Events
Children of the Stars @ Tower Theatre 09.22
I don’t think this documentary was intended to be a comedy, but the members of the California cult, Unarius, are so fucking crazy, you can’t help but laugh at times. … read more
Off Label @ Tower Theatre 09.21
What made this film so unique were the characters whose stories were presented. From a homeless, volunteer test lab “guinea pig” to a young Iraq War veteran struggling with PTSD, each person has a very different relationship with prescription medication, able to articulate why they condemn or rely on the meds. … read more
Cartoon College @ Tower 09.21
Following a group of aspiring artists who make their way through the intense MFA program at The Center For Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont, filmmakers Josh Melrod and Tera Wray spent three years shooting the failure and success of these students in an interesting and emotional documentary. … read more
Dead Dad @ Tower Theatre 09.21
For such a heavy topic, this film really impressed me, not only by the great acting, but also by a smart script that keeps the story sincere and heartfelt, but also mixes in clever bits of humor throughout to take the edge off. … read more
FYF Fest: Esther Meroño Recap
The GPS on my phone tells me we’ve arrived in Los Angeles long before Dylan Chadwick and I finally park on Sunset Boulevard to pick up our FYF media passes on Friday afternoon. “I could never live here,” I say out loud, and that sentiment will echo five days later as we fight our way out of the city, but goddamn, Los Angeles, little do I know you’re about to give me five of the most magical days of my existence thus far. … read more
FYF Fest: Dylan Chadwick Style
FYF Fest in Los Angeles: A summer block party of indie rock touchstones from sunup to sundown in the middle of the downtown Historic Park. Multiple stages, monitors, concessions, vendors, comedians, water tents … the stuff Perry Farrel tried to resurrect with his travelling roadshow in the 2000s, but didn’t catch it on. … read more
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival @ Golden Gate Park,...
My Saturday officially began with Portugal. The Man, who put on a fun, spunky show, perfect for the early afternoon. There were some sound issues at first, but they managed to power through and got everyone up and dancing for the first time that day. We left a bit early to head to MiM0SA, who turned out to be the biggest surprise of the weekend. The stage was packed. Last year, he would not have had half the size of that crowd, and he performed like a champ. He’s a local boy, and his mom was in the crowd, so it was pretty evident that he was throwing down everything he had, and it was excellent. … read more
Sure Beats Summer Camp: Final Thoughts on My First RollerCon
I’ve never been to summer camp, but I have watched the Parent Trap (1990’s Lohan edition) enough times to know that it can be some seriously life-changing shit. Though I was participating in RollerCon only as a spectator this year, it was still amazing to experience. … read more
Sisterly Love: Philly Rollergirls Defend An Undefeated Streak at RollerCon...
In an amazing show of strength, it was the Philly Roller Girls (ranked second in the East) that swept the track with the dust of so many teams’ wheels. After killing two bouts in a row against Rocky Mountain and Rose City, respectively, Philly faced off against the Minnesota RollerGirls. … read more
Halfway Through the Convention and Straight On Till August: Reflections
Three days into RollerCon and everything starts to blur together in a Hunter S. Thompson sort of haze, technicolored neon lights and heat waves a given. Everyone in their basic black scrimmage shirt, names and numbers printed on the back in all similar fonts and sizes, the difference between one derby diva and another is diminished, and we blend into a sea of sweating faces and leg tattoos. … read more