Next up in Battle of the Bands Spotlights, we’ve got Noise on 93rd. Getting their start in a basement located in Queens Village, Noise on 93rd have honed a unique sound, taking inspiration from the very best of boundary-pushing '90s alternative rock, the melodies of indie pop, and the irresistible beats of hip hop to make something that’s all their own.
This distinctive sound is the result of collaboration and experimentation by four band members. Frontman and lyricist Nicholas Bethea delivers the scorching vocals, and the instrumentation is propelled by the guitar skills of Kevin Matharu and anchored by the drum hits of Luke Sedge, and the rhythm guitar and bass talents of Miguel Acevedo.
With influences as varied as the Deftones, Circa Survive, John Mayer, Incubus, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, and Van Halen, we know we’re in for a treat on the evening of July 14. The boys are always working on fresh material, and are gearing up to put out a new demo shortly. We can’t wait to see them put on an electric show at the Colden Auditorium!
June is LGBTQ Pride Month, and we asked our staff to recommend titles old and new that focus on and are inspired by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer stories and themes.
We hope you will check out these great books and join us in Celebrating Pride!
“My pick is Female Masculinity by Jack (then known as Judith) Halberstam. A rebellion against the notion that gender only exists as ‘male’ or ‘female’ (known as the ‘gender binary’), as well as a detailed anthropological catalogue of masculinity as presented by female-bodied people in cultural history, this book asserts that masculinity is not owned by any one sex, while commenting on the problems (and dangers) that emerge when we police the way other people present their true selves.”
— Danielle Thillet, Queens Library Social Media Manager
"I need to evangelize one of the best LGBTQ books to be published in recent years. Alex Gino's George is brilliant because it's a middle-grade book—LGBTQ has usually been a YA theme—and speaks to a younger audience about a hugely important issue: being transgender. When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. George gives us a middle-grade, positive, self-aware LGBTQ character figuring out how to bring others to the understanding she's had for a while now. She's surrounded by a positive support system, including a best friend who's there for the journey and a family who may struggle with this knowledge, but will ultimately have enough love between them to come to a path they can all walk together."
— Rosemary Kiladitis, Children's Librarian, Queens Library at Corona
“Set in the 1860s, Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is an intriguing story that describes more than just a lesbian tale of romance; it’s a story of lies, deceit, crime, passion, and betrayal. After the public hanging of her mother, Sue is raised in a poor and desolate town by a thief and a woman who sells abandoned babies. One day, they’re visited by a man they call Gentleman, who convinces the family to have Sue act as a maid to an heiress named Maud. During her charade, Sue has to convince Maud to marry Gentleman, who plans to 'ruin' Maud and then throw her in an asylum, claiming her fortune as his own. However, shortly after meeting Maud, Sue does something she never could have predicted: fall in love. It was in this moment that I felt this book spoke to the LGBTQ experience. It's the 'shameful,' forbidden, and unexpected love story that touches home for so many LGBTQ persons. It's a story about life not going the way we expected or may have wanted, but rather the way it was meant to be. Waters truly created a story that surpasses time and place and resonates with so many today in the same way it will in the future. It is one of my highest recommendations." (Fingersmith has also been adapted as a popular BBC mini-series, for the stage, and as a South Korean film!)
— Leshawn McFarlan, General Librarian, Queens Library at Long Island City
“I read a YA book a couple of months ago by Ami Polonsky called Gracefully Grayson, and it was about a 12-year-old boy who wished he could dress like a girl. Grayson wore wide shorts so he could pretend they swished like a skirt and he doodled pictures of girls all over his notebooks. He convinced his teacher to let him try out for the female lead in the school play, and the teacher chose him for the part because he read it so well—he really identified with the character, which showed in his acting. Grayson went on to do well in the final performance, even though the teacher's choice had shocked some of the other parents and members of the school administration. Although this book had an unusual subject matter, the story was told clearly and well and I enjoyed it.”
— Ingrid Andersen, Assistant Community Library Manager, Queens Library at Hollis
“While Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis does not specifically address LGBTQ issues, it follows a youngster and his larger-than-life, sophisticated aunt who “opens doors he never DREAMED existed!” Patrick Dennis never explicitly announced his homosexuality during his lifetime, but the nonfiction work Uncle Mame by Eric Myers traces Dennis’ life and reveals the extreme highs and lows he encountered. I love Auntie Mame and Dennis’ other works because they remind us of the joy of our own follies, how important it is to forgo pretense and just be nice people, yet at the same time he lays out a fantastic world that makes us believe our lives can really be as fabulous as we make them! For me specifically, when I read this as a young gay kid, this book took me away from surroundings that often felt stifling and into a world where I was swept away by a warm, loving, globetrotting eccentric. After all, who doesn’t love an unconventional, flamboyant, ridiculously whimsical Auntie who teaches us that “life is a smorgasbord and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
— Thomas Maxheimer, Assistant Community Library Manager, Queens Library at Hillcrest
“As a librarian new to Queens who is also gay, I'm trying to make sure my collection has many LGBTQ selections. While the classic LGBTQ books are excellent and I have read many of those, they really don't pertain to today's LGBTQ teens. So here are some of my new favorites.
“Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
There aren't a lot of teen books about gender fluidity, so I grabbed this one as soon as I heard about it. I know a couple of gender-queer teens and it's a book I would recommend to them. In the book, Riley has dealt with a lot so far in life and now is going to be the new kid at a new high school. You see life through their eyes and get an understanding of what it's like to be gender queer.
“George by Alex Gino
George is about a 4th grader who was born biologically a boy but knows she is a girl. She hasn't told her family about it yet, but she does talk about it with a friend, who loves and accepts her. When her class has play auditions for Charlotte's Web, George wants to play Charlotte but only ‘girls’ are trying out for that part. Read this book to see how George handles it! It's one of the first books written about a transgender protagonist for children. Such an awesome book not only for kids, but also for teens!
“Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
When I first picked up this book, I thought I was just going to be reading a story about the Civil Rights era (which I love!) and then I was surprised! This book takes place in 1959 and Sarah Dunbar is one of the first students to be integrated into the local high school that used to be whites-only. She deals with a lot of obstacles and hatred and is forced to work with Linda, a student who was raised to believe that the races must be kept separate. The two girls learn a lot about each other and then develop feelings for each other.
“One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva
Once I read about this book and found out the main character was Armenian and gay I was sold!!! I'm half-Armenian myself and never find books like this! Alek is forced to go to summer school, where he meets Ethan. Through Ethan, Alek's world opens up and his life changes. He soon realizes Ethan is starting to have feelings for him and starts to think about having a boyfriend.”
— Jody Ruggiero, YA Librarian, Queens Library at Peninsula
If you haven’t already met them, we’d like to introduce you to some of our Battle of the Bands contestants. Chiv Culture, the Roslyn School of Rock House Band, and Psychonaut Underground will be bringing down the house on July 14 at Colden Auditorium, so now’s your chance to discover some of Queens’ musical diamonds in the rough.
Chiv Culture is a collective of jazz students, and their music encompasses jazz, hip-hop, and a clever lyricism. With sunny vibes all around, we’re looking forward to an uplifting set from a crew that’s been creating a real buzz on the college radio circuit.
The Roslyn School of Rock House Band consists of teens aged 13-18, and they’ll be playing a variety of covers and mashups spanning several genres. They’re well-versed in all things rock, with influences in metal and jazz as well.
Psychonaut Underground first hit the music scene in 2013, when cousins Jeffery Carino and Janssen “Fish” Gonzalez came together to commemorate Jeffery’s late brother Paul. Their diverse sound incorporates punk, grunge, hip hop, metal, funk, and even classical music.
Rock out with these guys and more at the 2016 Battle of the Bands!
Today, we’re introducing our third Battle of the Bands contestants: Psychonaut Underground. Psychonaut Underground first hit the music scene in 2013, when cousins Jeffery Carino and Janssen “Fish” Gonzalez came together to commemorate Jeffery’s brother Paul. A major music inspiration in their lives, Paul passed away at a young age, and the band was started as a tribute to his memory.
Eventually, it became clear that the band needed a guitarist, and Jeffery and Fish enlisted Luis “Space” M to become Psychonaut Underground’s lead axeman. With the addition of another member, the group found themselves gaining local recognition and generating plenty of new materials. To keep up with their evolving sound and their burgeoning fan base, they decided to add a bass player to the mix. This time, they approached recruitment with auditions, but only found their elusive bass boss after a months-long process. Band member Brenden joined, and with this refreshed lineup, Psychonaut Underground grew from punk and grunge roots to a more diverse sound that incorporates hip hop, metal, funk, and even classical. In 2015, they released a five-song EP called Kashmir, and this year they’re working towards a new mixtape.
Psychonaut Underground’s got a reputation for playing lively, energetic gigs that get the crowd excited from the first note. We can’t wait to see them rock out on July 14!
To listen to Psychonaut Underground before the Battle, check them out on ReverbNation.
Meet the next contestants staking their claim to victory at the Battle of the Bands. The Roslyn School of Rock House Band will be showing off their skills on July 14. Consisting of teens aged 13-18, the group plays a wide variety of covers and mashups spanning several genres.
Dedicated to classic songs and rock ‘n’ roll history, this group is all about impressing crowds with blazing instrumental skills and killer vocals. The House Band lineup for the Battle of the Bands is: Thomas Agate and Charlie Lomonaco on guitar, Sean Donlon on guitar and vocals, Tara Maggiulli and John Devito on bass, Jacob Marschall on drums, Sophie Adelman on keys, and Kayleigh Bugalla on vocals.
The Roslyn School of Rock House Band’s talents are many: they’re well-versed in all things rock, with influences in metal and jazz as well. Inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and AC/DC, you can expect a classic set from these passionate young players. We’re honored to have them compete in the 2nd annual Battle of the Bands, and can’t wait to see them shredding on stage.
Rock ‘n’ roll lovers of Queens: get ready for music that’ll melt your face off!
Watch previews of this band here and here.
Don’t forget to get your free tickets for the 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands on July 14!
Several children joined Queens Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott and Mayor David Dinkins today at the Children’s Library Discovery Center for our Google CS First kickoff event.
They got to try out the same computer science (CS) activities that will be available for kids in grades 4 through 8 at twenty-six Queens Library locations this summer, and more to come this fall. Queens Library is the first library in New York City to partner with Google for this free program.
Debra LoCastro from Google showed videos of CS First classes in action and demonstrated the Scratch code (developed by MIT) used by students to make their projects. She also spoke about the goals of Google CS First, which include increasing the confidence of children when they're using computers; making them builders of technology, not just consumers; and instilling courage in them to try new things. As a video she showed emphasized, "It only takes a moment to change a child's trajectory."
Google’s Head of External Affairs for New York, William Floyd, with Queens Library Trustee the Honorable Augustus C. Agate, Mayor David Dinkins, and Queens Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott.
Dennis Walcott told the gathered attendees that the library was helping the kids of today become the CS programmers of tomorrow. "You will be doing things we and even you had not dreamed possible," he said. He also spoke about our first partnership with Google, in 2013, when they donated 5,000 Nexus tablets for use by our customers after Hurricane Sandy. The tablets are still in circulation today—and still in great demand! He also informed the crowd that, through a partnership with ExpandED, 20 high school students would learn the Google CS First curriculum to assist kids with the classes this summer and fall—and receive high school credit for doing so.
We were honored to have Mayor Dinkins join us, who was as impressed with the potential offered by the Google CS program as the rest of our attendees. He also talked about the $46 million he invested in libraries during his administration, and how libraries serve as an important haven for the members of their communities. (Mayor Dinkins restored six-day service to the City’s libraries in 1993!)
Mayor Dinkins also gave William Floyd, Google’s Head of External Affairs for New York, his first job in public service. Mr. Floyd joined us to reaffirm Google’s partnership with Queens Library and remind us all that by 2020, there will be 1 million more computer science jobs than graduates to fill them. One trillion people use Google every year, but it started as the dream of two young people, and Floyd let our young attendees know that they could be taking the first steps to being computer visionaries themselves.
By then, the kids were ready to code—and soon they were focused on nothing but their projects! To learn more about our Google CS First program, visit http://queenslib.org/CSforKids.
Looking for new music? Look no further than your local Queens Library!
Every month, our expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our physical and digital collections.
Check out our music recommendations for June 2016!
Beyoncé, Lemonade
Lemonade is the ground-breaking sixth album by Beyoncé. While its predecessor featured individual music videos for each track, Lemonade was accompanied upon its release by a one-hour film that aired on HBO. The album encompasses a variety of genres, including pop, R&B, blues, rock, hip hop, soul, funk, country, gospel, and trap. It features guest vocals from James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and Jack White. In case you didn’t know the origin of the album’s title, the song “Freedom” is derived from Jay-Z’s grandmother, Hattie White, who declares, “I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to cool myself off. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade.” Watch the HBO trailer for the album/concept video.
Sturgill Simpson, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
Country is a limiting term for Sturgill Simpson. He’s a native of Kentucky, with deep southern roots, who has gained renown as a solo artist thanks to his 2013 solo debut High Top Mountain, an outlaw country record in form and feel. Says Shooter Jennings (Waylon's son), "Sturgill isn't imitating at all, and he sounds like my favorite era of my dad, the Seventies." On his latest, A Sailor's Guide to Earth, the former Navy man serves up life lessons framed as a letter to his son in songs like "Call to Arms," which Rolling Stone calls "an indictment of America's warmongering, media-stupefied culture.” Watch him perform that song live at KCRW.
Lukas Graham, Lukas Graham
From the free-living enclave of Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark, 27-year-old Lukas Graham (along with his group) has crafted an album that is a combination of funky pop and R&B stylings. His musical influences range from classical—gained during his childhood experiences with the Copenhagen Boys' Choir—to the Beatles and the Stones, as well as the Prodigy and Dr. Dre. The first single, “7 Years” (a huge hit in Scandinavia), is the kind of song that gets crowds waving hands in the air, swaying and singing along. In it, the singer recalls his childhood, his hopes, his dreams—and smoking pot at a young age. You don’t have to get high to enjoy the video for the song.
The Lumineers, Cleopatra
With a sound that has been described as an amalgam of heart-swelling stomp-and-clap acoustic rock, classic pop, and front-porch folk, the Lumineers prove they're no flash in the pan with their sophomore album Cleopatra. Their story began in 2002, but after playing numerous gigs around New York, the band tired of the city’s cutthroat music scene and impossibly high cost of living and headed for Denver, Colorado. The new album, according to front man Wesley Schultz, is a more fully fleshed-out record compared to the “innocent demo feeling” of the band’s debut album, promising more electric guitar, piano, and storytelling. Watch the video for the first single, “Ophelia."
Keith Urban, Ripcord
Keith Urban’s career has seen a long list of groundbreaking firsts and accomplishments reserved for the music industry’s elite. Urban’s reputation as a premier songwriter, vocalist, musician, and virtuoso guitarist has afforded him the opportunity to collaborate with the likes of The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, and Eric Church. Though he is Australian, his tenth album, Ripcord, includes an homage to America’s three favorite Johns, "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.” Rolling Stone describes the music as “virtuoso picking on six-string banjo (or ‘ganjo’) locking in with steady basslines and ticking drum tracks to fuse the rootsy precision of bluegrass with the uplifting persistence of EDM." Check out the video for that “John” song.
Royce da 5’9”, Layers
Whenever anyone mentions the name of Detroit rapper Royce da 5'9", a whole list of other names surround it (LL Cool J., Willa Ford, DJ Premier). Mostly, though, people associate him with Eminem. Royce and Eminem have rolled together since their early days in Detroit. His first appearance for many was on Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP. On his sixth solo album, Royce checks all the boxes, fully loading it with big-time producers, skits, and tons of careful introspection, the typical keys to success for any traditionalist rap album. Royce has a newfound commitment to full-fledged storytelling, and it’s easy to hear those gears turning on a song like “Tabernacle,” in which he tells the heartbreaking story of losing his grandmother and meeting his newborn son within hours at the same hospital. Watch an interview with Royce da 5’9” where he talks about his sobriety, Layers, and writing "Tabernacle."
Sin Bandera, Una Última Vez
Sin Bandera (which can be interpreted as "Flagless" or "No Flag") is a Latin pop duo based in Mexico. After getting famous, winning many awards and fans, splitting up, and then reuniting, Una Última Vez is their first original release in ten years. Fans of the group will love the six new songs showcasing their well-tuned voices. Together, they have a unique harmony that compliments their signature ballads. The album also contains upbeat pop songs as well as some hip-hop influences. Watch a trailer (in Spanish) for the new album.
Charlie Puth, Nine Track Mind
Charlie Puth began his career with acoustic covers uploaded to YouTube. An early supporter was Ellen DeGeneres, who signed the Berklee College alum—along with his duet partner, Emily Luther—to her label ElevenEleven. Though that deal fizzled, Puth, at age 24, signed with Atlantic in early 2015. His new album Nine Track Mind features two top 40 singles: the Meghan Trainor duet "Marvin Gaye" and "One Call Away." On "Marvin Gaye," Puth displays a flair for retro flourishes: doo-wop rhythms, sock-hop melodies, finger snaps, and sing-along piano. There's also a classic track in "Then There’s You," which features Puth’s beautiful tenor/falsetto and is made for pop radio in 2016. Watch the video for “Marvin Gaye.”
Santana, Santana IV
Carlos Santana grew up in Mexico, the son of a father who was a mariachi violinist. In the early '60s, the family moved to San Francisco. In 1966, he was one of the founders of the Santana Blues Band, which was evolving until the Woodstock Festival put them on the map. Carlos focused on the Santana band in various incarnations for most of the rest of the 1970s and into the ‘90s. His latest, Santana IV, reunites most of the Woodstock-'69 Santana, including drummer Michael Shrieve, singer-organist Gregg Rolie, and percussionist Michael Carabello, as well as guitarist Neal Schon. The sound of the album is equally rooted in the past, focusing on their much-loved conga-fired soul, funk, and jazz. They may not sound as young and radical as they were, but they do come off as if they never stopped playing and discovering together. You can stream the entire album on Freegal.
Flatbush Zombies, 3001: A Laced Odyssey
Friends since grade school, hip hop trio Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice, and Erick "The Architect" Elliott were born and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. Like their last project, Clockwork Indigo, 3001 pays homage to Darko's favorite director, Stanley Kubrick. According to Esquire magazine, "the songs have a much fuller, lush production than a lot of hip hop out there right now. It's a little bit of a callback to some '90s sounds, but feels especially distinctive right now," which is to say the group has grown in the last three years to where they dig everything from psychotropics to designer fashion and flannel shirts from Sears. Watch them perform the album's first single, "Bounce," on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
A traditional book club, this isn’t. There are no flustered hosts at the Gracie Book Club: instead, it’s hosted by New York’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray, in the mayoral mansion. May 17 marked the first meeting of the Club, and the First Lady pulled up a chair with authors James Hannaham and Tanwi Nandini Islam to get into the weeds of Ms. Islam’s debut novel, Bright Lines.
The Gracie Book Club is devoted to literature straight from the streets of New York—stories that illustrate the diversity, multiculturalism, and vibrancy of the city millions call home. Set in Brooklyn and diving headfirst into themes of cultural identity, sexuality, and coming-of-age, Ms. Islam’s novel hit all the right notes to kick off the first gathering of the Club.
It wasn’t just the live event that had book lovers excited. As a book club of the 21st century, the discussion was broadcast to several public libraries, and the live stream was also available online, meaning anyone with an internet connection could take part. “It is my great pleasure to welcome everyone who is taking part in today’s conversation, whether you are here at Gracie Mansion or tuning in from your local library, your smartphone, or your home computer. If you can hear me talking, you are part of this book club,” said First Lady McCray.
Ms. Islam agreed, and thanked her fellow New Yorkers for attending. “As a New Yorker, it is absolutely surreal to think of people reading your work. I can’t believe it,” she said, before launching into an excerpt of her book.
While the fun may be over at Gracie Mansion for now, the spirit of the event lives on. Rebroadcasts will be happening at Broadway, Rochdale Village, and North Hills, and book discussions will be taking place at eight community libraries.
Looking for new music? Look no further than your local Queens Library!
Every month, our expert staff will bring you the best of what's new in our physical and digital collections.
Check out our music recommendations for May 2016!
Rachel Platten, Wildfire
Wildfire, Rachel Platten’s major label debut album, reveals that hiding under all that earnest intention is a savvy pop star itching to be heard. Growing up in Boston, Rachel recalls harmonizing with her family to finely crafted pop songs, from Sam Cooke to The Beatles. As a teenager, Rachel gravitated towards hip hop and female singer-songwriters. After finishing college, she immediately set out for New York's Greenwich Village. She struggled to get recognition for a few years, but now, it seems, is her time to shine in the spotlight. You can hear her whole album on Freegal.
Randy Houser, Fired Up
Randy Houser is a singer/songwriter from Mississippi. Like his contemporaries Trace Adkins and Luke Bryan, Randy specializes in what is known as “bro-country." That genre is basically country music influenced by hip hop, hard rock, and electronic music. It won’t play at the Grand Ole Opry, but you’re sure to hear it at NASCAR events. His latest album is Fired Up and you can stream it on Freegal.
2 Chainz, ColleGrove
Tauheed Epps, better known as 2 Chainz, is a rapper from Georgia. He’s been on the scene for almost 20 years, moving from label to label before founding his own, The Real University (T.R.U.). His latest release is actually a duet album with Lil Wayne, but because of ongoing legal issues only 2 Chainz is credited. The two engage in wordplay akin to a heavyweight boxing match, but you can tell that they are having a lot of fun. That is certainly evident on the album track "Bounce." Listen to it here.
Nevermen, Nevermen
The Nevermen are actually three frontmen—Adam Drucker, Mike Patton, and Tunde Adebimpe—who have been collaborating since 2009. It took seven years, but this "leaderless trio" has finally released their self-titled debut, and the result is an indie pop, post-grunge, industrial funk, rock-rap odyssey. It isn’t for everyone, but fans of the singers’ other bands (Faith No More and TV on the Radio) will certainly find a lot to enjoy here. Sound interesting? Listen to the whole album on Freegal.
Anthony Hamilton, What I’m Feelin’
“Have you ever read an R&B obituary where R&B is pronounced dead?” Anthony Hamilton jokingly asks. The answer, according to Vibe magazine, is of course no. The Charlotte, North Carolina native is back with his fifth studio album, What I’m Feelin'. His voice, according to NPR, “is undeniably and unabashedly thick with Southern rasp and charm, passion overflowing every note he sings." The songs remain rooted in the unmistakable influence of the church, but the vibe is pure, alive R&B. You can hear the entire album on Freegal.
Birdy, Beautiful Lies
The daughter of a concert pianist, Birdy learned to play piano at the age of seven. At age 12, she won the Grand Prize in the UK talent contest Open Mic UK against 10,000 other competitors. Her commercial breakthrough came at 14, when she covered Bon Iver's "Skinny Love." Beautiful Lies, her third studio album, is already garnering raves stateside from the likes of Entertainment Weekly, who cite highlights such as "Keeping Your Head Up." Watch that song's video here.
Kendrick Lamar, untitled unmastered.
After winning five Grammy awards at this year’s ceremony, rapper Kendrick Lamar decided to release untitled unmastered., a compilation of demos from his previous album To Pimp a Butterfly, and it perfectly complements the live performance that was a highlight of the Grammys show. Kendrick continues to push boundaries by incorporating styles like free jazz, funk, and avant-garde with his lyrical social commentary. It is obvious that he is an artist at the peak of his creativity when even leftovers sound this good. Listen to “Untitled 1 & 2."
Weezer, Weezer (2016)
Since coming together in Los Angeles in 1992, the members of Weezer have gone from dorky alt-rock heroes to absentee cult figures to arena-filling megastars. Their tenth album is also their fourth self-titled album, and like the others it will be better known by the color of its cover, in this case "The White Album." It's been called an all-out Beach Boys parody, with song titles like “Endless Bummer” and “L.A. Girlz." There are plenty of synth-shimmering guitars, gooey double-tracked vocals, crashing drums, and Rivers Cuomo lyrics about Darwin, Sisyphus, and cumulonimbus clouds. In other words, it is classic Weezer. Listen to the single “King of the World."
Dream Theater, The Astonishing
After roughly three decades of redefining the parameters of hard rock and progressive heavy metal, Dream Theater has released their 26th album, The Astonishing. It is a rock opera set in a retro-futurist, post-apocalyptic dystopia ruled by medieval-style feudalism. Like any opera, it has a cast of characters and a fantastical plot. The heavy rock sound is accompanied by lush orchestrations and digital age bleeps, reminiscent of vintage Pink Floyd. They even made a mini-movie that you can watch here.
Anthrax, For All Kings
Nearly as much as Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, Anthrax were responsible for the emergence of speed and thrash metal. Their 11th album, For All Kings, is sure to please their legions of fans. Lead singer Joey Belladonna's melodic voice has never sounded better, and the guitar attacks are as fast and heavy as ever. There are some songs that would fit on hard rock radio stations, but for the most part it is an album of full-on aggression. Get ready to bang your head when you stream the album from Freegal.
We’re very pleased to welcome Dr. Mikisha Morris to Queens Library as the new Executive Director of the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. She succeeds Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), who will be retiring in July 2016 after more than 35 years of service to the Queens community.
Dr. Morris, who recently earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership, has an extensive nonprofit and public education administration background, having spent the majority of her career serving children and communities in Philadelphia. She brings a strong understanding of and value for culture and cultural arts in the community and in a library setting.
Dr. Morris was gracious enough to speak with us about some of her plans for her new role, her first message for the customers of Langston Hughes, and more.
What role did libraries play in your life growing up?
The library played a very significant role in my life. My parents strongly encouraged reading and writing in our household. So, as a little girl with a big vocabulary and an even bigger imagination, the library was the perfect escape for me. I would lose myself in a stack of books for hours.
Your doctoral study focused on using cultural arts programs to empower urban communities. That sounds like a fascinating topic. Can you tell us more about it?
The focus of my study was a school in South Philadelphia, which over the course of a decade developed a really strong cultural arts program. The program was fully funded by a small group of community members, through fundraising and grantwriting. In this program, students participate in African djembe drumming classes, Ailey-inspired dance, tap dance, strings, Shakespeare/theater workshops, art classes and more. Well, a few years ago this school was slated for closure. While one part of their argument to remain open was the school’s good academic standing, the hidden gem—its cultural arts program—was the centerpiece of the community's fight to save their school.
Having spent an entire school year working with the school’s community, I witnessed firsthand how this program empowered young people by teaching them about themselves, African culture, and African-American history. Students who were once shy or who had acted out tapped into talents and skills that they never knew existed, or that had never been encouraged. Parents and the community showed up in large numbers to support the students and this program. This helped increase parent involvement in both their children’s education and activities in and around the school. Surrounding music and arts institutions also supported the efforts of the school community. Both of these combined to create a unified, grassroots group of individuals who were highly invested in the fight to keep this school open.
When the time came to fight against the school’s imminent closure, the empowered community attended school board meetings and public hearings where the students would sing, rap, recite, and play their arguments to board members to “save their school.” This applied strategy proved to be a creative and successful approach to their fight. I saw the integral role that cultural arts can play in urban communities where so many resources and programs are most frequently cut. The result depresses so many neighborhoods and leads to an overall deterioration of communities. Cultural arts serve as a great unifier. People from every cultural and socio-economic background can harmoniously engage in a music event, a dance workshop, a theater performance, or an art class. It is a means to educate, inspire, and promote a greater tolerance towards people from cultures other than our own, and as my study proved, it can lead towards the empowerment of urban communities.
What attracted you to the Executive Director position at Langston Hughes Community Library?
My background is in public education and nonprofits, specifically program development and operations management in educational environments. The foundation of my previous work was serving students and communities. When I researched Langston Hughes Community Library, I knew that I had found something very special. The ED position at Langston Hughes fulfills everything that I was looking for professionally—the opportunity to serve urban communities; promote education and literacy; provide amazing cultural arts experiences for diverse audiences; encourage the study of Black cultures and heritage; and hopefully inspire children and adults alike to make reading a strong part of their lives.
We know you just arrived, but what are some of your early plans for your new role at Langston Hughes? Are there any programs or events that you’d like to develop?
My early plans are to glean as much knowledge as possible from Director Emeritus Andrew Jackson so that I may continue the great legacy that he has created over the past 35 years. I want to develop resources and programming that will be relevant to a community that was once predominantly Black and is now home to various Hispanic immigrants; but also sustain the original founders’ vision for the institution, which is to provide a means for the community, students, teachers, and scholars throughout the borough to have direct access to and study Black culture. Finally, I would like to extend the reach of Langston Hughes. This is an amazing institution, with a powerful legacy; it offers so much, academically and culturally—and I wish for even more people to walk through the doors and experience it.
What are some of your favorite books and authors? And what are you reading at the moment?
I am someone who greatly appreciates a “good read.” But for the past 7 years, while earning my master’s and my doctorate, my reading has strictly been academic books for a class or to write a paper. Some of my favorite authors are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Paulo Coelho, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and James Patterson. At the moment, I am re-reading a book that I received as a gift from a great friend over a year ago—The Woman Code by Sophia A. Nelson. Oh, and I just have to add that my childhood favorite was Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema. I still pick up that book and read it from time to time.
Do you have a message for the customers of Langston Hughes and the communities of Corona and East Elmhurst?
This is the Langston Hughes COMMUNITY Library and Cultural Center, meaning: it belongs to you. I invite you to come in and explore all that we have to offer. We welcome you, we appreciate you, and we are here to serve.
Perhaps the most important question: even though you’ve come to us from Philadelphia, are you ready to start rooting for the Mets?
Every time the Phillies have a bad season, I swear out of frustration to “cheer for a new team next year.” Philly has my heart; so I have to root for my home team. BUT, if I continue to have my heart broken every season…I may have to reconsider. And I do have a few friends and family members who are Mets fans, so they would be more than willing to help me with the transition!