6A - Monday, February 25, 2013 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.cam 6A - Monday, February 25, 2013 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Playstation 4 makes its long-awaited debut "Make sure you get my good side." Joh nJorgenson's musical journey By STEVEN TWEEDIE Daily TV/New Media Editor Sony knows how to put on a show. With a massive, immer- sive screen wrapped around the seated press, adorned with spotlights and lasers to pierce through the darkness and pulse in time to the psychedelic music, Sony practically manufactured its own hype, allowing for people around the world to tune in and watch as the first next-gen con- sole was unveiled. Even before the first word was spoken, Sony led its audience on a visual jour- ney that celebrated, well, Sony and its revolution of how people "play," and stressed the trailblaz- ing still to come. It's impossible to watch the first few minutesof the announcement and not find your- self excited. But is such excitement war- ranted? As Sony Computer Enter- tainment President Andrew House took the stage to scattered is the least important. People don't buy a new game console to stare at it (well, most people don't); they care more about what is under the hood and what deli- cious scenery can be rendered across their televisions. Instead of a picture of the new time has also drastically been decreased, with your character waiting right where you left off when you turn the PS4 on, thanks to a low-powered sleep mode. The Graphics console the de' which power shower 4 cont some o earlier, control much a surpris with ics, co touch; the co guts. U interes Acoustic musician provided diverse sound at the Ark By SHAMIK GANGULY For the Daily Hearing John Jorgenson and his band play is the closest I'll ever get to teleporting or traveling through time. These four acoustic masters sound like they've lived a lifetime in every region of the world, and they play like they have two hours to tell you everything you need to know about music, cul- ture and history. I've never been to a beach in Greece, but when John Jorgenson pulls out his bouzouli, I'm lying on the sand in the balmy Mediterranean breeze, wearing a tunic. A modest audience surrounded Jorgenson and his three band- mates Feb. 21 at the Ark. I felt like I'd stumbled into their living room when I found myself sitting sid- estage, listening to stories about a lifetime of music and global expe- rience. Jorgenson relished the personal atmosphere, and between small talk with a drunk woman in the audience and a reminiscent con- versation with a fan First seen on about one -the filter of his previous albums, he made it clear that they appreciated being able to perform in such a pure acoustic atmosphere. "We don't have Auto-Tune," he said. "We all actually play our instruments." He later complimented the sound man on his lack of involve- ment, saying, "A lot of sound guys try to control our dynamics ... we try to play really quiet and they turn us up ... thanks for not doing that." With nothing but wood, fibers and their hands between the band members and their music, they were fully in control. The drummer, Rick Reed, had a simple three-piece kit that he played alternately with his brushes and his hands, but the groove he produced was enormous. He locked into a rumba, hitting his snare like a conga, but five minutes later he rolled through a fast gypsy swing with his left leg pumping the hi-hat and his brushes slapping the backbeat. Simon Planting, the bassist, was deep in the pocket, too, and between fast walks and soft bow strokes he filled the room with presence like a subwoofer. He played with his neck craned down toward the fretboard as if his bass was whispering directions in his ear, and his long hair flowed down like a curtain between the audi- ence and his intentions. With a perpetual smile on his face, violinist Jason Anick filled the high end with jazzy slurs, captivating tremolos and roman- tic gypsy melodies. Sometimes trading fours with Jorgenson and sometimes taking the floor with long chromatic runs and lilting solos, he was the "singer" of the group - that is, when Jorgenson wasn't on the mic. Jorgenson led the band with contributions on the guitar, clari- net, bouzouki and vocals. He was part of the rhythm section, and he was the melody at the same time. He'd frequently rip through a high chromatic run in unison with the violin and then fall into a chord progression instantaneously, sup- porting the music and expressing the composition in whatever way was necessary. Together, the four of them nailed a set of songs from every culture. They played old-time country, French and Greek music, rumba, lots of gypsy jazz and an old tune by Fats Waller. In a set with such variety, they maintained a common theme of powerful rhythm and enthralling emotion. Never has a concert left me so determined to both travel every- where in the world and to sit down and practice music all day long. - The original version of this article was published on The Filter, the Daily Arts blog, on Feb.23. e, Sony proceeded to list As Sony turned from boring vice's broad specifications, social interfaces to features that are substantially more people actually care about, such ful than the PS3, and even as the PlayStation 4's graphics, d us the new DualShock the real potential of Sony's new roller and sensor bar. But device was made evident. Now, f that was old news. Weeks I'm a PC guy, so perhaps my per- pictures of the prototype ception of impressive graphics ler leaked online, so not has been jaded, but I've played ibout the DualShock 4 was recent games on consoles and PC ;ing. Same general design alike and I'll try my best to con- some tweaked ergonom- duct a realistic assessment of the lor indicator strip and a PS4's graphics. pad slapped on the face of Simply put, they're impres- ntroller. Updated console sive. Clearly worthy of a new rpdated controller. Vaguely console generation. If you own ting at best. an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, you'll be blown away. If you own The Social Push a high-end PC, probably not. Overall, however, the difference ead of giving concrete between console generations is pictures or even final spec- glaring, and with the PlaySta- ns (slating Holiday 2013 as tion 4, the bar has been visu- rgeted release date), Sony ally raised. It might not take a a grueling presentation well-trained eye to notice the cused on the social aspects difference, but it may take one new system and user to appreciate all of the improve- ce, such as the "share" ments and possibilities. The on the new controllers potential is there, with both nable live-streaming and graphics and home theater, as lay recording. Now your Sony president of Worldwide can spectate what you're Studios Shuhei Yoshida men- g from their dorm (sounds tioned that the PS4 is capable of illing), see your real name outputting 4K resolution. applause lasers ci catchy It was t specific But as F announc Station' ing. Such Now, crucial. ments s show tI internal (Sony m specifie tweaked forkeep wrapper cal, as S the new showing 4 looks l the spot It als physical e, the lights came on, the Inst eased their lasing and the dates, I futuristic music ended. ificatio ime for some solid facts, the tai ations, release dates. began House took the stage and that fo' ced the anticipated Play- of the 4, a few things were miss- interfa button as the actual device. that e: gamep The Unit(less) friends playing I'd say this is somewhat enthra Most product announce- next to how the product. At least assista he console's shell if the, taking s aren't ready for analysis Yikes. entioned that the exact tor An ations are still being tweetr I). A possible explanation feature ing the PS4'sphysicalunit be soc d up might be strategi- video g ony could wait until after Cate Xbox is unveiled before ers e us what the PlayStation annour ike, in an attempt to steer instant light back towards them. chased o couldbe argued that the ing the appearance of a console whiley your profile and even offer nce from afar by virtually control of your controller. Perhaps news commenta- dy Levy put it best in his reacting to the PS4's social es stating "If I wanted to ial, I wouldn't be playing tames." ring to impulsive buy- verywhere, Sony also nced that games will be ly playable once pur- , with the system install- game in the background you jump right in. Boot-up Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com RELEASE DATE- Monday, February 25, 2013 Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 Apt. parts, in ads 4 Talking head 10 Big name in ATMs 13 Charged particles 15 Black-and-blue mark. eg. 16 Sufixtorpay 17 Soft hathatbarely waken ilover the infield 19 Cranberry- growing area 20Africa'snSierra_ 31 Fed. retirement org. 22T' n a test, usually 23 Likedodosand dinosaurs 26 Foray 28Archaeological age. determination process 31 Texting units: Abbr. 34 Rowboat mover 35 Wish granter 36 "How was_ know?" 37 Abrasions 40 Sinus doc 41 Not exactly robust 43 Simpsons neighbor Flanders 44 Makes really angry 45 Completely absorbed 49 Lawyer's customer 50 Accessory often carried with a wallet 54 Merle Haggard's From Muskogee" 55 N.J. neighbor 57 Lightened 58 Libertarian politician Paul 59 Sign in a limo that aptly concludes the sequence formed by the last wordso 17-, 28- and 45-Across 62 Mystery novelist Grafton 63 Houston team 64Statistician'sinput 65 NHLbtiebreakers 6Tinkers(with) 67 Figs. 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