Breakin’ the Raw Law
A few years ago, the New Bomb Turks were in Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest music conference and decided, almost on a whim, to play a closing party hosted by the fanzine Fizz. Crashed by fans who had gotten wind of the event, which was originally intended to be a private affair, the…
Brazil Nuts
Miriam Gilberti knows how to throw a party. The Brazilian Portuguese teacher grew up regularly attending the mother of all parties — Carnaval, the world-renowned, pre-Lenten bacchanalian fete that makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans look like a preschool puppet show. “It was a big thing in my house when I was growing up,” recalls…
Arrested Development
In Hi, How Are You? author Tarssa Yazdani examines in a respectful, sometimes probing manner the life and career of 38-year-old Austin, Texas singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston, a cult figure in the rock underground who has counted among his fans the likes of Kurt Cobain, Michael Stipe, and Sonic Youth, during a career that has spanned…
Eye in the Sky
There’s something peering over your shoulder, no matter where you go, but especially in the woods at night. Something that’s been there for millions of years, watching over everything on earth. And some of the legends surrounding this nocturnal spy we call the moon will be revealed on the Legends of the Past full-moon hike…
Close to Country
A short drive down from St. Louis on Interstate 55, Festus, Missouri, sits hard against the Mississippi River. It’s an all-American town, smack in the middle of America and almost indistinguishable from its sister burg — Crystal City, the hometown of former basketball star and current presidential candidate Bill Bradley. “Oh, yeah, they’re proud as…
From Schlubs to Sharks
Twenty-seven-year-old Ben Younger delivers the message of his first feature, Boiler Room, with all the subtlety of a car bomb. To wit: Greed is alive and well in the new century, fueled by the material dreams of a generation bent on instant gratification and the distorted expectations of neophyte investors dazzled by a Dow Jones…
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach Agora Ballroom February 10 Where do lost ’80s acts go when they’ve lost their luster and appeal? The Agora Ballroom, of course, to offer a second-rate show, living off their past and playing for a packed house of metal-starved thirtysomethings. Case in point: estranged Skid Row member Sebastian Bach, who reminded us why…
Disconnect
Even at just 92 minutes, this film feels endless. Intended as a humorous, heartwarming take on dysfunctional family relationships, Hanging Up doesn’t work as comedy or drama or anything in between. Given its wealth of talent — director and co-star Diane Keaton, writers Delia and Nora Ephron, and actresses Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow –…
The Urban Bushwomen Dance Troupe
The Urban Bushwomen Dance Troupe with the David Murray Octet Playhouse Square February 8 David Murray isn’t so interested in taking center stage anymore. His stature is, by now, so nearly unimpeachable that he can comfortably lay out and share some of the attention. This has been the case, at least with Murray’s two Cleveland…
Black Power
Moviegoers, rejoice! The first fun movie of the year has arrived. Oh, Leo’s little seaside adventure was pretty to look at, but the attempts at depth were a real bummer. And let’s not even talk about Scream 3. Even the first one was highly overrated, and it’s been downhill from there. True, this time of…
Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum February 13 Woody Guthrie may be the father of the protest song, but his pal and protégé, Pete Seeger, gets a lot of credit for popularizing folk music in the second half of the 20th century. He’s the guy who really took that little Coca-Cola…
Captain Kirk
It’s hard to blame Kirk Douglas for choosing a formulaic vehicle as a comeback film, after fighting back from a devastating stroke almost four years ago. Certainly no one can fault him for wanting to act again, to prove he’s still got it. However, the question is this: Can the movie that results actually be…
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman Telling Stories (Elektra) We fell in love with Tracy Chapman for the simple, sobering folk songs on her 1988 self-titled debut, an album that yielded the hit song “Fast Car.” At a time when shallow rock and pop topped the charts, Chapman’s songs not only provided a breath of fresh air, but also…
Hard Core
Jacqueline Marino can be reached at jacqueline.marino@clevescene.com.
Blackalicious
Blackalicious Nia (Quannum Projects) San Francisco’s underground hip-hop scene has provided plenty of modest delights over the years. While many of their California funk soul brothers took to the streets and swathed themselves in tribe-defining colors, an entire branch of the music clung to old-school styles and beliefs. The microphone didn’t matter as much to…
Peanut Butter on Wry
Laura Putre can be reached at laura.putre@clevescene.com.
Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew Coming Attractions (Thirsty Ear) In the liner notes to his latest musical scrapbook, the appropriately titled Coming Attractions, King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew likens himself to one of those manic platespinners who would mysteriously appear on Ed Sullivan’s show every couple of months. It’s an apt metaphor, as Belew is currently overseeing over…
Running on Empty
Mark Naymik can be reached at mark.naymik@clevescene.com.
Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence Michael Hutchence (V2) Whether his name is enough to sell the posthumous solo debut of former INXS leader Michael Hutchence is a question that should be easy to answer. The magnetism that made him one of the most dynamic singers of the ’80s is still evident here, but it’s not clear there’s a…
The Edge
Top Court Nicks Pricey Pal Paper tiger! Mayoral confidante and Squire, Sanders heavyweight Fred Nance has been fined $150 by the Ohio Supreme Court for neglecting his continuing legal education requirements. Nance, who soaked the city for more than $500,000 in legal bills the past two years, took the courses, but failed to file the…
Suba
Suba Sao Paulo Confessions (Six Degrees) A curious, relentlessly sensual work celebrating the steamy atmosphere of the gigantic Brazilian city from which it takes its name, this album is also a swan song. Its creator, a Yugoslav native who spent more than 10 years in Sao Paulo, died of a heart attack prompted by a…
Letters to the Editor
Apanovitch Is the Right Man Although Jacqueline Marino spent a lot of time researching information for the article “Bound to Die” [February 10], I feel I must share my gut reactions to several points. Apanovitch maintains his innocence, but, as Father Neil told us, so do 99 percent of the inmates on death row. Mary…
Chuck Prophet
Chuck Prophet The Hurting Business (HighTone) Back in the ’80s, Chuck Prophet was the creative spark plug that gearjammed Green on Red from psychedelic Velvet Underground cultists to rootsy Americana progenitors, in a move that was just slightly ahead of its time. With the demise of Green on Red, Prophet pursued a solo career following…
City Strife
Charles Yannopoulos can be reached at charles.yannopoulos@clevescene.com.
Morticia’s Chair
Morticia’s Chair Echolocator (self-released) The press release that accompanied this album describes Morticia’s Chair as “a band comprised of equal parts from all sides. Their goal is to create without walls. The outcome is not known but always welcome.” You couldn’t possibly get more obtuse than this. This might as well be the description of…
Right on Track
Keith A. Joseph can be reached at keith.joseph@clevescene.com.
Soundbites
It’s metal out the wazoo at the Festival of Fury The metal band Biaxadent will play its first Cleveland show in six months on February 19 at Peabody’s DownUnder (1059 Old River Road), where it will headline the third annual “Festival of Fury.” Other bands on the bill include KKC, Cardavercous, Speakeasy, Netherborne, and One…
Outta Sight
Elaine T. Cicora can be reached at elaine.cicora@clevescene.com.
Side Dish
Tips are encouraged. Contact Elaine T. Cicora at elaine.cicora@clevescene.com.
