Queen City Nerve - April 6, 2022

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 10; APRIL 6 - APRIL 19, 2022; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

News: COVID's lingering effects on the beer scene pg. 4 Plus: The only brewery map you'll ever need (this year) pg. 12

BOOZIN' ON A BUDGET GOES TO

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@Q UEEN CI T Y N ERV E W W W.Q CN ERV E.COM PUBLISHER JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS jla fra n c oi s @ q c n erve.c om

EDITOR - IN - CHIEF RYAN PITKIN

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DIGITAL EDITOR KARIE SIMMONS

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STAFF WRITER PAT MORAN

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STAFF WRITER NIKOLAI MATHER

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AD SALES EXECUTIVE RENN WILSON

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS & OPINION

4 Hurry Up and Wait by Karie Simmons Supply chain woes complicate local beer production, distribution

ARTS & CULTURE

6 Paint Outside the Lines by Nikolai Mather We Rock Charlotte cultivates inclusive expression for children under attack 8 Lifeline: Ten Cool Things To Do in Two Weeks

MUSIC

9 Soundwave 10 A Twist of Old-Time Country by Pat Moran The Loose Lugnuts weren’t born in a bar, they birthed one

FOOD & DRINK

12 Breweryville, CLT A map of Queen City breweries 14 Boozin’ on a Budget Goes to College A good old-fashioned University City bar crawl

www.WipeOutWaste.com

Thanks to our contributors: Dion Beary, Aerin Spruill, ReeCee Raps, Grant Baldwin, Krystle Baller, Chris Edwards, and Dan Savage.

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Learn more at

LIFESTYLE

18 Puzzles 20 Aerin It Out by Aerin Spruill 20 Strange Facts 21 Horoscope 22 Savage Love

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

HURRY UP AND WAIT Supply chain woes complicate local beer production, distribution

BY KARIE SIMMONS

You belly up to a bar, order your favorite local craft beer, grab the ice cold aluminum can and push in the tab to crack it open — tssss kr-pop.

For the consumer, it’s pretty simple. But for that can of beer, its journey was a little more difficult, possibly even treacherous in the times since COVID-19 struck, as supply chain woes and labor shortages are causing hiccups behind the scenes of what was once a straightforward process of brewing, packaging and distributing craft beer.

Some local breweries are having trouble receiving regular deliveries of key ingredients and supplies, especially from overseas, while others are hitting snags at the packaging stage due to a global aluminum can shortage.

While feeling these effects trickle down, distributors are also dealing with their own set of woes when it comes to vehicle and equipment delays.

Rising prices across the board and general unpredictability have led some to rearrange their logistics and plan for the worst, transforming the craft beer industry into an industry of hurry up and wait.

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In the breweries

NoDa Brewing Company orders its beer’s ingredients and the supplies to package it from all around the world.

According to head brewer and co-founder Chad Henderson, the majority of NoDa hops come from the Pacific Northwest, but they also get some from Europe. Their grains — the barley, wheat, rye and oats needed for beer — come from the America’s Midwest, Germany and England.

Henderson said his team has spent 10 years perfecting a rhythm for when to place their typical order, but that rhythm can now be thrown off by weeks or months at a time. It helps that NoDa’s suppliers can usually give them a heads up if they foresee an issue, or suggest ordering more if there will be a long wait between the next shipment, but the team as to stay on their toes.

In some cases, suppliers have had to pivot by dipping into their own backstock or using a different

but similar brand of hops to fill the order.

“The suppliers try to give us the best idea of arrival time, but they’re scratching their heads over it half the time too, because it’s not just getting it over to the U.S., it’s getting it on the trucks to then take it over to us because of either a personnel shortage or just no one in the docks to receive or load anything,” Henderson said.

Maureen Wierzbicki, quality control and production manager at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, echoed that professional relationships with suppliers have been key to maintaining the brewery’s pace of production throughout the pandemic.

“We have been able to work closely with our vendors to ensure materials are ordered in advance of long lead times, and with a safety stock necessary to flex with unforeseen production changes,” Wierzbicki said in an email to Queen City Nerve.

What was once a pretty straightforward process is now complicated by several factors, forcing brewers to be more intentional with their decisions and find creative workarounds.

In some cases, Henderson said NoDa has had to cancel batches and dump the beginning stages of a brew due to ingredient delays, essentially scrapping the brewing schedule. The brewery has also had delivery issues for the chemicals used to clean the tanks they put the beer in to ferment.

“It’s not simply can you make the beer? It’s can you make the beer with what’s coming in?”

Henderson said. “And do we have stuff coming behind that that’s going to allow for us to keep making it? And is it going to move at a rate in which it’s not going to back stock into the avenues we want?

“Beer is very perishable,” he continued. “So when you’re having to backstock everything on top of it, it just makes it more complicated to make sure that we get the product out and get it consumed in a good method. And you’re not trying to catch up, but you’re also not trying to overstock yourself at the same time.”

In other words, brewers are trying to hit the sweet spot on a moving target.

From kegs to cans

Jason Alexander of Free Range Brewing said his brewery isn’t having issues sourcing raw materials because more than 90% of their ingredients come from North Carolina as part of their mission to support local agriculture.

“We’re not in the category of breweries feeling the pinch from the tightness of raw materials

coming from Europe, but on the flipside, anybody that packages beer right now is feeling challenges in cost increase on the packaging side of it with can price increases and fuel surcharges being implemented again,” he said.

“Any logistics with packaging materials are definitely more volatile in our industry right now.”

Free Range wasn’t canning beer prior at all to the pandemic, but like most breweries, the initial shutdown of taprooms forced a shift toward packaging beer in order to survive.

They now work with Greensboro-based Tap Hopper Canning, which comes to the brewery on “canning days” to package their beer.

Alexander said Free Range builds supply chain delays into its brew schedule and plans for NODA BREWING’S CHAD HENDERSON AT WORK. a more conservative schedule PHOTO COURTESY OF NODA BREWING given the unpredictability of aluminum can supply.

“We tend to be on the back burner a lot,” he said.

“It pushed us into structure that needed to “So if there’s any sort of supply issue with either happen no matter what,” he said. “Instead of being getting any aluminum or the aluminum stock itself, on our timeline, it was on a timeline out of our we usually are the ones that will feel it first because control. But it was a good thing overall that we we’re really low on the priority list compared to moved into that structure because it’s helped us Monster Energy drinks or whatever.” facilitate new growth.”

At the start of the pandemic, Henderson said NoDa Brewing shifted its production from 50% cans The distributors Free Range handles their own distribution, as and 50% kegs to approximately 95% cans, which of the majority of their cans are sold in their taprooms course meant having to nearly double down on can on North Davidson Street and Camp North End. The orders in an already stressed aluminum market.

That ratio has since changed to 65% cans and rest goes out wholesale to area bars, restaurants and 35% kegs, but Henderson doubts it will completely bottle shops.

Most of NoDa’s beer goes on its own trucks, level out due to a decrease in the demand for draft though Henderson said distribution companies do beer.

Unfortunately for breweries, it’s currently more pick up a small amount.

“There’s still hiccups that happen with that, expensive to can beer than it is to keg it, as every piece of the can costs money — from the label to and you would have to delay pick-ups and whatnot the lid to the staff required to do the canning. And before they go off to the hubs to then get distributed out to the bottle shops and can shops and things of unlike kegs, cans are not reusable.

On top of that, Henderson said cans used to that nature,” he said. “But for the most part, for us, package beer come from companies that also supply that part has been affected a little less than it is major soda and energy drink companies, meaning getting the actual supplies.”

Taylor McDermott of Artisan Beverages, an competition is fierce. independent Charlotte-based distributor, said

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE his industry is feeling the effects of supply chain woes and labor shortages trickling down from the manufacturers of the products they carry.

Artisan distributes local, regional, national and international craft beer, wine, cider and non-alcoholic beverages. Artisan is not an importer, but the company works with importers to get international products and, since the pandemic began, McDermott said those importers sometimes have delays for months at a time — from product sitting on shipping containers at port or at sea to product waiting to go out due to lack of shipping containers.

“When you buy something, it starts at a production level and it goes on a journey to get to the shelf and all steps along the way are really important,” he said. “There are still going to be some challenges and having some patience and understanding that it’s not going to be perfect and it won’t be instantaneous as it may have been in 2019 and prior … you just gotta deal with it as much as you can.”

More directly, McDermott said distributors like Artisan are having difficulty ordering refrigerated box trucks and vehicles for their fleet due to manufacturers posting 18-month delays. There are even parts and maintenance delays when his trucks break down or need a routine tune-up, and he’s facing construction delays with the company’s warehouse expansion into Raleigh because refrigerator cooler materials and equipment are backordered.

Despite these issues, McDermott insisted product availability, at least for Artisan, hasn’t been affected.

Behind the bar

stretched thin, because it’s not just ingredients and materials that are in short supply, it’s labor and truck drivers,” he said. “Everything has been affected.”

Though prices for ingredients and supplies in the craft beer industry continue to rise, Alexander said Free Range has been able to absorb the costs through greater efficiency in its systems.

He hopes the supply chain woes lead to packaging innovations within the industry and new options for sourcing so as to not be so heavily dependent on Europe and China (the world’s largest exporters of aluminum products).

Henderson believes it’s going to take systemic change to solve the labor shortage that’s bogging down logistics. As for the consumer, he said the best way to help the breweries is to order a beer.

“People going out and trying new stuff at least gives the local breweries business and gets their stock moving and gets the feedback and gets people aware that there’s people out there making product and trying to get new cool stuff out there,” Henderson said. “And we’re stressing pretty hard to try to do that.”

So, next time you belly up to a bar, order your favorite local craft beer, grab the ice-cold aluminum can and push in the tab to crack it open, just remember the journey it took to get there.

KSIMMONS@QCNERVE.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF NODA BREWING

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Michael Felt, owner of NoDa bars The Blind Pig and NoDa 101, isn’t the hurry-up-and-wait type.

He said he’s shifted away from an emphasis on local beer to a more national-based brand strategy due to fluctuations in the market.

“Since COVID, it’s kind of been like, well, what can we get? So, we talk to our reps in that kind of fashion and that’s what we’ll sell. That’s what we’ll buy,” Felt said. “As far as being brand loyal and brewery loyal and distributor loyal, that’s kind of just gone out the window really.”

Both of Felt’s bars were closed during the initial shutdown and, when they reopened, staff turnover at the distribution companies and breweries made it difficult to continue old partnerships.

“These are relationships that we’ve cultivated over the last 10 years or so and, on the supply side, no one was reaching out either because they’re

THE CANNING PROCESS IN EFFECT.

ARTS FEATURE

PAINT OUTSIDE THE LINES We Rock Charlotte cultivates inclusive expression for children under attack

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BY NIKOLAI MATHER

On a cool Sunday morning, I watched a couple of middle-aged women in circle scarves and cardigans admire a newly painted wall. The women were my fellow classmates in a spray-paint workshop led by acclaimed Charlotte artist Elizabeth Palmisano.

Palmisano had accepted me on short notice as an observer and participant in the class, held at We Rock Charlotte’s Rock on 22nd house in Optimist Park, and had helped me and about a dozen other novices create one long, weird final product. When the bell rang marking the end of our session, I had painted a purple skeleton stoking a giant fire, lit up by the acronym “T4T,” a reference to trans people who are attracted to other trans people.

Surreal is not a word strong enough to describe the experience of these women ooh-ing and ahhing at my punk rock portrait. I was surprised that our collaborative work looked so cool, but I was shocked that these cis women were praising a skeleton with top surgery scars. But maybe I shouldn’t have been.

Proceeds from the class went to We Rock Charlotte, an organization that aims to inspire young people through music, arts and social justice.

Palmisano, a member of the organization’s leadership team, has long championed the arts as both a vehicle for self-exploration and a way of supporting her community. Her work in We Rock’s year-round workshop Amplify! made her an expert at getting children, teens and even adults to let loose creatively.

On Feb. 28, the organization announced its full rebranding, including a name change from Girls Rock Charlotte to We Rock Charlotte. The decision, which director Kelly Finley executed with a grant from marketing agency Wray Ward, was meant to make the program more visibly inclusive to trans and gender nonconforming young people. It also served to unite We Rock with Pachyderm Music Lab, a year-round music education program for children of all genders.

Krystle Baller — founder of Pachyderm, creative director of We Rock, and Palmisano’s partner — said the transition was only a matter of time.

AN ARTIST ROUNDS OUT THE EDGES DURING WE ROCK CHARLOTTE’S RECENT SPRAY-PAINT WORKSHOP. Given the general attitude toward trans youth in this era, the move is surprising. With so many pundits and politicians calling for greater defense of womenonly spaces, what drove these local artists to carry out their rebranding now in the name of allyship?

Then and now of We Rock CLT

Baller, who also attended the mural class, told me the name change was a logical next step for We Rock Charlotte.

“We were just kind of waiting for the right timing,” they said. “Because when we started in 2014, the gender language wasn’t where it is now.”

Even as Girls Rock, the orgization had always included transgender and gender-nonconforming kids, and had done so openly. “Don’t let all of the girl power fool you, though,” read the About section on their website. “Pachyderm is a super inclusive spot.”

In recent years, however, its leadership team noticed a dramatic change in the population it served.

“A growing percentage of the young people who engage with our programs self-identify as

part of the LGBTQIA+ community,” stated We Rock executive director Kelly Finley in a press release about the rebrand.

As we circled up after the class and introduce dourselves, I couldn’t help but notice a bit of a generational divide within the class itself. Most of the attendees were older cis women who either fumbled through their pronouns or stated “she/her” with practiced cadence. The younger people in the group, including a couple teenagers, used all types of pronouns.

“The space that the kids have created has become more genderfluid, especially in the past four years,” Baller said.

We Rock Charlotte is far from the first youth organization to observe this phenomenon. Many previously girl-focused institutions, from after-school activities to women’s colleges, have started to answer the challenge of trans inclusion. Some opt to keep with a girls-only approach, be they trans or cis. Girls on the Run, for example, states that if a child identifies as a girl and her family agrees, she can participate.

Girl Scouts of America champions a similar policy, but

PHOTO BY KRYSTLE BALLER

specifies that troops handle transgender and gendernonconforming youth on a case-by-case basis.

What’s different about We Rock Charlotte is that all trans kids — whether boys, girls, neither or both — are welcome in the program. The Girls Rock Camp Alliance, an international coalition between rock education camps for kids, has elected to forgo a binary approach altogether. Its mission statement stipulates that camps “must center those who experience marginalization because of their gender identity and expression.”

“We Rock has always been meant for girls and gender-diverse youth,” Palmisano said. “But now, our name reflects that.”

Learning through collaboration

After making our first marks with spray paint at the outset of the Sunday afternoon class, Palmisano gave the class a new challenge.

“Start thinking about how to incorporate your vision with your neighbor’s,” she said.

She told me later that one primary focus in her classes is to get people to share and collaborate, and

ARTS FEATURE she employs creative means to this end. At one point, she told me she only sets out a few tools in her arsenal so her students are “forced” to share and work together.

“The camaraderie is just so important. Especially for kids,” she said.

If you’ve been following the news, you know there’s a war on trans children right now. South Carolina is discussing legislation that would ban trans girls from competing in school sports. Over the past year, multiple bills in a similar vein have made it to the North Carolina General Assembly.

And though the expiration of HB 142 has allowed local nondiscrimination ordinances to become law once again, trans people living outside of more progressive areas remain at risk.

We Rock Charlotte began with the passion for fostering creativity among one marginalized group: girls. Could it also be a safe haven for other children maligned for their genders?

Palmisano thinks so, but it takes more than a rebrand. We Rock Charlotte has made a point to include socially conscious programming. In recent years, it has expanded to include workshops on allyship and policies on misgendering.

But beyond informative programming, she also believes creativity has inherent value for young people struggling to find themselves.

“There’s so many things that young people carry with them. So much judgment and shame,” she told me. “But when you introduce a creative outlet, they take that thing inside them and kind of pull it out and look at it in a more objective way. They really look at it and not feel judged.”

And when it takes place in a collaborative setting, opening up about painful topics becomes easier.

“In general, when people’s hands are busy, they open up,” Palmisano said. “The conversation gets real deep, real fast. It gives you a chance to get out of your head.”

I saw what she meant. Despite having known each other for all of five minutes, my neighbors and I were able to weave our disparate scenes together to form one cohesive painting. The roots from my trees extended down into a mountain of green swirls; the bubbles surrounding my neighbor’s giant bird floated up and around my skeleton. As we approached the end of the session, Palmisano pulled me to the side and angled me to the right.

“Look,” she said. “Did you even notice that you made a symmetrical mural?”

PHOTO BY KRYSTLE BALLER

NMATHER@QCNERVE.COM

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A PIECE OF THE FINAL PRODUCT AFTER THE WORKSHOP.

We hadn’t. Somehow, our combined effort transition is like trying to persuade the wind. Or, as produced a work greater than the sum of its parts. Palmisano might put it, trying to persuade a stream of spray paint. The first time she held a can in her Letting young people lead the way hands, she was “terrified.”

“You just can’t control it,” she said. “You have to Children hardly ever define their lives within work with it … There’s nothing you can do about it. the bounds adults set. And so as a leader within It’s almost like giving up, and then giving in to the her organization, Palmisano sees the importance of process.” stepping back and giving children autonomy.

It’s true that trans children and cis children have “It’s hard to put the kids in a box,” Palmisano said. wildly different needs. It’s true that the cis adults in a “Like, yesterday, you went by she/her, and today your name tag says he/him. There’s a lot of fluidity! young trans person’s life may not always understand The space itself is set in a way that encourages an what they want. It’s true that transphobia is a foregone conclusion for cis people, even among exploration of self.”

I have to admit: Even in my early 20s, I feel out those who spent years working with trans youth.

But it’s also true that Palmisano, Baller and of my depth watching younger trans people imagine the rest of We Rock are attempting to meet the the future of gender. The next generation has already challenge anyways. And though there’s no way they wrought dizzyingly novel identities for themselves.

It’s easy to be scared of that, which is why adults can be perfect, they will be brave. They will give up often seek to control young trans people. They believe in order to give in to the endlessly enigmatic process that with the right punishment, these children can be of trans childhood. They will let the kids tell them freed of gender trouble. But what’s both horrible and what they need.

Not all of my classmates needed to understand amazing about being trans is that we will never be what T4T meant to appreciate my work. I put down free of gender trouble. The most important lesson you my spray paint and joined them in walking the wall, learn in trans adolescence is how to harness it — how to turn deep pain into power of the highest degree. admiring the vista we had just created together, Trying to persuade young people out of individually and together.

WED4.6

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4.13

The fairytale characters Tom Thumb and Jack the Giant Killer team up in this nightmarish stop-motion masterpiece. The 1993 dystopian adventure/horror film by Dave Borthwick, follows the travails of fetuslike thumb-sized Tom, who is abducted from his loving parents and carted off to an experimental laboratory.

With limited dialog and a visual sense in sync with the Quay Brothers’ shambling doll-parts puppets and Jan Švankmajer’s reanimated taxidermy animal cyborgs, Tom Thumb is a queasy and creepy masterpiece.

More: $10; April 6, 8 p.m.; VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Drive; visartvideo.org

Presented by contemporary arts organization Moving Spirits, Charlotte’s first LAVAGEM! Festival is a celebration of indigenous, African-Brazilian and African diaspora arts and culture. Held throughout the city, events will include free dance and music performances, workshops and the community Lavagem ritual, or “cleansing of the city.” The festival brings master teachers from Salvador (the capital city of Bahia, Brazil) to Charlotte locations including Goodyear Arts, Mint Museum Uptown and Nine Eighteen Nine.

More: Free; April 7-10, times and locations vary; charlottecultureguide.com

FRI4.8

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SAT4.9

As part of Charlotte SHOUT!, The Charlotte Film Festival and Independent Picture House present eight awardwining films including Jessica Linn’s documentary Beyond the Model, which spotlights the plight of a “model minority”in an increasingly anti-Asian America.

Charlotte filmmaker Kent Smith weighs in with the unsettling comedy Little Package, and fellow Queen City director John Austin provides the documentary Almost Normal–Through the Eyes of Autism, which examines the world through a new perspective.

More: Free; April 8, 7:30 p.m.; SHOUT! Lounge, 401 S. Tryon St.; charlotteshout.com

Jazz seems to be a tug-of-war. At one end are the curators, who act as if “real” jazz ended with hard bop in the mid-1950s. At the other end of the spectrum is anybody who has incorporated postEisenhower era developments — rock, hip-hop, psychedelia, etc. Donald Harrison embraces the entire continuum. The saxophonist and New Orleans cultural torchbearer has mastered every era of jazz, soul and funk, and is a composer of orchestral classical music as well. His original creation, called Nouveau Swing, is an exhilarating collision of jazz with R&B, hip-hop, rock and soul.

More: $25; April 8-9; Stage Door Theater, 155 N. College St.; blumenthalarts.org

This immersive art exhibit asks the question, “Can an art form address the social challenges we face and offer paths to heal our various traumas?”

Internationally exhibited ambient media artist and curator Brett Phares uses projected light to express unconscious, perhaps genetic, solutions to our psycho-social maladies. Meditation instructor Angela Gala brings together Charlotte therapist Justin Perry and physicist Joel Bonasera to address these questions, facilitating a lively conversation.

It sounds to us like plumbing Jungian depths to go into the light, and that seems certainly worth a shot.

More: Free; April 9, 7:30 p.m.; Bechtler Museum, 420 S. Tryon St.; bechtler.org

ROTHKO BECOMING ROTHKO

CHARLOTTE STREATS FESTIVAL

‘THE SECRET ADVENTURES OF TOM THUMB’

MARK ROTHKO Photo by Consuelo Kanaga

2021 CHARLOTTE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD-WINNING SHORT FILMS

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‘PRETTY WOMAN’

Despite an adult premise — heartless corporate raider hooks up with a prostitute — Pretty Woman doesn’t have much to do with reality. Both the musical and the 1990 romantic comedy on which it’s based tell a chaste Cinderella story in which the hooker has a heart of gold and the vulture capitalist is not such a bad guy after all. The 1990s-set musical acknowledges the complexity of Just Say No and the rise of Onlyfans by giving its sex worker heroine far more agency than she had in the movie. The songs, co-written by Bryan Adams, unerringly recall that era’s radio hits.

More: $25 and up; April 12-17; Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.; blumenthalarts.org

BIG CHIEF DONALD HARRISON

WED4.13

A pivotal figure in the move from figural painting to Abstract Expressionism, Mark Rothko is known for his abstract “color field paintings,” which feature large rectangular swaths of color. Galvanized by World War II, Rothko strove to capture the essence of basic human emotions on canvas, and to evoke those emotions in viewers. The Mint has two Rothkos, “No. 17 [or] No. 15” and “Untitled 1951.”

Harry Cooper, head of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., talks about the life and works of the artist.

More: Free; April 13, 5 p.m.; Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St.; mintmuseum.org

LAVAGEM! FESTIVAL

IN THE LIGHT AND UNDER THE SKIN

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Foodies rejoice! Unpretentious Palate and Carben Events host this celebration of Charlotte chefs and the city’s burgeoning food scene. The epicurean event kicks off April 15 with cooking demonstrations from local culinary students, food trucks, vendors, and kid activities. The gastronomic gig allows patrons to taste their way through the city’s iconic neighborhoods without leaving Gateway Village. The fest spotlights appearances by celebrity chefs and chef demos. Live music features singer-songwriter Justin Elliot, former frontman of Chicago indie rock band Honeystone.

More: Free-$140; April 15-16; Gateway Village, 900 W. Trade St.; charlotteshout.com/events

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DONALD HARRISON Courtesy photo

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CLASSIC BLACK CINEMA SERIES: ‘BRIGHT ROAD’

A low budget 1953 production, Bright Road is a rarity today. Audiences in the 1950s must have been surprised by the film’s primarily Black cast and its positive portrayal of Black life. Today it seems an outlier for its glowing picture of the currently much maligned profession of teaching. Dorothy Dandridge shines as a teacher who overcomes fear and hesitation to care for a troubled student. It’s clear Dandridge’s talent was squandered due to overt racism. In his first film role, Harry Belafonte is compelling as a tough but fair principal.

More: $9; April 10, 2 p.m.; Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St.; ganttcenter.org

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MILESTONE PROM

What better location to celebrate this and every prom season then the venerable Charlotte rock club that has hosted a who’s who of punk, indie and metal bands over the course of its 52-year run?

The class of 2022 gig features indie-rock foursome Modern Moxie, who earned Queen City Nerve’s Best in the Nest Critics’ Pick for Best Album in 2019 with Claw Your Way Out. Yes Chef!, our critics’ pick for Best New Band in 2020, shares the bill with chaperone Principal Red Jesse Kimmel and DJ Justin Aswell (Mr. Invisible, Ogres, Hectagons!).

More: $10; April 16, 8 p.m.; The Milestone, 400 Tuckaseegee Road.; themilestone.club

Lynch & DJ Velvetine (Tommy’s Pub) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL Nicole Henry (Middle C Jazz)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Gifts From the Holy Ghost w/ Dorothy (The Underground) Mammoth WVH w/ Dirty Honey (The Fillmore) Inferious w/ Casketmaker, Divisive (The Milestone) Modern Color w/ Heart of Gold, Clearbody, Fake Eyes (Snug Harbor) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES Moonchild w/ Sofiya Ballin’, Austin Antoine (Amos’ Southend) Lucky Daye (Neighborhood Theatre) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL Dustin Hofsess (Middle C Jazz) OPEN MIC Tosco Music Open Mic (Evening Muse)

THURSDAY, APRIL 7

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Willie Bradley (Middle C Jazz) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Priscilla Block (Coyote Joe’s) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Ephraim Sommers (Primal Brewery) FUNK/JAM BANDS/REGGAE Yo Momma’s Big Fat Booty Band w/ Akita (Visulite Theatre) CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL/RELIGIOUS Chris Renzema (The Underground)

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf w/ Desolation’s Edge, The Donner Deads, Middleasia (The Milestone) Patrick Sweany (Neighborhood Theatre) Pyrex w/ Cheesus Crust (Snug Harbor) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES The Far Side (The Underground) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Doc & Cover (Doc Watson tribute) feat. David Grier, Jack Lawrence, Robbie Fulks (Stage Door Theater) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL The Brubeck Brothers Quartet (Middle C Jazz) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Black Tiger Sex Machine (The Fillmore) BDay Dance Party: DJ Festivus (Primal Brewery) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Dylan LeBlanc (Evening Muse) OPEN MIC DOAP Hip-Hop Open Mic (Crown Station) Open Mic Night w/ Chase Brown & Aleeia “Sug” Bolton Brown (Tommy’s Pub) CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL/RELIGIOUS Andy Cherry w/ Julie Clark, Untitled Worship (Visulite Theatre)

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Tell Me Lies (Fleetwood Mac tribute) w/ Lauren Light (Amos’ Southend) Ghost of Paul Revere w/ Daniel Rodriguez (Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts) Pnltybx w/ The Word Around Town, Windley, Lunchbox Hero (The Milestone) Idlewild South (Allman Brothers Band tribute) (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. Quartet (Stage Door Theater) Cosmic Collective w/ Cannoli (Evening Muse) Kat Edmonson (Middle C Jazz) FUNK/JAM BANDS/REGGAE The Slackers w/ The Freecoasters, Sound System Seven (Neighborhood Theatre) Ghost Funk Orchestra w/ The Jack Moves, System Exclusive (Snug Harbor) Runaway Gin (Phish tribute) (Visulite Theatre) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Jason Moss and the Hosses (Tommy’s Pub) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Primal Jam feat. Matt Walsh, Matt Bush, South of Dallas (Primal Brewery)

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

ROCK/PUNK/METAL The Silverwood Band (Comet Grill) Jerry Cantrell (The Fillmore) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES Black Opry Revue (Neighborhood Theatre) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL Boney James (Knight Theater) Selena Albright (Middle C Jazz) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Jason Eady w/ Danaher (Evening Muse) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Elonzo Wesley (Primal Brewery)

MONDAY, APRIL 11

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Aim High w/ Frontside April, Empty, Come Clean (Skylark Social Club) John Mayer (Spectrum Center)

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Mo Lowda & the Humble w/ 87 Nights, Sylmar (Amos’ Southend) gogoPilot w/ Etta Lea, Reeve Coobs (Evening Muse) Jeff Scott Soto w/ Jason Bieler (Evening Muse) The Worm Shepherd w/ The Breathing Process, Heft, Final Punishment (The Milestone) The Darkness (Neighborhood Theatre) Sunday Boxing w/ Van Huskins, Hey Revolver, Mercury Dimes (Skylark Social Club) Beef w/ No Touch, Militar (Snug Harbor) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES Grits & Biscuits (The Fillmore) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Béla Fleck (Knight Theater) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ UZ with DMVU, Tylr & Yen (SERJ) The Jospeh Gallo Band (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) Reflexions Dark Wave Dance Party w/ DJ Marvin

MONDAY, APRIL 18

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES R.A.P. Ferreira w/ Sha Ray, Ogres (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL The Conn/Davis Jazz Duo (Crown Station)

TUESDAY, APRIL 19 ROCK/PUNK/METAL Greet Death w/ Infant Island, Art Star (Snug Harbor)

POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ

Cosmic Jam (Crown Station) Mike Love w/ Cas Haley (Neighborhood Theatre)

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES Ohgeesy (The Underground)

JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL Diana Krall (Knight Theater)

VISIT QCNERVE.COM FOR THE FULL SOUNDWAVE LISTING.

Pg. 9 APR 6 - APR 19, 2022 - QCNERVE.COM

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Atlas Road Crew w/ Easy Honey, Hairband Ukulele (Amos’ Southend) Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Paul McDonald w/ Andrew Leahy (Evening Muse) Erin & the Wildfire w/ Wag (Evening Muse) The Fill Ins w/ No Anger Control, The Body Bags (The Milestone) The Part Time Blues Band (Smokey Joes Cafe & Bar) Luna Luna w/ Dent May, Pearl & the Oysters (Snug Harbor) Bon Jovi (Spectrum Center) King Cackle w/ The Not Likelys, Reckless Threat (Tommy’s Pub) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. Quartet (Stage Door Theater)

OPEN MIC ROCK/PUNK/METAL Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. Redd! (Evening Muse) Pop Punk Prom (Amos’ Southend) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL The Milestone Prom feat. Yes Chef, Modern Moxie, The Conn/Davis Jazz Duo (Crown Station) DJ Justin Aswell & Jesse Kimmel aka Prinicipal Red (The Milestone) TUESDAY, APRIL 12 Futurebirds w/ Illiterate Light (Neighborhood POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Theatre) Cosmic Jam (Crown Station) The New Creatures, RUGG, Hyperloops, BHAVA Johnnyswim (The Fillmore) (Skylark Social Club) Nuclear Desolation w/ Cosmic Reaper, Abyssal Frost WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 (Snug Harbor) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Mt. Joy (The Fillmore) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES Dozr w/ Mindvac, Pretty Baby (Snug Harbor) NiiTO (Evening Muse) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B/BLUES Lucki (The Underground) Samantha Fish w/ Django (Neighborhood Theatre) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA FUNK/JAM BANDS/REGGAE Mando Saenz w/ Derik Hultquist (Evening Muse) Magic Beans (Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts) The Elovaters w/ Ballyhoo (Visulite Theatre) FUNK/JAM BANDS/REGGAE The Nth Power (Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts) THURSDAY, APRIL 14 The Jam Cooperative (Grateful Dead tribute) ROCK/PUNK/METAL (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) Badflower (The Underground) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Good Looks w/ JPH, Family Friend (The Milestone) Kat & Craig (Primal Brewery) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Postmodern Jukebox (Knight Theater) QCT 10 with PROX (SERJ) Java Band (Middle C Jazz) Joel Corry (World Nightclub) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ SUNDAY, APRIL 17 Yacht Rock Revue (The Fillmore) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Yazmin Nur w/ Jordyn Zaino, Kevin Goodwin, The Courage to Dive (The Milestone) Cat Power (Neighborhood Theatre) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL OPEN MIC Adam Hawley (Middle C Jazz) DOAP Hip-Hop Open Mic (Crown Station) CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL/RELIGIOUS Open Mic Night w/ Chase Brown & Aleeia “Sug” for KING & COUNTRY (Bojangles Coliseum) Bolton Brown (Tommy’s Pub)

MUSIC FEATURE

A TWIST OF OLD TIME COUNTRY

The Loose Lugnuts weren’t born in a bar, they birthed one

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BY PAT MORAN

Ask a Charlotte music fan to name a consummate performer that defines the city, and you’re likely to get one of a handful of answers.

R&B aficionados are likely to pick gravel-voiced country soul artist Anthony Hamilton, who once had the audacity — and accuracy — to say that no one had a Blacker voice than him. Others would likely side with “Rockstar” rapper DaBaby, a consistently inventive and controversial artist, who may or may not have tempered his propensity for sexist and homophobic pronouncements. Still others will plump for Concord-boys-made-good The Avett Brothers, who’ve stretched their roots in hoot-and-holler bluegrass and folk to big guitar rock and beyond.

These are all worthy choices, but another local act deserves to be in this august company. Like DaBaby, they honor existing musical elements while spinning them off in an inventive directions. They don’t sound like Anthony Hamilton, but they sure sound Southern — and quintessentially Charlotte. Like the Avett Brothers, their band centers on a pair of local siblings, but they’ve dug even deeper into their roots.

Formed by brothers Mark and Brian Wilson, The Loose Lugnuts are Queen City gems that have been overlooked by the critical establishment for over 20 years. Comprised of Mark on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Brian on drums, lead guitarist Bill Noonan and bassist Jef Pearce, the foursome plays rough-edged rowdy country that draws from the wellspring of all-American genres, the font from which country, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll emerged.

They’re so good at what they do, it’s impossible to tell the difference between the emotionally direct covers they love to play live and the powerful punchy originals they craft, which sound like they were cut contemporaneous to tunes by “the singing lineman” Jimmie Rodgers and country-pop crossover “King of the Road” Roger Miller.

“Our folks are from Ashe County, and our dad was always singing old country music in the morning,” Brian Wilson says. “Initially I’d think, ‘What is going on?’ then for whatever reason it sunk in that I enjoyed it.”

THE LOOSE LUGNUTS (FROM LEFT): BILL NOONAN, MARK WILSON, BRIAN WILSON AND JEF PEARCE The Lugnuts’ songs, written by Mark Wilson, are not mere classic country pastiches, however.

The band’s tunes revitalize the old-school genre’s plainspoken poetry and emotional accuracy with a contemporary sensibility and scalpel-sharp playing.

In the process, The Loose Lugnuts balance nostalgia and modernity, being grounded in an up-to-theminute party atmosphere while reaching back to Charlotte’s past as a semi-sleepy Southern town.

The Loose Lugnuts will play a special show at The Thirsty Beaver for Mark Wilson’s birthday on April 24, and Midwood Maynia at Midwood Park on May 7.

The Loose Lugnuts, incidentally, are also the perfect band to feature in Queen City Nerve’s Beer Issue. Not only are they the quintessential bar band, they’re a band that owns a bar — one that (mostly) adheres to serving only canned beer and is widely admired and beloved in Charlotte.

The Wilson Brothers launched the down-home and resilient dive bar the Thirsty Beaver Saloon 14 years ago, in part, Brian Wilson says half-jokingly, because he and Mark wanted to open a honky-tonk where their band could play. Be that as it may, when The Thirsty Beaver opened its doors, it proved to be the perfect embodiment of the Wilsons’ love for their favorite music genre, centered on spotlighting three things — old country, the aforementioned canned

COURTESY OF BRIAN WILSON

beer, and a small TV set that only plays episodes of people be nice to each other no matter who they Hee Haw, the cornpone musical variety show that were — and it all started with country music. aired off-and-on from 1969 to 1997.

Brian Wilson was born to Methodist minister Ben Wilson and his wife 52 years ago. Brian’s brother Rockstars, middle fingers and Mark followed six years later. Ben loved the music of Grand Ole’ Opry, and he was constantly singing country music songs by artists like Hank Williams and Tom T. Hall.

Recent arrivals to Charlotte may identify the Growing up in Pond Mountain in Ashe County, Beaver as that place where The Rolling Stones’ Mick Brian was captivated by the music his father sang.

Jagger slipped away for a beer and an Instagram Even though he likes pop and rock artists like Bruce photo during his tour stop here in September 2021.

Springsteen, Brian says he filters music through his Longer time residents might think of some photos knowledge of country. that were as big in their day as the picture of the “There’s always been that foundation of country iconic rockstar enjoying some rest and relaxation at music,” he says. “I look for it and find it, even when the cozy and welcoming dive bar last fall.

I’m listening to other genres. I say, ‘There’s an In 2017, those pictures, published overseas as element this guy is doing that’s kind of country.’” far away as the United Kingdom, showed the plucky The Wilson family moved from Ashe County single-story honky tonk ringed by the high-rise to Charlotte, and in high school Brian got a set of buildings that flank it today, forbidding runaway drums that someone was going to throw out. After development that blocks the sun from reaching attending college at Appalachian State University in the feisty dive bar. Many saw the construction as Boone, he returned home and started playing music punishment from a thwarted developer who wanted with his brother in 1990. the Wilson brothers pushed out, and in short, that’s “After I got out of Appalachian, I lived out back precisely what happened. at a shed at my parent’s house,” Brian says. “That was The fracas with the developer turned the Wilsons our music room.” into inadvertent rebels. Brian maintains that all that The brothers started playing small gigs that he and Mark ever wanted was to open an accepting their father had set up after having dubbed the duo place where the only requirement for entry was that

MUSIC FEATURE

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The Pond Mountain Boys. Brian remembers playing a couple of nursing homes. A resident at one such gig was a member of the legendary long-running bluegrass band The Briarhoppers.

“He went into his room and got this $30,000 1946 Martin guitar and started playing with us,” Brian remembers. “We were like, ‘Whoa, how cool is this?’ That was fun for us to see. It was the history of the music — to be some tiny little part of that.”

The brothers’ impromptu gigging began to solidify into a band after Brian quit his job running audio at The Speed Channel, and along with Mark, opened secondhand clothing store The Rat’s Nest in NoDa in 2004. “[At that time], the gallery crawls were still going on in NoDa,” Brian says. “It was an eclectic, fun time, because people were twirling fire and everything.”

The Wilson played music as a way to pull customers into their shop. Other musicians joined, and it got to the point where the Wilsons would never miss a gig at the crawl. People would shout requests, and Mark Wilson proved so adept at playing them that he became known as “The Human Jukebox.”

“He knows and can remember more songs than anybody in town,” Brian says.

The brothers developed a keen interest in the history of each song and how it developed. Bill Noonan (The Rank Outsiders) started playing with the Wilsons more frequently. Jef Pearce saw a gallery crawl show and declared that he was going to start playing with the nascent band. While the foursome grew tight as a drumhead, Mark began to write more originals. All arrangements were then honed by the group. People began to ask what the band was called.

Since The Pond Mountain Boys was a name that no longer fit the music the band played, they came up with a new moniker: The Loose Lugnuts.

“The idea was that everything [could be] going good, but like a loose lugnut, it could go disastrous at any time,”Brian says. “We thought that was our essence.

We played and did everything by the seat of our pants.”

The Lugnuts built up a following, and fans began suggesting that the Wilsons open up a honky-tonk where their band could play more often. Brian and Mark heeded that advice. In Plaza Midwood, on a fairly desolate plot far from any neighbors and on the wrong side of the railroad tracks, the Wilsons opened up The Thirsty Beaver Saloon.

From the start, the cozy, decidedly retro dive exuded a welcoming atmosphere. Hee Haw went on

live to tape up at Mitch Easter’s studio, Fidelitorium the pandemic. Contrary to the half-joke about Recordings, in Kernersville, over two and a half the band’s origins, The Loose Lugnuts do not play days. They finished three or four tracks each day. exclusively at The Thirsty Beaver. The band’s favorite Studio engineer and drummer Chris Garges, who recurring venues include Mac’s Speed Shop on just passed away last March, recorded the sessions, South Boulevard and The Comet Grill. The band once opened for outlaw country singer-songwriter Billy capturing the live feel the band wanted.

“We all did it at once,” Brian says. “Mark’s vocals Joe Shaver, one of the Wilsons’ musical heroes, at were recorded live. That’s what you get.” Jim Garret the storied but since-closed Double Door Inn. “He actually listened to us and said we were played some additional guitar on the album.

The band had planned to record a follow-up really good,” Brian says. “That spurred us to keep shortly after their debut, but life got in the way. going.”

Brian also remembers one of the group’s In 2017, Mark and Brian opened their Tex-Mex restaurant The Tipsy Burro Saloon & Cantina on stranger gigs playing a double bill with local FilipinoMonroe Road. Mexican food proved to be an American Elvis Presley impersonator Renelvis at ideal concert for the brothers, since they’re both a Chinese restaurant at which the Lugnuts were vegetarians. As the pandemic shut down Charlotte, situated next to the buffet. the Beaver closed its doors for nearly a full year.

“We’ll play anywhere — backyards — we’re By then, the brothers had started raising children. not proud,” Brian says with a chuckle. “That’s how we end up endearing ourselves to people. To us Brian has a two-year old daughter.

Nonetheless, Brian says a new album by The it’s playing in front of people and enjoying it, so it Loose Lugnuts should come out this year. Like Half doesn’t matter where it’s at. It doesn’t necessarily Tight, it will be all originals, courtesy of Mark, and it have to be up on a stage on Friday night.”

Getting half-tight The friendly neighborhood Thirsty Beaver will be recorded live to tape.

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM In the meantime, the band has continued to Saloon succeeded beyond the brothers’ dreams, and their band kept pace. In 2013, just as troubles gig — with the exception of the period during were starting with greedy neighboring developers, The Loose Lugnuts recorded their debut — and to date, only — album. The band eschewed releasing digital singles, preferring to put out the first music they released as a full-length album, a throwback to the format that was prevalent when their favorite country music dropped.

The group decided to title the collection of songs Half Tight, as a tribute to their band name as well as a nod to country drinking songs, where a lubricated protagonist waxes poetic as a barstool laureate.

Unlike their live shows, which continue to feature covers of audience favorites, Mark wrote all of the songs on the collection, bringing them to the band in acoustic versions. Then the band worked out the arrangements together. A few tunes had been written earlier. One is the brisk, pop-rock flavored tune “Fred Kirby,” a tribute to a Charlotte icon who played a friendly cowboy on a series of children’s shows starting in 1951.

The Wilsons lived in Indian Trail when the boys were children, and they would frequently run into Kirby in public, finding him to be a truly warm and generous person.

“Fred was probably by all accounts not the most talented guy in the world, but in our eyes, he was the guy you’d want to be if you were going to be a BRIAN AND MARK WILSON IN THIRSTY BEAVER SALOON cowboy singer,” Brian says.

PHOTO BY CHRIS EDWARDS For the album, the band recorded each song the TV because Brian felt the corny old show could prompt friendly conversations between strangers who might find out they had more in common than they initially thought. The show also had the effect of deflating the merest through of pomposity “The thing we’ve always tried to do with our businesses is poke fun at something, [and not] take everything so seriously,” Brian says. “On Hee Haw they would have somebody singing a cool song, but in the next scene you’re in the corn field with silly jokes.”

For the Wilsons, it was representative of how you shouldn’t take life so seriously. There are serious moments, but the next moment may be a ridiculous one. Canned beer contributed to the unpretentious vibe.

“Canned beer was like [when a] guy was mowing the lawn; he had a can of beer,” Brian says.

“It wasn’t a glass or draft. That was a little fancier.”

The bar now carries Miller High Life in bottles due to patrons’ requests.

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Three Locations

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE BOOZIN’ ON A BUDGET GOES TO COLLEGE

A good old-fashion University City bar crawl

BY STAFF

For this year’s Beer Issue, we thought it would be fun to carry out another edition of our Boozin’ on a Budget series, in which we tour certain neighborhoods and ponder the nightlife, the walkability, and the all-around vibe of the spots we visit.

Since we visited South End for last year’s Beer Issue, we thought we would head north this time and check out University City, so we hopped on the Blue Line and made our way to the J.W. Clay Boulevard stop to visit the Boardwalk area.

As usual, we brought a few friends. There are the Queen City Nerve staff members: editor-inchief Ryan Pitkin, publisher Justin LaFrancois, and digital editor Karie Simmons. Then there are our contributing writers, Dion Beary and nightlife THE BOOZIN’ ON A BUDGET CREW (FROM LEFT) RYAN, REECEE, AERIN, KARIE, JUSTIN AND DION. columnist Aerin Spruill. And joining as a special guest this time was ReeCee Raps, a Charlotte rapper whom you can check out at @reeceeraps on 7.3% from Wise Man Brewing in Winston-Salem.

Ryan: I lived here probably about four or five Instagram or hosting the DOAP Hip-Hop Open Mic at Ryan: Aerin, you’re drinking Topo Chico Hard years, I would say. The funny thing is, I lived out here Crown Station every Thursday.

Seltzer because you’re cutting off beer. How long when I wasn’t going to college, from like 19 to 23, and then as soon as I moved into the city, into NoDa, The team started on the patio at the Flying Saucer has that been a thing?

I started going to UNC Charlotte, but I just couldn’t Draught Emporium, located in the corner of the strip live here anymore at that point. I had enough.

Aerin Spruill: Two long fucking weeks. mall at 9605 N. Tryon St. Ryan Pitkin: What are we all drinking?

Karie: Allagash White for me, too.

Justin: I lived in that building you can see from Justin LaFrancois: I’m starting with a 10.1% here, [ReeCee] lived in the same complex [Ashford Stone Japanese Green Tea Imperial IPA right now.

Green] and Ryan lived in the next one over [formerly Ryan: I’m having a Cabarrus Vanilla Coffee Colonial Grand].

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Blonde, it’s only 4.7%.

Dion Beary: I’m having an Allagash White because there’s no [Catawba Brewing] White Zombie. I don’t know the percentage of Allagash White, it’s good though.

Justin: Allagash White is the OG wheat beer.

ReeCee Raps: I have the Big Easy Fruited Sour

Dion: I have not lived here. I worked out here for a while when I was living in south Charlotte, so I would have to take that long 485 loop all the way around. It was about a 40-minute drive on 485 to get all the way here. And then I just remember being like 23 and still kind of dating college girls sometimes, and then a lot of them would be living out here in apartments, and it’s just too long of a drive from south Charlotte.

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

would smell all the food around here. I never really came here specifically a lot, but I think University is its own place. Now that I don’t live in University, I don’t usually come back. I come back like every once in a while. Like, I was performing at Press Box the other day, but besides that, I don’t really come back.

But I didn’t really have to leave the University a lot of times when I lived here, like for food, and we have so Justin: I had my 21st birthday right here on many food places here. I just loved how convenient this patio. I got here at 1 a.m. and in that one-hour it was. period I was able to drink enough of these high-ABV beers to fall asleep on the ground right there and Ryan: Yeah, I think it works as the only throw up in the back of a taxi cab. I don’t even think neighborhood that I know of that has city in its Ubers were a thing back then. University and Flying name in Charlotte because it is like it’s separate.

Saucer specifically was like my introduction into being an adult and away from my parents. This is Justin: It’s the north’s Ballantyne, or Ballantyne the first place I ever lived where I wasn’t living with is the south’s University. my parents.

Karie: Is there like a central hub or anything, ReeCee: I lived here for two years. My first some sort of main street? two years coming to Charlotte after leaving Kansas City. This was my first time living alone, being in Ryan: I’d say that’s where we’re going after this: University. I was living there with my dog and we the Boardwalk. would walk all through here, through the lots, we

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE Dion: That’s exploded so much. When I worked out here, Boardwalk was there, obviously, some other stuff, but it’s like way more shit over there now.

ReeCee: Even since I’ve left, I’ve been gone two years, and it’s a lot more stuff over here now.

Dion: To your Elevation point, it’s actually the and it’s Paparazzi CLT now, but it was a Wild Wing, Blackest Elevation campus is in University. and it was the first bar that I could ever just walk to from my home, which caused its own problems Justin: Where are these statistics? (laughs). What I think about though is how, during that year or so that I lived there, they passed and Dion: Just anecdotal, having been part of the implemented the law that you can no longer smoke culture for two years. inside a bar. So I remember the before and the after, because it came into effect on January 1, and then Justin: I’ve never stepped foot into one of those the next day we’re like, “This sucks,” and then one places and I never will. month later we’re like, “God that must have sucked that we had smoke all up in our face indoors.”

Ryan: I go to enough bad concerts to try that out.

Dion: I can’t even conceive of that now.

Aerin: My first memory here was really bad, it was before I even moved to Charlotte, and I’ve been here now for 10 years. It involved my friend driving to Uptown for our night out and driving us home and me using a poster board because she was Dion: Each one has its own kind of, like, culture in school still, to like, roll it into a cone to vom the that it builds, and its own kind of personality. And whole way from home to her complex.

I feel like, it’s embarrassing to even talk about it, but each of them has their own kind of vibe to it, Karie: That’s kind of skillful. and you see it is always kind of known as the quoteunquote Black Church.

Aerin: I had family around here. I now work here in this area. I’ve always thought of University, I’m Aerin: Agreed. trying to think of the right word to say this, because I don’t want to catch any flak. Rustic and rural are the Dion: There are a lot of white people at Elevation words I’m going to use. The more controversial, the who would be like, “Man, I just need a classic Black nicest version I’d say would be urban, and we know church experience,” and they would leave their that comes with all a litany of connotations. campus and go to UC for a weekend to get the Black Ryan: Those words are opposites, though?

Aerin: Well, there’s a lot of shopping centers, there are a lot of homes.

Ryan: It really is a strip-mall city, town, neighborhood, whatever.

Ryan: I feel like this is a good time to pay tribute to the number one bar that I used to get just completely sloshed at, which was Bad Dogs, which used to be right there. Did anybody used to go there?

ReeCee: Famous Toastery is fire.

Karie: I remember going to dinner with my Ryan: Yeah that’s where it was. When you parents as a kid, and the hostess goes, “We have a moved here, it was already gone, I think. But Bad non-smoking section.” It doesn’t even matter, it’s Dogs was known as just, you could be 18, 19, 20, still the same area. That’s crazy. whatever, it didn’t fucking matter.

The team moves on to Boardwalk Billy’s Raw Bar Justin: You know how most college towns have & Ribs, located at 9005 J M Keynes Drive. all these different college bars. For us here, that was Bad Dogs.

Ryan: This is the first place I ever did karaoke, and it was a live band playing right there in the ReeCee: Well I’m glad it’s a Famous Toastery corner. I don’t think it was supposed to be karaoke, now because I really like the avocado toast. but they were like, “Anybody want to come up and sing some songs?” And I did Sublime’s “Bad Fish,” Justin: I’m glad too because it’s not gross and church vibe. It’s like a completely different thing. and I think I kind of killed it. It was right at the start disgusting like Bad Dogs was and I love breakfast. of the video phone era because my friend got me ReeCee: My first performance was in University, on video and I was like, “I can’t believe this is what’s ReeCee: I like being on the water. I like this at Red’s@28th at the open mic that they did every going to happen anytime I do anything now.” whole area as a whole, it’s so cute.

Wednesday. Red’s is not here anymore, but that was my first performance, so University will always hold Justin: I worked here, and it was my first job in Ryan: They have completely annihilated all the a special place in my heart just because it was the Charlotte. I worked here for a little over a year as a buildings. There was a bar over there. Firewater. first place I came to here. busboy and then a server and then a shift lead, and then I got fired for being late.

Justin: I worked there.

Ryan: When I first met you, you had semirecently moved here and were making things Aerin: I was here years ago, and I thought this Ryan: It’s gone. Everything’s gone. They got rid happen in University. I was impressed. You were was so much bigger. What’s that place in the mall of those ones too, Sushi 101 was over there back doing open mics like at a burger bar connected. with all the arcade games? when I lived here. Everything’s gone. I used to come here to this boardwalk when I was a little kid. We ReeCee: Yeah, we started doing an open mic Justin: Dave & Busters? would have Easter dinner every year at an Italian there [at Burgerim]. We brought in a band. It was restaurant in this location before Boardwalk was called Unplugged Open Mic. A lot of rappers and Aerin: I thought it was that big! And the stairs ever here. Ciro’s is also nice. We used to go there hip-hop artists performed with bands for the first were, like, half a mile long. And now I’m here, and when my sister worked there. time right over there in that complex. And the I’m like, “This is nothing like what I remembered.” burger joint isn’t there anymore, but we ended up ReeCee: I’ve never even looked at that place. moving it to a different venue. University is like ReeCee: I was here last week.

I’ve never even made eye contact with that place. home. I do miss it when I come back.

Karie: You knew someone outside.

Ryan: Ciro’s was in our 30 Spots We Must Protect Ryan: When I think of nightlife in University At All Costs piece. It’s been there a long time.

I think of the Wild Wing Cafe that used to be on ReeCee: That’s because I’m famous, Mallard Creek [Church Road] when I lived in the though. (laughs) I’m very popular. I’m a hip-hop ReeCee: Wow, I guess I need to give it a look.

Thornberry Apartments next door. It moved recently extraordinaire. Not really. But, yeah, I’ve been

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Aerin: So I never looked at this for nightlife.

I came up here for promoter parties of, like, Sport E. Odie, stuff like that, and no one cared about the drive, whether they lived here or not, but that’s the space they wanted to be in, and for me, it’s hard for me to attach nightlife to shopping center spaces, especially if it goes from a restaurant by day to a bar by night. Like my first experience, Picasso’s is where I went. I came up here for Elevation a couple of times and got Golden Krust [Caribbean Restaurant] afterwards. It’s weird because it is congested in a way that feels more like Uptown, but at the same time, it’s so spacious. I mean, even driving here on Tryon tonight it’s like (sighs). When I’m up here for work, I feel like there’s never anything to eat or I don’t trust that the food is going to be good. Like, that’s the dilemma I’ve always had. And then living in Elizabeth it’s like, it’s just too far.

here once. They don’t have a lot of vegetarianvegan options, I’m just going to say, for the record.

Vegetarian? Yeah, if you vegan, you can eat French fries. But I have walked a lot around here. I did do the whole paddle-boating thing. It’s just a whole area I look at it as, rather than just Boardwalk Billy’s.

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

Ryan: And she always describes that first sip, Ryan: Here’s my real problem with IKEA. It’s not where you’re like “My hands were shaking as I put that hard to build the shit. The shit is easy to build. it to my lips and I’m just on this back patio like, ‘Oh, You just follow the directions, it’s fine. If you move, Ryan: Karie, you were a little concerned about God, I’m here.’” then you’re fucked. You got to take that bed apart, your first time ever doing a Boozin’ on a Budget, and there’s no putting it back together. scared about the levels of drunkenness I think.

Dion: I think you (Aerin) are one of the most talented writers in Charlotte. I love your writing.

ReeCee: IKEA, I used to look through the Karie: Yes. There’s context about the city and personal context catalog as a kid, look at the swings and stuff, like and you also talk about the thing you’re doing, “I’m gonna get that.”Then as an adult, when I moved Ryan: We’re a little bit into it now, not even and you do it so well and it makes me so jealous here, I think IKEA was the biggest disappointment halfway, though. How are you feeling? sometimes when I read it. Like, “She’s so much because everything is just so wack. And I was just better at this than me.” like, How the fuck do I get out of this store?!

Justin: Verbatim Karie said (reading text): “Question about Boozin’. Do people get really drunk The team is walking across J M Keynes and North The team arrives at Golden Owl Tavern. at these things? I’m scared.”

Tryon Street to get to Golden Owl Tavern, which is part

look, my owl at home is triple platinum. Soon to be diamond owl out here.

Aerin: I’m wondering who’s going to come and clean the glasses up after we leave outside.

Because it seems like that was the part he was least interested in about us going outside. All these damn doors are closed. He knows we’re not walking back in here to bring our cups. And I was like, Yeah, yeah, I get it. Tell ‘em.

Karie: This is a forward thinking woman. She’s thinking about all the steps.

Aerin: Yeah because he’s right. I’m not going to of the newly opened UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & ReeCee: I feel like this is so, like, bruschetta. It’s bring ‘em back in. At least I can throw mine away. No Ryan: So now that we’re in our second bar, how Conference Center, located at 9041 Robert D. Snyder giving me bruschetta vibes. Like, not even kidding one else can. are you feeling?

Road. (laughs) Dion: I’ll say as a former fuck boi, retired fuck Karie: Still scared. No, not really.

Ryan: OK Karie, so tell me what your fears were Justin: My favorite place to be in the entire boi, I’m engaged now, hotel bars have always been about doing a Boozin’ on a Budget. world is a hotel bar. I don’t know why, there’s just a great place to meet people who want to have sex Ryan: You’re just the rookie of the group. something so fancy about it. I’ve never been fancy that night. I’m just saying for all the single people Karie: It had a lot to do with the location of the in my life, and there’s something so fancy about this here. So if you ever wanted to just meet people who Dion: I’m a rookie, too, but I’ve drank with you Boozin’ because I’m so unfamiliar with the University place. This place is so nice. wanted to like… guys at the bar many, many times. area. Literally, the only thing I associate it with is Aerin: ...hook up. Then they go back to their the fact that IKEA is here and when I first moved to Karie: So at first, when I saw this place was Aerin: I feel like I drink a lot compared to the Charlotte, IKEA and Target was like my saving Grace. called The Golden Owl, I thought to myself, that’s homes. three of you on a regular basis. But I’ve been there I thought, as long as I know where they are, I’ll be weird, because at home I have a platinum owl. And where I’m like, “Y’all ain’t gettin’ me.”

Dion: Yeah, because they’re in a hotel, they alright, because I needed to get stuff. That’s literally I was like, “Why would they name this place that the only time I would ever come up here and then I when it’s not even that impressive? So that was come downstairs to the bar because they want to Ryan: Well Aerin’s been writing nightlife would go back, and so I had never ridden the light what I was thinking. get a little drunk and then you meet them. Those columns for me for a very long time. were the days. I would not trade in what I have now rail, didn’t know what places existed up here.

I wasn’t scared of the public transportation, ReeCee: I’m totally down with that because, for that. But it was… I love my fiance.

Justin: Aerin is on a 12-step program going the it’s just mostly not knowing — in Charlotte you opposite way. can kind of sense in different neighborhoods what the vibes will be like. I did not know the vibe here.

Ryan: Nowadays you’re more tame, you’re more I just didn’t know what I was getting into. I think grown, but I used to get emails at Creative Loafing maybe there was a tinge of social anxiety about not from people like, “Can you check on this Aerin knowing what to expect or how close things were in person? Is she in the office? I think she might need proximity to each other. help. And if she needs anyone to reach out to.”

Ryan: That’s the thing about University City is that, even the spot we’re in is just a tiny part of it. We used to consider ourselves as living in University City because we lived near Northlake Mall but there was no mall there. So now no one would think of that as University whatsoever, but even beyond that, what Ryan: What you get in your writing down pat, really is University City, there’s a rural part, there’s and really express well, is the feeling of waking up Reedy Creek Park. There’s IKEA. That whole spot is hungover and realizing you have plans and really blowing up. having to rally and drag yourself to a place.

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Aerin: I’ve gotten emails about how to break the bad habit, but honestly, I am an introvert at heart, so when I go out, I have to be drunk in order to write about it.

ReeCee: IKEA, they give you one way in and Karie: That internal conflict of, do I want to do one way out.

REECEE RAPS AND AERIN SPRUILL AT FLYING SAUCER. this?

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE The team brings their drinks out to the patio.

Dion: I never want to come off as pretentious or unapproachable because my deepest love in life is just bringing people together. Like randomly, once a month I’ll be like, “Let me get everybody I know together.”

Everyone: Yeah!

Justin: Get the fuck out of here.

Ryan: Dion said earlier that Karie does have Connecticut energy. She’s from Connecticut. Then he said I have Baltimore energy, which is crazy because I’m from Connecticut, too. So I just want, since you are an energy analyst, who’s got what city’s energy out here? What’s ReeCee’s energy?

Trump’s original election or the next time? During from Twitter, and it’s so nice to meet you in person.

Listen, I wasn’t on — I wasn’t on Twitter when I Trump’s re-election. went, before I came onto Queen City Nerve but now I’m on it, and Charlotte Twitter is the juiciest – the Ryan: What are you drinking? spiciest.

Karie: It’s actually so good. It’s an Orange Justin: Everybody who’s on Charlotte Twitter Creamsicle hard cider. should add more things to their life so they got ReeCee: It’s the best thing we’ve had all night. something to do rather than bitch on Twitter.

Ryan: That’s good because we haven’t kept Dion: She’s got Seattle, Austin or Portland track of literally anything else we’ve been drinking Justin: To go to Hattie’s for karaoke so it ruins energy. Like growing cities, smart cities, musical since the first stop. my night. (Justin works there) My favorite thing cities. Aerin has that Chicago energy. about this Golden Owl place is this patio, for sure.

Justin: I asked for their highest ABV IPA. They got these shitty metal planters, with these Aerin: OK, that works, so I was born in Aurora shitty tiny little flowers. Golden Owl Tavern is — [Illinois].

Karie: I just wanted to say that I only know Dion I’ve only been in a select handful of hotel bars in my life because hotels are expensive, but when I do end What follows is a long, drawn-out conversation up in one, they’re fucking awesome, and this one is about Kanye West that can’t fit here. Then the team exquisite. Absolutely exquisite. I can’t comment on walks back across Tryon and makes it over to Wild the service because we just talked to one guy, but Wing Cafe, as blood-alcohol levels continue to rise. the place looks great. And how could something like this even exist in University? When we lived here, Ryan: Aerin dipped out on us. could you imagine a Marriott being here?

ReeCee: Yeah she left without giving us a Ryan: Yeah, there’s a Hilton right across the farewell. And now we got our bulletproof vest ready. street.

Justin: Sure. The Hilton makes sense because it was the only one.

Ryan: I wonder if Paris has ever been here to stay at that Hilton.

Justin: Paris like the town?

Ryan: No, I don’t wonder if the town has ever come here. Like, you wrap the map up and bring it here? What the fuck?

Justin: (laughs) Well why would Paris Hilton have been here?

Karie: Oh, wow. Why? ReeCee: For the Armored Cow. If the cow’s armored I definitely need to be armored.

Karie: Oh, all right, got it.

ReeCee: You didn’t bring yours?

Karie: No, I must have dropped it.

The team finally makes it to Armored Cow Brewing, their last stop for the night.

Ryan: Yeah, last time we were here, Beto Justin: First of all, the Hilton is not the Hilton O’Rourke was speaking. He was chugging beer. family.

Ryan: Yeah, it is.

Justin: Are we for real here?

ReeCee: Why the fuck did he come here?

Justin: He was campaigning to be the president at the time that Donald Trump, Joe Biden. Was it

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APRIL 2 0 2 2 WED, APR 6

TOSCO MUSIC OPEN MIC THUR, APR 7

DYLAN LEBLANC FRI, APR 8

PAUL MCDONALD w/ ANDREW LEAHEY ERIN & THE WILDFIRE W/ WAG

S A T, A P R 9

COSMIC COLLECTIVE W/ CANNOLI (9pm show) SUN, APR 10

JASON EADY

W/ BEN DANAHER eveningmuse.com

MON, APR 11

FIND YOUR MUSE: FT. REDD!

TUE, APR 14

PALMERTROLLS SARCASTIC COMEDY SHOW FRI, APR 15

JEFF SCOTT SOTO W/ JASON BIELER

GOGOPILOT CD RELEASE W/ETTA LEE AND REEVE COOBS S A T, A P R 1 6

MANDO SAENZ

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3 3 2 7 n d av i d s o n s t, c h a r l o t t e n c

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Justin: This is the second time that I’ve been to Armor Cow Brewing. The first time that we came Ryan: Don’t you think that if you had a bunch of here, Beto O’Rourke stood up on a table and was Pitkin Hotels everywhere, or LaFrancois Hotels, you’d like, “Fuck y’all’s politics,” or something like that. be like, I want to go try to stay at all of them?

The team has their sights set on one last destination, Applebee’s, in search of vegan food for ReeCee and a mythical Fireball Margarita for Ryan.

But alas, they walk in 20 minutes before close and cannot get sat. They will have to go without.

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LIFESTYLE PUZZLES SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

BY LINDA THISTLE

PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE. ©2022 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

WWW.CANVASTATTOOS.COM

2019 2020 2021

TRIP UP ©2022 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

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(980) 299-2588 3012 N. DAVIDSON STREET VOTED BEST TATTOO SHOP 2918 N. DAVIDSON STREET CHARLOTTE, NC 28205

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

AERIN IT OUT TAKE A HEAUX TO CHURCH

Jazmine Sullivan brought her Black Girl Magic to Charlotte in March

BY AERIN SPRUILL

I’ve never been much of a planner when it comes to going to shows. But when I found out Jazmine Sullivan, now two-time Grammy-winning, boss-ass, vulnerableass, “heaux”-supporting, R&B songbird-ass was coming to the Queen City, I sent the “Can I come through with a plus one?” text two months in advance with a quickness.

When Sullivan’s album Heaux Tales came out in January 2021, whew chile, she had Black women in shambles! From the heaux-shamed to the heaux-proud, that was one of those albums that had you in a chokehold because it ripped out every emotion we as Black women

have ever felt about sexual agency, relationships, and controversial rendezvous and put them into a 14-track love note. In other words, she was “singing our lives with her words,” Fugees style.

(Sidenote PSA: The fellas were in there, too! This isn’t an attempt to comment on gender norms, condemn behavior, or exclude relationship experiences, just a commentary based on my connection to the album.)

I love the boyfriend, but if you know Heaux Tales then I don’t need to explain to you why he wouldn’t be my plus one, or why he wouldn’t quite understand the depth to which I would be (and had already been) belting out, “I ain’t got the room for extra baggage. Don’t forget to come and pick up your feelings. Don’t leave no pieces!”

Or let’s not forget the extra strength I would practice mustering up in the bathroom mirror if ever I were cheated on again and needed to “bust the windows out your car!”

That sacred space was reserved for one of my best friends from college, who for almost 14 years has been my biggest supporter, ride-or-die, and confidante. Our

shared experience of navigating toxic relationships and “not shit” mentalities throughout our time together has proven to offer fertile ground for bringing the meaning of “doing hoodrat things with my friends” to life — with a splash of therapy and growth.

And if that sounds contradictory to you, dear reader, Heaux Tales ain’t for you.

A car wreck on Friday, a long day of drinking, and an epic Sunday hangover later, you would think these heauxs were going to be tucking tail and looking for an excuse to end up at Bedside Baptist (read: stay in for the night).

But on Sunday evening, I was back at The Fillmore like I never left. We walked through the doors and I saw something I personally haven’t seen at the venue in a really long time: a room packed with Black folk, honey!

I turned to my bestie and said, “Ooh our cousins are here in full effect!”

In a world that tries its hardest to tear us apart and create systems of division both internally and externally, there’s nothing more soul-tying than collective rage and trauma coupled with music to show how deeply connected we truly are.

As the lights dimmed and the performance began, I started to get in my feels as I watched the crowd full of people who looked like me start to bob their heads and move to the beat in unison. The words to every song were verbatim, tumbling confidently out of so many mouths regardless of pitch while pointed fingers were tapping in the air at every word.

The “you better preach preacher” popcorn arm extensions and foot-stomping were reminiscent of those seen while listening to a good ol’ Southern Baptist church message.

And finally, the moments of recognition and acknowledgment between two strangers locking eyes with one another while singing a lyric that hit so hard, then busting out laughing immediately after, followed by dap, clasped hands or hugs because, at that moment, they knew they understood one another to their cores.

In the aftermath of the Black girl magic that was the March 13 show, the icing on the cake was watching Jazmine receive two Grammy Awards on April 3.

For me, these awards don’t just symbolize her sheer talent, they solidify the fact that the shared, resounding feeling and reception (felt strongly in my social circles) provoked by the album wasn’t imaginary, it was legit. “[Heaux Tales ended up being] a safe space for Black women to tell their stories,” Jazmine said in her Grammy acceptance speech for Best R&B Album. “For us to learn from each other, laugh with each other, and not be exploited … so shout out to all Black women who are just living their lives and being beautiful.”

Those were the exact vibes of my night at The Fillmore.

So if you were wondering, yes, there were actual tears shed at this blessed communion facilitated by Minister Sullivan. Can I get an AMEN!?

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EVERYONE DESERVES A SLICE OF HAPPINESS

LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE APRIL 6 - APRIL 12

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Avoid having LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A stress-filled someone else take credit for the project you started period takes a positive turn as you deal with the by finishing it yourself. Then it will be you lovely underlying problem. Act now to avoid a recurrence Lambs who will be wearing those well-deserved by changing some basic rules in your relationship. laurels.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The Lamb loves to be surrounded by flocks of admirers. But be careful that someone doesn’t take his or her admiration too far. Use your persuasive skills to let him or her down easily.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) There still might be some communication problems in the workplace, but they should be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, that “tip” from a friend should be checked out.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your rising energy levels make it easier for you to achieve some TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) This is a good time SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A new a new opportunity are still emerging. Wait until important objectives. This could lead to a big boost to begin setting far-reaching goals and connecting relationship appears to need more from you than they’re all out in the open, and then use your keen in how you’re perceived, both at home and on the with new contacts. Aspects also favor strengthening you might be willing to give right now. Best advice: job. business sense to help make the right decision. old relationships -- personal and/or professional.

Resist making promises you might not be able to keep.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might feel SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A personal confused, even hurt by a friend who suddenly puts A changing picture begins to emerge as you learn disappointment should be viewed as a valuable SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) distance between you. If she or he won’t discuss it, more about an offer that seemed so right but could learning experience. Go over what went wrong and That restless feeling encourages you to gallop off don’t push it. An explanation should come in time. be so wrong. Look to a trusted adviser for guidance. see where a change in tactics might have led to a into a new venture. But remember to keep hold of more positive outcome. the reins so you can switch paths when necessary.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your willingness to CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) be part of the team opens doors that had been shut Spiritual aspects are strong. Take time to reflect on to you. Keep them open by keeping your promises the path you’re on and where you hope it will lead CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Don’t leave projects CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A even when your commitment seems to be wavering. you. It’s also a good time to reach out to loved ones. unfinished or personal obligations unresolved, or demanding work schedule keeps the high-spirited you might find yourself tripping over all those loose Goat from kicking up his or her heels. But playtime beckons by the week’s end. Have fun. You earned it.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Congratulations. You’re AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You could ends later on. A relative has important news. really getting things done to purr-fection. And don’t be assuming far too many responsibilities, whether forget to take a catnap now and again to keep those it’s at work or in personal matters. Be careful that LEO (July 23 to August 22) Expect a challenge to AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You’re energy levels up and bristling for action. you’re not weighed down by them. the usual way you do things. Although you might beginning to come out from under those heavy prefer the tried-and-true, once you take a good look responsibilities you took on. Use this freed-up time VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your “plain- PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You’re getting at this new idea, you might feel more receptive to it. to enjoy some much-deserved fun with people close to you. talking” honesty is admirable. But sometimes sharp closer to your goals. And since nothing succeeds like words can leave painful scars. Be careful that what success (or the promise thereof), don’t be surprised VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Much work you say doesn’t come back to hurt you. to find new supporters swimming alongside you. has yet to be done to polish a still-rough idea into PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Before you get TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The facts about

BORN THIS WEEK: You are always the first to

BORN THIS WEEK: Your leadership qualities

try new ventures and confront new challenges. You inspire others with your courage to follow your bold example.

are enhanced by a practical sense of purpose that keeps you focused on your goals.

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something with significant potential. Expect to swept away by a tidal wave of conflicting priorities, encounter some initial rejection, but stick with it take time to come up for air, and reassess the nonetheless. situation. You might be surprised by what you’ll find.

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

PG.19 PUZZLE ANSWERS

SAVAGE LOVE ENTRANCE EXAM Plus a ghost story

BY DAN SAVAGE

I am a 29-year-old woman and I have a problem when I have sex or masturbate. I always feel an annoying pain, a stinging sensation in my vulva, at the entrance of the vagina, that does not allow me to enjoy it, as the pain is too overwhelming.

Unfortunately, this situation has led me to avoid having sex or masturbating in order not to feel that pain. I have consulted several gynecologists, but no anomaly or infection of any kind has been found. With the last doctor we also talked about a possible psychological component but, apparently, even on this level everything seems normal. Do you or an expert have advice for someone with a problem like mine?

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LOST AND BAFFLED INSIDE AMERICA

“Vulvodynia, or pain in the vulva, is unfortunately very common, and it sucks,” said Dr. Rachel Gelman, a clinician, pelvic floor specialist, and author based in San Francisco. “But there are a variety of treatment options and providers that could help LABIA out.”

Dr. Gelman says it’s good that you’ve already had infection ruled out as a possible cause. But there are lots of other things that could be going on—nerve irritation, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, something genetic—and she urges you not to give up until you find an answer. And while Dr. Gelman is too polite to say it, I’m an asshole, so I’m just gonna blurt it out: It’s shocking that not one of the gynecologists you consulted referred you to a pelvic floor specialist.

“The muscles inside the pelvis, aka the ‘pelvic floor,’ and the surrounding musculature can contribute to or cause the pain LABIA is describing,” said Dr. Gelman.

“Just like tight muscles in the neck can cause pain in the shoulder, arm, or jaw, a tight muscle inside the pelvic floor can cause pain at the opening of the vagina. A pelvic floor physical therapist, like myself, would be able to assess and treat this kind of muscle dysfunction, which would decrease LABIA’s symptoms and get her back to enjoying sex again.”

But don’t stop at just getting a referral to a pelvic floor specialist. “Due to the fact that so many systems live inside the pelvis which impact the vulva, several specialists may be needed to investigate and treat the potential causes of LABIA’s pain,” said Dr. Gelman. So, in addition to seeing a pelvic floor specialist, Dr. Gelman recommends you consult with a vulvar specialist. (You

can find a list of vulvar specialists at the website of the National Vulvodynia Association: go to nva.org, and click on the link to their “health care provider list.”)

“A vulvar specialist would be able to perform appropriate tests to tease out what is going on beyond what a general gynecologist may look at,” said Dr. Gelman. “And it’s important to note that the tissue around the vaginal opening is highly dependent on hormones to stay happy and healthy. Certain medications or medical conditions can impact hormone levels, which can in turn impact vulvar tissues and lead to pain. There are also underlying inflammatory conditions that could also be causing this pain.”

And even if you don’t have an underlying mental health or psychological condition, LABIA, the pain you’ve suffered — along with the resulting sexual deprivation — sounds like a lot, and talking about it with someone could help you reconnect more quickly with your ability to take pleasure in this part of your body again.

“The brain is powerful and having vulvar pain or any kind of sexual dysfunction can be mentally draining which can further exacerbate pain,” said Dr. Gelman.

“So, a good sex therapist may also be a helpful ally here.

Bottomline, vulvar pain is common and typically requires a team of providers — but help is out there.”

Find Dr. Rachel Gelman online at pelvicwellpt.com and on Instagram @PelvicHealthSF.

meet at 7 p.m. At 6:40 p.m., I got a text from her number: “This is Boston EMS. Gertrude wanted us to let you know she won’t make it to the date.” I responded promptly, asking the paramedic what happened and if Gertrude (not her real name) was alright, and the paramedic replied that she was fine and actually more worried about me than herself. In the evening I get a text from Gertrude saying, “OMG! I’m so embarrassed! I’m so sorry!”

She explained she had a seizure. I texted her the following day to ask how she’s feeling, but received no answer.

Here is my conundrum. I have no way of knowing for sure if both situations were out of her control (her bad day, her seizure) and she’s too embarrassed to answer my texts right now or if she stood me up twice in really shitty ways and used a health crisis as an excuse the second time. I would love to hear your feedback. I have enclosed I’m a young gay man who needs to break up screenshots of our text messages for your review. with his boyfriend. I know it, my friends all agree, BLATANT LIES OR CONSTANT KERFUFFLES I even think it’s what he wants. I’ll spare you the messy details. I just need a push. Maybe if you tell Hm. me to do it, Dan, I’ll do it.

The text messages Gertrude sent you were far less JUST ANOTHER WORD interesting — and far less revealing — than the tiny photo of Gertrude at the top of them. The woman in the Marry him. photo is conventionally attractive (extremely so: thin, toothy, blond, skinny) and she looks more like a teenage I’m a man in his 30s in Boston. I just got girl than a woman in her 30s. (Indeed, a Google image ghosted and want some advice on how to handle search on the picture didn’t find a match, but all the “very it. I matched with a woman online, also in her 30s, similar images” that came up were of teenage girls.) So, and the conversation seemed good and we agreed I’m gonna climb out on a very short and very sturdy limb to meet for a drink. On the day of our planned date, here, BLOCK, and tell you that the person in the photo I get a text saying, “Hey, I’m having a really bad day isn’t the person you’ve been messaging with. That’s why and I don’t want that to be your first impression of Gertrude keeps making excuses to call off your dates — me, can we reschedule?” That seemed reasonable, increasingly ludicrous excuses. so I agreed. Later in the week I asked what she is I mean, take this paramedic nonsense. Dude. If up to on the weekend. I didn’t get a response until Gertrude was able to hand her phone to a paramedic late Sunday: “I thought I replied, I’m so sorry!” and ask that paramedic to find one particular guy in her I took her at her word that it was a mistake, and contacts and then send that one particular guy a message we rescheduled drinks. The afternoon before our cancelling a date … then Gertrude was well enough to rescheduled date for drinks, I texted to confirm send you that message herself. And even if sending text where and when we were meeting. We agreed to messages and cancelling dates were services paramedics

provided — and they’re not — asking a paramedic to let a date know you’re having a seizure isn’t something a person having a seizure can do because that person is having a seizure.

So, yeah. The problem here is not that Gertrude is too embarrassed to respond to your text messages about finally getting together for that drink, BLOCK, it’s that Gertrude is too non-existent to ever show up for that drink. You most likely won’t hear from her again, but if you do, it’ll be a request for money. I shouldn’t have to say, “Don’t send her money,” but I’m going to say it just in case you’re really as gullible as your letter makes you seem: Don’t send her money.

Listen to Dan on the Savage Lovecast; follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage; find columns, podcasts, books, merch and more at www.savage.love; send questions to questions@savagelove.net

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