Early on in Yakuza Princess, it becomes clear that crafting a story around generations of warring crime bosses, an amnesiac hitman, and a mourning granddaughter is a little too much for co-writer/director Vicente Amorim to juggle. There’s plenty of good here in the new film, but not enough awareness of what that good stuff is. […]
Early on in Yakuza Princess, it becomes clear that crafting a story around generations of warring crime bosses, an amnesiac hitman, and a mourning granddaughter is a little too much for co-writer/director Vicente Amorim to juggle. There’s plenty of good here in the new film, but not enough awareness of what that good stuff is. […]
By Megan Irvin At first, produce distribution might not sound all that exciting. But imagine a world where your favorite restaurants don’t have the fresh lettuce, sweet corn, and tangy tomatoes they need to create their specials—it’s a dark image. For 20 years, Denise and Steve Yetzer have kept that from happening. The pair runs […]
Let’s dance: Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15, in recognition of five Hispanic countries that declared independence that day. Honor the occasion at Celebrando Herencia Hispana, an outdoor event featuring live performances from a variety of musicians. Kadencia is a 13-piece orchestra specializing in the irresistibly danceable bomba, plena, and salsa of Puerto Rico. Lua […]
Bach to basics: The Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival is live again for its 22nd year. Acclaimed musicians from across the country perform classical pieces throughout the area, from local vineyards to The Paramount Theater. Whether you prefer Bach and Beethoven, or lean more avant-garde, there’s a little something for everybody, including an informal pop-up concert […]
Man of his word: For Danny Schmidt, it’s personal. All he needs is his husky vocals, lyric-driven songs, and an acoustic guitar to deliver gut-wrenching messages on issues of our time. Whether addressing police brutality or the grief of a miscarriage, Schmidt embodies a deep vulnerability and touching humility that draws listeners in. After breaking […]
Rock ‘n’ soul: The soul of rock ‘n’ roll is alive in Melissa Etheridge’s wailing guitars and won’t-back-down attitude. Her music embodies hardscrabble freedom and fierce independence, and has earned her multiple Grammys, an Oscar, and a star on the HollywoodWalk of Fame. Etheridge often uses her fame to raise moneyand awareness for important places […]
It was 1996, and inside Charlottesville’s Outback Lodge, Howard Herz was preparing for one of the hundreds of shows booked and mixed there by the late, beloved sound engineer Terry Martin. Herz went to bouncer Bill Tyler and told him that Martin’s new guitar act, a guy named Derek Trucks, was here. He was Butch […]
The folks behind the art installation known as the Truth Farm want everyone to know the truth about immigration. But what is the truth? And could there be more than one? Unveiled on Refugee Investment Network founder and managing director John Kluge’s family property within the Trump Winery, the Truth Farm installation first centered around […]
Art reaction: The forced isolation of 2020 brought both struggle and opportunity for the local arts community. Now, WTJU, The Bridge PAI, and UVA Music have joined forces to create a “long-term COVID arts time capsule” that explores that impact. “We Hope This Art Finds You Well” will be exhibited inside WTJU’s bright blue camper-turned-micro-gallery, […]
Beer hunter: It’s not entirely clear what Dennis O’Hagan loves more, music or beer. But it doesn’t matter because the Irish-American musician designed a career around both. Since 2018, O’Hagan has been traveling the country playing guitar, drinking craft beer, and posting about it. With 300 stops behind him, he’s sampled enough hops and encountered […]