Loca-palooza?
Local rockers Transmission Fields are trying to get a spot playing at this year’s Lollapalooza. Help ’em out by clicking here and voting.
Who will win Idol?
I’d be willing to bet everything I have that David wins American Idol tonight… On the one hand, you have David Cook — The Mayor of Creepy Town. He’s done everything via the Chris Daughtry playbook and is poised to take the title. While he looks like he’d be more comfortable sitting home playing Dungeons…
Let’s hear it for Gin
Freelance writer Gin Phillips, who has written for American Profile, American Spirit, and Woman’s World, makes her first offering to the literary gods with her book The Well and the Mine (Hawthorne Books $10.85). Phillips will be at Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road in the Park Road Shopping Center on Thursday, May 22, to…
Hurray! It’s Race Week! (Yaw-w-w-n)
Oh boy, oh boy, it’s Race Week. Time to celebrate that huge, money-making, tourist-dollar-generating, oval thing up near Concord, run by that civic-minded glutton of the public trough, the King Hog himself, Bruton Smith. Time to celebrate a sport in which the primary physical activity is turning left while driving really fast. Time to celebrate…
Dixies Tavern 5/19/08
Photos by Jeaumane McIntosh
Pop Life 5/14/08 @ Loft 1523
Photos taken by Gisella Pons
Flyleaf cancels tour
Just got word from the band’s publicist that Flyleaf has canceled the remainder of their tour with Seether — including the tour stop this week at Speed Street — because of singer Lacey Mosley’s illness. Mosley has swelling in her vocal chords…
Quote this
“The voice role of James P. ‘Sulley’ Sullivan [in Monsters, Inc.] went to John Goodman … Goodman interpreted the character to himself as the monster equivalent of a National Football League player. ‘He’s like a seasoned lineman in the tenth year of his career,’ he said at the time. ‘He is totally dedicated and a…
What can the new police chief really do?
Today, new Charlotte Mecklenburg Police chief Rodney Monroe will address the media and more than likely layout plans to make Charlotte safer. But what can he really do? Does hiring Monroe mean that the DA’s office suddenly has enough money to hire more assistant DAs to keep criminals off the street? Does Monroe’s hiring mean…
Live Review: Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw May 16, 2008 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre The Deal: Tim McGraw’s “Live Your Voice Tour” co-staring Jason Aldean (a mini-me Tim McGraw) made a pit stop at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre the night before the NASCAR All-Star Race. Which made it convenient for the race fans camped out at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and made the…
Live Review: Shooter Jennings
Shooter Jennings May 15, 2008 Visulite Theatre The Deal: Son of Waylon Jennings showcases his outlaw style. The Good: Jennings hit the stage and kicked off the show with a handful of his best songs — “This Ol Wheel” and “Gone to Carolina” among them. Jennings changed instruments for just about every song as he…
Bush League goes to Israel
Here is one reason George W. Bush is the most unpopular president in U.S. history: He’s an incompetent dope who is incapable of learning from his mistakes. Oh, and also, he has a stubborn, constipated view of life and the world. President 70%-Disapproval-Ratings proved his worth again yesterday when he chose a visit to a…
News Roundup, 5/16/08
Woman’s death haunts couple: Dennis Lovelace and girlfriend Brenda Pierce are still reviewing details from the chilling case of finding the body of 20-year-old UNCC student Irina “Ira” Yarmolenko floating on the river banks of Mount Holly May 5. Police are treating the case like a homicide as they continue to investigate the case. Full…
The Weekender
Friday, May 16 Film Prince Caspian: The second movie based on the books by C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is set a year after the events in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent back to a Narnia changed over time and suffering under cruel…
Future sounds: Kissey Asplund
I’m digging this song, titled “Fuss’n’fight,” and this artist, Kissey Asplund. She ain’t brand new, but she’s different. Check her out: \\\\\\\\\\
Mississippi burning? I wish!
By Dick Cheney Fuck!!!! Fucking Mississippi! Fucmoaijdsaatjliugdkaerjktakgaa Sorry. That was my forehead hitting the keyboard. As you can tell, I’m a little upset about losing a House seat in Mississippi in this special election. I’m not sure how it happened. We spent more money, we got big names from Huckabee to Lott to Yours Truly…
Female teachers on the prowl
What’s up with the rash of female teachers engaging in sexual “relationships” with their male teenage students? Is there something that they know of which I’m not aware? Firstly, it is illegal. Secondly, it is abusive. Thirdly, it is perverted. Fourthly, it is immoral. Lastly, it is absurd. A teen boy? Yikes. Are women that…
Winehouse dodges the bullet…
The diva’s not facing charges related to the photos in Britain’s The Sun newspaper depicting her smoking a crack pipe. Amy Winehouse has been under the scope since January after the photos were released and was arrested last week for suspicion of possessing drugs. According to the Associated Press, her spokesperson announced Wednesday that police…
Winehouse dodges the bullet
The diva’s not facing charges related to the photos in The British Sun Newspaper depicting her smoking a crack pipe. Amy Winehouse has been under the scope since January after the photos were released and was arrested last week for suspicion of possessing drugs. According to the Associated Press, her spokesperson announced Wednesday that police…
Independence High School is going to Florida
The Charlotte Observer is reporting that: Independence High’s football team will travel out of state for the second straight season to play top-notch competition. The Patriots, who lost in the N.C. 4AA final last year after winning a state-record seven straight championships, will play at Madison, Fla., on Sept. 5. Madison, about 45 miles east…
The Mint Museum wants to know: What do you think Queen Charlotte would look like today?
Here’s the official line: Queen Charlotte’s image has long been a symbol of the city of Charlotte, but what would she look like today? The Mint Museum of Art will hold two focus group sessions on Friday to get feedback from the public on this question. The Museum has commissioned artist Ken Aptekar to create…
Ozzfest announced
So, this year they’re going to make Ozzfest a one-day event in Texas with Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica headlining. But here’s the real question — Most of the bands that appear on the Ozzfest bill are heavy metal acts that use fast guitar riffs and “cookie monster” vocals. Osbourne is more melodic, you can understand…
Top 10 For Winter/Spring Cinema
With the summer movie season under way, let’s take a look at what emerged as the top 10 moneymakers of the winter/spring 2008 period. 1. Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who! – $148 million 2. 10,000 B.C. – $93 million 3. Cloverfield – $80 million 4. Jumper – $79 million 5. 27 Dresses – $77…
News Roundup, 5/14/08
Community colleges ban illegal immigrants: The North Carolina community college system announced they would no longer enroll undocumented students on May 13. President of University of North Carolina system, Erskine Bowles, questioned the decision. As long as the undocumented student graduated from a U.S. high school they could attend N.C. college. They had to pay…
Pop Life tonight!
Come experience Charlotte’s most eclectic nightlife event— Pop Life — tonight (May 14) at Loft 1523. Pop Life, as always, is brought to you by the folks at Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. Tonight’s edition serves up a musical homage to the “Golden Era” of hip-hop (1988-1992) and also features a live art exhibition…
The Blotter
CREEPY RENTER: A 32-year-old woman was showing a man a room she hoped to rent out. All went well, until the man starting making sexual comments. So she asked him to leave. After he departed, the woman noticed her wallet, car keys and checkbook were gone. FEUDING NEIGHBORS: A 52-year-old man said he’d repeatedly told…
Few answers in death of teen Tasered by police
Investigation continuing
Other Fun: Got the need for Speed?
A Richard Petty bobble head. My picture taken with the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet when it was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car. A handmade, wooden step stool. Cutting the rug with Snap, Crackle and Pop (the guys on the Rice Krispies cereal box). Oodles and oodles of coupons and free samples of food, Tylenol, more food,…
Summer Guide 2008
CL’s picks for the hottest movies, live music, arts, books and much more
Tracking emissions
A few N.C. companies agree to track greenhouse gas
More fun
MAY SPRING & SUMMER 2008 MAIN STREET MARKETPLACE May 2-June 27. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Boyd Plaza, Columbia, S.C. 803-779-4005 ext. 2042. www.citycentercolumbia.sc. Pit Crew Challenge May 15: See why races are won and lost in the pits. A portion of the proceeds will benefit a charity of The NASCAR Foundation. $15. Live at 7 p.m.…
Karma Cleanser
Dear Karma Cleanser: I did a favor for my girlfriend, and doing that favor has caused us both to suffer the consequences. She’s a painter and is still working on her bachelor’s degree. I’m a graphic artist and an aspiring songwriter. When I met her she was about to drop out of school due to…
When a killer terrified my hometown
Much has been written and broadcast this year about the 40th anniversary of 1968. Usually, anniversaries herald specific events, but 1968 is remembered as the wildest, scariest year on record in America since the Civil War and was filled with so many unsettling, chaotic events, it actually deserves the media attention it’s received. Things are…
Sports: Left, left, left
Ready to watch cars go round and round in a NASCAR fury? NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race 2008 is the moment fans of the racing world have been salivating for. As one of the biggest races of the year, the All-Star Race guarantees intense competition. It will also be a time for fans to bid a…
The distinguished instructor
That will be the absolute last time I drag Grant’s drunk ass into a grocery store late at night. It’s not like I haven’t been traumatized enough by my own childhood, when visits to the grocery store elicited freak factors out of both parents. My father boycotted our neighborhood store because it stopped cashing his…
Word to your Mother
The month of May plays host to a variety of important events: Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, junior and senior proms, high school and college graduations, NBA play-offs and Mother’s Day. Although all events hold a special place in the hearts of various populations, Mother’s Day is a day that resonates with all people because…
Music: ‘If you’re reading this’
You don’t “gotta have faith, faith, faith” … or at least not when you have McGraw. Country master Tim McGraw will headline the Live Your Voice Tour, since he has finished his excessive touring with country singer and wife Faith Hill on the Soul 2 Soul tours 2006 and 2007. McGraw will share the stage…
Stargazer Horoscope
Taurus The Bull (April 20-May 19): This is not the time to display your work or your goals. You may not be feeling your best, and that makes it hard to present things in the finest possible light. You need some extra rest during this period. For All Signs: Long-term aspects continue to look challenging…
Last week on The CLog …
A query for McCain-iacs: “[M]aybe one of them should have asked Senator War Hero why he’s been such a hypocrite when it comes to helping Iraq war vets. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia has proposed expanding education benefits for men and women who have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001 … Who could…
Fundraiser: Lifesavers move
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is a time to participate in a walk that remembers those who have lost their lives to cancer or are in an ongoing battle with the disease. Dedication to this movement has made it the largest non-profit fundraising event. The Relay has spread worldwide and takes place in…
Film Clips
New Releases THEN SHE FOUND ME Before Then She Found Me, it appeared that only two reactions to the soft-spoken Colin Firth were at all possible. Either audiences found him charming in that brooding sort of way (as did the legions of women who swooned over him in Bridget Jones’s Diary and the miniseries Pride…
DJ Flemingo
DJ Flemingo is known to be the Casanova, club-hopping DJ, but he says, “I am more of an entertainer than a DJ. Playing the hits are more about entertaining the crowd, getting the crowd involved, making sure everybody has a good time.” He says he is actually a “quiet and humble” person. Flemingo believes there…
Theater: Fish out of water
The Little Mermaid fable by Hans Christian Andersen is a depressing love story, but in the end conflicts resolve when the mermaid is granted an afterlife. It is no surprise that Disney remade the story by twisting its end into a happy one. In either version the stories about this mythical creature are fascinating to…
View from the Couch
INDIANA JONES: THE ADVENTURE COLLECTION (1981-1989). Paramount first released a long-overdue Indiana Jones box set back in October 2003, but the impending release of the fourth film in the series now provides the studio with a good excuse to offer another collection containing the original trilogy. The films themselves need no lengthy introductions. Raiders of…
Film: Summer Movie Preview
Iron Man. Made of Honor. Speed Racer. What Happens In Vegas. Four summer movies down, approximately 50 to go. The official start of the summer movie season has been holding steady the past few years as the first weekend in May — even Hollywood suits know that hot-weather blockbusters would look absurd being released in…
Art: Engraving display
The exhibition Quiet Spirit, Skillful Hand: The Graphic Work of Clare Leighton will feature more than 180 pieces by Clare Leighton. These consist of engravings, drawings and watercolors created from 1923-1965. The British-born artist has numerous stunning works that capture the working class, landscapes and more. Leighton lived in Chapel Hill, N.C. from 1943-1945 and…
Auto eroticism
Auto eroticism
More Film
MAY The Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival May 22: A film festival showcasing the work of Southeastern filmmakers. $5-$7. 7 p.m. Duke Power Theatre, Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000. www.southarts.org. Train Wreck: My Life as an Idiot May 23: Sean William Scott and Gretchen Mol star in this award winning film. Writer and…
Club event: Bring on the vibes
The work week may have just begun but that doesn’t mean the party has to stop. Loft 1523 presents Mindelixir, a DJ of the Q.C. specializing in funky hip-hop style beats with a combo of bass and drums. There are also vibes from other Charlotte area DJs. Drink and mingle in a classy upscale spot.…
Oil Paintings by Ray Kleinlein
Arts Flash
In defense of beer
Last week, I received an e-mail hammering me for my beer diss in a recent column (“Taylor’s Top 10,” April 2). Nate Johnson from Atlanta wrote: “I agree that beer is sometimes better, but you have reduced those times to little more than frat parties and car races. Beer has a tremendous depth and breadth…
Music: Band transcends labels
The band may have only formed in 2002 and have one, self-titled album out, but with more than 25 million plays on MySpace, Flyleaf is surely doing things the right way. Their music-with-a-message approach hasn’t gone unnoticed and a “Christian rock” label hasn’t hurt them either. Many times, once a band is given a religious…
Music: ‘Take A Picture’
After their most recent ’08 album Anthems for the Damned, rock act Filter is hitting the road. Filter got famous for the track “Take a Picture” off of their album Title of Record in 1999. They will perform as headliners in Charlotte with opening band Ours. Ours released their third album Mercy (Dancing for the…
Recommended hot weather reading
Summer reading means different things to different people. For kids, the term usually warns of required classics, choked down the last week of the season with the help of a cold soda. Many busy readers wait till summer to catch up on past bestsellers. For most people, though, summer reading means “beach books” – but…
Tips to save on money while keeping the taste
Eating on the cheap
Music: Revolution returns
Last year, Linkin Park brought along a handful of acts – including My Chemical Romance, HIM and Taking Back Sunday – for their Projekt Revolution Tour. Now in its fifth year, Chris Cornell, The Bravery, Ashes Divide, Atreyu, 10 Years, Hawthorne Heights, Armor for Sleep and Street Drum Corps will be tagging along for the…
Eat fancy food and drink in the Q.C.
MAY 15 — Dinner & Wine. Monty’s Seafood Grill presents a five-course meal. It features roasted beef citrus salad, seared sea scallops, seared duck breast, seared New Zealand lamb, chocolate strawberry shortcake and other delights. Wines from Napa Cellars include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel. $60. Monty’s Seafood Grill, 15205 John J…
Novello Festival Press holds book launch
Charlotte’s own publishing group, Novello Festival Press, will hold a book launch for its newest project on Wednesday, May 14, at the Visulite Theatre. Making Notes: Music of the Carolinas contains over 50 essays, articles and reminiscences pertaining to regional music, covering an area that’s home to such legendary figures as James Brown, John Coltrane…
A lot of Gaul
Looking for something French?
Music: A Warped perspective
The Vans Warped Tour has been going strong since 1995. It provides an easy way to check out a huge number of bands – they play for up to 30 minutes each on a number of stages. While most bands fall into a screamo category, there are plenty of outsiders that tag along. Here’s a…
CD Review: Thalia Zedek
The Deal: Zedek returns to the rock with first full band since Come era. The Good: With her carton-a-day voice, viola-powered slow-burners, and heart-rended narratives, Thalia Zedek’s solo material was built for late-night listening. But strap some thundering bass and crashing piano chords to it, add a little Bush-inspired paranoia, and what emerges from the…
Charlotte Bestsellers List
1. Outcast (Warriors: Power of Three, Book 3) by Erin Hunter 2. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri 3. Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon – And the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Weller 4. The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: and Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg 5.…
Of patios and the single life …
I spent the last Creative Lounging with Simplified camped out on the back patio of Tilt helping the boys paint. What’s unusual about that is not that I was painting a patio in a cocktail dress, but that I was being anti-social. Something must be wrong with me. In fact, there is … I am…
More Music
MAY Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre May 16: Tim McGraw w/ Jason Aldean & Halfway to Hazard. May 29: James Taylor. 707 Pavilion Blvd., Charlotte. 704-549-5555. www.livenation.com. Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion May 17: Tim McGraw w/ Jason Aldean. May 28: James Taylor. 3801 Rock Quarry Road Raleigh. 919-831-6400. www.livenation.com. Time Warner cable Arena May 31: Lynard…
CD Review: Panic at the disco
The Deal: Pop-rock act takes a different direction on sophomore album. The Good: This album is rushing full of cheerfully instrumental-pop-rocking tracks that don’t really have the band’s previously emo vibe. The album begins with a tribute to fans as singer Brendon Urie announces “We’re so sorry we’ve been gone. We were busy writing songs…
Review of Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy No. 1 Published by Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. Pencils by Paul Pelletier. Inks by Rick Magyar. The Deal: Fresh from epic, cosmic-themed limited series like Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest, some of Marvel’s top (and some obscure) space-faring heroes ban together to form the superhero team Guardians…
LIfe after GG
The Murder Junkies continue on after singer’s death
Arts: Who you callin’ a muppet?
You can be sure you’re living in Dystopia when the girl next door is named Kate Monster. That’s what happens when Princeton — a wide-eyed, idealistic Ivy Leaguer totally unprepared for modern urban life — settles into his walk-up on Avenue Q in an outerborough of New York. The insanely cynical send-up of Sesame Street…
CD Review: Tantric
The Deal: Tantric releases first album marking the end of an entire line-up and beginning front-man Hugo Ferreira’s total-band reconstruction. The Good: New members reinvigorate Tantric’s earthly sound. Kevin Miller of Fuel is on drums, Joe Pessia plays rhythm guitar, Erik Leonhardt is on bass and provides back-up vocals with Marcus Ratzenboeck unleashing the violin.…
All along the watchtower
Local Lit
Rebel son
Shooter Jennings strays from the country pack
Arts: Glam monsters of the Midway
The sordid deformity of Side Show doesn’t sneak up on you. It slaps you in the face with the opening words of the first song — sung by a company that includes a carny boss, a reptile man, a bearded lady, a fortune teller and the obligatory geek (the circus sort who bites the heads…
The war on journalists
Sami al-Haj is a free man today, after having been imprisoned by the U.S. military for more than six years. His crime: journalism. Targeting journalists, the Bush administration has engaged in direct assault, intimidation, imprisonment and information blackouts to limit the ability of journalists to do their jobs. The principal target these past seven years…
Ripley – believe it!
Plus, tango the night away
CD Review: The Spongetones
The Deal: Local living legends The Spongetones release 11th album, Too Clever By Half. The Good: If you’ve been longing for a new Spongetones album, you have to be happy with the result – an 18-track CD that clocks in at an hour. The band’s sound, capturing the energy and style of The Beatles in…
Arts: Super Heroes(Con)
This summer, the guys from the Charlotte-based comic book shop Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find bring back their massive annual festival of comic culture: HeroesCon. Known for the last 26 years as one of the nation’s biggest comic-oriented events, HeroesCon is described on the company’s Web site as “the show to go to for a…
Stupid lunchpail polkas
It all seemed so familiar. At Actor’s Theatre last Saturday night, Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works presented a choreography that was hauntingly familiar as part of their Get Passion!! show, their first at 650 E. Stonewall. As one dancer, dressed in warm-up gear, took up a ready position at center stage, another stood off near a wing…
Music Menu
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 American Aquarium CD Release Party As you can probably guess by the Wilco-cribbing name, American Aquarium play a sort of college rock-inspired take on country rock (whatever that is). The overall lyrical reach isn’t wide-ranging — small towns, claustrophobic relationships — but frontman B.J. Barham’s at his best when he inhabits that…
More Arts Picks
MAY PURLIE Ongoing-June 1: Musical that tells the story of preacher Purlie Victorious Johnson who returns to the South to trick a local plantation owner into giving him the land he needs to build his church. Playhouse on the Square, 51 South Cooper, Memphis, Tenn. 901-726-4656. www.playhouseonthesquare.org. My Family our Stories May 1-July 6: Work…
