Skip to Main Content

Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Duke’s bittersweet final night

By Alex Fiore | May 2, 2012

Sometimes he coughed up blood. Sometimes his knees ached and his back strained when sitting down. When Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington took the stage inside NIU’s University Center on March 20, 1974, the cancer that destroyed his lungs had turned...

Laughing all the way to the bank

By Alex Fiore | May 1, 2012

It used to be frowned upon, but it seems mainstream comedians are now going for a cheap laugh. An interesting trend in the comedy world is starting to take shape: Stand-up comics are taking the release of their content into their own hands, as opposed...

The sound of studying

By Alex Fiore | April 30, 2012

Chances are, you’ve got some work to do the next two weeks. A lot of work. If you’re anything like me, studying or writing a paper in silence is an exercise in both torture and futility. For whatever reason, my brain needs auditory stimulation to...

Levon Helm’s death means loss of musical icon

By Alex Fiore | April 18, 2012

There comes a time to say goodbye in everyone’s life, and the time is nigh for a musical icon. Levon Helm, the drummer and vocalist from ’60s folk and rock heroes The Band, is battling the final stages of cancer and is expected to pass in the coming...

The Claudettes to play at House Cafe

The Claudettes to play at House Cafe

By Alex Fiore | April 17, 2012

The boss is coming to DeKalb. No, not the Boss. This boss is much more large and in charge than Bruce Springsteen. Miss Claudette will bring the band that bears her namesake to DeKalb at 8 p.m. Thursday at the House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway. The Claudettes...

Tupac hologram stunt unethical yet entertaining

By Alex Fiore | April 16, 2012

Tupac Shakur is alive. Well, not really. But that didn’t stop the late rapper from making an appearance during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s performance at Coachella Sunday night via hologram. If you haven’t yet seen the performance online, Snoop introduces...

NIU Jazz Ensemble to perform songs of Ellington Ballroom namesake

By Alex Fiore | April 11, 2012

Come Thursday evening, the Duke Ellington Ballroom will be filled with the sounds of its namesake. The NIU Jazz Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. tonight in the Ellington ballroom located inside the Holmes Student Center, performing songs by Ellington and...

‘Dumb and Dumber’ sequel announced

By Alex Fiore | April 4, 2012

It looks like the movie world will lose a few brain cells come next year. Peter Farrelly announced production of a sequel to the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber would begin production in September, with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprising their roles as...

Rock 4 Rights hits House Cafe with Stockyards album release

By Alex Fiore | March 21, 2012

The rock canon becomes a little bit fuller this weekend following a release from local grunge punk quartet the Stockyards. The group will release its debut EP, titled “Sunshine Smiley Face,” during the Rock 4 Rights show 6 p.m. Sunday at the House...

Don’t play it again Sam (or Mitt or Newt)

By Alex Fiore | March 20, 2012

With the Illinois Primaries wrapping up Tuesday night, the nation became a little more engrossed in the political season. During the countless baby-kissing, flag-waving and ticket-tape covered photo opportunities sure to follow as the campaign for the...

NIU, DAYGLOW feel financial hit following event cancellation

By Alex Fiore | March 7, 2012

Both NIU and DAYGLOW felt financial ramifications after a Feb. 25 Convocation Center performance was canceled. DAYGLOW stands to lose over $100,000 in ticket sales and NIU stands to lose up to $22,305 in box office, licensing and labor fees due to the...

DAYGLOW canceled

By Alex Fiore | February 26, 2012

Some 3,500 people who purchased tickets Saturday’s Convocation Center performance were forced to change plans. The Convocation Center announced Thursday that DAYGLOW was canceled due to “facility production concerns.” DAYGLOW, the self-proclaimed...