There’s country and there’s gospel, along with all the bubble gum pop for which American Idol is famous. Then there’s James Durbin. He’ll explode onstage with a marching band or leap from a piano as it bursts into flames. He’ll pout, he’ll shriek, he’ll hit notes that will send you rushing to protect your stemware, and his audience—everyone from pre-teen girls to gyrating grandmas and grandpas reliving their wild Woodstock days—will be hanging on the edge of their seats, hollering for more. He’s Santa Cruz’s answer to 21st century rock, and he’ll be coming home for a visit to the Beach Boardwalk this Saturday if everything turns out right. Which is to say if Scotty McCreery, Haley Reinhart or Lauren Alaina gets the boot from the show this week.
News
Mall Store Draws Criticism From Parents
Gang violence has long been a problem in Santa Cruz County, especially among teens. Now some people say that the Urbano clothing store in Capitola Mall is helping stoke the fire. In question is a jacket with the questionable message “Dispose of your local snitch” emblazoned boldly across the back. “Even if they don’t go in and buy it,” says one parent, “kids see it. It gets them psyched up.”
Santa Cruz Makers Do It Themselves
The Makers are getting ready. From basements and scattered warehouses in the Oakland hills all the way down to garages in Santa Cruz, they’re putting the finishing touches on their projects for the fast-approaching Maker Faire 2011. Once described as “Burning man without the nudity,” the extravaganza of invention and self-expression poised to erupt on the San Mateo County Fairgrounds May 21-22 is the largest do-it-yourself fair in the world. Underwater robots, colossal sculptures you can climb inside and control, land sharks—the possibilities are mind-blowing when the number of crafters, engineers and inventors participating is over 600.
Santa Cruz’s Extreme Green Dream
Athletes and adrenaline junkies will converge at Cowell Beach for a one-mile swim alongside the length of the Santa Cruz Wharf in the first part of Xterra’s Pacific Championship Triathlon this weekend. Next, the May 15 event will send thrill–seeking fitness freaks on a 19-mile coastal bike ride starting on the Westside, including up an 800-foot climb in Wilder Ranch State Park and down fist-clenching single-track descents that will allow leaders to make serious gains. Finally, triathletes will literally get their feet wet (depending on the tide) on a six-mile run along the beaches and bluffs of Wilder Ranch.
Durbin Is A Hard Egg to Crack
American Idol fans learned something new about James Durbin last night, and even more about his partner Heidi. Despite his long face as he waited for his fate to be decided by America, it was really kinda obvious that Durbin was safe and that Jacob Lusk was “leaving on a jet plane.” But with only five contestants to winnow through, and only two guest appearances (and J-Lo is hardly a guest), Idol’s producers had to figure out how to kill an hour, when it takes just 2 seconds to say, “Jacob, go home.” Even Seacrest’s long, dramatic pauses can only go so far.
Nothing to Hate in ‘Hamlet’
One of the great pleasures of living in Santa Cruz is discovering just how much talent resides here. Evidence of real artistry lurks in totally unexpected places: on the walls of small shops, on the stages of cramped bars—and in small theatrical productions like Mountain Community Theater’s I Hate Hamlet, which runs through May 14 in the Ben Lomond performance hall.
Durbin Double Header
Yesterday was Durbin day on American Idol, and the crowds were loving it—well, most of it, anyway. By now, they’re down to the final five, and as Randy said repeatedly, the contestants have to prove that they are “in it to win it.” James was, or at least so said Randy, but who can take him seriously? After all, he said the exact same thing about all the other contestants. Let’s face facts. If someone is going to win, that means four other people (Jacob, Scotty, Lauren, and Haley, I’m looking at you) have to lose. Rather, they must be crushed into obscurity by the power of James’s vocals. Lord knows he tried.
SETI Shutdown
The only known intelligent beings in the universe have quit listening for signs of others. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or SETI, Institute, headquartered in Mountain View, switched its radio signal receivers into “hibernation mode” on April 15 when funding—mostly from UC– Berkeley—to operate the Lassen County facility ran dry.
Santa Cruz Poets, Santa Cruz Inspiration: More Stephen Kessler
From the Santa Cruz poet, novelist, translator and newspaper publisher, a tribute to the late great poet Maude Meehan.
Ten Questions for Randall Grahm
The founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard on the pace of change, the planet-saving advantages of bio-char and his dislike for overripe wines.
