WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14
Mower
San Diego is a pristine town with hot blondes, high waves and stunning views, and that trifecta permits some laissez-faire indulgence: a perfect contrast to the city’s progeny, Mower.
One-time tour partners of Hed (Pe) and Villebillies, the band’s hardcore-metallic attack doesn’t bounce and sway so much as punch and pound. “Something snaps with us when we start playing live,” singer Brian Sheerin says. “It’s unpredictable, and the show’s different every time. All of our favorite bands are outrageous live bands; you just don’t know what they’re going to do next. I think we kind of took that to heart.”
Together since the late ’90s, the band is enjoying new attention for its aural assault on the likes of Sirius Satellite Radio, even if some media are a bit late to the party.
“As far as someone jumping on a song … it’s a real shot in the arm for the record,” Sheerin says. “The fact that they don’t censor is even better. That’s the wave of the future.”
Catch Mower in Fairdale at the Bulldog Café tonight. —Mat Herron
The Bulldog Café
10619 W. Manslick Road
380-0600
myspace.com/bulldogcafe
$10; 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 15
‘Into Great Silence’
As part of its Tournées Festival, the Bellarmine Film Association will show a series of French language films; the festival is free and open to the public. With only a few minutes of dialogue in the entire documentary, “Into Great Silence” is French language largely by technicality. It’ll be shown Thursday evening at Pasteur Hall.
The film takes place among the Carthusians, an order of Catholic monks who live in a monastery nestled deep in the Alps. They’re one of the most ascetic orders out there; they have a vow of silence that is only broken for chants, prayer and, if you’ve been there a while, about two hours of discussion every two weeks.
“Into Great Silence” does more than show the life of a Carthusian monk, it actually recreates the tranquil and contemplative nature of it. If you are able to surrender to it, this is probably the best film you will see this year. And it’s as transformative an experience as movies can provide. —Alan Abbott
Small Science Theater, Pasteur Hall 102
Bellarmine University
473-3270
Free; 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 15
Backstreet Boys at Fourth Street Live
The Lambert and Lindsey morning show on 102.3 The Max once again is out to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Kentucky, with a 36-hour, on-air marathon Nov. 15 and 16. But you know the old saying: Be careful what you wish for. This year, Lambert and Lindsey wished for an appearance by the reunited Backstreet Boys, and their wish came true, kind of. The Boys are back with a new album nearly 15 years after their debut, having sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, albeit most of them to swooning, prepubescent girls. Today, the Boys are sans one member — either the cute one or the cheeky one, we can’t remember which — and are a lot older and, presumably, wiser. After word spread of the concert last week, an announcement came Friday that the show was canceled because a member in their backing band is out of town. This just in — the Boys will still show up Thursday, sans a performance. They’ll be taking photos with fans, answering questions and so on. (Check www.themaxfm.com for updates.)
Whatever the case, a good turnout to this show will help raise money to grant wishes for critically ill children in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, and that’s something worth supporting — so request songs at 571-WISH, and make a donation to help local kids in need. Maybe we’ll get lucky and one of them will wish the Backstreet Boys would break up again. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) —Kevin Gibson
Fourth Street Live
625-1239
www.themaxfm.com
Nov. 16-17
Ben Sollee
If schlepping through a string concert sounds like a personal version of Dante’s playground, Ben Sollee is here to help. Unlike stiff upper lip versions of string musicians who have come before him, the Kentucky-born cellist combines a string quartet with spoken-word poetry, dancing and a few other surprises. At the release party for his new album Learning to Bend, Sollee will perform Friday and Saturday night at 21c Museum Hotel. Though just 23 years old, Sollee has made a big impression in avant circles; Bela Fleck did a guest appearance on his album, and Louisville Ballet dancers will perform in pieces choreographed by David Ingram (North Carolina Dance Company) and Delilah Smyth (formerly of Louisville Ballet). Louisville photographer Mickie Winters will also exhibit a series of his work to accompany the music. No black-tie-yawning parties here: Sollee and his cello promise an engaging night of local talent. —Kaelan Hollon
21c Museum Hotel
700 W. Main St.
410-0968
$10; 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17
Moving Collective ‘Returns’
Moving Collective has been persistent in curating and presenting contemporary dance works by regional choreographers since its founding two years ago. This season, the company looks to plant itself even more firmly into Louisville’s artistic terra cotta with two scheduled evening-length performances. The first, this weekend’s presentation of “Returns,” mounts 10 works by eight choreographers, including Christephor Gilbert and Beth Rodriguez, who recently returned to Louisville after cultivating their dance careers in other parts of the country, including New York. The selections range in size from one solo piece by Tamara Begley to a work with 13 dancers by founding member Theresa Bautista.
The selections use diverse and distinctive music, some created specifically for the featured pieces. Bautista sets her piece to music by Richard D. James and Rachel Grimes. Gilbert complements his pieces, “Her Mortal Coil” and “Touched,” with music by Donald Gordon-Bell, who attended high school in Kentucky, now lives in San Francisco and uses the pen name fishboi. (Listen to “Red,” the music composed specifically for “This Mortal Coil,” at fishboisfo.com.)
Keep in mind: If you miss this, you will have to wait until March 29 to catch the next performance. —Elizabeth Kramer
U of L’s Comstock Concert Hall
www.movingcollective.com
$10; 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17
‘Reflection’ — Paintings by Patrick Hess
Over in New Albany, the name Patrick Hess is quite familiar because of his many years as a respected pediatrician. Fewer people realize the now retired good doctor is a skilled painter of some renown. If you look at his recent work, it’s hard not to smile at the colorful, whimsical and, yes, strange images. He is playing with form, structure, color and human perception. Or, to invoke his tagline, “Somewhere contemplative whimsicality almost touches controlled inanity.” This Saturday offers a great chance to see the work up close when Dr. Hess opens his studio for a reception. Our advice: Go now before his prices go way up. —Cary Stemle
HESS Studio/Gallery
315 E. Ninth St., New Albany
(812) 948-8950
Free; 2-9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 18
Julliard String Quartet
The Julliard String Quartet first appeared in Louisville in 1954, and in 1965 began a run in which the world-renowned ensemble appeared for 33 straight years as a part of U of L’s Chamber Music Society series. It was always the notion of U of L music history professor Dr. Gerhard Herz, and others, that the Chamber Music Society benefited from a centerpiece concert to highlight each season — and the Julliard provided that glitter. In 1997, the Chamber Music Society and the Julliard entered into a once-every-two-years arrangement — and this is one of those every-other years. Sunday, the Julliard String Quartet will make its 46th appearance in Louisville, at 3 p.m. in Comstock Hall. On the musical menu are quartets by Beethoven, Verdi and living American composer Elliot Carter. —Bill Doolittle
Comstock Hall
U of L School of Music
852-6907
www.louisville.edu/music/chambermusicsociety
$25 ($5 students); 3 p.m.
Through Nov. 30
‘Dowry’ embroidery exhibit
There have been many times in Western history where a woman’s “worth” was accentuated by her ability to do needlework, especially embroidery. It seems there is a similar tale in the colorful textiles of the nomadic people of Central Asia. “Dowry: Marriage Ties, Gender Divisions and the Making of a Nomad Family” illustrates the traditional custom of the exchange of goods that women brought to their husbands at their time of marriage. The more than 50 early-to-mid-20th century textiles and objects have been selected from the collections of Virginia Gray Henry, publisher/editor of the interfaith publishing houses Fons Vitae and Quinta Essentia, and Bob Jones and his wife Stewart Lussky, co-owners of EthnosAsia in Butchertown Market. Included in the show are large embroidered wall hangings called suzanis, tush kyiz trousseau embroidery and felt appliquéd rugs. So that viewers can better understand the works in the exhibition, the Embroidery Museum has also included films, maps and photographs of the region and its people.
There’s a free presentation by Bob Jones on “Nomadic Kazakhs” on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required. —Jo Anne Triplett
Embroidery Museum and Resource Center
426 W. Jefferson St.
589-6956
www.egausa.org
Through Dec. 1
‘Laura Roth: Past, Present & Richard’
In visual arts, genre means “the little moments of everyday life,” resulting in a subject found in all cultures throughout time. Louisville painter Laura Roth celebrates her life in a series of new genre scenes shown in the newly relocated Kaviar Gallery (now next to North End Café).
Roth gets to revisit her recent past as the “recorder” of events featuring family and friends. You can sense the quiet in her painted still moments, as well as revel in the exuberance in others. Her style of representational art is expressive because she seems to like her people, and in viewing them, we come to like them too. —Jo Anne Triplett
Kaviar Forge & Gallery
1718 Frankfort Ave.
561-0377
www.kaviargallery.com
