Diplomacy and drone: This week’s musical highlights

Does the name Peyton Tochterman ring any bells? It’s been three years since the local musician has performed in town but he’s certainly someone you should know. Tochterman’s last Charlottesville show celebrated the release of the full-length album, A New World. Since then, he’s been busy. “I was on the road almost constantly for two […]

ARTS Pick: Julian Casablancas & The Voidz

While his band The Strokes are on hiatus, punk rocker Julian Casablancas is keeping busy with countless tributes, collaborations, and side projects. He can be heard alongside Queens of the Stone Age, Daft Punk, Pharrell, Eddie Vedder, and even Andy Samberg on a slew of songs. His current act Julian Casablancas & The Voidz strays […]

Album reviews: U2, Cory Bishop, Kyler England

U2 Songs of Innocence/Interscope Records Bono’s voice is cracking, The Edge’s riffs aren’t exactly scraping against the stars anymore, and even drummer Larry Mullens, Jr.’s beats have slowed down a tick, but despite all of this, U2 finds another gear on Songs of Innocence. Most of the energy is in the second half, where tracks […]

ARTS Pick: Kevin Spacey

Want inspiration from the darkly humorous Lester Burnham or calculating Congressman Frank Underwood? Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey, well-known for his roles in American Beauty and the Netflix series “House of Cards,” is this year’s guest at UVA’s President’s Speaker Series for the Arts. Drawing on decades of experience on stage and screen, Spacey speaks on the importance of […]

Gaining access: Tosha Grantham reaches out at Second Street Gallery

Curator Tosha Grantham’s biggest single show to date took over 10 years to develop. Featuring 112 objects by 18 artists occupying 4,500 square feet, “Darkroom” was a collection of photography and new media from South Africa’s period of apartheid. But it wasn’t size and scope that gave Grantham satisfaction. “I was talking to someone outside […]

Film review: Despite talented cast The Judge falters

You know you’re in for something when every actor in a movie’s press release gets an individual citation for the role that got them either an Academy Award or a nomination—Robert Downey, Jr. (Chaplin, Tropic Thunder), Robert Duvall (Tender Mercies), Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)—while the director must suffer the indignity of admitting to […]

ARTS Pick: Eric Church

Guitar slinging country crooner Eric Church has traded Jimmy Buffett covers in the back of dingy dive bars for 15,000-seat arenas where he belts out original, cheeky Southern anthems to packed houses. Currently touring in support of his second No. 1 album, The Outsiders, he continues on the themes of cold beers, hot women, good […]

ARTS Pick: The Secret Sisters

With the recent release of Put Your Needle Down, produced by T Bone Burnett, The Secret Sisters prove they’ve come a long way from their Alabama youth. The sweet-voiced siblings have managed to retain their innocence and charm following projects with big shots like She & Him, Ray Lamontagne, Paul Simon, and Elvis Costello, as […]