Oak Hollow Festival Lake Park in High Point will soon be filled with the sound of jazz and joy as thousands prepare to attend the 12th Annual John Coltrane Jazz and Blues Festival over the Labor Day weekend...
5500 Adams Farm Lane Suite 204 Greensboro, NC 27407 O ce 336-316-1231 Fax 336-316-1930
Publisher CHARLES A. WOMACK III publisher@yesweekly.com
EDITORIAL
Editor CHANEL DAVIS chanel@yesweekly.com
YES! Writers IAN MCDOWELL MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD JIM LONGWORTH NAIMA SAID DALIA RAZO LYNN FELDER
PRODUCTION
Senior Designer ALEX FARMER designer@yesweekly.com
Designer SHANE HART artdirector@yesweekly.com
4 RENÉE FLEMING is inarguably one of the greatest sopranos of her time, if not all time, with 18 Grammy Award nominations and five wins. In June it was announced that would be recognized at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.
5 When General NORMAN JOHNSON passed away on October 13, 2010, the whispers around the beach music community, while respectful, were nonetheless ubiquitous. Can the Chairmen of the Board, beach music’s most revered act, survive without their lead singer and songwriter?
6 CRISIS CONTROL MINISTRY is one of Forsyth County’s largest nonprofit organizations providing short-term emergency services to a community in which many are still unfamiliar with its mission.
8 On August 28, 1955, 14-year-old EMMETT TILL was tortured, beaten, and lynched by White men who said the Black youth had made a pass at a White woman. That woman was the wife of one of the hangmen, and it was later revealed that she had lied about her encounter with young Emmett.
9 As the summer movie season draws to a close, JULES is a warm-hearted, winsome comedy that provides the requisite diversion while imparting a hopeful message in persuasive, unforced terms.
14 According to a Request for Proposals issued on August 10, the City of Greensboro is seeking a PRIVATE CORPORATION to manage the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and Stephen Tanger Center for Performing Arts.
15 On August 17, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted 6-2 against a motion by District 6 Commissioner James Upchurch to inscribe “IN GOD WE TRUST” on 10 county buildings.
16 FLEA TRAP is hopping around, celebrating their new self-titled LP, out August 25, with a northeast tour; and a Greensboro show at Wahoo’s on September 2.
ADVERTISING Marketing ANGELA COX angela@yesweekly.com
TRAVIS WAGEMAN travis@yesweekly.com
Promotion NATALIE GARCIA
DISTRIBUTION JANICE GANTT ANDREW WOMACK
We at YES! Weekly realize that the interest of our readers goes well beyond the boundaries of the Piedmont Triad. Therefore we are dedicated to informing and entertaining with thought-provoking, debate-spurring, in-depth investigative news stories and features of local, national and international scope, and opinion grounded in reason, as well as providing the most comprehensive entertainment and arts coverage in the Triad. YES! Weekly welcomes submissions of all kinds. Efforts will be made to return those with a self-addressed stamped envelope; however YES! Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. YES! Weekly is published every Wednesday by Womack Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. First copy is free, all additional copies are $1.00. Copyright 2023 Womack Newspapers, Inc.
enée Fleming is inarguably one of the greatest sopranos of her time, if not all time, with 18 Grammy Award nominations and five wins. In June it was announced that would be recognized at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. She has also lent her time and talents to numerous charitable organizations and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health by the World Health Organization.
Now, Fleming’s inestimable abilities come to the big screen, courtesy of Fathom Events and IMAX, in Renée Fleming’s Cities That Sing ‘ Paris, the first in a series of filmed concerts performed in cities around the world. This Saturday, the film will be presented in 450 cinemas worldwide, two of them located in the Piedmont Triad: The Regal Greensboro Grande RPX, 3205 Northline Ave., Greensboro and the Regal Palladium Stadium 14, 5830 Samet Drive, High Point.
Renée Fleming’s Cities That Sing ‘ Paris will be shown at 3 p.m. at both theaters. Tickets are $16.01 (general admission) and $13.34 (children under 12) and are available at https://www.imax.com/ movies/renee-flemings-cities-that-singparis#showtimes-wrapper
RThis is the first IMAX film to celebrate the art of opera, and who better to headline than one of the world’s greats? Fleming will be joined by renowned tenor Piotr Beczala and feature performers Axelle Fanyo and Alexander Duhamel as they perform at the historic Théatre du Chatelet in Paris. The concert is as much a tribute to the history and culture of City of Lights as it is to the talents of those onstage.
“This idea was a perfect fit for IMAX,” explained John Turner, executive producer and head of documentaries for IMAX. “Opera feels expansive, and when you think of cinematic space there really isn’t any bigger canvas than IMAX.”
Fleming was immediately receptive to the idea. “I’m thrilled at the chance to bring the art form I love to a wider audience. Here’s the opportunity to blend the type of programming that people love so much — conveying the spirit and color, the flavors of a legendary place — with the culture, culture here being the wonder and splendor of opera.”
“It’s an honor to collaborate with Renée Fleming on this groundbreaking series that will bring the grandeur of her music and these unforgettable cities to life in IMAX for the first time. We can’t wait to take Ms. Fleming’s fans on an immersive musical journey across some of the world’s most richly historied cities through the unrivaled sight and sound of IMAX.”
Fleming and her fellow artists carefully selected specific numbers to fulfill the Cities That Sing mission to present music that has influenced and informed the culture of Paris and France, including
excepts from Jacques O enbach’s Les Contes D’Ho mann (Tales of Ho mann), George Bizet’s Les Pecheurs de Perles (The Pearl Fishers), Charles Gounod’s Faust, Bizet’s Carmen, selections of French songs by Reynaldo Hahn and Gabriel Faure, and excepts from Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata.
For more information, visit https://www. imax.com/news/renee-flemings-citiesthat-sing
The University Press of Kentucky (https://www.kentuckypress.com/) continues to celebrate Hollywood old and new with its latest releases, beginning with Anthony Uzarowski’s Jessica Lange: An Adventurer’s Heart (248 pages, $34.95 retail), a self-explanatory biography of the two-time Oscar winner. Lange has always been ambivalent about stardom and adamant in her desire for privacy, so it’s hardly surprising that she didn’t participate in this highly readable, slightly fawning, volume that covers her life and career.
On the flip side is Nancy Olson Livington’s memoir A Front Row Seat: An Intimate Look at Broadway, Hollywood, and the Age of Glamour (408 pages, $34.95 retail hardcover, $30 retail softcover), in which she provides an in-depth look into her illustrious past. Her career took o with an Oscar nomination for Sunset Boulevard (1950), but she focuses more on her family and her marriages to Oscar-winning lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and Capitol Records executive Alan Livingston. Still going strong in her 90s, the first-time author exhibits tremendous, a ectionate recall about her past — particularly regarding whatever outfit she was wearing!
Inside Comedy: The Soul, Wit, and Bite of Comedy and Comedians of the Last
Five Decades (350 pages, $27.95 retail) is David Steinberg’s concise assessment and appreciation of those who have made us laugh over the last 50 years, many of whom he knew, revered, or worked with (and sometimes all three). As a comedian himself, Steinberg exhibits a thorough appreciation and understanding of such legendary comedians as the Smothers Brothers (on whose television series he made an early impression), Groucho Marx, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Johnny Carson, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Redd Fox, and many others. Written with a ection and insight, Steinberg proves himself as much a student of comedy as a practitioner. It’s not a joke book but it’s quite funny.
From Indiana Historical Society Press (https://indianahistory.org/explore/ihspress/) comes Wes D. Gehring’s Sydney Pollack: A Subliminal Existentialist (273 pages, $29.95 retail), which delves into 10 of the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s films that concern themselves with the individual, seeking his or her place in the world. Some of the selections (Jeremiah Johnson, Tootsie) are more obvious than others (Three Days of the Condor, Absence of Malice), but despite interesting observations, there’s an inherently limited appeal as opposed to a straightforward biography, and there’s a glaring mistake in which the otherwise reliable Gehring mistakes Lawrence Kasdan for Barry Levinson. !
When General Norman Johnson passed away on October 13, 2010, the whispers around the beach music community, while respectful, were nonetheless ubiquitous. Can the Chairmen of the Board, beach music’s most revered act, survive without their lead singer and songwriter?
While the fans may have pondered the band’s future, there was never any doubt that the two surviving members, Ken Knox and Danny Woods, would not only persevere but thrive.
“One day General pulled me aside and said, ‘Be ready,’” said Knox. “‘You’ve got to give the people the best show possible.’”
Knox didn’t feel any sense of urgency at the time, but, unbeknownst to him (and everyone else), General was dying of cancer. But a couple of years later he disclosed his diagnosis to Knox and repeated his plea, saying, “You’ve got to keep the legacy going, not for me but for all the people who’ve followed us and supported us over the years.”
Shortly after General’s passing, a memorial concert was held at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, S.C. During the show, Knox let it be known that he was looking for musicians, “and the first person who
knocked on my door was Thomas Hunter, and old friend and colleague,” Knox said. Hunter has been his frontline mate ever since.
Danny Woods continued to perform until his own health issues sidelined him. He was replaced in 2013 by Brandon Stevens, who left the band last year and was replaced by current member Patrick McGuire. Woods sat in sporadically until his death on January 12, 2018.
Although the Chairmen, who were inducted into the N.C. Music Hall of Fame in 1999, had released 11 albums from 19742010, none since Johnson’s passing. Then, in 2017, Knox was approached by noted Motown arranger/songwriter/musician McKinley Jackson. He had written a dozen or so tunes that he felt would be perfect for the Chairmen.
“I hadn’t seen him in 30 years and was gratified that he would o er them to me,” smiled Knox. “So we went over them and he was right — they were perfect for us. So we recorded most of them and I wrote another.” Titled Words Left Unsaid, it was a huge commercial success, proving that
the Chairmen still had a large and loyal following.
The trio is backed by a six-piece band, the Executives, all of whom are virtuoso musicians in their own right.
“It’s been truly gratifying that folks still come out and support us,” said Knox. “General told me it’s all about the way you present the music. He can never be replaced, but we can put on a show that preserves the legacy. We still do two or three shows a week, and the response warms my heart; I feel truly blessed.”
Local aficionados will have a chance to see the Chairmen of the Board up close and personal this Saturday, August 26.
Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant, 5831 W. Gate City Blvd., has turned its outdoor area into a sparkling concert venue, complete with a covered stage, dance floor, gazebos, lights, a VIP area, etc. A full music series is planned, featuring local and regional bands, with an occasional national act.
“And what better way to introduce it to the community than with the Chairman of the Board?” smiled independent booking agent Tracy Mackey. She, owner
Robert Holden, and musician and friend of Ken Knox’s Tony Capra are the triumvirate behind the project.
The concert is part of Giovanni’s third annual Wine Fest. A wide array of wines will be o ered, as well as a full bu et menu or a limited appetizer menu.
But the main attraction, of course, will be the music. “I took the idea to Robert (Holden) of making this a music event as well as a wine fest,” explained Capra. “My dad (retired owner of Capra’s Deli) used to be in radio, and he would do live remotes with the Chairmen while they were on the road. He and Ken are still close friends. Plus, Tracy knows the booking business and Ken as well, so she, Robert, and I put this thing together.”
The a air will kick o at 4 p.m. with “The 1 Man Band” Gary Woodard, followed by the classic rock band Vinyl Tap (in which Capra is a guitarist). Then the Executives will do a set before bringing on the headliners.
Admission is $25, available online at eventbrite.com (recommended) or at the door. !
Crisis Control Ministry is one of Forsyth County’s largest nonprofit organizations providing short-term emergency services to a community in which many are still unfamiliar with its mission. Established in the early 70s, this year is a particularly special one as the nonprofit celebrates half a decade of aiding members of Forsyth County with food insecurity, financial assistance, and even medication access. This Saturday, August 26th, the nonprofit will hold its free-to-the-public Rhythm & Hope Concert at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds as part of its celebratory 50 years of service.
As part of other anniversary festivities, this past spring, Bishop Michael Curry who
provided the sermon for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding, spoke at Crisis Control Ministry’s 50th-anniversary Celebration and Worship Service. Once a board member of the nonprofit during its early years, Curry had spoken at the 10th anniversary celebration and was eager to return for the organization’s 50th anniversary. Proud of maintaining this connection after so many years, the Crisis Control Ministry has made the bishop’s sermon available for viewing on its website.
Formerly known as Schmedfest, the Rhythm & Hope Concert is presenting itself with a new name in honor of what Crisis Control Ministry is most known for, giving hope. “Almost everything we do has hope in it,” said the organization’s public relations and marketing manager Tammy Caudill. “Changing the concert’s name to Rhythm & Hope made a lot of sense and just really tells people who we are.” The concert is a heartfelt gift for the many donors who have supported the nonprofit, as well as for the community to remind it
that the organization is there for anyone in need.
Started by volunteers, the concert was initially called Schmedfest due to the title holding personal meaning to the founders of the event. During its first years, the concert was held in someone’s backyard and would take donations from friends and other attendees on behalf of the organization. However, the event grew so large that the same founders of Schmedfest had to move the event to the Clocktower Stage in the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. Eventually, the original volunteers who organized the concert retired, leaving the future of the concert in the nonprofit’s hands.
One of the things most people don’t realize about Crisis Control Ministry is that it offers access to a free pharmacy for anyone struggling to pay for medication. While many may have health insurance, it is not rare that some may still not be able to afford the costs of their prescriptions. “We want everybody to be able to afford their medication,” said Caudill. “We don’t want anybody to have to decide between eating, keeping a roof over their head, or being able to access medication.”
Unfortunately, many still don’t realize a crisis can happen to anyone, and that there is no fault or shame in asking for help.
Looking back at 2022, Crisis Control Ministry helped a total of 19,908 individuals with a total of $3,503,477 in all of Forsyth County. Not only does the nonprofit focus on providing short-term crisis relief as quickly as possible, it looks to provide those that come to them with the tools to exit their unfavorable situations and become self-sufficient, again. The area in which the nonprofit aids the majority of people who seek its help is food assistance, followed by
pharmacy assistance, rent and mortgage assistance, as well as utilities and other needs.
Among the challenges the nonprofit faces are when people wait too long to seek help and don’t reach out to the organization early enough. Too often people will call when they have eviction dates the following day. Crisis Control Ministry will still help but with a greater number of challenges as opposed to if the person had called weeks before when it was still possible to help with rent or mortgage payments. Regardless of who comes through the door, though, the nonprofit is all about helping those who are in crisis from falling through the cracks.
When Crisis Control Ministry was first started by a group of downtown WinstonSalem churches, it was through these churches’ work that the organization received most of its support. At the time, people in need were going from church to church, obtaining a little help here and a little help there, but not in a substantial enough way to help them in the long term.
The coming together of churches resulted from the community’s desire to find a way to help people navigate their way permanently out of their crisis situations. Today, most of the nonprofit’s funding comes from individual donations.
With this in mind, Crisis Control Ministry developed its tagline “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” precisely to highlight the tremendous growth in donations and involvement from people in the community. “That’s what we are here for, as a neighbor resource,” said Caudill. “We can’t do what we do without the involvement of the community.” However, no thanks to inflation, the nonprofit’s pantries are currently counting with very low levels of inventory, and welcome any donations of non-perishable items. A list of the most needed items can be found in the included QR code.
The Rhythm and Hope concert event is scheduled to run from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. with two Winston-Salem bands lined up to perform in the evening. Souljam will hit the stage at 5:30 followed by the Phase
Band at 7:30. There will also be plenty of family-friendly activities in which children can enjoy games, balloon art, face painting, an inflatable bouncer, and even a photo booth to capture the fun. The event will also provide free ice cream and beverages for the entire family, as well as a variety of local food trucks including 3 Dawgs and Desserts, Que Viva Latin Street Grill, and WutYaSay.
Specializing in gourmet hot dogs beyond the typical hot dog, 3 Dawgs and Desserts’ menu in the past has included a Mac Daddy with mac and cheese, the Longhorn Hangover with beef brisket, and the Boss Hog with pulled pork and also mac and cheese. Que Viva Latin Street Grill, which recently opened its first location in Winston-Salem, serves Latin American street cuisine such as arepas, empanadas, and jibaritos. WutYaSay specializes in serving soul food dishes featuring appetizers, sandwiches, seafood, and special platters. Crisis Control Ministry is always looking for both donors and volunteers, but in the meantime, its greatest joy will be having the largest possible turnout for Saturday’s concert. While Caudill has only been in her current position for a bit under a year, she has worked with the nonprofit for more than 20 years in a variety of roles. She knows well the relief the organization has brought to so many, and the hope it has the potential to continue to be for the community. !
DALIA RAZO is a bilingual journalist, fine arts educator, and doctoral student at UNCG.
Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County’s Artist Support Grants applications opened August 21, 2023. Artist Support Grants intend to support a broad range of talented artists in visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, music composition, choreography, and interdisciplinary arts. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists. Individual artists or unincorporated artist collectives residing in Forsyth, Davie, Randolph, Davidson, or Guilford counties are eligible to apply. Awards range from $500 to $2,000. The application deadline is September 24, 2023.
Artist Support Grants (funded by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources) support a range of professional and artistic development including the creation of work, new equipment and materials, improvement of business operations, professional or artistic development workshops, travel support, and expanding capacity to bring work to new audiences. Last year, $77,000 of ASG awards were granted to artists across the five-county region.
Visual artist and 2023 Artist Support Grant recipient from Forsyth County, Kimberly Varnadoe, shares the impact of Artist Support Grants:
and available studio space is a key component to a structured creative environment. The ability to visit and share with artists in a space fosters a dynamic relationship where new and exciting ideas flourish.”
Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County and The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro (formerly ArtsGreensboro) will administer the grant process and conduct a review panel to determine awardees. Other regional partners include Arts Davidson County, Davie County Arts Council, and Randolph Arts Guild. All partners work together to provide marketing, artist outreach, and applicant workshops, and assist applicants through the grant process. For more information about these sessions, visit https:// www.intothearts.org/post/artistsupport .
for a list of the needed non-perishable items, scan the QR Code.
“The Artist Support Grant allowed me to meet my desired outcome of a studio to create new works that will be exhibited in the Winston-Salem community. In addition, the space has connected me with numerous other artists in and around our community, leading to other projects of interest.
I have learned that having a secure
ARTS COUNCIL of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is the chief advocate of the arts and cultural sector in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Arts Council’s goal is to serve as a leader in lifting up, creating awareness and providing support to grow and sustain the arts and cultural offerings throughout our region, ultimately bringing our community together and making it a great place to live, work and play.
n August 28, 1955, 14-yearold Emmett Till was tortured, beaten, and lynched by White men who said the Black youth had made a pass at a White woman. That woman was the wife of one of the hangmen, and it was later revealed that she had lied about her encounter with young Emmett. On August 1st of this year, a national monument was erected to honor Till, and at that ceremony, there was hope among some of us stupidly naïve Americans that we might see an end to violent racism and discrimination in our lifetime. Sadly, not only are race relations still bad, they are in some ways, even worse than in 1955.
OJust two days after Till was honored, 62-year-old Kimberly Jennings, a White woman, assaulted two Black children at an apartment complex swimming pool in Greensboro. The boy and his sister were both under 12 years old and, though they did not live at the complex, they had, according to their attorney, been invited by a friend to swim there. Regardless of the details, however, Jennings had no right to throw a drink on the little boy and hit him repeatedly in the face, which is what she did. She was arrested that day and a federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the two children. Later Jennings told WFMY News that she was sorry for her actions. Or perhaps she was just sorry that she got caught. There’s no way for us to know what’s in her heart. There’s also no way to know if Ms. Jennings would have hit a young White boy for not being a member of her pool, but I doubt it. I also doubt that she would have hit an 18-year-old Black youth instead of picking on an 11-year-old Black boy. No mat-
ter how you cut it, her bullying, cowardly actions smacked of racism, and we’ll see how they play out in a courtroom.
Speaking of bullies and cowards, on August 14, six Mississippi cops pleaded guilty to having tortured two Black men earlier this year, and to shooting one of them in the face. The six White officers operated under the nickname “Goon Squad” and were known to abuse their authority, like the day they illegally broke into the home of Kristi Walley, and proceeded to torture and assault Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker who were in the house at the time. The officers were called to the scene based on a phone call from a White neighbor who said that two Black men were living with a White woman (Ms. Walley). The six White cops arrived, and for 90 minutes did unspeakable things to Jenkins and Parker including using a stun gun on them, staging a mock execution, and assaulting them with a sex toy. One officer also shot Jenkins in the mouth and the bullet lacerated his tongue and broke his jaw. As it turns out, Mr. Parker was at the house to care for his lifelong friend Ms. Walley who is paralyzed. The six racist cowards face up to 30 years in prison each.
So here we are in the month of August 2023, seven decades removed from Emmett Till’s murder, and there are still White racist cowards roaming free in our midst. Whether you’re a White adult assaulting a Black child, six White cops torturing two young Black men,
or White legislators disenfranchising Black voters, it all comes down to the same thing. Racists always have to have an advantage over their victims. There was never just one KKK member who lynched a Black man. There wasn’t just one White guy acting alone who murdered three Freedom Riders in 1964. And when a White guy massacred nine unarmed worshipers at a Black church in 2015, he was armed with a semiautomatic weapon. Cowards and racists always have an advantage of some kind, either in size, numbers, dogs, water hoses, or guns.
I could say something clever like, “I bet Emmett Till is spinning in his grave right now,” but the sad fact is, I don’t think Emmett would be at all surprised by how some White people behave today. This August began with a reminder of the past and hope for the future. It is ending with a reminder that the future is a long way off. !
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+.
As the summer movie season draws to a close, Jules is a warm-hearted, winsome comedy that provides the requisite diversion while imparting a hopeful message in persuasive, unforced terms.
Arguably the film’s principal appeal is the presence of Ben Kingsley. Having long ago entered the “always-welcome” pantheon of actors, Kingsley doesn’t necessarily play many big-screen leads nor has many opportunities to play comedy — although he shined brightly in such light-hearted fare as Without a Clue (1988), Twelfth Night (1996), and even the Ray Bradbury adaptation A Sound of Thunder (2005), in which his over-the-top turn as a pompadoured time-travel tycoon made a bad film watchable and even enjoyable.
Thus, he’s doubly engaging here in Jules as Milton Robinson, a widowed, suburban septuagenarian who leads a life of simplicity, solitude, and repetition. It’s the sort of role that the late (and already missed) Alan Arkin might have played, but Kingsley is in top form. It’s probably too light a role for awards consideration, but he certainly deserves it.
One night, Milton is awakened when a spaceship crashes into his backyard. He’s mostly concerned about his azaleas, but that’s before the ship’s inhabitant manages to crawl out of the wreckage. Although understandably alarmed by this extra-terrestrial intrusion, he welcomes the humanoid creature (played by Jade Quon) into his house because, well, what else is there to do? No one believes Milton when he tells them about his visitor. No one even bothers to look in his backyard — where the craft (a quintessential flying saucer) rests — because they simply assume Milton is going senile.
It’s Milton’s neighbor Sandy (Harriet Sansom Harris) who names the alien “Jules” and can’t help but confide her inner pain to the attentive, if clueless, alien — whose benevolence is conveyed not through words or sounds but by simple gestures. Joyce (Jane Curtin), the neigh-
borhood busybody, also discovers Milton and Sandy’s secret, although she prefers to call the alien “Gary.” The government is also tracking the UFO crash, but typically inept bureaucracy sees the investigating agents bringing up the rear.
Kingsley, Curtin, and Harris comprise the film’s “power trio,” playing their characters as real people and never resorting to schtick. Although the characters could
be described as quirky, their concerns and problems are easy for an audience to identify with. Despite the science-fiction trappings, which are very modestly (but amusingly) rendered, Jules is about aging, loneliness, and friendship. Like Kingsley, Curtin, and (especially) Harris enjoy sizable roles, which they pull o with grace and aplomb. In addition, Curtin’s impromptu rendition of Lynyrd Skynyd’s “Free Bird” is undoubtedly one of the film highlights of the year.
Producer/director Marc Turtletaub and first-time screenwriter Gavin Steckler have succeeded in incorporating the film’s message into an entertaining framework that doesn’t strive to manipulate emotions or push buttons. Jules is hardly a bigbang, big-buck, e ects-laden blockbuster. Indeed, that’s part of the film’s charm. It’s a little gem. !
See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies. © 2023, Mark Burger.
Lobster Bisque 12 | New England-Style Clam Chowder 10 | Chilled Spicy Shrimp Gazpacho 9 Basket of Warm Old Bay & Pimento Cheese Biscuits 11 … while they last!
Crab Rangoon Dip 15 (Wasabi Aioli | Sweet Chili Sauce | Hoisin Drizzle)
Char-Grilled Watermelon 8 (Farmer’s Cheese | Tijan Vinaigrette)
Jumbo Shrimp Tempura-Style 13 (Truffle Blue Cheese Slaw | BOOM! M-80 Sauce)
Sesame Tuna Tartare 18 (Ginger Soy Glaze | Scallion Pancake | Chipotle Aioli)
Lobster Mac & Cheese Skillet 38 (Pimento | Cheddar | Parmesan | Panko)
Roll #1 Chilled 24 | ADD Hand-Cut Fries or Salad +8 (Duke’s Mayo | Lemon Herb Butter | Brioche Bun)
Roll #2 Warm 23 | ADD Hand-Cut Fries or Salad +8 (Lemon Herb Butter | Brioche Bun)
Timothy’s Creamy Lobster carbonara 42 (Peas | Pancetta | ’Shrooms | Parmesan | Herbs)
Lobster Quesadilla 26 (Mango Jalapeno Avocado Mash)
Shrimp Scampi Linguine 31 (Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce)
Chicken Fried Chicken aka “The Colonel” 27 (atop Pineapple Fried Rice)
Jumbo Shrimp & Grits 32 (Jumbo Shrimp | Tasso Tomato Gravy | Pimento Grits)
VOTED BEST CHICKEN WINGS IN GUILFORD COUNTY
MON: $2 Domestic Bottles & All Burgers $9.99
TUE: 1/2 Price Wine | WED: $3 Draft
THU: $6 Bud Light Pitchers & $3 Fireball
AUGUST 24
Johnny O’ and The Jump Out Boys
AUGUST 31
Becky & Zach
VOTED BEST BURGER IN HIGH POINT DURING EAT AND DRINK BURGER WEEK
1232 NORTH MAIN STREET, HIGH POINT, NC 27262
WWW.SWEETOLDBILLS.COM | (336) 807-1476
MONDAY-THURSDAY 11AM-10 PM | FRIDAY-SATURDAY 11AM-11PM
SUNDAY 11AM-8PM | BRUNCH 11AM-2PM
BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATIONSigh. Security guards at the Ei el Tower in Paris discovered two American tourists sleeping near the top of the structure on Aug. 14 as they prepared to open to visitors, Yahoo! News reported. Paris prosecutors said the two dodged security the night before and “appear to have got stuck because of how drunk they were.” Firefighters were dispatched to collect the men, who were questioned by police; Ei el Tower management company Sete said it would file a criminal complaint, although the pair didn’t “pose any apparent threat.”
Sure, Mountain Dew has been compared to battery acid, but one suspect thought a can of the stu could save her from being fingered as a killer. Fox35-TV reported that on Aug. 5, Nichole Maks, 35, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 79-year-old roommate, Michael Cerasoli. Cerasoli was discovered beaten and stabbed in the home they shared in Daytona Beach, Florida, on July 1. O cers tracked down Maks around 3:30 the next morning at a Krystal’s restaurant, where she had blood on the side of her leg and part of her shirt had been torn or cut away. As they approached, she dropped a knife and hammer she’d been carrying; she told o cers she often carried such items. Police said that as they questioned her about her roommate, she became “agitated” and asked for a drink; they gave her a can of Diet Mountain Dew, which she poured over her body and hair, hoping to eliminate any evidence on her person. Unsurprisingly, that stunt didn’t work, and her DNA was found on the knife used to kill Cerasoli. She currently resides at the Volusia County Jail.
TikTokker Michaela Witter was on Day 20 of a series she was posting about “100 solo dates” — activities like reading in the park or buying herself flowers. On Aug. 7, as she browsed in Barnes & Noble in Burbank, California, Witter inadvertently captured a stalker on video as he followed her, kneeled behind her and sni ed her (and another woman) repeatedly. Fox News reported that Witter’s post unleashed a torrent of similar experiences — even with the same stalker. “Bro that same man was crouching behind me and following me thru Marshalls today,” one commenter posted. “The same thing happened to me at Ralph’s in Burbank,”
another said. One TikTokker had the same experience in the same bookstore.
Glendale police arrested Calese Carron Crowder, 37, on Aug. 11, but a judge placed him on probation and released him on Aug. 15. Los Angeles County Jail records show Crowder has been booked there 41 times.
— Street performer Lino Tomasen, 32, of Havana, Cuba, retired from boxing after a blow delivered to his opponent fractured the man’s skull and killed him instantly, he told Reuters. Tomasen gave all his fight winnings to that man’s family and took to the streets, where the “Ironman” now beats on himself and collects tips. He uses a sledgehammer to slam his wrists, elbows and forearms for horrified onlookers, but seems to be unharmed by the abuse. “It’s all real, nothing fabricated,” said Edward Carbonell, who watched Tomasen’s “show.” “I want to be remembered as someone who pushed the limits of what was possible,” Tomasen said.
— At a sunset “furmeet” on Aug. 12 in Huntington Beach, California, one furry took o ense when a man in street clothes started filming the spectacle on his phone, the Toronto Sun reported. Someone in a black wolf costume asked the filmer to stop, then amplified his message with a megaphone: “Leave or we will make you leave.” When the filmer didn’t budge, the wolf hit him over the head with the megaphone. Others jumped into the brawl, which was finally broken up by California State Parks o cers.
The California Public Utilities Commission voted in early August to allow Cruise and Waymo to o er paid driverless rides to customers during the day, The New York Times reported. On Aug. 15, as Paul Harvey, 74, looked on, a Cruise vehicle in San Francisco drove into a city paving project and became stuck in wet concrete.
“I thought it was funny,” Harvey said.
“It illustrated how creepy and weird the whole thing is to me.” Rachel Gordon with the San Francisco Department of Public Works noted that no one was hurt, but added, “That portion of the road has to be repaved at Cruise’s expense.” Paul Leonardi, a professor of technology management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, chalked up the experience to a teaching moment: “It needs to experience a diverse set of use cases so it can learn, and driving into wet concrete is one of those use cases.” !
©2023 Andrews McMeel Universal
Oak Hollow Festival Lake Park in High Point will soon be filled with the sound of jazz and joy as thousands prepare to attend the 12th Annual John Coltrane Jazz and Blues Festival over the Labor Day weekend, September 2-3. Presented by the Friends of John Coltrane, the festival is designed to celebrate Coltrane’s impact on the jazz and blues industry while celebrating a legend that got his start in High Point.
“I think this year’s festival is an even lineup,” said organizer Joe Williams. “Everybody is headline status.”
The late Coltrane was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, in 1926. He grew up in High Point having graduated from William Penn High School (now Penn Gri n School of the Arts) at the age of 16. He first learned to play the saxophone there, influenced by Lester Young and Johnny Hodges. After graduation, he would move to Philadelphia, where he would continue to study his craft and eventually go on to become the pioneer of the free jazz movement.
Coltrane would die from liver disease on July 17, 1967.
Having attracted thousands of people and hundreds of vendors each year, the lakeside concert continues to grow, bringing big names in the world of jazz and blues to the area.
“Things have been consistent and I think we are growing organically. At first, a lot of people thought we got that big surge last year because of Patti (LaBelle) but leading up to this month were ahead of last year,” explained Williams.
This year, Saturday night’s festival will include performances by Dave Koz, Candy Dulfer, Eric Darius, Maysa, Samara Joy, Norman Brown, Chucho Valdes, Mr. Sipp, and the John Coltrane Jazz Workshop.
“I think this year’s festival is a di erent festival. It’s a little more jazz, if I might say. With Summer Horns you get some of that smooth jazz. With Candy Dulfur, Eric Darius, and Maysa you get the R&B flavor, and Dave Koz is a household name,” Williams said.
Koz, a nine-time Grammy Award nominee, will return to the festival with the Summer Horns, comprised of saxophonists Candy Dulfer and Eric Darius along with vocalist Maysa. The saxophonist, composer, record producer, and radio personality said that he is “super thrilled about playing the Coltrane Festival and for many reasons.”
“One obvious one is that this is the only festival I know of named after one of the greatest saxophonists of all time, John Coltrane,” Koz said. “In his memory, I’d imagine every performer on that stage has to bring their A-game. That’s exactly what we’re gonna do!”
Koz said that those attending the festival can expect a great showing of horns and a high-energy performance.
“Our Summer Horns shows are all about celebrating the outsized role the great horn sections and saxophonists of the 20th century have played in our lives. The result is a lot o music that harkens back to that Golden Era of music when these bands (Tower of Power, Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, etc.) ruled the airwaves,” Koz explained. “Of course, we also add a bunch of newer music from our Summer Horns albums and our own catalogs. Having two of the finest saxophonists at my side to accomplish this (Candy Dulfer and Eric Darius) makes it that much more fun. This is a high-energy, summer splash of music, guaranteed to make you feel good.”
Samara Joy is a Grammy Award-winning jazz singer. She released her self-titled debut album in 2021 and was subsequently named Best New Artist by JazzTimes.
Her second album, “Linger Awhile,” was released in September 2022 and won the award for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards, where she was also named Best New Artist.
“Samara Joy kind of gives the festival a di erent element because of her uniqueness and she’s one of the few artists that has ever won a Grammy for new artist of the year,” Williams said. Norman Brown is a smooth jazz guitarist and singer. The Grammy-award nominee has been playing since a young age and has worked with artists like Boyz II Men, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, and Rick Braun.
Chucho Valdes is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, and composer with more than 50 years in the industry. An original member of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, in 1973 he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba’s best-known Latin jazz bands. As a solo artist, he has won seven Grammy Awards and four Latin Grammy Awards.
Mr. Sipp, “the Mississippi Blues Child,” is the alter ego of gospel guitarist Castro Coleman. He has won the International Blues Challenge, the 2014 Gibson Best Guitarist Award, the 2014 Jus’ Blues Foundation’s Bobby Rush Entertainer’s Award, and the 2015 Jackson Music Awards Blues Artist of the Year. He has also had his time on screen. He was cast in the James Brown biopic Get on Up playing the role of Les Buie, the entertainer’s first guitar player, and as a young BB King on the CMT shortrun series Sun Records.
Sunday night’s festival will include performances by Keb’ Mo’, Terri Lyne Carrington, Lisa Fischer, Brandee Younger, Michael Mayo, Nicole Mitchell, Michelle Coltrane, Matthew Whitaker, the Yellowjackets, and the UNCG Spartan Jazz Collective.
Keb’ Mo’ is a five-time Grammy Award and 14-time Blues Foundation Award winner. He has composed music for television series like Mike and Molly, Memphis Beat, B Positive, and Martha Stewart Living; and earned the Americana Music Association’s 2021 award for Lifetime Achievement in Performance.
Terri Lyne Carrington is an NEA Jazz Master and three-time Grammy awardwinning drummer, producer, and educator. Carrington, along with Lisa Fischer, Brandee Younger, Michael Mayo, Nicole Mitchell, and Michelle Coltrane, daughter of the festival namesake, will hold a tribute to Alice Coltrane and other women composers.
Matthew Whitaker is a blind jazz pianist that has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the
A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramierz, & Jon Gries
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2023
DOORS @ 6PM | SHOW @ 7PM
Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater, where, at 10, he was the opening performer for Stevie Wonder induction into the Apollo Theater’s Hall of Fame. No stranger to the festival, he has recorded three chart-topping albums and become a sought-after composer and arranger.
The Yellowjackets have recorded 25 albums; received 17 Grammy nominations — won two — performed countless soldout tours, and enjoyed worldwide critical acclaim and commercial success.
The UNCG Spartan Jazz Collective is a collaborative group of faculty and students founded in 2012 to function in the mentorship tradition of the bands of Art Blakey, Miles Davis, and Horace Silver.
The festival not only provides entertainment but organizers also give out instruments to future musicians in middle and high schools across the state through its John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (JCIJBF) Student Essay Contest. Students are asked to submit a video or a written essay explaining their music aspirations, a nities, and needs. Winners receive a free, brand-new instrument of their choosing. Winners are introduced by festival hosts, on stage, “with their prizes made possible by Bill Banks, Joe Williams, and KHS America, Inc., an instrument manufacturer along with local sponsors,” according to its website.
For ticket information and festival details, visit www.coltranejazzfest.com !
The beloved indie classic Napoleon Dynamite was made almost almost 20 years ago. Since then much has changed; but the characters, as enduring as they are endearing, stay in our hearts. Appealing to the inner-teenager in each of us, the story, and more importantly the dialogue, makes Napoleon Dynamite one of the most quoted movies of our time. Napoleon Dynamite makes us laugh — and laugh hard — over and over again. This unique evening includes a full screening of Napoleon Dynamite followed by a lively, freewheeling, moderated discussion with fan-favorite cast members; Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico).
There will be a Pre-Show VIP Meet & Greet with the stars at 5pm. It will show up as an option after you put your tickets in your shopping cart. Tickets for the VIP Experience are $50 per person.
15-17 High Point Ballet: The Nutcracker & Land of the Sweets
JANUARY
13 Emma Langford in Concert
FEBRUARY
17 Take 6 in Concert
MARCH
07 The Tartan Terrors
14 Comedy with Cathy Ladman
25 BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour
DECEMBER
Acts and dates subject to change. For up to date news, visit our website.
According to a Request for Proposals issued on August 10, the City of Greensboro is seeking a private corporation to manage the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and Stephen Tanger Center for Performing Arts. The selected entity, if approved by Greensboro City Council, would run not only the coliseum that opened in 1959 and the performing arts center that will be two years old next month, but the Greensboro Aquatic Center, Special Events Center, and ACC Hall of Champions, as well as the proposed downtown music venue and the soccer stadium planned for either downtown or the coliseum complex.
This does not mean the city is selling or no longer funding any of these venues. It does mean that, if a proposal is accepted, its sports and entertainment facilities will not be managed by Matt Brown, the highest-paid public employee in the Piedmont Triad.
On August 17, the public “Open Gate City” archive listed Brown’s annual salary as $418,615 and his job title as “Pending.” He has managed the Coliseum Complex since 1994. For much of that time, it has been run at a deficit, although according to both Mayor Nancy Vaughan and District 1 representative Sharon Hightower, the Tanger Center has become self-sustaining.
When asked if Brown is retiring or has already done so, Vaughan texted: “This is part of Matt’s succession plan. He has not announced a date but we are looking at the best long-term options.” She also explained why the city is seeking proposals from experienced entities. “Some of the benefits of an established management company is that it brings more buying power and can increase our competitiveness.”
The Request for Proposals (RFP) issued last week contains some of the first public details about the planned downtown music venue, which has previously been described as the Friendly Market Music Hall due to being bounded by those streets, and planned soccer stadium. It describes the former as “an indoor/ outdoor multi-stage live music venue(s)
and Food and Beverage Operation with capacities ranging from 750-2,000” and a “future phase [that] will include a 4,500seat amphitheater.” It describes the soccer stadium as “6,000-seat” and “designed to host a USL [United Soccer League] One Soccer Franchise.”
The RFP states that the “Proposer who is selected to provide these Services will report directly to the City Manager as well as to the Coliseum War Memorial Commission and the Tanger Center Board of Directors.” The awarded contract will be for a seven-year term with two five-year options.
The mission of contracted management will be to “maximize the booking and programming of events for all Complex/ Center venues with the goal of exceeding current event levels for each venue” and to “maximize the utilization of the Complex/ Center and associated revenue streams while minimizing the net cost to the City.”
It also states that the chosen management company will “implement and maintain a Foodservice program that maximizes concessions and catering revenues while operating at the highest possible industry standards” and “o er new robust Foodservice concessions and catering options and solutions that delivers measurable benefits and results to the City.”
One possible result of this privatization could be bad news for those who work at the venues. Due to the city’s e orts to raise its minimum wage, their previous hourly minimum wage of $15 was raised to $18 in the recently adopted budget, and according to City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba, there is “a plan to get it to almost $20 by December 2024.”
But unless the City Council orders it, any private organization running the Coliseum Complex and Tanger won’t be beholden to those wage rules. The RFP issued by
the City states the chosen company will be required to pay its sta “a minimum base compensation of $15.00/hour for all part-time, full-time, roster, temporary, or any other category of employee of the Complex/Center during the term of this contract.”
It also lists the following “Transition Plan for Existing Employees”:
“Pursuant to the City’s Reduction in Force (“RIF”) Policy, the Company will be required to maintain all of the City’s employees of the Complex/Center for the first six months after the Company is awarded the contract, and during this six-month period, the Company will determine which, if any, of the Complex/ Center employees it will choose to keep as the Company’s employees under such terms and conditions as the Company shall choose to maintain.”
The deadline by which all proposals must be delivered to the o ce of Deputy City Attorney James Dickens is October 6, 2023. Interviews with selected proposers will be from the 16th through the 19th of that month, and a preferred proposer will be selected by October 27th. City Council will vote on whether to not to approve that proposer at its November 6 session. The management agreement will be finalized by January 12, 2024, and the first term of the management company begins July 1, 2024.
The RFP states that the City’s “Annual Aspirational Minority and Women Business Enterprise Participation Goals are 18% Minority Business Enterprise (“MBE”) and 20% Women Business Enterprise (“WBE”): and that proposing companies must submit a plan for meeting or exceeding those goals.
According to the RFP, the proposing company “shall provide its Gross Revenue projections for the first three (3) years
of the Services provided with complete supporting data that can be easily understood related to the assumptions and calculations used.”
It also requires proposing companies to “identify the base fee to be paid by the City for the value of its expertise” and to state “the level of additional financial investment the Proposer is prepared to o er the City to support the Complex/Center,” adding that “capital investment, if any, that is o ered to the City shall emanate from the Proposer’s resources, and not from the projected operating budget for the Services it provides.”
One potential result of this arrangement is that, while the venues will be owned by the city and continue to be funded by city taxes until such time as they become self-sustaining, the managing entity may be shielded from public record laws by the opacity of private-public partnership.
Along with the RFP, the city’s public records administrator Kurt Brenneman sent YES! Weekly a .doc file titled “Greensboro RFP Industry Firm Contacts.” It contains contact information for the following individuals: Bill Rhoda and Michael Delano, President and Vice President of Legends Global Planning in Frisco, Texas: Steve Peters, President/CEO of VenuWorks in Ames, Iowa; and Peter Luukko and Doug Higgens, Co-Chairman and Senior Vice President of Oak View Group Arena Alliance in Philadelphia.
According to Brenneman, these are entities the City has invited to bid on the contract to run the Coliseum Complex and Tanger Center. !
On August 17, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted 6-2 against a motion by District 6 Commissioner James Upchurch to inscribe “In God We Trust” on 10 county buildings.
“I do support the national motto,” said board chair Skip Alston, “but Mr. Upchurch, when he used the words ‘traditional values’ in the Rhino Times, then that got to be political.”
Alston was referring to Scott Yost’s August 15 article “County Buildings to get ‘In God We Trust’ Inscriptions,” which reported that Upchurch “thinks it’s important to make a statement about Guilford County’s values at this time when — both statewide and nationally — traditional values are under attack.” Yost also reported that Upchurch expected “at least six” commissioners to vote for his motion.
Instead, six voted against it. These were Alston and fellow Democrats Carlvena Foster, Mary Beth Murphy, Carly Cooke, Frankie Jones, and Kay Cashion, with Republicans Upchurch and Pat Tilman voting in favor of the motion. Republican Alan Perdue was not present.
Upchurch was elected in 2020 as a Democrat but switched his party allegiance in 2021. Several of the seven members of the public speaking against the motion called it a “cynical” ploy by Upchurch to curry Republican favor, as Upchurch has announced his intention to run for State Auditor next year. Only one public speaker, rejected Guilford County Schoolboard candidate Michael Logan, expressed support for it.
District 4 commissioner Murphy said she had received “more than 50” emails from her constituents, all of them against the motion, with many saying that the proposal “would make them feel unwelcome and excluded.” Murphy then said “I have yet to hear from Mr. Upchurch himself about the item he sponsored this evening,” and that her vote was based on both the negative public response and what Yost had reported as Upchurch’s motives.
Although Upchurch o ered a last-minute amendment stating that the $40,000 cost of the inscriptions would be paid for by donations rather than taxpayer dollars, neither District 5’s Cooke nor District 7’s Jones were mollified. Cooke called it a waste of
sta resources and an invitation to lawsuits that would be costly even if the county won. Jones said, “I don’t want people to perceive that they can brand buildings with private dollars.”
At-large representative Cashion criticized Upchurch for reaching out to the press rather than discussing his intentions with the board. She also said that “not a one of the many emails” she received on the subject had supported the proposal. District 1’s Foster said she had not received any emails in support of the motion, and that she agreed with her constituent who wrote “it’s not the responsibility of government to endorse God.”
District 8’s Alston acknowledged he initially supported Upchurch’s motion, but said he warned Upchurch “that I did not want to get caught up in any right-wing ideology about what ‘In God We Trust’ might mean.”
“I support the national motto,” said Alston, “but do not support someone trying to use this issue in order to further any political agenda” and that he did not believe Upchurch “has been transparent about what his true intentions were.”
“In God We Trust” was adopted by Congress in 1956 as the National Motto of the United States, replacing E pluribus unum (“Out of many, one”).
The term has a longer history on coins. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt denounced engraving that motto on currency as “irreverence” and “close to sacrilege,” but his attempt to have it removed was unsuccessful.
The 1956 adoption of the phrase as the country’s national motto is seen by some historians as a result of evangelist Billy Graham’s influence on President Harry Truman and national discourse, as well as a reflection of McCarthy-era militant conservativism that rejected the perceived liberal and secular values of Truman’s predecessor Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The motto has survived high court challenges, in which both its defenders and opponents have described it as an example of “Ceremonial Deism,” a legal term for governmental references that have been upheld as merely cultural rituals rather than inherently religious ones, and thus allegedly not a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. In 1984, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan wrote that phrases such as “In God We Trust” are “protected from Establishment Clause scrutiny chiefly because they have lost through rote repetition any significant religious content.”
Not all those who condemn its use do so on secular grounds. The motto’s Christian critics have argued that this defense trivial-
izes their faith as an empty ritual. Some Orthodox Jews see the motto as against their cultural practice of not writing out the word “G-O-D” without omitting the middle letter. The online Jewish Virtual Library notes that “to avoid writing the Name, Orthodox Jews (and sometimes other denominations) substitute letters or syllables, for example, writing ‘G-d’ instead of ‘God.’” One example of secular arguments against the motto is David Niose’s 2012 Psy-
chology Today article “The Dangerous Fallacy of Ceremonial Deism: Governmental religious expressions are not harmless,” in which Niose denounced the “Ceremonial Deism” defense o ered by Brennan and other high court justices as both grossly inaccurate and dangerous, and argued that it allows genuinely discriminatory governmental actions to escape First Amendment scrutiny. !
THURSDAY
AUGUST 31ST
SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 3RD DOGS IN A PILE
SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 10TH DOPAPOD
WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 13TH THE MOTET
SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 22ND MOON TAXI
FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 29TH
Flea Trap is hopping around, celebrating their new self-titled LP, out August 25, with a northeast tour; and a Greensboro show at Wahoo’s on September 2. Taking something of a cinematic approach to their work, the experimental rock-n-rollers — now spread between Greensboro and Asheville — have “crafted a universe of their own in which they perform.”
“We’re simply makin’ music before we bite the dust,” they said as a group — with their latest record examining the “uselessness of human ambition, the arguable futility of artistic creation in the face of death leveling all, and personal narrative through a hyperbolic lens.”
Ruminating on “identity, grief, technology, and love,” Flea Trap’s chosen palette portrays a “Southern American story in earnest, with ‘play’ being that story’s definitive principle.”
Dancey, heady, lofty and still grounded, their stories and characters have been built over a handful of years through rotations of members and names. With the new record, Flea Trap finds itself somewhat settled (despite guitarist Logan Butler hopping up to New York City). “His contributions are immeasurable,” said drummer and guitarist Julian Creech-Pritchett of Butler’s departure. “But I’m looking forward to working with the core quartet once more.”
Rounded by guitarist Taylor Viar, bassist Nick VanBuskirk and key master Jacob Bruner, that core formed around bands and music studies at UNC-Greensboro. Bruner and Viar played in the band Walla Walla, and met VanBuskirk as part of the New Orleans Triad combo and Jazz Ensemble.
VanBuskirk and Creech-Pritchett, meanwhile, have been friends since high school marching band. “Out of all of the various times we’ve worked together since then, I think Flea Trap is my favorite so far,” Creech-Pritchett said. “I came into Taylor and Jacob’s existing artistic sphere upon my freshman year of college at UNCG, and we’ve had this combo going in some form or another for most of the time since then.”
“As we’ve grown up and gotten out of college and onto the daily grind of wage-earning labor as a life necessity,” he continued, “getting and keeping the band together has become all about aligning our calendars and finding any and all availability to work.”
With half of the band in Asheville and the other in Greensboro, intention and dedication are paramount. “When we can, we try to put two days back to back to make the cross-state trek as worth doing as it can be,” Creech-Pritchett said. “Any time we come together to work on new material though, it’s evident to me that we are continuing to evolve and expand our sound in ways that align with personal change and growth among band members.”
On the winds of change and growth, rock-n-roll resides in the heart of Flea Trap — accented by evolution and experimentation. “Well, they say your first instrument is the voice,” Viar said, musing instrumental development. “For me it was my lips whistlin’. I think rather than blending musical sounds like fruits in a smoothie we are asking questions like ‘How do we play the smell of a fruit?’”
Getting to slightly more concrete flavors, “calling it rock-n-roll is undeniably true, but it’s also a bit simple of an outlook,” Creech-Pritchett said. “I think our particular sound could be compared to the best soup you’ve ever eaten - readers are likely thinking of di erent soups than one another, but they’re all soups
nonetheless - lots of flavors, spices, possibly misleading scents and soon-to-bediscovered after-tastes.”
Stewing those flavors, Flea Trap draws influences from the abstract as well as the foundation: King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Weather Report, The Clash, and Black Midi hang in their influential sphere. A King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard devotee, Creech-Pritchett also finds a spark in his Flea Trap buds. “I’ve been influenced by the creativity of the three cats in this band as much as anything,” he said. “They keep me on my toes!”
Personal and abstract, “much of the lyrical content on this record consists of descriptions of actual memories and dreams. However they have been removed from their context, so these songs aren’t autobiographical.” Viar said, dropping Biblical references and Lynchian techniques.
“There’s a David Lynch quote that goes something like ‘If I wanted to write an essay about the film I would have written an essay instead of making a film,’” he explained. “To some degree trying to bolster any artwork with language is kinda farcical. Ultimately what matters is what happens between the ears of any listener who puts on this record.”
“These were merely subjects on our minds during the creation of this record,” Viar continued. “People may listen and come away with a myriad of di erent thoughts and feelings that have nothing to do with ours.”
Still, a personal nature remains. Samples from an interview with Viar’s late grandmother appear on the closing track “Still Learnin.”
“The song serves as an epilogue of sorts for the record — I speak a verse of confusion and pain — and near the end, her voice serves wisdom to correct me.”
The song itself leaves Creech-Pritchett with an indistinguishable feeling set against their catalog. “We used the grand piano in The Crown at the Carolina Theatre, and I love the way it blends with the drums and bass,” he said. “It creates a groove we hadn’t yet touched.”
Though it’s not the first touching element they’ve explored. Their 2022 “Fixin” EP was dedicated to the revered percussionist Scott Johnson, who died unexpectedly in 2021. “As band members and ideas fluctuated over time, so have the sounds that come out the other end. After our original drummer, Scott, passed away the four of us solidified a new sound with ‘Fixin’ always in his honor,” Bruner said. “I think the new record does the same.”
Viar echoed the sentiment. “‘Fixin’ was composed in the wake of Scott’s passing. Our new record establishes a foundational essence which is why it felt appropriate to be self-titled,” he said. “Perhaps not an apex but definitely a solid underpinning.”
Cementing that foundation, “Flea Trap” will be released digitally and on vinyl, as the band hops on tour, hitting cities like Philadelphia, Manhattan, Brooklyn Baltimore, DC. “This will be our first tour,” Creech-Pritchett said. “I’m excited to see what happens and how di erent folks react to what we’re doing.”
They’ll hook up with Saphron for their show at Wahoo’s, which kicks o a string of NC dates (including the Night Rider in Raleigh and at Highland Brewing in Asheville). “I’m really looking forward to playing Highland Brewing on September 4th — as it’ll be Labor Day and we’re anticipating a great crowd,” CreechPritchett said. “Asheville and Greensboro are both home to Flea Trap, so it’ll be good to be exposed to a larger group of people in one of these cities.”
Flea Trap’s self-titled album is due August 25 via Bandcamp.
They’ll be at Wahoo’s on September 2. !
Four SaintS BrEwing
218 South Fayetteville St. | 336.610.3722
www.foursaintsbrewing.com
thursdays: taproom trivia
Fridays: Music Bingo
Sep 2: 80s unplugged
Cat’S CradlE
300 E Main St | 919.967.9053
www.catscradle.com
aug 23: with love
aug 23: aJJ
aug 25: Briscoe
aug 25: Ben nichols
aug 26: little image
aug 26: Be loud! ‘23
aug 27: duck, Elora dash, dolphin group
aug 30: the thing
Sep 2: taylor Swift laser dance Party
Sep 3: Jaguar Sun
Sep 8: Colony House
Sep 8: Hannah Jadagu
Sep 9: the Milk Carton Kids
Sep 10: djunah
Sep 12: Chris Farren
Sep 12: glaive
Sep 13: Beth orton
Sep 13: Jeff rosenstock
Sep 14: richy Mitch & the Coal Miners
Sep 14: deerhoof
Sep 15-16: Hiss golden Messenger
Sep 16: the Connells w/ dillon Fence and Surrender Human
Sep 16: tom the Mail Man
Sep 17: igorrr
Sep 17: Joshua radin
Sep 17: the astronomers
Sep 18: ondara
Sep 20: islands
Sep 20: Joy oladokun
Sep 21: Mipso
Sep 22: of Montreal
Sep 22: whitehall
Sep 23: Julia., late notice
Sep 23: Spafford
Sep 24: royel otis
Sep 25: Youth lagoon
Sep 25: Katie alice greer
2700 E Independence Blvd | 704.372.3600
www.boplex.com
aug 27: Bronco
Sep 2: intocable Evolucion 2023
Sep 8: ivan Cornejo
Sep 19: Becky g
Sep 22: raphael Saadiq
1000 NC Music Factory Blvd | 704.916.8970
www.livenation.com
aug 26: Becky robinson
aug 27: Clutch
Sep 1: Pour Minds
Sep 5: danna Paola
Sep 6: Coheed and Cambria
Sep 6: ayra Starr
Sep 7: Chloe
Sep 7: Soulja Boy
Sep 9: thursday
Sep 10: delain
Sep 10: Bishop Briggs & Misterwives
Sep 13: weyes Blood
Sep 13: iann dior
Sep 15: the wonder Years
Sep 15: durand Bernarr
Sep 16: noah Cyrus
Sep 17: Boys like girls
Sep 18: Victoria Monet
Sep 19: Jawbreaker with Joyce Manor, grumpster
Sep 19: owl City
Sep 20: ohgeesy
Sep 21: Hatebreed
Sep 22: Joy oladokun
Sep 23: Cannibal Corpse and Mayhem
Sep 24: roy wood Jr.
Sep 25: nothing More
PnC MuSiC PaVilion
707 Pavilion Blvd | 704.549.1292
www.livenation.com
Sep 1: lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ top, & uncle Kracker
Sep 6: tenacious d
Sep 9: outlaw Music Fesitval: willie nelson & Family, tedeschi trucks Band, String Cheese incident & los lobos
Sep 12: nickelback, Brantley gilbert & Josh ross
SpEctrum cEntEr
333 E Trade St | 704.688.9000
www.spectrumcentercharlotte.com
Aug 29: Guns n’ roses
Sep 5: $uicideboy$
Sep 9: LL cOOL J
Sep 12: Lil Baby
Sep 15: Bert Kreischer
Sep 22-23: Drake
Sep 29: Old Dominion
Sep 30: Jonas Brothers
tAp HOuSE
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct |
336.448.5330
www.facebook.com/vstaphouse
Aug 24: Kick Back trio
Aug 25: Whiskey mic
Aug 26: matt Dylan & the Honky
tOnk Outlaws
Sep 1: marvelous Funkshun
Sep 2: ross copley
Sep 7: James Vincent carroll
Sep 8: Vinyl tap
Sep 14: Anna mertson
Sep 15: Kick Back trio
Sep 16: Black Glass
cArOLinA tHEAtrE
309 W Morgan St | 919.560.3030
www.carolinatheatre.org
Sep 5: the tallest man on Earth
Sep 7: the mavericks
Sep 15: Stayin’ Alive: One night of the Bee Gees
Sep 20: corinne Bailey rae
Sep 21: Leela James
Sep 22: chris Botti
Sep 26: the War and treaty
Sep 28: tEGAn AnD SArA
Sep 29: Jake Shimabukuro
DpAc
123 Vivian St | 919.680.2787
www.dpacnc.com
Aug 23-Sep 17: WicKED
Sep 19: Squeeze and the psychedelic Furs
Sep 20: Ben Folds
Sep 21: nick cave
Sep 22: Jo Koy
Sep 24: chris tucker
Sep 28: chicago
Sep 29: patti LaBelle
Sep 30: nimesh patel
elKIn
rEEVES tHEAtEr
129 W Main St | 336.258.8240
www.reevestheater.com
Wednesdays: reeves Open mic
Fourth thursdays: Old-time Jam
Sep 8: Liam purcell and cane mill
road
Sep 9: mary Gauthier
Sep 22: John Fullbright
BArn DinnEr tHEAtrE
120 Stage Coach Tr. | 336.292.2211
www.barndinner.com
Jul 29- Sep 9: peace Like a river
Sep 22-nov 4: Ain’t misbehavin
cArOLinA tHEAtrE
310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605
www.carolinatheatre.com
Sep 2: royal Jelly & Dr. Bacon
Sep 6: Songs of Hope and Justice
Sep 8: nc comedy Fest
Sep 22: matt Stell
Sep 23: Frute with mellow Swells
Sep 28: rhiannon Giddens
cHAr BAr nO. 7
3724 Lawndale Dr. | 336.545.5555
www.charbar7.com
Aug 24: Wishful thinking
Aug 31: Kelsey Hurley
cOmEDY ZOnE
1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034
www.thecomedyzone.com
Aug 25-26: Dyon “mojo” Brooks
Aug 27: the magic of Eric Eaton
Sep 1-2: cliff cash
Sep 8-10: Jason Banks
Sep 15-16: Affion crockett
Sep 19: craig conant
Sep 22-24: Adele Givens
Sep 29-30: B Simone
GArAGE tAVErn
5211 A West Market St | 336.763.2020
www.facebook.com/GarageTavernGreensboro
Aug 25: the Billy creason Band
GrAnDOVEr rESOrt
2275 Vanstory Street Suite 200 | 336.294.1800
www.grandover.com
Wednesdays: Live Jazz w/ Steve Haines trio
1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400
www.greensborocoliseum.com
Sep 1: peso pluma
Sep 2: nc Late night music Fest
Sep 3: rBD: Soy rebelde tour
Sep 15: Koe Wetzel
Sep 22-24: cowboy Days
HAnGAr 1819
1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480
www.hangar1819.com
Aug 23: Shallow Side & Any Given Sin
Aug 26: the Word Alive w/ Dark Divine, nerv
Aug 31: cro-mags
Sep 1: Spitalfield
Sep 3: Seven Kingdoms w/ A Sound of thunder, Osyron
Sep 7: Overtime + crucifix ft. Sean p, Gr1m, Big murph
Sep 9: Should’ve Been a cowboy: country Dance party
Sep 11: Weedeater w/ King parrot, Ape Vermin
Sep 12: Galactic Empire w/ Hanabie
Sep 16: holyroller w/ Lie Heavy, cosmic reaper, Good Good Grief
Sep 17: red w/ Saul
Sep 19: Wargasm uK
Sep 20: Flotsam & Jetsam w/ Generation Kill, misfire, Wolftooth
Sep 22: Shaggy 2 Dope w/ Lardi B, DJ clay
BREWING
348 South Elm St | 336.510.9678
www.facebook.com/littlebrotherbrew
Wednesdays: Trivia
Fridays & Saturdays: Free Live Music
Aug 25: Urban Soil Trio
Aug 26: Paleface
PIEDMONT HALL
2411 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400
www.greensborocoliseum.com
Aug 24: Chris Young w/ Thompson Square
Sep 8: Green Queen Bingo
RODY’S TAVERN
5105 Michaux Rd | 336.282.0950
www.facebook.com/rodystavern
Aug 23: Darell Hoots
Aug 25: Soundkraft
Aug 30: Troy Frobeen
STEVEN TANGER CENTER
300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500
www.tangercenter.com
Sep 16: Daniel Tosh
Sep 19-24: CHICAGO the Musical
Sep 29-30: Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue
WHITE OAK
AMPITHEATRE
1921 W Gate City Blvd | 336.373.7400
www.greensborocoliseum.com
Sep 7: The Doobie Brothers
HIGH POINT
1614 DMB
1614 N Main St | 336.883.4113
https://www.1614drinksmusicbilliards.com/
Aug 26: Novas Fade w/ Copper Wine
Sep 3: Taylor Swift Laser Dance Party
Sep 9: Trailer Park Orchestra w/ Orange Jumpsuit
Sep 30: EDW Lucha Live
GOOFY FOOT TAPROOM
2762 NC-68 #109 | 336.307.2567
www.goofyfoottaproom.com
HIGH POINT THEATRE
220 E Commerce Ave | 336.883.3401
www.highpointtheatre.com
Sep 3: Napoleon Dynamite: Jon
Heder, Efren Ramirez, & Jon Gries
Sep 23: The Players
Sep 28: Manhattan Short Film Festival
Sep 30: Unwind Music Festival
THE DECK
118 E Main St | 336.207.1999
Aug 24: Dan Miller
Aug 25: The Plaids
Aug 26: Radio Revolver
Sep 2: Brother Pearl
Sep 7: Kelsey Hurley
Sep 8: 7 Roads
Sep 9: Stone Parker Band
Sep 15: TOYZ
Sep 16: South Bound 49
Sep 22: Carolina Ambush
Sep 23: Radio Revolver
Sep 29: Big City
KERNERSVILLE
BREATHE
COCKTAIL LOUNGE
221 N Main St. | 336.497.4822
www.facebook.com/BreatheCocktail-
Lounge
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Sep 23: Wild Wild Burlesk
KERNERSVILLE
BREWING COMPANY
221 N Main St. | 336.816.7283
www.facebook.com/kernersvillebrewing
Thursdays: Trivia
THEATER
101 S. Fayetteville St | 336.622.3844
www.TheLibertyShowcase.com
Aug 26: The Isaacs
OAK RIDGE
BISTRO 150
2205 Oak Ridge Rd | 336.643.6359
www.bistro150.com
Aug 26: Jordan & Madisen
RALEIGH
PNC ARENA
1400 Edwards Mill Rd | 919.861.2300
www.thepncarena.com
Aug 27: Pepe Aquilar
WINSTON-SALEM
FIDDLIN’ FISH BREWING COMPANY
772 Trade St | 336.999.8945
www.fiddlinfish.com
Tuesdays: Trivia
Jul 28: Relay Relay
FOOTHILLS BREWING
638 W 4th St | 336.777.3348
www.foothillsbrewing.com
Sundays: Sunday Jazz
Thursdays: Trivia
Aug 18: Camel City Blues
Aug 23: Grizzly Panda
Aug 30: Jim Mayberry
THE RAMKAT
170 W 9th St | 336.754.9714
www.theramkat.com
Aug 25: Fox ‘N Vead, Owen
Aug 26: Silent Disco Dance Party w/ DJs SK, Slams & Mauve Angeles
Sep 1: Heartbeats! Alternative Dance Party
Sep 2: Jeremy’s Ten: A Pearl Jam Tribute
Sep 6: WATCHES?, The Camel City Blackouts
Sep 8: The Connells, Them Pants
Sep 13: Je Black
Sep 14: Time Sawyer
Sep 15: Bedford, Sam Foster
Sep 16: Drew Foust’s Wheelhouse
Sep 23: Charles Wesley Godwin, Nolan Taylor
Sep 28: Wheeler Walker, Jr., Channing Wilson
Sep 29: Migrant Birds
Sep 30: Futurebirds, Old Heavy Heads
At Victory Junction, our will to provide safe and fun experiences for children with complex medical conditions has created a way for them to thrive and have meaningful and empowering opportunities.
This month we’re inviting you to make your own way by creating your Will with FreeWill – and include Victory Junction in your plans. A well-thought-out plan can:
• Empower you to take control of your legacy and ensure your wishes are known,
• Provide for your loved ones, and
• Deliver life-changing experiences to all the Victory Junction kids yet to come.
Create your Will and become part of Victory Junction’s legacy by going to freewill.com/victoryjunction.
Or contact Tonya Hayes at 336-495-2041 or thayes@victoryjunction.org for more information.
[BARTENDER OF THE WEEK BY NATALIE GARCIA]
Check out videos on our Facebook!
NAME: Ariel Pyron
AGE: 27
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Ru n, N.C.
WHERE DO YOU BARTEND?
Rio Grande Kitchen & Cantina — Oak Ridge
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BARTENDING?
4 years.
HOW DID YOU BECOME A BARTENDER?
My bull riding career wasn’t taking o .
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BARTENDING?
Meeting new people and making my customers awesome drinks that they love.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF BARTENDING?
Trying not to wear my emotions on my face when I’m busy.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO MAKE?
Long Island Iced Tea.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK TO DRINK?
Vodka, water, and squirt of Mio.
WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS AN AFTER-DINNER DRINK?
A glass of wine.
WHAT’S THE STRANGEST DRINK REQUEST YOU’VE HAD? A “Transfusion.” It has grape juice, vodka and sprite.
WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE SEEN WHILE BARTENDING?
I once had a guy cuss me out because I asked for his ID. He didn’t have it, so I couldn’t serve him. He got angry, made a big scene and started recording me and the owner. I’ve also had to break up a few potential fights but nothing crazy!
WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING YOU’VE FOUND IN A BAR BATHROOM? Nothing yet!
WHAT’S THE BEST/BIGGEST TIP YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN?
$1,200
WANNA BE FEATURED IN HOT POUR?
Email Natalie Garcia at natalie@yesweekly.com and ask about being our Bartender of the Week!
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A relaxed mood early in the week could give way to high-temperature disputes. The Aries Lamb should resist being pulled into heated quarrels that could really singe your wool.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Satisfy that practical obligation first, then feel free to indulge in your creative endeavors. Also, check for hidden or overlooked areas where repairs might be long overdue.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)
Home is still the Twins’ major focus this week, but outside matters begin to take on added importance, especially those involving possible career moves. Stay alert for signs of change.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A travel plan might need to undergo some considerable adjustments because of unexpected changes. Keep an open mind and let the facts guide you on how you want to handle this.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) Playing cat and mouse with a matter you’ve been avoiding wastes time, energy and, most importantly, an opportunity. Ask someone with experience to help you get started.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A shift in policy might not please you, but before you put up a “no go” wall of resistance, examine the circumstances. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Yesterday’s critiques about your methods might have already evolved into today’s praise for your achievements.
Good for you. Now go on and continue to build on your credibility.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An occasional temperamental flare-up might occur, as you continue to help get things back to normal. Stay with it. You should soon get some idea of where to take things next.
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A negative reaction to what you believe was a well-deserved request might mean that you need to reconsider your position and make changes accordingly.
[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) There’s always room for someone new at the Sea Goat’s table. The someone new for this week could bring a message you’ve been waiting a long time to hear.
[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A pile-on of personal matters this week might seem too overwhelming to deal with, but handling them on a one-byone basis could have you out from under it by the weekend.
[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A friend might need your good advice regarding a matter. Be supportive, but unless you can be absolutely sure you have all the facts, also be careful about any suggestions you’re asked to o er.
[BORN THIS WEEK: You have a talent for bringing out the best in people, no doubt due to your inspiring work ethic and sensitive nature.
© 2023 by King Features Syndicate
crossword on page 11
sudoku on page 11
by Fifi Rodriguez
[1. MOVIES: In which U.S. state does the movie Field of Dreams take place?
[2. FOOD & DRINK: What is sauerkraut?
[3. ACRONYMS: What phrase does the acronym GPS stand for?
[4. GEOGRAPHY: The country of Guyana lies on which continent?
[5. TELEVISION: What is the pub where characters in “The O ce” gather after work?
[6. SCIENCE: How many karats are in pure gold?
[7. PSYCHOLOGY: What is the fear represented by autophobia?
[8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How big is a newborn kangaroo?
[9. AD SLOGANS: What product is advertised as “the snack that smiles back”?
[10. LITERATURE: Who wrote “The Canterbury Tales”?
10. Geo rey Chaucer.
9. sh.Goldfi
8. About 1 inch or less.
7. Fear of being alone.
6. 24.
5. Poor Richard’s.
4. South America.
3. Global positioning system.
2. Pickled cabbage.
1. Iowa.
© 2023 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
2023
3 days 4+ Stages
Ric Robertson Band