Last year as part of The Laker Letters archive update project I did a modern update of Corburn Bubier’s article on underground bands. I had a lot of fun making that article so I decided to make a sequel. I will be covering 4 additional bands/artists that I think deserve more attention. Last Dinosaurs Let's start this article with the heavily underrated band Last Dinosaurs. Last Dinosaurs are a band from Australia that combines indie rock and dance music to make some really catchy and fun songs. Some of their best songs include “Eleven”, “Italo Disco”, “Take Your Time”, “Zoom” and “Honolulu” among many others. If you enjoy bands like The Killers or Franz Ferdinand I definitely think you should check this band out! Weyes Blood If the name ‘Weyes Blood’ sounds familiar at all you might know her from some of the collaborations she's done with musicians like Lana Del Rey or Caroline Polacheck. I would generally say if you like either of those artists (especially Lana Del Rey) then you will really like Weyes Blood. Her music combines beautiful soundscapes and thought provoking lyrics with a very unique vocal tone. There are also a lot of great influences from 60’s folk and psychedelic music which gives the songs a very timeless quality. Her best album in my opinion is 2019s Titanic Rising, though her albums In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow and Front Row to Earth are really good too. Some of her best songs include “A Lot’s Gonna Change”, “Everyday” “The Worst Is Done” and “Children of the Empire”. Definitely check her music out! The Lemon Twigs If you really like pop music from the 1960’s and 70’s and are looking for modern bands that have a similar feeling then I would definitely recommend the Lemon Twigs. This duo of brothers from New York have an eclectic mix of sounds across the 4 albums they have put out. Their best album in my opinion is last year's Everything Harmony. This album contains a lot of great songs including “Any Time of Day”, “What You’re Doing” and “Ghost Run Free''. They actually have a new album, A Dream Is All We Know releasing next month, so now is the perfect time to get into this band! Ginger Root The last musician I will recommend in this article is Ginger Root. Self-described as ‘Aggressive Elevator Soul’ this band makes really fun and laid back dance music that recalls the sounds of pop music from the 80's. I discovered this band through the music video for the song “Loretta” getting recommended to me on YouTube. This led me to listening to the rest of the band's 2021 EP City Slicker and becoming obsessed with the sound it presented. Besides the aforementioned “Loretta” this EP includes some other great songs like “City Slicker” and “Juban District”. The bands other recent EP Nisemono and most recent full album Rikki are really good as well. I feel like this band is only going to get better with future releases so definitely check them out!
That’s all for this article. Hopefully at least one of these bands piqued your interest. You can likely find all of them wherever you listen to your music. Thanks for reading! - Greg This year for the Spring Musical the LRHS Drama club performed Anything Goes. The play follows a love story and other antics happening on a cruise ship traveling from the US to England. The play was very funny with a lot of great jazzy songs throughout! Bellow is everyone that performed in last weeks performances: This show was really fun to both watch and perform! Thank you to everyone who came out and saw it.
- Greg Prompt: “Where have all the flowers gone?” – Pete Seeger. Pick a question from a song title or lyric and give it your best answer.
"Why are Sundays so Depressing" --The Strokes, 7th Track in The New Abnormal Ever since I was a child—and perhaps many can relate—some odd sensation has left Sundays feeling deprived of the utmost joy and enthusiasm that so periodically marks other days. I suspect a plethora of reasons and potential causes, but whatever they may be, I cannot shake the fact that when the week grinds to a halt on Saturday and slowly whirls back up on Sunday, a part of me simply feels empty. Now, perhaps Julian Casablanca wasn't exactly referring to the feelings elicited by Sunday itself—or maybe he was—but, whichever it may be, his question and choice to use it as a reflective inquiry on his feelings of nostalgia prior to his fame still remained unanswered. So why is it that Sundays seemingly seem so sad? I think there are a few ways to approach this question. Firstly, we may conduct a long-winded, longitudinal, cross-sectional study of the apparent mental state and influence Sundays have on one's behavior for a duration of time and document just how this day causes individuals to be affected. But I think, in the interest of time and my outstanding lack of resources, we'll avoid a complex scientific study and resort to one of my favorite pastimes, just thinking about it! In that instance, I suppose we should start somewhere, and that is, why do Sundays make me feel depressed? When I reflect on my short-lived life thus far, the concept of Sundays brings about a moody blue image. A sort of instinctual feeling of dread and dismay that fills my mind with clouds of gray, cold rain, and tasteless toast after waking far too late in the afternoon. Suffice it to say, Sundays don't hold a great image in my mind. But to further our investigation, let's look at the days leading up to Sunday. Undoubtedly, the highlight of my week is the end of it, and I am even more certain that many others will understand why and that I am not alone. After all the work of the week—the studying, work, assignments, exams, distress, and more—Friday and Saturday come as a saving grace to deliver me on a bed of minimal responsibilities and pure indulgence in senseless hobbies, new movies, and delectable snacks. In my mind, these days are practically sacred in their own right, and my right to relax shall not be infringed! Of course, I do prioritize work if it must be done, but a moment to sleep is nice on either day. With that being said, it seems to make more sense as to why Sundays are so depressing. Sunday's are often the dreadful forethought that what is, is soon to become what once was. It is the looming thought that lingers in the calm before the storm, even if that storm isn't too bad or is yet to come. When Sunday arrives, it presents itself as my last refuge before diving back into the deep, dark depths of the week, but as opposed to wrapping myself in a warm blanket and saying five more minutes before waking on a usual day, it practically shoots me out as though I'm laying on a bed of springs. Sunday is devious; it seems to be a bit of a trickster. One minute you feel calm, the next you feel guilty about not preparing for the upcoming inevitable storm and getting a head start. But despite its mental trickery, it's an eternal reminder that you must continue to move and change—that remaining stuck in a state of comfort does not breed growth. It may be uncomfortable, but it is vital that one becomes comfortable with discomfort to find themselves prospering in times of strife. How can we ever expect to progress and find fulfillment if we're too busy binge-watching our favorite rom-com? Perhaps the inherent depression elicited by Sunday is purely subjective, which I likely suspect, and for some Sundays are nothing but pure bliss. But nonetheless, when I see "Why are Sundays so Depressing" in my Spotify queue, it sparks a brief moment of relation, reflection, and ultimately acceptance. Do you think Sundays are depressing? - Bhavnish Every Spring the LRHS Drama Club performs a musical. This year they will be doing a performance of Anything Goes. The musical follows the exploits of various wacky characters on a ship voyage from New York to London. The show has many funny moments and a great jazzy soundtrack. You can sign up for auditions on a sign out sheet in the schools lobby. Auditions will be held after school on the 3rd and 4th of January. If this show sounds interesting to you don’t hesitate to audition!
- Greg On December 12 the Lake Region High School band and chorus held their annual Holiday concert. The chamber choir performed a variety of beautiful pieces including, “White Winter Hymnal”, “Woodsmoke and Oranges" and “The Seal Lullaby”. The standard choir performed pieces including the gorgeous “Et In Terra Pax”, the festive “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and “Gautate' ' and the upbeat "Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe”. The jazz band performed pieces including the rousing “Radetzky March”, “Grasp The Dream” and “Ecossaise” as well as the festive “Wintertide” and “Deck The Halls”.
The chorus, including chamber and standard singers included the following people:
The band included the following people:
- Greg Let's try something new this winter. Sharing the most loved winter dish from Pakistan. Gajar halwa tastes heavenly and has a blended aroma of milk, carrots and dry fruits.
- Ushana
This winter is estimated to be warmer than last year, but still cold, with an average amount of precipitation. The amount of snow we will receive is still up in the air. There are many winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, ice skating, sledding, and just building a snowman. For skiing and snowboarding my personal favorites are Pleasant Mountain, which is the closest mountain to us located in Bridgton, ME, Black Mountain located in Rumford, ME, Cranmore, which is in North Conway, NH, and Sunday River located in Newry, ME.
Sunday River is already open for the season so if you want to get on the mountain now, it is a great choice. The other resorts are expected to open in mid to late December, maybe sooner if we receive a couple of big snowfalls. There is a great cross country skiing location in Westbrook, ME called Smiling Hill Farms. It has about 15 miles of groomed trails, and has rentals, and is open 7 days a week. Prices range according to age and day of the week. Ice skating can be a fun activity during the winter that you can do by just going to your local lake and clearing off the snow from the ice, or you can go to an indoor rink; there is one in Bridgton, ME at Bridgton Academy and also one in Portland, ME called William B. Troubh Ice Arena, which both provide rentals. If you are one of those people who prefers indoor activities in the winter, like a hot cup of hot chocolate with a book in your hand, but don’t know what you should read, then here are some suggestions for you. Winter is a good time to read book series because you will have lots time to read them, - Hunger Game Series, by Suzanne Collins - Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling - Game of Thrones Series, by George R.R. Martin - Bear and the Nightingale (first in the Winternight Trilogy), by Katherine Arden If you prefer to not read series than here are some other suggestions, - One by One, by Ruth Ware - His and Hers, by Alice Feeney - A Thousand Nights, by E.K. Johnston - One Day in December, by Josie Silver And here are some really good graphic novels to read, -Crush, by Svetlana Chmakova - Honor Girl, by Maggie Thrash - The Phantom Twin, by Lisa Brown - Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi -Long Way Down, by Danica Novgordoff -Katie Sources “It’s Getting Colder, Maine. Here’s Your Winter Outlook for 2023-24.” Newscentermaine.com, 2023, www.newscentermaine.com/article/weather/weather-blog/maine-winter-outlook-2023-24/97-856290fb-0f9a-45e6-bcd3-c7ad32b8ca22 . Accessed 27 Nov. 2023. “Smiling Hill Farm XC Skiing.” Www.smilinghill.com, www.smilinghill.com/xcski.html . Accessed 27 Nov. 2023. This weekend the LRHS Drama Club will be doing a performance of the mystery comedy, Clue. Based on the 1985 film, the play follows 6 strangers who are brought to a large manor due to threats of blackmail. These strangers are each given pseudonyms based on the characters in the game Clue. Each character is given a weapon shortly before the lights suddenly go out. When the lights come back on, the blackmailer, Mr. Boddy, is found dead. These strangers must find out who killed Mr. Boddy before they are killed next. The play is hilarious with many comedic moments between characters. The characters in this play will be split into two casts, The Study Cast and The Lounge Cast. The Study cast will be performing on Thursday November 30th at 7:00 with the Lounge Cast following on the 1st of December at the same time. There will also be two afternoon performances on Saturday, December 2nd as well as the 3rd. These will be at 2pm. Admission will be 10$ for adults and 5$ for kids and students. There will also be food available during the show's intermission. The drama club has been working incredibly hard to put this show together so definitely come and see it if you are able. Below is everyone who will be performing. - Greg Friday afternoon after school I was going to meet my liaison, and noticed something strange. All the flags were at half-staff, which is weird because the flags should be at the top, above all. When I asked mom why all the flags are down she told me that the United States flag flies at half-staff or at half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning. The president, mayor or state governor can order to fly at half-staff. It marks, death of a government official, military member or in honor of the victims of the mass shooting. And the president Joe Biden announced to fly flags at half-staff in honor of the victims of the mass shooting in Lewiston, acknowledging this somber moment for the both state and entire nation.
In addition, we half-staff the flag for different time periods on different days just like on memorial day we half-staff flags from sunrise till noon, on patriot day we half-staff flag from sunrise till sunset. Moreover it is also different for each personality after the death of president or former president it is 30 days, 10 days vice president, chief of justice, retired chief of justice or speaker of the house, 2 days for the congress member and until burial for the associate justice of the supreme court, secretary of a military department, former vice president or the governor of the state. Being very honest at the time I was completely shocked because I have never heard of half-staff before, we were always told that the nation's flag should always be at the top no matter what. It is really a thoughtful gesture, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and expressing collective mourning for the victims. Symbolic acts like this are really helpful to unite nations during challenging times.I think this should be everywhere in the world. Everyone faces hard times, and small gestures like this can help a lot. - Ushana |
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