Community Theater Fall Preview
Big things are happening in local theater this season. Check out what RI and Southeastern Mass has to offer
And let’s not forget some of the smaller, but robust and often more surprising theaters scattered around the region! There are so many, we’ve followed this article with an extensive listing of great theater you can expect this season.
Mixed Magic (MM) Theatre will present the prison drama Jesus Took the A Train, tackling morality, religion, class and race in the story of man accused of murdering a cult leader and sharing a cell with a born-again Christian. MM follows this September through October performance with Othello. This anticipated performance will star legendary local actor and Mixed Magic founder, Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, in the title role. Unlike Epic and Wilbury, Mixed Magic isn’t relocating; it’s continuing in its comfortable, versatile space at the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket. mmtri.com
After Bob (see separate article), Contemporary Theater will present Assassins, an investigation of presidential assassinations, with a score by Stephen Sondheim. Yep, you read that right: sounds like the Wakefield-based theater will continue to stretch our minds in interesting directions this year. thecontemporarytheater.com
Look for The Wilbury Group to continue to refine its use of the exciting new space at the very spacious and slightly eccentric South Side Cultural Center. Located within and behind Trinity Church on Broad St., this is where Trinity Rep started, so there are some big shoes to fill. This fall, they’re bringing Detroit to Rhode Island in the New England Premiere of this OBIE-winning, Pulitzer-nominated play set in the modern embers of a rapidly deflating American city. “From our beginning, The Wilbury Group has been about selecting and presenting audiences with the most challenging, relevant plays available,” says Artistic Director Josh Short, who predicts the ’13-’14 season will be “our most challenging yet.” thewilburygroup.org
Also exploring the lack of constraint afforded by their bountiful new space, Epic Theatre will bring theatrical experimentation to Theatre 82 at the Artists’ Exchange in Cranston’s Rolfe Square, where they are now resident. Their season begins with the black comedy A Behanding in Spokane, by Martin McDonagh, following a mysterious man’s quest for his missing hand at a run-down motel. artists- exchange.org/theatre82.html
Theatre 82 will also host productions by other companies through the fall, with Marley Bridges Theatre Company presenting Menace of the Morgue, a zombie musical set in the 1950s, throughout October, and GCOLE Productions bringing Brighton Beach Memoirs to that stage in November. Mixed Magic, The Contemporary Theater, and Epic are all part of the new RI Theater Alliance, which will present interesting opportunities to get inter-troupe passes over the season. You can catch up with what they’re doing at facebook.com/RITAlliance
In its 13th season at a restored church in South County, Granite Theatre will present the solid classics the Mousetrap in September, followed by The Sound of Music. granitetheatre.com
The Rhode Island Shakespeare Theater has adapted Macbeth to Rhode Island, which means it’s now a mob story. How will they mix Shakespearian language with Rhode Island accents? Find out in October. Search Facebook for TRIST.
The Academy Players will be Working this September with the musical, based on the book by Studs Terkel, about how people spend most of their day. Academy follows this show with a November performance of They Chose Me, another all-ages family musical, this one about families as seen through the eyes of children. academyplayers.org
Swamp Meadow gets heavy, then lightens up with upcoming shows The Crucible, in October, and The Man Who Came to Dinner, the musical comedy by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. This community theater has been achieving some great performances up in Foster — worth the visit! swampmeadow.org
The Little Theatre of Fall River will be doing OK this fall, with its production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma. littletheatre.net
The Newport Playhouse has an interesting flow in their upcoming line-up. Starting with The Love List, about a methodical search for the perfect mate (September), they’re following it up with A Perfect Wedding, about a groom who wakes with a hangover and an unexpected bedmate on the morn of his wedding (October), then Angel on my Shoulder, with a cohabitation theme, and finally, My Husband’s Wild Desires (no explanation needed). Does anyone else see a progression there? Any of these comedies should make for an amiable, amusing night out – for dates and details, see our listings or newportplayhouse.com.
Your Theatre in New Bedford, which has been putting on shows since the 40s, has an interesting selection coming up, starting with Biloxi Blues in September. It is followed by the nostalgic Neil Simon piece, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, by the late Nora Ephron, queen of the 90s chick flick. Finally, they present Henry Flamethowa, a much starker drama about a troubled teen with the Devil for a pen pal. And if you think more than 65 years of community theater is a lot, check out the Community Players, who open their 93rd season with an October presentation of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof! yourtheatre.org and thecommunityplayers.org
Fall for Great Shows this Season The best alternative shows in RI all season plus an interview with Hope Anchor
I’d figured with Hope Anchor-a-mania about to run rampant through the city, a fun person to do an interview with would be the band’s guitarist, Terry Linehan. Known as Terry Dread back in the day, he has literally seen it all from being on a major label with Waterdog, touring as a guitarist for Green Day, and even being in a Green Day side project called The Frustrators with Mike Dirnt. He got a shout out from Billie Joe Armstrong at Green Day’s recent appearance at The Dunk. Terry co-owns a punk bar in Providence called The Scurvy Dog where the music is always loud and there’s a great selection of beers. To kick off the Fall Guide, I figured I’d ask him a few questions to get the dish on Never Gonna Let You Go and his thoughts on the music scene.
MC: How would you compare Never Gonna Let You Go to your debut release, Pile on the Dirt?
TL: Firstly, Pile on The Dirt was recorded in three spurts over four years and I think it sounds like that. Even if you’ve been doing this for as long as we have as musicians, it takes a while to feel the direction out as a band. After we did Pile on The Dirt, the songs on Never Gonna Let You Go are the next nine songs plus bits we wrote that we threw against the wall and stuck. So it has more of an immediate feel and is less calculated. I think it’s more visceral as well. Music should be physical and I think this record has that.
MC: How do you feel Hope Anchor as a band has evolved in the last couple of years?
TL: Well, you got enough copy for that? We started with a bunch of music I had written, assembled the group and tested what worked that I had written and what didn’t, then hit the studio. Since Pile on The Dirt there have been three major changes. 1) Eric Fontana left the band as he had his first child and we respect his decision and admire his contributions during his tenure, 2) we added Pip’s brother Matthew as a violin player, which makes us sound like a haunted house! 3) I switched from playing Gibsons to Fender Jazzmasters, which allows me to use the whammy like My Bloody Valentine, but use it in hard blues, which I’m not sure has been done before. MC: As a longtime fixture on the music scene, how would you compare the music scene of today to say 10 or 20 years ago?
TL: The scene today has a lot more information, a lot more bands, and a lot less music fans. Local bands used to draw 800 people on a Friday at the Promenade St. Living Room. It seems like bands are mostly playing to other bands these days. I think the internet has made it so people don’t have to go out and see bands live to know what they’re getting anymore. Also there are obviously way less record stores anymore. I admire the ones we have, but I feel bad that kids don’t go to a record store to learn about music anymore.
MC: What are the three things you are most proud of in your music career?
TL: This’ll sound corny, but I’m most proud of our new record. Like everything else, it’s the culmination of a lifetime in music. Besides that, I’m super proud of playing guitar for Green Day on the American Idiot tour. It was a special record at a special time. We were in the middle of the Bush years and very publically rallying against them. Thirdly I’m very proud of the last Frustrators record and tour. Mike and I wrote the record in five hours, recorded it the next day and hit the road the next year having not played together as a band in 10 years!
MC: What were some the influences or types of things you guys were shooting for making this record?
TL: The new record was more influenced by time and place than other artists. I can’t speak for the other guys, but R.L. Burnside is the only palpable thing I tried to channel on anything. We were lucky enough to get flown to Oakland last summer to play some shows, and while we were there, we laid down the drum tracks for the album. We came home and did overdubs with Kraig Jordan and then flew back to Oakland to mix with Denny Muller. Also Pip playing the harmonica was a big part of shaping these new songs. Having other instruments that can make a racket without just adding more and more guitars allows things to breathe and still be loud and raucous. Pip and I had a conversation and decided to make our version of a blues record. We also wanted the record to be listened to beginning to end as one thing, so we added the blues bits between the songs to connect the dots. We recorded the blues bits on a handheld recorder in Pip’s living room. We wanted to sound like two old blues guys playing.
Hope Anchor will be playing during intermission at the Providence Roller Derby bout at the Rhode Island Convention Center on September 14th. Doors are at 5 pm with the bout between the Old Money Honeys and the Mob Squad scheduled to start at 6 pm.
Mean Creek
Mean Creek are considered by some to be the best local band going in Boston right now. They mix in a little American, but are basically just full tilt rock & roll music wise. This is a strong bill for straight ahead rock & roll between Northern Lands, WBRU Rock Hunt champs Torn Shorts, and Dylan Sevey and The Gentlemen. I know there is a lot of competition on this night, but if you’re going for the rock & roll, I guess this show would win out!
Mean Creek, Northern Lands, Torn Shorts, Dylan Sevey & The Gentlemen, and The Ya Beautifuls rock The Spot on September 6. The Gaslight Anthem
New Jersey bred rockers; The Gaslight Anthem return to Lupo’s to play their blue collar anthems. As far as an audio description, they’re pretty much modern day cookie cutter alternative rock. They do wear it well though, as I caught them last time they were in town and it was pretty much a love fest with the crowd singing along with the band on every song.
The Gaslight Anthem, The Sidekicks, and Gates rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on September 6.
Biz Markie
Biz Markie isn’t sitting at home counting all the money he made from those Heineken commercials using “Just A Friend.” He’ll be coming to Fete and no doubt bringing the party with him. I love all that late 80s/early 90s hip-hop. It was just a fun era in music before everyone started fronting. Come down to Fete and take a trip back in the time machine to that era with Biz Markie.
Biz Markie plays Fete on September 6.
Pere Ubu
The other day I realized that Pere Ubu have been around for 38 years and found it mind boggling. They get classified as an experimental rock band on Wikipedia, largely because the categories for “alternative” or indie rock” had yet to be invented. Pere Ubu started from the ruins of the Cleveland punk band, Rocket From The Tombs (the other members formed The Dead Boys). Since then Pere Ubu have hit marks all over the spectrum and been a major influence on bands like The Pixies. I haven’t heard about them touring and have been eagerly anticipating this show for months.
Pere Ubu, Gagarin, and Atlantic Thrills will rock Fete on September 23rd.
D.O.A.
Hardcore punk legends D.O.A. come to town on what is being billed as a farewell tour. If that is true, D.O.A. have had one hell of a run. To celebrate their arrival, Firehouse 13 is re-opening for a night. In addition to D.O.A, local legends Neutral Nation and Drunk Robb and The Shots open the show along with The F.U.’s from Boston. If punk rock is your thing, this will be the show to be at!
D.O.A., Neutral Nation, The F.U.’s, and Drunk Robb and The Shots are at Firehouse 13 on September 13th.
Rocktucket
Rocktucket returns for its 5th annual takeover outside 250 Main Street in Providence. This year’s festival features something for everybody with acts geared more towards kids early in the day and then shifting to singer songwriters, then going full tilt rock ‘n’n roll, and then on to hip hop to close the party right. Of the rock portion, I’m stoked to see the Atlantic Thrills, Gavage, Malyssa & The Liberators and Ants in The Cellar. All great bands and what’s better than getting to drink out in the street while listening to some great music.
Rocktucket will take over Main St in Pawtucket on Saturday September 14th. The event happens outside 250 Main Street and runs from 1130AM to 11PM as part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival. Performers include KRIS HANSON, NATURAL ELEMENTS, FUNKY AUTOKRATS FEATURING MARK LOVE, ATLANTIC THRILLS, ANTS IN THE CELLAR, MALYSSA AND THE LIBERATORS, GAVAGE, BLESSED ENERGY, SIDY MAIGA AND THEAFRIMANDING, CASED CLOSED, DIRTYDURDIE, MILEZ GRIMEZ, THR33 PIECE SUIT, BLOCK MCCLOUD, BLACASTAN, TERMONOLOGY, and APATHY. Check out their page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/301255376681071/ for more info and set times.
Dudesmash 2
Deer Tick return to town to present “Dudesmash 2” which promises to be an epic rock ‘n’ roll party. Deer Tick are releasing a new album brightly titled Negativity later in the month and will doubtless be featuring a bunch of new material along with old favorites. This show is like a who’s who of local bands with Americana favs The Low Anthem, Joe Fletcher and The Wrong Reasons, rockers Ravi Shavi, and country rockers Smith & Weeden all on the bill. I’m also looking forward to seeing T Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate perform solo, after catching an epic performance by him with the band this past Memorial Day Weekend.
Saturday September 14th ; Deer Tick and 95.5 WBRU presents “DudeSmash 2” – an outdoor concert featuring Deer Tick, The Low Anthem, Jonny Fritz, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, T Hardy Morris (of Dead Confederate / Diamond Rugs), Last Good Tooth, Ravi Shavi, Smith & Weeden, The Kolour Kult, and Vio/Mere at the Met Café’s Courtyard, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket RI. The show is all ages with 4PM doors / 5PM show.
Walk The Moon
Fresh off a recent appearance at the Jay Z- curated Made in America festival, Walk The Moon return to town to bring their dancey alternative rock to the big stage in town. It seems like a big jump for a band that played to a well-less-than-capacity show at The Met this past winter but there’s little doubt that Walk The Moon has some momentum going for them now. I wouldn’t call them really rock, closer to a boy band of alternative rock. A little 80’s, but the songs are catchy enough to have a good time with on the dance floor.
Walk The Moon and Magic Man play Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on September 18th.
R.I. Pizza Wars
Okay, so this isn’t a show but the chance to have free pizza from some of the state’s best pizzerias sounds good enough to me! There are much worse ways to spend a Friday night than eating free pizza and having a couple of beverages on top of that. One can also vote if they care enough on the contenders and a Pizza Champion will be crowned at the end of the night. Personally, I’ll probably stick to eating pizza.
R.I. Pizza Wars will go down at the Met Café on September 20th.
Pawtucket Fireworks Committee 2014 Fundraiser
I’m all for supporting causes that fund blowing stuff up! Throw in two sets by Rhode Island Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers, Steve Smith & The Nakeds and you have one whale of a Sunday night! Steve Smith and The Nakeds fit into the category of straight up rock ‘n’ roll and one hell of a party band to boot! Pawtucket Fireworks Committee 2014 Fundraiser featuring music by Steve Smith and The Nakeds happens at the Met Café on September 22nd. There will be an auction from 5PM to 6PM, followed by two sets from Steve Smith and The Naked. Proceeds will go towards funding the third annual fireworks display at McCoy Stadium on July 3rd, 2014.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears bring it with a mix of funk and soul that is sure to electrify the night. Taking major influence from the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and James Brown, Lewis and his band are not the type of band that you’re going to be able to stay seated for. The Silks will kick off the night with their patented mountain-man flavored rock ‘n’ roll.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and The Silks will rock Fete on September 24th.
990WBOB Presents Mondays on Blast
We all hate Mondays but that doesn’t mean they have to suck. What if there was a place you could go to see and hear a couple of comedians and catch a couple of bands for free? There is and that place is The Spot (formerly Underground – now above ground). 990WBOB broadcasts from there every Monday and showcases a diverse blend of the many styles of the local music scene. Whatever your cup of tea is, if you don’t like the bands one week, come back because you’ll probably love them the next week! In addition The Spot has an open kitchen in case you get the munchies and need something to snack on.
990WBOB Presents Mondays on Blast every Monday at The Spot located above ground on Richmond St. in Providence. The show kicks off at 9PM and rages all night.
Forever Young
Forever Young is a super group of local musicians who do a great job breathing new life into Neil Young’s large catalogue. They do everything from Young’s folk numbers to the full on Crazy Horse barnburners. They don’t win the Motif Award for Best Tribute Act every year for sucking. Trinity will open the night with a Crosby Stills and Nash set. No word at press time whether they have to stay away from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young material to avoid a conflict.
Forever Young and Trinity will play the Met Café on September 28.
They Might Be Giants
I keep waiting for They Might Be Giants to go on a tour and call it the Revenge of The Nerds 25th Anniversary tour as a testament to their staying power. Often mocked when they first surfaced in the 80s, They Might Be Giants laughed along with the joke by writing songs about it like “Rhythm Section Want Ad.” They Might Be Giants still put out albums, and although they may not be getting the crossover hits like “Birdhouse in Your Soul” anymore, they’re still money live for a good time.
They Might Be Giants and Mooch Hooch are at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 8.
The Parkington Sisters
The Parkington Sisters are four real life sisters from the Cape who have great harmonies. As for the band sound, it’s mostly indie folk with a couple of upbeat tunes that could be lumped in as alternative. I caught them recently at the Burnside Park Concert Series and they pretty much killed it!
The Parkington Sisters will fill Fete with harmonies on October 18.
Cold War Kids
Cold War Kids return to town after playing the WBRU Summer concert series in July. Cold War Kids remind me a little of a more keyboard-infused version of The Strokes. As far as modern day radio alternative rock, Cold War Kids are one of the better acts out there. Check out their latest record, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, but more importantly, don’t miss them at Lupo’s!
Cold War Kids will rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 21.
Built To Spill
Built To Spill return for another night of indie guitar rock mayhem. Built To Spill have always delivered whenever I’ve caught them. Singer/Guitarist Doug Martsch shreds on guitar land; while the lineup around him has changed over the year, the intensity of Built To Spill live hasn’t wavered. It has been a few years since Built To Spill has released any new material, so it will be interesting to see if they’re road testing anything for a potential release. The band tours non-stop, so they’re guaranteed to be in fine form.
Built To Spill, Slam Dunk, and The Warm Hair rock the Met Café on November 6.
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Oktoberfest — the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Looking forward to all of the RI beer festivals this season? Pete’s got you covered
Oktoberfest season is upon us, and I don’t just mean that Sam Adams has released their much-loved, if incorrectly spelled, Octoberfest fall seasonal. The kids are going back to school, the temperature is dropping, the leaves are beginning to turn, and if my hop plant is any indication, it’s time to stop trying to be a gardener because I clearly don’t have the knack. For those who don’t know, and I’m sure there are those of you who don’t know because there are people who think Einstein invented the light bulb, Oktoberfest is a celebration that began in Germany in 1810.
Back in the days when monarchies were still relevant, Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (don’t ask me to pronounce that). That’s right, Oktoberfest is a wedding party! Over the years, the date has been shifted a bit, but at present, Oktoberfest begins at the end of September and lasts until about mid-October.
Where the beer comes in: A special style of beer was brewed for the event. A new style, called a Märzen Lager, AKA Märzenbier, AKA March beer. The obvious question is, “Why is it called a March beer if the festival is in October?” Well smarty-pants, because it’s brewed in March and allowed to ferment and age until it’s ready to drink in October. The Germans were big on that, seeing as how they invented the lagering process in the first place. It became a tradition to hold the festival every year, and thusly it became tradition to brew the same beer over and over again to keep the 16-day festival well-fueled.
See? I bet you learned something today. Use your newfound knowledge to impress your friends on your next outing, provided you learn how to pronounce Saxe-Hildburghausen.
And if you can’t, well … enjoy the beer and girls in dirndls.
While we’re on the subject of beer festivals, here are a few upcoming events to look out for.
September 7: Narragansett Beer’s Neighbor Days Block Party at Luongo Square in Providence – Neighbor Days Block Party and Bohemian Pilsner launch between The Avery and The E&O Tap. There will be live music on two stages, food trucks, local vendors, plus a beard and moustache competition. Not sure what to say about that last thing.
September 27: First Annual Beer Tasting at the Paine House Museum in Coventry – Enjoy history while enjoying beer and raising money for a good cause. Rhode Island’s best resident brews will be there, so you should be, too.
October 4: Sun Brewfest at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT – Live music, games, brunch, plus more than a hundred brews and a commemorative pilsner glass.
October 12-13: International Oktoberfest at the Newport Yachting Center – This yearly celebration includes both local and international brews, as well as traditional German music, food, and hopefully, some cultural education.
October 13: Second Annual Battleship Brewfest at Battleship Cove in Fall River – Enjoy both history and libations as you watch the flag wave from the USS Massachusetts. Dozens of breweries with their best fare will be there – all for a good cause.
October 18: Beervana at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston – The big one! This is the beer event that dominates our tiny little state. Every craft beer nerd’s dream!
Want more? Stay tuned for Motif’s Beer Guide this October! Locale Profile: The White Horse Tavern | Opened and Closed
PROFILE LOCALE
The White Horse Tavern, located at 26 Marlborough St in Newport, is without exaggeration, as far away from being a “new restaurant” as it gets. Founded in 1673, Newport’s White Horse is the oldest bar in America. It was briefly owned and operated by a pirate,served a stint as a town inn where a man died in his sleep in 1720, and quartered British troops around the time of the Battle of Quaker Hill. So obviously it’s rumored to be haunted.
Like any reputable upscale eatery, The White Horse tries to keep their haunts on the hush-hush. There’s no “Dead Man’s Stew,” or “Ghost Tar-tar,” on the menu. You will find, however, classics that reflect the establishment’s early-American history with a local, modern twist like a Cornish Hen served with a freshly-picked vegetable ratatouille; a Block Island Fluke; and a New England cheese sampler served with Aquidneck Island honeycomb. But alas, there have been (a lot of) reports of ghosts. An elderly man dressed in colonial attire is regularly reported to have been seen in the main dining room, tapping and pestering patrons and servers, along with a spirit that seemingly monitors the staff, causing disturbances when things go wrong. Ghost sightings or not, the White Horse draws visitors in with its colonial-era ambiance. Seating is intimate and limited – there’s no table or booth option here (though there is the option of terrace dining with the addition of garden seating). Like any pre-Edison era structure, the restaurant is lit with rows of windows, small lanterns and tall candlesticks on each table. So yes, it gets fairly dark in the evening, but in a diner’s quest for historic eats, this encompassing, ambient effect is a small price to pay.
OPEN & CLOSED
Fuel up after a long afternoon of Taylor Swift stalking (or beach-going) at 10 Sandwiches’ new location in Watch Hill. Ten unique sandwiches are made with fresh, local ingredients– go for something bold like cocoa sauce made with Dave’s Coffee Syrup. Another Westerly spot talked up as a “destination for foodies” has opened under the name Corner Thai Cafe, serving up traditional soups, rice, curry, noodles and salads. If you get your beach kicks farther up the coastline, Naragansett’s Amalfi is under new management and now Oceanside at the Pier, featuring an outdoor bar with plenty of deck seating and an ocean view. For more low-key eats in Narragansett, Casa Pizza is now open on Point Judith Rd. The NY style pizza serves up options for carnivores and weight-watchers alike (“bikini pie”). City Girl Cupcake now has a new location on Federal Hill, bringing some confectionery competition to the block. Find out what special flavors they’re baking up daily on their Facebook Page. With a heavy heart RI says goodbye to Sprout: The Vegetarian Food Truck. It powered down for the last time on July 27th, leaving Providence without mobile quinoa tacos and breaded cauliflower with caramelized onion dip.
The Roots Report: Beat the Heat with Cool Shows Okee dokee folks … It’s summer. I would be remiss if I didn’t reiterate my feelings about it. I hate summer. I am sorry. I know many of you folks like summer. I am not a fan of the heat and humidity. Fortunately, we are more than halfway through. Music makes the summer easier to deal with – for me anyway. There are still a lot of summer shows to catch while the weather is warm, though sometimes “warm” can be a bit of an understatement. Onward.
The Downtown Sundown Series
The Downtown Sundown Series has been steadily gaining a solid audience, mostly by word of mouth. Every show brings more folks who are amazed by the talent of the performers and the beauty of Roger Williams National Memorial. Now in its third year, this music series brings free music into downtown Providence two Saturdays per month. Already this season, performers such as WS Monroe, Billy Mitchell, Malyssa Bellarosa, Kala Farnham, Mark Cutler, Heather Rose, Tracie Potochnik, Bob Kendall, Jesse Liam and Jack Gauthier, and others have graced the park stage with their wonderful music. The middle lawn at the Memorial is the perfect spot for a sundown show. The music starts at 7 pm and continues until 9:30 pm, and four performers are featured at each show. The audience members sit back in lawn chairs, lie on blankets or directly on the grass and enjoy some of the best singer- songwriters from the area. Picnickers are welcomed and encouraged. It could be a great start to a night out in Providence or as a complete evening activity. It’s a friendly and safe environment where children and well-behaved dogs can join in. This season’s last two shows are August 10 and 17, both Saturday nights. Emma Joy Galvin, Steve Allain, Aoife Clancy, Ed McGuirl, WS Monroe, Dylan Sevey, Mary Ann Rossoni and the Rank Strangers are scheduled. For more about the series, twilight to hearinrhodeisland.com Three Dog Night
Back when I was in fifth or sixth grade, I had a French teacher who taught us how to sing “Joy to the World” in French for a school assembly. No, it wasn’t the Christmas song. It was the song by Three Dog Night. At the time this song was a pretty big hit. Yup, do the math, it was quite a while ago. I heard their songs on AM radio and loved their sound. I also loved the band name. It was taken from an Australian expression that basically means that a “three dog night” is a really cold night. The colder the night, the more dogs the bushmen would sleep with. Being a dog person all of my life, I actually have had three dog nights! It hasn’t been cold here in months, but it’s the perfect time for a Three Dog Night. The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (The Z) in New Bedford will present the legendary Three Dog Night on Friday, August 9. Three Dog Night songs have become part of pop culture with hits including “Joy to the World,” “Mama Told Me (Not to Come),” “Black and White” and many more. Since forming in 1968, they’ve charted 21 Top 40 hits, seven of which went gold. Their well-loved songs, delivered in their unmistakable style, are still performed for audiences spanning generations by founding members Cory Wells and Danny Hutton on lead vocals, original keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon and guitarist Michael Allsup, Paul Kingery on bass and vocals, and drummer Pat Bautz. Tickets for the Three Dog Night show are $35 to $59 and are available by phone, online or in person at the Z box office. For more information, howl over to zeiterion.org.
Cherish the Ladies
The Blackstone River Theatre will present a rare summer concert featuring Cherish the Ladies on Saturday, August 3. The “Ladies” have grown from a one-time concert concept to an Irish traditional music sensation, literally the most successful and sought-after Irish-American group in Celtic music. Organized by folklorist/musician Mick Moloney and sponsored by the Ethnic Folk Arts Center and the National Endowment for the Arts, Cherish the Ladies began as a concert series featuring the brightest lights in Irish traditional music. Taking their name from the name of a traditional Irish jig, the group initially won recognition as the first and only all-women traditional Irish band. In a relatively short time, they soon established themselves as musicians and performers without peer and have won many thousands of listeners and fans of their music. With their spectacular blend of virtuosic instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing, this powerhouse group combines all the facets of Irish traditional culture and puts it forth in an immensely humorous and entertaining package. For more, jiggle over to riverfolk.org.
The Small Axe Cafe
Nestled past the Fantastic Umbrella Factory gardens, attached to the Small Axe shop, is the one of the best-kept secrets around, The Small Axe Café. Every Sunday from 2 to 4 pm you can hear live acoustic music by local performers out on the patio (weather permitting). The Fantastic Umbrella Factory is just off Route 1 in Charlestown, a little past Ninigret Park. Head down and grab a bite to eat before or after shopping or beach-going and take a stroll through the garden near the Small Axe. Don’t forget to say hello to the animals, especially the emus! The Fantastic Umbrella Factory is located at 4820 Old Post Road in Charlestown. For more about this series; chop, chop, chop over to facebook.com/smallaxeproductions.
ConserFest
If you are into a bit of a bop across the bay, then you should get on board one of the Block Island ferries and get to New Shoreham for August 3 and 4. This is when ConserFest will take place on “The Block.” You can hear local and regional performers at Poor Peoples Pub, Club Soda, Captain Nick’s, The Fred Benson Town Beach Pavilion and Yellow Kittens Tavern. Scheduled for the fest are Brandon Morris, Homeslice featuring Travis Greenlee, The Max Balmforth Band, Bonfire Bandit, Kristin Plater, The Shades, Viennagram, Alex Brady, Mr. Kowalsky, Christina Holmes, Phil and David Turano, Frank Viele, The Johnny Lingo Trio, Cooper Rivers, Cheers Elephant, The Booze Beggars, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and more. ConserFest’s mission is to raise consciousness for environmental conservation on Block Island through the celebration of music and art. The proceeds and donations from ConserFest events help support and fund non-profit organizations dedicated to protecting the natural environment. Through this annual music and art festival, ConserFest raises finances and awareness for land conservation and for the preservation of local heritage and culture. For a schedule and more info, float on over to conserfest.org.
The Towers
It may be cooler by the ocean, but The Towers in Narragansett makes the temperature rise every Thursday night with great music and dancing. Towers music coordinator, Kate Vivian, has a passion for good music and dance and presents weekly shows to share the love. Thursday, August 15, experience a unique combination of two-fisted piano, red hot trombone, blazing guitar, rock solid bass, powerful vocals and frenzied percussion antics when the Superchief Trio bring in their jump blues and boogie- woogie. Slippery Sneakers slides in on August 22 with Southwest Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco roots music. The annual season closer for The Towers Series is the Grammy Award winning Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys on Thursday, August 29. Riley and his Playboys have delighted audiences with Cajun, zydeco and swampgrass for more than 25 years. For a complete schedule and more about the shows, two-step over to thetowersri.com.
The Narrows
The Narrows in Fall River is moving into the ice age. Well, not really, but sort of. Their state-of-the-art air conditioning system should be completed by the first week of August and it will be an even cooler place to catch live music, especially during the dog days of summer. Coming up on August 17 is Nick Lowe. Please go and tell me how it was; I would love to get to it but unfortunately, I can’t. It has been many, many, MANY years since I have seen Lowe in concert. I was very excited when I saw him on the Narrows’ schedule but, alas, I have my own gig that night. Nick Lowe has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, The Pretenders, The Damned), songwriter (“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding,” “Cruel to be Kind,” “So it Goes”), a short-lived career as a pop star, and a lengthy term as a musicians’ musician. But in his current second act as a silver-haired, tender- hearted, but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal. Do yourself a favor and go! On Friday, August 23, The Pousette-Dart Band hits the Narrows’ stage. Led by Jon Pousette-Dart, The Pousette- Dart Band carved a place in the landscape of American music in the 1970s. They were a mainstay of album radio, a favorite on the college circuit, and became one of the busiest touring groups in the US. If you remember hits such as “Amnesia” or “County Line,” you’ll definitely want to see them. Now this is where the idea of a Narrows’ bed and breakfast would be awesome. The following night, Saturday, August 24, the man who used to float around in commercials selling laundry detergent, but is best known for his flapper-era radio ditties, Depression-spawned ragtime and World War II folk-jazz Leon Redbone will be “tuning up” The Narrows’ stage. You can round out the month with a performance by one of the best banjo couples around. Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn have mastered the deceptively intricate art of the duet and the banjo. Their performances embrace a diversity almost unthinkable coming from just two banjos and one voice. Washburn’s beguiling composing, playing and singing blend with Fleck’s riveting and virtuosic musicianship to create unique music. For more about these shows and more, claw-hammer your way to narrowscenter.org.
Summit Music Festival
For East-Siders and beyond, the 4th Annual Summit Music Festival will be held on Saturday, August 24 from 1 to 6 pm at Lippitt Park. This will be a fun-filled day of music, food and local crafts. Entertainment will be provided by The Stooges Brass Band, Marco Benevento, The Sugar Honey Iced Tea, Roz Raskin and the Rice Cakes, Extraordinary Rendition Band, and Emeline Easton. There will be activities for the children, a beer garden (don’t mix the two), food and craft vendors and much more. Admission to the fest is free and the rain date is August 25. If you want to find out more, climb over to sna.providence.ri.us/smf/
Becky Chace CD Release
The multi-award winning singer-songwriter Becky Chace will be celebrating the release of her latest musical offering, Rise and Fall, her tenth or so, on Friday, August 30, at Sandywoods in Tiverton. Chace told me, “Basically, we produced ourselves in our own studio in an attempt to use all of our knowledge to get our own sound and not something that a studio would influence; we feel as though what we got was honest and different.” Her long-time musical partner, Brian Minisce, was her co-conspirator on this project. Appearances by local musical luminaries such as Doug Woolverton from Roomful of Blues, The Complaints, Tom Petteruti of Brass Attack, Steve Allain, Sean Kennedy, Tom Hall, Jennifer Minuto all add spice to mix. Her own “new-ish” band members also contribute to some tracks with Eric Hastings on drums and Mark Minisce on bass. Sandywoods is a nice place for this show. You can BYOB and bring your own food and enjoy the show your way! For more about the CD and show, head “Downstream” to beckychace.com.
That’s it for now. Come on autumn!!!
John Fuzek www.johnfuzek.com
Tastes Like … Watermelon? Before Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain, there was Renfield. If you’ve read, or seen, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, you might recall him as the vampire’s sidekick with a mad craving for bugs, particularly flies. I remember seeing Dracula in the theater and when Renfield downed his first fly, the audience let out a collective, “Ew!” Oddly, there were no such similar sounds when Dracula drained his first human.
Why do Americans have such an aversion to eating bugs? Even though I’ve inadvertently eaten many bugs while laughing out loud on a summer night and have even sampled a tequila worm or two, I can’t watch Andrew Zimmern for fear that he will start munching on a spider. When I stop and think about it, though, it’s rather ridiculous. I certainly don’t look at a cow or a pig and think “yum.” Can you imagine sinking your teeth into a pig carcass? Yet once the butcher chops that baby up and breaks it into its delectable parts, the idea begins to sound more appetizing. Next we cure it (bacon!) or add salt and a marinade, stick it on the grill and salivate at the smell and sight of a melt-in-your mouth pork tenderloin. It’s a long journey from pig in a pen to maple-glazed pork and we’re willing to go there. Why can’t we take this same leap with bugs?
My friend and neighbor, Josh Selle, has taken that leap and has nothing but good things to say about eating our eight (or more) legged friends. As owner and chef of the former Blue Elephant, Josh knows a thing or two about eating bugs. The Blue Elephant, its former locale being the current Duck and Bunny, was known for its unique breakfast and lunch selections. His more daring diners showed up at night for the occasional “Thorax Thursday,” when the chef would serve up an entrée with a bug of choice as the featured protein. Though never a line at the door, a small group of devotees attended regularly, always willing to try something new; the most popular dish was roasted Thai water beetles served over a bed of greens.
When I asked why this dish was so popular, he explained that the Thai water beetle, which has the consistency of lobster, tastes strangely like watermelon. My thought – why not just eat watermelon? Then again, I am loath even to try buffalo so my opinion is probably irrelevant here. Another popular dish: silkworm grubs sautéed in butter and served over pasta in a creamy Alfredo sauce. The grubs resemble potato gnocchi and taste like mushrooms. Gag me with a spoon. For the record, Josh doesn’t care for this dish, but only because he doesn’t like mushrooms.
Next I asked him about his favorite bug. “The stink bug,” he told me emphatically. Named for its odorific innards of iodine, the stink bug takes on the consistency of popcorn when roasted. Put it in a pan with butter and salt, pop in a DVD, and movie night just got a whole lot more interesting.
What’s one bug he’ll never eat? Cockroaches. “Too dirty,” he explained, as if this needed explaining. I guess it’s true – those disease-ridden bastards truly are good for nothing. Bees aren’t high on his list either, given that they’re endangered and all. As we talked, though, I could see the wheels turning as he dreamed up recipes for stinger-less hornets.
Is bug-eating the wave of the future? Sustainability issues may force us to expand our food repertoire to include eating protein sources that currently don’t sound so appetizing. After all, those cow farts are pretty damning to the environment. Perhaps someday I’ll find myself noshing on a Thai beetle or two. This sounds highly unlikely for a non-adventurous eater like me, but one never knows. If you, on the other hand, are curious about trying bugs, check out Eat a Bug Cookbook: 40 Ways to Cook Crickets, Grasshoppers, Ants, Water Bugs, Spiders, Centipedes and Their Kin. Then visit smallstockfoods.com, a local place to buy your bugs. Just stay away from those cockroaches.
San Diego Comic-Con 2013 – Day One
The 2013 San Diego Comic-Con welcomes its totally psyched conventioneers!
3AM, that’s right 3AM wake up. Which means no sleep really. But so what, I’m going to San Diego Comic-Con!!!
After months of planning, weeks of organizing, days of packing, and hours of last minute details to wrap-up, the day has finally arrived!
My Comic-Con buddy, Joel, crashed at my place so we could get to Logan airport together. I give my wife a kiss goodbye, and then Joel and I hop into the livery transport at 4AM.
We’re on our way!
Yeah, we’re tired but we’re psyched too.
After a quick check-in and going through security, we get on the plane. Some 8 hours later (after a connection in DC), we land in San Diego—and the weather is absolutely beautiful. Ironically, here in southern California the temp is a comfortable 70 degrees, where in Boston it’s a sweltering 90+!
So we hook up with the other member of our party, Pete, and head to the hotel.
We drop our stuff and hoof it to the convention center.
And here’s where the fun begins…
Already, we see people dressed up in costume coming and going all around: Supergirl, anime characters, Green Lantern, Xena, etc.
As we get closer to the convention center, there’s a plethora of outdoor activities going on in the nearby parks.
I walk by a giant inflatable float of Axe Cop—like something out of a dark version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
You won’t see this in NYC on Turkey Day!
There’s a whole exhibit for a new Viking television show with women dressed up as Valkyrie warriors, and a mockup of the new Bates Motel! A brand new show produced by A&E.
Then we finally get to the convention center and the sea of people in costumes and such are too numerous to describe. So you’ll have to check out the pics!
The most intense cosplayers come to San Diego Comic-Con!
If you look closely, you’ll see me in the carbonite—not!
We get in and get our badges. And then it’s time to get the lay of the land.
And what a land it is!
The giant, and I mean giant, exhibit hall is like 2 or 3 football stadiums long and wide! And it’s filled with everything from pop culture, movies, comics, you name it!
Godzilla’s a big thing this year so there’s lots of Godzilla stuff going around. Including buildings in and around the convention center that are painted to look like he just attacked them!
The Godzilla pavilion (actually the Legendary Pictures pavilion that is producing the new Gareth Edwards Godzilla movie for 2014) is packed with people looking to get tickets to The Godzilla Encounter—which I hear is unbelievable! There’s even a glimpse of Godzilla’s head that is true life- size—I have to check this out before I leave Comic-Con!
Anyway, we start talking to a bunch of people and we come across some guys from Gamespot. They’re interviewing people; we decide to do a mutual interview of each other.
After that we walk around a bit—there’s just too much to see!
However, there’s one thing that we’re determined to catch: the Ender’s Game panel with none other than Harrison Ford! This is his second appearance at Comic-Con.
So we’re thinking that since the panel is in the infamous Hall H, we’re never going to get in. No one gets into Hall H. Last year I posted a story for Motif called A Tale of Two Cons. In it, I talk about how I waited around for 4 ½ hours at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con to get into Hall H for The Hobbit panel (with Peter Jackson and the entire cast!) to NOT get in!
This year, a miracle happened!
We walked right in!
OMG!
We got in no problem, had to sit through two panels: one on the new YA movie Divergent, and the other with three directors (Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men; Marc Webb, The Amazing Spiderman; and Edgar Wright, Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy). All good stuff. And then we were rewarded with the Ender’s Game panel!
The director Gavin Hood, the producer Roberto Orci, Asa Butterfield (who plays Ender Wiggin), and of course Harrison Ford (who plays Colonel Graff) all showed up.
I was only 150 feet from Han Solo/Indiana Jones! OMG!
It was a great panel and we got to see EXCLUSIVE footage from the upcoming movie that no one’s ever seen before!
That’s that stuff I love about Comic-Con!
And finally there were audience questions.
The most memorable being directed to Harrison Ford: “If Han Solo and Indiana Jones met, what would they say to each other?”
To which a bewildered Harrison Ford replied, “Ah… hi… how are you?”
Priceless!
After that, we headed out of the convention center to see what was around.
I checked out these giant inflatable Dragon Ball Z characters, a real actual Scooby Doo Mystery Machine van, a REAL pirate ship in the marina promoting Assassin’s Creed, and a life-size Lego model of Bilbo Baggins’ Hobbit hole with Bilbo, Gandalf, and all the dwarves from The Hobbit movies! Scooby-Doo’s in there! Really! He is!
I’m pretty sure this shows up in the next ‘Hobbit’ movie!
And there’s still more…
Later that day we got some free drinks and food at the Gamespot Basestation Bar, and the MTV2 Party In The Park (right outside Petco Park) sites!
Free food, free drinks, great music! The party never ends at San Diego Comic-Con!
And after all that, and being up for almost 24 hours, it was time to crash at the hotel…
On to Day Two baby! Providence Gallery Night: IN 3D! (well, not really)
You could find out how truly accessible the fine arts in Providence are by reading it here, or you can watch it…
Summertime Al Fresco
We asked and you spoke up; The best in outdoor eating in the Ocean State Providence
The Duck and Bunny
The Hot Club
Waterplace
CAV
Café Zog
Coffee Exchange
Simon’s 667
Wurst Window/Chez Pascal (Hope Street)
India (Hope Street)
Loie Fuller’s
Dok’s Deli
Wildflour (Hope St)
Captain Seaweed’s Pub Trinity Brewhouse
Lola’s
Rick’s Roadhouse
Bob & Timmy’s Pizza (Federal Hill)
Andino’s (Federal Hill)
Nara (Federal Hill)
Mediterraneo (Federal Hill)
La Creperie (Thayer Street)
Trattoria Zooma
Three Sister’s (Hope Street)
Luxe Burger Bar
Pane e Vino (Federal Hill)
Café Nuovo
Ruth Chris’ Steakhouse
Julian’s (Broadway)
Nick’s on Broadway (Broadway)
The Grange (Broadway)
Constantino’s (Federal hill)
East Side Pockets (Thayer Street)
Ri Ra Irish Pub
Not Just Snacks (Hope Street)
Hemenway’s
Bacaro Restaurant
Nick-a-Nee’s
Siena Restaurant (Federal Hill)
Abyssina Al Forno Restaurant (Fox Point)
Bravo Brasserie (Empire Street)
Cable Car Cinema
Small Point Café
Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches (Benefit Street)
Amici Bar & Grille (Federal Hill)
The Bradford (Federal Hill)
Blue Grotto (Federal Hill)
Geppetto’s (Federal Hill)
South County
Crazy Burger (Narragansett)
Java Madness (Narragansett)
Phil’s Grill (Wakefield)
Small Axe Café (The Umbrella Factory – Charlestown)
Jim’s Dock (Matunuck)
Ocean Mist (Matunuck)
Tavern by the Sea (Wickford)
Brickley’s Ice Cream (Narragansett)
Bagelz (Wakefield)
Iggy’s (Warwick and Narragansett)
Hanson’s (Wakefield)
Champlin’s (Galilee)
Matunuck Oyster Bar (Matunuck)
Spain of Narragansett (Narragansett) Narragansett Grill (Narragansett)
The Ocean House (Watch Hill)
Trio Rest. (Narragansett)
Newport
The Mooring
The Port
Top of Newport at the Viking Hotel
Perro Salado
Puerini’s
Tucker’s Bistro
Brick Alley Pub
The Black Pearl
The Lobster Bar
Salvation Café
Cranston/Johnston/Warwick
O’Rourke’s (Cranston)
Finn’s Harborside (East Greenwich)
Chelo’s on the Waterfront (Warwick)
Thirsty Beaver (Cranston)
The Cozy Grille (Coventry)
Blue Moon Bar & Pub (Cranston)
Brewed Awakenings (Johnston)
Nylo (Warwick) Del’s (Cranston)
Sundae’s (Cranston)
L’attitude (Cranston, Pawtuxet Village)
The Elephant Room (Cranston, Pawtuxet Village)
Edgewood Café (Cranston)
Classic Café (Westminster St., Cranston)
Papa Razzi (Garden City, Cranston)
Chapel Grille (Cranston)
Café Luna(Cranston)
Little Falls Café (Cranston, Pawtuxet Village)
Bonefish Grille (Garden City, Cranston)
Café Itri (Cranston St., Cranston)
Finn’s Harborside (East Greenwich) Bristol Area
The Boathouse (Tiverton)
Trafford’s (Warren)
Beehive Café (Bristol)
Quito’s Restaurant (Bristol)
Leo’s Ristorante (Bristol)
Thames Waterfront Grille & Bar (Bristol)
S S Dion (Bristol)
DeWolf Tavern (Bristol)
Bount Clam Shack (Warren)
Evelyn’s Nanaquaket Drive-In (Tiverton) Grab Your Spooks at the Providence Ghost Tours
By Jeffrey Folker
The Providence Ghost Tour: where orbs, shadows, specters, poltergeists and other things go bump in the night. You do not need any special equipment or ritualistic knowledge – no EMF recorder, night vision goggles, séances, Ouija boards or extra-sensory perception are necessary. All that is required is a pair of comfortable walking shoes, an open mind and a date to share a night on the town in Providence. Not interested in the supernatural? That’s ok too – with knowledgeable tour guides, the tour is a wonderful way for visitors to learn about the oft-violent, dark history of Providence.
Though I have never personally heard Marley’s chains rattling (that’s a reference to Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, in case you missed it) I admit I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to supernatural entities residing in our world – if I do not see it, I do not believe it happened. While my family jokingly refers to our friendly household poltergeist (which we have affectionately named Harold, apparently Casper was too obvious of a name), I have never encountered anything that leads me to believe ghosts and spirits actually exist. Then again, neither have I seen anything that definitively proves they do not exist, either. Either they do exist and I just have never seen them, or they do not exist and I have been correct all along. Whatever the truth may be, it does not matter what I believe.
The tour begins at Prospect Terrace Park on Congdon Street at dusk (College Hill, Providence) ‘neath the statue of Roger Williams and the epigraph that reads “Here reposes dust from the grave of Roger Williams.” Why dust from the grave of Roger Williams and not the body of Rhode Island’s founding father, you ask? My question to the tour guide was not allowed to hang in the air very long: in the first of a series of frightening tales about Providence’s dark past, we learn that his grave and casket – originally located in Swan Point Cemetery off Blackpoint Boulevard – had been invaded by an apple tree looking for decaying flesh to use as fertilizer. Talk about a way to capture the interest of your audience.
Over the next hour and a half, the tour makes stops at the homes of famed Rhode Island Horror/Sci- Fi/Fantasy writer H.P. Lovecraft (think Seinfeld’s half-man, half-bear-pig, only substitute man-half-bear- pig for a man-half-octopus-dragon) and the site of one of Rhode Island’s unsolved murders; the Woods- Gerry house and its camera battery-sucking patio; Brown’s John Hay Library (I’ll leave this gory surprise for the tour guides); and Brown’s University Hall, which acted as a hospital (read: amputation ward) during the American Revolutionary War. Walking down Benefit Street, we stop at the Providence Athenaeum. Standing across the intersection from the oldest family house in Rhode Island, we search for the ghost of the drunkard and “goth before it was goth,” (to quote our wonderful tour guide Elise), Edgar Allen Poe. The climax of the tour centers on the corner of Benefit Street and Angell Street and the dangers of “furious riding” – you will have to take the tour to find out exactly what that is.
Providence Ghost Tours run every night from July 1 through November 16.
For more information and tickets, visit their website at www.ProvidenceGhostTours.com.