Cover Story
PROJECT CENSORED
The world was a different place in 1976 when Carl Jensen, a professor of communications at Sonoma State University, founded Project Censored to highlight important national news stories that were underreported or outright ignored by the mainstream press. Back then, there were few good alternatives to television networks or major newspapers and magazines, and stories…
Literary LEO 2011 Rules
CATEGORIES: LEO is now accepting submissions for Literary LEO 2011 in the following six categories: Writing: (1) Short Fiction (up to 2,500 words) (2) Flash Fiction (300 words or fewer) (3) Poetry (4) Something Different (experiment with subject matter or form) Photography: (5) Color Photography (6) Black-and-White Photography PRIZES: $125 first place; $75 second place;…
Free Shot
When Bukshot takes the stage at Phoenix Hill Tavern (644 Baxter Ave., 589-4457) on Saturday, Dec. 4, he’ll celebrate more than the release of his new CD. The rapper spent the last year and a day at McCreary Federal Prison in Pine Knot, Ky., where he served time on drug charges. “The crazy thing is,…
Comedy: Funny people
Friday night might prove to be the most exciting night of stand-up comedy this year. “Stochasticity” is a show developed by comedian De Blennis (who will act as emcee for the evening) that features five of his favorite young, up-and-coming local comics — Lindsay Boling, Raanan Hershberg, Mark Parris, Patrick Passafiume and Sean Smith —…
Industry Standard: Insider info for those who dine out
This time of year, I hear people musing about how restaurant employees must welcome the holidays, since many restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. I try to chuckle politely rather than sarcastically, but it’s a challenge. Sure, many restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Far fewer take New Year’s off.…
Say Goodbye
Intimacy takes time, and timing. Liz Janes, wife of Asthmatic Kitty’s A&R man, Michael Kaufmann, and one of the few musicians who has performed live with experimental recluse Jandek, came of age in Olympia’s fertile punk DIY scene, all the while keeping her own deep-seated ideas confined to notebooks. That changed with the release of…
Meeting mozzarella again for the first time at Mozz
If your idea of mozzarella is bland shreds in a plastic bag from the supermarket, or pale, stringy cheese pulling away from the top of your pizza like bubble gum, you’ll want to reset your expectations before dining at Mozz. This new, upscale and trendy Italian eatery landed this month in the Cobalt Building that…
Culture: Don’t call him a magician
“Mystifier” Mike Super specializes not just in magic and illusion, but in getting his audiences in on the fun. Super, who started performing magic at age 6 wearing a Halloween-costume Dracula cape, routinely makes audience members levitate four-and-a-half feet off the ground, makes it snow from his bare hands, and breathes life into pieces of…
The Crystal Axis
On their second album, the Melbourne, Australia, trio of Vincent Vendetta, Andrew Szekeres and Daniel Stricker concocts a potent mix of new wave, disco and dance, following their 2007 breakout hit, Dystopia. The Crystal Axis is presented as a concept piece overflowing with interstellar blasts, “Lara vs. the Savage Pack” being one of many examples.…
When enough becomes more than enough
“Wow,” I said as I took another bite of Terri’s delectable chocolate birthday cake. “That is so satisfying, I could stop right now and have my sweet fix met.” “Why don’t you then?” asked my son. I didn’t look up to determine if the question was a real inquiry or a challenge. I also didn’t…
All Day
Based on his production style, it seems Greg Gillis thinks songs are sacred cows to be tranquilized and thrown on a conveyor belt leading to his hard drive. Because of the liberal use of sampling, the Pittsburgh biomedical engineer is lucky the law hasn’t caught up with him, although Illegal Art’s website says he’ll disclose…
Inbox — Dec. 1, 2010
Palace Acoustics In your lengthy article about the Louisville Palace (LEO Weekly, Nov. 17), you left out something important — a glaring omission. While it is no doubt historic, ornate and beautiful, the place has horrible acoustics! Louisville has several excellent theater format concert halls: the three theaters at the Kentucky Center, the Brown Theatre,…
Bar Belle: Leavin’ Las Vegas
I hereby terminate my relationship with Las Vegas. We had some great times, and I will hold those dear. But lately, it’s changed. It’s not the same city I fell head-over-heels for 10 years ago. On a recent visit, my needs were not met. What used to be an adult Disney World for any income…
Video TapeWorm
THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS: FOX 75TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION 2010; $499.95, UR If you’ve got a movie junkie on your Christmas list — and deep pockets — then do we have a deal for you! This 75-film, three-volume set includes 46 Oscar winners: everything from 1933’s “Cavalcade” (never before available on DVD) to 2010’s “Avatar.” We…
Bistro ablaze
After being shot at by gun-toting assassins in his native Iraq, preparing gourmet meals for then-dictator Saddam Hussein, and risking his life by supporting the U.S.-led military occupation, chef Duraid Abdulrida didn’t expect danger to follow him and his family to Louisville’s typically low-crime St. Matthews neighborhood. But last week, on the eve of Thanksgiving,…
Toubab Soul
To understand Toubab Soul you must bridge at least three cultures. Chicago composer Aaron Feder formed the group in New Orleans in 2003 to pay homage to afrobeat godfather Fela Kuti. Three years later, Feder had moved to Barcelona to study under John Kwame Adzraku, a Ghanaian drummer who performed with Fela in Nigeria. In…
Theater: A one (wo)man show
Before Whoopi Goldberg was picking up awards (including a Grammy), hanging out with Oprah on the set of “The Color Purple,” channeling the ghost of Patrick Swayze, or getting into bitch brawls on “The View,” the dreadlocked, eyebrowless legend started out like a lot of young actors — OK, well, most young actors haven’t worked…
Staffpicks
Dec. 2-3 U of L’s ‘Carmen’ Rudyard Kipling 422 W. Oak St. • 636-1311 Donations accepted; 7:30 p.m. Operas get changed around all the time. Sometimes they’re set in new locales, or updated a century or two, or maybe they leave the costumes in the trunk. In that tradition, the U of L School…
The heart of the matter
In 1985, writer and activist Larry Kramer’s play “The Normal Heart” premiered in New York City at The Public Theater. At the time, it inspired mixed reviews from critics and assorted reactions from audience members. It is, after all, a play about something most people don’t want to think about, much less get emotionally involved…
Help wanted
By the time the Jefferson County Board of Education voted against renewing Superintendent Sheldon Berman’s contract, the embattled educator had already left the building. At the conclusion of a three-hour, closed-door meeting to evaluate his job performance, it was clear Berman had lost the necessary support. Without any public input, the school board voted 5-2…
S/T
Englishman’s debut shouldn’t come across as too foreign: The acoustic-focused trio is fronted by Andrew English, formerly of The Scourge of the Sea, and he’s joined by These United States guitarist Justin Craig and Lexington solo artist Matt Duncan. For this follow-up to last year’s EP Taxidermy, English gains competent assistance from Craig’s warm, inviting,…
In spirit
The weekend of Dec. 4 seems to be all about Marshall Chapman. The Americana singer-songwriter’s schedule includes a Saturday afternoon in-store at ear X-tacy, a guest DJ spot on WFPK, and a concert at The Rudyard Kipling. But Chapman herself sees these events in terms of the late Tim Krekel. For one thing, her new…
Plugged In
Readers are strongly encouraged to call ahead to verify these listings. To get your club, comedian, musical act or karaoke listed, please send e-mail to mherron@leoweekly.com with PLUGGED IN in the subject line. The deadline is NOON THURSDAY the week before the show happens. We do not accept listings via social networking sites. Wed. Dec.…
Retrospective on a room
I’m moving into a new home for the 12th time since 1995. This number seems totally ludicrous to me, but I’ve counted and recounted, and it’s true. I relish neither the backaches nor sneezes attendant to the task, neither the painful exercise of individually forecasting the potential future use of a-thousand-and-one tiny unrelated things that…
Love Is Not What You Need
Bradley Grant Smith scored a coup when his song “Help Yourself” appeared in the major motion picture “Up in the Air,” and this re-release of the Chicago songwriter’s debut is his way of saying there’s more where that came from. Smith doesn’t remain in the doldrums as much as his name or genre (check “sad”…
