Tuesday, November 17, 2009

This Week, November 17 - 23

It's been a minute since I did a This Week Post. (thanks for bearing with me.) Here's my picks for the week, there's lots & lots going on...

Tuesday, Nov 17:
  • Outside the Spotlight presents KLANG: Chicago jazz quartet featuring clarinetist James Falzon, percussionist Tim Daisy (who has performed in Lex a number of times with the Vandermark 5), bassist Jason Roebke and vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz. Read Walter Tunis' preview here.
  • Balagula Theater presents "The Bald Sporano" at Natasha's Bistro (through Wed.) Balagula Theater, Natasha's Bistro's in-house theater company, has consistently been presenting the most daring and unique stage productions in Lexington for years, but 2009-2010 marks their first official "season," a 4-production exploration of absurdist and existentialist plays of which Eugene Ionesco's "The Bald Sporano" is the second installment (following September's "B is for Beckett"). Written in the '50's, "The Bald Soprano" is an absurdist comedy in the vein of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (a movie I love, though I have yet to seen it performed on stage), touching on the banality of everyday existence and human communication...I saw it last night and absolutely loved it. The play itself (which I was unfamiliar with) is completely hilarious; the phenomenal acting, direction and set design all topped it off. I wouldn't say it's for everyone - the humor is British, and waaaaay left-field British at that (even though the playwright was French Romanian; weird) and there's a point where the entire play falls off its rocker altogether. But if you're looking for a unique theater experience that forces you to step outside your comfort zone, this comes highly recommended. Stay tuned for Sarte's "No Exit" in February/March and Aruthur Kopit's "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Momma Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad." Dinner seating from 5:30 -6:45/ Theater seating at 7:30/ Curtains at 8/ $15.

Wednesday, Nov 18:
  • Holler Poets Series: The 19th (!) monthly installment of the hugely successul Lexington litereary series features readers Renee Rigdon and Jude McPherson (founder of Blacoetry Press). Music by Karly Dawn Higgins of the Clack Mountain String Band. Open mic starts at 8 with limited slots, so show up early if you want to sign up.
  • Alexa Woodward/The Rainjunkies at Buster's. One of the preliminary "Front Room Shows" at Buster's, inspired in part by the intensely fun front room shows at Boomslang that included Ga'an, Peaking Lights, Tiny Fights, Caboladies and Burning Star Core. Alexa Woodward = angelic banjo picking songwriter from NYC who has been compared to Gillian Welch, Jolie Holland and Judy Garland. Rainjunkies = solid Lexington-flavored indie rock with just a tinge of twang. The show is FREE, pool tables will be open and inside sources tell me "it will legitimately start around 9:00."
Thursday, Nov 19:

  • Phantom Family Halo/Invaders/Cross at Al's Bar. Phantom Family Halo and Invaders are two Louisville bands who I have been wanting to see live for quite some time now. So I was obviously psyched when they approached me to help get them both on a bill here in Lex. I'll be doing a more full blown show preview soon, but in the meantime know that they are both psych-influenced rock bands (most generic description ever?) and they are both seriously, seriously rad. Listening to the new albums by both bands (Invader's 'Floating' and Phantom Family Halo's 'Monoliths & These Flowers Never Die,' both out on Louisville's Karate Body Records) has restored my faith that the Louisville underground music scene continues to pump out severely original and exciting music. Maybe one day I'll be motivated enough to spend the time to figure out how to post songs on my posts (I openly admit my complete amateur status), but in the meantime you can check out Invaders here and PFH here. Oh yeah....Lexington's own CROSS featuring members of Warmer Milks and Tight Leather will open. SEE YOU THERE.
Friday, November 20:
  • GALLERY HOP - I admit I don't know much about what's going on for the November Gallery Hop, but photographer Richie Wireman's "Visual Block" Exhibit is essential. Wireman, in case you didn't know, is one of the greatest artistic assets to Lexington - he documents an incredible amount of events, and he does it beautifully and tirelessly. At the Thriller Zombie Parade this Halloween (one of the craziest events of the year, by the way - where did those people come from???), I spotted him walking backwards with the parade, and walking quickly, snapping two cameras simultaneously. Anyway, this exhibit, which has been in the works for quite some time, is his documentation of The Dame/Centrepointe block, "as it was and as it is." Photographs as well as relics he salvaged from the block will be on display. Bellini's Ballroom (above Bellini's Restaurant on Main Street); 5:30 - 9:30. Dave Farris and Willie Eames will play music at 7 and again at 9.

Saturday November 21:
  • Benefit for Jason Noble featuring SHELLAC, Shannon Wright, The Web. In case ya didn't know, Shellac totally slays - with a line-up featuring Steve Albini and Bob Weston, I don't know that there's much else they could do. More in-depth preview from yesterday here.
Monday, November 23:

  • Sound/Vision perform Steve Reich's DRUMMING at Singletary Center. Last year's FreeKY fest was the first time these guys popped up on my radar. I was floored, and they have continued to impress every time I've seen them since; most recently when they opened for Rachel Grimes at the Second Presbyterian Church with video accompaniment by Jason Corder. They've performed excerpts of Reich's Drumming before, but they plan to take it to a new level this time - they actually purchased the rights to the piece and will be performing it in it's entirety. 7:30 pm. I think it's free....
Other happenings:
Tuesday, November 17 -
Charlie Louvin/Dex Romweber Duo @ Cosmic Charlie's (Lex).
Friday, November 20 - R. Kelly @ The Palace Theater (Lou).
Friday, November 20 - MV & EE; Cross; A.V. @ The Palace Theater (Lou).
Saturday, November 21 - (Wooden) Wand w/ Doug Keith and Street Gnar @ Buster's (Lex.)

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