uccessful bands always have shticks. Whether it’s an image or a back story, acts that seize the public’s interest have a bit more to them than just great songs - regardless of how much it’s flaunted. Even bands like R.E.M., whose shtick was that...

In some distant bizarro world, "Be Cool" is a hilarious romp, propelled by an all-star cast of Hollywood legends. But here and now, "Be Cool" is as flat as the lifelines of a has-been/should-be cast. Picture a group of Hollywood suits sitting around a...

How many people know who Gary Glitter is? Would you know if his hit song, "Rock and Roll (Part 2)," blared through the speakers leading into a timeout after the home basketball team nailed a three-point shot in the last few seconds of a game? If you are...

If Radiohead committed themselves to rock and put aside the experimentation, the sound they would emulate would be that of the Doves. Backed by guitar leads and snarling snare pops, the British trio reunite and return with a more mellow album than their...

For one night only, The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, will reopen its doors. Kickstand Production, the company that booked events before the venue’s December 2004 closing, has rented the former bistro for Friday night. A show featuring Troubled Hubble,...

When Eef Barzelay is able to break through the traditional indie-pop structure, his contemplations and musings on life shine through. As the singer-songwriter for Clem Snide, Barzelay’s lyrics are obviously the focal point while his new batch of songs...

Last week, I reviewed "Man of the House." This week, my editor assigned me to review "The Pacifier," a similar movie focusing on a man of action who is forced to assimilate into a mundane setting to complete an objective. Thankfully, "The Pacifier" is...

NIU’s School of Music invited five high school orchestras to perform and be critiqued by School of Music faculty Wednesday. "This is the first year NIU is sponsoring the event," said Deborah Booth, director of external programs for the College of Visual...

This Spring Break, a captured Kodak moment could mean (C-list) fame and (a very weak) fortune for one lucky NIU student. Buoyed by the success of our search for NIU’s Godfather, Sweeps is pleased to release the details of a new and exciting contest...

Am I alone in thinking the latest NIU controversy would make a compelling movie … trailer? Cue cliche movie trailer voice guy: "From the school that brought you charging for tailgating … in conjunction with the $35.8 million student-funded arena that...

The NIU College of Education’s Office of External Programs will host its 25th annual Children’s Literature Conference "We Are Family" March 18 and 19 at the Holmes Student Center. Tickets run from $69 for Friday’s events to $110 for both days, with...