Cover Story
Gay in Louisville: A history of injustice, and a march toward acceptance
When the gunman in Orlando opened fire on hundreds of revelers at a gay nightclub, he struck at the core of gays’ hard-earned sense of security, as nightclubs just like Pulse have for generations stood as safe spaces for people looking for shelter from harassment, hate and harm. As America moves toward more acceptance of…
Pride parade kindles debate in LGBTQ movement
Last year’s Pride Month came with a sense of jubilance — the Supreme Court had swiftly passed down the decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, truly nullifying any agency that conservative politicians claimed in battling against such progress. The tone of Pride Month, for reasons self-evident, is markedly different in 2016. This year’s Kentuckiana Pride…
The 25th annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam will be held in Louisville
Last weekend, poets from 32 cities descended on Greensboro, North Carolina. They brought their best rhymes, and their tightest verses. For four days straight, at all hours of the day and night, Greensboro overflowed with slam poetry at the 24th-annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam. “Cool,” you might be thinking, “But what does this have to…
9 things to do under $5 in Louisville this week (6/20)
MONDAY ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ Screening Iroquois Amphitheater Free; 7:30 p.m. Looking for something to do with your Monday, besides eat leftovers on your couch? Why not check out the American classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Its message about racism is still poignant in our modern time, and it’s showing in the magnificent outdoor amphitheater…
Last week, Gov. Matt Bevin’s Twitter account made national news, but it’s been accidental comedic gold for months
Matt Bevin’s governance is bad. We, as a paper, feel this way, as do two out of three Kentuckians. Only the guy who poisoned a city of 100,000 and two others are less liked by their constituents than Bevin. But folks, Matt Bevin’s Twitter presence … well, his Twitter is very good. Hi, I’m @kbloggins,…
The art of nature: A Q&A with painter Anessa Arehart
[The above image is “Stargazer Sisters” by Anessa Arehart.] A number of artists have said the Louisville art community is special. Painter Anessa Arehart (anessaarehart.com) is another one who feels that way. While she now lives on a farm, she considers herself “lucky to still be part of the Louisville art scene. Even though I…
Thorns & Roses: The Best & Worst (6/15)
#WeAreOrlando (Rose) Louisvillians, once again showing class and unity, walked the Big Four Bridge and held a candlelight vigil to mark the atrocity in Orlando. Mayor Greg Fischer was there with hundreds of others. Maybe we really are a Compassionate City. Now #WeAreOrlando Ali Part 1: A parting gift (Rose) The world focused on Louisville,…
Into the wild: A conversation with Jack Harlow
“It’s the first thing I’ve created where I feel like it’s real art,” Jack Harlow said about his new mixtape, 18, which will be released June 17. “I’ve never been so confident in something. I think when it comes out, it’s going to be the shift in my career. I have some new management. As…
A Q&A with Jessica Lea Mayfield on her latest record and Elliott Smith
Before Jessica Lea Mayfield — a folk-rocker who has started to move into grunge territory — plays at Zanzabar, we caught up with her to talk about how a guitar she bought in Louisville has impacted her sound, and Elliott Smith. On moving in a heavier direction for her latest record, Make My Head Sing……
Rob Collier: Series 1.1: Ten Simple Pieces ?for Piano
(auralgamiSOUNDS) An ideal accompaniment for any meditation, however that may manifest itself in your day, Rob Collier’s Ten Simple Pieces for Piano is an exercise in elegance. Collier shows a deft hand at piano, focusing on simple motifs and chord arrangements that play as much to the melody as the space between the notes. The…
Parlour: Parlour
(Temporary ?Residence) Since the dissolution of the noise titans Crain, Parlour has flourished as an instrumental heavyweight in Louisville. With the release of their newest and self-titled album, the band has eschewed the rhythmic, kraut-rock pulse of their previous material for something far more visceral and biting. The beauty of it all though, is that,…
Equipment Pointed Ankh: Zodiac Free
(self-released) An insane retro-futurism runs through Zodiac Free, one in a series of recent releases from Jim Marlowe’s post Tropical Trash project Equipment Pointed Ankh. The distortion squeals and whistles, an over-saturated kind of sizzle that renders the guitar into an alien synthesizer, wailing away on some distant orb. There is some effect that warps…
American Lesions: Woundlicker
(self-released) In so many ways, Woundlicker, the debut 7-inch by American Lesions is a heavy record. On an obvious level, the music rips hard, with a Southern-fried kind of punk-rock zeal. Beyond that, there is a catharsis for anyone that’s ever gone through a rough break up, courtesy of singer Dave Bird’s always-excellent lyrics. The…
‘Lady Ain’t Singing No Blues,’ come for the music
It hardly seems fair to write a theater review of Bunbury Theatre Company’s production of “Lady Ain’t Singing No Blues,” a new musical based on the life and songs of Billie Holiday. It’s less a play, and more of an excuse to listen to a gifted jazz performer, Leslie McCurdy as Lady Day, sing for…
Comedian Ron Sexton, ?aka Donnie Baker
Ron Sexton is the man and comedy mind that is Donnie Baker, a character-based stand-up performance that keeps audiences laughing from coast to coast. While Sexton is thoughtful and plain-spoken in conversation, his alter ego is somewhat of a slow-witted philosopher with a fiery temper. Sexton developed Donnie Baker while living in Indianapolis in the…
We’re singing in Gospel Bird’s choir
What in the hell is a Gospel Bird? No, wait, better make that, “What in heaven’s name is a Gospel Bird?” I’m pretty sure it’s not a winged creature that knocks on your door and asks if you have found Jesus. It’s not a dove that comes down with wind and fire, either. Nah, it’s…
Drink in history at Taj Louisville
Admittedly, when I saw the wrought iron filigree-engulfed Taj sign erected just below a screeching gargoyle outside the building of 807 E. Market St., my stomach rumbled, and thoughts of tikka masala and chili cauliflower danced through my head. Could it be that my dreams of an Indian restaurant in NuLu have come to life? …
This week our cantankerous Brits take on ‘The Greatest’s’ hometown and guns
Look, I’m not being contrary, but how long before we end our period of mourning? What, for the Empire? Never, old chap. Damned poor form. Not for the Empire, you pompous plank. For Ali. “The Greatest.” Well, you’ve been here since the days of Methuselah, so you’re far more in tune with the local burial…
You can’t outrun Brock Turners
In my neighborhood in the ‘70s, we were afraid of two things: 1) Chester the Molester in his white van, and 2) a strip of hedges on the street that ran perpendicular to mine, where our friend’s mom was running and was raped. We joked about white van sightings, and would shout “Run, It’s Chester!”…
Ballots over bullets: Require public financing for national elections as a way of disarming the NRA
Some wag on Facebook said she wished President Obama really would take our guns. That will not happen, and it shouldn’t happen. Certainly, it is too late: Guns outnumber people in this country. But then, I believe it has never been Obama’s intent to disarm America. Rather, he wants sane rules for owning and using…
Your Voice
On the need for speed: google fiber AT&T/Direct wants to give you the least and charge you the most … We would love Google. Competition is healthy. —Tk Kinzel … [W]hy couldn’t the city negotiate with Google to provide such service free at all public libraries? And perhaps a…
5 things to do this weekend in Louisville (6/17)
FRIDAY Downs After Dark Churchill Downs $10-$70; 5 p.m. The race for the triple crown may be over, but Churchill Downs is just getting started with its season of horse racing. At Downs After Dark you can sit in the seats too damn expensive to sit in during the Derby, and enjoy some food, drinks,…
