Category Archives: birmingham

r3vrb destinations 1.10 – 1.12

Hello all. Glad you could make it. Henceforth, I will be providing an overview of the weekend’s upcoming shows so that you can more easily decide what to spend your hard earned cash on. In preparing this post for you, I’ve listened to all of the bands playing at over twenty venues in the Southside /Downtown region over the next few days. Let me know what you think. If you hate what I chose, yell at me! If you had a great time at a show I picked for you, let me know about it. The greatest return I could ever receive is a response from y’all. And now, without further ado:

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Moses Mayfield’s calling it quits

Moses Mayfield

Moses Mayfield.

AlternativeAddiction.com is reporting that the 5-piece band from Birmingham known as Moses Mayfield has broken up.

The message from front man Matthew Mayfield posted on their MySpace profile‘s blog on January 2 points to several reasons for the decision.

While fans of the band are no doubt upset, the good news is that Matthew still plans to post demos on his MySpace profile page for the foreseeable future. So as always, the music never dies…

Now you can karaoke online

This is Karaoke screenshot

Screenshot from This is Karaoke

You’ll be able to make some new friends too. Just in case you don’t feel like getting in front of strangers at the bar to sing your favorite song, you know have the option of attempting to perform for just your computer (or maybe some of those new friends).

This is Karaoke is an online karaoke website/community that lets you upload songs and meet others that are compelled to belt one out. Could take the idea of house parties to a whole new level…

Got plans this weekend? 1.4 – 1.6

If your New Year’s resolution is to put more culture in your life, Birmingham is not that bad of a place to be. Take for example, tonight and Saturday at 8 you can see the Alabama Symphony Orchestra perform at the Alys Stephens Center.

Fancy description:

“From dark to light, Justin Brown and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra explore the contrasting works of two of the most influential Russian composers. Virtuoso Vadim Gluzman plays Shostakovich’s passionate and soulful Violin Concerto No. 1, and Maestro Brown follows Tchaikovsky’s troubled but ultimately life-affirming Symphony No. 5.”

Translation: Good stuff. For tickets, give them a call at 251-7727. Cost: $65 to $10.

If that’s not enough culture for you then Saturday is the very last day to see the “Roger Brown: Southern Exposure” exhibit. More after the jump: Continue reading

Got plans this weekend? 12.28 – 12.30

Well here it is, the last weekend of the year. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, my suggestion for this weekend is to not make plans. Or if you do, make them with yourself.

Reflect on your accomplishments for the year. Decide your goals for the next.

Is there something you have been putting off? Take the first step toward getting it done.

Call a friend that you may not have gotten to see during the holidays.

Relax. Watch some football if that’s your thing (maybe that NFL game on Saturday). Or take a walk if you like being one with nature. Just relax.

But if you must have a suggestion for something to do today, don’t wait any longer to make dinner reservations for New Year’s Eve. Sure it’s not Valentine’s Day, but area restaurants are bound to be busier than usual. A reservation can’t hurt.

If you’ve got other ideas, let us know in the comments section… Happy New Year!

Got plans this weekend? 12.21 – 12.23

This edition of Got plans really should have a subtitle – what to do with all that family coming in town. With Christmas on a Tuesday this year, many people are starting their celebrations as soon as they get off work tonight. If it’s your turn to host the out-of-towners, don’t fear. There is more to do than look at the naked guy on the mountain.

Idea One: Holiday movies at the Alabama Theatre, located at 1811 Third Ave. North in downtown Birmingham. Friday night (7 p.m.) watch the cat fry in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.) see three holiday cartoon favorites — “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.” Saturday night (7 p.m.) dream of “snow, snow, snow” with Bing and Rosemary in “White Christmas.” Tickets are $7 for adults/$6 for senior citizens and children under 12. Available at the box office one hour before showtime.

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J Records releases Studdard

Ruben Studdard head shotSOHH.com is reporting that American Idol Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard was released by J Records. According to the report, it’s all about the numbers – record sales numbers.

The Velvet Teddy Bear does seem to be cultivating a career in acting though, and he’ll be front and center with his former band, Just a Few Cats, on the WorkPlay soundstage this Saturday. If you don’t have tickets now though, you’re not getting in; tickets for the show are sold out.

Photo credit: Bob Farley/f8photo

Wild Sweet Orange’s latest

Here’s the latest from Wild Sweet Orange, the song’s called Wrestle with God off of their new EP

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/wjs63xg0B-k" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Visit if:mv and find audio and Flash versions of the song.

Malcolm’s Reading Room

Malcolm’s Reading Room books

The newest kid on Birmingham’s book selling block is Malcolm’s Reading Room (404 17th St. North) located in the ground level of the historic Masonic Temple building off of 4th Avenue North. Malcolm’s Reading Room is billed as an African-American bookstore – the banners, t-shirts and colors make obvious after stepping through the door. But after spending a few short minutes with co-owner Simone Snelling, one gets the feeling that the store is about something more… passion.

A passion for all things revolutionary and thought provoking.

“We’re going to focus on books about African-Americans and by African-Americans, ” said Snelling. “But we’re also going to offer books on the women’s rights [movement], the Middle East, Che Guevara, music by independent musicians and art by local independent artists. Really, we’re looking for revolutionary things.”

Snelling says she and her husband, co-owner Courtney Snelling, always had the dream of opening a bookstore when they finally got their big break about a year ago.

“My husband was visiting Chicago, which is where he’s from,” said Snelling. “He ran across a going-out-of-business sale at a bookstore and that’s where our first big section of books came from.” She said that first haul netted the couple nearly 500 books and they haven’t looked back since.

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BPL launches book review podcasts

The Birmingham Public Library has posted a stocking full of podcasts. They feature local librarians’ reviews and recommendations for gift-worthy reads this season. Looks like they’re using PodBean and it loads verrrry fast! So it’s no hassle to cruise them all rather quickly. Very cool!I’m going to have to check out Yvonne Crumpler’s take on Wayne Flynt’s book to see if we agree. And then check back later to see what else she recommends.

trav blogs regularly at {head}:sub/head, about reading, publishing, books and Birmingham