Entertainment: Multimedia Belt

Tragicomedy 'Laura and the Sea' makes debut with SU Drama
By Shradha Rao
November 6, 2016 - 5:50pm
Review: With touches of comedy, "Laura and the Sea" by SU Drama reflects on how people struggle to form connections in a digitally disrupted world.

SU Drama’s latest offering is an engaging exposition of life in the digital age. Directed by Katherine McGerr, Laura and the Sea opened to a packed theater Saturday evening in the Storch Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex.

Feminist punk grows with help from festivals
By Beth Lindly
November 6, 2016 - 2:29pm
The Syracuse feminist music scene has expanded in recent years due to events like LadyFest and Feminist Friday, and riot grrrl band The Malvinas is helping build that community.

In a crowded dark basement that smells like patchouli oil, cigarette smoke and body odor, seven musicians that make up Syracuse riot grrrl band The Malvinas are setting up to perform at LadyFest 2016.

“What is that?” a crowd member says as the band tunes their instruments. “Does that guy just have a pipe with a string on it?”

The referenced band member, Zeke Leonard, plucks the string, just once.

“Oh,” the man says. “Yep, that’s exactly what he has. That’s awesome.”

Rock the Dome returns with new British favorite The 1975
By Lia Ding
November 5, 2016 - 2:41pm
Review: Colorful show and confessional lyrics help the indie-pop headliner win over American audiences.

Last night, Syracuse University students finally took off their beloved yoga pants and school hoodies, swarming the Carrier Dome to see ultra-popular British indie-pop band The 1975 headline the 2016 Rock the Dome concert.

The avid fans, mostly young women in artful makeup and flashy sun dresses, lined up two hours before the opening. But once inside, the fans had to wait a little longer.

Comedians Chris D’Elia, Michael Lenoci make Family Weekend funny
By Chase Ferren
October 30, 2016 - 3:18pm
Chris D’Elia called out everyone, from the “fitspo” community to embarrassing parents, as he entertained a sold-out crowd Saturday night as part of University Union’s Family Weekend.

Remember, you are not the Denzel Washington of your life movie.

Chris D’Elia cracked up a sold-out crowd in Goldstein Auditorium with jokes like that as part of University Union’s Family Weekend comedy show Saturday night. Stand-up comedian Michael Lenoci opened for D’Elia.

Lenoci, who explained his bio as “32. Single. That’s my life,” spent his 30 minutes focused on jokes about relationships. His understanding of relationships: “You’re pretending until you can trick them into falling for you.”

Syracuse Stage opens 44th season with ‘Great Expectations’
By Dara McBride
October 22, 2016 - 2:01pm
Review: A rotating band of narrators help usher Charles Dickens' classic to the modern stage.

Not one, but two plays appear within Syracuse Stage’s production of Great Expectations, and the various levels of drama do not stop there.

In one of those scenes, which fans of Charles Dickens may recall from the original source material, young hero Pip attends a production of Hamlet. So terrible is this prince of Denmark that his London audience chimes in on the debate whether he should “be” or “not be,” eliciting laughs from the true audience.

Hotel Garuda, Sam Feldt turn opening Bandersnatch into dance party
By Andrew Chelney
October 13, 2016 - 1:10pm
Review: EDM DJs Hotel Garuda opened and Sam Feldt finished what was truly a memorable sold-out Bandersnatch concert.

Virtually every song Sam Feldt played during University Union’s first Bandersnatch concert of the year was met with dancing from the college kids that came to see the 23-year-old perform.

An aura of happiness followed the young DJ, who headlined the concert Wednesday night. Feldt performed for well over an hour, periodically slowing down the current song he was mixing to thank the audience. His presence and masterful mixing impressed everyone in the room.

Isbell, Ritter perform with sincerity at Landmark Theatre
By Beth Lindly
October 7, 2016 - 12:49pm
Review: Jason Isbell and Josh Ritter put on a heartfelt show at the Landmark Theatre Thursday night, treating fans to excellent musicianship and performing.

The word of the night at the Josh Ritter and Jason Isbell concert was “sincerity.”

Country music, coming from today’s “bro” artists, can come off as preachy and hollow. Either you’re being subjected to a three-minute long ode to a truck or the objectification of women disguised as a love song.

Not so with Ritter and Isbell. The two put on a heartfelt show at the Landmark Theatre Thursday night and treated fans to excellent musicianship and performing.

PWR BTTM and High Waisted give energetic performances in Schine Underground
By Beth Lindly
September 30, 2016 - 3:15pm
Review: By the earnest, eager response from the Schine Underground crowd, it was clear PWR BTTM and High Waisted succeeded in having a good time at WERW’s Fall 2016 Launch Party.

The message during PWR BTTM and High Waisted’s sets on Thursday night was clear: This is a safe space; we want you to have fun.

VPA hosts performance artist Zackary Drucker
By Hailey Clark
September 28, 2016 - 11:08pm
The Syracuse native, who is now an Emmy-nominated producer for 'This Is Me' and producer of Amazon's award-winning 'Transparent,' encouraged students to advocate through art.

For Zackary Drucker, a transgender performance artist and television producer, the process of acceptance will only come with education.

Headliner Fetty Wap fails to show for otherwise satisfying Juice Jam
By Andrew Chelney
September 25, 2016 - 9:41pm
Review: Prior to University Union announcing the headliner hadn't show up, concertgoers enjoyed performances from LOLO, Stephen, Marshmello, D.R.A.M. and Tove Lo during a cloudless day.

The fans waited.

And waited.

But eventually, University Union announced Juice Jam headliner Fetty Wap hadn't shown up, and instructed everybody at Skytop Field on South Campus to  go home.