Cover Stories
Albums that I discovered through Forecastle
My favorite part of a music festival is walking into a set with limited expectations and leaving with something new to dig into. Sometimes it’s someone you never heard of, sometimes it’s when you’ve caught only the singles over the years but never dove into the albums and sometimes it’s a project that’s trailed off…
Trumping toward Canterbury: Examining The Donald’s parallels to Chaucer’s deceitful character, The Pardoner
This story originally appeared as part of the cover story for our Convention Issue. We also ran an analysis of the parallels between Hillary Clinton and Lady Macbeth. As a professor of medieval literature, I’m often asked when the Middle Ages finally ended. My standard response is to drop my jaw, raise my eyebrows and cry…
A Q&A with artist Teri Dryden on being process-oriented and inspired by Bernheim Forest
[The above image is “Chasing Ghosts” by Teri Dryden.] Collage artist and painter Teri Dryden (teridryden.com) is a small bundle of creativity wrapped in a smile. She’s a transplant to Louisville, and I met her at one of her early exhibitions. I appreciated her art before actually meeting her. This art and this artist are…
A review of Old Louisville Brewery’s first batch of beers, plus what they’re releasing next
Tucked away on an unassuming part of Magnolia Street near Sixth Street sits Old Louisville Brewery, the latest edition to the city’s collection of beer creators. This past weekend, co-owners and brothers Ken and Wade Mattingly opened the doors to the brewery, which features a taproom inside and a dog-friendly patio with a walk-up window…
15 things to do under $5 this week in Louisville (7/25)
MONDAY Screening of “Sleaford Mods: Invisible England” Seidenfaden’s Cafe Free; 9:30 p.m. Seidenfaden’s Cafe is known for hosting music-themed movie nights, but this screening is a little different. “Sleaford Mods: Invisible England” is a feature documentary about a British band on tour (hence the music theme), but what’s interesting is that the tour happens during…
5 things to do this weekend in Louisville (7/22)
FRIDAY Blues, Brews and BBQ Fest (July 22–24) Louisville Watertower $13-$30; 6 p.m. It’s hot outside, but don’t let that stop you from having fun this weekend! Head down to the Louisville Watertower for a weekend of blues, brews and barbeque. There will be a number of local artists playing covers of B.B. King, Howlin’…
A Q&A with artist Teri Dryden on being process-oriented and inspired by Bernheim Forest
Collage artist and painter Teri Dryden (teridryden.com) is a small bundle of creativity wrapped in a smile. She’s a transplant to Louisville, and I met her at one of her early exhibitions. I appreciated her art before actually meeting her. This art and this artist are a great combination and certainly worth getting to know…
An analysis of the parallels between Hillary Clinton and Lady Macbeth
This story originally appeared as part of the cover story in our Convention Issue. We also ran an examination of Donald Trump’s parallels to Chaucer’s deceitful character The Pardoner. We might all be forgiven for thinking that, in 2016, the United States is long overdue for a female presidential candidate. However, with Republicans and other…
It’s up to Clinton to win supporters
Bernie Sanders’ role at the Democratic National Convention is clear: to continue building support behind the compelling moral demands that gave strength to his campaign. While the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency looms, I believe Sanders’ supporters have glimpsed a choice that does not require a vote for the lesser of two evils. Faced…
Congressman John Yarmuth on the risks of sitting out this election
First we must remember that Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat. He formally, and perfunctorily, registered as a Democrat last year so he could seek that party’s presidential nomination. Yes, he caucuses with Democrats in the U.S. Senate because, otherwise, he would not have committee assignments. Next week he will continue his battle to trump…
What does an urban orchard mean for the West End?
At the official opening of Produce Park, an orchard on South 30th Street, local officials hailed a very literal form of neighborhood revitalization: starting with trees and fruit. Planted on a former vacant lot, the orchard came about through a partnership between the city and nonprofit Louisville Grows. A $30,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropy funded…
Thorns & Roses: The Worst & Best (7/20)
Did Trump lay a Quayle egg? (Thorn) Republican presidential perspirant Donald Trump has chosen ultra-conservative, gay-attacking, immigrant-hating Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate. We are not sure what to think. While we are glad to see Pence go (he cannot run for governor and vice president simultaneously), we worry that his Midwestern appeal,…
No expectations: A Q&A with Michael Gira of Swans
Michael Gira — musician, author and owner of the record label Young God Records — has released 30 albums under various projects including Angels of Light and Swans, the latter he founded in 1982. After a 15-year-break, Gira reformed Swans in 2009 and has since released four albums to critical acclaim. The latest album, The…
A conversation with Lucius about their latest record, ‘Good Grief’
Imagine The Human League, except the songs aren’t slaves to the beat (though many can get you dancing). Keyboards and percussion are in genuine orchestrations — not just washes and layers, they pump up or counter the melodies. The lyrics balance heart and mind, thoughtful and intimate (and sometimes raucous). So, that’s a start to…
Mad World
Where were you when the towers fell? When the wall came down? The moon landing? JFK? Or wider out: Were you part of the Civil Rights movement? Did the Gulf War affect you? How about the last three years? Everything that’s going on now feels a little comparable to what was happening in the Woodstock…
Hurry to see these three plays at the Derby City Playwrights New Play Festival
Let me count just a few of the ways in which the First Annual Derby City Playwrights New Play Festival is impressive: six full-length, world-premiere plays by seven Louisville playwrights, each in repertory over three weekends on a single stage; six directors; 31 cast members; and another 10 or so technical and administrative folks. It’s…
AMP apartments, positively urban
Love them or hate them, nobody seems to be ambivalent about the new AMP apartments on Frankfort Avenue on the former Ready Electric site. And, while its bright, colored siding panels attract the most attention and comment, they’re probably the least critical in assessing the quality of this impactful development. AMP is one of few…
Stewart Huff, donated sperm to sister’s wife
Stewart Huff is no stranger to the Bluegrass. He was born in Campbellsville, and he later lived in Louisville for a while as an adult. Granted, he was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, and currently lives in Athens, Georgia — but his Kentucky roots remain firm. Huff has spent two decades polishing his comedic voice to…
We clock in at Time 4 Thai — and like it
What’s my favorite national fare? How about: “Whatever I had last”? If you press me, though, I’m a big fan of all the cuisines of Asia, from the Levant through Iran, all the ‘stans and India, across Southeast Asia to China, Korea and Japan. I love the taste bud-tantalizing complex aromas and flavors of just…
The Costco concession stand
My girlfriend Cynthia is something of a Costco addict. She seemingly shops there weekly, and she confesses that, at times, the low prices can negate themselves. As in: She goes to Costco to get bacon, coffee and raspberries, and comes home with bacon, coffee, raspberries, two new shirts, a set of luggage and a book…
White America must recognize
This nation is sick because it has repeatedly failed to address and remedy the racism that renders it unhealthy. Racism prioritizes the needs of white people over the needs of others. It has festered in our nation and brought us to now — a nation splintered, angry and explosive. If you are a white reader…
Where’s the heroics?
The message is on the walls, in the streets, hanging from overpasses and scrawled across water-towers. It’s being flowed into microphones and bullhorns, and it’s trending on Twitter. It’s moving the masses into peaceful protest, as they chant it across the nation “black lives matter” and the police aren’t hearing it. (Cop Modus Operandi.) A…
Election 2016 redo: Morgan Freeman vs. ?Bradley Cooper
So the media narrative of this year’s presidential election is how loathsome the two candidates are. I even heard one pundit say it’s a competition to see who can be less disliked. This week, a Real Clear Politics poll-average has Hillary Clinton beating Donald Trump 56 to 60 in unfavorableness. Let’s be clear, Clinton and…
Your Voice
on a buff and beautiful noah I’m a Catholic, and I know that this is total BS. Religion is a guideline for life. Not fact. Crazy people in all walks of life. Kinda like most of the people who work at the Leo. — Ian McDonald This drives me insane — stupid…
