Radio-rock, anyone? The Grammy-nominated Tonic will be kicking off an “acoustic tour” this week. How very 1990s retro they are. This better-than-average alt-rock outfit (whatever that may mean these days) is known for their tightness and for having fun on stage, so don’t be surprised if they squeeze a tight cover of “Jessie’s Girl” in […]
Posted inFilm Features, Film/TV
Weird Science
I find it more than a little ironic that contemporary movie audiences, seeking escapism by means of mind-numbing movie pap, can turn to science fiction. You would think that the “science” part would imply that the film is more intelligently conceived than regular fiction. Not so. Witness: The Core. I would hate to have seen […]
Posted inNews, The Fly-By
CONFEDERACY OF CONFEDERATES?
According to local AP writer Woody Baird, there has been quite a bit of infighting within the ranks of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a “patriotic organizaTIon” dedicated to preeserving Confederate heritage. According to Baird, former SCV member Gilbert Jones, who blieves white supremacists should be banned from the SCV, fell victim to “The Memphis […]
Posted inMusic, Music Features
Sound Advice
If you like countrified soul-punk like the Gories used to play it, then you’ll be way into a little group called The Detroit Cobras, who’ll be ripping things up at the Hi-Tone on Friday, March 28th. Fronted by the manic and maniacal female singer Rachel Nagy, the Cobras lean toward the spookier end of the […]
Posted inOpinion, Viewpoint
Is Dissent Un-American?
Is patriotism synonymous with unquestioning acceptance of the decisions made by our elected officials? Is it un-American to criticize the Bush administration for “failed diplomacy” or to argue that the decision to launch a preemptive attack on Iraq was a monumental blunder? If you think the war should not have been started, does this mean […]
Posted inNews, News Feature
A RESPONSE TO “SPEAKING FREE”
“…I agree 100% with Ms. Hall’s recent online article on protecting free speech; we need more of it, not less. Ms. Hall is also 100% correct when she states, “Though some surely feel that to protest the war is the most unpatriotic thing in the world, I do feel it’s important– that the right to disagree is essential to any well-functioning democracy.” Protesting the war through free speech is not unpatriotic. There are a lot of people who are not ‘liberals’, ‘leftists’ or anti-American who are totally against the war; just take a look at the positions of the free market Cato institute (cato.org), the Libertarian Party or Pat Buchanan….”
Posted inMusic, Record Reviews
Short Cuts
You Are Free Cat Power (Matador) On past albums, Cat Power’s sole member, Chan Marshall, played the role of the girl who sits at the back of class and is too timid to raise her hand and give the answers she obviously knows. She was eccentric, introverted, nervous, and very nearly brilliant. If her primary […]
Posted inMusic, Music Features
Sound Advice
With a singing style that sounds eerily like Lucinda Williams but with a songwriting voice all her own, Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards gets my vote for Best New Artist so far this year, her debut album Failer, released in January by venerable roots label Rounder, a strong, durable collection of short stories and observations: “Six […]
Posted inMusic, Record Reviews
Short Cuts
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ 50 Cent (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) One of the most memorable hip-hop moments of the past year came in the opening credits of 8 Mile, when Eminem’s B. Rabbit prepped for an upcoming MC battle by spitting lyrics in front of a bathroom mirror, the song playing through his headphones Mobb Deep’s “Shook […]
Posted inMusic, Music Features
Sound Advice
Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, The Cherry Valence are a rock-and-roll band, straight, no chaser, splitting the musical difference between ’60s garage-rock and ’80s metal. The band’s latest album, Riffin’, couldn’t have been more appropriately titled, and the bet here is that the band’s tunnel-vision thunder will come across even better on the stage. Valence […]
Posted inWe Recommend, We Recommend
wednesday, 12
Mark Akin of the Subteens and Justice Naczycz at Murphy’s.
Posted inWe Recommend, We Recommend
tuesday, 11
ARTIST LECTURE. George Hunt and Frank D. Robinson will discuss art, inspirations, influences, and their careers. D’Edge Art & Unique Treasures, 350 S. Main St. 6:30-8:30 BOOKSIGNING BY DAVIS MAGEE. Author and reporter will sign Turnaround: How Carlos Ghosh Rescued Nissan. Davis-Kidd Booksellers, 387 Perkins Ext. 6 p.m.