SATURDAY, JUNE 16 , 6 P.M. Contents GOURMET BEER DINNER Featuring Back Forty Brewing, Gadsden, Alabama Aperitif: Devilsh Eggs, Naked Pig Pale Ale First Course: Braised and Crisped Pork Belly, Watermelon, Organic Arugula, Feta, Shaved Red Onion, Citrus Vinaigrette Accompanied by Truck Stop Honey Brown Second Course: “Hootenanny” Seasoned Gulf Shrimp, Johnny Cakes, Chow Chow Complimented by Freckle Belly IPA Entrée: Braised Local Veal Roast, Roasted Corn Grits, RESERVE Natural Jus Paired with Kudzu Porter YOUR PLACE Dessert: NOW! CALL Our Smores Pie Served with Back Forty Special Stout - Brewed Just for us! 322-6014 Those traveling to the Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores will be treated to The Flaming Lips performing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. Black & White spoke with Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne about the band's new album and why he feels that Hangout is one of the best festivals on the planet. See page 14. 112 RICHARD ARRINGTON JR BLVD N • DOWNTOWN • (205) 322-6014 WWW.JOHNSCITYDINER.COM Naked Birmingham . 4 Alabama State Legislature has no WTTO CW21, “the little TV station problem with it. that could,” turns 30. Beer Hopping . 13 Feature . 5 The Brewfest is coming! Feathered Warriors: Cockfighting is Music . 14 one of the more outrageous exam- Hanging out with the Flaming Lips. ples of animal cruelty, but the Cover: “Blushing Not Speaking” by Brian McGuffey. This and other works by the Seattle-based artist are available at www.brianmcguffey.com. Executive Editor REGULAR FEATURES Alison Nichols Associate Editor Events Calendar . 8 Concert Calendar . 16 David Pelfrey Outdoor Calendar . 12 Live Music/Clubs . 18 Staff Writer Ed Reynolds Food & Drink . 13 Strange Tales . 22 Contributing Writers Bart Grooms The Set List . 16 Danner Kline J.R. Taylor Calendar Editor Jane Longshore Hair Editorial Assistant Lindsey McLain Nails Art Director Number 444 Facials Cris Strickland Black & White (ISSN 1064-0134) is published every other Thursday, 26 issues a year, by Black & White, Inc. Business Offices: 2210 2nd Avenue North, Floor 2, Birmingham, Alabama, 35203. Account Executive (205) 933-0460. E-mail: [email protected]. Postmaster: Please send change of Waxing address to Black & White, 2210 2nd Avenue North, Floor 2, Birmingham, AL, 35203. Contents Warren Caldwell © 2012 by Black & White, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written ——— Spa Packages approval of the Publisher is prohibited. The publication is free, limit two per reader. Removal RIVERCHASE GALLERIA of more than two papers, per person, from any distribution point constitutes theft. Violators Executive Staff: 205-682-3613 are subject to prosecution under city ordinances. Publisher Gift Cards available All letters sent to Black & White will be treated as intended for publication unless Charles S. Geiss COLONIAL BROOKWOOD VILLAGE otherwise noted by author. Letters may be edited for space and content. Annual subscriptions 205-877-4346 Wedding parties welcome (26 issues) are available for $50 for first class delivery. Send checks attention to “Subscriptions” General Manager at the address above. Publishing history: Black & White’s first monthly issue was published on April 30, 1992; the first bi-weekly issue was published on October 2, 1997. Kerry Echols 3 black & white • www.bwcitypaper.com • May 17, 2012 PUBLISHER’S NOTEBOOK uring the 1980s, it was referred to as “the little up and they did not disappoint,” recalls long-time D station that could.” Birmingham’s first independ- Black & White contributor J.R. Taylor, who during the ent TV station quickly earned the reputation of “the NAKED 1980s previewed TV programming and films in I Wild West of broadcasting.” WTTO, channel 21, now Cover The War, the local entertainment publication he known as CW21, celebrated its 30th anniversary in co-published. “I really knew Channel 21 was for me April. Some of the interesting aspects of WTTO’s his- when they showed The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. I tory concern the station’s infancy and adolescence, often shared my reviews from I Cover The War with the 20-somethings who managed the operation in guys in New York City; they couldn’t believe that those early days, and the innovation they brought. Birmingham had a better TV station than they had.” When WTTO began broadcasting in 1982, I was The station also connected with audiences based on one year out of college with a degree in broadcasting the power of two syndicated programs that added to and this is where I wanted to work. The positions channel 21’s identity, “The Andy Griffith Show,” and were all filled, so I eventually weaved myself into the “The Cosby Show.” “We bought ’The Cosby Show‘ in world of print. But I will never forget the cast of char- 1988 when it first went into syndication,” said Chancey, acters who were lucky to be at the helm of a real, live “and between that and Andy Griffith, that’s what put TV station, most of whom had little to no experience that station on the map.” By 1988, WTTO was the high- in the medium. est rated independent station in the country. “You are correct, it was the Wild West,” said Guy WTTO’s youth element was key to its success. In Chancey from his present day home in Asheville, 1993, there was an outrageous on-air TV campaign to North Carolina. Chancey was one of the younger promote “The Andy Griffith Show” created by one of “kids” to fall into a job at WTTO. He also wound up Chancey’s “kids” titled “Obsession for Barney,” a spoof having a heavy hand in steering the station’s fortunes BIRMINGHAM on Calvin Klein commercials during that era. “Barney over the course of eight years there. Fife was low hanging fruit and producer Karen Cole “I was 24, I had a bit job, and our general manag- BY CHUCK GEISS created some of the most memorable station promos er, Penny Haft, who may have been the oldest person of that time,” Chancey said. Cole won her first ADDY at in the building at 40 years, had been trying to fill the position of promo- age 29, and ironically, the station just recently received two Emmy nomina- tion manager for months. The guy she eventually hired didn’t show up for tions, one for an Andy Griffith promotional spot, written by Cole (now his first day of work. So, she came in that morning and said, ‘Okay, this Karen Swann). Another innovation was showing movies in a park, an idea guy isn’t coming, who wants to be promotion manager?’ I raised my hand from another “kid” (Keri Lane-Hontzas) that was an immense success. “He and said, ‘I’ll do it.’” just said go for it,” says Hontzas, “and that promotion has now run for the Haft quickly taught Chancey the ropes on the business side of the job past 21 years.” She eventually left the station and launched a successful busi- and then allowed him and a youthful staff to set the tone for the station. ness producing outdoor movie promotions throughout the Southeast. “We were given a license to go places other stations couldn’t go,” CW21 has survived well beyond its adolescence. Outside of prime-time Chancey continued. “We were responsible for 24 hours of programming programs, movies and cartoons have been replaced by courtroom shows without the benefit of any network support. I had never worked in TV and reality based TV, along with syndicated reruns of “Seinfeld,” “Two and before, and from that point on, I just made it up. I basically was allowed a Half Men,” and “30 Rock.” to create my own job. We took an ‘anything goes’ approach and learned “I think it’s safe to say that what we did back in those days just could through trial and error. It was definitely a youth movement that crafted not happen today,” Chancey concluded. “It is a much different world out what viewers eventually saw on the air.” there in TV broadcasting and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t An alternative style of programming quickly became the station’s ace in thank my lucky stars for those incredible years. It was truly a dream job.” the hole. There were cartoons and sitcoms, but movies were an early In case you were wondering, WTTO stands for ‘We’re Turning Twenty trademark. “Movies were pretty important to me when Channel 21 started One.’ That was probably some kid’s idea 30 years ago. & WE SUPPORT Saturday, May 19 Win a $100 Shopping Spree from our Clairmont location. Stop by the Black&WhiteTentLocationinCaldwellParktoRegister Breakfast•LunchandPicnicItemsfromourDeli • Outstanding Beer & Wine Selection Visit us on Facebook 3314ClairmontAvenueSouth-Southside-(205)252-0684 4 May 17, 2012 • www.bwcitypaper.com • black & white FEATURE court.” Waggoner has publicly stat- central Alabama. Singleton asked Feathered Warriors ed his opposition to cockfighting. Ward during a April 26 debate on He also claimed that he didn’t the Senate floor what would hap- know how much the penalty pen if the roosters he raises started Alabama is the only state in which the legal penalties would be increased by the bill. fighting on their own in his yard. for cockfighting are almost nonexistent, making it a des- “There’s a lot of money “I’ve got about ten cocks in my pen, tination for cockfighting enthusiasts from around the involved in that game and that’s they’re not used [for] fighting,” said country. The Alabama legislature is perfectly comfortable exactly why [there is opposition to Singleton. “But I raise them—raise increased fines],” said District 14 the roosters and raise some hens.