision course with rocky destiny.
While the script flings an excessive number of catastrophes at the heroes in an effort to fulfill Bay’s need to explode stuff, the movie wears thinnest when the filmmakers clumsily try to create believable chemistry between A.J. and Grace. The appallingly idiotic pillow talk and overblown Aerosmith ballad employed to convey romance will have cinephiles begging Bay to find another landmark to destroy.
Unfortunately, the music video to the aforementioned ballad, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” is the only bonus feature on the Blu-ray disc.
— BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on May 28, 2010
Brooks & Dunn (Associated Press file photo)
Today’s featured event:
TULSA – Catch soon-to-split country music duo Brooks & Dunn, which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, when their “Last Rodeo Tour” stops at 7:30 tonight at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and Jason Aldean will open the show.
For more information, call (866) 726-5287 or go to www.bokcenter.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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“Saving Grace” creator Nancy Miller serving has honorary chairwoman of Oklahoma Red Cross fundraiser
“Saving Grace” creator Nancy Miller and actor Leon Rippy will attend Friday’s Operation: Relief, a fundraiser for the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma. (The Oklahoman Archives photo)
The American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma is inviting supporters to back in time to a 1940s nightclub, where cigarette girls greet guests, swing music fills the air and libations freely flow.
Friday’s Operation: Relief at Oklahoma City’s Skirvin Hilton Hotel is the primary fundraiser for the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma. Nancy Miller, Oklahoma City-raised creator, writer and executive producer for the TNT cop drama, “Saving Grace” is serving as this year’s honorary chairwoman after her involvement last year had such a positive influence. Returning as event chairwoman this year is Maj. Gen Rita Aragon, who helmed the event in 2009 and was highest bidder for last year’s “Saving Grace” walk-on role.
“We were privileged last year to auction a walk-on role to Nancy’s show. After ‘winning,’ I had the chance to visit quite a bit with Ms. Miller. She knew the impact of the Red Cross on a global and national scale but didn’t realize we are also the organization responding to every family who needs assistance after a house fire,” said Aragon in a news release. “She is dedicated to Oklahoma and wanted to help bring awareness and help raise funds to support our vital mission here locally.”
Miller, a University of Oklahoma graduate, created, wrote and produced “Saving Grace,” which is in its last season on TNT. While on set Gen. Aragon also impressed upon Earl the Angel, played by Leon Rippy, the import of the Red Cross in one of the highest disaster-prone regions of the country. Rippy and his wife will join his Miller at Operation: Relief to see firsthand Red Cross mission in Oklahoma.
This year, entertainment will be provided by the Red Dirt Improv Group, Native American artist Derek “D.G.” Smalling and “upside-down painter” Dana Helms. The event also will include an auction, dinner and dancing set against a 1940’s flair.
“Each year, our Red Cross chapter creates a special event that allows guests to champion our cause, support their friends and neighbors and financial give to the organization dedicated to preventing, preparing for and responding to local emergencies,” said Bob Nelon, board chairman for the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma, in the release.
Operation: Relief begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a sit-down dinner. A silent auction runs throughout the evening. The live auction features several big-ticket items, including a set visit to the TV show “CSI: New York.” Lucas Ross, half of the duo “Two Movie Guys,” will be the master of ceremonies.
Proceeds from Operation: Relief benefit the disaster relief and preparedness services of the Red Cross. All assistance provided to disaster victims is free. But to accomplish that, the Red Cross relies completely on donations from the community.
For tickets to Operation: Relief or more information about the event, call the Red Cross at 228-9500 or go online to www.okc.redcross.org.
-BAM
Photo gallery: Vince Gill, Brad Paisley and more play Grand Ole Opry 85th birthday guitar jam
Oklahoma native Vince Gill performs Tuesday night in Nashville at an all-star guitar jam kicking off the Grand Ole Opry’s monthslong 85th birthday celebration. (Associated Press photos)
Oklahoma native Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs kicked off the Grand Ole Opry’s monthslong 85th birthday celebration Tuesday night in Nashville with an all-star guitar jam that took on new meaning following historic floods that ravaged Tennessee earlier this month.
The show was already a special occasion with four of country music’s greatest pickers joining together. But event took on added significance when Opry officials turned it into a benefit for flood relief.
“Gosh, they’re so good, so well known for what they’ve done,” Skaggs said of his fellow players in an interview with the Associated Press before the show. “It’s great they called on us to come out and do something like this.”
The show was at Ryman Auditorium, a former Opry home, after flood waters damaged the Opry House, covering the stage under nearly 4 feet of water and damaging priceless country music artifacts and archives.
But the birthday kickoff turned out just as planned. Each guitarist, all members of the Opry, played in an individual set before coming together at the end.
“We’re going to have a great time!” Wariner said as he kicked off the guitar jam portion of the show with a scorching set.
Opry host Eddie Stubbs said Gill, who grew up in Oklahoma City, lost in the flood at least 60 guitars and other gearvalued at more than $1 million. Paisley, who lost much of his traveling gear just weeks before launching a summer tour, also housed his equipment at Soundcheck, a popular storage and rehearsal space that was submerged.
Gill hasn’t talked much about the loss, but has led the flood relief effort, hosting the first telethon and donating $100,000.
“When I found out I was going to lose a large amount of instruments,” he told a near-sellout crowd, “my wife (Amy Grant) came up to me and said, ‘You know what’s good about you? You only need one to make a living.’”
Paisley traveled in from the road for his performance, kicking off with his hit “Water” — the centerpiece of his ironically titled H2O Tour. The country superstar paid tribute to Gill, Skaggs and Wariner.
“I feel like the little kid who’s out on the playground right now,” Paisley told the crowd. “His mother just showed up and the big kids are out there playing basketball, and she walks out and says, ‘Let your little brother play. I know he’s not as good as you, but let him play.’”
The group came together and traded solos on a spirited version of Merle Haggard’s “Workin’ Man’s Blues” that earned a standing ovation. They then played the Opry standard “Will The Circle Be Unbroken?”
From left, Ricky Skaggs, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill and Steve Wariner play together.
Paisley took a break from his H2O tour to play the Opry show.
Skaggs said he was excited to play the show at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. “Bluegrass music was really birthed right here on this stage. A lot of people don’t know that,” he told the AP.
Wariner is one of just four men dubbed a “certified guitar player” by his mentor, Chet Atkins. The 2010 Grammy winner played a few cuts from his tribute to Atkins.
-BAM
