Cleveland Bachelor

Cleveland Bachelor's Top 10 Albums of 2010

2010-12-29T20:55:00.003-05:00

I really fell off my early 2010 (and especially 2009) music writing pace, but in the spirit of finishing the year (and decade) strong, I decided to quickly crank out a list of my top 10 favorite albums of the year. I know, a far cry from my top 25 of the previous year. These are the ones I found myself playing over and again, mentioning to friends, pining to see live when/if they came through Cleveland or, better yet, their touring paths happening to cross mine while away from home on work. I endorse a visit to each of these band's websites and the purchase of their music in whatever form you digest it these days, especially some of those bands you might not yet be familiar with, like The Octagon and This Moment in Black History.

In another spirit - that of community - I'm intrigued to hear your own thoughts on best album of the year or, should you check out any of these records on my lists, what you happen to think about them.

With that, I bring you CB's Top Ten Albums of 2010...

10) Everybody Was In the French Resistance ... Now!, Fixin' the Charts, Vol. 1 (Cooking Vinyl) (Check out my 2009 interview with the band's frontman, Eddie Argos, here.)
9) Menomena, Mines (Barsuk) (Check out my 2009 interview with one of the band's members, Brent Knopf, here.)
8) Best Coast, Crazy For You (Mexican Summer)
7) Golden Triangle, Double Jointer (Hardly Art)
6) Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella)
5) CocoRosie, Grey Oceans (Sub Pop) (Check out my album review - kinda - here.)
4) Phosphorescent, Here's to Taking it Easy (Dead Oceans)
3) Titus Andronicus, The Monitor (XL)
2) Beach House, Teen Dream (Sub Pop)

... and ...

1) The Octagon, Warm Love and Cool Dreams Forever (Serious Business Records) (Check out my album review here.)

Honorable Mentions:

Best Local Album - This Moment in Black History, Public Square (Smog Veil)

Best EP - Small Black, s/t (Jagjaguwar)

Return of the Show of the Month (aka Are you ready for the CB December Show of the Month?)

2010-12-07T13:49:00.002-05:00

We haven't sponsored one of these since June and, for a while, I was wondering if I'd ever do it again.

When I heard that my good friend, Austin-based chanteuse Jessie Torrisi, was coming through town, however, that indecisiveness solidified into hardened resolved in no time flat.

Jessie's coming through our fair city along with a scaled-down, intimate version of her backing band, The Please Please Me. She'll be making a few appearances in the city while she is here, but the big draw is this Friday when she plays two sets on Waterloo Road. She'll be kicking things off with a set at Blue Arrow Records at 7, followed by a show at the Cafe at Arts Collinwood at 9. In between, there's a bunch of great stuff going on up and down the increasingly vital Waterloo arts corridor, including some super sweet deals at Music Saves, the best little indie rock record store in all of ~~Cleveland~~ ~~Ohio~~ America!

OK, now that I have you checking your watch and calendar, calculating the hours till the work week ends and the Please Please Me please you, I'll leave you with a little light reading: my original review of Jessie's album, written pre-friendship (so you know it is honest).

Still alive

2010-12-06T16:14:00.002-05:00

Hey folks,

I've been out of pocket for a minute ... or, rather, about four months. BUT I'm back and have a few interesting things to share with you in the coming days.

Blogging will likely be light, at least compared to 2009 levels of activity, but since I have a lot of computer-related work on my agenda in the next several weeks, I plan to find times to get back in touch with my e-Cleve peeps.

More soon!

July Live Music Radness

2010-07-01T15:55:00.002-04:00

JULY:
2 - Madame & the Moist Towelettes/Filmstrip/Matthew Forcefed @ Beachland OR Prisoners/Young Mammals @ Happy Dog OR Afternoon Naps/Go Slowpoke @ Cranky's
3 - Cracker @ Musica (Akron)
6 - Smashing Pumpkins @ House of Blues
7 - Bears @ Grog Shop
8 - Small Black/Beach Fossils @ Grog Shop OR Earl Greyhound/Miss Amanda Jones @ Beachland
9 - Sweetapple @ Grog Shop
11 - James McMurtry @ Beachland OR Cheap Trick/Squeeze @ HOB
13 - Sleigh Bells @ Grog Shop
14 - Kurt Vile/Real Estate/Cloud Nothings @ Beachland
15 - Wolf Parade @ Beachland (Free CLOVERS after-show in the Tavern!)
20 - Old 97s @ Beachland
22 - Lightning Bolt @ Grog Shop OR Heartless Bastards/Builders and the Butcher/Peter Wolf Crier @ Grog Shop
24 - The Zookeepers/Netherfriends @ bela dubby OR Tokyo Police Club/Freelance Whales @ Grog Shop OR Black Keys/Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Nautica OR Black Mountain @ Beachland
29 - Blitzen Trapper/Avi Buffalo @ Grog Shop

AUGUST:
1 - Morris Day & The Time @ Luke Easter Park
2 - Bear in Heaven @ Grog Shop
3 - Rogue Wave @ Grog Shop
6 - Maps & Atlases @ Grog Shop
7 - Phosphorescent/Lowly, the Tree Ghost @ Grog Shop
10 - Javelin/Warpaint @ Grog Shop
11 - Deer Tick/The Modern Electric @ Rock Hall
21 - Compound Fest @ The Compound (E 63rd & St Clair)
24 - The Black Crowes @ House of Blues
27 - Lou Barlow/Wye Oak @ Grog Shop
28 - Jill Andrews of Everybodyfields @ Beachland

SEPTEMBER:
2 - The Breeders @ Beachland
4 - Paleface @ Beachland
10 - Matt & Kim @ Beachland
12 - KISS @ Blossom OR Somebody Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin/Telekinesis @ Grog Shop
18 - Ramblin' Jack Elliot @ Beachland
21 - Best Coast/Male Bonding @ Beachland OR Those Darlins @ Beachland
27 - Menomena @ Beachland

Melt vs Man vs Food

2010-06-21T15:31:00.000-04:00

Tonight in Cleveland (6/20): Tortoise at the Grog Shop

2010-06-21T12:27:00.002-04:00

Cleveland Museum of Art Summer Party GIVEAWAY

2010-06-18T19:17:00.002-04:00

Hello friends

Love art? Love summer? Love parties? Love things that are free? Especially if they are tickets to events that are already sold out?

PERFECT.

BECAUSE, CB recently got the hook-up on a pair of tickets to the Phenomenal Handclap Band's show at the CMA Summer Party!

All you need to do to win 2 complimentary tickets to the 10 PM Solstice Party is send me an email at: clevelandbachelorATgmailDOTcom. The first to write in will have their name sent to the publicist that bequeathed these freebies to me, who will in turn make sure these names get on the hook-up list at the door.

CB can't make the party, which is a bummer, as he's dug the Phenomenal Handclaps since two SXSWs ago. Check them out for him, por favor, and pour a little bit of your cocktail out on the ground in his honor when they star playing "15 to 20" and get a little freaky when they play "Baby."

Tonight in Cleveland (6/13): Sunday Roast Reading Series @ Arts Collinwood

2010-06-13T06:42:00.000-04:00

CB Show of the Month update - CocoRosie going all televisual on that ass

2010-06-12T18:46:00.003-04:00

This music video blows my mind. Considering the band it comes from, I guess that shouldn't be surprising. Nonetheless, I'm super stoked CocoRosie is headlining this humble weblog's June get-down.

Tonight in Cleveland (6/12): Peter Wolf Crier @ Grog Shop

2010-06-12T05:36:00.000-04:00

Peter Wolf Crier's new album, Inter-Be, is quickly becoming one of my favorites of 2010. Yeah, it has a while to catch this year's releases by The Octagon, Beach House, and CocoRosie, but those releases also had a significant head-start on romancing my eardrums.

Inter-Be is chock full of solid tracks, from the album opener "Crutch & Cane" to the penultimate tune, the utterly brilliant "Saturday Night" (my favorite song on the album). In between are gems like "Down Down Down," "Untitled 101," "In Response," and "For Now."

And that doesn't even take into consideration moment-to-moment sneakers like "You're So High" and "Demo 01."

Seriously, this is a good record. A really good one. And the show should be pretty sweet, too. So go there. Tix are $7, the show's at 9 at the Grog Shop, and you might be able to see PWC and then jet over to Cranky's on W. 25th in plenty of time to see Folklore!

Tonight in Cleveland (6/11): First Aid Kit @ Grog Shop

2010-06-11T11:59:00.002-04:00

If you know me in the slightest, you know I have a very soft spot for Swedish pop (or, really for any kind of Northern European pop music). I was super excited to see First Aid Kit coming through town, and totally devastated when I was made aware I would not be able to attend the show. So, do me a favor, will ya? Hit this show and let me know how awesome it was. But do so gently, please. Don't rub it in. I'm sensitive enough already.

The show gets going at 9 at the Grog - get there early to see Craig Ramsey rock the opening slot.

CB Q/A #38: Jimmy Hughes of Folklore

2010-06-11T07:37:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it - I'm a fickle bastard. I get excited and grow tired of certain developments in this wonderful city more quickly than I should, but, well, that's just how it goes. What keeps me from falling into a pit of cynicism and selfishness, however, is when I see good work being done by good people in ways that I hadn't noticed before. Just like RA Washington's efforts in my own neighborhood get me pumped, Rachel Hart has been doing some good things on the west side, especially in bringing better and better talent to Cranky's Pub on West 25th.

There are oodles of examples I could point too, but instead I'll just give a shout out to the next one. On Saturday (ahem, tomorrow!), Athens GA/Philly PA's Folklore rolls through Clevo to play a gig with local heroes Afternoon Naps and Chicago's The Bears of Blue River.

Folklore is Jimmy Hughes and lots of his friends from Athens GA and Philadelphia PA, the two towns that Hughes calls home. A veteran to the Athens music scene where he plays as a full-time member of Elf Power and also toured playing with Vic Chesnutt throughout 2009, Hughes took the songwriter role when he formed Folklore back in 2005 to create the conceptual album, The Ghost of H.W. Beaverman (released in 2007). A grandiose tale, the songs sounds like they’ve appeared off different records initially but the fog will clear and you’ll find yourself traversing through the story many times over. The bonus of course is that there are splendid melodies to be found on every corner, with guitars, clarinets, strings, trumpet, trombone, digeridoo, and more forming the backdrop to songs that have been called poignant, provocative, heartbreaking, and haunting. 2008 brought the darker, more psychedelic follow-up album, Carpenter’s Falls.

The new album, Home Church Road (to be released in Summer 2010), is 16 songs telling the story of the Earth after humans have become extinct. Only a few species of mammals, birds, lizards, and bugs remain. They peacefully coexist on Earth until the day they discover, alive but buried in the ground, a human priest. His name is Loki. Mistaken as the last human, Loki is actually a shape-shifter, and his friendly manipulations and seductions will ensure the rebirth of the large carnivorous beasts and dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth. Such is the story of Home Church Road.

In 2005, Jimmy started writing the Folklore songs as an outlet for unfinished fiction, a collection of connected stories written as songs rather than prose. The Athens band was born and released two albums together. In 2009, Jimmy relocated to Philadelphia where he managed to find several people who wanted to continue playing as Folklore, and within months of moving there, the band was already playing regular club shows and house shows. So what would have most likely faded into a lost bedroom project is now a stronger than ever live band in Philadelphia: Jason Henn (drums), Chad Arnett (guitar), Scott Churchman (double bass), Avalon Clare (clarinet), Yianni Kourmadas (bass clarinet), Cheryl Nguyen (violin), Andrew Keller (viola). The Home Church Road recordings feature performances by all of the Philadelphia cast as well as all of the Athens players. This current tour will involve members of both the Athens band and the Philadelphia band.

I recently had the opportunity to do a little q&a with Jimmy - read on, he's a pretty interesting chap and a nice guy to boot!

1) How are things going with the Folklore project these days? What's next?
Things seem to be really picking up momentum. We have a new album in the bag titled Home Church Road that should be out in the Fall of 2010, we've been touring a lot, and our band (and friendship within the band) has been growing really strong. So it's been really fun being involved in Folklore! As far as what's next, it's hard to tell at this point. I guess it will all depend on what becomes of this new record and if audiences, fans, critics, etc respond to it. But even if the record just becomes another lost gem in a sea of albums, I hope that we make another one. We have already started discussing what our next concept album will be about.

2) What are you looking forward to most about this upcoming tour?
We'll be recording a Daytrotter Session (www.daytrotter.com) so that will be exciting. But just in general, I think we are all excited to get out on the road and play with some awesome bands (The Bears Of Blue River, Poison Control Center, and more) and have a really good time. Most of the touring we have done recently has been short term regional shows which is fun, but it will be nice to get out on the road and stay out on the road for a spell. I like playing shows that way because I feel like it gives the band a chance to really get in a groove. We're also looking forward to seeing old friends in Cleveland, Chicago, and so on.

3) What do you think are your most significant inspirations on the forthcoming album, Home Church Road?
Birds, Lizards, Cows, Deer, Good, Evil, and the general idea that humans take the Earth for granted and will one day be erased from it. Musically, I have been inspired lately by bands like the Kinks and CCR and Bob Dylan, but I don't think that our sound can be directly linked to any one of those influences. That's just what I like to listen to. Also, all of these songwriters deal in story-telling and that is what Folklore's main objective is, so I guess I have to take a few lessons from the masters.

4) I noticed you did a Kickstarter project. I really dig the concept behind that program. What did you think? Would you do it again?
Kickstarter was an amazingly helpful tool for us to get the money to press this new album on vinyl (which we definitely wouldn't have been able to afford without the astounding generosity of our friends, fans, and family). I would definitely do it again, and Kickstarter is set up in such a way that it is easy and super user-friendly, both for us the band and for the people donating. If we had set out to do this on our own just soliciting donations from our friends via email, word-of-mouth, etc, there is no way it would have been as successful as it was.

5) Ever been to Cleveland before? Any interesting memories to share?
Yes, Folklore has played in Cleveland once before at the Beachland, and I have been through Cleveland before with other bands that I play in as well, such as Elf Power, Bugs Eat Books, and others. It was really fun last time Folklore was in town because we had a great show and then we got to hang out afterwards with my friend Paul at his warehouse studio Zombie Proof (which sadly I hear is no more). That was a really great night. One of these days if I find the time in Cleveland, I would like to visit the museum in the old house from A Christmas Story, but I don't know if we'll have time this time around. I like that movie though and that seems like it would be a fun visit. But in general, I don't think I have ever had a bad time in Cleveland.

Saturday's Folklore show is 18+ and costs $5 for legal drinkers, $10 for those not yet of age. Cranky's is located at 2527 W 25th St and the get down gets down at about 10 PM.

CB Q/A #37: Kid Millions of Man Forever, Oneida

2010-06-10T07:37:00.001-04:00

Ever since Arts Collinwood hired the inimitable and impressive R.A. Washington, things at the non-profit that anchors Waterloo Road have just gotten cooler and cooler. Whether pop-up art benefits for Haiti or a bewildering array of well-curated music and film events, Washington has upped the ante at the spot.

The most recent example of this takes place on Monday, June 14th, when indie rock drummer par excellence Kid Millions (most famously of Oneida) brings his percussive noise-symphony to town in the form of his newest project, Man Forever.

I've spent hours listening to the tracks that I was fortunate enough to receive from Mr. Millions, and still have only barely wrapped my mind around it (or, perhaps, I still haven't). Rather than butcher the description of something that is conceptually weighty and enormously ambitious, I'll let the man describe it to you himself:

“A few months ago I went to see Fireworks Ensemble perform Metal Machine Music, I read the liner notes for the show, listened to the original record and learned how the piece was originally recorded and discovered Ulrich Krieger’s transcription process. During the performance I was inspired to record an album right away. A conversation I’d had a year or so ago with Brian Chase (from the YYYs) about just intonation tuning with drums popped into my head and I realized I could do something with acoustic drums inspired by the “noise” of electric instruments. I visualized a monolithic recording that would utilize the rich tonality of carefully tuned acoustic drums, played powerfully and multi-tracked at different speeds onto the Ocropolis (Oneida’s Brooklyn Studio) 16 track 1” tape machine. I asked Brian Chase to come to the studio and help me tune my drums so I could capture my ambition for the piece. Richard Hoffman (Sightings) added some bass to the final mix. The tempo is something like 180BPM. The piece moves fast at an almost imperceptible rhythm. It feels overwhelming and fluctuates constantly. Turn it up!”

After reading that description and listening to the music, I just had to get further into it. Below is the best transcript my creaky old fingers could produce of a conversation the drummer and I had a few days back. Enjoy!

How do you characterize what you are doing musically right now? I think words like “free” and “post” could be used, but that there is possibly a better way to get it said. What’s your preferred way?

It’s funny - I don’t really do that, for whatever reasons. I’m kind of uncomfortable with words like free or improvisation. It is improvised and it sounds like high-energy free music, it certainly has that touchstone, but my idea conceptually is kind of like a physical performance. For the performer, it’s not meant to be something they express themselves while doing. It’s not supposed to be five guys soloing together, but more supposed to be about an ensemble and the individuals subsuming their egos to the main goals of the ensemble. The main goal would be to create a very complicated aural tapestry of tones that kind of create overtones, like acoustic noise music. That’s how I describe it to people. The show is also very aggressively played, but at the same time people find it kind of meditative. It’s kind of like taking the concepts of minimalism and noise and tuning and just intonation and bringing them all into a drum context and then just going balls out.

So kind of like there is sort of a sonic ideology behind it.

That’s a cool way of thinking about it. I would agree. I have an agenda. Definitely.

It seems like you are playing at some interesting venues on this tour – galleries, DIY venues, etc. Do you think that fits in some way with the musical project?

I agree. I wanted to get out of the rock club mentality and that kind of presentation. I do that with Oneida and it’s awesome and I love it, but I felt this would work better with less PA support and be more experiential with the acoustics. I thought that it could be presented in more alternative spaces, and everywhere except Chicago (where the show is taking place at the more traditional rock club The Empty Bottle) people saw what I had in mind and came up with some great ideas.

To be honest, this is probably gonna totally suck money-wise, unfortunately, but it’ll be super cool for the experience. The experience is about all kind of different things – yeah, it’s a performance, but its also relational. The idea is that the acoustic tone is supposed to be the most important thing, and then of course there is the physical element, with very physical drummers trying to build up a ton of energy, playing as hard and as fast as possible.

I could totally see this music being played with some sort of visual dimension.

Yeah, man, I agree. Visuals could totally complement what I’m going for. There are gonna be some visuals at some of the shows. I’m open if someone wants to do it, but I haven’t focused on that so much. It’ll happen in Pittsburgh, though, and if there were people I knew in more cities that did projections, I would totally reach out but I don’t really know everyone everywhere. I did every aspect of this project on my own, from publicity to recording, and there were some things I just had to give up on for now. But, yeah, visuals are something that’ll happen.

You have an impressive bunch of folks you’ve been working on this project with as of late. To what extent is this a Kid Millions jam versus being a collaborative thing?

They are part of the ensemble. They are really there to execute my vision and I’m really super honored by that. Everyone just wants to make it sound the way I want it to. We’ll see how it shapes out on the road, because we’ll have a bunch of different shows and we’ll probably talk after about what was successful and what wasn’t. I’m totally interested in other people’s ideas, and in terms of Brian Chase’s (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) involvement, he totally helped me execute my ideas. A year and half or so ago I had this long conversation with him about intonation and what he was doing with his drums and when I decided to do this I thought he could really help me realize what I was going for, and he did.

And then Shahin (Motia, of Oneida) helped me in the studio when I was recording it – I did everything myself, but he was there and he helped me realize it.

For another example, with Richard Hoffman (the bassist from Sightings), I told him the key the drums were tuned in and asked him to reference that, and he did, but you can tell it isn’t normal bass. It was Richard.

On tour, even though we are playing music that I originally recorded by myself, I’m not telling the drummers what to play but I also have a concept for how the piece should go. The piece needs to be full-on the whole time. Everyone’s there for me, which is kind of scary, but I’m excited.

What’s next for Man Forever?

It is gonna be interesting to see. I’m definitely going to do another album. It’ll come out on Brah (Oneida’s label) and I need to buckle down and explore what the next step could be. I’m doing a bunch of shows on weekends through the end of the year in cities all over and will be collaborating with local musicians in each space. I really view this as an opportunity to connect with other musicians outside of a traditional rock band type of setting. It’s just a different kind of conceptual playing field. So, yeah, I’m still gonna keep doing it. The album will be coming out in Japan so I might go to Japan and collaborate with Japanese drummers. Man, there is lots to do – the sky is the limit.

Finally, I always ask, any Cleveland stories worth sharing?

Oneida has played here many, many times. In fact, we played there on our first tour in 1997. We’ve made great friends there, like the guys in This Moment in Black History. You know, I think we’ve played every venue.

Now, I’ll admit, I’m an outsider – Cleveland might have more charm for me than it does for the locals. I love Cleveland. Bobby and Jane (from Oneida) both spent time at Oberlin and love Cleveland’s history, especially the punk history. We’ve always felt that connection when we are there. I’m excited it (the upcoming show at Arts Collinwood) worked out – I feel really good about the music and arts communities there. I see the punk era there being such an essential part of this country’s musical heritage so it is exciting to play there. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, well, it could be more local-centric, but maybe they have a Pere Ubu section I don’t know about. Overall, I think Cleveland is very unique, much richer musical scene and feels less striated than say New York or Chicago. I like that all kinds of artists and writers and musicians are pals and come out to the shows. I’m psyched that it worked out. I wasn’t sure that it would but it did.

Come on down to Arts Collinwood (15605 Waterloo Road, Cleveland) for what promises to be a performance that gets your brain working more than usual. You'll end up being more psyched that Man Forever came than Kid Millions was that they were able to book it.

Tonight in Cleveland (6/10): The Golden Filter @ Grog Shop (and free ticket giveaway!!!)

2010-06-10T06:57:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite and most trusted publicists recently turned me on to The Golden Filter. She tends to rep a lot of the bands I like and though I wasn't aware of the band before she sent me a note, I'm glad she clued me in. Although I usually don't dig on the electronica stuff too much, but these guys make even a curmudgeonly fat-ass like me shimmy. Their new record, Voluspa, is something special. For those of you that thrive on endorsements, consider this: MOJO deemed Voluspa their "Electronica Album of the Month," Pitchfork called the band,"an infectious slice of shimmering disco beats, sparkling synth melodies and breathy disaffected vocals," and NME describes them as, "post-millennial disco with an icy sheen."

Stated simply, you should (a) see them live when they play the Grog tonight and (b) pick up a copy from the merch table during the set break. The show's at 9 and tix are a mere 8 bones. Not bad, considering openers The Hundred in the Hands and Pictora are worth catching, too.

HOWEVER, thanks to the generosity of the aforementioned publicist, I have 2 free tickets to give away to tonight's show. So, the first person to send me an email (clevelandbachelorATgmailDOTcom) with your name gets them. I'll make sure you are on the list at the door plus one.

Gettin' Oblique with it

2010-06-09T17:26:00.003-04:00

OK, so "oblique" might not quite have the ring of "jiggy" but work with me here. Looking for something funky to do like tonight? Maybe have an incentive to seem hip and cultured and in the know? If so, come on down to Waterloo and catch the Oblique Orchestra at the Cafe at Arts Collinwood tonight. Every Wednesday is jazz night, but tonight will be a special treat. If nothing else, say goodbye to Cleveland cultural stalwart Ryan Weitzel of Mystery of Two and Exit Stencil Recordings as he prepares to make his mark on NYC.

Tonight in Cleveland (6/9): Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros @ House of Blues

2010-06-09T07:35:00.000-04:00

I've written elsewhere and repeatedly how much I love this band. You are crazy if you don't go see them. Ignore the hipster anti-HOB snobbery about bad sound and expensive drinks (both claims are largely incorrect) and hit up what promises to be one of the best shows you'll see this year. In fact, be smart and go grab dinner at the HOB restaurant beforehand (I heartily endorse the rosemary cornbread and the specialty shrimp dish) and you'll get to enter before everyone else, thus ensuring the opportunity to get right upfront. Trust me - for this show, you'll want to have a bird's-eye view.

Tickets are $17, doors open at 7, the show starts with openers Dawes at 8. If you need more info, check out the venue's site here.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "Home" from Edward Sharpe on Vimeo.

Are you ready for the CB June Show of the Month?

2010-06-08T22:27:00.002-04:00

We took last month off around here, but all the better considering the monster of a poster John G came up with for this month's show. There'll be more info to come - much, much more - but for now I just wanted to share this brilliant art with you.

In the meantime, mark your calendars: Wednesday, June 16th, at the Beachland: CocoRosie (with openers Diane Cluck)

Tonight in Cleveland (6/8): Stars at Beachland Ballroom

2010-06-08T12:46:00.003-04:00

Montreal's Stars come through the http://www.beachlandballroom.com/ tonight. You are crazy if you miss this. They'll be playing selections from their yet unreleased (unless you read this after June 22nd) new album, Five Ghosts. (Pre-order it here!) It'll be awesome. So will the show. Aw man, just make plans to go already. Tickets are only $17 and with an 8 PM show time (doors open at 7), you'll be back home and in bed early enough that you won't even feel it in the morning!

Tonight in Cleveland (6/2): Morningbell @ Now That's Class

2010-06-02T06:25:00.000-04:00

As a blogger who writes a lot about music, I get more unsolicited music than you could ever imagine. Sounds cool, right? Not when you listen to most of it.

HOWEVER ... Sometimes you get some really cool stuff from boutique publicists and hustling musicians. Sometimes, for example, you get turned on to a band like Florida's Morningbell, a band who knows how to mix guitar hooks and volume as well as anyone else. For evidence, check out the video below. I recommend donning your headphones and turning the volume up.

Afterwards, you'll most definitely be wanting this information, so here goes:

The band will be playing Now That's Class tonight at 9. Other bands on the bill (all of which are worth catching) include Craig Ramsey, Sixes and Sevens, and Tides.

Let's Not Lose Our Heads by Morningbell from Eric Atria on Vimeo.

June Live Music Radness

2010-06-01T16:43:00.004-04:00

So much going on this summer - June looks great but July is looking better and better and there is still a long time left for more big announcements to come in!

Also, kudos to whoever is doing the Grog's talent buying these days - they are destroying the field!

JUNE:
1 - Holy Fuck @ Grog Shop
2 - Morningbell @ Now That's Class
5 - The Very Knees/Tastycakes/Rebecca Nagle @ Beachland
6 - Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Surfer Blood @ Beachland
8 - Stars @ Beachland
9 - Caribou/Toro y Moi @ Grog Shop OR Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes @ HOB
10 - She & Him @ House of Blues OR The Golden Filter @ Grog Shop
11 - First Aid Kit @ Grog Shop
12 - Peter Wolf Crier/Lighthouse & the Whaler @ Grog Shop OR Phish @ Blossom OR Folklore/Bears of Blue River/Afternoon Naps @ Cranky's
13 - The Spits/Nobunny/The Wooly Bullies @ Now That's Class
14 - Dutchess and the Duke @ Now That's Class OR Man Forever @ ArtsCollinwood
16 - CocoRosie @ Beachland
17 - Beach House @ Beachland
19 - Mates of State @ Grog Shop OR Prisoners/Coffinberry @ Blue Arrow Records OR Grace Potter & the Nocturnals @ Beachland
21 - Tortoise @ Grog Shop
23 - Melvins @ Grog Shop OR Truth & Salvage Co./Paleface @ Beachland
24 - Mono/Twilight Sad @ Grog Shop
25 - Two Man Gentleman Band @ Beachland OR Sisters of your Sunshine Vapor @ Now That's Class OR The Modern Electric @ Grog Shop
26 - Waterloo Arts Fest (bands tba)
27 - Public Enemy @ House of Blues OR Lilith Fair @ Blossom
29 - Woven Bones/CCR Headcleaner @ Now That's Class OR Cindy Lauper @ HOB
30 - Paper Tongues @ HOB

JULY:
2 - Prisoners/Young Mammals @ Happy Dog
8 - Small Black/Beach Fossils @ Grog Shop
9 - Sweetapple @ Grog Shop
11 - James McMurtry @ Beachland OR Cheap Trick/Squeeze @ HOB
13 - Sleigh Bells @ Grog Shop
14 - Kurt Vile/Real Estate @ Beachland
15 - Wolf Parade @ Beachland
20 - Old 97s @ Beachland
22 - Lightning Bolt @ Grog Shop OR Heartless Bastards/Builders and the Butcher/Peter Wolf Crier @ Grog Shop
24 - The Zookeepers/Netherfriends @ bela dubby OR Tokyo Police Club/Freelance Whales @ Grog Shop OR Black Keys/Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Nautica OR Black Mountain @ Beachland
29 - Blitzen Trapper/Avi Buffalo @ Grog Shop

AUGUST:
2 - Bear in Heaven @ Grog Shop
3 - Rogue Wave @ Grog Shop
6 - Maps & Atlases @ Grog Shop
7 - Phosphorescent @ Grog Shop
11 - Deer Tick/The Modern Electric @ Rock Hall

Tonight in Cleveland (6/1): Holy Fuck @ Grog Shop

2010-06-01T15:41:00.002-04:00

Like your rock minus the vocals and with a little instrumental electronica? Well, Holy Fuck is for you. They'll be wowing the crowd at the Grog Shop and enabling teenagers all over Cuyahoga County to slip an f-bomb past their parents and still be technically moral while doing so. Doors at 9, tickets are $12 at the door.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/22): Waterloo Feral Cat Project Benefit!

2010-05-22T07:03:00.000-04:00

Tonight in Cleveland (5/21): Whiskey Daredevils/The Elks at Beachland Tavern

2010-05-21T09:56:00.002-04:00

Been a long week? Had a touch too much stress? In need of something that rocks but also might make you laugh (a lot)?

Boy are you in luck. For tonight, The Whiskey Daredevils and their frontman Greg Miiller's Lottery League band "The Elks" will play the Beachland Tavern joined by Canton rockabilly band Rumble Daddy. With this combination of The Whiskey Daredevils and America's #1 Lodge Rock band "The Elks", this should be a real winner. The Elks only have a 20 minute set, so get there early. It goes by fast and they play first. The Tavern shows have sold out the last two times the Daredevils have held them there, so buy your tix in advance if you want to make sure and be there. www.beachlandballroom.com

Tonight in Cleveland (5/19): Jessica Lea Mayfield/The Futurebirds at Beachland Tavern

2010-05-19T06:53:00.000-04:00

There is a lot to celebrate in terms of the indie music richness of NEO. That's a given. But when we get down to the nitty gritty of listing out which artists we ought to be most thankful for, I gotta believe that Jessica Lea Mayfield comes at or near the top of every discerning listener in the region.

Who's that, you ask? Oh, my. Friend, you are gonna thank me for this tip:

Go to the Beachland tonight. Get there early enough to catch Athens GA's The Futurebirds, if you can, but definitely get there to hear the evening's headliner.

Doors open at 8, show kicks off about 9, and the whole thing will only set you back a 10-spot.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/16): Cracker/Reverend Horton Heat

2010-05-16T13:23:00.002-04:00

A blast from not that far into the past, but a latter-day twentieth century get-down, nonetheless as the Beachland welcomes CB favorites Cracker to Cleveland as the alt-country heroes open for seminal punkabilly rockers Reverend Horton Heat. This one will be a doozy - I've never seen Cracker and found them to be anything other than awesome. And the rev, of course, rules.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/15): Paleface & Todd Snider at the Beachland

2010-05-15T08:56:00.000-04:00

Anyone who has read this website for a moderate length of time should know by now of my affection for Paleface. I've dug the music both recorded and live and think anyone who does not avail themselves of the opportunity to see Mr. PF and Ms. Mo in concert is foolish, to say the least. I've even waded into the concert promotion business, to mildly disastrous results, by trying to bring these two to small-town Texas. They may well refuse to speak to me at the show after that last one, but I'll still be there anyway. If you go, and you should, say hi for me!

PALEFACE "New York, New York" from fool factory films on Vimeo.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/13): Douglas Max Utter/Kasumi exhibit opening at Asterisk Gallery

2010-05-14T11:13:00.002-04:00

Tonight is the opening reception for the newest exhibit at Cleveland's fine Asterisk Gallery. Dubbed "Sleepwalkers," the exhibit features the work of a couple tremendous artists, painter Douglas Max Utter and video artist Kasumi. This is not one to be missed, as evidenced by the artists' statement below.

Daily life is a matter of complex equilibrium, achieved in a micro- and macro-context of mind boggling velocities -- like passengers napping on a commuter flight. One of the secrets of our poise is the interior positioning system that cognitive scientists term proprioception -- the way we perceive where different parts of our bodies are in space in relation to each other based on internal clues. This is something that art in general seems to comment on and explore. A painting or a video (or dance or concerto) inevitably distorts the transmission of information about both visual and internal realities, a distortion that has emotional, intellectual, even neuro-muscular implications and impact. The works in this show play with a range of effects caused by the interplay of color and line, recognition and transformation based on images of the human figure. These are not intended to be emotionally expressive studies (though they can be); they meditate on the use of formal qualities and materials to evoke the movement of energy through the half-awake array of identities and postures that each of us lumps together under the heading: “myself.”

Tonight in Cleveland (5/13): Plants & Animals/Lowly, the Tree Ghost @ Grog Shop

2010-05-13T11:36:00.002-04:00

It's a Canada vs Clevo battle tonight at the Grog, friends. Montreal's Plants and Animals are cruising in to russle with local troupe Lowly, the Tree Ghost. It should be a good event all around, and though Plants and Animals incredible hot streak this year, including the critical response to their new record La La Land, might seem to make them the favorites for top band of the evening, don't count the local boys (and girl) out. Lowly, the Tree Ghost has expanded significantly since first hitting the scene, and for the better. Frontman Andrew Arbogast still brings it on vocals and guitar, but the full band sound - especially with the addition of vocalist and keyboardist Emily McKitrick - should keep bringing more attention and higher billings the band's way.

If you are wise, then, or even a touch ridiculously anti-Canuck, you would do your best to be Grog-side this evening. Things'll kick off around 9 and tix are a mere $10.

Regardless, be sure to check out the videos below. You'll need to watch the first one at least twice, as during the initial viewing you'll be so absorbed with the visual narrative that you'll forget about the music!

The Mama Papa by Plants and Animals from Secret City Records on Vimeo.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/12): MC Chris/Math the Band at the Grog Shop

2010-05-12T09:27:00.000-04:00

Got nerd?

The fact that I started this post with the way played out milk commercial line appropriation shows I do. If you don't, but want some, check out tonight's MC Chris/Math the Band show at the Grog Shop. As always, bring your pocket-size industrial strength bottle of purell. The jams begin being kicked out at 9 and tickets are $14 at the door.

Math The Band - Why Didn't You Get A Haircut? from kevin steinhauser on Vimeo.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/11): Local Natives/Suckers @ Beachland

2010-05-11T07:50:00.000-04:00

Tonight, indie darlings Local Natives join Suckers, one of the best bands I discovered in 2009 as well as one of the most enjoyable live sets I saw at SXSW in 2010, to rock Waterloo Road. There is already a lot of excitement about this event, as evidenced by the move from the more intimate Tavern to the spacious and gloriously kitschy Ballroom setting.

Those of you that have caught the Local Natives bug will also want to check out their in-store performance at Music Saves earlier in the evening.

Local Natives will start the in-store about 7, doors will open at the Beachland at 7:30, and the get down commences getting down at 8:30. The in-store is FREE and tickets at the Beachland will only cost you $12 at the door.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/8): Deer Tick & The Guile at Beachland

2010-05-08T07:41:00.003-04:00

I'll admit it - although Deer Tick has been around for a minute, I didn't get into them until I learned they were from the same town/scene as The Low Anthem. Once I got into them, though, man did I get into them. Now, well, I'm a touch heart-broken that I have to be 1000 miles away when they stroll through Cleveland tonight for their gig at the Beachland. Somebody please go see them in my stead. And if you take halfway decent (or, hell, indecent) video of a song or two, lemme know - I'll post the clip up here.

KEXP inStudio 10.1 - DEER TICK from More Dust Than Digital on Vimeo.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/7): This Moment in Black History/Knife the Symphony @ The Happy Dog

2010-05-07T09:24:00.000-04:00

This Moment in Black History has just been killing it this year. A killer new record out, a triumphant tour to SXSW and back, and a slew of fantastic youtube concert promos. The artifact you see above is for tonight's show at The Happy Dog and I thought it was such a great riff on French New Wave cinema and silly 60s European revolutionary rhetoric that I had to put it up, even if I can't stand the opening band (hint: they are the ones not mentioned in the title of this post). So check out the show and get yourself a hot dog while you are at it. And if you happen to show up while the not-named-here contemporary indie version of Michael Stanley in the over-heated/over-rated Cleveland music love sweepstakes are playing, take a walk down the block and check out some of the gallery action that is populating Detroit these days.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/5): Frightened Rabbit/Maps & Atlases @ Grog Shop

2010-05-05T07:50:00.000-04:00

Two big indie bands busting through Cleveland's scene tonight, folks. Specifically, everyone's favorite rock dumpster, ye olde Grog Shop, will be hosting Scotland's Frightened Rabbit and Chicago's Maps & Atlases, not to mention Ann Arbor's Our Brother the Native. Check them out below, and then check them out at the Grog - doors are at 8 and the show's a mere $15. Just bring hand sanitizer and hope you don't have to piss.

Maps & Atlases - Ted Zancha (Live @ AEMMP Records Industry Night 2009) from The Belmont Sessions on Vimeo.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/4): An Horse & Kaki King

2010-05-04T07:30:00.001-04:00

I'll be honest - I can't remember where I first heard An Horse, but something about the sound of the band when I did hear it for the first time stuck with me. Later, when I downloaded some music into my iTunes, I found it amusing how it was categorized in the "H" section, rather than the "A." Between that first mystical listen and that funny software glitch memory, the band has stuck with me. They are hitting the Beachland tonight. You should check them out. Maybe they'll stick with you, too.

Tonight in Cleveland (5/1): Road House @ Cedar-Lee

2010-05-01T13:08:00.002-04:00

There is nothing better then welcoming in the month of May with a healthy dose of Swayze.

This movie rules and is the definitive moment of Swayze's career, though points in Point Break and (blech) Ghost also bear mentioning.

See it tonight at the Cedar-Lee at 9:30 or 12.

May Live Music Radness

2010-05-01T12:03:00.002-04:00

Unlike last month, I've managed to hit the beginning of the month right on the dot, so we don't have to worry about any CB-endorsed shows getting missed on the monthly radness round-up.

As usual, if it is listed below, it is worth catching. If it is bolded, you'd be crazy not to etch it on your personal calendar.

MAY:
1 - Backyard Tire Fire @ Beachland
2 - Ike Reilly Assassination @ Beachland
3 - Casiotone for the Painfully Alone/Shiny Penny @ Beachland
4 - An Horse/Kaki King @ Beachland
5 - Frightened Rabbit/Maps & Atlases @ Grog Shop
6 - Annuals/The Most Serene Republic @ Grog Shop
7 - Grant-Lee Phillips @ Beachland
8 - Deer Tick/The Guile @ Beachland OR Murder by Death/Ha Ha Tonka @ Grog Shop
11 - Local Natives/Suckers @ Beachland (sponsored by Music Saves)
12 - MC Chris/Math the Band @ Grog Shop
13 - Plants & Animals/Lowly, the Tree Ghost @ Grog Shop
15 - Paleface/Todd Snider @ Beachland OR Afternoon Naps/Very Truly Yours/Trouble Books @ Cranky's OR Short Rabbits/User/The Ted Kennedys @ bela dubby
16 - Reverend Horton Heat/Cracker @ Beachland
19 - Jessica Lea Mayfield/The Futurebirds @ Beachland
21 - Mumford & Sons/The Middle East @ Beachland Ballroom OR Whiskey Daredevils/The Elks @ Beachland Tavern
22 - Prisoners/Rainy Day Saints/Kyle Sowashes @ Beachland (North Collinwood Cat Project benefit) OR Megan Zurkey @ Low Life Gallery OR Stupid Beautiful Heaven/Pale Hollow @ bela dubby
23 - Corey Fledman & the Truth Movement. (Yes, that Corey Feldman.)
26 - Besnard Lakes/Lighthouse & the Whaler/Land of Talk @ Beachland Ballroom OR White Rhino/All Dinosaurs/Spacer Ace @ Beachland Tavern
29 - GZA/Muamin Collective @ Grog Shop OR Freedom/Coffinberry/Uno Lady/Founding Fathers @ Now That's Class
30 - The Swell Season @ House of Blues
31 - Brian Jonestown Massacre @ Beachland OR Holy Fuck @ Grog Shop

JUNE:
2 - Morningbell @ Now That's Class
5 - The Very Knees/Tastycakes/Rebecca Nagle @ Beachland
6 - Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Surfer Blood @ Beachland
8 - Stars @ Beachland
9 - Caribou/Toro y Moi @ Grog Shop
10 - She & Him @ House of Blues
11 - First Aid Kit @ Grog Shop
12 - Freelance Whales/Peter Wolf Crier/Lighthouse & the Whaler @ Grog Shop
13 - The Spits/Nobunny/The Wooly Bullies @ Now That's Class
14 - Dutchess and the Duke @ Now That's Class
17 - Beach House @ Beachland
19 - Mates of State @ Grog Shop
21 - Tortoise @ Grog Shop
23 - Melvins @ Grog Shop
24 - Mono/Twilight Sad @ Grog Shop
25 - Two Man Gentleman Band @ Beachland OR Sisters of your Sunshine Vapor @ Now That's Class
26 - Waterloo Arts Fest (bands tba)
27 - Public Enemy @ House of Blues
29 - Woven Bones/CCR Headcleaner @ Now That's Class

JULY:
14 - Kurt Vile/Real Estate @ Beachland
15 - Wolf Parade @ Beachland
22 - Lightning Bolt @ Grog Shop
24 - The Zookeepers/Netherfriends @ bela dubby
29 - Blitzen Trapper/Avi Buffalo @ Grog Shop

AUGUST:
8 - Bear in Heaven @ Grog Shop

Celluloid Bachelor #65: This is how I get work done these days

2010-04-30T21:17:00.002-04:00

You might find the above lame or irritating or something altogether different. That's fine. I don't care. Because I swear to god, this single clip has made it possible for me to get more work done in the last 3 days than in any consecutive stretch then the heart of my dissertation writing. For those of you that need a little help concentrating right now, it has the official CB endorsement. It only lasts about 10 minutes, unfortunately, but you can download hour-long versions from a website for like 10 bucks. Let me tell you -- I'm seriously tempted.

Tonight in Cleveland (4/29): Harlem & The Wooly Bullies at Now That's Class

2010-04-29T07:59:00.001-04:00

My pal Fred turned me on to these dudes as we made our way back from a few days in grumpy New York City to Cleveland, city where people actually smile and laugh without worrying too much about cool.

Anyway, this band (Harlem) gets down pretty good, too. That's probably because they aren't from New York either.

Go to Now That's Class tonight. Watch them perform. Smile a little. Shake hands with a neighbor. Don't complain about waiting more than 15 seconds to purchase a drink. Go early for The Wooly Bullies - I saw them play an in-store at Blue Arrow a little while back and they ruled, too.

BUMMER! Giant Cloud Cancels

2010-04-28T19:55:00.002-04:00

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but for those of you super-pumped about tomorrow's Giant Cloud in-store at Blue Arrow Records, read the following statement carefully:

IT IS CANCELLED.

Sucks, don't it? No one is to blame, though. Well, except for the bastard that towed the band's van, forcing it to cough up the rest of its touring budget to get the sucker out of impound. As a result, the band is cancelling the rest of its northern swing and heading back to Louisiana to lick its wounds and build back the bank account.

They'll be back, though, one day. And I promise you, we'll have a get-down.

Until then, sorry we won't be doing it in front of the Blue Arrow stage tomorrow night.

Official CB In-store Announcement: Giant Cloud @ Blue Arrow Records THIS Thursday

2010-04-27T11:31:00.003-04:00

Dear friends,

It is my great pleasure to announce that Cleveland Bachelor has dipped a toe into the in-store promotion biz. I couldn't think of a better band to start with, either.

THIS Thursday at 6:30 PM, please welcome to the Blue Arrow Records stage, New Orleans-based rockers Giant Cloud.

I stumbled upon these guys at a Park the Van Records day party during SXSW last month. I was there to see Floating Action but came away a new and devoted Giant Cloud fan. When they played "Fingernails" I put down my iphone and stopped sending emails. When the turned to "Old Books" - the title track of their recent EP - I broke out a smile, knowing I'd found a new band I could dig. When they played "Old Soul" - man, I fell in love.

I think you'll do the same. These guys do a full-figured southern folk thing, but louder and more plugged-in than that description might lead you to think. So swing by after work, have a beer or two, peruse the stacks and gaze upon Blue Arrow's amazing album floor, all the while digging the savory sounds of one of my new fave's, Giant Cloud.

See you there,

CB

Tonight in Cleveland (4/27): Generationals/Apples in Stereo/Laminated Cat @ Grog Shop

2010-04-27T06:04:00.001-04:00

Generationals // The Apples in stereo // Laminated Cat from Generationals on Vimeo.

Celluloid Bachelor #64: Barack Obama "Vote 2010"

2010-04-26T20:59:00.002-04:00

That's my man.

Sweet Home Chicago

2010-04-26T13:57:00.004-04:00

I'm from Chicago. Well, not "Chicago" Chicago, but more like a south suburb of the Windy City. A more accurate way of stating it would be to say I'm from the Greater Chicagoland Area, but other than car dealership commercials, who wants to waste time on that?

Anyway, I was back in the Chi (pronounced 'shy') last week for work. I moved away from Illinois almost a decade ago and each additional time I've visited since, I've felt more and more like a tourist. Which is fine, because Chicago is a wonderful place to vacation, even if it is a 80% work vacation.

In addition to having a pretty successful work experience this time, I made a little extra time for fun stuff. I've been to the city enough in the last several years, even after moving away, that I don't ever feel the need to hit up anywhere special (other than Portillo's, which I failed to visit this time). This time, I was perfectly happy to allow others to lead the way, focusing more on the company and the fun than on specific locations.

Even so, I had one of the best pizzas of my life at Santullo's in Wicker Park, where my pal and I were kicking around, hitting up Myopic Books and other cool spots. I got to lounge for a minute in the loop location of Reckless Records and scored some cool books (including some great weird ones for Cookbook as a thank you for watching my pups while I was away) at Afterwords.

Perhaps best of all, though, was the Saturday morning/early afternoon outing with another friend to Wrigley Field for a tour of the stadium. That was awesome - nearly 2 hours long with trips to both clubhouses, the press booth, the home dugout, and even part of the field! An event to remember for this lifelong Cub fan. So much so I found myself looking up the Cubs schedule to see when they'd be playing nearby. (FYI - there are some tempting series coming up in early June in Pittsburgh and late August in Cinci.)

To make it even better, afterwards we walked a few blocks to this vintage dive bar my friend had heard about and discovered an incredibly charming little watering hole. The patrons were welcoming, the bartendress both attractive and cool and also born the same year as me, which made for some great conversation about 90s radio alt rock. There is nothing better than meeting a stranger and bonding over that old missing children Soul Asylum video. Seriously, who else is going to get how awesome it was to drink during high school at abandoned country houses code-named things like 'Soundgarden' and 'Candlebox'? Or that you want to give a high-five to when you hear their first show was a Ned's Atomic Dustbin gig?

A handful of beers and a shot from some anonymous person down the bar from us later, we stumbled over to the thoughtfully named Taco and Burrito House for some killer tacos and nachos. Then it was back to work, albeit a bit glassy-eyed and happy.

God I love that town.

Tonight in Cleveland (4/26): Horse Feathers & Cloud Nothings at the Beachland!

2010-04-26T09:34:00.002-04:00

Tonight's show is a good one and a great way for you to get a little rock joy out of a bleary Monday when everything else is closed anyway. New local wonders Cloud Nothings are opening for Portland-based indie folk outfit Horse Feathers. Indie Folk is really a too-limiting label for these guys, though, as it doesn't take into consideration the atmospheric and haunting nature of the band's recently released record, Thistled Spring. Intrigued? So was seminal label Kill Rock Stars when they signed the band. If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for each one of us. Check them out tonight. Doors open at the Beachland at 8 and the cover is $10.

CB Q/A #36: Grant Widmer of Generationals

2010-04-25T06:27:00.000-04:00

I recently caught up with Generationals frontman Grant Widmer as he and the rest of the band cruised up the New Jersey turnpike, making their way from Philly to the Big Apple, en route to play the Bowery Ballroom in New York We started off talking about the experience of playing in NYC and then cruised through a number of topics, including the exciting cultural developments in New Orleans, from which the band hails, what they have planned for 2010 (hint: this is a huge year for the band), and their previous experiences in Cleveland.

Got any exciting plans for while you are in New York?

Man, it is always a headache – there is so much logistical stuff to deal with in New York. As a result, you do less than you want to, because you are always trying to keep everyone together. You have to cut your losses. However, we do have a lot of friends here, so it’ll be a party for sure.

How’s the rest of the tour been going?

This has seriously been the funnest tour we’ve had yet – every show been awesome. I really love the bands we are on the tour with (The Apples in Stereo and Laminated Cat). The weather has been amazing every day. It’s been a fantastic trip. I can’t wait to continue on.

You moved back to New Orleans in 2008, as did Park the Van. Fellow label mates Giant Cloud moved there about the same time. It seems like New Orleans is starting to experience a post-hurricane cultural resurgence. Does that have any kind of impact on your work?

All the people you mention are doing the things they are doing because that’s what they love doing and I think we’d be doing what we do even if we were the only ones there. But we’ve definitely benefited from folks coming down and setting up shop and building a richer community. I hope more bands think New Orleans is a good place to come down and set up.

What are you listening to these days?

We only have a tape player in the van so we buy tapes at gas stations wherever we go. We just bought an ELO Greatest Hits Live Part 2 tape. There is very little by way of liner notes, but from what I’ve gathered Jeff Lynne is not involved and so it is some other guy doing all the singing.

We also just got a copy of the brand new Dr Dog record that just came out on Tuesday. That one’s awesome. It is a little different from previous records – they became pretty well known for their sort of homemade sound and on this one the production value is very very high, but it has a bunch of good songs. I really like it.

Anything out of New Orleans you think people in the rest of the country should be hearing?

Giant Cloud – we’re fans of theirs, too. They are the cool deal in New Orleans right now. They do a lot of touring, as much as us, though, and are probably only there as often as we are, which is to say not very.

New Orleans has a lot of diversity. There are a bunch of brass bands that are really great. A bunch of instrumentalists that just killing it. Kermit Ruffins is about to get real famous.

Givers is another band from Lafayette doing really well, about to be on everyone’s radar soon.

Brass Bed is really great. Their new album is coming out on Park the Van, also. They are also from Lafayette. They’re gonna be killing it this year, doing a lot of touring.

Missing Monuments, have you heard of them yet? They are this power pop band that brings it so hard every night. Gonna be more known this year, definitely.

What’s the plan for the summer?

We’re gonna do a few one-off shows, a festival in June, a festival in Mexico in August, and between those two were gonna try to squeeze in as much recording as we can. We have a few recording projects to accomplish before the fall, when we are trying to work out some more touring, especially internationally. It’s gonna be a big summer. A great year.

How will new record be different from Con Law?

We’ll go in with another group of songs and they’ll sort of reflect what happens when we are in the studio. We don’t have a hard line thing we are going to do, it is just gonna be songs that we bring in and they’ll turn out how they turn out. The seeds will be similar to the ones we brought in when we made the last record, but what happens when we get in there is anybody’s guess. We do what we do, so you’ll know it is us when you hear it, but what it is that we are doing can be pretty different depending on what happens in the studio.

Ever been to Cleveland? Any memorable experiences to share?

Years ago, we played at a place called the Hi Fi with our old band. Generationals has never been there. The Hi-Fi time we loaded our stuff, and then decided we wanted to go down to Rock Hall. So we did, but as soon as we got to the museum, they literally shut the door and locked it. That was awesome. A funny little metaphor for getting shut out of the scene.

But Cleveland overall? I remember it being cool, remember having good weather, I thought it was a nice town. Actually, funny thing, that time the sound guy at Hi-Fi was named Poop. He was a total veteran, been doing it for years and years. Our old band had a female singer and he came up after the show and said we were great, told us about how he used to hang out with Blondie back in the day and how our singer really reminds him of “Debby Harris.” Right, Debby Harris, not Deborah Harry. Real tight friendship there, I bet.

Be sure to check out Generationals when they play the Grog Shop on Tuesday, April 27th with Apples in Stereo and Laminated Cat. Tickets are $12 and the show will commence promptly at 8:30. For real.

Tonight in Cleveland (4/23): Dana Oldfather "We Are Mountains" opening at William Rupnik Gallery

2010-04-23T09:31:00.000-04:00

We Are Mountains, a new solo exhibit by Dana Oldfather, illustrates the weight of one's natural emotional contradictions through a range of experiences; an accomplished existence can nonetheless be consumed with doubt and uncertainty. Her abstract wonderlands are skillful and balanced while her amoebic figures are on a transcendental journey from past to present. Each thoughtful piece gracefully embodies the revelation of contesting aspirations in an ambiguous arrangement of paths and shapes.

Beginning her career as a figurative realist painter, Dana has since loosened her hand and expanded into the realm of abstraction. Contrarily organized and layered, each piece is inspired by nature, culture and resolution. With a focus on innocence, individuality, and consumption, and by employing contrasting metaphorical and magnified pointillist elements, Dana connects to the world through beauty.

Dana currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and has had her works shown across the country. In 2008, she was granted 2nd place in the 9th Annual National Young Painters Competition by renowned New York painter and art critic, Peter Plagens. Dana is currently represented at The Bonfoey Gallery in Cleveland, Ohio, EO Art Lab in Chester, Connecticut, and Kathryn Markel Fine Arts in New York City, New York. Her paintings are also part of corporate collections such as the Cleveland Artists' Foundation and the esteemed Progressive Insurance Art Collection.

Opening reception at William Rupnik Gallery 7-10 PM, Friday, April 23, 2010.

Celluloid Bachelor #63: Generationals "Angry Charlie"

2010-04-21T12:06:00.002-04:00

Can we all agree on just one thing in this complicated, convoluted world? Can we all agree that Park the Van Records is knocking the ball out of the park lately? I'm more than willing to admit that it is my favorite label (though the efforts at Dead Oceans deserve special mention, too).

Today's video comes to us from New Orleans-based band Generationals. "Angry Charlie" is the second track off last year's Con Law album. If you dig it, you'll be particularly stoked to hear the rest of the album live when Generationals hits the Grog Shop with The Apples in Stereo and Laminated Cat next week!

Coming soon ...

2010-04-20T18:24:00.001-04:00

CB Q/A #35: Ben Jones of Giant Cloud

2010-04-20T16:38:00.004-04:00

Giant Cloud is a band I accidentally discovered last month when I was in Austin for SXSW. I’d stopped by a bar for the Park the Van Records day party to see Floating Action, a band I’ve loved for a while but never before seen live, and got to hear a couple bands play before it was their turn. I don’t remember who the first band was, but Giant Cloud came on next and from the moment they started, I was hooked.

They play a great, raucous electric sound that reminds me of the earthy, rural south, which is sorta where they come from, though they’ve recently relocated as a band to New Orleans. Life in the Big Easy has been good for them as a band, living all together in a shotgun house. They spend most of the time on the road, which is where I caught up with them the other day.

The band was making their way through rural Colorado and the reception was spotty, which is why my conversation started with Preston (guitar and vocals) but, after a dropped call, would up with frontman Ben Jones.

How’s the tour going?

It’s going pretty well. We’ve played a lot of dates, been on the road for over a month. It has been hit or miss in some places, but the places we expected to be good were good.

How has the move to New Orleans gone? What’s the best thing?

We moved almost a year ago. It’s been great. That’s where I’m (Ben) originally from. My family’s there and Julie (Ben’s wife and also lead vocalist and Rhodes rocker) has been there for last 8-9 years.

The most exciting thing about being in New Orleans is that the music scene is starting to thrive for the first time since the hurricane. There are lots of great shows and cool bands coming out of nowhere.

Like who? What bands should we know about?

Bands to know about: Caddywhompus. There’s a great band from Lafayette called Givers. They have a pretty good daytrotter session up now.

What do you guys do there other than be in a band?

The band’s been pretty much 100% for a while. We haven’t really worked in New Orleans yet too much outside of the band. We’ve been basically on tour since October of last year, kind of in and out. Ended up touring to pay our rent so we can go back out and tour some more.

What’s the best thing about touring?

The people you meet, for sure. That and all the landscape you see. Makes for interesting memories because you are doing it so fast that it is hard to process all that information. In the course of a month, playing in 28 cities, you go a lot of places but don’t know a lot about any of them.

Actually, the best thing is the cd collection we have now of all the random bands we happened to play with that no one will ever hear of in California or Pennsylvania or Oregon or wherever. It makes for an interesting catalogue – some of it is bad, but others are really great.

You seem to embrace your southern roots a lot, in a good way. It reminds me, in some ways, of Mofro as much as it does Lynyrd Skynyrd. What does it mean to say you are a southern band?

A lot of artists grow up and leave and don’t embrace it. I don’t want to be one of those people. I’ve spent my whole life looking really hard for the beautiful things. I don’t want to leave it. People have a different mindset about Louisiana and we want to show them we are a southern band and have the sound that we do, and can be open minded and loving.

What are you listening to these days?

Caddywhompus. The Boswell Sisters. New Joanne Newsom. New Dr. Dog record.

How do you feel about covers? Play any or have any you’d love to do some day?

Occasionally we’ll play a cover at a bar, maybe do some Beatles songs or something by The Band. We used to cover Good Vibrations, but don’t do it anymore. Occasionally, we’ll throw one out if the party needs to keep going, but we have 15 originals to choose from now.

Does living all together in your house impact the music you make?
You bet. Things are not nearly as frequent, actually, with songwriting. Actually, we’re all kinda going our separate ways when we go home – we moved out of our place before SXSW and will be going different places when this tour ends. Right now, we don’t have anywhere but our van. I think it’ll help out the songwriting success. For me, really being creative means you have to seclude yourself sometimes. And when you have none of that, it slows things down.

To meet Ben and the rest of Giant Cloud, be sure to hit Cranky's on W 25th Street (the former Matinee spot by the interstate entrance) on Thursday, April 29th. They'll be playing with CB faves The Modern Electric, too!

Proper Noun of the Week #31: Dana Oldfather

2010-04-19T08:57:00.000-04:00

I remember when I was younger, telling people I wanted to travel a lot and see exciting places all over America and the world. Anymore, I don't feel like doing that, because nowadays every time I go somewhere "interesting" I find myself missing super cool things here in town. Case in point: Friday's opening reception for Dana Oldfather's new exhibit at William Rupnik Gallery, "We Are Mountains."

I'm doubly bummed about missing this event. First, the work that I've seen is wonderful, and that's after being sent through the digital ringer. I can only imagine what it looks like up close and personal. Second, as you'll soon learn, Dana is quite a cool person. I think we'd even be friends, at least based on her answers to my usual list of questions. Unless, of course, she hired a wordsmith to craft these great answers. In that case, I'd probably be a good platonic match for the writer.

In any case, I urge you to attend this opening, but be gentle when you bump into me next week and tell me how wonderful it was. I have horrid bouts of jealousy, and why I likely won't want to throw down and fight you, then and there, I will talk about you behind your back like you won't believe. Mean. Oh so mean. So, be gentle. Go see the Oldfather exhibit. Just don't rub it in.

1) How long have you been in Cleveland? And if you didn't grow up in Cleveland, where'd you relocate here from?

I graduated from Mentor High and spent my early 20s boozing it around Willoughby. I didn’t really grow up until I was about 25 and moved downtown to the Towerpress Building where I resided for a little over 2 years. Then I moved to my apartment/studio in Tremont where I’ve been since then. I’ve lived in the city proper for about 6-7 years.

2) What is your favorite Cleveland memory?

It was the 4th of July and some friends of mine were playing at The Harp with Tim Easton. It was an all day little festival in the parking lot and Tim was working a booth trying to register people to vote while the other bands played. My girlfriends and I helped out at the booth. The view from The Harp was classic Cleveland. You could see the skyline, the lake, and all the industrial wasteland in between. The day felt very Cleveland. Anyhow, the music rolled on through the afternoon. At sunset my friends’ band “The Roosevelts” took the stage. After a couple songs they started playing a cover of The Beatles “When the Rain Comes” and just like that, the sky opened up and started pouring on the crowd. It was eerie and a little bit magical. Later that evening we sat on the median of the freeway and watched fireworks over the lake. It was perfect Cleveland. I named a painting after that day.

3) How does (if at all) Cleveland influence your work and/or art?
I think mostly it effects my pallet. I started out as a realist painter. When I first moved downtown I was painting bums and kids in bus shelters. The natural blues, grays, and browns of the streets and cars and the dramatically colored skylines have stuck with me through my evolution as a painter. Also, I think a person is what they surround themselves by and I feel very much a part of the Cleveland landscape. Like a combination of tree limbs and asphalt.

4) If it was your birthday and you decided to have a Cleveland-centric blow-out bash, how would you celebrate? That is, what would you do, where would you do it, etc.?

I’d have lunch outside on a patio somewhere with my man (cause in my imaginary world my birthday happens in the summer and not November). We’d spend the afternoon at CMA and MOCA. Eat some dinner at home. Have a couple dirty martinis at Stone Mad on W 65th with a few close friends and go home early.

5) Say you had a friend coming in for 24 hours and had never been to Cleveland before. What would you make sure they saw and did?

First and foremost the Cleveland Museum of Art. We have one of the top 5 art museums in the country and its FREE! No other city can boast that. I remember going to Chicago last year with my Mom and we hit the Institute of Art and she said “What, we have to pay to get in here?” Thanks Mr. Rockefeller for the serious hook up. I think that was the fella.

6) What is something from another city you wish you could import to Cleveland?
A properly functioning train system that actually connects all the good spots – Warehouse District, Tremont, Ohio City, University Circle, Little Italy, Coventry, Cedar Fairmount, Cedar by the Whole Foods, Valley View (for the movies). I love Chicago’s transit.

7) If you had the undivided attention of the mayor, city council, and county commissioners, what would be the one thing you'd ask for or tell them?

Fuck you. Can I say that? I bet that’s what everyone says right? I mean how do you ask someone to stop being corrupt? You either are or you aren’t. Well, after that I guess I’d ask for a grocery store that doesn’t suck cause the Wal-Mart at Steelyard Commons is the gateway to hell and I can’t stand it anymore.

To meet Dana and check out herwork yourself, stop by the William Rupnik Gallery this Friday for the opening of her solo show, "We Are Mountains." The gallery is located at 1667 E 40th Street in Cleveland. Check out the gallery's website here.

And if you found this post interesting, check out previous Proper Noun of the Week conversations about Cleveland and culture with the following interesting folks: Frank Revy, Bill Rupnik, Mina Hoyle, Brendan Walton, Leia Alligator, Arabella Proffer, Becca Riker, Greg Ruffing, Mallorie Freeman, Dave Desimone, J.R. Bennett, Jeff & Mike from CLE Clothing Co, Paulius Nasvytis, Lawrence Daniel Caswell, Curtis Thompson, John Ewing, Shannon Okey, John G, Sean Bilovecky, Dana Depew, Fred Wright, Amanda Montague, Ryan Weitzel, Garrett Komyati, Vince Slusarz, Jonah Jacobs, Jacob Wesley Lang, Kevin Neudecker & Melanie Hershberger, and R.A. Washington.

Today in Cleveland (4/17): Record Store Day & the CB April Show of the Month!

2010-04-17T07:22:00.000-04:00

So much awesomeness going down today, I'm just gonna get right to the basics.

12 - Music Saves opens. Get there early if there is a special item being released today that you want. There will be a line. There will also be coffee available, thanks to the kind generosity of, uh, me.

1:15 - The Beachland screens the new documentary about The Mountain Goats

2:45 - The Beachland screens it again. Last time, though.

3 - Hamell on Trial plays at the Beachland Tavern

4 - White Hinterland DJs Music Saves

5 - Will Rigby DJs Blue Arrow

5:30-8:30 - A bunch of bands playing every thirty minutes at Music Saves and Blue Arrow, including: The Lighthouse & the Whaler, Prisoners, The Muttering Retreats, Tasty Cakes, Cloud Nothings, and The Very Knees.

9 - White Hinterland, Dosh, and The Sleeps play the Cleveland Bachelor April Show of the Month

If all this isn't enough, just about every other institution on Waterloo Road will have something cool going on. There's the closing party for Low Life Gallery, a day-long craft show at Salty not Sweet, the new Zinsmeister Parker exhibit at Arts Collinwood, and you can get 10% off your grub at the AC Cafe on the corner of Waterloo & E 156th just by showing proof of purchase from another Waterloo business that day.

Tonight in Cleveland (4/16): Beachland Barn Dance

2010-04-16T14:15:00.000-04:00

Celluloid Bachelor #62: White Hinterland "Mon Amie La Rose/Vessels"

2010-04-16T08:35:00.001-04:00

If you are just tuning in to this here little blog now, you might be pleased to know that the Cleveland Bachelor April Show of the Month will be taking place TOMORROW night.

If you've been following around, you might start grumbling something like "Yeah, yeah, we got it. White Hinterland, The Sleeps, Dosh. Beachland Ballroom. Record Store Day. All that Jazz."

Well, stop your grumbling. If you need help, watch this little clip of White Hinterland playing a couple songs in the park. Languid and lovely, right?

I can't wait till she hits town.

White Hinterland "Mon Amie La Rose" & "Vessels" from Left | Right Hand on Vimeo.

I doubled down on the Double Down

2010-04-15T21:28:00.004-04:00

That catchy title means exactly what you think it might mean.

That's right, I had not one, but two Double Downs the other day.

(Also, that's right, I'm fat. So what?)

The hysterical and sanctimonious coverage of the Double Down has irritated the shit out of me, to tell you the truth. I mean, it's just a fucking sandwich! But "food writers" have been in a rush to top one another with their two cents about how (a) this sandwich symbolizes a Rome-like decline of American civilization, (b) is so disgusting they can't find colorful enough phrases to describe it, and (c) they are way too refined to ever eat one themselves, unless they want to get all Brooklyn and eat one in a fit of irony, before promising how they could barely get past the first bite, much less half the sandwich, and while it is cool for them to eat - and hate - it, you are an asshole if you do and don't, respectively.

Fine, I'm an asshole. I also totally loved the Double Down.

OK, that's not completely true. In all honesty, I did enjoy the original version. It wasn't a perfect creation, mostly because I don't like bacon (gasp .. it's true) and the cheese wasn't exactly delicious, but the fried chicken was very good, unexpectedly moist and tender. The grilled chicken (or as my pals and I called it, the girl version), was not good. Not in the least. Super dry, kinda tiny, irredeemably salty, sorta besides the point.

The original, though. Yeah, it did the trick.

Best of all, though ... I had a really good time at KFC when my friends and I went. I went with my good buddy Cookbook and a couple of our mutual friends (who are, incidentally, a couple). We ate our sandwiches in a state of blissful camradarie, but then languished over our empty trays and wrappers for nearly an hour, chatting and enjoying one another's company. Did that have anything to do with KFC? Probably not, but it did have something to do with the fact that we were out to do something fun and weird.

So while everyone on the internet that considers them some kind of jag-off gourmand was patting themselves on the back for not liking something before going back to the bathroom to see how well their scowl matched their black jacket, we let loose and had fun. Listen, I can foie gras and heritage produce it up with the best of them. But sometimes - most of the time, actually - it is nice to loosen your collar and pull the stick out from your ass. Know what I mean?

Will I go to KFC to get a Double Down again? I dunno. Maybe? Not because it was awesome (the classic chicken sandwich at Burger King still owns my heart when I'm looking for a fast food white meat fix). But if one of my buddies looks at me with a mischevious glint in their eye and says, "Hey - you know what would be awesome right about now? A Double Down," well, my response will be something along the lines of, "Well, what the fuck are we waiting for?!"

Tonight in Cleveland (4/15): Pissed Jeans & This Moment in Black History @ the Grog Shop

2010-04-15T10:06:00.000-04:00

Like your punk heavy with some humor and yowls? This is the show for you. Local heroes This Moment in Black History will be paving the way for PA's raucous Pissed Jeans. This will not - repeat NOT - be a show for the faint of heart. However, if that limitation still leaves you in the mix, I suggest you make your way to the Heights.

Bring your ass, your ear plugs, your taste for literate rawk, and your purell (the venue is getting filthier by the minute, it seems) to the Grog Shop. The show's at 9 and the surliest bounces in town will be charging $7 at the door. Get there early as both This Moment and their fellow openers Homostupids are worth seeing.

Celluloid Bachelor #61: The Mountain Goats "Ezekial 7 & the Permanent Efficacy of Grace"

2010-04-15T08:21:00.000-04:00

Fine cinema and indie rock. Those gotta be my two favorite cultural vehicles. Heaven help me when I can get the two in one punch.

This Saturday (RECORD STORE DAY!) at the Beachland, guess who's getting punched?

That's right, it's an indie rock cinematic adventure. The Beachland will be screening the new concert documentary, The Life of the World to Come. The film is directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom), and features stirring footage of The Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle performing tracks from the 2009 album of the same name. Expect intensity, visual genius, and good company, as the neighborhood surrounding the Beachland will be packed with indie rock enthusiasts celebrating everyone's favorite new holiday, Record Store Day.

The film will be screening (for a mere $5) at 1:15 and 2:45, leaving you plenty of time to wander the aisles of Music Saves and Blue Arrow Records before and/or after. Be sure to check out the rundown Music Saves has for the day's events here and definitely don't forget to enter the third grade report contest that I'm one of the judges for. More info on that part here.

Celluloid Bachelor #60: The Sleeps "No More"

2010-04-14T12:14:00.002-04:00

I've been promoting these monthly shows at the Beachland for a little while now and digging every minute of it. The benefits are overwhelming, but perhaps one of the best things about doing it has been how it has gotten me to pay a little more attention to the bands at the beginning of the bill. Doing so helped me find the band who put my favorite album of 2010 to date (The Octagon) and, this month, allowed me to discover a Cleveland band I didn't previously know about.

Cleveland's own The Sleeps have a fun sound, enough rock in it to make you think about owning a t-shirt, but enough pop that you'd consider listening on your way to work in the morning. I really dig the muted neon of the video below, too. Takes me back to my youthful days of hypercolor t-shirts and Reebok pumps.

Check out The Sleeps this Saturday (RECORD STORE DAY!) when they open for White Hinterland and Dosh at the April Cleveland Bachelor Show of the Month. The bands'll be throwing down on the Tavern side of the Beachland with doors opening at 8 and the Cleveland cohort hitting the stage at 9ish. See you there!

Tonight in Cleveland (4/13): The Hold Steady at the Beachland Ballroom

2010-04-13T09:58:00.002-04:00

Everybody's favorite indie rock bar band, The Hold Steady, make their way back to Cleveland for a show tonight at the Beachland. Expect beer-drenched madness, regardless of the fact that everyone's favorite moustache owner, Franz Nicolay, won't be in the house.

The wisest among you will arrive a bit early to check out the I Rock Cleveland/Music Saves pre-game tailgate party featuring food & drink specials and the inimitable I Rock Bill manning the wheels of steel.

The get-down gets down at 6 PM, when the tailgate party kicks off in the tavern. Ballroom doors open at 8 and openers The Oranges Band are scheduled to take the stage at 9. Tickets are $20 at the door.

Celluloid Bachelor #59: Dosh "Capture the Flag" (live)

2010-04-13T09:18:00.003-04:00

The Cleveland Bachelor April show of the month is nigh and to keep the pressure on and your interest engaged, here's a little tidbit from the show's headliner, Dosh. It is considerably more experimental and electronic than what we usually bring your way on this website, but call it a palette cleanser or something new to try, either way a dose of Dosh will be good for you, so check it out.

If this is your jam, or if you are still doting on White Hinterland, or you just want to be a pal, be sure to hit the Beachland this Saturday for the show. Doors are at 8, local openers The Sleeps start the night off at 9, and the three-band bill will only set you back $10. Plus, since it is Record Store Day, you should make plans to come early and catch all the goodness going down up and down Waterloo Road. Music Saves has the full rundown here, including information on the contest which CB will be judging.

Welcome to Earth, my new fast food friend.

2010-04-12T16:37:00.000-04:00

Record Store Day contest

2010-04-12T13:59:00.002-04:00

CB HQ is pleased to announce that we will be sending a representative to Cleveland's finest indie rock record store this Saturday to participate in the judging of the annual Music Saves Record Store Day customer contest.

This year, the contest vehicle takes the form of a 3rd grade report (a suitable intellectual upgrade from last year's diorama contest, we think), and CB will be joined on the panel o' experts by Brian and Kevin from Citizen Dick.

For those interested in participating, check out the store's website here for more information, and be sure to download the required template here.

See you there!

We made it! Winter is dead!

2010-04-12T08:23:00.003-04:00

Congratulations, friends. You too, enemies. And, of course, everyone in between (though in my Manichean worldview, there are very few in that last category, but I digress).

Today is the day we've been waiting for at CB HQ for MONTHS...the 2010 Indians Home Opener. As usual, for me it marks the end of winter and the renewal of Mother Earth's promise to be good to us if only we are good to her. Naturally, we won't be, and winter will darken our hearts again.

But in the meantime, we rejoice in the warming of the climes and cheer our struggling contribution to the nation's pasttime onward toward victory ... or at least out of the cellar.

Play Ball!

(Note: for CYA reasons, I'd like to point out I got the preceding image here. Worth checking out, actually. I like the way Mr. Macek provides a behinds the scenes view on local news media.)

Celluloid Bachelor #58: Langhorne Slim "I Love You But Goodbye" (live and acoustic)

2010-04-11T09:46:00.002-04:00

It has been almost exactly two months since I posted the last edition of the Celluloid Bachelor series (a wonderful video by Small Black I totally encourage you to scope - click here to do so), so I figured I'd swing for the fences, thus covering all the bases and managing to pile on as many metaphors as possible, with this selection.

For the reinauguration of the series, I'm going with some recently released live videos from Langhorne Slim, who incidentally is playing the Beachland tonight with Drive-By Truckers. Not a bad show, eh? Check the video out, then take a shower and do something about your hair and go to the show this evening.

(Note: that last comment, at least the part about the shower and hair, was really directed internally. I'm sure your hair is just fine and your hygienic practices are up to snuff.)

Langhorne Slim "I Love You But Goodbye" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Tonight's show is sold out, so if I were you, I'd be posting something desperate on facebook about now, seeking out extras from anyone who might have one. Someone you know recently broke up with their significant other but still wants to go to the show, right? Find that person!

CB Q/A #34: Casey Dienel of White Hinterland

2010-04-10T08:19:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had the good fortune to have a chat with Casey Dienel, the mega-talented woman behind Portland-based band White Hinterland, as she in the middle of Montana, en route to a gig in Billings. She told me how pretty the scenery was, before warning me that the reception might be bad. It wasn’t great, but our call only disconnected once, and the rest of the time we had a lovely chat about everything from Lake Erie religious resorts to her love of Britney Spears, with a whole lot of rich discussion about White Hinterland’s last album and how it got so damn awesome (it totally is) in between.

I began as I usually do, telling her how I do a blog in Cleveland and was, uh, going to be writing about her show in, uh, Cleveland. Figuring that saying our beloved city’s name a third time just might be the charm (to what, I don’t know), I asked her if she’d been up here before. I usually save that question for last, but this time I led with it, and I’m happy that I did. It got the conversation off to a fun, if weird, start and we rolled onward for the better part of a half hour after that. Take a gander at most of what we talked about below – what you won’t see is the part my hunt and peck typing skills prohibited from jotting down as I attempted to transcribe in real time.

1) Ever been to Cleveland before?

Not to play a show, but I do have a lot of family in Ohio. I spent a lot of summers as a kid close to there, in this religious summer camp town called Lakeside, with my grandparents. I remember this one donut shop I really liked and a movie theater. It also had a very good symphony. The weirdest thing was being woken up every morning by church bells playing kumbaya.

2) I read somewhere that you relocated to the Pacific Northwest. What was the experience like?

I’ve been in Portland for about two years, and had been moving back in forth between Boston and New York for a while before that, I guess I couldn’t decide which one to live in.

I didn’t have the west coast growing pains a lot of east coasters feel like they are going to have. Portland is very similar in climate and in some ways closer to New England than you’d expect. In fact, the only thing I was irked by and now kind of like was how frequently astrology comes up in conversation. If you said to someone on the east coast that it seemed like they were an Aries, the east coast dude would say fuck off, but if you said that on the west coast, the west coast guy would be like “well, I can see why you might say that …”

Really, though, the adjustment was pretty easy because I’d been there a lot before, done work there with another label, and because it really reminds me of small New England cities like Portland (Maine), Jamaica Plain, and Brookline. So it wasn’t as big of a culture shock. Really, it was a test move to see how it would be like far away from extended family. I didn’t have a job or housing in place when I went and it took a while to dig my heels in, but culturally I was pretty happy right away.

3) I was asking some friends of mine, who happen to own the record store you’ll be DJing at on the afternoon of Record Store Day, what they’d want me to ask you and one of them immediately responded with a request for an explanation about what made the this last record so very different from its predecessor. So ... what happened?

Oh boy. How about I give you the Cliffs Notes version… You are lucky you aren’t the first interviewer in this cycle – that poor guy, I was just working through my thoughts as I said them out loud. Seriously - Oregon Music News – big love.

A couple things had to take traction for everything else to fall in place. First, I spent a really long time learning to sing all over again. I didn’t feel like I was using my voice right. I came to singing really late in the game and had a different experience than I did when I studied piano (starting when I was 4 years old) and composition (which I studied in college). I didn’t have that kind of discipline coming to singing and don’t think it is something you can do without confidence. Went through a period where I wondered how it would sound if I really knew how to use my voice, if I trained it as a muscle, and so when I decided to get serious about that, I went to the shed and I sang.

The second piece was my friendship with Shawn. Very early on in the process for this album I had a second pair of ears in the room. I’m still the editor, filtering through the minutia, but having teammate makes me more comfortable and confident and makes it a whole lot more fun in the room. Shawn made an indelible imprint in the way the record sound, and I think you can hear parts where Shawn’s personality is rubbing up with my personality.

Records are something that happen to me. We didn’t really conceptualize this one as much as others. I feel like we set up a trap on the side of the road and just waited till things came and got caught in it. At the same time, I spent more time on this album than any other in terms of working on it since we were recording it and I was producing it myself. It is like the difference between spending 5 minutes or a couple weeks on a piece for your blog. You would notice, or at least I hope, there would be a difference in how well it was written.
4) We always hear about how artists do their best work, regardless of the medium, when they are in particular situations that inspire them. What does it take for you to get in your best creative space?

Having an open mind. Sometimes I don’t, and that’s usually when I have writers block. A lot of it is unlocking parts of your brain. Any time I feel like I’m clinging to an idea too much it is usually a sign I need to do an about face. If I’m depending on words, next time I’m gonna go back and see if I can reduce that dependency by writing a song that has like 6 words total in it.

Sometimes listening to other kinds of music helps. I like hip hop and r&b, I like to dance. It isn’t just music, either. Watching a Kieślowski film or a Brothers Quay short, reading a fantastic book, or when I see a ballet dance – oh my god – when I see ballet I turn in to a four year old girl.

When I see something with its own strong unique voice it makes me want to do my own thing. Like seeing people in their own space like David Lynch where he is creating his own space to do what he wants to do to be him makes me want to do something the most like me.

5) Say it was your birthday and you could headline your dream bill. Who would open for you?

Tune-yards, though I don’t know if I’d have her open for me. Or Dirty Projectors, if Tune-yards was incapacitated. Or maybe all three of us could play in a round.

6) I like that you embrace the idea of covering songs by other artists and think you picked some particularly interesting figures to cover. What drew you to Justin Timberlake and Arthur Russell?

They are kind of schizophrenic choices.

Usually it is the singing, a voice. The human voice is probably my favorite instrument; next would probably be drums. I’m usually really drawn in by a singer and if a good melody is there … it doesn’t just make me wish I’d written it, but that I want to sing it and play it and live in it. Those songs, I could literally spend all day singing them over and over.

Also, I think doing covers are really fun. There can be a worry that you overexpose or hypercontextualize yourself or what you do by picking a certain song done by someone else. I think it is crazy when people haven’t heard some songs. It makes me want to buy them World of Echo so they can take it home with them and have it forever.

Shawn and I both come to music the same way, I think, what we care about is if it is interesting melodically. We decide what we think the best thing is about a song and that’s what we keep, and the rest we change up.

I like doing these kinds of songs because I’m not somebody who thinks its healthy for me to be writing music all the time. My level of devotion is so intensified when I’m doing it. It is nice to be able to engage with music that isn’t mine, to work with it in a way that is completely different, without getting as focused and obsessive as I can get when I’m working on a record. It is just nice to lighten up.

7) Any other artists/songs out there you are itching to play but just haven’t had the chance to yet?

Oh, so many. I would really like to do any song off of Black Out or maybe a Kylie Minogue song. I like that music. I understand it is supposed to be a guilty pleasure but I don’t feel guilty about it. Maybe a Lil Wayne cover. Take on one of those guitar solos. That’s it, my next project is to redo Rebirth.

No, I’m not really going to do that.

8) Finally, as I was prepping for this conversation, I looked at your Wikipedia page. There is a section in it, about an unreleased EP called Vessels, that reads like the end text to a conspiracy theory movie. When I read it the first time, I think I sat back in my chair and quietly said, “Wild.” I guess that isn’t really a question, so much as something I thought was cool and wanted you to know about.

Wow. That’s like the end of Goodfellas … and then they all died. Couldn’t see that one coming.

There is tons of erroneous information on that page, like how I have pigeon toes (well that’s true, but other than that …) – there’s just a bunch of shit on there that I don’t really know how I got there, I think people are putting stuff up as a funny joke, stuff like a band I was in for a week, what college I was accepted to and didn’t attend. The internet is an interesting place, man.

Amsterdam from Michaela Copikova on Vimeo.

Are you as charmed as I was? If not, it is because my typist skills failed all of us. Do yourself a huge favor and check out White Hinterland on Saturday, April 17th. Not only are they playing the April Cleveland Bachelor Show of the Month (with Dosh and The Sleeps; doors @ 8, show @ 9) in the evening, they will be DJing a special set at Music Saves at 4 PM that afternoon. I got a sneak preview of what Casey has up her sleeve for the playlist but I've been sworn to secrecy. Just trust me that you'll be tickled.

Tonight in Cleveland (4/9): Repition/Correspondence opening at Asterisk Gallery

2010-04-09T09:18:00.002-04:00

repetition/correspondence04/09/2010 - 05/01/2010
repetition - 1. the act of repeating; repeated action, performance, production, or presentation.
2. repeated utterance; reiteration.
3. something made by or resulting from repeating.
4. a reproduction, copy, or replica.

correspondence - 1. written communication: communication by means of exchanged written messages such as letters or e-mail
2. written messages: written messages, especially letters
3. conformity: conformity, consistency, or agreement between two or more things

Ann Bralliar, Bob Bucklew, Stephe DK, Mallorie Freeman, Jake Kelly, Jim Lanza, Joan of Art, JS Makkos, Christine Mauersberger, Liz Maugans, Loren Naji, Melissa Olson, Joyce Porcelli, Marshall Rumbaugh, Meghann Snow, Laila Voss, Bob Walls, and Chris Zahner.

Belated thoughts on SXSW

2010-04-07T14:20:00.002-04:00

Continuing my annual tradition, I took a mini-vacation to Austin TX last month for some indie rock goodness by way of south by southwest. As usual, I heard some great music, met some awesome new people, and hung out with old pals, digging the good weather and chill company.

As the cliche yet true conversation frequently goes these last several years, SXSW was even bigger and more frenetic than before and, methinks, has long since past that tipping point where things are less cool and more corporate than justifies the vacation time.

Having spent several years in Texas before moving up here to Cleveland, I know Austin quite well and, thus, am able to take advantage of the cooler stuff in non-traditional quarters, but god help you if you try to make it in the downtown mess. From inconsistent access policies to an utter clusterfuck of traffic (vehicular, human, and otherwise), I found my blood pressure skyrocketing the two times I attempted (and failed, ridiculously) to attend something I'd had my heart set on. Rather than try to catch 20 bands in a day like you used to be able to do, I found myself picking cool spots where I could here a run of good bands for a chunk of the afternoon or evening. South Austin and, especially, the east side of town made for the best times.

That isn't to say I don't endorse a trip to sxsw or, for that matter, Austin. Just like every kid should go to Disneyland, you better know what you are in for if you go on the 4th of July or Labor Day weekend. That's pretty much what 6th Street in Austin is gonna be like, but hipsters in skinny jeans instead of toddlers with Mickey hats.

When you do go, however, you are likely to see some awesome stuff and, if you are smart and focus on stuff you don't get to see very often rather than the buzz bands of the moment, you'll often be able to get pretty good access. For example, rather than go all sardine and cram into a Surfer Blood show, I hit up a funky little cafe many blocks from the main stretch and caught shows by Golden Triangle, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, and Everyone Was In The French Resistance ... Now! with a cats eye perch.

Rather than craft a dear diary post telling you what I did and where, let me give you some memorable bullet points:

-- The Piano's party, sponsored by the same name NYC club, was killer, particularly since I got to see my 2010 faves The Octagon in a small and spartan space and because I found out about Spirit Family Reunion.

-- Eddie Argos still has the best comic timing in indie rock. I already knew that, but now I also know that he's one of the most generous guys in the game, too, having bought me a beer as we stood in line at Spider House and chatted about music.

-- If you are nice to people and think good thoughts, good things happen even when you think they won't. For example, having given up on any hope of catching Floating Action play that weekend, I randomly walked past a bar on my way to somewhere else and realized I'd come across a Park the Van Records party I'd somehow not made a note of. I got to see Floating Action but, even cooler, was turned on to Giant Cloud, who blew me away and, thanks to their lady on the keys, got a new little indie rock crush.

-- Slim Cessna puts on one of the finest shows and Oh No Ono rocked more in the 10 minutes I got to hear them play than most bands do in a week. I hope/dream/pray that both bands make their way to the Beachland ... soon!

-- The Whip In is my new favorite Austin bar.

-- Gotta Groove Records is a cool ass business and I'm very proud of their Cleveland roots. Even better, so are they. And they put up a hell of a party at a funky out-of-the-way record store. Totally dirtleg, totally rad.

-- God damn it I love Mexican food and BBQ in Texas. Someone please convince me that the advantage we have of eastern/central European cuisine up here makes up for the terrible deficiency we suffer in those cuisines.

-- No matter what, every band that Jason Lytle plays in sounds basically the same. Which is awesome. So when/if Admiral Radley comes to town, you should definitely go see them.

-- Jessie Torrisi is amazing tolerant of her crushed-out, mouth-breathing male fans. I should know - I am one! Also, playing the kazoo onstage during her set is quite probably my sxsw highlight of the year.

Are you ready for the CB April show of the month?

2010-04-06T11:10:00.005-04:00

After an inexcusable slacking off on promoting the March show (which was, by all accounts, totally awesome), I'm quite pleased to be as back in the saddle as I'll ever be and announcing this month's Cleveland Bachelor approved Beachland gig: Dosh, White Hinterland, and The Sleeps in the Beachland Tavern on April 17th.

As usual, John G knocked the ball out of the park with the poster design. It looks pretty awesome on its own, but particularly so once you realize it is actually 1/3 of a Waterloo Road/Record Store Day triptych.

If you aren't already aware, there is a TON of stuff going on up and down Waterloo Road on the 17th, from rockumentary screenings at the Beachland to in-stores at Blue Arrow and Music Saves to a Record Store Day themed essay contest judged by, among others, yours truly. I'll be blogging about all these things in further detail over the next 10 days or so, but for the time being be sure to put "Record Store Day - Waterloo Road" on your day-planner for April 17th.

Cleveland International Film Festival review

2010-04-06T09:25:00.005-04:00

If I wasn't certain before (though I was), the Cleveland International Film Festival is without a doubt my favorite cultural event in the city. It is done so well, from programming to organization to public relations, that you'd be hard pressed to make a counter argument, unless you wanted to draft Cavs basketball into the conversation.

This year the event was particularly meaningful to me as I had the wonderful opportunity to be more involved in the effort, from being on the festival's selection committee to working with the amazing film slam program where local scholars and media/film practitioners engage in post-film q&a sessions with visiting high school students. Both were an absolute treat and if someone from the Film Society happens to read this one day, I'm keeping my fingers doubly crossed that I'll get to do both again for the 2011 festival.

As great as that was, however, the best part of the festival is the opportunity to see wonderful films and see wonderful films I did. Even though I missed the first weekend of films because I was in Austin attending sxsw (a post on that is hopefully forthcoming soon, too), I still managed to see 30 films during the last week of CIFF. Add to that the films I'd previously screened as a member of the selection committee that made the final program, and I caught a solid three dozen full-length movies.

Some of those were excellent, some a little disappointing, but all were good enough to sit through and many (far more than I expected) moved me in ways that I'd not expected. I like to think about the "best" things I see or do or experience, so before I go on with my wrap-up, here are some Cleveland Bachelor award winners:

Best Documentary: Marwencol, though special consideration also goes out to Cooking History, No. 4 Street of Our Lady, and Louder Than A Bomb. The following are also definitely worth putting on your netflix queue: Fire in the Heartland, Garbo: The Spy, and The Desert of Forbidden Art.

Best Narrative Feature: Will Not Stop There, though special consideration also goes out to Alive!, A Call Girl, December Heat, The Other Bank, Ordinary People, Protektor, and Vincere.

Best Film with a local connection: Fire in the Heartland, though The Taqwacores deserves special consideration for its beautiful visual dimension.

I knew I wouldn't have much access to my computer during the week of full film immersion, so I made an effort to keep a mini journal of sorts via facebook status updates. At the end, I had 40 micro-posts marking moments from my arrival on the first day to my immediate post-festival plans on the last. I can only guess how many of my facebook friends "hid" me after being inundated with such an obnoxious number of updates, but as the wise man once said, whatever. In all their unabashed and unedited glory, here is my real-time documentation of my film festival experience:

CIFFinally (3/22 @ 8:21 AM)

Film Fest Update #1:Dear Lemon Lima's cutesy graphics belie its focus on much darker themes of alienation and disaffection. Closer in spirit to Saved than to Juno. (3/22 @ 2:33 PM)

Film Fest update #2: I missed the first two minutes of Black Box. 78 minutes later, I'm pretty sure that was a mistake. (3/22 @ 2:35 PM)

Film Fest update #3: The little sandwiches in the hospitality suite are tasty! (3/22 @ 2:37 PM)

Film Fest update #4: I'm torn over Out Of Place. Interesting footage and people, but I think the filmmakers underserved their audience in the narrative dimension, ignoring some richer opportunities and settling for variations on the Cleveland sucks joke again and again ... and again. Also, it convinced me to never EVER... eat at Johnny's Downtown. The dude in charge of the operation is the epitome of douche! (3/22 @ 6:44 PM)

Film Fest Update #5: Closed out the night with Inside Hana's Suitcase and Van Diemen's Land. The former was moving and impressive in its geographic scope, though I didn't much care for the dramatization or the stylized photo manipulation, while the latter was basically Aguirre, Pt 2: The Wrath of God comes to Australia.... Good, though perhaps not as deliberate as Herzog. (3/23 @ 12:14 AM)

Film Fest update #6: I am far more willing to wake up early for a morning trip to the film festival than for any other reason. Spanish shorts and filmslam q&a with high school students, here I come! (3/23 @ 8:04 AM)

Film Fest update #7: Survived French shorts (last minute switch from Spanish) with the high school set and took a surprisingly lovely stroll downtown to drop off a few tickets and say hi to Cleveland's finest coffee purveyor, Brendan Walton of Cleveland Coffee Company/AJ Rocco's. Now killing time before a stretch of fo...ur straight films: December Heat, Fire in the Heartland, Cooking History, and Enemies of the People! (3/23 @ 1:03 PM)

Film Fest update #8: Ooooh, December Heat was good! My first excellent vote of the festival! (3/23 @ 3:32 PM)

Film Fest update #9: Just got out of Fire in the Heartlands, a brilliant doc about the Kent State massacre. Woah. My eyebrows kept going up and up. (3/23 @ 6:39 PM)

Film Fest update #10: Cooking History was at moments cringe-inducing, at others hilarious, and often sad. Totally brilliant throughout. Not at all what I expected, but having now seen it, I couldn't imagine it ant different. (3/23 @ 9 PM)

Film Fest update #11: Calling it quits a film early. I'm tired and for some reason don't think a doc on the Khmer Rouge will be fodder for sweet dreams. (3/23 @ 9:26 PM)

Film Fest update #12: Lots of darkness and conflict at the festival today ... in a good way! After doing a q&a with students following the Spanish shorts, I'm slated for a Norwegian film about war time trauma set to a backdrop of that country's WW II resistance effort (Max Manus), a Hungarian revenge feature (Lost Times), and a Georgian/Kazak film about a little boy's trek across war-torn Abkhazia in search of his missing father (The Other Bank). And, of course, some actual work. (3/24 @ 8:52 AM)

Film Festival update #13: Shit! I got to talking and missed the first 25 minutes of Max Manus. That was in my top 5 too. Damn my big mouth. (3/24 @ 12:07 PM)

Film Fest update #14: Lost Times was less about revenge than it was rural alienation and post-adolescent restlessness and anomie. A little pondering but thoughtful, and if it was an American film the actress playing Ezther, the central character's autistic, rape-suffering sister, would get nominated for an Oscar. (3/24 @ 4:14 PM)

Film Fest update #15: After 3 days of having free samples foisted up me, I finally submitted and ordered some sesame chicken from one of the Tower City stands. I still don't like Chinese food. (3/24 @ 8:12 PM)

Film Fest update #16: Just broke the hearts of a group of festival volunteers who saw me walk into a theater and thought I was Zach Galifianakis. I heard them talking about him and then put two and two together when they sent one of their group in to introduce himself. True story. I don't know if I should feel more sorry for him or myself. (3/24 @ 9:15 PM)

Film Fest update #17: After finishing yesterday strong with the abrupt and thought provoking ending of The Other Bank, I'm determined to finally complete a day of seeing a film at every slot. So far, work, ticket deliveries, and general chattiness have thwarted this accomplishment, but I shall not be deterred today! After starting off with a replay of yesterday's Spanish shorts/film slam q&a, it is trip around Europe, with films from Spain (x2), Serbia, Slovenia, and Cypress on the docket. (3/25 @ 9:06 AM)

Film Fest update #18: Garbo the Spy was really good, a totally amazing true story that I wish they'd gone into further detail about. The killer soundtrack (Brian Eno, lots of Sparklehorse) made up for that in spades, though. (3/25 @ 1:42 PM)

Film Fest update #19: Ordinary People is most definitely the heaviest film I've Seen thus far. About capital punishment on wartime from the perspective of a crew of ambivalent would-be executioners. The lengthy quiet shots added gravity to a theme already grave. (3/25 @ 3:31 PM)

Film Fest update #20: I liked Small Crime well enough, especially for a dark rom-com (though it has nothing on So I Married An Axe Murderer), but not nearly as much as the woman sitting next to me who guffawed great belly laughs with the slightest provocation. By the end of the film, I was laughing a lot to, as much in anticipation of what she would do as in reference to anything from the screenplay. (3/25 @ 8 PM)

Film Fest update #21: If I ever was going to reverse my ongoing trend of missed funerals, Three Days With The Family negated that possibility. Though more bougie than my own clan, there were so many parallels it was frightening, if not a little angst-inducing. (3/25 @ 10 PM)

Film Fest update #22: Finished the day super strong with A Call Girl. Top notch film, and a major contender for my own "best CIFF narrative film" sweepstakes (along with Ordinary People and, a few paces behind, December Heat). If you have a chance to see this film, I definitely endorse it. If you can't make it to the festival, I believe it's playing at the Rocky River library some time in early April. Don't miss out! (3/26 @ 12:13 AM)

Film Fest update #23: Almost forgot - during the last q&a, some punk kid raised his hand and asked if I was the guy from The Hangover? WTF?! Kids these days! I'll admit, it did make me laugh. (3/26 @ 11:55 AM)

Film Fest update #24: The director of The Fire Keeper, a hallucinatory fugue about one man's decision to get a vasectomy, may well be the Persian answer to Woody Allen. (3/26 @ 3:50 PM)

Film Fest update #25: Louder Than A Bomb has got to be the best edited film I've seen in ages. An excellent movie but in the prestigious Cleveland Bachelor Award sweepstakes, it stills falls short of Cooking History. Still, kudos to the dudes behind it for pulling off a stunner. (3/26 @ 7:02 PM)

Film Fest update #26: Having just watched the failed Kinks reunion crusade doc Do It Again, I know one thing without a doubt: If a narrative film is ever made about the band, Bill Nighy should play the roles of both Ray and Dave. (3/26 @ 8:37 PM)

Film Fest update #27: Pulled a last minute audible and decided to see The Good Heart. Definitely the right move. I totally loved it, though the raucous and decidedly non-pc development through most of the film does not prepare you for the end. (3/27 @ midnight)

Film Fest update #28: Racing the clock (and losing) to catch the day's first screening (Alive!). (3/27 @ 9:16 AM)

Film Fest update #29: Alive! = Albanian blood feuds, a gender-bending would-be hitman, and one unexpected shipwreck. I think it sets the stage perfectly for round two, which features Croatian snipers, widowed Serbian porn stars, the redemptive power of romantic love, and, of course, a sheep. I have seriously high hopes for this one! (3/27 @ 10:59 AM)

Film Fest update #30: Will Not Stop There = Best.Feature.Yet. Can it be topped in the next day and a half? I don't know, but I sure hope it is cause that would take a truly awesome movie! (3/27 @ 1:22 PM)

Film Fest update #31: Gyro Time! (3/27 @ 1:28 PM)

Film Fest update #32: After three central European films in a row, it is time to spin the atlas over to Australia for a hopefully brilliant horror/suspense flick from down under (Storage). (3/27 @ 4:11 PM)

Film Fest update #33: Torn over what to see during tomorrow's closing slot, Looking for Eric or Paper Man. Any advice? (3/27 @ 4:28 PM)

Film Fest update #34: If for some reason you aren't already convinced that Mussolini was a total asshole, a viewing of Vincere is in order. Also, how do you say "incredible" in Italian? (3/27 @ 9:01 PM)

Film Fest update #35: Taqwacores was ... ok. I think the director has a pretty bright future though. (3/27 @ 11:31 PM)

Film Fest update #36: On the final day of the festival Marwencol shoots past Cooking History as not only the best doc of the festival but also one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. (3/28 @ 11:35 AM)

Film Fest update #37: The Desert of Forbidden Art = inspirationally shocking. One man's effort to combat Stalin's purge on non/anti-Soviet art. I don't think I've seen a documentary about art previously that photographed the images so beautifully. (3/28 @ 1:13 PM)

Film Fest update #38: Finished the final night strong with two solid films (Protektor & Paper Man) but the final highlight would have to be realizing I was seated next to Toby from American Splendor at the closing reception. (3/28 @ 9:23 PM)

Film Fest update #39: Bummer! Neither of my picks to click won (or even placed) in the eastern/central European competition; however, the judges totally got it right with the best documentary choice. Viva Marwencol! Ooh, and Louder Than A Bomb pulls down the social justice prize. Nice! Followed by a win for best picture overall! Not bad for a film that was finished on Tuesday! (3/28 @ 9:32 PM)

Film Festival update #40: It is finished. Thanks to all involved for putting on an absolutely wonderful festival! Now for two things I've been craving all week: buffalo wings and an early bedtime! (3/28 @ 10:01 PM)

All things considered, it was a whirlwind week, one that I entered fatigued from a long and exciting vacation in Texas and which I exited utterly exhausted. Here I am, more than a week after the closing ceremonies and I am only now feeling fully rejuvenated. Well, physically, at least. Mentally, emotionally, and absolutely culturally the film festival does the trick like nothing else I've experienced to enrich and excite your internal life. I cannot wait for next year.

April Live Music Radness

2010-04-05T11:08:00.003-04:00

I've already screwed the pooch on a few good shows so far this month (i.e., Henry Rollins @ Kent, Seabear @ the Grog, Shearwater @ Beachland, Electric 6/Hot Rails @ Grog, etc.) but there are still a bunch of good ones left in the month to celebrate, beginning with tomorrow's Japandroids/Avi Buffalo/Jaguar Love show @ the Grog. The month stays solid with shows by bands like Megafaun, The Dan Band (famous as the hilarious wedding band in Old School and (I think) Wedding Crashers), The Hold Steady, Apples in Stereo, and a month-ending Yeasayer show at the Grog.

As good as that sounds, May is stacking up to be even better, with a run of must-see shows at the Beachland in the middle of the month, and that doesn't even count can't miss gigs like Frightened Rabbit, Deer Tick, The Besnard Lakes, and the Brian Jonestown Massacre.

APRIL:
6 - Japandroids/Avi Buffalo/Jaguar Love @ Grog Shop
7 - Megafaun/Charlie Parr @ Beachland OR John the Savage @ Now That's Class
9 - The Dan Band @ House of Blues OR The Floor Walkers/The Modern Electric @ Beachland
10 - Lottery League show @ Beachland
11 - Drive-by Truckers/Langhorne Slim @ Beachland
13 - The Hold Steady @ Beachland
15 - Pissed Jeans (w/ This Moment in Black History) @ Grog Shop
16 - Blue Grass Barn Dance (w/ Heelsplitter, Hoots and Hellmouth, Hiram Rapids Stumblers) @ Beachland
17 - Dosh/White Hinterland @ Beachland AND Record Store Day gigs all day long at Music Saves & Blue Arrow Records including The Muttering Retreats, Tastycakes, and Cloud Nothings!
20 - El Ten Eleven @ Beachland
24 - Aloha/Pomegranates @ Grog Shop
26 - Horse Feathers/Cloud Nothings @ Beachland
27 - Apples in Stereo/Generationals/Laminated Cat @ Grog Shop
29 - Captured! By Robots/Beardo Bandini @ Grog OR Harlem @ Now That's Class
30 - Yeasayer (w/ Sleigh Bells) @ Grog Shop OR The Schwartz Bros @ Beachland

MAY:
1 - Backyard Tire Fire @ Beachland
4 - An Horse/Kaki King @ Beachland
5 - Frightened Rabbit @ Grog Shop
7 - Grant-Lee Phillips @ Beachland
8 - Deer Tick/The Magpies @ Beachland OR Murder by Death/Ha Ha Tonka @ Grog Shop
11 - Local Natives/Suckers @ Beachland (sponsored by Music Saves)
15 - Paleface/Todd Snider @ Beachland
16 - Reverend Horton Heat/Cracker @ Beachland
19 - Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Beachland
21 - Mumford & Sons/The Middle East @ Beachland
22 - Prisoners/Rainy Day Saints @ Beachland (North Collinwood Cat Project benefit)
26 - Besnard Lakes @ Beachland
31 - Brian Jonestown Massacre @ Beachland

JUNE:
2 - Morningbell @ Now That's Class
6 - Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Surfer Blood @ Beachland
8 - Stars @ Beachland
9 - Caribou/Toro y Moi @ Grog Shop
10 - She & Him @ House of Blues
17 - Beach House @ Beachland
21 - Tortoise @ Grog Shop
23 - Melvins @ Grog Shop

JULY:
15 - Wolf Parade @ Beachland

I'm back, kinda

2010-04-05T11:05:00.002-04:00

Can you believe that in March 2010 I blogged less than every single month previous, save one (December 2007)? Shameful, particularly considering my performance this year was at about 30% of the previous two March totals.

Sorry about that.

I'm going to try to do a little better from here out, at least until I retire this sucker who knows when. In the meantime, I don't think I'll be putting up numbers like I was early winter when I averaged about 2 posts per day, but I'll try to be a bit more consistent. Starting now.

Viva Austin!

2010-03-16T18:04:00.003-04:00

It's vacation time!

Some of you may be saying "What's this guy talking about - hasn't he been on a blogging vacation for like 6 weeks now?"

I would say to you: Point scored, Federer.

To the rest of you, I'm super happy to note I will soon be departing for the sunny climes and rockin' good times of Austin's annual sxsw event. It is one of my favorite things of the year, and when I get home my favorite Cleveland event of the year - the Cleveland International Film Festival - will be in full swing.

Until then, however, I have the rock to focus upon. And focus I will. I've been cobbling together a schedule of sorts and am bound and determined to see as many of the following acts as I can:

Abe Vigoda
Admiral Radley
The Antlers
Bear Hands
The Besnard Lakes
Best Coast
The Bewitched Hands on the Tops of our Heads
Califone
Camper Van Beethoven
Cheap Trick (at an in-store no less!!!)
Danielson
Everybody was in the French Resistance ... NOW!
Floating Action
Freelance Whales
Harlem
Lawrence Arabia
Liars
The Lovely Eggs
Man or Astroman?
The Octagon
Oh No Ono
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
Paleface
The Rural Alberta Advantage
Slim Cessna's Auto Club
Small Black
The Smith Westerns
Suckers
Summer Cats
Surfer Blood
This Moment In Black History
Titus Andronicus
Jessie Torrisi
Yellow Fever

That's just a preliminary list, though, so if you have any tips on who else to see down there, please let me know!

TONIGHT!

2010-03-13T16:03:00.002-05:00

I've been doing a little brainstorming with Jacob Wesley Lang about ways to simultaneously encourage active engagement with artists in our shared Collinwood neighborhood and help market some of the available storefronts to small business owners looking for potential retail space.

I'm proud to announce our first endeavor, a pop-up effort dubbed the J Galt Galleries project. As you might have guessed, the name was inspired by Ayn Rand's character, one who Jacob appreciates for his dedication to self-empowerment and whose mission speaks to him on an artistic level. My thoughts on Rand are less charitable, but I got it when Jacob explained his vision to me and wasn't going to let quibbling over hyper-capitalist literature get in the way of doing something good for our neighborhood or city.

So here we are. Pop-up #1 at the former Shoparooni space. Stop in TONIGHT for a one-night only event.

Are you ready for the CB March show of the month?

2010-03-13T15:04:00.003-05:00

I sure hope you are, because I'm not. And, well, it is TONIGHT!

I totally dropped the ball on this one, folks, but fortunately John G banged out a killer poster (as per usual) and a number of folks blanketed the city with them on my behalf, thanks to Melanie at Music Saves managing the situation.

Speaking of Melanie and Music Saves, they have a bunch of cool stuff going on up and down Waterloo Road this evening, so come out early to check out the goodness and stick around for a show I'm super excited about (my ball-dropping is most definitely NOT a reflection of the bad assness of the line-up).

Tonight Australia's Summer Cats are playing, with an opening effort from City Center (made up of fellas from the much-lauded Saturday Looks Good To Me), and locals Lowly the Tree Ghost and ... AFTERNOON NAPS!!!!! Come on out. You'll find plenty of reasons to smile this drizzly Saturday.

A Message from Salty Not Sweet

2010-03-02T16:36:00.003-05:00

My newest Waterloo Road neighbor comes in the form of a new boutique run by Candra Squire and called Salty Not Sweet. She sent out an open house invite that I thought was simply too charming not to pass on, so check out what she has to say and then, more importantly, check out what the handmade and letterpress operation has to offer!

Greetings!

Come Celebrate our grand opening Alice in Wonderland style! Buy yourself an UN birthday gift and have a delicious cupcake by the Cleveland Cupcake Company.
You'll find all kinds of handmade treasures at Salty not Sweet from jewelry to tutus and everything in between.
Come on inside and have a nice cup of tea with us!

Candra Squire

March 6th 6pm

Salty not Sweet
15613 Waterloo Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44110

Pardon the slack

2010-03-02T16:30:00.002-05:00

Lately, folks, this blog of mine has been a bit of a ghost town. I've been super busy with work - busier than I've ever been, quite literally - and the time has come out of everything else, particularly here. I'd like to say that's going to change soon, but it isn't likely to, at least not for a few weeks.

I'm not going on hiatus, though, or anything like that, just letting you know that things are gonna be light for a minute. But know this - come a break in the action, I'm gonna rock your world, e-style.

Not really.

This Friday!

2010-03-02T10:40:00.001-05:00

CB Q/A #33: Brian Kelly of So Cow

2010-02-24T09:51:00.004-05:00

The February CB show of the month is officially here and to celebrate, I have a fun interview to share with Brian Kelly, frontman of headlining act So Cow. A world traveler not yet weary, Kelly writes songs that are equal parts silly and sardonic and then drenches them in a dual coating of open mic melody and noise pop fuzz. His perspective is delightful and engaging, which you'll see in the Q&A below as we talk about his home bases in Ireland and South Korea, his dream openers and covers to play, and his plans for the new year.

1) Do your find your music influenced in key ways by either of the nations you are most intimately attached, Ireland and South Korea?

I don't think the music is specifically attached to those places, though there'd probably be a difference if I recorded in, I don't know, Finland in the middle of December. A few more minor chords, maybe. I lived in the middle of Seoul and on Saturday nights it looked all space age and stuff, so I'd walk around with my mp3 player listening to other bands, thinking I was getting inspired. Probably not though as I'd be too busy privately rocking out. Ireland doesn't really inspire anything, except for maybe seeing girls I used to like on the bus.

2) What are your plans for 2010?

Touring, pretty much. US, then EU, then UK, then US/Canada, then Ireland, then US, then EU. I'm hoping to release some 7" singles too, fairly regularly. But yeah, sweating too much on stage is the plan.

3) Say it was your birthday and you could headline your dream bill. Who would open for you?

If I could have two bands, I'd have Nobunny and...lemme think. Right now, Christmas Island. Of course, if this was a "living or dead" scenario, it'd be The Beatles, just to see if I could bother my arse raising my game.

4) I like that you embrace the idea of covering songs by other artists. Any songs out their you haven't tried your hand at yet that you are itching to do?

I really want to do this song by The Chills called Learn To Try Again...it was on a compilation of unreleased songs, all live versions. It sounds amazing though I have no idea what the lyrics are as it seems to have been recorded in a mic in someone's pocket. I'd like to cover the entire Kim Jung Mi album 'Now' at some point. I've done one of the songs already so need to get around to the other 9.

5) What was the experience like distributing your music in the US?

Fairly painless. Before I hooked up with TTT, I would just mail CDs out to anyone who wanted them for about $7. It's a bit easier now, thank christ.

6) Any memorable previous Cleveland experiences?

I played Tower 2012 two years ago...met Uno Lady and folks, got bladdered, someone called me Micky McMickMick and I ended up in a weird altercation with someone brandishing a Budweiser bottle. Last year I played Now That's Class, during a Cleveland Browns play off game...the Browns are the basketball team, right? Anyway, LeBron James was doing amazing work on the court and most people watched that instead.

To meet Brian and the rest of So Cow, be sure to hit the Beachland Tavern TONIGHT. Tickets are only $7, doors open at 8:30, and opening acts Shiny Penny and do their thing starting at about 9. If you go and dig the show so much you find yourself wishing you had some sort of concert memento, let me know. I still have a small number of posters left and would be happy to give you one. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the digital recreation of John G's handiwork below. Finally, if you skipped over that video posted above, go back and watch it. The music is good but the developments are quite bizarre and brilliant.

Video Reminder

2010-02-21T14:55:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder that the February Cleveland Bachelor Show of the Month is coming up THIS WEDNESDAY at the Beachland Ballroom.

So Cow, the effort by Irish native and South Korean resident Brian Kelly, has been getting a hugely warm embrace by both crowds and critics here stateside, and Wednesday's show promises to be something special. Check out the video below of one of Kelly's performances, and then feast your eyes on John G's artwork for the show poster.

Winter Survival Milestone

2010-02-17T11:37:00.002-05:00

Across America, a little a snap just went back into the spirit of millions of baseball enthusiasts and winter doldrums sufferers alike.

Why?

Because today marks the first day that pitchers and catchers can voluntarily report to spring training!

Sure, volunteers at the rest of the position won't get there for another week or so and the mandatory reporting deadline isn't till early March, but the fact is that we are at the start of the slippery slope and from here on out, the warmth of Goodyear AZ, where our Indians make camp, will wind its way to Cleveland.

The trip northward for the eventual summery climes may be long and seemingly endless, but between now and that first day we realized we've overdressed for now nonexistent cold there are other milestones, like the first Spring Training game (March 5th at Cincinatti), St Patrick's Day, and the plethora of ever-stale journalistic observations of the lion/lamb nature of March's alpha and omega.

In short, we'll get there. We already almost have.

Celluloid Bachelor #57: Small Black "Despicable Dogs"

2010-02-13T08:11:00.003-05:00

There is a lot happening under the surface of this video. That much I'm certain of. What it is that is happening, well, I don't know. The only person who probably does is Small Black frontman Josh Kolenik, whose uncle is the aging surfer featured in the video.

The film itself is brilliant and carries in its nearly four minute runtime as much emotional energy as any feature length film. Director Yoonha Park certainly deserves credit for much of that. It leaves me wanting to know more, especially how Josh's uncle, Matt, feels about his life, and how Josh and his friends feel about Matt's life. I could watch this again and again and probably will.

I'll also be paying attention to Kolenik and Ryan Heyner, the other founding member of Small Black, who earned a little bit of buzz last summer when this track was released as part of the duo's eponymous 2009 EP debut. Since then, they've been signed by indie heavy hitters Jagjaguwar and, as such, are poised for great things, including the late April release of a remastered and expanded version of the aforementioned EP. Currently, the band is prepping for a month-long tour which will take them through Detroit, but sadly not Cleveland as they make their way around the country before settling back in Brooklyn to make more music with new members Juan Pieczanski and Jeff Curtin.

Small Black: Despicable Dogs from Yoonha Park on Vimeo.

The Headline Says It All

2010-02-12T15:08:00.001-05:00

From the AP Wire/Salon.com

Monks want to turn Ohio hooker motel into retreat

A group of monks wants to turn an Ohio motel once used by a prostitution ring into a religious retreat.

Monks from the Syro-Russian Orthodox Catholic Church have opened the Monastery Inn, offering low-cost housing and outreach services in what had been the Canfield Colonial Motel. The monks' leader, Bishop Timothy, says the group eventually hopes to turn the inn and surrounding acreage into a religious retreat.

Police say the motel and a sister property were used for a prostitution ring. The former owner pleaded guilty last month to promoting prostitution and will be sentenced early next month.

The monks gathered with business leaders Thursday for an official ribbon cutting in Canfield, 60 miles southeast of Cleveland.

Last Chance!!!

2010-02-12T14:51:00.001-05:00

I'll make it simple: today is the last day you can get in on this opportunity to help out some fellow Clevelanders in serious need while scoring for yourself a John G limited edition.

See this post for more info.

Celluloid Bachelor #56: Nicole Simone "Melt"

2010-02-12T08:52:00.002-05:00

OK, this is gonna be a analogistic stretch, but the beginning of the video makes me think of Cormac McCarthy's The Road, with its rural western wanderings and occasional romantic flashbacks, but trading in the cannibals for some Jessica Rabbit-style va-va-va-voom. Later, during the final 2/3 of the video, I'm struck with memories of watching on-demand "True Blood" episodes from my cold and bare old apartment in Cleveland Heights with the slinky meets southern charm. And, yes, the Jessica Rabbit name drop continues to resonate.

Even if you don't grant me the pop culture nods mentioned above, you'll surely acknowledge that Nicole Simone drips sexiness in a classic way as much as anyone in the indie scene today and that filmmaker Abazar Khayami integrates influences like Wim Wenders and Jean-Luc Godard in a way that provides a gulp-inducing counterpoint to Simone's aura.

For those bitten by the Simone bug, her debut EP drops March 9th via Crystal Ship Music. Expect equal parts Billie Holiday, David Lynch, Frederic Chopin, and Howlin' Wolf, as well as a helping hand on one track from screen star and musician Jason Schwartzman on banjo and drums.

Celluloid Bachelor #55: Post Harbor "Shirakashi"

2010-02-11T14:29:00.003-05:00

Today's video comes to us courtesy of Seattle-based Post Harbor. Representing a track off the just released They Can't Hurt You If You Don't Believe In Them, this Keith Telfeyan-directed video is as brilliant as it is apt for the foreboding beauty of the music. For those wondering, best I can tell, Shirakashi is the Japanese word for white oak, a wood frequently used to make martial arts weapons, because it is "hard, heavy, and tough." That may not be the reference the band is making, but in the interim it adds a nice narrative dimension.

I'm gonna guess that frontman Anthony Carlucci's dad has some Genesis and Jethro Tull records in his collection, and that childhood spins left the influence in Carlucci's subconscoius, later mixing with more contemporary inspirational sources like Sigur Ros, Mogwai, and Abe Vigoda. The result is a spectral and patient lilt imbued with tension between the pastoral vibe and the occasionally harsh technological realities of the sound. This is music from the future, but one fraught and melancholy.

CB Premieres new Doug Keith video for "The Lowest Low"

2010-02-11T12:04:00.002-05:00

Consider it another milestone, folks - CB has been invited to present the exclusive premiere of New York singer-songwriter Doug Keith's video for "The Lowest Low." The track comes from Keith's new record, The Lucky Ones, which drops via The Village Label on March 30th.

Musically, Keith trades on vintage singer-songwriter stock, with hints of The Boss and Tom Waits in his vocals, but with an expansive arrangement that brings in strings and a backing chorus. It is the visual element of "The Lowest Low" that I'm really drawn to, though. It makes me think of regular footage that any old vacationer could take on a trip out to the shore, then produced in a simple yet engaging manner. The non-narrative visual element allows the focus to remain on the tale Keith croons, which works well with pictures equally permanent and impermanent.

For those taken with the music, Keith is actually playing TONIGHT in Columbus at The Treehouse. Tickets are only $5. If you go, could you bring me back some ice cream from Jeni's? Anything with roasted cherries is fine.

John Mayer, Racist Douchebag

2010-02-11T11:29:00.001-05:00

As if you needed another reason not to listen to this lame, this fool decides to use a David Duke (!!!) reference to explain why he hates sex with black women. Are you kidding me?

Should be interesting to see what his label has to say.

CB Giveaway: 2 tickets to George Clinton at the House of Blues!

2010-02-10T12:32:00.002-05:00

The powers that be have awarded me the opportunity to give away two tickets to the upcoming George Clinton show at House of Blues on Tuesday, February 16th. A longtime funkateer, I couldn't be more pleased about doing so. I still remember buying P. Funk; Uncut Funk ... The Bomb as one of my very first CDs at the mall one day when I was probably 15, and have loved them ever since, as evidenced by the glee with which I snatched up a copy of Tear The Roof Off: 1974-80 last month at Used Kids in Columbus.

I love this band for lots of reasons, from the unique sound to the narrative of their evolution to the stellar marathon shows they put on. I saw them once at the Cleveland House of Blues (Mayor Frank Jackson was there, too) and my feet hurt from dancing by the time I got home. (Those of you who know me well know any amount of dancing, much less feet-hurting dancing, is rare for me.) Another time, in Houston, I saw them play what had to be a four hour set, with the cops onstage at the end literally dragging people off. Each and every show they put forward is a time and a half, and if you haven't seen them before, I encourage you to bone up on your Funkapedia and enter the contest below.

Because .... the winner of these two tickets will be the person who makes the most persuasive case for which member of George Clinton's onstage entourage they are most excited to see. That is, other than Sir Nose - that one's too obvious. And don't go saying Bootsy 'cause we both know that ain't happenin'. Submissions can be made via the comment box (but be sure to leave me your email address) or via email at clevelandbachelorATgmailDOTcom.

Tonight in Cleveland (2/10): Art for Haiti Benefit at Arts Collinwood

2010-02-10T08:38:00.003-05:00

Join us Wednesday February 10 from 6pm – 10pm at Arts Collinwood for the Art for Haiti Benefit, including a live art auction from top local and national artists, food, cocktails and live jazz music. Proceeds will go directly to the Haiti Emergency Village Project. Arts Collinwood is honored to be hosting this event.

6 – 7pm: Mingle/cocktails/food/browse silent auction items and live auction items in the Arts Collinwood Gallery and Cafe
7- 8:30pm: Live art auction
8:30 – Live Jazz by the Will Mason Trio in the Cafe
Arts Collinwood Cleveland + The Haiti Emergency Village Project
In conjunction w/ NEONAC+ Cleveland Tapes$10 suggested donation

THE HAITI EMERGENCY VILLAGE PROJECT (HEVP) is a consortium of organizations working towards the building of emerging villages in Haiti that will provide housing, infrastructure and other aspects of what constitutes a community. This group brings to Haiti transferrable lessons learned from Katrina. HEVP has been conceived, organized and put into action by New Orleans residents, supporters and rebuilders, and Haitians on the ground, most with longstanding ties to New Orleans, to create a model for recovery.

Attendees will have a chance to bid on art from amazing artists including Keith Marlowe, Amy Casey, Dan Tranberg, Julius Lyle, Dana Depew, Bridget Caswell, Sunia Boneham, Paul Sydorenko, Jacob Wesley Lang, David Wilder, Tary Yu, Petroucha Moise to name a few!

The Auctioneer for the evening will be Voice Legend and Art Provocateur Lawrence Daniel Caswell">Lawrence Daniel Caswell.

PLUS a SILENT AUCTION of AN AMAZING ARRAY OF Donated items from local Merchants +venues including Macback’s Bookstore, Beachland Ballroom, Visible Voice Books, House of Blues, Playhouse Square, and the Grog Shop!

The Cafe at Arts Collinwood will be open for a wonderful list of fresh hot/cold Tapas and a Cash Bar!

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, and HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

Only 51 Days Until This Fucking Winter Dies

2010-02-10T08:27:00.003-05:00

This winter has been a remarkably gentle one so far. I say this knowing full well that March can change my position on that entirely (much like it did in 2008) and hoping that the forces of jinx have better things to do than determine the region's weather by the heedless climate optimism of one silly blogger.

As remarkably gentle as it has been - as evidenced by the that this is only the second of these posts this winter so far (here is the first) - today was the first time I had that sinking winter hopelessness set in. I'm not sure at what point between waking up and arriving at my office the tide turned, whether it was my dog refusing to go to the bathroom or when I discovered too late that she'd gnawed half the buttons of my coat or when I realized I'd forgotten my scarf (a double whammy with the missing button problem) while waiting for a ridiculously long time to cross the street from parking lot to office building. Whatever it was, by the time the elevator doors closed and I was carried upwards by the engines of science and progress, I knew today would be a day I needed to calculate how many more of these fuckers I'd need to survive.

By my count, we have 51 days left in the winter. At that point, attention will turn to the Indians opening their home season. Until then, though, brrrrrrrr.

John G. Saves Cleveland

2010-02-08T19:48:00.002-05:00

This just in from The Monastery (aka John G's artistic HQ):

I know everybody's got the bleeding heart for Haiti right now. It's horrific what's been happening there. I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the insurmountable amount of strife and hardships that the people of Haiti are facing. If you haven't seen it yet, you owe it to yourself and the sake of humanity to look at Keith Marlowe's photography for LIFE Magazine. It's staggering.

Focusing slightly closer to home for my Heart's Blood, I'm offering a limited print for sale to benefit the Clevelanders displaced by that explosion on West 83rd Street last Monday (Jan 25, 2010). Turns out that house was possibly blown up by one of the neighbors, but knowing that doesn't really solve the problem that now there's a bunch of families that lost their homes.

The print - which John has titled "CLEVELYN PREVAILS" - will be produced as an 18 x 24 art style print in a limited quantity (only as many as John received pre-orders for) for a mere $20. Don't sleep on this offer, which will only be good through Februry 12th. John notes:

Feel free to use the paypal button at the bottom of this page. If you don't want to use paypal, please feel free to email me to arrange the order.

Clevelanders, I will arrange a way to drop off the print to you personally, or you can stop by The Monastery downtown and pick it up. If you're not in Cleveland, I will pay shipping costs within the U.S.

I'm going to limit the edition to only as many prints as are ordered. So if 6 people order this, you will get 1 of 6. If 85 people order this, you will get 1 of 85. If enough people order it, I'll get them screen printed. If it's few enough that I can handle it, I'll print them myself.

Proper Noun of the Week #30: R.A. Washington

2010-02-08T08:58:00.002-05:00

R.A. 'Rafeeq' Washington. Now where have I heard that name before ...

Man, if you are anything like me, you have heard that name everywhere, because that's where Mr. Washington seems to be. From visual art to spoken word to hip hop to dance clubs, Rafeeq's deft cultural touch is all over this city and residents of the CLE are all the better for it.

Most recently, folks at the PD took notice of one of Washington's biggest ventures, his experimental hip hop label Cleveland Tapes.

By the time you read this, though, you'll likely be hearing his name for yet another reason, this time as the event architect behind Wednesday's upcoming Art for Haiti benefit auction at Arts Collinwood. The event is being held to help raise funds for the Haiti Emergency Village Project, and event planners will use combined revenues from an art live auction - presided over by Washington's fellow CB Proper Noun Lawrence Daniel Caswell and featuring the work of artists including Keith Marlowe, Dan Tranberg, Dana Depew, Bridget Caswell, Sunia Boneham, and Jacob Wesley Lang (among many more) - and a silent auction for goods donated by local businesses like Mac's Backs, the Beachland, Visible Voice, House of Blues, and many others.

A few days ago, Washington found a few moments in his unimaginable schedule to participate in my Proper Noun question time exercise. Check out what he has to say below.

1) How long have you been in Cleveland? And if you didn't grow up in Cleveland, where'd you relocate here from?

I've been in Cleveland for about 20 years, but I'm originally from El Paso, TX.

2) What is your favorite Cleveland memory?

My favorite Cleveland memory, too many to pick just one - but if i had to it would be the first time I saw Lives of the Saints.

3) How does (if at all) Cleveland influence your work and/or art?

It does not really influence the actual work per se, but it tempers how I distribute it.

4) If it was your birthday and you decided to have a Cleveland-centric blow-out bash, how would you celebrate? That is, what would you do, where would you do it, etc.?

Thats funny, cuz tomorrow is my actual birthday! And Saturday at Touch Supper Club This Moment In Black History is djing my birthday party. The Cleveland Bachelor should come, maybe meet someone.

5) Say you had a friend coming in for 24 hours and had never been to Cleveland before. What would you make sure they saw and did?

Go to a show at Now That's Class, go record hunting.

6) What is something from another city you wish you could import to Cleveland?

Hope

7) If you had the undivided attention of the mayor, city council, and county commissioners, what would be the one thing you'd ask for or tell them?

Hey guys, we are a port city! Let's act like it, and while you are at it - annex these stupid suburb cities!

To meet Rafeeq, stop by Arts Collinwood on WEDNESDAY for the Art for Haiti Benefit Auction. For more information on the event, click here. Arts Collinwood is located at 15601 Waterloo Road in Cleveland.

And if you found this post interesting, check out previous Proper Noun of the Week conversations about Cleveland and culture with the following interesting folks: Frank Revy, Bill Rupnik, Mina Hoyle, Brendan Walton, Leia Alligator, Arabella Proffer, Becca Riker, Greg Ruffing, Mallorie Freeman, Dave Desimone, J.R. Bennett, Jeff & Mike from CLE Clothing Co, Paulius Nasvytis, Lawrence Daniel Caswell, Curtis Thompson, John Ewing, Shannon Okey, John G, Sean Bilovecky, Dana Depew, Fred Wright, Amanda Montague, Ryan Weitzel, Garrett Komyati, Vince Slusarz, Jonah Jacobs, Jacob Wesley Lang, and Kevin Neudecker & Melanie Hershberger.

Celluloid Bachelor #54: The Kissaway Trail "SDP"

2010-02-06T16:47:00.002-05:00

If you asked me before viewing this video whether it would be possible to take a 6+ minute track that doesn't seem to have all that much fat on it and edit it into a 3-odd minute video that doesn't seem to miss a beat, I'd say something along the lines of "unlikely."

The recent video for The Kissaway Trail's "SDP" proves me wrong.

Or, rather, it proves hypothetical retrospective me wrong. But you get the point.

Cleveland: Scene One, Take One

2010-02-06T14:44:00.002-05:00

Let's hear it for the Cleveland film community! Over the last few months, I've interviewed several filmmakers from across the country and when I get their response to my closing question (What can Cleveland do to make itself more film industry friendly?), I'm always left a little dismayed and hopeless.

After reading this article, which led me to this press release, however, I was pleased to see that even if the tax breaks Ohio offers aren't as generous as other states and even though our industrial infrastructure isn't as developed as competitor cities, we are still moving forward.

Between that and the building recognition of institutions like the Cleveland International Film Festival and the CIA Cinematheque, as well as growing festival success for films like The Taqwacores (Sundance) and El Voyage Maximo (Bangkok International) that have a deep Cleveland connection, it makes the outlook for 2010 and beyond a lot brighter.

The week ahead: 2/7-2/13 (CB's Bundling Up edition)

2010-02-06T11:30:00.003-05:00

Baby, it is cold outside. As much as seeing those mid-Atlantic punks get buried in snow warms my heart, it does little to warm my toes. Instead, I've been in multi-blanket nap mode, cuddling with my pups and dreaming strange dreams, for a couple days now. That can't last forever, though, and by tomorrow it'll be time to get off the mat and start being a human again. Below is my list of things to consider when you plan your own week.

Sunday, 2/7 - With the blustery cold, there is only one thing to do: chill and watch a movie. Fortunately, today brings you three good selections: Holy Land Hardball at the Mandel Jewish Community Center and Wild River and The Wedding Song at the CIA Cinematheque. Check out my month in film guide here for more information.

Monday, 2/8 - tba

Tuesday, 2/9 - tba

Wednesday, 2/10 - There's only one place you should be this Wednesday night, and that's at Arts Collinwood. The Waterloo Road non-profit is playing host to the Art for Haiti Benefit, which includes a live art auction from top local and national artists, food, cocktails and live jazz music. Proceeds will go directly to the Haiti Emergency Village Project. The auctioneer for the night is none other than Mr. Lawrence Daniel Caswell. Check out this link for more information about the evening.

Thursday, 2/11 - The CSU Vikings play host to conference rival Valpo tonight in what should be a heckuva game. The Vikes got beat by 7 when they visited Valparaiso in January, but between the home court advantage and the growing team confidence as they ride a now four-game winning streak (and a 7-2 record since starting conference play in earnest), things should be a little more friendly for the home team this time around. After the CSU fans storm the court following this hopeful W, head to the CIA Cinematheque for a different kind of Storm, as the finest reperatory theater in the land screens the critically adored political thriller/international court procedural about Bosnian war crimes.

Friday, 2/12 - Assuming the mid-week snow dump I've been hearing about takes place as feared, it is unlikely we'll see much mass migration across the river this weekend. Which is ok, kind of, because there are a pair of good events on either side of the East-West divide. For you westerners, check out the "Sonic Landscapes" exhibit opening at Asterisk Gallery. Featuring work by a half-dozen artists, including CB faves Scott Pickering and Jason Byers, this'll be well worth putting on the winter boots. Eastward, you can have fun while helping out a good cause at the Beachland-hosted Free Clinic Benefit. Headed by Carlos Jones & the PLUS Band (with opening assists by Austin Walkin' Cane, oldboy, and Nights), the $10 event will help fund the non-profit that has provided medical care to so many who wouldn't otherwise be able to get it. There isn't a better place to donate your hard earned dollars these days, folks.

Saturday, 2/13 - With the exception of today's CSU game against Butler (the second this week against a conference rival hailing from that awful state to the west of us), today's another one of those days where you can spend the entire time on Waterloo Road and have a better time than anyone you'll swap stories with on Monday morning. During the day, do some good and check out the UpStage Artisan Alley sale at the Slovenian Workman's Home. Kind of like a smaller scale Bazaar Bizarre, this event will serve as a fundraiser for the UpStage Players, a non-profit children's theatre group run by an all volunteer staff in Northeast Ohio. Later, stick around for Round two of the Mystery of Two residency at Arts Collinwood and then head down the block for one of the best (and beer-soaked) live shows in town when the Whiskey Daredevils take the stage at the Beachland.

Other stuff to keep your eye on the following week:
- 2/14 - Lawrence Daniel Caswell DJs the Beachland Brunch
- 2/14 - Mine screens @ CMA
- 2/14 - Girlyman @ Beachland Tavern
- 2/16 - George Clinton @ House of Blues
- 2/17 - Pretty & Nice in-store @ Blue Arrow Records
- 2/17 - Uncertainty screens @ CIA
- 2/18 - Snoop Dogg @ House of Blues
- 2/18 - Unmade Beds screens @ CIA
- 2/19 - Paradise screens @ CMA
- 2/20 - Mystery of Two residency @ Arts Collinwood (w/ Freedom)
- 2/20 - Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise @ Beachland
- 2/20 - How to Breathe Underwater/Whisper Signal @ bela dubby
- 2/20 - Big Trouble in Little China screens @ Capitol Theater
- 2/20 - CSU vs Toledo ESPNU Bracket-Busters game
- 2/20 - Poet's Haven event @ Blue Arrow Records
- 2/20 - Until the Light Takes Us screens @ CIA
- 2/21 - Found Footage Festival @ Beachland Ballroom
- 2/22 - Supersuckers @ Grog Shop
- 2/23 - Ha Ha Tonka @ Beachland
- 2/23 - Cold Cave/Emeralds/Hair Police @ Grog Shop
- 2/24 - Harmony @ Me screens @ CMA
- 2/24 - Cleveland Bachelor Show of the Month: So Cow/Shiny Penny/The Modern Electric @ Beachland

Tonight in Cleveland (2/6): Mystery of Two Residency @ Arts Collinwood

2010-02-06T11:07:00.003-05:00

Local art-punk extraordinaires Mystery of Two kick off a month-long residency at Arts Collinwood tonight. The band plays sets each Saturday in February, hosting a different opening group each time. Tonight's guest opener is Filmstrip, a band getting some buzz lately from its connection with recent Sundance darling, The Taqwacores. Future openers include Buried Wires, Freedom, and Founding Fathers.

As a special treat, attendees tonight will be able to catch the closing night of Terry Durst's recent exhibit, The Carter Excavations, in the gallery.

Tonight in Cleveland (2/5): Melanie's 33 1/3 party @ Music Saves

2010-02-05T13:32:00.001-05:00

Celluloid Bachelor #53: What if _________ Directed the Super Bowl

2010-02-05T13:26:00.002-05:00

Slate.com, my favorite culture and news site, recently posted this video of vignettes proposing what the Super Bowl would be like if directed by famous film directors such as Wes Anderson, Werner Herzog, David Lynch, Jean-Luc Godard, and Quentin Tarantino. Amusing stuff, particularly if you are fans of the more esoteric of the crew.

Celluloid Bachelor #52: Junk Culture "West Coast"

2010-02-04T11:17:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lull in video posting - sometimes life gets in the way. However, I'm happy to be back, and even happier to be able to post a clip that, for those of you who dig it, comes from a band who will be in Cleveland tonight.

Today's video comes from mash-up artist Junk Culture (aka Deepak Mantena). His work immediately calls to mind that of another artist with Cleveland connections, Girl Talk (aka Greg Gillis), which is unsurprising considering Junk Culture's debut EP, West Coast, was released by the same label that handles Girl Talk. This video is for the EP's title track, and features Mantena drumming along to the samples in what looks to be an empty lot with a video screen set up behind showing various experimental and found images. Later, the video evolves into a psychadelic skater shoot that loses some of the visual narrative consistency, but still looks cool and works well with the sound.

Junk Culture is performing TONIGHT at Now That's Class, for those interested.

Are you ready for the CB February show of the month?

2010-02-03T15:46:00.004-05:00

Last month's CB show of the month was an unmitigated success, with The Rural Alberta Advantage and The Octagon selling out the Tavern side of the Beachland. (Read my review of the show here.) Going in to that month, I'd appreciated but not yet totally fallen for the Canadian headliners and had never heard of NYC based The Octagon. After a few weeks of listening to each band in preparation for the show, and then seeing both on stage, I can probably say that the like I felt for The RAA has risen to a near-love and The Octagon is one of my new favorite bands and an early contender for this year's best of list.

I have similar high hopes for this month's show, which is ...

So Cow, with openers The Modern Electric and Shiny Penny!

Coming all the way to us from Ireland on a North American jaunt that will take them through New England (the poor band's first taste of the US will be Jersey), into Eastern Canada, down through the American rust belt, across the northern Midwest, all the way down the west coast, and eastward through the Southwest to Austin, where they'll play for four days before continuing eastward through the old Confedaracy and back up the Eastern seaboard before ending the 50-day swing in ... Jersey (again!!! - who is their booking agent? Little Steven?).

I'll admit that I'm a relative newcomer to the sonic brilliance of So Cow, and that I have Kevin Neudecker of Music Saves to thank for shining a light in the Irish indie corner for me. I've already been getting into the sound, though, and the fact that they will be joined on stage by Cleveland's hottest indie operation, The Modern Electric, and the big buzz consortium Shiny Penny bodes even better for those of us who make our way to Waterloon that last Wednesday of the month to hear some rock.

As usual, there will be more info about the show and the participating bands coming in the next couple weeks. For now, though, mark your calendars:

Wednesday, February 24th, Beachland Tavern, 9 PM (Doors at 8:30), $7

The Month in Film

2010-02-02T18:00:00.008-05:00

Another month closer to spring, friends. Still, there are plenty of cold and dreary days ahead of us, perfect for sitting inside in a movie theater, watching something wonderful. The folks at the CIA, CMA, Cedar-Lee and others have a month's worth of programming for us this February. Check out my personal picks to click this month below.

As usual, before getting to the meat of the post, a quick word about format. In this one, I'll list films (or film events) by title, but following chronological order. Make sense? If not, you'll pick it up pretty quickly. I'm a simpleton.

Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution - 2008, France (Cleveland Museum of Art, Wednesday 2/3 at 6:45 PM)

This "cheerfully one-sided film" (New York Times) shows what happens when the mayor of a French village decrees that all lunches in the school cafeteria will be organic and locally grown.

Takedowns & Falls - 2010, USA (Tower City, Thursday 2/4 at 7 PM)

Takedowns and Falls is a documentary film that tells the story of a group of Pennsylvania teens and their relationships within a high school wrestling team on a journey to attain a state championship. It chronicles a season of the Central Dauphin Rams in Harrisburg, PA and highlights the sacrifice of its athletes, the commitment of their families and the dedication of its coaches. Inspired by their love of the sport and their coaches, this group of teens grows up before our eyes, in an attempt to over achieve and do the impossible.

Takedowns and Falls explores themes of humility, family, friendship and teamwork via individual and team efforts to win a state title. The film transcends the sport and becomes a story about people over coming odds, and will appeal to a wide audience.

Takedowns and Falls is Spellbound meets Friday Night Lights for high school wrestling, taking place in the U.S. Mecca for the sport.

takedowns and falls - trailer A - 1min30sec from takedowns and falls on Vimeo.

Cool As Ice - 1991, USA (Cedar-Lee, Saturday 2/6 at 9:30 & 11:59 PM)

A rap oriented re-make of "Rebel Without a Cause," with heavy emphasis on the fact that rap star Vanilla Ice has assumed the James Dean role. Not available on DVD, this flop stars Vanilla Ice & the dad from Family Ties! You may urinate yourself because you'll laugh so much during this fantastic feature. Everyone gets a free scoop of Mitchell's Homemade vanilla ice cream! Clean up in eisle seven.

Along An Eastern Shore - 2010, USA (Cleveland Museum of Art, Friday 2/5 at 7 PM)

Filmed in 2006 by Noel Maitland as a part of Ingenuity Festival, ALONG AN EASTERN SHORE is a Choreopoem set to an original score composed of written music sketches, and words by RA Washington, and featuring an ensemble of 9 Artists, and musicians. In 2009, Language Foundry Founder, J.S. Makkos commissioned artist/musician Stephe DK to provide artwork for a Limited Edition DVD Release and this will be the first time the actual film has been screened. The Cast includes some of Cleveland's finest jazz musicians, including Master Percussionist Neil Chastain, and multi reed instrumentalist, Dan Wenninger - combined with the entire Cleveland punk band THIS MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY, and writer/musician/educator DANIEL GRAY KONTAR.

Wild River - 1960, USA (CIA Cinematheque, Saturday 2/6 at 5:15 PM; Sunday 2/7 at 4 PM)

Here’s a new print of a rarely-shown Elia Kazan classic that’s not on DVD! Montgomery Clift plays a Tennessee Valley Authority official who tries to persuade a stubborn old woman (Jo Van Fleet) to leave her property before it is flooded. He also falls for her widowed granddaughter (Lee Remick). Shot on location in rural Tennessee, the movie spotlights a conflict (big government vs. little people, rugged individualism vs. the greater good) that is strikingly contemporary. And its viewpoint is unexpectedly ambivalent.

The Wedding Song - 2008, France/Tunisia (Cleveland Institute of Art, Saturday 2/6 at 9:25 PM; Sunday 2/7 at 6:45 PM)

In this sensuous and haunting new film set in Tunis in the early 1940s, two teenage girlfriends—one Jewish, one Muslim—compare their lives and prepare for their respective marriages. Then invading Nazis upset all their plans. From the director of La Petite Jérusalem. Adults only!

Automorphosis - 2008, USA (Cleveland Museum of Art, Wednesday 2/10 at 7 PM)

The new movie by the son of legendary ethnographic filmmaker Les Blank is a delightful look at some eccentrics, visionaries, and free-thinkers who have transformed their automobiles into drivable works of art (e.g., the "Peace Car" covered with eating utensils owned by spoon-bender Uri Geller).

Storm - 2009, Germany/Denmark/Netherlands (CIA Cinematheque, Thursday 2/11 at 9:15 PM; Friday 2/12 at 7:30)

Kerry Fox and Anamaria Marinca (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) star in the new drama from the director of Requiem. It’s a political thriller about a Hague lawyer who’s prosecuting a Bosnian Serb Army commander for war crimes. But when her key witness perjures and kills himself, she must travel to Sarajevo and quickly find another person to testify against the military leader.

Mine - 2009, USA (Cleveland Museum of Art, Friday 2/12 at 7 PM; Sunday 2/14 at 1:30 PM)

New Orleans residents try to reunite with pets they abandoned during Hurricane Katrina in this compelling documentary. Since many of these animals were sent to shelters or adopted by others, there are numerous custody battles. Preceded at showtime by John Harden’s 13-min. short film La vie d’un chien (The Life of a Dog, USA, 2005), a take-off on Chris Marker’s La Jetée.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - 2010, USA (Cedar-Lee, Opens Friday 2/12 with numerous screenings to follow)

Terence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage), a homicide detective with the New Orleans Police Department, is promoted to Lieutenant after he saves a prisoner from drowning in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. However, during his heroic act, he severely injures his back and is put on prescription pain medication.

A year later, Terence—struggling with his addictions to sex, Vicodin and cocaine—finds himself in the battle to bring down drug dealer Big Fate, who is suspected of massacring an entire family of African immigrants.

Uncertainty - 2009, USA (Capitol Theater, Wednesday 2/17 at 7:30 PM)

Uncertainty stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins as two young lovers who find themselves at a crossroads in their relationship while standing on the Brooklyn Bridge one July 4th. The flip of a coin propels them into two distinct (but alternating) narratives unfolding on both sides of the East River: a domestic drama set in Brooklyn, and a Manhattan-set thriller in which they’re chased through Chinatown by an assassin.

Unmade Beds - 2009, Britain (CIA Cinematheque, Thursday 2/18 at 6:45 PM; Friday 2/19 at 9:45 PM)

The youthful, anything-goes spirit of the French New Wave permeates this lovely, lyrical movie about two foreigners (he’s Spanish, she’s French) living the Boho life in the same London warehouse. While trying to find themselves, they find each other.

The Sun - 2005, Russia/France/Italy/Switzerland (CIA Cinematheque, Thursday 2/18 at 8:40 PM; Friday 2/19 at 7:30 PM)

One of last year’s most acclaimed movies was first shown at the Cinematheque in January 2007 as a “Cinematheque Elite” presentation. (The print then came from outside the country.) Now this major film from the director of Russian Ark has finally landed U.S. distribution. The Sun is a portrait of Japan’s Emperor Hirohito (Issey Ogata) as he surrenders his country—and his presumed divinity—to his American captor and protector, General Douglas MacArthur, at the end of WWII. Set within the confines of Hirohito’s isolated, servant-heavy compound, the film says a lot about the remoteness of world leaders who wage war.

Paradise - 2009, USA (Cleveland Museum of Art, Friday 2/19 at 7 PM)

The ordinary becomes extraordinary in this diaristic film that, according to the New York Times, "is essentially a series of home movies, but home movies of a very high order." Shot over a decade in nine different countries, Michael (Hamlet, Nadja) Almereyda’s new movie contains 44 distinct scenes captured on digital video—from images of children at play to candid moments at a Sonic Youth concert and on the set of Terrence Malick’s The New World. Almereyda will introduce the film and answer questions after the screening. Cleveland premiere.

Odd Man Out - 1947, Britain (CIA Cinematheque, Saturday 2/20 at 5 PM; Sunday 2/21 at 4 PM)

This film noir masterpiece was made by Carol Reed two years before his better-known The Third Man. James Mason plays a wounded IRA gunman who stumbles through the streets of Belfast looking for help while trying to avoid the police. A suspense classic with metaphysical overtones, it’s one of the great British films.

The Man From London - 2007, France/Germany/Hungary (CIA Cinematheque, Saturday 2/20 at 7:15 PM; Sunday 2/21 at 8:25 PM)

The most recent feature from the great Hungarian director of Sátántangó and The Werckmeister Harmonies is a moody drama of crime, guilt, and complicity based on a novel by Georges Simenon. A railroad worker witnesses a waterfront murder at a boat-train junction one foggy night and ends up with a suitcase full of cash, which he hides from his wife (Tilda Swinton). Then a man from London comes looking for it.

Until the Light Takes Us - 2008, USA (CIA Cinematheque, Saturday 2/20 at 9:50 PM; Sunday 2/21 at 6:30 PM)

Norwegian black metal was a 1990s Nordic offshoot of heavy metal that branched out from music, makeup, and pagan imagery to vandalism, church-burning, and killing. This new documentary explores the black metal scene through interviews with some of the movement’s key players, including Gylve “Fenriz” Nagell of Darkthrone and Varg “Count Grishnackh” Vikernes of Burzum, currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for arson and murder.

Found Footage Festival - 2009, USA (Beachland Ballroom, Sunday 2/21 at 7 PM)

The Found Footage Festival is a one-of-a-kind event showcasing videos found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout the country. Curators Pickett and Prueher host each screening in-person and provide their unique observations and commentary on these found video obscurities. From the curiously-produced industrial training video to the forsaken home movie donated to Goodwill, the Found Footage Festival resurrects these forgotten treasures and serves them up in a lively celebration of all things found.

Those Lips, Those Eyes - 1980, USA (Cedar-Lee, Sunday 2/21 at 2 PM)

Those Lips, Those Eyes is a coming-of-age story about a young man who works behind the scenes at a summer theater exactly like Cain Park, in a city exactly like Cleveland Heights in the 1950s. The screenplay was written by the late David Shaber who worked at Cain Park with founder Dina Rees Evans. And the reason the place in the movie looks so much like Cain Park is that it was actually filmed there in the late 70s—before the amphitheater had a roof and when the seating was stone and concrete benches. The film is not only a look at life in Cleveland Heights (and the rest of our country) in the 50s, it's also a historical documentation of the original Cain Park.

This event is a fundraiser on behalf of the Friends of Cain Park. Tickets are $30 and include the movie, snacks, wine, and other beverages. Those interested should make their check payable to "Friends of Cain Park" and mail to 2195 Delaware Drive, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106. Any questions? Call 216-791-5149 or email popcycles@sbcglobal.net.

Harmony and Me - 2009, USA (Cleveland Museum of Art, Wednesday 2/24 at 7 PM)

In this very funny indie comedy, a pathetic sad sack recently dumped by his girlfriend seeks consolation from his friends and family, who are little help.

Night And Day - 2008, South Korea (CIA Cinematheque, Friday 2/25 at 8:10 PM; Saturday 2/26 at 9 PM)

A self-absorbed 40-year-old Korean painter who has impulsively flown to France to avoid a possible drug rap in Seoul finds himself a fish out of water in contemporary Paris. Though he happens to cross paths with an old girlfriend, and eventually falls for a two young art students, he spends much of his time wandering through the city, worrying about the wife he left behind, and generally behaving badly in a midlife-crisis kind of way. This wry and delightful comedy by internationally acclaimed Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo (Woman on the Beach) is perhaps his most enjoyable movie yet.

The White Ribbon - 2010, USA (Opens 2/26 at Cedar-Lee with numerous screenings to follow)

The film's title refers to the loss of innocence. Crisply shot in black and white, the film is set in a rural German village just prior to World War I. Voiced by an old man (Ernst Jacobi) who used to be the village schoolteacher, the story reveals mysterious goings-on.

A doctor falls off his horse, apparently tripped by a rigged wire. The son of the local baron is found beaten. A barn is burned down. So who is to blame?

As the war approaches, suspicion begins to escalate, perhaps presaging Germany's next 30 years. In German with English subtitles.

Brighton Rock - 1947, Britain (CIA Cinematheque, Saturday 2/27 at 5:15 PM; Sunday 2/27 at 4 PM)