Slam poetry exhibits professional and student work

By Chris Orient – Managing Editor

On February 24, the Black Student Union held their slam poetry event in the Gold Rush. The event featured students and professional poets reciting original works and compositions. The poems ran through a gauntlet of emotions and showcased the talent California University of Pennsylvania has.

The first professional poet to perform was Ezra, also known as Leslie X. He has numerous awards to his name, including Poet of the Year at the Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards and Best Lead Actor in a Play by the African American Council of the Arts in 2008. Ezra took the challenge of going first head-on and set the stage for the rest of the event. “Go Within” was the highlight of his set with the repeating phrase “if you don’t go within, you will go out” being the main focus. It sent a strong message that if you don’t know yourself, you will never understand anything else.

One of the few female poets to perform took the stage after Ezra and just about stole the show. Y’Lioness commanded the stage as soon as she walked on, and what she lacked in height, she more than made up for in emotion and talent. She performed a number of personal poems including “My Roots”, a piece about her heritage and knowing where we come from. She used a call-and-response element to another poem as well as using two audience members to beat box during her last poem.

During the event, an open mic list was circulated throughout the crowd and everyone had the opportunity to come up and share their poetry. Numerous students leapt at this chance and showed that they can hang with the pros.

Josh Palmquist (Junior-psychology) was one of the student performers. He had a fire and brimstone theme with one of his poems, “Inferno”, which was inspired by the Italian poet and writer, Dante. Rashad Henderson (Junior-sports management) was another student poet who shared some of his works. He recited a very personal letter about his deceased grandmother.

The last poet who took the stage was Ja-Live. With his dreadlocks, Ja-Live resembled Bob Marley, and so did his poetry. Much of the material addressed injustice, standing up for the right thing and what you believe in. He also shared one of the most personal poems of the night: “Tale of Two Sons.” The poem spoke of his two sons; one of which lives the hard life while the other is a special needs student. It was a poem that showed two conflicting sides vividly and displayed just how different two people can be.

The Slam Poetry event was a real success for BSU. Numerous students and people from the non-student population attended and enjoyed themselves. All the poets were extremely talented and displayed bravery for getting onstage to share their personal, and sometimes sad, stories.

Students plow out, play, and party during snow days

By Stacy Skiavo and Chris Orient – For the Cal Times

Students at California University of Pennsylvania received a barrage of snow and good news as classes were canceled for a whole week due to Vulcan Blizzard 2010. The largest snowfall in recent memory dumped approximately 30 inches of snow on southwestern Pennsylvania and its neighboring states.

The blizzard had everyone at Cal U digging themselves out and seeking refuge in other places due to loss of power. Many fled for home while others stayed on or around campus to ride out the storm and weather.

When the snow came it made quite the inconvenience for some students, but everyone worked through it in different ways.

“I felt refreshed after shoveling two and a half feet of snow off my driveway so I could get out of my house to go shovel my friends out of their house,” Jeff Schrecengost (senior-earth science). “The worst part about the storm was losing power for three days at my place and there wasn’t much I could do about it. It’s a helpless feeling.”

Students took advantage of the week without classes by enjoying the snow, spending time with family, relaxing and taking part in that ever popular college pastime, partying.

“I definitely partied and went out with some friends over the week,” Josh Giffin (junior-sports management) said.

However, it wasn’t all just about hanging out with friends for Giffin as he had to continue interning with the Pittsburgh Steeler.

“I also spent a lot of time around Pittsburgh and getting caught up on some work with the Steelers,” Giffin said.

Many people were snow bounded or evaluated from their living quarters from the after math of the storm.

Others, like Matt Kutcher (senior-communication studies), weren’t very happy about the weather conditions because of the weather effects on their cable and electricity.

“I couldn’t watch the Super Bowl on my 52-inch TV and I didn’t have cable or internet for days,” Kutcher said. “But I couldn’t complain because a lot of other people didn’t have power or heat so I guess it could have been worse. I pretty much did nothing all week though because everyone who was smart went home,” Kutcher said.

A few students built jumps on the hillside next to Natali Student Union for snowboarding. The amount of snow and the height of the hill made it perfect for jump construction.

Still some students got to escape the second storm before it struck, like Nick Sferra (junior-technology education).

“I left before the second storm and went home,” Sferra said. “I was really shocked how bad the storm was.”

The intensity of the storm lead to a university shutdown. The week of no classes came as a welcome relief for students seeking a break from the daily grind of going to class, writing papers and doing homework.

“I was really loving not having classes just like everybody else and enjoyed the time off,” Jeff Schmid (freshman-computer sciences). “There wasn’t much to do but sit around and watch TV though.”

Spending the storm indoors was a common theme for students as they waited out the storm.

“I spent a lot of time indoors hanging out, watching movies and playing Guitar Hero,” Ashley Grese (junior-english) said. “I also went outside and played in the snow, just enjoying all of it. It was a good, relaxing break from classes.”

Vulcan Blizzard of 2010 is a time no one will surely forget. The storm may have set students back from traveling or various other activities, but gave them a chance to relax and enjoy their time off from classes and homework.

Vinyl records grow in popularity as CD’s fall

By Chris Orient - Entertainment Editor

In recent years, vinyl records have made a comeback in the music world. Much of the rise in sales can be attributed to the how vinyl sounds. Records or LP’s often have a purer sound because they are recorded in analog format instead of the digital format of CD’s. Analog recordings are one continuous sound whereas digital recordings are samples of sounds placed very close together to mirror a continuous sound. Most people who listen to music can’t tell the difference between analog and digital.

According to an August 2009 WNYC Soundcheck article, record sales increased by 89% in 2008 and saw a 50% increase from 2008 to 2009. Major retailers such as Best Buy even began carrying a small supply of vinyl in their stores because of the dramatic increase. Sam’s Club also sells a turntable that can be plugged into a computer or stereo to play vinyl records. Even more surprising is that while CD sales fell by the way side, vinyl sales continued to rise.

Greg Milner, author of Perfecting Sound Forever: The Story of Recorded Music said that one of the major appeals of vinyl is the novelty of holding a physical, tangible object. It also just gives a person a new listening experience to hear a song on vinyl.

Even though vinyl has seen a dramatic increase in sales over the last few years, it’s hard to find music stores that carry it. The popular mall chain, Hot Topic is one of the few stores where a person can buy vinyl for about the same price as a CD, give or take a few dollars.

“Vinyl is just a more personal experience than just downloading a song or album,” PJ Cheripka, the Hot Topic store manager at South Hill Village Mall said. “There’s something about taking it out and putting in on that gives it mass appeal.”

Bands and musicians have begun releasing albums not just in CD format or MP3 but vinyl as well. In 2008 the highest selling LP was Radiohead’s In Rainbows. They sold 25,000 copies of the album on vinyl alone and at $100 a copy; it was not a cheap investment. The growing popularity has spurred other bands such as Never Shout Never to press their own records.

Hot Topic also saw a spike in sales with its 7-inches, which are basically a smaller record that usually features a single from an album and a b-side that won’t be on the album. Also referred to as 45’s, a 7-inch also tends to be more collectable because the b-side may contain an unreleased song.

“Sometimes the record company only runs a limited pressing of a record or 7-inch and that makes it more collectable or desired too” Cheripka said. “I also think records are something that helps connect generation x with the previous generation.”

Well-known bands such as Blink 182 and Thrice have begun the process of releasing their entire catalog on vinyl due to its popularity. Triple Crown Records, in an effort to help the ongoing relief effort in Haiti, recently auctioned off a rare test pressing of Brand New’s Deja Entendu. The eventual winning bid: $732.50, which just goes to show how sought after vinyl has become in recent memory.

So what is it that gives vinyl its extreme desire and appeal? No one can say exactly. Audio purists will say that records just sound better; others say that holding a tangible piece of music gives them a certain feeling and collectors say a rare pressing of a record makes it appealing. Whatever the reason, no one can deny that vinyl has made a dramatic comeback in a world where physical album sales have dwindled.

Student art exhibition is ‘Clearly’ turning heads at Cal

By Chris Orient – Entertainment Editor

On Thursday, November 19, the Vulcan Art Gallery hosted another student exhibition entitled “Clearly.” The mainly sculpture exhibition was a solo undertaking by senior, Megan Prall. The art major has been working towards this show since the beginning of her freshman year and it was a wrap-up of all the work she has put into her art.

“I like my pieces to have non-objective ideas,” Prall said. “I want the viewer to look at it and interpret the piece in their own way.”

Many of the featured materials in “Clearly” were simple, household items used to make elaborate and beautiful pieces of artwork. Some of the items Prall used included plumbers tubing, straws, fishing line, and glue. Her favorite piece, entitled “Follow” was fishing line sewn together on a knitting loom to look like skin or mesh.

Another piece that utilizes the plumbers tubing was “Clouds.” The tubing was formed into circles and then all tied together with fishing line to create a long, cloud-like sculpture. Prall said she liked the shadows the clear tubing created with the light in the gallery.

“I believe lighting is just as important as the art itself.”

Almost all of the featured artwork was white or clear to create a light and floating atmosphere. Many of the pieces created numerous shadows and rendered the use of light. Prall began working on most of the pieces at the end of last semester and says she prefers sculpture and 3-D mediums to the 2-D or painting forms.

Many of the pieces could be considered “unfinished” as almost all of them could be added on to and have room for growth. Prall said she likes that she can keep adding onto the pieces and they have no real end or finished product.

One of the pieces that drew the most viewer conclusion was a knitting piece entitled “Never Does The World….” The long hand-sewn piece was long, rectangular and had the words “Never Does The World Feel So Full Of Hope And Promise As When…” The person looking at the embroidery was able to fill in the sentence with their own interpretation of hope and promise.

“Clearly” really captured Prall’s outlook for the art display and allowing the viewer to draw their own conclusions is definitely a good idea. The sculptures on display were impressive and had a lot of time and effort put into them. “Clearly” is another fine exhibition by a talented Cal student.

Review of “Break Up,” the new album by Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson

By Chris Orient - Staff Writer

When singer/songwriter Pete Yorn asked Scarlett Johansson to record an album with him, he had never even heard the actress sing. The idea for “Break Up” came to him in a dream and he immediately got to work making all the arrangements. The result of their collaboration is a re-enactment of a love affair on the rocks.

“Break Up” opens with the pop bliss of “Relator” and features great dual vocals from both artists. Yorn did the right thing in choosing Johansson to sing with him as her smoky voice compliments his pleading vocals. Their sound is comparable to M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel’s collaboration, She and Him.

At nine tracks, “Break Up” is a nice, short record but it is definitely not an incomplete work. “I Don’t Know What To Do” features quirky vocal trade-offs between Yorn and Johansson and has a gorgeous string section. Clocking in at 30 minutes, the album breezes by and then begs to be heard again.

“Search Your Heart” has more of a rock sound and could have fit on Yorn’s previous release, “Back and Forth.” The strong drumbeat keeps the song’s energy up and Johansson’s voice really shines here. “Blackie’s Dead” follows and keeps up the energetic pop sound. The handclaps and Yorn’s lyrics bring out the magic of this song. With lines such as, “I am in love with a girl who sees what you are,” the track follows along with the concept of the album: a break up.

“I Am The Cosmos” is a plaintive ballad that positions Johansson on lead vocals and has Yorn singing back up for her. The slide guitar solo in the middle of the song is the real highlight and the steady drumbeat compliments Johansson perfectly. Her voice is just beautiful and Yorn’s fits right alongside it.

The punchy sound of “Shampoo” keeps the floating high and brings the dual vocals back to album. The piano gives the song a real complete sound and ends with Yorn repeating; “The last thing I remember, things were getting better.” The two really pull the listener into the idea of a relationship gone sour.

“Clean” is another mellow song and has an electronic drumbeat that highlights the track and has Johansson singing; “I want everything to be so clean” which brings to mind that the girl of the relationship wants to make amends.

“Break Up” closes with the gorgeous “Someday,” which focuses on a strong percussion groove. The song also has the most biting lyrics of the album, speaking of not trusting someone and not wanting to have any contact with them.

Yorn and Johansson have a real gem on their hands. With Yorn already being an acclaimed musician, “Break Up” will show people that Johansson is not just an actress. The girl can sing too. With her voice and Yorn’s arrangements, “Break Up” is a strong pop album with introspective lyrics and excellent musicianship.

Strength of Stephen Christian’s vocals easily ‘Felt’ in Anchor & Braille release

By Chris Orient - Entertainment Editor

Stephen Christian is a man with many acclamations to his name. He’s best known for his work in Anberlin, but he also has a degree in psychology and has co-founded a non-profit organization. When it came to a group of songs that didn’t fit the Anberlin mold, Christian recorded and released them under the name Anchor & Braille.

Produced by Copeland front-man Aaron Marsh, “Felt” could easily be described as what a Copeland record would sound like with Christian on vocals. This is a mere overview however; this is an intricate record in every sense of the word. It’s calm and relaxing but is definitely not a sleeper.

The opening song, “Rust (The Short Story of Mary Agnosia)” begins with a simple acoustic guitar before turning into a lush wall of sound, complete with piano, strings and horns. Following “Rust” is the upbeat, “Like Steps in a Dance.” This song shows the sheer beauty behind Christian’s plaintive falsetto as well as his ability for song arrangement.

“Blur” and “Introspect” come across with grace and elegance, the subtle instrumentation on each track being the real highlight. “Blur” also shows Christian’s lyrical ability as he sings “It’s Not Me But Honesty That’s Died” over a fragile string section.

“Summer Tongues” could have easily fit on Copeland’s last release and probably has Marsh wondering why he didn’t write it himself. The instrumentation really shines through on this song, as Christian’s gorgeous piano work takes center stage.

“Felt” keeps its momentum throughout and never loses an ounce of emotion or passion. Christian’s dedication to songwriting is apparent as this is an album you listen to. You hear his pain and hope in every word and you feel each piano stroke and guitar strum go through your body.

“Wedding/Funeral” takes his vocal projection to its fullest, as he really lets go during the last chorus. It’s one of the most confessional songs Christian has written with one biting lyric saying, “Just a few feet away but we’re miles apart.” “Forget Love. I Just Want You to Make Sense to Me Tonight” is a moody, complicated ballad with a Radiohead-esque piano/drum beat and features a vocal appearance by Marsh.

The album ends with the one-two-punch of “Sing Out” and “Sheet Music/Sheet Music.” The former taking a break from the album’s Copeland-like sound to venture into acoustic/folk territory. It’s a nice break from the dominant material and is another standout of the record. “Sheet Music/Sheet Music” is another stirring track and brings “Felt” together as a whole and ties it all together very nicely.

Fans of Christian’s voice and Copeland will be pleasantly surprised with this release. You may know what you’re getting but it’ll completely exceed expectation. This is Christian’s finest songwriting to date and it’s a testament to his brilliance. The passion heard on “Felt” will turn even the harshest critics into fans.

Monsters of Folk: independent music’s new supergroup

By Chris Orient - Staff Writer

Sometimes collaborations between musicians with a long list of credits to their name sound better in the mind than in physical form. Monsters of Folk, a “super-group” consisting of Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and M. Ward (She and Him) show this is the latter of the two forms.

The four indie musicians began recording their self-titled debut in 2004, but constant schedule conflicts and other projects delayed the release for five years. With the album now out, every indie kid around the world can finally relax and stop wishing.

Multi-instrumentalist, Mogis, produced the record, which features 15 diverse tracks that play to each member’s strengths. The album also saw the instrument and vocal duties split between the quartet, as well as the songwriting.

The album opens with the electro-drum beat of “Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F),” which features the beautiful falsetto of James and the well-known warble of Oberst. It also shows that this group isn’t tied down to the “folk” sound that their name suggests. The harp strums throughout, add a dense layer to the tune and set the course for the rest of the album.

The 1-2-3 time of “Say Please” shows off the diversity of each member’s voice and features a great guitar solo as well as a chorus that caters to each vocalist. The gang-vocals are a definite highlight of the song. The country rambling of “Whole Lotta Losin” has a catchy melody that will hang in your head and “Temazcal” is a mellow tune that focuses on Oberst’s whisper-like vocals. It sounds like he’s singing right into your ear, which is not a bad thing.

The country-esque “The Right Place” wouldn’t be out of place in a southern bar band’s set list and the handclap acoustics of “Baby Boomer” is bound to become a live show staple and features vocal tradeoffs between James, Oberst and Ward.

“Man Named Truth” has a density all its own and features a banjo and upright bass sound that will have your feet tapping before the first chorus even begins. The folk-drenched “Goodway” caters to the name of the band and has a slide guitar part that adds a great dynamic to the song. The slow-burning “Slow Down Jo” is a definite highlight as is the steady drum heavy, “Losin Yo Head.”

The only negative aspect to the record would be that some songs sound like leftovers from the member’s full-time bands. However, since most of that music is so great, listeners probably won’t mind having it all rolled into one. This is where Monsters of Folk hit their stride; by combining excellent musicians together, you get the best of each artist. This is a solid debut from some of indie music’s most renowned voices.

Comedy Tour Proves ‘We Can Make You Laugh’

By Chris Orient - For the Cal Times

On September 16, the “We Can Make You Laugh” Comedy Tour held a performance in the Natali Student Center. It was one of the many activities sponsored by SAB. It drew a number of students and had them laughing for the entire two hour event.

“We Can Make You Laugh” Comedy Tour is almost exclusively a college show. It spent most of last year touring 37 states, performing to countless students and young people.

The current line-up of comedians consists of Jimmy Meritt, Joe Anderson, and Ryan Seal. Each performer puts their own spin on the show and the offer of three comics means that there is something for everyone. The main feature of this tour is where a contestant’s ability to keep a straight face is truly tested.

In the style of a game show, audience members are selected from the audience via a raffle drawing. The selected contestant comes on stage and must survive two minutes of various comedic styling’s without laughing. If they weather the storm, they are awarded $25 cash as well as a “Make Me Laugh” t-shirt.

Jimmy Meritt was first up and brought his unique outlook on relatable subjects to get the crowd going. His energetic style was a good start to the show and an excellent introduction to the tour for those who may have never seen it before.

Joe Anderson followed and serenaded the audience with his guitar and a few hilarious songs. He also gave the audience his own musings on life, as well as his various impersonations.

After the two featured acts and a few other comedy routines, the show got to the main act: “We Can Make You Laugh” Game Show.

The idea is to sit through two minutes of comedy by one of the performers without laughing. If the contestant survives, he or she wins the cash. There are three judges who have buzzers to click if the contestant laughs. Each comedian too turns trying to make various audience members crack a smile as well as combining their talents to try and raise a laugh. One by one, students went up and came away a few dollars richer.

There were a number of skits including; an E.T. impression, Star Wars impressions, and Led Zeppelin acappella group. Anderson also sang an R/B styled song to one contestant and Merritt tried to get a laugh by having “story time” with another. Seal generated the biggest laugh from the crowd with his impression of E.T., however the contestant didn’t waiver at all.

“We Can Make You Laugh” Comedy Tour is not your typical show. It has different parts and different comedic styles that will tickle anyone’s funny bone. Even though the performers left with their pockets a little lighter, everyone walked away with a smile on their face.

Polar Bear Club’s sophomore album may put them on the map

By Chris Orient – Staff Writer

New York has seen its fair share of music come and go. The state that CBGB once laid roots in has become fertile soil for the punk/hardcore music scene over the last few years. Giving birth to such acts as Bayside, Brand New, Crime In Stereo, Glassjaw, and other notable bands, the Empire State is virtual music royalty. 


The most recent break-out act is Polar Bear Club from Rochester, NY. The five-piece punk rock outfit has been building a strong fanbase since their debut release, Sometimes Things Just Disappear in 2008. The band has maintained the “do-it-yourself” mentality and won over each fan, one at a time. Their second full-length, Chasing Hamburg is destined to gain them even more attention. 


Beginning with the searing anthem, “See the Wind” the band immediately grabs your attention with its heavy guitars and strong drum beat, coupled with lead vocalist Jimmy Stadt’s gravelly voice. “Living Saints” follows with a more pop/punk sound but the hardcore roots still hold strong in this ode to friends always being there. 


One thing about Chasing Hamburg is that the album never hits a flat note or a low point. The energy just keeps surging out of the speakers and doesn’t quit. The music doesn’t push or pull but rather, makes you think with the introspective lyrics and impressive musicianship. 


“Drifting Things” paints the picture of a band constantly on the road while “Light Of Local Eyes” speaks of the love PBC has for their hometown. Elsewhere on the album, Stadt is less loveable with songs like “One Hit Back” which talks about bands putting no effort into music while “Song to Persona” rips into people being unreal in general. 


Backing Stadt are guitarists Nate Morris and Chris Browne, bassist Eric “Goose” Henning, and drummer Emmett Menke. The band, along with Stadt’s voice, give PBC something familiar, but completely different. The subtle but impressive solos during “The Old Fisher Burial Ground” shows that this isn’t just another chugging hardcore band. 


The title track closes out the album and begins with a Death Cab For Cutie-esqe sound before building into a tidal wave of punk chords. As the last vocals fade, you immediately want to start the record over again. Chasing Hamburg is a dramatic and powerful stamp on punk/hardcore music and proves you can do something different with the same blueprint. 


Polar Bear Club is currently touring through the winter to promote the new album. They are currently on the Bridge 9 Records tour before they jump on board to open for Thrice. The tour with Thrice will expose them to a whole new audience and gain them even more followers. With passionate music and personal lyrics, it’s only a matter of time before Polar Bear Club is on everyone’s radar.

Gaslight Anthem Proves they are a Band with Staying Power

By Chris Orient – Entertainment Editor

In a current world where decent music is hard to come by, there are a few bands and musicians who carry on the tradition of writing music that has feeling, thought, and emotion. The Gaslight Anthem is one of those few bands who write great songs, coupled with great lyrics.

The Gaslight Anthem have been touring non-stop since the release of their third album, The 59 Sound more than a year ago. The foursome from New Brunswick, NJ have opened for such acts as Social Distortion and Bruce Springsteen and have played shows all over the globe. With a sound that appeals to punk fans as well as their fans, it’s no wonder The Gaslight Anthem have continued to gain popularity as they play show after show.

The band recently made a stop at Mr. Smalls in Millvale, Pa on their current tour which features openers The Loved Ones and Murder by Death as well as rotating third band which changes as the tour continues through the end of October. On this night the third band was Ninja Gun who brought their rock/country sound to the venue and had the crowd bobbing their heads. However, the first real highlight of the night was Philadelphia based punk/rock act, The Loved Ones. Their energetic set had the crowd pointing and singing along to every word. The band gave the audience a breath of fresh air and a high that would rival the energy conducted by The Gaslight Anthem later in the evening.

However, that high was reduced to almost nothing when Murder by Death took the stage. Their sound was a complete 180 from the previous acts’ and it brought the energy down in the room faster than The Loved Ones could play. Their slow burning anthems and gargling vocals from lead singer Adam Turla just killed the vibe in the room. The audience was respectful none the less but it was obvious that the good vibes of The Loved Ones was lost underneath Murder by Death’s performance.

Gaslight Anthem took the stage next and kicked up the energy in a hurry. Beginning their set with “High Lonesome,” they made everyone forget the lead balloon that Murder by Death dropped and got the energy right back up. The entire room surged forward during each build-up to each chorus and then boiled over when it came in. Moving quickly from song to song, the band played a majority of The 59 Sound as well as songs from their debut Sink or Swim and numerous fan favorites. Ending their set with “The Backseat,” which has become the usual closer to their show, the band left the stage only to come back and perform a great encore. Beginning with the slower “Blue Jeans and White T-shirts” Gaslight then went into “Drive,” a song they haven’t played for a long time. The crowd was very receptive of the old favorite and sang all the words right back to the band. It was apparent that both the band and the crowd feed off one another which make for an even better show. When everyone is singing along, sweating, and dancing it’s impossible not to have a good time.

The Gaslight Anthem are a band with staying power. They have the songwriting, live show, and fan base to keep them afloat for years to come. They have a sound that appeals to everyone; they’re not just limited to one particular age group. Gaslight Anthem seem like they can do no wrong and fans are just fine with that.