Cover Story
LEO Weekly’s 9th Annual Not Good For Nothing Quiz
“Only a good-for-nothing is not interested in his past.” —Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis At the dawn of 2012, anyone might reasonably have expected the coming year to be unpleasant. The economy was struggling, there was a jobs crisis, and Rick Santorum was being seriously considered as a candidate for president. Adding to the dread,…
Locavore Lore: Gazpacho, My Love
When you talk about food and you talk about love, the conversation, like the relationship, often starts on a Valentine-y note: chocolate truffles, strawberries, champagne. If the relationship is long term, the discussion turns to hearty foods, full of sustenance: slow-braised meats and chicken pot pies, soups left to simmer on the stove. This past…
Art: Acknowledging Indiana
There are things we take for granted this time of year. Another tinsel-covered tree, train sets, lights and “LOVE.” And when I mention “LOVE,” I’m not talking about amour or ardor, but the Robert Indiana sculpture currently on view at 21c Museum Hotel. Some works of art are so assimilated into our culture that we…
Yes It Will
Yes It Will, from guitarist Bhatia, is a breathtaking debut from a new boldface name. Magazines that so often decry jazz’s death surely must take this year off from that tired letter and click-generating screed. With a generation including Christian Scott, Robert Glasper, Vijay Iyer and supporting players, adding Bhatia creates a pack of young…
Staffpicks
Friday, Dec. 28 Rumours Headliners Music Hall 1386 Lexington Road headlinerslouisville.com $10; 9 p.m. When the group of six or so musicians tossed around the idea of playing a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, tackling the Rumours album was a unanimous decision. “It’s simply one of the most important records in my life,” says Danny Flanigan,…
Melt
In a Pantone future, The Pass will belong to a group that works well alongside other complimentary genres, such as electronica and nu-disco (yeah, like that’s going to exist in the future) as they subconsciously pilfer melodies from a lifetime of great influences. Melt stands out in contrast against a wash of hybrid indie-disco-punk-dance bands…
Comedy: Brandon Vaughn wants the truth
Louisville native Brandon Vaughn first took the stage many years ago at the Comedy Caravan when the revered “Louisville Comedy Underground” show was still a regular fixture. He honed his stand-up with some of the most recognizable names on the Louisville scene — and he started the mass exodus. Not in any sort of rats-from-a-sinking-ship…
Advice: Savage Love
Q: I just started an intense relationship with a guy who has a boyfriend. This guy and I love each other. However, he is uncomfortable with me meeting his boyfriend. I’ve asked if it’s OK that we’re fucking, and he said they’re in an open relationship. I asked if it’s OK that we’re in love,…
Inbox — Dec. 26, 2012
Graphics Portal After reading “Welcome to Loserville” (LEO Weekly, Dec. 12), I’m inclined to believe that the writer has less of an understanding of competitive news markets than Tim and Eric do of editing television. Calling WAVE 3 a portal to someone else’s tragedy displays striking ignorance of the state of the rest of modern…
The music year in review
This was an exceptional year in many ways for the ever-thriving Louisville music scene. LEO received almost a hundred records from our neighbors alone, a healthy sign of a fertile bed. Americana quartet Houndmouth came from out of seemingly nowhere (well, OK, New Albany) and went from playing to dozens to selling out Headliners Music…
A year of hope and fear
Each year, as we did last month, we bring you Project Censored’s top 10 stories largely missed by the mainstream media. I have neither the time nor the stomach to analyze which stories were under-reported. As the Lexington Herald-Leader’s John Cheves wrote to a critic more than four years ago, “Please refrain from gloating as…
Video TapeWorm
THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS: THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER 1965; $13.98; UR This isn’t John Wayne’s best movie, but it is damn good and rather historic. “True Grit” director Henry Hathaway held production while Wayne battled cancer — contracted, many believe, filming “The Conqueror” in a former nuclear test site in Nevada. Here he is…
Football: How sweet it is
Nice that Louisville is headed to New Orleans to play Florida in the Sugar Bowl. It’s a credit to a team comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores, and a real feather in the cap of coach Charlie Strong, who inherited a losing team when he began at U of L, and three years later is…
Taste Bud: Gourmet tacos still trending
There was a time when I would have laughed at you for saying the phrase “gourmet taco,” but darned if that particular cuisine isn’t currently trending. Still. And I like it. We’ve already got several restaurants in town focusing or somewhat focusing on these culinary wonders involving stuff being packed into or plopped onto a…
The Greatest Story Never Told, Chapter 2: Bread and Circuses
As much as I rail against hyperbole in criticism, damn if it isn’t difficult to not fall into that trap for this. Sometimes an album just grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go — one that finds the perfect balance between street and storefront preacher, while keeping enough of an ear for…
Ball Droppings 2012
Is it a coincidence that New Year’s rhymes with few beers, screw tears, cue cheers and shoo fears? Well, listen up with your two ears (bonus rhyme) as we relay some of the best spots in town to fill your dance card. Like Grandma always advised, don’t expect Italy by going to the Olive Garden.…
B-sides
How to get to Samuel Street Drummer/bandleader/composer Bobby Falk celebrates the release of his second album, Samuel Street Songs, with a free record release show (including CDs for sale) Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Louisville Musicians Union Hall (1436 Bardstown Road). He comes by music naturally, as the son of a saxophonist and recording…
Plugged In
Readers are strongly encouraged to call ahead to verify these listings. To get your musical act listed, send email to pberkowitz@leoweekly.com with PLUGGED IN in the subject line. The deadline is FRIDAY at NOON the week before the show happens. We do not accept listings via social networking sites. Wed DEC 26 Air Devils…
Savings over safety
In a May LEO Weekly cover story, Mayor Greg Fischer’s office admonished Dismas Charities for violating what they claim was an agreement to not send inmates with a violent criminal record to work for city agencies — including the Louisville Zoo — vowing to rectify the situation. But records LEO obtained from Metro Government via…
Instrumental Tourist
Ambient music is often presented as something meant to be unobtrusive. This is furthest from accurate on Tourist, the collaboration between ambient/electronic mainstays Daniel Lopatin (of the synth-heavy Oneohtrix Point Never) and Tim Hecker. For an ambient record, this is busy. Missing is any sense of serenity or pensive rumination, replaced instead with churning drones…
Book: Use your words
‘Words Like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama’ By Sam Leith. Basic Books; 312 pgs., $26.99. When Mitt Romney, in the course of the 2012 campaign, accused President Obama of “rhetorical excess” and, later, “deceitful rhetoric,” what exactly was he talking about? Before the presidential debates, experts conceded Romney was the better debater, having…
Basketball: A prediction
Look, you know what’s going to happen. It’s easy. One of those Team A vs. Team B comparison charts would be a waste of time. There is no need. It’s a matter of common sense that on Dec. 29 in downtown Louisville, the team you expect to win is going to win. There are no…
Mother Maria
I was playing guitar with my girlfriend in the front room the other day. We were picking out a Lyle Lovett tune we’re both fond of called “South Texas Girl.” It’s a near perfect little Kodachrome snapshot of a tune about growing up in Texas, driving down country roads, shopping at the five-and-dime and singing…
Industry Standard: Insider info for those who dine out
Nearly two years ago in this column I made a “Louisville food industry wish” for the new year, calling for relaxed rules and clarity in food-truck regulations for Metro Louisville. And while we’re not 100 percent where we need to be, I commend Mayor Greg Fischer and his crew for enabling our local food-truck explosion.…
