TouchTunes made itself a visible front-runner in a jukebox revival of sorts, in part because it allows users to choose music from their phones. In March 2016, the company—which has since merged with PlayNetwork—debuted an overhauled version of its mobile application which now “allows users to be the DJ and take control of TouchTunes’ jukeboxes” in 65,000 locations across North America. Through the app, these locations delegate musical, and therefore atmospheric, control to patrons and profit in the process. For dive imitators, these devices make it harder to maintain their neighborhood-bar veneer, while actual dives start to resemble their faux peers. TouchTunes erodes the premise of quaint regionalism as bars of all kinds transform into Top 40 danceries.
Tag: 05.08.18
Baroque Music Has Survived For Three Centuries In The Bolivian Lowlands
When Jesuit missionaries first arrived in what is now eastern Bolivia at the end of the 17th century, they found the indigenous peoples of the area to be musically inclined and taught them to sing, to make and play fiddles, harps, wind instruments and such, and to compose music in a hybrid European-South American idiom. Reporter Nicholas Casey travels to the old mission and cathedral town of Concepción to find that the tradition of music-making has remained strong – and that, to the amazement of musicologists, thousands of scores from the 18th century have survived there and even remained in use.
The Sock-Puppet Ventriloquist Who Sells Out Stadiums
“[Jeff] Dunham is no children’s entertainer. His puppets are dysfunctional, foul-mouthed and unashamedly stereotypical, from Seamus the drunken Irish baby to José the Mexican immigrant and Achmed the jihadi suicide bomber. Spurning all accusations of racism, sexism and homophobia, Dunham has become a comic phenomenon. He doesn’t just hold the Guinness World Record for most tickets sold for a standup comedy tour – 2m across 386 venues – he is also ranked by Forbes as one the highest paid comedians on the planet, up there with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Amy Schumer.”
How To Navigate The Minefield That Is Prompting Actors In Rehearsal
Professional deputy stage manager Katie Jackson: “In theory, this should be quite a simple task; the actor dries, they ask me to read out their line to them, I do so and then they repeat it and carry on with the scene. However, ask any DSM and they will say that it can be one of the most stressful parts of the job. Every actor has a different way of telling you that they want to be prompted, … [and,] unfortunately, it is very rare for actors to tell you their particular way of acknowledging the need for a prompt.”
LACMA Launches Program To Find And Train Minority Curators
“The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is teaming up with the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University to establish a three-year program that combines academic training and work experience to develop a new generation of diverse curators, directors and other museum professionals.”
Court Throws Out Lawsuit Aiming To Block Auction Of Basquiat
“The New York State Supreme Court on 7 May denied an injunction sought last week by collector Hubert G. Neumann to block Sotheby’s from offering a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting from his late wife’s estate. The work, titled Flesh and Spirit (1982-83), is to be offered in the auction house’s 16 May evening auction of contemporary art.”
Marin Alsop’s Music Program For Baltimore Schoolkids Has Taken Root And Grown
When the Baltimore Symphony music director started OrchKids ten years ago – with $100,000 of her own money as seed funding – 30 students enrolled. Now there are 1,300, and Alsop hopes to see 5,000 kids taking part in the next five years. Reporter Michael Cooper traveled to Baltimore to have a look.
Terry Gilliam’s Ill-Starred Don Quixote Film Is Finished And Has The Closing Slot At Cannes – Yet *Still* Its Problems Aren’t Over
Reporter Nicholas Barber gives a refresher on the calamitous three-decade long history of The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, the run of good luck that finally saw the movie completed, and the last-minute monkey wrench that has been thrown into the works.
Terry Gilliam Suffers Stroke As ‘Quixote’ Curse Seemingly Rages On
“French newspaper Nice-Matin reports that a minor stroke prevented director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Terry Gilliam from attending May 7 court arguments on whether his The Man Who Killed Don Quixote will be permitted to close the Cannes Film Festival. … Paulo Branco (Cosmopolis), a onetime producer on the project, sought an injunction to stop both, claiming he has held the rights to the film since August 2016.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 05.08.18
Simon Rattle’s landmark 3-D high-def Mahler festival with the London Symphony Orchestra
So often when star musicians such as Simon Rattle hit a golden spot in their late 30s and early 40s, you stand back and ask, “Where can they possibly go from there?” … read more
AJBlog: Condemned to Music Published 2018-05-08
The Problem of “Engagement”
In March I had the privilege of participating in the Intersections Summit hosted by Milwaukee Repertory Theater. It was a heady gathering of community engagement practitioners from theaters (mostly) across the U.S. As frequently happens, … read more
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2018-05-08
A Little Masterpiece in Central Asia
There are many reasons to visit Uzbekistan, which I did last fall. … [One of them is] the Samanid Mausoleum in Bukhara. The little structure not only survived the 13th-century marauder Genghis Khan but also many earthquakes and other natural shifts … read more
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2018-05-08
“Are We All Done?” Christie’s Delivers a Dull (but effective) “Sale of the Century” Debut
Maybe I’m getting jaded, but tonight’s first installment of the “Sale of the Century” — the David Rockefeller estate disposals at Christie’s — seemed to me as exciting as a wet blanket. (I suppose that would be me.) … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2018-05-08
Propwatch: the fans in The Way of the World
There’s no limit to how much bad acting you can do with a fan, if you’re in a folderol frame of mind. Point it for emphasis. Snap it shut in high dudgeon. Make peekaboo … read more
AJBlog: Performance Monkey Published 2018-05-08