Beyonce, Pharrell, Sam Smith lead in Grammy nods

NEW YORK (AP) ― The year’s brightest newcomer, Sam Smith; the most nominated female in Grammy history, Beyonce; and mega-producer Pharrell led the Grammy Award nominations announced Friday, with six nominations apiece. Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour,” Beyonce’ surprise self-titled release and Pharrell’s “G I R L” will compete for the coveted album of the year, along with Beck’s “Morning Phase” and Ed Sheeran’s “X,” the most streamed album on Spotify this year. Beyonce Knowles (AP/Evan Agostini), Sa

PerformanceDec. 7, 2014

[Herald Review] Black full of gut-busting humor in Tenacious D concert

Rejoice for the return of the kings of rock and roll comedy. Hollywood actor and notoriously foul-mouthed comedic icon Jack Black and his rock and roll partner in crime, Kyle Gass, delivered a non-stop barrel of laughs during Tenacious D’s first concert in Korea at the Seoul Olympic Park on Friday night. A band that’s all about racy humor and politically incorrect lyrics, Tenacious D ― with Black on lead vocals and guitar and long-time friend Gass on guitar ― performed two live shows at the Olym

PerformanceDec. 7, 2014

[Weekender] Korean Wave continues to make splash in ASEAN

Following the advent of Psy and his global hit song “Gangnam Style,” K-pop gained an unprecedented level of international attention, encouraging government and local music firms to continue their efforts to export K-pop. With geographical closeness facilitating cultural exchanges between Korea and ASEAN nations, hardcore fandoms of Korean music, movies and dramas ― referred to as hallyu, or the Korean Wave ― have sprung up. Idol stars ― from rookie groups to big-time acts like Big Bang or Girls’

Dec. 5, 2014

Paving the way for artists

On display in the private office of Lee Hyun-sook on the top floor of her gallery in Seoul are items from some of the most significant contemporary exhibitions in Korea over the last couple of years. The small space overlooking Gyeongbokgung Palace is ultramodern, with a sculpture by Anish Kapoor, a painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat and a glass sculpture by Roni Horn alongside her selection of contemporary designers’ furniture. Lee’s Kukje Gallery, opened in 1982, has been the first in Korea to s

PerformanceDec. 5, 2014

Calendar

Pop music“Tenacious D”: Rock musician and Hollywood actor Jack Black, best known for his role as Dewey Finn in the blockbuster hit “School of Rock,” will be coming to Seoul along with bandmate Kyle Gass for the comedy rock duo Tenacious D’s first concert in Korea. The band is known for Black’s thespian-like vocals and the quick-witted crude humor that people have come to expect from the rocker-comedian. In 2012, Tenacious D released its most recent album, “Rize of the Fenix,” which received a Gr

PerformanceDec. 5, 2014

‘Homesman’ surprising, beautiful, wonderfully strange

It’s been a while since we’ve received a memorable western. It’s been a very long time since one was as unforgettable as “Unforgiven” or “True Grit.” And one that is at once an 1850s feminist epic, a morbidly amusing prairie farce and a revisionist action-adventure yarn is pretty much unheard of.That’s exactly what Tommy Lee Jones gives us in “The Homesman,” the spiky and relevant pioneer fable he directed and cowrote. He also costars with Hilary Swank and a cast including John Lithgow, Meryl St

FilmDec. 5, 2014

Box Office: Five Eagle Brothers, Big Match, Late Spring

Five Eagle Brothers (Korea)Opened Dec. 4Comedy, Thriller. Directed by Jeon Hyung-joon.The film “Five Eagle Brothers” is the story of five half-siblings who always bicker and fight in a village named Deoksuri. One day, their parents suddenly disappear from the village and the quibbling siblings are given a mission to search for their parents. Actors Yoon Sang-hyun, Song Sae-byeok and Hwang Chan-sung of K-pop boy band 2PM star as the brothers. Big Match (Korea)Opened Nov 26Action, Comedy. Directed

FilmDec. 5, 2014

Eyelike: Sam Hunt’s ‘Montevallo’ romantic, relaxed

Sam Hunt’s ‘Montevallo’ romantic, relaxedSam Hunt“Montevallo”MCA NashvilleA former college football quarterback, Sam Hunt might be expected to huddle up with all the macho, in-your-face male country singers currently filling the radio airwaves. But the Georgia native takes a more relaxed, romantic stance on “Montevallo,’’ his R&B-influenced country music debut. While most contemporary country stars lean on hyper hip-hop beats and fast-moving raps to accent their dirt-road sound, Hunt turns to R&

PerformanceDec. 5, 2014

Best hanok lodgings in Korea

Winter is the low season for travel in Korea. Day temperatures remain below freezing and snowfalls cause traffic jams, often paralyzing major cities. But it’s one of the best times of the year to enjoy the scenic winter views in the provinces. “Hanok” lodgings across the country offer true relaxation for those who wish to get away from the crowds at ski resorts or hot springs and look back on the year. The Korea Tourism Organization has recently recommended top hanok accommodation for winter tra

TravelDec. 5, 2014

See splendid Turkey on a budget: Take the bus

CAPPADOCIA, Turkey ― If all of Turkish history were on this bus, I’d be sitting next to sultans, whirling dervishes, Silk Road caravanners, Greek shopkeepers, apostles and olive growers.Instead, I’m sitting next to a guy from New York and a couple from Toronto. We’re coming up on a bathroom break at a rest stop in central Turkey.“Fifteen minutes!” our guide says as the bus doors swing open. “Do not be late.”I join the crowd hurrying to the ladies’ room, passing shopkeepers’ shelves of merchandis

TravelDec. 5, 2014

Affordable Dim Sum on Garosu-gil

At lunch time, despite the recent chill, hungry diners wait outside for one of a few seats inside Jooo’s Dim Sum and Noodles. The wait is clearly worth it. Not only does Jooo’s owner-chef Lee Byung-joo serve up tasty soup dumplings and fragrant bowls of hot noodles, each dish only sets one back an affordable 3,500 won to around 9,000 won, keeping lunch generally under 10,000 won. Wallet-friendly prices and tasty grub clearly makes for a winning combination, but that is not all that makes Jooo’s

FoodDec. 5, 2014

Chew on this: ‘Sweet Potatoes’ author debunks yam myths

Hillsborough, North Carolina, cookbook author April McGreger wants to settle the confusion about yams and sweet potatoes.First, McGreger says, they are not the same vegetable. Sweet potatoes are grown in the U.S. Yams are a tropical plant, grown in Africa and Asia, and they look much different from sweet potatoes.“Unless it’s buff-colored, the size of a football and hairy, it is a sweet potato,” said McGreger, who has just published her first cookbook, “Sweet Potatoes,” part of the UNC-Press Sav

FoodDec. 5, 2014

Around the hotels

Korean and Chinese restaurants reopen at Sheraton Grand Walkerhill Sheraton Grande Walkerhill reopened the Korean restaurant Ondal and Chinese restaurant Geumryong after six months of renovation on Dec. 1. The Korean restaurant Ondal presents Korean royal cuisine based on the recipes of an aristocratic family of the Joseon era. Ondal also serves the head chef’s “Summit Luncheon,” which was served during the G20 Seoul Summit and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Korea. Geumryong (Golden Dra

FoodDec. 5, 2014

Seoul Philharmonic CEO claims artistic director behind accusations

Park Hyun-jung, CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, who faces demands for her resignation from employees accusing her of sexual harassment and arbitrary personnel management, said Friday that artistic director Chung Myung-whun may have been behind the recent accusations against her.She also refused to step down and vowed to cooperate with investigations into the complaints.“I am willing to cooperate with the national auditing agency, prosecutors or anyone in investigating this case,” she sa

CultureDec. 5, 2014

You Hee-yeol to hold first concerts in 7 years

The highly respected veteran singer-songwriter-pianist You Hee-yeol is slated to host his first solo concerts in more than seven years, commemorating his recently released seventh full-length album, “Da Capo.” You, who performs under the name Toy, will put on three concerts at Seoul Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium next year from April 2 to 4. As of Friday morning, Toy was ranked No. 1 in the country in terms of ticket sales.  You Hee-yeol. (Antenna Music)Toy’s latest album marked a monster com

Dec. 5, 2014

Witherspoon loses her vanity and herself in ‘Wild’

Reese Witherspoon finds a role worthy of her in “Wild,” playing a woman who hikes her way out of a tragic past, one painful, traumatic step at a time.A find-yourself-by-testing-yourself drama in the “Into the Wild” or “The Way” mold, “Wild” sends Cheryl (Witherspoon) on a self-imposed spiritual quest to make amends for the damage she’s done to herself and others. A hiking novice with a writerly bent, she is drowning in a quagmire of needle drugs and degrading sexual encounters when she sets out

FilmDec. 4, 2014