Don’t Be Bored: Henry Louis Gates’ 512-Page Book

Ally Schweitzer — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:21 +0000

Henry Louis Gates’ Life Upon These Shores: Looking at African American History, 1513-2008 spans nearly 500 years in as many pages. So, it’s understandable if reading about the Middle Passage, post-Civil War Reconstruction, and the Rodney King riots might get exhausting. There’s also the fact that Gates wrote his tome free of any centralized argument. While such an approach is likely the best for the brutal and multilayered story that is the history of African-American life, it places the onus of interpretation on the reader. But one should expect a formidable challenge from Gates, who’s renowned for his literary criticism and currently serves as director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University. Fortunately, Life Upon These Shores also boasts a wonderfully extensive number of visual accompaniments: The included maps, cartoons, and photographs might say as much about the African diaspora in America as Gates’ prose. Gates reads and signs his book at 7 p.m. at Politics and Prose Bookstore. Free. (Alex Baca)

MUSIC

Electro-pop ensemble Digitalism played to a small, late-night crowd at the 9:30 Club in August. This time around, the German act is wisely going with the cozier room (and earlier timeslot) at U Street Music Hall. Those huge, poppy choruses are going to be hugging the walls. Data Romance and Craig Sopo open. $12 in advance, $15 at door. 9 p.m.

Tori Amos! Tori Amos! Believe it or not, tickets are still available for her show at DAR Constitution Hall tonight. 8 p.m. $45 plus fees.

EMILY DICKINSON

It's not Emily Dickinson's 181st birthday until Saturday, but the Folger Shakespeare Library is too excited to wait: Aracelis Girmay, a poet and assistant professor at my alma mater, Hampshire College, will read Dickinson's works—and some of her own—at the library's annual Dickinson birthday celebration tonight. 7:30 p.m. $15.

David Byrne’s New Concept Album: From Eno to Imelda

Hilary Crowe — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:45:00 +0000

David Byrne's had his hands in many a cookie jar. The ex-Talking Head and Luaka Bop label founder played a building (literally), designed cheeky bike racks, and released one of 2008's best records with fellow '70s-era musical-genius-who-just-won't-quit Brian Eno. Now Byrne's got a new concept album in the works (via Stereogum via BBC).

Inspired by Imelda Marcos, the high heels-happy wife of ex-dictator of the Phillipines Ferdinand Marcos, Byrne penned the album with Fatboy Slim. Together they're recruiting different vocalists for each track. So far, Santigold is on board as well. Byrne told BBC's 6 Music:

There is a different singer on every song including Sharon Jones from Amy Winehouse's backing band The Dap Tones, Alice Russell and Tori Amos. There's a lot of singers, it goes on and on.

"On and on"? How many tracks are on this album? Here's hoping Byrne doesn't jump the shark with this one.

Arts Desk » Tori Amos

Don’t Be Bored: Henry Louis Gates’ 512-Page Book

David Byrne’s New Concept Album: From Eno to Imelda