[RH Photos] Melt-Banana Returns to Chicago
Photos by Geoff Henao
On Tuesday, July 14th, Japanese noise-core band Melt-Banana returned to Chicago's Empty Bottle for the first time in 15 years. Touring across the country with them is stoner metal band, and genre-defying Hot Nerds opened the show.
For months since the show was announced, my expectations were extremely high. 2015 marks the 10-year anniversary since my first Melt-Banana show at the Abbey Pub on May 5th, 2005. And considering Melt-Banana only comes to America every other year (their last show at the Double Door back in October 2013), I was ready for my bi-annual ritual. The Empty Bottle is also my favorite venue in the city, thanks to its dive bar aesthetic and acoustics that especially benefit loud, punk rock-esque bands like Melt-Banana.
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Prior to the show, I had never hear nor heard of Hot Nerds. Their eccentric style of hardcore vocals (modified through a vocoder), mixed with noise-core-influenced sampling played through a keyboard and mixer, and backed by metal drums accentuated with a double kick pedal. They were reminiscent of a young Melt-Banana and got the crowd hyped and energized.
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Unfortunately, all of the energy coursing throughout the venue was lost as Torche came on to play. My prior knowledge of the band came from Ruby Hornet's own Travis Marmon's praise of the band's style of slow-burning stoner metal. However, the drastically low tempo and lack of high energy severely lowered the audience's excitement. At one point, I had begun falling asleep... standing up and directly next to one of the stage's main monitors.
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Nearing midnight, Melt-Banana took to the stage, backed by an enormous wall of speakers intended to replicate the duo's loud volume of noise when they originally toured as a band. However, as singer Yako and guitarist Agata grow increasingly comfortable playing as a duo (with Yako controlling a drum machine and samples with a device), so too do their shows share similarities to years past. However, their live performances have changed to reflect their adapted style of power-pop/noise-core, shedding the more extreme hardcore elements that represented their earlier years. Despite some technical difficulties with one of Agata's guitar cables and a crowd that, surprisingly, wasn't as excited for the band that I've seen in years past. Nevertheless, the crowd eventually warmed up to them as their set drew to a close.
Check out my photos from the show below!
John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein to Write Spider-Man Reboot
The Spider-Man reboot finally has screenwriters, and they're a formidable duo. Following the announcement of Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Jon Watts as the director comes news that the writing duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein will be handling script duties. The two have written Horrible Bosses, Horrible Bosses 2, and are making their directorial debut with this summer's Vacation.
Back when the purported shortlist of directors for Spider-Man was released, Daley and Goldstein were present. In fact, the duo was my personal favorite to direct the film. To have them involved in the project is a great sign for the film. As anyone who has seen Horrible Bosses and/or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 can attest, Daley and Goldstein have a great handle on modern comedy and pop culture.
With everybody in place, we can expect to hear a plethora of rumors pertaining to the plot in the months to come. And you know what? I can't wait.
[via Deadline]
[Weekly Netflix Fix] Mid-July 2015 Update
Sorry for missing last week's Weekly Netflix Fix - I was afflicted with a mild case of strep throat, and being sick in the middle of the summer is the worst thing to ever happen to man. This week, we have an extra-sized installment combining all of the latest Netflix Instant additions from the past two weeks. Spike Lee's most recent film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, has been added, the indie darling Faults starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and Mark Duplass' Creep are my personal recommendations. Take a look at all of the new Netflix Instant additions below!
Changeling
Plague
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama
An Act of War
Carita de Angel
The Comedian
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
El Chavo Animado: Season 1
El Chavo Animado: Season 2
El Chavo Animado: Season 3
El Chavo Animado: Season 4
El Internado: Season 1
El Internado: Season 2
El Internado: Season 3
El Internado: Season 4
El Internado: Season 5
El Internado: Season 6
El Internado: Season 7
Eugene Mirman: Vegan on His Way to the Complain Store
H2O: Mermaid Adventures: Season 2
Penguins of Madagascar: The Movie
The Physician
Rebelde
Todd Barry: The Crowd Work Tour
Vandal
XH Derbez
A Year in Champagne
America's Book of Secrets: Season 3
An Amish Murder
Bad Ink: Season 1
The Bible Rules: Season 1
Bible Secrets Revealed: Season 1
Carnal Innocence
Christie's Revenge
Creep
From the Dark
God, Guns & Automobiles: Season 1
Goodbye to All That 2014
Human Planet
Human Planet: Behind the Lens
Imaginary Friend
The Killer Speaks: Season 2
Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau
MonsterQuest: Season 1
MonsterQuest: Season 4
Pastor Brown
Preachers' Daughters: Season 2
Storage Wars: Texas: Season 1
The Unwanted
WWII From Space
Corvette Nation: Season 1
Corvette Nation: Season 2
Hard Drive
Adventures of Pepper and Paula
Opposite Field
These Final Hours
Chris Tucker Live
The Expendables 3
Violetta: Season 1
Violetta: Season 2
Are We Done Yet?
Deep in the Darkness
The Last Unicorn
Monsters: Dark Continent
The Phoenix Project
Serena
Baby Boom
Knights of Sidonia: Season 2
Faults
Hell on Wheels: Season 4
White Collar: Season 6
Superfast!
Bitten: Season 2
Underwater Dreams
Alien Outpost
Dark Summer
Gerontophilia
A Gesar Bard's Tale
Loitering with Intent
Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights
The Pact 2
The Search for General Tso
Wild Canaries
Witches of East End: Season 2
Genocide
Hjørdis
I Have Never Forgotten You
The Long Way Home
The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers
Winston Churchill: Walking with Destiny
Are We Done Yet?
Deep in the Darkness
The Last Unicorn
Monsters: Dark Continent
Serena
Amazon to Release Spike Lee's Chicago Film in Late 2015
The much-criticized "Chicago" film by Spike Lee recently wrapped production last week. Story details are still under wraps, but as we noted many moons ago, the film was rumored to be a musical comedy based on the Greek play, Lysistrata, with a cast led by Mad Men's Teyonah Parris alongside Nick Cannon, Jennifer Hudson, Wesley Snipes, John Cusack, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. However, the "musical" element of the film is in question, as the script, co-written by Lee and Kevin Willmott, is in a lyrical style similar to Shakespeare, but assumedly modernized.
Originally, the film was going to hold its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2016 (if accepted), but both Spike Lee and Amazon Studios, the film's distributor, are confident enough in the film that they're bumping its release up to December 2015 as part of a limited theatrical run to qualify it for the awards season. Furthermore, the film will be Amazon Studios' first original film, establishing Amazon's film distribution program that was started back in January. The film will officially open next year in theaters, followed by an Amazon-exclusive release online.
Lee had this to say about the film and Amazon Studios' involvement:
I’m honored to be part of the film that will launch Amazon Studios and to tell a story that is so important. Please don’t be fooled by the title of Chi-Raq, this new Spike Lee joint will be something very special.
I've already cast judgment on the film and its offensive title, but I'll hold any real criticism until the film is released. Could this be Spike Lee's return to form? I can only hope.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
Marvel Comics' Hip Hop Variant Covers
Hip hop has become an undeniably large influence on pop culture; the same can be said for comics, especially in light of Marvel Studios' takeover of Hollywood over the last decade. With the level of artistry behind the hip hop's lyricism and comic books' increasing level of illustrative talent, it was only a matter of time before one of the Big Two (Marvel and DC) paid homage to hip hop in an official capacity. While Ed Piskor's Hip Hop Family Tree has been nominated for the Eisner Award and was named one of New York Times' Graphic Books Best Seller, it doesn't have the same level of visibility as Marvel.
Beginning this October, Marvel will be paying homage to hip hop with its line of Marvel's Hip Hop Variants. Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso had this to say about the line of variant covers:
"For years, Marvel Comics and Hip-Hop culture have been engaged in an ongoing dialog. Beginning this October, we will shine a spotlight on the seamless relationship between those two unique forces in when we unveil the first of more than fifty variant covers, each of which pays tribute to an iconic album cover from the past 30 years that shaped pop-culture over the past three decades."
You can find 12 of the hip hop variant covers in the gallery below. Can you name them all?
The first wave of Marvel's Hip Hop Variants will be released in October:
Amazing Spider-Man # 1- HIP-HOP Variant by Mike Del Mundo
Angela: Queen of Hel #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Annie Wu
The Astonishing Ant-Man #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mark Brooks
Contest of Champions #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Denys Cowan
Doctor Strange #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Juan Doe
Extraordinary X-Men #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Sanford Greene
Guardians of the Galaxy #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Shawn Crystal
Invincible Iron Man #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Brian Stelfreeze
The Mighty Thor #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mike Deodato
Sam Wilson, Captain America #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mahmud Asrar
Spider-Gwen #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Humberto Ramos
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Phil Noto
Uncanny Inhumans #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Damian Scott
Uncanny Avengers #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Jason Pearson
Another wave of Marvel's Hip Hop Variants will be released later in the fall:
All-New All-Different Avengers #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Jim Cheung
All-New Wolverine #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Keron Grant
Carnage #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Ariel Olivetti
Howard the Duck #1 - HIP-HOP Variant Juan Doe
Ms. Marvel #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Jenny Frisson
Old Man Logan #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Tim Bradstreet
Spider-Man #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Adi Granov
Spider-Man/Deadpool #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Dave Johnson
Squadron Supreme #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mike Del Mundo
Star-Lord #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Tradd Moore
The Totally Awesome Hulk #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Mahmud Asrar
Web Warriors #1 - HIP-HOP Variant by Damian Scott
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Reunite in Sisters Trailer
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The team of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler has become a force to be reckoned with in recent years, strengthened by their real life friendship (and the public spillover that has ingratiated the duo even more with fans). They're banking on their natural comedic chemistry with one another to empower their upcoming film, Sisters, teamed together with another rising comedic voice in Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore.
Fey and Poehler star as polar opposite sisters who have to clean out their childhood bedroom before their family sells the house. Wanting to re-live the glory days of their youth, they decide to throw one final house party. The script is writer Paula Pell's first feature screenplay, but she has also written for Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Bridesmaids, and This is 40.
The trailer has its ups and downs, but the real highlights are when Fey and Poehler can build off of one another's jokes, the kind of chemistry we've grown to love in Apatow films. Plus, the more we can get out of Fey and Poehler sharing screen time, the better.
Sisters will be out in theaters on December 18th.
Fantastic Four Flex Their Powers in Final Trailer
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While San Diego Comic Con 2015 was a huge hit for superhero films, Fantastic Four unfortunately got buried beneath the hype surrounding Deadpool, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad. After all, it's hard to build more excitement for a film with no new information and scheduled for a release less than a month away.
Nevertheless, Fox is prepared for Fantastic Four to be a big hit, as showcased in this final trailer for the film. The trailer holds no punches back (pun intended) by showing off each of the Fantastic Four's powers. The new cut is decidedly more action-oriented and should help sway any potential moviegoers on the fence. Don't forget, this is the year for Michael B. Jordan.
Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, and Toby Kebbell all star with Josh Trank directing. Fantastic Four will be in theaters on August 7th.
Hayao Miyazaki Making CG Short Film
Famed animator Hayao Miyazaki is returning to the drawing board... literally. It's been two years since Miyazaki's retirement and the release of his last film, The Wind Rises, yet it was only a matter of time before the legendary director got the creative itch and returned to work on a new project. However, there are a few caveats surrounding the announcement of his return.
Firstly, the short, which is rumored to be a 10-minute short about a fuzzy caterpillar named Boro, might be a Ghibli Museum-exclusive. Miyazaki has created Ghibli Museum-exclusive shorts before, such as the My Neighbor Totoro follow-up, Mei and the Kittenbus, but rarely do they screen in the United States, nor do they ever get an official domestic release. Fans of Miyazaki interested in seeing this new short will have to visit the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo to do so. The second caveat, which isn't much of a bad thing, is Miyazaki's use of CG to create the short. Miyazaki has utilized CG in the past to supplement his art, but this will be his first full CG short film. Lastly, it might take an estimated three years for the short to be completed.
Regardless, it's great to see Miyazaki returning to what he loves the most. We can only hope he'll still have the itch to develop a full-length feature once the short is completed.
[via Variety]