15days BEST BETS
March 14 - 28, 2014
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Pub Notes by brad evans - bradevans11@gmail.com
MAILING: P.O. BOX 14251, Macon, GA 31203 OFFICE PHONE: (478) 508-7096 ADVERTISING: meg@11thHourOnline.com
Cherry Blossom is here. The festival has always been fun,
McCorkle Music Building 7:30 Free.
but over the last five years, they have really stepped things
The worlds greatest violinist is from Macon. I see him every
up. By reaching out to other events, and adding on some
chance I get. Don’t miss this.
great new happenings, I think we may be coming up on the
March 24- The Cox Capitol Theatre
best year yet. Here is what I’m planning on this year.
Leon Russell in concert. Period.
March 20 7:00 PM
March 29-30- Mulberry Street Arts Fest & Food Truck
The Readers Choice Awards at the Cox Capitol Theatre
Frenzy Food Trucks from all over the Southeast all parked
The Cherry Blossom asked to sanction this event, and we
in the same area for a couple of days. This got rained out
were happy to have them. This year, Floco Torres, Jubee
last year and I almost cried.
and the Morning After, Stevens Layne, Houston, and
March 29, All-American Lumberjack Show
Woolfolk will be playing. We are also happy to announce
Macon Centreplex 3:00 PM
that Robert McDuffie will be stopping by for a quick per-
I hope that the $12 price tag doesn’t keep folks from going
formance and we will also be honoring some of Macon’s
to this event. Who doesn’t like log rolling, X-cut Sawing, Ax
other legendary musicians as part of our Sidemen of Macon
Throwing, Buck Sawing & Boom Racing. In addition, chain
series; Robert Coleman, Newt Collier, Calvin Arline and
saw events of Obstacle Pole Racing, Spring Board Tree
Thomas Bailey Jr. $5 general admission
Topping, Stock Saw Racing and Hot Saw Racing ?
March 22-23, 11-5 Central City Park
March 29, Wild Wing Cafe Cherry Blossom Music Fest
Dixie Disc Dog Championships
Multiple Venues I was pretty disappointed to see the street
I’ve raised as many mutts as just about anyone I know in my
party got cancelled this year, though I totally understand
life, and a long time ago, I spent serious time in the field with
why they had to do it. But this year they’ve added a pub-
a world renowned dog trainer as his employee. I’m always
crawl style festival made popular by Bragg Jam. Personnaly,
ready to see the Disc Championships and go get some fair
I’d rather be outside. But that said, they have some great
food and maybe take a camel ride after.
bands playing venues all over town and I will be there with
Robert McDuffie at Neva Langley Fickling Hall
a pink beer in my hand.
Culture Calendar FRIDAY
3.14 FULL MOON HIKE AT HIGH FALLS STATE PARK High Falls Park in Jackson, Georgia, will be hosting an event on March 14th – Full Moon Hike. “Bring your flashlight and walking shoes for this short mile hike to the falls under the full moon. We will also discover how nocturnal creatures live in the dark woods. Meet at the Park Office. 7:00pm. Cost: $5 + $5 Parking, 478-993-3053
SATURDAY
3.15 RUN OR DYE MACON 5K Run or Dye, the World’s Most Colorful 5k, is returning to Middle Georgia Regional Airport on March 15th – the kick-off celebration for the Cherry Blossom Festival! Bring all of your friends and run a color-blasted 5K, where you get showered in safe, eco-friendly, plant-basted cornstarch dye every kilometer. Then enjoy our worldfamous Dye Festival afterward, where you can Tie-Dye the Sky (not to mention all of your friends!) in this ultimate celebration of life, friendship, fitness and fun. Run or Dye Macon benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia & the International Cherry Blossom Festival Avondale Mill road, just past Boeing (1821 Avondale Mill Rd. Macon, GA) Get $10.00 off when you use the code CHERRYBLOSSOM at registration. 478-330-7050 D.S. Resch MIDDLE GEORGA COMIC CONVENTION Presented by Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.DSPhotoGuy.com at Macon Centreplex. Middle GA Comic Convention is owned and operated by Heroes & Villains Comics and Games located in Warner Robins. MGA Con is an annual comic convention held at the Macon Centreplex in Macon, GA. MGA Con has a variety of events such as a dealer’s room, artist alley, workshops, and a costume contest. One-day pass for Saturday $25 / Sun. $20. Two-day pass $35. 478-330-7050
SUNDAY
3.16 OTIS REDDING FOUNDATION PRESENTS “KARLA’S KIDS” The Otis Redding Foundation presents “Karla’s Kids”, a live performance from the youth group directly affiliated with the organization. Enjoy this free performance of popular Otis Redding songs and more! Presented by Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. at Cox Capitol Theatre. 6:30PM
IN MY HEAD... Ripped from the journal of a suspected serial killer 3.17 MONDAY
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n the months before their deaths, relatives say Mildred and Jewel Cleveland had struggled living in the same house with Mildred's grown son, Jason Howard. Jobless and socially withdrawn, Howard was a disturbed man who had been committed to a mental institution for schizophrenia following his arrest for robbing a bank. Police think that after JASON HOWARD Arrested 4/13/2009 killing and burying the Clevelands, 4 Cts Felony Murder Jason Howard continued to live in the house. He paid bills, cared for the family pets, and even took a trip to the family's vacation home. With the aid of cadaver dogs, Liberty County police found the bodies of Jewel and Mildred Cleveland wrapped in tarps and buried in a barn on June 15, 2004. An autopsy later confirmed that both had been shot in the head and that Mildred had been beaten first. In his own words from a November 1994 note, Howard explained: Let it be known that I, Jason M. Howard, can be extremely paranoid, therefore as a fugitive I will not only be carrying firearms but explosives as well...I'm not dangerous until I am crossed or cornered, so stay away. Keep away and don't blame me for a dead tactical team. For the next several years, Howard would live in the woods in Macon Georgia, in a camp he constructed out of camouflage tarps and tents and everything else he could find. He was featured on America’s Most Wanted during those years, though he would elude arrest until 2009, when Macon Police found him breaking into a rental car. Some months later, a friend of the 11th Hour, and a cross country runner, came across Howard’s camp in the woods. In it three journals were found. What follows is a page of one of these journals, the first in a series of pages that look inside the head of a suspected killer.
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PINK & GREEN ST. PATRICK’S DAY CONCERT Presented by Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. at Cox Capitol Theatre. 7PM. Celebrate the Irish heritage in everyone! Enjoy performances by Mercer University’s pipes and drums core along with a set of Irish favorites from the Middle Georgia Concert Band. More details to come. Free admission with Official Cherry Blossom Festival pin or $10/person at the door
TUESDAY
3.18 BIG GREEN EGG 101 AT ROBINSON HOME Come see a Big Green Egg in action and learn what all the fuss is about! In this class we focus on the basics of cooking on an Egg, different cooking setups, owner maintenance, and some Do’s & Don’ts for the Big Green Egg. Also, tickets are FREE with any Big Green Egg purchase! 6:30pm - $20 Per Student. All classes include between 1.5 to 2 hours of instruction, sampling of the created dishes, all recipes covered in the class, and 10% off any purchase made at Robinson Home the day of the class! 470 First St., downtown Macon. 478-738-0610
WEDNESDAY
3.19
WOMEN OF IRELAND AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE Women of Ireland is an innovative and exciting full stage concert production which showcases the next generation of Ireland’s leading female performers. The performance showcases Ireland’s traditions of music, song and dance, taken from the Irish fireside to concert halls
The 11th Hour annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Thursday, March 20th
FRIDAY
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Culture Calendar
THURSDAY
3.20 11TH HOUR READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE Presented by Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Red carpet 6:45PM. Show starts at 7:15PM. The independent culture and entertainment newspaper, 11th Hour, hosts its annual Reader’s Choice Awards at the Cox Capitol Theatre. Join us for this colorful, zany celebration of favorite Macon things. Come early for a red carpet experience and great photo opportunities. General admission $7.
FRIDAY
3.21 MERCER MARKETPLACE 26 vendors from Mercer University, Wesleyan Market, and the local community offering products and services ranging from fine, handcrafted apparel and gifts to nationally branded kitchenware and cosmetics. What a great way to welcolme Spring! 11AM-4PM. Free admission. Free Refreshments! Open to the public. Penfield Hall Mercer University OCMULGEE NATIONAL MONUMENT LANTERN LIGHT TOURS March 21 - 30. Guide yourself or enjoy a tour
3.27 ANNUAL “COLOR PINK” FASHION SHOW AND BRUNCH For the fashionista in you! Don’t miss this posh annual favorite of the Cherry Blossom Festival. The fashion show will feature the emerging trends of spring coordinated by local tastemaker, Mark Ballard. The runway is filled with celebrity guest models, local Macon fashionistas, Cherry Blossom royalty, and many more surprises. Brunch will be catered by Edgar’s Bistro and served with pink champagne to celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival. This event sells out every year, so purchase your tickets now! Call Mercer Ticket Sales: 478.301.5470 Buy tickets online Starting at $40. Anderson Conference Center.
Every year The 11th Hour organizes an event to celebrate the Best of Macon. Over 18,000 votes were cast for categories like Best Pizza, Favorite Local Artist and Best New Business. Folks start lining up on the red carpet outside the theatre for pictures around 6:30 p.m. and once inside, somewhere around 7:15 the velvety curtain opens for our host Danny “The Captain” Davis. He’ll introduce celebrity presenters, and musical acts you voted Macon’s best; like Floco Torres, Jubee and the Morning After, Stevens Layne, Houston, and Woolfolk. We also recently got news that world reknowned violinist Robert McDuffie will be stopping by for a quick song or two at some point. We will also have some special guests on hand this year. If you have been reading our Sidemen Series on some of the more notable musicians that helped support some of Macon’s Legends, then you will be excited to see some of them at the Awards show in person. Robert Coleman, former guitarist for James Brown will be sitting in with some of the newer acts on the stage. Come help us celebrate all the great things Macon has to offer! Balcony tickets available at the door for $7. Advance tickets also available at the Cox Capitol Theatre. So come early, where your funkiest, dressiest or weirdest outfit for the red carpet snapshots and enjoy this full-filled evening.
around the world. Tickets are $35 to $45 dependent on seating. 478-301-5470
THURSDAY
guide for this one-mile candlelit walk along the lantern light trail. Choose from a guided tour every half hour or the self-guided walk. $5 per person ages 13 +. 1207 Emery Hwy, Macon, (478) 752-8257
SATURDAY
3.22 SPRING SHOP & STROLL AT INGLESIDE VILLAGE 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please join the Vineville Neighborhood Association and merchants of Ingleside Village for a day of shopping, dining, and fun activities for the entire family. For a detailed list of events and merchant specials please visit our web site www.vineville.org
FANTASIA IN CONCERT AT MACON CITY AUDITORIUM Presented by Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. Appearing on the third season of the hit TV show American Idol, Fantasia Barrino (known these days simply as Fantasia) won America’s heart – and the competition – with her soulful singing and deeply affecting performances. Since being crowned an American Idol, the young singer with the captivating, old school-flavored voice has gone on to become a true R&B/pop diva with a string of chart-topping hits. www.ticketmaster.com
SATURDAY
3.29 THE TEN TENORS AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE Broadway’s greatest hits sung by 10 of Australia’s hottest tenors equals one unforgettable performance of “The Ten Tenors: On Broadway!” This Australian troupe has performed for sold out audiences around the world. The Ten Tenors’ unique approach to opera brings rock and classical music together, for a sound that is uniquely theirs. Experience their raw power and soothing beauty singing some of Broadway’s best musical numbers. Show at 2:30 and 7:30pm. 478-301-5470
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Jason Isbell
Leon Russell
Saturday, March 22 Cox Capitol Theatre
Monday, March 24 Cox Capitol Theatre
Connor christian & Southern gothic Friday, March 28 The Crazy Bull
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OP-ED BY ALEX MORRISON
{ CITY SCENE }
Executive Director, Macon-Bibb Urban Development Authority
Let’s Give MaconBibb A New Name
I
t’s been a difficult task this past month to get used to calling this place I live by its new name. Going from the City of Macon to Macon-Bibb County as a default has taken some getting used to. I feel confident I’m not the only one. Many of us will stick with Macon, others Bibb County. We will continue to vacillate between Central and Middle Georgia for the name of the larger region. But, I propose we dig deep and go with a name that’s a little simpler. It’s one that rolls off the tongue easily and one that inspires hope, change, and comfort. It’s time to simply call it home. I often fall into the trap of talking about Macon as though it is something separate from me, as though it is simply a place where I live and work. I’ll talk about my home as though it is just the walls of my and my wife’s bungalow, but recently it has been made clear to me that it can’t be thought of this way. We all have to come to love the place where we reside as though it is an extension of ourselves. That’s how we find the heart of this community--when we have the respect for the place and the people that make it up to say that we cannot merely let things happen around us.
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A home, by its very nature, has to always improve, be maintained so that it doesn’t collapse, and be the seat of the comfort that allows us to flourish. And, as is the case with a home, no one but the owner can instigate those changes. No one else will buff the floors, fill in the cracks in the molding, and keep the roof from leaking. But he or she won’t be the only one who will notice the faults either. If we all don’t begin to treat Macon-Bibb as our home, we won’t be able to keep progressing. We will eventually let the cracks get the better of us. So, I challenge us all to find a way to create the positive change we want to see. There is no shortage of ways you can help out. Maybe it is helping pick up litter, or for some it may be to stop littering. Maybe it is volunteering at a place like Daybreak or an after-school program. Maybe it is getting involved in the Master Planning process that’s about to take place in the urban core. Maybe it will be fixing the facade of a downtown building or finally taking the plunge and starting that business, betting on the place you know you love. Home is that one place where you know you can always make a difference. That’s why I am proud to call Macon-Bibb home.
OP-ED
{ SEEING RED }
BY BILL KNOWLES
Dallemand on the Lam Well friends, our dear old former Bibb County School Superintendent Romain Dallemand has reared his head again. Readers of my column over the past several years shouldn’t be shocked at the ‘revelation’ that Dallemand left us a parting gift of over $51 million dollars in unauthorized expenses. The sound you hear reverberating around Macon is the loud, “I told you so!” coming from me.
R
eaders of my articles from the past know that I was a complete and total critic of Dallemand even before this waste of skin made his way into your pockets as my first column warning everyone about him hit before he moved here from Rochester. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this train wreck was about to hit Macon and the taxpayers that support her. All it took was Google. Unfortunately, apparently only Board Members Lynn Farmer, Sue Sipe and former BOE Member Gary Bechtel knew how to use a search engine. The so called BOE-5 comprising of former members Tommy Barnes and Susan Middleton along with current members Ella Carter, Tom Hudson and Wanda West turned a complete blind eye to the huckster from Haiti and gave him a total blank check to rob the system with. According to a recent audit done by an actual independent auditor, not one of the former Superintendent’s choice as before, said Dallemand “authorized, directed and coerced staff to make transactions that were in violation” of board policies. Interim Superintendent Steve Smith is quoted as saying that Dallemand’s actions over his last six months as Superintendent were “an abuse of power”. No greater understatement was ever made, Dr. Smith. In reality, Dallemand’s whole tenure could be classified as an abuse of power, not just the last six months that he graced us with his presence. The audit that Bechtel and I classified as a witch hunt in 2012 by the McGladrey firm of Minnesota should have shown abuses as well, and would have if it had been a truly independent audit instead of one that was intentionally targeting two of the board members. Bibb County District Attorney David Cooke interviewed the Board earlier this week and found that a totally independent investigation of the results of this audit is warranted and has asked Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens to step in. Cooke has recused himself as he has ties to the Promise Neighborhood and rightly so. He was in a no win situation should he try to investigate this himself and did the right thing by getting Olens in on the fun. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Cooke in his decision and firmly stand behind him in it. It’s now been revealed that Dallemand has returned to his homeland and is living in a posh hotel in Port-au-Prince while apparently heading some type of “think-tank” called the School District Reform Collaborative. According to the SDRC’s website the group offers curriculum review, strategic planning, financial audits and special education audits and reviews. Fox meet henhouse. Isn’t this the equivalent of having Bernie Madoff as your accountant? The website also states that “Schools districts
(L): Bibb County BOE Candidate Daryl Morton (R): Hopeful Wanda West Replacement Darren Latch
officials are required to be effective stewards of the community’s resources. Among the activities that are employed in order to insure that the officials are exercising due diligence in this regard is the frequent audit of the school districts' financial resources. The performance of the audit by an external independent agency contributes significantly to this endeavor.” You can’t make this kind of stuff up folks. Apparently the first forum the group will have will be held March 7-9 at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut and will have Dallemand, who bills himself as the Chairman of the group, as one if its’ speakers along with three other guests including Mechelle Severson, a former Rochester, Minnesota School Board member who happened to be one of his main apologists during his stint there. In 2010 Severson while trying to explain why Dallemend was run out of Rochester that , "It has been my experience that race has been tied to some of these issues," Severson said. "He's the first superintendent of color we've ever had. This is new to us...I think people had a problem because of the combination of race and power..I believe in my community, I believe that it's a small number of people that perpetuate that." Forget the fact he bilked that system…It’s always about race, isn’t it? Locally Tom Hudson is sounding much like Severson and will most likely be on Dallemand’s future speakers list. Hudson says, "I consider (Dallemand) as a man that came to this district to try to do a good job, unfortunately he was criticized and scrutinized from the very beginning, and it's going to make it very difficult for us to bring someone else into this district based on all this scrutiny that our past two superintendents have gone through.” Hudson also stated that "During this election cycle the stage has already been set, there's going to be certain people that are going to be targeted, they're going to try to do character assassination.” Really, Tom?
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OP-ED BY LARRY SCHLESINGER
{ CITY SCENE }
Macon-Bibb County Commission, District 2
Another Critical Corridor During the past thirty years, the southeast region of our country has grown exponentially, and it is quite telling to learn that during this same period, Macon-Bibb County’s population only grew by just over 5,000. Compare that number to the population increase of neighboring Houston County that went from 62,924 in 1970 to almost 140,000 in 2010 that sparked all sorts of new retail growth there. The newest development that Macon-Bibb County has seen came not from population growth and new retailers The Eisenhower/Mercer Retail and Education Corridor moving in, but rather from the relocation of Eisenhower Parkway retailers moving out Macon Mall, invested a significant amount to north Macon. of its own time and money to provide the As a result of this shift, many Macon- foundation for launching the CID. Bibb shopping areas particularly along the The initial envisioned projects to be Eisenhower corridor that stretches from I-75 funded primarily by businesses the CID to I-475 appear now to be abandoned and include: deserted simply because they have not been 1) Eisenhower Corridor beautification that unable to secure the critical mass of retail will recapture the natural beauty of this gateactivity that is necessary to attract new way and produce a coherent landscape, and retailers. by branding the Corridor in ways that will The fact, however, is that the I-475 and showcase its retail, restaurant, entertainment Eisenhower Parkway interchange is the and academic establishments in the area. busiest traffic intersection in all of Bibb County, and is the gateway to what is being 2) CID Board purchase, demolition, and termed the 'Eisenhower/Mercer Retail and redevelopment of specific properties in the Education Corridor' and touted as the con- Corridor in which all proceeds from the duit to the economic anchors of Bibb sales would be used not for profit, but for County: Middle Georgia State College, similar, subsequent projects. The Board Central Georgia Technical College, Mercer would also work with the Georg i a University, and businesses that generate over Department of Transportation to maintain 50% of all retail sales in Bibb County. the right-of-ways with coherent landscapes. It is said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so for 3). Renovate the State Farmer’s Market in a new and potential students and retail cus- way that it would be a real resource to tomers, that corridor's initial impression con- Macon-Bibb County residents and a regionveyed can significantly impact a potential al draw. student’s ultimate decision to attend a As taxpayers, you and I have already Macon university or a shopper's resolve to paid for what is still premier retail infraspend his or her money right here in Bibb structure along Eisenhower Parkway and County. Mercer University Drive. This area will Despite its present state, The long-be convenient to the majority of our Eisenhower/Mercer Retail and Education Macon-Bibb County population, and will Corridor will long remain a major conduit remain in close proximity to our communiinto the heart of Macon-Bibb County for ty's educational and medical institutions, as generations to come, and as a community well as to our energized and revitalized now somewhat desperate to generate jobs downtown. and economic development, we can and Make no mistake about it: if properly should do much better there. managed as initially envisioned, the To this end, one of the very first acts of Eisenhower/Mercer Retail and Education the Macon-Bibb County Commission was Corridor will not continue to wither; instead the approval of the establishment of a it will continue to attract a host especially Community Improvement District along this from areas south who will utilize our medcorridor, and in the true spirit of public-pri- ical, educational and financial assets and vate partnership, Hull Storey Gibson shopping opportunities for generations to Companies, LLC (HSG), the owner of the come.
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Dallemand on the Lam, Cont. from page 13
H
ow about the fact that the three remaining Dallemand Defenders, you, Ella Carter and Wanda West, gave Dallemand a checkbook full of blank checks along with a Montblanc pen with unlimited ink to write them with? Do you think that maybe you’re a little complicit in this? Oh I’m certain you will turn this into a racial issue but here’s the thing: It isn’t! Get it through your skull that it is about doing the right thing for the children and the tax payers of Bibb County and Dallemand abused both then took the money and ran. And YOU and the others allowed it to happen and are still not only supporting him, but are an apologist as well.
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ocal columnist and Telegraph Editorial Editor Charles Richardson says we as tax payers now have a “Dallemand Dilemma” as there is a participle in his buyout contract that states that the Bibb County BOE is responsible for any legal fees associated with future litigation and we should ask ourselves how much are we willing to spend to go after him. The buyout contract states that “Dr. Dallemand harmless from any acts or decisions made by him in GOOD FAITH (emphasis added by me) while performing the services for the Board and District.” Where’s the dilemma Chuck? (The only dilemma I see is that Richardson continues to comment about the Board of Education without the disclaimer that Dallemand gave his wife a job and is still working in the system, but that’s another story.) In my opinion, regardless of cost
at this point, we need to go after Dallemand and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. Further, as the contract states that we only have to pay his legal fees if he acted in good faith, there is no question that this audit shows that he acted with everything except good faith and did things knowingly beyond his authority, and most likely acted instead with a personal financial agenda. Now I’m not naïve enough to believe that we will ever get anything out of Dallemand, but it will do this community good to see him locked up for as long as the law allows for what he did to our system and our children. I previously mentioned that Dallemand has moved back to Haiti and I have had several people ask if he can be extradited to the United States if need be. The answer is yes. According to the Organization of American States website, the United States and Haiti entered into an extradition agreement way back in 1904 but it is still in e ffect today. Specifically the treaty states in Article 2, Section 6 that “Embezzlement performed by public officers or by persons hired, or those used as part time employees to the prejudice of their employer, provided that the value of embezzled objects be not less than two hundred dollars,” is in fact an extraditable offense. The tax payers deserve to see justice served but more importantly the children deserve it. What kind of message are we sending as a community if we allow him to get away with our money and our dignity? We as a community have to look forward because the future is certainly brighter
than the past but we have to also learn from history or it is doomed to repeat itself. Looking to the future, two local citizens have stepped up to run for the Bibb County Board of Education in county wide seats that I highly endorse: former Democrat chairman Daryl Morton, who is running to fill the vacancy of Lynn Farmer’s seat and local activist Darren Latch who will be running against one of the Dallemand Defenders, Wanda West. Both men have proven that they will not only be putting our children’s interests above their own and politics but they will also be good stewards for Bibb County tax payers. Neither man would ever rubber stamp any superintendent’s wishes or
dreams like West, Hudson, Carter and the two past rats Tommy Barnes and Susan Middleton did for Dallemand that were clearly only there to pad his resume and fill his bank account. Macon/Bibb is on the verge of having great things happen. Consolidation of our governments was the first step. The growth of Mercer University along with the Bears sports programs is certainly another step. Closing the book on Dallemand and getting justice will be another chapter that needs to be written in our history as right now the chapter is only half written and has no ending. Just remember the IRS got Al Capone and the FBI finally got Whitey Bulger.
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Michael Koske- Jack Skellington, Hal Clay- Ro Man, Blake Patterson- Hank Venture as The Bat, Bo Walker- Imperial Stormtrooper, Amber Whitley- The Pro
MGA CON Macon’s Comic Book Convention Asks,
“Why Should Atlanta have all the Fun? The first Macon comic book convention was held in Spring of 2008 when Eric O’Dell showcesed the work of Tony Harris, Ray Schneider, and Craig Hamilton at the Museum of Arts & Sciences. Although a second attempt a couple of years later never got any traction, the fact that it was possible that a Macon Comic Convention would be welcome in Macon had now been put in the head of a few lovers of comic books. One such lover, Mike McDaniel, realized after working on another convention in Warner Robins that maybe there could be a bigger event whose focus could just be on comics and all the aspects of nerd and pop culture that comics touched. Mike McDaniel owns Heroes and Villains Comics and Games in Warner Robins. Working with Brandy Yentzer, they decided to bring a comic book focused convention to Macon, Georgia. With the help of Joe Pruett, who has worked in the comic book industry as an art assistant, a letterer, a writer, an editor, a creative director, a designer, and, finally, as a publisher, they have a lineup that is really worth seeing. The Jolly Roger Studios first opened in the space that used to be BJ’s Billiards on Mulberry Street. Many people didn’t understand why there was a comics studio in Macon. In fact, it wasn’t until Jolly Roger opened that people realized the number of comic book artists that lived in and called Macon home. Jolly Roger Studios was home base for many comic artists working on numerous projects, from Star Wars to Wonder Woman to Starman and many others. Jolly Roger Studios featured a revolving list of artists like Tony Harris, Ray Snyder, J.D. Mettler, Eric Layton, Tommy Smith, Tony Shasteen, among others. It was an open studio, so many looking at the comic book industry as a career could see what it would take to be marginally successful. Macon now supports two comic book shops, Avalon Comics and Comics Plus as well as the one previously mentioned in Warner Robins. Macon also recently opened an independent gaming store, Command Zone Games. Most gaming before this was done either in homes or in comic book shops. Yentzer and Pruett believe there is a thriving comics community in Macon. Pruett points to who is already here and how Macon has helped facilitate that. “Macon (and surrounding
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areas) has a rich history of comic book talent and creators that either live here or have roots here. I'm from Warner Robins (as is my brother, James). Tony Harris, another Eisner Award-winning creator, graduated from WRHS (four years behind me) and calls Macon, GA his home. Comics creators such as Craig Hamilton, Nathan Edmondson, Ray Snyder, JD Smith, Andrew Robinson, and others either presently live in the city or did in the near past. One reason why artists tend to locate here is because Macon has always supported the Arts. It doesn't shun the Arts; it embraces and encourages the arts.” Yentzer credits the nature of comics in pop culture and how the world looks at those who have comic book know-how. “It is not like what it was a few decades ago when comics were not as culturally accepted as they are today. Comics have influenced movies and [popular] t.v. shows such has the Big Bang Theory. These have impacted how people view comics and comic book readers. It is more accepted in Macon and the comics community is expanding.”
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very year Dragon Con, the largest multi-media pop culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe (according to their website), draws tens of thousands of people, many from the Middle Georgia area. They dress as comic book characters, characters from sci-fi and fantasy shows, as well as many other forms of pop culture. Unlike Dragon Con, MGA Con wants to focus solely on comic books and their contribution to gaming and pop culture. “One only needs to look toward the San Diego Comic Con and see how it has become [comic book] America's [version of] the Cannes Film Festival and is spotlighted and reported on by every major news organization and network today to see how big this industry has become,” said Pruett. “I mean, [there are] at least four comic conventions the SAME weekend as the MGA Con to show how popular these things have become. But, the problem with SDCC and some of the other "big" [conventions] is that film and television and their personalities has become the focal point of these… and comics have been
relegated to being the section of the show that has been pushed to the back, while Hollywood has been pushed to the front. Hey, like anything, this is a business and these [conventions] are in the business to make money.” While not denying that television and movies play a big part, the organizers of MGA Con want us to be able to get to the heart of this pop culture interest: the comics themselves. “Comic books, and everything that revolves around them, have become pop culture. They are a part of our culture nowadays,” said Pruett. “Walk into a movie theater and look at all the posters for upcoming movies and I guarantee you that at least half of them are based on a comic book property. In the next few months alone we have Captain America: Winter Soldier, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Amazing Spider-Man 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 300: Rise of an Empire, etc. Look on network TV and you'll find Arrow, the Walking Dead, etc. Comic books are EVERYWHERE! I think Macon is hungry for something like this.” “We chose to hold the comic convention in Macon to bring something new to Macon and Middle GA. We hope to help the local community of Macon and allow the Middle and South Georgia natives to experience this type of convention without having to drive as far as Atlanta,” said Yentzer. “Other conventions have a primary focus on pop culture and lose the focus on how certain aspects, such as comics, can impact our culture and society. We want to hone in on what has pushed our pop culture forward and why the comics industry is so important to movies and pop culture today. Our goals and aspirations of the outcome of this convention is expansion and succession. We hope to keep coming back annually and expand this convention in a way that builds our own community and acceptance. This convention will expand and grow in the Middle Ga area. Macon will be able to prosper from this by [receiving] travelers who want to experience our show. Comics have influenced the pop culture world in movies and video games. We believe that we should acknowledge those comics creators achievements and the artist and writers who have brought all of our imaginations to life. We are a comic convention who promotes and idealizes comics.” When Yentzer and Brandy told their friend Joe Pruett about their convention idea, he immediately knew his value for MGA Con. “When my friends, Mike and Brandy, told me that they were going to start a Macon Comic Con… I jumped in and offered to help with the guest list to hopefully make this event a success. Being from the area, I want to see a yearly comic con here. …I'd like to support the community that I grew up in. This is exciting to me! I've been in this industry for 25 years now and so I'm what you might consider to be pretty well connected. So, I reached out to a bunch of my friends and asked them to come down to Macon and hang out with me and our other mutual friends. After that, I reached to creators I didn't necessarily know, but thought that they would be a good fit for what we were trying to do here. I wanted a mix of classic creators, popular creators from the last decade or so, and some of the "hot" creators from today. I think we were pretty successful, especially considering that this is the first year of the MGA Con. If this year is successful, wait until you see who I've already talked to about NEXT year! 2015's guest list will take things to a new level. Trust me on that one.” For Yentzer and McDaniel, the answer is simple. “Our goal is to be able to do this convention every year and expand,” reiterated Yentzer. “We would like to create a show that is fun and inviting for a wide variety of people. We know we have succeeded when we are able to help the community and if we are able to do the show every year.” With shows like The Walking Dead, which started as a comic book series penned by Robert Kirkman, becoming popular and being filmed about an hour from Macon (and we are even mentioned in the video game version), it is only right that we follow up on the comic book artists who live here, Macon’s long-time penchant for supporting an artistic community, and the overall pop culture acceptance of something that was once considered nerdy and looked down upon by supporting a convention that could call Macon home for years to come. - by ANGEL COLLINS
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NATIVE/NEW
TEN THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT LAURA
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1- In grammer school, during a spaghetti supper, me and some friends got in trouble for sneaking into the boy's bathroom. That incident led to each sex, in each grade, getting a tour of the others bathroom. 2- In high school, I was one of the founders of the Macon Telegraph's student page. If you are hiring, I still have my portfolio. 3- In high school, I was voted Most Likely To Succeed. I still believe that is going to happen one day! 4- I spent two of the best years of my life at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Ga and worked as a freelance writer for the Cuthbert Times. 5- I graduated from Wesleyan College with a degree in English 6- I can't spell. Hence, the move from newspaper writer to radio announcer. Spell check is a relatively new invention. 7- I love all kinds of music. "Thrift Shop" to "Crazy" to "Don't Stop Believing" to "In The Mood" and on and on and on! It's all good! 8- I am slightly OCD. I am slightly OCD. I am slightly OCD. Vance Shepherd has to give me three hugs every day. 9- I love cats! 10 -I can put almost my entire fist in my mouth. Try it. Not that easy. I am also good at putting my foot in my mouth. Never on purpose.
The Voice of Country Radio Get to Know wden’s Laura Starling Laura Starling has been spinning records since Dj’s really were spinning records. Born in Athens Georgia, she moved to Macon in 1973. For the last thirty or so years, her Voice has helped make WDEN the top rated Country Station in the area. When she came to the station, they were live 24/7 and she remembers having to get a room next door at the Ramada on First Street on days when the weather was bad. “There were no snow days” She remembers. Her line of work has put her close to pretty much every Country Star you could think over the years, but her favorite has been Kenny Chesney. “I first met Kenny Chesney when he opened for Confederate Railroad at the Macon City Auditorium. He played Macon lots of times early in his career. My scrapbook has five pages filled with pictures of the two us together and notes he sent me over the years. The cool thing about him is, he never forgets anyone who helped him. If I were to email him today, I'd likely have a response tonight. “ Still the coolest thing she thinks she’s ever done at work was to ride and elephant from Central City Park to the Macon Coliseum. The circus was using a train to transport the elephants to town and there used to be an elephant parade the day they arrived. Elephants are’t the only stars to give her a lift. She’s also ridden shotgun with Kurt Bush and Tony Steward at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “200 miles an hour is no Sunday drive” she remembers. Though her job may be out of this world cool, Laura is about as down to earth as they come, and when she’s not circling a racetrack with some of the greatest drivers in the world, or nudging up backstage to famous musicians, Laura likes to read and she likes her garden. She calls this “old people stuff.” Laura and Vance Shepherd broadcast weekdays from 5:30-10:00am on WDEN.
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Help WDEN and Laura raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Purchase a $100 raffle ticket to win middle Georgia’s 2104 Dream Home
WDEN has been broadcasting in the middle Georgia market for over 40 years and is the top rated country music station in the area. WDEN-FM is an active participant in the community and also supports many charitable events. Currently, WDEN is selling tickets for the St. Jude Dream Home. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.stjude.org/dhmacon.
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Newton Collier, trumpet Calvin Arline, bass player Thomas Bailey Jr. - keys Edward Grant Jr. - keys Robert Coleman - guitar Gery Lester - trumpet Tony Dorsey - trombone
SCENE SIDEMEN OF MACON
We’ll be celebrating these amazing Sidemen at this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards on March 20th. Come meet some of the best horn players and guitar slingers Macon has to offer!
Calvin Arline A Legendary Bassline by Brad Evans photography MaryAnn Bates The unassuming man enjoying retirement in a coral-colored apartment complex on Vineville Avenue is Calvin Arline. He has played bass with folks like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Taylor, and Mavis Staples, to name just a few. His Fender jazz bass, the one that he has played with all those legends, is never far from his reach. Once painted fire engine red all the way up its neck, Lulu, as he affectionately calls it, is enjoying her rest now. She never got much growing up, he jokes. Arline was born in 1947, and like pretty much every sideman we’ve written about, he came up in the Tindell Heights neighborhood of Macon. His father, Hilliard Arline, had played guitar with James Brown when he came through Macon early in his career. It was never a question of if Calvin himself would play; it was more about what instrument he would pick up. He decided to try and follow in his father’s footsteps and took a guitar to school on his first day of band class. The students laughed and band leader Robert Scott pulled him aside and told him that there was no guitar in a marching band. He handed Calvin a tuba, and throughout his years at Ballard Hudson, he would master several wind instruments under the tutelage of Scott. Not long after high school, Arline found himself washing dishes at Ann’s Tic Toc Room, the place where Little Richard had gotten his start playing piano. Some friends of Calvin’s started an R&B band that played Ann’s on the weekends, and desperate to stop washing dishes, he kept asking them if he could play. They already had a horn section, but they needed a bass player. In just a few weeks, Arline had mas-
tered the instrument and had a regular Macon gig at a famed nightclub. Eventually Clint Bradley, the first manager for James Brown, came in and saw Calvin and his band play and put them out on the road, in support of many of his legendary acts. Along the way, Calvin backed up Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Percy Sledge, Bobby Womack and Santana. “Man there was lots of wine, women and music, I can tell you that much,” he remembers. “We were playing with Bobby (Womack) on this big tour with Santana one time, and we were in Toronto, and one of the guys from Santana insisted I wear this drum major hat while on stage. I would do just about anything back then, so I did it, and I was on the front page of the newspaper that next day. I had stolen the show with that hat!” Bobby’s first wife died while out on the road, and it wasn’t long before he had to make the decision to come home and be a full-time father to his children. He started a daycare business in Macon that lasted several years, but music was never far from his heart. One night, while playing at a club in Downtown Macon, Cher and Gregg Allman noticed Arline and asked him to come to LA to work with her on a studio album. He flew out and recorded with Cher for two weeks before coming back home and becoming a school bus driver. Since then Arline has been home in Macon, helping with his kids and his grandkids. You can find him playing every once in a while at the Midtown Key Club in downtown Macon, and he will be a guest of honor at the 11th Hour’s Readers Choice Awards on March 20. 11thHourOnline.com
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FRI 3/14
FRI 3/21
FRI 3/28
DRINK SPECIALS/ SPECIAL EVENTS
B Keith Williams 20’s Pub, Riverside Drive
Fresh Heat 20’s Pub, Riverside Drive
B Keith Williams 20’s Pub, Riverside Drive
MONDAYS
L ance Daniel Band AP’s Hidden Hideaway
Murph & the Murphtones AP’s Hidden Hideaway
The Skeeterz AP’s Hidden Hideaway
Happy hour til 9pm, jam & rehearse 7-10pm, 20’s Pub
Crescent Moon Dogs Billy’s Clubhouse
Travis Denning The Crazy Bull
$1 Wells, D a rty Tourney 7-9pm Billy’s Clubhouse
Michael Ray Crazy Bull
Matt Pippin Billy’s Clubhouse
Macon Music Live presents Abby Owens 567 Center for Renewal, $10
D ar ren Curtis The Hummingbird
Lee Bains III + Glory Fires w/ Woolfolk Hummingbird
DJ Will Weber Roasted Cafe & Lounge
Andy Brah / Will Weber Roasted Cafe & Lounge
War Town Wild Wing Cafe
Loose Skrews Wild Wing Cafe
SAT 3/15 Boot Hill Band AP’s Hidden Hideaway
SAT 3/22
Cran f o rd Hollow Billy’s Clubhouse
Everyday 4-7pm: $1 beers and $6 domestic pitchers $2 Beers All day Everyday, Locos
Connor Chri s t i an & Southern gothic Crazy Bull
$1 Wells all night, The Bird
Five 40 The Hummingbird DJ Will Weber Roasted Cafe & Lounge Big Daddy & Co. Wild Wing Cafe
Fresh Heat AP’s Hidden Hideaway
SAT 3/29
Treehouse Billy’s Clubhouse
Midlife Chrysler AP’s Hidden Hideaway
Michael Stacy Crazy Bull
Freelance Ru c kus CJ’s Sports Bar
Radio birds Billy’s Clubhouse
Milk Money The Hummingbird
Amanda Daughtry The Crazy Bull
Sunset Love Affair Wild Wing Cafe
Jason Isbell Cox Capitol Theatre
Old Southern Moonshine Revival Crazy Bull
SUN 3/16
Tokyo Spa The Hummingbird
Big Mike & Booty Papas APs Hidden Hideaway, 3-8pm
Boot Hill Ban d Wild Wing Cafe
John Stanley Jam Session Backporch Lounge 4-7:30pm
MON 3/24
MON 3/17
Leon Ru s s e l l Cox Capitol Theatre
St. Patrick’s Day Party Locos Deli & Pub
TUES 3/25
WED 3/19
Jars of Clay Cox Capitol Theatre
Matt Pippin Wild Wing Cafe
THURS 3/27
THURS 3/20
Copious Jones Billy’s Clubhouse
Treehouse The Hummingbird
The Regulars The Hummingbird
B Keith Williams Locos Deli & Pub
Scott Little Wild Wing Cafe
Josh Carson Wild Wing Cafe
B Keith Williams Locos Deli & Pub
Funny T-shirt day! Get a free shot Billy’s Clubhouse
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$3.25 22oz Bud & Bud Lt Drafts • $13 Bud & Bud Lt Buckets • $2 House Vodkas Wild Wing Caf e 25% off all appetizers, Happy Hour 3-6 and 9-Cl Macon Mellow
TUESDAYS Service Industry Night at The Rookery. $1 PBRs, $2 Wells, Half Price Drafts. For all - Half Price draft beers 10pm - 12am TUES/WED/THUR:All you can eat wings and chicken fingers $9.99, CJ’s Sports Bar Build your own martini night at Dovetail
Ladies - 2 for 1 Everything, Gentlemen:Tie-One-On 2 for 1 when wearing a tie! Free pool and d a rts BJs Downtown
THURSDAYS Ladies Night: 25¢ drinks and open Poker Billys Clubhouse College Night - $5 Jager bombs, DJ The Crazy Bull Ladie night featuring 1/2 price bottles of wine - Dovetail $8 Bottomless Mugs at The Hummingbird 2-4-1 Jagerbombs, $3.50 craft beer Mellow Mushroom $4 Irish Bombs and $4 Baby Guinness Shots Wild Wing Everyday 4-7pm: $1 beers and $6 domestic pitchers $2 Beers All day Everyday, Locos
FRIDAYS $4 select premium liquor Mellow Mushroom Buy 1/Get 1 wells 8-until, Giveaways! A P ’s Hideaway Everyday, Miller Lite buckets just $12! Wild Wing
Milk Money The Hummingbird
3-4-1 Drinks every Tuesday The Hummingbird
Radio Cult Wild Wing Cafe
2 for Tues- buy 8 wings and get 8 free! $2 domestic drafts 4p-CL Wild Wing
College students get 15% entire bill! Spirit Day at Locos
3-4-1 Wells, Pool League Billy’s Clubhouse
$10 Beer Buckets, 20’s Pub
WEDNESDAYS
$4 select premium liquor Mellow Mushroom
(4pm-Close) $2 domestic Pints, $4 Bombs and $4 Baby Guiness Shots Wild Wing
Game Day Specials: 2 for 1 bombs and $1 domesic drafts Billy’s Clubhouse
1/2 price whiskey flights every Wednesday at Dovetail
$13 Miller Lt & Coors Lt Buckets Wild Wing Cafe
$1 wells, $2 domestics all night for the ladies The Crazy Bull
SUNDAYS
Half Price draft beers 10pm 12am at The Rookery
$10 beer buckets, 20’s Pub
SUN 3/30 Big Mike & Booty Papas APs Hidden Hideaway, 3-8pm John Stanley Jam Session Backporch Lounge 4-7:30pm
THURS 4/3 Treehouse The Hummingbird B Keith Williams Locos Deli & Pub
FRI 4/4 B Keith Williams 20’s Pub, Riverside Drive Fresh Heat AP’s Hidden Hideaway Mountain Heart & Seven Handle Circus Cox Capitol Theatre
Ladies Night 7pm-CL: $2 House W i n e, $5 Martinis Macon Mellow Everyday 4-7pm: $1 beers and $6 domestic pitchers $2 Beers All day Everyday, Locos 2-4-1 Drinks every Wednesday The Hummingbird
SATURDAYS
12-3pm:1/2 price Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Mint Julep, Sangria or Mojito Mellow Mushroom $3.25 22oz Bud & Bud Lt Drafts, $13 Bud & Bud Lt Buckets $3 Bloody Marys Wild Wing Service Industry - $2 Wells & Domestics BJ’s Downtown 12:30-5: Bloody Mary Buffet Locos
Come Hear...
LEON RUSSELL @ THE CAPITOL THEATRE
FRIDAY 3/14 DJ WILL WEBER @ ROASTED CAFE & LOUNGE Will Weber’s sets are a blast of adrenaline, drawing the listener into the ever shifting world he has dubbed "the EDM rainbow." From the spine tingling blitzkrieg of Dubstep to the booty bounce inspiring rhythms of Moombahton… from the dirty grind swag of Trap Music to the blissed out rhythms of the psychedelic underground… Will Weber's sets are always spontaneous and never the same. Having already shared the stage with such prominent acts as Big Gigantic, Mochi Pet and Zoogma, the future is looking bright for this young Producer/DJ.
SATURDAY 3/15 BOOT HILL @ AP’S HIDDEN HIDEAWAY One of the best party bands in Macon, front man Richard King leads a set of Rock and Roll, raucous country, and just about everything in between.
MICHAEL STACY @ CRAZY BULL Michael Stacey Band has trav-
LEE BAINS III @ THE HUMMINGBIRD in Myrtle Beach, SC, with members, Jeremy Anderson on vocals and guitar, Matt Link on bass, and Trey Moody on drums. TreeHouse! spearheaded its own original local following in the area until the band was performing special events with some of the biggest acts in their genre at venues such as House of Blues.
band, all of whom have been linked to a number of the industry's best perf o rmers. Basing out of Nashville also gives Amanda the ability to book shows in a widening scope, branching into Georgia, Florida, and Texas, all while continuing to entertain a healthy fan base in North Carolina.
JOSH CARSON @ WILD WING
JASON ISBELL @ COX CAPITOL THEATRE
A Macon Treasure Josh Carson has been on the music scene here for decades. He plays a great variety of covers and some originals and is a great picker and a singer.
FRIDAY 3/21 TRAVIS DENNING @ CRAZY BULL B o rn out of Middle Georgia, and now a Nashville singer/songwriter, Travis Denning has been crafting his skills as a musician for close to 10 years now. With a powerful voice and a mature musicianship beyond his years, Travis has proven himself as a must see live perform.
LEE BAINS III + GLORY FIRES W/WOOLFOLK @ THE BIRD
eled the U.S. performing at various venues and sharing the stage with such popular acts as Brad Paisley, Wynonna, Neal McCoy, and Lonestar, just to name a few. Georgia country cover band, The Michael Stacey Band even open for Michael's childhood hero, George Jones. More recently, the band has picked up more and more fraternity parties and corporate country theme parties. Michael sums it up by saying, "It's a blessing to play music for a living. I appreciate my family's support and all of the folks who take the time to stop and listen to the music.
Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, Lee Bains III makes music for the foundry worker that writes fiction in his spare time and the college english professor that changes her own oil. The Glory Fires are too loud for Texas and no strangers to Norway; well-mannered S o u t h e rn punks you would feel comfortable giving the keys to your empty house. It’s no surprise that renowned rock’n'roll outsider Tim Kerr has taken them under his wing. Together they’ve forged a sound that blends the swampiest of Southern grooves with a rust-belt snarl that will leave fans of the Bob Seger System in a cold sweat.
MILK MONEY @ THE HUMMINGBIRD Daniel Walker
SATURDAY 3/22
and his crew of misfits put together one of our favorite cover bands in Macon. They never dissapoint a part y, and play a varoity of rock and roll hits that will have you out of your seat and on the dance floor.
MONDAY 3/17 ST. PATTY’S DAY CELEBRATION AT LOCO’S Wear green and enjoy $2 guiness, $3 Jameson shots and $5 Irish Car bombs, not to mention plenty of green beer and c o rn beef and hashspecials.
THURSDAY 3/20 TREEHOUSE @ THE HUMMINGBIRD East Coast Reggae Jam Rock band, TreeHouse! formed in 2010
CONNOR CHRISTIAN @ CRAZY BULL
FREELANCE RUCKUS @ CJ’S FreeLance Ruckus is best described as a S o u t h e rn U.S. Folk Alternative rock band with steady rhythms and the soul bending sounds of the Fender Telecaster that seem to wind their way into your brain to stay while pulling at your heart strings with doses of lyrical reality. Hailing as one of Georgia's finest and funnest bands, FLR always entertains a wide variety of audiences with a diverse selection of song and style.
AMANDA DAUGHTRY @ CRAZY BULL In mid-2012, Amanda made the full-time move to Nashville, TN to have access to the many resources that the city's vast music machine has to offer. There, she's been writing new songs with a number of incredibly accomplished writers and transitioned into using a Nashville-based
Southeastern is not a record Jason has made before, and not simply because the glorious storm and drama of his band, the 400 Unit, is absent. They will tour together; it’s not a break-up record, not an album of dissolving, but, rather, songs of discovery. And not at all afraid, not even amid the tears. Which is to say that he has grown up. That it has been a dozen years since he showed up at a party and left in the Drive-By Truckers’ van with two travel days to learn their songs. And then taught them some of his songs in the bargain. Loud records, unrepentantly s o u t h e rn, resplendent with careful songwriting. Songs which inspire and intimidate other musicians, and critics.
MONDAY 3/24 LEON RUSSELL @ COX CAPITOL THEATRE Leon Russell has been called a rock and roll Renaissance man, and indeed there is little that this Oklahoma-bred singer-pianist hasn’t done. His quixotic half-century in music stretches from his teen years in Oklahoma in the late Fifties to his bestselling collaboration with Elton John from 2010, The Union. Between his solo work, contributions to high-profile albums by other artists, and screen exposure in the Bangla Desh and Mad Dogs & Englishmen documentaries, Russell became a veritable superstar in the Seventies. Tickets $25+
FRIDAY 3/28 CONNOR CHRISTIAN & SOUTHERN GOTHIC @ CRAZY BULL Atlanta country-rock outfit Connor Christian & Southern Gothic has been winning fans one show at a time since 2004, and this year looks to be its biggest year yet. The group’s latest album, New Hometown, released Feb. 12, bowed at No. 17 on Billboard’s Hot Country Albums chart and effectively encapsulates what brings fans out to their shows. The band’s penchant for delivering rowdy live perf o rmances has e a rned them opening slots for everyone from Tim McGraw to Styx. With the release of New Hometown, Connor notes he’s ready to swing for the fences in the major leagues.
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