Arts and Entertainment

william cordova explores infinite possibilities at Brochstein

An array of small, colorful squares — each a starkly different shade from its adjacent counterparts — cover Brochstein Pavilion’s south-facing wall. william cordova created this public art installation, titled “2800 dowling-wasi-sangarara,” as the newest piece in Rice’s ongoing art series, “Off the Wall.”

Thresher Declassified: ACL survival guide 2023

Wake up, babe, the newest edition of the Thresher Declassified: ACL Survival Guide just dropped. In what’s becoming a yearly tradition, the Thresher is here to give you the low-down on all things Austin City Limits in case you don’t feel like getting your information on the festival’s website. We just know you’d be lost without us, so here’s all you need to know to survive this year’s ACL. 

10-04-2023 Weekly Scenes and Screens

Review: ‘PAW Patrol’ needs quality control

The evolving relationship between children’s TV and the silver screen is quite fascinating. After all, it is quite challenging to turn formulaic episodes into a two-hour action-packed extravaganza. Still, we can all recall watching our favorite protagonists make a seemingly magical leap from our TV sets to the theaters, with our child-sized minds enamored by animations, explosions and whatnot. 

ACL artists to look out for: Weekend One

While headliners like Kendrick Lamar, the Lumineers, Hozier and Kali Uchis are sure to draw the most major crowds at Austin City Limits this year, each day’s lineup is full of other lesser-known artists you can’t miss out on. From up-and-coming voices in R&B to experimental, new-age pop music, we’d be wrong to not let you know about some of the incredible artists at ACL for weekend one only. 

Not your average marching band. Not even a marching band.

John “Grungy” Gladu is the Marching Owl Band’s longest standing member, and he was never even a Rice student. Celebrating his 51st year as a MOBster this year, Gladu joined the MOB in 1970 at the recommendation of his own band director at Houston Baptist College, now Houston Christian University. Despite spending his first season doing menial tasks and dirty work, he said he was hooked after his first game on the field.

Weekly Scenes & Screens, Sept. 27

Review: Chappell Roan’s debut seeks solace on the dance floor

Small town girl seeks stardom in the big city: It’s a trope as old as time in the entertainment industry. Crafting an exciting narrative using this theme often requires an artist willing to subvert expectations or chart new ground. Chappell Roan’s debut full-length album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” proves the power of the latter, recounting a journey to queer self-affirmation through campy pop bangers and confessional ballads that express the conflicted comfort of finding solace far from home. 

Cup, plate and pot: what’s hot in Bellaire

Not too far west on US-59 lies Bellaire, a gustatory world full of bold flavors and unique dining experiences. Home of Houston’s Asiatown, Bellaire is packed with delicious eats, from tonkotsu to takoyaki. Give these restaurants a crack at keeping you warm this fake fall season.

Celebrate Hispanic artists this month

Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 marks Hispanic Heritage Month. In honor of this month, the Thresher has compiled a sampling of works by Hispanic artists you should definitely check out.

Senior Spotlight: Deema Beram colors within the lines

Deema Beram wouldn’t call herself a theater kid. With artistic tendencies from a young age, Beram grew up finding creative outlets — whether it was classroom coloring or community theater.

Review: Doja’s ‘Scarlet’ takes risks

Doja Cat has long been known for her distinctive blend of pop and R&B stylings. For the past year, though, she has teased a change in her sound to something heavier and less palatable for many fans of her radio hits. 

Review: ‘Dumb Money’ takes a feel-good approach to finance

Despite the omnipresence of the internet today, few movies force themselves to reckon with its existence the same way “Dumb Money” does. 

09-20-2023: WEEKLY SCENES AND SCREENS

Taste autumn at Trader Joe’s

Fall isn’t for everybody. For some, it’s nothing more than boring pumpkin patches, dead leaves and an awkward autumn wardrobe. Arguably the best part of the season, though, is the food — especially pumpkin, apple and maple-flavored everything. This fall, despite the crippling heat in Texas, Rice students can find some semblance of autumn in Trader Joe’s best snacks.

Review: On ‘Magic 3,’ legendary rapper Nas continues to deliver

For the last few years, Nas has quietly been dropping some of the best work of his career. The legendary hip-hop artist still receives love for his revolutionary 1994 album “Illmatic,” but not enough attention is given to his recent output. Since 2018, Nas has dropped eight albums — five of these released in the past two years. Nas has been a musical machine, churning out lyrically adept, introspective and ultimately triumphant work that never feels stale. “Magic 3,” the third album in a series that started with “Magic” in 2021, is the product of an artist who knows he’s at the top of his game, even after three decades in the rap world. 

R2 to host open mic Sept. 28

Nearly a year ago, friends and art lovers alike filled Ray’s Courtyard, listening, laughing and maybe even crying along to poetry, prose and music. Held for over a decade, R2: The Rice Review’s Open Mic Night has celebrated Rice student’s creativity. On Sept. 28, these scenes will return from 7 to 10:30 p.m. when R2 hosts their annual open mic night, again in Ray’s Courtyard. 

Review: Mitski teaches us how to heal after years of emotional turmoil

After a summer of anticipation, Mitski’s seventh album has been released just in time for sad girl autumn. Rife with her signature longing and self-reflection, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is Mitski’s opportunity to show us how she lets go and where she goes from here through a tale of heartbreak, memories and recovery.

Hidden in plain sight: Explore Public Art at Rice

Art is all around us at Rice. Everyone knows about the Moody Center for the Arts or James Turrell’s Skyspace, but tucked away across the university in unsuspecting places, there is art that is sure to astound. Sometimes, it’s hidden in plain sight. Look around and you might notice pieces of one of Rice’s most ambitious art projects — Rice Public Art.

09-13-2023: WEEKLY SCENES AND SCREENS