Updated: Rock Hall to Honor the Everly Brothers
(Originally Posted 7/10/2014) The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has announced that the Everly Brothers will be the subject of this year’s Annual Music Master Series. The duo was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1986 as part of the Rock Hall’s very first class. Country icon Rodney Crowell will serve as…
10 Tips for Surviving Scene Ale Fest (And Having a Blast!)
Scene Ale Fest is right around the corner, and we’ve compiled some tips to help you make the most of the day. If you haven’t yet purchased your tickets do so now, and peruse these suggestions for surviving Scene Ale Fest 2014.
This Lake Erie Jet-Skiing Video Is Pretty Intense
College student Drew Griffing just uploaded a jet-skiing video that’s so badass you may decide the thrills of riding a machine pumping through Lake Erie are worth exposing yourself to some of the nation’s most polluted beach water. The 87-second clip was filmed in the waters off of Cleveland in some 3 to 5-foot waves,…
‘A Brony Tale’ Director Shot Lots of Footage in the Cleveland Area
One night a few years ago, writer-director Brent Hodge was having dinner with his friend, actress Ashleigh Ball. She mentioned in passing that she was getting lots of fan mail from adult males who were avid fans of My Little Pony, a cartoon about a unicorn pony named Twilight Sparkle. Hodge immediately became interested and…
10 of the Best Spots to Catch a Sunset Around Cleveland
Whether you’re snuggling up with a significant other or a 40 oz. of Cobra, a sunset makes any summer evening just a lil’ more romantic. We have some kick-ass sunsets in Cleveland, especially when paired with Lake Erie and other surrounding Northeast Ohio nature. Check out these 10 spots to kick back and watch the sun…
Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne to Play Akron in October
Plenty of classic rockers don’t age well. They gain weight and lose their hair. They can barely hit the high notes. Not singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. The guy essentially looks (and sounds) the same as he did decades ago. He’s got a new album coming out in October and has just announced fall tour dates. The…
Cleveland Foundation Gives $8 Million for Public Square Redesign
Tuesday morning’s landmark press conference at Public Square was not, as it turned out, a gathering of Cleveland’s civic leaders to see who among them could use the words “vibrant,” “vital,” “bold,” “world-class” and “robust,” the most times. The purpose, this alt-weekly correspondent was humbled to learn, was to announce a “catalytic” $8 million gift…
What We’re Reading: GQ on the Craigslist Killers of Ohio
Beasley Now and then, we do so very much like to pass along relevant and excellent stuff we’re reading. Today, you should check out this finely crafted story from GQ’s Devin Friedman, who goes long on the three Craiglist murders in 2011. A brief excerpt: It’s like Rich’s Craigslist ad was designed for a certain…
Lakewood Woman Literally Crashes Into Cleveland Pool Party
A Lakewood woman decided to pay a surprise visit to a pool party Saturday evening on Edgewater Drive. She bopped in nonchalantly, of course, only taking down a fence with her as she crash-landed into the pool in her Jeep Liberty, according to cleveland.com. Luckily, no one was hurt in the fiasco (although the driver allegedly…
Scene Podcast: LeBron, the GOP, and Public Square
This week’s podcast edition is all good news all the time, guys. Host Craig Lyndall chats with Sam Allard and Eric Sandy about LeBron’s decision to return home (of course), Cleveland notching a win with the upcoming GOP convention, last week’s Cleveland People Issue, and the plans to redesign Public Square (which tie back in…
The Browns Will Use an Actual Dog as Their Mascot This Year
Following up a series of high-profile sports headlines from Cleveland, the Browns rolled out a pretty strange announcement yesterday: The team will feature an actual dog named “Swagger” as its mascot. Swagger will be a bull mastiff, playing heavily off the Browns’ canine canon, though it’s difficult to imagine him sharing the enthusiasm that the…
The Best Mugshot You’ll See This Week
Meet Angela Green. Green was staying in the Quality Inn in Wickliffe and was still in her room after checkout time. Around noon, management asked her to leave or rent the room another night. She refused. Cops were called. Cooperation was not to be had. And so Green was arrested and charged with obstruction of…
Who Was RFK Jr.’s Cleveland Mistress?
The NY Post has a list of 43 possible RFK mistresses from his phone — listed under G, which his late wife, as the Post notes, reportedly believed stood for “goomah” — and while only two names are named (Cheryl Hines and Chelsea Kirwan), the paper says the woman were stored along with notes on…
Video: John Oliver Reads President Harding’s Sex Letters
If you missed the HOT BREAKING WARREN HARDING NEWS last week, here’s what you missed on one of Ohio’s most famous sons: The former president’s love/sex/hot sex letters to his mistress were finally released after years of being withheld in fear that they would tarnish Harding’s reputation. There’s some graphic stuff, including pet names for…
Dweezil Zappa Offers Impressive Tribute to his Father’s Legacy
Joe Kleon When Frank Zappa passed away in 1993 at the age of 52, he had released around 60 albums. Crossing genres and weighing heavily on classical flavorings, Frankʼs huge catalog of music defines diverse. In 2006, his son Dweezil Zappa began touring as Zappa Plays Zappa, presenting his fatherʼs eclectic and dysfunctional legacy to…
The Angry George Thorogood Fan Thinks Cleveland Redeemed Itself at the Bonobo Concert
Dispatch No. 2 from Cleveland’s preeminent rock concert expert landed in our inbox over the weekend, ladies and gents. His feelings have certainly calmed a bit since last week’s tirade about bad rock fans. Do enjoy. Gentlemen, My wife and I attended the Bonobo concert last night at the House of Blues and had a…
VIDEO: Watch the Inner Belt Bridge Implosion
YouTuber Foox Brian posted a pretty epic video of the Inner Belt Bridge demolition which took place early this morning. Tune in below — the action starts around 0:17. Now see: 14 Photos from the Old Inner Belt Bridge Demolition>>
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles Puts on Playful Performance at Jacobs Pavilion
Joe Kleon Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles calls New York home but last night at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica she sounded so enthusiastic during her 90-minute set, you would have thought she was a Clevelander pumped about LeBron James’ return. In fact, during one moment in the set, she even donned a Cavs hat and offered up…
20 Photos from Downtown Cleveland After LeBron’s Return Announcement
Clevelanders and news outlets alike flocked to downtown Cleveland yesterday in the wake of LeBron’s return announcement.
5 Places Johnny Manziel And LeBron James Should Eat Lunch Together in Cleveland
Just kidding. Jesus, that would be awful. Read LeBron’s essay on SI announcing his return to Cleveland and then go start drinking, guys. We’re sure there will be plenty to write about in the coming days (no tipping stories though, we promise), but in the meantime, we’d like to think this guy’s mission years ago…
“I Double-Dog-Dare You” – Betchyu Incentivizes Achieving Fitness Goals with Novel Concept
We’ve all been there: galvanized to achieve one day, and utterly demotivated the next. It’s a vicious cycle of procrastination that Adam Baratz, a community developer-turned-entrepreneur, is seeking to break, at least in the area of fitness. His fledgling company created the eponymous Betchyu, a mobile app which incentivizes tasks like losing weight and exercising regularly. Betchyu…
Cheap Trick Lives Up to Billing as ‘The Best Fucking Rock Band You’ve Ever Seen’
David Kemp Wrapping up the interview for this week’s paper, Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen told us, “Every now and then, I feel lucky that I’m in Cheap Trick. We’re a pretty good band.” From moment one that the Rockford, Illinois natives hit the stage, they always make sure that you remember that, starting with…
Backstage Pass: An Interview with Indie Rockers Bailiff
Once described as “Zappa fronting the Black Keys,” Chicago art-rockers, Bailiff, who have opened for the Lumineers, Nada Surf, Dinosaur Jr, Murder By Death and Jeff the Brotherhood, perform tonight at the Auricle in Canton. They stopped by our offices as they were on their way to the venue to conduct this quick interview. their…
Indie Music Festival Coming to Cleveland in September
The War on Drugs Downtown Records is shifting its sights. For the first time since the start of its Downtown Festival in 2011, the New York-based label is taking the show beyond the Big Apple. Downtown Festival will hit Cleveland, as well as four other cities, this fall. Former festivals featured such names as Kendrick…
‘Life Itself’ Presents Compassionate Portrait of Film Critic Roger Ebert
The opening scene in Steve James’ (Hoop Dreams) Life Itself, a documentary about the life of film critic Roger Ebert, is tough to take. Ebert, perhaps the most renowned film critic in the world, has been hit hard with thyroid cancer. He no longer has a lower jaw and he’s lost the ability to speak…
Blue Coupe Bassist Dennis Dunaway Reflects on his Rock ’n’ Roll Past
When asked about the first time he ever played Cleveland, bassist Dennis Dunaway admits he can’t recall the year or venue. But given that the guy was touring with the Alice Cooper Group, a shock rock act known for outlandish live shows, that’s understandable. The thing that Dunaway, who performs at the Beachland Ballroom tomorrow…
Cedar Point Will Rename Coaster “King James” if/when LeBron Comes Home
Game, set, match, folks. It’s not like LeBron James needs any extra coaxing, but leave it to Cedar Point to lather unnecessary icing on a cake before it’s baked. The Sandusky amusement park just tweeted this out (and promptly disseminated press releases to the four corners of the globe). Hey @KingJames – come back to…
10 Things Going on in Cleveland this Weekend (July 11 – 13)
Congratulations, you’ve survived another week. Now reward yourself with a large brew and tickets to see the Tribe play, or to the Sara Bareilles concert, if that’s more of your thing. Whatever you do this weekend, Cleveland, have fun out there.
Local Rockers the Quickening to Play First Show in Six Years
Local indie rockers the Quickening haven’t booked a gig in six years. The band plays moody indie rock that’s characterized by quivering vocals and emo-ish sensibilities. The guys have recently reunited and will perform with the Universe Doesn’t Stand a Chance Against Joshua Jesty and Ragers at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Mahall’s. “I spent a…
Fucked Up Comes to Beachland on Heels of Noisy New Album
In the ’90s, the post-hardcore band the Jesus Lizard earned a reputation for fierce live shows that featured the unpredictable antics of frontman David Yow. The group never sold many albums but it did have a loyal cult following. Toronto’s Fucked Up, which plays the Beachland Ballroom tonight, has much in common with the Jesus…
Tech Talk: Daniel Mansoor’s GiveNext is at the Forefront of the Philanthropic Revolution
Tech Talk is a weekly series that explores the people behind startup companies in the Cleveland area. From a contributor perspective, philanthropic giving could be a whole lot easier. Depending on the cause, donation can quickly become a complicated enterprise, requiring research and by extension time. Because the success of solicitation for many organizations relies…
The Bagel Guys: Dan Herbst and Geoff Hardman
As a warehouse worker, Dan Herbst was no stranger to burning the midnight oil; then, a layoff sidelined him from his routine. That’s when he joked to his longtime friend Geoff Hardman that, “Maybe I’ll just start making bagels.” Hardman, who was constantly searching in vain for locally sourced bagels for business meetings, stopped in…
Band of the Week: The Rhythm Syndicate
Meet the Band: Pat Sandy (guitar), Angelo Ciu (guitar), Kevin Dyckes (saxophone), Benny Pacheco (drums) and Len Gray (bass) jam session: Guitarists Pat Sandy and Angelo Ciu first met up at one of the many jam sessions they would attend in the mid-’90s at Westlake blues club, The Savannah. “The Savannah had a killer jam…
The Ringleader of Fun: Matt Jauch
The postings come fast and furious and in all caps on Facebook. “LET’S GO RIDE BIKES, YOU GUYS.” “PICKUP SOFTBALL GAME, 7PM, LET’S PLAY SOME BALL.” It is with all the earnestness of a kid rallying his friends to come play outside for a bit that Matt Jauch implores his pals to join him for…
The Fashion Maven: Nichole Reed
While finishing up a degree in fashion merchandising at Kent State University this year, twenty-something Nichole Reed started interning with Fashion Week Cleveland, only to be offered the position of artistic director a couple of months later, just in time for June’s big 10th anniversary show. “It all happened so fast, and I just kind…
The Bard: Michael Oatman
When you’re in an esteemed club that has only two members, and the other person is Langston Hughes, that’s pretty heady company. And that’s the position Michael Oatman occupies, as only the second playwright-in-residence in the long history of Karamu House. When he began, it seemed a daunting challenge: “The suit felt a couple sizes…
Cleveland People 2014
Photos by Frank J. Lanza
36 Hours in Ann Arbor: Plenty of Reasons to Take a Trip to that State up North
Ann Arbor is a college town, which means that summer is a wonderful time to visit. Thanks to the mass exodus of tens of thousands of University of Michigan students, the leafy, liberal town reverts to a more peaceful version of itself. Throughout the lazy days of summer, the pace slows down, parking spots open…
The Voice of Soul: Wesley Bright
Wesley Bright had never really sung for anyone. He’d sung in the shower, of course, and around his family and in church, but in front of people? Nope. And then he got discovered in the most likely of places: while working at a Verizon store in Akron. “I happened to know somebody who was working…
36 Hours in Ann Arbor: Don’t Forget the Beer
“Ann Arbor has always been a beery town,” says David Bardallis, resident beer geek and author of Ann Arbor Beer: A Hoppy History of Tree Town Brewing. “Historically, the German roots played a large role in Ann Arbor becoming a beer-loving town. Everybody knows that where there are Germans, there is beer and breweries.” It…
The Outsider on the Inside: Fran DiDonato
The idea behind the Freshwater name is to evoke freshness but also to have a regional connection, says Fran DiDonato, newly minted local publisher of Freshwater Cleveland. In Detroit, Freshwater’s sister publication is called Model D (recalling the auto industry); in Grand Rapids, it’s called Rapid Gains; In Pittsburgh, it’s called Pop City to honor…
Act Naturally: Singer-Songwriter Sara Bareilles Talks about the Importance of Staying True to her Coffeehouse Roots
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles clearly remembers her first tour. It wasn’t pretty. The guys in Maroon 5, who were friends of hers, invited her to accompany them on an East Coast tour. “I had no idea what I was doing,” she says via phone from her New York home. “I rented a RV instead of a…
The Vinyl Guy: Clint Holley
Several years ago, Clint Holley, a local musician and DJ who ran sound at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern back in the day, got an itch to do something a little different with his life. He still wanted to be involved in music in some way, but he was tired of staying up all hours…
No Surrender: Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen Talks about the Band’s Longevity and that Classic Five-Neck Guitar he Likes to Play
Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen, a founding member of the group, once described the band as “America’s greatest pop/rock garage band.” Some would argue that after they conquered Budokan, they instantly nabbed international status as perhaps the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band. Once you rise to that level of things, there are a few…
The Arts Trailblazer: Jean Brandt
Over the past quarter century, the Tremont Art Walk has come to be one of the most visible and imitated cultural experiences in Northeast Ohio. Regardless of snow or swelter, a half-dozen galleries open their doors to foot traffic the second Friday of every month, boosting not only local art, but indie restaurants, bars and…
Blast from the Past: Skid Row Founder Explains Why the Band Reverted to the Hard Rock Sound of its Early Days
Wisconsin seemed like a world away from home for bassist Rachel Bolan when Skid Row went into the studio with producer Michael Wagener in 1988 to record their debut album. The band would spend three months in Lake Geneva at Royal Recorders, working with Wagener, who was well-known at that time for the work that…
The King of the Taps: Shaun Yasaki
When it comes to dream jobs, brewmaster ranks right up there with movie star and singer in a rock ‘n’ roll band. At the tender age of 27, Shaun Yasaki can call himself that and more thanks to his partnership in Platform Beer Co., Cleveland’s newest brewery, alongside owners Paul Benner and Justin Carson. Located…
A Mite Short on Wit: Starmites at Porthouse Theatre Tries Hard but Never Takes Flight
You’d think that a Broadway musical that was nominated for six Tony Awards would have a lot going for it. But in the case of the regrettably titled Starmites, now at Porthouse Theatre, there’s less to this show than meets the eye. Turns out, this musical pastiche by Barry Keating and Stuart Ross was nominated…
The Homecoming King: Alonzo Mitchell III
Few others work as hard promoting Cleveland as Alonzo Mitchell III. The 33-year-old Cleveland native organizes massive events that bring thousands of people to the city and then uses the proceeds for public service projects like fixing up some Cleveland schools that have fallen into disrepair. He’s now working on fixing up a Glenville street…
Indie Rockers Braid Return with Superb ‘No Coast’
Braid No Coast (Topshelf) braidcentral.com Initially, this emo band out of Champaign, Ill., had a short six-year run before calling it quits in 1999. But like many bands that emerge before their time, the group’s back catalogue started to attract new fans in the wake of its dismissal. The band reformed in 2011 and No…
The Educator: Julie Beers
The principal of one of the most celebrated, innovative schools in Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s portfolio grew up wanting to be a nurse. When Julie Beers’ father suffered a massive stroke when she was only 5, she hated how he was treated and decided to commit her life to helping people. But two years in…
The Charitable Heart: Telange Thomas
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland is an organization that most people likely have heard of, though they might not be able to describe what it does. But as Teleange Thomas, the group’s health program director, says, “poverty touches everyone,” and thus the work of the Sisters graces all corners of Northeast Ohio life.…
Local Glam Band Vanity Crash Rocks Hard on ‘Rock n Roll Junkie’
Vanity Crash Rock N Roll Junkie (self-released) vanitycrash.com One of the only bands on the local circuit that keeps the glam rock flame burning brightly, Vanity Crash has been going strong for a decade now, pumping out good, gritty records with regularity. Once the house band for a local production of Hedwig and the Angry…
The Guardian Angel: Angel Arroyo
He was seemingly omnipresent in the wake of the May 2013 Seymour Avenue rescues. Angel Arroyo, a Lorain-based pastor working with Dot Com Ministries and a member of the Guardian Angels, had known the family of Gina DeJesus for years. As time went on, he became more involved in advocacy efforts on behalf of missing…
The Hollywood Guy in Cleveland: Tyler Davidson
The University of Virginia-Charlottesville didn’t have a film program, but Tyler Davidson took all the film classes the school had to offer while he was there. That exposure in undergrad had him planning to attend film school at Florida State University after graduation. But some real-world experience provided a better opportunity in the business. His…
Veteran Local Players Distinguish Blackgrass Baptism’s Debut
Blackgrass Baptism Blackgrass Baptism(self-released) facebook.com/blackgrassbaptism The most striking thing about this debut from the local alt-country bluegrass act is the degree to which banjo/mandolin player Greg Kells sounds like Tom Waits. He’s got a raspy voice that echoes that of the troubadour. The comparison rings particularly true on the album opener, “Dig.” Elsewhere, Kells’ voice…
The Thespian: Ray Caspio
If you truss up Ray Caspio with the “golden lasso of truth,” he’ll tell you his heroes are Wonder Woman, the Bionic Woman and other female TV superheroes. “It’s about being fully who you are, even if your identity is hidden at times. That concept is very compelling to me.” Caspio is apparently well on…
The Pet Protector: Laura Bennett
When Laura Bennett started Embrace Pet Insurance eight years ago, she worked out of her home. Last month, she and co-founder Alex Krooglik moved the company into Highland Hills offices big enough to accommodate the forty-something employees — and their pets — currently working for the corporation in Northeast Ohio, one of the early startup…
The Reluctant Scholar: Jeshaune Jackson
JeShaune Jackson, who just graduated from Case Western Reserve with a master’s degree in biotechnology and an MBA in design and innovation, wasn’t always a good student, which makes his accomplishments at CWRU all the more remarkable. “I joke that I had a 2-point-low GPA,” he says in reference to his high school grades. But…
The Drink Magician: Lorilei Bailey
“I don’t like the word mixologist,” says Lorilei Bailey. “I think it has this weird pomp and circumstance feel or air of arrogance attached to it. When I talk to my bartender friends, they just roll their eyes when they hear it. If I had to give myself a title, it might be bar chef,…
The Networkers: Jennifer Luu and Rachael Ng
There’s a common concern that Jennifer Luu and Rachael Ng say even they shared not too long ago. Is AsiaTown, straddling the East 30s and 40s along Superior Avenue, the extent of Northeast Ohio’s Asian population? Not quite, as it were. Luu and Ng today serve as co-presidents of MotivAsians, a local professional organization that…
The Respectful Hand: John Williams
John Williams likes to say his award-winning architecture and design firm has an intentional and explicit “creative lack of focus.” And it’s true: Process Creative Studios has tackled such a diverse array of projects in Cleveland — with designs ranging from the Dobama Theatre to the forthcoming Heinen’s in the Ameritrust rotunda, and from the…
The Ice Queens: Elizabeth and Maggie Pryor
Elizabeth Pryor looks young, slightly tanned and physically fit. Her wife, Maggie, is an amateur triathlete, and both women are certified yoga instructors, though they “never really had the time to get into it,” what with the new business and all. “I think a lot of our personality comes through in the business,” Elizabeth says…
The Nerd: Arthur Chu
Arthur Chu became something of a household name in early 2014 when his eventual 11-game winning streak was beginning on Jeopardy! Broadview Heights resident and amateur actor Chu played the game a little bit differently — jumping around the board, making unexpected wagers couched in game theory and aggressively buzzing in after nearly every clue…
The Mobile Fashionista: Caroline Dengel
At age 23, Caroline Dengel is a girl on the move — and we mean that literally. In just over a year, the Avon native skipped out on school at the King’s College in New York, moved to Tennessee for a brief stint as a nanny, and landed back in Northeast Ohio where she’s since…
Dawn of the Planet of the Weeping Apes
Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (which arrives in theaters area-wide Thursday evening) opens dramatically on a set of eyes. The eyes are angry and focused and green-brown, instantly recognizable as human. Except they’re not. They reveal themselves, via slow zoom out, to be encased within the painted face of Caesar, the…
The So-Much-More-Than-A-Book Guy: R.A. Washington
The bookshelves at Guide to Kulchur in Detroit-Shoreway aren’t just stocked, they’re curated. R.A. Washington, the shop’s proprietor, theorist, curator-in-chief and spiritual North Star, has organized each shelf around literary movements and disenfranchised groups he wants to nudge into the spotlight. He’s a DIY artist and he’s got a nonstop jonesin’ for experimentation. And as…
