Jackie Cavicchio, A & E Editor behrcolls@aol.com Erie checks into 'Rehab' by Kristen Schrum contributing writer If you want to check out a band that captures the essence of rock n' roll, then you're in luck. Rehab, a local band with a ton of energy, is set to rock Rainbow Gardens on Oct. 11, where they will open for Donnie Iris at Zlo2's First Birthday Bash. The show, which starts at 7 p.m., also features the Earthquakers. You must be 21 to attend. Tickets are on sale at Quaker Steak and Lube. Whether or not parents acknowledge it, some kids in the younger generation still enjoy the "old time rock n' roll." Rehab has emerged from Erie to cure the public of the manufactured music out there today. Rehab is unique in a sense that each individual member is involved in the production and vocals of the songs perform. In Rehab, there is not one shining star, but six. Rehab consists of Mike Bidwell on bass, Danny Buseck on drums, Gina Marie on vocals and 'vibes,' Tony Roussos on guitar, Al Sassman on key boards, and Tim Schrum on guitar. The band members have coined their sound as "blues funk with a groove." Sepa rately, each member of the band has been in the music business for years, and now meshed as one, they have found their match. Marie, the only female in the band, keeps the energy rolling with her spunky style accompanied by her leather pants. It has been said that she sounds lust like Stevie Nicks. Roussos is a music teacher at a local elementary school and an avid songwriter. Sassman and Schrum are extremely talented on their respective instruments, and have played together since their last band, Stiffy Harfis and the Throbbers. Bidwell car ries much energy throughout the sets and drummer Buseck plays his heart out each song. Wllcv:t y put them all to gether, the energy is immense. Rehab performs some cover songs such as "Sweet Home Alabama," "Me and Bobby Magee," "Gold Dust Woman," "Magic Carpet Ride," "Rocky Mountain Way," and "We're An Ameri can Band." But the musical minds of Rehab have come together to create original songs, "Workin' for the Man," "Who Helps," and "My Fondest Dream," for their upcoming CD. The original songs of Rehab capture the spirit of the musical influences in which the band has evolved. Rehab came together in 2001 and started out playing in local bars in the Erie and Ashtabula area. Only a year later, Rehab has landed gigs at places such as Rumrunners by the doc and Lake Erie Speedway. Rehab prides itself on expanding its musical abilities. Rehab is willing to try new things, and because of this, it has been a big hit among the younger crowds, as well as older. Ratdog The Clarks Oct. 15 Oct. 18 7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Warner Theatre Behrend-Erie Nall America's new 'Sweet' heart: Reese Witherspoon by Daniel J Stasiewski staff writer It's official. Reese Witherspoon is a star. A year after "Legally Blonde" put her on the map, Witherspoon's undeniably sweet starring role in "Sweet Home Ala- bama" has es tablished her as an extraordi nary leading lady. Though the film itself is as hackneyed as most roman- tic comedies are today, Witherspoon's stunning screen presence tow ers above the Reese Witherspoon charms audiences in "Sweet Home Alabama." tedious humor and predictable plot. Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) is the hottest designer to hit the New York fashion scene in years. As her career begins to take off, so, too, does her personal life. Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), Melanie's steady boyfriend and the son of New York's mayor, asks the fashion phenom to marry him. Before she even realizes she has ac cepted his proposal, Melanie finds her self on the cover of every tabloid in town. The highly publicized engage Live from New York: 'Saturday Night returns this week by Rachel Lyon staff writer "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" That's the familiar battle cry heard every Saturday on NBC for the past 27 years. "Saturday Night Live" will kick off its new season this Satur day at 11:30 p.m. featuring Matt Damon as the host and the Boss him self, Bruce Springsteen as the musical guest. The season premiere will also feature a new President Bush. Although the durable sketch com edy has survived some tough times, some wondcr how much longer will its success continue? With cast mem bers exiting frequently and competi tion from late night rival "Mad TV," one has to wonder how much longer can "SNL" keep on keepin' on? Re gardless, of the show's future, "SNL" has become one of the most enduring pieces of America's pop culture. The past two seasons, the show has come back strong in the form of po litical humor. During "Campaign 2002," "SNL" picked up on America's growing obsession of politics, and an swered in the form of Darrell Hammond and Will Ferrell. The two portrayed presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush through the campaign trail to debates to the final decision. Two newer faces at the Weekend Up date desk, Jimmy Fallon and long-time SNL writer Tina Fey, are also credited for the show's recent rise in popularity. Also, after Sept. 1 1 th of last year, s, • : : • .•• , (1 • Friday, October 4, 2002 ment poses a problem, forcing Melanie to return to her home state of Alabama. Once there, Melanie drops in on her es tranged husband Jake (Josh Lucas) to get the divorce she's expected for seven years. Even with a face-to-face confron tation, Jake still won't sign the papers. Undaunted, Melanie decides to stay with her parents until she changes Jake's mind. However, the longer she stays, the more she realizes how much she missed her family, friends, and even the man she is trying to divorce. I knew Reese Witherspoon would make it big after seeing 1999's high school com edy "Election." It wasn't her first movie, with teen dramas like "Cruel Intentions" and "Fear" making up her early America needed to laugh. And who bet ter provide that laughter than one of the country's greatest pastimes? And of which takes place in New York City? This season, emerging young stars such as Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan, and PHOTO FROM NBC.COM Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon help kick of a new season of "Saturday Night Live" this week on NBC. Horatio Sanz must compensate for the recent departures of longtime cast mem bers, Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer. Debuting on Oct. 11, 1975, the pro gram starred a cast of virtual unknowns, who would become household names. The first five years are dubbed as "The Not Ready for Prime-time Players." Upcoming Erie events: Tool 0ct.19 8:00p.m. Tullio Arena filmography. "Election," however, proved she had the talent, the ambition, and most importantly the charm needed to turn heads in Hollywood. In "Sweet Home Alabama," Witherspoon still has every thing she had in "Election." Unfortu- nately, in the same fashion as Meg, Julia, and Sandra who all came before her, Witherspoon is rather quickly falling into a shallow pit of mediocrity. "Sweet Home Alabama" is the first slip. The film is predictable from the moment we meet Andrew. He's attrac tive, suave, utterly perfect, and still in credibly dull. He shares no chemistry with the free-spirited Melanie. Both Dempsey and Witherspoon try to send the New York romance into orbit, but neither one can make the characters connect. Down South, the romance is no better. Lucas portrays Jake with an exaggerated hostility that falls somewhere between soap opera and sitcom. The fiery fights Witherspoon and Lucas engage in just substitute for the lack of any real flame between the actors. Though Andrew and Jake do end up impressing Melanie, the romance is still safe and uncomplicated. What the love interests lack in chemis- Many consider this era the best in the show's long history. Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Jane Curtin all got their monstrous careers started in what became a cult fa- However, "SNL" ran into a roadblock (or a writer's block) in the 1980-81 sea son after Lorne Michaels, executive pro ducer left. The original cast had moved on, giv ing way to weak writing. But, thanks to an unknown funpvman named Eddie Bill Cosby Nov. 3 3:30 a 7:30 p.m, Warner Theatre The Behrend Beacon try, the rest of the cast does provide. The moment Melanie runs into some one from her past, she goes from an overly intense cosmopolitan woman to a charming southern girl by liberating her untapped zeal. Melanie's relation ship with childhood pal Billy Ray (played by Ethan Embry) is especially affectionate and provides more dra matic turns than the primary plot. The same can be said about her parents and even limited acquaintances. Actually, a postal worker has more chemistry with Reese than either male lead. As for the jokes, most fall flat. Writer C. Jay Cox never really puts the humor first, which is actually a good thing. There's no compensating for the lack of comedy with slapstick routines, and Cox steers far from the stereotypi cal slow Southerner jokes that I was actually expecting. By the end, it's the "Yankees" who look like fools, while the South comes out on top. True, "Sweet Home Alabama" could have been better, but I did enjoy it. If only because of Reese Witherspoon's presence, I enjoyed this movie. Star quality is found in the ability to make a mediocre movie watchable, and Witherspoon has it. The next time I see a Reese Witherspoon movie, 1 may be a tad biased in my appraisal. How can I not be. since "Sweet Home Ala bama- has made me a fan? Murphy, "SNL" bounced back the next year. Jim Belushi and Julia Louis- Dreyfess joined with Murphy to get the late night program back on track. Fia nally, by 1885, Michaels decided hni L a' enough, and took hack what was rightfully his. Gone were cast members Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, and Randy Quaid; welcome aboard Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, and Victoria Jackson. Seasons 1986 to 1990 would rival the first five years as the shows best. The early to mid-nineties would showcase the best of the "featured players." Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Farley, and Tim Mead ows rose to cast member status. The movie industry benefited from "SNL" with hit cult comedies like "Wayne's World," "Tommy Boy," and "Billy Madison." But by 1995, many the those names had moved on. Now, came the women's chance to shine. Cheri Oteri, Ana Gasteyer, and Molly Sh annon have been praised as part of the best female ensemble in "SNL's" history. Shannon even scored an Emmy and went on to star in her own feature film, "Superstar." Despite the rough spots, "Saturday Night Live" continues to seep into pop culture as it pokes fun at pop culture. This week, as the new season start "SNL" promises to keep the laughs com ing. The Goo Goo Dolls N0v.19 7:30p.m. Warner Theatre Page 11
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