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Friday Video – Lollapalooza rock block: White Lies, Foster the People, Muse

August 5, 2011 / David Medsker

Usually at this time on the first Friday in August, we’re in Chicago’s Grant Park, soaking up the sun (or, in 2009, a lot of rain) and tunes galore at Lollapalooza. This year, well, we’re not there. Don’t ask, as it’s still a sore subject, but we will tell you that it has something to do with a cat, bungee cables, string cheese, and a bread maker. The gag order prohibits us from saying another word.

Strangely, the lineup is looking better and better now that we’re not going, though once again they scheduled several of our must-see bands against each other (Coldplay, Muse and Girl Talk at the same time? Really?). One band we’d like to get a second look at is White Lies, a pasty London trio who released an iffy EP a couple years ago, but opened their new album Ritual with one killer alt-dance rock groove called “Is Love.” Give it a moment to breathe, and when the second chorus hits, get out your air guitars.

Next up: Foster the People, another unfortunately named band (all of the good ones, apparently, are taken) who absorbed every note of MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular as if it were the sun. To their credit, the best moments on their debut album out-do MGMT’s last album without breaking a sweat. “Pumped Up Kicks” is getting the airplay, but it’s second single “Houdini” that had us at the opening kick drum.

Which brings us to one of Friday’s headliners – come to think of it, all three of these bands are playing on Friday, which shows that Lolla once again front-loaded the festival, making it impossible to see everyone, or even half of everyone, you paid $220 to see – and one absolute must-see in concert: Muse. Lolla regulars know this already, since they headlined three years ago, but lest anyone be thinking of catching Coldplay, also a dynamic live band, the decision between the two is an easy one. Of course, the fact that anyone would have to choose between the two – one of these bands should be playing opposite Eminem. End of story – is just silly, but such is life. (Note: we wanted to go with the live version of “Stockholm Syndrome” here, but the damn thing isn’t embeddable, ugh.)

Happy Lolla, everyone. Don’t get too fried. Also, don’t get sunburned.

Music, Videos

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Common Approach Mistake: Buying her a drink

August 5, 2011 / Bullz-Eye Staff

In our recent Get Real Guide for Men, our friend Eric Rogell wrote a great column on the five common mistakes guys make when approaching women. One of the best tips involved the mistake of offering to buy her a drink:

Ever hear a “pick up artist” (or even your buddy) say that you should never buy a woman a drink? It’s one of those popular I-know-what-to-do-to-get-a-woman pieces of advice guys throw around to sound like they have game.

The truth is, they’re right. You should never buy a woman a drink. And in my book I go into detail about the pitfalls of paying for her Cosmotinis. But here’s the condensed version:

1 – Saying “Can I buy you a drink?” or sending one over, then nodding and smiling, isn’t clever, unique, exciting, entertaining, or anything else that a woman looks for. She’s heard it before, and if you approach the same way as every other boring, uninteresting guy she has shot down, you’re gonna get shot down too. Right after she finishes her drink.

2 – The minute you buy her a drink, you’re no longer that interesting guy she wanted to meet and talk to; you instantly become “Just another guy trying to get into my pants.” And that’s not a good category to be in.

3 – This is the big one. This is the one women have told me is the reason that actually makes them hate when a guy sends over a drink: because now they feel obligated to talk to you. You expect a conversation because you have bought their time. And I don’t have to tell you that when a woman feels she has to do something, as opposed to wanting to do something, you’re in for a rough time.

Bottom line, there are at least those three reasons not to buy a woman a drink, and not too many on the positive side. Hedge your bets. Use a different approach.

This is great advice, as there are so many better ways to strike up a conversation. Check out the rest of the article for more great tips from Eric, and check out his book – “The Art of War of Dating.” You can also check out our dating channel for more dating tips for guys.

Lifestyle, The Opposite Sex

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A “Warrior” for a good cause

August 4, 2011 / Bob Westal

The upcoming action drama “Warrior” is the first truly major movie we can think of to cover the world of MMA. A poster from Comic-Con signed by stars Tom Hardy — who made such a huge splash as Eames in “Inception” and who is slated to be next Mad Max — and Joel Edgerton (outstanding in last year’s “Animal Kingdom“) from Comi-Con is currently up for auction at eBay. It’s all for an outstanding cause, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, so you’ll be getting a small piece of history while helping children. However, the auction closes this afternoon (Thursday, 8/4), just a couple of hours, so there’s not much time.

Entertainment, Movies

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First Drive: 2012 Hyundai Accent

August 4, 2011 / Gerardo Orlando

Hyundai is on a roll as it continues to update their lineup and push the envelope on design and value. 2011 is shaping up to be the company’s best year as U.S. market share blows past 6%. With this backdrop I encountered very upbeat executives when I traveled out to the Hyundai America Technical Center in Michigan near Ann Arbor to drive the new 2012 Hyundai Accent.

The subcompact segment is growing rapidly as more Americans become sensitive to fuel economy, and the 2012 Accent should do very well as it hits 40 MPG on the highway. Some competitors also hit this threshold but buyers will need to select options that increase the cost of the vehicle by at least $2,000. The Accent offers 40 MPG in its standard package which should be a huge selling point for the cost-conscious consumers in this segment.

Exterior

I was introduced to Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language when I reviewed the 2011 Elantra and those elements are also utilized in the new Accent which has been redesigned for 2012. The new design is a big leap forward from the previous model, with the wraparound headlamps and a fluid, aerodynamic body structure. The 4-door sedan also features wraparound rear taillights that fit the design nicely, while Hyundai has added a 5-door Accent hatchback to round out the lineup. The hatchback looks more sculpted and has large, distinctive rear taillights that stretch to the top of the rear end. This choice should make the vehicle appealing to even more potential buyers.

Interior

The interior is very stylish for this car which is consistent with all the other Hyundai models I’ve driven. I also liked the modern look and feel of the dash. One feature that stood out was the sliding armrest storage console, as Accent is the only subcompact with this feature. This makes a big different in comfort level. The 5-door has best-in-class cargo volume.

Performance

The performance of the Accent is very competitive with other models in this segment. I’ve been impressed with how carmakers are improving the driving experience in their small car lineup, and the Hyundai Accent is no different. Driving around the roads of Michigan was a breeze, and the Accent performed nicely. I liked the handy Eco mode button which gives drivers the option of maximizing gas mileage versus and extra performance boost. I drove both the 4-door sedan and the 5-door hatchback and found them to be equally appealing.

The 2012 Accent features a new 1.6-liter Gamma GDI engine which is more powerful and 40 pounds lighter that the previous model. It features and aluminum block and head while the previous version had a cast iron block. The engine generates 138 horsepower @ 6300 RPM and 123 lb.-ft torque @ 4850 RPM. With these improvements the Accent delivers best-in-class weight to power ratio.

Accent is also loaded with safety features. It’s the only subcompact to offer standard four-wheel disc brakes and it comes with six airbags.

Overview

The competition in the small car segment is getting fierce, and Hyundai continues to up its game with the new Accent. The value proposition is compelling, and Hyundai is now competing with aggressive styling as well. The entry level 4-door starts at $12,445 MSRP, and the fully-loaded 5-door is priced at $16,795. Buyers will get a lot for their money so I expect this new model to do very well.

Cars, Lifestyle, Stuff to Buy

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Entourage 8.2 – Out with a Bang

July 31, 2011 / Jason Zingale

After focusing pretty heavily on Vince’s return from rehab this week, the actor was stuck in the background for most of tonight’s episode, leading me to wonder whether he’ll even get the chance to mount another comeback before the end of the season. Sure, there was a tiny subplot involving him writing the script to that Romanian miner movie he wants Drama to star in, but apart from getting Billy to read the outline and agree to help flesh it out, Vince was surprisingly MIA this week.

He mostly just followed the rest of the gang around like he was part of Drama’s entourage – a scary thought, I know, but things are once again looking up for Vince’s older brother. Despite my personal feelings about “Johnny’s Bananas,” the guys seem to think it has the potential to become a runaway hit, even if Andrew Dice Clay has reservations about it performing well with the public. So when Phil drops by the recording studio to inform Drama and Dice that the show is being screened for a test audience, Dice practically begs him to tag along.

Unfortunately, that may not have been the best decision, because as soon as the Dice Man hears that “Johnny’s Bananas” tested through the roof, he immediately starts planning a mutiny to walk from the show. That’s pretty amateur behavior on his part, no matter how much he thinks they’re being underpaid. After all, the cartoon isn’t even on the air yet, and as Jerry Seinfeld (whose own show famously scored terribly with test audiences) can probably attest to, those scores mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Drama would be wise to keep his cool and not let Dice get into his head, because if he screws this opportunity up, it could very well be his last.

Entertainment, Television

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