Life In The
Desert
By Eddie Capozzi
Capital Times Staff Writer
Since coming to Harrisburg,
all I’ve heard is what a culturally
barren wateland it is. A desert so
to speak.
Lately, it’s been more like a
frozen tundra. Well, if the shoe
fits... Truthfully, I don’t care. I
like it here. It’s a nice change.
So, Tuesday night I was walk
ing through the streets of the
desert when I happened upon an
oasis. Nick’s Cafe on Third and
Herr, downtown Harrisburg.
I had a grueling day of classes
and just wanted one beer. As I sat
at the bar I discovered it was
open mic night, and the first act
was about to take the stage.
I only wanted a pint of
Guinness, and was not really
interested in hearing some band
less musician destroy songs I
really admire.
That’s when it happened. This
guy (Michael Banks, I later
learned) starts blowing me away
with a version of Pink Floyd’s
“Feariess” tram the Meddle
album and I’ve been singing it to
myself ever since.
I’m thinking this must be a
fluke. Not to be. Next, he plays
an excellent “I Shot the Sheriff’
by Bob Marley, and then some
tasteful bluesy slide guitar.
Michael hosts the night, and
has quite a herd of talented musi
cians in his stable.
The next act was two guys (I
never did get their names), one on
guitar and the other on fiddle.
They opened with U2’s “I Still
Haven’t Found What I’m
Looking For” and their harmonies
and musicianship were perfect.
The hits kept coming. Van
Morrison’s “Jackie Wilson Says”
was also done well, which I appre
ciated because Van Morrison isn’t
easily covered. I wasn’t the only
one to appreciate it.
The place was packed. It felt
like a Friday night, only on a
Tuesday. The night continued in
much the same fashion. Act after
act impressing me with cover
songs as well as originals.
Needless to say, one beer
turned into six and I met some
really cool people. So, I have
found there is Life In The Desert.
New Found Glory Stretches the Boundaries
By Brad Moist
Capital Times Staff Writer
A New Found Glory is one of
those independent bands that
tours the country relentlessly
playing to crowds that have never
heard of them. But once people
hear them, they are hooked.
A New Found Glory’s new
album, Nothing Gold Can Stay,
on Drive-Thru Records, stretches
the boundaries of what is defined
as “punk.”
They fuse together elements
of rock, pop, hardcore, and emo
(a more emotional blend of pop,
indie, and punk).
This five-piece Florida outfit
writes songs that reflect the rela
tionships and times when we
thought our lives were simple.
Their style, which is growing
more popular because of bands
like The Getup Kids, can only be
described as melodic punk.
Their lyrics get right to the
point and avoid the metaphorical
crap found in bands like Bush.
They speak from the heart, and are
relative to anyone who needs to
find a release'from their past or
bui\d a bridge to the future.
The lyrics speak of how there
is a “light at the end of the
gloomy tunnel of love.”
Their record label describes it
as “music for anyone who’s ever
been in love.” There is no better
way to describe it.
They are one of the founders of
the new wave of punk music that
contains whole hearted energy,
clean passion blown through dis
torted amps, and catchy vocals.
Tracks like “Hit or Miss,” “It
Never Snows in Florida,” “3rd
and Long,” “You’ve Got a Friend
in Pennsylvania,” and “Broken
Sound” are by far the album’s
strongest tracks.
The first track, “Hit or Miss,”
is already popular on college
radio with lines like, “Have I
waited too long? Have I found
that someone? Have I waited too
long to see you?”
The muffled guitar intro grabs
your attention. The distortion
kicks in when lead singer, Jordan
Pundik, says “Let’s Go.” Simple
guitar chords mixed with great
drums make it a favorite.
“It Never Snows in Florida”
starts off with a quick drum break
as it slams into catchy riffs and
distortion mixed with incredible
lead guitar in the background.
I think the opening lyrics are
my favorite on the whole album.
“Distance means nothing to me.
It only makes me want to see you
longer.”
The song just kicks in, and the
emo aspect that follows grabs
your heart, till it builds back up
again with full pop punk energy.
“Broken Sound” is another
great song on the album. The
acoustic guitar at the beginning
brings a fresh sound to the album,
especially when it mixes with a
piano while a subtle distorted
effect is used on Pundik’s vocals.
The music kicks in heavy
while Pundik’s real voice, mixed
with the distorted voice, sings
“And can I be the one to show
you that life’s not simple enough.
And I can be the one to tell you
that I’ve held this back for too
long. And my heart aches / These
feelings I’ve held inside for you.”
The song shows great emo
influences, maybe from touring
with bands like The Juliana
Theory and The Getup Kids.
It will definitely stick out
when you listen to this album.
My only problem with this track
is that it is only a little over two
minutes long. I feel gypped when
the song ends so abruptly.
Some negatives on the album
are that some of the tracks in the
middle of the album tend to
bleed together, as if they are all
just one big song. Though, the
more you listen you get the feel
for each song and it’s respective
“hook” that grabs you.
Nothing Gold Can Stay is a
great album for the millennium. It
demonstrates all the elements that
will bring melodic punk to the
forefront of mainstream music.
A New Found Glory has a
great talent for being able to mix
so many elements of music into
12 tracks of aggressive and
catchy music. When you take a
listen, you will find yourself
singing a long. I promise.
For more info on the band go
to www.drivethmrecords.com.
r Take charge of >
your thoughts. You can
do what you will with
them. - Plato
You never know what
is enough unless you
know what is more
than enough.
- William Blake
VC Reviews
If you’re just as inclined to
rent a movie as you are to visit
the theater, then this column
might be for you.
I’ll provide several rental
reviews per column; these
reviews will include my com
ments as well as a numeric rating,
which will range from the lowest
of 1 to the highest of 10.
Ratings of 1 and 10 are rare;
you’ll know when I really hated a
movie or loved it.
Remember that these are only
my opinions. The best way to
test the value of my column is to
rent a movie I liked and see if
you agree, or to rent a movie I
hated and see if you don't hate it,
too.
Alternatively, read a review
for a movie you’ve already seen
and compare my opinion to your
This column is for entertain
ment only. Your comments are
welcome by e-mail at
dmklss@psu.edu.
These movies can generally be
found at Middletown’s
Blockbuster Video, with whom I
am undeuio agreement.
The Inheritors (1999; 1 hr 34
min.) Rating; 8
An intriguing story about what
happens when the “have-nots”
become the “haves.” Set in
Austria at the turn of the 20th
century, it paints an intriguing
picture of a life that was very dif
ferent from ours. A tyranny-ver-
FEATURES
By Daniel Kane
Capital Times Staff Writer
sus-integrity atmosphere. An
excellent foreign film for the
adult viewer. (German with
English subtitles.)
Disclosure (1994; 2 hrs. 9
min.) Rating: 9
Demi Moore gives a high
quality performance as a vicious,
corporate executive who has a
personal problem with Michael
Douglas, who gives an equally
good performance as the poor
sucker who dared to cross her
path. A convincing movie;
superb suspension of disbelief.
Mutual Needs (1997; 1 hr. 27
min.) Rating: 6
A product of Playboy
Entertainment Group, this film is
stronger on T & A than on plot.
It’s predictable, but captivating. It
might make you wonder about the
legitimacy of classmate claims at
your next high school reunion!
John Carpenter’s Vampires
(1998; 1 hr. 48 min.) Rating: 4
James Woods (with Daniel
Baldwin) is the hero in this utterly
predictable vampire tale. James
Woods’ character is so obnoxious
as the good guy that I wanted the
vampires to prevail which, pre
dictably, didn’t happen.
Cube (1998; 1 hr. 30 min.)
Rating: 10
This movie is science fiction at
its absolute best. Filled with sur
prises, this film will challenge
your imagination and perhaps
your mathematical abilities.
You’ll be glad you saw this one.