Clclt.com | July 14 - July 20, 2016 Vol. 30, No. 21
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NEWS EDITOR • Ryan Pitkin rpitkin@clclt.com STAFF WRITER • Madeline Lemieux FILM CRITIC • Matt Brunson mattonmovies@gmail.com THEATER CRITIC • Perry Tannenbaum perrytannenbaum@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS • Corbie Hill, Erin TracyBlackwood, Vivian Carol, Charles Easley, Chrissie Nelson, Page Leggett, Alison Leininger, Sherrell Dorsey, Dan Savage, Aerin Spruill, Chuck Shepherd, Jeff Hahne
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Andrew zaeh
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Lindsey Stirling performs at Ovens Auditorium on July 19.
cover story say namaste to vir das: Mumbai-based comic talks culture, standup and controversy. By Anita Overcash This week’s cover photo is courtesy of personal publicity.
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News&VIEWS An open letter to the president: A cry for help after another week of police violence. By megan wolford 11 Trouble hunter 12 The Blotter 13 News of the Weird
14
Food Tamales year-round: Tamaleria Laurita offers a mix of Mexican favorites.
By chrissie nelson 16 three-course spiel
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Arts&Ent Dixie longate returns: Beyond Tupperware at a Mobile honky-tonk.
By perry tannenbaum 23 Film Review
28
Music
Beyond closed doors: Matt Hylom finds
home for songs in the Cloud. By Anita Overcash 30 Film Review 32 soundboard
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Odds&Ends
18 Top 10 Things To Do 34 Marketplace 34 Nightlife 35 Crossword 36 Savage Love 38 Horoscope
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News
Feature
Demika Wallace, cousin of Germonta Wallace, who was killed by CMPD officers in January, holds autopsy diagrams of his 26 bullet wounds as she speaks at an event at Marshall Park on July 11.
An open letter to the president A cry for help after another week of police violence By Megan Wolford
[Editor’s Note: I saw pieces of the following letter as Megan wrote it on July 8 following the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of police. After she shared excerpts of the letter on Twitter, I reached out in hopes she would be willing to share the letter with our readers before sending it off. She agreed, and hopes others will be inspired to send similar letters sharing their feelings on what has been happening to the black community. Megan is on Twitter @WHOAdelameg.]
G
reetings Obama,
President
Barack
I wish this were not a letter I was sending so close to the end of your presidency, as I do not have faith in either prospective presidential candidate to intervene with this epidemic of genocide on the African American community. In December 1962, Bayard Rustin and A. Phillip Randolph began planning the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Unfortunately, our community still suffers 10 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
from the issue they planned to address, but in 2016 there is another problem that must be eradicated. I am writing this letter in hopes that I may receive direction on the necessary steps to organize the March On Washington 2016. I know that John F. Kennedy stated his opposition to the march and it still commenced, therefore I will not back down from carrying out the dire process of organizing this event. Slavery was abolished in 1865 and approximately 15 years later Jim Crow laws were enforced to inflict terror and submission in African-Americans. The laws
were enforced openly and spanned well into the 1970’s as so many discriminating laws had to be dismantled to give African Americans and other minorities equal rights and protection under the law. I am sure you are well aware of this travesty. Throughout each era of systematic racism, predominately African-American organizations were created to serve the struggling black community, which was struggling mentally, emotionally and financially. That racism still prevails is a slap in the face to people who wholeheartedly interact with pure hearts and, most importantly, to all the people that
died and fought for our equal protection under the law. President Obama, it is daunting and tiresome to feel helpless against the disregard of black life in this country as a black woman. I have not recovered from any of the recent officer-involved shootings, which in the age of social media are available for the world to see within seconds. Each time I watch one of these videos, it feels like my heart is being ripped from my chest. With each incident, I recall Emmet Till’s murderers going free, George Zimmerman being acquitted, Darren Wilson not being indicted for the
Views
Megan Wolford cold-blooded murder of Michael Brown, the officers that beat Rodney King getting off, and the countless amount of murderers that did not blink twice after they hung my ancestors from trees and left them for public display and ridicule. There are many forms of protest, and in context it is hard to figure out which form is necessary in each social revolution. People are emotional; they are filled with anger, hurt, self-doubt, helplessness and fear. I am not afraid. I am not afraid to stand up for myself and anyone else who needs me as a vessel. I graduated from North Carolina A&T State University and we have a history of opposing the powers that be to demand respect, equality and protection. I want to unite this country, which is in mourning, and structure us to be a vehicle of social reconstruction. I believe Americans have become too comfortable with the way we live our lives and that we do not understand the sacrifice it takes for a social revolution. People think about their jobs and how they will take off work or how seeing people stand up for themselves will affect their children. I am sorry Mr. President, but one has to inflict discomfort for efforts of change to be effective. I was raised by a mother who taught me the value of human life regardless of who it is. My heart mourns for so many different things, but over the past three years this epidemic has been picking away at my mind like petals of a dying flower. It is unfair and it is wrong and I am tired of our government not intervening in situations that call for the reformation of people’s minds as it pertains to their ability to harm the well-being of others. That notion can be applied to many situations that this government ignores. There is racism everywhere and your presidency did not lessen nor eliminate that notion.
There is clear statistical and visual data that proves that African Americans are not treated equally by law enforcement agencies and the virus causing this prejudice must be combated. We have the right as American citizens to protest injustice. Law enforcement officials are in clear need of training that delegates what a threat actually is versus what is perceived. The perception of African-Americans by nonpeople of color is clearly skewed, therefore merely existing as a black man or woman is detected as a threat. This MUST be addressed. There are thousands of police forces across the country but it is possible that each one be addressed — just as there is documentation for each legal citizen in this country — in this process of reformation. How barbaric is it to take an innocent person’s life while knowing you are recording it? It is not the job of the police to hand down punishment; that is why different branches of the government were established. If someone is innocent until proven guilty, why are police taking away due process? It is a violation of civil rights. To conclude, I hope that this letter reaches you and can give you a clear understanding of the urgency needed to address and eliminate this plague from our country. The state of Georgia just allowed the Ku Klux Klan, an openly hate-based group, to adopt a highway. On Tuesday, I had a conversation with a coworker who told me that driving across the country helps Americans to understand how free we are; that we can drive without having to stop at checkpoints, or being killed because we are in a war zone. What message do you think it sends to African Americans each time they pass the sign that reads “Highway adopted by Ku Klux Klan?” Better yet, why is the Ku Klux Klan allowed to exist? The First Amendment should not protect evil. They are an established hate group. People to try to juxtapose the KKK with the Black Panthers, but like every black organization created, that organization was formed for our survival and sustainability, not hate. Even after your presidency, it is imperative we have a respected voice in the community that actually cares about us and what is happening. The majority of politicians cannot empathize with us, nor do they seem to want to do anything about this issue. I am pleading with you on behalf of my culture, my family, my friends and anyone else traumatized and victimized by this plague to help us. We need your help. You campaigned with “Change You Can Believe In” and you cannot leave the Oval Office knowing this wound was left open to fester and rot. Please Help Us, Megan Devon Wolford
troublehunter
Pulling the wool over Recent legislation restricting access to body camera footage renders them moot Last week, the world watched Alton
a model for the nation on proper policing and Sterling and Philando Castile die at the hands equal application of the law. “When we talk about the pillars of of police. Their deaths sparked national outrage and inspired a lone gunman in Dallas 21st century Policing Task Force that the to seek retribution by killing five police president brought together, the first one is having us establish trust and legitimacy in officers there and wounding another seven. Never before has the divide between our profession,” Putney said. The sentiment was greatly appreciated, police and citizens in our country been more apparent. While law enforcement and especially since they came one day after the community leaders across the country are Dallas shootings, but if Putney were truly calling for unity and trust-building between committed to making Charlotte a national police and their communities, lawmakers in example of good policing, he would have Raleigh are seeking to erode public confidence lobbied the governor to veto HB 972. The bill undermines the very pillars he says he’s and police transparency. Governor Pat McCrory signed House Bill committed to. Public oversight is essential for trust and 972 into law on July 11. The law exempts police legitimacy. The public allows police to utilize body camera footage from public records tools of arrest, imprisonment and laws. Journalists and the public even death in order to do their no longer have access to police jobs. It is unacceptable for the body camera footage; footage public to not have, in return, funded by taxpayers for the oversight obtained with all purpose of police oversight modern tools available — and accountability. In tools we pay for. a statement that day, Legislators who McCrory had the nerve supported HB 972 to say the bill promotes claimed that releasing transparency. body camera footage In 2015, Charlotte would hurt investigations City Council voted to erin Tracyand proceedings, but those spend over $7 million on Blackwood concerns are completely body cameras for CMPD. The unfounded and being used as same year, the White House a smokescreen. Federal and state invested $75 million nationwide for body cameras for local police departments. Freedom of Information laws include adequate Attorney General Loretta Lynch and President exemptions to protect investigations. And still, there are issues with body cameras Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing both praised the use of cameras as a tool for that go beyond HB 972. An investigation by the Charlotte Observer last May revealed that, protecting both police and the public. When officers know their actions are out of four fatal officer-involved shootings in being recorded, they’re less likely to stray Charlotte, body cameras only caught footage from protocol. The footage can also show of one incident. There have been high-profile civilians the tough situations and hard shootings across the nation in which cameras decisions police officers regularly face on fell off (as police claimed in the case of Alton the job. In a police interaction gone wrong, Sterling) or were manually turned off. Better body camera footage provides a way for the legislation regarding this technology would public to seek accountability or for officers to include laws that mandate body cameras depict their point of view. It’s a win-win for all be properly affixed to uniforms and forbid officers from turning them off when having an parties — at least it should be. HB 972, however, renders body cameras interaction with a citizen. When government agencies want to impotent. Without public access to footage, officers lose the incentive to police their own monitor citizens and we object, their argument conduct. Public distrust of police is further is, “If you’re doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide.” When the public needs to increased and the division grows. During a press conference last Friday that monitor police, they do everything in their has since gone viral, Charlotte-Mecklenburg power to prohibit it. What are they afraid of? Police Chief Kerr Putney gave an impassioned backtalk@clclt.com speech about steps CMPD is taking to become clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 11
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they found a half-pound of weed in the car.
Stripped Tips weren’t enough for one dancer at a local strip club last week, according to a man who had spent an evening there and apparently didn’t spend enough money. The man told police that he was walking out of the club at 2:30 a.m. when a woman walked up to him and asked him why he didn’t ask her to dance for him when he was inside. She then hugged him and walked away. He claims that as he saw the suspect drive off he noticed that the $3,500 gold chain he had been wearing was no longer on his neck. He told police he believes she stole it.
The Kitchen Sink A 37-year-old
Cloud Killers People like to use the
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Fourth of July as a reason to shoot their guns in the air in city limits without worrying about their neighbors calling the police. What they rarely worry about, however, is which of those neighbors is going to have to deal with the consequences. A 27-yearold man in Druid Hills was lying in bed just after midnight on July 3 when a bullet came through the roof of his bedroom. Luckily, it landed next to him instead of in him.
That’s Deep One man decided to aim a
Interested in networking to find out how to make a pop-up business partnership work for you? Join us! for a lively panel discussion Highlighting benefits of working together in unique partnerships! Featuring: PaperHouse Theatre's Nicia Carla & Frock Shop's Caroline Cook-Frers Chickspeare's Sheila Snow Proctor & NoDa Brewing Company's Suzie Ford donna scott productions & The Charlotte Art League's Cindy Connelly
Facilitated by Anita Overcash, Editor at Creative Loafing.
Monday July 25th 6:30 - 8 p.m. Wine and light appetizers will be served. Free admission, but please RSVP Limited seating available RSVP: http://bit.ly/28ZsNAa
Donna Scott Productions’ Entrepreneurs in Business and Arts Speaker Series Charlotte Art League 1517 Camden Road in South End
little lower with his gun in Hickory Grove last week. Police responded to a shots fired call near a manmade lake after a man decided that shooting fish in a barrel was too easy for him. A witness told officers that an unknown man approached the lake and fired a handgun into it multiple times before leaving the scene.
Locked Out A 41-year-old woman in
South End filed a police report last week that leaves some questions unanswered. The woman told officers that someone stole a package from her front porch before she had the chance to open it. While that crime in itself is common enough, it’s the contents of the package that raises questions. The woman told police that the keys to her house and car were in the box, but also valued those stolen contents at $500.
Utilized A utility service company filed
a report after someone allegedly dug into the ground and stole a radio detection transmitter used for underground utility detection. The piece of equipment was listed as costing $900, although it’s unclear if there’s much demand for one on the black market.
Ditch the Stash Police came across a
vehicle that appeared to be left for dead on the side of LaSalle Street following a wreck. Officers said they found the car wrecked into a tree and it looked as if it had struck a gate before hitting the tree. The driver had fled the scene by the time officers found the car, but they left something behind. Officers said 12 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
woman called police after returning home to find that someone had cleaned her out of an odd assortment of her belongings. The woman told officers that someone entered her home and made off with a tablet, a blood glucose monitor, souvenir bracelets from Jamaica, a glass jar full of coins and multiple condoms.
Sacked A woman who already knew she had a horrible ex-boyfriend had to find out last week that she also had a horrible boss. The woman told officers that a man was repeatedly calling her workplace just to harass her. At the end of June, after two full months of harassment, her boss allegedly fired her because of the calls. No ID Police responded to Ramah Church
Road for a trespassing call after two juveniles were banned from a property and needed to be escorted out. Things got confusing, however, when the juveniles’ guardian came to pick them up. Police asked her who she was, and she allegedly got caught lying to the police about her identity. It’s now safe to say that no one in the family is allowed on the whole road any more.
Timeout A 57-year-old woman had different issues last week with her juvenile son at their east Charlotte home. The woman told officers that she was arguing with her son and when she went into the bathroom he blocked the door off so she was stuck inside.
Take It All A man didn’t stop at just stealing food when he dined and ditched at Steamers Sports Pub in east Charlotte. Management at the restaurant told police that a man ate $9 worth of food and drank $20 worth of drinks before leaving without paying his tab. After he left, they realized that he also made off with the darts from the dartboard. Cat Scratch Fever A 38-year-old
man in the University area after he was assaulted by another man who wouldn’t stop until he drew blood. The victim told officers that the man scratched him with his fingernails, and when that didn’t work he tried to cut him with a pair of safety scissors. The man refused treatment from Medic, as he only suffered superficial scratches.
Threat of the Week A suspect in east
Charlotte decided he wanted to go through the generations of one family after already apparently assaulting one young man. A 52-year-old woman filed a police report stating that someone called her and said, “I’m not playing. All of you are going down. Yeah, old lady, I’m going to fuck you up like I did your grandson.”
News
News of the weird
By Chuck Shepherd
Blessings, Guaranteed More and
more churches — “hundreds,” according to a June Christianity Today report — offer hesitant parishioners a “money-back guarantee” if they tithe 10 percent or more of their income for 90 days but then feel that God blesses them insufficiently in return. The South Carolina megachurch NewSpring instituted such a program in the 1990s and claims that, of 7,000 recent pledgers, “fewer than 20” expressed dissatisfaction with the Lord.
New World Order A leading Chinese orthopedic surgeon continues to believe that “full-body” transplants are the next big thing in medicine, despite worldwide skepticism about both the science and the ethics. The plan for Dr. Ren Xiaoping of Harbin Medical University calls for removing both heads (the deceased donor’s and the live recipient’s), connecting the blood vessels, stabilizing the new neck, and “bath(ing)” spinal-cord nerve endings chemically so they will connect. Critics say it is impossible to “connect” spinal-cord nerves. According to a June New York Times dispatch, doctors regularly denounce China’s ethical laxities, though Chinese officials term such denunciations “envy” at China’s achievements. Suspicions Confirmed In June, District Attorney Jerry Jones in Monroe, Louisiana, dropped drug and gun charges against college football players Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones — who play for University of Alabama but are from Monroe — declaring that the “main reason” for his decision is that “I refuse to ruin the lives of two young men who have spent their adolescence and teenage years working and sweating, while we were all in the air conditioning.” Turnout A Philadelphia “casting” agency
solicited “extras” to show up at polling stations on the April 26 Pennsylvania primary day for candidate Kevin Boyle, who was running against state Sen. John Sabatina — offering $120 each, plus lunch and an open bar. Since most polling-site “electioneering” is illegal, the probable job was merely to give voters the impression that Boyle was very popular. (Sabatina narrowly won.)
Good Cop Bad Cop In January, a
Chicago Tribune investigation revealed only 124 of the roughly 12,000 Chicago cops were responsible for the misconduct complaints since 2009 that resulted in settlements — with one officer, for example, identified in seven. A June Chicago Reporter study claimed the city paid out $263 million total on misconduct litigation during 2012-2015.
Litigious Societies Insurance agent John Wright filed a lawsuit in Will County, Illinois, in June over teenagers playing “ding dong ditch,” in which kids ring a doorbell but run away before the resident answers. The lawsuit claims that bell-ringer Brennan Papp, 14, caused Wright “severe emotional distress, anxiety, and weight loss,” resulting in at least $30,000 of lost income.
and Hansen thought the stunt would call attention to urine’s unique properties. He confessed later that the “urine” was just food coloring with vinegar added, that he had used the stunt in previous classes, and that he usually admits the ruse at the next class session. Nonetheless, Hansen’s department chair suggested he retire the concept.
‘Til Death The ex-boyfriend of Nina Zgurskaya filed a lawsuit in Siberia after she broke up with him for his reluctance to “pop the question” after a two-year courtship. The man, not named in a dispatch from Moscow, demanded compensation for his dating expenses. The trial court ruled against him, but he is appealing.
Police Report In Nashville, Tennessee, in June, sex worker Jonisia Morris, 25, was charged with robbing her client by — according to the police report — removing the man’s wallet from his trousers while he received oral sex seated in his car, extracting his debit card, and returning the wallet to his pocket without his noticing.
The Job of the Researcher A team of researchers is following about 30 tabbies, calicos and others, recording their moves and sounds to somehow learn whether housecats have dialects in their meows and alter other patterns of stress and intonation when they “speak” to other cats or to humans. In explaining the project, linguist Robert Eklund of Sweden’s Linkoping University personally sounded out “a pretty wide range of meows to illustrate his points,” wrote a New York Magazine interviewer in April. Eklund is already an expert on feline purring at Purring.org — although from a distance, as he admits to being allergic to cats. The Passing Parade Quixotic Malaysian designer Moto Guo made a splash at Milan’s fashion week in June when he sent model after model to the runway with facial blotches that suggested they had zits or skin conditions. One reporter was apparently convinced, concluding, “Each man and woman on the runway looked miserable.” Out of Control (1) Nelson Hidalgo, 47, was arrested in New York City in June and charged with criminal negligence and other crimes for parking his van near Citi Field during a Mets game and drawing players’ complaints when he ramped up the van’s 80-speaker sound system. “I know it’s illegal, but it’s the weekend,” said Hidalgo. “I usually (just) get a ticket.” (2) Trina Hibberd of Mission Beach, Australia, finally showed concern about the python living inside her walls that she has known about for 15 years but (perhaps “Australian-ly”) had chosen to ignore. In June, it wandered out — a 15-foot-long, 90-pound Scrub Python she calls “Monty.” “All hell broke loose,” a neighbor said later, as snake-handlers took Monty to a more appropriate habitat. Wait, What? Brigham Young University professor Jason Hansen apologized in May after coaxing a student (for extra credit) to drink a small vial of his urine in class. The physiology session was on kidney function,
Fetishes on Parade Recidivist Jesse Johnson, 20, was charged again in June for suspicion of disturbing the peace after he crawled underneath a woman’s car at an Aldi store’s parking lot in Lincoln, Nebraska, waited for her to return, and then, as she was stepping into the car, reaching out to fondle her ankle. It was Johnson’s third such charge this year, and he initially tried to deny the actual touch, instead claiming that he was underneath the car “simply for the visual.” Johnson acknowledged to the judge that he needs help and that he had been in counseling but had run out of money. At press time, the status of the latest incident was still pending. Undignified
Deaths Australian lawyer William Ray was killed on May 22 when he was thrown from his all-terrain “quad bike” in rural Victoria state and pinned underneath. Ray had come to prominence by representing Honda as the company balked at mandatory installation of anti-roll bars on quad bikes.
Stroke of Bad Luck A 48-year-old employee at North Central Bronx Hospital in New York City died of a heart attack at work on June 7, under circumstances indicating that he was viewing a pornographic video at the moment of his death, according to police.
NOTW Classic (August 2012) When
the assistant manager arrived early on June 26 (2012) to open up the Rent-A-Center in Brockton, Massachusetts, he encountered a man on the ground with his head stuck underneath the heavy metal loading-bay door as the result of a failed burglary attempt during the night. “Hang tight!” the manager consoled the trapped man. “The police are on their way.” Manuel Fernandes, 53, was arrested.
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clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 13
Food
Feature
Tamales year-round Tamaleria Laurita offers a mix of Mexican favorites by chrissie nelson
E
very year, my family eats tamales for Christmas dinner. My mom hails from Dallas, Texas, and in true Texan tradition, serves the corn husked wrapped delicacies alongside our prime rib, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies and other holiday fare. Dating back to the Aztecs in the 15th century and rooted in Mexican culture, tamales have always been served at large festivals and celebrations (due to their complexity and the time it takes to make them). Tamales are now a tradition that has been associated with Christmas throughout Mexico and the American Southwest, and the traditional favorite now adorns many Texas tables during the Christmas season. Our holiday tamales come to our family’s home in Northern Virginia from Dallas in a frozen box by way of the United States Postal Service, because if you’re looking for something truly authentic, you should get it directly from the source. The good news for me (and my mom when she comes to visit me in Charlotte) is that I don’t have to wait until Christmas or for USPS to get authentic tamales in Charlotte anymore. A few months ago, I was scrolling through Twitter and discovered some of the best news I’ve heard in a long time. There is a woman in Charlotte who arrives at her restaurant at 7 a.m. to concoct hand-made tamales. That woman, Laura Gonzalez Perez, works at Tamaleria Laurita. The eatery serves up a variety of fresh, flavorful tamales, made from scratch every morning. Make a beeline for the small strip mall at the corner of Arrowood and Old Pineville roads (just near the Arrowood LYNX stop and the Southern Charlotte branch of the DMV) to get your choice of six kinds of tamales, plus other Mexican and Central American favorites like tacos, tortas, enchiladas and empanadas. The small, simple, no frills establishment boasts no more than five to six dining tables where you can enjoy your tamales and other 14 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
Chrissie nelson
Tacos (chorizo and pork) from Tamaleria Laurita. goodies, topped with house-made hot sauce that packs a punch and a ton of flavor. If you have the self-control to wait to indulge in the
tasty tamales until you get home (or if all of the tables are taken and there’s nowhere to sit) “to-go” is also a viable option, but the
delicious smells coming from the Styrofoam takeaway boxes will tempt you the entire drive home.
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Tamales from Tamaleria Laurita.
Tamaleria Laurita 809 E. Arrowood Road, Suite 2100. 704-595-7306.
Speaking of simple, they make it easy to order, with labels and photos of menu items lined methodically along the counter that’s home to the cash register. The man behind the counter is friendly and patient; and while my ordering experience left me wishing I had kept up with Spanish classes after high school and college (my accent is embarrassingly awful), don’t be afraid to gesture and point to photos of menu items if your Spanish is a little rusty. Tamales are a must order; after all, the restaurant is named after the corn masa and meat bundles that are individually wrapped and then steamed. We tried three of Tamaleria Laurita’s six varieties, pork, chicken and cheese.
chrissie nelson
Unfortunately we did not get our paws on some of their mole sauce tamales (lesson learned: if you’re pining for mole sause tamales, you’ll have to get there early and not 30 minutes before closing time). While the tamales are a meal on their own (three should fill you up), bring a dining companion and round out your meal with tacos, where you can stay safe with chicken or pastor (pork) or be a little adventurous and try chorizo, lengua (tounge) or tripa (tripe). While you’ll be full, you may not be able to say no to enchiladas, a burrito, tortas or an order of empanadas; no one ever complained about leftovers and you’ll totally make your coworkers jealous when you show up to lunch with the tamales and empanadas you were too full to consume the night before. Chrissie Nelson is a public defender by day and a food blogger by night. Read about her foodventures, restaurant reviews and other Charlotte musings at offtheeatenpathblog.com. backtalk@clclt.com
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Offering Tours & Tastings clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 15
Food
three-course spiel
Hot for haiti Finding island time on Monroe Road By Madeline lemieux
For former New Yorker Bernadette Jean-Francois, moving to Charlotte was a welcoming change of pace. “I was working full-time, going to school at night, having children. It was getting expensive,” she recalls. “My family said, ‘Let’s explore a different location,’ and we fell in love with Charlotte.” Still, something was missing for Haitianborn Jean-Francois: the taste of home. Though Caribbean cuisine had carved out a niche in New York, Jean-Francois realized it was harder to find in the Queen City. In an attempt to fill the void, Jean-Francois joined her sister-in-law, Edith, in opening a Caribbean takeaway. Though the to-go shop eventually closed, it planted the seeds for a bigger vision: “I said, ‘Let’s do something more elegant, something nice where people can sit down and we play music and have a live band.’” Jean-Francois’ vision of a creating a Caribbean flavor that transcends the menu got traction when her husband found a vacant spot on Monroe Road. Joining forces again with sister-in-law Edith, Bernadette opened Island Hub. Creative Loafing: How did you bring elements of Caribbean nightlife to Island Hub, and what sort of experience did you create? Jean-Francois: We have a live band every Friday night. We have a DJ who plays all different types of music — Caribbean, Zouk, reggae. Sometimes we have Latin music and salsa. It’s been great. We’re open until two a.m., and we serve food until the last minute. People come in after two still wanting food, and I say, ‘No, I’m tired, I want to go to sleep.’ But people can buy food up until two in the morning. The soccer [game broadcasting] has been huge, too. How do you introduce Haitian food to someone that has never tried it before, and what’s a good entry-level dish to try? We have a lot of the same culture as New Orleans. We’re a melting pot of different areas. Cuban, Islanders, Dominican, Latino… that kind of culture. We mix a little bit of the West Indies. That’s why people from Florida are familiar with the food and they look for it. We had a guy from Miami who had been looking for this food forever and was depressed that he couldn’t find it. He came here jumping for joy when he saw we serve goat. He said, ‘I’ll see you every single day!’ 16 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
madeline lemieux
Edith and Bernadette Jean-Francois of Island Hub.
Island Hub 3723 Monroe Road. 980-585-1113. islandhubrestaurant.com.
and he has been! We have a lot of flavor, a lot of spicy. Our traditional griot is major. It’s a fried pork. Or legume. That’s a famous dish. It’s beef braised with eggplant, cabbage, carrots, chayote, spinach and carrots all mushed together. It’s great with white rice. If you’re into seafood, try the red snapper fish. What inspired the recipes you chose for your menu? I learned to cook from family. I was always a great cook; entertainment was always at my house. When I cook for family, I cook the same things we have here. I had to narrow the menu down because it was getting too big and I wanted the cook to be comfortable. I have my sister-in-law and some good people here, and we team together to provide a good experience. When we get the service right, then I can add little things on top. Make some surprises, so people don’t get bored with the same food. I’m big on customer service, and I want to get good people in here. When you come here, you’re like family. We have a very friendly environment, all about love, we want to share that love through food. Everybody’s welcome, not just people from the Caribbean. All races, all colors, everyone comes here and they enjoy it and they’re very happy about.
All You Can Eat
Sushi and
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A New approach to Buffet where Everything is made to order
Lunch $12.95 Dinner $19.95 19905 W Catawba Ave #109 Cornelius, NC 28031 (704) 997-5998 sakuraincornelius.com Sun - Thu: 11AM - 10 PM Fri & Sat: 11AM - 10:30 PM
COME HUNGRY, LEAVE HAPPY!
DISHING FRESH FOOD AND BEVERAGE NEWS WEEKLY. clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 17
friday
15 Charlotte does marvin gaye What: When Charlotte musicians put together a tribute show, it’s not the backyard or basement variety. They do it right every time, so expect no different here. Antonio Diaz has rounded up some of the Queen City’s finest to pay tribute to the legendary soul singer — his own Groove 8, Bless These Sounds’ Derrick Hines, Micaila Milburn (Plaza Family Band), The Hawthornes and plenty of others. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. More: $7-$10. 704-376-3737. eveningmuse.com. — Jeff Hahne
18 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
THINGS TO DO
TOP ten friday
friday
15 Goodyear Arts Preview Party What: This arts show and party is brought to you by the Amys — Bagwell and Herman — and Graham Carew. Previously, they’ve turned the defunct Goodyear building in Uptown into a stomping grounds for artists of all kinds. Now, they’re preparing to turn an empty building on North College Street into another artist haven. This round features artwork by Leah Mulligan Cabinum, Micah Cash, Matthew Steele, Robert Childers, Andrea Vail and more. When: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Where: 516 N. College St. More: Free admission. — Anita Overcash
Sister Art Friday
friday
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friday
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Hoshicon
Sister Act
Two to Watch
What: This annual three–day festival celebrates Japanese culture, anime and video games, but it’s so much more than that. There’s shopping, gaming, panels, cosplay contests and more. Plus, you never know what kinds of elaborate costumes you’ll see while you’re there. I spy a geisha with technicolor hair, a fluffy, colorful dress and funky stockings.
What: Brace yourself, sisters! CPCC’s Summer Theatre is bringing Deloris and her holy choir to the stage for the season’s closing production, Sister Act. Based on the iconic film of the same name, this musical comedy has received international acclaim and earned five Tony awards for its stint on Broadway. It’s a timeless show that’s worth rejoicing over.
What: This exhibit presents two local artists that you should be watching. The first is Nicholas Napolentano, a hyperrealist figurative with a message. The flyer features two semi-nude women in bed in a fetal-like position. The second artist is Matthew Steele, who creates wooden sculptures that resemble complex manmade infrastructures.
When: July 15, 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; July 16, 9 a.m.-1 a.m.; July 17, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: The Westin Charlotte, 601 S. College St. More: hoshicon.org
When: July 15-16, 7:30 p.m.; July 17, 2:30 p.m.; July 20, 7 p.m.; July 21-23, 7:30 p.m. Where: CPCC’s Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. More: $10-$22. http://tix.cpcc.edu.
When: 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Exhibit runs through Sept. 10. Where: Jerald Melbery Gallery, 625 S. Sharon Amity Road. More: Free admission. 704-3653000. jeraldmelberg.com.
— Overcash
— Madeline Lemieux
— Overcash
Ray LaMontagne SATURDAY
Two to Watch Friday
Brian Stowell
News Arts Food Music Odds
Freakwater Sunday
saturday
Saturday
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sunday
16
monday
tuesday
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Ray LaMontagne
Kyle Perkins Band
Freakwater
Mo’ Betta
Lindsey Stirling
What: Don’t let the lineup fool you. When it was announced that My Morning Jacket, sans Jim James, would be the backing band on this tour, MMJ fans’ ears perked up. The result is something less energetic than MMJ, yet with more life than the ordinary LaMontagne show. The musicians collaborated on the new album, Ouroboros, so that material is the focus.
What: There’s long been excitement around the release of Best Dressed Dead Man from the Kyle Perkins Band. Surrounding the folk/punk/blues/country spirit of Perkins (sometimes known as KP Soloman 5000) is a bevy of local talent including Buck Boswell and Geoff White (who play with Perkins as a trio), along with Tia Refait, Chris Slezak, and Jonathan and Stephanie Hughes.
What: Comprised of Janet Bean and Catherin Irwin, both on vocals and guitar, this longtime on-again, off-again duo started playing together in the late ‘80s. They reunited after a 20-year anniversary reissue of 1993’s Feels Like the Third Time and started playing together under the moniker Freakwater. Earlier this year they released a new album, Scheherazade.
What: This monthly series (slated to be held on the third Monday of each month) is presented by OnQ and offers an assortment of entertainment in a cabaret/variety show format. There’s spoken word, dance, film, comedy and live music from OnQ music director Tim Scott Jr. And it’s all hosted by OnQ’s artistic director and personable creative Quentin Talley, who will also perform with his backup band, The Soul Providers.
What: Acclaimed violinist Lindsey Stirling has one hell of a story. Her autobiography, The Only Pirate at the Party, released in 2015, is the best way to hear it in its fullest form — it documents her personal struggles with anorexia and her career in music. But if you aren’t one for reading, her versatility to dance and play the violin while delving into an assortment of musical genres will have you saying “hardy har har.”
When: 9 p.m. Where: The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road. More: $5. 704-398-0472. themilestoneclub.com.
When: 9 p.m. Where: Double Door Inn, 1218 Charlottetowne Ave. More: $12. 704-376-1446. doubledoorinn.com.
When: 8 p.m. Where: Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, 1000 N.C. Music Factory Blvd. More: $59.50-$69.50. 704-9168970.livenation.com. — Hahne
— Hahne
— Overcash
When: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Where: The Tavern, 300 E. Morehead St. More: $7 and up. eventbrite.com. — Overcash
When: 8 p.m. Where: Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. More: $33-$63. 704-372-3600. ovensauditorium.com. — Overcash
clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 19
Arts
cover story
Say Namaste to Vir Das Mumbai-based comic talks culture, standup and controversy By Anita Overcash
C
urry and spice don’t make everything nice. But for Vir Das, a standup comedian hailing from the heart of India, the aroma could be used to entice American readers unfamiliar with his act. Das’ mouth speaks sweetly and sarcastically about random subjects (from relationships and marriage to cross-cultural male/female differences and more), but his act is also geared towards his ethnic background and surroundings. On the side, he sings satirical scores — predominately in his rock outfit, dubbed as Alien Chutney. Overall, Das is currently one of India’s most successful comedians. But in America, which he refers to as “the Holy Grail of standup,” he’s largely unknown. “There’s a lovely kind of anonymity that comes with playing in America. People don’t know who you are there’s no pre-established context to who you are,” said Das, who performs in Charlotte at The Comedy Zone, July 14-16. Though Das is popular in India, he’s not a complete stranger in America. Largely because the country is brimming with different cultures and ethnicities; Indian being well represented. He appeals mostly to folks of Indian descent, but he welcomes all to attend his shows — noting that they won’t get lost in translation, though escaping the effects of culture shock is no guarantee. “In America, sometimes I have to end up explaining the references a little bit more, but apart from that it’s largely the same act. I’m kind of unapologetically Indian, so I don’t Americanize it too much.” The upcoming shows at The Comedy Zone will de Das’ first in North Carolina. Besides a spate of shows in Los Angeles, California, during a three-week tour in the U.S., he’ll be performing in Charlotte, one of three cities that he’s slated to visit on the side. He chose Charlotte after consulting with one of the most powerful tools on the planet: Google. In his search, he was looking for a city in North Carolina with a large Indian population. That being said, it’s obvious he hopes to draw fellow Indians out to 20 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
his shows. He emphasizes that he hopes “Indians will bring more Americans with them.” Even though Das makes references to his Indian ethnicity and culture, he also touches on subjects that most Americans can relate to. Das grew up in Nigeria, but attended boarding school in India then college in the United States. He graduated from Knox College in Illinois with a Bachelor’s degree; having double majored in economics and theater. Through theater he was introduced to the world of standup. For his senior thesis he wrote Brown Men Can’t Hump, a one-man show with comedic elements. “It’s kind of ironic because usually the first time you do standup you do about four to five minutes in front of a few people, but the first time I did it I ended up doing 90 minutes in front of 800 people,” Das said. He didn’t inform his parents of the theater classes he was taking until he was a year and a half through college. They urged him to stick with economics. He did — receiving a GPA of around 2.0/2.1 in economics and 3.8 in theater. “So, I barely scraped through [economics]” he recalls. Luckily, his theater degree paid off and after returning to Mumbai he was asked to star in several Bollywood films. These have prompted more appearances, some of the latest being appearances in flicks like Mastizaade and Santa Banta Pvt Ltd. In the next 12 to 15 months, three films starring Das are scheduled for release. “Bollywood is really good to do, especially for a comedy career,” Das said. “Being a comedian kind of short-cutted me into Bollywood and I got to skip the audition line.” When asked if he gives more prominence to himself as an actor or comedian, Das hesitates to answer directly. “I feel sleepy and jetlagged. That’s the best way to describe me,” he says with a laugh. He goes on to note that he can’t pick one career over the other because it would be ungrateful. “I’d never give up either one. I claim to be an actor but I got known because I’m a comedian.”
Vir Das performs at The Comedy Zone, July 14-16.
Photo courtesy of personal publicity
Photo courtesy of personal publicity
On the flipside of that, his acting career has introduced him to fans that in turn have followed his standup. “When you’re going outside of India, a lot of people are coming in to see you just because they’ve seen a movie,” says Das. “They may never have seen you on YouTube. They may never have seen you do standup, but they’ve seen a movie.” On top of starring in Bollywood movies, Das has been at the forefront of the rapid expansion of India’s English-speaking comedy scene. “I’m bankrupt because of it,” he laughs as we go on to discuss the Weird Ass Pajama Festival, a growing comedy festival stemming from his Weird Ass Comedy Company. The touring show gathers Indian comics from across the globe and gathers them in India for shows that range in size. “Pajama shows” occur in theaters with approximately 2,000 seats; “boxer shows” go down in clubs
with approximately 400 seats; and “brief shows,” are offered in smaller venues with around 50 seats. The festival has created a hot spot for comedy within the Indian subcontinent, but it’s also introduced Das to international Indian fanbases. Last year, Das performed 30 shows in 40 days within the U.S., where 27 of the 30 shows sold out. His comedy shows in India sell out on a regular basis, as well. In addition to standup, he regularly performs with his band Alien Chutney, a viral sensation turned full-fledged rock outfit. Das’ History of India: VIRitten is one of his largest selling Indian comedy shows of all time, having sold a quarter of a million tickets in the last four to five years. While Das has generated ample success within India, he’s also generated controversy in the country, which struggles with freedom of speech and where the lines between see
vir das p. 22 u
Photo courtesy of personal publicity
clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 21
Arts
cover story
Vir Das $20. July 14, 8 p.m.; July 15, 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; July 16, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 980-321-4702. cltcomedyzone.com.
Photo courtesy of personal publicity
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comedy and government are not clearly drawn. In 2015, when Das was performing a standup show in New Delhi, he was asked to stop the show midway through the act. The reason? Someone was offended by comments he made about the former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. “The larger your audiences tend to be, the more you have to think. The show we did in Delhi, I think there were about 3,000 people in the audience and it was at a big arena. 22 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
You’re always going to have somebody who gets pissed off,” Das said. “India is a billion people so somebody is going to get upset at some point, but when they want to do something about being upset, naturally they become a douche bag and call the cops. We had about 25 policemen show up at my show. We gave them a sandwich, we sat them down and they enjoyed the last 20 minutes of the show, so that kind of went away pretty fast.” Following the incident, Das wrote an open
letter that was published in India Express. In one part of the letter, he wrote “I don’t apologize for the subjects in my material because I consider myself an intelligent, moral and patriotic person. I will not change my material and I shouldn’t have to based on what government is in power or who is attending the show.” Das hasn’t had anymore incidences like he had in New Delhi since that show, but he does feel that part of what happened was partially due to standup being somewhat misunderstood in India. “We’re an early comedy market and we’re just adapting to satire and edgy comedy with political and religious references, etc.,” Das said. “I feel like the only solution to that is to do a lot more comedy so that people understand.” In India and across the globe, Das performs his standup in English, which makes his audiences diverse. Since he got a closer look at American culture during college, he sometimes makes references to things that caught his attention during his stay. In a past clip of a standup show that can be found on YouTube, he speaks about the idiotic euphemism “the birds and the bees.” Back in India, where you’d think expressions like this could be misunderstood, they usually come out crystal clear. “I think most of my audience is watching Game of Thrones or House of Cards and most of my audience is English-speaking,” he says. “We’re kind of all on the same page at this point.” In another clip, he sings a rendition of the Chinese proverb “Buy a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will fish for a life time,” adding his own philosophy to the mix: “I say, teach him to fish and then eat half his fish. It’s called outsourcing.” Das lists American comedians George Carlin, Eddie Izzard and Bill Cosby — carefully noting, “I’m a fan of his jokes, not his behavior” — as inspiring him with their standup. And like most folks in the entertainment industry, he’s had his fair share of being compared to other comedians. India Express referred to Das as “India’s answer to Jay Leno,” a description he didn’t appreciate. “To be honest with you, I was not too
Photo courtesy of personal publicity
excited about this description on two fronts. Number one, there are better comedians to be compared to. Also, it implies that Jay Leno is waiting for an answer from India and I think he has better things to do.” When asked about Aziz Ansari, a popular Indian-American comedian who hails from South Carolina, he’s quick to acknowledge Ansari’s success with comedy. But he also wants to set the record straight by distinguishing himself from comics like Ansari. “I think Indian-American comedians like Aziz Ansari and Russell Peters have done an amazing job of putting us on the map. They put Indian culture on the map. Having said that they are Indian-American comedians,” he said. “I look forward to showing Americans what an original Indian comedy voice is because that’s something they haven’t seen a lot of either. It’s usually the American version of India as opposed to India.” aovercash@clclt.com
Arts
film
Girl Power The ladies take charge in frisky new comedy By Matt Brunson
M
ike and Dave might be the ones who end up with their names in the title of the new comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (**1/2 out of four), but it’s the titanic trio of Tatiana, Alice and Jeanie who prove to be the marquee attractions. Based on a true story (which I suppose makes it cinematic kin to Gandhi and All the President’s Men more than to The Wedding Ringer and The Wedding Planner), this stars Zac Efron and Adam Devine as Dave and Mike Stangle, two brothers whose dateless status at family functions always results in the pair hitting on all available women and ruining the events with boozing, fireworks and other ill-planned shenanigans. But with their younger sister Jeanie (Sugar Lyn Beard) set to marry the decent if unexciting Eric (Sam Richardson) in Hawaii, the boys’ parents (Stephen Root and Stephanie Faracy) lay down the law: The two may only attend if they bring respectable dates who will hopefully keep them in line. And so off they go on an advertising blitz (they settle on Craigslist to make their primary push), offering an all-expenses-paid trip to the Aloha State for two lucky ladies. The candidates pour in (including two who do nothing but giggle and one who quickly reveals her racist roots), and the chosen survivors turn out to be Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza). What Dave and Mike don’t realize is that the pair aren’t the nice girls they desired but two aimless party animals who conned the boys into treating them to a sun’n’sand vacation. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates takes a while to settle into its groove, as exemplified by the painful sequence (shown in the trailer) in which the siblings get each other riled up while screaming that they do not get each other riled up. Luckily, such obvious Hangover-style scenes such as this one (as well as a moment of stodgy gay panic) eventually fall by the wayside, particularly once the action moves to Hawaii. At this point, the picture really gets busy upending traditional gender roles found in these types of films, with Alice and Tatiana turning out to be braver, smarter and more in control than their increasingly hapless dates. It’s a continuation of the themes explored
Aubrey Plaza and Anna Kendrick in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. in this summer’s Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (both movies interestingly sharing scripters in Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien), but whereas that dud empowered its female characters by making them obnoxious bullies who triumphed at the expense of others, this one instead allows them to excel in more subtle ways and, importantly, make believable adjustments to their own personalities along the way. Efron is basically forced to play straight man to all of the hijinks surrounding him, in effect serving as the Bud Abbott to Devine’s Lou Costello. But it’s the actresses who allow
this fairly standard-issue comedy to rise above its station. Plaza’s character is not unlike the one she essayed earlier this year in the awful Dirty Grandpa (also starring Efron), but because this is a meatier part, she’s able to better flash her comedic chops. Kendrick is equally delightful, bringing back the spark she exhibited in the first Pitch Perfect and providing arguably the film’s most knowing laugh (regarding a porn version of Ghostbusters) almost as an aside. And as the Stangle guys’ little sister, a sweet kid who needs to let off ample steam (stressful, sensual, and otherwise) before she ties the
Fox
knot, Beard frequently stirs memories of Goldie Hawn back in her Laugh-In days. Certainly, let’s not oversell this thing, as many of the gags are predictable and some of the developments (particularly those involving redemption) are soft-headed. But with female characters a bit more well-rounded than usual and a chance to watch three actresses excel at being comediennes, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates nicely avoids being yet one more nail in the coffin of contemporary dudebro romps.
clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 23
Arts
theater
Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull runs through July 24 at Booth Playhouse.
John Moore
Dixie Longate returns Beyond Tupperware at a Mobile Honky-Tonk Perry Tannenbaum
I
t’s been more than seven years since my public humiliation at Dixie’s Tupperware Party, where my sadly deficient filling, stacking and rimming skills were mercilessly exposed in open competition. So 24 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
yes, there was some wariness when I returned to Booth Playhouse for another Dixie rendezvous, hoping not to be dragged onstage again. Dixie Longate, nee Kris Andersson, rides again in another declasse audienceparticipation romp, Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull.
The bull is not metaphorical but, cordoned off with crime-scene tape, it’s not operational either. No worries about being called upon to ride the thing. We’re not in Dixie’s trailer home anymore but at a honky-tonk where she works in Mobile, Alabama — personalized with a Tupperware corner, a miniature wheel-
of-fortune, a heap of paper crowns, and a stash of MoonPies, the best mental health medicine she knows. Since the subtitle of Andersson’s script is “and 16 OTHER THINGS I learned while I was DRINKING last Thursday,” you can expect a twisting, labyrinthine monologue
Dixie’s Never Wear A Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull $24.50 and up. July 14, 7:30 p.m.; July 15, 8 p.m.; July 16, 5 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.; July 17, 3 p.m.; July 19, 7:30 p.m.; July 20-21, 7:30 p.m.; July 22, 8 p.m.; July 23, 5 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.; July 24, 3 p.m. Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org.
from Dixie, with a heavy emphasis on the glories of getting drunk. The chalkboard at Dixie’s honky-tonk isn’t big enough to list all 16 of her lessons, but she can certainly cross out the notation that designates 4-7 p.m. as “Happy Hour” and proclaim that all of the other 17 hours of each day should also be happy hours. Dixie’s math isn’t the strongest, but she has a point. And boy-oh-boy, Dixie can talk a blue streak. I didn’t remember her speaking nearly as rapidly in 2009 at her Tupperware Party. It can be really hard keeping up with all the jokes, anecdotes, and bon mots she’s spouting. Some of them, like “When you get on your knees, Jesus comes,” take some time to digest. Why, the rapid-fire pace actually seems to take a toll on Dixie herself. At times, blathering sounds will come out of her mouth for a few seconds, and I couldn’t tell whether she had drawn a blank on the words she was supposed to say next or whether the words were twisting her tongue.
All in all, Dixie’s monologue is closer to standup than storytelling, with plenty of romper room activities punctuating the flow. There are recurring strands in the spiel we can latch onto, like MoonPies, tigers, booze, and Julie Andrews. Just don’t be surprised if, when one of these recurs, you’re wondering what the connection is. Dixie’s method doesn’t necessarily cancel out the madness. Evidently, we’re intended to consider ourselves as passengers on a tour bus waiting out a storm before traveling on to New Orleans. There are claps of thunder, flickering lights, and Charles R. MacLoed’s lighting design even has a blackout, so Dixie can exit and crank up the generator. I can’t say we arrive at the rapport that proverbially sprouts up between strangers unexpectedly stuck together during a storm, but the premise of needing to kill time seems to amply justify Dixie’s rambling and her nervous energy. She’ll take a shine to a select few audience members sitting in the front rows of the Booth, bringing a mix of couples and singles
onstage. The crowds — and victims — will vary, of course. On press night, when my wife Sue and I attended, the Booth audience wasn’t the liveliest that Dixie will have during her three-week run. Between us and the stage, I didn’t see any of the couples take up Dixie’s invitation to dance with one another. That was during an interlude when an audience member’s wheel-of-fortune spin landed on a 60-second jukebox break. When a second spin came up on another jukebox break, Dixie exhorted audience members to dance with complete strangers this time. Well, you know that didn’t happen, right? But if you go between now and the 24th, it just might. You can be reasonably sure that one of the guys Dixie picks on in the audience will be nicknamed Hotdog and one of the couples will be dubbed Captain and Tenille. The raunchiness of the guy’s name surfaces immediately, but until she referenced “Muskrat Love,” I couldn’t fathom what Dixie was going for with the pop duo. The couples’
competition this time around was a little more bizarre than my misadventures with a stack of collapsible FlatOut® containers. Julie Andrews is involved in a way I dare not divulge — and I’m not sure whether or not the losing husband looked stupider than I did. It was close. While she doesn’t have a chalkboard — and certainly not a whiteboard (this is Alabama!) — Dixie has a little spiral notebook that contains her choicest words to live by. Holding a pen in her hand as she flips the pages, her red wig pouffed high, Dixie occasionally does put you in mind of a waitress taking your order at some cheap dive. Some of Dixie’s words of wisdom were learned at the knee of her dear mother, and others come from the inspiration granted to her on half-remembered nights spent with a bottle of Jack Daniels. More than a few simulated sips of that beverage are taken during the 90 minutes we’re at her honkytonk. Aphorisms gleaned from Dixie’s mom hardly sound less drunken, fracturing familiar sayings. “When a tree falls in a forest…” isn’t going anywhere you’ve known before. Here and there, something might just strike home and resonate. Lifting her spiral notebook, Dixie exhorts us not to let the story of our lives become the sort of book that gets tossed into the clearance bin. Useful. Eventually, we do reach Dixie’s counsel on riding a mechanical bull. Our hostess finally tears down the crime scene tape and climbs aboard. Okay, so it still doesn’t work, but we shouldn’t fault set designer Lisa Orzolek that the beast doesn’t swivel and buck. Meeting safety standards would probably mean affixing the fearsome contraption to a steel girder capable of holding up the Empire State Building. Verbally, Dixie tries her best to tie this raucous, rambling, crowd-pleasing evening together and manages fairly well. But it’s the visual tableau that truly provides satisfying closure: Dixie, the bull, the booze, and her beloved Tupperware united at last. clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 25
Arts
Happenings
Comedy The Comedy Zone Charlotte Vir Das. July 14, 8 p.m.; July 15, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.; July 16, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Laugh Your Tail Off. July 19, 8 p.m. Johnny Millwater. July 20, 8 p.m. 900 N.C. Music Factory Blvd., Suite B3. 980-321-4702. cltcomedyzone.com. Carion Hotel OTC Improv. Presenting “Three’s A Crowd,” a Chicago-style improv show. $5$7. July 16, 8-9:15 p.m. 3695 Foothills Way. OTCimprov.com Dilworth Neighborhood Grille The Chuckleheads. Presenting “The Beach Vacation Comedy Improv Musical Variety Extravaganza” show. $10-$15. July 16, 8-10 p.m. Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, 911 E. Morehead St. planetimprov.com. Jackalope Jacks Comedy Open Mic. Open to comics who want to show their stuff. Tuesdays, 10 p.m. 1936 East 7th St. 704-347-1918. www. jackalopejacks.com. UpStage Traumedy in Chalotte. Jason King, Jordan Scott Huggins, Mimi J Benfield, Blayr Nias, Chesney Goodson are a go for the lineup in Charlotte! Excited! Host for the night will be Anthony Lowe. July 15, 10 p.m. Improv Vikings’ Randy, Rowdy, HA-HA Comedy Explosion. $5$10. July 16, 9:30-11 p.m. 3306 N. Davidson St. 704-615-4651. upstagenoda.com. Wet Willie’s Charlotte Comedy Theater. Improv performance by Charlotte Comedy Theater. For more information, visit charlottecomedytheater. com. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m. $10. 900 N.C. Music Factory Blvd., Suite C-1. 704-716-5650. wetwillies.com.
Film The Classic Black Cinema Series Screening A Man Called Adam. Sun., July 17, 2 p.m. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 South Tryon S. 704-547-3700. ganttcenter.org. National Parks Adventure Explore the wilds of America in this film. Narrated by Robert Redford, National Parks Adventure takes audiences on the ultimate off-trail adventure into the nation’s awe-inspiring great outdoors and untamed wilderness. Through Jan. 6, 2017. Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-372-6261. discoveryplace.org. 26 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
Pineville Rockin’ and Reelin’ Movie Series Screening: The Good Dinosaur. Movie begins 8/8:30 p.m. July 15. Pineville Lake Park, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville.
Theater/Dance/ Performance Art Beauty and the Beast Showtime Theatre Company is proud to present this classic musical tale that follows Belle and the Beast as they find love against all odds. July 15, 7 p.m.; July 16, 2 and 7 p.m.; July 17, 2 p.m. Winthrop University’s Johnson Theatre, 115 Johnson Hall, Rock Hill. 803-323-2287. winthrop.edu/cvpa/ theatredance/. Boys to Baghdad Set in the late 1980’s and early ‘90s this coming to age romance reflects on the process of becoming a man. $21-$28. July 15, 7:30 p.m.; July 16, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Duke Energy Theater, 345 N. College St. 704-3721000. blumenthalarts.org. The Fox on the Fairway An adventure about life, love, and a man’s eternal love affair with golf. A hilarious comedy based on the Marx Brother’s classic. 15-29. July 14-16, 8 p.m.; July 17, 2 p.m.; July 21-23, 8 p.m.; July 24, 2 p.m. Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall, 207 Faculty Drive, Davidson. If/Then: A New Musical A musical about living in New York today and the infinite possibilities that tomorrow holds. The story follows a woman and the two possible life paths she could have. This deeply moving performance reminds us of the lives we lead as well as those we might have led. July 19-21, 7:30 p.m.; July 22, 8 p.m.; July 23, 2 p.m., 8 p.m.; July 24, 1:30 p.m., 7 p.m. Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. 704372-1000. blumenthalarts.org.
330-6534. arts.cpcc.edu/. Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull Dixie Longate, fastest-talking Tupperware lady, shares the 16 things she learned from a hard night of drinking. $24.50. July 14, 7:30 p.m.; July 15, 8 p.m.; July 16, 5 and 8:30 p.m.; July 17, 3 p.m.; July 19-21, 7:30 p.m.; July 22, 8 p.m.; July 23, 5 and 8:30 p.m.; July 24, 3 p.m. Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org.
Visual Art Bechtler Museum of Modern Art All That Sparkles... 20th Century Artists’ Jewelry. Presenting an array of selected jewelry alongside examples of more conventional artwork, this exhibition celebrates the craftsmanship and creativity of artists who used the medium to explore texture and color. Through Jan. 8, 2017. The House That Modernism Built. The exhibit presents Bechtler Museum of Modern Arts’ rich mid-20th century art collection alongside furniture, textile and ceramic holdings on loan from other institutions and private collectors. The show will emphasize process, examining how designers and artists tackled projects, and how the innovations in other disciplines from the sciences to the humanities influenced their direction. Through Sept. 11. 420 S. Tryon St. 704-353-9200. bechtler.org. Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture Shaping the Vessel: Cummings + Mascoll + Samuel. The exhibit features 26 wood works by three artists, including Frank E. Cummings III, John Mascoll and Avelino Samuel. July 16-Jan. 16. 551 South Tryon St. 704-5473700. ganttcenter.org.
Junie B. Jones The Musical A delightful adaptation of four of Barbara Park’s bestselling books brought to life in a genuinely comical, and not strictly-for-kids musical awaken a young person’s desire to read. $10$12. July 17, 2 p.m.; July 19-21, 10 a.m.; July 2324, 2 p.m. Matthews Playhouse, 100 McDowell St. 704-846-8343. matthewsplayhouse.com.
The Light Factory Member’s Show Opening Reception. A valuable showcase for members’ photographic endeavors. July 14 is the opening reception. Sam Wang Total Immersion. Chinese artist Sam Wang is known for using circular wide-angle lens’ to add roundness to his images which capture nature, landscape and still life settings. He designs his own cameras, so each shot has a unique touch. Through July 21. 1817 Central Ave. 704-333-9755. lightfactory. org.
Sister Act CPCC’s Summer theatre presents Sister Act. July 15-16, 7:30 p.m.; July 17, 2:30 p.m.; July 20, 7 p.m.; July 21-23, 7:30 p.m.; CPCC’s Halton Theater, 1201 Elizabeth Ave. 704-
Mint Museum Uptown Romare Bearden Gallery. A permanent gallery devoted to the work of Romare Bearden (1911-1988), who was born in Charlotte. Bearden is best known
for his groundbreaking use of collage and vibrant portrayals of American life, depicting subjects that range from contemporary urban scenes to nostalgic recollections of the rural South. The Art & Craft of Shoemaking. The exhibit features an array of diverse and unique shoes, from past to present eras of the Mint’s permanent collection. The show explores both the cultural history and the meticulous craft of shoemaking. Through July 31. Here & Now: 80 Years of Photography at the Mint. The first survey exhibition of photography drawn solely from the Mint’s permanent collection. It’s comprised of approximately 100 of the Mint’s most stunning and provocative photographs. Through Sept. 18. 500 S. Tryon St. 704-3372000. mintmuseum.org.
More Events Jones von Drehle Wine Dinner An evening of seven wines from Jones von Drehle Vineyards & Winery in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina and five delicious courses from Chef Brent Martin of Local Loaf: Bakery & Restaurant. Diana Jones, co-owner of Jones von Drehle will be onhand to introduce each wine and give some backround on her vineyards. Call 704277-3234 for reservations. $55 (+tax/tip). July 21, 5:30-7 p.m. The Assorted Table, 224 E. 7th St. assortedtablewine.com/jones-von-drehlewine-dinner/. Belmont Neighborhood Walking Tour An hour long walking tour of the Belmont neighborhood. Belmont began as Charlotte’s first working-class textile mill village. Today, the diverse neighborhood is in the midst of transformation as persons seek single-family homes in close proximity to Uptown. Free and open to the public. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Preregistration is required. Free. July 16, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Intermezzo Pizzeria & Cafe, 1427 E. 10th St. charlottemuseum.org/ events.asp. Charlotte Knights vs. Scranton/WB RailRiders July 18-20, 7:05 p.m. BB&T Ballpark, 324 South Mint St. milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t494. Charlotte NORML Charlotte NORML is open to the public and works to unite a growing community of activists in the area. The monthly meeting is an open opportunity for new and existing activists to discuss accomplishments over the past four weeks and plan for upcoming events in the community and with a larger focus toward legalizing cannabis statewide.
Free. July 16, 2-4 p.m. South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road. Donna Scott Productions Women Entrepreneurs in Business and Arts Speaker Series The discussion will gather creative partners in one room to discuss their unique partnerships. Featuring folks from PaperHouse Theatre, FROCK Shop, Chickspeare, NoDa Brewing Company, Donna Scott Productions and Charlotte Art League. Free. July 25, 6:30-8 p.m. Charlotte Art League, 1517 Camden Road. eventbrite.com. Detox*Retox Bootcamp Ultimate CrossFit is partnering up with Sycamore Brewing for a free outdoor bootcamp each week at 11 a.m. Detox with an hour-long sweat session, then stick around and enjoy a cold, hard-earned beer at Sycamore after the workout. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Sycamore Brewing, 2161 Hawkins St. F*ck up Night Hear Sharon Dowell, Blair Primis, & Betsy Hauser Idilbi entrepreneurial f*ck ups, lessons learned, and how they are crushing it today. Free, but RSVP. July 20, 7:30-9 p.m. Advent Coworking, 933 Louise Ave. adventcoworking.com/events. Hoshicon A three day event celebrating Japanese culture, animation, and video games. Includes vendors, panels, a game room, cosplay contest, and more. $25 - $45. July 15-17. The Westin Hotel Charlotte, 601 South College St. The Millionaire Mindset Workshop The “Breaking the Poverty Curse” workshop aims to educate, enlighten, inspire, motivate and empower youth, women and men of all ages. This workshop will help indivuduals look at ways to break the poverty curse for themselves and their families. Individuals completing this workshop will leave with the mindset and the tools needed to achieve their own personal success. $25. July 16, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 7230 Smith Corners Blvd. PAN Vegan Pledge Interested in trying a plant-based vegan diet and lifestyle? Sign up for the Vegan Pledge hosted by PAN. It’s all free and you will get support from a personal mentor, seminars on nutrition and ethics, a free care package, a cooking class and more. Free. Starts July 16. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Continues through Aug. 14 Public Library of Charlotte Uptown, 310 North Tryon St. peaceadvocacynetwork.org/find-a-city/
charlotte/. Pepperbox Pop-Ups June 26, 2 p.m. Red Clay Ciderworks, 245 Clanton Road.; July 10, 2 p.m. (recurring, every second Sunday of the month). Tip Top Daily Market, 2902 The Plaza.; July 16, 2 p.m. Legion Brewing, 1906 Commonwealth Ave. Plaza Patio Party Spend your Friday hanging out at one of the best patios in Plaza Midwood. The free party will be held the third Friday of every month (May –September) at the Plaza store location. Enjoy live music, games, beer and food samples, and much more. They will be grilling food at a great price and raffling off gift baskets. Free. July 15, 5-8 p.m. Healthy Home Market, 1330 Central Ave. Pints and Poses Join the ladies of Charlotte Girls Pint Out at Three Spirits Brewery for an evening of yoga and craft beer. Just Dumplings will be on site selling dumplings for after class. Rooted Lotus Yoga and Wellness will be leading the gentle and fun flow class. This is a ladies-only event. $12. July 20, 6:15-8:30 p.m. Three Spirits Brewery, 5046 Old Pineville Road. facebook.com/charlottegpo. Summer Fiesta in South End Join Latorre Insurance for a Summer Fiesta in South End. Bring the entire family, and enjoy delicious Latin American foods for free, plus music from La Raza, games, prizes and more. You can even enter a raffle for your chance to win amazing prizes, including a gas grill and season tickets to Carowinds. Free. July 16, 2-4 p.m. Latorre insurance South End, 4200 South Blvd., Unit F. Summer Food Truck Rally Food truck rally at Rural Hill featuring an array of food trucks. July 15. Historic Rural Hill Farm, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. 704-875-3113. ruralhill.net. Teacher Career Fair Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with CMS hiring managers. Participation from more than 50 schools district-wide. Schools will be interviewing and selecting candidates for licensed/certified positions including, teachers, media specialists and counselors. Free. July 21, 3:30-6 p.m. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, 310 N. Tryon Street eventbrite.com. Queen City Urban Art Showcase Showcasing five talents. Free. July 23, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Advent Coworking, 933 Louise Ave. clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 27
Music
Feature
Matt hylom
Matt Hylom
Behind closed doors Matt Hylom finds home for songs in the Cloud By Anita Overcash
Y
ou can learn a lot about someone by walking through his or her home. If you walk into a room that’s filled with guitars, keyboards and music equipment, it’s safe to say that the house is occupied by a musician. If there’s a whiteboard with the artist’s information — personal website and social media: Facebook, 28 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
YouTube, and SoundCloud — it’s safe to assume they’re either very dedicated to their brand or hoping to turn a house-hunting visitor into a fan. When I walked with a realtor through Matt Hylom’s home, which is currently on the market, I took a quick picture of that detailed whiteboard with plans to visit the links and listen to the music later.
Turns out, that was a good move. Hylom, a native of Long Island, New York moved to the Charlotte area back in 2003. Like most musicians, he started playing guitar when he was young and later expanded his instrumentation to keyboards. While he’s had moments of prefering one to the other, he’s currently honing his skills and finding a better balance between the two.
Hylom is influenced by singer/ songwriters like Ed Sheeran, Jon Bellion and bands like Coldplay and Bastille, which have electonic components. He enjoys the deep, warm sounds that oscillate from synths; along with the acoustics that give the music a live, raw feel. “There’s some electronic elements, piano in the chorus, acoustic elements. It’s more
Matt hylom
Matt hylom
“The lyrics go through seeing light at the end of the road. The road keeps on turning, so you see the goal or maybe the answer but it turns and you have to start all over again,” — Matt Hylom beat driven but not in a grandiose way,” said Hylom. There’s a real DIY approach to his craft, as he produces his own music. But you wouldn’t neccesarily know that by listening to his songs, which are layered with different sound elements and touches from different musical genres — acoustic, rock, hip-hop, EDM, electronia. “Love, Life, and Cancer,” one of the strongest of Hylom’s tracks, was just rerecorded and released on SoundCloud in early July. The track will be featured on Hylom’s debut EP, My Own Anxieties, slated for release in September. “Last year my wife had three miscarriages and it kind of got me in a darker place, but not in a depressing state. It made me revisit things like death and the big questions in life, so that’s kind of where that song came from. The lyrics go through seeing light at the end of the road. The road keeps on turning, so you see the goal or maybe the answer but it
turns and you have to start all over again,” Hylom explained. “It’s an honest outpouring of me asking questions and trying to figure things out. Have I been wasting my life trying to answer these questions or is there something more to that? And then, I’m just getting tired of asking all the time.” Hylom, 26, is the father of a three-year old whose room is directly across from the room where he creates his music. He put his house up for sale with plans to move the family into a bigger home — one that offers a safer distance between his music room and his son’s bedroom — in the area. “I can’t pull a three a.m. shift to record vocals or anything,” Hylom says of the close quarters in his current house. “It’s kind of tough to try to work around his nap schedule.” Beyond his daily daddy duties, Hylom’s constricted, DIY music approach seems to be paying off. His song “Numb” was remixed by Amin Khani, an Iranian EDM artist, singer/
Matt Hylom For more info and updates on Matt Hylom, visit matthylom. com, soundcloud.com/matthylom, youtube.com/matthylom and facebook.com/matthylom.
songwriter and producer. A year ago, he was also contacted on SoundCloud by Antwerp, Belgium based DJ/producer Lander, who asked to remix his song “Cry Alone Again.” The track was rereleased on July 10 as a single through
Armada Deep, a European record label. Hylom is still singing on the track, though Lander, who is predominantly known in the EDM world, gave touches to the music a makeover. Though Hylom has been satisfied with the collaborations so far, he’s skeptical of remixes and often declines the pitches that he receives. Like any artist, he worries about retaining the rights to his songs and having proper contracts for the endeavors. But he believes that his latest collaboration with Lander over SoundCloud was another good move. “Hopefully this collaboration with Lander helps reach a different audience that I wouldn’t be able to reach because it’s through a major label,” he said. Unlike most artists who test their material at open mics and clubs around town, Hylom is keeping his music behind closed doors for now. “I kind of want to steer away from just showing up at a bar and playing. My idea of playing live is being in a room where people know the lyrics and can sing along and having that experience with fans and not just showcasing my stuff to people who don’t know who I am,” Hylom said. “So, I’m kind of building a fanbase online and trying to get my content out. Once I have a decent fanbase, I will start playing some local shows here and there.” aovercash@clclt.com
clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 29
Music
Review
ancient cities supermoon blackout independent; Release Date: July 1, 2016
What started as a foot-stomping acoustic duo between singer/guitarist Stephen Warwick and, bassist Justin Fedor (The New Familiars) has developed into one of Charlotte’s finest psychedelic-tinged rock bands. The band’s self-titled debut album was solid and harkened back to Warwick’s solo and Secondhand Stories days, but the group builds off of that foundation with Supermoon Blackout. In its earliest incarnation, Ancient Cities felt like “Stephen Warwick and the other guys” — the rest of the guys playing Warwick’s songs and it sounding much like his previous efforts. On Supermoon, Ancient Cities sounds like a band effort. The songs are still written by Warwick, but he’s learning to spread his wings and create a fuller sound instead of simply forging forward, continuing down the same path. He’s also finding range in his guitar solos. There are stronger choruses, the guitars get a bit more fuzzed out, the songs have more sonic depth from start to finish. “Sunburn” and “Luck” harken back to the ‘60s while “Time Traveler” builds off that era with elecronic piano, thumping drums and playful lyrical verses coming off as a modernized Doors. The title track is one of the album’s strongest with its pop sensibility and psychedelic harmonies. Anyone who has seen Ancient Cities live knows the band has the ability to stretch out a solo or let the tunes wander a bit and all of that on-stage experience can be heard more on Supermoon than its predecessor. What could have easily gone in a folk-rock direction when it started has developed into one of Charlotte’s finest musical groups. Who’s next for the big-label deal out of Charlotte? My money’s on these guys. Ancient Cities perform at Visulite Theatre on July 23. — jeff Hahne 30 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 31
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JULY 14
Josh Cotterino (Snug Harbor) Us & Them w/ Bad Karol, Rothschild (The
Country/Folk
Evening Muse)
Dierks Bentley w/ Randy Houser, Cam, Tucker Beathard (PNC Music Pavilion) Hillbilly Hoe Boes (Comet Grill) The Quebe Sisters (Neighborhood Theatre) River Jam Series w/ The Way Down Wanderers (U.S. National Whitewater Center) The Roosevelts w/ Porch 40 (Visulite Theatre) Ziggy Pockets (RiRa Irish Pub)
Pop/Rock Alive After Five w/ Hot Sauce (Rooftop 210) *Dollar Signs w/ The Taxpayers, The Lady Comes First (Milestone) Shiprocked (Snug Harbor) Thursdays on Main Series w/ Boat Rockers (Veterans Park)
JULY 15 Blues/Roots/International Beres Hammond (Amos’ Southend) Luxuriant Sedans (The Double Door Inn)
THE
THU 7/14
ROOSEVELTS + PORCH 40 SAT 7/16 Mandymonster Presents... Wasteland TUES 7/19
SCHOOL OF ROCK ALLSTARS THU 7/28 FRI 7/29 Wed 8/17
PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG THU 9/15 FRI 9/30
32 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
JULY 16 Blues/Roots/International *River Jam Series w/ The Ragbirds (U.S. National Whitewater Center)
Classical/Jazz/Smooth Stonecrest Summer Concert Series w/ Flute Praise (Stonecrest Shopping Center)
Country/Folk Blakeney Summer Music Series w/ Natty Boh (Blakeney Shopping Center) Junior Brown w/ Jim Garrett (Neighborhood Theatre) *Ray LaMontagne (Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre) Silver Wings (Comet Grill) Sinners & Saints w/ Lara Ruggles, The Menders (Petra’s)
Hip-Hop/Soul/R&B Classical/Jazz/Smooth
Blues, Funk & Motown Saturdays (BluNotes)
Pres4ward Jazz (BluNotes) Stonecrest Summer Concert Series w/ Leslie & Friends (Stonecrest Shopping Center)
Pop/Rock
Country/Folk Blakeney Summer Music Series w/ Natty Boh (Blakeney Shopping Center) The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Reeve Coobs w/ My Girl My Whiskey & Me, Courtney Craven (Petra’s)
DJ/Electronic Designer Drugs w/ Danny B, DJ Ynot, YUKI, DJ Ez-Kill, DOMii, DJ Zoe Gray (Neighborhood Theatre)
Hip-Hop/Soul/R&B *Charlotte Does Marvin Gaye (The Evening Muse)
Pop/Rock Cross Stitch w/ 403 Mob, Jay Mac, The Worshiper, Stitchy C (Milestone) Mutt (Puckett’s Farm Equipment) Rumors: a Tribute to Fleetwood Mac (The Fillmore Charlotte) Spirit System w/ Stargazer Lillies, Pale Dian,
Appetite for Destruction: the Ultimate Guns N Roses Tribute w/ Ride The Lightning: Metallica Tribute (Amos’ Southend) *Arc & Stones (The Evening Muse) Crisis w/ The Belmont Playboys, members of The Spongetones, Sheila Carlisle (The Double Door Inn) Kannapolis Summer Entertainment Series w/ Andrew Thielen Big Band (Village Park) The Kyle Perkins Band w/ Kilberth, Minimums, Anchor Detail (Milestone) Matthews Summer Concert Series w/ The Entertainers (Stumptown Park) Mike Adams at His Honest Weight w/ AF/FMs, Glimpses (Snug Harbor)
JULY 17 Pop/Rock Freakwater w/ Morgan Geer’s Drunken Prayer (The Double Door Inn) Omari and the Hellraisers (Comet Grill) Sense of Purpose f. Paul Agee, Chris Allen, Joe Lindsay, Jody Gholson (Tyber Creek Pub)
*Steve Miller Band (Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre)
COMING Soon Trapt (July 21; Amos Southend)
JULY 18
Zakk Wylde (July 22; Amos Southend)
Pop/Rock
Kool and the Gang (July 22; PNC Music
5 Seconds of Summer w/One Ok Rock, Hey Violet (PNC Music Pavilion) Wicked Powers (Comet Grill)
JULY 19 Classical/Jazz/Smooth Bill Hanna Jazz Jam (Double Door Inn) *Lindsey Stirling (Ovens Auditorium)
Orquesta Guayacan (July 22; The Fillmore) Pavilion) Garbage (July 23; The Fillmore) Gwen Stefani (July 23; PNC Music Pavilion) Tedeschi Trucks Band (July 24; CMCU Amphitheater) Sarah Jarosz (July 24; McGlohon Theater) Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa (July 24; PNC Music Pavilion) Peter Frampton, Gregg Allman (July 26; CMCU
Country/Folk
Amphitheater)
Red Rockin’ Chair (Comet Grill) Tuesday Night Jam w/ The Smokin’ Js (Smokey Joe’s Cafe)
Counting Crows, Rob Thomas (July 27; PNC
Hip-Hop/Soul/R&B G-Eazy w/ Logic, Yo Gotti (PNC Music Pavilion)
Pop/Rock Dischordia, Baasthyrian, Kairos, Altar Blood (Milestone) Fairplay & Special Guests (Lucky Lou’s Tavern) Red Jesse and the Dead Men w/ Beach Bath (Snug Harbor)
JULY 20 Blues/Roots/International Brent Johnson & The Call Up (The Double Door Inn) *Patabamba w/ Infektion, Paint Fumes (Snug Harbor)
Music Pavilion) Phillip Phillips, Matt Nathanson (July 29;
Win a VIP Acoustic Show Package. VISIT clct.com/charlotte/freestuff.
CMCU Amphitheater) Maysa (July 30; McGlohon Theater) Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Of Mice & Men (Aug. 2; PNC Music Pavilion) Bush, Chevelle (Aug. 9; CMCU Amphitheatre) Motion City Soundtrack (Aug 10; The Fillmore) Dixie Chicks (Aug. 13; PNC Music Pavilion) NeedtoBreathe (Aug. 18; CMCU Amphotheater) Keith Urban (Aug. 18, PNC Music Pavilion) Chatham County Line (Aug. 26; McGlohon Theater) Goo Goo Dolls (Aug. 28; CMCU Amphitheatre) Luke Bryan (Sept. 1; PNC Music Pavilion) Florida Georgia Line (Sept. 10; PNC Music Pavilion) Heart, Joan Jett, Cheap Trick (Sept. 16; PNC Music Pavilion)
Country/Folk The Amy Black Band (The Evening Muse) Open Mic (Comet Grill)
Pop/Rock Amy Black (The Evening Muse) Dog Party, Sneeze Attack, Almost People (Milestone) Modern Heritage Weekly Mix Tape (Snug Harbor) Open Mic Night (Comet Grill) Party in the Park w/ Jim Quick and the Coastline Band (Romare Bearden Park)
Brian Wilson (Sept. 19; Belk Theater) Puff Daddy (Sept. 20; Time Warner Cable Arena) I Love the 90s Tour (Sept. 23; Time Warner Cable Arena) James Bay (Sept. 25; The Fillmore) Wednesday 13 (Oct. 10; Amos Southend) * - CL Recommends
Need directions? Check out our website at clclt.
com. CL online provides addresses, maps and directions from your location. Send us your concert listings: E-mail us at aovercash@clclt. com or fax it to 704-522-8088. We need the date, venue, band name and contact name and number. The deadline is each Wednesday, one week before publication. clclt.com | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | 33
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34 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
Recycle me, please (Only after you’re done reading me)
head to a local lake or river. No phone service This past week was emotionally necessary. draining to say the least. Reading about recent events across the United States 3. Treat yourself. I’ve racked up my on all of my social media platforms and fair share of gift certificates to local spas favorite news outlets had left me feeling a but haven’t set aside any time for myself. combination of confused, angry and helpless. Dig through your gift card drawer, browse There’s nothing like real world drama to slap Groupon for deals and plan a day at the you back to the reality of how insignificant spa. Ballantyne Resort and The Ritz-Carlton everyday complaints of having to go to work, finding a happy hour spot or being hungover are two of my favorite places to rejuvenate. really are. Those two are pricey so make sure you do Needless to say, I went to work on Friday some research and price comparisons before overwhelmed with thoughts that teetered you break the bank. And if you really want to between making significant social change make a day of it, live it up by booking a room and finding ways to escape. As I slowly for the night. wrapped my mind around tackling the workday, I ran across an article about North 4. Plan a lunch date. While day drinking Carolina waterfalls that are only a few hours at Common Market or one of the many away. I thought to myself, ‘What a breweries popping up in the city can great idea for getting away from be a lot of fun, consider grabbing the city and unplugging for a a bottle of wine and heading minute.’ But my boyfriend somewhere different for and I had already made lunch. I’ve been meaning to plans for Saturday and plan a visit to Treehouse Sunday, so I knew a last Vineyards, pack a lunch minute trip was going to and rent a tree house for a be impossible. couple hours. There’s also Instead, I spent the a ton of bed and breakfast entire weekend lusting spots in the area that will for places unseen and make for a quick lunchtime dreaming about moving to escape. Aerin Spruill a remote island and opening my own business. By Monday, 5. Organize a last minute I was officially yearning for some trip. My friends love last minute trips much needed rest and relaxation, so I to places like Asheville, where the booze, live decided to come up with a list of ways to music and nature are plenty. A four-hour escape, mentally and physically, in or around round trip, you’ll be surprised how positive the Queen City. your perspective will be when you come back to the city after a day trip. Pack up your 1. Take a hike. No seriously. After favorite snacks, hop in your car and head to a walking in circles attempting to make it to nearby city or beach for a change of scenery. the pinnacle of Crowders Mountain State Want to stay a night for cheap? Download Park, I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a Airbnb! fan of the outdoors. But there’s something truly refreshing about taking a hike in a 6. Join a volunteer group or place you’ve never been, turning off your organization. If you, too, find yourself cell phone — except when you capture the feeling down or helpless when you look moment once you’ve reached the top — and at the bigger picture called life, consider only focusing on your internal thoughts. giving back to the community or joining Throw “where to hike near Charlotte, NC” an organization. Spend a day on a Habitat into Google and plan your next hiking for Humanity project, or find a local group adventure. to become a part of. You’ll feel rewarded helping others or expressing yourself with 2. Take a dip. If you’re at all like me, you likeminded individuals. As you can imagine, may be terrified of the possibility that brainCharlotte has more than its fair share of eating amoebas are salivating every time ways to get involved and make a difference. you step into a body of water. But I must say, since I started dating my boyfriend, I’ve What do you do when you need to getaway been obsessed with going to the lake. On the in or around the Queen City? Share your ideas water, all you need is sun block and a case of with me at backtalk@clclt.com. beer to have a good time. Grab your suit and
Ends
Crossword
SPLITTING SIMPLE SUBSTANCES ACROSS
1 Auto-theft deterrent 9 Nickname for Ireland, with “the” 16 “-- to say?” 20 Formal written defense 21 Informer 22 Lend a hand 23 1941 hit for Billie Holiday 25 “Would -- to you?” 26 “Frozen” snow queen 27 Athenian H 28 Of volcanic activity 30 Subpar grade 31 Kind of shipping with smallish freight 37 O’Hara’s Butler 39 Kind of sword 40 Give rise to 41 One watching unobtrusively 46 See 87-Across 49 Fly jets, say 50 Lend a hand 51 Telly initials 54 Bear, in Tijuana 55 Countries 56 Home pest 57 Xeroxing supply 62 Common B.A. major 63 Orly jet, once 64 Soprano Gluck 65 California’s region 66 Legendary king of Camelot 70 Little-by-little 73 Morales of movies 74 High trains 75 Stein quaff 78 Pilot’s direction detector 80 Nada 81 Made even 83 Gp. of G.P.’s 84 One-wd. definition, essentially 85 2005 Best Director Lee 86 Plod along 87 With 46-Across, pancake pour-on 90 Like a technology in development 95 Singer Clark or Gibbs 98 Bowl game org. 99 Believer in a “God of reason” 100 Ayatollah Khomeini led it in 1979 105 “Give -- try!”
108 Forbearance 109 Yank enemy 110 “-- all a favor and ...” 111 Luc’s gal pal 112 Simple substances split in eight long answers in this puzzle 119 Pop singer Celine 120 One hanging in the air 121 Sherpa, e.g. 122 E-mail status 123 Fifty percent 124 “The way things look to me ...”
DOWN
1 Pent-up 2 As straight as -3 “The Twilight Zone” host 4 Jessica of “Sin City” 5 Texting titter 6 Census stat 7 Meets the challenge of 8 Jib holders 9 Burnt residue 10 Salt Lake City collegian 11 Place: Abbr. 12 Homer’s cry 13 More guileful 14 Slick offering at a spa? 15 Infer 16 County in Kentucky or Indiana 17 Reddish purple color 18 Ex-Twin Tony 19 Swiftness 24 Pic on a pec, perhaps 29 UPS items: Abbr. 31 Pre-Easter periods 32 Kitchen extension? 33 Pay mind to 34 Tax mo. 35 Ut. neighbor 36 Golfing peg 38 Skull’s place 41 Outlet event 42 Writer Bunin 43 Zulu’s group 44 Plop (down) 45 Fenway stat 47 Functions 48 Cruise stop 52 Happen to 53 Rocky peaks 56 Wynonna Judd’s sister 57 Unsoiled
58 Luxury hotel chain 59 Hip dwelling 60 NHLer, e.g. 61 Barley bristle 63 Sharp pains 64 Lhasa -- (dog breed) 66 Nabokov heroine 67 Classic Karel Capek play 68 -- center (play area) 69 Be in power 70 Unit of fat 71 “-- Lama Ding Dong” 72 Film version, e.g. 75 Person reading for a role, say 76 Big name in toy bricks 77 Place of bliss 79 Heart rocker Wilson 80 Wind dir. 81 Choo-choo 82 Furrows 85 “-- in Calico” (old song) 86 Smartphone of the 2000s 88 Merciful 89 Iroquois tribe 91 Suffix with ethyl 92 95, to Nero 93 Asian ideal 94 Food 96 Western cattle farm 97 Korean city near Seoul 100 Apple tablets 101 Flaxlike fiber 102 Superman portrayer Christopher 103 WWW bookmark 104 Singer -- Marie 106 People of Rwanda 107 Benefit 110 Galley mark 113 “Ho-hum” 114 401(k) kin 115 Bit of cartoon art 116 Whelp’s yelp 117 Prefix with center 118 Family VIPs
Solution found on p. 38.
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Ends
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36 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
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I’m in my mid-40s, straight, never married. Ten months ago, my girlfriend of three years dumped me. She got bored with the relationship and is generally not the marrying type. The breakup was amicable. I still love her and miss her. Last week, I wrote her a letter saying that I still love her and want us to get back together. She wrote me a nice letter back saying she doesn’t feel passion for me and we’re never getting back together. Over the past few months, I’ve started dating another girl. She’s pretty, smart, sexy, and kind. If I proposed, she’d probably say yes. I want to get married. The problem is that I don’t have the passion for her that I had for my previous girlfriend. So do I “settle” for Girlfriend #2 or start my search all over? Please don’t give me the bullshit that love can happen at any age. At my age, the number of single women without kids is low. How many married people “settle” for someone who is a good person but not their true love? No Clever Acronym
or touch her makes me uncomfortable. What’s more, the guy who did it knew she was part of a long-term couple. Do I need to get over it for the sake of my girlfriend or do I make an issue of hickeys? Boy Really Unnerved In Seeing Evidence If you and the girlfriend have a don’t ask, don’t tell policy about her hookups with others, BRUISE, then hickeys and other slow-fading marks violate that agreement. Those kinds of marks amount to a nonverbal “tell.” You have a right to point that out that she has a responsibility to remind/warn her outside sex partners that leaving slowfading marks is out of bounds. Don’t inspect your girlfriend posthookup for marks that fade quickly after sex, as that would amount to a nonverbal ask.
My first refractory period — the time it takes me to get ready to have sex again after my first orgasm — is shorter than the time it takes me to lose my erection. I was in a relationship and wasn’t Dan Savage using condoms anymore by There is no settling the time I figured this out, so down without some settling it was just generally good times for. While passion is a great — I’d blow my load, take less than a feeling — totally intoxicating — it also minute to catch my breath, and be ready tends to be ephemeral. It’s a hard feeling to to go again. But now that I’m single and sustain over the long haul, and marriage is entering the dating pool, I’m going to theoretically the longest of hauls. be wrapping it again. Obviously. But I’m You felt strongly about your ex, but not 100 percent sure it’s safe to blow she didn’t share your feelings. You don’t two loads into one condom. I’m not sure feel quite as strongly about your current how much ejaculate I’m producing the girlfriend, but you would like to be married second time I come, but it’s surely less — to someone, maybe her — and Girlfriend than the first time. I’m not confident #2 is a good candidate. I wouldn’t suggest that “second” erection would survive proposing, because most sane women view the whole taking-off-the-condomearly, impulsive proposals as red flags. and-tying-it-up-and-then-putting-onThe idea that a “true love” is waiting for another-condom exercise, but I would us snuffs out more good-and-loving-andlike to avoid that rigmarole. Is it safe to totally-worth-settling-for relationships than blow two loads in a single condom? anything this side of cheating. Two Pump Champ My girlfriend has started seeing The failure rate for condoms when used other partners. It makes her happy, and correctly is low (2 percent), TPC, but the in turn I’m happy for her. It’s taking failure rate for condoms used incorrectly me a bit of time to adjust to the new is high (18 percent). Leaks are the most situation, but she’s happier than she’s common way condoms fail, and slamming been in ages. We love each other and your cock in and out of someone with a are crazily compatible. Today she came fully loaded condom wrapped around it back from a hotel with bite marks on will result in leaks. Reusing a condom is a her breasts. I know she’s been with a recipe for disaster, impregnation, disease few people over the last few weeks, but transmission, or all of the above. being reminded of it each time I look at
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LILLY SPA
Ends
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For All Signs: Mercury, ancient messenger god, is unusually busy throughout this week. This suggests that most of us will be preoccupied with communication of one form or another. There may be many phone calls, messages, letters, quick conversations, rapid decisions and/or papers to write. The period is favorable for probing into causes and finding the bottom line to any matter. Beware of the tendency to jump to conclusions or acting before all the facts are clear. Remind yourself of how the old “gossip” game is played and don’t take what you hear very seriously. Aries: You may be detoured early in the week by computer or other electronic snafus. After July 17 you will find solace and spiritual comfort. It is time to heal a rift that may have occurred long ago. It could require some courage to allow yourself vulnerability, but heartfelt engagement is what will relieve some of that old worry. Taurus: Venus is your ruling planet and
“she” represents your cooperative and affable personality along with your attraction to beauty in all its forms. Between July 11 and August 4 she is traveling through the sector which is related to home, property, and family matters. You may be focused on home decorating. You will be concentrating on making your life more secure.
Gemini: Your ruling planet Mercury has just changed signs to Leo. This represents a shift of attention from financial matters to focus on communications, neighbors, siblings and others who are in your daily environment. You may need to consider the needs of your vehicle now. Give it a checkup and a detailing. Education and short distance travels are favored, so make the most of any opportunities that are presented. Cancer: This is a lively week as you head
toward the full moon on July 19. The usual routine feels like drudgery so make an effort to create or experiment with some changes. They may not stick, but it would offer a new pattern to try. You may contribute to the healing of yourself or another by holding “love” as your motto now. Don’t let go.
Leo: Please read the message “For All Signs”
carefully. Mercury enters your sign on the July 13 and shares a place with Venus. Communications with others and improving the beauty around you may be foremost on your mind. Love and romantic life are given a boost. Be aware that you will be prone to dominate conversations and remember to take the time to listen to others who might have a point to make as well.
Virgo: There is a shift of your attention to
matters of your personal history that may go back quite a long time. You will be looking
38 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com
inside yourself for meditative peace, answers to serious questions and encouragement from your source. Journaling, hypnosis, meditation or counseling are favored activities now. Make the time to be inspired and to partake in these activities.
Libra: Venus, your ruling planet,
travels with you into the territory of friendships,community and organizational affairs. Between now and August 4 she will enhance your presence at any activity in this sphere. It is a good time to plan a party for friends or to meet new people at other gatherings.
Scorpio: Now is a good time to resolve
issues with a lover or even a child. Let your feelings of love show, even if it causes you to feel vulnerable. You likely are feeling better now than you have in a long time. Your ruling planet, Mars, is direct. Tools, machinery and electronic objects may develop snafus that require attention.
Sagittarius: This is an excellent time to pursue any activity that requires your mental concentration. The archers are not always able to sit still enough to learn theoretical information but right now there is a window open for it. Making travel plans is favored.
Capricorn: This is a week in which you will tend to be thinking obsessively. It is an opportunity to learn how to better control your mind. Shift your attention to something less dramatic, such as whatever is happening this moment rather than worrying over what might happen in the future. You can’t control everything, so stop trying to. Instead, remain as calm and as relaxed as possible. Aquarius: You and your partner could
have a favorable time and conversation together. Avoid the temptation to somehow “fix” or convince the other of anything. That will make everything go smoothly. Writing or mental projects could also work well, as long as you let up on the self-criticism. Just write now. You can repair and edit any errors or inconsistancies later.
Pisces: This is a week to give attention
to your allergy medication. You may not feel well but the aspects are short so let your body have some time to heal itself. Paperwork may be a challenge. Avoid it this week if you can. Make a special effort to keep up with keys, tickets and other small items. You don’t want to loose any precious time over these small items, so arrange new spots for storage.
Are you interested in a personal horoscope? Vivian Carol may be reached at 704-366-3777 for private psychotherapy or astrology appointments. (There is a fee for services) www.horoscopesbyvivian.com.
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40 | jul. 14 - jul. 20, 2016 | clclt.com