We’d know them anywhere
By Jae-Ha Kim Chicago Sun-Times April 26, 2004 It’s a cold, cruel world out there when you’re not getting paid $1 million per episode anymore. As our favorite “Friends” prepare for their final episode this […]
Year: 2004
Bonaire
Bonaire is gorgeous, tranquil and about as close to paradise as most of us will ever get. It’s the anti-Cancun. Whereas the Mexican city is full of rambunctious college kids on spring break, Bonaire is less crowded and, well, less American. And let’s face it — when you’re vacationing in another country, foreign is a good thing. Granted, Bonaire is the least well-known of the ABC islands –Aruba and Curacao make up the remainder of the alphabet triangle — but it’s a diver’s paradise and a vacationer’s dream.
Speaking with … The Raveonettes’ Sharin Foo
Denmark isn’t exactly England when it comes to producing rock ‘n’ roll bands, but it has a nice little start with the Raveonettes. Comprised of Sharin Foo and Sune Rose Wagner, the group is touring to promote its latest album, “Chain Gang of Love.” The Raveonettes rock, but their love of pop also is evident in their melodies and wry sense of humor.
Cooking with the stars
Lisa Loeb and Dweezil Zappa aren’t the first two names to pop up when you’re think of potential hosts for a cooking show. The photogenic real-life couple have both had some success in the music world, but neither is a professionally trained chef. That’s OK, says the Food Network, which has been making an aggressive effort to include programming that’s as entertaining as it is instructional. Operating under the credo that you don’t necessarily have to have a degree in culinary arts to be able to show people how to saute and flambe, the Food Network has added the rocking duo to its stable of Emeril, Bobby Flay, Iron Chefs and the rest.
Speaking with … JB Dunckel of Air
The Parisian duo of JB Dunckel and Nicolas Godin are better known as Air. Atmospheric, moody and deliciously memorable, the meticulously crafted pop songs set the mood for a cozy evening in. With its latest album, “Talkie Walkie,” Air gets a chance to really breathe.
Speaking with … James Baluyut
Since making its mark on the New York music scene 14 years ago, Versus has been a staple in the rock community. Led by brothers James and Richard Baluyut, the band is known for their gorgeous harmonies, tight rhythm section and wicked sense of humor. James Baluyut took a breather from rehearsal to chat with us about the Cubs, the Gallagher brothers and his guilty pleasure.
Marriage 101
Sharon Skonie and Tom Martin dated for three years and were engaged for 18 months prior to their wedding almost a decade ago. By all accounts, they knew each other very well. But as devout Catholics, they also knew they would have to take part in pre-Cana, where they would meet with an already married couple and then later their priest to discuss marriage issues. “Pre-Cana was a requirement for us to get married in the Catholic church, so the idea of getting [pre-marital counseling] didn’t come as a surprise to us,” says Sharon Skonie Martin of Bolingbrook. “I was actually really looking forward to it because I wanted to get to know Tom better.
The Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken concert
The Kelly Clarkson/Clay Aiken concert Monday night at the United Center was exactly what you would expect from a pair of winners — well, one winner and a runner-up — from “American Idol.” It was sweet, earnest and well rehearsed, but not particularly memorable. While it’s clear that each performer has a strong set of pipes, neither has toured enough to put on a truly exhilarating live show. You can sit home and listen to their CDs and pretty much get the same experience.
Let the sun shine in: Spring Cleaning
It’s a sad time for all of us: No Martha Stewart to guide us through spring by telling us when to plant our seeds, how to fold those unruly fitted sheets or which salads work best for a light al fresco supper. Still, we must go on. Now that the sun has passed through the vernal equinox, spring is officially here. And boy, are we ever ready for it.
By Jae-Ha Kim Chicago Sun-Times March 22, 2004
Speaking with … David Parsons
David Parsons is just a nice Midwestern boy who happens to have his own dance company. Founded in 1987, the Parsons Dance Company will present five world premieres: “Too Many Cooks!” “Rise and Fall,” “Slow Dance, “Swing Shift” and “Takademe” at the Centre East Theatre in Skokie on Saturday night. Parsons, who grew up in Rockford, also will perform his solo piece, “Caught.”
Speaking with … Davy Carton
They’re not as famous as U2, the Corrs or Sinead O’Connor, but Ireland’s Saw Doctors had one of the biggest singles in their homeland with a little ditty called “I Useta Lover.” Refreshingly down to earth, the band is touring the United States to promote its latest CD/DVD, “The Saw Doctors Live in Galway” (Shamtown Records, in stores Tuesday).
Though under the weather, Walkmen still marching to the top
It’s rather obvious Hamilton Leithauser has a cold. Yes, he often sounds hoarse when he’s fronting the hot New York band the Walkmen. But this afternoon, Leithauser is particularly wheezy and congested. Not that this will prevent his band from going on with the show.
Game Zone: Lifeline, Jet Li, Pitfall
“You’ll laugh because it’s an older game on an older platform, but one of my favorite games is F-Zero X for Nintendo 64. I am the reigning household champ at that game.” –Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Richard Marx
Nice guy Clay Aiken wins first place in fans’ hearts
Let’s face it. We’re not a society that recognizes No. 2 — except when it comes to Clay Aiken. The runner up in last year’s “American Idol” contest has proved to be the little Southern boy who could. His debut album, “Measure of a Man,” easily outsold first-place winner Ruben Studdard’s effort. And Aiken’s the one headlining a tour with Kelly Clarkson, the first “American Idol” winner.
Right here waiting, as usual
If anyone is in on the joke, it’s Richard Marx. Grammy Award winner, hot producer-songwriter and all-around good guy, the Chicago native knows why some people don’t like him. “Nobody gets the joke more than me,” says Marx, who resides on the North Shore with his wife, dancer-actress-singer Cynthia Rhodes, and their three boys. “When I first started out, I had credibility because my songs were played on rock radio and Joe Walsh was playing guitar on it. Then within a year, I became the anti-Christ.”
Women in the mix: the impact of gender studies
Mention women’s studies and you’re likely to get a mixed reaction. One group may talk about why it’s so important for students of both sexes to learn about women’s historical impact on society. Another may roll their eyes and argue that a men’s studies program would be considered sexist — so why the need for women’s studies in the 21st century?
Viggo Mortensen rides back in ‘Hidalgo’
It’s not often an actor buys his co-star. But then again, Viggo Mortensen isn’t your average actor. And come to think of it, the co-star isn’t some hot young filly — it’s a real horse. “I just fell in love with him [on the set of ‘Hidalgo’],” Mortensen says. “He doesn’t live with me [in Venice, Calif.]. He stays at a friend’s house, and I go over to ride him as much as I can.”
Speaking with … Michael Tolcher
Singer-songwriter Michael Tolcher is sated. After enjoying a nice sushi meal, the singer is ready to chat about his debut album, “I Am” (Octone Records), which will be in stores on April 6. He’s already opened for Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw and is anxious to get back on the road — even if that means climbing back into a cramped van. Tolcher phoned from his hometown of Atlanta to talk about the record-release shindig he’s planning, what he does to relax and why he’ll always have fond memories of Chicago.
Vision lifts Shabalala’s ‘Spirit’
It will be a bittersweet Valentine’s Day for Joseph Shabalala when his band Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays a sold-out show at the Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory in west suburban Batavia. Touring to support the group’s recently released album “Raise Your Spirit Higher,” Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be performing many songs that Shabalala wrote for his wife, Nellie, who was murdered outside a church in South Africa two years ago.