2009
December
Dec 1st Tuesday Music: Deer Tick - More Fuel for the Fire EP
An iTunes-only release of what the band recorded in Charlotte, N.C., including three new studio tracks and a live rendition of "Straight Into A Storm" (Partisan).
Music: International Body Music Festival
The second year of this San Francisco festival features only body musicians - or, folks who make music solely with their bodies. Human beatboxers and a capella groups aplenty.
Music: Josh Ritter tour
After playing in venues all across Ireland, Josh Ritter will return to the U.S. for a set of shows along the East Coast. His first show kicks off Dec. 1 in Washington D.C. at the 9:30 club. He'll wrap up the following week in Lewiston, Maine with a show at Bates College.
Books: Hallelujah
The first Cohen biography to surface in 11 years, Hallelujah documents the singer's life through his most recent revival. Written by Tim Footman, published by Chrome Dreams.
Dec 4th Friday Film: Armored
Director: Nimrod Antal; Writer: James V. Simpson; Starring: Columbus Short, Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, Skeet Ulrich, Amaury Nolasco.
Film: Brothers
Director: Jim Sheridan; Writer: David Benioff; Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Mare Winningham, Sam Shepard, Bailee Madison, Taylor Geare, Patrick Flueger, Carey Mulligan, Jenny Wade.
Film: Everybody's Fine
Director/Writer: Kirk Jones; Starring: Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell. (Limited)
Film: The Last Station
Director/Writer: Michael Hoffman; Starring: Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti, Anne-Marie Duff. (NY, LA)
Film: Up in the Air
Director: Jason Reitman; Writers: Reitman, Sheldon Turner; Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Tamala Jones. (Limited)
Dec 5th Saturday Music: The Beatles Complete On Ukulele Marathon
This two-day fest in Williamsburg, Brooklyn features 185 songs (the entire Beatles catalog) performed by 60 singers, 40 musicians and 16 Yokos all on ukuleles
Dec 6th Sunday Music: Arctic Monkeys tour
Arctic Monkeys will be touring the U.S. for a brief set of December dates starting on Dec. 6 in Chicago, Ill. They'll continue along through northern states before wrapping up in Montreal.
Dec 8th Tuesday Music: Cloud Cult - They Live on the Sun and Aurora Borealis Reissues
The earliest releases from Cloud Cult, originally home-recorded, have been remastered and remixed by the band's Craig Minowa (Earthology Records/Rebel Group).
Music: Elvis Presley - Elvis 75
In honor of the King's 75th birthday, this commemorative box set includes four CDs with digitally restored tracks and an 80-page booklet of photos and essays (RCA/Legacy).
Music: Neil Young - Dreamin' Man Live '92
A set of solo Harvest Moon acoustic performances, and the latest from his ongoing Archives Performance Series (Reprise).
Dec 9th Wednesday TV: Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... Season Premiere on the Sundance Channel
The second season of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... premieres at 10 p.m. on the Sundance Channel. The seven-part series will feature Bono, The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Neko Case, Ray LaMontagne, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, and others. Season 1 of the series is now available on iTunes, and DVD/Blu-Ray box set is available on Nov. 10, 2009.
Dec 10th Thursday Music: Matisyahu "Festival Of Light"
Matisyahu is supporting his brand new album Light in New York City for the "Festival of Light," where he'll play for an impressive eight night stand starting Dec. 10. He'll play four nights at Webster Hall and another four at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Opening acts include Glitch Mob, John Brown's Body, Kid Koala and Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes.
Dec 11th Friday Film: A Single Man
Director: Tom Ford; Writers: Ford, David Scearce; Starring: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin, Nicholas Hoult. (Limited)
Film: Invictus
Director: Clint Eastwood; Writer: Anthony Peckham; Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon.
Film: My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?
Director: Werner Herzog; Writers: Herzog, Herbert Golder; Starring: Willem Dafoe, Brad Dourif, Chloë Sevigny, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena, Verne Troyer, Loretta Devine, Udo Kier. (NY)
Film: The Lovely Bones
Director: Peter Jackson; Writers: Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens; Starring: Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon, Michael Imperioli, Rose McIver, Carolyn Dando. (Limited)
Film: The Princess and the Frog (Wide, 3D)
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker; Writers: Clements, Musker, Rob Edwards, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland; Starring: Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, Oprah Winfrey, Ritchie Montgomery, Jennifer Cody, Bruno Campos.
Film: The Slammin' Salmon
Director: Kevin Heffernan; Starring: Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Michael Clarke Duncan, Will Forte, Lance Henriksen, Vivica A. Fox. (Limited)
Music: Yukon Kornelius environmental awareness concert
Stacked band Yukon Kornelius will perform a benefit concert for the environmental non-profit Reverb on Dec. 11 as a part of the Vail Snow Daze, which is Vail's annual winter kickoff festival.
Dec 12th Saturday Music: Second Annual Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival
This festival at Chicago's Congress Theater features Bela Fleck, Dr. Dog and he Emmitt-Nershi Band.
Culture: Lance Mercer's Pearl Jam
One of Pearl Jam's designated photographers showcases what he captured of the band's early years at the Morrison Hotel Gallery, 124 Prince St in New York.
Dec 13th Sunday Music: Aimee Mann Christmas shows
Aimee Mann will host her fourth annual Christmas concert at Largo in Los Angeles, beginning on Dec. 13. She'll pull material from her fan favorite One More Drifter in the Snow.
Music: Aimee Mann Christmas shows
Aimee Mann will host her fourth annual Christmas concert at Largo in Los Angeles, beginning on Dec. 13 and continuing through the next day. She'll pull material from her fan favorite One More Drifter in the Snow, while joined by her cast of Christmas elves.
Dec 19th Saturday Music: X Christmas shows
Frontrunners of the L.A. punk movement will celebrate the upcoming Holiday season with four Christmas concerts that will coincide with their X-mas 'digital 45.' The first show kicks off in their hometown Los Angeles on Dec. 19. They'll play the second concert in Sacramento, Calif before wrapping up with two shows in San Francisco. Calexico and Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta will be supporting acts for X.
Dec 29th Tuesday Music: The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
The Flaming Lips' twelfth LP and first studio double-album.