Cover Story
Scott Bishop to be honored at Human Rights Campaign’s annual gala
They’ve been doing it for as long as they’ve been a couple. Every Saturday morning for almost 15 years, Ron Sperry and his partner Scott Bishop make the 15-minute drive from their Plaza Midwood home to Einstein’s Bagels on South Boulevard. Today happens to be a particularly dreary Saturday, rainy and damp. The puddles in…
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
CL goes to the Oscars
From Chris Rock to Gwyneth Paltrow, the highlights and low points from this year’s Academy Award ceremony.
HRC Gala after-party, 2/25/12
Rapper Cazwell rocked the party at Phoenix on Saturday.
Relish rhythm in Spirit of Uganda
Empower African Children show offers dancing, drumming, music and more.
Today’s Top 5: Monday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Human Rights Campaign gala gets down — and gets political
In a crucial year for the LGBT community, politicians, business execs and community leaders showed their support at the HRC 2012 celebration in Charlotte.
The Boxing Lesson at The Milestone tonight (2/26/12)
THE BOXING LESSON This bass-less Austin trio say they play psychedelic prog, a phrase which too often conjures Rick Wakeman’s robes and cheesy Roger Dean illustrations. But not here, thankfully. Relying on MOOG for bottom end and tons of sonic noise, the songs blend Meddle-era Floyd guitar freak-outs with M83 propulsion, Spiritualized soul space jams…
Black Joe Lewis plays The Fillmore Charlotte tonight (2/26/12)
Black Joe Lewis Black Joe Lewis howls his soulful vocals and shreds through blues-driven guitar riffs while horns blare and his band anchors the energetic ship with rock and soul rhythms. Ever wonder what it would sound like if James Brown could wail on guitar or Stevie Ray Vaughn had gotten up off of that…
Oscar Night: Viewing Party and Tweet-Off at Mez
Watch the live telecast with other like-minded filmgoers.
Antiseen plays Tremont Music Hall with the Belmont Playboys (2/25/12)
ANTISEEN/THE BELMONT PLAYBOYS A hard rocking double bill of N.C. vets. Promising bloodshed, volume and carnage, redneck sludge-rockers Antiseen had their highest profile backing self-destructive punker/sideshow freak GG Allin. Twenty-one years on, they still hoe an idiosyncratic and insular row that’s equal parts Motorhead and Black Oak Arkansas. Antiseen serves up goofy white trash shtick…
The New Familiars play Visulite Theatre (2/25/12)
The New Familiars Local band The New Familiars has always brought a unique sound to the scene with their willingness to interchange steady guitar rhythms with banjo-picking. Bringing their own spin to classic rock ’n’ roll with the influential music of the Appalachia, these four can make you believe you’re at a hoe-down one second…
Charlotte Speed Demons home bout
Charlotte Speed Demons take on the Appalachian Roller Girls.
Human Rights Campaign Gala afterparty with Cazwell
The ice cream-alicious rapper visits Phoenix.
Scott Avett shares art
The one day exhibit showcases impressive new paintings by Avett.
Hit the road for theater fare
New Music Trilogy marathon in Greensboro on Sunday.
Demoted Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority ex-CEO Tim Newman has left the building
In July, the CRVA moved Newman to a sales position, calling it a “strategic plan,” then later hired Tom Murray, a longtime hotels exec, to replace him.
The Oscars: Art for The Artist‘s sake
Harvey Weinstein has been behind some of the greatest movies of the past quarter-century. He’s also been behind many of the biggest headaches come Oscar night. Weinstein’s Miramax Films basically jump-started and maintained the modern indie movement thanks to such efforts as The Piano, Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Chasing Amy. Like George Lucas…
Friday Film Reviews: The Vow; The Innkeepers; plus, Oscar picks
Here’s what’s newly covered on the cinema scene.
Rick Santorum’s gay porn portrait
Some brilliant person took the time to carefully craft his goofy visage out of “hard-core” wiener on wiener action.
Snug Harbor, 2/23/12
Photos from the weekly Shiprocked party.
Twenty-Two Gallery, 2/23/12
Photos from Thursday night at the popular art gallery in Plaza Midwood.
A look inside Lipp Boutique at the Metropolitan
Lipp Boutique, the second clothing store to open in the Metropolitan shopping area, offers the lines that celebs can’t get enough of.
Neighborhood Theatre, 2/23/12
Photos from Thursday night’s dance party.
Hookah-ing in the hub at Red at 28th
At the heart of hookah is the desire to relax and commune with people whom you find enjoyable.
Crockpot Arsenal: Chana Masala
Chana Masala … in a crockpot!
Sample Uptown dining, one bite at a time
Taking place on Friday, March 9, crawl-goers will have a chance to support local businesses while getting their grub on.
Steve Earle coming to the Neighborhood Theatre
Steve Earle and The Dukes will perform at the Neighborhood Theatre on May 2, 2012. The hardcore troubadour is on tour supporting his latest release, 2011’s I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive, the follow up to the Grammy Award-winning 2009 release Townes. The Dukes will feature a Duchess on this tour — Earle’s…
Scott Avett showcases art as fundraiser
Scott Avett, of The Avett Brothers, is exhibiting paintings at The Morrison condominiums on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a fundraiser for The Educational Center. The free exhibit, “The Paintings of Scott Avett: Exploring Story and Spirituality,” will offer opportunities to purchase original artwork and commemorative posters. “To me, art…
Democratic National Convention 2012 Notebook: Ready, Set, Volunteer
Even if you previously signed up, you have to return to the convention website to fill out a personal profile.
Kevn Kinney plays the Saloon at N.C. Music Factory tonight (2/24/12)
KEVN KINNEY At the height of the ’90s country-rock revival there were those who genuflected at the Drivin’ n Cryin’ altar and liked to lump them in with the Uncle Tupelos and Whiskeytowns, but the fit was never snug — too jam-y and Southern rock by half to these ears. Kinney began moonlighting the solo…
Minus the Bear plays Tremont Music Hall (2/24/12)
MINUS THE BEAR Seattle-based indie-prog quintet Minus the Bear have been churning out catchy albums since 2001’s This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic. 2010’s OMNI saw them take a more electronic and poppy turn, but their live shows remain both groovy and sensual with singer/guitarist Jake Snider and the rest of the boys…
Charlotte Dance Festival returns
Folks can fancy up their footwork or kick back and watch the pros during the two-day fest.
Today’s Top 5: Friday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Today’s Top 5: Thursday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Opening Friday
What’s new in theaters this weekend.
Charlotte Jewish Film Festival kicks off
The eighth annual Charlotte Jewish Film Festival runs Feb. 25-March 11.
Brody & Choch with Shinobi Ninja at Neighborhood Theatre tonight (2/23/12)
BRODY & CHOCH/SHINOBI NINJA Charismatic Carolina boys Brody & Choch are hyped as the second coming of DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince. Though their easy charm recalls the days of “Blackenstein” fades and Kid ‘n Play, B&C aren’t ready for the rap nostalgia circuit yet. Throwing down startling and unexpected rhymes over sophisticated, loungey…
Ghost Wolves at Evening Muse tonight (2/23/12)
The Ghost Wolves Think of them as an inverted Texas-based hybrid of The White Stripes. This duo — female singer/guitarist and male drummer — provides raw, energetic rock that sounds more like it came from the Voodoo-soaked streets of New Orleans or back alleys of New York City than the farmlands of Texas. Punk sensibility,…
Songs for a Re:Generation
Music documentary will be screened Thursday, Feb. 23, at AMC Carolina Pavilion.
Live review: Hectagons w/ Trioscapes
HectagonsThe MilestoneFeb. 18, 2012 Incorporating Between the Buried and Me’s Dan Briggs into an experimental, progressive three-piece which combines sax, bass and drums, the anticipation for Trioscapes swept the Milestone on Feb. 18. When a side-project that intriguing, one might expect the band to dominate a show. Little did concert attendees know that Hectagons was…
Natalie Royal hits Kickstarter goal in 24 hours
Charlotte native and current Belmont University attendee Natalie Royal posted a Kickstarter campaign on Feb. 20 in an effort to help fund her first full-length album. In roughly 24 hours, supporters helped her surpass the goal. Now, roughly 48 hours later, she’s raised even more. With an initial goal of $3,500, Royal’s current campaign is…
Thorlock and Bitter Resolve at Milestone tonight (2/22/12)
Thorlock, Bitter Resolve, The Milestone, Charlotte, Corbie Hill
Jimkata plays Double Door Inn tonight (2/22/12)
JIMKATA There are some songs that confound, starting off disjointed, losing their way around the bend, seeking convergence. But most tracks have a spacey groove that gets in your head. It takes awhile to latch onto what they’re doing, but the Electro-rock band from Ithaca parlays seemingly disheveled beats and riffs into floating jams. A…
Today’s Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Aretha pays tribute to Whitney in Charlotte performance
Franklin was performing as part of the Music with Friends series on Feb. 13, 2012.
Carolina kids feel the need for speed in Racing Dreams
Documentary will be screened on PBS stations starting this Thursday.
Bartender’s Ball 2012, 2/19/12
Photos from one of the biggest parties of the year.
LOL: Comedy in the Q.C.
A roundup of CL’s top picks for comedy shows in Charlotte this week.
New releases (2/21/2012)
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new in stores this week: Archers of Loaf Vee Vee — Settle down. It’s just a reissue. Buckethead Electric Sea — Because Buckethead has a better ring to it than Brian Carroll, and dude actually wears a bucket… wait for it… on his head. Fun. Some Nights — It’s…
Fiddler Joe Thompson dies at age 93
Traditional fiddler was an inspiration to the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
Today’s Top 5: Tuesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
Weekly horoscope (Feb. 22-28)
Pisces The Fish (Feb. 18-March 19) Short trips, writing, education and connections with powerful friends are favored during this week. Everyone wants to know what you think. Be really conscious of your words and tone of voice. You may accidentally offend someone. For All Signs: Opposition is the theme for this week. It is a…
Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Feb. 22
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN Finally, here’s one seven-year itch that can be scratched. When 2004’s The Polar Express made film history as the first animated movie to be created wholly by employing the motion-capture process, we instantly recognized that we were in the presence of something ghastly. Awkward and unsightly, the ersatz innovation rendered all…
Where to find it: Dandelions
Dandelions? Those are easy to find, right?
Change is good: Minoda’s Japanese Steak House, Sushi Bar & Izakaya
Tired of sushi yet? The next big culinary offering to come this way from Japan is izakaya, the Japanese permutation of Spanish tapas — small plates of bar-type food consumed with large amounts of cold beer or saki. These dishes come in the form of fried items: tempura, a panko coating, grilled skewers and simmered…
Jamarl Rickard
UNC Charlotte senior Jamarl Rickard’s personal style brings a taste of the Big Apple to the Queen City. A self-proclaimed “hybrid,” Rickard split his childhood between Winston Salem, N.C. and New York City. At first glance, you’d think his classy attire came from one of Manhattan’s most exclusive boutiques. But he is quick to inform…
Grounding Shearwater: Jonathan Meiburg embodies new spirit for band’s latest album
Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg had been feeling out of sorts. The one-time Cary resident and choir singer built a brand of dramatic orchestral rock that earned Shearwater glowing and growing plaudits with each release of the band’s Island Arc trilogy — 2006’s Palo Santo, ’08’s Rook and 2010’s The Golden Archipelago. Those records capture the surreal…
Dilworth Coffee goes Charlotte modern
The rarity of this week’s Creative Living column is that unlike most residential designs CL covers, you are free to enter this space at your leisure and see the interior work for yourself. Dilworth Coffee (1235 East Blvd.) has been a Charlotte staple for decades, and its previous interior design had remained the same for…
The Afghan war’s nine lives
Eight youths, tending their flock of sheep in the snowy fields of Afghanistan, were exterminated last week by a NATO airstrike. They were in the Najrab district of Kapisa province in eastern Afghanistan. Most were reportedly between the ages of 6 and 14. They had sought shelter near a large boulder, and had built a…
J. Edgar, Vanya on 42nd Street among new home entertainment titles
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930). Winner of two Academy Awards — Best Picture and Best Director (Lewis Milestone) — All Quiet On the Western Front has for over 85 years remained one of the greatest war movies ever made. Or, more accurately, it’s one of the greatest anti-war movies ever made, since this…
Charlotte’s Catholic liberals are wary of Bishop Peter Jugis
They are not happy campers, particularly considering Jugis’ support of the proposed anti-same sex marriage amendment.
CD Review: The Metric System’s Watchdog
Smooth indie-pop awash with sparkly guitars and singalong melodies. Charlotte trio The Metric System (David Dorenfeld, vocals, guitar, piano; Sean Beck, bass, vocals; Olivia Neal, vocals and drums) moves their sound along over well-greased rhythm tracks, gliding effortlessly toward their pop destination. Although trace elements of old-school New Wave show up from time to time,…
The Innkeepers: Spirits in a material world
THE INNKEEPERS *** DIRECTED BY Ti West STARS Sara Paxton, Pat Healy Admittedly, I took my sweet time about it, but it was only a few weeks ago that I finally caught up with 2009’s The House of the Devil. This wildly acclaimed effort from writer-director Ti West had been repeatedly referred to as a…
CD Review: POP. 1280’s The Horror
“I think this undercurrent of filth and sewage and parasites is the most fascinating part of city life, and it is something that inspires all of our music.” – Bug
The Vow: Adequate romance, for better or worse
THE VOW **1/2 DIRECTED BY Michael Sucsy STARS Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum Channing Tatum’s best shot at being taken even semiseriously as an actor would be to only make movies with Rachel McAdams for the rest of his life. A fine performer with a vulnerable and disarming beauty, McAdams has previously been romantically linked on…
Hair today, heritage tomorrow: Review of Cuttin’ Up
Going to the barbershop for the first time is an ancient rite of passage for little boys everywhere. But recent events — the death of Jheri-Curl king Don Cornelius or the preschool girl sitting in front of me at a matinee performance of Rapunzel this past weekend in her elaborately patterned cornrows — have reminded…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files (Feb. 22)
Crash pad: A 21-year-old woman called the cops after realizing someone had attempted to crash at her pad. It’s not what you think. The woman came home recently and noticed the inside of her living room wall was caving in. She called her dad to come check it out the next morning. He found tire…
