Controversial, offensive, and downright angry, Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. was a real force in his time. Better known as Jay Reatard, the notorious rock 'n' roll monster was known for aggressive and energetic performances that left audiences in awe. Even more provoking than his music were his uncanny viewpoints, which are displayed in the feature documentary Jay Reatard: Better Than Something, which screens Wednesday at the Roxie.
If there weren't photographic evidence or video proof and we hadn't seen it with our own eyes, we wouldn't have believed it. Dave Chappelle and Katt Williams headlined the WiLD 94.9 Comedy Jam at Shoreline Amphitheatre over the weekend. For stand-up enthusiasts, it was like spotting two unicorns in one evening.
Even though they were the billed headliners, it was anything but a given that it would happen without a hitch. Each comedian is coming out of a period of reclusiveness, and each has had some disastrous onstage experiences in the past month.
But what about combining the two?
Last week, the online comedy gurus known as the Fine Bros. (a.k.a. Benny and Rafi Fine) unleashed their retro-Nintendo YouTube hit "Saved by the Bell Interactive Game."
The game takes YouTube beyond the passive watching experience -- viewers get to shape how the story unfolds by making choices along the way. And the retro graphics and sound are spot on, with an original Nintendo vibe that'll make your thumbs twitch for the good ol' days. (You can also check out our sister blog's interview with the animator and music composer.)
Buried deep down in the very core of most people's hearts is the passion to perform. Doesn't everyone secretly want to dress in 1960s get-up, strap on a ukulele, and do Tiny Tim covers? No? Maybe that's just us. The hard part (besides mustering up the courage to show the world our undeniable talent) is finding a comfortable, acceptable, and supportive audience. That's were Smack Dab enters the picture.
If it's true that every generation believes it's the first to discover sex, then it's also true that the same sexual facts must be taught over and over, including the misconception that old people "just stop doing it." The truth is (here we go again) that people older than 50 (and 60, and 70, and 80) continue not only to have sex but sometimes the most mind-blowing sex of their lives. Author Joan Price is among these people. She appears Tuesday night at the Center for Sex and Culture. Price met who she considers the love of her life at age 57. (He was 64.) They had a profound connection, a great relationship, and amazing sex. She wrote a book called Better Than I Ever Expected. Yet she continued to meet older people who said their sex lives were suffering and they couldn't find help. So Price wrote Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex. (Sadly, her partner died before she completed it.)
We spoke with Price recently by phone.
Food is to us what rock 'n' roll was to Baby Boomers. Can there be better evidence than this? A music club is hosting pop-up dinners. The club, founded by local musician Boz Scaggs, has started bringing in a new outfit every Monday; so far that's included the Jetset Chef and Cathead's BBQ. Tonight (Monday) it's Radio Africa & Kitchen, founded by Ethiopia-born chef Eskender Aseged and itself a nomad operation for more than five years.
Aseged says tonight's menu includes saffroned prawns with heirloom tomatoes and white corn; wild mushroom crostini with nettles and Manchego cheese; and eggplant and summer squash lasagna with Israeli couscous, goat cheese, and Asian spinach.The Monday food might come as a shock to regular diners, who show up for bar fare like mozzarella sticks, cheese-filled jalapeño poppers, and cheddar and bacon potato skins. We look forward to the day when the club's two interests are combined, and we can see the Kottonmouth Kings and stave off our munchies with a grilled peach salad with goat cheese and arugula. Until then, we'll eat before the show, unless it's Monday, in which case the eats are the show.
Radio Africa & Kitchen starts at 5:30 p.m. Mon., August 15, at Slim's.
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