Cover Story
Books of the Bluegrass: 10 must reads by Kentucky writers
For this “Books of the Bluegrass” feature, LEO asked the staff at Carmichael’s Bookstore to pick their favorite must reads by Kentucky writers. The result — from Robert Penn Warren’s classic tobacco war novel “Night Rider” (1938) to Tania James’ “The Tusk that Did the Damage” (March 2015) — is a sampling of fiction and…
Searching for the net: How serious are the struggles of Rick Pitino’s “offensively-challenged” squad?
After a recent loss to Duke, in which his team sank just 18 of 67 shots, Louisville coach Rick Pitino said it is obvious his team is “offensively challenged.” And has been from the start. “We’re not Gonzaga, or one of these high-scoring teams.” But why can’t Louisville be more like Gonzaga, which fills up the basket…
LEO Playlist 1/26
1) “You Can Have The Crown” by Sturgill Simpson, who plays The Mercury Ballroom on Friday, January 30. The next four songs are by local musicians who are playing the first — and hopefully yearly — Free Week, which takes place Wednesday, Jan. 28 through Saturday, the 31st at four different venues. More than 15…
A Q&A with artist Jane Morgan, plus five art events that you should go to
[The above painting is “Nocturnal 3” by Penny Diamond, who is represented by Jane Morgan Gallery.] Painter Jane Morgan is the owner of her self-titled gallery at 4838 Brownsboro Center (janemorgangallery.com) that specialized in plein air art. The current exhibition, “Paths in Nature” (it runs through March 14), features 14 artists that the gallery represents. LEO:…
LEON: Oscars respond to lack of diversity concerns
After releasing the nominees for this year’s Oscars, the Academy Awards has come under heavy fire for its lack of diversity among the nominees. Early indications are that they intend to do something about it. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy, and a woman of not-any-of-the-50-shades-of-gray, told reporters. “We are aware of the message…
LEON: Legislation forces patients to not let their government get between them and their doctors
The Kentucky State Senate wasted no time reintroducing legislation that would force women to see doctors and wait 24 hours before “earning” the freedom to choose for themselves. Senate Bill 4, introduced by Sen. Julie Racque Adams (R-Louisville), requires pregnant women to have a face-to-face meeting with a healthcare provider at least one day before…
LEON: Republicans respond to 2014 Warmest Year on Record ‘claims’
Speaker Boehner: “This is great, I’ll be able to work on my tan.” Pat Roberts: “It’s a sign we are getting closer to God. Warmer. Warmer…” Rand Paul: “Gambling needs to be legalized. It’s not the government’s business what we do with our money. Plus, I would’ve had that one.” Ted Cruz: “The President should…
Staffpicks
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Margo & The Pricetags The New Vintage 2126 S. Preston St., 749-4050 newvintagelouisville.com $8; 8 p.m. A great singer can make a room that’s not even built for acoustics seem like you’re sitting behind the board at a studio, wearing headphones. It’s one of the great conquests of a live performance: having…
A league of his own: talking with 1200
With the 2014 release “Symphony I,” 1200, aka Jecorey Arthur, perfectly encapsulates his musical marriage of theory and rap aesthetics, a blend that works on virtually every level. “My music is what I like to call poly-stylistic,” he says. “It is filled with many different things, but most often, atypical combinations. One minute you are…
FREE WEEK
The first Free Week — featuring more than 15 local bands, over four days at four different venues, plus a kickoff party — is almost here. Organized by Do502, with the purpose of getting people out of hibernation in January and establishing an annual event that has the opportunity to take on a life of…
Don’t think twice: ?A Lion Named Roar’s new publishing deal
A Lion Named Roar recently won American Songwriter and Martin Guitar’s “The Pub Deal,” a $20,000, year-long publishing contract with Secret Road. And, the weird thing is, for the band, winning was partially fortuitous. “We didn’t voluntarily enter; that was the funny part,” says guitarist Tyler Anderson. “We’ve done some stuff with them in the…
Staying the course: a conversation with Coliseum
There is an old-school charm to Ryan Patterson, a kind of punk-rock disposition that surveys the situation and commands presence. A longtime veteran of the local scene, Patterson cut his teeth playing in bands like Automatic and The Enkindels before moving on to form his own longstanding institution in Coliseum. Be it working at/running record…
Houses of the holy: the classic rumblings of The Hot Wires
Brian Gray and Brad White are old friends. The two met while attending college, and soon formed their first band, Pine Club. “We’ve been playing together a long time,” drummer Brad White tells me. “I moved away for a while and Brian joined a band called Danger Bird. They kinda ran their course, but he…
Plugged-In (Jan. 21 – Jan. 27)
WED Jan 21st Brasserie Provence: Brian Curella Duo, Joey Thieman; 5 p.m. Diamond Pub (St. Matthews): Chad and Karsten; 10 p.m. Gerstle’s: Kimmet & Doug; 9 p.m. Jack Fry’s: Ray Johnson, Dave Wilson, Jenna Mattingly; 7 p.m. Jim Porters: Mixed Bag Wednesday From DJ’s to Country, Rock to Jazz, Comedy to Blues, Rockabilly and everything…
Of a different variety: the return of The Cathouse
Every city has that spot — maybe a house, maybe a warehouse — where music and art just kind of happen, like a nexus for creativity that seems to occur organically. In the past, that’s been the Lava House, The Chestnut House, or the 540 — spaces that kind of bristle with energy — where…
Worshipping The Beat
Jack Kerouac, a bluesman from a jazz age surrounded by rock and roll. I was in my early 20s by the time I came across “On the Road” — a quintessential recommendation, but I couldn’t get on board. I was out of time, but I wanted to understand. I wanted to find the passion that so…
Instantly recognizable: A conversation with Gilbert Gottfried
He squints. He screeches. Everyone knows Gilbert Gottfried. He has been an instantly recognizable voice in the comedy industry for the better part of three decades. The often loud and occasionally offensive comedian has been a night club draw since the mid-‘80s, with his hyper-extreme twist on vaudevillian comedy. He often walks the fine line…
Is there such thing as Mexican deer?
Well, deer season is now over, and plenty of hunters spent the last few months stocking their freezers with fresh game. Luckily, my buddy Chuck is one such outdoorsman, and he’s not stingy with his meat. He came upon some frozen venison from last season and, not wanting to discard it or crowd his freezer…
Mapping the Mediterranean at the Grape Leaf
Quick! Can you find the Mediterranean Sea on a map? This should be easy. It’s that long body of water that stretches from the Straits of Gibraltar at the far end of Spain, all the way over past Italy and Greece, the long belly of Turkey, around the corner past Syria, Lebanon and Israel to…
Video Tapeworm
This Week’s Twin Peeks FURY 2014; $22.98; R We won’t go so far as to call this Brad Pitt WWII tank-tale a misfire, but it did seem an odd entry at theaters for late October. Pitt is the commander of a Sherman tank with Shia LaBeouf and Logan Lerman among his 4-man crew. After some…
COMEDY: Last laugh for Carney Awards
It’s officially award season! The Oscars, The Grammys and The Golden Globes will have overdressed celebrities, patting each other on the band and pointing out the year’s best in everything. Here in Louisville, Jake Reber will be handing out The Carneys (named after friend and local comedian Kent Carney), honoring the best in local stand-up…
ART: Wohl’s ‘Unweaving’ at JCC
God has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen or by a weaver, by any sort of workman or skilled designer. —Exodus 35:35 Art used as a spiritual messenger…
Requiem for a King
Longtime Metro Council President Jim King didn’t just purport to love Louisville; he proved it by tirelessly toiling to improve our quality of life. Countless challenges kept him awake at night. While most of us slept, Jim puzzled over problems. He viewed politics as the art of the possible. Much to our benefit, he exhaustively…
‘Selma’ and the human Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we remember my Morehouse brother Martin Luther King, Jr. (Class of 1948) this year we also have the opportunity to engage director Ava DuVernay’s cinematic take on one of the greatest protest sites of the American civil rights movement — Selma (probably only eclipsed by Birmingham) and the last great march of the movement.…
On Parody vs. Satire: The Shadow of Charlie Hebdo
Here is what I know about Charlie Hebdo. I know that 17 people were killed because someone didn’t feel the satire of this publication was funny. They were offended by the disrespect to the prophet of their religion. Those of us who watched it on the news cannot measure the magnitude of such a tragedy.…
Leaderless
Words and symbolism are powerful tools of great leaders. Speeches can define an event for the ages. Images and courage can compel action. Great leaders create and transform opinions and move people. Winston Churchill addressed his nation in June 1940 as Nazi Germany stood ready to invade England: “We shall go on to the end,…
Kentucky’s kick in the ass
In case you missed it, a couple of years ago Kentucky (unofficially) adopted a new state motto: “Kentucky Kicks Ass.” This new adage is apparently intended to better capture what Kentucky is all about — more so than “Unbridled Spirit” — as well as “increase tourism, foster pride, attract new business and diminish stereotypes.” I…
Inbox – January 21, 2015
LEO Weekly welcomes letters that are brief (350 words max) and thoughtful. ?Ad hominem attacks will be ignored, and we need your name and a daytime phone number. Send snail mail to Inbox, 607 W. Main St., Suite 001, Louisville, Ky. 40202. Fax to 895-9779 or email to leo@leoweekly.com. We may edit for length, grammar…
