When it comes down to live shows, there are few bands that can match the energy and charismatic presence of the Violent Femmes. Their music has resonated through generations, dating from the early 1980s. Gordon Gano’s distinctive, offbeat lyrics and the band’s punk/folk/ indie rock sound sets them apart from many bands of their time. As I grew up, the Violent Femmes played an integral part during the better part of my adolescence. I remember coming home from school when my p

By age 16, I had been attending local hardcore shows for about two years. Being in a crowd full of other raging teens equally pissed off at the world was the perfect outlet for my teenage angst. However, by 17, I realized that music fueled by pure anger no longer satisfied me. I still felt the angst, but with it emerged a new sense of curiosity. I began to sit at the back of the crowd, bored, instead of participating in the usual moshing antics. Gradually, I stopped going to

“Dead Space” remake Image from Electronic Arts Meet Isaac Clarke, a space engineer specializing in repairing spacecraft systems. Isaac and his crew are sent to investigate the USG Ishimura, a mining spaceship that has mysteriously lost communication. Upon arrival and docking, they immediately sense something is very wrong, as the ship gives off an eerie, unsettling vibe. As they investigate further, Isaac and the player are confronted with the horrors of what happened before

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and no, I ain’t talking about the Andy Williams song. It is the perfect season of 60-some degree weather, broody vibes and of course, jumping in between “Twilight” and “Saw” marathons. Not the “rotting” sort? OK, fine: Celebrate this time of year with the top-quadrant pumpkin patch festivities: Bella Organic Farm | Sauvie Island Nestled near the main fork of the Willamette River at the south end of Sauvie Island, this is one of my fav

A creator, an icon, a patron, an activist, and a person with such significant influence: Lots of remarkable people come to mind when it comes to the fashion industry but the one that stands out most of all is the legendary Vivienne Westwood. Her contribution to the punk movement and how she used her brand for activism was such a powerhouse move in the industry.Dame Vivienne Isabel Westwood was born on April 8, 1941, in Tintwistle, England. Born into modest circumstances, she

Illustrations by Cortlan Souders Mount Hood Community College has gotten very spooky as of late… Ghosts, Ghouls, Goblins run amock… But why can’t monsters get an education too?

Overload Ken Perez Sure, education is pain, but it is not as excruciating as carrying a 500-pound piano up three flights of stairs while it is 108 degrees outside. Also, you must carry it with some dude with jail tattoos, who is calling you a bitch the whole time. Regardless, this summer was honestly one of the best summers I have ever had in my life. I scrambled and got the first job I could find. I ended up driving to a warehouse every morning to meet up with a bunch of sw

The Two Faces of Trauma Revealed Illustration by Cortlan Souders The Fifth Phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the most emotionally stirring phase to be introduced to the franchise – and when Marvel announced that Deadpool was joining the MCU, the reaction was very split between fans. Most thought that Deadpool’s raunchy and inappropriate tendencies would be silenced by Marvel Entertainment’s owner, the Walt Disney Co. Others thought perhaps the Sony Corp.’s Deadp

Image sourced from IGN.com George Millers’ dystopian saga roars back to the silver screen, shiny and chrome, with “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” a prequel story in a series that has spanned nearly half a century. Calling the movie “MEDIOCRE!” in those famous words of Immortan Joe, would be a vast mischaracterization. This ride on the road to Valhalla is not only a beautifully stunning visual spectacle, it’s a loud, vibrant, and violent tale of cathartic retribution. ‘Furiosa’ exp

Image sourced from thebelladonnacomedy.com Y’all, summer is almost here to serve up (in)tolerable heat, histamine flare-ups, and sweaty crevices. Unless you’re taking summer session courses, it’s time to start bookin’ Swimply pools, purchasing concert tickets, and yes… relaxing. Oh, the possibilities (OK, calm down Gemini)! Whether you’re about to plunge into the nearest swimming hole like Tamolitch Falls, douse yourself in peppermint oil before trekking to Mirror Lake, order

If you currently have no plans for summer, change that: Now you do! It is my pleasure to serve you the dates of an eclectic blend of summer concerts coming to Portland and across Oregon & environs. Venue Key: MC: Moda Center, WB: Wonder Ballroom RT: Roseland Theater MS: Mississippi Studios Beyond Wonderland at the Gorge Gorge Amphitheatre Sat.-Sunday, June 22-23 Ages: 18+ Why not kick off the first week of summer break with an EDM festival? Mojo Family Fest 2024 Red Mud Ranc

If there’s one frustration that I think the majority can relate to it’s… d-d-d-dating. Think about how many times you, friends, and family have expressed the absolute frustration in online dating. So many people, myself included, won’t STFU about it. Tinder, Bumble, Grindr, Hinge, Her, Coffee Meets Bagel, Plenty of Fish to name a few of the popular apps! I’m far from Carrie Bradshaw; I’m not smokin’ a Marlboro light in my upper Eastside apartment thinking the “I couldn’t help

Photo by Kane Finders With the weather warming up again, the outdoors is getting more and more attractive. And one of my favorite ways to remain active when the weather is nice is to go for walks around the Portland metro area – the kind of accessible walks that everyone can participate in, with a little bit of effort. What this brief guide won’t describe are more challenging wilderness hikes, or particularly lengthy and difficult walks. These are just a couple of my favorite

The Performing Arts department at Mt. Hood Community College put on a Theatre Improv Show the evening of May 23, and it was hilarious. I came in with no expectations and not too much information about what would happen, but I did know that MHCC theatre instructor Zach Hartley had been working very hard all term to teach the improv class students who made up the entire cast of actors for the showcase. One thing I was not expecting with this show was audience participation. We

About a year and a half ago I found myself at wit’s end. I was at a job that I didn’t enjoy at all, which was slowly and surely destroying my mental and physical health, and I couldn’t see a path forward. After a bit of consideration and with a whole lot of hope, I decided to quit that job and pursue a different path by going back to school full-time. That’s the abridged version of how I found myself in Mt. Hood Community College’s Integrated Media: Video program as a 28-year

This performance was so beautiful! I was mesmerized by the emotion that was put into the performance. I used to not like jazz, but I’ve always been interested in finding new music and have fallen in love with the art of jazz since last year, when I also attended the festival. Photos by Lindsay Leeman Watching Redman play the saxophone impressed me: I’ve never seen anyone play sax the way he does, and it brought a whole new light to jazz I hadn’t seen before. Cavassa was a del

Photo by Ken Perez The MHCC Theatre program has continued to blow me away, time after time. I have been an audience member for all the productions the program put on for the community this year. And I am very proud of the hard work and passion Zach Hartley brings out in my fellow students. For Spring Term, the MHCC Theatre cast and crew has put together a production of “Everybody,” which was a finalist in the 2016 and 2018 Pulitzer Prize contest for drama. Written by Branden

Debuting on April 10, Amazon released its hit streaming show “Fallout,” which revolves around the long standing game franchise of the same name. Graphic by Cortlan Souders Taking place in Los Angeles of 2296 – 219 years after the bombs dropped during the great war of 2076 – the show follows the paths of Lucy MacLean, Maximus, and The Ghoul. Lucy, a bright-eyed and happy-go-lucky dweller from Vault 33, has spent all her life underground. Her life turns for the worse when raide

Inspiring artwork from many Mt. Hood students are on exhibit in the Visual Arts Theater through the end of May, showcasing an entire school year of creations by the student body of the MHCC Visual Arts Department. Several awards were announced at a formal artist reception, held on May 9. They were presented by Mt. Hood sculpture instructor/adviser Nathan Orosco for the winning works selected by Portland ceramic artist Nora Brodnicki, this year’s exhibition juror. Categories i

There’s nothing that stirs up controversy and division among film fans and critics alike quite like films centered around sacrilege and demonic possession. “The Omen” was one of those late ’70s films that served as a predecessor to the 1980s’ so-called “Satanic Panic.” A great film for its time, it still holds a solid 85% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. Conversely, the three sequels that followed the original all received terrible ratings (as is common with a lot of popular hor