The CLog

Comic Afterthoughts The Pull List (12/25/13): Origin II headlines a light week

Posted By Andy Smith on Fri, Dec 27, 2013 at 3:26 PM

Hope you had a Merry X-Men, fellow nerds. This week's slew of new comics was light, typical of the holidays. DC and others released a few titles, but Origin II is this season's holiday blockbuster.

The first Origin brought light to Wolverine's mysterious past, revealing his real name, James Howlett, and the narrative of his childhood. This sequel series picks up right after the events of that story, with James living among the wolves for years.

Andy Kubert is the one creative leftover from Origin. Kieron Gillen has taken the writing reins from Paul Jenkins, and Frank Martin Jr. has taken over colors. As Gillen's X-Men runs have been highlights in the 2010s, many saw the scribe worthy of continuing Wolvie's story.

Tags: Comic Afterthoughts, Andy Smith, X-Men, Origin II, Image

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Music Taking Back Sunday's Adam Lazzara makes solo debut

Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Dec 27, 2013 at 10:24 AM

Taking Back Sunday frontman Adam Lazzara, a Charlotte resident, has released his first solo song, entitled "Because it Works." The song is a big departure for the emo-punk singer, though readers of Creative Loafing shouldn't be completely surprised.

In 2012, then CL editor Mark Kemp profiled Lazzara for a cover story in which Lazzara hinted at trying something different:

Lately, Lazzara has been thinking about doing a solo album. If anything, that's where the "emo" and "pop-punk" tags concern him the most. He doesn't listen to much music that would be considered emo or pop-punk anymore, he says. Nowadays, Lazzara likes the rootsy alternative country of fellow North Carolinian Ryan Adams. And he recently checked out the Of Montreal show at the Neighborhood Theatre. "I'm worried that whenever I get my shit together and actually make my album, it'll get dismissed," he says. "I'm afraid people will say, 'Oh, it's just that emo guy.' That's not exactly who I am, and I don't want to have to meet with that kind of immediate dismissal or opposition."

Judging by this first single, what he said last year is an appropriate description. "Because it Works" has a jangly Ryan Adams style with a bit of Dylan-esque harmonica and overall folk attitude. The song is part of a label compilation called I Surrender Records Presents: Our Voices.

There's no word if this is the first of many solo tunes to come for the singer.

Tags: Adam Lazzara, Charlotte, music, Taking Back Sunday, solo, acoustic, folk, Because it Works, I Surrender Records, Our Voices, Jeff Hahne, Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan, emo, punk

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News Following in the footsteps of a successful program in Utah, Charlotte expects to end local chronic homelessness

Posted By Ana McKenzie on Fri, Dec 27, 2013 at 9:30 AM

Utah, the 10th least populated state in the nation, has used the No. 1 way of ending chronic homelessness to curb its rate by 78 percent over eight years. It's moved 2,000 people off the street not by imprisoning them or moving them to another state but by giving them apartments. Sound crazy? Consider the facts.

According to a blog from nationswell.com making its rounds on social media:

In 2005, Utah calculated the annual cost of E.R. visits and jail stays for an average homeless person was $16,670, while the cost of providing an apartment and social worker would be $11,000.

Vlasta Juricek (flickr Creative Commons)

Tags: Utah, homelessness, chronically homeless, Ana McKenzie, Dale Mullennix, Urban Ministry Center, Image

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

Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Dec 27, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Dec. 27, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.

* The Book of Mormon at Belk Theater

* Bass Church at Neighborhood Theatre

* The Music of Lou Reed f. The Sammies, Dave & The Strange, Benji Hughes, Andy the Doorbum and more at Snug Harbor

* Belk Bowl Fan Central at EpiCentre

* Charlotte Bobcats vs. Oklahoma City Thunder at Time Warner Cable Arena

Tags: The Book of Mormon, Belk Theater, Bass Church, Neighborhood Theatre, The Music of Lou Reed, The Sammies, Dave & The Strange, Benji Hughes, Andy the Doorbum, Snug Harbor, Belk Bowl Fan Central, EpiCentre, Charlotte Bobcats, Oklahoma City Thunder, Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC, Image

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

Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Dec 26, 2013 at 9:36 AM

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

* Girl Code/Guy Code Comedy Show at The Comedy Zone

* UnDeck the Hall at NASCAR Hall of Fame

* Shiprocked at Snug Harbor

* Modernism in Changing Times: Works from 1968 exhibit at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

* Touch One Thursdays at UpStage

Tags: Girl Code/Guy Code Comedy Show, The Comedy Zone, UnDeck the Hall, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Shiprocked, Snug Harbor, Modernism in Changing Times: Works from 1968, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Touch One Thursdays, UpStage, Charlotte, NC, Image

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Film / Film News Opening Wednesday

Posted By Matt Brunson on Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 3:43 PM

The Weinstein Company
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

47 Ronin - Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada

Grudge Match - Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - Idris Elba, Naomie Harris

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig

The Wolf of Wall Street - Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill

Tags: film, Charlotte, Image

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Comic Afterthoughts Free Comic Book Day's 2014 titles released

Posted By Andy Smith on Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 3:17 PM

Each year, Free Comic Book Day grows in its reach, producing more promotions, tie-in merchandise and, of course, free comics. For 2014 (falling on May 3), the funnybook giveaways have reached a total of 60, marked in Gold (12) and Silver (48) categories. Diamond has now announced those titles, which you can check out below.

Before we get into the list, watch a video straight from the folks behind the event. Sound off in the comments section about what excited you this year.

Tags: Comic Afterthoughts, Andy Smith, Free Comic Book Day

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News NPR picks up tear-jerker local story

Posted By Ana McKenzie on Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 9:30 AM

As Yelitza Castro, an undocumented local housekeeper, and her children drove through Charlotte one cold, rainy day in 2010, they saw a man on the street holding a sign asking for help. Castro gave him $5 and drove off. When her children asked if they could take him out to dinner, Castro drove back, but the man had already left. That motivated the family to serve others.

Last week, the nationally syndicated NPR program "Morning Edition" picked up the StoryCorps piece about Castro who, with her children, has served countless meals to local homeless men since 2010.