The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Arts & Entertainment


A&E

(No) Singing in the Rain

The Lawn will come alive Wednesday as students congregate to take part in one of the University’s most treasured traditions: Rotunda Sing.


A&E

Mayer's newest album provides a little bit of 'Paradise'

Let’s forget for a minute that John Mayer spent his early career as a brooding ladies’ man, that he has dated every vapid starlet in Hollywood from Jessica Simpson to Taylor Swift and that his early singing style was so breathy he might have in fact swallowed several microphones.


A&E

Maddening 'Vineyard' withers on the vine

Some people say that television rots the brain. I never believed this to be true until I flipped through channels and came across ABC Family’s ‘The Vineyard.’ After watching one episode of the hour-long program, I felt my intelligence insulted by the contrived and shallow premise.


A&E

'Newsroom' still snoozefest

The words “pompous” and “pretentious” are bound to come up in any discussion of Aaron Sorkin, given the award-winning writer’s propensity for stuffing his characters’ mouths with the sort of pseudo-intellectual babble you might expect to hear in a high school politics classroom.


A&E

Uh-oh, those summer nights

With looming finals dampening everyone’s spirits, it seems to be the perfect time to look ahead to a sunnier, more melodic season.


A&E

Heads will roll ... again

Believe it or not, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been around for a decade now. While most bands would have faded into obscurity since then, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs prove that they are more than capable of producing fresh, new music with the release of their new album, Mosquito, last Tuesday.


A&E

Killswitch Engage offers 'disarming' metal record

If you’re a true metal fan, you’ve likely been spending the last few weeks biting your fingernails with your Monthly Metal Allowance crinkling in your pocket while you anxiously scan The Cavalier Daily for my judgment of Killswitch Engage’s (KSE’s) latest album, ‘Disarm the Descent.’


A&E

XCX marks the spot

The low-profile Charlotte Aitchison, who performs under the moniker Charli XCX and gained international popularity as the featured artist of Icona Pop’s anthemic “I Love It,” recently released her own studio debut, ‘True Romance,’ an album full of songs about love, relationships and partying.


A&E

'Pines' misses the wood for the trees

I walked into The Place Beyond the Pines today expecting something great. With an all-star cast including Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, and Bradley Cooper, fresh off of his Best Actor nomination, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed with the movie.


A&E

Phoenix rises

From garage band kids to “kings of Coachella”, the members of Phoenix have come a long way since the turn of the millennium.


A&E

Cold War Kids pack heat on latest album

After the release of the thoroughly disappointing 2011 album ‘Mine is Yours’ and a subsequent two-year hiatus, Cold War Kids have finally returned with the release of their fourth studio album ‘Dear Miss Lonelyhearts.’ When the group debuted in 2004 they mesmerized fans powerful, yet fun singles like “Hang Me Up to Dry” and “Hospital Beds,” but efforts by the band since then have certainly tapered off. Fortunately, ‘Dear Miss Lonelyhearts’ helps build hope for what I had deemed to be a lost cause. Still, while the Long Beach, California based band seem to channel their best work on most of the record’s tracks, others seem as long and drawn-out as the Cold War itself.


A&E

Songs of summer

Every summer needs a playlist to fit the mood of your long road trips, cramped plane flights, pool parties, and meadow picnics.


A&E

Spinning me round (like a record)

It’s April 20th and I am a deep sea diver. Instead of exploring the ocean for coins, I’m scouring an endless tangle of milk crates and dust-caked paper for a perfect find. I’m not blazed, but I am blazing a new trail at the sweet speed of 33 1/3 RPM. After all, it’s Record Store Day, an audiophile’s second Christmas.


A&E

State-of-the-arp

By now, students who regularly pass by the Fralin Museum on Rugby Road have probably noticed a big change in the terrace of the University’s art museum.


A&E

University Dance Club brings sexy back

Earlier this month, the University Dance Club presented their spring showcase at the Paramount Theater, which was appropriately entitled “Bringing Sexy Back.” The entirely student-choreographed performance included impressive dances from a wide variety of genres including tap, ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop.


A&E

CIO Spotlight: The Virginia Belles

Making a name for yourself as an a cappella group at the University is no small feat, especially given the ever-increasing number of these groups around Grounds, but the Virginia Belles, the University’s oldest female a cappella group, have nonetheless managed to steal the spotlight. The Belles were founded as an offshoot of the Virginia Women’s Choir in 1977 and today consist of 18 undergraduate women — a relatively small group given the number of women who audition every year.


A&E

Keepin' it 'real'

The series that sparked the entire Real Housewives phenomenon — and countless spin-off shows, products, and even real-life fights — is back!

Latest Podcast

From her love of Taylor Swift to a late-night Yik Yak post, Olivia Beam describes how Swifties at U.Va. was born. In this week's episode, Olivia details the thin line Swifties at U.Va. successfully walk to share their love of Taylor Swift while also fostering an inclusive and welcoming community.