YES! Weekly - May 1, 2024

“Nano

Farmer” grows hundreds of organic vegetables in his spare room

Since the pandemic, Greensboro-based commercial art director Dylan Auman has grown over 1,600 organic non-GMO vegetables in his threebedroom Fisher Park apartment.

4 FREEMAN’S GRUB & PUB, which opened in 2014, is situated on the ground floor. Emily and Kevin Purcell are the owners...The interior is small, very casual, with partially exposed brick walls hearkening back to the structure’s past.

6 For May, the Old Town Film Series celebrates ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH with a diverse selection of independent foreign films chosen by Michael DiVitto Kelly, the recreation center supervisor of the Old Town Neighborhood Center, 4550 Shattalon Drive in Winston-Salem.

7 The Little Theatre of WinstonSalem will present “RIPCORD” by David Lindsay-Abaire on Friday, May 10, at the Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce Street in Winston-Salem.

8 SASQUATCH SUNSET is a true oddity, which may ensure it some kind of cult status.

10 Most cities are represented by a distinctive fixture. For example, WinstonSalem has its teapot, Thomasville has its giant chair, and High Point has DAVE BRIGGS who, for the past 13 years, has

Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com EDITORIAL

Editor CHANEL

served as director of High Point Theatre and one of the city’s biggest cheerleaders.

14 A school assignment in his digital art class turned into an AWARD-WINNING ENTRY in the 2024 Superintendent Choice Art Awards competition for Kyle Murphy.

14 Ragsdale Tiger Theatre is proud to present “ LYLA,” an original play written, directed, designed, and performed by students in the Ragsdale High School Honors Theatre Program.

15 Creative Aging Network-NC (CANNC) will host its 2nd Annual Arts UNBOUND FESTIVAL: An Open House & Celebration of Arts & Culture on Saturday, May 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

16 Despite the title of their upcoming single, “Cold,” things are heating up for CRENSHAW PENTECOSTAL: they’ll take the stage with Barenaked Ladies for the third annual SummerLark fundraising concert at Bailey Park in Winston-Salem on May 11; and plan to share the All Y’all gospel at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on June 1.

[SPOTLIGHT] NC BLACK REP TO KICK-OFF THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL WITH A “MARVTASTIC” MIXER PRESS RELEASE

The North Carolina Black Repertory Company (N.C. Black Rep) is set to host a “ marvtastic” mixer and fundraising initiative on Monday, May 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Main Gallery at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, located at 251 North Spruce Street in WinstonSalem.

The event will officially kick off the 2024 festival season and feature a sneak peek of performances from upcoming IBTF productions, offer the opportunity to meet the IBTF Celebrity Co-Chairs, and give attendees a chance to hear the announcement of new initiatives for the Company — including a new IBTF program that will bring the city of Winston-Salem together for a celebration of faith, family, and community.

“This is the best festival lineup I’ve seen since joining the N.C. Black Rep team,” says Jackie Alexander, the Company’s Producing Artistic Director. “With must-see musicals, critically acclaimed dramas, and new programming initiatives, there’s no better time to become a torchbearer for IBTF.”

Those wanting to attend can purchase tickets online at NCBlackRep.org,

and ticket holders can use the purchase price of their ticket toward membership into the Marvtastic Society.

The Marvtastic Society was created by NC Black Rep’s founder, Larry Leon Hamlin, “ Mr. Marvtastic,” and IBTF Executive Producer Emeritus, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, as the fundraising arm of the company to support its mission of sustaining Black theatre globally.

The Marvtastic Society offers three levels of membership — Angel, Benefactor, and Marvastic, each with unique benefits.

The newly christened International Black Theatre Festival returns to Black Theatre Holy Ground July 29 - August 3, 2024. Learn more about the 2024 festival and the different ways that you can support it at NCBlackRep.org. !

Founded in 1979 by Larry Leon Hamlin, the NORTH CAROLINA BLACK REPERTORY COMPANY (N C Black Rep) is the first professional Black theatre company in North Carolina. N.C . Black Rep is committed to exposing diverse audiences to Black theatre classics, the development and production of new works, and sustaining Black theatre internationally. The Company is universally recognized for its celebrated outreach program, the International Black Theatre Festival ® (IBTF).

at last NIA IMANI FRANKLIN

Award-winning vocalist, 2019 Miss America, and Winston-Salem’s own sings hits from Gospel, R&B, and more, backed by a full, LIVE symphony orchestra.

Saturday, May 11

a New Way.

PHOTO BY OWENS DANIELS

Chow Down at Freeman’s Grub & Pub

BY JOHN BATCHELOR

Ihave admired this building since I was in graduate school at UNCG, a long time ago. The two-story brick structure was originally constructed in 1911. A wall poster lists the previous occupants. D.S. Freeman, who operated a grocery here, was the original owner. That’s where the name of the restaurant comes from.

Freeman’s Grub & Pub, which opened in 2014, is situated on the ground floor. Emily and Kevin Purcell are the owners. They helped with the original operation, then left Greensboro in 2021 to travel in their car. They were in Seattle when they got a call asking if they would like to come back and buy the building and business from their former bosses and friends. They took over ownership in March 2022.

Senior Product Analyst

Winston-Salem, NC

Use statistical methods to analyze data & generate useful business insights for Employers that have self-funded health plans.

WFH allowed, can be up to 100%.

Reqs. Master’s deg. + skills.

Send resume to Wellnecity, LLC, 500 W 5th St, Ste 502, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.

Attn: M. Quinn.

The interior is small, very casual, with partially exposed brick walls hearkening back to the structure’s past. A stone fireplace occupies space on one wall. The bar shelves that hold liquor are reclaimed wood. The tables and bar top are made with Sapele wood. Randy Pettigrew and Dustin Pitts were the custom woodworkers who made and installed them.

Servers are personable, deliveries prompt. You might ask about specials, though. We were advised of wine discounts that were available one time, but not another.

This restaurant won Best Drink Menu in YES! Weekly Readers’ Choice awards last year. Starting with a cocktail, therefore, seemed like a good idea. It was.

The Liger blends Tito’s vodka with ginger beer, lime juice, and fresh mint, for a delightful, refreshing result. The Kraken

Senior Business Analyst in Winston-Salem, NC

(multiple openings)

Use statistical methods to analyze data & generate useful business insights for Employers that have self-funded health plans.

WFH allowed, can be up to 100%.

Reqs. Master’s deg. + skills.

Send resume to Wellnecity, LLC, 500 W 5th St, Ste 502, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Attn: M. Quinn.

is good, too — spiced rum, ginger beer, bitters and lime. Requisite beers and wines are available as well, of course, in the pub genre.

From the first bite, I could tell that, unlike so many pub-concept restaurants, this kitchen makes just about everything from scratch. In an email interview, the owners identified the following: apple chutney, blackberry BBQ sauce, blackberry honey mustard, brisket gravy, brisket sauce, brown butter, bu alo sauce, Butterfinger pie, Caesar dressing, candied pecans, Cheerwine BBQ sauce, fig balsamic dressing, fry sauce, house rub, house vinaigrette, mojo sauce, pickled veggies, ranch dressing, smoked blue cheese dressing, vinegar BBQ sauce, white slaw, smoked items like chicken wings, pulled pork, and beef brisket, plus seasonal and weekly specials. Within the framework of a pub concept, the food shows imagination and skill.

To create a starter named Poppers, jalapeño peppers are sliced, seeded, and blanched, then filled with pimiento cheese and scattered with real bacon and torn cilantro leaves. The peppers do not overpower the mellow cheese flavor, and the taste of the bacon is clearly evident.

Brussels Sprouts earn praise for restraint in conception as well as skill in execution. They are sautéed in brown butter, yielding crisp leaves while leaving their natural flavor intact. My wife does not like Brussels sprouts. (I do.) But she picked through the outer leaves to get the crispiest pieces and enjoyed every one of them. Crisp crostini lend a bit of texture.

The Chicken Wings rank among the best I have had. They are coated in a dry rub, smoked, then fried, and this kitchen gets just the right level of crispness in the

skin. We tried two dressings — blackberry honey mustard and blue cheese. I liked the latter better, my wife the former.

The middle section of the menu is devoted to sandwiches. I ordered Banh Mi with steak, and it was OK, but if I order this again, I will go for the pork version instead. Thin slices of beef just didn’t produce as much flavor as I would have hoped, but the overall impact was pretty good, a function of light, crisp sub-style bread, pickled vegetables, spicy mayonnaise, and cilantro. The Cuban, on the other hand, is a winner — alternating slices of country ham, roast pork, and Swiss cheese, accented with spicy mustard and pickle slices.

Sandwiches come with one side, and for the ones we chose, therein lies a bit of magic. Street Corn is grilled, brownish edges evident among the kernels, scattered with white rice and cilantro on top. White Bean Chicken Chili reveals deep, rich flavor from the chicken, with the white beans absorbing and conveying chicken broth flavor as well as making their own contribution. Ordered separately, sides only cost $4, and a serving of this chili would be mandatory on a return visit, maybe as a small entrée. Succotash combines corn, zucchini, and pieces of bacon, cooked in brown butter. French fries are pleasantly crisp in texture, albeit relatively mild in potato flavor. One entrée provides servings of three meats — aptly named BBQ Three Way. Those great chicken wings lead things o , followed by tender, rich pulled pork, concluding with beef brisket and gravy, equally tender and tasty with a great crust. This is a real taste adventure and a relative bargain for what you get, priced at $25. A small serving of white cole slaw is included.

French Fries

Succotash

Brussels Sprouts

The Liger

Freeman’s pushes the right buttons: locally owned, personable, historic, solid value, good drinks, and good food. See you there on a future visit! !

JOHN BATCHELOR has been writing about eating and drinking since 1981. Over a thousand of his articles have been published. He is also author of two travel/cookbooks: Chefs of the Coast: Restaurants and Recipes from the North Carolina Coast, and Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants and Recipes from Western North Carolina. Contact him at john.e.batchelor@gmail.com or see his blog, johnbatchelordiningandtravel.blogspot. com.

WANNA go?

Freeman’s Grub & Pub 1820 Spring Garden Street Greensboro 27403 336-333-3399 facebook.com/freemansgrubandpub/

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily

Starters: $7-$11

Salads: $5-$11

Sandwiches: $13-$16

Entrees: $15-$25

Desserts: $8-$10

Most recent visit: April 15

Banh Mi Sandwich with White Bean Chicken Chili

BBQ Three Way Poppers

Cuban Sandwich with Street Corn

Old Town Film Series sets May’s five-film schedule

For May, the Old Town Film Series celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a diverse selection of independent foreign films chosen by Michael DiVitto Kelly, the recreation center supervisor of the Old Town Neighborhood Center, 4550 Shattalon Drive in Winston-Salem. Each film will be presented at 7 p.m. on consecutive Thursdays. Admission, as always, is free, and popcorn and refreshments are available for purchase.

As Kelly noted, the program is a great way to embrace and enjoy the magic of movies and is considerably cheaper than streaming services — because it’s free!

“For our May theme, I’m showing films from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and China,” Kelly said. “There was a host of films to choose from, but I believe the community will enjoy each selection. The goal is to continue showcasing great films you won’t see anywhere else.”

The cinematic celebration kicks o Thursday with director Wayne Blair’s award-winning, fact-based 2012 comedy/ drama The Sapphires (rated PG-13). “If you’re not into soul music, you will be after this film,” Kelly said. “It’s based on a true story about four young Australian Aboriginal girls who, with the help of a down-on-his-luck talent scout, form a soul music group in 1968. It’s yet another award-winning film that needs to be seen.”

May 9th sees writer/director Masayuki Suo’s award-winning 1996 arthouse smash Shall We Dance? (rated PG) tripping the light fantastic at the Old Town Neighborhood Center. Originally titled Shall we Dansu? the film stars Koji Yakusho as an unhappy accountant who finds solace and satisfaction when he secretly begins taking ballroom dance lessons. “It’s one of my favorite Japanese films,” said Kelly, “[and] when a foreign film is exceptional, it’s almost a guarantee that Hollywood will o er up a weak remake. My advice? Stick with the original.” (In Japanese with English subtitles)

The series takes a darker and diabolically funny turn with the March 16th screening of the award-winning 2014 horror comedy What We Do in the Shadows (rated R), a spirited “mockumentary” written, co-directed by, and co-starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Watiti, which delves into the day-today (or night-to-night) life of a group of vampires who share the same home. This instant cult sensation, which later spawned an equally popular TV series, is a personal favorite of Kelly’s. “When I list my all-time favorite comedies, What We Do in the Shadows is near the top of the list,” he said. “It’s a true comedic original.”

Writer/director Yang Zhang’s awardwinning 1999 comedy/drama Shower (rated PG-13) is on tap — no pun intended — for May 23rd. Originally titled Xi zao, the film stars Pu Cun Xin as a successful businessman who returns to his rural hometown where his family runs a bathhouse and comes to better appreciate their simpler lifestyle. “Like many Chinese films, Shower intertwines humor while wrestling with such complex issues as the modern world vs. older traditions,”

observed Kelly. (In Mandarin with English subtitles)

Join the Y between May 16-18 and save up to $44* throughout the summer, plus receive a free joining fee. That’s a total savings of $119!

The May line-up concludes May 30th with yet another award-winning film by writer/director Taika Watiti, 2016’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople (rated PG-13), based on Barry Crump’s book “Wild Pork and Watercress,” featuring Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Oscar Kightley, Rhys Darby, and Watiti himself in a cameo role. “As always with Watiti’s award-winning films, the cast is tried and true,” Kelly said. “The real star of the film is Dennison [as] a troubled youth bouncing around from one foster home to the next. He finally finds a place with caring people when tragedy strikes. It sets o a national manhunt as he and Neill vanish into the wild New Zealand bush.”

respective years of release, and at this year’s festival Kelly was able to experience RiverRun for the first time, attending the April 21st screening of The Fog at Marketplace Cinemas with Master of Cinema award winner Adrienne Barbeau in attendance.

“There’s nothing like seeing a classic horror film with a full audience,” he said. “You could tell everyone was into it from the beginning, my daughter included, and Adrienne was very gracious.”

Kelly will introduce each film and there will be an informal discussion after each screening. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

WANNA go?

For more information, call 336-922-3561 or email michaelke@cityofws.org. Join Today ymcagreensboro.org/summer-savings

Both What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople premiered in Winston-Salem at the RiverRun International Film Festival during their

Mark Burger

Contributor

The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem to Present “Ripcord”

The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem will present “Ripcord” by David LindsayAbaire on Friday, May 10, at the Hanesbrands Theatre, 209 N. Spruce Street in Winston-Salem. Additional performances will be held on May 11-12 and 16-19. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m., with an additional Saturday matinee on May 18. Tickets range from $14-26 for adults (not including taxes/ fees), with discounts for students, seniors, and groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available online, and the box o ce is open for phone sales on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. Call 336725-4001 for tickets or purchase them online at www.LTofWS.org.

Rivalry and pettiness only ripen with age, and “Ripcord” proves that no one makes a bet like two elderly women competing for the best room at their senior living facility.

Abby is best described as irritable and grouchy, but she has the best room in Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, so life isn’t that bad. At least, until the lively Marilyn moves in, and Abby knows she has got to go. A bet between the two roommates quickly escalates into a game of one-upmanship involving two worthy opponents and deeper truths each wants to keep hidden.

“If you are directing a play for the first time, I highly recommend working with the most creative sound, light, set, and costume designers who will listen to your blue-sky ideas and then say, ‘We can figure that out,’” remarked Director Matthew Cravey. “Also, have the most organized stage manager possible to keep the process on track. I have been blessed with a team with limitless imagination and the talent to back it up.”

Director Matthew Cravey notes, “When I first heard about the script, I thought it would be a simple ‘Neil Simon meets Golden Girls’ premise, but after reading it the first time by myself and laughing and crying, I immediately reread it with my wife, and it had the same e ect on both of us. I connected with “Ripcord” because I saw a lot of my own grandmother in Abby and Marilyn. So often in media, older people are portrayed as saintly minor characters. Ripcord’s characters are more complicated, with driving passions, desires, and an edge. Some moments will have the crowd roaring with laughter, and others will hopefully suck the air out of the room. The rehearsal process was daunting, but having such a fun cast with theatre, dance, and improv backgrounds has made every night an absolute blast.”

“Ripcord” will be directed by Matthew Cravey. This Robot Dreams will design the set, with lighting design by Shawn Hooper. Tara Raczenski will design costumes, and Elizabeth J. Rief will stage manage the production. The cast is as follows:

Bernadette Harris-Williams – Abby Binder

Maryl Wilson – Marilyn Dunne

Latimer Alexander – Scotty

Nick Zayas – Benjamin/Lewis/Clown

Miriam Davie – Colleen/Woman in White

Dave Dobson – Derek/Zombie Butler/ Masked Man

An Opening Night Reception, with complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, courtesy of Ra aldini Vineyards and Compass Financial Services, will be held on Friday, May 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“Ripcord” runs approximately two hours long, including one 15-minute intermission. It is recommended for ages 16+.

For further information, please visit www.LTofWS.org !

[ WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]

THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT ASSOCIATION FOCUSES ON DOWNTOWN ARTISTS AND GALLERIES

BY MARSHA MCNEELY HIERL | DADA President

The Downtown Arts District Association (DADA) seeks to define downtown Winston-Salem through an artistic lens. In homage to the post-war abstract art movement of the same name, DADA’s quest is to emancipate the imagination. Our mission is to infuse downtown with creativity, to create an urban canvas that inspires, intrigues, and captivates all who experience it. Every month, DADA sponsors the DADA 1st Friday Gallery Hop. This year, DADA has been able to combine forces with AFAS (Arts for Arts Sake) and use the Artivity Park for activities usually held in the streets. This means that street parking is available during the gallery hops. DADA’s 1st Friday Gallery Hop promotes the art galleries and artists in the footprint of the Downtown Arts District. Upcoming hops

will include live art in the park with a ra e for the piece being painted, Happy Beats drum circle, and kids’ art activities provided by AFAS. In addition, a map of open studios will be available in the Artivity Park, Studio 7 inside of North Trade Street Arts Center, and Artworks Gallery. The galleries on Trade Street and 6th Street schedule their new show art openings on the first Friday. Many galleries also have special celebrations and activities for their guests. Follow DADA on Facebook for information on the DADA 1st Friday Gallery Hop and open DADA board meetings. DADA welcomes volunteers and new ideas.

DADA has sponsored the 1st Friday Gallery Hops for the past 26 years. We hope to continue showcasing the galleries and artists in the Downtown Arts District for many years to come. !

PHOTOS BY KIM VARNADOE

PRESS RELEASE

Sasquatch Sunset: Wallowing in the woods

Sasquatch Sunset is a true oddity, which may ensure it some kind of cult status. Overall, the film is a failure, but the cinematography (by Mike Giolakis) and score (by The Octopus Project) are good, and the makeup (based on

Daniel Carrasco’s creature design) is excellent. Where it fails is in its gonzo concept, which is too thin for a Saturday Night Live sketch, much less a feature film.

The film was made by siblings David (editor/writer/producer/co-director) and Nathan (editor/producer/co-director) Zellner and depicts a year in the life — and in the woods — of four Sasquatches, played by Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajak-Denec, and Nathan Zellner — all of whom are completely unrecognizable underneath that makeup. The narrative follows them as they lope through the forest, foraging for food and occasionally fornicating, as well as performing other bodily functions, all lovingly captured on camera.

The film, which cries out for the “Troma touch” — in reference to the lovably low-rent studio that churned out such cult classics as The Toxic Avenger (1984) and Class of Nuke ‘Em High (1986) — initially appears to be a send-up of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s 1981 adaptation of Quest for Fire . Mostly,

however, it plays like a private joke that the filmmakers are unable to impart to the viewer. There are a few laughs, more than a few groans, and even some genuine pathos, yet its good moments are isolated, and the cumulative effect is one of head-scratching befuddlement. Yet there’s no denying the conviction with which the actors approach their roles. Eisenberg and Keough both double as executive producers, and the latter fares best in terms of performance.

As the creatures endure the seasons and various perils, there’s not a word of dialogue, no human characters, and only a few glimpses of conventional civilization. Basically, for 90 minutes we watch them in the woods, doing their thing, trying to survive, and attempting to communicate with their own species, which never happens.

In the end, which can’t come quickly enough, Sasquatch Sunset could be considered a shaggy-dog story. For sure, it’s literally a shaggy story. It’s certainly different, but that distinction isn’t near enough to warrant a recommendation. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

Mark Burger

BLOOD ON THE SUN (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The Blu-ray bow ($24.95 retail) of director Frank Lloyd’s well-made, loosely fact-based 1945 espionage thriller starring James Cagney as a two-fisted foreign correspondent in 1930s Japan who comes into possession of secret papers proposing a plan for world domination and becomes a wanted man as a result. Sylvia Sidney is the resident femme fatale, Miklos Rozsa contributes a solid score, and it won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (black and white), but the story’s sentiments have dated and it’s unfortunate to see some good actors (John Emery, Robert Armstrong, Marvin Miller, and Frank Puglia) made up to play Japanese, mostly stereotypical villains. If one can overlook that, it’s an entertaining Cagney vehicle with the star (whose company produced the film) even employing some judo moves. Bonus features include audio commentary and theatrical trailer.

CARRIE (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory): Kimberly Peirce directed this award-winning 2013 adaptation of Stephen King’s first best-selling novel (earlier filmed in 1976 by Brian De Palma), starring Chloe Grace Mortez as the bullied, tormented suburban teenager whose latent psychic powers come to the fore during the fateful evening of the highschool prom. Both Moretz and Julianne Moore (as her religious-fanatic mother) are good, but can’t erase the earlier, indelible memories of Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie in the first film (King himself concurred). Co-stars Gabriella Wilde, Portia Doubleday, Judy Greer, Alex Russell, and Ansel Elgort (in his feature debut) understandably find themselves in harm’s way. The “collector’s-edition” Blu-ray ($34.98 retail) includes audio commentary, retrospective interviews, alternate ending, alternate and deleted scenes, vintage featurettes, theatrical trailer, and more. Rated R.

DEATH RIDES A HORSE

(Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Director Giulio Petroni’s 1967 spaghetti Western (originally titled Da uomo a uomo) is a typically stylistic exercise in which Lee Van Cleef (who else?) plays a hardened outlaw whose attempts to leave his past behind are compromised when he reluctantly teams up with John Phillip Law, a younger gunslinger bent on exacting vengeance upon those who massacred his family years before — until they both realize their paths intersected years before. The simplistic storyline is rather protracted, but there are compensations

BY MARK BURGER

DVD PICK OF THE WEEK: OVER THE EDGE (Shout! Studios/Shout! Factory)

The subject of juvenile delinquency is at the heart of this a ecting and e ective 1979 drama, based on actual incidents and set in a burgeoning Colorado community.

In this unfinished, would-be suburban mecca of New Granada, the teenagers have too much free time on their hands. They’re restless, bored, can’t communicate with their parents, and looking for a little excitement, which invariably leads to trouble. The appealing young cast includes Michael Kramer, Pamela Ludwig, Vincent Spano, and Matt Dillon (making his feature debut at age 14), and they bring a natural, unforced quality to the proceedings. They’re believable and sympathetic, even

when their actions have major and even tragic consequences.

The adults on hand include such reliable stalwarts as Andy Romano, Ellen Geer, Lane Smith, and Harry Northup, the latter as the kids’ nemesis, the antagonistic Sgt. Doberman. Also credit the sincere screenplay by first-timers Charlie Haas and Tim Hunter, crisp direction by Jonathan Kaplan (a Roger Corman alumnus), and a memorable soundtrack including Cheap Trick, The Cars, The Ramones, and Van Halen.

Fledgling studio Orion Pictures, concerned over the potential backlash that surrounded the same year’s The Wanderers (also an Orion release) and The Warriors, gave Over the Edge a half-hearted theatrical release before relegating it to HBO (where yours truly first saw it). But the film proved so popular that Orion re-released it on the arthouse circuit a few years later. Although it’s something of a time capsule, many of its themes remain relevant today … for better or worse.

The Blu-ray ($34.98 retail) includes audio commentaries, the behind-thescenes documentary Wide Streets + Narrow Minds, theatrical trailers, and more. Rated PG.

in Van Cleef’s indomitable charisma and a zesty score by genre stalwart Ennio Morricone. The special-edition Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes audio commentary and theatrical trailer. Rated R.

HE WALKED BY NIGHT

(Kino Lorber Studio Classics): The Blu-ray bow ($24.95 retail) of the fact-based, fast-paced, noir-ish 1948 police procedural detailing the manhunt of a sadistic, elusive cop killer (well-played by Richard Basehart) on — and below — the mean streets of Los Angeles, co-starring Scott Brady, Roy Roberts, Whit Bissell, James Cardwell, Jack Webb (in his feature debut), and narrated by Reed Hadley. Although Alfred Werker is the credited director, Anthony Mann helmed some scenes. John Alton’s cinematography is terrific, and Webb was inspired to create “Dragnet” (initially on radio) after conversing with the film’s police consultants. Bonus features include audio commentaries.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS — PART TWO (DC/Warner Bros. Animation/Warner Bros. Home Entertainment): Based on Marv Wolfman and

old dad. The third and last collaboration between Hackman and Penn (following 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde and 1975’s Night Moves) is unfortunately the least, despite nice location work, good performances by Hackman and Dillon, and reliable supporting work from Josef Sommer, Guy Boyd, and Herbert Berghof (in his final feature). This was the last film released by CBS Theatrical Films. The Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes audio commentary and theatrical trailer. Rated R.

TORMENTED

George Perez’s popular DC limited comicbook series “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” this PG-13-rated animated fantasy saga — the second in a trilogy devoted to the “Tomorrowverse” narrative, sees DC’s most famous superheroes from multiple universes banding together to prevent Armageddon, featuring a star-studded voiceover cast including Darren Criss (as Superman), Stana Kantic (as Wonder Woman), Jensen Ackles (as Batman/ Bruce Wayne), along with Matt Bomer, Geo rey Arend, Zack Callison, Will Friedle, Jennifer Hale, Aldis Hodge, David Kaye, Matt Ryan, Jimmi Simpson, and Lou Diamond Phillips, available on Blu-ray ($29.98 retail) and 4K Ultra HD combo Steelbook ($47.99 retail), each boasting behind-the-scenes featurettes.

TARGET (Kino Lorber Studio Classics):

Gene Hackman and Matt Dillon headline director Arthur Penn’s 1985 espionage thriller, playing a former spy-turned-Texas businessman and his rebellious teenaged son forced to bond together when wife and mother Gayle Hunnicutt is abducted during a European holiday, during which the son gains a new appreciation for dear

(Film Masters): Lowbudget auteur and durable cult filmmaker Bert I. Gordon (“Mr. B.I.G.”) wrote the story, produced, and directed this predictable, pedestrian 1960 chiller starring genre veteran Richard Carlson as a jazz pianist who allows former flame Juli Reding to perish in a lighthouse accident so he can marry current girlfriend Lugene Sanders (in her only feature to date), only to be terrorized by the vengeful specter. Middling scare fare that features Gordon’s daughter Susan (as Sanders’ nosy little sister), Joe Turkel, and Lillian Adams in support. Both the “collector’s-edition” DVD ($19.95 retail) and Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) include audio commentary, the documentary Bert I. Gordon in the 1950s & 1960s: Bigger Than Life, the “Mystery Science Theater 3000” episode devoted to the film, the unaired TV pilot of Gordon’s “Famous Ghost Stories” hosted by Vincent Price, and more.

THE

WHIP AND THE BODY (Kino Lorber Studio Classics): Originally titled La frusta e il corpo and also released, puzzlingly enough, as What!), Mario Bava’s 1963 Gothic chiller stars Christopher Lee as a decadent nobleman who is murdered but returns as a ghost to haunt former lover Daliah Lavi, who has since wed his younger brother (Tony Kendall). The sadomasochistic overtones of Lee and Lavi’s relationship earned this considerable controversy in its native Italy and remain striking today, as does Bava’s trademark revelry in stylistic touches. Needless to say, it’s a cult classic and a favorite of Bava bu s and giallo devotees, although the uninitiated may simply find it a bizarre curio (which it certainly is!). The special-edition Blu-ray ($24.95 retail) includes both original Italian (with English subtitles) and English-dubbed audio options, audio commentary, and theatrical trailer. !

See MARK BURGER ’s reviews of current movies. © 2024, Mark Burger.

Most cities are represented by a distinctive fixture. For example, WinstonSalem has its teapot, Thomasville has its giant chair, and High Point has Dave Briggs who, for the past 13 years, has served as director of High Point Theatre and one of the city’s biggest cheerleaders.

Dave is a native of Ohio and holds degrees from Muskingum University, Pittsburgh State University, and UNCG. Along the way, his journey in theatre management has taken him from Lenoir and Hickory to Baton Rouge before landing in High Point.

Over the years Dave has brought topflight talent to the area, presenting every

Mr. Theatre Exits the Stage

genre of the performing arts from bluegrass to Broadway, from comedy to classical, and from dance to drama. He’s even turned the spotlight on a number of cultural icons from the world of television including Ben Vereen (Roots), Hal Linden (Barney Miller), Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeanie), Dawn Wells (Gilligan’s Island), and Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley).

But as good as Dave is at booking performers, he’s even better at bringing visitors and dollars into the city. During his tenure, theatre attendance has grown from 40,000 patrons per year to over 70,000 annually. Moreover, the theatre’s economic impact on High Point has increased from $4.5 million dollars to over $13.5 million dollars per year. Dave is also a tireless ambassador for High Point, serving on a number of regional, statewide, and national arts boards, and making regular appearances on Triad Today. Using my connection with the latter, I contacted Dave and got him to talk about his career.

Jim: Did you have an interest in music and theatre as a child?

Dave: Not really. I was a sports fanatic. I played baseball, soccer, football, basketball, and tennis. I discovered my love for theatre in my freshman year of high school when I was cast in a mystery spoof. I’ve always enjoyed singing and all kinds of music from Vivaldi to the Rolling Stones.

Jim: What led you to a career in theatre management?

Dave: It was something of a wonderful accident. In college, I was a theatre major and helped bring concerts to campus. I also had some wonderful experiences with actors like Mercedes McCambridge, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Victor Buono. They taught me a lot about perseverance and going after my dreams. I taught high school for four years, then served as production manager at Wilkes Community College. After working on the tech side of the industry I knew I would prefer working in management. My next job was at Lenoir-Rhyne where I was a combination technical director/auditorium manager. There, I was able to increase community engagement and increased rentals for the college by tenfold. I also handled their contract negotiations for artists and contracting. The road then led to the Broyhill Center in Lenoir, the Shaw Center in Baton Rouge, and back here to run High Point Theatre.

Jim: What attracted you to the job at High Point Theatre?

Dave: I had been deeply involved in North Carolina Presenters and had worked with Louisa Hart to help her bring artists to High Point over the years. She called and asked if I’d like to come back to this area. I applied and the rest is history.

Jim: How did you manage to keep High Point Theatre going during the Covid pandemic?

Dave: We stayed busy doing various projects that had been on hold. Painting, carpet replacement, working with artists, agents, managers, and colleagues to try to keep up morale. We were fortunate that city management did not put us in mothballs, which meant that once things started clearing up we were able to hit the ground running. We also installed live stream gear so we could keep some of our dance competitions and recital business going. It was a very challenging time and many of my colleagues and their venues did not survive.

Jim: You’ve always booked a diverse selection of performers every season... racially, culturally, and categorically. Was that by design?

Dave: Yes, it is by design. We present for the whole community, so I try to bring in a wide variety of quality artists and shows. I’m very proud of the work my team and I have done in that regard.

Jim: What are your plans now?

Dave: I’ve started Dave’s Arts Management Network, where I’ll be working with non-profit groups, municipalities, and smaller arts agencies in developing business strategies, and even advising on theatre design and the purchase of technical equipment.

Jim: You’ve been appearing on Triad Today since 2016, both as a spokesperson for High Point Theatre and as a member of the Roundtable. Did you mind me giving you the title of “Mr. Theatre?”

Dave: I’m flattered by that moniker. It’s fun to have patrons come into the theatre and call me “Mr. Theatre.” It means that the information we provide on Triad Today is reaching them. Many of them like that I provide counterpoint on the Round Table as well.

Fortunately for us, Dave isn’t leaving the Triad. He will run his new business from High Point, and that’s a relief because it’s hard to replace a community fixture. For more information about Dave’s Arts Management Network, visit www. davesartsmanagement.net or call 336880-1075. !

JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15) and streaming on WFMY+.

Jim Longworth

Longworth at Large

Dave Briggs

Michael who co-hosted “Live” with Kelly Ripa 64 Gets broader 66 “No outlet” street 68 Always, in music scores 69 Keyboard instrument

71 One of three wombsharers

73 Florida’s Key –

74 Charges for not paying on time

76 Decongestant brand 78 Legal claim on property

79 Broke a fast

Flimflam 82 Non-PC person? 84 Su x with Taiwan

Bothersome types

Boring type

Relax after working hard 91 Red-tinged jewelry alloy 94 Removes hair from 97 Second-to-last king of Egypt 100 Greeting sent online

African tree with a very

a right (to)

In prison, informally

Vardalos of “Connie and Carla”

ascending

Lois’

The Northwest’s “City of Trees”

Like many allergy sprays

Robbie Knievel’s father

Remark from the sharpeared

1950s-’70s baseballer Boyer 115 Actress Russo

Deck crew o cer, in brief

Puts in order

City on the Ruhr

“Nano farmer” grows hundreds of organic vegetables in his spare room

Ian McDowell

Contributor

Since the pandemic, Greensboro-based commercial art director Dylan Auman has grown over 1,600 organic nonGMO vegetables in his three-bedroom Fisher Park apartment.

“I can hardly believe it myself. I

“Attention Collectors!”

I possess many CDs/ DVDs/ back issues of science fiction/ fantasy/horror periodicals (including Cinefantastique, G-Fan, Castle of Frankenstein, Cult Movies, Starlog, World of Fandom, Fangoria, Film Facts, et al.). Interested parties should email me (“Mufasa”) at katsdad1102@gmail.com.

seem to have this troubling little quirk where I try to outdo myself every year, but I think I might’ve maxed out the capacity for my space here.”

Auman, whose Instagram handle @ CHKN.DAD (also the name of his Facebook group) indicates he also raises urban poultry, just hosted his third annual Organic Plant Sale + Pop-Up Market at his residence on East Bessemer Avenue.

“It’s increased in size every year. In 2022 and 2023, I was crammed into my o ce, but this year I decided to empty out my guest bedroom and grow in there instead. So, out went the bed and I soon filled up the entire space.”

Auman calls what he does nano farming.

“I have a very humble and compact, but well-laid-out space that didn’t feel appropriate being called a micro farm, so I started calling it a nano farm, and the name just kind of stuck. For me, it is by definition a compact space used for food production. In mine, I grow tons of varieties of fruit and vegetables, and have chickens and quail for pets and egg production. I’m looking forward to the day where I can expand into a larger space and get ducks.”

So far, he’s been concentrating on heirloom vegetables and seeds not commonly found in garden centers.

“I really like growing unique tomato varieties. They tend to be pretty reliable and there’s not much of a learning curve between di erent ones, as

there are with some other kinds of plants. Coming from a creative background, it is really interesting for me to see all the di erent patterns and forms that tomatoes can take.”

Auman is North Carolina-born and Asheboro-raised.

“I’d always gardened as a kid. Even when I was little, I would go door to door with a little red wagon with potted plants I had grown and would sell to neighbors in River Run, this rocky little neighborhood down Old Lexington Road. I’ve always loved plants and watching them grow.”

He is a commercial art director and set designer who calls his gardening and farming a “nice reprieve” from his profession, but also a natural extension of it.

“I work on the creative side of advertising, art directing for di erent brands that consist of having a very dialed-in perspective to the appropriate story for my clients. I don’t think it’s a drastic jump. Farming, cooking, storytelling, and creating visuals for brands are all cut from the same cloth. In essence, it’s about a passion for learning, evolving, and creating. I think the form the creation takes is secondary. For me, what’s important is that I get to play with the pragmatic design side of my head, the a nity for creating beautiful visuals, and creating something deeper with a story. As both an art director and a farmer/gardener, I’m trying to tell a story about a lifestyle.”

While he’s a very successful commer-

cial art director, he stressed that nano farming isn’t just for people with a lot of money.

“There is a real culture around what it means to grow your own food. It’s about slowing down a little and doing things with purpose, thought, and connection with like-minded people who care about similar things. I’m no stranger to your standard farmers market and you can probably catch me at one of the local ones every weekend when I’m in town.”

But he also stressed the curating aspect of what he grows at home and brings to markets, as well as the other vendors he works with and promotes.

“I have an informal checklist. I’m looking for something in the food/beverage, home entertaining, or gardening sphere. That can be locally-made foods, homeware ceramics, ethically-grown produce and flowers, basically anything that is involved in the lifestyle of entertaining at home. I’m looking for the happy medium between something that is intentional, elevated, but not priceprohibitive. Almost all of the vendors who’ve joined me are people I frequently purchased from myself. I was lucky enough this year to do a couple of vendor highlights that can be found on my @CHKN.DAD Instagram and really tell the story about how intentional their maker processes are, whether it involves homemade pasta, a local coffee cart, a flower farm, or vintage homewares.”

He said that last Saturday’s pop-up

BIGGEST PARTY ON TWO WHEELS

market saw his largest turnout so far.

“We had about 400 people. Many vendors and guests said the event had a uniquely wholesome energy. Everyone comes with their plant list and brings a friend or two, their kids, and even their dogs (who find the chickens very interesting). You have this jambalaya of people who are experienced gardeners, who are trying to teach their kids where food comes from, but also newcomers to gardening who are looking for something intimate that connects them with the more primal, basic side of life. I think the pandemic shook people up a little bit and people have a real urge to connect with the essence of things and something that isn’t so synthetic and artificial. Food is a catalyst for connection, we connect with friends and loved ones, we share our affection by cooking for others and giving them sustenance.” His partners this year included another member of his art department, prop stylist Cameron Renfrow, who brought a variety of vintage items, as well as pasta maker Bianca Pagliai, whom he helped create packaging for. “I was also thrilled to be joined for the second year in a row by Bottom of The Fox flower farm, who brought their charming flower van.”

This year, he officially started a collective.

“It is an intentionally small group of creatives with a goal of producing refined and intentional commercial, advertising work and events such as

this. It’s very much in its infancy, but I’m comfortable letting the business grow at a pace that makes sense to stay true to its mission. It’s sort of in the background at the moment while I continue to maintain my other clients.”

Auman has effusive praise for his neighbors, customers, and supporters, both in Greensboro and across the Triad.

“Everyone is super supportive of my endeavors, for which I am deeply grateful. They recognize all of the hard work and sleepless nights it takes to curate things like this. My friends always show up and show out. Deep down, I hope it’s because I am creating things that make them feel something and not just because they’re supporting me, although, of course, it’s wonderful that they do. It’s connected me more to my community and the makers in it. This has been a slow burn, but I believe it has definitely added value to my daily life.”

Because of that support, he’s confident about his future as a farmer and gardener as well as an art director and designer.

“Long-term, I would like to grow this into something maybe three to four times the size that it is now, with a focus on a larger spring market and a small winter/fall one. I’d love to eventually collaborate with local farmers and makers to develop lines of products that feel curated and fill some sort of need that isn’t being met.” !

IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.

MAY 24–25

PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR CYCLING

Saturday, May 25

69-Mile Fondo · 8 a.m.

42-Mile Fondo · 8:30 a.m.

Greenway Ride · 10 a.m.

WINSTON-SALEM CYCLING

CLASSIC AT BAILEY PARK

Amateur Criterium Racing

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Professional Criterium Racing 5:30 to 8:15 p.m.

FREE Concerts All Day

STREETS OF FIRE

Friday, May 24 · 7–9 p.m.

High-speed Bicycle Sprints 4th Street

Downtown Winston-Salem

FREE Concerts

Beginning 5:30 p.m.

Dylan Auman

PHOTO BY DYLAN AUMAN

JMS seventh grader wins art award

BY NORMA B. DENNIS | ndworddesign@gmail.com

A school assignment in his digital art class turned into an award-winning entry in the 2024 Superintendent Choice Art Awards competition for Kyle Murphy.

The Jamestown Middle School seventh grader won first place for his “Painted Glass” picture drawn using a computer.

“We had three days to complete the piece,” Murphy said. “It had to include a circle in the center, but we had a choice of colors and could use different shapes to make a pattern.”

Only the top artwork of each school was submitted in the competition. Murphy’s picture, along with approximately 300 art pieces from schools throughout Guilford County were on display from April 2-18 at Congdon Yards Art Gallery in the old Adams Millis building in High Point.

Murphy and his parents, Bob and Bridgid arrived late on the night the awards were presented so did not hear his name announced as a winner. While browsing the entries, two of Murphy’s teachers told him he had won first place in his category. He received a Certificate of Participation, Certificate for First Place in Digital Art, a blue ribbon and a medal. “I was very surprised to win,” Murphy said. “Of all the students entered I did not think they would pick me.”

When presented with the contest assignment, his main thoughts were incorporating his favorite colors of orange and purple and spreading out all the colors to have a nice appearance. Murphy’s picture was one of two that his teacher, Bethany Weber, choose from her class to enter in the contest.

“She sent me a letter to let me know I had been

entered,” Murphy said. “We had to wait about a month to find out who had won.”

This is the first semester Murphy has taken digital art. He took it with the idea that he would be better at digital art than drawing by hand.

“I wanted to give it a try,” he said. “But I would like to take the class again next year. If I did this well, I cannot imagine what I could do next year. I think I could do even better.”

Learning about color combinations and the best shapes to use for different patterns has been valuable for Murphy, who says he has seen a lot of people use digital art to make logos. But as much as he has enjoyed the class and would like to continue it, he considers digital art as more of a hobby. His dream career would be that of a paleontologist. He has always been interested in dinosaurs and sees a science degree in that subject as an opportunity to dig for fossils, study them and turn them over to museums.

An “A” student, Murphy says he does not have one favorite subject, but likes them all. When not studying, he enjoys playing golf and playing with his two dogs. His parents own Cakes by B’s Blue House Bakery in Jamestown and Murphy sometimes helps with offsite bakery sales.

Needless to say, his parents are proud of Murphy’s accomplishments.

“He is an all-around good kid,” Bridgid said with a smile. !

PHOTO SUBMITTED

(Pictured at right) Kyle Murphy stands under his award-winning “Painted Glass” picture that won first place in the middle school digital art category.

SUBMITTED BY

JASON REYNOLDS Theatre Director at Ragsdale High School

Ragsdale Tiger Theatre is proud to present “Lyla,” an original play written, directed, designed, and performed by students in the Ragsdale High School Honors Theatre Program. This play will be submitted to the N.C. Young Playwrights Festival, and we are excited to bring it to The Mountcastle Forum Theatre.

Lucas Summers is dealing with shame, regret, and loss after being responsible for the death of his girlfriend. When he comes back home from prison he has to face the consequence of his actions, the people he hurt, and his struggle with finding forgiveness with others and himself. “Lyla” was written by junior Brianna Day and senior Alex Baker.

Tickets are $14, which gives you an invite to the meet and greet with the authors and cast after the show, including drinks and hors d’oeuvres. (The $14 includes a $4 processing fee. This is why we are providing free drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Sorry we couldn’t get around that pesky fee.)

Recommended for ages 13 and up, PG-13 for strong language. Show runs 70 minutes. !

WANNA go?

“Lyla” will be preformed at the Mountcastle ForumTheatre (second floor of the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts), 251 N. Spruce St., WinstonSalem, NC, May 30, May 31, and June 1 at 7 p.m. Only 100 seats are available per night. Get your tickets by visiting http://intothearts.org/LYLA

Ragsdale Tiger Theatre to perform “Lyla” in downtown Winston-Salem

Arts Unbound Festival at CAN-NC on May 4th

PRESS RELEASE

Creative Aging Network-NC (CAN-NC) will host its 2nd Annual Arts Unbound Festival: An Open House & Celebration of Arts & Culture on Saturday, May 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be campus and studio tours all day, a Native American Blessing of the Land with Native American Dancers, Arts Unbound Showcase: An Intergenerational Art Show, Heart to Hands Drum Circle, Chair Massage, Local Vendors, Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, Montagnard Backstrap Weaving Demonstrations, Clay Studio Grande Opening, CAN-NC Artists Open Studios, live music and more! This is a rain or shine event.

Special Guest Ray Silva, Laguna-Pueblo artist, will perform a Native American Blessing of the Land at 2:30 p.m. along with Native American dancers. He is a well-known artist in the area who is an enrolled member of the Laguna-Pueblo Tribe from New Mexico, a member of the Guilford Native American Association, a traditional Pow Wow dancer & singer, a traditional flute player, and a traditional visual artist (leather work such as concho belts, dream catchers, mandalas, and medicine wheels). He has lived in Greensboro for more than 20 years with his wife and fellow artist, Brenda Silva. Special thanks to our Festival Sponsors: The Arts Council of Greater Greens-

boro, AARP Triad Region, and West Market Street United Methodist Church. Original works of art will be on view until May 31st and most will be available for purchase.

This is a free event and open to the public with plenty of free parking and handicapped accessible. Our campus is located at 2400 Summit Ave, Greensboro, NC 27405. Please call 336-3039963 if you have questions or visit https://can-nc.org/events. !

The mission of the CREATIVE AGING NETWORK-NC (CAN-NC) is to provide innovative arts programming and education to enhance the well-being and social connection among older adults throughout North Carolina. The CAN-NC campus, located just 3 miles from downtown Greensboro, N.C., serves as a site for intergenerational and multicultural engagement, collaboration and education.

The Cold gospel with Crenshaw Pentecostal

Katei Cranford

Despite the title of their upcoming single, “Cold,” things are heating up for Crenshaw Pentecostal: they’ll take the stage with Barenaked Ladies for the third annual SummerLark fundraising concert at Bailey Park in WinstonSalem on May 11; and plan to share the All Y’all gospel at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on June 1.

For guitarist Dusty Redmon, Crenshaw’s appearance at SummerLark is from the heart. Serving as a concert fundraiser for the Cancer Patient Support Program at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, “this benefit really helps families in need,” he said. “We are 100% grateful to be a part!”

For organizers, the concert is a testament to “music as a healing therapy for patients,” they said. Proceeds will go to supporting “patients, their families, and caregivers in our community.”

By day, “a couple of us work closely with Atrium Health in our 9-5 jobs,” Redmon explained of the personal connections; though as purveyors of “twangandroll” and somewhat regular fixtures at Bailey Park during festivals like Gears & Guitars, opening for the Barenaked Ladies is just another way the band lives up to their “Dive Bar Arena Rock” moniker.

“We are truly arena rock!” Redmon said, with a laugh and a reference to opening for Bon Jovi at PNC Arena in 2022. “Really, we’re some gutter dogs — a bunch of punk rock kids playing rock and roll now.”

“So the Bon Jovi thing was also wild,” Redmon continued. “I’ve gotten to play arenas before with the Almost, but being able to do it with these dudes was awesome. The Bon Jovi crew was really kind to us, too. But, honestly, put me in a tiny packed-out sweaty club, though and I’m way happier. That’s the hardcore kid in me.”

Once a part of Beloved, the “scene” still seems to live in Redmon’s heart — even as the decades roll and the notes take to twanging. “Crenshaw actually started in 2016, backing up a female country singer, playing CMA fest in Nashville and lots of gigs in other states,” he explained. “The group had more fun hanging out, playing Tom Petty songs together and so we broke o on our own.”

Redmon is joined at the Crenshaw pulpit by fellow guitarist and vocalist Zach Tilley; drummer Brian Norris (the Academy, Ross Coppley); keyplayer Drew Ely (Eno Mountain Boys); and bassist Jeremy Ryan Smith (Thousand Dollar Movie, John Mark McMillan).

“We kinda started out heavy into a more alt-country vibe,” Redmon said, musing their origins. “I love the Whiskeytowns and early Wilcos of the world. I think we just started incorporating more of our love for The Replacements into our sound and kinda wound up where we are now: little more alt, a little less country.”

“We get the band dynamic,” he added. “I think the fact that we’ve all been a part of bands for most of our lives kind of keeps the BS out of this band — we’ve all been there, done that.” Keying in their sounds over strings of releases, Crenshaw remains a self-avowed fan of the single-format: no album plans, just good times and shows and dropping songs along the way.

With that, they’ll release “Cold” on May 3. “Our bassist Jeremy and his buds from a prior band had a really rough demo of this track and brought it our way. We loved it, and ran with it.”

“We just kinda looked into sonically where we wanted the final vibe and mix to go,” Redmon continued, listing the range falling somewhere between Gaslight Anthem and Strand of Oaks. “Not sure why I got super into Strand of Oaks’ album ‘Galacticana’ during this one, but I did.”

“I’d put ‘Cold’ in between anything o that record and a bitchin’ Paul Westerberg song.”

For production, Crenshaw spent some time at their “second home:” Dark Pines Studio. “We LOVE Max and his studio,” Redmon said. “Such killer vibes.” On the production end, the band looped in frequent recording conspirator Joel Weldon Willis to mix and co-produce; along with Gage Owens as engineer. “It was tons of laughs, great buds, and awesome collaboration.”

‘“Cold” follows the “warm and cozy” classic rock’n’roll stylings of Crenshaw’s 2023 releases: “Last To Know” and the summertime anthem, “Saturday Night;” the latter of which features

production from “old friend and legend” Thomas “TJ” Johnson (Porno For Pyros, Hellcat Records, Epitaph Records, and former GTCC Creative and Performing Arts Department chair/recording curmudgeon supreme).

For Redmon, releasing singles working with good folks is all about “trying to work smarter, not harder,” he said — turning to “Cold” as their debut with All Y’all Records, a brand-spankin’ new collective blending the bands, sounds, and outfits across the indie, alt-country, Americana expanse — rocking out from N.C. and beyond, with heavy samplings of both Triad and Triangle artists.

“We all work together to push each other,” Redmon said. ”Dave from the band Gone Ghosts reached out and we really loved his take on what a ‘label’ can be. We’re really lucky to be a part of something like this with our good friends Old Heavy Hands and Jack the Radio.”

All four acts will join the lineup (along with rostermates: Reese McHenry, Charles Latham, Heat Preacher, Lord Nelson, Country Curel, The Yardarm, and The Vagabond Union) for All Y’all’s launch party showcase at Local 506 on June 1. Crenshaw Pentecostal’s new single, “Cold” hits streaming platforms on May 3. They’ll open for Barenaked Ladies for SummerLark concert, benefitting the Cancer Patient Support Program at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, at Bailey Park in Winston-Salem, on May 11. !

KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.

Contributor

ASHEBORO

Four SaintS BrEwing

218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722 www.foursaintsbrewing.com

thursdays: taproom trivia

Fridays: Music Bingo

May 4: Val Merza

May 18: Evan Blakerly

CARBORRO

Cat’S CradlE

300 E Main St | 919.967.9053 www.catscradle.com

May 1: Futurebirds

May 2: Sadurn

May 3: low Cut Connie

May 4: dawn landes and Friends

May 4: Chris Knight

May 4: John Craigie

May 4: royel otis

May 5: grace Cummings

May 6: Bad nerves

May 6: delia-h and the Male gaze

May 7: arden Jones

May 7: Sarah Jarosz

May 8: Calva louise X Vukovi

May 8: CKY

May 8: rich ruth

May 9: Jive talk

May 10: Kurt Vile and the Violators

May 11: Fleshwater

May 11: Souls of Mischief

May 12: lo Spirit

May 13: destroy Boys

May 17: Cheekface

May 17: Sawyer Hill

May 19: Soen

May 20: wild Child

May 22: MiKE

May 23: Cosmic Charlie

May 24: Skating Polly

May 25: real Estate

May 25: reverend Horton Heat

May 26: Sam Evian

May 28: Zach Seabaugh

May 29-30: the Magnetic Fields

May 31: good Moon

May 31: abbey road liVE!

May 31: Kelsey waldon

CHARlOttE

BoJanglES ColiSEuM

2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600 www.boplex.com

May 1: the Black Crowes

May 11: in this Moment

May 12: leonid & Friends

May 23: Silvestre dangond

May 26: Marisela

May 29: gunna

tHE FillMorE

1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970 www.livenation.com

May 1: alpha wolf

May 1: Hippie Sabotage

May 2: 41

May 3: Habstrakt

May 4: alwways

May 4: andre Cepeda

May 5: Queensryche

May 7: lacuna Coil

May 7: Madison Beer

May 8: insomnium

May 8: Boywithuke

May 9: rich amiri

May 10: SiM

May 10: the ghost inside

May 11: Kublai Khan

May 12: lords of acid

May 12: Sierra Ferrell

May 13: alexander Stewart

May 14: drain

May 14: ECHo & tHE BunnYMEn

May 15: Bodysnatcher & Spite

May 16: Bashfortheworld

May 17: Hunxho

May 19: Paul Cauthen

May 19: For the First & last time

May 20: Soen

May 22: Smash into Pieces

May 25: trombone Shorty & orleans avenue

May 31: Battle Beast

May 9: Foo Fighters

May 14: Judas Priest

May 10: Bad Bunny

May 11: HEart

May 15-16: aventura

May 17: tim Mcgraw

May 18: nF

duRHAm

May 7: tommy Emmanuel

May 10: leonid & Friends

May 11: Bailes afro latinos

May 12: lore, Yore, and the in Between

May 3: get the led out May 10: KEM

May 11: the decemberists

Fourth thursdays: old-time Jam

May 4: rob ickes & trey Hensley

May 10: dirty logic

May 17: albert Cummings

greensboro

Barn DinnEr ThEaTrE

120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211 www.barndinner.com

Mar 16-apr 27: Sing hallelujah

CoMEDY ZonE

1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034 www.thecomedyzone.com

May 2: hans Kim

May 3-4: John Caparulo

May 10-11: Pete Lee

May 17-18: Chris Franjola

May 22: alfred robles

May 24-25: Cipha Sounds

May 30: alec Flynn

CoMMon GrounDS

602 S Elm Ave | 336.698.388 www.facebook.com/CommonGroundsGreensboro

ConE DEniM

117 S Elm St | 336.378.9646 www.cdecgreensboro.com

FLaT iron

221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967 www.flatirongso.com

May 2: Jon Shein + FJ Venture w/ Dean Driver

May 3: White Toledo

May 4: Totally Slow

May 11: old heavy heads

May 12: Tommy Scifres + Tim Easton

May 15: Taylor hunnicutt w/ Ben Sutton

May 16: The Pink Stones w/ Colin Cutler & hot Pepper Jam

May 22: Jason Damico & The new Blue

May 23: abby Bryant & The Echoes w/ Chris hedrick & Michael Feeney

GranDoVEr rESorT 2275 Vanstory Street Suite 200 | 336.294.1800 www.grandover.com

Wednesdays: Live Jazz w/ Steve haines Trio

GrEEnSBoro CoLiSEuM

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400 www.greensborocoliseum.com

hanGar 1819

1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com

May 2: afroman w/ Stichy C, Benny holiday & Savage Brothers

May 4: K–Wave–KPoP Dance Party

May 7: high on Fire w/ Zeta, high Command

May 8: Enterprise Earth w/ inferi, Magnetar, Tracheotomy, Discoveries

May 11: Citizen Soldier w/ icon For hire, halocene

May 12: orgy // Cold w/ horizon Therapy, i Ya Toyah

May 13: alien ant Farm w/ Shallow Side, home For The Day, Lost in Silence

May 15: until i Wake w/ afterlife

May 16: From ashes To new w/ Point north, Ekoh, Phix, Elijah

May 18: Magnolia Park w/ archers

May 23: Maylene and The Sons of Disaster w/ islander, Saltwound

May 24: auX // Merch Madness

May 25: 1349 w/ Spectral Wound, antichrist Siege Machine, Spirit Possession

May 26: Texas hippie Coalition

May 31: Trophy Eyes w/ rarity, house & home

LiTTLE BroThEr

BrEWinG

348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678

www.facebook.com/littlebrotherbrew

Wednesdays: Trivia

Fridays & Saturdays: Free Live Music

PiEDMonT haLL

2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400

www.greensborocoliseum.com

May 8: in Flames w/ Gatecreeper and Creeping Death

May 9: Steel Panther w/ Stitched up heart

May 10: avatar: The Great Metal Circus w/ Conquer Divide and oxymorons

roDY’S TaVErn

5105 Michaux Rd | 336.282.0950

www.facebook.com/rodystavern

apr 24: Tyler Millard

apr 26: Daniel Love

STEVEn TanGEr CEnTEr

300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500

www.tangercenter.com

May 3: Greensboro Comedy Festival

May 4: Get the Led out

ThE iDioT BoX

CoMEDY CLuB

503 N. Greene St | 336.274.2699

www.idiotboxers.com

Thursdays: open Mic

WhiTE oaK

aMPiThEaTrE

1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400

www.greensborocoliseum.com

high point

1614 DMB

1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113 https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/

May 3: Taking Back Sadder Days

May 4: The hypnotic Conquest

May 11: Detest The Throne/reflect// refine

May 17: Smashat

May 24: Feverhill & Friends

May 25: Vinyl rox

May 31: Joe hero w/ adhesive

GooFY FooT TaProoM

2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567 www.goofyfoottaproom.com

hiGh PoinT BiSTro

3793 Samet Dr. #165 | 336.875.4444 https://www.facebook.com/p/High-PointBistro-61552711048428/

jamestown

ThE DECK

118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/

kernersville

BrEaThE

CoCKTaiL LounGE

221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822 www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktailLounge

Wednesdays: Karaoke

May 11: Downtown Kernersville hippie hop

May 22: Premium rums Cocktail Class & Tasting

KErnErSViLLE

BrEWinG CoMPanY

221 N Main St. | 336.816.7283 www.facebook.com/kernersvillebrewing Thursdays: Trivia

raleigh

CCu MuSiC ParK aT WaLnuT CrEEK 3801 Rock Quarry Rd | 919.821.4111 www.livenation.com

May 7: Foo Fighters

May 17: hank Williams Jr.

LinCoLn ThEaTrE

126 E. Cabarrus St | 919.831.6400 www.lincolntheatre.com

May 1: Sunny Day real Estate

May 2: Midwxst w/ Skaiwater

May 3: The Breakfast Club w/ Babylon Dreamer

May 4: royel otis

May 7: Thy art is Murder

May 10: Maddie Zahm

May 15: Leo Kottke

May 16: hunxho

May 17: Pecos & The rooftops

May 24: nashville nights Band

rED haT aMPhiThEaTEr

500 S McDowell St | 919.996.8800 www.redhatamphitheater.com

May 2: Queens of the Stone age

May 9: Sum 41

May 30: orville Peck w/ Durand Jones and Debbii Dawson

PnC arEna 1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300

May 22: nF May 31: Melanie Martinez

Sunday Jazz

Trivia May 3: James Vincent Carroll

May 1: Cashavelly Morrison

May 2: Luke Denison & Brook Wood

May 3: Fat Man & Little Boy

May 4: his & hers, Down The Mountain

May 5: all Them Witches, rich ruth

May 8: Martha Bassett

May 9: Pageant, Caelifera

May 13: Baroness, red Fang

May 15: The Last Match

May 16: Kyle Caudle & Timerline, Emily Stewart

May 17: american aquarium, old heavy hands

May 18: Camel City Burlesk

May 22: Trombone Shorty & orleans avenue

May 23: Farewell Friend, Emorie hush, Jon Dell

May 24: alternative Champs

May 31: Victoria Victoria ft. Charlie hunter, Maia Kamil

Natalie Garcia

[TRIVIA TEST]

by Fifi Rodriguez

[1. GEOGRAPHY: Which of the Great Lakes is smallest in surface area?

[2. TELEVISION: Which sitcom has the theme song, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”?

[3. ANATOMY: Which part of the human body is involved with ACL surgery?

[4. GAMES: What is the victim’s name in the U.S. version of the board game “Clue”?

[5. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the world’s largest species of frog?

[6. SCIENCE: What do isobars indicate?

[7. LITERATURE: In the novel “Don Quixote,” who is the human companion to the title character?

[8. MOVIES: In which movie did actor Bill Murray live the same day over and over?

[9. THEATER: Who is believed to be the first actor in a Greek drama?

[10. MUSIC: What is the name of Beyonce’s 2024 country album?

8. Groundhog Day. 9. Thespis, 6th-century poet

7. Sancho Panza.

6. Atmospheric pressure.

10. “Cowboy Carter.” © 2024 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

The Sportscenter Athletic Club is a private membership club dedicated to providing the ultimate athletic and recreational facilities for our members of all ages. Conveniently located in High Point, we provide a wide variety of activities for our members. We’re designed to incorporate the total fitness concept for maximum benefits and total enjoyment. We cordially invite all of you to be a part of our athletic facility, while enjoying the membership savings we offer our established corporate accounts.

[SALOME’S STARS]

Week of May 6, 2024

[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You might need to do a bit more investigating before making a career move. You do best when you come armed with the facts. Meanwhile, a personal matter still needs tending to.

[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your creativity plus your good business sense once more combine to give you an important advantage in a di cult workplace situation. Also, an ally proves their loyalty.

[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Avoid rushing into something just because it o ers a break from your usual routine. Take things a step at a time to be sure that you’re moving in the right direction.

[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Bouncing back from a disappointing incident isn’t easy, but you should find a welcome turn of events emerging by midweek. Spend the weekend with someone special.

[LEO (July 23 to August 22) An incomplete project needs your attention before someone else takes it over and uses it to their advantage. There’ll be lots of time for

fun and games once you get it done.

[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Doubts involving a potential career change need to be resolved quickly so that they don’t get in the way when you feel like you’re finally ready to make the big move.

[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Looking to blame someone for a workplace problem could backfire if it turns out that you’ve got the wrong “culprit.” Best to get more facts before acting on your assumptions.

[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Patience might still be called for until you’re sure that you finally have the full story, which could have eluded you up until now. Also, a trusted associate could o er valuable guidance.

[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Reflect on your recent behavior to see if you could have caused the coolness that you might now be sensing from a loved one. If so, apologize and set things straight.

[cAPrIcorN (December 22 to January 19) Easing up on your social activities allows you to focus more of your energies on a long-neglected personal matter. You can get back into party mode by the weekend.

[AQuArIus (January 20 to February 18) A dispute with a colleague can be resolved peacefully once you both agree to be more flexible about the positions you’ve taken and allow the space for more open-minded discussions.

[PIsces (February 19 to March 20) Volunteering to take on added responsibilities could be a risky way to impress the powers that be. Only do it if you’re sure that you won’t be swept away by the extra workload.

[BorN THIs week: Your sense of self-awareness allows you to make bold moves with confidence and security.

© 2024 by King Features Syndicate

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