PMJ started as a YouTube channel where Scott Bradlee would do Jazz style covers of popular songs sometimes as a one man show and other times accompanied by other close friends from college. Many different artists have accompanied Bradlee at his home to perform vintage genre covers . Now with over a million hits on some of their videos and over 15 albums out PMJ has gained a worldwide fan base and last Sunday they made their way to our own Englert Theatre.

Entering the Englert Theatre, one could hear jazz music playing and see the stage lit up with blue and purple lights shining onto an elegant silver backdrop to set the mood for what was about to happen. When the show started the musicians came out and played an instrumental medley of today’s hits. As the medley played the emcee of the night came out and introduced himself as Lavance Colley and promised the audience that tonight was going to be a party. Colley also let the audience know that, if the music moved them to do so, they could clap, dance, and waive their arms. The suave emcee next introduced us to the rest of the performers who were all dressed to the tens.

P.m. had brought several vocalists including: Broadway star and actress Sara Niemietz; winner of PMJ’s new artist search making her debut on tour Olivia Kuper Harris ; season 4 American Idol second runner up Vonzell Solomon ; Von Smith , as well as the wailing vocals of the emcee Lavance Colley.

Accompanying the vocalists was Steve Whipple on the bass, Dave Tedeschi on the drums, Logan Thomas on the ivories, Chris Hemingway on the woodwinds, and Desmond King playing the trombone. Joining the Musical performers was tap dancer Anissa Lee who danced along with the band. The vaudeville style vibes were apparent during the show and everyone onstage had an energy that filled the entire room.

Throughout the night PMJ turned songs from the likenesses of Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé into vintage genre hits.  Some of my favorites were “Halo” (originally performed by Beyonce ) and “Love Yourself” (originally performed by Justin Bieber). I was entertained throughout the entire show because with PMJ there is never a dull moment. Like promised earlier they truly did bring a party to the Englert.

Fans were seen dressed in their 50’s era best and took the emcee up on his earlier offer and started to swing dance in the aisles. I would recommend this show to anyone as the performers are all true entertainers.  So if you’re looking for a great night full of comedy, music, dance, and smiles I suggest that you check PMJ out when they come to Iowa City again next year.

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They began the night by saying that their set would be “ALL NEW MUSIC”. Which I thought was a very bold and creative move. I have been to many shows and that was the first time I have seen a band perform only new music. At the beginning of one of their songs Drew even stated “This song is so new that it doesn’t even have a name yet!”

This was all in typical Jack Lion fashion as they are known for sampling things on stage and making up new renditions to their songs on the fly. This creates a very spontaneous atmosphere and keeps the audience interested as every show is different than the last.

The one thing that was instantly obvious to me was how talented Brian, Drew and Justin all were on their instruments. They all seemed very comfortable on stage and were all quite engrossed in their instrument. I think this passion is what makes the trio work so well together and enables them to continue making new sounds.

Undoubtedly the most impressive factor about Jack Lion is their fusion of jazz and electronic. Two genres that could not be much more different from one another. Jazz is a genre rooted in improvisation and spontaneity while electronic is based on the ability to pinpoint and control every aspect of the song. Smith has described this process as “trying to marry two worlds even though they are very disparate.” The blend of these genres makes for an fascinating and inspiring sound and also brings out an interesting audience as there are fans from both sides of the spectrum.

I felt like the music of Jack Lion and the venue itself were made for each other. The combination of electronic and jazz music mixed with plenty of down tempo beats played off of the dark/grunge feel of the upstairs at Gabe’s perfectly (this may be bias as Gabe’s is one of my favorite venues). Not to mention the sparkling lights that cover the ceiling enhanced the atmospheric feel of Jack Lion’s sound.

Overall, this show was admittedly a difficult show to write about for several reasons. One, the whole set itself was about forty minutes long which didn’t leave me with an ample amount of content to cover. Two, all the songs were new and completely instrumental which made it a bit more difficult to discuss the content of the music. And three, the stage presence of the band was somewhat uneventful with minimal movement of the members and only a small amount of interaction with the crowd.

With all that being said I am incredibly happy I chose to review Jack Lion and looking back I would not have picked a different show if given the opportunity. The music they create is truly its own thing that does not to be combined with any extra factors to make for a moving show. I have never been to a show that is more, for lack of a better word, inspiring. Jack Lion demonstrates that the possibilities in music are only limited by you, arguably the most beautiful aspect of music. They are an incredible band to see live, and I encourage everyone to attend a Jack Lion show.

For more on Jack Lion check out their Soundcloud, Facebook and Twitter.

The post Witching Hour: Jack Lion @ Gabe’s 11/05/16 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Lenny Abrahamson’s Room is, to say the least, an interesting film. Based on Emma Donoghue’s 2011 novel of the same name, the film follows Jack and Ma; a mother and son trapped in an 11×11 shed known as “Room”. Held prisoner there by their captor, known as Old Nick, the viewer gets a glimpse into their strange life and beautiful love.

Space plays an incredibly important role in Room. In the beginning, we are introduced only to the two characters of Jack and Ma. Together, these two try to go about their lives in the cramped space that is Room. The camera is up close and claustrophobic. It seems to always be right in the face of the characters, not allowing them or the audience much room to breath.

Of course, this works to the film’s advantage, as the viewer begins to not only notice, but feel the confines and containment of Room. When enclosed in so little a space, the characters begin to seem like giants. Every action they perform seems big, and encourages the audience to scrutinize and take in detail in a way much different than in other films.

Sound also plays an important role in establishing the atmosphere. Not only is space constricted, but sound is amplified. In the sound-proof casing of Room, each and every action can be heard perfectly clear. From soft breathing, to the clink of a spoon, to the sound of Old Nick unlocking the door to Room, each sound speaks volumes about the action and character that produced it.

For the first half of the film, this is how we meet and get to know the characters. When every action is so big and every sound is amplified, we learn so much about who the characters are, beyond what we can learn from their basic interaction and dialogue.

We can see the years of wear and toil in Ma as she cooks and cleans, just as we see her determination to care for and love Jack when they make toys together. We can see the wonder and whimsy of Jack as he creates his own universe to play in, and we can see his frustration and anger as he lashes out at Ma. Even the short glimpses we see of Old Nick are enough to tell us so much about his character. The film is driven by the atmosphere it creates, and the interaction of its complex characters. It uses the cramped space of Room to its advantage in creating a compelling story.

The film takes a completely different turn once the escape from Room is made. Ma, now known by her original name, and Jack must readjust to the world outside Room. Ma must return to the world that she was stolen from, and Jack must discover an entire world that he has never known about.

However, with this expanded space, the method of storytelling changes. New characters are introduced, and while they too are complex and human, they don’t get adequate screen time for the viewer to truly get to know them. And in a broader sense, the story begins to be driven by events. News interviews, medical emergencies, and legal issues take the place of character development and interaction.

Don’t get me wrong, the second half of the movie isn’t awful, and the film itself is excellent and definitely worth a view. The magic of the characters in the first half may be gone, but their adjustment to the outside world is a necessary story element worth exploring. The second half is just, perhaps, a little less engaging and intimate.

But again, this is an important element of the story, and in a sense this lack of intimacy with the characters is not only experienced by the viewer, but also felt by the characters too. Jack expresses so much himself, as if he almost desires to return to the world of Room. The abuse of Ma and Jack was horrific and cruel, but it built between them a bond that was more intense and pure than just about any other mother-son relationship I’ve ever seen on the silver screen.

Click here to see if Room is playing in a theater near you. Check out the trailer for the film below:

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