More from the Movies-Sheena-Should’ve-Seen-By-Now files…
While vacationing in Memphis a month ago, I saw the 1950 classic “Sunset Boulevard” on sale for $10 at Target. A classic movie for $10? Talk about a steal.
Without revealing too much I think I can tell you this about the plot: Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) is an aging silent film star with hopes to get back into the movies. She meets a hack screenwriter, Joe (William Holden), and pulls him into her deranged world.
I won’t say much else – don’t want to ruin it!
This is a film noir, so I had a lot of fun with it. There are some absolutely sensational shots and even better dialogue. Oh, how I wish screenwriters today still wrote like this.
Speaking of – it ends with the legendary line: “Alright, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” Cuh-lassic.
Here’s the trailer:
Another thriller, but decades later…
So I finally saw “Heavenly Creatures.” Again, without giving away too much, the film follows two best friends, Juliet (Kate Winslet, in her debut film role) and Pauline (Melanie Lynskey), who become obsessed with both each other and a fantasy world they create. When their parents try to separate the girls, everything goes awry.
I was surprised to learn this was a true story, which makes this movie even more chilling.
Peter Jackson of “Lord of the Rings” fame directed this, and I thought he did a phenomenal job. It was awesome to be in the girls’ fantasy world – it definitely helped understand their madness.
Here’s the trailer:
(sorry for the broken link!)
These may be my last few movies I watch for a while, because now I’m renting the seasons of HBO’s “Six Feet Under.” I’m a huge fan of Michael C. Hall, so I’m really enjoying the show so far.
Sit back, sip some sweet tea and get to know this week’s local band.
BASICS
BAND NAME: So Be iT
BAND MEMBERS:
Jody Riddle - drums/bass/guitar
Cody Riddle - guitar/drums
Richie Jones - lead vocals/bass/guitar
HOMETOWN: Pontotoc (Richie is a transplant from Peppertown/Fulton area)
HOW LONG TOGETHER?: January 2006
STYLE OF MUSIC: Christian Rock with a little bit of a Southern drawl!
EXPLAIN THE BAND NAME: We looked up “amen” in the dictionary and the first meaning was “so be it.”
BAND WEB SITE: So Be iT’s MySpace
Q&A
What inspires your original music?
The awesome grace of God in the world we live in and the Church (Black Zion) we attend.
What’s your live show like?
Rock ‘n’ roll with a true Jesus twist!
What are you currently working on?
Writing new music for our hopeful 2nd album venture! (So Be iT has one album, “What You Believe,” out now)
Where do you see the band in 10 years?
Wherever God feels we need to be.
Parting shot:
Here are some upcoming So Be iT shows:
June 14th - Noon - Sherman’s Family Day in Sherman, MS
June 21st - 7:00 p.m. - Crossroads Youth Center in Houlka, MS
July 4th - 7:00 p.m. - Howard Stafford Park 4th of July Celebration in Pontotoc, MS
July 26th - Time TBA - Ron Dozier Tribute 2008 at Musician’s Playground in Tupelo, MS
August 23rd - 4:00 p.m. - Bodock Festival in Pontotoc, MS
Check our myspace and keep up with where So Be iT will be! We want to show people at a live show that you can have a rockin’ guitar and a kickin’ bass and drums and still be in Jesus’ name. — So Be i
If you happened to drive by the backstage parking lot of the arena during the past two weeks, you may have noticed all of the trucks and buses that were on the lot. Now that they are gone, I can tell you that all of those vehicles belonged to Rascal Flatts. We were honored to be selected as the rehearsal venue for their latest tour. They brought 17 (!!!) trucks worth of equipment into the building for ten days of prep work. Only Reba’s tours in the mid-90’s come close to the size and scope of the production of this tour. The lighting and video aspects of the set were simply amazing.
Our local crews had to work a couple of overnight shifts to accommodate the band’s schedule. We had 14 hours to convert the building from our graduation setup to a concert setup and then only nine hours to change from the Mudcats game setup back to the concert setup. Both nights went off without a hitch thanks to our dedicated staff.
It has been awhile since we hosted an artist rehearsal like this but it was a great experience for both the traveling crew and the arena staff. While we didn’t end up with a concert at the end of the run (I can assure you that we tried everything in the book to land a date!), we did plant the seed for a future show.
The touring concert industry becomes more and more competitive every day. Earning a reputation as a great place to prepare for a tour can allow us the opportunity to snare a concert or two that otherwise would pass our market by. That’s one of the reasons why we are repositioning ourselves as a possible rehearsal site. We hope to have more of these events in the coming months.
In other news, the Mudcats won their final regular season home game last weekend. We’re now waiting to see what happens with the playoffs. Look for an announcement from the Mudcats concerning possible playoff dates in the next few weeks. We’re also preparing for the arrival of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus June 19-22. Tickets are on sale now through the usual ticket outlets.
That’s the news for now. Have a great Elvis Festival weekend!
Here’s just a little happy I thought I’d share with Scene Now readers.
Usually when I interview a band, I ask what’s on their iPod, and we include that in Scene.
But with this ultra-packed Tupelo Elvis Presley issue, I couldn’t find room to fit in what’s on Jo Dee Messina’s iPod.
So here’s her answer:
“Oh my gosh, I’ve got everything from Hillary Duff to James Taylor on my iPod. Right now – you might know an artist named Colbie Calliat? She sings that song, (sings) ‘If you just realize what I just realized.’ I’ve got that (song). I’ve got my running songs, my running songs are ‘Boondocks’ by Little Big Town, Miley Cyrus’ ‘See You Again,’ ‘Bubbly’ – the one that goes, (sings) ‘it starts in my toes, makes me crinkle my nose.’
I’ve also got that ‘love song’ one – (sings) ‘I’m not gonna write you a love song.’ (”Love Song” by Sara Bareilles)..I have a wide variety of stuff, but that’s good. It keeps me from being bored.”
Beaches, pools, sunny skies, sand in the street. I love love love summer and vacations. Who doesn’t?
Every time around this year, folks start talking summer songs.
Last year’s big summer jam was Rihanna’s “Umbrealla.” Before that, it was “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley.
In years past, cuts like Tupac’s “California Love,” “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith were big hits in the summertime.
