Friday, January 18, 2008
Eli Stradler set to make Behrend debut at Bruno's
By Ryan P. Gallagher
student life editor
rpgsoo4@psu.edu
"My junior year in high school my buddy gave me a tape called
Bob Dylan Biograph and the first song that sang out was 'Lay down
your weary tune'. After that I was hooked," recalls singer/songwriter
Dan LaFuria, who goes by the stage name Eli Stradler. He will be
playing an hour long set of his favorite tunes in Brunos Café Friday,
Jan. 18 at 9 p.m, "and that's really what started it all."
Lafuria is a North East, PA native and is coming from five years of
performing with various groups in the greater Erie area. He has
recently been devoting most of his time to his solo act, but tries to
meet up with his side project The Lost Dog Experiment about every
two weeks however, he says that his current goal is to search for suc
cess in his personal music. "I
like to sing about hard times
and overcoming obstacles,
while keeping it on a certain
level that everyone can relate
to. My main goal is to be able
to get what I'm thinking about
out there because I feel that I
have some good things to
LaFuria struggles to place
his music in a particular class
because so many artists have
influenced him to a certain
point where he feels he can't
really label his music. "Well
Dylan, obviously, is a big
influence, but there are so
many others. Guys like Woody Guthrie, Dave Van Ronk, The Avett
Brothers, Mason Jennings, oh and John Prine- he's one of my
favorites. I guess if I had to call it anything it would be a cross
between early American folk and modern folk."
The guitar is not LaFuria's only weapon on stage, as he is extreme
ly fond of his harmonica, and on occasion, will rock out on the piano.
But the guitar is his favorite instrument and will never pass a moment
rir
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er and Scott R. Musim
['UDE' frr'
to jam his Washburn hollow body acoustic. "She
my woman," jokes LaFuria about the acoustic.
Friday night LaFuria looks to play about thrt
quarters of his own material and the rest will
some of his favorite tunes to cover. "I'll probabl
throw in some Mason Jennings and Dylan in
set, but the main focus will be on my latest album,
The album LaFuria refers to titled, "For What it
Worth" is currently available via Dan himself, ho'
ever, he will not have any copies at his Brunos Ca,
show. The album consists of 13 songs, and feature
one of his favorite old tunes "Amazing Grace
which, at one point, led him to inscribe the lyrics
the song around the perimeter of one of his guitar
LaFuria is looking forward to playing plenty
tunes off his latest albs
including "Country Roads
and "Never Know Again"
"It's a lot of traditional stuff
he said. "I just try to ke(
playing and learn as much as
can, you know?"
"It's always there. Music is timeless. You could listen to some
thing from 30 or 40 years ago and it's still the same- it'll live forev
er. It's just always there, you know what I mean?"
On Feb. 10, LaFuria will be playing another show at the Starbucks
on State St. in downtown Erie. Pa, where he will have copies of the
album.
13 - fri
LaFuria does not exact
ly have a plan for his future
but is extremely optimisti
about what it will bring
loves music - everything abol
it. He knows that. What
doesn't know is where it w'
take him, but wherever
goes, he's taking his tunes
with him and never forgeting
what his true passion is in life-
Indie movies gain popularity
By Scott R. Muska
managing editor
srmsoB2@'psu.edu
A few years ago, the term "Indie Film" was a lit
tle known commodity in the entertainment world.
They were a low-budget way for aspiring writers
and direeters•to break into the mainstre?
entertainment industry as well as an aveni
for previously established moviemakers
experiment with bold new ideas and coi
cepts.
Until recently, these films gathered int(
est only from those with a vested interest
the filmmaking industry (producers, stur
executives, etc.) and were shown, for I
most part, at experimental film festivals.
Actor Zach Braff (Scrubs) became one
the poster boys for this film revolution MI
he released Garden State—a movie
wrote, directed and starred in. It became an
enormous hit that transcended the cult and Natalie Portman and Zach Braff, stars of Garden State
mainstream barriers. The film also gained extreme
critical acclaim and helped to pave the way for the
Ellen Page, star of Juno
success of both past and future independent films
that would've otherwise remained underneath the
mainstream
Jason Reitman, a filmmaker that initially gathered
success with his independent adaption of
Christopher Buckley's novel Thank You for
Smoking, released his latest indie film, Juno, earlier
this month to record-breaking ticket sales and
unparalleled critical acclaim.
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One of many shots of singer/songwriter Dan
To the left is a picture LaFuria took himself-
.
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rd
LaFuria is placing himself in the world of music to achieve two
things- a different style of music than that of what we're used to today
and for everyone just to relax and feel good when they here the tunes.
"It's a step from a lot of stuff going on today," summarizes LaFuria.
"I just want everybody to be able to relate to the music and just have
a good time when they hear it."
Ellen Page, the Hollywood newcomer that played
Juno, has already won numerous awards for her per
fomance and was even predicted to win best actress
last week at the Golden Globes, but was upset by
Marion Cotillard, who won for her starring role in
the French indie film La Vie En Rase.
Many of the characteristics in independent films
are deemed experimentational and attention getting.
which have contributed to their growing popularity.
but the characteristic inherent in nearly all indie
movies that have gained audience acclaim have
become known for their soundtracks.
These soundtracks more often than not employ
the use of independent songwriters that are also not
afraid to test the limits of conventional music.
Garden State is viewed as the catalyst for this, and
is known by some to be the foremost reason that
groups like The Shins and Iron & Wine have
become popular musicians that are signed by major
labels.
Juno's soundtrack has been touted as phenomenal
as well, with songs by the Moldy Peaches, Belle and
Sebastian and Kimya Dawson. It also includes a
song that is performed in the movie by Page and her
co-star, Michael Cera, who has become a household
name after his performance in last summer's
comedic hit, Superbad.
The horizon looks very bright for independent
films and they should continue to enjoy success.
The only worry some critics have begun to express
is that they may become too pretentious and lose
their artistic merit, as so many movies made for the
mainstream culture already have. It's become a
point of interest and importance for those experi
menting with the indie film genre to maintain their
down to earth budget that gives such credibility to
their filming style while still pushing the envelope
with their experimentational subject matter
The Behrend Beacon I
LaFuria rocking his tunes on stage
whereabouts unknown.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO