Hidden Track

As we previously declared 2009 is shaping up to be The Year Of The Boss – with his latest E Street Band backed album – Working on a Dream –

[Originally Published 07/01/2008]

We enter an intermission in our bi-weekly search for the ever elusive Hidden Flick, and look at films that were once praised but have since been somewhat forgotten. As we walk up to the ethereal snack bar and pile up on the keg-sized Popcorn, boxes of Raisinettes, Red Vines, SnoCaps, Peanut M&M’s (Jesus, take it easy, fatso), Goobers, and 99-ounce Diet Cokes (trying to cut back a little?), we ponder yesteryear’s sublime cinematic pearl.

This installment of our Intermission column—appearing every ten issues if one is either an accountant, an obsessive fan, or prone to keep track of these mathematical things—will focus on the 1979 coming-of-age film Breaking Away, based in Bloomington, Indiana, and featuring a squadron of snotty college dorks racing each other on steroid-enhanced bikes, while another quartet of less-than-privileged town folks—sons of the almighty “Cutters,” limestone quarry workers in Indiana who helped build the very university in which they occasionally drive by and mock the Richie Riches—ponder their next step as they move away from the warm comfort of high school and look ahead into the abyss that is one’s future when colleges aren’t exactly knocking on your SAT door.

Breaking Away was the little film that could as the 1970s came to a close. The film was a winner before a shot had been printed as it featured an Academy Award-winning script by Steve Tesich, ace casting of future stars-to-be Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern and Dennis Christopher while also amassing a stellar supporting cast of seasoned veterans: Paul Dooley—who played the coolest, most realistic dad in cinematic history—Barbara Barrie, who was humor, warmth and pathos-personified, and Bad News Bears veteran Jackie Earle Haley, the cool kid who was only 3 feet tall in that baseball film (O.K. I exaggerate. He was 2’10”), but hey, he could hit a ball 400 feet, smoke a pack of Marlboros (it WAS the 70s), date that hot chick that had the hair-wings blow-dried just right, ride a killer motorcycle, and score tickets to the Stones show at the heady age of 12.

READ ON for more on this week’s Hidden Flick: Breaking Away…

For three nights, at the end of 2008, a six piece band from Stillwater, New Jersey held court at Portland’s Aladdin Theater. The imaginative music machine that is Railroad Earth descended on the Rose City for a sold out three night stand, bringing along hundreds of fans from around the country to dance and sing along, reconnecting with other, like minded RRE fans (they refer to themselves as ‘Hobos’) in a deadhead-like, brotherly manner.

For starters, I met up with John and his new camera, from Tacoma. The camera was a Christmas present (Duh, it’s December thirtieth). Anyway, while we chat away, up comes Howie, from Brooklyn. He exchanges hugs while changing his shirt. It may be cold and rainy outside, but Howie is going to get tank top warm in the front row tonight. There was Marv and L.T. from Ventura, California, Sam from Nevada City, Nevada, Kurt from Nampa, Idaho. Frank was from outside Denver, Arvada I think he said. Jack and her boyfriend Will came all the way from Butte, Montana.

I was surrounded by visitors. Tourists. Tourists with cameras and cell phones and changes of clothing. I asked myself, “When did the Aladdin become a vacation destination?”

Apparently, it becomes a destination spot when Railroad Earth put down three days worth of roots. Known for their wizard like mastery of their instruments as well as their ability to improvise and accentuate each others talents, RRE dedicated this particular run as a New Years Celebration of Land, Sea and Air. Three themed, multi-set nights of world class Americana, roots/rock/bluegrass/jazz delivered in the cozy confines and wonderful acoustics of the Aladdin Theater.

READ ON for more of A.J.’s thoughts on RRE @ the Aladdin…

It’s been quite some time since the HT Crew got together for an old fashioned cookout. With the year rapidly ending, we figured we’d round up the gang, throw some logs on the fire, crack open a few Anchor Christmas Ales and do some grilling for another rousing rendition of At The Barbecue.

About six months back we offered up our favorite albums of the first half of the year, this time around we thought we’d check back in and find out what everyone’s favorite of the entire year was and give our version of a “Best Of” list. So sit back and find out just what’s been burning up our iPods this year. READ ON after the jump to see our albums of the year…

Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic on The Doors focuses a bit too much on singer Jim Morrison’s obsession with death, but does a good job of showing the sex, drugs and

Not so secret Matisyahu show at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC tonight

After 15 years as a founding member of Oklahoma’s Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, bassist Reed Mathis is leaving the band to explore other musical endeavors. New members Chris Combs on guitar and lap steel and Matt Hayes on bass were introduced to the JFJO fanbase at their sold-out New Year’s Eve show in Tulsa. The reconfigured band makes their next appearance on Saturday night as part of the 2009 Winter Jazzfest.

READ ON after the jump for a list of upcoming JFJO tour dates…