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

Dec. 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&

Dec. 5, 2014

U2 to return to road four years after record tour

NEW YORK (AFP) ― U2, whose last tour in 2009-2011 was the highest-grossing ever, on Wednesday announced concerts in 2015 across North America and Europe and promised variety in its sets.The tour plans indicate that front man Bono expects a full recovery after a bicycle accident last month. He was replaced by Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay’s Chris Martin during a surprise show for AIDS relief Monday in New York.The Irish superstars announced shows in 19 cities starting with Vancouver’s Rogers Are

Dec. 4, 2014

Yeongdeungpo Common Center: Unlikely place to exhibit art

The area around Yeongdeungpo Station is an odd mix of old and new. The main street is lined with major department stores and shops. But just behind the street stretches an overlooked side of Seoul. One of the city’s few remaining red-light districts and a cluster of shanty houses known as “jjokbangchon” in Korean appear just a few meters from the crowded Shinsegae Department Store. The street toward Moonrae-dong west of Yeongdeungpo is lined with drab little ironworks and unfrequented stores, tr

Dec. 3, 2014

First boyfriend for singing star Susan Boyle at 53

LONDON (AP) ― The magnificent and shy singer Susan Boyle has her first boyfriend at age 53 ― a Connecticut doctor she met on her recent U.S. tour who may soon visit her in Scotland.“That’s the plan,” Boyle’s spokeswoman, Nicola Phillips, said Monday. “She met someone when she was in America and the idea is that he can come here.” Boyle and the doctor met at a hotel in Clearwater, Florida, Phillips said, adding that Boyle is “definitely” happy to have met someone.  The church volunteer from a sma

Dec. 2, 2014

Hard rock meets soul as YB, Bobby Kim team up

Members of the rock band YB, led by Yoon Do-hyun on vocals, are dipping their toes into a unique collaboration project with one of the nation’s leading R&B and ballad front men, Bobby Kim. In an effort to end the year on a high note, the musicians of YB and Kim have decided to host a special series of collaborative concerts at the end of the month to give fans a taste of music that they would otherwise not be able to hear from either of the artists. “We decided to come together because we wanted

Dec. 2, 2014

Stars of Broadway’s ‘Doctor Zhivago’ revealed

NEW YORK (AP) ― The upcoming Broadway musical “Doctor Zhivago” will star a Broadway newbie, two Broadway veterans who were in “Jesus Christ Superstar” together and an actress from “Wicked” who just got married. Producers said Monday that Tam Mutu will make his Broadway debut as the passionate doctor and poet, Yurii Zhivago, played in the classic movie by Omar Sharif. Mutu’s theater credits in London include Javert in “Les Miserables” and “Love Never Dies.” Kelli Barrett will play his paramour, L

Dec. 2, 2014

Nostalgia-infused brushstrokes

The Korean woman in a traditional white dress with delicately pulled-back hair is seen through a long ramie veil with ripples created by wooden sticks. Viewers can’t get a firm grasp of the mysterious figure behind the veil, but those familiar with traditional Korean life would start to feel the nostalgia of the old lifestyle through simple objects such as a laundry paddle used to wash clothes and fabrics made at home. This painting symbolizing traditional rural life in Korea was made by artist

Dec. 1, 2014

Five nights, five bands, one rock-filled week

For the 17th edition of Hyundai Card’s ongoing Culture Project series, the New Year will be kicking off with a bang with “5 Nights,” a week of live music starting Jan. 12.Avenged Sevenfold, Bastille, Starsailor, Rudimental and Asgeir will be making their way to Korea to electrify Seoul in the large-scale music festival featuring five solo concerts over five days.  American rock band Avenged Sevenfold will kick off the festival. Formed in the late ’90s, the band released its official debut album,

Nov. 30, 2014

Fans go wild over ‘Star Wars’ teaser

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a helmetless storm trooper appeared in frame, panicked and sweaty in the middle of vast desert landscape, kicking off the first official look at “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” After months of leaked images and idle speculation around director J.J. Abrams’ film, Disney and Lucasfilm on Friday debuted an 88-second teaser trailer for the seventh entry into the blockbuster franchise online and in about 30 North American theaters. The dark, energetic teaser

Nov. 30, 2014

For Julia Moon, life is a date with destiny

Gentle-spoken with a serene smile, Julia Moon, general director of Universal Ballet, is a picture of calm and elegant beauty. Her impeccable posture and graceful turn of head give away her career as a ballerina.At home in Hannam-dong, Seoul, in mid-November, Moon is followed around the house by a toy poodle named Ginger. The house is filled with photographs and memorabilia of her famous in-laws, a reminder of her ties with the late Rev. Moon Sun-myung of the Unification Church. At 21, she wed Re

Nov. 28, 2014

Eyelike: Imelda May’s ‘Tribal’ is a blast of energy

Imelda May’s ‘Tribal’ is a blast of energyImelda May“Tribal”(Verve)Irish singer Imelda May sometimes sounds like a performer who was born a few decades too late, but is not letting it stop her having a good time. With her bright red lipstick and slick curl of hair, May harkens back to rockabilly pioneers like Wanda Jackson and early rock ’n’ roll outlaws such as Eddie Cochran. Her signature sound is rockabilly seasoned with jazz and blues and spiced with punk attitude. It’s party music with a da

Nov. 28, 2014

Ignoring woes, AC/DC sticks to rock formula

PARIS (AFP) ― One band member is retired with dementia and another has faced charges over a murder plot. But for the rest of AC/DC, the time-tested hard rock formula is still going strong.The Australian rockers next week release “Rock or Bust,” some 40 years since Angus Young first donned his schoolboy outfit and took out his Gibson SG to play the sorts of power riffs that remain virtually unchanged on the latest album.And it has almost been as long since Brian Johnson took the microphone in 198

Nov. 27, 2014