Virginia Yapp

May 27, 2010

“Constructive” Criticism for This Year’s Summer Movie Lineup

By Virginia Yapp

In response to the silly summer 2010 movie trailers I suffered through in the name of Artsweek, I took those lemons and made bloody, vengeful lemonade.

May 20, 2010

Reel Loud 2010 Lineup and Theme Released

By Virginia Yapp

Reel Loud, currently in its 19th year as a UCSB tradition, screens a dozen short, silent films accompanied live by a diverse group of musical acts.

May 6, 2010

Holdin’ Steady ****

By Virginia Yapp

The Hold Steady lead singer Craig Finn might want to think of in investing in a different type of lady.

February 11, 2010

Kathryn Bigelow Takes Home the Honors at the Lobero for Director of the Year

By Virginia Yapp

As Santa Barbara International Film Festival head honcho Roger Durling pointed out Monday evening in his comments during the festival's reception for Outstanding Director recipient Kathryn Bigelow, to mention Bigelow's g...

February 11, 2010

SBIFF Brings High-Caliber Writers to Panel

By Virginia Yapp

You know that thing they say about writers: How they can only write about what they know?

February 4, 2010

Hard to Find Venue Is Back in Business

By Virginia Yapp

It might not look like much from the outside, but the Hard to Find Showspace is a local legend. Bigger than beloved venues like the Biko Co-op or the Pink Mailbox, the music venue run by brothers Josh and Tim Eymann will...

January 28, 2010

Gauchos Storm SBIFF

By Virginia Yapp

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has always dedicated a portion of its programming to showcasing the talent of local filmmakers, and this year is no different. In fact, six short films made by UCSB students ...

January 21, 2010

SBIFF 2010’s Feature Films

By Virginia Yapp

Featuring a whopping 196 films -- in addition to a slew of panels and tributes -- for its 25th anniversary, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's 2010 lineup is more than a little bewildering. Fortunately for y...

January 14, 2010

Sonic Youth at the Wiltern

By Virginia Yapp

One more reason to hate tennis (as if you needed another one): Last September, the veteran experimental rockers of Sonic Youth announced they would be cancelling the remainder of the dates on their West Coast tour, inclu...

November 5, 2009

INTERVIEW: Exene Cervenka

By Virginia Yapp

"No one is ever going to pay you, and if you do get paid for stuff, that's good," Exene Cervenka told me the other day over the phone. "I don't even care, as long as they listen to my music. In fact, it's kind of like th...

October 29, 2009

Crappy Halloween!

By Virginia Yapp

Halloween is all about guilty pleasures, especially here in Isla Vista, which is already the year-round guilty pleasures capital of the universe.

October 29, 2009

Monsters of Folk Brings Its Show to the Granada

By Virginia Yapp

Last Thursday's Monsters of Folk show at the Granada Theatre left no doubt as to the immense talent of supergroup members Mike Mogis, Conor Oberst, M. Ward and Jim James (who, for some reason, insists on being billed as ...

October 8, 2009

Master of the Melancholy

By Virginia Yapp

In the hands of a lesser, more ordinary artist, a set of mostly soft, piano-driven songs played in front of a completely unadorned stage would probably come across as tasking and fairly lifeless for any onlookers. But in...

September 24, 2009

A&L Celebrates Its 50th Birthday in Style

By Virginia Yapp

If there's one thing most students don't take enough advantage of during their four-year stay at this fine institution of higher learning, it's UCSB's very own Arts & Lectures... not that you'd know it by looking at the ...

September 24, 2009

New Noise Festival To Debut in Downtown SB

By Virginia Yapp

Featuring a beautiful beachside locale, tons of reggae, a number of jam bands and copious amounts of ganja, the West Beach Music & Arts Festival pretty much embodies the Santa Barbara image, love it or hate it. If that's...

August 26, 2009

The Idiot’s Guide to Local Culture

By Virginia Yapp

Any dummy can figure out how to navigate Isla Vista's ridiculous party scene, but if you're looking to make the most of your four (or five) years in this crazy little beachside community without completely losing your mi...