THURSDAY, JULY 3
Phoenix Hill All-Star Band
What do you get when you have Emily Clark trying to sing over a guitar and bass courtesy of members of Blowfly? And all of them are trying to fit onstage with Dave Ernspiker of Big Rock Show? You get songs that absolutely everyone knows, played so loose that shots are pretty much an audience prerequisite to maintain ear alignment.
Welcome to the 2008 Phoenix Hill All-Star Band’s one-time-only gig, part of the 22nd annual Independence Day Eve blow-out. Naked Garden opens, so Kevin Crigler will be warmed up when he keeps the All Stars grounded during their 11 p.m. set. If you want to stay until halfway to dawn, Grindstone will come on later. —T.E. Lyons
Phoenix Hill Tavern
644 Baxter Ave.
589-4630
www.phoenixhill.com
$6; 9:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 3
Nimble Thimbles Auction
The quilting junkies at Louisville’s Nimble Thimbles club are about to celebrate their 28th birthday. Throughout the year, this group of quilting enthusiasts, about 40 members, holds various workshops, lectures and programs to celebrate the art of quilt-making and help expand the growing trend.
But once a year, Nimble Thimbles has their own unique way of giving back to the community. Members organize the Quilting and Sewing Auction every year to raise money for their Cuddle Care program. Nimble Thimbles membership chairperson Angela Huffman explained that, last year, Cuddle Care donated about 100 “bright, fun and cheerful” quilts to patients at Kosair Children’s Hospital, and they’re on track to donate the same amount this year. “The hospital is so grateful that they have something for the children to show that a stranger is thinking about them,” she said.
At the Quilting and Sewing auction, Nimble Thimbles’ biggest annual fundraiser, people donate used quilting and sewing items. The proceeds go toward materials to make quilts for Cuddle Care, which are crafted during four all-day quilting sessions and during the members’ spare time. —Aaron Frank
Jefferson Community Center
10617 Taylorsville Road
266-5949
Free; 6:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 3
Bejeezus party
The Third of July, perhaps more popularly known as Independence Day eve, may now be taken a measure more seriously: Bejeezus magazine is planning to host the “Independents Day” Party at Nachbar this July 3rd. The party will pay tribute the magazine’s recent growth, to Southern culture and all things independent. The lineup, throwing down both inside and out, is four bands ranging from bluegrass to Southern rock: Andrew Iafrate with Buck Holiday, Shakey, Speed to Roam and Relic. The Louisville Film Society will also be on hand projecting vintage footage outside.
While the event itself is free and open to those 21 and older, a percentage of the bar will benefit Bejeezus’ fundraising efforts. The magazine, which covers art, film, music and literature slightly outside the mainstream, will give out past issues. Its 11th issue comes out at the end of July. —Caitlin Bowling
Nachbar
969 Charles St.
558-2621
Free; 9 p.m.
MONDAY, JULY 7
Israel Scouts
The Israel Scouts are a non-political, non-sectarian group, or tzofim, dedicated to keeping the Jewish community connected on an international level. They were the first Zionist youth organization in Israel, and since then have transformed into a multi-continental gathering of youths dedicated to spreading the knowledge and history of Israel and its Judaic roots.
The group has reached out to Third World countries, inner cities and in suburban neighborhoods. The tzofim includes both religious and secular members, creating alliances across the world committed to making just a little more shalom in this world.
Taking place at the Jewish Community Center, members of the Scouts will portray Israel’s rich history as well as the group’s primary mission of peace through a diverse program of modern discussion with the audience, including Israeli dances and traditional songs. —Jess Mahanes
Jewish Community Center
3600 Dutchmans Lane
459-0660
Free; 1 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 8
Murali Coryell
Blues singer and guitarist Murali Coryell comes to Steve Ray’s on Tuesday, along with a whole lot of blues cred and a brand new CD. Coryell, son of guitar jazz pioneer Larry Coryell, has toured with B.B. King, played with Buddy Guy and Levon Helm, and his past recordings have received sparkling praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, CNN and The New York Times.
Coryell as a vocalist has been compared with Sam Cooke, while his passion for the music has been likened to that of Al Green. Coryell’s new disc, The Same Damn Thing, is now available and is drawing high praise, so be prepared to hear a tune or 10 from that one. —Kevin Gibson
Steve Ray’s Blues Bar
230 E. Main St.
582-9945
HYPERLINK "http://www.stevieraysbluesbar.com/"www.stevieraysbluesbar.com
$10; 8 p.m.
July 9-13
Comedian Stewart Huff
Louisville’s rich comedy scene includes a local standout comedian you shouldn’t miss. My introduction to Louisville comics was through Stewart Huff, after seeing him at the Caravan a couple years ago (he lived in Chattanooga at the time). On stage and off, he is a rare caliber of natural hilarity, the kind of guy who could say, “Look at that weather” and you’d laugh. Smart and topical (“I don’t have any sex jokes. You write what you know.”), he advanced to the final round of the Boston Comedy Festival in 2006. He’s featured with Tim Cavanaugh, who has been called “a master of word play.” —Jason Sitzes
Comedy Caravan
1250 Bardstown Road
459-0022
www.comedycaravan.com
$8-$12; various times
THROUGH JULY 22
‘New Directions’
B. Deemer Gallery is expanding, stretching what they call their “aesthetic boundaries.” Richard Bruland, Christine Hagedorn and Gretchen Papka are out-of-state artists who are unfamiliar to most Louisvillians. They are also new to B. Deemer. From what I see, this relationship among artists-gallery-city is promising.
California painter Bruland creates nonrepresentational surfaces that vaguely recall landscapes. Hagedorn is a Detroit sculptor who constructs her mixed media forms out of wire, paper and wood. Found-object assemblage sculpture is the domain of Ohio artist Papka.
B. Deemer Gallery is well known for its strong roster of artists who work in the realist mode. This departure into the abstract should be beneficial for all concerned, giving the gallery new artistic viewpoints and opportunities. There are no “aesthetic boundaries” here. — CONTACT _Con-419CB26F17 c s l Jo Anne Triplett
B. Deemer Gallery
2650 Frankfort Ave.
896-6687
www.bdeemer.com
THROUGH AUG. 2
Shayne Hull & James Southard
Shayne Hull is at it again. He’s become so known for his colorful faces — he really doesn’t consider them portraits — that he almost had a copyright on them. The proof is on the wall of the restaurant at 21c Museum Hotel.
Swanson Reed Contemporary is showing his new enamel-on-panel paintings in its main gallery. Most of them are of politicians, such as Obama, McCain and Clinton, and he threw in Barney Fife for good measure. You will either applaud or boo the distorted images, depending on your political leanings.
“Working with enamel paint is just about as far away from oil as you can imagine,” Hull wrote in an e-mail to LEO Weekly. “Easel position, preparation, drying time, application, color separation, color mixing … It’s an entirely different set of rules.”
The lower gallery features a light and sound installation by James Southard.
Swanson Reed Contemporary will not be open during the First Friday Gallery Trolley Hop because it falls on July 4. Many venues on the Hop will also be closed. Visit www.firstfridaytrolleyhop.com for more info. — CONTACT _Con-419CB26F17 c s l Jo Anne Triplett
Swanson Reed Contemporary
638 E. Market St.
589-5466
www.swansonreed.com
THROUGH SEPT. 1
‘Be the Dinosaur’ exhibit
Will you be a tyrannosaurus or a triceratops? It is the first question that needs to be answered before embarking on the newest exhibit at the Louisville Science Center. “Be the Dinosaur” allows visitors to experience life as a dinosaur — through a video game. Can’t you hear the Creation Museum creators shuddering in their socks?
It is not all entertainment, as users must first “do their homework,” says creator Keith Feinstein. The exhibit is designed so that guests learn how dinosaurs behaved through the displays that address 12 of the biggest current questions about dinosaurs. Next, the newfound knowledge is put to test by advanced simulators. Be warned: If you do not learn enough about your dinosaur, it will probably die, and this game will not be fun.
Feinstein boasts that what he has created is unique: “There is nothing like this anywhere in the world.” The simulators are so complex that each dinosaur has a digestive system, center of gravity and artificial intelligence. Their environments have a digital odor, and the plants all have nutritional values. Feinstein may have just found the way to kids’ brains — through their video games. —Cassie Book
Louisville Science Center
727 W. Main St.
561-6100
www.louisvillescience.org
