Monday, January 7, 2002 C5 ARTS ENTERTAINMENT Songwriter shows talent for variety John Berry mixes several musical styles on his latest CD, 'All the Way to By GEORGE LENKER Staff writer His new album features cuts cowritten with Barenaked Ladies' star Ed Robertson and Fastball's Miles Zuniga both solid popsters of the first degree. So don't expect John Berry to be your typical country singer. In fact, having expectations about Berry's sound is probably a bad idea even when he's not writing with pop superstars. Berry's new CD, "All the Way to There," not only pop and rock flavors at times, but also tinges of gospel and "I grew up with all that stuff," he said in a telephone interview last week. "So it all comes out in my music." Berry will display this wideranging musical palette tomorrow and Wednesday nights at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton.
But unlike his Christmas tour which he just finished with a full band the Iron Horse gig will just be "me and my five favorite guitars," Berry said. Both shows begin at 7 p.m. But on his new album, Berry employs his band to stretch the boundaries of country music. The song "Today" (co-written with Zuniga) has a decidedly pop feel, while "Can't Get Enough" settles into a solid groove that could have been on an early Hall Oates album. Berry likes being able to play across genres.
"I hope people appreciate that aspect of the music," he said. "I hope they don't want 10 songs that all sound the same." Unlike his previous albums. "All IF. YOU GO. Event: John Berry in concert When: Tomorrow and Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton Cost: $17.50 For more info: Call 586-8686 the Way to There" features his touring band, not Nashville session players. While he doesn't knock the Nashville method, Berry prefers having his own band in the studio with him. "This is definitely the record I wanted to make," he said, stressing the word The CD was released on Ark 21 Records, owned by Miles Copeland brother of former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Earlier in his career, Berry scored a No. 1 hit for Capitol Records with 1994's "Your Love Amazes Me." Ark 21, whose diverse roster includes acts such as The Moody Blues, ex-Go-Go Belinda Carlisle and Concrete Blonde clearly matches Berry's eclectic approach to music.
Although Berry claims he's "not the easiest person to get along with," he certainly seems to have worked well with Zuniga and Robertson when writing some of the songs for the new CD. But Berry laughs about his partnership with the Barenaked Ladies' guitarist. "Ed Robertson is a scream. We had a great time writing together" he said. "The thing is, I had heard about the Barenaked Ladies, but wasn't familiar with their music.
I didn't realize I was writing with this big superstar." The result is a very quiet song, "He Makes Me Want Her "Ed wanted to write a country song, which he never gets to Berry said. Berry also is self-effacing when it comes to his songwriting. He shines most of the spotlight on his -writers. He wrote many of the songs with longtime guitarist Mark Spiro, who also produced the CD. Other songs were COpenned by Nashville stalwarts Gene Cook, Gary Burr and Skip Ewing.
"I don't consider myself a great writer," Berry said. "But I can get in there and guide the song in the right direction for me." Backstage battles cloud music awards Britney Spears, Kid Rock, Usher, Mick Jagger and Cher will all perform at Wednesday night's American Music' Awards, while Sean Diddy" Combs tries his hand at being a television host. But none of that promises to be quite as fun as the backstage bickering that has consumed music's two big awards shows. The bad feelings burst into the open last month when Dick Clark, executive producer of the American Music Awards, accused the Grammy Awards of essentially blacklisting artists who appear on Clark's show. Clark said in a lawsuit that Michael Greene, head of the National Academy of Recording Arts Sciences, strong-armed Michael Jackson into breaking a promise to appear on the AMAs.
The Grammys are to be awarded Feb. 27. Greene has denied wrongdoing and Clark said Jackson has subsequently agreed to appear on the American Music Awards. Yet Billboard reported that in 1995, Greene told the music industry publication that "artists who perform on the AMAs might as well buy a ticket to the Grammys, because it's unlikely they'll be performing on our stage." The Recording Academy argues that with a limited amount of airtime, it makes no sense to have artists on the Grammys who performed at another awards show a month earlier. "This is a situation where, in all honesty, I got fed up," Clark said.
"I don't take kindly to being pushed around." A week or so after the spat became public, Clark said Jackson Some big Associated Press By DAVID BAUDER Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. What if you threw a Hollywood award show and the winners stayed That was the embarrassing situation facing the American Film Institute Awards Saturday, when director Robert Altman and actors Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Jennifer Connelly, Judy Da- NEGLECTFUL PATRIARCH Singer-songwriter John Berry will bring his blend of country, rock, pop, gospel and to performances at the Iron Horse in Northampton tomorrow and Wednesday. sen on the basis of record sales, has faded in the TV ratings recently in comparison with the Grammys. The Grammy awards have worked hard to overcome a hopelessly unhip image. Last year, the AMAs drew 16.2 million viewers compared with the Grammys' 26.7 million.
As recently as 1996, the two shows had the same size audience. In 1993, the AMAs had 35 million viewers and the Grammys had just under 30 million, according to Nielsen Media Research. Clark pins his show's slippage to ABC's troubles over the past several years. "It's a more competitive atmosphere," he said. "When you're not on the No.
1 network and can't get the promotion you used to get, you have to fight for your life. It's not a very difficult analysis." It's also not that simple. ABC was actually the top-rated network thanks to the then-success of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" at the time of last year's American Music Awards. Clark, who built his career counting down the hits on "American Bandstand," believes there's a place for awards based on what people buy. "I like popularity polls," he said.
"This is not to demean the Grammys the Grammys are to the recording industry what the Oscars are to the movie business. It's just a different way of approaching things." Lenny Kravitz, R. Kelly and Shaggy will compete for favorite male pop artist in the AMAs, while Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Lopez are up for the top female award. The Dave Matthews Band, Sync and U2 are the nominees for favorite group. For the first time, the AMAs will honor a favorite inspirational artist.
STADIUM STYLE SEATING ALL DIGITAL STEREO RIVEDALE ROAD 413-733-5131 WEST SPRINGFIELD 16-19 ALL DIGITAL STEREO RIVEDALE ROAD 413-781-4890 FOR FEATURES AND SHOWTIMES CALL THEATRE, OR VISIT US NATIONAL SHOWCASE CINEMAS NATIONAL AMUsem*nTS: THEATRES For Advance Tickets, Purchase By Phone with KWIK or Purchase Online nationalamusem*nts.com BARGAIN PERFORMANCES ALL SHOWS STARTING BEFORE 6PM MON-SAT SUN HOLIDAYS ALL SHOWS BEFORE 2PM EASTFIELD MALL 16 STADIUM STYLE SEATING ALL DIGITAL STEREO ROUTE 20 413-543-6000 WEST SPRINGFIELD 1-15 Associated Press At 71, actor Gene Hackman occupies a middle ground between character acting and film stardom. He is shown in a scene from "The Royal Tenenbaums," now playing at area theaters. Old pro acts up in 'Tenenbaums' Actor Gene Hackman stands at the comic and emotional center of a quirky family of geniuses. All Shows before 4 00pm are All Digital SPRINGFIELD PLAZA 16 Springfield James Ave Stadium Seating in All Auditoriums By SHAWN LEVY Newhouse News Service The Pro is nearly 72 years old and has been making movies since John F. Kennedy was president almost 80, depending on how you count 'em.
The Pro has two Oscars out of five nominations and the universal respect of peers, critics and moviegoers. The Pro can play comedy, drama, action, romance or farce, high or low, big or small, straight He is the or sly. But The Pro charismatic doesn't reckon all that much of par what he does. "A lot of the who'd be credit you get for these things insufferable is more than you deserve," weren't so he said. "I'm sur- charming prised that I'm still offered things to do," he said.
He's meat-and-potatoes. Momand-pop. Rock-solid. The Pro. Gene Hackman was first nominated for an Oscar in 1967 as Best Supporting Actor in "Bonnie and Clyde." It was his fourth film and then launched 37 and the with years journeyman actor of struggle in luggage into the upper tier of his profession.
He was nominated again in 1970 for "I Never Sang for My Father," broke through with a win as best actor the following year in "The French Connection," and has been one of the most celebrated and masterful practitioners of his craft on the American screen ever since. His latest film may well bring Hackman even more of the sort of recognition that has become his norm. "The Royal Tenenbaums" Hackman's fifth picture of the year (including "The Mexican," "Heartbreakers" and "The and third to be released in the past five weeks might very well earn the MegaStar Cinema Al Shows between Tailight $4.06 A BEAUTIFUL (4:10) 7:00 9.50 IMPOSTOR 3:20 (5:30) 7:45 9:55 ALI (R) 1:00 2:20 (4:10 5:30) 7:20 9:00 KATE AND LEOPOLD (PG-13) 1:50 (4:25) 7:10 9:45 JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS (G) 1:25 2:20 3:20 (4:20 5:20) 7:10 JOE SOMEBODY (PG) 2:15 (4:45) 7:30 9:40 HOW HIGH (R) 1:05 3:10 (5:15) 7:20 9:25 THE MAJESTIC (PG) 1:05 (4:05) 7:05 10:05 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (PG-13) 1:00 3:00 (5:00) 7:00 9:00 9:45 NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE (R) 8.00 10:00 VANILLA SKY (R) 1:55 (4:30) 7:05 9:05 9:40 OCEAN'S ELEVEN (PG-13) 1:35 (4:00) 7:00 9.30 HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (PG) 2:00 (5:00) 8:00 MONSTERS, INC. (G) 1:10 3:15 (5:20) 7:30 No Passes or Standard Discount Tickets 2002. Times Valid For Monday Tuesday, Only star another best-actor nomination for his grand comic turn as the larger-than-life, ne'er-do-well father of a family of troubled geniuses.
Hackman's character is the funniest thing in a very funny film, and the emotional center of a surprisingly moving story. Dressed garishly, his hair unfashionably long, smoking out of a cigarette holder and saying awful things about his children and long-suffering wife, he is the charismatic creep par excellence, who'd be utterly insufferable if he weren't so darned charming. The tragicomic, bittersweet film is the latest work of wunderkind writer-director Wes Anderson, whose previous pictures, "Bottle Rocket" and "Rushmore," have earned him the respect of film geeks and critics but little in the way of boxcreep office glory. "Tenenbaums" excellence, might change that. It's filled utterly with stars Anderson's old if he Texas buddies Luke and Owen darned Wilson, his "Rushmore" star Bill Murray, plus Gwy.
neth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Danny Glover and, chief of all, Hackman, one of the finest and most recognizable actors in movies, having glorious fun in a role literally written just for him. Anderson wrote the role of Royal Tenenbaum especially for Hackman even though the veteran actor told him when he learned about it not to: "Things like that never work out," Hackman explains. What Hackman didn't know at the time was that Anderson's cowriter on all of his features was the very actor whom Hackman had hand-picked to star opposite him in "Behind Enemy Lines," the military drama he was then shooting: Owen Wilson. Hackman had so enjoyed Wil- Sean Diddy" Combs will host the American Music Awards broadcast Wednesday night. Winners of AMA awards are chosen on the basis of record sales but the show has faded in the TV ratings in comparison with the Grammys.
AMA Nominees in top categories are: Female artist Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez Male artist Lenny Kravitz, R. Kelly, Shaggy Favorite group Dave Matthews Band, Sync, U2 phoned him to say he will appear on the AMAs, to accept the organi- winners skip vis and James Gandolfini didn't show up to collect their honors. The only film actor winner at the show was Sissy Spacek, who won best actress for the dark suburban drama "In the Bedroom." "The no-shows were not a snub of the award, it's just that the underdogs weren't there with speeches ready," said Tom O'Neil, an award-show scholar who runs Goldderby.com, which tracks Os- zation's Artist of the Century award. Clark is going forward with his lawsuit, however. Jackson won't perform at the AMAs.
But due to a delicious bit of television gamesmanship, viewers will be able to see him sing by clicking their remotes. CBS- the network that also televises the Grammys scheduled a rerun of the Jackson tribute concert that unexpectedly drew 30 million viewers in November to air directly opposite the American Music Awards on ABC. Clark's show, with winners cho- AFI show fantasy epic's Oscar quest. Altman and Hackman gained Oscar momentum Saturday with both the AFI Awards and honors car predictions. The new show is the first big ceremony of Hollywood's long awards season, and the best picture win by "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings" seemingly legitimizes the Please see AFI, Page C6 Please see Royal, Page C6 CINEMAS Stadium Seating Digital Sound High Back Seats Panoramic Screens ENFIELD SQUARE 12 90 Elm.
Street, Westfield Shopping Town Enfield Square Purchase Tickets in Advace by Calling 1-860-253-9201 Visit Our Website at www.hoyts.com A BEAUTIFUL MIND 12:30 3:30 6:45 9:50 PG-13 THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS 11.101:40 4-10 7:109:40 A IMPOSTOR 11:30 1:50 4 20 7:20 9:55 PG-13 KATE AND LEOPOLD 12:40 3:40 6.50 9:25 PG-13 AU 11:40 3:00 6:25 9:45 JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS 91 00 1 00 3 0C 5 00 7-00 THE MAJESTIC 9:30 PG JOE SOMEBODY 9.00 PG THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (ON 1 SCREENS) 11 00 2-45 3:45 6.30 7:30 PG-13 VANILLA SKY 12:10 3:15 6 40 9:35 A NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE 12:00 P.M. OCEAN'S ELEVEN 12.20 3:20 6 15 3 50 FG-13 HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE 11 20 2 50 6:10 9 30 PG MONSTERS, INC. Ac Passes Accented 30 SC 405 7:05 PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ALL RATED FILMS TIMES FOR THRU COPYRIGHT 2002 away?.
