Stepping it up a notch - The Southgate House

Alright, so I've always really loved Newport, Ky's Southgate House, ever since my first experience there (New Year's Eve when I was 19 - a night that ended up being overall wildly bizarre in ways I still don't understand...but I digress~). I admit I'd been somewhat underwhelmed by their calendar over the past year or so, but OK, they have been booking some crazy-awesome experimental shows for the summer, a few of which have officially restored my faith.

While it hasn't yet been posted on Southgate's website, Rolling Stone reported earlier this week that Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon will be making magic happen at the Newport venue on Tuesday, August 4, one of a small handful of dates announced so far for their aptly-named Super Awesome Mega Tour. Holy moly.

And then, behold, today I see that psychedelic drone lords Sunn 0)) will be playing the Southgate House on Sunday, July 12. Whoa. Sunn 0)) in Kentucky. If ya didn't know, Sunn 0)) are the founders of the epic Southern Lords Records (Earth, Boris), and one of the loudest and heaviest bands I like ~ check out their recently-released album, Monoliths and Dimensions, which I hear is pretty mind-blowing. I personally can't imagine a better way to celebrate that Sabbath.

Other great shows coming to the Southgate House this summer:

• Bonnie Prince Billy - July 11 (tho I'd recommend checking him out at the Round Barn on the 13th)
• NOMO - June 16
• Black Moth Super Rainbow - June 21
• Marah - July 7
• Son Volt - Aug 7

The Glory of Guns and God

Kentucky, I love you, but sometimes you confuse the hell out of me....

From the Courier-Journal: Valley Station Church to hold "bring your own gun" service

June 3 - June 9

First off, be sure to check out the freshly updated Upcoming Shows page - there's a lot of good stuff coming up in the near future, including Bonnie 'Prince' Billy at Lexington's Red Mile Round Barn next Saturday (June 13); a David Sedaris reading at Carmichael's in Louisville (Sun., June 21); and Neko Case at Woodsongs (Mon., July 20).

And now back to the present. (If I left out yr event, feel free to include it in a comment.):

Wed., June 3:

• P.J. Harvey and John Parrish are touring the states to promote their new collaborative album A Woman A Man Walked By. They'll be stopping at the Madison Theatre in Covington on Wednesday. Honestly, I'd probably give the new album a 6 compared to the other albums that he produced (To Bring you My Love, Is This Desire?), but I'm sure it will be a fantastic show nonetheless. (P.S. The new album is in the playbox at WRFL so you can call and request it at your will...)
• If you're looking for a short Wednesday road trip in another direction, Knoxville's Royal Bangs (totally awesome garage-rock that "beeps and shakes") will be playing at Skull Alley in Louisville with I Need Sleep. (P.S. Still an all ages venue, Skull Alley now serves beer.) Doors at 7; $5.
• The Kentucky Theatre Summer Classic Series has started...every Wednesday, they'll showcase a different classic movie, many of which are now in new print. This week's feature is The Birds. Showtimes at 1:30 and 7:15, all seats $4. (Check out a complete schedule here.)
  

Thurs., June 4:

• Thursday Night Ride to Stella's: Meet at Vespa Lexington (198 Moore Dr., Suite 102) at 6:00-6:30 with your two-wheeled vehicle (scooter, bike, moped, motorcycle, etc.) to ride to Stella's Kentucky Diner for dinner, drinks and a free chocolate bourbon brownie with t he purchase of a tasty Stella's sandwich (I'm a big fan of the blue cheese and apple sandwich with bacon and walnuts myself).
• The new bi-weekly DJ Nights at Sidecar series will feature DJ's LB and Sa-riot (yep). Because ladyDJs r kool. And we'll be spinning all vinyl. I'm sure our set will make no sense as usual~ expect some Sabbath...some Gary Numan...some Boris...some Donovon...some Elvis...(hey, check out Leo Weekly's recent article on Female DJs.) FREE, 21 +, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. (Sidecar is located next to Al's on N. Limestone near 6th St.)
• Hillbilly Casino will be playing at what was once lovingly referred to as Brooklyn Pizza. Now we're supposed to call it the Pie Bar. Not sure how I feel about that, but support this band, it's their first time in Lex and they look like they know how to have a good time.
• If I didn't have other obligations I'd most likely be going to see Cadaver in Drag at Lower 48 ... but that's neither here nor there...
  

Fri, June 5:

• Wolf Eyes are making their triumphant return to Lexington for a night of raucous noise at this WRFL-sponsored show. Also, some jams from Sick Hour, Walter Carson and Street Gnar/Trance Substantiation. At The Void ~ doors at 8:30, all ages, $5, etc.
• Crucial Fun Fest IV, Lexington's punk/hardcore/folk festival, is this weekend, June 5-7. To be honest, I don't know much about this fest ~ who puts it on, who most of these bands are, where they're from, anything. But apprently they gots their shits together. (I.e., their MySpace rideshare page has a looooooong list of people traveling from Chicago, Nashville, Florida, New England and other crazy distances for this thing.) Bands playing Friday include Good Luck, The Sidekicks, Arkansas, the Seedy Seeds, and the Rough Customers (at Al's Bar, all ages, 7:30, $6)

Sat., June 6:

• Spooky Qs album release party at The Void. Fire breathing will ensue outside. Get yr dance on inside.
• Crucial Fun Fest IV early shows (Third St. Stuff, 257 N. Limestone, 11:30 a.m., $5): Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, Dead Icons, Blood Carries Disease, Fields of Fire and more.
• Crucial Fun Fest IV late shows (Al's, 601 N. Limestone, $6, 7:30): Delay, ADD/C, Fauna, Friendly Fire, and Annabel
  

Sun., June 7:

• DC/Kentucky-based Vandaveer (aka former Apparitions frontman Mark Charles) will bring his "town-folk, digi-pop, solo song & dance routine" to the Green Lantern. Killer Meteor will open.
• For an entirely different live show experience, head down to the Boiler Room for the Everyone Lives, Everyone Wins album release party. Think heavy, heavy drone, darkness, fog, possibly a dude who does neon painting...Alegionaire - heavy groovy stoner rock of the highest order - will also be playing, to commemorate their coinciding album release.
• Crucial Fun Fest IV early shows (Third St. Stuff, 11:30 a.m., $5): In Endeavors, Eric Ayotte, Toby Foster, A Drum and an Open Window and more.
• Crucial Fun Fest IV late shows: (VENUE CHANGE- now Al's Bar, 7:30 p.m., $6): Ghost Mice, Beyond Dark Hills, the Dopamines, Heathers, the Wild.
  

Other damn worthy events in the region this week:

Friday, June 5:

• Jazz guitar extraordinaire Fareed Haque @ Blue Wisp Jazz Club (Cincy).
• Vandaveer @ 930 Listening Room (Lou).
• Super awesome heavy Nintendo rock band Ultra Pulverize will be playing atop Glassworks in downtown Louisville with Prizzy Prizzy Please and The Delicious.

Sat., June 6:

• Born Cross-Eyed @ Fishtank (Lex).
• Ben Sollee @ Berea Coffee and Tea (Berea).

Tues., June 9:

• Grizzly Bear/Here We Are Magic @ Buskirk-Chemley Theater (Bloomington, IN).

Sedaris coming to the 'ville

To commemorate his new collection of essays, Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris (frequent NPR commentator and author of a multitude of ingeniously hilarious books, including Me Talk Pretty One Day, Holidays on Ice, and Naked) will be giving a reading and signing books at Louisville's Carmichael's Bookstore (the 2720 Frankfort Avenue location) on Sunday, June 21. As far as I can tell, the event is free.

If you've ever been to Carmichael's, you know that it's completely awesome, but it ain't big. My first reaction to this event, which I found about as I walked by the store on Sunday (admittedly, en route to nurse my Saturday night mini-vacation-to-Louisville hangover with ice cream and coffee from Heine Brothers) was "Whoa, sweet!" But then visions of claustrophobia set in immediately. So I was happy to read that Carmichael's plans to host a street party that includes other fun activities (to be announced) as well as some sort of audio/visual representation of the reading to accommodate those who get shut out or need to take a breather outside.

The event starts at 4 p.m. Seating is available first come, first serve. Signing numbers are available starting today (June 1) with the purchase of one of Sedaris' books/audio books from the store. Contact Carmichael's for more information.

4th of July in Lexington (line-up leak)

Don't consider this official, but it's looking like CD Central's band line-up for Lexington's downtown 4th of July festivities at Phoenix Park this year is going to be pretty awesome, slated to include Tiny Fights, Casino versus Japan, Matt Duncan (all from Lex) and Moon Taxi (from Nashville).
In the name of freedom, all the shows will be free. Stay tuned for more details (times, etc.) closer to the day...and as always, God Bless Amurica.