

Cover Story
The almost-halfway-through playlist: Our favorite Louisville albums from 2017 so far
Well, we expected to have just nine or 10 local albums for this feature, but we easily upped it to 12 and still had to leave out a handful we wanted to include. Were only a little over four months into the year, and the quality and quantity of records coming out of Louisville right…
What’s in tomorrow’s issue of LEO Weekly? Baseball standout Brendan McKay, Diet Cig and John Yarmuth, who sends a postcard from Washington
Dont forget to pick up your copy of the latest LEO Weekly, on the stands Wednesday Creig Ewing profiles UofL baseball standout Brendan McKay, on his way to the majors Erica Rucker tells us why Ricky Jones is a fighter, not a loather We ask Diet Cig about their new music And here is an…
Dead children, city gun violence and Trump’s grave danger to us all
Every so often in my job, I am on the receiving end of an emotional haymaker. A punch so powerful it reminds me that the political world isnt nearly as important as we pretend it is. One of those moments occurred last week, when I met a group of Louisville students who were visiting Washington.…
The Louisville Polo Club kicked off its season with Twilight Polo
The Louisville Polo Club, the oldest polo club in Kentucky, hosted Twilight Polo this past Thursday at Waterfront Park to kick off their season with a polo match along with tailgating, music, food trucks, and wine and beer tastings. What were doing is were taking a little bit of indoor and outdoor polo, and were…
Sophomore Lounge Turns 10: A Q&A with founder Ryan Davis
Making it as a record label is no small feat, but Sophomore Lounge has beaten the odds by putting out incredibly compelling music. The brainchild of Ryan Davis, the label not only has released albums by Bonnie Prince Billy, Anwar Sadat, State Champion and Tropical Trash, but it has hosted the annual Cropped Out festival.…
10 things to do under $5 this week in Louisville (5/22)
MONDAY Robot Jurassic, Bruised Fruit, Bon Air, Rarebit Mag Bar Free | 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Just because its Monday doesnt mean you cant have fun. See this free show at Mag Bar with psychedelic rock band Robot Jurassic, indie rock band Bon Air, alternative rock band Bruised Fruit and local band Rarebit which describes its…
Gov. Bevin’s bromance with Trump and Pence
Gov. Matt Bevin’s tweet on Thursday said it all about the bromance he has with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. https://twitter.com/MattBevin/status/865336875015393280 Bevin was overtly perturbed by the recent, daily tidal wave of crises coming from the White House. In response, he shot out a tweet of he and his bestie Pence, professing…
This weekend’s Buy Local Fair has been cancelled, rescheduled
Because of forecasts for inclement weather this weekend, the 2017 Buy Local Fair at the Louisville Water Tower Park has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 2. Thunderstorms and rain predicted for Saturday night and Sunday. https://www.facebook.com/KeepLouisvilleWeird/posts/1543466145694788
Headliners just announced a J Roddy Walston pop-up concert tomorrow
At noon today, Headliners Music Hall announced that J Roddy Walston & The Business will be playing a pop-up show tomorrow night, Saturday, May 20. Walston plays a thick, blues-infused style of rock. Buy tickets here, and listen to his latest album, Essential Tremors, below.
5 Things To Do This Weekend in Louisville (5/19)
FRIDAY King Kong of Ping Pong! (Round 10) Hideaway Saloon Free | 9 p.m. Compete at this bimonthly table tennis tournament where winners receive multiple prizes, including shirts and over $100 in gift cards. Sign-ups begin the day of the event and call-aheads are encouraged since there will only be 24 spaces open for entrants.…
Five new bands and solo musicians to keep an eye on
GRLwood Rae Stouts solo project GRLwood runs the gambit of dream-pop, instrumental ballads and shrieking indie. It all adds up to a style thats hard to define, which is probably why the about section on GRLwoods Facebook page reads: Someone else is gonna have to tell me what genre it is a clear indication…
From square dancing to indie rock: The rich and tragic history of Palomino Records
When Jeremy Perry, frontman of the The Deloreans, wasnt happy with the sound quality on his bands vinyl that was pressed at Palomino Records in 2010, he stopped by the small plant in Shepherdsville, just south of Louisville. There was something off with the recording, so he decided to reach out to owner Tom Dillander…
Yemeni Immigrant,?‘The problem in the world today is ignorance’
This is the fifth of seven stories LEO is publishing about immigrants in Louisville who came from the seven countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen that President Trump initially targeted with bans. Documentary photographer Amira Karaoud said about her series of photographs and interviews Keep the American Dream Alive: Millions…
Thorns & Roses: The Worst, Best & Most Absurd
Next: armed police drones? | Thorn A gunshot-detection system will be installed in Louisville by the summer, despite questions about its accuracy and value. City officials did not provide the cost and locations, The Courier-Journal reported. The paper noted that the system is just one of many toys on the chiefs wish list, including license…
The real Bowling Green Massacre Fairness
Oh, Kellyanne, we all know what you were really talking about when you coined the now infamous #BowlingGreenMassacre. You and I know the real victim is Fairness. Month after month for nearly five years, our states thirdlargest city has ignored calls from local supporters to pass an LGBTQ Fairness Ordinance. In fact, the mayor and…
An undeniable past: Will Oldham talks about his new album of Merle Haggard covers
Will Oldham, under his consistent moniker Bonnie Prince Billy, recently released a collection of Merle Haggard covers called Best Troubador, a wide-ranging, carefully-selected double album that spans from the mid-1960s to the early-2010s, covering the outlaw days to the contemplative later years. We caught up with Oldham to talk about how Haggards music impacted him,…
A Q&A with Joann + The Dakota about their forthcoming EP, Holy Coyote!
Joann Jene has an infectious energy, a sincerity that translates into her music. That manifests on Joann + The Dakotas newest record, Holy Coyote!, which has an Americana quality to it, updated for the 21st century with a hybrid of sounds, and one of the best attitudes youll encounter. LEO: Tell us a little about…
Jaw-dropping Shakespeare at the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth Theatre Centers 2017 Young American Shakespeare Festival, which opened last weekend and runs through Sunday, is an amazing accomplishment. Taken in isolation, the numbers for this years Festival are staggering. There are more than 70 young people in the casts of the three productions. They range from grade four to grade 12 and…
Your friendly, neighborhood comic book reviews: ‘The Flintstones Vol. 1’ and ‘Roughneck’
The Flintstones Vol. 1 Writer Marc Russell | Artist Steve Pugh Review by Kyle Thompson, The Great Escape Let me be clear. I dont do anything if Adam and Steve arent welcome. Fred Flinstone At first glance, this kind of joke about equality (Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve) might seem strange from a…
In NYC, is funny enough?
When comedians go to New York, they either flourish in the competitive hustle, or they wither from the stress of the tough crowds and struggle for stage time. When local comedian Raanan Hershberg moved there last year, everyone knew he was ready except for him. I found out that I am funny, but it…
Las Gorditas adds a full restaurant, and we’re glad
Is there any culture, anywhere, that does not delight in the joys of wrapping carbohydrates around protein or vegetables and eating it out of hand? From the humble sandwich to empanada, kreplach, pita and Asian bao, among many more, I cant think of any cuisine that doesnt boast some kind of portable meal like this.…
The Wicked Weed to AB-InBev apocalypse
Talk in the craft beer world over the past week and a half has revolved largely around the stunning announcement that Wicked Weed Brewing, a craft-beer darling in Asheville, North Carolina, has been sold to A-B InBev, or ABI, which owns Anheuser-Busch and dozens of other major brewing operations. The conglomerate has been buying craft…
It’s tampon time!
By the time youre reading this, the Kentucky Oaks and Derby will have come and gone and the festivities will be memories, but the hangovers and the pain from the empty caverns of our wallets will linger. I know, I know, youve delved into many a recap in the past 10 days since the first…
Savage Love: Anti-Climax
Q: Im a happily married straight man. My wife, who is 33 years old, cannot orgasm through intercourse since we had our last child. Her explanation is that she has this constant sensation to pee. Now we find other means to please her through toys, oral, etc. Are there exercises or other means to get…
Isolation, the movement killer
Several months ago, I asked some friends, recently returned from Standing Rock, to relay their experiences of camping with 8,000 other activists for three weeks. I had heard that everyone at camp was encouraged to have a job. What was theirs, I wanted to know. We walked around and got people to talk to each…
Gov. Bevin makes adoption straight again
Nice work if you can get it, eh? If you mean being forced to endure your excruciating chatter twice a month, its not nice work. In fact, its the worst gig on the planet. But presumably thats not what youre referring to. No, I was referring to our esteemed guvnor handing out just under a…
Developers win… again
The city may have negotiated a good deal for a good development, but its still being used by a corporation to boost its profit. And in the process, who gets penalized? The rest of us who play by the rules or who dont have the money to curb the rules in our favor. Last…
Your Voice
on Larry Flynt speaks about Trump, Kentucky and the Press Excellent interview very timely. Nat Irvin II Another example of how in modern America, celebrity trumps morality, right or purpose. And how the media worships the First Amendment, while blithely contributing to its destruction. Gordon McKemie Is he really a celebrity? Im curious to…






