In 1995, the Goo Goo Dolls released "A Boy Named Goo," a mostly pop-punk album reminiscent of the Green Day or Offspring styles of the time. Nestled among the power chords was a track called "Name." The acoustic ballad put the band on the Top 40. Following...

Over the years, the Pacific Northwest has spawned many intriguing, distinct and influential bands: Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and 764-Hero, to cite a few. After forming in 1995, Washington-based trio 764-Hero quite often has been overlooked in...

PRISM brought out the feathers and cubic zirconium Saturday night to raise money for a good cause. As part of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Awareness Month, PRISM held its sixth annual Gay Jam titled "Episode VI: Return of the Divi." (Divi is plural...

What: NIU Jazz Jam Session When: 9 p.m. to midnight each Wednesday Where: The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway Admission: $1 On Wednesday nights, some jazz students go to class at The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, where an audience gathers to observe and...

Actor/director Bill Paxton just proved something to the world. He's proven that a film doesn't need endless blood and gore to make an audience squirm. He pieces together a picture that's smart, vile, disturbing and, at times, terrifying. Together, all...

In an effort to solicit more interest, the CAB Films committee is surrendering the decision making to the students. The last scheduled movie showing was at 8 p.m. Sunday night at the Holmes Student Center's Carl Sandburg Auditorium. How many people showed...

Van Wilder is quite a character. In the nature of Ferris Bueller, Van (Ryan Reynolds) is a charismatic, hip young male whose peers just can't get enough of him. The big difference between Van and Ferris is that Van is not likeable. He is a womanizing,...

When Dave Matthews Band released its major label debut in 1994, it created a previously unheard acoustic rock sound, with saxophone and violins wrapping melodies around unconventional percussion and guitar lines. Continuing that tradition, Mer's latest...

When popping in a disc accurately titled "Ultimate Fights From the Movies," (Flixmix, not rated) the first reaction for a critic is one of smug contempt. "Hah, I bet there's no New Wave homages in this drek," a critic would say in between "Citizen Kane"...

Finally, I'm laughing with a movie instead of laughing at it. "Big Trouble"(Touchstone, PG-13) is the perfect B-movie with an A-level cast. The film moves along at blinding speeds and wraps up in a short-but-sweet 82 minutes. This is a key factor of the...

Starbusters' patrons rode the wild Nightrain Saturday night. Elgin-based Guns N' Roses tribute band Nightrain packed Starbusters, 930 Pappas Drive, with a crowd thirsty for GN'R but willing to settle for the next best thing. After being pumped and primed...