Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Tuesday

The leading symphony orchestra in Israel will be appearing at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday. I’ll be in Baltimore for the Iron and Wine show, but I’d still highly recommend this concert. Gustavo Dudamel, the 27-year-old conductor, has been dubbed “classical music’s hottest young podium property,” and the venue is only a short walk away. Too bad tickets are a bit steep at $42-$152.

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Georgetown administrators Todd Olson and Charles DeSantis met with student reporters last week to talk about Georgetown’s Ten Year Plan for campus expansion. The plan’s name might sound Stalinist, but its goals–potential ideas include a new “green” initiative, development on the University owned block of 36/Prospect, and improved relations with the surrounding community–are much nicer than that.  The steering committee will also explore an expansion of Lauinger Library and the creation of a new recreational facility.

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Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst 

Monday

Indie rocker Conor Oberst has released ten albums under the name Bright Eyes, gaining recognition for his unique voice and “straight-from-the-diary lyrics.”  Lately, he’s moved onto a new project, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, that should please Bright Eyes fans and draw in new listeners.  See him at the 9:30 Club on Monday with The Felice Brothers.

The Smashing Pumpkins

Tuesday + Wednesday

The Smashing Pumpkins achieved early fame with their 1993 album Siamese Dream, but the band was largely inactive after the late 1990’s.  An appearance in Paris during the summer of 2007 confirmed rumors that The Smashing Pumpkins was reforming, and they released the four song American Gothic EP in January 2008.  See them Tuesday or Wednesday at the DAR Constitution Hall around the corner from the White House.

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It’s no surprise when Georgetown alumni are elected to Congress, but the story of Glenn Nye (SFS ‘96) is worth hearing. The thirty-three year old Nye was victorious in Virginia’s second Congrssional district last night, narrowly defeating GOP incumbent Thelma Drake.

Nye has an amazing life story, despite being only 33.  He began his career by working for the European Band for Reconstruction and Development, joined the State Department to serve in Macdonia, Kosovo and Singapore, and has served on tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Coldplay

Friday

It may be Halloween, but Coldplay will be stopping at the Verizon Center for an early show starting at 7:30. Surprisingly, tickets are still available online, and you’ll definitely have time to make it back for the dark rituals.  Brian Eno couldn’t save Coldplay’s latest album Viva la Vida, but this tour has gotten decent reviews.

Lotus

Saturday

Stop by the 9:30 Club to see Philly based Lotus.  They’re an electronic band with no laptops, which I would find impressive if they didn’t rely on two guitarists.  If you like electronica, the band’s latest album Hammerstrike is worth a look.

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This week’s concert calendar has an international flavor with music from France, Canada, and England.

No Kids

Saturday

Vancouver based No Kids will be appearing at the Black Cat at 9:00.  Fans of the electronic music in Flight of the Concords will likely enjoy No Kids.  Mirah will be opening, and the show is a bargain at $15.

Billy Bragg

Monday

Wilco fans think of the Grammy nominated Mermaid Avenue albums when they hear the name Billy Bragg, but the British singer-songwriter has had a very successful career on his own.  Tickets to his Monday show at the 9:30 Club are a bit pricey at $35, but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

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Solidarity is bringing writer and activist Barbara Ehrenreich to White Gravenor 210B tonight at 7:30.  Ehrenreich is the author of the books Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America and Bait and Switch: The Futile Pursuit of the American Dream.  Ehrenreich is also a frequent contributor to The Nation.

In Nickle and Dimed, Ehrenreich decides to give up her comfortable upper-middle class life and work for a few months as an unskilled laborer.  Leaving home with her car and $1300, Ehrenreich is exposed to the strenuous and challenging life of the working poor.  Over the course of the book she works in the women’s department at Wall Mart, tries to work as a waitress in a diner, and finds employment as as maid cleaning houses.  Despite all the advantages she had starting out (car, savings, work ethic etc.), she is never able to get ahead and achieve a sustainable standard of living. She even cleaned toilets and couldn’t climb her way up–no justice!

Photo from Flickr user David_Shankbone used under a Creative Commons license

David Frum

Political commentators David Frum and Bob Shrum (COL ‘65) appeared at Gaston Hall tonight to discuss the “issues and implications” of the Presidential election.  SFS Professor Jacques Berlinerblau moderated the discussion.

Frum, a leading conservative thinker, served as the current Bush’s speechwriter during his first term and even penned a book about Bush entitled “The Right Man.”

Described by the Atlantic Monthly as “the most sought-after strategist in the Democratic Party,” Shrum is well regarded in the Democratic establishment despite the Shrum curse–every presidential campaign he has played a major role in has failed.

Frum spent a great deal of time discussing the rise and fall of the conservative movement, arguing that the Gingrich Revolution of 1994 will remembered as the high water mark for the conservative movement.  Frum was also very pessimistic about the GOP’s chances in November, saying, “I don’t think there’s a lot of doubt about what the outcome of this election is going to be, and I think it’s time that Republicans talk frankly about this.”

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The Voice’s Concert Calendar has found new life on Vox Populi. Every Friday, we’ll bring you the concerts you don’t want to miss in the next week. Since this one has Saturday concerts, though, it runs today.

There are some great shows to check out in DC during the upcoming week.  You won’t want to miss …

Cold War Kids 

Saturday

The Cold War Kids are touring to support their new album “Loyalty to Loyalty,” and they’ll be at the 9:30 Club this weekend.  According the the 9:30 Club’s website, the show is sold out, but you can get tickets for the right price and the right wink.

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Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olson, VP for Student Health Jim Welsh, and University spokesperson Julie Green Bataille sat down with student reporters this afternoon to provide an update on the norovirus outbreak:

• 212 confirmed cases of norovirus on campus, and seven new cases in the past 24 hours.  Two faculty members have contracted norovirus.
• Georgetown cleaning crews and temporary contract crews have been working through the weekend to keep public areas clean.  Thousands of wipes and sixty hand sanitizer stations have been placed around campus.
• Late night Leo’s should return on Wednesday as long as there is no significant change in the number of norovirus cases.
• DC Department of Public Health is conducting an epidemiological study to determine the cause of the outbreak.  The results of the study should be released in the next few days.  Food samples from Leo’s have been tested.  The cause of the outbreak is still unknown, but the study should provide some insight.

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