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If Boy George isn’t the greatest entertainer on the planet, then damn, we must be in another galaxy. Here’s a list of players and singers who’ll heat things up just as the summer fog rolls into the bay.
Friday, July 18
* Boy George, Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center in San Francisco, 9 p.m.
* Jimmy Eat World, Fillmore, 9 p.m.
The best part about summer in Berkeley is the concerts, especially when someone really good plays at the Greek Theatre and you can listen on the hill for free. This month we bring you concert to-do’s, the most interesting shows around the Bay Area.
Note: This is not an extensive list but rather a list of what we thought looked good. Feel free to comment and add your own to-do.
It seems that few Berkeley students take advantage of the campus arts scene, despite the plethora of Cal ID discounts available. We know, we know. You’re too busy studying, watching Cal lose, or perhaps you think protesting is more appropriate than indulging in the privilege of First World entertainment. Whatever your reason is, let it go and run to Hertz Hall–the University Symphony Orchestra is waiting!
The Clog, classy as we are, spent Friday night chilling in plush yellow seats for the University Symphony Orchestra’s last performance of the semester. The orchestra is the oldest performance ensemble at the University of California, auditions are cutthroat (according to a music department insider) and symphony-goers give it some pretty heavy compliments, according to their Facebook group:
Bold programming and high artistic standards have made this one of the country’s finest university orchestras. Not only a pre-professional training orchestra, but a major performing ensemble in the Bay Area as well.
Not too shabby. The Clog won’t disagree with those sentiments.
Now, we won’t pretend to be arts reviewers and use words like “overtones,” “bravura” and fancy metaphors to describe the concert. However, we will say that the performances were “enjoyable” and “impressive.” Conducted by David Milnes, the show started off amorously with Richard Strauss’ “Don Juan”, op. 20–a musically romantic piece that follows the exploits of the famous namesake. We felt the love in the liberal amounts of harp, triangle and head-bobbing flute players.
Our favorite piece of the night came second–a simulated film score recording session for “The Flyer” Suite, by music department lecturer and contemporary composer Yiorgos Vassilandonakis. The lights dimmed. The projector lit up to play a short film of the same name by UC Berkeley alumnus David Green. The combination of the visual work with the live orchestration was quite an immersing experience.
We were nodding off a bit by the time the final portion of the program took off, but we’ll blame it on our previous all-nighters. Still, there’s no doubt that the four movements of Symphony No. 4, “Romantic”–composed by Nazi favorite, Anton Bruckner–seemed like they were on a never ending loop.
By the end, there were more than few standing ovations.
Bravo, University Symphony Orchestra.
If you missed the symphony, don’t you fret. Deck the halls with another campus favorite–the UC Choral Ensemble will have its Holiday concert on Monday, Dec. 8 in Hertz Hall. It’s $6 with your Cal ID.
Image Source: Patrici Flores
University Symphony Orchestra [Website]
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Devo - Whip It Live in UC Berkley, Sproul Plaza 1988
Complete with props, the Clog’s favorite kitsch/kink New Wave band performs its biggest hit. On Lower Sproul Plaza? What? This makes no sense, until you realize that “Whip It” came out eight years before this clip. But still, crazy man, crazy.
The Grateful Dead- Scarlet Begonias 1988
The Dead? In Berkeley? Well, we don’t see the connection, but maybe you do. From the Greek Theatre.
Corinne Bailey Rae- Breathless
Also at the Greek. From a recent show. Turn down the lights, babe, the Clog is gettin’ its grove on.
Talking Heads- Warning Signs 1978
It takes about 30 seconds for the video to start, but stick with it. Devo … Talking Heads … it’s almost like we have a theme going here.
Links:
Devo- Whip It [YouTube]
Grateful Dead-Scarlet Begonias [YouTube]
Corinne Bailey Rae- Breathless [YouTube]
Talking Heads- Warning Signs [YouTube]
In addition to spotting posters around Memorial Stadium, we also pricked our ears for the Cal Band practicing on Maxwell Family Field late this afternoon.From our attic room, we heard blasts of horns, 1980s style. Who knows? The marching band may play some (or even all) of the following songs for Saturday’s football game:* “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell,* “99 Luftballoons” by Nena,* “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” By Wham!* and even “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip SousaOK, so the last one isn’t from the ’80s, let alone the 1900s. But we swear we heard it!Image Source: Deng-Kai Chen, Daily Cal
