<strong>The</strong> SOURCE 16 A Day Movies at the randy_raisch@yahoo.com By Randy Raisch John dies in the End As one of the better online writers (and now senior editor at cracked.com), David Wong (real name: Jason Pargin) has been spinning his style of comedic horror for quite a while. <strong>The</strong> culmination of this was the book, John Dies in the End, back in 2007. On first pressing, the majority of normal people in the world pretty much ignored the book, but for those who were openminded to the strange, creative style of Pargin, a genius was born. It took a while for it to catch on (a second pressing wasn’t issued until late 2009), but as word-of-mouth spread, more people became aware of what is now considered one of the best alternative writings of our time. Most good books end up being made into a movie, and John Dies in the End is no exception. Last year, film festivals all over the country showcased the adaptation, and critics, for the most part, seemed impressed by the screenings. I didn’t get the opportunity to see the film on its release, but I have had it on my radar for a while, knowing that if it was even half as good as the book, a cult classic would be born. <strong>The</strong> story unfolds as David Wong (played by Chase Williamson) sits with reporter Arnie Blondestone (Paul Giamatti) and narrates the happenings of the last two years in hopes of getting his story published. And what a story it is! Wong, along with his best friend John Cheese, encounter a strange, clairvoyant Jamaican at a late-night alcoholsoaked party. David is skeptical to his so-called “magic;” but John, the more absent-minded of the two, is not only drawn into his mystery, but is convinced to inject a black narcotic known simply as “soy sauce.” At first, the drug appears to be simply a hallucinogen, as John seems to be having a “bad trip;” but after accidentally being pricked with the contaminant, David slowly begins to realize there are far more after effects than he ever could have imagined. At this point, the film does an amazing job taking reality and twisting it into something imaginative and complex. At first, you question whether what you are watching is really happening or is a side effect of the “sauce;” but soon after, you find yourself so drawn in that it doesn’t Tunes By Jeffrey Inks jeff@yvsource.com Band Profile: <strong>The</strong> Shift Name: Shea Bramer and Kellen Michael Age: 28 / 28 Occupation: Shea - Singer- Songwriter / Kellen - Guitarist, Studio Technician, Sound Technician. (We own a production company called Green Room Studios) Hobbies: Shea: “Other than music? Health and outdoors, spending time with my family.” Family: Our families are and always have been incredibly supportive of our music and all endeavors we’ve accomplished and have yet to accomplish. es since early teen years. We started playing music together at the end of 2010, and <strong>The</strong> Shift began playing shows in mid-2011. How did you come up with the name <strong>The</strong> Shift? We wanted something that was easy to remember and not necessarily associated with anything that people could assign a pre-existing really matter. <strong>The</strong> story continues to evolve, with every dark laugh and visual shock, through a contorted, mind-altering world that feels completely disjointed, while remaining almost perfectly in line. Magnet Releasing (who also distributed Rubber in 2011—a film about a murderous, telekinetic tire) continues to push the boundaries of modern independent cinema, and John Dies... is no exception. While I think it fell a little short of the book, I found it to be a hilarious and occasionally icky story that should hit the sweet spot for people who like twisted movies and are fed up with the Hollywood assembly line. Rated R - 139 Minutes Available April 2 on DVD and BluRay What challenges do you face when trying to keep a band together? <strong>The</strong> hardest thing is to ensure that everyone sees the same vision, or at least can believe in it. Music is something that takes a lot of time and energy, and people need to feel positive about whatever they are pouring themselves into. Every time I’ve seen a project fall apart, it is because the vision was lost, and you can’t expect 4-5 people to work that hard for such little compensation when they are constantly playing tug of war. What has been your largest crowd you’ve played to? 1,000 people? Didn’t you recently open for America? Yes, Sandstone Productions was kind enough to offer us an opening slot at the ‘America’ show. How was that experience? It was a very enjoyable and humbling experience. You can only play so many shows at bars and events before you start to burn out. <strong>The</strong> opportunity to play at a theater, in an atmosphere where people are there FOR the music and hungry for it, reminds you of why you started doing this in the first place. Would you like to start playing in other cities around Colorado? Absolutely! We all have family, here so just hitting the road is not exactly an option. However, the opportunity to bring our music to other cities throughout the state is really exciting. Entertainment Directory <strong>The</strong> <strong>Source</strong> entertainment directory is for bands, comedians, DJ’s, actors, music lessons... anyone involved in the entertainment business. An affordable option to promote your entertainment services. Call 970-256-9288 ext 1 for more information DJ - <strong>The</strong> Musical Leash <strong>The</strong> Largest Selectionof Music on <strong>The</strong> Western Slope! Special Events, Weddings, Graduation Parties 970.778.0474 Call To Book Your Event! Book <strong>The</strong> Demon Funkies: Denver’s Westword Showcase winners for Best Funk Band, Demon Funkies have received glowing reviews from such local publications as <strong>The</strong> Daily Sentinel, Westword, Vail Daily, Denver Daily, Colorado Music Buzz and more. <strong>The</strong> band mixes rock, funk and outlaw country to taste for any given occasion and are known for their flavorful mix of saxophone, piano, and guitar melodies. Contact: 970-234-4657 490 28-1/4 Road 242-3581 Step out of the cold weather & onto the beach front property here at After Shock Thursday—College Night Open at 9pm and play the card war game with bartenders for a free drink. <strong>The</strong> only night for 18+ Friday—FAC Open at 8pm with drink specials on wine, wells & drafts and Free food (first come first serve) Saturday—Xtreme Entertainment Open at 9pm Sunday Latino Night Open at 7pm with live Mexican bands <strong>The</strong> SOURCE / April 2013 Favorite Restaurant: Shea: “My parents opened a restaurant called “<strong>The</strong> Park Street Grill,” and, until they open a new one, that will be my favorite. Goals: Shea: “I think it is a common goal among our peers to want to make a living from the music we create. But most important, to make a living from whatever we create.” How long has <strong>The</strong> Shift been together? We have both been playing music since we were 5-6 years old; we’ve both been playing for live audienc- taste. We wanted a verb that people could associate with something positive— and it also represents A Shift in the way we were doing things, and hopefully the change we would bring to the scene. Do you play originals when you play live? We do. Both Kellen and I have written original music for many years. However, original material is a new facet of this project, and we will have much more original content to bring to the stage very soon. Do you have a favorite song that you play live? No. Until recently, the majority of our show was cover material. I think our answer to this question will most likely change as we start introducing our own material to the world. <strong>The</strong> Shift will be playing <strong>The</strong> Fruita Fat Tire Festival April 26th at <strong>The</strong> Fruita Civic Center begining at 3:30pm. Admission is FREE. Free Limousine Service Call 242-3581
HUGE <strong>The</strong> SOURCE LIQUIDATION SALE Clearing Out Space for New Arrivals 17 243-2400 • 552 25 Rd • Grand Junction <strong>The</strong> SOURCE / April 2013
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