News roundup 7/8/08
Programmer facing sentencing leads police to a body: A body has been recovered from a grave about 4-by-4 feet in a remote area of the Oakland Hills. A prominent computer programmer convicted of killing his wife on Monday, led police to what is believed to be her body. Hans Resier, is well known in programming…
Top 10 Quotes About Jesse Helms
10. “Few senators in the modern era have done more to buck the tide of progress and enlightenment than Mr. Helms. … Helms’s career played out like a harsh and intolerant moral crusade.” — New York Times editorial 9. His nasty racial politics might have helped the GOP gain ascendancy for a while in the…
Meet the Casons…
For the 4th of July weekend the entire Cason clan congregated where our roots are planted – Harrisonburg, Va…. Not ringing a bell? Where James Madison University is… still not coming to you? Shenandoah Valley… Still nothing? Ok, it’s a small town about 2.5 hours south of D.C. Population: 40,468 (and that includes JMU students,…
Fantasia’s birthday party @ NV Lounge, 7/5/08
Photos by Charlotte Vibe Photography
There’s a CD brewing…
We’re currently accepting submissions for the second edition of their CD series entitled, Creative Loafing presents Jeff Hahne’s Homebrew. The 12-track CD, the Summer Stash 2008 edition, will be a collection of independently released music from the Charlotte area. Featuring a bit of every genre that’s heard around the Queen City, the artists featured will…
Congrats to the Avetts!
Just got word, confirmed on their Web site, that The Avett Brothers have signed to American/Columbia Records and are currently working with Rick Rubin on their next album… Congrats to the guys – well deserved!
News roundup 7/7/08
Angry passenger on board: A man flying fist class on a Delta Airlines flight was so angry after seeing economy passengers have a jetliner before him, he yanked open an emergency hatch and slid down the chute. The Guyanese man appeared to be intoxicated after his flight from New York City. (AP via MSNBC) 747…
Barack Obama didn’t make it to North Carolina
Word from the Obama camp came in about his canceled trip to NC: Obama Visit to North Carolina Postponed Chicago, IL—Senator Barack Obama’s visit to North Carolina today will be postponed to a future date due to a maintenance issue with Senator Obama’s plane. While en route to North Carolina, Senator Obama’s plane…
Pig Pickin’ @ the Penguin, 7/5/08
Photos by Jeaumane McIntosh
Living in America party @ Breakfast Club, 7/4/08
Photos by Tricia Gillis
Top Ten Quotes From Jesse Helms
1. “White people, wake up before it is too late. Do you want Negroes working beside you, your wife and your daughters, in your mills and factories? Frank Graham favors mingling of the races.” – Ad created by campaign strategist Helms and friends for the blatantly racist (and successful) U.S. Senate campaign of Willis Smith…
Alive After 5, 7/3/08
Photos by Renaul Hill
Epicentre at 5, 7/3/08
Photos by Renaul Hill
Live Review: Crue Fest
Crue Fest w/ Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx A.M., Trapt Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre July 5, 2008 The Deal: Motley Crue rounds up a bunch of their friends and hits the road for inaugural Crue Fest. The Good: Plenty of rock with an edge… The crowd was sparse for Trapt, but plenty of people showed…
Today’s Menu (7/6/2008)
Black Congo NC The locals have been steadily upping their benga-flavored game, recently welcoming reeds-man Brent Bagwell (Tenspeed, Project Bluebird) into the fold and adding a touch of Ethiopiques’ soul to a sound that already included two guitars, synth bleats and blurps, looped vocal hollers and animal noises, and in their cut “So Long Seagull,”…
Today’s Menu (7/5/2008)
Lou Ford/Buschovski The Ford boys’ music evidences a finely wrought, pared-down style of songwriting that’s almost Carveresque (or at least Lish-like) in its spareness. Busch’s swirling lyrical worlds are positively Pynchonian, vaguely conspiratorial and often overwhelming in their shit-stirrin’ scope. Lou Ford’s put out three records and an E.P. in the past dozen years. Busch…
Today’s Menu (7/4/2008)
Slick Rick London-born Rick The Ruler, recently pardoned by New York governor David Paterson for the attempted murder of his cousin way back in 1990 (he served five years total) and hassled by Homeland Security goons ever since (just because a guy says he’s “the bomb” doesn’t mean he’s carrying one, fellers), is finally back…
The Parrot
There are many uses for a good solid chair and sex is probably the most fun that you will ever have with one. The trick to chair sex is to look beyond the standard “sit on me” and “bend over” positions. The parrot begins with the woman doing what we have all been told not…
The Weekender
Friday, July 4 Film Hancock: Fourth of July = Will Smith movie. It’s a tried and true formula and with the exception of Wild, Wild West, Will Smith owns the Fourth, in all his Scientology glory. Now we can add Hancock to the list. Big Willy plays a superhero with no past and no future,…
Facebook and MySpace = no personality?
According to BBC News, Internet sites like Facebook and MySpace allow kids to create and scrap different personalities in cyberspace without discovering who they truly are in the real world. Because of this, experts are worried that anyone born after 1990 (the generation who can’t imagine life without the Internet) will be prone to dangerous…
At the Side Show
I have finally come to terms with the fact that I…am a freak of nature. I am actually kind of surprised that I haven’t been recruited for some traveling freak show. Although I did get invited to get a backstage, sneak peak of the play Side Show, a musical depiction of the lives of the…
The world’s happiest nation
According to the latest World Values Survey published by the United States National Science Foundation, out of 97 countries surveyed, Denmark is the “world’s happiest nation,” followed by Puerto Rico and Colombia. Zimbabwe was determined to be the least happiest nation. So what about the homeland? The United States ranked the 16th happiest, which I…
Nothing says freedom like partying in an armed camp
Just because Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police will be out in force and ready to rumble during the uptown Fourth of July festivities, that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Police, who say an extra 450 or so extra officers will be on hand for the Independence Day revelry, don’t want to be spoilsports, so they’re finding happy,…
Introducing my new chief of villain security
By John McCain As I told the National Sheriffs’ Association Tuesday, protecting innocent citizens from the scourge of crime is one of the chief responsibilities of our government. But there’s only so much we can do alone. That’s why I’m proposing a radical new approach to crime fighting. I’m installing a bat signal on top…
Metropolitan Mixer @ HOM, 7/2/08
Photos by Chey Scott
Today’s Menu (7/3/08)
Will Dailey You’ve got a lot of cats out there plowing the gin joints with an acoustic guitar. He strums a fine guitar, but its Dailey’s voice, akin to a trusty friend and confidante, giving him an edge over the masses. The Boston singer-songwriter and folk-rocker writes tunes that make you want to linger around…
Woods on South closes (UPDATED)
When Chef Marvin Woods opened his upscale restaurant, Woods On South, he said he was in it for the long haul. His plan was to change the way Charlotte ate, creating a menu of health-conscious dishes. His plan, however, obviously fell short because Woods on South served its last plate of oven-fried chicken this week.…
From the files of I’m so self important
Former “24” star Dennis Haysbert, also known as the Allstate man, has lost his damned mind. He told the Associated Press that his role as a fictional black president may have helped Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination. All I can say is what the hell? Forget that eight years of Resident–er–President George W. Bush…
Live Review: Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre July 1, 2008 The Deal: Dave Matthews Band hits Verizon Wireless on its summer run — Tim Reynolds in tow, Jeff Coffin replaces the injured Leroi Moore on sax. The Good: First, it’s sad news that Moore was injured in an ATV accident — this was the first time…
Bubble Trouble
The Bubble Room… Doesn’t it sound like something out of the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory? Well, it’s actually right here at HOM. HOM is trumping the typical VIP section, and sectioning off an entire room for the VIP (as in very INVITED people). The top level of Play will now be the Bubble Room. Bubbles…
More on the United Way
Folks interested in the United Way of Central Carolinas might want to check out comments here and here at The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the ballgame, Take me out to the … mound! Buy me some peanuts and … Bud Light Limes! (That’s my remix.) Last week, I pitched in on Singles Night at Knights Stadium by throwing out the first pitch at their game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The Charlotte Knights is the…
CD Review: Three 6 Mafia
The Deal: The ever-depleting Three 6 Mafia is down to two members and is more a duo than it is a mob as they release a new album. The Good: While the lyrics will always be under scrutiny, no one has ever said they weren’t great producers (they have an Academy Award to prove it)…
The Art Of Affluence
Exhibit: The Art of Affluence: Haute Couture and Luxury Fashions 1947-2007 Dates: July 5 through the end of the year Location: The Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Road Info: 704-337-2000 or www.mintmuseum.org Dior, Chanel, Versace — these names are sure to be found in the closet of any well-heeled socialite. And they represent the…
His performance will not be televised
Revolution has long been a favorite theme for musicians. John Lennon weighed in on the subject, as did The Clash. But no musical composition to date had the impact that musician/street poet Gil Scott-Heron’s did when he told a complacent middle-class American audience in 1970 that the revolution would not be televised. “You will not…
CD Review: Bonnie Prince Billy
The Deal: Bonnie Prince Billy turns in (mostly) contented effort. The Good: Will Oldham’s woodsy warble and fractured folk-twang has always sounded timeless, his career measured as much by the changes in his various incarnations (Palace, Palace Songs, Palace Brothers, Palace Music, and Bonnie Prince Billy) as by any radical stylistic alterations. So Lie Down…
Conquistadors, comics & cigs
Tony Horwitz’s specialty is the historical travelogue. In Confederates in the Attic, he examined America’s ongoing obsession with the Civil War by, among other things, becoming pals with a bevy of Civil War re-enactors. In Blue Latitudes, he traveled around the Pacific, retracing the voyages of legendary 18th century explorer Capt. James Cook. In Horwitz’s…
You Don’t Know Jack About House
It’s a Friday night in Charlotte, and I’m sweating up a storm in the Uptown nightclub HOM, dancing to the hard-hitting sounds of legendary Chicago-based DJ Julius the Mad Thinker. Inside the club, the bass thumps hard and often – like the heartbeat of something that’s truly bigger than all of us – and the…
CD Review: Grupo Fantasma
The Deal: Ten-piece Latin orchestra brings the noise and the funk on its fourth album. The Good: Imagine Santana’s backing band or hip-hop-free Ozomatli and you might get close to what Grupo Fantasma is trying to accomplish. It’s funky, yet traditional, and once the groove gets going, you don’t want it to stop. “Gimme Some,”…
Charlotte Bestsellers List
1. Gossip of the Starlings by Nina de Gramont 2. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich 3. 365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy by Charla Muller with Betsy Thorpe 4. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 5. The King of Lies by John Hart 6. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan 7. When You Are Engulfed in…
Ready to rock
Mötley Crüe launches inaugural Crüe Fest
CD Review: Al Green
The Deal: The 62-year-old soul singer shows he still has what it takes. The Good: Producer ?uestlove made sure the album had an old-school feel, and the focus is purely on the vocals here. He may be getting up in years, but he’s still got it. There are few cameos, nothing too overwhelming – John…
Evangelical retriever
Plus, perpetually pouting at Twelfth Night
Pop Fest hits the Alley Cat
Pop Fest, a two-day power pop music festival, will be held at The Alley Cat on July 4 and 5, beginning each day at 4 p.m. The event, which was organized by local musician James Deem, will feature numerous local bands and artists, as well as a Beatles Tribute on Friday night. Among the artists…
CD Review: Alanis Morissette
The Deal: Fresh off her tour opening for Matchbox Twenty, seven-time Grammy winner releases first studio album in four years. The Good: The bitter ex who wrote “You Oughta Know” so many years ago should be plenty pissed off after her engagement to Ryan Reynolds ended – especially since he’s now hooked up with Scarlett…
Review of Superman No.677
The Deal: This issue of Superman marks the first issue of writer James Robinson’s first-ever run on the character. You may remember Robinson as the writer who helmed the acclaimed comic book Starman — which told the story of a very real guy becoming a super hero. Well, now Robinson is bringing his humanistic take…
Cl previews upcoming shows
THURSDAY, JULY 3 Will Dailey You’ve got a lot of cats out there plowing the gin joints with an acoustic guitar. He strums a fine guitar, but its Dailey’s voice, akin to a trusty friend and confidante, giving him an edge over the masses. The Boston singer-songwriter and folk-rocker writes tunes that make you want…
CD Review: MÖtley CrÜe
The Deal: Original line-up releases ninth studio effort, first new studio album in more than a decade. The Good: Most people know the story by now, especially if you read the autobiography, The Dirt. Mötley Crüe has been rocking for decades – the only surprise is that they’re still alive. Saints takes those themes found…
Robarchek again at the forefront
The scribblings of longtime (and now retired) Charlotte Observer columnist — and frequent Best of Charlotte CL award winner — Doug Robarchek can be found in The Best of the World’s Worst Poetry: 20 Very Odd Years of Outfrontery. The paperback, published by the local outfit Main Street Rag, is available for $14.
Ask the Editor
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Charlotte? A: Yet another great fake question! Of course, I seem to be answering a lot of food-related fake questions. I hope folks don’t start thinking I’m some gluttonous, greedy bastard. (I am.) At any rate, I have yet to find a local eatery I would classify as “my…
It’s all about the meat
Now Open • Owner Cythnia Ji and her aunt Kellen Ji have opened Cho Won Garden Korean Barbecue & Cuisine (2501 Crown Point Executive Drive). Hours: 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday; Sunday 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. They specialize in Korean-styled…
Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files
A CONVICT’S LOVE: A 20-year-old woman received mail from an ex-boyfriend serving time in a penitentiary, but it wasn’t exactly a love letter: the man threatened to beat the woman’s ass when he got out of jail. BEST (OR WORST) EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF WORK … EVER: A 19-year-old woman received an alarming call…
Wild, brave and free
It’s almost the Fourth of July, and I’m here to say I love this country and despise George W. Bush, and both those feelings are as American as it gets. The Fourth is all about freedom — about loving the country enough to care how it’s being run and trying to change it when the…
Funny man in an unfunny world
The world lost one of its great comedians this week with the death at age 71 of George Carlin. Carlin had a career as a stand-up comic that spanned a half-century, in which he continually broke new ground, targeting those in power with his wit and genius. He impacted our culture, our media and our…
Surviving a flaming forklift
You would think that a flaming forklift would grab my attention, but it’s surprising how unobtrusive those things are in real life. “The forklift is on fire,” Chris said to me almost casually, and I wouldn’t have noticed anything was amiss but for Chris walking past me pretty fast. Other than that, you would have…
United Way uproar
No changes planned; some charities worry about aftermath
Stargazer
Cancer The Crab: (June 21 — July 21): The New Moon occurs in Cancer on July 2. Regardless of your exact date of birth, this date is symbolically the beginning of your new year. Take a fresh look at where you want to direct your attention in the future. Let go of past hurts or…
Credit cleanup or rip-off?
With so many people spending more than they earn, racking up credit card debt, it’s no wonder so many people have issues with their FICO scores – and are desperate for a way out. Forty-three percent of American families spend more than they earn, according to MSN Money, and carry about $8,000 in credit card…
Film Clips
Current Releases THE FOOT FIST WAY Certainly, we here at CL want to promote and celebrate regional filmmaking whenever possible, but not at the expense of credibility. To be sure, somebody appreciated this low-budget comedy co-written by buddies Jody Hill (who also directed), Danny McBride and Ben Best (all products of the North Carolina School…
Letters to the editor
Can’t ignore the law I just read your recent column entitled “What ‘Attack On Our Culture’?” (Boomer With Attitude, by John Grooms, June 18). I myself am an immigrant to the United States. I have many friends from other countries including South Africa, Mexico, Bulgaria, Japan, Germany and England who have also become legal residents…
View from the couch
THE BRANDON TEENA STORY (1998). In 1993, a young Midwestern woman named Teena Brandon harbored such a burning desire to be a boy that she cut her hair, taped down her breasts, crammed a sock in her pants, and passed herself off as a good-natured guy named Brandon Teena. The Brandon guise worked beautifully –…
Democracy deferred
Fireworks. American flags. Patriotism. Cookouts. Celebrations. The Fourth of July is here again. As we celebrate our declaration of independence from You-Know-Who, we come together in the spirit of the founding of this country to commemorate who we were, who we are and who we will become. As I think about this holiday this year,…
WALL-E: Heartbeeps
Romance among robots in latest Pixar treat
Monica Simpson
Activism is in Monica Simpson’s blood. “It doesn’t matter what cause I am fighting for. I see injustice somewhere in the world I feel it is my duty as a human being to fight against it.” Simpson’s activism started while she was a student at Johnson C. Smith University. “When I came first came out,…
Wine in a box!
I admit squeezing wine from a spigot doesn’t scream sexy. Bag-in-box wines have no romance, no foreplay and, historically, no flavor. But for the couch, party or beach, they’re sensible and smart. Quality has persistently improved since the 1970s key-party days, and the simplicity of box wine (aka “cask wine”) jives with our resource-strapped age…
Stop, drop and pose
Staying in the spirit A group of young benefactors pose for a quick photo during the Lift Your Spirits benefit at the Wachovia Atrium last Tues., June 24. Fantastic females A legion of rockin’ ladies show off their awards at CL’s “Women Who Rock” party last Wed. at Loft 1523. We know the ladies cherished…
Nice buns
French bakery Amélie’s given new life
A bunch of hot air
There are very few people in America for whom cleaner air would be a disaster. Unfortunately, most of them work for the Environmental Protection Agency. I knew something was up as I sat there shivering in a sweatshirt, reading about Mecklenburg’s first code orange ozone day this spring in the newspaper. We’d left a window…
Robert Gleiberman
Unique to Charlotte, Gleiberman’s Kosher Mart and Restaurant is dedicated to providing a selection of quality kosher foods to the local Jewish community. Owned by Jeff and Robert Gleiberman, the eatery/grocery store features an on-site butcher who prepares fresh meats each week, among other amenities. And with a sanitation score of 102, it’s clearly all…
More farmers markets
JULY 5 — Matthews Community Farmers’ Market. Offers organic fruits and vegetables, pastured pork, eggs from free-range chickens, goat cheese and other dairy products, baked goods, flowers, soaps, pottery, baskets, other handmade crafts and more. Saturdays through November, 7:15 a.m.-12 p.m. Matthews Community Farmers’ Market, 105 N. Trade St., Matthews. 704-821-6430. www.matthewsfarmersmarket.com. JULY 5 –…
