Arts

Thrash and burn

This installment of OTR is the first in a two part series of skateboarders and skate music. Andy Foster grew up in Roanoke and started skating in 1975 when he was 12 or 13. He considers himself part of the second wave of skaters, and though he has been off and on boards, he says that about three years ago he started back seriously and now he wants to skate all the time. Primarily a bowl skater, Foster\’s favorite place to skate is California, and he would very much like to start up a skate shop in town. He also teaches lessons through the city at the Skate Park on McIntire Road. I asked him about the history of skate music.

spencer-lathrop | May 2, 2006

Arts

Breeden’s 3 Dollar Dumpster Date

American Dumpster’s much-anticipated new CD, Rumor Mill, will see the light of day this month, and there are plenty of opportunities to get out, see a great band and pick up that record. May 18 is the official release date, and there will be a catered release party at a location to be disclosed in the very near future. The Dumpsters will also play at The Corner Plan 9 on May 20. Recorded at Sound of Music, the disc is a fine representation of Christian Breeden’s tunes fleshed out by the swampy groove of the band.

spencer-lathrop | May 2, 2006

Arts

On The Record

The Cyndra Van Clief Jazz Sextet wrapped up the season at The Cardinal Café in Scottsville this past Sunday night. The sextet plays jazz music from the 1930s, and features vocals, piano, bass, guitar and flute. Van Clief says she is very excited about playing Scottsville, which is her adopted hometown, and also where her church (she sings in the choir) is located. Cardinal Café presented the band’s premiere performance, and you can look for them to play more around town. I got to ask Van Clief about the music that she and the band like to play.

spencer-lathrop | April 25, 2006

Arts

Alter’s state

This Friday evening, April 28th, you can catch one of the series of music and arts shows put on by painter Lee Alter. Alter’s studio is located at 109 E. Jefferson St., in a building that is one of the oldest in town (and was formerly the site for town meetings and dances). The building, […]

spencer-lathrop | April 25, 2006

Arts

Being here

This Sunday night, the Pavilion presents Wilco, one of the most successful and adventurous alt-rock bands on the planet.

spencer-lathrop | April 18, 2006

News

SURROUND SOUND 2005

Two thousand and five was a lively year for music in our town, with CD sales down again, live music taking place at the theater level while struggling in the clubs, and being in a band, at least around here, seeming to be as much about music as about fame.   One rock band that has been […]

spencer-lathrop | December 13, 2005

News

Top of the world

On the cusp of a new tour that brings him to town to open for the Rolling Stones on Thursday, the former Phish frontman speaks out.   Interview by Spencer Lathrop pluggedin@c-ville.com   My friend, Eric, has seen Phish 55 times, and frontman Trey Anastasio solo at least eight times. He states emphatically that Anastasio […]

spencer-lathrop | October 4, 2005

News

HonkyTonk Man

Dwight Yoakam had the look: long and lean with the big cowboy hat and the facial demeanor that suggested lonely and liking it. He had the voice: that extra little twang that suggests an education away from the schoolhouse.  If you have yet to see Wedding Crashers, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson play a pair […]

spencer-lathrop | August 16, 2005

News

Sound decision

In 1975 there were reportedly 3 million record albums manufactured for sale in the United States. By 2004, that number hit 745 million. More than 10,000 CDs were released by hundreds of artists last year—that’s about 27 CDs per day. The recording industry has been in a boom cycle for the last 30 years, and […]

spencer-lathrop | March 8, 2005

News

Practice round

The laws of pop music are beginning to resemble the laws of reproduction. Thousands of spermatozoa swim desperately to an egg to fulfill their destiny, but only one will get in. This kind of evolutionary pattern has ruined a number of rock ’n’ rollers: Alex Chilton, Phil Ochs, Johnny Thunders. Dreaming of the glory of […]

spencer-lathrop | January 25, 2005