ARTS Pick: Lloyd Cole

Lloyd Cole is enjoying a career renaissance. The release of his new rock album Standards has reignited the guitarist’s popularity, most notably in Europe where he’s been selling out theaters nearly every night of his current tour, setting Cole up for a triumphant return to the U.S. The songwriting on his new record is being […]

ARTS Pick: LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph

Between the friendly insects peering over the Downtown Mall, photography exhibits throughout town and talks with celebrated, prolific photographers, there are plenty of opportunities to make the most of the annual LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph. But one of the festival’s most unique experiences can only be had this weekend, when the WORKS exhibition takes […]

Film review: Spy may be the summer’s sleeper hit

It may have taken four years of failed vehicles and forced cameos, but Melissa McCarthy finally hits her stride in Spy. Packaged and marketed as more of the same from McCarthy—an alternately crass and sincere broad comedy that misunderstands the difference between empathy and mockery—the slyly progressive and engaging Spy may end up being the […]

Leading man: Caruso Brown takes his drama ministry to the edge

Once upon a time, Charlottesville-based playwright Caruso Brown was a terribly shy, introverted student at Virginia State College (now University). He grew up writing poems. That may have been the end of it, if a drama director at the school hadn’t read one of Brown’s poems and insisted that he perform it during the school’s […]

Picture this: 2015 LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph

One of the telltale signs of summer in Charlottesville is already visible high above the bricks of the Downtown Mall. Strung between trunks and limbs of the willow oaks, larger-than-life animals and insects gaze down at diners and pedestrians as part of the 2015 LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph. Images like these appear each June, […]

ARTS Pick: Alabama Shakes

After signing with ATO records and releasing the three Grammy nom debut Boys and Girls in 2012, Alabama Shakes has skyrocketed to stardom. The group’s follow-up record, Sound and Color, was highly anticipated by its fans, but even more so by the band members themselves. The Shakes thoughtfully embraced every facet of their influences, cut […]

Album reviews: Kopecky, SOAK and love+war

Kopecky Drug for the Modern Age/ATO Records A “family band” no more, Kopecky is back with a slightly new name and a slightly new sound, but its penchant for making fun music hasn’t changed a bit. Drug for the Modern Age will be a sonic surprise to some longtime fans, but it’s worth checking out. […]