WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
Murphy’s Law & Dead City Rejects
New York hardcore punks Murphy’s Law stop by Uncle Pleasant’s for a no-frills performance the group has managed to make hay out of despite a lack of support from major labels. Fusing hardcore punk with reggae and ska music, Murphy’s Law released more than a dozen albums since their humble beginnings in the Big Apple more than 20 years ago. Throughout that time, they’re also known for a constantly changing lineup, which has included members of Bouncing Souls, Danzig and Agnostic Front.
This isn’t the first rodeo for the Dead City Rejects, either. The group has been together for nearly a decade now, performing abrasive hardcore punk jams in nearly every corner of the country. In that time, the band has released two full-length albums and a live album recorded in 2003 at the now-defunct CBGBs in New York. —Aaron Frank
Uncle Pleasant’s
2126 S. Preston St.
634-4147
$10; 9 p.m.
Thursday, June 12
Indianapolis Colts Fan Fest
Attention Colts fans: The NFL team is hosting a Fan Fest right here in Louisville, in celebration of their 25th season and the grand opening of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The event will feature a free community concert headlined by recording artist and Oscar nominee John McLaughlin. The players will be available for autographs, and fans can also meet and greet cheerleaders and Blue, the Colts’ mascot. Fans can register to win free tickets to a Colts pre-season game, pick up free giveaways and register kids for the Colts Kids Club. Tom Zupancic, the vice president of sales and marketing for the Colts, says that these fan fests are a way for the team to bring fans together and thank them for their continued support. “We want our fans all across the state to be able to touch the Colts franchise in their own backyards,” he said. —Jane Mattingly
Fourth Street Live
Free; 5 p.m.
Friday, June 13
Wussy
6th & Oak Studio Collective, local home to Dr. Sketchy’s figure-drawing sessions, hosts bands as well. Wussy, from Cincinnati, combines Ass Ponys’ Chuck Cleaver’s kick-ass guitar and warbling falsetto with Lisa Walker’s hauntingly honest delivery of the duo’s quirky lyrics. Joined by bassist/utility man Mark Messerly and drummer Dawn Burman, this band has garage-band guts and folk-art heart to go with their intellect. With four stars from Rolling Stone, Spin and Blender, the only complaint about Wussy is that they don’t get out enough. Here’s your chance. Second Story Man and Chris Brokaw (from Codeine, dude) open. —Britany Baker
6th & Oak Studio Collective
Sixth & Oak sts.
$5; 9 p.m.
Friday, June 13
Garrison Starr
A nice girl — just had to be a little bitter, it’s what modern songstresses do … Was that the impression given by Garrison Starr’s songs in the middle of the decade? Her Girl That Killed September release last year blasted away a few layers that — while often substantial and/or charming — had begun to crowd out the woman herself. Now, here’s the strange part of it all: A lot of said layering was subtle. It gave some space to Starr’s thoughtful and unique grace notes of instrumentation or voice. The newer material prefers to give off hooks by the handful, and ask questions later. You can more frequently feel the drive — even in the quieter moments. This Mississippian who tried L.A., then dusted herself off and settled in Nashville, is a regular and welcome visitor to these parts. The same’s true for Cincinnati duo Ellery, who are also on this underpriced bill at The Rudyard Kipling. —T.E. Lyons
Rudyard Kipling
422 W. Oak St.
636-1311
$10; 8 p.m.
Friday, June 13
Downtown Theatre Hop
Friday the 13th is often a taboo sort of day. Some people choose to stay home, clinging to their superstitions and being overly concerned with their safety. Encouragement must influence the public, though, on the 13th of this month, as it marks the premiere of Louisville’s first-ever Theatre Hop. Much like the other hops and crawls in this city, its purpose is to display the perks of the thriving theater scene and instill a sense of community in an entertaining atmosphere. Jo Self, a self-proclaimed theater-freak, has been yearning for an opportunity like this for a long time. “I’ve always wanted to see something like this happen,” she says. “I know it’s been talked about, and I’m all about promoting Louisville and showing its hidden gems, and I think the theater in this area is a hidden gem.”
The Theatre Hop takes place at four downtown venues and features local theater companies, including Catclaw Theatre and the improv troupe The Indicators. Best of all, it’s free. Check your ’stitions at the door. —Jess Mahanes
BBC Taproom (636 E. Main St.)
Paul Paletti Gallery (713 E. Market St.)
Jenicca’s (636 E. Market St.)
Primo (445 E. Market St.)
Free; 6 p.m.
Friday, June 13
Louisville Ghost Walk
In Robert Parker’s six years as Mr. Ghost Walker, he has shared a number of strange experiences with his guests on the Downtown Louisville Ghost Walk. Even though the route hasn’t changed, Parker sees or hears of some bizarre new occurrence almost weekly. “There’s been quite a bit of activity at the Seelbach in the past week,” he says. “Guests and employees have reported seeing a figure of a lady in the Oak Room Restaurant.”
The two most popular places for paranormal activity in downtown Louisville, according to Parker, are the Seelbach and the Brown Hotel, both of which his character, Mr. Ghost Walker, will guide you through on his Downtown Louisville Ghost Walk. Parker says the Brennan House is also full of activity, and he’s even had guests photograph apparitions there during his tour.
The 90-minute tour takes you to several downtown landmarks, where Mr. Ghost Walker tells ghost stories about each building in a historical context. The Downtown Louisville Ghost Walk runs annually from May to November, but it’s also an excellent idea for anyone looking to get a little shaken up this Friday the 13th. —Aaron Frank
Brown Hotel (departure)
Fourth & Broadway
689-5117
www.louisvilleghostwalks.com
$10; 7:30 p.m. (reservations required)
June 13-15
Greek Festival
Louisville’s Greek Festival is celebrating 20 years with its annual event of authentic food, drink, music and vendors. The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church gathers top-quality restaurants, live bands and costumed dancers for a weekend promoting all things Greek. This year, Lee Nourtsis and his Neo Ehos Band from Cincinnati are slated to perform. And, as always, games and entertainment are provided for the kids, and there’ll be plenty of booths to purchase Greek art, jewelry, clothing and more.
But let’s not kid ourselves — it’s all really about the food, isn’t it? Greek Fest vendor Emily Digenis agrees. “Our success is due, in large part, to our wide variety of outstanding authentic Greek food and pastries prepared by 80 or so members,” she says. An adventurous attendee will discover delectables such as festival favorite Lamb Shank Dinner and á la carte items including Moussaka and Ouzo Cake. Even a less daring foodie probably won’t be able to say no to a thick slice of baklava. —Cassie Book
The Belvedere
Fifth & Main sts.
$2; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Fri.-Sat.), noon-7 p.m. (Sun.)
Saturday, June 14
SalsaFest
Salsa Dance Louisville kicks off its first SalsaFest this weekend at The Vernon on Story Avenue. The event came about as a way to help an important figure in Louisville’s salsa dance community. Teresa Balisteri, a salsa dance instructor and event promoter, was attacked and seriously injured outside of her home three months ago. Consequently, she was forced to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery on her face. Balisteri’s commitment to Louisville’s salsa dancing community has not been forgotten, though, and many of her close friends have come together to help Balisteri pay her costly medical bills by organizing the inaugural SalsaFest.
SalsaFest will feature live salsa music provided by two local groups, the Salsa Rhythms Band and Cosa Seria. Instructors from Salsa Dance Louisville will also be on hand, offering lessons to those unfamiliar with the craze. SalsaFest also marks the beginning of bi-weekly dance parties at The Vernon, which will be held on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
Louisville’s salsa-dance community has grown considerably over the last few years, partly as a result of Balistreri’s work, but organizers hope the event will help bring attention to Balistreri’s situation and encourage more people to get involved in salsa dancing. —Aaron Frank
The Vernon
1575 Story Ave.
584-8460
$10; 7:30 p.m.
Through July 19
Art quilts of Juanita Yeager
When most people think of art featuring gardens and flora, they visualize the lush paintings of Monet or the sensuous still-life photographs of Mapplethorpe. Fiber art is not a close third. But with the art quilts of Juanita Yeager, we may have to rethink that.
The more than 30 quilts in her “Pathways and Stepping Stones” exhibit were inspired by the nature in gardens that Yeager had visited. Some of the works feature graphic abstracted shapes, while others are stylized representations of flowers and trees. The wall hangings are large and colorful, full of the outdoors that has been brought indoors. It’s nothing to sneeze at — literally. — CONTACT _Con-419CB26F17 c s l Jo Anne Triplett
Carnegie Center for Art and History
201 E. Spring St., New Albany
(812) 944-7336
www.carnegiecenter.org
