Living Out Loud: : Missing
The first time I heard the name Carrie Culberson in August 1996, I was in the throws of planning my first wedding. I was too distracted to feel the full impact of what was happening in small-town Blanchester, but over the years questions about what happened to her have haunted me. I began to take…
The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Their Mouths Off Straight
Jymi Bolden Xavier University is now home base for Peter Block. It's not an exaggeration to say the Fraternal Order of Police was way off in its efforts to help the Rev. Charlie Winburn become mayor of Cincinnati. In fact, the FOP was about 700 miles wide of the mark. Instead of reaching registered voters,…
Music: All the Way From Memphis
Adam Smith With help from legendary producer Jim Dickinson, AltRoots rockers Lucero's Nobody's Darling is their finest CD yet. Whether it's malicious or inadvertent, every band gets dicked around. Club managers, show promoters, record labels and everyone in between have a chance to deliberately or accidentally screw up an artist's career arc. In this construct,…
Upcoming Concert Reviews of The NAtional, Rasputina and More…
The National The National with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Wednesday · Southgate House Matt Berninger's voice could bring down Richard Simmons. Dark and deep, it sounds like Tom Waits before the onset of time, cigarettes and eccentricity. The lanky frontman's distinctive baritone powers The National, a group — which also includes brothers Bryan (drums)…
Aging With Intention
With the Baby Boomers' arrival into senior status, our preoccupation with aging is at the forefront. It seems anything sells if it promises to keep us young or at least young looking: cosmetics and cosmetic procedures, supplements, sports cars, etc. It's tough growing older in a throw-away society where old age, experience and wisdom are…
Riding ‘Rails’
Three things occur annually without fail. The seasons change, your taxes are due in April, and Maurice Mattei puts out some kind of collection of his singular "Acoustic Rock" songs. Welcome the 2005 edition, Dead Rails, which Mattei released earlier this month. On Thursday, Mattei plays a "post-release" show at the Northside Tavern with Rob…
Creative Recall
It's been five years since I moved to Cincinnati. There's no need to present a "woe is me" vibe, because I'm still jonesing for the big city, but I'd be less than honest if I didn't acknowledge the unique and perplexing situations that have marked my time here in the Queen City. There have been…
News: Grandpa Fights the System
Graham Lienhart Bob Finley "Please Return My Grandchildren Now," says the sign that 72-year-old Bob Finley holds as he stands in front of the Kentucky Family Services office in Newport. Finley has been protesting for months, demanding temporary custody of his three grandchildren. Sitting in a diner, he starts to get a little choked up.…
Flip on that switch
I'm a 21-year-old straight guy with a boring, straight sex life. Until a few months ago when something terrifying happened. Back in May, I was contacted by somebody through Match.com. She claimed to be a grad student at my school, had a very attractive photo, and we began IMing. She talked about how she was…
Bang, Bang USA
TORONTO — The United States scrutiny heard recently at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival is one of consistent criticism due to failed emergency rescues in New Orleans. Everyone these days, from TV commentators to festival attendees, appears critical of the U.S., saying the Gulf Coast disaster further proves that the world's greatest power is…
Cover Story: Inspiration ‘point
MPMF Welcome to the 2005 MidPoint Music Festival, Cincinnati's annual time to bask in the national (and international) music spotlight. The fest features bands and performers from all over the world and speakers and panelists from every facet of the music industry. The music will be in the clubs (mostly centered around the Main Street…
News: Two-Wheeled Takeover
Lindsay Caron Cycling across state lines: A Critical Mass bike ride traverses the Purple People Bridge. After the most recent gas hike, actor Chris Guthrie of Walnut Hills gave in to the desire to invest in a bicycle. "I am loving it," he says. "I think I only drove my car three times this past…
Locals Only: : Oversoul Men
Grand Oversoul Grand Oversoul "It's therapy, it's relaxing, it's fun, and it surrounds us." This is what music means to guitarist Mike Welch and his band Grand Oversoul. Music has indeed surrounded them of late. After a recent gig opening for nationals Rusted Root, as well as a 2004 CEA nomination for best "Jam Band"…
Cover Story: MPMF Panels & Speakers
Howlin' Wuelf Media Greg Dulli wants to share his knowledge with you. MidPoint is building itself to be the center of the universe for unsigned acts, so the panel discussions, workshops, mentoring sessions and other hands-on educational activities are a key component of the event. There's not a magic formula for "making it" or furthering…
CPS Helps Fund Charter Schools
Regarding the "Whose Choice Is It?" letter to the editor (issue of Aug. 31-Sept. 6), this individual needs more information on funding for public systems of education. I'm in agreement with a number of his points: 1. Yes, parents have the ability to choose. Every parent has the ability to research and respond to the…
Cover Story: (In)Focus and to the Point
James McKenna (in)camera The beat boys begin to tell their own version of the crime with slow and mounting thuds. Bill's word is gospel without temporal restraint; Jay's answer resonates, gruff and reminiscent of kitchen duty role call. Huddling together in a strangely comfortable mingling of trust and conspiracy, they recant their own memories, all…
Pennant Race Chokes, Goats and Heroes
Jerry Dowling For every winner, there's a loser. But does that commit us to spotting a goat for every hero? The question arises from the AL Central race; a lot of people are missing a good story. The Chicago White Sox held a nine-game lead at the All-Star break, then broke out with a four-game…
A Dream Deferred
Sandy Underwood Darryl Hilton plays George, a laborer from Panama, in ETC&'s Intimate Apparel. He's also reading poetry by Langston Hughes for Know Theatre's A Dream Deferred at various locations. The African-American poet Langston Hughes created some of the most powerful poetry of the 20th century. It´s great material for actors to interpret, and that´s…
To Be Disabled During a Hurricane
While everyone was glued to Fox and CNN after Hurricane Katrina for more images of looters and stranded families on rooftops, I found I had trouble wrapping my mind around the concept of water higher than a house, water that was fouled with gasoline and human waste and, eventually, dead human beings. Then I started…
Picking Favorites
Most Americans have been nursed from the first patriotic flag bib, or at least their first civics class, suckling on the purported superiority of the American political system. But if nothing else good came of it, the 2000 presidential election exposed some very serious flaws in the way the United States conducts its elections. Now…
Diner: Connecting with Family
Graham Lienhart I'll never cut it as an urban farmer, I tell myself as I survey the dying tomato plants in my side yard. Even with Appalachian blood coursing through my veins, I'll never have a cardboard box of ripe tomatoes on my kitchen floor in August like Aunt Nancy. But that's OK. I have…
News to Use
Insure Every Ohioan Cincinnati Single Payer Action Network (SPAN) meets at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Geier Room of Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church to gauge the status of a petition drive to implement comprehensive health care coverage for every Ohioan. A slide show explaining single-payer insurance will enlighten those who are new to the…
