Friday 18
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It’s a fine state of affairs when a serious artist like Ice-T gets hounded out of record stores, yet a man guilty of aesthetic crimes far more numerous and serious–Lee Greenwood–is elevated to the status of political icon. Country star Greenwood, of course, is the author of “God Bless the U.S.A.,” a song that unites the ultraschmaltz of “(You’re) Having My Baby” with a pandering patriotic appeal suspiciously similar to the brand proffered for a dozen years now by scoundrels name of Reagan, Bush, and Quayle. You can listen to Greenwood–or just marvel at the sociological scariness of the audience–at 8 tonight at Skokie’s Centre East, 7701 N. Lincoln. Tix are a mighty steep $26.50 and $23.50. Call 708-673-6300 for more.
Saturday 19
Monday 21
The organizers of the second annual Video Poetry Festival are at somewhat of a loss to explain the medium: “MTV with a poem,” they suggest, or “a commercial for the soul.” Anyway, the festival stretches over three nights this week, beginning tonight with Bob Holman, a noted poet and video maker. He’ll strut his stuff live and on screen at the Center for New Television, 1440 N. Dayton. Tomorrow, the first National Poetry Video Slam gets under way at HotHouse, 1569 N. Milwaukee. The idea seems modeled on local poetry slams: the poets show their video work and the audience’s reaction–recorded on an applause meter–determines who wins. On Thursday the festival winds down at the Center for New Television with a national screening of a panoply of video shorts produced by a nationwide open call for submissions. Admission to each event costs $5; all showings start at 7:30 PM. For info call 951-6868 or 235-2334.
George Will–Hunnish rightist, Reagan toady, baseball sap, rock ‘n’ roll hater, megapretentious quote dropper, prude–has but one redeeming quality: his seemingly boundless contempt for George Bush. You can question him on this point–or just throw tomatoes–as he signs his new book Restoration: Congress, Term Limits and the Recovery of Deliberative Democracy at the downtown Kroch’s & Brentano’s, 29 S. Wabash, at 12:30 this afternoon. It’s free. Call 332-7500 for more.
