Arts & Entertainment

The ArtHaus in downtown Decorah was packed on the evening of Oct. 4 as over 50 people crowded inside to witness the first ever ArtHaus Poetry Slam. The popularity of the event was evident as the building overflowed its capacity, forcing people to the streets.

The SAC fall concert drew 1,012 people to the Regents Center Sept. 26 for an evening of music, lights and confetti.

“The show went amazingly smooth,” SAC Concerts co-chair Brandon Flaata (‘09) said. “It couldn’t get any better.”

In support of Luther’s drama projects, many students apply their skills by working behind the scenes in the Luther College scene and costume shops. Through work study, class time or volunteering, these students showcase their acquired talents in a variety of ways throughout the theatre department.

Ratatat - LP3

Regaling their audience with another album, Ratatat released LP3 last July. Ratatat found a few different styles and sounds to share with their audiences in LP3.

Somewhat expected from a band that has opened for Daft Punk, Ratatat hit with some upbeat and club sounds in their most recent single, “Shempi.” This sound enticed the listener to venture deeper into the album, sharing sounds different from most club music. However, when the song starts to stray to more ambiguous sounds, the bass line brings the listener back into the song.

Luther’s appreciation for the arts is clear through its various dance troupes. These groups share the love of dance but use different forms of dance to express it.

Last year, Xander Jeanneret (‘09) studied in Japan. When he returned to Luther he brought a dance form known as Yosakoi with him.

Instructor in Music Tom Bourcier gave a jazz piano recital in the Noble Recital Hall last Thursday, Sept. 18. Tom Gullion was featured on tenor and soprano saxophone.

Bourcier and Gullion played some old standards from jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk and also played pieces they composed themselves. The genres ranged from classic jazz to R&B to Gospel.

At the end of the performance, Bourcier and Gullion received a standing ovation from the audience and were encouraged to come back with an encore.

When Bourcier isn’t performing recitals, he teaches a class on improvisation, directs the Jazz Band, advises jazz combos, recently started the Jazz Quintet and works with the Theatre and Dance Department by training accompanists.

My official album for summer 2008 was Donkey by CSS, a Brazilian pop/dance band that has had huge success this year. Their music continues in the vein of post-french house and electronic scene music, instigated by Daft Punk in the 1990s and cultivated by many talented groups into a hugely popular international music movement.

ulia Mann (‘09) will perform her one-woman show, Mixed Reality, Oct. 4 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts. Essentially a story of her own life, Mann’s piece outlines the internal and social challenges of growing up biracial.

Structured through movement, singing and various monologues, Mann’s inspiration to create this piece stemmed from her past.

Professor of Art Douglas Eckheart is celebrating his fortieth and final year at Luther. To commemorate this occasion there is a campus-wide exhibit showcasing work of Eckheart’s students from 1968-2008.

A summer filled with incredible releases has come to an end. The staff at KWLC Radio is proud to bring you reviews of two of our favorites from the past four months.

Esperanza Spalding – Esperanza

Family weekend will be busy for Luther students with relatives filling local hotels. Among all the weekend activities there will be opportunities to get off campus and experience visiting artists to Decorah.

Inspire(d) magazine, with 100.5 KDEC, will present two live concerts at the Steyer Opera House in the Hotel Winneshiek.

Last Saturday at the Center for Faith and Life, John McCain admitted he could be Ronald Reagan’s father and Bill Clinton hit on a college student. Well, at least their impersonators did. The touring comedy group Capitol Steps started off this year’s Center Stage Series.

The beginning of this school year at Luther College is peppered with change. We have a new science building, roads have disappeared and meal transfers are available all day long. Along with these, there is another new addition to campus. In front of the CFA sits a brand new sculpture by Edward L. McCullough entitled “Meridian II.”

OK Go, a popular rock band, is coming to Luther on Friday, Sept 26th. The show, presented by SAC Concerts, will be held in the Regents Center at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. The opening act will be Company of Theives.

A new face appeared on Water Street this July. Lea Donhowe Lovelace (‘97), a Luther alumna and Decorah native, and Kristen Underwood, a Decorah resident, merged their visual and performing art specialties to create ArtHaus. This arts center offers a variety of classes and free events involving the Luther and Decorah communities.