The concept of international volunteer work can conjure a number of different impressions. For doctor Luis Vasquez, founder of the Yantaló Peru Foundation, the idea hits close to home, literally. He was born in this small Peruvian jungle town before studying in Lima and, later, practicing in the US. It was seven years ago that he returned and found the place nearly unchanged from the Yantaló of his childhood. He decided to take action and the Foundation was born.
We are a nation of voyeurs. Ingrained in us is a deep-seeded obsession with celebrity, the hero and the underdog. We love to watch individuals rise. We love to taste their fall even more. And so is born the genre of sport-dramas.
“Moneyball” starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman opened last weekend. We’ve given it a week in theaters. And? What have the People to say?
As a filmmaker, if you’ve got a subject that’s been done a hundred times over (as with most sport-dramas), you’ve got a challenge on your hands. If you take that on, you better deliver. There are some films, however, that have hit it spot on. In order to illustrate, we offer a comparison of three films: “He Got Game,” “Moneyball,” and “The Damned United.”
Once again, Cole and Vanessa give us the run down on all the culture we can swallow. Check it out!
It’s safe to say that anyone who thinks that women can’t hold their own in the rock scene has yet to see of Verona live. Fronted by the always charismatic Mandi Perkins, of Verona has been on the tip of the tongue of music industry execs ever since being featured on the MTV daily show, The Seven, and deemed “One of the Best Bands of the Year” by HITS magazine. The emerging indie rock band has been captivating audiences across America with what Perkins labels “futuristic rock;” a sound which infuses vital elements of classic rock — the soul of Stevie Nicks, psychedelic tones of Pink Floyd, and guitar-driven sounds of Led Zeppelin – with trendy electro pop.
L.A.’s famous KROQ (106.7) and Converse, recently hosted an of Verona residency at the world famous Viper Room. Four Sundays in a row, fans packed the intimate rock bar for a chance to win a pair of free sneakers and to see the band perform their hit single “Castles,” as well as the MTV-featured “Match.”
ChinaShop caught up with Perkins to discus transitioning from a solo artist to buzz worthy rock star, inspiration for her candid lyrics, and epic snowball fights at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
It’s not every day that you get to see Incubus up close and personal, let alone on a rooftop with complimentary spicy whiskey, a taco bar, and a patio size Twister board game; we were fortunate enough to be invited to such a soiree. The event was part of 98.7 KYSR-FM’s Penthouse Concerts at the historic Hollywood Tower series.
The twenty-first century was supposed to promise us a world that dwarfed that of the Jetsons: jetpacks, flying cars and Starburst-size meals. What happened? How is it that we’re still bludgeoning baby seals, slaughtering dolphins, having recreational dog fights and finning sharks? You don’t need to be a tree-hugger in order to think there’s something definitely wrong with the sort of people we’ve evolved into.
I hate to say it, but there is one upside to such destruction of human morality: individuals are forced to decide what they stand for. Straddling the fence is no longer an option. The grassroots, Tokyo-based nonprofit organization “PangeaSeed” has made its mission the ending of the cruel practice known as “shark finning.” Hopefully, most of us have heard of “shark finning,” but sadly not many know the gruesome details.
No matter how painful the world can be at times, it will always be the braver more admirable choice to know the truth rather than to cower from it; that said, let us enlighten you.
No matter how you slice it, the Foo Fighters have earned their reputations as the nicest guys in rock n roll. Currently on tour in the US, but heading to Australia later this year, I caught up with them in both Columbus and my hometown of Pittsburgh PA. They threw down a 2 hour and 40 minute set of the loudest, proudest rock from the past 15 years. In a word…EPIC!
Lead singer (as if I have to introduce him), Dave Grohl told me that its like hosting a cocktail party every day at your office. Everyone is there to party and its his job to show them a good time. I can only imagine it being exhausting, but that’s why I’m an Editor, and he’s a Rock Star.
Moyobamba, Peru is known as the city of orchids, but to me it will forever remain the city of lost dogs. The homeless dog population here is staggering, and on the rainy morning of September 22nd this was especially apparent, as my hired motokar rattled past a forlorn mutt at nearly every other doorstep, halfheartedly awaiting invitation into the warm, away from the cold and the wet.
Brazilian artist Fefe Talavera is known for her monsters, which she has painted on walls and in galleries from São Paulo to Madrid. They serve as vehicles for her voice and emotions.
“The monsters are a way of exorcising my feelings, my angers, my sadness, my ignorance, my fear,” she said recently. “It is the only method by which I succeed in expressing my rage at life, my fury.”
But in her latest exhibition, “Heart Breaker,” Talavera’s monsters share billing with images and sculptures of hearts — the biological form, not the cutesy kind found on candy and cartoons — which occupy the Montana Gallery in Barcelona. They have been scratched and hammered, and some seem to be on life support.
Last time we spoke with Thrice, they were nestled into Red Bull Studios, recording away and creating songs for their newest album, “Major/Minor.” The album came out just days ago and has already soared to #1 on the iTunes Alternative chart and nabbed the #7 spot overall. Thrice popped into Red Bull Studios to do a live session on Wednesday and performed tracks off the brand new disc. Following the show, the guys sat down with ChinaShop to chat about what’s next on the agenda. High tech gear thieves, cheesy roadside attractions, and spinning till nauseous while shooting a music video were also discussed.