ROY’S RANDOM RAPS
1. The Sopranos/Big Love/Huff: The three best hours on television, and a whole lot better than anything you might see in your local multiplex these days, too. HBO’s bellwether series, in its sixth and final season, had its best episode yet last week, touching on such hot-button topics as Hollywood pitch meetings, celebrity entitlement, award show gift baskets and how to prepare a rabbit old-world style, featuring no less than Doogie Howser buddy Vinnie Delpino (Max Cassella) as a sleazy low-level mobster pulling credit card fraud at the expense of John Ventimiglia’s hilariously put-upon restaurateur Artie Bucco. The horrified look on Ben Kingsley’s face when Chris accosts him in the elevator about getting into the Luxury Lounge as the Sexy Beast realizes he’s up against the real thing and Lauren Bacall cursing after getting mugged for her gift basket outside the Beverly Hilton are alone worth the price of a subscription. Big Love is also picking up steam, as its dark Twin Peaks-like secrets begin to unfold, with the much-hassled Bill Paxton admitting that things are spinning out of control, which isn’t a surprise when you consider the man answers to three rather idiosyncratic wives—one of whom he’s having an “affair” with. It’s not quite the sexual paradise you might think, even with the ravishing Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin in the house(s). Some fans are complaining that Showtime’s Huff has jumped the shark, but I don’t agree. Oliver Platt is still a wonderfully alive character, with all his contradictions, and I’m intrigued by Hank Azaria’s schizophrenic brother played by Andy Comeau, though not everyone else apparently is. It’s another searing epater le bourgeois examination of upper-middle-class foibles, impeccably acted and not afraid to wear a heart on its sleeve, even if it is sometimes misplaced. —Roy Trakin

2. Bruce Springsteen, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (Columbia): Everything old is new again. Reminiscent of Dylan’s early-’90s covers albums Good As I Been to You and World Gone Wrong as much as Bob’s work with The Band on The Basement Tapes, the Boss’ tribute to traditional songs associated with Pete Seeger as well as his roots in folk, country and gospel-blues might seems like a reaction against the major philosophical statements of The Rising and Devils and Dust, or just a chance to recharge his creative batteries. Indeed, the half-hour DVD that accompanies this DualDisc features the Boss singing the praises of making good-time music with friends and family in the relaxed, Music From Big Pink-like setting of his New Jersey farmhouse. Many of these songs reflect Springsteen’s own leftist political leanings, from the outlaw blues of “Old Man Tucker” and “Jesse James” and the pro-labor anthems “John Henry” and “My Oklahoma Home” to the 1815 anti-war ballad “Mrs. McGrath,” whose words are startlingly similar to those of activist Cindy Sheehan. Thanks to Charles Giordano’s accordion and the funereal trumpet of Mark Pender, the Dixieland music pays homage to its birthplace in the Mississippi delta and New Orleans. And while it might seem like Springsteen is catching his breath on this retro tangent, the sheer joy and commitment of the playing infuses even old warhorses like “We Shall Overcome” and “Froggie Went a Courtin’” with modern relevance. —RT

3. David Gilmour at Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City Walk: The Pink Floyd guitarist manages to have his cake and eat it, too, as do fans, playing the whole of his new Columbia album On an Island in order during the first part of the show (after teasing the audience with the Dark Side of the Moon medley “Breathe in the Air/Time”). And indeed, the title track and “The Blue,” with guest crooners David Crosby and Graham Nash, effortlessly evoked the languid pace and those patented elongated Gilmour leads, masterfully backed by Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright and the subtle but effective fills of woefully underrated Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera. The warm response of the crowd led me to believe Columbia missed out on marketing the new album to a captive audience by pulling a Prince and including it with the price of admission, though the real pyrotechnics were saved for the 90-minute, laser-driven second act, bookended by a pair of Syd Barrett nods in “Shine On” and “Wish You Were Here.” The highlights included extended versions of three early-’70s psychedelic nuggets, “Fat Old Sun” from Atom Heart Mother, “Wot’s…the Deal” from Obscured by Clouds and “Echoes” from Meddle, but the true revelation was a Bowie-ish Pin-Ups take on “Arnold Layne,” a ’60s Britpop hit that even pre-dated Gilmour. Despite the space-age trappings, Gilmour makes you realize the music is made up basically of extended blues riffs, distorted and twisted with effects, but still pretty elemental. By the time “Comfortably Numb” hit, I was just that, the performance’s lugubrious pacing approaching stasis in a haze of druggy smoke and acid flashback. And that was just the audience. I mean, who needs Roger Waters, anyway? This show once and for all answered the age-old question, which one’s Pink? —RT

4. Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend: Legacy Edition (Volcano/Legacy): This two-disc reissue combines the classic 1991 Zoo Records album and its ’92 companion piece Goodfriend—originally A&R’d by HITS’ own Grammy-nominated Bud Scoppa, who provides the new edition’s very informative liner notes—with bonus tracks thrown in. Sweet had already been through a pair of failed label deals at Columbia and A&M, when A&R exec (now poker player) Scott Byron and Scoppa convinced the label’s President Lou Maglia to release the album after everyone else in the industry had passed. Sweet had enlisted New York punk guitar legends Richard Lloyd of Television and the late Bob Quine, the Void-Oids’ and Lou Reed cohort, who provided their patented crunchy blues leads and gnarled arpeggios, respectively, to an album of Rubber Soul-like wistful love songs as played by Crazy Horse, recorded in the wake of the singer/songwriter’s breakup with a girlfriend and subsequent meeting of his wife-to-be. “Divine Intervention” and “Girlfriend” establish the palette, the latter mixing and matching Greg Leisz’s bluesy lap steel guitar, ’60s-styled, high-pitched harmonies and Quine’s jagged, gnarled Velvets riffs. The only thing more amazing than realizing how an album this smart could be a commercial success back then is the prescience of “Holy War,” written at the time of the Kuwait invasion, but uncannily relevant today. Then again, so is the rest of Girlfriend, some 15 years after the fact, an album that prefigured musical styles from alt-roots to emo, and sounds just as vital today. —RT

5. Little Manhattan: It’s not surprising to learn this sleeper’s first-time director, screenwriter Mark Levin, was once a co-producer for TV’s The Wonder Years, because his idealized, first-person ode to first love in New York City is an adolescent version of Annie Hall meets Madeleine, as affecting but never too cloying leads Josh Hutcherson and Charlie Ray play the Woody Allen-Diane Keaton parts by meeting cute at karate class, only hinting at the neuroses bound to come. The film’s Upper West Side turf is lovingly portrayed as a danger-free playground bounded by Central and Riverside Parks, as Hutcherson’s Gabe traverses the not-so-mean streets via Razor scooter, an animated overlaid map defining his universe. Our hero’s lessons in amour are a little too neatly underscored by his estranged-but-still-living-under-the-same-roof parents—Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon and The West Wing’s Bradley Whitford—but the depiction of class distinctions in the otherwise melting pot of Manhattan is a far more sophisticated theme than its kid-film veneer would have you believe. A fun little DVD to rent that you can watch without embarrassment alongside either your children or even just your significant other. Its sunny, modest optimism and belief in the power of romance captures the allure of the Apple as a collection of small neighborhoods exhibiting their own rituals and social castes better than films with a lot more pretension. —RT

6. Andrew “Dice” Clay: Just as satellite radio has enabled Howard Stern second banana Artie Lange to come into his own, it’s also resurrected the career of the defrocked funny man, who climbed to the top of the comedy world in the late ’80s and early ’90s with his raunchy nursery rhymes and cartoon misogyny, which got him a lifetime ban from MTV (for using obscenity on their New Year’s Eve show) and had both Nora Dunn and Sinead O’Connor famously boycotting his May 1990 stint guest-hosting Saturday Night Live. Neither of those two incidents arguably hurt him as much as his long-running feud with his one-time pal Howard, who never ceased to badmouth the comic over some now-forgotten slight. The two made up after Stern’s move to Sirius, and the Diceman has been on the show a couple of times since, each appearance showing he’s a true comedy original, a foul-mouthed, truculent street version of Don Rickles, his one-beat, three-chord rants the comedic equivalent of his leather-jacketed bruddas-in-spirit da Ramones. The unrestricted satellite radio is the perfect place for Clay’s brand of bawdy bravado, his rapid-fire macho man forcing even such febrile comic wise guys as Howard and Artie into stunned submission. A most welcome, if thoroughly rude, comeback… Hickery dickery dock indeed. —RT

7. The Friars of Beverly Hills: How could I not love a place with full-scale painted portraits of Dick Shawn, Shecky Green, Frank Sinatra, Henny Youngman and Bob Hope? And a parking garage with a permanent spot for Larry King? Not to mention an upstairs room with a floor covered in sand on which sits Milton Berle’s pool table, where George Burns would smoke cigars and toss the butts while comics would spirit their girlfriends through the secret passages leading down to the valet. Thanks to old pals at Luck Media, Steve Levesque and Guy McCain, for making my own Borscht Belt dreams come true by nabbing me a membership. Last weekend, I marked my own admission to old Hollywood by getting an onstage shout-out—along with fellow attendees Dick Van Patten and Mel Brooks—from Kathryn Crosby, who has been appearing at the club performing a one-woman tribute to her late husband. Imagine my surprise when the demure Mrs. Crosby offered thanks for having her as a guest on what she apologized for referring to as “your ‘Media Hos’ radio show.” Bing must be turning over in his grave. —RT

8. Warner Drive at the Viper Room: My first hint was when the doorman asked if I was one of the parents. Well, close... Actually, I’m a childhood friend of drummer Matt Shapiro’s father Dave, proudly beaming that his son’s band could actually pack the famed Hollywood venue with a sea of female admirers, many of whom appeared far younger than the supposed 21 age limit. With all the doom and gloom going on in the record business, it’s amazing that the children of the privileged would still set their sites on making it in a rock band, committing to the grueling life of the road and the lottery-like chances of success. That said, this rocking foursome proved all that hard work pays off...at least in a set of tighter-than-tight, high-energy, fun post-punk rock & roll, highlighted by mohawked bass guitarist Peter Crowner mugging up a storm, guitarist Chris Koushayan’s speedball leads, Shapiro’s muscular beats and bare-chested, headband-clad lead singer Jonathan Jonah’s frequent dives into the moshing minions. The band intersperses memorable originals like “Life,” “Livin’ It Up” and “Shocker” from their soon-to-be-released album, produced by Guns N’ Roses dial-twister Mike Clink, with cool covers such as Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” and “Rebel Yell,” featuring Crowner’s perfect Elvis-meets-Billy Idol sneer. It sure looks a lot more fun than going to college, but do they have something to fall back on? Rock & roll means never having to say you’re sorry, and these Valley guys are anything but... Someone sign them up while they’re still burning with ambition, and supported by dad. See their MySpace page here or at www.warnerdrive.com. —RT

9. Gripes of the Week: If you read my “Gripe” a few weeks back, you know I’ve had my issues with unequal traffic enforcement, but, except for the occasional California roll through a stop sign, I generally obey these laws to the letter, always erring on the side of caution. I’m not one who is prone to road rage, either, but I do get pissed off when a car jumps the so-called “right of way” protocol at a four-way stop sign. I also don’t like it when a car in the lane I’m trying to merge into speeds up rather than slows down to let me in. And when an automobile not making a right turn ends up in the right-hand lane at a red light. Also, when somebody is tailing me too closely. It’s enough to make you flip the bird. —RT

10. Nick Lowe, “I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock & Roll)”: Wry whimsy swung to as lindy-beat, New Wave architect Nick Lowe—who produced Elvis Costello's My Aim Is True and joined Dave Edmunds to anchor rockabilly-tinged punk-poppers Rockpile, as well as charting the early Stiff Records releases—was his most sardonic naughty boy on this three minutes of knowing the bride when she was her most far-flung and fun-loving. Sure, she may wear white and have gone legit, but back when “she used to do the pony/she used to do the stroll,” she was something to see—“punching all the buttons on the record machine”—in a way that remains indelibly etched on one's mind. Once upon a time, I thought this would be the closing theme to my “happily ever after.” Now I know it's that whole issue of tense that makes me so tense: “used to” implies it's over. For wild hearts, that'll never quite settle, it's a battle cry and a manifesto—fists and hair flung to the wind—and for every girl who finds Prince Charming, a lovely, frothy reminder of the joy of the unfettered in all its full-mast glory. —Holly Gleason

CALENDAR
Friday, Apr. 28th
5:00pm
Cavs @ Wizards on ESPN: The Wiz went in and stole one on King James’ home court; now LeBron looks to return the favor.

7:30pm
Suns @ Lakers on ESPN: Kobe and crew went in and shocked the world, dominating Phoenix for most of the game and stealing and returning home with an unexpected win, as the usually reliable Shawn Marion played an absolutely horrendous game. So look for Mr. MVP Steve Nash to get his troops fired up to steal one or two at Staples Center.

8:00pm
Cirque du Soleil: Corteo @ Randall’s Island in New York: The New Cirque Du Soleil—this has to be good!!!

Saturday, Apr 29^th
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Here are some of the cool bands playing Day One.
12:00-12:40pm
Head Automatica @ The Outdoor Theatre
2:30pm
The Walkmen @ The Coachella Stage
4:55-5:45pm
Common @ The Coachella Stage
5:45-6:35pm
Kanye West @ The Coachella Stage
7:10pm
Damian Jr Gong Marley @ The Outdoor Stage
8:15pm
Franz Ferdinand @ The Coachella Stage
9:30pm
Depeche Mode @ The Coachella Stage

12:00pm
Nets @ Pacers on TNT: This series is extremely boring—not that anyone outside New Jersey or Indiana even knows it’s going on. Anyway, the Pacers took Game One in the Meadowlands over a Net squad that appeared to be sleepwalking, but they limped home after getting pounded in Game Two, with three of their players getting hurt. I look for the Nets to jump all over the Pacers and take them out in five.

2:30pm
Mavericks @ Grizzlies on TNT: The Mavs are playing out a ridiculously high level right now, thanks to coach of the year Avery Johnson. I’ll bet the Grizzlies know why my Clippers tanked some games at the end of the year.

5:00pm
Pistons @ Bucks on ESPN: The Bucks have no answer for the Pistons, and I look for this series to be wrapped up shortly. Perhaps a sweep?

7:30pm
Clippers @ Nuggets on ESPN: It’s Game Four of this series, and depending on what happened in Game Three Thursday night in Denver, the Clips could be going for the sweep. However, even with all the turmoil and L.A.’s sheer domination of the Nuggets, as a longtime Clips fan, I am still not confident this series is over. I have a feeling it will go five minimum, because I see the Nuggets winning at least one game on their home floor. With that being said, I would love for my Clips to just jump all over Denver from the getgo and give these guys absolutely no hope, because it appears the Nuggets, who suspended Kenyon Martin indefinitely, are hanging on by a thread.

Sunday, Apr 30^th
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Here are some of the cool bands playing Day Two:
3:00-3:50pm
James Blunt @ The Mojave Tent
4:45-5:35pm
Matisyahu @ The Outdoor Stage.
6:00pm-7:40pm
Paul Oakenfold @ The Sahara
6:00pm-6:50pm
Bloc Party @ The Outdoor Theatre
6:40- 7:10pm
Gnarls Barkley @ The Gobi
8:10pm-9:00pm
Madonna @ The Sahara
9:00pm-9:50pm
Coheed & Cambria @ The Mojave
10:45-12:00pm
Tool @ The Coachella Stage

10:00am
Heat @ Bulls on ABC: The scene shifts to Chicago, but I just don’t think the Bulls can beat these guys in a seven-game series.

12:30pm
Suns @ Lakers on ABC: Game Four at Staples Center.

4:30pm
Cavs @ Wizards on TNT

7:00pm
Spurs @ Kings on TNT: The Kings have to feel deflated after nearly pulling off the upset in San Antonio, only to see Barry’s last-second three-point shot hit every part of the basket and drop in. You know, as much as I’m upset to not have Brent on my team, I can always still root for him. Looks for the Kings to come out strong do to the return of Artest and the crazy fans at Arco, but ultimately the Spurs will win.

JE-C’S NEW-MOVIE RUNDOWN
Akeelah and the Bee
Starring: Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Curtis Armstrong and Sara Niemietz
Synopsis: Akeelah Anderson, an 11-year-old girl from south Los Angeles, shows a knack for spelling. Despite the objections of her mother, Tanya, Akeelah is tutored for the upcoming spelling bee season by Dr. Larabee; her principal, Mr. Welch; and the residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Thoughts: I really want to see this movie. I think it has the potential to be really good—at least that’s the feeling I got from the trailers. I also know some people who saw it in previews and loved it.

Stick It
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, Tarah Paige and Maddy Curley
Synopsis: Haley Graham is a rebellious 17-year-old who, after a run-in with the law, is assigned to an elite gymnastics academy run by hardnosed coach Burt Vickerman. Haley immediately makes enemies at the school with her rebellious behavior but is surprised when the coach takes her under his wing. The elite athletes band together to compete for a major championship and prove that Graham isn't just a bad seed.
Thoughts: I was a big fan of Bring It On, and I am hoping this one is just as good.

The Lost City
Starring: Andy Garcia, Dustin Hoffman, Tomas Milian, Bill Murray and Jsu Garcia
Synopsis: In 1958 Havana, Cuba, the revolutionary forces of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara prepare to overthrow dictator Fulgencio Batista. Meanwhile, Fico Fellove—owner of the city's classiest music nightclub, El Tropico—struggles to hold together his family and the love of a woman. The writer, an ex-pat American, sees Fico being drawn into the events as the revolution unfolds.
Thoughts: I have yet to see a preview for it, and I only recently found out about it but Cuba is always an interesting subject, especially the revolution. This one could be good, really good.

United 93
Starring: JJ Johnson, Polly Adams, Cheyenne Jackson, Opal Alladin and Starla Benford
Synopsis: This docudrama tells the story of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, which became the fourth hijacked plane on Sept. 11, 2001. Told in real time, the film recreates the doomed trip from the flight's takeoff to the hijacking to the realization by those onboard that their plane was part of a coordinated attack against the United States.
Thoughts: All I got to say is, this movie is a little too intense for my liking. I don’t know if I am ready to see a movie about 9/11 yet.