Jason Flom on making hit records and freeing the innocent

Jason Flom was born into wealth and privilege. His father, Joseph Flom, made a name in legal circles as a mergers and acquisitions savant, a man who built one of the largest law firms in the country and is sometimes known as “Mr. Takeover.” As a youth growing up in New York City, the younger […]

Cellist Ben Sollee bridges the gap between traditional and modern

Ben Sollee answers the phone but isn’t ready to chat. He’s still talking to his son, Oliver, and his mom. They’re in the car, “cruising down the road.” Turns out this is typical of Sollee, who’ll play The Southern Café and Music Hall on April 8. Scattered might not be the right word, but he […]

Dropping in: Parachute aims for the top of the pop chart

Will Anderson says his Parachute bandmates like cool music. Him? Not so much. “I’m so fascinated with pop music,” Anderson says. “It’s always been my obsession. I’m sure people get tired of it—my poor friends always have to hear about it. And I’m talking about like ’NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.” And so it goes […]

Wood you? New alternatives to hardwood are flooring some homeowners

Faux wood has, in the past, been a splinter in the discerning consumer’s eye. But new products and improvements on standbys are changing that, according to local floor purveyors and homebuilders. From wood-look tile to luxury vinyl, floor treatments are treating high-end homeowners to options that were never before possible. “If they love everything about […]

Having a laugh: Freewheeling duo Cherub refines its electronic sensibility

Jason Huber and Jordan Kelley burst out of a tiered cake wearing cowboy hats. Kelley pops and pours champagne. Both men strip down to nothing save metallic underwear, hats and boots. So begins the NSFW video for “Doses and Mimosas,” the Nashville-based electro-pop band Cherub’s breakout 2012 hit. As the video plays on, it’s clear […]

Step by step: When creatively designed, stairs don’t have to be space hogs

Thomas Jefferson hated stairs. Not personally. Architecturally. A design nut who conceptualized Monticello and parts of the Virginia State Capitol, Jefferson disdained the space stairs took up. According to the Monticello Foundation, he favored narrow, steep stairs with tight turns so the hulking masses wouldn’t rob him of space for more exciting design features. These […]