This Week in Lex

Wednesday, March 24 (tonight!):

• WRFL presents....AWESOME COLOR at Al's Bar! TYVEK, CROSS and BABES will also play. Super great garage skate jams. Check out Nick Kidd's preview from North of Center. 9ish/10ish, all ages, $5
• Buster's THE BENDER installment #4 ~ featuring Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun; Spooky Q's (whose new album just got an awesome review in an online horror mag!?); The Winter Sounds. 9 p.m.$7, 18+
  

Thursday, March 25:

• The Cats destroy Cornell to advance to the Elite 8! Belly up with a sixer and watch it go down! (Yes I'm writing about sports. March Madness really got to me this year). Approximately 9:57 p.m.
• Buster's THE BENDER installment #5: The Butchers, Switchmen, Brenn, The Worsties. $9 p.m. $7

Friday, March 26:

• Girlie Girl Burlesque Spring Sizzle at Bar Lexington, featuring the lovelies Miss Kitty van Dyne, Miss Nixie Nylon, Miss Elisabeth de Sade, Miss Fonda Petting, and Miss Siobhan Atomica. Ooh la la! Doors at 9 p.m. $10 per ticket or $35 to reserve a table of four in advance.
• Buster's THE BENDER installment #6, featuring These United States, Tense Kids, Onward Pilgram. 10 p.m. $7. 18+
  
• Killer Meteor CD Release Party at The Green Lantern. 21+
  

Saturday, March 27:

• Nevermind the Northside Denim Dance Party at Sidecar. Free, 21 +
• Buster's THE BENDER installment #7, featuring Hippiedigger, Mobley, Nate FX
  

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.)

THE BOOKS COMING TO LEX, and more

Hey errybody,

I'm waking Blueline up from a long nap because there's some great haps coming up in Lexington and I wanted to make sure everyone was awares.

Firstly and foremostly...

Bullhorn is bringing experimental library-folk-sound collage duo THE BOOKS to Lexington on Monday, September 21! This promises to be one of the most memorable shows in a while. Not only because of the unique nature of The Books, whose strangely beautiful soundscapes are composed of non-traditional instrumentation as well as various found sounds (thrift store cassettes, self-help tapes), but because it's at The Miller House, Lexington's amazing modern architectural marvel. The show is a benefit for the Foundation for Advanced Architecture and will be a multi-media experience; stay tuned for more kickass details in the very near future, but go ahead and mark your calendars stat. (co-sponsored by You Ain't No Picasso, WRFL and Blueline)


Secondly, in light of recent news of the Dame's closing, there have been a couple recent articles about Lexington's changing music scene, namely the opening of two new music venues very soon (Buster's and Cosmic Charlie's, formerly known as Lynagh's Club).
Ky Kernel
Shock and Yawn

Thirdly, there are some not-to-miss shows this weekend (sorry the details are so sparse):

Thursday, August 27

• Girl Talk at UK's Student Center. Weird, right? Right. Getcha groove on, show all the new kids on campus how to day-ance....unless you don't already have tickets because word on the street is that it is SOLD OUT.
  
• Weirdo music at The Void Skateshop: Nightmares, s.m.e.l.l., and a Cadaver in Drag solo set.
  
• Kitschy dance pop in NoLi: Big Fresh, Matt Duncan, Little Noodles at Al's Bar. Sixth and Limestone.
  
• DJ Night at Sidecar (Cheater's) - Case Mahan and Josh Blaine will be spinning
  from 9 p.m. till the wee hours at LexVegas's new favorite hipster dive. Sixth and Limestone. FREE, 21 +

Friday, August 28

• WRFL presents...: Back to School Hip Hop Throwdown at the Red Mile Round Barn! Tanya Morgan (which, contrary to popular belief is a full-blown really rad hip hop group, not some chick named Tanya); Cuntry Noize; Devine Carama - all ages, $4 for students; $7 general pub.

Saturday, August 29

• "The Pen As Sword: Writing as Activism" - a workshop led by local literary giant Eric Sutherland (whom you may know as the MC for the monthly Holler Poet Series at Al's Bar). The event takes place at Carnegie Center at 11 a.m.; $25 (scholarships available); registration available by calling 859.254.4175.

• WRFL presents...Crazy Dreams Band/Jana Hunter/Tiny Fights.
  

July 22-July 27

thanks to ross compton and mike sullivan for some heads ups about some thangs, and some descriptions too! um, i think i left out a bunch of stuff this week ~ as usual, your event isn't on here, please feel free to leave it in a comment...

Wednesday, July 22:

• Holler Poets #15 at Al's Bar! This week's installment features Danville's Maurice Manning, winner of the 2000 Yale Younger Poets Prize (one of the most prestigious national awards a young poet can get), as well as Affrilachian poet Mitchell Douglas. Music by NEMO band (members of the now-defunct US Band)

Thursday, July 23:

• Start your morning off all the way to the left with Trivial Thursdays on WRFL (88.1 FM in Lexington, or you can stream it from anywhere in the friggin' world at wrfl.fm). Host Mick Jeffries will be joined this week with Ace Weekly writer and "Kimmyville" blogger Kim Thomas. 7-9 a.m.
• On Thursday night, Goldenrod, one of the leading local-bands-I-dig-but-haven't-seen-live-yet will be playing at new S. Limestone hangout Soundbar. Not really sure how the place will be set up with live music, but it's a pretty nice bar...I really really recommend the Moscow Mule.

Friday, July 24:

• Quamics ? #1 Book Release Party at Gumbo Ya Ya (1080 S. Broadway, next to Buffalo Wild Wings. Release party for for new local comic collective's debut book. Live music, delicious eats, and cheap beverages. Admission is FREE.
• Bedtime and Wussy at the Green Lantern
  

Saturday, July 25:

• Spooky Qs and Latin Heat ~ afternoon show at Pop's Resale Shop. 2 - 4p.m.
  
• Build the Stage Fundraiser! Rock out with Matt Duncan, Randy Tuesday and the Two TuesdaysLatin Heat in this worthy, worthy cause - raising dollers for to build a stage at Al's Bar!!! All ages; 9 p.m.; $5 > shit, if you can't make the show, at least stop by and give your $5 ~ this stage-building business at Al's is something that seriously needs to happen!!
• Also, while you're on the North side, stop by the Green Lantern to catch Mike Sullivan's favorite rock band, The Sundresses (from Cincy). Opening will be Reverend Deadeye, whom Mike so brilliantly described as "a one man wrecking machine of satanic gospel voodoo crazines." Sold!
• Jason Isbell (formerly of the Drive-By Truckers) and the 400 Unit are playing at the Dame. Opening the show will be Deep VIbration from Nashville, and Jon Imeson will be DJing afterward.
  

Sunday, July 26:

• The band formerly known as Godd will be making their Natasha's Bistro debut (and possibly the debut of all circus metal at Natasha's). Latin Heat and The All Dad Blues Band will also play. "Expect to enjoy one of the best small venue sound systems in Lexington!"
• Wretched Worst, Pedals On Our Pirate Ships, The Human Quena Orchestra, Backwoods Terror at Chaosome (6th and Limestone).

Monday, July 27:

• Outside the Spotlight / Event 107 > Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone @ Morris Book Shop (408 Southland Dr) > 7pm, all ages, FREE (donations encouraged for the musicians) > Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone = lovely guitar, viola, voice duets from Brooklyn - www.myspace.com/maryandjess. "There's a disarming openness to their interaction, never more pronounced than when the two are blending their voices in something like a campfire harmony. But this music isn't clever or cute. Its core is steely, and its execution clear." -Nate Chinen, The New York Times

July 7 - July 13

I'll be drawing for Forecastle ticket winners this afternoon and notifying the winners by this evening. Make sure you submit your entry to kyblueline@gmail.com (see details below!).

As for some events this week:

Tonight, Wednesday, July 8 :

• The Bob Dylan Show (also featuring Willie Nelson and John Cougar Mellencamp) is coming to the Louisville Slugger Field. Doors are at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $69.50.
• The Summer Classic Film Series at the Kentucky Theatre is showing "The Godfather" at 1:30 and 7:15. (All seats $4.) Take the gun, leave the canoli.
• KCTC Summerfest kicks off this evening at the Arboretum, with Henry IV (running through Sunday). This summer theater festival stepped up to fill the gap that Shakespeare in the Park left when it ended a few years back. For more info, visit the KCTC Summerfest homepage.
  

Thursday, July 9:

• Catch local poet Sunny Montgomery on Trivial Thursdays with Mick Jeffries on WRFL from 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. (tune into 88.1 fm or stream it at wrfl.fm). Sunny was recently chosen by the ELandFGallery Small Projects Accelerator to be the Bangin' Up a Storm! poet, meaning she will tour area nursing homes on July 15, reading poetry (both original and favorite chosen poems). The event will close with a public reading at Morris Book Shop at 7:30. More info on this unique event at the ElandFGallery site.
• Award-winning orchestral pop nine piece Lost in Trees will be playing at Natasha's: "Garden State Film Festival’s winner for Best Music in a Short Animation, Lost in the Trees brings their nine piece band to Natasha’s Bistro. The Chapel Hill natives are surrounded by praise from a variety of publications including Entertainment Weekly, Pop Matters, All Music Guide, IGN, Shuffle Magazine and The Independent. With their fearless leader at the helm, composer, musician, vocalist Ari Picker this stunning orchestral-pop outfit performs a truly engaging, dynamic live show. Their vibe is something special, rare and infectious." Show starts at 9 p.m., $7.
• 
  
• Great night of experimental music at Al's Bar, featuring Sound/Vision, a local outfit made up of mostly UK music students ( I think!)who performs avant garde + modern compositions, with video accompaniment. Experimental cellist Valerie Kuehne from New York and drummer David Grollman will also perform.
  
• Coralee and the Townies are playing at the Fishtank.
  

Friday, July 10

• Forecastle Fest kicks off in Louisville tonight with headlining sets by Zappa Plays Zappa (Zappa tribute band led by Zappa's son Dweezil), Pretty Lights (glitchy electronica) and Black Keys (rockin' Southern blues-indie two-piece). The After Party on the Belle of Louisville features DJs Tim Norris, Jesse Jamz, and Designer Drugs.
  
• Louisville's Mickey Clark (who happens to be my uncle) will be performing at Natasha's. He's a Nashville-trained "legendary songwriter" (according to Natasha's - not trying to toot my own familey's horn here), whose songs have been recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys and Jerry Lee Lewis. His latest album features guest appearances by Sam Bush, Tim Krekel, John Prine and others. If country-twinged singer-songwriter stuff is up your alley, this show is definitely recommended! $7, 9 p.m.
  
• For more country-twinged singer-songwritin' action, check out the lovely Coralee and the Townies at Al's Bar.
  

Saturday, July 11

• 2:00 p.m. - Adam Craft will sign Songs of Nod at Morris Book Shop. From Morris' website: "Local Author Adam Craft will sign his second work of macabre vignettes, Songs of Nod. This new collection of eighteen stories can be read as a companion to Craft's first work, Echoes of Nod, but it also stands fully on its own."
• 4 p.m. - 7 p.m - Public memorial for James Baker Hall, who died on Thursday, June 25. "Music will begin at 3:30p and the service will start at shortly after 4p. in Lexington's Gratz Park. (If the weather is forbidding, we'll move inside to the Jesse Stuart room of the Carnegie Center.) Around 5:30 a reception will begin in the Carnegie Center, with food and drink and poetry. We would like to ask that contributions for the reception be made as wine - if you knew Jim, you understand how much he treasured wine. So, bring some libation and please celebrate Jim, if you wish, by bringing along a poem to read. We hope you'll join us as you can."
• Louisville's Forecastle Festival will feature a performance from Lexington's March Madness Marching Band today! Other Saturday performances will include Man Man, Arnett Hollow, Royal Bangs, Black Crowes, Widespread Panic and many more
• Good Foods Market & Cafe will offer live music & grill out every Saturday in July! Enjoy local grilled meats and veggie burgers, signature homemade fresh squeezed lemonade, fresh organic juices, iced tea, and fruit smoothies. This Saturday features live music from Lot 13 (classic rock).
• Spooky Qs / Smuttynose/Betty Rat at Al's Bar
  

Sunday, July 12

• I think I've written enough about the SUNN 0))) show on this blog already, but just in case you didn't catch it, it's tonight, at the Southgate House in Newport, and it's going to be the darkest, heaviest shit ever. See you there - if you think you can handle it.
• On that note, the light & airy Bluegrass Collective will be making their triumphant return to Pazzo's Patio (one of my favorite patios in town) tonight! If you've seen these guys, you know they're great, and if you haven't, let me tell you - they're great! Casual, traditional bluegrass with some fun covers thrown in for good measure. 9ish p.m.
• The Forecastle line-up tonight features These United States, Yonder Mountain String Band, the Avett Brothers, and more Widespread Panic (in case you didn't get enough on Saturday night).
  

Monday, July 13

• The place to be tonight is Al's Bar, for Deer Tick, raucous honky tonk garage music. It's a WRFL sponsored show, so you know it's gonna be good - right?

July 1-July 4

Wednesday, July 1 ~ epic line-up of local weirdo music at THE VOID
Kraken Fury (fast and furious)
MA Turner and R Clint Colburn's The Cross (who the hell knows)
Tiny Fights (electro-krautastic)
Everyone Lives, Everyone Wins (drone magic)

Thursday, July 2 ~ DJ NIGHT AT THE SIDECAR
(different DJs every other Thursday night)
This week's installment features Holler Poet MC Eric "The Major" Sutherland and Jonathan "Tank" Vincent. 9:30 p.m till close. Sidecar (next to Al's, n. Limestone near 6th), FREE

Friday, July 3 ~ Seven Local Solo Acts at Al's Bar
Street Gnar/Idiot Glee/Noisycrane/Trance Substantiation/Drive Far Fast/Josh Blaine/Silverware ~ FREE, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 4 ~ Free the Music on Freedom Day
CD Central, Morris Book Shop and WRFL present free music at Phoenix Park (next to the downtown public library).

• 10:30 a.m. ~ Casino Versus Japan. A rare show of beautiful melodic electronica by Erik Kowalski.
• Noon ~ Sunny piano pop from Lexington's talented Matt Duncan.
• 1 p.m. ~ Intense, loud and technical, Chico Fellini has mastered the art of the live performance. Check 'em out before they blow up on the national scene.
• 2 p.m. ~ 4th of JULY PARADE
• 3:15 ~ Moon Taxi (Nashville jam band spectacular)
• 4:30 ~ Tiny Fights (local three-piece experimental psychelectronica dance party U.S.A.)

Also, that evening, the party moves to Natasha's Bistro for Tee Dee and the Scandalous Band, Lexington's own incredible New-Orleans style blues & jazz extraordinaires ($5, 9 p.m.). Make a point to check these guys out if you haven't yet - you can catch them in their own setting every Monday night at Tee Dee's (2nd St and Elm Tree).


Also noteworthy:
Wednesday, July 1 ~ Steverino at The Dame
~Ky Theatre Summer Classic Film Series presents American Graffiti
(1:15 p.m. and 7 :15 p.m.; all seats $4)
Thursday, July 2 - Kraken Fury, The Cross and Carl Calm at the Fact House
Saturday, July 3 - Born Cross-Eyed at the Fishtank

June 17 - June 23

I feel like I'm leaving some things out this week. Feel free to leave your info in a comment or e-mail me at kyblueline@gmail.com if you're interested in contributing!

Tonight, Wed., 6/17:

• Holler Poets Series at Al's Bar.Featured readers this month are the lovely Sunny Montgomery and Adam Day ; stick around for music by ATTEMPT. 8 p.m. FREE
• Summer Classic film Series at the Kentucky Theatre presents : "The Day the Earth Stood Still." 7:15 p.m., $4
  
• Former Sun City Girl Sir Richard Bishop will be bringing his experimental gypsy guitar music to new Louisville venue The Swan Bar.
  
• 
  

Thurs., June 21:

• M.A. Turner/Street Gnar/Three-Legged Race at Lower 48. An evening with some of Lexington's finest experimental weirdo music.
  

Friday June 19: Gallery Hop! See my picks below~

• Hide And Seek : Art Show at the Miller House featuring local art from Ben Allen, Robert Beatty, Ben Allen, Reid Small, Case Mahan, Jerielle Hanlon, Lina Thursing, Laura Holt and many more. 7 p.m./ FREE
  
• Buster's Collage Project: stop by Old Tarr with old music memorabilia for their collage project and get a free PBR! (stay tuned for more info)
• SWAP at the Downtown Arts Center. A "community art project in miniature formed by the exchange, hand held, between the visitor and the installation." Feat. Bruce Burris and Bill Santen.
  
• Also tonight: Big Maracas/ Swells Brass Band at Al's Bar; Johnson Brothers present Songs from 1969 at Natasha's Bistr; Circuit Des Yeux, Yuppies, Tiny Fights, Tenthaus @ Art Damage Lodge (Cincy)

Saturday, June 20:

• Bat Mitzvah Celebration at Pop's! Still trying to piece together the details on this one, but it's the 13th birthday party of Pop's, Lexington's top stop for vintage clothes, used vinyl, 8-tracks, various used electronics and general whatnot. Expect all or none of the following: cake, live music, specials, dreidels.
  
• Jovantaes/NEC/Abby a Go Go at Al's Bar~ definitely where the party is in Lex this evening. NEC is one of the most energetic and energizing rock bands that passes through Lex in my opinion. See you there~
• Black Hollies/Trophy Wives at Cahoots (Lou)

Sunday, June 21:

• Kaleidoscope Micro-Cinema at Natasha's presents FLOW: For Love of Water. Natasha's hosts the Kaleidoscope Micro-Cinema's presentation of Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis. Watch The Trailer

  The film's producer Gil Holland will be in attendance and will answer questions after the film. Gil Holland is one of America's most prolific independent film producers, having produced over 70 films since 1997, most notably "Hurricane Streets" which won a hat-trick at the Sundance Film Festival [the first time any director has walked away from the festival with three awards].
  
  Pizza, Popcorn and full bar. For reservations call (859) 259-2754 or reserve online at www.beetnik.comSeating: 6pm, Show Time: 8pm, FREE admission.

• David Sedaris is doing a reading and book signing in Louisville's Carmicheal's Books (the Frankfort Ave. location). More info here.
  

Tuesday, June 23:

• Kokichi Tagawa Quartet with Ella Chang at Natasha's Bistro. The Kokichi Tagawa Quartet is a jazz group consisting of local talents, with Kokichi Tagawa on piano (Berklee College of Music graduate), Satoru Tagawa on bass (toured with The Broadway musical, The Producers ), Christopher Strange on sax (toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra), and Paul Deatherage (member of Sound Foundry) on drums. Ella Chang is a talented classical violinist who has just recently landed a professional orchestral position in Seoul, Korea. $6.00, 8 p.m.
• The Avett Brothers at the Kentucky Theatre. More info here.
  

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).

May 27 - June 3

Wed., May 27:

• If you're feeling particularly ambitious today, you might be enticed to drive to Louisville after work to catch this month's installment of Waterfront Wednesdays, which, from what I can tell, occur the last Wednesday of each month at Waterfront Park. The event is most definitely more than worth the price - which is FREE - with '90s grunge greats the Meat Puppets headlining (if you're not really familiar with them, chances are you know/love their song "Plateau," one of the three Meat Puppets songs Kurt Cobain covered on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged album). The Features (7 p.m.) and Broken Spurs (5 p.m.) open, with Meat Puppets slated for approximately 9 p.m.
• If you'd rather stick around town, tune in to WRFL-Live from 8-10 to hear LATIN HEAT - and then stay tuned for my show from 10-12 :)
  

Thurs., May 28:

• The Johnson Brothers are headlining this weeks Thursday Night Live at Cheapside Park. Beer sales start around 4:30, with music from 5:30 - 7:30 ish. (You may or may not know the Johnson Brothers for their pretty right-on cover sets of entire Beatles albums, etc.)
  
• Body/Love Project - as usual, the Carnegie Center is chock full of awesome summer treats for renowned, up-and-coming and wannabe writers alike: Women writers and actors join together to explore the daunting topic of body image in this candid, intense, and often hilarious show. Contributing writers include: Donna Ison, Bianca Spriggs, Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, Nicole Nash, Sunny Montgomery, Renee Rigdon, Laurie Genet Preston, and many others. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn what women really think and feel. Made possible by a grant from The Kentucky Foundation for Women. FREE and Open to the Public.
• Afterwards, put on a mask and head over to the Boiler room (behind Pazzo's/Awkward Moose, etc.) to shake that ass with DJ Booty Sweat and Bitch Please at the Masquerade for Ballers
• Get yr funnel cake action on, ride the Gravitron, groove out to The Swells at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton county fair.
• Also on Thursday: Glasgow indie poppers Camera Obscura will be playing at the Southgate House.
  

Sat., May 30:

• 2nd Annual BOOBALOOZA, a breast cancer awareness benefit at Kitchen Concepts (behind Pieratt's on Richmond Rd.), 1-5 p.m., FREE. The event was started last year by 24-year-old cancer survivor Whitney Praska and friend Niah Soult and aims to spread education (this year's focus will be on "creating a body where cancer cannot live") as well as raise money for the Lexington chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation through donations and an art auction (pieces will be available for sale by Seth Tuska, Jim Embry, Adele White and many other artists). (There's a full article about the event here.)
• Boobalooza after party at Lower 48 feat. pink drink specials, DJs and live music. More info here. $5/$3 if you wear pink, with all proceeds going to Boobalooza.
• Louisville's Pokey LaFarge (one man band in the riverboat soul/old timey blues/folk vein - I've heard great things about this guy) w/ Girlie Girl Burlesque Show (!) at the Green Lantern.
  

Honorable Mentions
Fri., May 29 - Southern Culture on the Skids/Los Straitjackets @ Headliner's (Lou).
Fri., May 29 - Sexual Disaster Quartet @ The Dame (Lex).
Fri., May 29 - Big Maracas @ Brooklyn Pizza (which is apparently now called the Pie Bar) (Lex).
Sat., May 30 - Shemale Fiesta @ Fishtank (Lex).
Sun., May 31 - Jovontaes/Thunders @ Al's Bar (Lex).
Tues., June 2- Constantines/Crystal Antlers/State Song @ Headliner's (Lou).
Wed., June 3 - Royal Bangs w/ I Need Sleep @ Skull Alley (Lou).

this week(end)

I've been without the Interweb at home so this is going to be a brief one. Couple things tonight, t hen CD Central on Monday....after Tuesday's show, Lex seems to be taking a breather before gearing up for another series of don't miss shows, starting in June.

Rest up, go camping or something this weekend, it's gonna be a long and gorgeous one.

By the way, I'll be posting pics soon from Tuesday's fabulous Black Moth Super Rainbow show with Tiny Fights (sadly, I got there at 10 and missed Bedtime). In the meantime, Matt Jordan has some great ones on You Ain't No Picasso, check 'em!

Thurs., 5/21:

• The Big Maracas will be playing at Thursday Night Live until 7:30 or so. Cheapside Park, FREE, and p.s. if you ride your bike you'll get a free drink ticket.
• North of Center is presenting a series of discussions on various prison-related issues. North of Center is the new northside-based magazine that will come out every two weeks - first issue should be available now, though I have yet to see it. Tonight, the prison discussion will be led by Jonathan Hampton, who wrote his master's thesis on Holler to the Hood, a radio program based out of Appalshop in Eastern Ky connecting prisoners to their loved ones through the use of grassroots media.
• DJ NIGHTS at Sidecar - Robert Beatty and Brian Ronk will be spinning the jamz tonight. Should be the shizzle.
  

Mon., 5/25:

• Memorial Day Cook-out at CD Central. This year's band line-up: the Blue Suckers (noon); Goldenrod (1 p.m.); Spooqy Qs (2 p.m.); Allegionaire (3 p.m.). And there'll be weenies and burgers and discounts and stuff.

May 13 - May 19

As always, feel free to leave your event in a comment if I left it out...

Wed., 5/13:

• Cult Film Series at Al's Bar (brought to you by Seersucker Productions and Bluegrass Film Society)~ Tonight's film is Donald Wolf's Savage Intruder (1969). Lexington director George Maranville will be introducing the film. 7 p.m., FREE
  
• Erik Reece on FRESH AIR ~ Terry Gross will be interviewing the award-winning UK professor and author on-air on NPR tonight. Reece be discussing his new book American Gospel, about his conflicted religious views growing up as the son and grandson of Baptist preachers. (You might have garnered from last week's post about Reece that I think pretty highly of him.) Lexingtonians can tune in at 7 p.m. on 91.3 FM.
• Stay close to the radio to catch Michael Turner (formerly of Warmer Milks, etc.) live on WRFL-Live tonight, b/w 8-10 p.m. (stay tuned afterwards for my radio show, 10-midnight!). 88.1 FM or stream it : http://wrfl.fm
• Rainjunkies/John Pope (of Big Maracas)/ Alana Fugate at The Green Lantern.
  
• The Rosebuds / The Seedy Seeds at The Dame. $6, 21+
  

Thurs., 5/14:

• Bicycle Commuter Breakfast at Third Street Stuff (7:30 a.m.)~visit BikeLexington.com for more information.
  
• Trivial Thursdays with Mick Jeffries will feature "UK Special Collections and Digital Urber-Archivist, photographer, mommie, and photobooth fetishist Deirdre Scaggs." Tune into 88.1 WRFL FM from 7 - 9 a.m.
• Jovontaes, US Band and DJs John the Baptist and Brocktologist @ the Boiler Room. Check out Jovontaes' ever-changing line-up and sound (I believe drummer/vocalist Reid Small described the current state of their sound as being more "chilled out" than usual); up-and-coming hip-hop/party music of US Band; and Lexington's leading party DJs at the city's newest dive. (I checked out the Boiler Room last weekend and it's pretty rad...kinda makes you feel like you're in the Black Lodge, only less Lynch, more punk rock undertones.) 9:30ish.
  

Fri., 5/15:

• Renowned Appalachian poet Frank X. Walker will be the featured guest on Katerina Stoyklova Klemer's Accents Radio Show. WRFL, 88.1 FM, 2 p.m.
  
• RC Pro Am Reunion Tour: So far the only date I know of is this Friday, at Sidecar (next door to Al's on N. Limestone near Sixth St.) The best punk & "I don't give a shit" -inspired rock/whatever band to hit the Lexington scene in recent history. And they haven't even hit the Lexington scene at all in recent history. Weird how that works... Cheap beer, FREE entry, 21+
  
• Drive to Louisville to get your frantic awesome heavy rock on with Big Business (feat. members of the Melvins) at Headliner's.
  

Sat., 5/16:

• Lexington Craft Beer Festival at the Red Mile. Featuring a homebrew contest, over 200 different commercial craft beers from 70 different breweries, and food & live music.
• Peace & Global citizenship Fair @ BCTC campus.
  
• dorkBot @ C.P.R. - People are doing "strange things with electricity" in Lexington ~ they want to tell you about it and you want to hear about it. Feat. an audio/visual installment by Clint Davis; PhonoGraffiti by Jason Corder and more. At C.P.R. (near 6th and Limestone) from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., Free.
  
• Tiny Fights/ Jovontaes @ Al's. $5, all ages
  

Mon., 5/18:

• SI KAHN @ WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour (Kentucky Theatre) From the WoodSongs newsletter: Aside from being a brilliant songwriter, [Kahn] has worked for over 40 years as a civil rights labor, and community organizer, and musician in the Southern United States. His songs of family, community, work and freedom such as "Aragon Mill" "Gone, Gonna Rise Again" and "Wild Rose of the Mountain" have been recorded by over 100 artists. Si has released 14 albums of his original songs, plus a collection of traditional labor, civil rights, and women's songs, with Pete Seeger and Jane Sapp. His latest CD is "Thanksgiving."

Tues., 5/19:

• Bicycle Commuter Breakfast at Sunrise Bakery (7:30 a.m.)
• Black Moth Super Rainbow w/ Tiny Fights; Bedtime @ Red Mile Round Barn. The lastest installment of absolutely-don't-miss WRFL sponsored shows. BMSR = bubbly, experimental analog electronic psych-pop. Tiny Fights & Bedtime = two of Lex's finest. Scroll back a few entries to see photos of this amazing venue. The show is ALL AGES and only $5...
• Afterwards, as on every Tuesday, DJs Reid Small and Mark Murray will be spinning dance jams at the Fisthank (2 for 1 drinks). 21+, FREE.
  

May 5 - May 12

Be sure you check out Bike Lexington's great calendar of events for May and don't forget that Sunday is Mother's Day!

Tues., 5/5: Cinco de Mayo!

• Shemale de Mayo @ Fishtank. Mustache music that claims to "celebrate the glorification of the bastardization of Hispanic culture"...you know....in a satirical sort of way.

Wed., 5/6:

• Warren Byrom (of The Swells) & Friends @ Green Lantern.

Thurs., 5/7:

• Donna Thorndale on Trivial Thursdays (WRFL 88.1 fm or wrfl.fm ~ 7-9 a.m.) ~ Thorndale is WRFL's 2nd General Manager, and a founding member of the station. A career actress living in Los Angeles, CA, she is currently a member of the celebrated Actor's Gang theatre group. In addition, her political satire and cooking persona, Jewell Rae Jeffers has achieved widespread acclaim both IRL and on the internet as the host of "Tastes Like Home," which appears on the influential blog "The Huffington Post." (Jewell Rae is expected to make an appearance on Trivial Thursdays according to host Mick Jeffries.)
• Del the Funky Homosapien @ The Dame. You might know him from his collaboration with the Gorillaz...or through his cousin Ice Cube
• Lollipop Factory @ Green Lantern. "Over the top, rock opera stuff in the vein of Queen, Sparks, Rocky horror." ~ in the words of yr favorite Green Lantern bartender/booking agent Mike Sullivan
• Brian Turner and Will Burchard will be spinning the jamz at the bar formerly known as Cheater's...currently known as Sidecar-formerly-known-as-Cheater's... it's a new Thursday night DJ series curated by Brian Ronk & friends; starts aroun 9:30.
• The Swells @ Thursday Night Live
• Bike Lexington Progressive Dinner: from bikelexington.com: "Join fellow cyclists on a pedal-powered tour of Lexington restaurants. The event will begin with a tour of the KY Ale Brewery and an appetizer featuring their delicious beer cheese. From there we will head to Mia’s for dinner and finally to Natasha’s for dessert and coffee. The progressive will begin at 6pm at the Kentucky Ale Brewery, 401 Cross Street and should conclude by 9pm.There will be an optional early start at 5:30pm at Cheapside Park to celebrate the kick-off of the 2009 Thursday Night Live Season. To register, go to www.active.com and search for “Lexington Progressive Dinner”. Questions may be directed to Shane Tedder at self.propelled@gmail.com"

Fri., 5/8:

• Bike Lexington - Go Car Free All Day! Pledge your intention to kgleason@lfucg.com and you could win a Bike Lexington t-shirt.
• The Swells / The Big Maracas @ Al's Bar
  
• Bedtime/a ghost is dancing/Broadfield Marchers/Genius File @ Derby City Espresso (Louisville)

Sat., 5/9:

• Mayfest: spring festival in and around the Gratz Park area. Make sure you stop by the Kentucky Writer's Showcase (lots of discounted books by Kentuckians, brought to you by Carnegie Center) and the Backyard Bazaar at Third Street Stuff - "local DIY arts and crafts street fair extraordinaire." Buy something for your mom.
• Bedtime/ the ghost is dancing / Idaho, Alaska @ C.P.R.
  
• The Other Brothers @ Green Lantern It's Green Lantern owner Harry’s b-day party...a good time is pretty much guaranteed. P.S. check out this article about Harry in Business Lexington written by my dear colleage and friend Robo Clark.
  

Mon., 5/11:

• George Clinton & P-Funk @ Kentucky Theatre (Lex). The mothership will be landing. Make sure you're there to greet the funkers who get out of it. (Dancing your ass off will ensue.)
  

Tues., 5/12:

• OFFONOFF / Rafael Toral / Trevor Tremaine / C. Spenser Yeh @ Land of Tomorrow (527 W. 3rd St.) Should be an awe-inspiring evening of weirdo jazz/avant rock/noise and whatnot. OFFONOFF features dudes who used to jam with Jim O'Rourke and Thurston Moore. Another great show brought to you by the Outside the Spotlight the Series.
  
• TV on the Radio @ Headliner's (Lou).
• And the Moneynotes/ Orange Opera @ Green Lantern. (Double bill of cool Indie Rock stuff...)

April 30- May 5

bluepicks for the week (slightly abbreviated)

...if I left off your event feel free to leave it in a comment....

Thursday, 4/30:

• Bruce Burris on Trivial Thursdays: Start yr day off at the crack of dawn with Mick Jeffries and special guest Bruce Burris of ELandF Gallery (7-9 a.m., wrfl.fm). ELandF has been keeping busy over the past year organizing uber-creative-almost-guerilla art projects, such as the Kentucky Mourning Project, the Public Transit Poetry Project and the Book Reader; I'd imagine he has some pretty interesting insights on the creative community in Lexington.
• Social Innovation Forum @ Old Tarr Distillery (899 Manchester St.) - This event is the second in a monthly series of forums that tackle relevant community issues - this month's focuses mostly on responsible development in the north/east end, with panelists Barry McNees (distillery district);Marty Clifford (Northside neighborhood assoc); Ed Holmes (East End, Third St revitalization); Dorothy Coleman (Newtown Pike Extension).
• Samantha Ronson DJing at 4th Street live in Louisville - if you're into that whole semi-celebrity/semi-skanky nightclub scene, that is. (For those who don't harbor a guilty habit of obsessively keeping up with Perez Hilton and US magazine, Samantha Ronson is Lindsay Lohan's lady friend – or perhaps her special lady...)
• Max Tundra; Junior Boys @ The Dame - to be honest, I'm not terribly familiar with either of these acts, but I'm definitely intrigued. Tundra = multi-instrumentalist British electronic artist; Junior Boys = indie electronic "bedroom beat constructors" (love that phrase but didn't come up with it) from Ontario. Check out Tundra's brilliant expose on his utter disdain for footless tights. (Written two summers ago, and the worst fashion revival of the '80s STILL hasn't gone away.)
  

Friday, May 1:

• The Future of Fashion @ Old Tarr Distillery. Lexington fashion showcase, featuring local fashion designers, photographers, and hair and make-up artists. Music by the US Band and DJ Selektro. The event is a benefit for the Bluegrass Sewing Literacy Project. 7 - 9 pm; $5.
• Coralee and the Townies @ Lynagh's
  
• oh yeah, it's Derby Eve ....if I were you I'd head to the 'ville and wanderthe streets looking for some action.....

Sunday, May 3:

• PARK DAZE @ Woodland Park - rescheduled - new line-up includes Everyone Lives, Everyone Wins; The Tall Boys; The Gudwalls; Babes; and Candy. FREE, 1-6 pm, Woodland Park.
  
• 2nd Annual Bike Swap @ The Void. Starts at 11 a.m. Bring yr old bike parts/bikes or yr dollars to buy new bike parts/bikes.
  
• Windy and Carl and Benoit Pioulard @ Land of Tomorrow. Also playing will be Lamb's Laughter – a collaborative effort b/w members of both bands – and Lexington's Caboladies. Take note of the NEW VENUE...it's a new art space located at 527 E. 3rd St. Doors at 8:30; $5, all ages

Monday, May 4:

• Peter Bronztman/Eric Revis/Nasheet Waits @ Red Mile Round Barn - this show is brought to you by WRFL, the Jazz Arts Foundation and The Lexington Project (aka Ross Compton) as part of the Outside the Spotlight Jazz and Improvised Music Series). And it's FREE. (P.S. these guys are playing in major cities all over the country for an average of $15 or so a show.) Check out more info on the musicians on the facebook events page.
• Comedy Night w/host Dave Webster @ Green Lantern.
  

April 21 - April 28

It's going to be pretty hard to top off last weekend as far as having a ton of stuff happening all at the same time in Lexington, but this week is taking a pretty good go at it...

As always, if I left off your event, don't be offended...leave it in a comment!

Tues, 4/21:

• Takeshi Kitano's The Blind Swordsman Zatoichi (2003) at the Kentucky Theatre in conjunction w/ the samurai film fest, which goes till Thursday (with Ghost Dog on Wed; Sukiyaki Western Django on Thurs).
• Three Legged Race w/ some "weird bands from Chicago" (one's called Shattered Hymen)at the Fact House (473 E. Maxwell, the house of Lanham and Bush). Things usually get going around 9ish over there....
  

Wed, 4/22:

• Earth Days in the Bluegrass: Big Fresh, Downtown County Band, Spooky Q's will be playing at Memorial Ampitheatre (right behind Memorial Hall). The event also features poetry readings by outgoing state poet laureate Jane Gentry Vance, Bianca Spriggs and Chuck Clenney. This has been one of the most fun campus events since back in the dark ages when I was in college. Really sweet outdoor venue that should be utilized more often. I'm getting conflicting weather reports for Wednesday...dashboard on my computer tells me it will be 68 and sunny, Bill Meck says high of 60 and mostly cloudy...All ages, FREE. p.s. On a side note, check out Bill Meck's totally awesome weather blog. (Unfortunately, it appears he's barely had the time or the drive to keep up with it since January.)
• Holler Poets Series #11, featuring Donna Ison and Jude Lally at Al's Bar. Two very different and equally fascinating readers; promises to be a great event, as always. Music by fantastic local singer/guitarist Warren Byrom of the Swells. All ages, FREE.
• Godd w/ Battlecry, Pslychosis at the Skylight Lounge (in Main Street Live, across the volleyball court and up the stairs from the Dame) many of you might also know Godd as Nick Kidd's band. Fun times, heavy, theatrical circus rock (?)....I hear influences of Primus, Ween, Mr. Bungle...but that's just me....21 +, $5ish cover
  

Thurs, 4/23:

• The Swells w/ Slow Claw and !!Girlie Girl!! Burlesque Show at the Green Lantern. Can't seem to find much info about the burlesque show, but it's about damn time Lexington got another burlesque show, and I couldn't possibly think of a better venue.
• Wale w/ UCB, Colin Munroe, Loose Change w/ Nate FX, and The US Band at Old Tarr Distillery (903 Manchester St.). I'm going to be honest, I know nothing about these hip hop bands, except that I did read that Washington D.C.-based Wale released a Seinfeld themed mixtape last year (The MixTape About Nothing). So I'm intrigued. And I'm going to assume these guys are the cream of the hip hop crop if WRFL is sponsoring the show. (Is that wrong?) Also sponsored by Oneness287.com, a new-ish "streetwear boutique" on North Limestone (near the corner of Maxwell...check out their site...) All ages/$5.
• Tiny Fights (my new favorite Lex band - heavy psychelectonica dance jams), F.D.U. ("psych-garage-kid-rock" - as Jamie says Reid would say), Street Gnar (heard a bit on last week's WRFL Live - really nice space guitar loops w/eerie vocals from Case of Jovantaes) @ Derby City Espresso in Louisville. They want you there. You want to be there. Go.
  

Fri, 4/24:

• Fourth Friday - closing night of PaintPresent, featuring live bluegrass form the Blind Corn Liquor Pickers, food, schmooze, art, the works @ The Loudoun House.
  
• Latin Heat & Special guest @ Al's Sidecar (formerly known as Cheater's). Latin heat = new Lex band featuring Matt Gibson, Andy Stith, and Drew.
• Share the road! Group Bike Ride - 5:30 p.m. at Woodland Park in conjunction w/ Earth Days in the Bluegrass. Ride ends at Worsham Theatre on UK's campus for a screening of Still we Ride, a documentary that captures an '04 Critica Mass bike ride in New York that ending in arrests and choas three days before the Republican National Convention.
  

Sat, 4/25:
Big Fresh will be performing at The Dame in celebration of the national release of Big Fresh Forever. Word on the street is they will be playing two sets with lots of new songs. P.S. Pretty sure Big Fresh had the egg-breaking-in-your-hand picture going on aeons before Yeah Yeah Yeahs came out with their new album cover...

Honorable mentions of the week:
Thurs, 4/23 - Of Montreal @ Madison Theatre (Cincy)
Thurs, 4/23 - African guitar great Habib Koite will perform "Music from Mali: In the Mouth of a Crocodile" @ Berea College Phelps-Stokes Auditorium.
Thurs 4/23 - Disco Biscuits @ Headliner's (Lou)
Fri, 4/24- Peter, Pjorn & John @ Southgate House (Newport)
Fri, 4/24 - The Instruction w/ Chico Fellini and Chemic @ Pour Haus (Lou)

April 14 - April 21

BLUEPICKS

My advice this week: stay home and rest up till Friday hits, because there is a ton o' stuff happening this weekend...


Fri, 4/17: Art & Performances at The Void Skateshop (aka Total Dude Fest)
Featuring art by these dudes: John Frederiksen, Robert Beatty, Jason 'Slim' Schuler, Clint Colburn, and Josh Blaine. Music by these dudes: Soft Openings, Wretched Worst, and Kraken Fury. And DJ sets by this dude: Mikey T. 8pm, $3.

Also Fri, 4/17: Give into the Groove: a community benefit event held at Third Street Stuff and Atomic Cafe featuring local fashion (S. Benedit, Isle of You and Hot Sauce Records Apparel); art (by Aimee-Lynn Hirshowitz, Brian and Sara Turner and more); music (Big Fresh, Etheonos, Otto Helmuth and more); Affrilachian Poetry Reading (Frank X. Walker, Bianca Spriggs and more); and general eclecticness (March Madness Marching Band). The event is FREE, and starts at 7 pm.

ALSO Fri, 4/17: Imogene and Willie, a new denim company based in western Kentucky (soon moving headquarters to Nashville), will be making an appearance in Lexington, at Circa Design Studio on Short and Broadway. The event, brought to you from the guys at Bullhorn, will feature bourbon and cocktails, as well as a chance to have yo' ass fitted for a pair of Imogene and Willie's! Support Kentucky fashion!

Sat, 4/18: RECORD STORE DAY
Here's the schedule of events for CD Central in Lexington (happily celebrating 14 years of independent musicdom this year):
Noon: The Butchers>>1 pm: Robert Schneider of the Apples in Stereo (solo acoustic)>>2 pm: Special guest DJs>>3 pm: Chico Fellini>>4 pm: The Sundresses (from Cincinnati)>>5 pm: Ben Sollee>>6 pm: Attempt
The throw-down will also feature tacos from BusTacos, free water and drinks, and discounted music sales. Cricket Press will be doing an in-house screen-printing of record bags and limited edition t-shirts.

P.S...Even if you stay for all the festivities at CD Central, you'll still have time to drive to Cincy to catch The Breeders performing live at Shake It Records at 8 pm!)

Also Sat, 4/18: punk, hardcore, drone and weird at the Wormhole (200 Forest Park): music by Everyone Lives, Everyone Wins; The Infected; The Fallen; Blood Carries Disease; and Total Abuse.

Sun, 4/19: First annual PARK DAZE at Woodland Park, sponsored by the Void Skateshop, WRFL, Local First Lexington, Parks & Rec and others. A free, all-day, all-local family-friendly event featuring local vendors, food, and live music from Warmer Milks; Caboladies; Everyone Lives, Everyone Wins; ATTEMPT; The Swells; and the Tallboys. There will also be a skateboard trick contest for all levels...yes, that includes you.

Mon, 4/20: What better way to celebrate the 4/20 holiday but to check out the four-day SAMURAI FILM SERIES at the Kentucky Theatre?? Monday kicks off the fest with Akira Kurosawa's 1956 film The Seven Samurai. (For a trailer go here; for a complete schedule of the Samurai series, visit The Kentucky's homepage.)


Honorable Mentions:
4/15 - Adrian Belew @ Southgate House (Newport). 4/15 - G. Love & Special Sauce @ Headliner's (Lou). 4/16 - Umphrey's McGee @ Taft (Cincy). 4/18 - Ray LaMontagne @ Taft (Cincy). 4/18 - The Sundresses/The Lion's Rampant/ The Giraffes @ Green Lantern (Lex). 4/18 - Big Maracas @ Al's Bar (Lex). 4/19 - The English Beat @ The Dame (Lex). 4/20 - Great Lake Swimmers @ Southgate House (Newport).