MADE April Issue 12 by MADE Paper

A Free Independent Newspaper

Issue 12 APRIL 2014

News, Makers & Trends of the New South

Chewing On The Pulley Bone: Montgomery’s Authentic Cut

Mt. Meigs Road & The Coming Resurgence

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MONTGOMERY

PUBLISHER MADE Paper

Issue 12 APRIL 2014

EDITORS Brent Rosen, Anna Lowder, Caroline Nabors Rosen, Harvi Sahota CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harvi Sahota DESIGN Matter www.iheartmatter.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brent Rosen, Caroline Nabors Rosen, Anna Lowder, Andrea Jean, Heather Steen, Tiffany Bell, Will Abner, Johnny Veres, Sam Wootten, Jennifer Kornegay, Scott Steen, Melissa Tsai, Tom Jean, Edwin Marty, Evans Bailey, Tina Hofer Medico, Robert Wool, Will Steineker, Elliot Knight, Mark Bowen, Christian Kerr, Rebecca Seung, David Mowery, Brian Carroll, Blake Rosen, Josh Carples, Katie Lindgren, Natilee McGruder, CarolineTaylor, Skye Borden, Katie Vega, Rachel Fisher, Amy Collins

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Harvi Sahota, Grace Photography, Josh Moates, Jon Kohn, Ryan Muirhead, Luke Lindgren, Thomas Lucas MADE PAPER INTERN Diane Humphreys DESIGN CONTRIBUTOR Jay Wilkins

Made is a free, independent newspaper published monthly. Modern design, authentic voices, smart articles and curated events. ISSUE 12 APRIL 2014

DISCLAIMER: Made publishes news and commentary, critique and reporting, offering different views from our community. Our contributors offer a variety of views and perspectives on subjects covered in Made. These views and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Due to the nature of creative industries and the connections we foster with those around us, contributors may have some personal or professional connection with people, events, or organizations covered in the publication or website. All letters, messages, and emails sent to Made will be treated as intended for publication unless otherwise noted by the author. Letters and emails may be edited for space and content. Made celebrates the rich history of a free press and is proud to continue to strengthen this tradition.

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MADE PAPER 505 Cloverdale Road, Unit 102 Montgomery, Alabama 36106 CALL 334.223.4862 EMAIL editor@madepaper.com

COVER PHOTO: JON KOHN

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Column feature: Pulley bones feature: mount meigs road Makers Food & DRINK STYLE travel Music

MADE is a collective of citizens celebrating the local, the authentic, and the unique. We are creatives featuring other creatives and the engaging work being produced in our city. We call attention to all fields forging new pathways in expression and innovation. We are makers who love to eat, talk, collaborate, question, party, and laugh, and we want you to take part. Thanks for reading this and supporting the artists, craftsmen, creatives, and active citizens that make a city thrive.

Making Montgomery Stronger, One Neighborhood at a Time WORDS BRENT ROSEN One of my favorite annual activities in Montgomery is the CloverdaleIdlewild neighborhood concert series. At 4:00 p.m. each Sunday in April and May, the neighborhood provides live music under the gazebo in Cloverdale Bottom Park (South side of Fairview, on Cloverdale Road). People from all over Montgomery come to the neighborhood, kids and coolers in tow, to enjoy the two months of Spring and Summer that aren’t unbearably hot. I love the concerts in the park for so many reasons. Since I live in Cloverdale Idlewild, I can walk out my front door and hear the music. I enjoy all the activity in the neighborhood, the kids running around, the parents enjoying a beverage and socializing, the bouncy houses, the dogs, the lawn chairs, the blankets. The concerts also showcase the diversity of my neighborhood. Black, white, brown; military men with crew cuts, longhairs who work in the service industry; young professionals and the underemployed: everyone shows up at the park. If you look close, you may even get to see a noted federal judge in short pants. I love the diversity of the music. Some weeks there is a Captain and Tennille style duo, other weeks a big band of octogenarians who play music best enjoyed while wearing a straw boater. Local musicians leave the patio of the Renaissance and get to play under the park’s huge oak trees. There’s even been a steel drum band rocking calypso. You never know what you’ll get, but for two hours, the musicians get into the spirit of the outdoor show and play long and loose for the crowd. I love that people who don’t live in Cloverdale-Idlewild make it over to the “other” side of Fairview, and can have some preconceived notions challenged. It’s not scary. It’s not crime infested. The diverse people who live in our neighborhood actually get along. People are friendly, interested in meeting strangers. Kids form ad hoc alliances with other kids near the swing sets, then run off to explore the creek or climb trees. It feels how any urban neighborhood should feel, even if that means it doesn’t necessarily feel like Montgomery. I love that the concerts in the park have slowly changed the face of our neighborhood. Houses near the Bottom Park sell fast, and many of the older homes on the park have been beautifully renovated. People have realized the joy of park living, and also realized that the $100,000+ you save by buying outside of Old Cloverdale can go a long way toward

renovations. Young families now outnumber old shut-ins, and time will hasten that demographic change. In the few years I’ve lived in CloverdaleIdlewild, I’ve seen firsthand how much stronger the neighborhood has grown. I attribute much of that growth to the concert series. Other neighborhoods should be looking for their own annual, high-profile, vibrant events -- the benefit these events bring cannot be ignored. What can historic South Hull do to bring people out to see that neighborhood? How can Capitol Heights leverage its parks and commercial districts in a way that will generate activity in the neighborhood? What annual activity can Cottage Hills host, taking advantage of its own unique character and diversity. I’m not suggesting dozens of concert series, but something each individual neighborhood can make its own. The neighborhood association’s involvement is key. The CloverdaleIdlewild neighborhood association funds the majority of the concert series through a BONDS (Building Our Neighborhood for Development and Success) grant. The BONDS program is a city-run initiative that trains and strengthens neighborhoods associations throughout Montgomery. Having major events organized by each neighborhood association matters. Putting on a major event requires people from the neighborhood to work together, strengthening ties between different members of the community. Stronger ties between neighbors means a stronger neighborhood, and cooperation during the planning and execution of the event spills over into cooperation on other important issues, from neighborhood watch to creating a listserv that helps neighborhood residents find lost animals. If you want something to happen in your neighborhood, join your neighborhood association and start attending meetings. Come up with some ideas, convince your neighbors to come on board, and see if you can turn your dreams for your neighborhood into reality. The city may support your efforts with a BONDS grant to help you get started, and if you need other funding, reach out to local businesses and partner up. The city started the BONDS program “in an effort to improve the overall quality of life throughout the city and County of Montgomery.” The improvements to overall quality of life in Montgomery begin at the neighborhood level. They begin with an idea for something as simple as a neighborhood concert series. They begin because of the ideas of someone like you. APRIL 2014 • MADEPAPER.COM

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WORDS BRENT ROSEN PHOTOS JON KOHN

I’m a pulley bone evangelist and I’ve come today to preach. Witness the pulley bone transform dry, tired, white meat into moist, delicious chicken tenderloin. Forsake the false idolatry of the boneless, skinless, chicken breast. Open yourself to the possibility that white meat as you know it has been wrong your entire life. To the uninitiated: the pulley bone is the top portion of the chicken breast. Normally, chicken breasts are removed from the breast bone and halved, creating the familiar half-heart shape you see on the shelves at your local grocery store. But there is another way. Instead of removing the breasts from the bone in halves, you can chop perpendicular to the breast bone, taking only the rounded tops of the breast. When you cut breasts this way the pulley bone -- or “wish bone” -remains in the chicken. Hence the name. After you eat the meat, you play with the bone. Two people take either side of the pulley bone in their fingers, and pull. The person who ends up with the long side gets to make a wish. Growing up, I remember fighting for the privilege of making a wish over the pulley bone in our family’s Thanksgiving turkey, but never knew the same delight could be derived from a chicken. Unfortunately, most of America forgot the pulley bone. The tastiest part of the chicken, lost. If you are reading this article in Montgomery, Alabama, however, get excited. You live in one of the last places in America where pulley bones remain readily available. You also have something to look forward to: Montgomery will be the site of a pulley bone revival. *

It’s Tuesday at 8 o’clock in the morning and I’m standing behind a butcher’s counter at Derk’s Filet and Vine wondering if I’ve worn the wrong shoes. Derk likes to butcher the chickens himself, and he’s invited me to watch him cut pulley bones. The butchering room centers around a cutting table, with packs of knives hanging from several magnetized strips along the walls. A drain opens under the cutting table. I have a good idea why Derk needs that drain. I hope it won’t get too messy. I wish I’d worn boots. Derk cuts the chickens with a scimitar. Really. The scimitar runs a foot long, curved, serrated, sharp. He works the knife through the chicken, fast. The edge of the blade never breaks contact with the chicken; each twist of the knife yields another piece: 2 wings, 2 legs, 2 thighs, 2 breasts, and the subject of our story – the pulley bone. To get the pulley bone, you press the chicken down, breast side up, and start a cut through the center of the breast. Allow the knife to glide along the angle of the breast bone toward the cutting board, until the knife exits the top of the chicken near the neck. Once removed, you have two pieces of skin-on, round-edged breast held together by the pulley bone.

The pulley bone belongs to a family of meats known as “butcher’s cuts.” Butcher’s cuts are the pieces of meat not regularly eaten by the general public but loved by food purveyors. For example, consider the hangar steak. This piece of meat is tender, full of flavor, and inexpensive, yet although it’s been part of the cow since domestication, the hangar steak remained almost unknown until the early 2000s. The reason? Butchers would take hangar steak home for themselves rather than sell it in their shops. Hangar steak escaped the home refrigerators of butchers only after trendy restaurant chefs began clamoring for hangar steak on their menus. Like the rest of the members of its butcher cut family, pulley bones are relatively cheap, relatively unknown, and the pulley bone cut can be removed from the “commercial cuts” without anyone noticing. I asked Derk why I couldn’t get raw pulley bones from any other grocery store in town. He identified corporate culture as the culprit. Derk explained, “I once tried to show a butcher in Texas a better way to cut sirloin. They would have made more money and sold more meat if they’d done it my way, but the butcher told me he couldn’t change the way meat was cut because corporate wouldn’t allow it.” Unlike a corporate owned grocery store or butcher shop, Derk independently owns his business, meaning he can be creative and do what he likes. Since Derk likes pulley bones, he sells them. *

Louis Prima is best known for “Jump, Jive, and Wail,” a song featured in a GAP commercial during the Swingers-fueled, proto-hipster, swing-dance revival that lasted for about 30 minutes in the late 90’s. But Prima’s “Closest to the Bone, Sweeter is the Meat” has more relevance for our conversation about pulley bones. In that song, Prima sings, “that last slice of Virginia Ham is the best that you can eat/don’t talk about my baby, she’s slender but she’s sweet/closest to the bone, and sweeter is the meat.” Prima probably never realized it, but his lyrics drop some serious meat science. Cooking meat bone-in prevents the escape of moisture and allows for longer cooking times without sacrificing flavor. For white meat chicken, cooking bone-in, skin-on, prevents the chicken from drying out and turning into flavorless nothing. The pulley bones themselves release moisture as the connective tissue surrounding the bones breaks down, and the thin layer of fat beneath the skin of the breast renders, further adding moisture and flavor as the chicken cooks. I like to cook pulley bones in a cast-iron skillet. I buy them from Derk and have them covered in “Derk’s Dirt,” his proprietary blend of herbs and spices that makes Colonel Sanders look like a hack, and then I let the chicken sit for a few hours to absorb the rub. Butter and oil go into the skillet over medium-high heat, and once the fat glistens

and is near smoking, in goes the chicken, skin side down. Five or so minutes later, flip and sear the bottom side of the chicken for another three or four minutes. Then move the whole skillet to a 350 degree oven, insert a meat thermometer, and pull out the pulley bones out once they reach 170 degrees. It should take 15 or so minutes. Now you have pan seared pulley bones. Cut through the crisped skin and have a bite. You will initially think your chicken is undercooked because it will be dripping with moisture. Hold the piece of chicken you’ve just cut up to the light so you can decide that indeed, it is cooked through. Have another bite, this time confirming your initial thought: this is the tastiest, juiciest white meat you have ever eaten. Now, make like Louis Prima and locate the pulley bone. There is a piece of meat in between the forks of the pulley bone, and you’ll want to pop it out with your fingers. This is not the time for silverware. Taste. Truly, the sweetest meat. *

I did not realize pulley bones were an anachronism until meeting Mary Ann Merritt, owner of Martin’s Restaurant on Carter Hill Road. Mary Ann explained that pulley bones were a product of Alabama’s more agrarian past, the featured player for postchurch Sunday suppers. Even though she grew up in Montgomery, Mary Ann and her family would travel the 40 miles to Clanton every Sunday for supper at her grandparent’s house. Sunday meant time to break down a whole chicken into its component parts, time to let the chicken tenderize in a buttermilk bath, time to fry the pieces a few at a time in a cast-iron skillet. Mary Ann saw her cousins and aunts and uncles every Sunday, a connection lost for her own children. “We’ve lost the traditional Sunday, and we’ve lost the traditional family time,” Mary Ann said. “Grandmas and mother’s cooking with a big spread on the table now only happens on Thanksgiving and Christmas.” The fast pace of modern life not only victimized family time, but also made the pulley bone an endangered species. In order to have pulley bones, you need to know how to break down a chicken. While at one time this simple butchery was common knowledge, the commercialization and industrialization of food production has rendered this knowledge obsolete for the average person. Why learn to break down a chicken yourself when you can go to the grocery store and get a package of your favorite cuts for less than the cost of an entire chicken? The average household is happy to outsource chicken processing to Tyson; the savings of time and money seem like a win-win. Commercialization and industrial food production can also be blamed for the pulley bone’s disappearance from restaurant menus. “The pulley bone is rare because you have to have employees that know how to cut chicken,” Mary Ann said, “it’s a lot easier to call and say ‘I need three cases

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of wings, three cases of legs, and three cases of thighs’ than it is to cut the chickens yourself.” Pulley bones take time. When the chickens arrive at Martin’s, they need to be washed, prepared and then cut, a lengthy process. Most restaurants are simply unwilling to spend the extra time needed to prepare chicken the old-fashioned way. Mary Ann explained Martin’s sells the most pulley bones on Sunday. Sunday customers tend to be regulars, folks looking to recreate the slower, more family-oriented, post-church meals of their youth. Twice in recent months a woman has ordered 150 pulley bones from Martin’s to take with her to Atlanta for a Sunday supper. 150 pulley bones means 150 chickens to butcher. While it might be easier for Martin’s to just order cut chicken from their food supplier and stop serving pulley bones, Martin’s continues to offer them. Why? Because, Mary Ann says, “customers who know what pulley bones are want them.” *

Thinking about pulley bones, thinking about my conversations with Derk and Mary Ann, I couldn’t help but think about the 60’s-era Ziegler Meats commercial starring Coach Bear Bryant that airs during Alabama football games. Coach Bryant handles the voiceover work, but I’m more

interested in the background images. Long, slow shots of packaged meat on grocery store shelves, punctuated by pictures of women and children freed from hunger and drudgery by the affordability and convenience of Ziegler’s meats. You can feel from the commercial that in the 1960’s, people looked at processed meat as a harbinger of a better future. The advertisement’s subtle but unmistakable message: modernity demands the same industrial processes used to make cars should be used to make food. In the booming post-war era, butchering and preparing your own meats seemed downright prehistoric. With 60 years of hindsight, you can see in this commercial the pulley bone’s cause of death. But the time of the pulley bone’s resurrection draws near. About a month ago, I ate a long, late brunch at Husk Restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. I was there with some food writer friends, and we ordered Husk’s secret menu item -- fried chicken. As we waited for the chicken to arrive, all of us argued over who would have to eat the breasts. No foodie worth their truffle salt would ever eat fried white-meat chicken, knowing that it’s quick to dry out and lacks dark meat’s flavor. When the chicken arrived, we poked it around and were thrilled to see only thighs and legs in the parchment-paper lined bowl. At Husk,

no one gets stuck with the white meat. The pulley bone’s next life will be lived in that parchment-lined bowl at Husk and restaurants like it across the South. First, The moist deliciousness of the pulley bone changes minds about the utility of white meat. Next, the pulley bone is a cut of chicken almost no one has ever heard of, a new “exotic” cut to wow restaurant diners. Finally, the pulley bone drips with Southern heritage, the meat equivalent of sorghum, or heirloom tomatoes, or moonshine. Pulley bones check all the boxes necessary for placement on a “New-South” restaurant’s menu, so expect to see them there soon. And once the pulley bone starts showing up at trendy restaurants, it’s only a matter of time before this “butcher’s cut” crosses over and becomes available at your local grocery store. With this prediction in mind, people and restaurants of Montgomery -- let’s get in front of this trend now. Derk will sell you raw pulley bones and tell you how to cook them. Martin’s, Eastbrook Café and Red’s Little Schoolhouse (among others) will serve them to you fried. Start to get a feel for them because the pulley bone is unknown almost everywhere but Montgomery. Let’s stake our claim to this piece of culinary heritage, and maybe, just maybe, when the pulley bone makes it big, people will call it the “Montgomery Cut.”

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E L A S N O m o c W . s O r N e k S a T m E n K r e C I h t T u o s . www

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WORDS CAROLINE TAYLOR

Working in monochrome, artists featured in monochromatic push their limits conceptually under restriction of a single color. With roots dating back to the Suprematist Composition in Moscow, monochromatic tradition is an important component of the avant-garde of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Influential to the practice, Color Field painters and Minimalists of the midtwentieth century, such as Mark Rothko, Ellsworth Kelly and Richard Tuttle, developed single-color use – eventually incorporating shaped canvases. With enduring relevance, execution of artworks using a limited palette (today explored in various mediums) references the long tradition from the past while continuing to prove significant to the present. The three artists included in triumph & disaster’s monochromatic explore the practice from three different angles. Cameron Martin’s meticulous process presents a contemporary use of traditional landscape, evoking a sense of non-specific nostalgia. Leslie Smith III updates the use of the shaped canvas with paintings showing his understanding of spatial relationships – the restricted color palette allowing the strong and intentional lines of his constructions to serve as the composition. Referencing media of pop culture, Javier Barrios’ cut-mylar collages move between fact and fantasy, confronting the great philosophical questions of mankind. Artists included: Javier Barrios, Cameron Martin, Leslie Smith III TRIUMPH & DISASTER, www.triumphdisastergallery.com

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WORDS KATIE VEGA

Mt. Meigs Road. You know, that street that makes your morning commute into downtown 31 seconds faster by avoiding Madison. As a Montgomery native, I am fairly familiar with the road — and no, not just from driving it on my way to work. My earliest memories of Mt. Meigs include going with my dad to take his car to the shop and eating breakfast at Capitol Grill every Saturday morning with my mom after our 5 a.m. yard sale adventures. Today, Mt. Meigs seems to mirror the images I have in my memory. Car shops - still there. Capitol Grill - newly reopened. But deep in the facades of the mechanic shops, beauty salons, and diners is so much more. There are visions of a community main street—think Cloverdale’s Fairview. The City has used it as a project in their Capital of Dreams campaign. And recently, this vision turned into a live sketch of what Mt. Meigs could be, through Better Block Montgomery. Joe Birdwell, the man who brought the program to Capitol Heights, heard about it through TED Talks, and he decided the best place to bring it was to his own block. Here are some of Joe’s thoughts about his neighborhood: “We have always had a soft spot for Mt. Meigs, having eaten at the original Capitol Grill many times, gone to the food festivals at the Greek Orthodox Church, and shopped at various places along that road. We even dreamed of renovating and opening our own office space in one of the old buildings there.

We are proud of Mendel opening Kru on Mt. Meigs, and we so badly want to see more businesses return to this quaint little district so close to our home. Mt. Meigs used to be a bustling area, and we want to see it that way once more. We have seen the neighborhood come together time and time again for projects and initiatives like “Save the 1802” and our growing numbers on our neighborhood message board at Nextdoor.com. My wife grew up in Capitol Heights, with its wide porches and shady sidewalks, so when it came time to buy a house, we completely fell in love with not only the charming and eclectic old houses, but also the friendly and fascinating people that live in them. We have a lot of young families, professors, artists, and just really interesting people overall. And we love being a part of the new energy and revitalization happening here.” So let’s have a little history lesson, shall we? Capitol Heights was incorporated as a town in 1907 and became a part of the city of Montgomery around 1926. South California’s Craftsman style influenced the developers, and accents such a decorative beams and exposed rafters are still seen in most of the neighborhood’s gentrified homes. During the Depression and World War I and II, duplexes were built to serve as affordable housing for soldiers and young couples - and these Depression era houses are still serving their original purpose. APRIL 2014 • MADEPAPER.COM

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Back to present day. The Capitol Heights neighborhood is about as diverse as it gets. While this drives some people away (because, let’s face the sad truth— there are still white people afraid of black people), it draws in the people that thrive off of qualities such as cultural differences, and these are the people most needed to shape Montgomery’s future. I recently met a couple, who I now call my friends, that paint the perfect little picture of what Capitol Heights personifies.

your neighbors, accompanied by a glass of wine or cup of joe. And that’s exactly what they are doing. KRU on Mt. Meigs, (soon to be) Montgomery’s only lounge, will be a third space full of art, world-class coffee, an extensive wine collection, cozy outdoor areas, and comfy sofas (!!!). Housed in a usedto-be abandoned building and clothed in good taste, KRU is Mendel’s baby. And y’all, wait until you see it! I wish I could share every top-secret detail, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Just know that you will love it.

Enter Neil David Seibel and Mendel Brown - one a theatre professor and another a man of many hats - who happily choose to call Capital Heights their home. And there are a couple of facts about these two I would like to point out. One is black, one is white. They are a homosexual couple who have traveled the world and lived in places such as Sweden (the fifth “happiest” country in the world), Hawaii, and New York City. And these two beautiful souls chose to live here - a fact that should make us all proud to call this place home. And you’re probably thinking, “these people are CRAZY…they left New York to come HERE?” Well friends, as Mendel put it best - paradise is a state of mind, not a destination. And while we are on the subject…can we STOP saying “Montgomery sucks” or “I know...Alabama” when we meet new people. Because if you opened your eyes, you would see what ND, Mendel, myself, and so many others see: a city, deeply rooted in a controversial history coming into its own, with places like Capitol Heights at the forefront.

The hope for a lot of people is that business owners will follow Mendel’s lead. Think about it… Mt. Meigs is the perfect road for restaurants, shops, lofts, lounges. Rent is cheap. Traffic is steady. And location is pretty perfect. Mt. Meigs is a hop from Cloverdale and a skip from downtown and just beyond the winding porches of Capitol Heights. And already-established business call Mt. Meigs home. Capitol Grill, an eatery featured in Martha Stewart Living, recently reopened its doors after being closed for years. Think sunny-side up eggs, pork chops, and biscuits - a cozy Southern meat and three with a long history. And the sometimes unnoticed Taqueria El Campesino - where you can stop in and get authentic Mexican food made with fresh ingredients, and a Spanish lesson.

Okay, back on track… Always a dreamer, Mendel moved here knowing that he could afford to dream. In New York, he and his partner could have never afforded to do what they wanted. And what they wanted is to give themselves, their neighbors, and visitors from all around a gathering place. Somewhere to be social (or not) with

Bottom line, put Mt. Meigs on your radar. Remember the aforementioned, and think about its future, because it’s a bright one. So my challenge for you is this: drive through the neighborhood. Turn on St. Charles, North Capitol, or any street your heart fancies. Stroll down Mt. Meigs, starting on Madison and ending at Adams, and imagine what it could be. Find KRUonMtMeigs, Capitol Grill, Taqueria El Campesino, Save 1802 Madison Project, and Historic Capitol Heights on Facebook. And check back with us to learn more about the opening of KRU.

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Words JENNIFER KORNEGAY

As technology rushes ever forward, it brings with it amazing advances that make our lives easier by allowing us to do so many things so much faster. Case in point: sending a file from your phone to a wireless printer that shoots out the finished product in the time it takes to you walk across the room to grab it. That’s just one example, but one that’s apropos when discussing one of our favorite Makers, Green Pea Press in Huntsville. Located in historic Lowe Mill, which features more than 100 working artists, small businesses, restaurants and live performance venues, Green Pea Press is a member-based organization that provides access to equipment for artists working in fine art print media, including wood/linocut, etching, letterpress, screen print and bookmaking as well as educational lectures and workshops. Members “buy” time in the studio to create their own work, and the general public can take advantage of GPP’s classes. The Pea Pod, an offshoot of Green Pea Press, shows and sells the members’ original pieces: fine art prints, t-shirts, posters, cards, textiles and more.

MADE: When did Green Pea Press start? Rachel: We opened in January 2011.

Founder Rachel Lackey believes the recent resurgence of interest in the printmaking arts and other artisan trades is really a backlash to the notable drawbacks of the digital age. “Everything is so removed and impersonal,” she said. “People want handmade now; they want that connection again.” We doubt Rachel’s got anything against you printing some directions or a recipe on the aforementioned home printer. It’s so far removed from its ancestors, it now bears almost zero resemblance to what she’s passionate about. And that’s what she wants you (and everyone else) to understand and then appreciate: the art of print media and a process that takes its time on purpose. That’s why GPP exists.

What drove you to do it? A sculptor here in Huntsville had hand-built a large etching press that he said I could use, so that sparked it. Then I really started doing the research on opening a community print shop. Then, I just took the leap and did it. I relied on my determination, but I had so much help. An older guy here named Bill Axenroth, he had a print shop he ran for 40 years, and I got some equipment from him. He thought I was crazy because he had seen the industry die off; he couldn’t believe anyone would care about it, and he’d never really seen the fine art side of it. Now, he teaches some of our classes. I’m so happy he got to see it come back.

How did you get into print media? I went to Memphis College of Art and then the University of Alabama Huntsville where I took some printmaking classes. I was hooked. When you see digital print next to letterpress, there’s no comparison. It’s so tactile. You can see the impression, see the craft that went into it. It just looks better. So why start Green Pea Press? When I graduated, all of the sudden, I no longer had access to the press equipment or the print shop at UAH, so it was over. I couldn’t do it anymore. I talked to other artists who said the same thing. They had loved printmaking in school, but quit it because they didn’t have equipment. We all kept saying it would be great if someone started a print shop here, and I knew it would be, but originally, I didn’t want to be the one to do it; I thought it would be too much work.

Which is your favorite of the printmaking arts? I love etching, but love mixing them too. I’ll do an etching and then hand-color with watercolor, and then I might letterpress over it. How many people are using the studio each month? We have 36 members, and they pay annual dues to come use the equipment for their work and then sell their art in our store, the Pea Pod. You also do print work for local businesses, right? Yes. Local businesses can hire us to print cards or screen print t-shirts for events. That side of things is going really, really well, proving how much people value this art. What about GPP classes? Our screen printing workshop is the most popular. Every other month we do letterpress. We do a letterpress workshop for Valentine’s Day each year that is a big hit. We have both kids and adults making these cool cards. We did more than 200 cards this past year. And we do summer classes for kids. Are you excited about Southern Makers? Oh yes! I am thrilled to be a part of it. Knowing that so many artists and craftspeople will be there, the biggest names regionally in artisanship will be there, is amazing. But it will also be great to see some new faces. Nothing is more inspirational than seeing what other artists are doing and getting to interact with them. Learn more about Green Pea Press at greenpeapress.com and meet Rachel

Tell us about the big birthday y’all celebrated recently.

On March 29, we had a birthday party for our letterpress machine. It turned 100 years old. This amazing piece of equipment first began its work in 1914, and it’s still going.

and the GPP team at Southern Makers on May 3.

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FEATURE FILM April 17th The Wizard of Oz Capri Theater

7:30 p.m. This classic film has touched the hearts of generations with tales of wisdom, sentiment, and bravery. If you haven’t seen this one on the big screen, Now is your chance! Tickets are $7 for members and $9 for non-members. capritheater.org

April 24th-May 4th A Raisin in the Sun

Cloverdale Playhouse

A tale about a family in Chicago trying to find their way and establish their roots. With two young adults searching to find who they are, money and heritage play large roles in this heroic tale. Call 334.262.1530 or visit cloverdaleplayhouse.org.

April 25th-May 23rd Timon of Athens

Alabama Shakespeare Festival PHOTO RADIUS-TWC, GIL FRIESEN AND TREMOLO PRODUCTIONS

20 FEET FROM STARDOM: ALMOST THERE WORDS EVANS BAILEY

It’s hard not to compare 20 Feet From Stardom and Waiting for Sugar Man. Both share elements familiar to just about every rock-doc. The interviews with rock luminaries saying how awesome the subject is/are and how much their tunes inspired the far more famous person, the archive footage, and the interviews with the subject. Both movies also have a common subject, forgotten artists who never quite made it to superstardom, and both movies won best documentary feature at the Academy Awards. But where Waiting for Sugar Man drove home to a familiar “Behind the Music”-type redemption, 20 Feet From Stardom veers slightly off course. For those out-of-the-know, 20 Feet focuses on several oft-heard, but never truly famous background singers from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Most share the same background—black gospel choirs. Most also reach a similar conclusion—being not-so rich and famous. Despite this commonality, there are some standouts from the at least 15 singers featured in the movie. Darlene Love describes the shock at having her lead vocal on “He’s a Rebel” attributed to another act. Merry Clayton talks about the midnight session where she sang the haunting refrain of “Rape! Murder!” on the Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”— while pregnant. Finally, Sting (leave it to the famous person to steal the show) gets down to the real gist of the film: it’s not really talent that separates these background women (and some men) from becoming huge superstars; it is really just a combination of luck and circumstance. Unfortunately, the decision to include so many talented musicians in the film leaves little opportunity to explore more of the luck and circumstances that is so obviously at play. For this many singers with this many stories, you only get

hints. Tata Vega says she would be dead now if she were famous. Betty Love briefly describes how creepy-ass Phil Spector derailed her solo career to keep her as a backup. Why can Luther Vandross or Sheryl Crow go from backup to superstar, and Lisa Fischer can’t? There’s just not enough time to cover all the circumstances in just 91 minutes. So filmmaker Morgan Neville takes a different route. About two thirds of the way into the film it flashes from the late 80’s early 90’s to the present and the life of Judith Hill. You may remember Hill from Season 4 of the Voice. Tall, gorgeous, and ridiculously talented, Hill was set to star in a backup role as part of Michael Jackson’s comeback tour before he died—leaving her career in limbo. Talented enough to have fans, she’s still not rich or famous enough to turn down gigs. To compromise, she wears wigs for her backup singing jobs so her fans won’t be disappointed. Not to take anything away from her talent or story (she was robbed, Carson Daly!!), but the first 60 minutes of the film and the last 30—focusing on Hill—seem like different films with only a tenuous connection. I’d much rather watch fuller versions of either, but the mishmash final product is still worth its Oscar. Everyone dreams of being famous, and most would settle for the ohh-so-close lives studied in this film. Grab a few beers at Leroy and go see it at the Capri April 12-15. 20 Feet is not as clear or “feel-good” as Sugar Man, but the tunes are way better and you get to see 70’s David Bowie as a coked-up ghost.

In a Shakespearean tale of worldly possessions and treasure, Timon must realize who his friends truly are. For tickets, call the Box Office at 800.841.4273 or visit asf.net

April 3rd - April 30th Two Lines Photo Exhibit

Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum

A photo exhibit celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin wall and the 65th Anniversary of the de-militarization zone. A reception will be held on April 5th to honor all veterans. Free Admission. For more information, email info@akeep.org.

April 12th Second Saturday Riverfront Park

5-9 p.m. Second Saturday is back beginning in April! The fun includes live entertainment, ames, drinks, and food. Becoming an annual tradition, Second Saturday only lasts till the breeze turns chilly, go while you can! For more information call 334.625.2100.

April 19th Alabama Book Festival Old Alabama Town

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Readings & book signings by a variety of regional and national poets & authors including Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul), Cassandra King, Sena Jeter Naslund, Wendelin Van Draanen, and Stephanie Perry Moore. Plus free writing workshops, exhibitors (including printmaker Amos Kennedy), children’s activities, a scavenger hunt & giant crossword puzzle, and local food vendors.

Instagram: MadePaper Post photos of your April events and tag MadePaper. The more unique the better!

Catch this film at The Capri, April 12-15. The Capri is located on Fairview Avenue. Visit www.capritheatre.org for info.

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STONE BREWERY:

The Alabama Brewer’s Guild’s Largest Advocate WORDS BLAKE ROSEN

There’s been a lot of talk in recent months about Stone Brewery setting up their casks in Alabama. California-based Stone wants an east-of-theMississippi hub, but in addition to a brewery, Stone wants their eastern base to feature a retail store that sells product directly to the consumer for off-site consumption. New bills have been sponsored in both the Alabama House (HB 581) and Senate (SB 439) in an attempt to bring to Alabama what is projected by Stone to be $100 million dollars in revenue by their fourth year in operation.This seems like a no brainer. A perfect fit for the ever growing craft brewing industry in our state. But is it? To better understand the current dilemma, first one has to understand distribution laws in the state of Alabama. The 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933 and ushered in what has become known as the three tier system of beer, liquor, and wine distribution. As the person responsible for ordering beer for TRUE Restaurant, I do not call Tripp Collins at Back Forty in Gadsden to order my beer. I call Mackenzie at Bama Bud. Tripp is the producer (the first tier), Mackenzie is the distributor (the second tier) and I am the third tier - the point of sale. In this model the consumer never deals directly with the producer. This system was set up to control or limit the public consumption of alcohol in cautious, post-Prohibition America. As a consumer, one can go to Railyard Brewing Company and sit down to have a pint, but under current Alabama legislation, one cannot purchase a six pack to-go. HB 581 and SB 439 would like to change that. This should be great news for everyone! But there is one major catch. The bills proposed only exempt breweries that produce in excess of 25,000 barrels of beer annually. That is an unreachable number for any current craft brewer in Alabama. The attempt to change the law is an enticement for a large out of state company, but the legislation comes at the expense of the brewers that built Alabama’s beer industry from the ground up.

The Alabama Brewers Guild (ABG) has rightfully spoken out against HB 581 and SB 439, and in a surprising turn of events, so has Stone Brewery. In a statement the Chief Operating Officer of Stone Brewery explained that the company “supports legislation that benefits all craft brewers,” a direct shot at the Alabama legislature. Proposals for possible sites for the east coast brewery location were due March 15 and no comments have been made as to who submitted paperwork or if any one site has an upper hand over another. That being said, one has to respect Stone Brewery’s mentality. Even though they are the 10th largest craft brewery in the country, they have no intention of having the rules changed for them to the detriment of the smaller breweries. While they want to compete against the other craft breweries in their new location, they demand competition on a level playing field. So what does this all mean for the state of craft brewing in Alabama? Having the clout of a company with the resources of Stone Brewery on the side of the ABG is a big step in the right direction. Anyone who has lived here and enjoyed a non-domestic beer during the last ten years remembers the early struggles of groups like Free the Hops who were instrumental in changing the laws allowing for higher gravity products and the ability to brew beer in the state of Alabama. It was an uphill fight to say the least. Getting national attention as a possible location for the east coast Stone site pushes the hand of legislators to rethink antiquated laws regarding the production and distribution of beer. The Alabama Brewers Guild struggles daily with blue laws that are no longer in tune with how Alabamians want to consume their products. While Stone Brewery and the ABG may appear to be strange bedfellows - competing against each other for market share while fighting together for equality under the law in the world of craft beer, it truly is the more the merrier. Stone Brewery beer can be purchased at Filet and Vine in Cloverdale and is distributed locally by International Wines.

WORDS CHANDLER HINES Before we get started I must confess: I’m probably

challenge you to do the same. Take a few hours, if

going to offend some of you.

you can find them, and pull everything out, toss the bad and rearrange the good. Sometimes just seeing

I will be the first to say that I love those body

an old dress hanging in a different spot can make it

flattering Lululemon outfits you’ve spent a fortune

look new.

on, but wearing them all day everyday is just not cute. There is a time and place for those comfy duds,

Or maybe you need an honest opinion to tell you

but come on ladies, let’s show how sexy you really

that dress is not going to look good no matter where

are by putting the workout gear away when you’re

it hangs. Sorry, but it needs to be said! Don’t hold on

done actually working out!

to ugly clothes because you think “oh, it’s just for work” or “maybe I can wear that later.” Ugly is ugly

I invaded my sister Lucie’s closet recently, and let

and even I can’t help those unfortunate clothes. I’m

me just say that I had to give her this same lecture.

all about giving them a second chance and

However, once I got my hands on her clothes and

reinventing the way they are worn, but if it doesn’t

rearranged things a little... well, ok a lot, I found

work, then pass it on to someone that needs it more

some really good stuff!

than you.

If you are like Lucie, with two rug-rats constantly

Another key to a happy closet is matching, skinny

pulling jewelry, shoes, and dresses out for play, then

velvet hangers. You can find them anywhere from

you understand her dilemma. Just keeping a clean

Costco to TJ Maxx. They are super helpful when

closet can be frustrating so I came in to rescue her

trying to save space.... trust me. And, they keep your

pretty things from a life of sticky fingers.

clothes from constantly slipping off which saves them from the already mentioned “sticky fingers.”

First, I took everything off of the hangers, turned

Take pride in your clothes and remember to wear

them right side out, and hung them back in order of

what makes you feel good. Now go, start cleaning

color and sleeve length. Even the jeans are all on the

out, but don’t give away everything just yet! I have a

same row and color coded. This makes a closet so

plan for next month that I think you (and your frugal

much more fun to keep up because it looks pretty. I

husbands) will really enjoy.

PHOTO THOMAS LUCAS 14

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GET READY FOR SPRING 1991 2014: GRUNGE REDUX Cut offs, sheer burn-out tees, denim and more. Grunge is back, this time paired with a hint of luxe. A beaded tee, a lace top, or a bold color or pattern. Smells like teen spirit glammed up.

Get all of these Spring looks at hue studio, 501 Cloverdale Road. Don’t miss hue’s Hunter Bell Trunk Show April 10. More info at www.avibrantlifestyle.com.

Montgomery Street Style Photos GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY

APRIL 2014 • MADEPAPER.COM

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Words AMY COLLINS

Photos MAGGIE CRISLER, RIVERTOWN COFFEE CO., AMY COLLINS, PEGASUS RECORDS AND GARAGE, IDYLLWILDE, ODETTE, BILLY REID, ALABAMA CHANIN

Florence is the quintessential small Southern town, with Victorian houses on tree-line streets and a downtown celebrated for its historic preservation. There’s a strong Native American lineage here, and, for the history buffs, informative plaques marking Civil War incidents on obvious, and often not so obvious, street corners, roadsides and parks. In the 1960’s, FAME recording studio (technically across the river in Muscle Shoals) and a group of talented musicians made the area famous to those in the know. Today, Florence is home to an unprecedented two CFDA fashion designers, Natalie Chanin and Billy Reid, and the local music scene is earning significant respect. New restaurants and drinking establishments have recently opened their 16

doors with sophisticated vibes and approachable Southern hospitality. There’s a quiet art scene and a burgeoning class of entrepreneurial makers-doers that make Florence an exciting place to watch right now. Several of the businesses highlighted below have created collaborative and multi-faceted ventures that marry into single thriving entities (Odette’s local-fare menu + craft cocktail bar + market; Alabama Chanin’s retail store + cafe + design to product facility; Billy Reid + Single Lock Records live music venue), and there are several more yet to grab the world’s attention (and they will). With prominent landmarks and a few off the beaten path secrets, this “map of Florence” will set you up for an awesome weekend.

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EAT/DRINK

sourced/organic ingredients in elevated

lasting impressions. Original paintings, prints

Southern style - under natural light from

and miscellany are for sale through the

Rivertown Coffee Co.

generous skylights, and stay for the three

gallery and website www.timstevensonart.

o’clock guided tour through the factory.

com. 458 N Court St.; 256-764-9922; Hours: Mon-Sat

light breakfast, lunch and a few dinner items

www.alabamachanin.com 462 Lane Drive; 256-760-

9am to 5pm, but call ahead to be sure he’s there or to

with a friendly, laid-back vibe. They also have

1090; Café hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Store hours: Mon-

make an appointment.

the best craft beer list in town, available for

Fri 9am-5pm

Independently owned coffee house serves

sipping on premise. Order at the counter, check out local artist’s work adorning the walls and settle in at one of the uniquely painted tables. 117 N Seminary St.; 256-765-7128; Hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-10pm, Fri 7am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Closed Sun

Odette Chef Josh Quick serves internationally inspired cuisine from locally and regionally sourced ingredients with perfect, consistent execution; you can’t order wrong, though the burger is the best (possibly in the history of burgers) and the “small plates” menu offers

The downtown gallery features several local

mom-and-pop venture serves up fresh,

and regional artists, including impressionist

authentic fare from a small grill and griddle

painter Tommy Mathis, woodworkers Robin

behind the counter. Tacos arrive on a warmed

Wade and Ben Burrows, metal worker Lucas

corn tortilla filled with chorizo, cachete (beef

Stokes and self-described Interwangelist,

cheek), chicharron (fried pork skin), lengua

Butch Anthony, in addition to artists from

(beef tongue) or al pastor (pork simmered in

across the US and Europe. A bar in the back

spices with pineapple) among other options.

sells select beer and wine during the gallery’s

Go for the stacked Tortas with protein of your

Happy Hour.

choice and a pickled jalapeño or try the

212 N Court St.; 256-278-2524; Hours: Thur-Sat

“special” menudo (tripe soup). Order a

American woman. Hendrix’s great-great-

11am-8pm, Happy Hour Thur-Sat 4pm-7pm

grandmother was a young girl of the Yuchi

horchata to wash it down and bring cash.

hours (red curry deviled eggs, steamed pork

approach. Check out the Market retail space for unique home goods and gifts. Find select Market artisans, purveyors and full menus at www.odettealabama.com 120 N Court Street; 256-349-5219; Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-12pm, Thur-Sat 11am-1am

Dick Howell’s BBQ Pit

Order the pimento cheese and egg & olive on toast. Chicken salad is also a favorite; ask for dill pickle chips on the side. End with a Black

Florence’s first micro-brewery, opened in late March of this year, pours their IPA, Pale Ale, Porter, and blonde ale Handy’s Gold in their

sandwiches and plates with hot slaw (order

tap room. Check out their Facebook page for

inside meat for an extra moist and tender

new brews and events at Singin’ River

experience), $1 hot dogs and whole smoked

Brewing Co.

chickens. This 4th generation establishment

526 E College St.; Hours: Thur-Fri 4pm-7pm

has recently been renovated and expanded to add indoor seating. HOURS: 10am-7pm Daily

A Florence mainstay famous for it’s ice cream parlor and lunch counter eats since 1917.

Singing River Brewery Co.

No fuss, old school Alabama BBQ

1350 N Pine Street; 256-712-5092;

Trowbridge’s

SHOP Billy Reid

(also the venue’s address) is a partnership between Billy Reid (longtime local music supporter) and local indie label Single Lock

Southeast and beyond. Decorated with

audience of mixed ages with a vibe that feels

antiques and a decidedly Southern aesthetic

part listening room, part standing (dancing)

that mirrors the designer’s own lifestyle, the

room only. Recent shows by Mike Cooley,

storefront shares space with Reid’s studio

Dan Dyer, Tift Merritt, Robert Ellis, Shonna

and team headquarters.

Tucker, Steelism and locals Donnie Fritts &

or hang out at one of the tables in their

114 N Court St.; 256-767-4692; Hours: Mon-Sat

John Paul White have set a lofty precedent

sunny, street-view window and watch

10am-5:30pm, Closed Sun

for future must-see acts. It’s also the place to

The only spot in town dedicated to fine wine and craft beer. Grab a bottle (or bottles) to go

passersby as you relax over a glass of wine or beer. In-store tastings every Friday night are the early evening cocktail party where you can get to know the locals and discover a new favorite vino. Some events include food pairings. Learn more on their website www. florencewineseller.net 324 N Court St.; 256-766-1568; Hours: call ahead for in-store events & evening hours

The Factory CafE at Alabama Chanin Designer Natalie Chanin recently expanded her eco-minded Alabama-made (and internationally known) business to include a retail store, café and on-premise manufacturing facility in her hometown of Florence. Peruse the new collection, DIY kits and other carefully curated gift items in the store, enjoy lunch or dessert and coffee in the café - everything made fresh from locally

Antiques on Court

limited space. 601 Riverview Drive; 256-740-8899; Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1pm-4pm; Admission charged

Tom’s Wall Tom Hendrix’s hand-built wall is the largest un-mortared structure in the United States and the only memorial in honor of a Native

tribe when she was marched from her home to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. She escaped the reservation and embarked on a five-year journey by foot back to her Singing (Tennessee) River. For over 30 years Hendrix has constructed this tremendous structure one stone at a time for love and honor. It’s a spiritual place that leaves a deep, lasting impression. 13890 Country Road 8, off the Natchez Trace near Hwy 20/Savannah Hwy; 256-764-3617

The Marriott Hotel & Spa

Recently opened music venue 116 Mobile

the Southeast and beyond play to an

The Wine Seller

the next. It’s also a stellar example of utilizing

116

store draws shoppers from across the

9am-7pm, Closed Sun

sunlight bathes each room as one flows into

STAY

Records. Local bands and visitors from across

316 N Court St.; 256-764-1503; Hours: Mon-Sat

Wright’s iconic organic design. Natural

LISTEN

Award-winning designer Billy Reid’s flagship

walnut ice cream cone.

cypress wood, the home demonstrates

Hidden in the back of a Mexican grocery, this

9am-10pm, Closed Mon

“new tricks” that emphasize a culinary

Built in 1939 from glass, brick and native

Taqueria Juarez

light fare ideal for stretching out the drinking

extensive list of true classic cocktails and

The Rosenbaum House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Rogers and Rogers Art Gallery

1550 Florence, Blvd.; 256-764-7365; HOURS: Tue-Sun

buns, kale Caesar salad). A full bar backs an

TOUR

hear the area’s own best bands, of which there are an inordinate number. Check the

For the posh weekend, book a room at the Marriott and schedule an afternoon in the spa for massage, manicure and pampering. Situated on the Florence banks of the Tennessee River, the 360 Grille is housed in a slow spinning tower that overlooks the river and historic Wilson Dam. Order a cocktail and watch the sun set on the river. Swampers restaurant off the lobby features outdoor seating and live music. 10 Hightower Place; 256-246-3600

Hampton Inn Downtown Standard hotel amenities a few blocks from Billy Reid, Odette and 116. It’s a reasonable

Court Street is home to several antique

website for show schedule.

shops, but this one is easy to miss. Set

www.116mobile.tumblr.com

indoor pool on premise. 505 S Court St.; 256-767-8282

and beautiful odds & ends. It also shares a

Pegasus Records and Garage

space with the owner’s two-chair hair salon.

Family owned Pegasus Records has been

442 N Court St.; 256-766-4429; Hours: Tue-Thur

meeting the Shoals’s music needs for over 30

9am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-4:30pm, Closed Sun-Mon

years. It’s the spot for vinyl, new and used

behind the owner’s Victorian home, the shop is packed with true antique furniture, china

Stevenson Fine Art

CDs and movies, local band merch and comics. The Pegasus Garage music venue sits

Florence native Tim Stevenson has been

behind the store. With an urban,

capturing the Alabama landscape, natural

underground club feel, The Garage hosts a

surroundings and daily life in watercolor and

range of local and traveling shows. Check the

oil for over 40 years. His studio and gallery in

website for show schedule.

downtown Florence will inspire any budding

www.pegrecords.com

artist and impress all art admirers. His

612 E Tennessee St.; 256-767-4340; Store hours: Mon-

watercolor studies of Nature’s ephemera on

Sat 9am-6pm, Closed Sun

stark white background are favorites, though the Tennessee Riverscapes make deep,

walk for those so inclined. Fitness room and

Airbnb Friends Scott & Susan Ruffrage host a treetop studio for two on Cypress Creek just 10 minutes drive from downtown. A modest, comfortable room includes a separate entrance and bathroom, flat screen TV, lowboy fridge, microwave and free WiFi in a serene, natural setting with abundant wildlife. Shared sun room, raised deck, hot tub and creek access will make you want to stay through Sunday. See Creekside Studio listing on airbnb.com

Amy Collins is a writer, editor and blogger. www.amyccollins.com

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Words BRIAN CARROLL

Brace yourselves for chill: The second wave of Bossa Nova, oddly enough, may soon be upon us, and on their seventh album, Saudade, appropriately worldly D.C. TripHop duo Thievery Corporation makes a new case for this often maligned, underdog genre’s revival. Though a few scattered but earnest attempts to kick-start a fullon Bossa Nova wave over the past three decades have often come off too heavy-handed, the production falsely loud and glossy, undercooked, or ironic (blame Casio and thrift-store organs), nevertheless, due to the fact that its metronomic, consistently unchanging beats can be easily programmed using modern musicmaking tools, garnering both easy international credibility and sex appeal, it appears American producers are putting their noses to the grindstone of Jobim and Gilberto songbooks anew and devoting themselves to fake it ‘till they make it. Tightly balanced and restrained in form, Bossa Nova is an easy genre on which to screw up the production, so you can expect to see plenty of the bad ideas that have doomed previous revival attempts reemerge as this temperate wave runs its course, especially through established artists already invested in these bad ideas. However, the genre has many stylistic limbs, and right out of the gates the new album from Thievery Corporation nails the core with only a modicum of spectacle. For the uninitiated, Bossa Nova is a complex Brazilian style which slows down to a crawl ultra-fast African Samba rhythms (the parent genre still probably too advanced for accurate regurgitation on an iPad) and pairs these rhythms with slowly morphing, distantly-related Jazz chords. This allows singers to do the heavy melodic lifting, arrangements stereotypically played light as a feather via the exclusive use of latin percussion and classical guitar plucking. This isn’t exactly three-chord monte we’re talking about here, but it does often serve to separate the men from the boys, so to speak, in several ways, as the genre is often acclaimed by both genders as one of the sexiest this side of Pornbient (ha!). The album at hand’s title, Saudade, also a recently “NPRed” buzzword, is the emotional fuel that propels the Bossa Nova. The Portuguese noun is supposed to be a quality indescribable in English, but ain’t nobody got time for that! If we figured out “Savoir Faire,” we can do this as well. Basically, saudade is a feeling of melancholy anticipation, of wishing and longing, often applied to unrequited love, encapsulated IN and illustrated AS Bossa Nova. Sort of like Emo, but for people who have clean carpets and some experience with the opposite sex other than resenting them. Enough context, right? How’s the album? It’s light, clean, 18

but downright masterful, filled with beauty, nearly Bossa Nova perfection. I say nearly because while the physical arrangements here are amazingly well-crafted, some of the digital gloss in the background, like not-quite-convincing synth string sections and cymbal rises, do detract from the otherwise fantastic job the two-piece has done. On paper, the duo followed a solid outline for making an album for the attention spans of 2014 listeners: Most of the tracks clock in under two minutes, all but one feature vocals by different female singers, and rather than bundle strong songs together, every other song is great. The album features soulful but not showy singing in not only English, but also Italian, French, and, of course, Portuguese. This may be a deal-killer for some, but since these languages are the prettiest, spongiest on Earth, even if you’re the sort turned off by movies with subtitles you can pretend the songs are about whatever lovely subject you desire while listening. Long time Thievery Corporation fans and dabblers of their catalog alike will be pleased to know that the duo’s beats often sound both vintage and impressively timeless here, and the production, while faintly electronic, doesn’t always sound like it, approaching the organic qualities of Portishead and early 60’s R&B while often channeling famous 1980’s British songstress Sade on its best tracks. Sixties soundtrack lovers will fawn over the patented Henry Mancini strings in the mix of one early standout track that washes up on the album’s shore called “No More Disguise,” while the closer, “Depth of My Soul” has a distinct Billie Holiday vibe. Perhaps the best track is a warm, anglicized curiosity named “Firelight” that acts as the perfect overall introduction to the album. Saudade is a breakthrough for the duo because unlike a lot of their work, it doesn’t have a real time stamp on it. Yes, the cymbals tend to do that build thing you hear in modern Lounge a little too often on the flipside, like the before and after scenes from an episode of Hoarders, but since Thievery Corporation have made such a good album otherwise, we have to return them to the wild streets of D.C. with only a light slap on the wrists. A convincing illusion, after hearing this breezy cool record you’ll want more Bossa Nova - and some of related, classy Lounge stuff the band peppers it with, too - not only because at forty-two minutes the album still felt short, but it acts as an antidote to what ails both modern American music and society. It’s an escape to exotic lands, it’s respite, it’s true romance, and if you’re already a fan of the increasingly re-popularized genres of Trip Hop and Bossa Nova, it’s an affirmation that you’re not crazy for being more into them lately. A likely sign of even more interesting things to come, Bossa Nova attempts a rebirth here, and Thievery Corporation, by subtly tweaking its golden ratios rather than attempt to restuff it in too much tacky modernity, has finally made a keeper. If you’re into vinyl, this is a great pick. No other release in the month of April will likely conform to the format quite as naturally, because unlike most modern albums, this one actually works better the lower the fidelity of the device on which you play it. A listen on a phone or a laptop goes a very long way to completely hide the semi-detrimental slickness the band couldn’t resist sometimes (but not always) including. An unexpected set of real, live songs from a band formerly known too often as middle of the road and mostlyinstrumental, Saudade is an impressive genre family exploration, especially on a technical, engineer-friendly level, but as I said, though actually fairly lengthy by modern standards, it comes off as short – maybe because the songs are short, or perhaps this reviewer was just starting

you’re into Bossa Nova, you can’t miss it. If you have no idea what the hell I’ve been talking about, this album makes an excellent introduction to the sound that you can digest without feeling overloaded by information. If you’re somewhere in between, steal it! I kid, I kid. It’s definitely worth a spin, so for fencesitters, track it down online so you can make up your mind to spend money on it after hearing it. Remember, Record Store Day is April 19th.

April 4th Black Jacket Symphony Presents Purple Rain by Prince Montgomery Performing Arts Center

8 p.m. - 10 p.m. After performing sold-out concerts across the southeast, Montgomery will again get to experience the joy of the Black Jacket Symphony. This select album is sure to provide a unique and vibrant concert experience. No detail is forgotten as Purple Rain is brought to life agin.

April 6th Federal Expression as a part of the Cloverdale-Idlewild Spring Concert Series

Cloverdale “Bottom” Park at Cloverdale Road and Ponce de Leon

4 - 7 p.m. With concerts from April 6th to May 25th, the Cloverdale-Idlewild spring concert series has arrived. They have every kind of music desirable and the chance to enjoy the outdoors with a soothing soundtrack. Check their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/CloverdaleIdlewild-Association and see exact dates and times. Coolers and blankets encouraged.

May 16th-May 18th Hangout Music Festival Gulf Shores, AL

In its 5th year, Hangout has reached maximum level crowds since 2011. Headliners for this year include The Black Keys, The Killers, Outkast, and Jack Johnson. Buy tickets online at hangoutmusicfest.com

May 20th Waverly Boogie Music and Arts Festival Standard Deluxe in Waverly, AL

With a combination of food, art, and music, the 13th annual Waverly Boogie features the best of it all. Make sure to bring cash for all of the “very-cool” items avaliable for your purchase. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 online at waverlyboogie.brownpapertickets.com

to get comfortable with it as it was almost over. If

MADEPAPER.COM • APRIL 2014

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Move-In Ready Homes and 8 New Homes Under Construction! Ask About Our 2014 New Buyer Incentives

The Mercer

The Murray B

The Helena

The Frey

3 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH 1,915 sq.ft conditioned approx

3 OR 4 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH 2,100 sq.ft conditioned approx

4 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH 2,381 sq.ft conditioned approx 533 sq.ft conditioned approx

$286,750

$294,900

3 BEDROOM 2 BATH 1,768 sq.ft conditioned approx 518 sq.ft porch / garage approx

$289,900

$319,900

The Abbey

The Adele

The Ebury

The Maggie

3 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH 1651 sq.ft conditioned approx

4 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH 2,268 sq.ft conditioned approx 735 sq.ft porch / garage approx

4 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH 2,440 sq.ft conditioned approx

4 BEDROOM 3 BATH 2,372 sq.ft conditioned approx

$357,650

$314,900

$269,900

$299,900

Town building, design, & construction are an evolving process. The Hampstead master plan, features, floor plans, & pricing may change without notice due to a variety of considerations. Any illustrations are artist’s depictions only & may differ from completed improvements. This is not an offer to sell real estate property. Information is correct but not warranted. Void where prohibited by law. Equal Housing Opportunity. © 2014

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Russell Lands On Lake Martin is an idyllic place on the shores of Lake Martin, Alabama’s largest lake. With 44,000 acres of

the southeast. Russell Lands On Lake Martin lies at the heart of Lake Martin and includes 25,000 acres of pristine forests with

pristine water and 750 miles of

more than 80 miles of hiking, bik-

shoreline, Lake Martin is a recre-

ing and equestrian trails, four flag-

ation destination unparalleled in

ship marinas, an outstanding, private golf course and country club, and a town center - Russell Crossroads - that harkens back to a simpler time, yet provides charming shopping and fine dining opportunities.

Throughout our country’s history,

the town center has served as a community gathering spot – a common meeting ground to shop, to dine and if luck had it, to leave with a few friendships formed. Located in the heart of Russell Lands On Lake Martin, Russell Crossroads perfectly blends these storied traditions with today’s conveniences. For more information, call 256-215-7011 or visit RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com

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