Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 10, 2015

11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 10, 2015 


Jeff’s Book Picks By Jeff Brown

SEAN’S SHAMELESS REVIEWS: 

ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2015

A COLDER WAR by Charles Cumming

Internationally acclaimed as “a premier writer 
of espionage thrillers” (USA Today). Cumming 
returns with MI6 agent Tom Kell in a tour de force 
that will dazzle readers . A top-ranking Iranian 
military official is blown up while trying to defect 
to the West. An investigative journalist is arrested 
and imprisoned for writing an article critical of the 
Turkish government. An Iranian nuclear scientist 
is assassinated on the streets of Tehran. These three 
incidents, seemingly unrelated, have one crucial 
link. Each of the three had been recently recruited 
by Western intelligence, before being removed or 
killed. Then Paul Wallinger, MI6’s most senior agent 
in Turkey, dies in a puzzling plane crash. Fearing 
the worst, MI6 bypasses the usual protocol and 
brings disgraced agent Tom Kell in from the cold 
to investigate. Kell soon discovers what Wallinger 
had already begun to suspect,that there’s a mole 
somewhere in the Western intelligence, a traitor 
who has been systematically sabotaging scores of 
joint intelligence operations in the Middle East.

ASTORIA: JOHN JACOB ASTOR AND 
THOMAS JEFFERSON’S LOST PACIFIC 
EMPIRE: A STORY OF WEALTH, 
AMBITION, AND SURVIVAL 

by Peter Stark

Astoria is the thrilling, true-adventure tale of the 
1810 Astor Expedition, an epic, now forgotten, 
3 year journey to forge an American empire on 
the Pacific Coast. Peter Stark offers a harrowing 
saga in which a band of explorers battled nature, 
starvation, and madness to establish the first 
American settlement in the Pacific Northwest and 
opened up what would become the Oregon trail, 
permanently altering the nation’s landscape and 
its global standing.Six years after Lewis and Clark 
began their journey to the Pacific Northwest, two 
of the Eastern establishment’s leading figures, 
John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson, turned 
their sights to founding a colony on the West 
Coast and transforming the nation into a Pacific 
trading power. Stark recreates this pivotal moment 
in American history for the first time for modern 
readers, drawing on original source material 
.Unfolding over the course of three years, from 
1810 to 1813, Astoria is a tale of high adventure and 
incredible hardship in the wilderness and at sea. Of 
the more than one hundred-forty members of the 
two advance parties that reached the West Coast—
one crossing the Rockies, the other rounding 
Cape Horn—nearly half perished. Though the 
colony would be short-lived, it opened provincial 
American eyes to the potential of the Western coast 
and its founders helped blaze the Oregon Trail.

THE INVENTION OF WINGS: A NOVEL 
by Sue Monk Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, 
daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to 
have a voice in the world..Hetty “Handful” Grimke, 
an urban slave in early 19th century Charleston, 
yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that 
enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. 
The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from 
an early age she is meant to do something large 
in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits 
imposed on women.Kidd’s sweeping novel is set 
in motion on Sarah’s eleventh birthday, when she 
is given ownership of 10 year old Handful, who is 
to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable 
journeys over the next 35 years, as both strive for a 
life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s 
destinies and forming a complex relationship 
marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and 
the uneasy ways of love.As the stories build to 
a riveting climax, Handful will endure loss and 
sorrow, finding courage and a sense of self in the 
process. Sarah will experience crushed hopes, 
betrayal, unrequited love, and ostracism before 
leaving Charleston to find her place alongside her 
fearless younger sister, Angelina, as one of the 
early pioneers in the abolition and women’s rights 
movements.Inspired by the historical figure of 
Sarah Grimke.This exquisitely written novel is a 
triumph of storytelling that looks with unswerving 
eyes at a devastating wound in American history, 
through women whose struggles for liberation, 
empowerment, and expression will leave no reader 
unmoved.

By Sean Kayden

James Bay – “Chaos 
and The Calm” (March 
24th, 2015) – British 
singer/songwriter James 
Bay is only 24 years 
old, but will be making his major label debut 
in March with “Chaos and The Calm.” The 
Brighton Institute of Modern Music attendee, 
Bay has played virtually everywhere that would 
take him. He steps into the arena with classic 
influences on his sleeve. A distinctive guitar 
melody and warm vocals truly put this youngster 
in a whole new category. Reminiscent of Vance 
Joy, who went on to have a stellar debut LP this 
past September. The single, “Hold Back The 
River” touches upon blues, folk, and pop. Bay’s 
paints a visceral portrait with sincere lyrics and 
moving vocals. The true artistry on display is 
alluring, which makes one genuinely excited for 
the full-length album in two months. James Bay 
is shaping up to become the next breakthrough 
artist for 2015. 

George Ezra – “Wanted On Voyage” (January 
27th, 2015) – Another British singer/songwriter 
to watch for in 2015 is George Ezra. “Wanted on 
Voyage” has already been out in other countries, 
but here stateside we’ll be graced with the 
record later this month. Ezra, with his trembling 
vocals showcases tons of charisma. His single, 
“Barcelona” is a true gem displaying the singer’s 
joyous approach to music. In fact, the entire 
album is brimming with jubilant undertones. 
Ezra specializes in a laidback, everything-is-
going-to-be-okay style in his own craftsmanship. 
Like the artist above him (Bay), Ezra performs 
within the soundscape of folk/blues/rock. 
His magnetic falsettos and sharp songwriting 
abilities are much pleasure for the listeners’ ears. 
He will be hitting the road this month with Sam 
Smith and that kind of exposure alone should 
allow Ezra’s overseas momentum carry well into 
2015 over here in the U.S. of A. 

Night Beds – “Untitled 2015 LP” – Colorado 
native Winston Yellen performs under the 
moniker Night Beds. His 2012 debut album, 
“Country Sleep” was a powerful folk endeavor 
showcasing his much talent as a both a singer 
and songwriter. It was a colorful illustration 
of solitude and loneliness. While the follow up 
sophomore has officially announced, Night Beds 
released a new song entitled, “Me Liquor and 
God.” It’s a brand new sonic direction for the mid 
twenty-something year old. The song uses wavy 
snyths to lighten up Yellen’s deeply personal 
lyrics. If this latest approach is any indication of 
what the anticipated second LP will sound like, 
then we’re in store for something tremendously 
special and unique. “Me Liquor and God” is 
effective on both the lyrical forefront as well as 
the musical backdrop. Look for a huge, defining 
year for Night Beds in 2015. 

Gang Of Youths – “Untitled Debut LP 2015” 
- Australian indie-rockers Gang Of Youths 
latest single, “Benevolence Riots” is brooding 
indie rock in the form of something like The 
National. These dudes don’t even have an LP 
yet, but they’ve ignited the indie blogosphere 
with their piercing guitar work, incredibly pure 
song writing abilities, and lead singer David 
Leaupepe’s euphonious baritone. While there’s 
no date announced for their debut record, it 
will come out sometime in the first half of 2015. 
Besides their presence at SXSW this past year, 
they haven’t had much exposure stateside. Little 
is known of Sydney based group Gang Of Youths, 
but what I’ve heard thus far, I must say their 
sound is nothing shy of downright intoxicating. 
I anticipate Gang of Youths being the must-see 
band in music festivals throughout the year.


TOWNE SINGERS 2015 SPRING 

“BROADWAY BASH” CONCERT

Love to Sing--Come join the Towne Singers. The 
Towne Singers is a non-audition choir. We are 
in particular need of male voices, but welcome 
all to join this wonderful family of musicians. 
Rehearsals for the upcoming spring concert begin 
Monday, January 12th. The 2015 Spring Concert, 
“Broadway Bash” is May 17th. 

 Rehearsals are held Mondays, 7:15p thru 9:30p 
at the First Congregational Church of Glendale, 
2001 Canada Blvd, Glendale. 

 Please contact Merrily Hake, Membership 
Coordinator, via email (merrilyhake@earthlink.
net) with questions and new member orientation 
information. New member orientation sessions 
are held prior to the first two rehearsals (1/12 and 
1/19). 

 The Towne Singers is an organization supported, 
in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of 
Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts 
Commission.

MEET THE AUTHORS

On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra MadrePlayhouse

The Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society 
and First Water Design present the finest assembly 
of experts of our magnificent mountains and their 
impact on our history, culture, and way of life. 
This extraordinary gathering will be held in Sierra 
Madre on Saturday, January 24, from 1 to 4 p.m. 
Everyone is invited to this free event at 154 West 
Sierra Madre Boulevard, next door to Subway. 

This “who’s who” roster of authors will be selling 
and signing their works: 

 John Robinson, The San Gabriels, Trails of the 
Angeles: 100 Hikes in the San Gabriels, Sierra 
Madre’s Old Mount Wilson Trail; Michele Zack, 
Southern California Story: Seeking the Better Life 
in Sierra Madre, Altadena: Between Wilderness 
and City; Elizabeth Pomeroy, John Muir: A 
Naturalist in Southern California, San Marino: A 
Centennial History; Nat Read, Don Benito Wilson: 
From Mountain Man to Mayor Los Angeles 1841 
to 1878; Michael Patris, Mount Lowe Railway; 
Glen Owens, The Heritage of the Big Santa Anita; 
Paul Rippens, The Saint Francis Dam; Willis 
Osborne, A Guide to Mt. Baldy & San Antonio 
Canyon; Christopher Nyerges, Enter the Forest; 
Norma Rowley, The Angeles Was Our Home; and 
Chris Kasten, cartographer and former manager of 
Sturtevant Camp. 

 At 2 p.m. there will be a panel discussion with 
our writers. 

 

 For more information, contact Jeff Lapides at 
FirstWaterDesign.com or (626) 695-8177.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com