Benefiting Oasis Center’s programs for area teens, “Artists for Oasis 2001” celebrates its 10th anniversary with another great display of art. This year’s exhibit and sale at Finer Things Gallery features 150 original works by area artists like Samuel Dunson, Paul Harmon, and Kristi Hargrove, to name just a few. The honorary chair is Somers Randolph, the former Nashville artist who hosted the first event at his Blue Sky Court gallery/coffeehouse downtown in 1992. Randolph has since relocated to Santa Fe, but he’ll be back in town for the opening. Many of the artists will also be on hand for the opening-night festivities that include the big-ticket ($100 per person) “Aficionado Party,” 5-7 p.m., and the easier-on the-wallet ($25 per person) “Collector’s Choice Party,” 8-10 p.m. Browsing the show itself is free 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mar. 2-3 and 1-5 p.m. Mar. 4. —A.W.
Thursday, 1st
Willis Alan Ramsey Ramsey’s legend rests on his sole album to date—his wry, visionary self-titled debut from 1972—as well as versions of songs from that record released by his more celebrated admirers: “Ballad of Spider John” (Jimmy Buffett), “Satin Sheets” (Waylon Jennings), “Goodbye Old Missoula” (Jimmie Dale Gilmore) and, of course, “Muskrat Candlelight” a.k.a. “Muskrat Love” (America and Captain & Tennille). The usually reclusive Texas-identified singer-songwriter has played around town from time to time during the past couple of years, but if you’ve never seen him, don’t pass up the chance when he returns to the Bluebird. B.F.W.
Blue Mountain The “roots” referred to in the title of Blue Mountain’s new album aren’t gnarled, dried-up knots, but living things with their tendrils firmly planted in the earth. That metaphor extended enough for you? Don’t let it dissuade you from the Oxford, Miss., group’s superb new collection of traditional songs, sung by founders Cary Hudson and Laurie Stirratt without a hint of folkie preservationism. What comes through is the plaintive beauty of songs such as “I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes” and “Young and Tender Ladies” and the footloose stomp of “That Nasty Swing” and “Rye Whiskey,” all of which should conjure up a century of back-porch jams and backwoods gatherings when the group plays 12th & Porter with well-matched opening act Tim Carroll. —J.R.
Stacy Mitchhart & Blues-U-Can-Use Blues guitarist Stacy Mitchhart has one of the toughest gigs in town. He performs at Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar nightly with his fine band Blues-U-Can-Use, frequently appearing before legendary figures like Eddy Clearwater and Carey Bell. Mitchhart has shown he’s up to the task, but unfortunately has often been overshadowed by the great acts that follow him to the bandstand. That’s not the case with What I Feel, his fourth and latest release, which puts the spotlight squarely on Mitchhart’s tight guitar work and exuberant vocals. The album’s release party takes place at Bourbon Street. —R.W.
Dog Fashion Disco Just about every kind of dark, spooky variant of rock ’n’ roll serves as an influence for this ridiculously offbeat D.C.-area band of hard-rock goofs. Mixing death-metal, Cramps-y rockabilly, organ-driven 45 Grave-style garage goth, mythology-steeped prog-rock, and Zappa-esque avant-garde-as-punk-rebellion, Dog Fashion Disco veer so wildly among their multitude of approaches that they’re both constantly surprising yet hard to pin down long enough to really enjoy. Chances are, their devotion to weird theatricality will make more sense when they play live at The End. —N.M.
Union Underground/Spike 1000/Slaves on Dope/Dust for Life 328 Performance Hall continues its “emerging artists” low-cost showcase series of touring bands that are just starting to build a local following. The spotlight this week is on metallic aggression, as Union Underground continues its South Texas Death Tour with San Francisco’s Spike 1000. Also on the all-ages bill are Ozzfest breakthrough act Slaves on Dope from Montreal, and Memphis’ Dust for Life.
Friday, 2nd
Lotushalo vs. Mercator For those eagerly anticipating the day when they could take a little piece of Lotushalo home with them, that day has come. Lotushalo’s calculated instrumentals brim with sneaky melodies and are textured like panes of glass laid atop one another. The band cites influences like Low, Don Caballero, and Tortoise, and often sounds like one might imagine Slint would have if they hadn’t been slackers. Another Murfreesboro band, Mercator, plays instrumentals of a more straightforward, rockin’ nature. The two bands are releasing a split-12-inch EP (bundled with a CD version for the analog-challenged) at their show at Sebastian’s in Murfreesboro. The night will feature the bands trading off, playing four two-song “rounds.” They are joined by a third instrumental band, Subotai, from Indiana. —T.A.
Hoptown Tigers Armed with pyrotechnics and a stage show that could distract the floorwalkers at a Vegas casino, the punked-up rockabilly enthusiasts unload their full arsenal at The End with Florida’s Blue Flame Combo.
Twothirtyeight/The Good-bye Letter/The Sincerity Guild/The Lynsay Diaries An all-ages lineup of Christian alternative/emo bands at Indienet Record Shop, headlined by Florida-based Twothirtyeight, playing songs from last year’s Regulate With Chemicals CD, and Charlotte, N.C.’s The Goodbye Letter.
Friday, 2nd-Saturday, 3rd
The Floating Men Last Labor Day, the band’s 10-year celebration packed the Belcourt for two straight nights, and the resulting live album, Bootleg IV: Live at the Belcourt Theatre, has been selling like gangbusters online (www.echomusic.com/floatingmen/). The group celebrates its new studio album, Heroes, Felons, and Fiends, with a two-night stand at 12th & Porter.
Saturday, 3rd
Sister Hazel Opening for the over-earnest folk-pop Virginians Vertical Horizon at Ryman Auditorium is this similarly dull set of over-earnest folk-pop Floridians. The only real differences between the two are Sister Hazel’s use of more electric guitar and their cutesy-light vocal approach reminiscent of Barenaked Ladies. Whether that makes them more or less insufferable is a matter of taste. N.M.
Hissy Fits/New Ohio Casualty Group/Lucky Guns The End hosts loud rock this week. The Hissy Fits’ minute-and-a-half bursts of hardcore punk compete with the New Ohio Casualty Group’s brutal post-rock stabs. Lucky Guns are perhaps the most “conventional” band on the bill, with low-slung, high-volume guitars. —T.A.
Harlan Howard Howard’s songwriting achievements reads like a history of country music’s brightest moments: “I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail,” “Too Many Rivers,” “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down,” and “I Fall to Pieces” are among the more than 100 hits to his credit. The legendary tunesmith will be the guest on WAKM-950 AM’s “Music in the Making” Saturday at 10 a.m. Howard hasn’t done an interview in years, so this rare chance to hear him answer questions and muse on his career shouldn’t be missed. —W.T.
Miss Tammy Faye Starlite/Tywanna Jo Baskette In one of the most striking double bills we’ve seen in a long time, potty-mouthed Miss Tammy Faye, country music’s one-woman Vagina Monologues, shares The Sutler’s stage with the enigmatic Tywanna Jo, whose haunting, utterly unpredictable songs manage to be earthy and ethereal at the same time.
Shawn Mullins Was the Atlanta crooner’s 1998 hit “Lullaby” a tender, edgy ballad, or a cesspool of sensitive singer-songwriter ick? You’re bound to have feelings one way or the other; if you liked it, Mullins plays two sets in the cozy environs of 3rd & Lindsley.
Sunday, 4th
Gladys Knight While somewhat overshadowed during her Motown days by the overabundance of talent at the label, Knight qualifies as one of the finest pure soul stylists working within the pop arena. She’s flirted with television, Broadway material, and gospel in the two decades since her biggest ’70s hits. Her latest release returns her to the elaborately produced ballads and gospel-tinged originals that have always been her forte. Knight comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. show at the Ryman. —R.W.
Detroit Grand Pu Bahs “Sandwiches,” the club smash from Paris the Black Fu and Andy “Dr. Toefinger” Toth—a.k.a. the Detroit Grand Pu Bahs—weds helium-head vocals that sound like Sir Nose’s cousin to a booty-shaking bass; on the strength of its cheebazoid groove, Spin magazine dubbed it one of last year’s 20 best singles. The Pu Bahs play Jody’s Dining Hall & Bar Car as part of the “Comin From tha D” tour, which supports the Intuit-Solar collection of the same name: a snapshot of the Motor City underground where hip-hop and electronica bump uglies —J.R.
Southern Culture On The Skids Still going strong after other retro-flavored alt-rockers have flared up and flamed out, this North Carolina cornpone rockabilly outfit storms 3rd & Lindsley for a night of paeans to the kitsch Americana that keeps the Stuckey’s of this great nation in business. —N.M.
Monday, 5th
Hullabaloo/Motor/The Luxury Stars Three solid local acts share the stage at 3rd & Lindsley—all on the straight-and-narrow modern-rock track, but each with the energy and ingenuity to raise their game above the standard radio-ready mediocrity. Hullabaloo have an insinuating, soulful groove beneath their anthemic rock-outs, Motor have an appealingly dreamy air, and The Luxury Stars have a delightfully retro synth backing, an invigoratingly noisy rhythm section, and lively power-pop arrangements that rarely land where they were launched. —N.M.
Tuesday, 6th
Jeff Beck Now in his fifth decade of taking the electric guitar as far as he can, Jeff Beck long ago abandoned the pure rhythm-and-blues idioms of his Yardbirds days for futuristic jams in which his ax takes the place of a vocalist, howling at the stars. Free of any specific genre, Beck is now on a journey that is sometimes rewarding to the listener and sometimes rewarding only to the artist, but at least he’s following his own groove. To see what he’s up to, visit the old guitar-slinger at the Ryman Auditorium. —N.M.
Tuuli/Slipshaft/The Fucking Cobras Toronto coquette-rockers Tuuli bring their guitar-heavy Runaways rock to The End. They’ll be joined by local faves Slipshaft, who craft endearing tunes that mix a keen pop sensibility with No Wave echoes. The Fucking Cobras sign on to prove that store-bought attitude, rehearsed moves and stage banter, and a Nuggets box set do not always equal rock. Like the Oblivians say, “You gotta live the life you sing about....” —C.D.
Wednesday, 7th
Carol Queen Queen, a noted author, lecturer, former sex worker, and world-class eroticist, is a featured speaker at MTSU’s “Women and Power” conference Mar. 8-10; she’s also the guest of honor Wednesday night at Springwater, where she’ll read and perform with Gannett’s New Faggot Cunts, a band that includes Halcyon Books owner Angela Messina, who was instrumental in bringing her to town. (Halcyon Books also hosts a Queen book signing 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.) For more info on Queen’s visit, call 297-5923. —J.R.
Al-N CD Release Party Former Analog Dog Mark Allen describes his new “popera” American in the Twenty-First Century as a conceptual piece about seeking some kind of spiritual balance in a world smothered by consumerism. And he implicates himself in the problem: He observes wryly, “We’re all brand-oriented. I hate to admit it, but I buy clothes from Sam’s.” Allen performed all the songs on his record himself, but he’ll attack them with a five-piece band at his release party at 12th & Porter. Also appearing are rocker Kathleen LaGue and spoken-word artists Michele Dalton and Sandy Brauksieck, recipient of this year’s Starvy award for poetry. —J.R.
Drive-By Truckers Alabama Ass Whuppin’, the Athens-based hellraisers’ document of a 1999 live show somewhere in the black heart of Georgia, stomps hard enough to make your average Family Values Tour headliner sound like a Jackson Browne cover band. It’s a cold shot of ragged Rebel pride, with drunken harmonies and guitars that clang and twang, and the only thing more fearsome than their versions of “People Who Died” and “Gimme Three Steps” is “The Living Bubba,” an astonishing song in which a honky-tonker dying of AIDS refuses to accept your pity or anyone else’s. If the live show’s half as good as the CD, they’ll make The End feel like Municipal back in the days when Ronnie Van Zant walked the earth. —J.R.
Film
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie For anyone even remotely curious about the movies of the late John Cassavetes—as defiant and original a talent as this country ever produced—this hard-headed, off-putting 1976 masterpiece is a must-see. In a legendary performance, Ben Gazzara plays Cosmo Vitelli, a strip-club operator who serves as the director’s surrogate: a flea-circus ringmaster who’ll do whatever it takes, even murder, to keep his shoestring productions going. The movie gets a rare video screening at the Watkins Film School; it’s free and open to the public. See the review in Film Listings. —J.R.
The House of Mirth Terence Davies’ adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel was robbed of a Best Picture nomination, and almost every other category besides; in addition to Gillian Anderson’s fine performance as a socialite in turn-of-the-century New York undone by her own strength of character, there’s brilliant work from Laura Linney, Jodhi May, and—yes—Dan Aykroyd. The movie opens Friday at Green Hills; see the review on p. 45. —J.R.
Blue Moon Talk about blue moons—that’s about how rare it is to see Ben Gazzara onscreen twice in one week. In this romantic comic fantasy, Gazzara and Rita Moreno play a bickering married couple who venture into the Catskills during a lunar phenomenon; a trick of the moonlight leads to strange and supernatural complications. The movie opens Friday at the Belcourt. —J.R.
Solas In this acclaimed Spanish-language feature from director Benito Zambrono, a daughter (Ana Fernandez) who fled the home of her passive mother (Maria Galiana) and stern father comes to appreciate her mother’s hidden strength. The movie opens Friday at the Belcourt. —J.R.
The Mexican A rare pistol with an ancient curse comes between lovers Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts in this wild romantic comedy from Mouse Hunt director Gore Verbinski, which co-stars James Gandolfini—reason enough to go right there. The movie opens Friday at local theaters, as do See Spot Run and singer Carman as The Champion. —J.R.
Boys Life 3 Five short films about gay life form the third installment of Strand Releasing’s popular anthology series. The movie opens Friday at Green Hills; for more information, consult our Film Listings and Movie Clock. —J.R.
DVD/Video
Dr. Strangelove Nearly two years after Warner Bros. annoyed Stanley Kubrick fans by releasing the late master’s films on DVD in stripped-down, non-letterboxed editions, a campaign is afoot to rectify the situation. First out of the gate is Kubrick’s madness-of-war masterpiece Dr. Strangelove, now available in its original shifting aspect ratios, with two behind-the-scenes docs (one devoted to Kubrick alone) and interviews with Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. Still no commentary track, but the other features make up the difference. —N.M.
The Original Kings Of Comedy The hands-down-funniest movie of last year comes to home video, and the DVD includes bonus footage of stand-ups Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac as they hang out together before the show. Invite all your friends and have a screening party—this is the sort of comedy that feels even better with a crowd. —N.M.
The Brain From Planet Arous Another of the legendary ’50s B-movies makes its way to DVD, with no extras to supplement the movie itself—a way-out affair starring John Agar as a scientist who gets possessed by a giant floating brain with sex constantly on its giant floating mind. —N.M.
Dance
Pilobolus Strength, agility, unbridled energy, and gravity-defying acrobatics are the hallmarks of this almost 30-year-old Connecticut-based dance company. Pilobolus’ varied, humorous, and inventive repertoire is executed by a small but mighty band of six, led by the gifted Rebecca Anderson. The show takes place 8 p.m. Mar. 1 in Langford Auditorium. —M.B.
Theater
The Freedom of the City ACT I is an ambitious community theater company. They do an interesting mix of plays—classic and more contemporary—and they’re not afraid to tackle material that offers valuable stage time for larger casts. Opening Mar. 2 at the Darkhorse Theater is The Freedom of the City, award-winning playwright Brian Friel’s 1973 drama about the tragic lives of Catholics living in Northern Ireland. The production, under the direction of David Arnholter, features several performers who have distinguished themselves this past season, notably Christopher Browne, Robert O’Connell, and Krys Collins. The play is performed through Mar. 17. —M.B.
Opera Clips: A Preview Talk on Regina This March 4 event at the Belcourt Theatre is the third in a series of discussions designed to enlighten potential audiences and stimulate general interest in opera. Nashville Opera general artistic director John Hoomes will preview the forthcoming (Mar. 23-27) production of Marc Blitzstein’s 1949 opera Regina, which is based on Lillian Hellman’s 1939 drama The Little Foxes, currently being presented by Tennessee Repertory Theatre in TPAC’s Polk Theater. The director of The Rep’s production, David Grapes, will also be on hand to provide insight into the story line and characters. The 2 p.m. discussion is followed by a reception and then a screening of the 1941 film version of The Little Foxes. —M.B.
2001 New Works Lab This program, sponsored by Actors Bridge Ensemble, offers audiences a chance to experience new plays in development through a series of informal readings. The two-weekend, four-performance schedule begins Mar. 2 with Working With Glass, by Actors Bridge founder and artistic director Bill Feehely. Ben Bettenbender’s Those Left Behind follows on Mar. 3. The second weekend features “Writer Mania” and “15-Minute Musical Series,” which offer musical and dramatic excerpts of works in progress. All shows begin at 8 p.m. in St. Augustine’s Chapel on the Vanderbilt campus. —M.B.
Art
The Attic Gallery This 12 South gallery has been broadening its scope to include both trained and untrained artists who work outside art’s mainstream, and Kurt Lightner is a case in point. Lightner holds a degree in art, but he throws rules and trends out the window in his “paintings over paintings” series. In these works, he takes junk-store paintings and adds his own painted images of robots, sea monsters, former presidents, and superheroes. Accompanying Lightner’s lighthearted art are ceramic works by Asia Wallace and polymer clay works by 63-year-old Nashville outsider artist Helen Lewis. Join the artists at the opening reception, 6-9 p.m. Mar. 2. —A.W.
Belle Meade Plantation The Gallery, located in the Visitor’s Center, showcases lush landscapes, street scenes, and still-life works by Ellen Parker Bibb. You can view the works and enjoy Italian wines and hors d’oeuvres at the opening reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mar. 1. —A.W.
Cheekwood Nashville artist Patrick DeGuira creates a new installation in the Temporary Contemporary Gallery that is inspired by America’s fascination with celebrity—especially what DeGuira calls the “twisted celebrity” awarded certain criminals. The installation consists of candy-colored Pop Art-style prints, sculpture, light, sound, and found objects. The opening reception is 6-8 p.m. Mar. 2, with DeGuira delivering a gallery talk at 6:30 p.m. —A.W.
Books
Local Authors’ Day Davis-Kidd will host its latest Local Authors’ Day on March 3, beginning at 11 a.m. with Christopher Farran, who will discuss and sign the children’s book Animals to the Rescue, as well as Houdini and the Séance Murders, which pairs the great escape artist with Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle. Irene Stuckey will follow at 12:30 p.m., signing Coastal Plants From Cape Cod to Cape Canaveral. At 2 p.m., Motlow University professor Michael Bradley will sign Tullahoma, a study of the often overlooked yet strategically vital 1863 campaign for control of Middle Tennessee. Artist and author Joanna Ormiston Long will sign An Artist Now Unknown, a fictional account of an American art scholar who may or may not have had a previous life as a 15th-century Italian painter named Pier, at 3:30 p.m., followed at 5 p.m. by Bill Carey, whose Fortunes, Fiddles and Fried Chicken, an account of Nashville business history now and then, has already gone into its second printing. D.B.
Events
Nashville Lawn & Garden Show If you’re a frustrated, wet-behind-the-ears gardener with only clay and rock to work with, spend the weekend tilling and amending your soil. Otherwise, hit the state fairgrounds for this amazing annual event whose lush garden displays and 250 booths of horticultural, ornamental, wildlife, and landscaping products are enough to inspire even the most egregious couch potatoes to create or improve their little corner of the earth. Sponsored by the Horticultural Association of Tennessee, the show runs Mar. 1-4, with lectures scheduled on 19 different topics. For information, visit www.nashvillelawnandgardenshow.com. —L.M.G.
“Conserve Your Legacy” Dust off those family heirlooms and head to the Tennessee State Museum for a free conservation clinic noon-4 p.m. Mar. 3. Specialists will be on hand to assess glassware, sculptures, ceramics, paper documents, photographs, and paintings (limit two items per person) and recommend proper care. The clinic is presented in conjunction with the “To Conserve a Legacy” exhibition of art from historically black colleges, so after you’ve had your treasures analyzed, take a look at the art treasures on display in this excellent show. —A.W.
Picks written by Todd Anderson, Diann Blakely, Martin Brady, Chris Davis, Bill Friskics-Warren, Liz Murray Garrigan, Noel Murray, Jim Ridley, William Tyler, Angela Wibking, and Ron Wynn.
