Marriage Tattoos – Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve
In the past several decades, as tattooing has crawled from the prejudices and judgments of our fathers and grandfathers as a sign of delinquent behavior into a respected and highly technical art form, tattoo trends have come and gone. Surely, no one can forget the horrible tribal tattoos and barbed wire armbands of the mid-1990s. And many a young lady of Generation Y came to regret that lower back tattoo they picked out from a wall of bland flash while drinking with a group of their girlfriends once the moniker of ‘tramp stamp’ became prevalent. Even the world of military tattoos has an unspoken book of rules about what you can and cannot wear on your skin in relation to your actual experience. Yet, almost no mainstream tattoo remains as controversial as the marriage tattoo.
The prejudice, urban legend and downright hatred of relationship tattoos have been fixed into our brains. When I began getting tattooed a decade ago, it was drummed into my skull like a mantra:
“Never get a tattoo of your girlfriend/wife/significant other. You will immediately break up afterward, every single time.”
Friends, I am here to tell you that it is time to put this prejudice to rest. We live in an age where not only are tattoos more widely accepted as a cultural norm, but the tolerance of the size and amount of tattoos also has increased. In the 1980s, a few brave souls fulfilled their urge for the needle by getting one or two carefully placed pieces in an easily coverable spot. Now, having full sleeves, and in recent times even hand and neck tattoos, is something we see even highly educated and well employed people (traditionally the anti-tattoo community) wearing with pride. We have become a society of tattoo collectors.
This shift from small whimsical tattoos to serious collections should break the stigma of marriage tattoos. Every day, young and old married couples alike undergo a painful and permanent tribute to their love, shrugging off the ridiculous old wives’ tales of impending miserable divorce. We have become a culture that celebrates both love and art, and the perfect representation of that is getting tattooed with your spouse. Whether it is as simple as a tattoo of each other’s names, or elaborate multi- session pieces that commemorate their wedding day, we should be supportive of these brave pioneers of stereotype breakers.
We have an almost 50 percent divorce rate in this country, and I’ll bet that only a small percentage of these individuals have marriage tattoos. It is time for us to dismiss the ridiculous notion that because we wanted to celebrate a time in our lives that was filled with love and happiness, that we have doomed ourselves to relationship peril. Sometimes, a celebration of love is just what we need.
code: bridal-2013 95.5 WBRU Summer Concert Series: Torn Shorts
By Jeffrey Folker
June nights: not too hot for a stroll in the park, not too cold for an Awful Awful from Newport Creamery. Growing up in New Jersey, three miles from the Atlantic Ocean, summer has always been the time of year to relax, hit the beach for a tan, and grab an ice cold beer at the local establishment. Now living in Providence, summer has a new meaning: 95.5 WBRU’s Free Summer Concert Series.
In the heart of downtown Providence, catchy beach-y, blues-inspired, indie rock (that’s a mouthful) tones filled the scenic Waterplace Park on June 14th, as over 1,000 spectators sat, laid, or danced – enthralled by the musical talents of local band Torn Shorts and a night of good, clean fun. Lead by front man Josh Grabert, Torn Shorts has taken the New England music scene by storm after winning WBRU’s 2013 Rock Hunt.
According to Michael Christofaro, (Marketing Coordinator and Photographer for the City of Providence), early June has a reputation among city event planners for rather unpredictable weather– in past years, rainouts have pushed the concert series indoors (to Lupo’s). After a rainy morning on Friday, by mid-afternoon, the weather had cleared enough to keep the concert outside.
If nothing else, people-watching entertained many, as venders sold the usual Waterfire wares, kids as young as 1 sat with families, punks, grandparents, and even a handful of dogs, PVD Pudding Pops sold their… well, pudding pops, Dunkin Donuts handed out free samples of their newest coffee line (which was phenomenal!), and kayakers floated lazily down the Providence River, drinking in the sounds of the city.
WBRU’s Free Summer Concert Series continues this Friday, June 21 with The 1975, and runs every Friday night, concluding with Cold War Kids on July 12th.
Stay tuned for video!
An Evening of Magical Support for Ballet
As fundraising becomes more and more vital for many arts organizations, it was truly inspirational to attend The State Ballet of Rhode Island’s 10th annual Summer Soiree: “Earth, Wind and Firefly.” While many, understandably so, have less to give, it never ceases to amaze what can be accomplished by some when motivated by a common cause. On this particular balmy Thursday evening, nearly a dozen food vendors, a wine company, artists and patrons of the arts combined their efforts and talents to highlight the significance of a community coming together to support the arts. It was also amazing to see how some youngsters in attendance represent a family’s third or fourth generation of dancers to share the barre at The Brae Crest School of Classical Ballet, the official dance school of SBRI. Tucked away in the woods of Lincoln, this intimate ranch-style building could actually serve as a nice peaceful retreat if not for the sweaty bodies hard at work on a daily basis within the studio walls. For the fundraiser, a small stage was constructed just a short walk even farther into the woods. Set in a natural amphitheater-like clearing, it appears vaguely reminiscent of Jacob’s Pillow, which resides in the thickly settled woods and rolling hills of the Berkshires. Throughout the evening, SBRI Executive Director, Ana Marsden Fox, expertly moves things along. After thanking all the sponsors, she gets things underway by announcing the four recipients of the 2013 Partner with the Arts Award, an award that recognizes the volunteers who are essential to the success of any arts organization. Then those in attendance are treated to the first of two performances by company dancers. Ms. Fox explains that, “This is a piece from a ballet that Herci Marsden first created in 1981.” Now in her amazing 53rd season, Ms. Marsden, SBRI Artistic Director and co-founder, is in attendance and still teaches at the school. Ms. Fox also warns, “There will be no tutus in this piece, which is a tribute to Ms. Marsden’s modern vision. But, this is not modern dance.” In familiar SBRI fashion, this ballet features dozens of dancers on stage simultaneously, with a couple standouts – the ever emotive and graceful Emily O’Heir, and SBRI newcomer who is just several months into his dance career, Matthew Annunziata; his poise and extension are especially impressive. Set to a variety of music styles ranging from futuristic to classical to tribal, this piece offers the more astute observer an opportunity to see how some ballets often influence later pieces and vice versa. During one segment, with the stage filled with dancers, memories of SBRI’s 1990s world premiere “Americana” emerge. When the music turns more tribal and masculine, the dancing becomes reminiscent of “Prince Igor.” Throughout the ballet, there are also elements of a more folksy style that prevails in much of Ms. Marsden’s choreography. After a brief performance by Opera Providence, the dancers return for the world premiere of Shana Fox Marceau’s “Dance of the Firefly.” This piece includes live music, two violins and a bass, conducted by composer Noreen Inglesi, who was commissioned to create the score for this ballet. And while Marceau represents the third generation of Marsden choreographers, “Firefly” depicts a freshness and crispness indicative of Ms. Marceau’s individual style and influences. Wrapped in strands of lights, four dancers take flight as violins lightly fill the evening air. Though not nearly as uptempo as Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee,” the music is bright and playful and the dancers are clean and precise. As the music ends, the “fireflies” disappear into the woods, the glow of their lights marking their exit. After the performance, guests are invited to bid on silent auction items, eat more and dance. Under a tent closer to the studio, singer Kelley Lennon, accompanied by the band Malloi, turn up the heat well into the evening hours. Rhode Island College Metalsmithing Students Present Scintilla
Each year, students in Rhode Island College’s metalsmithing/jewelry department are asked to organize a gallery exhibition featuring the work of both current students and students who have graduated from the program in the last year. Attendees of Scintilla, this year’s exhibition, will be able to view everything from fine jewelry to larger works of metalsmithing.
During the exhibit opening, which takes place on May 31 at Machines with Magnets, artists will be available to discuss with the viewing audience their work, their processes, and how they developed their concepts. This provides attendees with a unique opportunity to not only view beautiful works of art, but learn about the artists who created them.
Many students of the program credit its success with their professor Dianne Reilly. She challenges her students with projects such as creating a self portrait in the form of jewelry, designing a vessel to hold a tangible object and another to hold an intangible object, and creating a ring that pushes the boundaries of the traditional definition of a ring. Working on interesting assignments like these while learning various metalsmithing techniques allows students to practice their skills and let their imaginations soar.
View the fantastic results at the gallery opening on May 31 from 7 to 9 pm at Machines with Magnets, 400 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI. Additional viewing dates are June 1 from 12 to 6 pm and June 3 from 12 to 9 pm.
Rhode Island Film Warriors Fight the Good Fight
Read the full version of this article here.
There’s a 3 pm crew call, but don’t let that fool you – it’s gonna be a long, long day (night actually). For Rhode Island film warriors Anthony Ambrosino (1st Assistant Director or AD), Nicholas Delmenico (2nd AD) and Mark Greene (2nd, 2nd AD) it’s par for the course. These guys from Pawtucket’s The 989 Project production company know what it’s like to roll up their sleeves and get in the filmmaking trenches.
Today, an unusual Saturday shoot, they’re working on a SAG ultra low budget independent feature titled Mary Loss of Soul (MLoS), a supernatural thriller about a young girl who loses part of her soul, directed by Jennifer B. White.
Anthony had to call a Saturday shoot to get the production back on schedule after being rained out earlier in the week. “When you’re on a tight budget production, every second counts. And if that means we have to add another day, then so be it. At the end of the day, all that matters is getting the film done,” he tells me.
While Anthony works hard to run the set and keep the production on track, Nick works equally hard in the production office, managing the schedules and the call sheets, and making sure that the next day is totally ready to go.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Mark ensures that what’s supposed to happen next actually happens.
It was a long and exhausting 13-hour day for the cast and crew of MLoS, but these Rhode Island film warriors will be back on Monday, bright and ridiculously early, to do it all over again. Rhode Island Film Warriors Fight the Good Fight (full version)
There’s a 3 pm crew call, but don’t let that fool you – it’s gonna be a long, long day (night actually). For Rhode Island film warriors Anthony Ambrosino, Nicholas Delmenico, and Mark Greene, it’s par for the course. These guys from Pawtucket’s The 989 Project production company know what it’s like to roll up their sleeves, get in the filmmaking trenches, and go, go, go all day!
Today, an unusual Saturday shoot, they’re working on a SAG ultra low budget (under $200K) independent feature titled Mary Loss of Soul (MLoS), a supernatural thriller about a young girl who loses part of her soul while vacationing at her family’s lake house. Years later, the entire family is haunted by a malevolent spirit – none more so than the unbecoming 15-year-old Mary (played by Disney XD actress Kaylee Bryant). Her family races against time and the supernatural to restore her soul before they lose Mary forever.
With a Hollywood cast, Secret Service-like radio walkie-talkies, and all the trappings of a major motion picture, from racks of equipment and props to trailers and craft services, you would think you’ve stepped onto the set of a Mark Wahlberg film.
Writer/Director/Producer of MLoS, Jennifer B. White, is helming this project. She’s a remarkable artist with a solid-steel resolve and a gregarious nature (ideally suited for this line of work). This is her baby and she’s going for broke making this film worthy of Hollywood and beyond. She’s even using her own house as one of the main sets!
The film is slated for an August 2013 release with an eye on Sundance.
Backing her is her business partner and MLoS producer Stewart Huey – a man she couldn’t live without on this project. You can see the respect and loyalty they have for each other when they’re in the room together. And together, they’re making a great movie that the studios had better stand up and take notice.
“I’m living in the chaos [literally] and filming in the chaos!” she tells me while reminding the crew to be careful as they haul heavy movie-making equipment from room to room. Her house is virtually covered in Ramboard sheets and movers’ blankets – it looks like a Hollywood set meets Home Depot.
There is so much more to say about this remarkable artist and I invite the reader to check out Rosemary Pacheco’s exhilarating profile on her as part of her Women Behind the Camera series!
White will be the first one to tell you that she couldn’t do what she does without her amazing crew and wonderful cast. This extends to Anthony, Nick and Mark, most assuredly. Anthony is the 1st AD (Assistant Director), Nick is the 2nd AD and Mark is the 2nd, 2nd AD (that’s not a typo!).
Here’s what these guys do day in and day out …
While White focuses on directing the actors and camera people, getting those precious shots that make a great film, Anthony directs everybody else. He runs the set, which includes the crew, PAs and anything else you can think of. It is the job of an AD to make sure the job of the director is unfettered by all the crazy logistics that have to happen while she is doing her job.
In fact, the whole reason they’re shooting on a Saturday is because the fickle New England weather rained them out on a lot of important outdoor shots, so Anthony had to call a Saturday shoot in order to get them back on schedule. “When you’re on a tight budget production like this, every second counts. You can’t let rain stop you from getting the shots. And if that means we have to add another day, then so be it. At the end of the day, all that matters is getting the film done on time and on budget,” he tells me as he and Nick go over the call sheet for the day’s scenes.
Walking around the set, I got a chance to actually see Kaylee Bryant getting into her apparition makeup as Mary’s disembodied soul – an eerie, spectral all-white motif from wig and body suit to dance shoes. She’s a talented and committed young actress, “Getting her soul on,” as she jokes before the camera starts rolling. Visiting with her mother, Kristina, in the green room, she tells me what it’s like to have a child star, “She’s a driven artist, but it’s a bit weird. However, she’s a great kid!”
Rain that day wasn’t the only issue the AD had to deal with. From the creative side, Anthony also sometimes has to serve as a mediator in order to settle differences of opinion and keep everyone on the same page.
Here’s one example. A fight scene was shot early on during principle photography; however, the DP (Director of Photography), Matthew Boyd, felt that what they had wasn’t good enough. So he made his case to both White and Anthony and they all agreed that it should be reshot.
The problem is with less than a week to go before principle photography wraps, they have to somehow reschedule this complicated shot – a logistical nightmare in the film business.
And that’s where Nick comes in. As 2nd AD, he prepares for what’s to come tomorrow. And down in the production office in the basement of White’s home, this is his domain. Nick, along with the UPMs (Unit Production Managers), Ellen Vander Wyden and Jil Sacco, are the behind-the-behind-the-scenes people making what happens upstairs in front and behind the camera possible. They handle the money, travel arrangements for the actors, a million other logistics and of course, scheduling. With this new wrinkle to an already super crowded schedule on the day’s call sheet, Nick now has to figure out when and where to add time and resources for the fight scene reshoot.
When I asked him what it takes to keep a production like this going he tells me, “It takes Jill and Ellyn!” They all laugh but it is true. He also added, “A lot of planning and re-planning, and then a ton of improvising. Thinking on your feet is a job requirement in this business.”
He and Anthony should know. They co-wrote and produced an award-winning indie film back in 2010 called Sleather, with Anthony directing. That was no rinky-dink amateur production; it was a seven-year project with two years of shoots and reshoots (mostly on the weekends); a ton of negotiating with local business for props, sets and resources; and a ridiculous amount of improvising in order to make it work – like getting the whole damn crew to literally hand-lift an unattended car out of the way in order to get the shot!
That’s what it takes!
And the result was a film that they are immeasurably proud of, and that experience gets them here working on another potentially great movie with an incredibly talented director, crew and cast – like Kaylee Bryant (Disney’s Kickin’ It), Nick Mancuso (Under Siege, Wild Palms) José Zúñiga (Twilight), Catherine Black (American Psycho), and many more.
So after a few soirées between the director, DP and Anthony, Nick manages to lock down a working day and time for the reshoot with a back up – and to top it off, the weather looks perfect for those days.
On to the next thing!
As I walked around with unfettered access to the entire production, I occasionally crossed paths with Mark Greene. The job of the 2nd, 2nd AD is to make sure that what’s supposed to happen next actually happens. If Nick is Anthony’s right-hand man, then Mark is his left. I’ve seen Mark grab branches with leaves to bring to the lighting people so they can use to break up the light and make a nighttime shoot look like it’s in the middle of the day. I’ve seen him running interference between departments, making sure the right equipment was in the right place at the right time. And I’ve seen him quietly, but assuredly, wrangling the crew like only he can, freeing Anthony to focus on the director’s needs.
“I do what they tell me,” Mark humbly says to me, but he’s way more valuable to this production than he lets on.
Anthony has such faith and trust in Nick and Mark (and all his crew) that he doesn’t even wear the customary Secret Service-like earpiece to his radio, instead opting to keep the volume down. “I need to focus on what’s going on here at the set, so I leave it up to my army to handle everything else.”
Then he gets back on the radio and quietly announces, “Rolling, rolling,” after White says, “Action.”
Just before lunch at 9 pm – yes, that’s right, 9PM – MloS has another mishap. The cast’s youngest member, Anne Bex (who plays Mary’s little sister, Sophia), slips and falls on the stairs while leaving the set after finishing a scene she was in. She was accompanied by her mother who made it clear that Anne was all right, but needed some food and rest.
Anthony went into full AD mode here, projecting what it might take to have to reschedule the remainder of Anne’s scenes and how that would affect the rest of the shoot. But it’s not just logistics he was concerned with. Being a father, he immediately went to check on Anne and saw to it that her needs were met and her mother felt comfortable with how they were being taken care of. After a nice catered Chinese food lunch (where I got to sit with the jovial and charming make-up and wardrobe women, Julie Le Shane and Sarah Lynn Bys, respectively), I passed by the green room where Anthony was enjoying Anne’s rendition of “Tomorrow” (from the musical Annie, coincidentally) She was back and ready to go! At 8 years old, this little girl was such a trooper. She even kept telling Anthony how much she wanted to get back to work!
On to the next thing!
As the night progressed (after an even longer week), with the end in sight, it’s only normal that people’s patience can get taxed and frayed.
Jennifer takes me aside for a moment and tells me, “You can’t take the human out of it. We’re all artists – even the most technical people among us. And as an independent filmmaker, you have to wear many hats. It’s not like Iron Man or other big budget Hollywood films with layers and layers of money and layers and layers of people to handle everything. I’m at the top, but I’m also at the bottom.”
And this level of involvement can sometimes really challenge a director’s mettle. That’s when an AD like Anthony is needed most.
Late into the evening, there was to be a dolly shot on Mary (Kaylee) in the bedroom as she is Skyping with one of her off-screen friends. Boyd would ride the dolly running the RED Epic camera all the way into the room getting the shot. It would take two guys to push it with Nick feeding the cables as they go.
On the monitor it looked great, except for one thing: the damn noise. In order to get the dolly track to fit from the hallway into the bedroom, the ACs (Assistant Camera personnel) had to narrow the track somehow. This caused the dolly to squeak like crazy as they were filming the scene.
What was called for was a good old-fashioned can of Pledge to grease up the dolly tracks. But there was none to be found. In fact, the “Pledge Incident” got so heated that White had to take a few moments to chill away from the set while someone ran out and got some.
That’s when Anthony took it upon himself to use his smartphone to get on the Internet and find a Lemon Pledge commercial that he broadcasted over the radio. That lightened things up.
And when White returned to her director’s chair, once the shot got rolling again, Anthony played the commercial in her ear. At first she was surprised, and then she started cracking up. It was all good from there.
Anthony’s job is not only to keep the whole production running smoothly, but also to keep people from losing their minds!
Well done.
Topping out at around 3:30 am, the crew was exhausted from a long, long night’s work. And even though most of the crew put in a 12-plus hour day (super commendable), Anthony, Nick and Mark’s day started way before and ended way late.
With a, “That’s a wrap people,” Anthony calls it a night.
But they will be back on Monday, bright and ridiculously early, to do it all over again. For the Rhode Island film warriors, they stay to the bitter end and never say die.
Nicholas Iandolo is a freelance writer from Boston, MA. He is also the author of two books on screenwriting: Cut The Crap and WRITE THAT DAMN SCREENPLAY! and Cut The Crap and PITCH THAT DAMN SCREENPLAY!, as well as the Sci-Fi eBook series NLV (a.k.a. New Las Vegas). He also hosts Motif Magazine’s Take 2 with Rosemary Pacheco on MoTiV. Follow him on Twitter @cutcrapwrite, email: [email protected].
2013 Motif Music Award Winners
By Marc Clarkin and John Fuzek
Check out photos from the event here
Best Rock Band 2013
Atlantic Thrills
Atlantic Thrills sweep of the Best Rock and Best Punk categories attest to the fact that they’re just a great no frills rock ‘n’ roll band. I wouldn’t call them a “punk” band per se – more like a rock ‘n’ roll band for adults that grew up on punk. They just completed the mastering of their first recording, which captures all the zaniness of the Atlantic Thrills live. Look for the CD release later in the year but catch the band at Dusk on May 4.
Best Punk Act 2013
Atlantic Thrills
(See above.)
Best Live Act 2013
Vertical Twin
Vertical Twin is one of the best acts to catch live. These aren’t exactly the youngest guys out there but they’re jumping up and down without missing a beat. Their live show mirrors the intensity of ElectroSonicMotherPhonic, which is kind of like stoner rock on amphetamines. Vertical Twin’s standard brand of motor punk meets ‘70s heavy rock makes for a great night out for fans of rock ‘n’ roll.
Best Reggae/Ska Act 2013
Soulshot
Soulshot have been whipping crowds into a frenzy on the dance floor for over a decade now. It’s about time they get some well deserved recognition. For anyone looking for a straight up traditional true vibes reggae bands, Soulshot is your it. They’ve shared the stage with the likes of both legends like Skatalites and locals like The Agents and The Dub Squad.
Best Jam Band 2013
Fungus Amungus
Fungus Amungus have continued to be in the top tier of local jam bands since 2005 when they were a finalist in the WBRU Rock Hunt. I don’t see that changing anytime soon with marijuana decriminalized. Their annual New Year’s Eve shows are must see pilgrimages for dancing hippies. Fungus Amungus specialize in churning out funk and reggae infused jams for the masses.
Best Hip Hop Act 2013
THR33 Piece Suit
THR33 Piece Suit was born out of local rhyme vets Chanchi Carvalho and Swann Notty teaming up with J. Depina last year. THR33 Piece recently released their debut, Brand New Vintage, which features a collection of old school beats mixed with killer lines. They keep things real with a positive outlook and the beats get the masses bouncing on the dance floor.
Best Female Rock Vocalist 2013
Roz Raskin
Roz Raskin is always a captivating multi-instrumentalist performer whether she’s fronting the Rice Cakes or playing bass in her newer project, Littlefoot. After winning the 2012 WBRU Rock Hunt, Roz and The Rice Cakes have been busy doing a number of tours as well as playing packed hometown shows. The Rice Cakes are as electric as ever, blasting out their patented indie rock jams. Roz’s vocals are always a surefire draw that compliment and amplify the tunes.
Best Male Rock Vocalist 2013
Mark Cutler
I always feel sorry for people that get nominated in the same category as Mark Cutler because it is almost an inevitable loss. Mark has been performing for what seems like forever (the man won the WBRU Rock Hunt 31 years ago with The Schemers), but he never comes off as a retro act. Whether he’s playing solo, with his band The Men of Great Courage, or with The Schemers, he always commands a following. Sweet Pain is one of last year’s best. The record kicks off with “Salvation Cruise” that rocks in the vein of the Velvet Underground. Gems like “Walking in the Night” and the enchanting “Come Out to the Woods” are the real treasures on this album.
Best Rock Album 2013
Mark Cutler – Sweet Pain (75orLess Records)
(See above.)
Best Americana Album 2013
Various Artists — Everyone Deserves a Home
A compilation to benefit the homeless through the efforts of Riverwood Housing First Rhode Island, aiming to, “improve the quality of life for persons who experience significant and persistent behavioral health issues or chronic homelessness by providing and coordinating a comprehensive menu of community based services that focus on recovery and personal growth.”
Best Breakthrough Act 2013
Ravi Shavi
It’s fitting that Ravi Shavi took home the Breakthrough this year because well, they’ve had a big breakout year. They played a ton of shows and released their debut album, Don’t Be a Cheater. One tune is reminiscent me of early Elvis Costello and the next song is something else. They have a varied arsenal at their disposal but it’s all energetic rock ‘n’ roll!
Best Tribute Band 2013
Forever Young
Forever Young is like a local super group assembled to pay homage to the many different musical trails blazed by Neil Young, which leaves the door open to folk, country and scorching guitar propelled rock ‘n’ roll. Forever Young packs the house, having played sold out shows in places like The Narrows in Fall River within the last year. If you’re a Neil Young fan, this could be your new favorite band to see for a night on the town.
Best Metal Act 2013
Lolita Black
When Lolita Black came up short in the WBRU Rock Finals, singer Scarlett Delgado said, “Some people say we’re too heavy for WBRU; well they also said that about the band that wrote this next song,” as they preceded to launch into Nirvana’s “Territorial Pissing.” Last year Lolita Black released their second album, Flesh, Blood, & Bone, which was as raw and grinding as the name suggests.
2013 Best Americana Act
Joe Fletcher & the Wrong Reasons
They may be the Wrong Reasons but they certainly have the right stuff. Since 2005, the band’s fluid lineup has been fronted by Fletcher. His story-driven songs have drawn comparison to Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. He will be appearing at the legendary Newport Folk Festival again this year where many of his musical doppelgangers have performed in the past. This hard working group keeps on keeping on and chalking up the accolades. joefletchermusic.com
2013 Best Bluegrass Band
The Big River Stomp
The Big River Stomp’s web bio touts them as “offering nothing but the best in original, modern bluegrass music. This is the new acoustic!” Obviously they are correct. Big River Stomp has enjoyed a lot of success in a very short amount of time and this is yet another notch, of the many to come, on their stringed instrument straps. Jim Studley, Jesse Burdick, Jeff Budzinski and Matt DiPinto are the men who make the grass blue. reverbnation.com/bigriverstomp
2013 Best Americana Singer-Songwriter
Mark Cutler
From the Schemers, The Raindogs, The Dino Club, The Men of Great Courage, The Tiny String Band, Forever Young and other musical incarnations, Mark Cutler is possibly the hardest working RI musician. In his 35+ year career, he has played just about everywhere in RI and toured extensively, sharing the stage with the likes of Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Warren Zevon and many others. He has taken home just about every area musical award. His music just keeps getting better. It should be no surprise that he just keeps on winning! mcutler.com
2013 Best Open Mic
The Met Cafe Legends Jam.
Sundays haven’t been the same since the Met jams have started. From young to old, beginner to pro, they all play side-by-side during the Sunday sessions at The Met. With rotating hosts selected from the finest RI musicians, the Met Cafe Legends Jam lives up to its legendary status. themetri.com
2013 Best New Americana Act
King Sickabilly & His Full Moon Boys
“Serious songwriting from years of hardship, road experience and inner turmoil all blended together by three best friends with all acoustic instruments.” Guess what? The combination works. This new combo of seasoned pros pepper the lineup further with guest performers whose chemistry will make the perfect blend for a “formula of acoustic madness, sadness and spirit.” reverbnation.com/DaveSasquatch
2013 Best Blues Act
Superchief Trio
Superchief has a super-sized winning streak that goes with a super-sized trio. The Superchief Trio features a unique combination of two-fisted piano, red hot trombone, blazing guitar, rock solid bass, powerful vocals and frenzied percussion antics. Superchief’s top-notch players perform top shelf originals and covers of swing, New Orleans R&B, jump blues and boogie-woogie style tunes. superchieftrio.com
2013 Best Choral Act
Providence Gay Men’s Chorus
Their tag line is “Harmonizing Diversity In Song.” Started in 1995, the multi award-winning chorus has been ambassadors of sorts for the LGTB community, breaking down barriers and gaining acceptance with their music. They strive to produce professional quality shows, combining the best of musical theater, cabaret and traditional choral performance. Their struggle for equality has been an uphill battle – but as times change and minds open, someday it will all just be about the music. provgmc.org
2013 Best Folk Act
Lisa Couto
The lovely Riverside resident dealt the Best Folk Act and Best American Vocalist categories a one-two punch and scored a knockout with both. Her soulful singing can be compared to Alicia Keys and Sade. She has toured the East Coast and beyond. She has released two albums as part of the band Most People and is currently working on an acoustic solo project. Lisa can often be seen performing with partner Ray Cook. lisacouto.com
2013 Best Americana Female Vocalist Lisa Couto
(See above.)
2013 Best Americana Male Vocalist
Bob Kendall
Kendall wound up in RI by way of California, Alabama and Boston. He was a founding member of Lifeboat, The Blood Oranges and The Brothers Kendall. He has shared the stage with the likes of Billy Bragg, Big Country, 10,000 Maniacs and Marshall Crenshaw as well as adding an appearance at the Newport Folk Festival to his lengthy resume. His latest release, Midnight Flower, is the collection of material written over the past decade. Kendall describes his songs as “tales of recrimination and self- deception.” bobkendall.com
2013 Best Jazz Act
Miss Wensday
The beautifully illustrated woman that is Wensday Greenbaum, also known as Miss Wensday, is a performing artist, singer, songwriter, actress and theatre and voice educator. She’s shared the stage with Alice Cooper, Stephen Stills, Michelle Branch, Tesla and Todd Rundgren. Alice Cooper has been quoted as calling her “the other girl next door.” Wensday also spreads awareness about domestic violence and violence against women and children, working directly with victims of domestic abuse and teaching theatre, voice and movement as a means of healing and empowerment. misswensday.com
2013 Best Celtic Act
Pendragon
Pendragon has won this award so many times that I don’t even know what the total is now! The heart and soul core of the band – Mary Lee, Bob and Russell – have been doing the Celtic thing since the mid-1980s. Great original and traditional tunes, talent and a little “luck o’ the Irish” keeps ‘em winning. In addition to the music, the members of Pendragon have been the driving force behind the Blackstone River Theatre, bringing traditional and ethnic performers to the Blackstone Valley since 1995. pendragoncelticmusic.com
2013 Best EDM DJ
DJ Venom
Venom has been a major fixture in the North American rave scene for over 20 years, gaining a wide following through his energetic club performances, on point mixing and wild turntable tricks. Always striving for more, he started up Volume Productions in 1994 to advance the underground electronic and rave scene. His many career highlights include two second place wins at the WMC battles in Miami. djvenom.com
2013 Best Club DJ
DJ Nook
This career DJ spins everything from electro, hip hop, punk, metal, funk and rock. Nook has a deep love for music and a huge knack for remixing, blending and scratching – always keeping the party going all night long. He’s worked a wide variety of places in Boston, Providence and Newport including Karma, The Roxy, Whiskey Park, Pearl, Local 121, Monet and Salvation Café just to name a few. facebook.com/dj.nook.official
Get Your Laughs at the Joke Store
One form of entertainment that often slips the mind of Rhode Islanders is hitting up the local comedy club. According to John Souza aka Johnie Armani, owner and operator of RI’s newest comedy venue The Joke Store, as a state, we have a far less progressive comedy scene than Boston or Connecticut.
After frequenting the few clubs in the state, he began noticing the same circulation of comedians every month. “Comedy here is growing stale,” he says. “We don’t want to change the scene; change is a terrible word. We want to add variety.”
The Joke Store, opening on May 17, is moving in above Cranston’s Stage Door Lounge, which is The Park Theatre’s connecting nightclub. The venue is composed of a bar, lounge and stage opposite intimate family-style table seating.
“Most people only have one or two days a week to go out and have a good time. We don’t want to give them a show, we want to give them a memorable night,” Johnie says. The club will feature both regional and national acts, up and coming local acts and RI’s Speed of Thought Players improv troupe.
The Joke Store’s May 17 opening begins at 5pm with a ceremonial ribbon cutting featuring refreshments. The 8pm show features Nick Albanese, “Everyone’s favorite Goomba.”
There’s Beauty in the Decay
I’ve been known to plan entire vacations around street art. Give me a dilapidated building and a dusting of spray paint, and I’m putty in the hands of the graffiti gods. One aspect of Lisbon that originally drew me to the city is its wealth of murals, most of which marry architectural details with carefully crafted compositions.
Just off Praça Marques de Pombal stands this piece by Blu (Italy) and Os Gémeos (Brazil). The street artists were brought to Lisbon along with others from around the world as part of the 2010/2011 CRONO Project in an attempt to breathe new life into the city’s worn buildings. Click here to see a video of its creation.
Italy’s Erica Il Cane painted this kooky crocodile on an adjacent building, brightening its once wan front. After wandering around this neighborhood and heading up the hill on the right side of Hotel Fénix Lisboa, I stumbled upon a ton of camera-worthy designs. If only every city had this much personality. After I met my boyfriend on a flight from Lisbon to Philly, I visited him in San Francisco where he was living at the time. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, he told me he had planned a surprise. He hailed a cab and asked the driver to bring us to Balmy Street. As we drove deeper into a seemingly rough neighborhood, I wondered what it could be.
He helped me out of the car, and held my hand as we approached the street sign. I turned and feasted my eyes on the most charming pedestrian street, covered top-to-bottom with graffiti. I looked at my guy as if he had given me a million dollars. It was the perfect gift, and so thoughtful; he’s not even into street art.
I think I’ll keep him.
Cranston Artists’ Exchange Celebrates Its Own Community with “Our Town” Play While Our Town is a Pulitzer Prize winning classic, its simplicity belies its depth. The Artists’ Exchange, under the mature direction of Rich Morra, reminds us of the messages Thorton Wilder intended. The play is set in the early 1900s, yet as always with well- written stories, there are universal truths that are everlasting.
Of course, there are some dated moments in the play that display the expected place of women and the distancing of foreigners (such as the Polish side of town across the railroad tracks). Perhaps that’s why theaters have avoided it in recent decades. But if we can accept that there are few cars, no electricity and no cell phones, why not accept that it reflects the reality of gender roles at the time.
In the small town of Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire, we are introduced to two families — the Webbs and the Gibbs. In so many ways, nearly a century hasn’t changed family life, or at least it hasn’t changed mothers. Mrs. Webb (Meaghan Rose Donnelly) and Mrs. Gibbs (Kate Lester) tell their children, “Eat slowly,” “Pick up your feet,” and “Stand up straight.” Mothers are the center of the universe. At one point, the Narrator/Stage Manager muses that the mothers have cooked without stopping, literally tens of thousands of meals, “and not one nervous breakdown.” Kate Lester is particularly outstanding as the strong rural woman, physically and spiritually, lending help to all without complaint. And it is Lester as Mrs. Gibbs who we most admire in the final scene of the third act.
The play features the most important jobs in town: the doctor, Dr. Gibbs (Billy Flynn), and the newspaper man, Mr. Webb (Christopher Ferreira), both solid in their roles. Our Town reminds us that, besides doctors and newspapers, we need community and a sense of feeling connected.
Tom Chace shoulders the challenging role of the Stage Manager/Narrator. He is on stage nearly the entire time, explaining where we are in the story and why. Chace seemed a bit too much of a “city- feller” in the first act, but it was opening night, and people continued to party just outside the theater doors in the Character’s Café. However, by the end of the second act, Chace was mesmerizing as the slower-paced, down home, truth teller of the saga.
At the top of the show, the Stage Manager foreshadows one of the main themes by telling the audience about a bright young man, whose life was cut short by war. And so it continues now that men are drawn to battlefields, long after the conflict has passed. In the play, Mrs. Gibbs remarks that her husband “is happiest when he visits Gettysburg and Antietam,” reliving the Civil War.
The heart of the story is about love, which is wonderfully presented to us through the young lead characters of George Gibbs (Nick Viau) and Emily Webb (Mia Ray). Ms. Ray gave a sparkling performance, easily holding the audience’s attention. The play also is about the comfort we find in routine, such as the Wednesday night choir rehearsal at the church. Most importantly, it’s about the fact that so few of us realize the importance of each moment we are alive. We forget that death can come at any time, at any age.
Take the time to visit the new Character’s Café and go online to buy a ticket to Our Town. The show runs April 5th through April 14th at #82 Rolfe Street (Theater 82), just up the street from the Artists’ Exchange. Tickets are $15. For more information, tickets and directions please go to www.artists-exchange.org.