Jun 15-21, 2010

Jun 15-21, 2010 / Vol. 24 / No. 16

Nicole Atkins signs with Razor & Tie

Former Charlotte resident Nicole Atkins has signed with Razor & Tie, who will release her second album in early 2011. Formerly signed to Columbia Records, the press release states: “On the new album, Nicole reveals her growth as a singer and songwriter with a sophisticated batch of new songs. Be prepared for a darker, grittier…

Jeff Hahne

N.C. Senate hearts corporate tax dodgers

North Carolina government’s money situation is so dismal,  the state is quickly running out of money to do anything but pay bureaucrats’ wages and give breaks to coastal developers. Critical programs are being reduced or cut, schools are in desperate financial straits, and, yeah, you know the rest. Well, guess what? Multi-state corporations operating in…

John Grooms

Live Nation offers $10 tickets

Each day, for the rest of June, Live Nation will be offering $10, no-service-fee lawn tickets to some of its shows. Today’s deal, available through midnight tonight, is for RASCAL FLATTS – Saturday June 26 – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte EARTH, WIND & FIRE – June 24 – Road Runner Mobile Amphitheatre Charlotte

Jeff Hahne

Street Style: Skateboarder’s delight

By Alexis Greene Name: Jonathan Badour, Charlotte Occupation: Student Spotted: Hanging out outside of Pac Sun in Northlake Mall Rockin’: Shoes: Nike Zoom Stefan Janoski SB What inspired your look today?: “The reason I bought my shoes was because my favorite skater Stefan Janoski designed them!”

Web Editor

WBTV anchor moonlights as red carpet greeter

Ah, the magnetic draw of appearing in a live theater production! WBTV evening news anchor Tonia Bendickson apparently couldn’t resist the tug – from as far away as Blowing Rock. That’s where she appears this Saturday night for one performance only as a red carpet reporter in the Ensemble Stage production of Murder in Tinseltown.…

Perry Tannenbaum

Voodoo Experience lineup announced

The lineup for the 2010 Voodoo Experience in New Orleans has been announced — headliners are Muse, Ozzy Osbourne and Weezer. Other bands include Cage the Elephant, Metric, Minus the Bear, MGMT, Drake, Deadmau5, Street Sweeper Social Club, Jakob Dylan, Florence and the Machine and Eagles of Death Metal. You can find the full lineup…

Jeff Hahne

Burr votes against $500 million for N.C.

The state’s and county’s budget woes are about to get even worse, partially thanks to Sen. Richard Burr, although it remains to be seen exactly how much worse the problems will be. If you thought the libraries, schools and parks took major hits under the new county budget, the news out of Washington and Raleigh…

John Grooms

NEW: J. Cole’s “The Last Stretch”

Marking the one year anniversary of his mixtape, The Warm Up, North Carolina’s current hip-hop namesake dropped a new, unheard track, for fans on his blog Tuesday, sincerely thanking them for the past year of support and promising more to come. The track, “The Last Stretch,” has Cole spitting on the a mixed bag of…

Mike McCray

Tonight’s Top 5, 06/17/10

The top five nightlife-related events going down tonight, June 17, as chosen from the folks at Creative Loafing. • The Summer Concert Series at University Place • Anders Osborne at The Double Door Inn • Latin Xtasy at Halo • The Dating Game at Petra’s Piano Bar • The Almighty DJ Freedom Birthday Celebration at…

Victoria Creasy

Far-right dummies on parade, Pt. 271

Tea Party-type conservatives get mad as hell when anyone points out that a substantial number of their supporters — both at rallies and in Congress — are dumber than stumps. My answer to their anger is: Don’t hang out with dumbasses and we won’t have anything to point out. Cases in point, three prominent politicians…

John Grooms

Touchdown Jesus’ flame-out: a sign from God?

By now you’ve heard of the 6-story statue of Jesus in Ohio that was incinerated Tuesday after being struck by lightning. Now people all over the Internet are wondering if the lightning was a sign from God. The statue, officially called “King of Kings,” but more often named “Touchdown Jesus” because of the position of…

John Grooms

Drunk guy tries to tackle Slash

So, Slash was playing a concert in Milan and some drunk guy in the crowd decided to jump up on the stage… Maybe he just wanted to give the guitarist a hug while he was performing his solo during “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” but a security guard instead tackled him into the crowd… Slash tried…

Jeff Hahne

Adam Lambert’s “If I Had You” video

I’m not kidding when I say Adam Lambert’s upcoming concert at The Fillmore Charlotte is sold out. I’m also not kidding when I say that his new song is not good. The video for “If I Had You” looks like a poor man’s combination of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody.” \\\\\\\\\\

Jeff Hahne

This week’s new releases (6/15/2010)

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the new albums hitting stores today: Devo Something for Everybody Drake Thank Me Later The Gaslight Anthem American Slang Sarah McLachlan Laws of Illusion John Mellencamp On The Rural Route 7609 Steve Miller Band Bingo! Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Mojo

Jeff Hahne

Killers: Shoot me now

Just how wretched an actress is Katherine Heigl? Ashton Kutcher, her co-star in Killers, has delivered his own share of poor performances (most recently in Valentine’s Day), yet whenever he’s asked to share a scene with Heigl, he comes across like Laurence Olivier by comparison. Heck, he looks like any of the giants of cinema:…

Matt Brunson

FILM: Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo

I personally freak out whenever I see a bug, but a film screening of Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo may be able to sway my opinion — well, maybe a little. Presented by The Light Factory at Duke Energy Theatre, Beetle Queen explores the mystery of the development of Japan’s love affair with bugs. Using insects,…

Lesli Frazier

Where to find it: World Cup foods

Where to find it: Foods for the World Cup Need something from South Africa for your World Cup party? You’ll need to visit Jeremy Dreyer at his store, The South African Food Shop (Fullwood Plaza, 11229 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews). Dreyer says most South Africans will be having a Braai, a barbecue, and throwing some…

Tricia Childress

Eating locally on the Emerald Isle

It’s true, you know. Guinness does taste better in Ireland. This is not due to the inherent charm of the bartenders, although most can talk you into almost anything. Guinness tastes better fresh. On a recent trip to Ireland, most of my Dublin cab drivers discussed the nuances of brews in their favorite neighborhood pub.…

Tricia Childress

SPECIAL EVENT: Red Bull Manny Mania

For skateboarders who know how to do a little more than kick and push, check out the Red Bull Manny Mania competition during the South End Soul festival (which takes place in the Southend neighborhood June 18-19). Skaters must maneuver a “manual,” a skateboard trick in which they ride a board on only two of…

3 questions with Joanna Virkler, caterer

From her gorgeous lake-front home kitchen on Lake Wylie, Joanna Virkler runs a small catering business aptly named Healthy Meals From Home. This mother of six has worked as a photographer, radio host, newspaper columnist and TV producer, and has contributed to non-profit organizations. Three years ago, Virkler, with encouragement from her family, devised a…

John Fraser

THEATER: Comedy of Errors

Collaborative Arts kicks off its Charlotte Shakespeare Festival with double the trouble in Comedy of Errors at The Green Uptown. This farce comedy revolves around two sets of identical twins, who are each separated at birth and remarkably end up in the same city (Ephesus) years later. But to make matters complicated, they don’t discover…

Anita Overcash

Always enjoy a Sunday fun day

I would just like to clear up a common misconception: Sunday is not the finish line of the weekend; it’s incorporated into it. We may be in the Bible belt where alcohol isn’t for sale until noon on Sundays, but it is not a day of rest for Charlotte nightlife. Consider Sunday a glorified fun…

MUSIC: Find Your Muse open mic at The Evening Muse

It’s Find Your Muse open mic night at The Evening Muse this and every Monday. Musicians, grab up your music gear and head over to perform one of your own creations in front of a crowd. No one can guarantee they’ll be liked, but constructive criticism is always helpful! Get there early to snag a…

Anita Overcash

Can Mecklenburg County afford same-sex benefits?

In 2011, Mecklenburg County will begin offering same-sex domestic partner benefits to county employees. The Board of County Commissioners approved the measure last December, which allows same-sex couples who have been in long-term relationships and are not married to anyone else to receive insurance and other services through the county. But this program, although socially…

Cheris Hodges

THEATER: Into The Woods

Central Piedmont Community College’s Summer Theatre is sprinkling star dust on past-time fairy tales in its production of Into The Woods. The musical, written by the legendary Stephen Sondheim, uses characters from classic stories — “Little Red Riding Hood,” “The Baker’s Wife,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and “Cinderella,” among others — by Brothers Grimm…

Anita Overcash

Chris Henry’s death exposes double standard

Toxicology reports are back for NFL wide receiver Chris Henry. The results show that Henry died in Charlotte last December from a fractured skull and other head injuries, which occurred when he jumped or fell from a moving truck; his fiancée Loleini Tonga was behind the wheel. The story made national headlines and kicked off…

Nsenga Burton

THEATER: Girls Only: The Secret Comedy Of Women

Girls night out, anyone? Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Girls Only: The Secret Comedy Of Women is taking what we all know as a night of female-oriented fun to a whole ‘nother level. The cast, comprised of two middle-aged women who look more like children than adults, use sketch comedy, improv, audience participation, songs and videos,…

Anita Overcash

Re-examining 287(g)

If I drive drunk, endangering the lives of everyone else on the road, should I have to identify myself to a police officer who stops me? Or what if I run a stop sign? Should I be allowed to drive off into the night? If you answered “no” to those questions, then you support the…

Quick reviews of new summer comics

For comic book companies, summer is a time to launch a ton of new titles — hoping to score a blockbuster series or two. Here’s my take on a few new hot-weather books I picked up last week: Hack/Slash: My First Maniac No. 1: I never read this series when it was being published by…

Carlton Hargro

Looking at what’s tasty around the Queen City

If you haven’t been to Creative Loafing’s Food & Drink blog Eat My Charlotte lately, you’re missing a lot of tasty treats of the verbal variety. One popular feature on the site is Best I’ve Had All Week, a regular post in which CL food writer Tricia Childress singles out items that pleased her palate.…

Tricia Childress

Theater review: The Dixie Swim Club

No, the sequel to last summer’s Once Upon a Festival hasn’t returned to Theatre Charlotte as a Twice Upon a Festival. Although Donna Scott Productions has encamped at the Queens Road barn again on the first weekend in June, and although the festival running through June 26 does have a youth element (teen girls acting…

Perry Tannenbaum

Dazzling dance at Spoleto

Transcendence and otherness have long been staples of ballet and modern dance, probably because we crave a visionary spectacle from graceful performers who are mute. Petrushka, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake are all teeming with characters who extend the bounds of movement with their inhuman nature. So three of the dance companies I saw at…

Perry Tannenbaum

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files

Wet And Wild: A woman called police on behalf of an older friend after she was the victim of a heinous crime. She told police that three suspects walked into the victim’s yard one morning last week and attached her hose to the faucet. They then stole water, which they used to have a water…

Ryan Pitkin

Anders Osborne lets his music flow naturally

If you watch Anders Osborne perform, you’ll see a man who’s completely absorbed by the music. His vocals show as much soul as they can muster up. He’ll close his eyes, strut, bob and weave his way around the stage and effortlessly tear off riffs on the guitar. If you watch his right hand, it…

Jeff Hahne

Can brainwaves be detected in lime Jell-O?

I remember a story from the ’80s about lime Jell-O giving off brainwaves. When I mentioned this the other day I got into a long argument about microtubules, consciousness, and superstrings and need a quick shut-’em-up. Anything to this? — Mungsback Yes. The point of the research, however, wasn’t to suggest Jell-O was alive but…

Cecil Adams

The Forum closing on June 19

It’s been nearly five years since The Forum opened its doors and began welcoming a variety of world-class DJs into the Queen City, but the owners have recently announced their intentions to close on June 19. The area’s first three-level nightclub was started by the creators of Cosmos Café and Mythos, and welcomed in artists…

Jeff Hahne

Weekly horoscope June 16-22, 2010

Gemini The Twins (May 20-June 21): Major changes are occurring among your friends, associates and possibly your charitable work. You have recently been granted a wish that may have given you a new lease on life. So your natural reaction is to share your joy and spread it around wherever you roam. For All Signs:…

Vivian Carol

CL previews upcoming concerts (June 16-22)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 Danzig The requisite history: Yeah, Glenn Danzig fronted the hugely influential horror punk outfits Misfits and Samhain in the late ’70s and early ’80s. And although he heavily channeled Jim Morrison on his solo debut in 1988, the record harked the instantly recognizable voice of Danzig, who’s since released a slew of…

The Book of Eli, Mystery Train among new DVD reviews

THE BOOK OF ELI (2010). Talk about apocalypse now. If there’s one positive thing to be said about the recent glut of end-of-the-world tales, it’s that the batting average in terms of quality has been on the winning side. Certainly, 2012 was a stinker, but The Road, Zombieland and The Book of Eli have all…

Matt Brunson

CD Review: Karen Elson’s The Ghost Who Walks

The Deal: Wife of Jack White, founding member of The Citizens Band, releases her debut solo album. The Good: I was pleasantly surprised on first listen. The 11 original songs have an old-school bluesy folk feel to them – something that fits in well with music that White would produce. White also provides drums on…

Jeff Hahne

The A-Team: Bringing their A-game

“Overkill is underrated,” opines group leader “Hannibal” Smith (Liam Neeson) at one point during the course of The A-Team. Clearly, the man isn’t talking about summer films, wherein the whole point of many of these heavily hyped efforts is to render everything louder, larger and more expensive. Still, as far as costly packages go, this…

Matt Brunson

CD Review: Feufollet’s En Coleurs

The Deal: Here’s a highly skilled Cajun band – great vocalists, male and femme – who kick it indie style, playing multi-faceted Cajun tunes. Unusual arrangements and weird instruments – like a 1980s digital autoharp – create extra textures and mix magic. All originals, too. The Good: Spirited, innovative Cajun music, groundbreaking, but still highly…

Lew Herman

The Karate Kid offers some kicks

“Hi, Dad!” “Hi, Jaden.” “I’m bored. Will you and Mom produce a movie that I can star in?” “Of course! Let’s do a remake, so we don’t have to spend too much time looking for original scripts. The 1980s are popular right now. What would you like to star in?” “Well, let’s see. I love…

Matt Brunson

The D’Annunzio-Johnson debate we were denied

It was a sad day for fans of democracy and three-ring circuses when Tim D’Annunzio pulled out of a planned debate with fellow 8th District congressional candidate Harold Johnson. It’s not often that area voters get to see two such eminently qualified candidates debate their differences. Luckily, this reporter, along with friend Jose Cuervo, found…

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