ARTS Pick: Restroy releases self-titled debut

It’s more than a push of a button when Restroy’s Chris Damman sends a wave of electricity through his carefully composed cello numbers. Despite using electronic drones and noise, the acoustic instrument is the foundation of sound for Damman, who is so physically in tune with his cello that it’s actually changed his posture. On […]

Cornering the market: A Hoos who of late-night student haunts

By Ben Hitchcock and Gracie Kreth It’s 1:44am on a Friday. All is quiet, but in a few minutes, everything will change when popular student watering holes Trinity, Boylan Heights, Coupes’ and other Corner bars flip on the lights, signaling the end of night. But just because the drinks have stopped flowing, that doesn’t mean […]

LIVING Picks: Week of May 16-22

FAMILY Family Bike Fest Sunday, May 20 The whole family can enjoy a strider course, bicycle decorating station and bike-handling skill courses for riders of all ages. Blue Wheel Bicycles will provide free helmet and bike safety checks for participants. Free, 10am-2pm. IX Art Park, 522 Second St. 977-1870. NONPROFIT Wine and Roses Saturday, May […]

ARTS Pick: The Sea and Cake makes the listening easy

Formed in the early ’90s, The Sea and Cake derived its name from the song “The C in Cake,” and, based on misheard lyrics, set the tone for its enigmatic jazz rock. Eleven albums later, and five years since the last, the Chicago-based synthy (now a) trio steps away from heavy production on Any Day […]

ARTS Pick: The Liar is riddled with wit

Piecing together a Jenga-style puzzle of arranged marriages, mistaken identities and wicked ways, David Ives’ adaptation of The Liar is a cleverly constructed ride through a plot riddled with cutting banter, silliness, jealousy and lies, lies and more lies. The villainous, witty Dorante (Mark McLane) charms his way into impossibly funny situations that teeter on […]

Tina Thompson says she’s ready to take the lead at UVA

By Emma D’Arpino When Tina Thompson was named head coach of the Virginia women’s basketball team in April, amid the excitement of landing the soon-to-be Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, there were questions about whether the star was ready for the job after only a few seasons of assistant coaching at the University of […]

ARTS Pick: The Gina Clowes Project puts modern spin on the banjo

The solid accolades directed at The Gina Clowes Project are the result of the singer-songwriter’s years spent at competitions and gigging with other pros. Well-known in the world of bluegrass, banjoist Clowes’ modern approach reaches to crossover as she pushes mood and emotion through the frets, complemented by her thoughtfully constructed songwriting. Friday, May 11. […]

ARTS Pick: Ani DiFranco loves pushing boundaries

Ani DiFranco feels most comfortable when she’s pushing boundaries. After some downtime following her daughter’s birth, the singer-songwriter/activist/poet/DIY feminist is ready to be back onstage, connecting with like minds and “kicking ass and taking names.” DiFranco’s album Binary was released a year ago, but written before the 2016 election, and its themes are eerily clairvoyant. “I’m […]

ARTS Pick: Jump for Vance Joy

In 2009, James Keogh was a promising player in Australia’s Victorian Football League. He also played music, and, taking an alias from a Peter Carey novel he was reading, put himself into rotation in the Melbourne open mic scene as Vance Joy. He released his indie debut EP, God Loves You When You’re Dancing, in […]