Nov 1-7, 2011

Nov 1-7, 2011 / Vol. 25 / No. 36

Cover Story

Pink Soles, 11/4/11

Pink Soles, a fashion events benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, took place at the new Foundation for the Carolinas building in Uptown on Nov. 4.

Kimberly Lawson

North Carolina lifer David Dondero – Tonight @ The Tremont

When Dondero slipped out of Wilmington unnoticed by anyone but his parents and friends a couple years back, North Carolina lost one of the country’s most gifted and unheralded songwriters. As if to prove the point, the former Sunbrain singer’s 2010’s release — # Zero with a Bullet — was heralded for its drunken country…

John Schacht

Yellowcard’s damn fine songs – Tonight @ Amos’

Lyrical exploration is as much part of this pop punk outfit as are rapidfire guitars. Yellowcard stands out from the pack by avoiding bogus posturing, and writing damn fine songs. Their most recent recording, When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes, is a consistent effort, with writing matured over the past decade of recording and touring.…

Samir Shukla

Perpetual Groove – Tonight @ Neighborhood Theatre

The Athens-based band, better known as PGroove by loyal fans, will be in town playing what will surely be a euphoric and psychedelic show. Although they may play a few covers — still epic, by the way — you can definitely expect a variety of original tunes in the band’s brand of trance arena rock.…

Tremaine Tillman

Wrong song, Herman Cain

Photo by Gage Skidmore “Cause after all, he’s just a man…” The Friends of Herman Cain sent out an email Thursday addressing, without really addressing, the sexual harassment allegations surrounding the GOP presidential hopeful. The subject line on the email about Cain — who comes to the Carolinas Nov. 12 for a GOP presidential debate…

Cheris Hodges

Heather B. Moore jewelry trunk show at Cottage Chic

Jewelry is always a perfect gift for the holidays, but what about giving a gift of jewels meant to last a lifetime? That’s exactly the quality of pieces Heather Moore designs. Her website boasts, “We are honored to have the opportunity to make what truly are heirlooms, and just how all treasured things are passed…

T. Strong

The Rocketboys rocket into Charlotte – Tonight @ Snug Harbor

Within a few notes, Austin band The Rocketboys unwrap their muse — ambient, floating songs that rock with poignant subtleties. Taking their time in unfolding songs with lyrical prowess, moody guitars and vocals, the combo also makes a case for late-night driving music. RIYL: Coldplay, space rock. Also on the bill are With My Captain,…

Samir Shukla

Bellflower: Apocalypse now

BELLFLOWER ***1/2 DIRECTED BY Evan Glodell STARS Evan Glodell, Jessie Wiseman To paraphrase the late Michael Stipe — no, he’s not dead, but R.E.M. is R.I.P. — it’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel positively giddy. That’s due to the indie release Bellflower, which reportedly was made for a…

Matt Brunson

Take Shelter: Worth entering

TAKE SHELTER *** DIRECTED BY Jeff Nichols STARS Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain Winner of two awards at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and certain to earn Michael Shannon some serious Oscar consideration, Take Shelter takes place in a spacious, wide-open Midwestern region but feels constrictive and claustrophobic at every turn. That’s the intent of writer-director…

Matt Brunson

Tower Heist steals some laughs

TOWER HEIST *** DIRECTED BY Brett Ratner STARS Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy Cineastes won’t allow something as trivial as Tower Heist to dislodge Dassin’s Rififi or Kubrick’s The Killing as their caper film of choice, but as far as seasonal multiplex blockbusters go, this one’s not bad at all. The much maligned Brett Ratner, whose…

Matt Brunson

Anonymous somewhat worth knowing

ANONYMOUS **1/2 DIRECTED BY Roland Emmerich STARS Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave Call it the anti-Shakespeare in Love. Call it the more cultured cousin to Inglourious Basterds. Just don’t call Anonymous a fact-based story. There have been many speculations advanced that William Shakespeare actually did not write the countless classic works attributed to him, but the…

Matt Brunson

Puss in Boots: Hardly the cat’s meow

PUSS IN BOOTS ** DIRECTED BY Chris Miller STARS Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Stanley Roper was arguably the funniest character on the long-running TV series Three’s Company (not a difficult feat, admittedly), but that didn’t mean it was wise to yank him and the missus out of their supporting stints on that hit show in…

Matt Brunson

In Time: Don’t put it off

IN TIME *** (out of four) DIRECTED BY Andrew Niccol STARS Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried Can a movie survive on premise alone? That would be a resounding no, since its success also rests squarely on the shoulders of the execution. Yet in the case of In Time, the premise is ingenious enough to cut some…

Matt Brunson

The Rum Diary causes a hangover

THE RUM DIARY *1/2 DIRECTED BY Bruce Robinson STARS Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart Johnny Depp has long worshipped at the altar of Hunter S. Thompson, so perhaps it’s this idolatry that prevents him from acknowledging that The Rum Diary, an adaptation of a 1959 Thompson novel that wasn’t even discovered until 1998 (reportedly by Depp…

Matt Brunson

Thom Tillis & Mitt Romney: Reality Deniers R Us

House Speaker Thom Tillis and GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney have something in common besides party affiliation: they both deny reality in a way that’s positively Orwellian. Let me explain, starting with Tillis, the Pride of Cornelius. He held another in his series of town hall meetings two days ago, this one in Hickory. Before…

John Grooms

Party at Our Place

Well, not really “our” place, but Our Place. Looking for something fun and fashionable to do today? Well, in just a few hours Our Place, a ladies boutique located on Fairview Road, will be hosting a jewelry party. Dubbed as not just a clothing boutique but “a lifestyle space,” Our Place also carries home goods…

T. Strong

A Revolution of hair, fashion and art

Last night, there was indeed a Revolution! At Re:Public nightclub in Uptown, there was an explosion of art, music, culture and fashion like none other. The event, aptly named Revolt!, was such a success that, from what I’ve heard, they’ll be doing it again in December. Courtesy of Tinesha Matthews, Kelley Carboni-Woods and Jessica Stanton,…

T. Strong

The Boulevard in South End is now open

The Boulevard, born and raised, then closed in NoDa, has reopened again. Their new location is in South End (1440 S. Tryon St., to be precise), and you will love it. The Boulevard is one of those cool gift shops that offer something for everyone. Much of their merchandise is courtesy of local partners, like…

Kimberly Lawson

Reminder: Jordanos presents charity event Reover

Tickets are still on sale for Jordanos’ charity fashion event, Reover: Fashion for a Cause, happening Nov. 12. The night includes:• Appearance by lip-synching, YouTube-star, Keenan Cahill, who has been featured on “Chelsea Lately” and has worked with 50 Cent, Katy Perry and more.• The latest fall fashion featuring Civil Society, Penguin, DL1961, KINETIX, Second…

Kimberly Lawson

Trombone Shorty tonight at the Visualite Theatre

Like most great New Orleans musicians, Trombone Shorty brings enthusiasm to the stage that’s as unique as the overwhelming flavor of the city itself. Growing up in the Tremé neighborhood, he’s been performing since the age of four and has talent well beyond his 25 years. His vocals are as strong as his horn, too.…

Jeff Hahne

Sorry, but banks DID cause the mortgage meltdown

Conservative fantasies die hard, if they ever die at all. Most of us already knew that, but it’s been reaffirmed by online comments and e-mails from readers about this week’s Boomer With Attitude column re: Bank of America. I love it when conservatives try to put the blame for the 2008 financial crisis and America’s…

John Grooms

Ray Davies at The Fillmore Charlotte – Tonight

Ray Davies led the legendary Kinks for 33 years, and while the output was notoriously so-so in later years, Ray Davies’ reputation was already sacrosanct when he put out a pair of not-too-shabby solo records in 2006 and 2007 (Other People’s Lives and Workingman’s Café). But now comes See My Friends, the kind of vanity…

John Schacht

Ann Coulter: ‘Our blacks are better than theirs’

Being old enough to remember the pre-Civil Rights era doesn’t make me wiser. It brings muscle aches, to be sure, but usually wisdom isn’t served up with that. Having been around the Carolinas before the George Wallaces of the South were smacked down, does mean, however, that I know racism when I see it. Which…

John Grooms

BofA drops debit fee. Move your money anyway

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, who recently told bank employees he is “incensed” about widespread criticism of BofA, probably isn’t a happy man today, either. That’s because the bank had to announce that it is dropping its plan for a monthly debit-card fee. The bank cited customer gripes and a “changing competitive marketplace” for…

John Grooms

Asobi Seksu redefines atmospheric pop music

It’s sad when critics and casual listeners will judge a band by its appearance. There are a number of interviews and reviews online that compare the band Asobi Seksu’s sound to J-pop or ask Japanese singer Yuki Chikudate about her J-pop influences. Each time, she is quick to point out that she’s never been a…

Jeff Hahne

Local music compilation Homebrew is here

Putting together a compilation CD of music and accompanying release party is not as easy as it looks. You’d think it would be as simple as asking for some music, burning some discs and handing them out, but much more goes into the series than that. On Nov. 4, at the Neighborhood Theatre, Creative Loafing…

Jeff Hahne

Globalizing disseent, from Tahrir Square to Liberty Plaza

The winds of change are blowing across the globe. What triggers such change, and when it will strike, is something that no one can predict. Last Jan. 18, a courageous young woman in Egypt took a dangerous step. Asmaa Mahfouz was 25 years old, part of the April 6 Youth Movement, with thousands of young…

Amy Goodman

Capsule reviews of films playing the week of Nov. 2

ABDUCTION Sure, it’s easy to pick on the Twilight guy. Because who’s gonna rush to his defense other than smitten Team Jacob fans? Make no mistake about it: Abduction, in which Taylor Lautner is handed his first starring role in a motion picture, will never, ever, ever be mistaken for a good movie. But the…

Matt Brunson

Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan thinks he’s incensed

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has a lot of nerve. Either that, or he is profoundly disconnected from his company’s ordinary, everyday customers. My guess is both. Evidence of a major disconnect came in a recent Moynihan speech to BofA employees in which he declared himself “incensed” about all the bad things people are…

John Grooms

Revolution Ego presents Revolt!: Textures, Visions, Sounds

Curls, kinks and locs were only the beginning when we spoke to Tinesha Matthews, co-owner of Revolution Ego, a local natural hair salon, about their upcoming event Revolt!: Textures, Visions, Sounds. This event will include “natural hair show mixes, fashion, art, music and poetry,” says Matthews. The goal of Revolt! is to bring together visual…

T. Strong

Pink Soles, benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Most little girls will tell you their favorite color is pink. That color has been synonymous with the fight against breast cancer for years, and with fashion for even longer. It’s no surprise that lately there have been a number of events in the Queen City geared toward breast cancer awareness, but here’s one that’s…

T. Strong

Item of the Week: Coral jewelry from House of Africa

Editor’s Note: The story incorrectly named Zakar El as the owner of House of Africa. The store is actually owned by Pape S. Ndiaye. Coral doesn’t just look good at the bottom of the sea. At House of Africa, 1215 Thomas Ave., coral and amber jewelry is a fixture that’s been popular amongst patrons. Zakar…

Kadee Blakely

Brian Eno lyrically merges music and art — and brings it to the Carolinas

He’s told the story a million times before — maybe even 77 million times! How he got the idea for his landmark ambient-minimalist masterpiece, Music for Airports, while sitting at Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany, admiring the building’s breathtaking architecture. How, coincidentally, the airport’s architect was Paul Schneider, father of one of his musical brothers-in-theory,…

Mark Kemp

Mirror, mirror on the wall: Kymm McLean brings her work home

Makeup artist Kymm McLean looks like the hip, modern version of Disney’s Snow White. She’s got the same striking, face-framing, jet black hair (albeit a little longer), piercing but kind eyes and rosy red lips. But her business-minded attitude and colorful tattoos suggest she would never fall for the poison apple trick. If you’ve been…

Kimberly Lawson

Theater review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ken Kesey’s signature counterculture novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, turns 50 next year, so it’s not surprising that the colossal power struggle between con artist Randle P. McMurphy and megalo-bitch Nurse Ratched should begin to show its age. Ratched’s harpy attitude toward group therapy, tacitly supported by her superior, Dr. Spivey, strikes us…

Perry Tannenbaum

Exhibits: Ornithology and Robert Webber

Two new exhibits are revamping the fresh space of Plaza Muse. Ornithology, by local artist Scott Partridge, features a collection of paintings and graphic art depicting birds, while Robert Webber showcases works by the late photographer Robert Webber, as well as new photographs by Jonathan Webber, his son. Opening reception on Nov. 3, from 7…

Anita Overcash

Exhibit: Streetwise: Masters of ’60s Photography

The exhibit captures Swiss photographer Robert Frank’s “snapshot aesthetic.” It includes works by Frank, as well as by photographers he influenced: Diane Arbus, Lee Friedlander, Jerry Berndt, Ruth-Marion Baruch, Garry Winogrand, Bruce Davidson, Danny Lyon and Ernest Withers. Exhibit continues through Jan. 22, 2012. The Light Factory, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755. www.lightfactory.org.

Anita Overcash

Bizarre crimes from Charlotte police files (Nov. 2)

Bitches brew: Employees at Carolina Beauty Supply called police after two suspects stole from the business. According to the report, the suspects grabbed bags filled with $400 worth of packed human hair and ran out of the store. Pretty good score. They might be able to trade part of it for some fingernail clippings, tooth…

Ryan Pitkin

Weekly horoscope (Nov. 2-8)

Scorpio The Phoenix (Oct. 23-Nov. 20) You have poured on the energy and now you are bringing a project to its end. You may feel exhausted and burned out. Don’t listen to the internal critic. He/she always gets noisy when you are fatigued. A week of rest will do wonders for you. For All Signs:…

Vivian Carol

Wysacky Trading Post offers old-fashioned goodness

Not so long ago, a trip from Charlotte to Waxhaw yielded bucolic vistas. Farms along Providence Road produced a continual green ribbon of pasture. But since the turn of the century, Waxhaw has experienced burgeoning growth; in fact, from 2000 to 2010, the population grew 275 percent. Neighboring communities experienced similar growth patterns. Marvin, for…

Tricia Childress

3 questions with Andy Jackson, cupcake maker

Charlotte native Andy Jackson, the bearded baker behind FuManChu CupCakes, has been busy grooming a new world of cupcakes. His unusually flavored combinations (take, for instance, the French toast cupcake with a sausage interior and maple frosting or the Celtic salted caramel cupcake with caramel filling and salted caramel frosting topped with bacon) are risky,…

Anita Overcash

Recent

See all

Gift this article