ARTS Pick: Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.

Over two years after taking home a million dollar grand prize on “America’s Got Talent,” classic crooner Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. continues to wow national audiences with his smooth Sinatra covers. While he’s not quick to forget his West Virginia roots, the once penniless car washer has catapulted to fame with interpretations of Old Blue […]

ARTS Pick: The Solar Motel Band

Guitarist Chris Forsyth constructs massive anthemic rock jams that prompt comparison to the masters of his genre. In 2014, Forsyth’s The Solar Motel Band released Intensity Ghost, bringing new accolades and critical praise including this from NPR’s Lars Gotrich: “With the Solar Motel Band he seeks the endless jam at the intersection of television and […]

ARTS Pick: The Taming of the Shrew

Verona gentleman Petruchio attempts to turn headstrong Katherina into an obedient bride in Shakespeare’s ultimate battle of the sexes, The Taming of the Shrew. The American Shakespeare Company goes beyond the main comedy with the Bard’s Induction, creating a play within a play as drunken tinker Christopher Sly is duped into believing himself a nobleman […]

ARTS Pick: Left & Right

The (now Philly-based) group Left & Right spent its formative years on the streets of Charlottesville, where all four members worked as city transit bus drivers and shared road stories after work. Those long days in the driver’s seat might explain the band’s affinity for the high energy, grunge addled tunes that it calls “working […]

Jesse Matthew to appear in Fairfax court

Accused abductor Jesse Matthew, 33, will appear in court January 8 and 9 in Fairfax County for motions hearings pertaining to a 2005 rape in which he’s charged with attempted capital murder, abduction with intent to defile and sexual assault. Matthew’s attorney, former Albemarle commonwealth’s attorney Jim Camblos, is seeking a gag order and money […]

Charlottesville City Council backs mall camera study

A majority of the Charlottesville City Council agreed Monday night to study the cost and impacts of installing of publicly owned security cameras on the city’s Downtown Mall, the West Main Street corridor and the University Corner. Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo and city Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman made the case for the cameras in […]

ARTS Pick: Miss Massive Snowflake

When the weather outside gets frightful, you might not be eager to curl up in front of a band called Miss Massive Snowflake, but Shane de Leon’s witty contemporary pop tunes of love, family and loss of trust make for some truly heartwarming, emotive storytelling. With quirky simplicity and moody, sometimes psychedelic lyrics, the Portland, […]

UPDATE: Police say man accidentally fell to his death in Water St. garage

UPDATE 12:45pm Friday, January 2: Police have identified the person found dead in the Water Street parking garage New Year’s Day as Justin Michael Frazier, 24, of Crozet, and have said video surveillance indicates Frazier was the victim of an accidental fall. In a follow-up press release issued Friday, Charlottesville Police Lieutenant Steve Upman said detectives […]

ARTS Pick: Bowie, Bolan and Blondie

Time warp your way back to the 1970s and the golden age of glam rock with Bowie, Bolan and Blondie, a triple tribute featuring all local bands. The multi-talented Thomas Dean (left) leads The Jean Jeanies through David Bowie’s expansive, psychedelic discography; Harrisonburg-formed septet P. Dactyl revives the classic hits of T. Rex; and Sunday […]