Monthly Archives: September 2008

On a musical note…

Posted on September 26, 2008 by | Leave a comment

A few things for those in town for Birmingham’s many festivities this weekend:

Saturday night flyer

Two of Birmingham’s best local bands will be playing an unofficial “after” after-party at Bottletree just as Sidewalk is letting out and the WordCamp crew is looking for some trouble to get into on Saturday night. Do yourself a favor and check out both of these bands’ respective pages (here and here) before the show.
Here’s a handy map of how to get to Bottletree courtesy of their site.

 

Also, for those who helped me usher in the arrival of Birmingham’s newest radio station Live 100.5 FM, here’s an aside: I HEARD INTERPOL ON THE DRIVE INTO WORK TODAY! Kudos to Davi Rossi and the fine programming he put in order today!

 Through the Sparks flyer art by Shawn Avery.

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Got plans this weekend? 9.26 – 9.28

Posted on September 26, 2008 by | Leave a comment

While the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival is the big deal this weekend, there are some other options. Really! Would I lie to you? Never … at least not intentionally .. well, maybe if you ask “do I look fat in this?”

Did you hear the news that the Alabama State Fair moved from the Fairgrounds to Pelham and the former Oak Mountain Amphitheatre*? Afraid you already missed all the rides and cotton candy and pig races? Not to fear, the fair is open until Sunday. Now it’s not cheap — tickets are $8, wristbands for the rides are $20 (but hey, every day is wristband day) and then add on another $5 for parking. But the fair only comes once a year and where else are you going to buy overpriced caramel apples? Go ahead and buy two, I’m not judging. And you look great in those jeans. Pass me the funnel cake.

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Dead Confederate lives on at Bottletree

Posted on September 26, 2008 by | 1 comment
Dead Confederate live photo courtesy of George Atkinson

Dead Confederate performs live / George Atkinson

If you weren’t at Bottletree last night for the Dead Confederate/Wax Fang/Twin Tigers show, you missed one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

Any show that starts off with a girl wearing a Guitar Hero-esque haircut playing bass in a band that’s covering The Cure’s “A Forest” and ends with the headlining band playing in shadows reminiscent of  the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video is a mighty fine night indeed!

More photos and glorious details after the jump.

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Got plans this weekend? 9.19 – 9.21

Posted on September 19, 2008 by | 1 comment

Hi folks! I’m still haven’t decided what all the family will be doing this weekend. But here are some of the possibilities:

Want to have a hand in wine making? How about a foot? The annual Grapestomp is Saturday at Morgan Creek Vineyards from 10 to 4. There will be music, food, and of course, wine tastings and tours all day. You can even leave with your own footprint poster. Cost is $5. Dress like Lucy for the look-a-like contest at 2 for a chance at a cash prize.

Considering I have one car fanatic in the house and another household member who points out every plane that passes overhead, it is a good guess that I’ll be at the Bessemer Airport this weekend. That’s where the Birmingham Aero Club is hosting its 75th Anniversary Wings and Wheels 2008 Air Show and Car Show both Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. each day and the show begins at 2. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids 12 to 6, and under 6 free. Follow this link to the show’s FAQ page to find out what you can and cannot bring and the answer to the question, “Can you fly your airplane to the show?”

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Bright Henry lights up Zydeco tonight

Posted on September 18, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Hey guys! It’s that time again… five questions from yours truly. Who’s this week’s target? Why, one of our favorite blogger/musicians, former Terminal contributor Sam George!

His band Bright Henry is playing Zydeco tonight and therefore, we aim the spotlight in his general direction.

WHITNEY: Bright Henry performances are always so warm and lively. It seems like a collective. How did the idea for all of you guys playing together come about?

SAM: I recently moved here from NYC and was unwilling to be without a band for any kind of a sustained period, so I began to put one together almost immediately. I have this theory about finding musicians: It’s as important for your fellow band members to be folks you’d like to hang out with as it is for them to be musically talented. You ain’t gonna get chemistry without kinship. The way I deal with this is to ask everyone I meet who I enjoy spending time with if they play a musical instrument. My first job here in Birmingham was slingin’ coffee at O’Henry’s in Homewood, and that’s where I met the fellas. It was serendipity really. Matt (guitar) and Barrett (bass) both worked behind the counter with me, and Daniel (drums) was a regular customer. I couldn’t believe I had found such a good group of friends in one place, but there they were. It was gravy that they could all play like the dickens. The band is actually named after the founder of O’Henry’s, Henry Bright. So I guess my incredibly long answer to your question is that we’re warm and lively because we grew together as a group organically before we even knew we were a band. Continue reading →

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Skybucket’s new sampler is out!

Posted on September 18, 2008 by | Leave a comment

For those that missed our tweet from yesterday, Skybucket Records has released their new sampler for (wait for it…) FREE! That’s right folks, you get a chance to enjoy 93MB of zipped goodness (complete with art if you decide to burn it to CD), with tracks featuring 13ghosts, The Dexateens, Barton Carroll, Through the Sparks, Wes McDonald and more. So what are you waiting for? After you do that, then you can head out and buy all their albums…

Image: CD case art for 2008 Skybucket Sampler. Courtesy of Skybucket Records.

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It’s almost time for a Taste

Posted on September 17, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Screenshot of justataste.org (Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival) website.

A redesigned website (courtesy of MBI) and a slight breeze in the air means that it’s almost time for the annual Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival. The fun takes place in the 4th Avenue Historic District next Saturday. The parade starts at 12:30 p.m. and will include performances by Neo Jazz Collective, Eric Essix and Michael Ward. A perfect complement to that other event going on that weekend (and that conference we’re organizing).

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A Wrecking Ball to rumors of rock’s demise

Posted on September 16, 2008 by | 1 comment

Yes, Dead Confederate has made several appearances here in Birmingham in recent memory. Hell, they’re scheduled to be in town as part of their tour supporting their new album, Wrecking Ball, on September 24 at The Bottletree. The Magic City’s own Scott Register has had a lot of fun exposing us to them on his weekly radio program. Christina plugged their November 2007 appearance (after their apperance at City Stages 19 earlier in the year) at The Nick as a Got Plans? destination. Folks here seem to love the Georgia-based rock band, and getting a chance to listen to the new release just before today’s official release, they’re about to get a lot more people interested in them. Continue reading →

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A sit down with Chance Shirley

Posted on September 15, 2008 by | 3 comments

Chance Shirley/Crewless.com After knowing local filmmaker (and Crewless Productions co-founder) Chance Shirley for a little over a year now and hanging out with him in a maze of Kevin Bacon-like degrees of separation, I finally decided to give you guys an update on the legend that is his upcoming film: Interplanetary.

Oh, you’re gonna want to read this. There’s talk of blogging, editing trailers and, my personal favorite, Birmingham film parties involved. Thanks again to Chance and Crewless Productions!

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Got plans this weekend? 9.12 – 9.14

Posted on September 12, 2008 by | 2 comments

Last week, I had a theme for the weekend. This week, the only thing these events have in common is that I find them halfway interesting. Maybe you will too.

If you regret not taking Basket Weaving 101 in college, then lucky you because life is full of second chances. For 15 bucks, you can learn to make an open weave basket from wisteria vine at Aldridge Botanical Gardens this Saturday at 2. I’m thinking perfect Christmas present for my hard-to-shop-for mother-in-law. The gardens are located at 3530 Lorna Road in Hoover. Nice lake and walking trail, worth a visit anytime.

There’s a lot more after the jump (a lot more)…

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