Arts & Culture

If a band could personify a season, Shayna and the Bulldog would be summer. This four-member Davis band is bluegrass meets rock n' roll, bringing the kind of energy and catchy lyrics to their songs that make you want to get out and enjoy the sunny weather.

They will be performing this Friday at Sophia's Thai Kitchen at 10 p.m. The bar area is open only to the 21-and-over crowd, but underage visitors can attend the show for free on Balcony B across from the restaurant's patio.

If you've got that urge to create, you have more options for expression than those art studio classes that you can't really fit in your schedule.

Co/Lab is a loosely organized club made up of mostly UC Davis students whose mission is simple: to create art in a fun, collaborative way.

Works from the Co/Lab will be on display today through June 12 in the Art Lounge, located on the second floor of the Memorial Union. A reception will be held today at 5 p.m. in the Art Lounge.

I've been writing for The Aggie for a little over two years now, and I have a confession to make: I've always wanted to be the weather(wo)man.

Really, though, Aggie weatherman Jon Gold's got a pretty sweet deal. He gets his own space every Monday through Thursday to comment on anything he wants - and on the front page, to boot!

Having my own column, I suppose I get the same perks. But they say that brevity is the soul of wit, so 20 column inches of "well-focused" text sometimes makes writing feel like a burden more than a blessing.

The Imaginary Zebra (TIZ) was born out of a mixture of graffiti and modern art, freedom of expression and imagination.

Founded in 2006 by junior managerial economics major Benson Chou, TIZ specializes in custom designed clothing - currently, T-shirts with an aim to expand - and creative performances at events.

TIZ began as Chou's graffiti crew in high school. Upon graduation, he transformed the crew into the professional company that it is today.

From introducing the public to Feist's "1234" to popularizing Chairlift's "Bruises," Apple Inc. advertisers are certified professionals when it comes to discovering hip, up-and-coming artists and sharing their music with the rest of the world.

The Submarines, whose single "You Me & the Bourgeoisie" was featured in an iPhone commercial late last year, will be performing with Red Cortez tonight at the ASUCD Coffee House. The show takes place at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 with a student ID.

MUSIC

One for the Team, Zach Harju

Today, 8 p.m., $3 general admission, free with a UC Davis ID

UC Davis Coffee House

The last weeks between midterms and the start of finals is a trying time for all. When you're in mental overdrive, there's nothing better than some physical distraction, so I suggest that you dance your stresses away. Perfect solution: One for the Team, whose upbeat tunes brings to mind equally cutesy, equally poppy acts like Mates of State.

Just a week ago, I was put in an awkward situation. It wasn't quite F My Life worthy, but it wasn't mundane enough to post on Mylifeisaverage.com.

Long story short: AGTV put me in front of a camera and interviewed me.

Okay, so maybe it doesn't sound that bad, and it wasn't. Other than a bee hovering dangerously close to the reporter's neck during filming, me peppering unrehearsed answers with nervous laughter and breaking the fourth wall by giving the camera a smile, wink and thumbs up when the interview was over, it really wasn't bad at all.

If your music palate calls for something deliciously indie yet amped up with savory pop tinges, then indie rock group One for the Team will ensure a musical bon appétit.

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minn., One for the Team is set to take the UC Davis Coffee House by storm tonight at 8 - and although it will be their first performance in Davis, their music is nothing new to many ears on campus. The show is free with a UC Davis student ID and $3 general admission.

On Monday, the ASUCD Entertainment Council encouraged one and all to put on their best pair of fishnets, dust off their pumps and slap on some red lipstick by presenting a free screening of the tantalizing cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 194 Chemistry along with a $100 prize winning costume contest.

There were Brad Majors, Janet Weisses, Columbias, Rockys and Magentas all vying for the honor of winning. A Rocky Horror virgin, Nicole Barfknecht, a junior neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, tap-danced in true Columbia style to persuade the room to vote for her.

Student films return to the big screen next week as the ninth annual UC Davis Film Festival will take place on May 27 and 28 at 8:30 p.m. at the Davis Varsity Theatre. Tickets are $5 and available for purchase at the Varsity Box Office.

The festival - which accepts film submissions from all students regardless of their major - has seen a spike in popularity this year as over 60 films have been submitted, up from just 30 last year. All of the films are unique and represent a wide-range of genres and concepts from music videos to documentaries.

It's been said that the message is in the medium, and Vent Magazine is taking full advantage of the old adage.

Today, the magazine - which focuses on Asian American politics and pop culture - releases its fourth issue, the "Marijuana Issue."

Vent will hold a release party tonight at 10 at 217 Club, located at 217 E St. Pre-sale tickets are $8 and tickets at the door are $15. Admission is free for those 21 and over. Free copies of the magazine will be issued at the release party.

Editor's Note: Though albums and films are certainly worthy of review, there are other things that should also be looked at with a critical eye. This first of a new feature compares the various video rental outlets available to UC Davis students.

Netflix

Rating: 5

Someone once mentioned to me that since getting Netflix the quality of movies he watches has dropped dramatically. Though it was the opposite of my experience (Schindler's List awaits me at home), it's a likely outcome. That's one of the best things about Netflix: whether you watch one movie a month or fifteen, it's the same price. So what's holding you back from finally watching The Love Guru, just to see what all the fuss is about? It's only wasted time, not wasted money.

Along with inexpensive pricing and online viewing, Netflix is ideal for the lazy and tech-savvy. The smoothly organized online queue is designed for functionality and yet I could play around on the Netflix site for hours planning my next movie, or maybe more - my queue currently has 480 pending, I kid you not.

Some people may call themselves students of the world, but James Ragan truly is one. He is an internationally recognized poet who has performed at worldwide venues including New York's Carnegie Hall, the United Nations and the First International Poetry Festival in Moscow with Bob Dylan and Robert Bly. He served as the director of the University of Southern California's Professional Writing Program for 25 years and is currently teaching as a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Oklahoma.

Search Party 2009 gave student musicians a chance to perform in front of their peers as bands took the stage May 14 at the ASUCD Coffee House. Presented by The California Aggie, KDVS 90.3 FM and ASUCD Entertainment Council, the show brought a diverse set of music to the stage -- experimental duo Grandmother Ham, folk rock Boxes, glam-rock prog act Order of the Golden Mirror and indie rockers

MUSIC

Search Party 2009: Grandmother Ham, Boxes, Order of the Golden Mirror, Captions

Today, 8 p.m., free

ASUCD Coffee House

Support your classmates and local music! Presented by The California Aggie, KDVS 90.3 FM and ASUCD Entertainment Council, this annual student musician search brings in up-and-coming bands of UC Davis to you. Check out page 4 for the scoop on this year's winners!

Not An Airplane, Travis Vick, Ally Hasche

Today, 10 p.m., $3, 21

Sophia's Thai Kitchen

Oh Travis Vick, I'd totally have a crush on you if I just were a couple of years younger. His airy, atmospheric acoustic folk - think Sufjan Stevens meets The Dodos with a hint of Elliot Smith - is perfect for a warm spring night on the patio. Ladies and gentleman under 21, get your arses out on Balcony B for this show.