Creaky Boards vs. Coldplay
Did Coldplay steal a song from Creaky Boards? It sure sounds like it… \\\\\\\\\\
More photos from films reviewed this week
The Happening The Incredible Hulk
Live Review: The Cure
The Cure Time Warner Cable Arena June 16, 2008 By Anita Overcash The Deal: British rockers The Cure visit the Q.C., performing a lengthy show full of hits from various eras. The Good: This was one of the longest live shows I’ve ever seen. The Cure kept going and going, playing a ‘galore’ of hits…
Creative Loafing artist search at HeroesCon
The good folks at Creative Loafing will be on the floor at HeroesCon (which will be held at the Charlotte Convention center June 20-22) this weekend looking for the city’s best comic book artists. If you think you’ve got what it takes to illustrate some upcoming comic-related projects for CL, bring samples of your work…
This week’s new releases (6/17)
Here’s a quick list of some of this week’s new CD releases: Coldplay Viva La Vida Grupo Fantasma Sonidos Gold Katy Perry One of the Boys The Offspring Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Run for the hills! A ‘new’ Chicago album!
Today, Rhino Records is releasing an album by the formerly multi-platinum-titanium-zirconium-mega-hotshit band Chicago, recorded in 1993. The big news is that there are apparently a lot of people who are excited to get their hands on new Chicago material from 15 years ago. What are these people thinking? Do we really need a reprise of…
News Roundup, 6/17/08
Police: Father believed to have beaten tot: The man who was shot and killed by police in order to stop him from beating a small child has been identified and is possibly the child’s father. Sergio Casian Aguilar stopped his truck on the side of a rural highway and several motorists witnessed him punching, kicking…
Dixies’ Tavern, 6/16/08
Photos by Tricia Gillis
Soapies in Africa
As I prepare to leave South Africa, one part of popular culture here that I wish that I could take with me is the soap opera. South African soap operas are different from the mundane, cyclical, fodder that passes for daytime television here. The acting is excellent and the storylines relevant. They reflect what is…
Godz of War postponed
This just in from the folks at Time Warner Cable Arena: GODZ OF WAR POSTPONED Global Fighting LLC. today announced the upcoming fight scheduled for June 21st at Time Warner Cable Arena has been postponed until the fall. TICKET HOLDERS PLEASE NOTE: All tickets for the June 21st date will be honored for the new…
Will Charlotte ever step out of Atlanta’s shadow?
I live in Charlotte and for the most part, I think the city has the potential to be a cool place. But damn! Why does it seem that the Queen City is always trying to be Atlanta North? First of all, I love Atlanta. My best friend lives down there and I spent many college…
Blogaroo – Day 4
Bonnaroo June 15, 2008 Manchester, Tenn. I got three hours of sleep last night… Turns out that Kanye went on around 4:30 and played until 5:45. When people got back from the show, they blasted music through large speakers, continued drinking and woke up just about everyone in the camping area. “Welcome to Bonnaroo,” right?…
Ms. Sweet Charity Drag Contest, Charlotte Eagle, 6/13/08
Photos by Jeaumane McIntosh
Live Review: Summer Pops
Sunday Funday at Summer Pops …as in in Charlotte Symphony’s Sunday summer concerts series in Symphony Park…at South Park. That’s a lot of parks. Speaking of which, good luck trying to find a place to park your car or your booty if you don’t get there early. The best way to describe the crowd is…well,…
Blogaroo – Day 3
Bonnaroo June 14, 2008 Manchester, Tenn. The third day of Bonnaroo could almost be called Mudaroo, if not for a small miracle that turned into sunshine late in the morning. What started out as a rainy cold day, turned into the festival’s best – not too hot, a little overcast and a perfect night. A…
Blogaroo – Day 2
Bonnaroo June 13, 2008 Manchester, Tenn. Well, I made it through all of last year and one-and-a-half days this year of no rain at Bonnaroo, but that streak was quickly broken. It started raining just before the headling sets of Chris Rock and Metallica (a setlist follows this blog) and went through the Superjam (set…
Blogaroo from Bonnaroo
Creative Loafing’s music editor, Jeff Hahne, has gone off to the massive outdoor music festival Bonnaroo and, well, you didn’t. Sorry. But don’t fret. You can live vicariously through him by checking out his daily dispatches and photos straight from the event all weekend long on our music blog, Vibes: www.qcvibes.com.
Summer Concert Series, 6/12/08
Photos by Charlotte Vibe Photography
The Bamboo Shout
Here is a very advanced (oral) Kama Sutra position that will certainly take some balance and dexterity to accomplish. It begins by the man performing a headstand against a wall, holding his weight by his arms. He can then carefully lower himself down to where he is supporting part of his weight with his head…
Blogaroo – Day 1
Bonnaroo Thursday, June 12 Manchester, Tenn. It almost feels like I never left … When I pulled up to the site yesterday, it all seemed familiar and oddly comfortable — well, until the sweating started. It’s hot here … really hot. But that’s to be expected. I also expected that half way through the bands…
News Roundup, 6/13/08
CDC: 228 cases of illness related to tainted tomatoes: Since mid-April cases of salmonella poisoning in 23 states have been related to contaminated raw red plum, red round and red Roma tomatoes. Many stores and restaurants have taken these tomatoes off their shelves and menus. Full story: CNN.com ‘Uncharted territory’ as city floods in Iowa:…
The battle of the Thursday Happy Hours
On Thursday after 5 p.m., all hell breaks lose in Uptown Charlotte – the two after fives go head to head like the Ultimate Fighting Godz of War coming to the Time Warner Cable Arena. • In this corner ….EpiCentre at 5 The Pavilion at the EpiCentre made its debut just three weeks ago with…
Epicentre at 5, 6/12/08
Photos by Tricia Gillis
The Weekender
Friday, June 13 Film The Incredible Hulk: Is it 2003 again? Because a new Hulk movie is coming out and if so, the author of this blurb should still be an undergraduate in college, working in a comic book store and running barefoot on a beach. But nope, it’s 2008, and the Hulk got a…
Never trust a Sparkle
By Nancy Grace The defense has rested in the case of R. Kelly, a man best known for (“allegedly”) urinating on 14-year-olds. The case is centered around R. Kelly’s SEX TAPE WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL. R. Kelly is claiming he does not appear in the tape — that it was a FAKE to extort money…
Taser International verdict should concern city government
City Council, take note: Taser International, the largest producer of Taser weapons, suffered its first defeat in a product liability court case. TI lost a $6.2 million jury verdict last week over the death of a California man who died after being Tasered multiple times by police in Salinas, Calif. Bloomberg News reports that jurors…
News Roundup, 6/12/08
Four killed by tornado at camp were Boy Scouts: A deadly tornado ripped through a Boy Scout camp in Western Iowa at about 6:30 Wednesday night and killed four of the Scouts. Forty-eight other Scouts and staff members were also injured. Full story: CNN.com A flashy Facebook page, at a cost to privacy: The mini-programs…
Coyote Joe’s, 6/11/08
Photos by Charlotte Vibe Photography
And Justice For All
Perversion of Justice, a documentary by Charlotte filmmaker Melissa Mummert, will be screened at 7 p.m. this Friday, June 13, at Chapel of Christ the King, 425 E. 17th St. The film centers on Hamedah Hasan, a first-time offender and mother of three who received a harsh prison sentence of 27 years for a drug-related…
P.M. Mayhem
Yesterday was a national holiday … The birthday of Jacinda from Brotha Fred’s A.M. Mayhem on 96.1 The Beat. You know “Jacinda with the Sleazy, Jacinda with the Sleaze” (cue David L singing the jingle) … but last night her theme song was “Happy Birthday” (or the lyric from 50 Cent’s “In Tha Club” rather:…
Reconciliation
A few weeks ago, South Africa was scarred by extreme acts of Xenophobia. In response, the majority of the country has come together to address the issue head on via e-mail, public service announcements and tolerance training. In record time, officials, celebrities and community members got right on top of the issue and have committed…
L.A.’s American Black Film Festival in the Q.C. tonight
Inject your normal nightlife with a dose of “pop” at Pop Life. Held every damn Wednesday at Loft 1523 (1523 Elizabeth Ave.), Pop Life is your weekly opportunity to experience art, drinks, cool vibes, cool people and the best (seriously) and most eclectic blend of music Charlotte. The fun starts at 6 p.m. and, as…
News roundup, 6/11/08
Being overweight won’t fly: Air India has strict guidelines for it’s air hostesses and grounds them if they don’t comply. One 5-foot-four-inch woman has been grounded because she weighs 148 pounds and the guidelines state she should weigh 143 for her height. Full story: CNN.com How much sleep do you really need?: A study conducted…
Loft 1523, 6/10/08
Photos by Charlotte Vibe Photography
Getting Creative
Subject: Sandy Snead. Tucked among the colorful shops, coffeehouses and restaurants in NoDa is Lark & Key. This mom-and-pop gallery and boutique, offerig jewelry, sculptures, prints and more, is co-owned by Snead. On Opening Lark & Key: Owning and operating a gallery and boutique has been a dream that my partner, Duy Huynh, and I…
Locals swarm FemmeFest
Inaugural event rocks three venues
Club Event: Unleashing the souls
Single Cell Productions gears up for another Purgatory, Charlotte’s finest fetish show. Purgatory XXXVIII will sport the theme “Circus of Souls,” so break out the leopard print, along with some rope and a collar/leash to contain the animal within. The night will feature diabolical action from rope suspension to erotic stage performances. Upstairs V.I.P. folks…
What the Puck? Sympathy for the jobless
Taking chances with Shakespeare
CD Review: Simplified
La Vida Local
Music: Buzzing about the rain
When lead vocalist of Blind Melon, Shannon Hoon died in 1995 the band died to some degree as well. Known for their acoustic tune “No Rain,” which featured the costumed bee girl in its music video, Blind Melon really was a band that took a dive from the hive right when success was stinging. The…
The Blotter
Brawling Brothers: A 42-year-old man said he and his brother were arguing when his brother started swinging at him, eventually ripping off his shirt. The man said his brother then grabbed a knife from a kitchen drawer and ordered the man to give him his car keys. Pervy Caller: A 35-year-old woman said she received…
Music Menu
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 Morglbl Fans of farty, fretless basses and brightly-colored, technically-perfect guitars (and the riffs they manufacture) will love them some Morglbl. (I’m not sure how the band pronounces the name – they’re all French – but I like to think of it as “more-gurble.”) There’s a hint of Primus in the six-string bass…
Music: In search of The Cure
It’s not Friday the 13th, but you might think it is from looking at The Cure, who will play Time Warner Cable Arena on June 16. They’ve been wearing the same goth attire and porcelain-toned foundation and black eyeliner for years (not to mention Robert Smith’s never-changing wild hairdo). These elders of the music industry…
Young addiction
Moodswing
White blue-collar voters
Boomer With Attitude
Circus: See them act
The UniverSoul Circus, aka “Hip-Hop Under the Big Top,” will continue its latest show “Jabulani: Joy, Happiness, Laughter” in the Q.C through June 22. Now in its 15th year, UniverSoul Circus emphasizes diversity in both its acts and soundtrack. Performances range from the more traditional clowns and trapeze acts to kid contortionists from South Africa…
Stargazer Horoscopes
Gemini The Twins: (May 20 – June 21) Activities involving travel, in-laws, the Internet, education, or legal interests are favored now. You are on top of the world in these departments. Things have gone well for quite awhile. Be aware you could become arrogant and overly demanding in these circumstances. For All Signs: Pluto, the…
Last week on The CLog …
The List
Theater: Seen on the scene
THEATER
Side Show
Charlotte’s own Hilton sisters – conjoined twins Daisy and Violet – experienced the dark side of fame
A cautionary tale of xenophobia
The N Word
Melts in your mouth
EAT & DO
Film Clips
Current Releases THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN This C.S. Lewis adaptation is darker than 2005’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which seems to be the path taken by many second installments in film franchises (The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Back to the…
Sam Beam
Profile
Chris Barber Presents the Blues Legacy: Lost and Found
The Deal: Late ’50s, early ’60s three-CD set of live blues treasures from over the pond with Muddy, the Wolf, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Brownie and Sonny. The Good: Wolf’s ’64 set begins with “Howling For My Baby” with Hubert Sumlin’s impeccable accompaniment. It’s on “Dust my Broom” that the duo really shines – Wolf is…
View From the Couch
THE BUCKET LIST (2007). If Morgan Freeman and Judi Dench ever made a film together, would the world simply explode? After all, Freeman always plays the smartest character in his movies and Dench always plays the wisest character in her pictures, so wouldn’t this fall under some sort of “irresistible force meets immovable object” scenario?…
Charlotte gets tasty; plus art and dragons
Crank dat A dancer struts her stuff during the Dragon Boat Festival, which hit town June 7. (Don’t) Bite me Jeremy Gaynor (right) serves Stephanie King some Salsarita’s at the big Taste of Charlotte event in Uptown on June 6. Girls night out Sharon Pam (left), Emily Bishop and Emily Bov take in the…
We Started Nothing
The Deal: Brit pop duo releases debut disc, is popping up just about everywhere these days. The Good: The band caused quite a stir at SXSW this year and are riding high on that wave. Indie pop-dance music with a slight rock edge balanced by the vocals of Katie White. The first single, “Great DJ,”…
Animated Adam Sandler vanquished by animated panda
Grin and bear it
Pop Life gets cinematic!
The Plug
Tooth of Crime
The Deal: Songwriter releases album fresh off producing success of Krauss/Plant disc, Raising Sand. The Good: The album opens up with the bluesy, retro-rockin’ “Anything I Say Can and Will Be Used Against You” before rolling into the slow and sleepy “Dope Island,” highlighted by steel guitar. The album is the result of a collaboration…
Feel the burn
Corkscrew
County robs crime victims
To those who aren’t familiar with the inner workings of Mecklenburg politics, it probably seems bizarre. Why would the hard-core liberals who control the Mecklenburg County Commission suddenly want to raise taxes to combat crime? These folks have never seen a tax hike proposal they didn’t like, but the combating crime part doesn’t add up.…
Even Republicans love Obama
Breaking the Sound Barrier
On a roll
Tokyo Restaurant is warmly inviting
Q: I’m interested in becoming a freelance writer. You got any tips to help me get started?
A: Well, first, I would suggest you read as much as possible. When you run across writers you dig, steal bits and pieces of their style and structure. Seriously. All good writers swipe style. In fact, once you swipe enough stuff, you’ll start to see your own style grow and develop. A second bit of…
The big scoop
Mouthful
Abstractions by Stephen Kasun
Arts Flash
Michelle Leek, sales associate
Three-Course Spiel
Sex sells?
News
Getting ‘Carrie’-d away by Sex
QC After Dark
Not Indians anymore
As most of us already know, referring to our Native American populations as Indians is an unforgiveable breach of liberal-minded sensitivity and political correctness. Some geezers among us may have played cowboys-and-Indians in our youth, but we know better now. We regard kids who would engage in such atrocities today as backwards backwoods boneheads and…
Charlotte Bestsellers List
Quote This
Taking African influence to a new level
Betta listen
Comedy: Poking fun
Check out the Charlotte Squawks as they present yet another funny, stuffed-up comedy decongestant — that’d be Charlotte Squawks Pleads the Fifth. Made up of Mike Collins (WFAE Charlotte Talks — not Squawks — radio host), Brian Kahn, Keith Martin and a slew of other singers, dancers and actors from Charlotte and the surrounding area,…
Comic Proportions
Skarr: Son of Hulk #1 Published by Marvel Comics. Plot and script by Greg Pak. Pencils by Ron Garney. The Deal: Spinning out of the 14-part “Planet Hulk” storyline — which went down in the pages of The Incredible Hulk about one year ago — comes Skaar: Son of Hulk. Skaar is pretty much who…
Did you know Diddley?
Obituary
Benefit: What a drag
Ms. Sweet Charity Drag Contest is racing to raise money for Campus Pride (an LGBT support group for N.C. colleges) and other local nonprofit organizations with “virgin” drag queens. Hosted by Roxy C. Moorecox, the event will feature these first-timers individually singing tunes and groovin’ about with their makeup-laced faces and elaborate heels on stage…
