22 July 22 - Nope

"What's a bad miracle?" - OJ Haywood

First, there was Get Out - his Oscar-nominated socio-psychological thriller masterpiece that left many discussing its premise.

Then, he followed it up with Us - cue the Rod Serling narrative voiceover and Twilight Zone theme music.

Then last year, he brought back to life Chicago's urban mythical legend - Candyman to remind us why we still need him today.

Now, Jordan Peele is back, blogspot readers, with his latest feature with a very profound yet intriguing twist to the alien invasion plot. SouthSide will even dare to call it the year's "would you believe if I told you there's something weird going on in the sky if I didn't have video of it?" kind of movie. With Nope, Jordan Peele has definitely elevated his writing, directing and producing as well as his imagination craft to the next level. He cleverly combined such themes/movies like Signs (by M. Night Shyamalan), The Thing (by John Carpenter), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (by Steven Spielberg), a haunting movie opening scene like Ghost Ship (but without the razor sharp wire) and perhaps a touch of The Wizard of Oz tucked within ...such wonderfully crafted homage, blogspot readers. 

That is Nope - without giving too much away, of course, to spoil your enjoyment of the heart-racing, jump scares and bare knuckle turns with some sprinkles of comedic horror (only Jordan Peele loves to do to lull the average moviegoer into a false sense of security before ...WHAM - scaring the bejesus out of them). It's all about the "money shot" ending, blogspot readers, with this writer/director/producer. He certainly does in Nope. SouthSide in all honesty, was spooked in between the calmness and horror humor especially when Brandon Perea's Angel Torres character goes off on a tangent about the "love of his life" leaving him after landing a CW show job. Yet behind that calm and humor, there's plenty of subtle mystery and creepiness which surrounds thing/being hovering over the skies of Agua Dulce. What it is will (without giving much away) will shock, amaze or leave you in awe ...or perhaps all three.

And woe unto us who await his next adventure ...this reviewer surely doesn't want to know what's churning in his head ...not yet. Let her digest the awe and excitement of Nope after getting an advanced viewing the night before.

Nope stars Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther) as OJ Haywood and Keke Palmer (Alice, Akeelah and the Bee) as Em, short for Emerald, Haywood ...siblings who are sort of tasked into running the horse ranch used for movies in Hollywood after the mysterious death of their father (portrayed by the legendary Keith David) when sudden random objects start falling from the sky. These two characters are SO night and day, blogspot readers. Em is the multi-tasking, multi-business opportunist with a LOTS of energizer bunny energy while OJ is nonchalant, laid back, "I got to get up early ...chores to do..." kind of guy. Besides sibling love and affection, communication is one of their biggest problems that needs work though Jordan Peele never explains why. Upon experiencing a strange encounter with an unidentified object posing as a cloud overhead, the Haywood sibs decide to get that "money" or "Oprah" shot to which they enlist the help of Brandon Perea's character and then film documentarian, Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott - The Crow). To make this move and plot be more intriguing, Jordan Peele adds a former child TV star now running a Western family theme park Ricky "Jupe" Park (Steven Yeun - Glenn from the Walking Dead) who has his own unresolved living nightmare involving a murderous chimpanzee that went on a sudden rampage killing its human co-stars. Keep this in mind as you watch the nervous behaviors of the Haywood horses, blogspot readers. Plus Yeun's character also has a history with the unidentified object as well naming it "The Viewers". What happens next ...well, you need to see Nope for yourself. 

No spoilers here.

And like his previous movies, Nope does contain a hidden thought-provoking concept that Jordan wants us to take into consideration. For example, Get Out had the secretive, illicit mind-bending manipulation used towards another race to remain dominate and superior over them which in SouthSide's humblest opinions is not too far fetch. In Us (and despite what one woman enthusiastically exclaimed when it was over - "art sets you free!"), it was about the social class uprising of our doppelgangers wanting a piece of the pie. Peele's Candyman dealt with the horrifying police hivemind and its narrative when placing innocent people in a very tight situation that forces them to choose the narrative or suffer unjust consequences. Nope brings us the concept of racial policing like how horses don't like being eyed directly by humans. The same can be said about the alien protagonist in this movie ...it likes to view/"police" over Nope's unsuspecting cast of characters because one look can cost you your life, blogspot readers, though the tables do get turned towards the end.

*Whew*

What a lot to digest there, blogspot readers. So, SouthSide is going to stop right here ...no more over analyzing Jordan Peele's Nope that boosts originality about a terrifying alien invasion to art direction as well as Hollywood movie history and much more. Yes this movie has plenty of "money" shots.

Nope is a yes from this reviewer, blogspot readers.

Nope is now playing in theatres.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

09 Oct 21 - No Time To Die

"...We have all the time in the world..."

 "...this is the end..." (Skyfall by Adele), blogspot readers, yet this is more than a swan song ...a final Daniel Craig performance as Commander James Bond 007 with license to kill appearance. It's an ode to the longest running movie franchise that started with Sir Sean Connery in Dr. No spawning countless imaginative Q gadgets, the memorial evil geniuses as the baddies who were always out to clip James' 007 wings, the sexy, beautiful but deadly Bond girls with clever names like May Day (from A View To A Kill) and Pussy Galore (Goldfinger), and of course the Bond theme songs performed by top artists like Tina Turner, Louis Armstrong, Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, Garbage and the legendary Shirley Bassey. *sighs* The next actor - male or female will have very large shoes to fill as the next 007, blogspot readers.

No spoilers in this review as always, blogspot readers. 

No Time To Die plot begins with years later after Bond's last mission ...he's no longer in service and living peacefully with the love of his life. However, leaving Her Majesty's service doesn't mean you don't stop looking over her shoulder either because it doesn't take long before James is slowly drawn back into that former life when a laboratory in London is destroyed. What it contained was a deadly DNA-altering virus (almost like real life but without the DNA-altering part) which is now in the hands of someone unknown. Through the twists and turns of each clue as well as secrets revealed leads Bond closer and closer to his new nemesis (Rami Malek) behind this plot. Does Bond save the humanity from the evil plot this time, blogspot readers? 

For the answer and the "wow" moment of an ending, SouthSide highly recommends checking out No Time To Die.

SouthSide believes this one of the best ...probably the better out of all Bond movies ever made ...and she has seen most of the Bond movies made starting with Dr. No. This current Bond movie contains a lot of "firsts" within it such as the opening not doing the usual opening or projecting a reversal homage to a Bond movie predecessor which also includes a famous Louis Armstrong song. Plenty of "easter eggs" tucked inside this movie that had this reviewer closely watching the opening title sequence (very clever putting bits and pieces from Daniel Craig's other Bond openings) to noticing the original Aston Martin DB5 to many other hidden gems. Somehow it brought tears to this reviewer's eyes too. Yes, blogspot readers, tears will be flowing especially at the end. Now that was a first for SouthSide. No other Bond film has done that to her ..ever. Daniel Craig does give it his all during every scene in No Time To Die, blogspot readers. The stunt and action sequences are definitely intense ...sometimes even hardcore to imagine that he did most of them whether he's swinging on a rope off a stone ledge of a bridge in Italy or surviving explosive blasts in deep waters. A few scenes kept this reviewer's heart pounding and had her sitting on the edge of her seat.

However, the one part ...person that blew SouthSide away was Bond's new nemesis - Lyustsifer Safin (love the new spelling of Lucifer) portrayed by Rami Malek. And this is NOT your typical Bond villain here, blogspot readers, like Goldfinger, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (head of Spectre) or Kanangya (from Live and Let Die). Rami's approach to his Bond villain persona was completely different in which you don't usually see. He's someone who speaks to you rather calmly ...peacefully in a smooth subtle vocal tone yet very persuasive and suggestive with his words. Watching him convey his persona even without speaking with the use of his eyes as he stares longingly was frightening, blogspot readers. And sometimes it's not what he says that delivers his evil message. Those eyes as well as body language sent chills down SouthSide's spine. Though his screen time is somewhat brief, Rami Malek has definitely elevated being a Bond villain to the next level. This reviewer feels sorry for the next actor - male or female taking on the villain role. They certainly will have to up their acting game including the long staring gaze, blogspot readers.

Of course, no Bond film will be complete without the lovely beauties adorning 007's arms. However, during No Time To Die, we're introduced to a new class of Bond girls who are not only mysterious but also are kick- ass deadly as well as kick ass without James' help. Nope, not your typical damsels in distress anymore. Both ladies, Lashanna Lynch (as Nomi aka the new 007) and Ana de Armas (from Knives Out) as Paloma ...fresh out of a 3-week training course (yeah right) were cleverly written to be immune to Bond's dinosaur misogynistic charm and piercing blue eyes. SouthSide knows for certain she would. Men with blue eyes are her "kryptonite", blogspot readers. The other Bond beauty, Lea Soydoux as Madeliene Swann holds a special place within James Bond's heart as well as a few secrets in this movie. There's one secret to which he holds dear and it's also a definite first for this franchise too. SouthSide loved the look of real chemistry between these two actors that went beyond the sexual lust and tension to the point you could honestly believed James loved her until the...

Ah ...then there's the music! Hans Zimmer and his original movie soundtrack taps into nostalgic Bond theme by John Barry as well as creating some of his own that's now part of Bond movie history. SouthSide highly recommends checking out Zimmer's music for No Time To Die to which she did before reviewing the movie. She listened to the music first that she could see the movie inside her head from the way it told the story. While actually watching it, she found Zimmer's composition quite exhilarating and easily pushing the action or plot along like intricate quick-paced tango dance steps. Putting both music and movie together - totally mindblown moment here, blogspot readers. Also, Billie Eilish impressed SouthSide with her saddened melancholy theme song, No Time To Die. Though quite moody, dark and hauntingly emo, the song itself strangely sums up James Bond's life and career as a 007. The addition of Louis Armstrong's We Have All The Time In the World was a fitting touch, blogspot readers, that got the tears flowing again.

Sadly, all good things ...heroes must come to an end, blogspot readers. Don't leave right away after the last scene. Stay for the LONG list of "thank you" to the army of people behind the scenes who helped make each of Daniel Craig's Bond movies legendary. Like always, there's a "James Bond will return" message tagline at the very end. Huge shoes to fill after this heartfelt send off, blogspot readers.

Overall, SouthSide highly recommends seeing No Time To Die ...don't fret over the long movie runtime. You'll get caught up with the movie plot's twists and turns that you won't realize how long it was until it's over.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

02 Sept 21 - Candyman (2021)

…I am the writing on the wall, the sweet smell of blood. Be my victim… 

Say his name, blogspot readers, if you dare …not once but five times if you dare. 

It’s another adventure around town and this time SouthSide took in a movie at the famous Logan Theatre to see Jordan Peele’s Candyman (2021). Before she begins the review, let’s get a few things straight. Let’s NOT call this a “spiritual” sequel to the 1992 original version of the same name. However, there’s a slight difference between the original and this version, blogspot readers. Besides the horror side this storyline, Jordan Peele and his writing team also incorporated real life horror that effects inner city residents on a daily basis – police brutality, residential re-development/gentrification of a ghetto neighborhood and closet as well as open racism. Throughout this movie, many truths were exposed, blogspot readers, especially when one of the characters expertly noted how real estate developers entice White renters to rent in the low income neighborhoods like Cabrini Green with promises of trendy shops and cafes if they stay for a couple of years or so. 

Don’t believe SouthSide? This reviewer can remember the days when Cabrini Green was infamously known for gangs violence and generational welfare/public assistance/low income working class families. She can even remember a time when Mama SouthSide frantically told young SouthSide and her friends to roll up the windows and lock the doors while visiting the neighborhood as a church youth group for the first time. Yes, blogspot readers, middle-class Black Americans never dared venture anywhere near Cabrini Green out of fear of being robbed and or shot …perhaps murdered. Former (now deceased) mayor Jane Byrne as a publicity stunt live inside an apartment at Cabrini Green …of course with armed police security just to prove it was safe to live there. Another interesting fact, Candyman is loosely based on a real life murder (it happened in 1987) in which the murderers did come through the bathroom mirrored medicine cabinet. 

 That was Cabrini Green then.

 …Candyman is a way to deal with the fact that these things happened to us, are still happening… 

Cabrini now – the neighborhood has been gentrified, blogspot readers, and is a little safer these days. The infamous high rise apartment buildings have been demolished thus paving the way for newer and more modern mix-income buildings, single-family homes and condos …trendy shops and coffee cafes …a selective enrollment magnet high school named after a famous American football player and a Target – built on the site where the original Candyman was filmed. SouthSide sometimes get a weird feeling that it’s haunted whenever she shops there. Yes, gentrification is a real “horror”. So is the hive mind of police officers today and the brutality they bring against innocent people of color to which Jordan Peele and director Nia DaCosta terrifyingly bring to this sequel …especially towards the end of the movie. 

As always, blogspot readers, NO SPOILERS here. SouthSide highly recommends checking out Candyman (2021). 

SouthSide does advise viewing the 1992 Clive Barker original before seeing Jordan Peele’s version …solely for reference because theref are mentions about the original woven throughout the storyline. In case you don’t remember, the original was about a graduate student Helen Lyle who was researching her thesis about urban myths and legends. Her subject …then turned obsession – Daniel Robitalle aka Candyman. Now, it’s decades later baby Anthony McCoy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is all grown up and a struggling artist living in the gentrified Cabrini Green area with his girlfriend – Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris), art dealer/curator. Currently lacking any inspiration for an upcoming art exhibition, Anthony one day explores around the vacant row houses of Cabrini and becomes intrigued by the story of Candyman told to him by a Laundromat owner William Burke (Coleman Domingo …Victor Strand of Fear the Walking Dead) who by unfortunate chance met a Candyman as a young child. One tiny change here to the story about Candyman, blogspot readers, there were others besides the original Tony Todd character. And just like Helen Lyle, Anthony’s interest soon turns into obsession to which things gradually begin to happen to Anthony as well as people associated around him …some facing terrible, horrifying fates after saying his name. 

The one question on SouthSide’s mind while reviewing this movie – does Tony Todd make an appearance? 

Well …sorry, blogspot readers. SouthSide’s lips are sealed tight. She’ll have to shed innocent blood before revealing that surprising tidbit to you. 

Besides the rumored appearance of Tony Todd, this reviewer was happy to see the return of Vanessa Williams reprising her original character role though briefly as Anne-Marie McCoy, Anthony’ mother. Her brief appearance solidifies the urban myth (or legend) about the Helen Lyle story …she went crazy during her research about Candyman thus kidnapping Anthony as a baby to be used as a sacrifice. Not entirely true, if you have seen the original Clive Barker movie. This reviewer liked the artistic approach to this sequel by showing the beauty and the horror which traps the Cabrini Green neighborhood …seen both fictionally and in real life. She like the use of shadow puppets throughout the movie (and during the credits) to tell the tales of other Candyman incarnations. Want to know an interesting fact? Those row houses in the movie are still much there, blogspot readers, however this reviewer believes not inhabited. She does appreciate Jordan and his writing for truly capturing the horror narrative to which many people of color face today when confronted with police authority. The narrative sent dark chills down SouthSide’s spine during that one particular scene towards the end. It certainly had this reviewer cringing in her seat …heat pounding hard despite experiencing the intense swell of anger when the undercover officer ran his spiel for which story Brianna was to choose to admit. Many probably won’t understand what and why he was doing that. However that, blogsot readers, was racism and horror at it’s worst yet a reality faced by many like Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tamir, Rice, Laquan McDonald, Emmett Till and many more. You see, blogsport readers, horror doesn’t have to be all blood, guts and gore. It can be every day occurrences most turn a blind eye to. 

SouthSide highly recommends checking out Nia DaCosta’s Candyman in theatres. She’s looking forward to the day when it’s out on DVD to run a Candyman movie marathon

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

22 March 19 - Us (2019)

Picture if you will sitting in a darkened theatre with your buttery popcorn and favorite soda …relaxing and enjoying the latest cinematic feature but you feeling there’s an unsettling presence near you …around you …then suddenly, the darkness gradually fades to light and you realize there’s someone …something who looks exactly like you.

Are you absolutely certain that you are the REAL you? Are you sure there isn't another you out there somewhere ...waiting to take your place?

Think about those questions for a minute or two, blogspot readers, while SouthSide cues the famous Twilight Zone theme music.

Welcome to Jordan Peele’s latest cinematic piece simply titled – Us, a somewhat follow-up to his breakout hit, Get Out, but as a sophomoric film, it nearly lives up to what Get Out was …yes, blogspot readers, believe the hype.

If you’re a fan of the Twilight Zone series, you know each episode presents itself with a rather calm and “nothing is about to happen yet” sequences until you reach the middle of the story. Well, blogspot readers, that’s how Jordan Peele sets up Us for you. We meet the average Black American family spending bright sunny days at their vacation home in Santa Cruz …sandy beaches, roaring seashore and lively boardwalk complete with games and carnival rides. All seems “normal” about this family  - dad Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke from Black Panther) cracks a lot of the typical “dad” jokes and is seriously loving his new speedboat, daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) is a typical teen who has unbelievably unlimited battery power for her phone since she spends part of the vacation on it more than SouthSide’s own teen, son Jason (Evan Alex) is quite the handful with his smart-alecky mouth but the only who seems out of place is mom Adelaide {Lupita Nyong’o also from Black Panther) because of a tragic childhood event that keeps haunting her. They are joined by their White counterparts the Tylers (Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker) and their twin daughters. Again …all seems “normal” except for that other family …”what other family?” you might ask. Well, that where the “normal” ends and the real Twilight Zone-like nightmare begins, blogspot readers. Without giving too much away, blogspot readers, let’s just this other family dressed in red are willing to do anything to replace and be you.

SouthSide’s not about to reveal all of Jordan Peele’s secrets held within Us. However, she highly recommends checking out this wild rollercoaster ride that will have your heart pounding in time with the creepy music or laughing at the Winston Duke’s corniness as the one person who would rather stay than leave to escape the strange doppelgangers who have invaded their home and tried to “replace” them ie murder them in terrifying ways that only can come from the mind of Jordan Peele. There are certain things …clues here and there tagged throughout the movie just to give some idea what Us is about. The Bible verse Jeremiah 11:11 is among the other few. And, blogspot readers, don’t think you know what’s going to happen next or second guess Jordan Peele while watching this movie because you don’t and won’t. This writer/director is controlling all of the horizontal and vertical as well as diluting you will and will not see for the rest of the movie. In other words, shut off the brain …Jordan Peele has rewritten all pre-existing horror movie rules for a movie that truly doesn’t have any horror movie rules. For example, you might think there’s a moment of relief and calm, ha …Jordan Peele takes that  and you for a loop to another unexpected horror tense scene after another like the Nutcracker dance/fight scene between Adelaide and her doppelganger – was that ever intense and very well-choreographed as each movement is performed in time with the music. Oh speaking of music, SouthSide will never listen to The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” the same way ever again. Not saying it’s a bad thing but when you see Us, you will understand what she’s saying. Loved a touch of NWA’s iconic song, “Fuck the Police” to really add to the moment. Now, is Us better than Get Out? Honestly, this latest movie ranks up there but not as great as Get Out. Us has its mixed moments of humor and horror as well as an interesting, thought-provoking premise what it’s about …especially the twisted, fucked-up, mind blown ending that only Jordan Peele could surprise us with like any other Twilight Zone episode. 

Never expected or saw that coming. Mind was totally blown.

Cue the Twilight Zone theme music one more time, blogspot readers, that’s how you will feel once you have reached the credits …do take time to process what you just saw …probably will have to repeat to process Us some more.

SouthSide plans to see it again. Just can’t keep this blogger from a heart-pounding, thrill ride like Us. And yes Jordan, you have her permission to use that quote.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

October 2016 Calendar

Hey, blogspot readers, October is a time for goblins and ghouls haunting their favorite spooky places near and far …especially around Chicago where the local scene burst to life with autumn shows, events and much more.

Please note – some shows/events listed in this calendar are 21+ and would require a valid form of identification for entry.

Sept. 26 – Oct 2: Burr Ridge Restaurant Week

Sept 30 & Oct 1: West Town Art Walk & Food Truck Social. For more information, visit http://www.westtownartwalk.com and http://www.foodtrucksocial.biz

Sept 30 – Oct 31: Late Night at the Logan presents the 5th Annual Horror Movie Madness. This annual event features your favorite spooky, creepy and terrifying films on the big screen like Se7en (1974), the original Nightmare on Elm St (1884), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), the classic Nosferatu (1922) and more featuring a Halloween Party on Oct 21 and a FREE family matinee showing of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Oct 30 at 3p (4 tickets per family).

For more information, movies and show times, visit http://www.thelogantheatre.com

Oct 6 – 16: Summit Park’s Pumpkin Patch Fest

Oct 6 - 15: check out SouthSide's friend, Bassel & The Supernaturals as they road trip on the "Lost" tour. The guys will be visiting Grand Rapids, MI (Founders Taproom on Oct 6), New York City (Piano's on Oct 8), Claremont, NH (West Claremont Center for Music and Arts on Oct 10) and many more.

For more information, visit http://www.basselmusic.com.

Oct. 7:

Double Door – Swizzle Steve Presents

The Drapper / ZooFunkYou / Shady Grady and The Nobodies / Alabastor / Revolt Coda

Show 8:15p / $12 adv / $15 dos

Oct. 8:

Fitz’s Spare Keys – check out SouthSide’s good friends Whiskey Thunder rockin’ this downtown Elmhurst venue.

Akasha & Door No. 3 presents Simmer Down Sound featuring Heavyweight Dub

The Graduate / Rad Brian / Marcus Iyah

Live sets by Akasha

Films by Odd Obsession Movies …Ska Brewing special all night

FREE / 10p

Oct. 11:

The Jane Addams Hull House Museum - In honor of International Day of the Girl, view The People’s Girl …a documentary on sexual harassment in Egypt. The viewing will feature a panel discussion afterwards.

6p / $10 suggested donation

Oct 12:

Door No.3 – attend FABITAT featuring local DJ sets by Adam EL (of 16 Candles//Berlin) and LDY Prblms and drag performances by Lucy Stoole, Curlene Ribbon and Joan Waters.

Hosted by Lucy Stoole

FREE show / 9p

Martyrs’ – Midge Ure (Ultravox) and his band, The Mixture, SouthSide’s good friend DJ Scary Lady Sarah

Doors 7p / show 7:30p

Tickets $25

Oct 13 – 23: Chicago Museum Week. 

For more information visit, http://www.chicagomuseumweek.com

Oct 13 - 27: Chicago International Film Festival

For more information visit http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com

Oct 13:

Double Door – Rasputina and Vita & The Woolf featuring SouthSide’s good friend DJ Scary Lady Sarah spinning

Show 8:30p / $17 adv / $20 dos / 18+

Oct 14:

Double Door – Electric Six and In the Whale

9p show / $12 adv / $15 dos

Liar's Club - Wrecking Ball Productions presents The Hamburglars robble robble the stage with Headless Honchos, Tiger Sex, and Headspins

Oct 15:

Double Door – Soul Summit FREE Dance Party featuring Sloppy White, Dave Mata & Duke Grip

Guest DJ E da Boss (Myron & E Stones Throw / Pendletons)

FREE ($10 VIP tix avail) / 9p

Oct 19:

Double Door - Calliope Presents...Carnivale Delirium

A Night of Dancing, Burlesque, Vaudeville & Freakshow

Hosted by Rouge! Chicago's Premiere Electro Swing Dance Party

Featuring: Bailey Dee and Her Late Night Bait * Midnite Martini (Miss Exotic World 2014) * Zombo's Reject Roadshow * Eva La Feva * Samantha Siren * Vourteque * Gaea Lady * Mr. Automatic

Doors: 8:00PM / Show 8:00PM

$15 Early Bird Tickets at calliopepresents.org

$25 ADV / $33 DOS 

Oct 21 – 23:

Evangelines Bistro and Music House (St. Louis, MO) – SouthSide highly recommends music fans to attend this unique music festival event in honor of its music creator Belgian Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France. The 2nd Annual Gypsy Jazz Festival will once again re-create that feel and vibe with the violin and acoustic guitar sound featuring acts by St Louis’ local talent and international stars such as

Fleur De Lou Allstars (a local Gypsy Jazz supergroup lead by Paul Davis), Miles Griffith, and Phatz Django …and so much more.

Friday show begins at 7p

Saturday and Sunday shows begin at 11a with Gyspy Jazz brunch

Oct 21:

Lady Gaga drops new album “Joanne” (named after her aunt …also it’s her middle name) featuring single Perfect Illusion

Oct 26:

Door No.3 – attend FABITAT featuring local DJ sets by Adam EL (of 16 Candles//Berlin) and LDY Prblms and drag performances by Lucy Stoole, Curlene Ribbon and Joan Waters.

Hosted by Lucy Stoole

FREE show / 9p

Oct 27:

Double Door welcomes Logan Cage with Nyck Caution. Doors 7p / show8p

$10 Adv / $15 Dos

Oct 28 – 30:

Freaky Deaky 2016 featuring Disclosure (on Fri), DJ Snake (on Sat) and Tiesto (on Sun) with DJ Khaled, Destructo, Paper Diamond, Team Ezy, Porn & Chicken, Evix and many more.

For more info and tickets, visit http://www.freakydeakyhalloween.com

Oct. 28:

The Portage Theatre – WE-R-Music Productions & Tivo Productions pre sent Ritz Top of the Line tour 2016 with special guest Jarren Benton featuring Trilogy Mafia, Haze, Triple S Slang …hosted by Anscr and music by DJ Bobeblaze.

For tickets, visit http://www.theportagetheater.com.

Metro – be fashionably costumed and seen at the Annual Nocturna All Hallows’ Eve Ball, Goth ghouls and goblins! Spooky fun are abound to happen during this event from costume contest with spook-tacular prizes to frightening film features and creepy vendors as well as GlitterGuts Photo Booth (free) to show off your scary attire to the world. Hostess (with always the most) DJ Scary Lady Sarah spinning the music treats (or tricks) for your pleasure all night long til dawn.

11p / $15 ($18 if in non-costume) / 18+

Oct 29:

Logan Center (915 E. 60th ST) – fans of The King of Pop should snag their tickets for this special Halloween weekend event. 4Ever Music presents 2 exciting shows – The King of Pop Live. For more information – 312-450-2090 or http://www.4EMusic.com.

Double Door – The Ghosts of Halloween Past will rock out this legendary Wicker Park venue for its 20 th Anniversary Halloween show! This awesome event will feature Local H as Nirvana, Fig Dish as REO Speedwagon, Made To Fade as Metallica, Bicycle Tricycle as MeatLoaf, and AM Taxi as Cheap Trick

MEANWHILE…

Door No.3  will become The Caravan Club featuring The Sweeps as The Beatles, Te Locals as The Who, Valaska as (Sir) Elton John and Turbo Controller as The Rolling Stones

Doors 7:30p / show 8:30p

$18 adv / $20 dos – one solid price for BOTH levels

Oct 30:

Reggie’s  - Room 11 celebrates pre-Halloween fun as Parliament/Funkadelic with The Jesters and a special appearance by Tamarie T & The T’zers!

Oct 31: Halloween - safe trick o treating, ghouls and ghosties!

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

Pink Floyd's The Wall

Everyone has problems ...but none like Pink's...

Recently, SouthSide and a guest attended a special CIMMFest (Chicago International Music and Movie Festival) "meet up" at Logan Theater which was also sponsorted by DO312. Attendees of this free (with prior reservation) were treated like VIP celebrity guests with movie snackes, samples of Logan's hot snacks (mini pizza slices, cheese poppers, and chicken fingers) and Red Bull-inspired cocktails. This reviewer tried the Red Bull Red (fruit punch-like flavor) with vodka before viewing Pink Floyd's The Wall. Though having seen this iconic rock movie many times on the small screen (i.e. TV), this was a rare opportunity to finally view it on the big screen.

 

This 1982 movie, directed by Alan Parker, combines live action with sparse dialogue and animation (directed by Gerald Scarfe) in telling a story of a rock star named Pink (Bob Geldof) and the construction as well as deconstruction of his "wall". Ironically, the wall is the main character of this movie since it symbolizes alienation or separation that Pink has experienced throughout his life ...thus making him quite of a depressive human being who emotionally detached to and with everyone around him including his own wife (Eleanor David). This construction of his "wall" is told in random flashbacks stretching from the death of Pink's father, J.A. Pinkerton (James Laurenson), an officer killed in combat during World War II to his rigid school boy days where he's humiliated in front of the class by a teacher (Alex McAvoy) for writing poems in class and in between his overprotective mother (Christine Hargreaves) who smothers her only child while growing up.

 

Even after getting married (be sure to spot Roger Waters as Pink's best man), there's another layering of bricks added to the "wall" between Pink and his wife, who ultimately has an affair with a fellow peace demonstrator (James Hazeldine) while Pink's on tour. This truly sends the rock star over the edge and have a mental breakdown as he trashes his hotel suite scaring off a groupie (Jenny Wright) out of the room. This gradually begins Pink's hallucination of "worms" gnawing at him and sanity thus transforming him to this neo-facist dictator side. Yet back in reality, his manager (Bob Hoskins) tr4ies pump the rock star back to life with drugs so he can continue the show after he and the hotel manager (Michael Ensign) burst into the room discovering what has happened. Meanwhile, inside Pink's mind, he's imagining more of his neo-facist side where he's at a rally and then his followers randomly attack ethnic minorities all over town. Soon, that side of him grows out of control and we're suddenly thrust back to present reality to find Pink cowering next to the toilet having another breakdown in between incoherent mumblings of his poetry. As the guard opens the stall door, we are now witnesses to his "trial" in which the major characters of his life (the teacher, wife and mother) present testimony against him to the "court". His ultimate sentence, blogspot readers, is the destruction of the "wall" thus exposing Pink and his fears to all.

 

If you haven't seen this movie on the big screen, SouthSide would like to state how utterly amazing and awesome it was to see it in theater. Compared to viewing it on DVD, she never realized during the opening scenes how cold and uninviting the hotel hallway was where we first meet Pink crashed in front of the TV ...or how terrifying yet politically symbolic the animation wonderfully depicted our society especially while explaining the reasons for war (Goodbye Blue Sky) and our materialistic nature (What Shall We Do Now / Empty Spaces). It was incredible to behold and at the same time be squeamish while watching Pink shave off his body and head hairs and eyebrows amidst his transformation to his neo-facist side. Notably, this actually did happen when former bandmate Syd Barrett came to the 1975 recording of Wish You Were Here with shaved off eyebrows, body and head hair. SouthSide never realized the kind of horrible life Pink experienced when growing up without a father ...something he longed for in which you can hear the anger in his voice during the song explaining how the high command informed his mother the news of his father's death and Another Brick In The Wall part 1. Still there was a newfound appreciation for this movie especially when watching the iconic anthem - Another Brick In The Wall part 2.

 

All of us in one way or another can related to Pink and his "wall". Each one of us some sort of wall and/or multiple personalities adding and layering bricks as they come ...that we don't allow others to see because we might be afraid of being caught showing feelings ...feelings of an almost human nature. In honor of Roger Ebert, SouthSide would like to post an excerpt from this legendary critic who "...described The Wall as 'a stunning vision of self-destruction' and 'one of the most horrifying musicals of all time...but the movie is effective. The music is strong and true, the images are like sledge hammers, and for once, the rock and roll hero isn’t just a spoiled narcissist, but a real, suffering image of all the despair of this nuclear age. This is a real good movie.'..." He along with fellow critic Gene Siskel gave this movie two thumbs up and then added it to his list of great movies in 2010. The Wall was also the chosen movie for opening night of Ebertfest that same year.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide