The Repeal Fairy Tale
Republicans already have introduced a bill that seeks to repeal the health care reforms passed this week by Democrats, but only the most delusional of GOP “true believers” expect it has a chance of passage.—- U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) introduced the bill and 12 other GOP senators had signed on as co-sponsors as of…
Pencil Pushers
Colored pencil art works? By grownups? If you thought the colored pencil was an artistic medium reserved for grade school, members of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Colored Pencil Society of America will be quick to dissuade you. The group has a show up at the downtown YWCA right now that features multiple works…
The Loving Cafe (Review)
I love vegetarian and vegan food, but the mere mention of some restaurant-prepared offerings tends to leave a uniform under-seasoned taste in my mouth. As with any cuisine not executed well, vegetarian and vegan food can be underwhelming. And overcompensating for meat-based proteins with tofu and soy simulations can be an even more dangerous culinary…
Jedi Mind Tricks
Formed back in 1996, the group Jedi Mind Tricks has been an ever-evolving force in underground Hip Hop. From its influential debut album The Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological, And Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human Consciousness to the trilogy of "Army of the Pharaohs" projects (the latest, much-anticipated The Unholy Terror comes out the day of the JMT…
Greenberg (Review)
As New Yorker Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller), recovering from a recent mental breakdown, settles into his new role in Los Angeles as his brother’s house-sitter, Stiller as an actor takes us right up to the edge, jumps off and dares us to reach out to catch him before he plummets out of reach. It's a…
VNV Nation
“Bigger is better” is a cliché that VNV Nation must hold close to heart. Composed of Ronan Harris (on vocals and synth) and Mark Jackson (manning percussion), VNV produces industrial-inflected Electronica with a thirst for the grandiose. Witness the intent behind calling their last LP Of Faith, Power and Glory — reusing a tactic that…
Dance of the Living Dead
A bathtub, a bed, lots of heavy leather suitcases — not necessarily props you expect to see onstage for a ballet, let alone for a ballet set to the high funereal seriousness of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem. But that’s just some of what audiences will experience at Adam Hougland’s world premiere ballet, Mozart’s Requiem, Friday…
Awesome Color with Tyvek, Weakness and Palindrones
One of the worst parts of last year was losing Ron Asheton, The Stooges’ voodoo guitar king, the six-string conjurer who could wring a thunderous sonic squall from his instrument that impossibly and simultaneously embraced Soul, Metal and Punk with an incomprehensible physical force. One of the best parts of this year are the long…
Trampled by Turtles
Trampled by Turtles is no ordinary Bluegrass band. Take Palomino, their about-to-be-released fifth studio album and debut for Thirty Tigers Records, for instance. Named for a particular coat coloring in horses, the album features a drawing of a barn owl on the cover. Turtles and horses and owls, oh my. But that’s just a hint…
Cleaning Up Their Act
Greater Cincinnati’s air will soon become a little less smoggy thanks to money from President Obama’s economic stimulus plan. The city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County will add 22 new alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles to their fleets after being awarded a slice of an $11 million Clean Cities Grant aimed at cleaning up Ohio's…
The Whigs, Drive-By Truckers, Randall Bramblett, Dropkick Murphys and More
OK, I’ve got a couple of things to address before we go bobbing for discs in this week’s musical apple barrel. The first is a little off my beat (again), but I feel as though my two decades of experience in the advertising realm gives me a little leeway on this. My beef is with…
WOXY Dies (Again)
The ongoing saga of locally-spawned music and broadcasting legacy WOXY continues and, once again, the station has been forced off the "air" (or Internet, as the case is) due to financial problems.—- The long-running Alternative/Indie music station's story has been one of struggle and resilience, with financial backers coming in and out to save/kill the…
Art: DOcumenTaRy at the Know Theatre
DOcumenTaRy, currently on display in the Know Theatre’s Underground space, is comprised of series of documentary photographs. Because photography as a medium generally snares facts from real life, the line between “documentary” and other fine art approaches to image-making is vague. The seven Art Academy student-artists presenting photographs taken of the surrounding Over-the-Rhine neighborhood explore…
Lectures: Europe Through the Back Door
It really doesn’t seem logical for young people and old people alike to take advice about off-the-beaten-path, authentic European travel from a relatively dorky looking white dude. Anthony Bourdain, maybe. He’s an edgy smoker in a leather jacket (and he’ll be at the Aronoff Center on June 27). But Rick Steves? Who knew this guy…
Art: Tables and Walls at Iris Bookcafe
Catch it right now, today or Thursday, before it goes away. Tables and Walls, a varied and exacting photography exhibition at Iris Bookcafé will come down Thursday night and a new show, Loss/Lost, will be up for Final Friday. The new exhibition sounds promising (two American-based photographers never shown in Cincinnati) but the current one…
Events: Cincinnati Beerfest
In its early years, German entrepreneurs settled in Cincinnati and established many local brewing companies. Cincinnati was transformed into a festive town constantly celebrating authentic beer, German food and its local heritage. This weekend, in honor of being named “Beer Capital of the World” in 1880, the Duke Energy Center and many local and worldwide…
Daddy Long Legs (Review)
Critic's Pick Nearly a century has elapsed since Jean Webster’s 1912 novel Daddy Long Legs was published. Now her story of a talented, forthright foundling named Jerusha (from a tombstone) and her mysterious, reclusive mentor, “Mr. John Smith,” returns, this time onstage in an expressive, impressive world premiere musical at the Cincinnati Playhouse. Playwright-director John…
Sports: Cincinnati Rollergirls
Cincinnati’s favorite flat-track derby team, the Cincinnati Rollergirls (yay!), begin their fifth season this Saturday when they host the San Diego Derby Dolls (boo!). For those unfamiliar with the sport, it’s a fast-paced indoor roller skating race around an oval track with designated points-scoring fast skaters for each team. There’s also a lot of pushing…
Onstage: Singin’ in the Rain
Over the past few years, Covedale Center for the Performing Arts has found a perfect niche for people seeking established shows that are sure-fire entertainment. The West Side theater is operated by Landmark Productions, the same folks who keep the Showboat Majestic afloat and bring together a lot of teens every summer for Cincinnati Young…
Dance: de la Dance Company
Oakley-based de la Dance Company, led by former Cincinnati Ballet and Joffrey Ballet Principal Dancer Meridith Benson and her husband Mario de la Nuez (formerly with CityBeat and former Artistic Director of Ballet Theater of Chicago), presents Giselle, a pristine example of the Romantic style of ballet, this weekend at the Aronoff’s cozy Jarson Kaplan…
Comedy: Eddie Gossling
Eddie Gossling has what a lot of comedians want: a steady TV writing gig. The Texas-native is on the staff of Comedy Central’s hit Tosh.0, which is going to start taping its second season in a few weeks. The job allows him more time at home with his wife and kids. “It’s a nice change…
Events: Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week
As part of Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week, eat a three-course dinner (or dinner for two) at local independent restaurants for only $26.10. "Eat LOTS. Spend little." During Restaurant Week you can help support the School for the Creative and Performing Arts in their effort to build a sculpture honoring Esme Kenney, the 13 year old…
Art: Reliving Corbing at Upstairs at the Greenwich
The art world suffered a great blow last December with the passing of University of Cincinnati Painting Professor Tarrence Corbin who touched the lives of countless students including Matthew Miller-Novak, a graduate of UC’s Master of Fine Arts program. Miller-Novak pays homage to Corbin with the exhibition Reliving Corbin, opening 7-10 p.m. Saturday at Upstairs…
Healthcare Vote: The Day After (Updated)
Now that the U.S. House of Representatives approved a health care reform bill by a 219-212 vote and the Senate appears likely to follow suit, the political wagons are circling in what’s sure to be some nasty congressional races this fall. Republicans, however, shouldn’t expect to cruise to victory, and here’s why.—- GOP leaders consistently…
Details of Playhouse’s 2010-11 Season
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 2010-11 season has a distinct difference between the plays it will present on its Robert S. Marx main stage and the shows slotted for its smaller Thompson Shelterhouse. With a few significant exceptions, it’s a divide between the 20th and 21st centuries. All of the coming season’s Shelterhouse shows have…
Expert: Driehaus’ Abortion Fears Unfounded
With Congress preparing for a long-awaited vote on a healthcare reform bill Sunday, some Democrats are calling the concerns of U.S. Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill) about abortion-related wording misplaced and just plain wrong.—- Driehaus, a Roman Catholic, has told various media outlets that he’s leaning toward a “no” vote on the bill because it…
Charter Seeks Award Nominees
If you know someone with gumption, the Charter Committee wants to hear from you. Charter, Cincinnati’s de facto third political party, is seeking nominees for the 15th annual Charles P. Taft Civic Gumption Award. The award commemorates Charlie Taft, a longtime Cincinnati City Council member known as “the reformer who never quit reforming.”—- Gumption Award…
Friday Movie Roundup: The Most Dangerous Man in America
The post-awards/pre-summer movie season trudges on with a curious collection of releases in a variety of genres: we’ve got another romantic comedy starring Jennifer "I Do Movies to Get a Boyfriend" Aniston (The Bounty Hunter), a futuristic thriller (Repo Men), a family-friendly teen thing (The Wimpy Kid Diaries) and even a 3-D IMAX documentary (Hubble).…
It’s in the Mail
You might have already received it. If not, it’s coming soon. In preparation of the May 4 primary, the Hamilton County Board of Elections has mailed cards to all county voters informing them of their polling location and providing absentee voter application forms.—- Also, board officials are reminding voters about the rules for partisan primaries.…
The Enquirer’s Apology
It doesn’t quite rank up there with the front-page apology to Chiquita that the newspaper published for three straight days in 1998, but The Cincinnati Enquirer used an entire interior page of it’s "A" Section today to apologize to Congressman Steve Driehaus.—- Driehaus, the Democratic lawmaker from Price Hill, was incensed after an advertisement appeared…
SXSW: Vintage Austin
Yesterday was the pinnacle of typical Austin sightings. On the bus ride from South Congress to downtown, a musician in his mid thirties, wearing tight black jeans, old-school Nike pumps, a worn jean jacket and black leather gloves, was writing notes on fresh music sheets. He used his local grocery store frequent shopping card to…
Strong Showing
News Flash! I have an affinity for esoteric wines from little-known regions. As a result, I tend to assume a lot of wines aren’t sufficiently “interesting” to sample. So when an opportunity recently arose to attend a dinner featuring the wines of well-known California producer Rodney Strong, I was dismissive. But my interest was aroused…
NKU Students Angered by Firings
Some students at Northern Kentucky University are upset by turmoil in the school’s Office of African American Student Affairs (AASA), including the firings of top personnel. Combined with NKU’s low rate for retaining black students, they question the institution’s commitment to diversity. But the dismissals of the two AASA coordinators won’t affect that office’s programming…
Butch Jones and The Poor
[WINNER] BUTCH JONES: The University of Cincinnati’s new football coach will get a contract valued at $1 million this year and will receive guaranteed increases of $50,000 annually through his new five-year pact. He also gets other perks like a car, a country club membership and a $700,000 interest-free loan. Good for Jones, maybe he’s…
Hubble 3-D (Review)
Leonardo DiCaprio effectively narrates this 43-minute IMAX 3-D journey into the farthest reaches of outer space. The film follows the astronaut crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its 2009 rescue mission (named STS-125) to repair the ailing Hubble Space Telescope. We get a rare glimpse into the claustrophobic conditions the astronauts contend with, after…
Hero or Traitor? The Most Dangerous Man in America!
On June 13, 1971, The New York Times published excerpts from the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret Department of Defense study that revealed the U.S. government had been lying about our involvement in the Vietnam War. Among the many damning revelations was that, according to the Papers, 70 percent of the reason for our continued engagement…
Sampling Culture
To see just how extensively appropriation is being used in contemporary art, it’s useful to compare and contrast two traveling shows now in Cincinnati: Kara Walker’s Harper’s Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated) at the Cincinnati Art Museum and Shepard Fairey’s Supply and Demand at the Contemporary Arts Center. The term “appropriation” is used…
Jon & Kate Aren’t Great
Believe me, I never thought I’d be writing a column about divorced parents Jon and Kate Gosselin, but strange things do happen. I’ve just about had enough of these two idiots. It was probably a couple years ago when I first became aware of them. One spring afternoon, my daughter and I were going to…
Fists of Love and Other Great Ear-Fodder
• Local Indie band Fists of Love celebrates the release of its debut, a self-titled seven-song EP, Saturday at the Northside Tavern. The free show will also feature a performance by Wussy and some DJing from Brian Olive, who recorded and mixed most of the FoL debut. The band began a couple of years ago…
March 10-16: Worst Week Ever!
WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 The Lindner family’s rating on the Forbes list of billionaires plummeted a bit this year … which is sort of like being dumped by Heidi Klum and getting all up in Eva Longoria shortly thereafter. Most of us who aren’t super rich don’t read Forbes or care much about the annual penis-measuring…
Fear and Loathing on the Far Right
Molly Ivins, the late syndicated columnist from Texas, got it right when she wrote, “Being slightly paranoid is like being slightly pregnant — it tends to get worse.” For the truth of that statement, look no further than the agenda for an April 17 event planned by the Springboro Tea Party just north of Cincinnati.…
The Most Dangerous Man in America (Review)
Co-directors Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith’s Oscar-nominated documentary looks at the events that compelled Daniel Ellsberg, a former Marine and defense department staffer, to leak the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times in an effort to stop what he deemed an unjust Vietnam War. His decision — which some called heroic, others treasonous —…
Lectures: Cincinnati Opera Raps with Speight Jenkins
Speight Jenkins will be the first to tell you that there’s grand opera and then there are Richard Wagner’s operas, those massive, sprawling epics populated by feuding gods, warrior women sporting winged helmets, knights of the Grail and sexually frustrated lovers. General director of Seattle Opera since 1983, Jenkins is a passionate advocate for Wagner’s…
Theater Mentor: Paul Rutledge, 1918-2010
It's easy to spend time writing about exciting new developments in our local theater scene. But who got things started? It could be argued that F. Paul Rutledge was the guy who laid the foundation. He passed away a week ago at the age of 91. Rutledge was a theater pioneer in Cincinnati, and many…
SXSW: You, Y’all Are Awesome
Yesterday, Cincinnati's own You, You’re Awesome performed on WOXY's "Lounge Act" series. WOXY is an independent radio station that began in Cincinnati in the early 1980s and then modified solely to an internet endeavor in 2004. The WOXY folk moved to Austin, Tex., last summer in order to expand their borders along a bigger music…
