It’s Not Rocket Science; it’s Simple As Surgery

An Interview with the band
By Cynthia Dagenais

I was on Twitter one day checking out my new strange followers when I came across a guy named Josh who said he was in a band. Naturally, I looked up the name on YouTube to listen to a sampling of music and found myself bobbing my head to a rock pop group from Augusta, Georgia. Through just a few tweets and emails I got to have a conversation with this goofy trio through Skype. Josh (guitarist), Carter (lead vocals), and Daniel (bassist) are a fun bunch of guys that are excited for their debut album to come out on December 14.
(about 0:35) Where do you find inspiration for your music?
• Carter: Relient K.
• Josh: The best band in the whole world. Relient K. I don’t think we sound anything like them.
• Carter: We sound nothing like them, actually, but you do Josh.
• Josh: Really? I’ll take that as a compliment.
• Carter: I get inspiration personally when it comes to songwriting and things from females...girls. *phone rings*
• Josh: Your mom is calling.
• Carter: Oh.
• Josh: As you can see, we’re all pretty close friends and we’ve known each other for a long time. It helps make things flow easier.
(about 3:00) How did the band come together?
• Daniel: All of us went to a show at the 7 Venue in Atlanta to see Attack Attack!, Confide, Showbread, A Static Lullaby, and Maylene and Sons of Disaster. It was a hardcore show, and from that point on, I knew I needed to be in a pop band.
• Carter : That’s not true. We were actually thinking about being a hardcore band for awhile.
• Daniel: So a few weeks later I called Carter up (me and Carter are cousins) and I was like ‘Carter, we gotta be in a band dude.’ And he was like ‘I don’t know man’ because Carter and Josh used to be in an old band a long time ago…
• Carter: About 4 or 5 years ago. We were in a band called Capstone and it was a progressive rock band…
• Josh: Horrible…
• Carter:…and it sucked! It was real bad *pretending to vomit*
• Josh: *retching noises*
• Daniel: So Carter was kinda skeptic about it, and I was like ‘no man, we’re gonna make this happen.’
• Josh: *laughs*
• Daniel: So me and Carter got together and asked, ‘well who’s gonna be our vocalist?’ because at the time Carter didn’t sing at all.
• Carter: I didn’t know how to sing!
• Daniel: So Carter played drums and I played bass, and we tried to start a band with just drums and bass and that wasn’t going to work. So we were like, who can do it?
You should have asked me! Gosh!
• Daniel: So we called Josh and asked him if he wanted to be in a band and he was like ‘No man, I’m trying to be a country artist right now’
• Josh: That is not true.
• Daniel: It is true.
• Josh: Not true.
• Carter: He wasn’t trying to be country, but he did his own little solo project. It was like worship music, but he kind of sounded country.
• Josh: I wasn’t trying to book shows or anything…
• Carter: He just did it for himself, but we weren’t supposed to be part of it.
• Daniel: Back to me. So Josh was like no, and me and Carter gathered some recording equipment and went to Carter’s house and recorded a song. It was absolutely ridiculous. I don’t know why Josh accepted it this time. We sent him this awful song and he was like ‘dude, I’m in.’
• Carter: It was actually like a party rap…it had a sing-along and was called “Howdy Partner” and it had a dance…
• Josh: *laughs* What is that?
This? *pointing to glass I’m drinking*
• Band: Yeah.
Naked Juice.
• Daniel: Fincus juice?
• Josh: Fin-cus.
No, Naked Juice. Mighty Mango flavor?
• Josh: Oh, Naked Juice.
Does it look like a cocktail?
• Josh: Yeah, I thought you were getting tips.
I wish! I have night class.
• Daniel: So then we did “Howdy Parter” and after we showed Josh, he said alright. It was the three of us, but we were still unnamed…looks like a clown. Your picture up there?
• Josh: What’s that clown kid?
Clown?
• Josh: Stage right, behind you.
Oh, my poster? That’s a little girl with a rose, haha.
• Josh: She looks a lot like a clown…
• Carter: Just to keep you up to speed, we saw a hardcore show, recorded a party rap song, recruited Josh, then we decided to be a party rap group. We decided on the name “Bag of Treats”
• Josh: We were doing techno rap
• Carter: We wanted a more rock feel. The first song we sat down and recorded was acoustic, called “Crashing down” and I don’t know how it happened, but I started singing. We played a few shows and we realized what we were doing was weird. So, we canned all our old songs, got a new name, which is Simple As Surgery. Then we went to the studio and then our sound became what it is now.
(about 8:20) How did you come up with the name “Simple As Surgery”?
• Carter: I had a really weird dream one night. It was a long dirt road and there was an old man and a little boy walking down the road. I was floating around, and they couldn’t see me. They were walking and talking and I couldn’t understand a word they were saying. Finally they get to the end of the road and I hear the old man go ‘blah blah blah Simple As Surgery…’ I woke up and told Daniel. Called Josh. It wasn’t concrete but we said it at a few shows and everyone likes it. It makes us happy.
• Josh: Same with our url because when you slam it all together people go ‘look your Facebook name is Simple A** Urgery’ and we’re like, ‘yes, we know’
• Carter: Once you get past that we just embrace it and laugh with them, because then they don’t think it’s nearly as funny.
• Josh: Joke killers, we did that on purpose.
• Carter: Now we know who we are. We found our groove. We’re still working out tons of stuff but I think we found our sound we’re going for under the name Simple As Surgery and we finally got our set thing.
(about 10:30) Who do you guys listen to?
• Carter: If you want to know my top 3 bands right now. I’m listening to Whoa! is Me, Katie Groves, and Old Crow Medicine Show. Actually no, take that back, I’ve been listening to Kid Cudi because his new album is dope. A little post hardcore, a little folk, and a little acid rap.
• Daniel: I’ve been real indie. I’ve been listening to All Time Low, The Almost, and the Kooks.
• Josh: Deadmau5, Frank Sinatra, and…I don’t know mostly dumb stuff and old school music.
• Carter: We really listen to everything. If we’re going for artists following suit of, we’re a mixture of All Time Low…
• Josh: famous people
• Carter:…and Justin Beiber. All of this wrapped up in three, and that’s us.

(about 14:45) Before getting together as a band, what were your dream jobs?
• Daniel: I wanted to be Elvis Presley for the longest time.
• Josh: That’s not a job. That’s like a human.
So you wanted to be fat and have heart problems?
• Band: Yes!
• Carter: I wanted to be veterinarian for a little while because I really like animals a lot. Then I wanted to be a scientist, but not a nerdy scientist. I wanted to be a scientist that made great things that only benefit me. Then when I was 12 years old I realized I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I was always interested in music. I was 13 when Capstone started, and from there on I was gung-ho with music. Josh, I don’t know what you wanted to do…
• Josh: I wanted to open up a Legos store.
• Carter: Really?
• Josh: Yeah I wanted to have crazy sets that no one else had, like a specialty Legos store.
• Carter: I wanted to be an actor for a little while.
• Josh: Yeah I wanted to be like an assassin, that was a cool job. That was my realistic job.
• Carter: No we were in a drama team, me and Josh. For a few years.
• Josh: Oh wow, you wanted to be an actor?
• Carter: Yeah, I wanted to be a legitimate actor. We did skits and stuff for a few years. And I like to think we were pretty dang good. And everyone thought we were funny.
• Josh: Everyone in the world thought we were funny
• Carter: I’ve been on the stage performing junk since I was 11. I always like being the center of attention, I am an only child. As you know, it’s kind of inevitable. I just embrace it.

(about 21:00) What’s your favorite song on the album?
• Carter: There’s a song on there that I really like. It’s called “Our Kind of Love.”
• Josh: That one’s awesome. I love that one. It’s real good.
• Carter: It’s written about a special lady.
They’re always about special ladies, come on now.
• Carter: No, about a real special lady, one that I like. It’s actually great because we write the songs together, and I usually have a certain someone I’m thinking about and it’s funny because they expound on it and it makes sense…
• Josh: …it’s kinda like an emotional orgy…because we’re all writing about different girls in the same song
• Carter: Yeah “Our Kind of Love” is a personal happy one for me, it’s close to the heart. They’re all close to the heart, but that one’s really close.
It’s your “baby”?
• Josh: Yeah, it’s my baby.
• Carter: It’s actually the best “baby” song out there because it’s got little xylophone ting tings and all kinds of cute little things. It’s really nice.
Does the girl know it’s for her?
• Carter: Yes. *smiles*
(about 23:25) How long did it take from first getting together as a band to recording? When did Simple As Surgery start up, when did you guys get noticed, and when did you get some sort of deal?
• Carter: We started at the beginning of the summer last year. We played a few shows throughout the summer and fall, and during Christmas break we went to Atlanta and recorded “Wanna Be with You.” In one year’s time we’ve done a single, an EP, and now we got the full-length on the way. So, we’ve been pretty busy in the recording studio this year a lot. Cranking out songs, trying to get all that stuff ready, doing features and stuff, so it’s been a really cool process watching the record turn out to what it is now.
• Josh: It’s probably taken a little longer than normal too…
• Carter: We did it in 4 sessions.
• Josh: …because we’ve had to write, record, go up there, come back to save money, go back. It’s been a process…
• Carter: We were working around school and work. But I think ultimately we can all probably sit back, and we’re all really proud of every single song.
• Josh: Yeah, I’m stoked about it.
• Carter: They all bring about different emotions and feelings, and we did them all at different times. I can honestly say that every song pertains to some part of an emotional something.…It’s a fulfilling thing to listen to them all and realize what you can make.
They sound great!
• Carter: It’s very rewarding, you know? It feels like it’s my child. I’m really proud of these 10 songs. So if someone says “oh I don’t really like them” then I’d be like, “well you suck.” All of our families have been really supportive over it. The kids have been coming out to our shows, even if it’s not their genre. People have been pretty accepting of it, so we have a lot of fun. We’ll have more fun. The End. We’re going to have to spend all about…it.
• Josh: We’re all about it, whatever it is. We don’t know what, but we’re about it.

October Issue Online

The PDF of the October 2010 Generator Magazine is available online with a corrected contents page!

Social Butterfly or Socially Inept? : Review of The Social Network

By Mary Treuer

Logging into our Facebook accounts is something we do everyday, naturally, without considering it. In fact, my Facebook window is open on the back of my computer screen right now, as it often is, glowing blue and white behind my homework assignments. I never really stopped to think about how the website came to be until I saw the movie, The Social Network, a recent film featuring Jessie Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.
The movie begins in a café at Harvard University, the night that Zuckerberg breaks up with his girlfriend and launches facemash.com, a website that allows Harvard students to view pictures of girls and rate them based on looks. The controversy in Zuckerberg’s life ensues after this one night and evolves as he develops Facebook, facing two lawsuits and many crumbling relationships. Although I won’t spoil the movie, we all know how the story ends. Facebook becomes a multi-billion dollar company and goes far beyond the creator’s expectations of a collegiate online network.
The movie is drama-ridden and does focus on Zuckerberg’s relationships, but devotes more attention to the history and legal issues that arose with the creation of Facebook and the surrounding lawsuits. If you’re not planning on taking the LSAT soon, these scenes might make you yawn, but they are crucial details for the overall story. Some may also be disconcerted with the way Zuckerberg is portrayed in the film. While some see him as a brilliant man, or even a philanthropist (He recently donated 100 million dollars to Newark, NJ schools), the movie portrayed him as a self-absorbed jerk who sought to reach notoriety at the expense of his friends.
Whether or not you enjoy the screenplay, The Social Network really raises some insightful themes. Sometimes, after spending all of high school and college plugged into the social network, it is hard to imagine life without Facebook, but the movie makes it possible. I was surprised to learn that advertisers were reluctant to use Facebook, when now the website has overpowered very many traditional media. I also found it difficult to think about the company as something that began in a college dorm room, between three people.
How could something so small become this huge? We in the millennial generation have trouble logging out, but what about those in who come after us? The creation of Facebook will really be a history lesson for them, a reminder of something they couldn’t imagine living without. This is a movie worth watching to decide what you think about Facebook and its creation.

Alternative Activities for Family Day

Every year, during the last weekend in September, Marist holds the less-than-notorious Family Day, or weekend, depending on how long you can convince any family members to hang around. Sure, an outdoor BBQ with your traditional dogs and burgers is a great way to reconnect with family you haven't seen in one whole month, but maybe you're a Sophomore, Junior, Senior, or even a Freshmen who would rather play a different tune this year. I don't blame you, and I'm here to help.


1) Go apple picking!

This time of year is prime for plucking delicious apples almost anywhere in the North East. We're particularly fortunate in this area; if you drive across the river, before you even hit the little town of New Paltz, you will be bombarded with "Pick Your Own!" "Orchard Open!" "1 Mile Away!" signs. There must be an orchard for everyone. You could literally spend all weekend just visiting different orchards. Either way, it's an option. I went this past weekend and it was a wonderful way to enjoy the last bits of summer outdoors.


2) Go pumpkin picking!

Clearly I am advocating that you enjoy the early harvest of fall, because my next suggestion involves yet another natural treat. Grab a pumpkin for decoration, to salt and bake the seeds for a treat, or to paint silly faces on. It's a bit too early for carving, but I see no harm in enjoying those seeds early on. Most orchards also have a fair amount of pumpkins or other gourds for your choosing, so don't worry about needing to look too far.




3) Visit nearby locales!

There are plenty of places nearby that can be a welcome relief to the glamor and fast-paced lifestyle of Poughkeepsie, you know, for those who just need a break. Traveling North on Route 9 for a measly 20 minutes will land you in Rhinebeck, the very place where Chelsea Clinton was wed this summer. I don't have any pictures for this event, but I was there this last weekend for the giant flea market on the Dutchess County fair grounds--they have events going on throughout the fall, so take a look at www.dutchessfair.com to see what's happenin'. Rhinebeck itself is a charming little town full of boutiques and restaurants. Conversely, 20 minutes across the river will land you in New Paltz, another small and amiable town. No pictures here either--but after apple picking, I wandered around Main St, which is full of shops and restaurants as well.

Hopefully, something here appeals to all of those who would prefer to go out and do something new or appropriate to the season. Don't forget to enjoy your family!


-Sarah Dubrule

Album Review: Shout It Out! by Hanson

Review By Laura Formanek

After spending the last few years demonstrating their humanitarian side, the Hanson brothers are back with a new album: Shout It Out! Inspired by the classic sounds of the 1960s R&B and rock’n’roll, Shout It Out is unlike anything Hanson has done before. This album has a unique and funky sound, which is new to the Hanson brothers’ typically mellow pop-rock music. Most of the songs incorporate horn arrangements into the mix, giving their music an eclectic and retro feel. It will transport you back to the early days of rock’n’roll. Take their latest single “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Somethin’” as an example. The melody is rich with brass, R&B flair, and even a cowbell. It has already made its way onto song lists and music video countdowns (If you haven’t already seen the cheery and comical music video, check it out on YouTube).

While their last record, "The Walk", had deeper meaning (It was inspired by their visit to the impoverished villages in sub-Saharan Africa affected by the AIDS epidemic, which is also where the proceeds from their record sales went), Shout It Out is light-hearted and filled with optimism and soul. The songs will make you want to get up and dance and since along. The brothers have a talent for harmony and melody, but they also have a knack for writing powerful lyrics. As you listen to these songs, the meaning and depth of the some of the lyrics (“Carry You There” and “Make It Out Alive”) will make you think about life, love, and knowing yourself.

Believe me; these brothers have come a long way from their early days. Give them a chance and get your copy of Shout It Out! You’ll be impressed that these talented musicians are the same kids that first brought you MMMBop.

Summer 2010: Movies We've Seen and Judged

Iron Man 2

By Sarah Holmes

I must say I do enjoy looking and listening to Robert Downey Jr. but I disliked the pompousness of Tony Stark too much in the second Iron Man to really appreciate his presence. Once or twice his quirkiness was fun, taking the remains of a relief map his dad had made and sticking it into the backseat of his convertible. Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) remained a character I could relate to, but the small flame of romance between her and Stark seemed pushed. Her feelings I felt were genuine (though ill-placed), but his were far too selfish when it came to personal relationships for me to trust that he would be nice to her.

Yes, these were my main thoughts after the credits rolled. The action was not quite enough to astound me so I had to pick apart the relationships and personalities of the main characters. Don Cheadle was good in his role as Lt. Cl. James “Rhodey” Rhodes; I liked that he was the one man in the movie that did not take any of Tony Stark’s crap. But I can’t say his performance in that suit was really anything to shake a metal finger at. Mickey Rourke’s performance I did like, his personality, his anger from a misunderstanding made sense. He seemed less of an ass than the main character who is supposed to be the hero. The trick he played on Stark’s rival, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) was clever. That guy deserved it, although the people harmed in the process did not, but it was still an interesting plot twist. Had Black Widow, not called such within the movie, had more time to be stealthy and beat the crap out of twenty guys more than once, I might have enjoyed Iron Man 2 more. Scarlet Johansson’s performance as an undercover agent of sorts was the most memorable part of this second installment of yet another superhero franchise.

This seemed to be a sequel reliant on special effects and the assumption that the audience will just fill in the gaps left by the lack of mutual affection between Stark and Pepper and the barely explained secret group consisting of Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlet Johansson clad all in black. It wasn’t necessarily a waste of money but it was fairly unmemorable for an action movie. I can only hope there is a more evil nemesis and a better explained secret forces group in the next film, should there be one. Otherwise Robert Downey Jr. can stick to Sherlock Holmes, he’s much funnier and much less annoying in that role.

Toy Story 3

By Sarah Holmes

I was excited and skeptical, as one should be after the decent but unworthy third installments of Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean, as I entered the theater with my family. These were both met well by the adventurous start of the third film which brought back the opening sequences of the first two with some high-tech imaginings added.

I was glad to hear the familiar voices; I dislike it when they change characters and voices equally from film to film (think the disappointment of Aladdin and the Return of Jafar). Even Slinky’s voice was an excellent match despite the death of its original master. Right away the comedy was present, the flow of character interactions, and the logical progression of a boy’s relationship with his toys were present. Emotions were felt right away with the acknowledgement of the loss of toys like Bo Peep and Etch. But plenty new characters were ready to make their debut.

The storyline of a daycare taking the toys, mistakenly, had all the feel of the first two with lost toys, actions taken out of context, and how toys would have to deal with such events. The personalities persisted of Woody (Tom Hanks), faithful to Andy until the end; Buzz (Tim Allen), who is in command of any situation except when it comes to the ladies or particularly Jessie; Jessie (Joan Cusack), always excited for life but still fearful of being abandoned; the sarcasm and fickleness of Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger); the loyalty of Slinky (Blake Clark); and the cowardliness but innocence of Rex (Wallace Shawn).

Of the new toys Lotso (Ned Beatty) was the most abominable, Big Baby, a naked generic baby doll, brought back the chill the toys beneath Sid’s bed in the first film evoked, and Ken (Michael Keaton) relieved the tensions of the new group’s hostility with his flamboyant personality. Little Bonnie (Emily Hahn), the daughter of one of the daycare workers, has her own group of toys that Woody encounters and these introduced characters that weren’t repeats of ones already found in the world of Toy Story with the thespian hedgehog Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), an easy-going unicorn named Buttercup (Jeff Garlin), a girly dinosaur Trixie (Kristen Schaal) that had the closest personality to another character, that of Rex, and the level-headed Dolly (Bonny Hunt). The Peas-in-a-Pod with names Peatey, Peanelope, and Peatrice were also a cute addition reminiscent of the still present alien toys from Pizza Planet, but not nearly as annoying. These additions could possibly make an eventual fourth film a do-able endeavor.

Not that I would hope the creators would jump onto that bandwagon. The film’s conclusion left us satisfied after the tear-jerking scenes in the junkyard with a feeling of hope as well as what is important: friendship and loyalty. This film, which could easily advocate materialism, shows instead what good people can do by donating, by giving up instead of throwing away or storing what they no longer use. It also shows how some material items connect us to our past, our childhood, and some great memories. But just as the last two films concluded-- without the necessity of another installment --it left us with the possibility and one that might not be so bad.

The Last Airbender

By Sarah Holmes

I must admit that I am a huge fan of this cartoon series and believe it to be one of the best shows that Nickelodeon has aired since the likes of Hey Arnold and even non-cartoons like Are You Afraid of the Dark? I believe it’s probably better because it combines drama, humor, and adventure better than most television series do these days. With such high regard for the cartoon it is hard to say how utterly disappointed I was with the film. Even had I known nothing of the series I can say for certain I would have left feeling like $10 and that hour and forty-three minutes of my life could have been better spent seeing Eclipse (and I detest the Twilight series).

The biggest flaw was the complete lack of characterization. There was no personality to any character and very little in the way of good acting. Two clips in the trailer that appeared to show Sokka’s (Jackson Rathbone) personality were mysteriously absent in the theater cut of the movie. Not that these could have saved it, for Katara (Nicola Peltz) and Aang (Noah Ringer), the main female and male protagonists, were devoid of anything but sadness and remorse with the same corresponding facial expression throughout. Their rival Zucko (Dev Patel) was one of the biggest disappointments with a less-than-noticeable facial deformity (which is prominent in the series) as well as the wrong hairstyle; and I have to mention the complete lack of the bad-ass-hottie factor. And his Uncle Iroh (Shaun Toub) who in the series was a fat, old, tea-loving man was turned into a lean, dread-locked 40-something who lacked the charm of the hand-drawn cartoon.

The second greatest defect, which goes hand-in-hand with the inability to draw out an ounce of characterization, was the need of the characters to narrate the entire film instead of showing it to the audience. It would make anyone in double-digits feel like a moron how much they repeated the plot. M. Night Shyamalan needs to go back to school and take some writing classes, especially since he didn’t have enough sense to look at the series he was given and take what was important and use it, and what was fluff, and throw it out.

Even the pronunciation of the characters’ names was changed to the “correct” way of saying them. Well, if you are going to adapt a beloved 3-year cartoon series, it’s probably best to stick with what fan’s ears are used to hearing. Nickelodeon showed clips of these changes that were apparently condoned by the original writers. I can only assume that the creators of the cartoon were coerced with money and by Shyamalan’s giant self-worth. A major Hollywood writer/director/producer against two guys that created a simple yet deep cartoon series that kids and adults alike enjoy but otherwise have nothing like The Sixth Sense to their name, well, this movie is apparently what happens when ego trumps talent.

Eat, Pray, Love

By Ariel Puccio

Just as eating far too many mounds of Italian pasta in one day, the more I absorb Eat Pray Love into my system, the less I like it. Its bountifully scenic landscapes and the prospect of epiphanies and romance are not enough to stop my mind’s nagging thoughts: “This is an Under the Tuscan Sun wannabe.”

Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) gets a divorce, and to cope goes to live in Italy…and India, and Bali. It’s like Under the Tuscan Sun on steroids, but let’s be honest, people on steroids are not very appealing.

The trouble is the story consistently felt like a flat line chopped up into pieces. We saw a little divorce, a little new relationship, a little Italy, a little India, and a little Bali. I wanted more time to see a true bond with each character, yet I by no means wanted the movie to go on longer—there’s something wrong with that formula. Maybe I’m greedy, but I doubt anyone will walk away from this movie saying, “That was amazing (wonderful/adorable/fill in the positive adjective).”

The arduous journey of getting into the movie starts when Liz Gilbert divorces her husband of 8 years (Billy Crudup) and he begs for her to come back and on and on and I’m bored already. Then a fleeting romance begins with a much younger man (James Franco). The relationship doesn’t seem necessary to the plot; if anything, it awkwardly eats up the time to add yet another character the audience forgets about.

The only solution for this wealthy New York writer is to stop facing her problems and abandon responsibility for a year to “find herself” in exotic locations. Isn’t that nice? I might be less irritated if I saw Liz completely lose herself and break during the movie, but instead, she ends up seeming selfish.

On her trip to Italy, Liz’s Italian friendships appear superficial. Any potential for strong emotional ties are left unbound, other than the preachy bonding speech of gaining 20 pounds in Italy and “muffin-tops.”

However, the movie gets into a better groove in India (finally), when two characters Tulsi (Rushita Singh), an Indian girl about to face arranged marriage, and Richard (Richard Jenkins), a man with his own daemons from Texas, give the movie some emotional grounding. I must admit I shed a tear during Richard’s heartfelt breakdown. Still, I think, why am I invited into Richard’s soul and never Liz’s?

In Bali Liz meets an exotic, not afraid to cry, loving, devoted, yet still manly man (Javier Bardem). Romance is in the air as the kissing commences, but Liz (being the often greedy character she is) creates an extremely awkward conflict scene that we know is only there because every movie needs some conflict (perhaps we should blame this on the writer).

Maybe this movie needed a shot of garlic in its sinews, to bulge the eyes and make the heart flutter faster. Unfortunately, it tasted a little bland. I advise seeing Eat Pray Love once, on television, in your pajamas on the couch. Just don’t attempt to indulge yourself and pay $10 for it.

I Was There: The New Pornographers (Exclusive)

Tuesday, May 4th marked one of the greatest days of album releases in 2010. The Morning Of, Minus The Bear, The Hold Steady and Broken Social Scene all had critically acclaimed albums come out.

Another indie super-group, The New Pornographers, released Together on the same day, the band's first release since 2007's Challengers.

Last night, the band played an extremely intimate set at Woodstock's Bearsville Theatre. This theatre, found just outside of the main streets of historic Woodstock, displays the finest acoustics in Woodstock and mimics the small, intimate set-up that Levon Helm has for his Woodstock studio.

What made this show a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was the fact that such a huge act consisting of individuals with great artistic abilities (each member is part of a variety of other musical/art projects) played some of the material for the first time since the recording process - evident with Carl Newman's sheet-music on-stage. Each member had brought their charisma in the form of raw musical talent and their sense of humour in the form of witty, comical stories about the band's career that expands five albums and ten years.

This band, best known for packing outdoor stadiums and indoor venues, played their hearts out for the approximately 250 people that could fit in the venue. The chemistry between each musician and the blending of such musical talent is a feat that only few can attempt and even fewer can master.

The setlist from the show is listed below. The band will be touring the United States in June including a New York City date on June 19 at Terminal 5 and a spot on 2010's Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago.

Up In The Dark
Myriad Harbour
Use It
Crash Years
All The Old Showstoppers
Challengers
Your Hands (Together)
Testament To Youth In Verse
My Shepherd
Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
These Are The Fables
Jackie, Dressed In Cobras
Moves
Laws Have Changed
Adventures in Solitude
The Spirit of Giving
Mass Romantic
Silver Jenny Dollar
My Slow Descent
Bleeding Heart Show
Spanish Techno
(encore)
Twin Cinema
Jackie

-Nicholas Palumbo