'Where Men Hide'
Megan Sukys/Dave Beck
05/25/2006
Today's Featured Music Selection:
Though he's been making powerful original music for nearly four decades, James Hand has unjustly remained one of American music's secret treasures -- a local legend, modestly plying his craft in countless smoky dives and dancehalls to a slowly widening circle of admirers. "I don't sing like anybody," he admits with a shy, sly smile, "and I don't look like Kenny Chesney." He's right: he sings like nobody but himself, his phrasing drawing out the pain and humor of his lyrics with an unpredictable yet soulful series of tiny inflections. His songs are equally mysterious and unclassifiable. While they are noticeably rich with the influences of his heroes -- classic country architects like Hank, Lefty, and Ernest -- Hand's songs are uniquely his, imbued with equal parts gallows humor and the ability to stare unflinchingly into life's darkest corners. We'll listen to songs from James Hand's latest CD, The Truth Will Set You Free, throughout the hour.
Selected Tracks on The Beat:
1. The Truth Will Set You Free
2. I've Got a Lot of Hiding Left to Do
3. Banks of the Brazos
4. Just an Old Man With An Old Song
Related Links:
At 2:05 p.m. - 'Where Men Hide'
In Where Men Hide, James Twitchell tracks down the dark and often dirty places men go to find comfort, camaraderie, relaxation, and escape. Along with photographer Ken Ross, Twitchell documents both traditional and contemporary male haunts, such as bars, barbershops, lodges, pool halls, strip clubs, garages, deer camps, megachurches, the basement Barcalounger, and Twitchell examines their provenance, purpose, and appeal. However, Twitchell sees this less as exclusionary behavior and more as the result of social anxiety: when women want to get together, they just do it; when men get together, it's a production. James Twitchell speaks today with Dave Beck.
Related Links:
At 2:33 p.m - Guanxi
Microsoft might be based here in the Pacific Northwest but they're a global operation with offices and operations around the world. Setting up shop in China and luring the top college graduates there, however, has been far trickier than just leasing an office building and hanging up a "Help Wanted" sign. To truly succeed in China, say authors Robert Buderi and Gregory T. Huang, Microsoft had to master "guanxi" (GWAN-shee), the art of personal relationships.
Related Links:
At 2:50 p.m. - Misha Berson
The Seattle Times Theatre Critic Misha Berson joins us regularly on The Beat for reviews and previews of shows on Pacific Northwest stages.
Today's Reviews:
Wine in the Wilderness at ACT Theatre http://www.acttheatre.org/ --Opening June 9th.
Amen Corner at Brown Box Theatre http://www.therainiervalley.com/brownbox-theatre.html -- Opening June 16th.
Richard III at Intiman http://intiman.org/ -- Opening June 9th.
