Golden Globe Nominations Another Mixed Bag
The nominees for the 68th Golden Globe awards were announced today. As usual, the nominations run from astute to completely ludicrous. —- Let’s start with the good. The Best Picture: Drama choices — Darren Aronofski's Black Swan, David O. Russell's The Fighter (both of which open here this week), Christopher Nolan's Inception, Tom Hooper's The…
Onstage: Nativity the Pop Opera
The holidays are all about giving, right? Well, Nativity the Pop Opera is your chance to give back and get a little something this holiday season. The lighthearted show commemorates the Christmas story through the eyes of the angels. Written and founded by J. Todd Anderson (who has worked with the Coen brothers and George…
Music: Million Young
One might reflect on the sanity of someone who would leave the warm and sunny climes of Florida in the dead ass of winter to venture northward into the nation’s icebox just to perform a handful of shows. A quick sampling of Mike Diaz’s maximum Chillwave soundscapes under the banner of Million Young will eliminate…
Onstage: Holiday Hoopla at Shadowbox Cabaret
The 365 days of naughtiness are completely worth the one day of coal in your stocking, don’tcha think? The folks at Shadowbox Live couldn’t agree more. Get ready to feel the burn in your cheek muscles this Yuletide with an array of hilarity at Shadowbox’s Holiday Hoopla. If you are looking for sugar plums dancing…
Northern Kentucky Police Department Faces Lawsuits
A Northern Kentucky police department has come under attack from a pair of lawsuits that could cost it millions of dollars. If proven true, the cases — which include charges of ignoring sexual abuse claims, retaliation against a whistleblower and planted evidence — paint an unflattering picture of the Ludlow Police Department. In a span…
Music: HotChaCha
For anyone who thinks weirdly heavy (and heavily weird) music is the exclusive domain of testosterone-addled menfolk, HotChaCha come roaring out of Cleveland’s city limits with amps-to-11 proof to the contrary, answering the largely unasked question, “What would Sonic Youth sound like if Thurston Moore, Steve Shelley and Lee Renaldo were women?” Or maybe Siouxsie…
Onstage: Hilary Hahn
It’s a great time to be Hilary Hahn. There’s hardly been a stray day over the past three decades where that hasn’t been the case, but the past couple of years have been exceptionally good for the 31-year-old violinist. Hahn’s been captivating audiences since she picked up her instrument at age 3, followed by five…
Music: Art Damage Lodge’s Last Weekend
In April 1985, I got a phone call from Dan Williams, my collaborator in the group 11,000 Switches. He said, “Man, turn the radio to WAIF, I’m doing a show.” I found my radio speaking with a new voice. At its most challenging, it had previously palpitated with the soothing strains of O.T., WGUC’s echt-serious…
Art: Girls Doing Guys at Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum
Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum (1218 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine) started off 2010 with a show that looked at the masculine identity. Artists responded to gender theory, pop cultural “norms” and personal issues in all kinds of media. Closing out its year, MG/GM presents Girls Doing Guys, an exhibition comprised of 22 women who will present their versions…
Onstage: Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Watching Christmas classics on the tube can be fun, but this year why not treat the family to a more memorable tradition? Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker, presented at the Aronoff Center through Dec. 26, offers a host of holiday delights for all ages: Sugar plum fairies, sword-fighting rats, dancing dolls and more. Kids love watching…
Onstage: Irish Christmas in America
Do you have some Irish heritage? Are you just a fan of the Emerald Isle? Maybe you don’t know anything about Ireland unless it pertains to the Blarney stone or St. Patrick’s Day and want to learn something new? Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter because Irish Christmas in America is coming to the 20th…
Attractions: The Beach on Ice
The Beach Waterpark’s tropical oasis has been transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with millions of festive lights, holiday rides and attractions. Come to The Beach on Ice 5-10 p.m. daily, when you can you can skate on Ohio’s largest outdoor rink, ride the toboggan slide, pet and feed animals and check out the amazing…
Onstage: The Santaland Diaries
If you have mixed feelings about the holidays, the show for you to go to see is New Edgecliff Theatre’s production of this David Sedaris double-bill. The first half of the evening recounts his misadventures as a department store elf (he takes the name “Crumpet”) at Macy’s Santaland. Actor Joshua Steele brings to life the…
Onstage: A Christmas Story at Covedale
You could point out to fans of A Christmas Story that cherished holiday films almost never work onstage. You might also tell a kid who dreams of owning a Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot Range Model air rifle that he’ll shoot his eye out. Some warnings are destined to fall on deaf ears. So expect full…
Art: Evolutions at Art Academy of Cincinnati
Last chance, as it closes Friday, to catch Keith Linton's exhibition Evolutions at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine). In photographs, Linton's paintings might look pleasantly two-dimensional and a throwback to Abstract Expressionism, but in actuality these marvelously three-dimensional works are collages protruding from the wall in all sorts of surprising ways…
Onstage: It’s a Wonderful Life
A lot of people who love the holidays can recite lines from Frank Capra’s popular 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life. The heartwarming tale resonates with American goodness, underscoring how living an honest life, doing the right thing and treating other people decently is its own reward. The film is a classic thanks to actors…
Comedy: Geoff Tate
Comedian Geoff Tate is keeping focused going into 2011. “Really, just doing stand-up,” he reports, “it’s kind of taking a turn into only telling stories. For the past six or seven months that’s been my focus. It’s a little shift in how I do it.” Speaking to CityBeat from Philadelphia, where he was featuring for…
Music: The Graveblankets
“Grave blankets” are defined as decorative covers for gravesites. For nearly a decade, it seemed as though Chris Arduser — best known for his work with psychodots, The Bears, Adrian Belew and a variety of related bands and artists — had relegated his popular Americana side project of the same name to his own personal…
MOTR Pub (Review)
When you recall the Rock & Roll clubs of your youth, you might remember cover charges, smoky bars, sticky floors, cheap beers and drinking way too many shots. You might have grown up and become more responsible, but that doesn’t mean you still don’t like your live music. MOTR Pub’s motto is “know your Cincinnati…
Hahn’s Up
It’s a great time to be Hilary Hahn. There’s hardly been a stray day over the past three decades where that hasn’t been the case, but the past couple of years have been exceptionally good for the 31-year-old violinist. Hahn’s been captivating audiences since she picked up her instrument at age 3, followed by five…
Art: Los Caprichos at Taft Museum of Art
Francisco Goya produced his famous series of etchings, 1799’s Los Caprichos, at a time when narrow-minded religious extremists and other authoritarians were striving to control politics on the one hand while on the other the rise of the Enlightenment represented society’s attempt to shift to reasonable thinking. Sound familiar? Populated as the etchings are by…
Moore Helps Bail Out Assange
With donations from filmmaker Michael Moore and others, WikiLeaks provocateur Julian Assange made bail today and was released from a British prison, awaiting extradition to Sweden on sex charges. A judge had set Assange's bail at 240,000 pounds, which equals about $380,521. Moore donated $20,000, which equals about 12,633 pounds.—- In all, Assange supporters pledged…
John Boehner: The Town Crier
John Boehner, the much-publicized next Speaker of the House from just up the road in West Chester, was on 60 Minutes last night. Leslie Stahl interviewed the noticeably less colorful House Rep. — he still insists he’s never set foot inside a tanning salon nor used any sort of tanning product — from his father’s…
Dems: GOP Hampering Vote Probe
Subpoenas will be issued to more than 2,200 poll workers and others to solicit testimony about advice they gave to voters in Hamilton County precincts being investigated in a contested judicial race. Local Democratic Party leaders said the issuance of subpoenas is “a ridiculously expensive and time-consuming proposition” that could be done more quickly and…
Greenhornes on the Tube
Tonight and tomorrow, the hometown boys done good from The Greenhornes will appear on The Daily Habit, a show on extreme sports network Fuel TV (Time Warner users have the channel on a weird digital cable tier that most probably don't have; satellite dish owners will probably have better luck actually finding the network and…
The Graveblankets (Profile)
“Grave blankets” are defined as decorative covers for gravesites. For nearly a decade, it seemed as though Chris Arduser — best known for his work with psychodots, The Bears, Adrian Belew and a variety of related bands and artists — had relegated his popular Americana side project of the same name to his own personal…
It’s a Wonderful Life (Review)
A lot of people who love the holidays can recite lines from Frank Capra’s popular 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life. The heartwarming tale resonates with American goodness, underscoring how living an honest life, doing the right thing and treating other people decently is its own reward. The film is a classic thanks to actors…
10th Anniversary of Bush v. Gore
Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision that stopped the presidential election recount in Florida and handed the 2000 election to George W. Bush. It's difficult to believe that was already 10 years ago. And it's amazing still that A) the Supreme Court acted in such a blatantly political manner…
Los Caprichos (Review)
Critic's Pick Francisco Goya produced his famous series of etchings, 1799’s Los Caprichos, at a time when narrow-minded religious extremists and other authoritarians were striving to control politics on the one hand while on the other the rise of the Enlightenment represented society’s attempt to shift to reasonable thinking. Sound familiar? Populated as the etchings…
Over the Rhine Holiday Homecoming Weekend
Longtime folk/rock favorites Over the Rhine celebrate the holiday season and a new album with a special weekend of performances, including their annual "holiday homecoming" concert at the Taft Theatre. The band is offering a special VIP ticket package for the three shows: • Friday is the premiere performance of Over the Rhine's forthcoming album,…
The Tourist (Review)
The Tourist, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives of Others) and co-written by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie), is actually a remake of Anthony Zimmer, writer-director Jerome Salle’s 2005 French thriller about a wanted man seeking to outrun international police and the Russian mob who, through other agents, enlists an unwitting tourist…
More on Berding/COAST Battle
Although no one seems to want to comment directly on the situation, more details are emerging about the bitter political dispute between Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding and several anti-streetcar groups.—- The groups — which include the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) and the city's police and firefighters unions — this week…
Free New Cari Clara Song From Deep Elm
Cincinnati-bred singer/songwriter Eric Diedrichs currently resides in Lexington, but his Cari Clara project (featuring band members from the Cincinnati area) hasn't missed a beat since his move from the Queen City. Need proof? The label Deep Elm Records (which distributes CC's releases) recently unveiled a new compilation album with songs from its roster of artists…
The Greenhornes: ****
When The Greenhornes burst onto the Cincinnati scene in the late ’90s, the southern Indiana quintet opened up a psychedelic garageful of snarling kickass and were an immediate sensation. Pushing out a sound that combined the maximum R&B amplitude of early Who and The Pretty Things with the sneering sophistication of the earliest Kinks, The…
HotChaCha
For anyone who thinks weirdly heavy (and heavily weird) music is the exclusive domain of testosterone-addled menfolk, HotChaCha come roaring out of Cleveland’s city limits with amps-to-11 proof to the contrary, answering the largely unasked question, “What would Sonic Youth sound like if Thurston Moore, Steve Shelley and Lee Renaldo were women?” Or maybe Siouxsie…
Million Young
One might reflect on the sanity of someone who would leave the warm and sunny climes of Florida in the dead ass of winter to venture northward into the nation’s icebox just to perform a handful of shows. A quick sampling of Mike Diaz’s maximum Chillwave soundscapes under the banner of Million Young will eliminate…
Friday Movie Roundup: ‘The Tourist’ Sucks Edition
We've got another thin week for new movie releases — unless you're excited about the latest Narnia film, which I'm not. Even the new Johnny Depp/Angelina Jolie thriller — which I was initially eager to check out despite the warning sign its studio raised by not screening it in advance for critics — is getting…
Roger Klug Pens Facebook Anthem
In this week’s CityBeat, veteran local Power Pop genius Roger Klug discusses the various guises he has donned over the years, particularly the one used for his recent single, a hooky Pop Punk ditty about social media called “Facebook Friend.” The song, a humorous, Blink 182-style number, was released under the band name Rant to…
Organizers Plan Human Rights March
Tomorrow is International Human Rights Day and the event will be commemorated locally with a march to several local offices, urging state and federal policymakers to reduce deficits through other means than hurting the poor, the disabled, children and the elderly.—- The march begins at 11 a.m. at the Contact Center, located at 1227 Vine…
NYTimes Presents ‘Fourteen Actors Acting’
The New York Times Magazine's annual Hollywood Issue comes out Sunday. In advance of the print edition, the Times Web site yesterday unveiled an inspired take on the issue's typical photo spread that features the "actors who defined cinema in 2010." Dubbed “Fourteen Actors Acting,” the interactive multimedia supplement is a “video gallery of classic…
Groups Target Berding, He Threatens Lawsuit
In the heated debate over budget cuts at City Hall, several groups are alleging Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding is “two-faced” and told various individuals during his 2009 campaign that he would end his support for the proposed streetcar project.—- This week the groups began distributing copies of the flyer, entitled “Not One More Cent,”…
Elvis Costello: National Ransom
Elvis Costello’s greatest quality is his unerring ability to shift sonic directions like he’s changing from a thrift store overcoat to a Saville Row dinner jacket without compromising his artistic vision or his core creative philosophy. Whether blustering about with angry young New Wave angst above the din of the Attractions, crooning with serious musical…
A Christmas Story (Review)
You could point out to fans of A Christmas Story that cherished holiday films almost never work onstage. You might also tell a kid who dreams of owning a Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot Range Model air rifle that he’ll shoot his eye out. Some warnings are destined to fall on deaf ears. So expect full…
Interview with Jackyl’s Jesse James Dupree
Jesse James Dupree is the lead singer of Jackyl, a metal band from Kennesaw, Ga., that's performing Friday at Bogart's. Jackyl was formed back in 1990 and have given their audience eight studio albums along with two live offerings. Their biggest success came with their self-titled first studio album which went platinum in 1992.—- James…
Holidays with Hank at Herzog
The Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation will host a special "Hank Williams Christmas Party" at the organization's headquarters at 811 Race St., the downtown space that once housed the historic Herzog recording studio. Williams historian and author Brian Turpen will be on hand for the Dec. 22 shindig to discuss Herzog's significance as the last…
Where Have You Gone, iLove Bands?
In a brief preview about Powerhouse Factories annual Holiday Rock Poster Party, which takes place Friday at their new digs in Newport, I mentioned that numerous Powerhouse posters populate my OTR loft, including a print for a 2006 show at the Southgate House dubbed iLove that gathered numerous local bands to raise money for a…
Fair and Off-Balance: Gretchen the Grinch
Gretchen Carlson continues to make Cincinnati — her one-time home in the 1990s — proud of her accomplishments as Fox News morning host. The former WCPO-TV reporter and anchor (and former Miss America) is the latest national media personality to take the brave stand of supporting the little-known and underappreciated holiday of Christmas.—- As all…
Gifts for Over $100
Ambience Salon Spa: Togetherness PackageServices include a “purefecting” plant peel anti-aging facial ($135) and 90-minute deep tissue sports massage ($110) for those on the go. Or truly indulge your loved one (and yourself) with an Element of Togetherness massage ($420) package, which includes 60-minute massage, manicure, pedicure and spa lunch. Men can enjoy the hand…
Weird Albert, Social Music and Hair
[HOT] Europe Finally Gets Weird You would think that between the French’s love of American comedic genius Jerry Lewis, the U.K.’s hilariously awful cuisine and Europe’s running gag about how soccer is the world’s most popular sport, someone would have invited grand parody song master “Weird Al” Yankovic overseas to perform. Alas, despite years of…
Hip Hop (Un)Scene: Respect My Mind
In my last column, I summarized the first dozen Hip Hop (Un)Scenes I’ve written for CityBeat. These first 12 columns traveled from the basic how-to’s of recording, performing and building your team to the deeper subjects of questioning why you’re choosing to become an artist and how to find the position that best suits you…
Enabling Terrorism, Ensuring Profit
In what could be a lull before a legal maelstrom for Cincinnati-based Chiquita Brands International, attorneys involved in several pending federal lawsuits against the company expect a Florida judge to soon decide to let their cases proceed. The cases, consolidated before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra in the court for the Southern District of Florida,…
Searching for Klugs
Roger Klug is the first to admit that his recorded output has been somewhat sporadic over the course of his career. Things were fairly regular in the 1990s: His acclaimed work with The Willies early in the decade; his 1995 solo debut, Mama Mama ich bin in dem La La Land; his excellent 1997 follow-up,…
Holiday Performances
It’s easy to shun winter weather by hiding inside, drinking egg nog and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Instead, celebrate the season by taking in a few local performances or events and mingling with your fellow man. Aronoff Center for the ArtsGet down to the Aronoff Center for delightful music performances that run the…
Local Music Goes Into Celebration Mode
And so it begins. The next few weeks are loaded with “special” shows by local performers. Many have a holiday theme (that’s right, I said “holiday,” you intolerant Christmas warrior), but there are also plenty of gigs celebrating things other than the season (that’ll end with the following three weeks of non-stop holiday madness). Any…
Gifts for $25-$50
Colonel De Spice Store: Custom Gift BoxesSpice up the season with a stop to Colonel De’s spice store in Findlay Market, offering custom gift box choices full of spicy goodies. The Cincy Favorites box ($25) includes Cincinnati chili seasoning, Simon and Garfunkle vinegar, Zydeco Stone Ground mustard in classic, honey, dijon or horseradish flavors and…
Gifts for Under $25
Another Part of the Forest: Vinyl LPs, DVDsSpecializing in hard-to-find vinyl records and eclectic music, Another Part of the Forest offers more than 10,000 LPs ($1.50-$15), including a wide selection of jazz and classical music as well as Opera music that’s hard to find anywhere else in the city. They also have spoken word records…
Dec. 1-7: Worst Week Ever!
WEDNESDAY DEC. 1 There are two common reactions to checking one's bank account and finding a negative number representing the available balance: anger (“What the shit?!?”) and shame (“Should have known that last $40 wouldn't last long at Bonnaroo…). The AP today reported that one national bank whose questionable overdraft policies has cost its customers…
GOP Shows True Colors in Tax Showdown
Here's a newsflash for Tea Partiers: You've been played like a fiddle by your so-called friends in the Republican Party. And don't start scoffing, progressives. Your chosen presidential candidate who now sits in the Oval Office has reneged on yet another of the few rock-solid pledges he made during his campaign two years ago. Just…
Gifts for $50-$100
Aglamesis Bros.: Tower of FavoritesIce cream might be considered a summer time treat, but in my family we crave it year round. That’s why we love an outing to Algamesis each season to taste their special holiday flavors. This year, you can indulge in rum raisin, cinnamon and the Brothers’ butterbeer concoction that pairs butterscotch…
Hackers Take Down MasterCard, Others
In the latest volley in the escalating cyberwar involving attacks on WikiLeaks and its founder, anonymous hackers have blocked access and disrupted service to Web sites for MasterCard, the Swedish prosecutor's office and the attorney representing two women accusing Assange of crimes—-. On Tuesday MasterCard and Visa began blocking donations to WikiLeaks by their cardholders,…
