, . it It t.- II t -- ii . ‘,/ ' 111 ill i r in ent 1 : , ~ 1 . i . • " ' a , MO : , I ',NW, '' lIIIIIIIMINIMP ' '' Photo courtesy of friendsoflive.com KONeo Sou.mb WAVveo Band: Live Album: Awake, The Best of Live (CD/DVD compilation of greatest hits) Release Date: November 2, 2004 Number of Tracks: 19 songs and 22 music videos on two discs Rating: ***** After 20 years of playing together, the band Live has put out "Awake", a combination CD/DVD of their greatest hits and music videos. For an already fan of Live, this collec tion is a must-have. The album is also ideal for fans who enjoy the band's style but never con sidered buying one of their pre vious records because it only had one or two songs that were really liked. "Awake" has all the band's great songs on one album. So for rock fans who are not really familiar with the music of Live, this album is a great sampler of their musical capabilities and includes all their hit singles. As with any greatest hits CD, the biggest selling point is always the quality of the tracks that are included in the album. Of course "Awake" features favorite hits like "Lightning Crashes," "I Alone," and "Heaven," but also includes a previously unreleased track titled "We Deal In Dreams," along with lesser known but equally good singles like "Run Away (with Shelby Lynne)," and "All Over You." Live has a raw and unique sound that sets them apart from other rock bands. Their song lyrics are insightful and much of the content is inspira tional, often containing underly ing social, religious, or political commentaries. For example, the chorus of "The Beauty of Gray" proclaims that "the world is not all that black and white." Although many of the songs have vaguely similar feel and sound, the entire album still allows the ability to zone out and get lost in the music. The same type of rock sound flows through most of the tracks, but there are a few slower, mellow er tracks slipped in to break up the monotony. "Awake" is a great album to throw into the CD player while working around the house or battling friends in a game of Texas Hold Maybe I am biased because they are fellow central Pennsylvanians, but Live has a great sound that people respond to really well. They have a fun rock feel that will not leave gritty feelings afterwards. The double disc set would be a great early Christmas present for yourself or anyone who enjoys unique rock music. The band will release a CD-only version in stores shortly but the extra five bucks is well worth the rare footage of 22 (mostly unreleased) music videos. The band has enjoyed the success es of two #1 albums, five #1 singles and nine top ten sin gles, proving their talent to music fans worldwide. "Awake" is by far the best album I have heard this year. Irish eyes are sm By Elizabeth Wingate Staff Reporter eawl9l@psu.edu Forget Lucky Charms and prancing little green men. The truest image of Ireland is of a lush oasis full of rolling emerald hills, ancient Gaelic traditions, warm, inviting people, and last but never least, the essential local pub. It is there that friends can share confidences while nestled in buttery leather couch es sipping Irish coffee, and that a steaming plate of shepherd's pie can warm a chilly soul. It is there that the eyes of the bar tender will light up with delight as he describes the pedigree of numerous Irish whiskies, gently urging you to inhale their heady bouquet. It is hard to resist the pull of such a place, and ulti mately, better not to, especially when that place is Molly Brannigan's in downtown Harrisburg. As a boy in Ireland, owner John Melody often listened to his uncle singing the old Irish song "Molly Brannigan" about a leg endary beauty who devoted her life to feeding the poor during Ireland's potato famine in the 1840 s. Melody vowed that if he ever opened a pub, he would name it Molly Brannigan's and after emigrating to the United States, he did just that, opening Molly Brannigan's in Erie, Pa in 2002. Melody's knack for distilling the essence of old Ireland with mod ern tastes and adding it to mid size American cities has made him a recipe for success; Molly Brannigan's opened its doors in Harrisburg on June 9, 2004, and has added a welcome new dimension to a constantly evolv- Local bands rock PSH By Sharon Furfaro Assistant Editor srfl7l@psu.edu Koji on the Roof The Vacancy Hey Mike! The Commercials Girls with pink sneakers and green lipstick showed up with guys in Chuck Taylors and hood ies. Preppies with hair peeking out from under trucker hats blended into the crowd of approximately 75 students and The Vacancy's guitarist and lead vocalist Benjamin Robert Dietels turned up the movement on stage and cranked up the volume as they played a free rock show Nov. 4 in the Olmsted building. ing downtown scene. Walk through the pub's doors on 2nd or Locust Streets (two buildings were joined to form an "L" shape) and be instantly transported - a new place with an old-tyme feel. Exposed brick walls and high ceilings coddle a long, gleaming bar behind which rests a drink to satisfy from the trendiest club goer to the staunchest whiskey aficionado, and all palates in between. Molly Brannigan's, a traditional Irish pub, opened in downtown Harrisburg in June of this year. The bar is located on the corner of Locust Street and Second Street. From the furniture to the art on the walls to the fixtures, nearly everything in Molly Brannigan's is Irish. Melody acquired the pub's accouterments through salvage dealers and auctions in Ireland; many pieces come from old pubs in Ireland that were non-students. There was a lot of plaid, spikes, khakis and ripped jeans, but as diverse as the crowd was they were all here for one thing - the free rock show and "Midnight Breakfast" spon sored by Penn State Harrisburg's Entertainment Council. On Nov. 4, from 8:30 p.m. until well after midnight, the Olmsted food court turned from a cafete- ria into a concert venue. Entertainment Council member Melanie Wagner said the corn mittee sponsors approximately 6 shows a semester that are free sadly demolished to make way for more "modern" buildings. Melody delights in keeping that spirit alive in his establishments; "When customers walk into my pub, I want them to be walking into any pub in Ireland," he said. The traditions that emanate from the woodwork are not limit ed to decor; Melody's sense of responsibility to the community and pride in his business are paramount. "I come to work here everyday," said Melody, "and Molly Brannigan's is a reflection of me." He also said, "I was very impressed by the changes taking place in Harrisburg and am glad to be a part of it," adding that, "it has been a pleasure to work in Harrisburg, and everyone from for the students. Four bands pulled together by Corey Barbush, PSH student, provided a mix of musical style and con tinuous entertainment for the evening. Barbush helped to organize the event and promote the show locally. Koji on the Roof kicked off the night with ethereal drumming and smooth vocals carried by energetic electric and acoustic guitars. Very laid back, the band seemed as comfortable on stage as they would over a cup of cof fee at a hole-in-the-wall. The entire scene felt like listening to a feel-good favorite with a twist, kind of like Jimmy Dean singing lead for the Vines or Jimmy Eat World, doing a remake of a 50's song with electric melodies . . . if that was possible. Black hair swept over his eyes, just touching his black-rimmed glasses, the acoustic-strumming lead guitarist Andrew Sharaki carried lyrics solidly. With meth ods ranging from mellow finger picking to explosive riffs, Koji on the Roof's music can only be described as "heavenly rock." The second band, the Vacancy, was in-your-face raw energy that was loud and spontaneous. The band thanked their fans for the mayor to the city inspectors have made opening Molly Brannigan's a positive experi- ence." An equally pleasant experience can be had by pulling up a chair and ordering a restorative pint and traditional Irish favorite such as the boxty, a potato pancake rolled and stuffed with your choice of chicken, seafood, steak or roasted vegetables. Other Irish specialties abound, Photo by Elizabeth Wingate/Capital Times such as St. James' Irish stew of prime beef and steamed vegeta bles simmered in Guinness and served in a bread bowl, and Madge's cottage chicken, a ten ounce chicken breast slathered in a whiskey barbeque sauce accompanied by redskin mashed Andrew Sharaki, left, the acoustic-strumming lead guitarist of Koji on the Roof, created a laid-back atmosphere with his smooth lyrics and mellow rock. showing up, and made quite an attempt to get people moving, but feet stayed planted. Physically revving, the Vacancy turned up the movement on stage, their music as spirited as their motion - but the crowd was lethargic. This band, with its pri- potatoes and steamed vegeta bles. Order Killian's cheese fondue or Shamrock shrimp to go with that Black & Tan (Guinness and Bass, one of many Guinness combinations), or feast on a light salmon Caesar or County Clare Cobb salad. Enjoy classic pub dishes such as Paddy's Pot Roast Melt, King Roderick's Rueben, and the Helvick Head fish sandwich, as well as more adventurous entrees (served after 5 p.m.) such as a Mako shark steak served with an Asian peanut sauce over rice pilaf, and the Limerick lamb shank rubbed with fresh herbs, served with mashed potatoes and a home made mint sauce. Do save a bit of room for a Guinness-kissed crème brulee, or afresh, house-made Bailey's cheesecake, and let the slow warmth of Bushmills' 16-year-old Irish whiskey engage the soul before heading out into the brisk fall air. May the road rise to meet you, May the wind always be at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rain soft upon your fields, Until we meet again. Visit Molly Brannigan's on the web at www.molly brannigans.com MOLLY BRANNIGAN'S A Traditional Irish Pub & Restaurant 31 N. 2ND STREET HARRISBURG, PA TEL: 717-260-9242 HOURS: 11AM- 2AM DAILY CREDIT CARDS: VISA, MC RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED Photos by Dan Berger/Capital Times mal, but not grating, lyrics, and shirtless blur of a drummer was so radio-worthy that they deserved a crazy pit of frenzied moshers - but it never happened. Numbers dwindled as the Please see ROCK on 12
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