US – Tuesday, February 9
The Grid
The week's releases
Metro staff reviews the latest CDs, DVDs and books for your reading pleasure.
 
The Word
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
New York Arts
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
My Books
The facets of Anne Frank and her diary
Generations of schoolchildren have read and recognized their own experiences in the words of Anne Frank, finding surprising commonalities with this young girl despite the passage of generations and the unique horror of  her situation. But according to Francine Prose’s fascinating new account of the writing of Frank’s diary, our veneration of her outpourings has eclipsed a proper assessment of Anne Frank — conscientious author.

 
Movies
Channing Tatum on love and war
Channing Tatum has worked in his fair share of genres, from indie films (“A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”) to dance flicks (“Step Up”) to blockbusters (“G.I. Joe”). In his latest, “Dear John,” the Alabama native takes on a heavy Nicholas Sparks love story about a soldier in love while at war. He talks with us about true love and blowing stuff up.
 
Published 19:09, March the 17th, 2008
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Tulsa Tulsa 
 

Boston invades Austin

How Hub bands did at SXSW

ROUNDUP. Last week, approximately eight billion bands descended upon Austin, Texas, for a little musical get-together known as South by Southwest, or SXSW. Some of our city’s finest players went down south to rock out. Here’s what they had to report. Oh yeah, that eight billion number might be a little off, but a word many of our Boston friends used was “overwhelming.”

“SXSW kinda feels like going to Hampton Beach or Old Orchard Beach as a kid: kinda overwhelming, lotsa folks drinking and smoking and laughing and pretty exhausting.”
— Erik Wormwood, Tulsa

“I was definitely in the minority being a singer-songwriter without a band. Thrilled to be releasing my new record, ‘Come Up Full,’ with Red House Records this past week. I played the Red House showcase on Thursday at the beautiful old Driskill Hotel and then the party at Mother Egan’s on Friday. So great to hear all my fellow Red House artists, Eliza Gilkysen, Jimmy Lafave, Storyhill, The Pines and so many more. Stumbled onto some really great music too while I was here that I hadn’t heard before. I think there’s no way to properly prepare for SXSW; you just have to get down here and immerse yourself. I had no idea how many venues there were in this town. Great to see artists from all over the world gathering in one place. Very inspiring. Now I need a long nap.”
— Meg Hutchinson

“For the most part, this week has been very overwhelming for us. There are about 1,700 bands here, and even more enterprising individuals in the swarming masses. This is our first year, but the Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar/Dead Oceans showcase we played was the highlight. ... Bon Iver, Phosphorescent and Jens Lekman’s band was especially magical. Mostly, we feel really lucky to have been invited and welcomed in such great showcases.”
— Casey Dienel, White Hinterland

“I spent two days getting sunburned and seeing some really inspiring music. We played on a patio behind a BBQ dive, it was awesome.”
— Dan Boucher, Neptune