Author: musickim

Johnnyswim, one of the most passionate ensembles I have ever seen, has once again managed to leave me speechless. Friday night at the Ark cannot get much better than having a sold out crowd, everyone excitedly anticipating the lovely couple Amanda and Abner to take the stage. Of course the Ark always offers itself to a more intimate atmosphere than the common concert venue, but there is something about the chemistry between these two performers that makes you think you have truly witnessed something personal and beautiful.

To start their concert, they walked straight out and jumped right into the Christmas classics, followed up shortly by some of their favorite hits. Although I was skeptical as to how one could work Christmas tunes in with a Johnnyswim concert, I was amazed at how smoothly it worked. They made each of their Christmas renditions their own and put no less than their usual amount of passion and soul into every song. I have to say their version of “What Are You Doing New Years Eve” will be making an easy appearance as my favorite holiday song this season. And of course the additional surprise of realizing they were releasing all these covers on their very own Christmas EP was frosting on the cake. I highly recommend it.

And what would a Johnnyswim concert be if they didn’t reaffirm every belief you had about the world being a beautiful place. Right before they went to intermission, they performed their single “Hallelujah”, an empowering song they wrote while volunteering abroad. They managed to throw in a very genuine description of their experience with orphans on an island off the coast of Asia, asking the audience to spare whatever they can to make the world a better place.

Overall, this concert reaffirmed my belief in music to touch your heart in the most powerful way. Listening to their music, the audience cannot help but smile and move their bodies to the beautiful melodies as well as listen in awe to the lyrics written by this inspirational duo. There is not a single song in their repertoire that I would not have loved to hear live, but I feel blessed to have been there that night, just to experience their zeal first-hand for the second time in my life. I urge anyone who has the opportunity to see this band live. You will not be disappointed.

What: The Nutcracker!

When: FRI DEC 12 at 8:00pm, SAT DEC 13 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, SUN DEC 14 at 2:00pm

Where: The Power Center

How Much: Adults: $25, Seniors: $20, Children: $15 (at Michigan Union Ticket Office)

Why You Should Go: It’s the holiday season! And what better way to feel in the spirit than see the Nutcracker performed by the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre/CAS Ballet Theatre School?? I definitely can’t think of one. So come out, take a break from finals, and enjoy an amazing and much-beloved ballet!

When: This Friday, Dec 12 at 8:00 pm

Where: The Ark

How Much: General Admission: $25, Reserved: $32

What: An amazing concert by a talented and passionate ensemble. They are in the folk/soul/blues/pop genre, but have an incredibly unique and powerful sound.

Why you should come: Because when I first saw these two perform live, I instantly fell in love, and ever since they have become one of my favorite groups out there.

“There was a cabaret, and there was a master of ceremonies… and there was a city called Berlin, in a country called Germany…and it was the end of the world.”

What a line to sum up one of the most conflicting musicals I have ever seen. In just one quote, the entirety of this vibrant, lively, and absorbing performance was brought to an abrupt and somber halt. For the first time, you realize the depth of the storyline you just watched unfold before your eyes. It was at this moment in the musical when I realized I had witnessed yet another life-changing performance by our very own Musical Theatre Department.

On my way to see the play Friday night, I was unsure of what to expect. I have found that not knowing the premise of a performance before seeing it makes for an exciting and spontaneous experience. I much prefer it this way if I am ever given the chance. Thus, you could say I was even the more pleasantly surprised when I came walking out of the theatre Friday grinning and decompressing from an outstanding performance.

The musical starts out with an air of light heartedness and progresses through a whirlwind of emotion until you tumble out the other end questioning the world you live in. Though I must admit much of the symbolism in the show flew over my head, what I did catch on to made me fairly pensive. The story, though it takes place in a lively and vibrant Cabaret, revolves around life in Berlin during the rise of Nazism in Germany. And not to spoil the ending, but each character is left with hard decisions they must make in the face of a challenging political climate.

The personal connections were heartbreaking and invigorating, a reflection of the talent of the actors and their dedication to their characters. All the music was spot on, and I must compliment the leading lady on her role of Sally, a very conflicted and dynamic character throughout the story. What truly struck me as extraordinary was the choreography and stage direction between the many dance numbers. The Cabaret girls had very demanding parts but pulled them off without a hitch, perfectly illustrating their professionalism. I must applaud the wide range of skills held by the performers in singing and dancing as these complex characters in extreme costumes, all while contributing to the greater plot arc. And finally, I must give the show to the Emcee, whose character is essential to pull together the entire musical. His spirit was tangible throughout all 3 hours of the performance, and his voice was superb for the role. The musical’s finale has the Emcee as an essential part, and his role was so convincing that I felt shivers run down by spine as I watched the scene unfold.

All in all, I am so grateful I went out to see this performance. I would highly suggest it to anyone who has the opportunity, and if you understand it to any greater depth than me, I invite you to leave a comment!

Pulp Fiction, arguably one of the most graphic American films made, has made an impression on me. Of course, I am still deciding whether this is a good or bad impression. Personally never having seen this film before, it certainly took me off guard. I went in with no idea of the premise, and even halfway through the movie I still was lost as to the plot line. However, I came out of the theatre, 2 and a half hours later, knowing that it was a movie you could never forget.

I have never been one for violence for the sake of violence or cursing without due purpose, but I also understand the use of such when aimed to make a point. In Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, I certainly was aware that such intense visuals and particular vocabulary got a reaction out of the audience. And at least on some level, I do believe that that may have been Tarantino’s goal: to make in impact. Much of the dialogue was intriguingly unique, the plot line was fairly original (though arguably without direction), and a lot of the characters had been pushed to such extremes that the film could truly be called ‘one of a kind’. However, I am not sure if this originality was the entire purpose of the movie.

Many a Pulp Fiction fan argue that the film holds some deep significance. I am not sure if I can fully do this viewpoint justice considering I myself did not notice such philosophical underpinnings, but I can try my best to explain what people have told me. First off, there is an obvious cyclicality to the storyline wherein the end brings the characters back to where they began in order to make it seem coincidental that everyone just happened to interact with each other throughout the movie. The start and finish both take place in the diner, with the same event, only the second time you view it you feel enlightened as to the situation. Also, Jules Winnfield, contract killer and leading character, ends the movie repeating the same lines he uttered in the beginning-a fake quote from scripture, questioning who is the shepherd in this world of evil. Jules ends the movie feeling reborn, having decided to end his life of crime, giving the movie a feeling of redemption after all its inexplicable violence. Additionally, Butch, the only character I found myself rooting for, is able to make peace with Marsellus. In this way, Pulp Fiction gives the audience a resolute sense of completeness in each character’s storyline.

However, I cannot account for the indescribable amount of stress I experienced while watching this movie. In every scene I felt as if I was waiting for someone to rip my heart out, and with every additional conflict or death I could feel my body tense up. I am unsure why I had such a reaction to this movie, but I imagine that the suspense combined with the satisfactory ending may be what makes a Pulp Fiction fan. Personally, I do not intend on seeing this movie again, simply for personal preference. However, next time someone orders a Royale with Cheese I will understand why the person next to me is laughing.

When: Sunday September 7 at 1:30 or Tuesday September 9 at 7:00

Where: Michigan Theatre

How Much: Adult ($10), Student/Child/Senior/US Veteran ($8), Michigan Theatre Member ($7.50)

What: A viewing of the American classic, Pulp Fiction, as part of the Kerrytown Market and Shops Summer Classic Film Series! If you’ve seen it a million times and it is one of your favorite movies, it is a great opportunity to go see it on the big screen with all your friends! If you’ve never seen it before, or have never even heard of it, well go check it out! The movie changed American film and pop culture forever. The film features Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta and is one you have to see.