JULY 28 – WEDNESDAY
The Charlotte Knights play out the rest of their four-game series against Columbus tonight and tomorrow night at 7:15pm, and Friday at 6:15pm. On Saturday, the Knights continue at home against Durham at 7:15pm, with an afternoon game against the Bulls on Sunday at 2:15pm. It’s promotions galore this weekend at Knights Stadium starting Friday night with the Knight’s annual Christian music concert featuring Point of Grace. Saturday’s “Beach Knight” encourages fans to dress like Jimmy Buffett with a prize for best beach bum outfit. Sunday, bring your dog along to the game for “Bark in the Park.” Call 704-36-HOMER to reserve your tickets, starting at just $6.
JULY 29 – THURSDAY
Regional award-winning musicians and writers come together at the Levine Museum of the New South for a Pillowtex Workers Fundraiser. They hope to help the folks in Kannapolis who lost their jobs a year ago in one of the biggest economic disasters to befall the area in decades. Three writers and two musical acts with close ties to textile workers and their struggles will, respectively, read from their work and perform musical numbers. The writers are Doug Marlette, Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper editorial cartoonist, creator of the Kudzu comic strip, and author of The Bridge, which centers around life in a mill town during and after the huge 1934 Textile Strike; Pam Duncan, author of Moon Women and Plant Life, critically acclaimed novels that are centered in the emotional lives of textile town women; and John Grooms, editor of Creative Loafing. Performing musicians will include Si Kahn, an internationally acclaimed folk singer and community organizer who lives in Charlotte and has recorded many songs about cotton mill workers’ lives; and the Stanly County Boys, an old-time and bluegrass band. The event starts at 7pm. Food and beverages will be served. A donation of $10 or more is suggested. For more info, call 704-333-1887.
Unless you’ve seen the stage, screen, or opera version of Ines de Castro, it’s not likely that you’ve heard of Scottish playwright John Clifford. Young director Chris O’Neill is ahead of us all in exploring the fascinating performer/ playwright transgendered father of two, and he’s bringing Clifford’s 1987 piece, Playing With Fire, to Off-Tryon Theatre for its American premiere. We’re told Fire is an allegorical comedy that dips into politics, greed, romance, and the fabled perils of getting what you ask for. Through August 7 at 3143 Cullman Avenue. Single tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, with a special pay-what-you-can night on August 5. Call 704-375-2826. (Tannenbaum)
The Chickspeare banditas have vamoosed from the Hart-Witzen Gallery, preparing to raid Spirit Square with their irreverent Quickspeare concoction. This scattershot selection of choice Shakespearean comedy — with the odd volley of drumming and sing-along — concludes the month-long City Stage fringe festival in the Duke Power Playhouse. Bring your funny bone as the Chix slice and dice Hamlet. And be very scared of the pop quiz. On Friday night, you can meet cast members after the show as some guy named Tannenbaum interviews the Chixters and invites questions from the audience. Evenings through Saturday at 8pm with a 2pm Sunday matinee. Tickets are $19.99. Call 704-372-1000. (Tannenbaum)
JULY 30 – FRIDAY
America has spawned a thousand subcultures, from Scrabble maniacs and van airbrush paintings to 50s memorabilia hounds and videogame competitions. Few, though, have become as unexpectedly lucrative or as keenly (some say ruthlessly) competitive as bass fishing. Literally hundreds of thousands of dollars and sponsors’ bottom lines are, um, on the line in major tournaments. The majorest of major tourneys, the CITGO Bassmaster Classic, in which nothing less than the world championship of professional bass fishing will be decided, takes place today through Sunday at Lake Wylie. The Classic will feature the 52 top anglers in the world fishing their hearts out in a full-tilt, three-day event that will determine who’s Bass King for 2004. Daily weigh-ins will take place at the Coliseum, and the Classic Outdoors Show, a huge trade show and festival will take place beginning Thursday at the Convention Center. Any questions? Call 704-339-6000. (Grooms)
Gary Valentine comes to the Comedy Zone tonight and tomorrow night. When Valentine isn’t portraying Danny Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens, he’s traveling around the country with his stand-up routine. Notches on his comedic belt include appearances on MTV, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborne, and his own special on Comedy Central. You can catch his act tonight at 8pm and 10:15pm, and tomorrow night at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm. Tickets cost $17.50. For reservations, call 704-348-HAHA.
JULY 31 – SATURDAY
Guitarist Larry Carlton had primarily been a studio musician when he plunged into solo artistry in the late 70s. Since, he’s released numerous discs and earned a great critical reputation, playing crisp jazz that’s always had a blues lining. Recently, he nudged his jazz into subtle shades with his bluesiest recording to date, Sapphire Blue. Carlton has played his share of smooth/contemporary jazz, but he’s always kept a place in his work for more soulful, warm tunes too. A few years ago he was shot in the throat outside his recording studio, but has valiantly fought back with his music, including composing TV and movie themes. He even organized a group that works with victims of random gun violence. Carlton & the Sapphire Blues Band will perform at Blumenthal’s McGlohon Theatre, 8pm. Tickets are $38.50. Details: 704-372-1000. (Shukla)
Author Cathy Pickens (nom de plume for Queens University prof Cathy Anderson) won the St. Martin’s / Malice Domestic Award for Best New Traditional Mystery. As a result, her first novel, Southern Fried, which takes place in a small upstate South Carolina town, was published earlier this year. Pickens will read from her book and take questions from 1 till 3pm today at the Main Public Library Auditorium downtown, 310 N. Tryon St. It’s free. For more info, call 704-432-0746.
One of the more audacious ideas in recent local music history takes place at the Neighborhood Theatre tonight, as the bands Pyramid, Sea of Cortez, and The Houston Brothers come together like Voltron to form one huge, indie/symphonic machine, with the 15+ member contingent trading off on each other’s songs, instruments, and musical leads. Seat Guaranteed Tickets for the 10:30pm show are $7 in advance and $9 at the door. Charge via phone at 704-358-9298, or log on to www.neighborhoodtheatre.com.
AUGUST 1 – SUNDAY
Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to run your antennae through the toaster at home just to pick up WSGE, the eclectic Gaston College radio station at 91.7? And isn’t it just a tad disconcerting to have their programming interrupted by a backwoods minister right next door on the radio dial preaching that you and your ilk are going to burn in hell for all eternity for listening to the very music this medieval jackass is interrupting? Sure it is. So if you want to help keep WSGE on the air, and maybe one day get them the wattage to overcome the evildoers at 91.9, then the WSGE Radio Benefit at the Evening Muse in NoDa is the gig for you. Featuring a host of local bands — David Childers & the Modern Don Juans, Poprocket, Tyre Fyre, Les Dirt Clods, Mike Strauss, the Lindsey Horne Band, Rick Spreitzer and more — the music runs from 3-10pm today, $9 is all it takes to enjoy the whole shebang. For more information go to www.theeveningmuse.com or call 704-376-3737 (Schacht)
AUGUST 2 – MONDAY
The 10th anniversary tour of the highly successful summer shindig Vans Warped Tour continues to bring along too many cool bands to list here. Highlights: Rancid side-project of Lars Frederickson and the Bastards, ageless hooligans NOFX, the rousing Irish drinking music meets punk rock of Flogging Molly (think the Pogues on speed), melodic hardcore of Taking Back Sunday and punk legends the Vandals. Of course also expect plenty of politically charged, wartime and election year lambasting from the likes of Bad Religion and Anti-Flag. Up and coming Charlotte rockers The Talk are slated to play one of the side stages. Folks have plenty more opportunities for bruising in between bands with BMX, motocross and skateboarding. It all begins at high noon at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre with tickets at $22.75 (general admission). Details: 704-522-6500 or warpedtour.com. (Shukla)
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2004.
