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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Culture This week's SketchCrowd (June 26)

Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 10:29 AM

SketchCrowd is the world's first crowd-sourced comic strip - that is, one created using submission by anyone and everyone. It runs weekly in Charlotte Creative Loafing, The Chattanooga Pulse and Augusta Metro Spirit. Artists can submit their own ideas and review others at www.sketchcrowd.com.

Tags: bacon, SketchCrowd, cartoon, comics, crowd-sourced, Image

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Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Wednesday

Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 9:30 AM

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, June 26, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

* Outdoor screening of Skyfall at Kenton Place

* Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band at Knight Theater

* Charlotte Squawks Ninesense at Booth Playhouse

* Bang Bang at Dharma Lounge

* Karaoke Night at UpStage

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Music Menu Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band at Knight Theater tonight (6/26/13)

Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 8:25 AM

JOSH RITTER & THE ROYAL CITY BAND
Treading the waters of folk and Americana, Josh Ritter creates musical hooks and tight arrangements that are deepened by narrative. The singer/songwriter's last album, 2010's So Runs The World, was first released in Ireland before crossing the pond so that we Americans could ponder the soulful storytelling on tracks like "Change of Time" and "Folk Bloodbath." No stranger to Blumenthal Performing Arts' McGlohon Theater, where he's sold out shows in the past, Ritter returns this time to the bigger venue, Knight Theater. His newest record, The Beast in its Tracks, was released earlier this year. In large part, the album is inspired by his divorce from fellow musician Dawn Landes. But don't go thinking this is a tear fest. Though composed at a difficult time in Ritter's life, the album is hopeful despite the gloom and shift of emotions. With Milk Carton Kids. $24.50 and up. June 26, 7:30 p.m. Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Tags: Anita Overcash, Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Charlotte, concert, music, preview, Knight Theater, Image

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Tuesday

Posted By Anita Overcash on Tue, Jun 25, 2013 at 1:56 PM

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, June 25, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

* Damn Yankees at CPCC

* Lord Horon at Visulite Theatre

* David Wax Museum at Evening Muse

* Kar-A-Jokie at Crown Station Pub

* F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design) at Mint Museum Uptown

Tags: Damn Yankees, CPCC, Lord Horon, Visulite Theatre, David Wax Museum, Evening Muse, Kar-A-Jokie, Crown Station Pub, F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design), Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, NC, Image

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Music Menu Lord Huron tonight at Visulite Theatre (6/25/13)

Posted By John Schacht on Tue, Jun 25, 2013 at 8:19 AM

LORD HURON
With the grand instrumental brushstrokes and elegant harmonies of two EPs and 2012's debut full-length, Lonesome Dreams, this Michigan-via-L.A. band has been accused of riding the coattails of Fleet Foxes and My Morning Jacket. While there are surface similarities, Ben Schneider's pop songs have more compelling textures than Robin Pecknold's, and the twangy elements that Jim James left behind long ago work to ground Lord Huron's music in a solid foundation of non-cheesy Americana, aka the more interesting Western variety. The textural touches the band taps into even roam a bit farther in places, like the afro-beat accents lurking in the backdrop of songs like "Time to Run" and "The Man Who Lives Forever," or the tropicalia vibes in "Lullaby." They suggest some intriguing future avenues for the band to venture down later, but for now, Lonesome Dreams, with its easy melodies, rich textures and Schneider's narrative fondness for finding succor in the West's wide open spaces, seems custom-built for long drives with the landscape and past rolling by. With The Ghost of Escondido. $10-$12. June 25, 8:30 p.m. Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. 704-358-9200.

Tags: John Schacht, Visulite Theatre, Lord Huron, Charlotte, concert, music, preview, Image

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Monday, June 24, 2013

Arts Live review: Dave Chappelle

Posted By Anita Overcash on Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 6:12 PM

Live review: Dave Chappelle
Belk Theater
Friday, June 21

When celebrities go on a long-term hiatus at the peak of their careers, you have to wonder if they're either burned out or ... umm, crazy. We may never know the real reason behind Dave Chappelle's retreat from the spotlight - he unexpectedly walked away from season three of Comedy Central's successful Chappelle's Show in 2005 - but we can appreciate a good return when it finally comes around. And that's what happened on Friday night when Dave Chappelle visited Belk Theater in Charlotte as part of his current stand-up tour.

The show, a quick sell-out, led Blumenthal Performing Arts Center to add two more shows on Saturday, June 22. Clearly, Charlotte was excited to see Dave Chappelle's big comeback.

The 7:30 p.m. start time listed for Friday's show came and went, with still no Chappelle in sight. The diverse crowd of mostly 20- and 30-somethings, however, seemed happy to preoccupy themselves with frequent visits to the bar. A surprise visit from North Carolina DJ and producer 9th Wonder was a real treat for music lovers, and Burpee, a comedian who calls Charlotte his hometown, dropped a few funny lines. Then, finally, Chappelle emerged on stage for what I was told was to be a 60-minute performance.

Armed with a pack of cigarettes - my editor noted that she could smell the smoke from the back of the theater - Chappelle jumped right into commentary on popular movies (Lincoln, Django Unchained, and ... Snakes on a Plane) and his idea for what could be the next big box office hit: a gay superhero movie. Though not sold well, Chappelle's muted enthusiasm has a way of making even a bad idea seem funny enough to consider.

Tags: Dave Chappelle, Belk Theater, Charlotte, NC, comedy, comeback, Chappelle Show, 9th Wonder, Image

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News / The Plug Now Showing: Best of Charlotte's CITY LIFE readers ballot

Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 12:25 PM

Last year, our readers chose Carolina Panthers player Cam Newton as the city's local hero. Perhaps rightfully so, since the Panthers left the 2012 season at 7-9. (A vast improvement from pre-Newton 2010, when they only won two games - look at me, writing about sports, like I know what I'm talking about.) This year, though, Newton's turning some of his attention to clothes. Will that hurt his chances at winning the Local Hero category again?

Other readers' picks from 2012 include Anthony Foxx for Best Member of Local Government (who's about to leave us for D.C.) and Plaza Midwood for Best Place to Live in Charlotte (I won't mention the Thirsty-Beaver-getting-squeezed-out thing .. OK, I will).

Well, despite all that, it's time again for you, dear readers, to cast your votes in CL's annual Best of Charlotte ballot. From now through July 7 midnight, our CITY LIFE category will be live for you to access. Choose your favorite people, places and things that reflect the best of what the Queen City has to offer.

VOTE NOW.

PS: Save the date, folks. CL's annual Best of Charlotte issue will hit stands on Oct. 3. And ... (insert dramatic pause for effect)... there will be a party.

Tags: Best of Charlotte, readers ballot, City Life, voting, opinion, readers, Cam Newton, Anthony Foxx, Plaza Midwood, Image

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Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Monday

Posted By Anita Overcash on Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 11:36 AM

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, June 24, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

* Kyle Kinane at The Comedy Zone

* Fleetwood Mac at Time Warner Cable Arena

* Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp at Studio Movie Grill

* Shift: Beyond The Numbers Of The Climate Crisis at Common Market

* Find Your Muse Open Mic at The Evening Muse

Tags: Kyle Kinane, The Comedy Zone, Fleetwood Mac, Time Warner Cable Arena, Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp, Studio Movie Grill, Shift: Beyond The Numbers Of The Climate Crisis, Common Market, Find Your Muse Open Mic, The Evening Muse, Charlotte, NC, Image

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Music Menu Fleetwood Mac at Time Warner Cable Arena tonight (6/24/13)

Posted By Pat Moran on Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 8:12 AM

FLEETWOOD MAC
Fleetwood Mac released a new EP to coincide with its current tour, but the anorexic Extended Play consists of just three Lindsey Buckingham cast-offs and Stevie Nick's sun-dappled "Without You," which dates back to the couple's pre-Mac duo Buckingham Nicks. More telling, the tour supports the 35th anniversary reissue of the iconic 1977 LP Rumours. All early Mac iterations, including Peter Green's hard blues incarnation and Bob Welch's alchemical pop-psych machine, are ignored. Indeed, all that remains in the current repertoire of key songwriter (and hold-over from the Welch era) Christine McVie is the Bill Clinton '92 campaign anthem "Don't Stop." To be fair, though songs from the 1975 self-titled LP and Buckingham's fussy, coke-fueled masterwork Tusk make the cut, the Mac's set list revolves around Rumours. How can it not? Produced when the group was a snake pit of jealousy and betrayal, Rumours is unparalleled pop that makes private pain both universal and anthemic. Reviews of the current tour are split between "recaptured magic" and "ghastly wax museum." Yet, such a bipolar schism is fitting, coming from a band that crafted an enduring and gleaming pop surface over the hot mess wreckage of their lives. $49.50-$139. June 24, 8 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St. 704-688-9000.