SPOONFEED ARTICLES

CLIFFS EP

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:08:03 -0400

There are many of us (myself very much included) who miss the throat busting, guitar wailing sounds and styles of the White Stripes. As we turned into the year 2000, it was the Stripes who brought us into their act with the dashing colors of red and white, bluesy yelps and a vigorous energy for music. However, we live in a world without the White Stripes now. Hearing a Stripes hit like “Icky Thump” or “7 Nation Army” will bring a lurch to many dedicated fans’ hearts when heard every now and again on the radio, but so far… the world seems to be recovering pretty well, and bands have started to step up to fill the two-piece rock outfit hole they left last year.

One of those bands bringing the blues to Columbus are CLIFFS. These two locals looked like normal old chums when I saw them bantering around Carabar the night of their EP release show. They kept that comfortable feeling fresh and intact when they took the stage later that night to play songs old, and mostly new. The EP (which is now released and can be purchased below) is entitled “The Sunglasses EP,” and is a 5 track record that gives you a very enticing taste of the energy these boys put into the music.

The EP starts with “Beautiful Girls,” a track we accepted for our Spring Compilation Record. Now, I think anybody can agree that when someone takes a chance to listen to a local band’s recordings, the experience is prefaced with judgement. When you’re in a local band, you have to work extra hard to catch a listener and sell yourself. It takes seconds for someone to become not interested and move on. Well luckily for this EP, it takes seconds for me to get suckered into the whirlwind of punky-blues attitude the Cliffs provide. I can safely say that you too, will feel the same.

The opening track is a party, and Cliffs make sure you know that the party is not looking to calm down. ”Cliffs (BluBlockers)” follows up “Beautiful Girls” and is equipped with a rolling blues guitar riff, electric organ, and their own dash of ‘bluesy yips.’ This song is the most “Black Keys” sounding song, which is complete with heavy drums and a memorable chanting set of lyrics near the end.

“There’s a cliff up ahead, and I can swear I see it comin’”

“Great Chicago Fire” and “JFK” keep up the high energy riffing, but a track to note is the final one entitled “Nashul!” This track brings the rock and roll attitude Cliffs develop throughout the first four tracks, to a slow heavy churn. This right here is “buttah makin’” music. “Movin like a steam train” the singer exclaims. A bass seems absent or not as prevalent until the listener gets to this track. If your mind was overwhelmed by the speed and ferocity of the first half of the EP, this track leisurely strolls up to you, hands you a jack and coke and tells you to relax, and stop being such a baby.

Overall, the EP is a gem. It’s good, original fun. There are 5 songs on here that each have their own hook, and will keep Columbus listeners engaged. With the Black Keys ruling the airwaves with their blues-ridden hits, it’s becoming more and more obvious that Ohio is good at manufacturing rock and roll. Now, Columbus has a two-piece band of its very own that it can be damned proud of.

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 4/6

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:38:00 -0400

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

It’s Easter weekend… a time of year where many (dare I say most?) lay low and observe with loved ones. You might even think that things will be quiet around town this weekend, but this is Columbus, people. We couldn’t be quiet if we tried. And luckily for you, the only Easter traditions I observe are fabulous fried fish dinners on Fridays and gorging on candy, although the latter is sort of a yearlong thing. Consequently, I’m left with ample time to bring you up to speed with a brand new WEEKEND GUIDE to maximize your next few days’ potential! Trust me when I tell you it’s a good one.

It’s only fitting, considering the impending holiday, that I begin this weekend’s guide with Dane Terry. He’s not exactly rising from the dead, but he’s returning to Columbus after a brief spell of time in the Big Apple. Close enough, right? It’s no secret that we’re big supporters of the outer space troubadour’s (think Bowie on Broadway with a voice that sounds like angels and a grand piano as its backing choir), so we were elated, to say the least, when we heard he’d confirmed a two night stand at The Garden Theatre. Returning to the close confines of the theatre’s intimate green room, the site of Dane’s incredible last show “Cosmic Cabaret”, he’ll be showing off his prolificness just as much as his talent, boasting a completely new set of songs and, of course, a new story to accompany them. I’ll lift the description from Dane instead of trying to describe it myself:

It’s Spring, the Queen is missing, and little Barry has volunteered to leave the hive and search for her. With the welfare of the whole hive riding on his back, and a few secret motives of his own, Barry learns a lot more than he bargained for in the open world.

See? I couldn’t have written it if I tried. If you’ve heard this man’s tunes or watched his set from THE LITTLE BOX, you didn’t need me to include this because you’re already going. Everyone else? Get hip to anything you can find online and join us for Dane Terry: Sprung! I’ve already got my epinephrine pen packed!

The Garden Theatre can be found at 1187 N. High Street, with Friday’s show beginning at 8PM (Doors: 6:45) and Saturday’s starting at 10PM (Doors: 9). There will be a full bar, unfortunately absent at his last show, and everyone should certainly feel free to imbibe and help the theatre all at once. Tickets will run you $10 online or $12 at the door and they’re worth every last penny.

+ CONSUME: “Dane Terry: Sprung” Tickets

+ WATCH: Dane Terry in The Little Box

+ LEARN: Dane Terry’s 7 Songs — A Spoonfeed Review

FRI ETC.

- Another Little Box veteran in Govan Jones will be performing his brand of soulful folk at Hal and Al’s (1297 Parsons Avenue) alongside Sun Glass, Rawkadeus, and Charlotte, North Carolina’s Angwish. As far as I can tell the show is FREE and begins at 9PM, but feel free to get ahold of Govan and ask him to be sure… he doesn’t bite, but might drive the lane on you at any given moment.

- Stucco Jones’ music is made for the garage, but they’ll be taking it to the stage as they return home triumphantly from Philadelphia to perform at Circus (1227 North High). Also on the bill are Psychic Wheels and some of our favorites in The George Elliot Underground. The show is FREE, starts at 9PM, and is sponsored in part by Fireball Whiskey, which is tasty stuff, so stop by, rock out, and eat a Clever Crow Pizza while you’re at it!

- Lackluster will be playing their last show in town for awhile as they retire to the ends of the earth to write and record their next album. They’re going out in style and as such, an ordinary band wouldn’t suffice to open the show. Instead the group will be bringing along the Velvet Heart Burlesque troupe. The show is FREE, but 21+, and begins at 10PM at Carabar (115 Parsons Avenue).

I got turned onto Lovedrug in high school by people who knew better than I did then. Every time I listen to the band’s debut album Pretend You’re Alive, which is still a regular occurrence in my life, I feel a pulsing gratitude towards those people and also a bit of sadness because I don’t keep up with them much anymore. And while those relationships faded, my affair with Lovedrug remained, the group’s sound growing right along with me. I’m still a fan to this day, an easy feat considering the band is originally from Akron and plays the Buckeye state regularly. On Saturday, they’ll be stopping by Columbus for a show at Rumba Cafe, fresh off the heels of the release of their fantastic fourth album Wild Blood. I’ve personally seen them in concert eleven or twelve times, a testament either to routine or their incredible live show, and I highly suggest recommend you all joining me for an evening of “Rock ‘N Roll” at 2507 Summit Street. The show starts at 8PM and tickets are $10, with local support coming from the maudlin Love Culture and The Receiver, who will be gracing the city with its presence for the first time in much too long.

+ VISIT: Lovedrug

+ CONSUME: Lovedrug @ Rumba Cafe Tickets

SAT ETC.

- The Columbus Composition Exhibition will open at Gallery Hop on Saturday at Utrecht Art Supplies (612 North High Street). The store invited some of our city’s finest artists, including Bethany Jozwiak—Butler (whose contribution to the project, an ode on canvas to Columbus’ fabled and defunct music venue Stache’s, is pictured above), to create and showcase works inspired by Columbus in celebration of the bicentennial. Go in for the art and stay for the great deals on supplies!

- Gallery Hop will also feature an art show put together by the tattoo artists of Stained Skin Tattoo (1255 North High Street) with works to be displayed on canvas as well as skin. Ink enthusiasts unite and get inspiration for your next piece! Festivities commence at 8PM!

- I’m told there’s a pretty big show going on at The LC featuring our homeboys in Walk The Moon, but if you aren’t one of the eight thousand attending you might find some solace in the form of a killer line-up setting their phasers to rock at Kobo Live (2590 North High Street). She Bears, Karate Coyote, and Post Coma Network will be supporting Hex Net, an apparent “supergroup” out of Athens. Music begins at 9PM and the cost is $5.

Who doesn’t like brunch, am I right? That delectable combination of the all important breakfast and the always enjoyable lunch cannot be beat, especially when you factor in Angela Perley serenading you over top of your meal, which is the case this Sunday at Barrio Tapas (185 North High Street) from 11:30am to 2:30pm. She’s promising a little bit of special Latin spice for the occasion, both in her tunes and the renowned restaurant’s bloody marys. Easter who?

We spent last Sunday holed up at HQ picking the tracks for the next SEASONS OF SPOONFEED COMPILATION CD! After much deliberation, we narrowed down the submissions to what we think is a seriously jammable hodgepodge of local tunes. Keep your eyes glued to the site as we begin to announce details! Until next weekend, stay pretty! (And Happy Passover!) — JS / SPNFD

Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and editorial writers. For comments, questions, or just to say “hey”, use eMail or visit him on Facebook.

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 3/30

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:53:00 -0400

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

The weekend is here. This city is afraid of it. I’ve seen its exhaustion before firsthand. The streets are full of life and there are so many options for things to do and just when you think a decision has been made for the night, something else comes along and it’s back to the drawing board. The accumulated awesomeness of all the talent and fun populating Columbus will leave its citizens overwhelmed, wishing for a guiding light to show them the way to their best option, and all the hipsters, Hip Hop heads, drunks, and academics will look up and shout “Save us!”…

…and I’ll look down, and whisper “yes.” For who watches the weekend? I do! And I’m back with another fresh and clean edition of the Spoonfeed Weekend Guide!

Bear In Heaven will be hitting The Basement on Friday evening, touring in support of their forthcoming album, I Love You, It’s Cool, which will be released by Hometapes on April 3rd. The band has a reputation for having an impeccable, must see live show and the lush, psychedelic soundscape of their music will be supported and complemented by sets from Young Magic and Doldrums. The show is all ages, with admission costing $12, and doors open at 7PM. Our bestie and partner Katie over at Jack in the Pocket was able to speak with the band’s own Adam Willis about the new album, the touring surrounding it, and their upcoming show in Columbus specifically, which finds them back in town for the first time in over two years! You can that out below, along with a link to stream the fantastic new record in its entirety!

Spoonfeed will be on hand at The Basement documenting the evening, so say hello if you see us and look forward to more Bear In Heaven here soon! The Basement is located at 391 Neil Avenue.

+ LISTEN: I LOVE YOU, IT’S COOL - Bear in Heaven

FRI ETC.

Few bands, local or otherwise, put on a show like Columbus’ own roeVy. Their gigs, at this point, are damn near becoming legendary, so you might say that expectations are high going into the duo’s stand on Friday night at the Newport Music Hall (1722 North High St). My guess is that they not only meet those expectations, but shatter them with a combination of their signature pulsating brand of genre bending electronic music and their knack for the visually dramatic and spectacular. Support will come from Wazabi and Fat & Ugly, who both hail from the EDM mecca of Germany, and local Kingpin, alongside frequent roeVy collaborator Dunjinz. Tickets are $10 advance / $15 day of show and the festivities begin around 8:30PM, but you’ll be dancing for weeks! Get ready to sweat!

+ LEARN: http://roevy.com

Friday also finds Teen Fictionplaying their monthly show at Havana Video Lounge (862 N. High Street) and while they may not have the twenty foot screen that roeVy will be busting out at the Newport, they’ve got tunes that will get you going to the point that you forget other shows even exist. Highly recommended for fans of early Nine Inch Nails or The Faint, this show is FREE and starts at 10PM!

+ LIKE: http://facebook.com/teenfictionxoxo

Help literally send March off in style and support one of the most important causes there is by attending Fashion Rocks the Cureon Saturdayat Outland.One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event will go to local cancer survivors-in-need who are struggling and still facing the disease on a daily basis. $10gets you not only the amazing feeling of doing good, but an incredible night of live music and fashion, including Rock and Roll inspired looks courtesy of Kelli Martin and Aaron James on the catwalk and sets from Ghost Shirt (pictured above) and former Little Box inhabitants Maza Blaska, fresh from their trip to Austin, on the stage. Bush League All Stars and Black Eyed Bettywill also perform. The show begins at 8PM and Outland is located at 95 Liberty St. If you recognize the potential awesomeness as well as the importance of this event like we do, please keep this message moving and spread the word!

+ LEARN: http://columbusrocksthecure.org

SAT ETC.

I don’t know about you, but my favorite way to drown my sorrows with alcohol is to do so while listening to 80s goth and shoegaze. That is not a joke written for the sake of this paragraph, that is absolute truth. And now there is an event for people to go and do exactly that! Double Happiness (482 South Front St.)will play host to Cult of Roses, an evening of evenly distributed loud distortion, darkness, and beauty conveyed through DJ sets from the likes of Walleyeand Love Culture’s Tristan Swan. Things will get loud at 10PM and the event is FREE until 12:30AM, but it’ll cost you $5if you’re over 18, but under 21 or if you show up fashionably late.

The Grove City Arts Council will launch an exhibition at CS Gallery (66 Parsons Avenue)that will run into the month of April and be entirely comprised of local art. The opening and following artists’ reception will begin at 8PM.

Cliffs, an uber-catchy two piece band, will celebrate the release of their Sunglasses EP with a show at Carabar (115 Parsons Avenue), perfect for those of you who couldn’t score tickets to CD 101 Day, but still need a live music fix. The band will be supported by fellow Old Sun Studioartists, In Silent Movies and the Spoonfeed recommended New Tooth. The show is FREE and starts at 9:30PM!

+ READ: New Tooth - A Spoonfeed Review

A final and special Saturday mention goes out to Jacob Wooten. He’s the man over at Kobo Live (2590 North High), a staple of these Weekend Guides and our scene, and it’s his birthday! Happy birthday Jacob, from us to you!

After a weekend of loud music and wild behavior, treat your more refined self to the fine arts in Columbus on Sunday. Jean-Marie Zeitounireturns to conduct his first full season of the Columbus Symphony in a performance of Shakespeare inspired works originally by Berlioz. The women of the symphony’s chorus will join for a staged version of The Bard’s beloved comedy, which you can see at The Southern Theatre (21 East Main Street)at 3PM. There is also a Sunday matinee performance of CATCO’s Next Fallat the Riffe Center (77 South High Street; 2PM), a play by Geoffrey Nauffts that tackles the issues between a gay couple in which one man is devoutly religious and the other is an atheist. Please look into and continue to support CATCO and its events as they ferociously infuse our city with culture!

And now we’ve reached the end. Thank you as always for reading and supporting Spoonfeed! We’ll meet again in April! Until then, stay pretty! — JS / SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and editorial writers. He can be reached for question or comment via facebook or by eMailing theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 3/23

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:35:44 -0400

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

The heat is turned way up in Columbus, unprecedented for March, and the streets are alive! I feel like I’ve never seen the bars and restaurants as crowded as they’ve been this week, with appreciative Ohioans rushing out of their homes and jobs and straight into the sunlight! After all, what’s a measly tornado warning when we’ve hardly seen a flake of snow since early February? And the best part is it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere, so secure a cold beverage and meet us outside… we’ve got a choice cut of WEEKEND GUIDE on the grill!

It’s definitely a PHANTODS kind of weekend. Their big guitar, high energy sound, found in abundance on their latest album Creature, is perfect for a fast drive with the windows down or a great big party. Luckily, we won’t have to settle for just listening to the band, as they must have seen the weather coming and, taking a cue from their recent stay at South by Southwest, lined up THREE (yes, three) performances in the city!

Friday will see the band doing two shows in one evening, the first of which is an early show atThe Basement. The band will perform at 8PM with performances from up and comers Jackie and The Stabbs and Afortiori. A quick listen of Jackie’s most recent recorded effort, The Polaroid EP, brought to mind bands like Eisley or recent Tegan and Sara records put through the much more mature sounding filter of singer Chelsea Burgin. She delivers her lines effortlessly through the EP’s three tracks, which vary musically, but are anchored by her rich, almost Jazz-reminiscent tone. Afortiori plays last and while I hadn’t heard of them until writing, the one song of theirs I could find online sent me a distinct Radiohead vibe and not in a bad, style jacking kind of way. They will also be playing another show this weekend, with their second coming on Saturday at Club Sandwich (566 W. Rich). The Basement is located at 391 Neil Avenue and this will cost you $8 from Ticketmaster or $10 at the doors.

+ LISTEN: http://jackieandthestabbs.bandcamp.com

+ LIKE: http://www.facebook.com/afortiorimusica

Friday will also feature a Phantods set at the CD101 Local Showcase, the culmination of a month’s worth of fan voting at which one band will win a spot on either Side A or Side B of CD101 Day 2012, going down at Skully’s. The band, led by singer Gretchen King, won the contest last year, but is up against stiff competition in the form of Bonneville, Indigo Wild, The Spruce Campbells, and The Regrettes. We’re all big fans of each band here at HQ, so we’re torn, but hopefully you’ll all be able to be more decisive. This show is a true representation of the talent and variety in the Columbus music scene and also CD101’s commitment to it. Regardless of who wins, the touring bands should definitely be looking over their shoulders once the day of the festival(s) hit. You can find Skully’s at 1151 N. High Street and the show is FREE, but 18+!

+ LEARN: http://www.cd101.com/cd101day2012/

+ LISTEN: http://reverbnation.com/bonneville

+ LISTEN: http://indigowild.bandcamp.com

+ LISTEN: http://thesprucecampbells.bandcamp.com

+ LIKE: http://www.facebook.com/theRegrettes

FRIDAY ETC.

— Jowls is a phenomenal Post Hardcore band out of Grand Rapids, MI. They recently signed to Doghouse Records, the same label who launched The Get Up Kids and Say Anything, and will be stopping through Columbus for a FREE show at Cafe Bourbon Street (2216 Summit Street) at 9PM. They will be supported by a few of Columbus’ finest in Survivalist, Borracho, and La Palma!

— Creme de la Femme, which in my opinion is an amazingly fun way to spend your Friday evening, combines elements of burlesque with the music and attitude of Rock ‘N Roll. The show features several of Columbus’ premier performers, including Rena LaMarr and The Sex Kitten Purr-lesque troupe.

Distinct Populace presents Langhorne Slim and Dolfish on Saturday at The Summit. I’ve been a Langhorne Slim fan for awhile, ever since I saw him open for Murder by Death when I was in high school. The trademark of his music has always been his unique and powerfully emotional vocals, but his recent third album Be Set Free stepped up sonically in a way that compliments his voice better than ever before, thanks in part to the addition of a new backing band known as the Law. These new songs will undoubtedly be the highlight of a live set that is known across the country as practically being a religious experience. If you’ve heard Dolfish and heard Langhorne, you’d know that Columbus’ own Max Sollisch is an extremely compatible choice for an opener, and we highly suggest getting to The Summit nice and early to enjoy what can only be described as alternative country music from outer space and/or the future. The Summit can be found at 2210 Summit Street and doors are at 9PM, with Dolfish taking the stage around 10. The show is $10, with an additional $2 if you’re 18+ but not quite legal yet.

+ VISIT: http://langhorneslim.com

+ VISIT: http://dolfish.afternoonrecords.com

Phantods’ third and final show of the weekend is happening on Saturday as well! The band will sit atop a really excellent bill, including Columbus’ Sundown, Milano from Chicago, and Some Community, who are kicking off the show straight out of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Considering they’re opening for one of the most popular bands in the Capital City, they’re sure to experience just how hard the bands and fans in Columbus (and America) bring it for the music they love! The show is$5, 21+, and Kobo is located at 2590 North High Street.

+ LISTEN: http://phantods.com

+ LIKE: http://facebook.com/thisissundown

+ LIKE: http://facebook.com/somecommunity

+ LIKE: http://facebook.com/hearmilano

Billy Elliot: The Musical is running all weekend at The Palace Theatre, including two shows (a matinee and an evening) on Saturday and Sunday, which makes it one of those elusive things to do on our city’s day of rest. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend opening night of the show on Tuesday, thanks to Broadway in Columbus and CAPA, and truly enjoyed it! If you’ve seen the film or are just a fan of musical theater, you probably will too! Check out details on tickets and my thoughts on the show by clicking the links after the jump!

+ READ: BILLY ELLIOT: THE SPOONFEED REVIEW

+ LEARN: CAPA: CURRENT SEASON PRESENTATIONS

Hal and Al’s is trying to do something positive within its community and, along with theParsons Avenue Merchants Association, have announced that every last Sunday of the month, starting on April 29th, they will hold a food truck hop featuring local trucks and carts serving up the best in local mobile cuisine. I was living in LA when the food truck craze really started to take off and while I had some amazing stuff out there, I can honestly say that our trucks here in town are giving those original innovators out west a run for their money! I live nearby Hal and Al’s, which is located at 1297 Parsons Avenue, and am stoked to not only have something to write about on Sundays for once, but also to go out and stuff myself silly in the name of contributing positively to my neighborhood! ALSO! This iconic bar is looking for a logo to use on promotional items for this event and is holding a contest to find it! Designers should send work and/or questions to foodcartandtruckhop@gmail.com! They are taking submissions until April 15th.

VISIT: http://halandals.com

We’re busy bees at HQ working on our next seasonal compilation, which will be released in April and celebrate Spring! If you’re in a band and you like what we do, reach out by sending us a track or if you’d like details! You can contact us on <a href=”http://facebook.com/spoonfeedcbus” target=”blank”>Facebook</a> or shoot an eMail over to spoonfeedcolumbus@gmail.com! Think your event should be in the Weekend Guide? Do the same! We don’t bite!

As always, we thank you for visiting Spoonfeed and for reading! Until next Friday, keep your heads ringin’. — JS / SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and editorial writers. He can be contacted on FACEBOOKor at theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

All You Have To Do Is Shine :: My Evening with Billy Elliot

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:25:00 -0400

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

When I was told that I’d have the opportunity to review Billy Elliot: The Musical on its opening night of an eight show stand at Columbus’ historic Palace Theatre, I immediately had recollections of the film off which it was based. It was these recollections — the dismal, dreary gray of the titular character’s hometown, the opening sequence where he dances awkwardly to T. Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer” — that found me hard pressed to believe that Billy’s story was one that could be translated successfully into a Broadway musical. I remained skeptical until midway through the first act. I write to you now as a believer.

As a writer, I suppose it’s only natural that I’d deem the plot as being the night’s shining star and although Billy Elliot’s personal journey was clearly the main storyline, I was glad to see the 1984 conflict between the mining community and the English government being showcased as such a major focal point, for I don’t think it was represented with as much importance in the film. When the full cast burst onto the stage to begin the show with a rousing performance of “The Stars Look Down”, an ode to the ongoing struggles of the miners and their impending strike, I felt a sudden sense of urgency, as if they were demanding I join their cause and as the show went on, I experienced the ups and downs of working class living (“Solidarity”, “Once We Were Kings”) right along with them. It was an aspect of the show that hit extremely close to home, as the unemployment rate in Ohio seems to increase monthly and outsourcing runs rampant, and I applaud its creators for accepting the responsibility of educating along with entertaining. (I felt similarly about scenes between Billy and a character named Michael, a boy with a strong affinity for wearing his mother’s clothing who eventually kissed Billy, but was still treated with tolerance and friendliness.)

Amidst all the chaos, eleven year old Billy Elliot took center stage. Standing on the edge of adolescence and wondering where he fit into a world that was rapidly spiraling out of control, the steps he took towards finding himself are steps we’ve likely all taken. He was held down by circumstance, ridiculed and cut down by his own family, and riddled with his own self doubt, but overcame the odds to do what he wanted to do. While it certainly won’t always be as easy as it is in musicals, Billy’s story is one that we should all be able to identify with, even if we don’t aspire to be dancers. Everyone has a dream and everyone will have someone tell them its impossible. The moral of Billy Elliot, at least in my eyes, is to stay true to who you want to be and never listen to those who doubt you. Dare to be different and as long as you don’t let yourself think it’s impossible, it isn’t.

The choreography was absolutely outstanding, which I suppose should be expected from a show about dancing, and there were several types of dance aside from ballet, including jazz and tap, that were incorporated into most of the show’s numbers. Ty Forhan, the thirteen year old Canadian who is one of four actors playing Billy, completely blew me away with how effortlessly he moved across the stage and also with how easily he seemed to manage even the most difficult looking routines. The same can definitely be said for the many other child performers in the show, who reached a level of professional synchronization when performing together that is probably hard to achieve for seasoned veterans of the theater, let alone junior high schoolers. I also found it extremely refreshing to see that the cast was diverse in terms of the body types you might expect in such a high energy show and that even those who weren’t stick figures or prima ballerinas delivered their steps with talent and precision. Unfortunately, I wasn’t nearly as moved by the music as I was by the plot or the movement itself. Sir Elton John’s score was good, but not what I’ve come to expect from such a legendary artist and nowhere near as iconic of music he’s written for other musicals in the past. I also wish he’d have taken a crack at writing the lyrics because those, by far, were the biggest gripe for me in a show where I found little. The plot is so impactful and relatable, but I found what could have been great moments getting bogged down with cliches and moments that weren’t great to begin with being ruined by them (“Born to Boogie”).

That’s not to say that there weren’t some outright musical triumphs. The show featured some excellent ballads in the form of “Electricity”, which is a part of Billy’s audition for the Royal Ballet School and will leave you inspired to go out and chase your own dream after hearing it, and “Dear Billy”, a duo of connected songs that feature Billy and his deceased mother communicating to each other words they wish they could’ve said over a sparse arrangement. The latter led to many leaking eyes in the audience, mine included, and allowed me to connect with Billy in a natural, vulnerable way. There were also some stellar achievements in musical comedy, including a song from Billy’s grandmother entitled “We’d Go Dancing” that just might have been my favorite of the night. It found her reminiscing negatively over her long gone husband and then suddenly drifting away into happy thoughts of them dancing together, only to snap back to reality and lament: “But then in the morning, we were sober”. And while I may not have loved the score, there is no denying the talent showcased by the show’s tremendous touring orchestra, which also included several of our fine local musicians. Through the use of traditional British brass instruments, long associated with the coal mines, they almost made me forget I was inside of a theater for a minute.

There were many achievements visually as well. The sets themselves were far removed from the world depicted in the film, bright and colorful, but still fit the lower middle class setting, even in all their beauty and detail. And while they used pieces of the same set for several different scenes, there was always just enough of a change added to not make it repetitive. I also found myself enthralled by scenes of Billy dancing alone with a lone spotlight on him, his massive silhouette performing behind him, and of a segment which featured a Billy dancing completely in sync with an older version of himself that resulted in the former flying around the rafters on a cable. In a play that was so real, I appreciated those few, short moments of ethereal fantasy, as they added even more to the feeling that dreams, no matter how wild, can come true.

Many would argue that to see a Broadway show off Broadway is to not see one at all. I have had the pleasure of doing both and can say, without a doubt, that I have never left a show more inspired than I did when I left Billy Elliot and I saw it five miles away from my home. Sure, there were some things about it I didn’t like, but those things are superficial complaints compared to the feeling I have now in the pit of my stomach. The feeling like I can do anything. I hope you’ll see this show and feel the same. — JS / SPNFD

Billy Elliot is running through Sunday (3/25) at The Palace Theatre. Check the links below for more details!

CAPA - www.capa.com

BROADWAY IN COLUMBUS

DANE TERRY'S "7 SONGS" EP - THE SPOONFEED REVIEW

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:53:25 -0400

BY JEFF MEYERS JR.

@JeffMeyersJr

“…and if you’re thinking of leaving,

well, don’t go just yet.

I can do a great impersonation of,

a bee with no sting.

I could give you my love, courtesy of

My heart, that tired old thing.”

Pff. Dane. As if we were thinking of going anywhere.

Not after anyone sits down to even a short preview of your opening track, “My Heart, that Tired Old Thing” (which the above quote is taken from). No Dane, I think we’re going to stay seated at this bar, order another round, and keep rocking back and forth to the sounds pouring out from your piano.

Dane Terry is a musician from Columbus OH, who now resides in New York, New York. Within the year, he released an EP called “7 Songs” which features two distinct characters - himself, and a piano. Which is inviting, but also very brave for a musician in Columbus. There are piles upon piles of solo-songwriters in every town who scour the city for all of the best and worst local open-mic nights. The sea of participants in this particular venue of performance is vast and sometimes overwhelming. I’ll be the first to say that I appreciate and think highly of anyone who can perform by themselves to an audience, but be warned … I won’t listen for terribly long if all I end up hearing is another Jason Mraz imitation act. If it’s one thing Dane Terry is not, it’s an ‘imitation.’

See for yourself. Dive into the 7 song EP and hear the first (and to me, the best) track on the record. “My Heart, that Tired Old Thing” is a ‘country diddy’ molded to pull on any sensible human being’s heart strings (thus making it … tired. See the trick I pulled there? Eeps.) Dane played this during our Little Box shoot with him, and it became a moving moment for the entire Spoonfeed team. This song can’t necessarily be described effectively, it’s best that you listen to it and gain you’re own experience::

(HERE)

The journey continues and takes a twist as we move onto the second track, “The Telephant.” This song is written about a radio broadcaster describing and selling the product of a Elephant, with a television for a face. This is where we really begin to see the two characters I mentioned earlier (Dane and the piano) make a stand in this music. The piano plays these trips and melodies that to me sound like the audience of the program. They whisper and chat away about this marvelous and preposterous thing they’re seeing, sometimes erupting into a short but fierce cry of laughter or conversation. Dane carries on, letting you in on how great it is to find an elephant capable of holding such a difficult contraption. The end of the song nears, building up to the moment where the TV is to be turned on. As the listener, the fate of the elephant and the audiences are left in our hands while Dane softly plinks away the final notes.

The rest of the record is just as interesting and captivating as the first two songs. “Back on my Tracks” revisits the country sway the first track had, giving the listener the feeling of being a modern day cowboy. “Port Town Boys” is a somber waltz that could be heard on a slow moving carousel, spinning and spanning back your memories of love lost and love forgotten. The song lyrics offer a different imagery, of young kids going heading to a beach shore and fallen soldiers.

You’ll never see a man sing and play a piano quite like Dane Terry does. The songs he plays are such a perfect blend of talent, technique and character that you stop thinking about how great of a player he is or how much he’s done up to now. These are honest songs, that show off only when the story within them calls for such an event. As I listen through the EP, I wonder if sometimes it would be more effective if Dane had a small band to back him… brushes to a snare… stand up base … a cello …

Those thoughts diminish as I restart the EP at “My Heart, That Tired Old Thing.” On this EP, Dane is a one man band, and one of the best storytellers you’ll meet. Pull a lounge chair out onto the patio at 10pm when the stars roll out, start a fire in the pit, bring out a glass of red wine and scroll to this EP on your Ipod. I promise, the stars put on a hell of a show when Dane’s playing. - - JM

BUY THE EP HERE: http://daneterry.bandcamp.com/

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 3/16

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:11:23 -0400

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

Hello Columbus! We’re back for another edition of the Weekend Guide and as always are so grateful for anyone who’s stopping by to stock up on solid tips for succeeding this St. Patrick’s Day Weekend! It’s just as busy around HQ as it is in our fair city, so let’s not waste any time and get right down to business!

There was a period of time last year where I found myself listening to a lot of new music and wondering where all the guitars went. As it turns out, Lionel the Jailbird was stockpiling them up right here in Columbus, waiting to strike. Their music is steeped in the muddy swamps that birthed original, American Rock and Rock around the turn of the 20th century and has the raucous spirit of the bands who perfected it and made it famous in the sixties. Their sound is reflective of all of that, almost as if their album was a timeline for how the genre has progressed over the years. Given that description, their live show is what you might expect it to be: loud. They are a band in the classic sense, a three piece with a singer who has the ability to soar over their music and also occasionally plays violin. Okay, so maybe it’s not THAT classic.

Lionel will be playing Kobo Live (2590 N. High Street) on FRIDAY along with former Little Box performers Glow Merchants, Chicago’s Pet Lions, and Forest & The Evergreens. The show is 21+ and will cost you $5. Small Business Beanstalk members can get a dollar off of the cover charge by showing their member cards at the door!

+ LISTEN: http://lionelthejailbird.bandcamp.com

+ LEARN: http://facebook.com/thesbb

Credit: Arlo Moon

FRIDAY ETC.

Our friends at the fabulous Feverhead space (1199 Goodale Blvd.) will be housing a variety of works by artist Arlo Moon this month and will be hosting several viewings, including one on Friday. The night is described as being a one man show of sorts and several surprises have been planned, along with a few different performances and experiences that will vary depending on which night you attend. The shows are BYOB, but there will be food and drinks provided while supplies last. For more information on Feverhead, click here: http://www.facebook.com/feverhead

The Seasonal Help will be co-headlining with Vancouver’s Redrick Sultan at Ruby Tuesday’s (1978 Summit Street), with the show beginning at 9PM. They will be accompanied by Pet Names and The Beers. The Seasonal Help are definitely a band to watch this year in Columbus, so I highly suggest this show and checking out their tracks over at http://theseasonalhelp.bandcamp.com.

Friday also marks the big day for several of our city’s greatest local bands and We Are Columbus as the group’s showcase takes place at Treebar in Austin, Texas in part with South by Southwest. We could not be any happier for these bands and want to see them take their amazing music as far as it can take them, so join us in wishing everyone involved good luck and also a safe trip home! If you’re lucky enough to actually be at SXSW, make sure you stop by!

SATURDAYis St. Patrick’s Day, which I’ve found is either one of those days you love or despise. If you wait all year long to drown your sorrows in pint after pint of discounted Guinness and/or some suspect green beer, here are several options that we think might get you in the proper holiday spirit!

The Tree Bar (887 Chambers Road)presents A Boozy Brawl to End All!, featuring sets from the heavily buzzed about Bonneville, In Silent Movies, and M.T. Bearington from New Haven, CT. DJ Adam Scoppa will be playing the finest in classic soul vinyl in between sets and Tree Bar staff assures that everyone will be sufficiently smashed by night’s end.

My Best Friends Party (www.facebook.com/mybestfriendsparty) are taking over Skully’s (1151 N. High Street)for a banger of immense proportions and since everyone knows St. Patrick was Italian, they’re honoring history by bringing in Blatta + Inesha, an Italian duo that alongside fellow countrymen Crookershas been rocking parties in a legendary manner throughout the international EDM scene. They will be supported by local legends and trailblazers Roevy. Cover is $10 and the show is 21+ due to St. Patrick’s Day restrictions. Starts at 9PM and goes all night!

Everyone will be Irish for the evening at Outland (95 Liberty Street) and they may also be prone to random fits of dance, with sets coming from several local DJs. Half priced Irish Car Bombs will be available and doors open at 10PM. Admission is $3 for 21+ and $5 for illegals.

SATURDAY ETC.

Brand new Columbus Punk band Other Halfwill be debuting at Carabar (115 Parsons Avenue), along with Machete, who have roots here as well as in Chicago. The bill is rounded out by New York’s Nude Beach and Vacation from Cincinnati. The show starts at 9:30PM and is free!

Saturday isn’t just for getting wasted and wearing green. There will be an important meeting at Union Cafe (782 N. High Street)for those interested in volunteering on behalf of Freedom to Marry Ohio. While we here at HQ tend to stay away from publicly discussing political issues, this is one that we feel is far too important to keep silent. We are all predisposed to falling in love and therefore should not be told who we can and cannot marry. The next few months are crucial for the advancement of this initiative in the state of Ohio, so please stop by Union at 6PM to see how you can help truly make our city an equal one! For more information, contact Eric Young (614.404.1912) or visit www.freedomohio.com.

And now we’ve reached the end, friends. I’ll leave you with one last recommendation, although it isn’t one for this weekend, and that is to check out our brothers in Psuedo/Sentai as they return home from their current residency in New York City for two shows at Kobo and Circus, respectively. The band will be performing it’s brand of spazzy, progressive Rock alongside a ton of great local talent, including The Weight of Whales and To Kill A Monster. For more information, check out this convenient commercial the P/S boys whipped up for your viewing pleasure.

Until the next time… stay pretty, Columbus. — SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and editorial writers. He can be contacted at theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

NEW TOOTH "SAY AH" EP - THE SPOONFEED REVIEW

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:57:55 -0400

BY JEFF MEYERS JR.

@JeffMeyersJr

Spring time is teasing us.

Every now and again, the spring season seems to roll in long enough to wipe their shoes off and crack open a soda. Just when we begin to enjoy the good conversation, Spring gets a text from someone clearly more important, drops a quick apology and strolls out leaving their open soda on the table, mostly full. This leaves us to deal with Winter, who is sitting too close to us on the couch and keeps sneezing in our laps.

Luckily, Columbus bands from all ends of the city are releasing new music to help us wipe away the wintertime blues. One of these bands is hitting up the scene for the first time, but you wouldn’t believe it upon hearing their first batch of recordings, the “SAY AH” EP.

Ian Bates, Danny Solsman, and Romain Paumard make up the new Columbus band NEW TOOTH. If you’ve been following Spoonfeed since December, you may remember New Tooth’s song “Coming Soon” opening our very own Winter Compilation CD. This was one of the first songs we received for our release, and the SF team instantly knew that this track ahd to kick off the record. It’s a powerful, thumping, guitar heavy track that’s simple, and perfectly introduces New Tooth to your ears. Some may argue it’s power pop, others may identify it as indie, I just label it as delicious.

If you end up liking that track, you’re in for a treat when you buy the EP. The other songs feature the same fierce attitude that “Coming Soon” carries. “Hipster Girl” opens on one steady strumming note which soon becomes a wild romp. Bates’ vocals fit perfect for this band on songs like this, because he has a style that almost seems childish, but certainly not in technique. Like the songs, Bates keeps the vocals simple and easy to understand. This young man keeps an even younger version of himself alive in these tunes. This is evident and enjoyable as we listen to these tracks and he swells through lyrics like …

“Will he get a sidekick / and kill Mothra / just like in Godzilla?”

If you asked me to describe what New Tooth sounds like, I’d probably try and do it. My answer would be something like, ‘Franz Ferdinand and The White Stripes steamed and placed next to a large slab of old, classic Weezer, drizzled with The Clash, and topped with a dash of The Dex Romweber Duo.’ But, you’d say that sounds stupid and probably leave the bar.

But really! This would be my answer. To me, taking in local music like this is like eating a fine meal. You know when a good, hearty meal is coming, but you’e never truly thankful for it until it’s mere scraps on the plate. After listening to New Tooth’s EP, I’m confident that i’ll be returning for more helpings of their ‘delicious’ tunes in the near future. You should consider grabbing yourself a plate, pulling up a chair and scooping up a serving of their music very soon.

- - JM

BY THE “SAY AH” EP HERE: newtooth.bandcamp.com

FIND NEW TOOTH ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/newtooth

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 3/9

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:14:17 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

If I judged solely on Facebook statuses alone, it would appear that this week was a disappointing one in the lives of many Columbus denizens. I read angry tirades rallying for poltical candidates who bombed on Super Tuesday and against those who prevailed. I observed many a bro, totally stoked on Wednesday’s gracious and beautiful weather, let down by the rain on Thursday, for it was not nearly as conducive to shirtless cornhole playing or Natural Light drinking. I practically felt the frustration of what were likely thousands of music fans as Radiohead announced tourdates, consequentially and anti-climatically revealing that they’d be skipping Ohio’s capital yet again. Times were indeed grim, but this writer did his best to stay optimistic. I am here now to tell those people, consecutively: “Chin up, that guy who won or lost was probably a fraud anyhow!”, “It’s cool bro, cornhole is super fun to play indoors. Try moving your couches into the middle of the room for an extra challenge.”, and lastly, “No worries, Cleveland and Cincinnati pre-sales are sold out already!”

…Maybe it’s not all going to get better after all, but at least your friends at Spoonfeed won’t leave you high and dry. Let the negativity of your exhausting weeks wash away and ignore the sun if it won’t shine! Bask in the glow of another fine edition of the WEEKEND GUIDE.

It took me one listen of Love Culture’s latest release, Drag, to realize that their show atThe Summit this Friday was the first thing I had to include in the Guide this week. Admittedly, they played to my tastes in the most wonderful way, seamlessly blending the loud, guitar-centric sounds of Brit Rock and Shoegaze with a hint of Grunge snarl and the mysterious air of some tracks by later eighties Post-Punk bands. It was almost hard to believe that they were local, the sound was just so incredibly “across the pond”, but we are indeed lucky enough to have them right here in Columbus. They will be playing alongside Wolf Ram Heart, who will be bringing with them the dark, dreamy, and oftentimes psychedelic, yet still very much pop sound of their debut album, Betrayal of Hearts. Detroit’s The Wire Eyes and Minneapolis’ Dada Trash Collage will also be appearing, with DJ sets coming all night from my boy Walleye to keep the energy up. The Summit is great for keeping things cheap, so this performance from what are surely two of Columbus’ most promising bands will only cost you five dollars and as a result should not be missed! The Summit is located at 2210 Summit St. and the show starts at 9PM.

+ Buy Love Culture’s Drag (lovecultureband.bandcamp.com)

+ Buy Wolf Ram Heart’s Betrayal of Love (wolframheart.bandcamp.com)

FRIDAY ETC.

Under the Sun are a musically proficient group of six lads whose sound recollects Rock ‘N Roll’s glory days and they will be supporting touring act Zach Deputy as he comes through Columbus for a show at Woodlands Tavern (1200 W. 3rd Avenue). Woodlands is a great venue to regularly catch some of our city’s best talent and once in a blue moon catch Eric Clapton. Music starts early at 8PM and admission will run you $12. —- The Shaw Bros. have embarked on their journey to South by Southwest, so Jay Alton and Black Dog Circus will be taking their place at Brothers Drake Meadery’s (26 E. 5th) annual 2nd Friday. The Corbin Marsh Band and Joey Hebdo will also perform. As always, this show is free so stop in and consume some of the Brothers’ delicious, delicious mead. —- Our friends at Utrecht Art Supplies’ (612 N. High Street) March Mania sale continues. Stop by and get twenty five percent off your entire purchase!

March is amazing for great shows in cities like ours because of all the bands and artists who are migrating towards South by Southwest, but need to stop and rock faces in order to sustain themselves on the journey. It’s important to support these bands, especially when you consider that some of our own artists are making that same journey and will need similar support along the way. That might have been what was going through our friend and partner Katie Pierce’s (Jack In The Pocket) head when she organized a last minute show for Rochester’s SPORTS, who bring in the noise, but more so the Funk, at Kobo Live on Saturday. The show also serves as a sort of homecoming for Boston’s Mutual Benefit, who paid dues on Columbus stages before heading East. The show will be anchored by a DJ set from local powerhouse Monster Rally and also features Rochester’s Little Spoon. We will be there hanging out, selling Spoonfeed merch, and also doing some filming, so come say hi as you lend an ear to a few deserving musicians who need it! The show is only five bucks and starts at 5PM, so it’ll be a grand kick off to what will hopefully be a fun and eventful Saturday! Kobo can be found at 2590 N. High Street and admission to this show gets you into the late show, which features Bicentennial Bear and Dune. Two shows for one price… can’t beat that!

+ Visit Jack In The Pocket (jackinthepocket.com)

+ Check out Mutual Benefit (mutualbenefit.bandcamp.com)

+ Check out SPORTS (http://www.reverbnation.com/thebandsports)

SATURDAY ETC.

Intifada Columbus brings you their fifth, and what they hope will be their largest, event at Double Happiness (482 South Front Street). Intifada’s goal is to prevent a night of entertainment for the revolutionary mind, a social situation without judgement or hierarchy. Their cause is certainly noble and the event features many personalities from Columbus’ only community radio station, WCRS. —- Recent Little Box performers Maza Blaska will be playing their final show in Columbus before SXSW at Carabar (115 Parsons Ave.) alongside Old Hundred and The Tins from Buffalo. This party begins around 9:30. Bring your piggie banks, buy all their merch, and fill their gas tank all the way to Texas! —- There’s a killer night of EDM scheduled at Bernie’s Distillery (1896 N. High Street) entitled Lucky Beets, which will feature sets from DJ 7UP, Jea Leigh, and Columbus’ own Hawstyle. You can get wavy starting at 8PM, so long as you’re 18 or over and have five dollars. —- Quinn Fallon, Joe Walter & Keith Novicki, and New Tooth are playing Treebar (887 Chambers Rd.) at 10PM. The show is $5 and 21+.

Take some time out of your day on Sunday to vote for one of the ten excellent Columbus bands up for an opening slot at one of the CD101 days. The list includes former Spoonfeed compilation bands George Elliot Underground and The Town Monster, as well as last year’s winner Phantods. Voting can be so stressful lately, but not when it’s for great tunes, so cast your vote now!

+ Vote for CD101 Day Local Opener (http://www.cd101.com/cd101day2012/)

+ Buy Spoonfeed’s Winter Compilation (spoonfeedcolumbus.bandcamp.com)

I’m so glad to have started to receive some great feedback about the Guide via eMail and on Twitter / Facebook. Please keep letting me know what to check out and giving me ideas to improve this small area of our site! We are nothing without you! Until next weekend, stay pretty! - SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and resident writers. Please send all questions, comments, tips, and chocolate chip cookie recipes to theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

SHARP WIT - A SPOONFEED INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN HENDRICKS

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:53:00 -0500

PHOTO BY KATE SWEENEY

by Julian Smith

@DANGERSMITH

One day, in my dreams, this site will have reached a level of importance where people will care to ask me how it began and I will tell them “with a restaurant”. In January 2011, I began training to be a server at the then unopened Bravo in the Lennox Town Center and met Larry and Kate. As the months flew by, we toiled and triumphed in Bravo’s trenches and forged tight bonds over music and indifference towards serving pasta to often unappreciative people. Eventually, we started tossing around the skeletal ideas that eventually, with the introduction of Jeff’s leadership and guidance, became Spoonfeed. It was at this same restaurant that I became acquainted with Kevin Hendricks.

Kevin is one of those people that I feel like I got to know in fifteen minutes. He could wax forever when presented with any topic of conversation, a constant and talkative source of knowledge laced with a dry, often humorous insight. He was also sort of goofy, a physical presence that might be imposing if you hadn’t discussed Ocarina of Time long enough with him to know he wouldn’t hurt a fly, unless of course it was attacking him in 1080p. Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when, later that year, Kevin told me he was beginning to dabble in stand up comedy. Dabbling has since given way to regularly performing about town, his name one of the many that is beginning to rise in an already prosperous comedy scene in Columbus. He brings to the stage the same distinct sort of observation he brings to one on one conversations and does so with a confidence that cannot be broken… even if the jokes don’t land.

Julian Smith: To start, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Kevin Hendricks: I’m twenty four and I’ve been living in Columbus for about six years now. Before that I was living in Dayton, but I came down here for college and have been here since.

JS: And you’ve started doing stand up fairly recently, right? How long has it been and how do you think you’re progressing?

KH: I started last August, so I’m just past six months doing it. I really feel like I’m doing pretty well. I’ve got a lot of material compared to some people who’ve been around longer and am making some stuff happen lately that you might call a good start.

JS: One of those things is a weekly performance at Aoi Blue Bar (878 Bethel Road), which is something you helped put together. How is that going?

KH: That really stems from a developing relationship with a few other comedians who started around the same time as me. Nick Glaser, Tyler Hanson, and Laura Work, along with myself, kind of got that show rolling and now we do it every Friday. The show itself is moving around as far as start time and what not. We’re still trying to find what works best, but it’s been really exciting to start our own show and I think the local veterans are starting to take notice.

JS: You’ve also got a really fun gig coming up at Bernie’s Distillery (1896 N. High Street), which includes live music as well as comedy. I know you’re really looking at it as a big show from a personal perspective. Give us the details on that so we can all get out there and see you!

KH: Right. The show at Bernie’s is on Wednesday, March 7th and it starts up at 9PM. Weston Sherman, Danny Stratton, and myself will be handling the comedy and warming things up for some really great Columbus bands, including Heroes of Music. It’s a five dollar cover, but that gets you sets from three comedians and five or six bands. I’m doing my longest set ever, so it’s definitely a monumental one for me. COME!

JS: Now that we all know where to see you, what can someone expect who never has before? How would you describe your brand of comedy?

KH: With me, you never know what you’re going to get. I do some stuff that’s a little relatable, but I definitely feel like I have a no holds barred type approach to telling jokes. Not so much in the sense of being offensive or hitting taboo subjects, but in the variety of what I include in my set. I’ve transitioned Thundercats jokes into a joke about Neil Armstrong and having a parrot spacesuit on the Moon. I’m still fleshing out my style, delivery, and my writing approach, but I definitely find that the most unique part of my bits is that kind of random variety.

JS: Who are your comedic heroes?

KH: My top three has to be Demetri Martin, Eddie Izzard, and Mitch Hedberg. All three of them just have that great combination of a signature delivery and spontaneous wit where that next joke could come from anywhere and be about anything.

JS: What about locally?

KH: My personal favorite local comedian is definitely Mark Lucas. He’s always got fresh jokes with great delivery and kind of an irreverent style. That’s a hard call though. You’re out at four or five shows a week just spending hours in bars with other comedians and it becomes difficult to separate the artist from their body of work, particularly with comedy because even when you’re not onstage you’re joking around with the others and trying stuff out.

JS: In your opinion, where is THE place to go for live comedy in Columbus?

KH: Every venue has its perks. I’ve been picking up shows on different nights of the week since I started and I’m up to about six places now where I know I can go do time and have a good night. The two biggest shows that for me are the most prolific are Surly Girl (1126 N. High Street) on Wednesdays and Scarlet & Gray (2203 N. High Street) on Tuesdays. Shrunken Head (5th and Neil Avenue) on Mondays has been getting really fun too, so if you want to make it a trifecta, there you go. Honestly, each one of those venues does something right. Surly Girl is great for the room. It’s tucked in the back and you know the people are there just for comedy. Scarlet is cool just because it makes for such a bizarre evening. You’ve got like thirty comedians sitting around in what, I guess, is a pretty douchey bar and there’s any number of different types of people there, but it’s all in this big room so you get the bros and douchebags and weirdos and comedians all mingling while some guy shouts jokes onstage hoping that someone is laughing or at least listening.

PHOTO BY KATE SWEENEY

JS: You mentioned that your show on March 7th is featuring a lot of live music. We cover a lot of music on Spoonfeed and when I was prepping for this interview, I got to thinking a lot about the comedy album. I know reactions to them are usually mixed. What are your thoughts on them and would you ever consider doing one?

KH: I love listening to comedy albums. I think that they’re great, but I don’t believe that listening to an album is the ideal way to truly take comedy in. It’s a similar, yet still different medium. Only a few styles really work well for me in an audio format. I think Demitri Martin really nailed it on his album, but he incorporated a lot of musical instrumentation. He even has a track where a guy explains what he’s doing as it’s going on to make up for the lack of physicality. However, as much as I’d like to let as many people as possible have access to my jokes and gain exposure through an album, it’s not something I see myself doing. Something gets lost when you lose that interactivity and physicality that comes along with live comedy.

JS: You’re also a big music fan. Who have you been listening to lately? Anything local?

KH: I’ve been kind of backtracking, honestly. I recently got into Fugazi and am getting familiar with all their stuff. I’ve also been going back and listening to a lot of older Black Keys albums. My friend just got me into Metronomy as well. I hate to sound pretentious, but I almost force myself to be really eclectic in what I listen to. I really love my friend Sandeep’s band Heroes of Music. He put together the big show at Bernie’s on March 7th and I’m really excited about seeing them and being apart of it.

JS: Spoonfeed is devoted to shining a spotlight on what’s rising in local culture, whatever avenue of culture it may be. To conclude, do you have any final thoughts on our ever growing cultural scene in Columbus? And what’s next for you?

KH: Columbus is amazing because you can go out every night and have a different experience. For up and coming artists, there are countless open mics and opportunities that cater to newer additions to the scene. Granted, it’s the only scene I know, so I can’t really compare it to anything else, but it seems like we’ve got a unique thing going here. Speaking solely about the comedy scene, I love it here because if you’re funny and you keep showing up and you take it seriously there’s a whole community that will recognize, appreciate, and reward that. I’m not sure what’s next for me and comedy, but there are enough people laughing that I’m really enjoying plugging away it. — SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and editorial writers. He can be reached for question, comment, or a tip off on a great story via theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 3/2

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:56:00 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

The other day during a slow shift at work, I noticed a co-worker being bombarded by two elderly women preaching the gospel of Rick Santorum in between massive bites of pasta. Only around the primaries, am I right? As the airwaves become clogged with electioneering candidates, I’m full of nostalgia thinking back to the first time I cared enough about politics to truly notice how obnoxious all the campaigning can be: the 2008 election. It was the first time I could vote and I found myself suddenly immersed in all the issues, desperately trying to find my voice in a metaphorical room where there are millions constantly screaming and in enough time to cast a ballot that I believed in.

This is neither the time or place for that voice. That’s not to say that we at HQ don’t care about important political and social issues. We just want to provide a place where the rapidly growing fever pitch can’t reach you. We aren’t asking you to make monumental decisions about anything, we just want you to enjoy what Columbus has to offer. So in 2012, vote Spoonfeed. We may not fix the health care system or the energy crisis, but we’ll damn sure be serving up strong doses of awesome local content as long as you’ll have us. Brought to you by Columbus, for Columbus. Now, onward to another edition of the Guide!

The Floorwalkers are showing their teeth on Friday night with a major headlining show at the fabled Newport Music Hall. The Columbus staples are gearing up for a large tour of the east coast and south, which includes two showcases at South by Southwest. They have also been writing the highly anticipated follow up to their amazeballs debut album, The Natural Road, so maybe we’ll be lucky enough to hear a new song or two. Fingers crossed! Support will come courtesy of The Town Monster and the Larry Doyle recommended Indigo Wild, ensuring an entire night of solid, local music being presented with touring band swagger in a big old room. All three of these bands are on the rise and not only in our fair city, so check them out before people in all the other cities start claiming them. Doors open at 7PM and the show is all ages, with tickets costing $10 pre-sale and $12 at the door. The Newport Music Hall is located at 1722 N. High Street. Visit http://thefloorwalkers.com and geek out.

FRIDAY ETC.

The awesomely named and extremely funky sounding Wonder Twin Powers will be activating onstage at Kobo Live along with One More Sun. Cover is only $5 and I highly suggest wearing dancing shoes. It’s going to get sweaty. Kobo can be found at 2590 North High Street. …Strangers In Daylight, Alert New London, and Blues On Reds will be performing at Circus(1227 North High Street). Presented by Trio, the show starts at nine and is sponsored by Fireball Whisky, which is one of this writer’s favorite things, so go have a $3 shot or six.

The first Saturday of the month means Gallery Hop and we know you’ll all be flocking down to the Short North for an incredible Columbus curated experience. The district’s many shops, restaurants, and performers pull out all the stops for this monthly event, to the point where being there can cause a bit of sensory overload. Here are a few Spoonfeed recommended stops to help you easily navigate through March’s Gallery Hop.

Kate Sweeney’s 365 @ Image Optical

— Kate is a dear friend as well as an original Spoonfeed staff member, so you might be quick to call posting about her bias, but take one good look at any one of her prints and you’ll recognize that she deserves the attention. To see the world through Kate’s lens is truly a unique view, one where every detail can be just as twisted as it is beautiful. For an entire year, she posted a picture for each day at http://krock365.tumblr.com/ and her show will feature selected works from the grueling project. Snacks and drinks will be served from six to ten and her work will be left on display throughout March for those who can’t make it. Image Optical is located at 846 N. High Street.

Brothers Drake Meadery’s One Year Anniversary

— My name is Julian and I’m a mead-a-holic. You’ll have noticed if you read these weekly as my intake grows with each Guide. At this point, I’m just hoping to mention them enough here to warrant a complimentary glass every now and again. But seriously, this is one of the best, most unique places to grab a drink in a city and Saturday marks an entire year of their existence. How we lived before then I don’t know. Gallery Hop involves a lot of walking, so make it a point to take a load off here when you do. Complimentary snacks will be served and music will be provided byPlayhouse.

Amish Drum Machine @ The Lindsay Gallery

— A few months back we inherited a date to present a show at Kobo. Included with the date was a promised set from one man band Scott Gorsuch a/k/a Amish Drum Machine. His live show proved to be just as unforgettable, if not more than his name and we’ve been huge fans ever sense. The method to his madness is basically an artform in our eyes, so it makes perfect sense that he’d provide the after show to a display from two of Columbus’ local artists, Amber Groome and Morris Jackson. The Lindsay Gallery can be found at 986 North High Street.

The beauty of something like Gallery Hop is having the opportunity to discover new things about your backyard, so use those as starting points and see where the day and night take you! Let us know what your favorites ended up being!

SATURDAY ETC.

Karate Coyote and Survivalist will be playing host to Quebec’s Intensive Care for a show atTree Bar (887 Chambers Road). Come out and show the touring bands why Columbus is a must include city for their routing and in turn support our locals as well! This one also includes a performance from the phenomenal She Bears, who are from Columbus, but are currently touring in support of their new album I Found Myself Asleep out now on Deep Elm Records! Admission is only $2 … a steal! … Johnny Newman is celebrating the release of his new EP with a show at Kafe Kerouac that also includes Dolfish and Time & Temperature. The show starts at 10PM and costs $5. Kafe Kerouac are our besties and can be found at 2250 North High Street. … This year’s Columbus Indie Comics Fair is going down at Ace of Cups (2619 North High Street) and serves as an opportunity to check out work from many of our city’s comic book artists. Original works will also be composed on site. The exhibit runs from 1PM to 6PM.

And so concludes the first Weekend Guide of March. I wish you all a fun and safe few days. Until the next one, stay pretty. — SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and its editorial writer. He is a Gemini and really loves Coca-Cola from glass bottles. Sandwiches are great, but Katzinger’s sandwiches are greatest. To agree or disagree, reach out to theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 2/24

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:37:00 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

An unfortunate truth about the world we live in is that it revolves around money. Even things that we hold dear, like music or art, come at a price, which is even more unfortunate considering that those who are out there creating within these realms are likely broke and doing so for love, not gain. These are facts that are starting to impact what we do here at Spoonfeed immensely.

We are devoted to making the site the best it can possibly be and also pushing ourselves to continue improving and expanding upon our content, but those things cannot happen on the backs of will and creativity alone. As a result, I’m writing this weekend’s Guide with a new found respect for fledgling groups and businesses like ours who are doing the best they can with the little means they have. The importance of giving even the smallest bit of monetary support to causes you believe in cannot be underestimated, which is why, in a weekend stuffed with incredible activities for your enjoyment, I am choosing to highlight events on Friday and Saturday that benefit such causes. Go forth and give!

Remember when the radio was awesome and helped break new artists? Neither do I. It’s no doubt that radio has deteriorated severely in our generation, mostly because of Payola and the internet, but the damage is far more significant for the Alternative community and for public radio, with stations closing their doors all around the country at a rapid pace, than it is for, say, Kiss FM. We in Columbus, however, are equal parts lucky and spoiled because we have both an independent, Alternative station (CD101) and a fabulous public, community driven station (WCRS). The latter is hosting a crucial benefit on Friday at Rumba Cafe and your presence and donations would be much appreciated.

The station will be broadcasting the event live on air and features music from New Tooth, The Girls, The Good Instrument Friends, and Mikes Wilson. There will also be a raffle with a ton of quality local swag up for grabs! The excitement begins around 9PM and you can find Rumba Cafe at 2507 Summit Street. For more information on WCRS and why it needs your support, visit them at http://wcrsfm.org!

FRIDAY ETC.

Vibe out with Dose as he, in conjunction with Short North Boutique Milk Bar (765 North High Street), presents a listening party for his new release When We Were High. The event starts at 7:30PM and drinks will be provided! … Head down to Circus (1227 North High Street) for Creme de la Femme, the ultimate evening of Rock, Roll, and burlesque, which is now going bimonthly! Admission is only $6 and bands include the fabulous Rustbelt Monarchs. Be there at 9:30PM! … beautyofmyland, an experimental band that specializes in improvised Jazz and Dance fusion, presents The Night is Alive, So Get Up and Dance! at Ruby Tuesday’s (1978 Summit Street). The event will also feature live painting from Cloudhaus, with the proceeds of works sold going to the Ohio Environmental Council. Music begins at 10PM and admission is $5.

Something that does break new music these days is South by Southwest, an annual music conference that completely takes over Austin, Texas every Spring. You will never see more dirty band dudes collected in one place in your life, comparable only to the amount of industry folks in town to sign them. Last year, a group called We Are Columbus made waves by bringing thirteen of our finest local bands to showcase in Austin and thankfully for our city’s musicians, they are doing it again this year. The number in 2012 has been upped to fifteen bands and on Saturday they’ll all be at Ace of Cups for a unique show benefiting their upcoming foray into the Lone Star State. The opportunity to play at SXSW is undoubtedly a big one. You never know who will stumble into a showcase and discover next year’s great buzz band. The idea that this could happen to one of our amazing bands here and that going to this show will help them along the way should not be lost on any of us. Just in case it is, however, allow me to appeal to the fan in you by letting you know that each band will be performing a unique, stripped down, “Storytellers” type set at the benefit that you may never see again! Participating artists include Phantods, The Floorwalkers, Maza Blaska, and Lackluster, with hosting duties being bestowed upon CD101’s Rachel Gordon. There will be plenty of giveaways going on as well! With an admission cost of only $6, this is a can’t miss event and a must support cause! Ace of Cups is located at 2619 North High Street and the show begins at 7PM!

MAZA BLASKA PERFORMING IN “THE LITTLE BOX”

SATURDAY ETC.

In addition to Texas, Columbus will also be represented in Lima, Peru this year by a group of missionaries traveling there to aid a small pueblo community. While most of the cost of the trip is being paid out of pocket, the group, working within the Medical Mission International Organization, is raising funds for supplies and medicine Saturday at Brothers Drake Meadery (26 East Fifth Street). For more details, hit http://event.pingg.com/mmievent! … Artists can save a little bit for all these charitable donations by stopping by Utrecht Art Supplies (612 North High Street) and getting twenty five percent off their total transaction! … Mardi Gras hits Columbus with a celebration at 400 West Rich. Their parties are so good you’d think they invented them. While you’re there getting decadent, check out their excellent studio spaces and the local creators who call them home!

Finding stuff to write about on Sunday is proving to be a moderately difficult task. What’s happening on the day of rest that I’m missing?! Let me know if you do! In the meantime, since this Sunday is the Oscars, I suggest checking out The Artist as it’s most likely going to win a lot of statues and is most certainly deserving, at least in my humble opinion. Grass fed beef brisket from Ray Ray’s, while oft recommended by yours truly, is also a sure bet. Someone should make a movie about how good it tastes. I’m looking at you, Trevor Arwood.

With that, another Weekend Guide is in the books. I hope everyone has great times while also going out and giving to causes that need it! I also hope you enjoyed our Little Box set with Maza Blaska as much as I did this week. Two words: amazeballs harmonies. Until the next, stay pretty Columbus. I’ll see you in March! - SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and its editorial writer. He is grateful for being a loser on a team full of winners and can be reached at theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 2/17

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:49:00 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Countless chocolates have been unwrapped and once beautiful flowers have wilted. You had an amazing time with your significant other eating a meal that you waited an hour and a half for on top of another couple in a restaurant well over its capacity, but now they’re back to their normal selves, belching on the couch in their boxers playing video games…

…Maybe that last bit is case specific to my place? (Editor’s Note: Guilty as charged.)

We want you all to know that we take our relationship with you very seriously, even though we just started dating in October, and that we don’t need greeting card companies to create a holiday so we can show you how much you mean to us. Valentine’s induced euphoria may only come around once every February, but Spoonfeed is spreading love year round and trust me when I say we’ve got a lot to give!

Now that the mushy stuff is out of the way, let’s get to what we’re all here for: another fabulous rundown of happening happenings going on this weekend in the Capital City! Taking place on both Friday and Saturday, Invasion is a series of concerts at Kobo Live that promotes solidarity and networking between the Columbus and Toledo music scenes. Each bill is comprised of two local acts and two Toledo bands, with Alert New London / Dirty Girls and This Is My Suitcase / She Bears representing Columbus on Friday and Saturday respectively. The same shows will then take place in Toledo next weekend. A portion of the proceeds made from these events will go to The Columbus Music Co-Op, a non-profit organization that provides our city’s musicians with health benefits amongst other noble causes. The value of developing and nurturing relationships with surrounding artistic communities is immeasurable, just as is ensuring the well being our own, so we recommend stopping by (at least) one of these shows immensely. Both nights’ shows begin at 9PM and Kobo Live is located at 2590 North High Street.

The Brothers Drake Meadery will also be playing host to stellar events on Friday and Saturday. For those of you who have not been to this gem of an establishment, you are truly missing out. The true highlight is, of course, the mead, which is generally delectable anywhere, but taken to a whole new level at Brothers Drake. Each mead is crafted in house and made with only the freshest of seasonal, local ingredients, providing an experience and a buzz that you won’t find anywhere else in Columbus. Given their commitment to creating a locally rooted product, it should come as no surprise that Brothers Drake consistently lends itself as a setting for local performers of all types. The diversity in their booking is hugely evident in this weekend’s shows there, with The Phoenix Project, a completely original set of high octane Jazz courtesy of Ken Messner, on Friday and an evening with singer-songwriter Ruvane Kurland on Saturday. Brothers Drake Meadery can be found at 26 East Fifth Avenue.

The trend of two day events continues with Comedy’splosion 2012, taking place on Friday and Saturday at the MadLab Gallery. Each night features a deep line-up of eight comedians ranging from up and comers to those touring nationally and all sixteen of them are Columbus based. The sheer number of comedians alone should amount to a busted gut’s worth of laughter, but make sure you pay close attention to who you might want to see again, as I’m told that all the involved comedians appear here regularly. For more information on this event and other awesome things MadLab has its hand in, please pay them a visit at http://madlab.net. Comedy’splosion tickets are ten dollars a pop and both shows begin at 10PM. The gallery is located at 227 North Third Street. Did I mention this is all sponsored by Pabst? Get your tall boy on.

Phantods have been locked away in the studio so far this new year, but are stepping back into the light for a much anticipated show this Saturday at Skully’s. Appearing along with them are Dayton’s Astro Fang and the 614’s own Dolfish and Bonneville. It’s been a few months since Phantods have rocked it properly here, so I would expect some stops to be all pulled out at this one. The band has even announced they’ll be playing a new song, so get out there and learn the words way before CD 101 plays it and everyone else does. Admission is a reasonable five dollars and the show starts with Bonneville at 9:30. Skully’s resides at 1151 North High Street.

I’d like to conclude this weekend’s guide with a couple of personal recommendations. Firstly, I highly suggest streaming and then immediately buying the new EP from New Tooth, available now at http://newtooth.bandcamp.com. I first got turned on to the band through their stand out track on our Winter compilation and now, thanks to this release, am hooked. If imagining a more Punk Rock, loud as fuck Arcade Fire is appealing to you, you’ll probably love this.

Secondly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you to somehow find a ticket to see Frank Turner this coming Wednesday as he hits Outland Live for a one off headlining show in between his tourdates with Social Distortion. His latest album, England Keep My Bones, is one of the most genuine records I’ve had the pleasure of listening to in years. He’s already filling stadiums across the pond, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be playing someplace as small as Outland the next time he’s here. Get hip!

Until the next time, Columbus. Stay pretty! — SPNFD

(Julian Smith is Spoonfeed’s resident editorial writer along with being one of its co-creators. He can be reached at theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

WALK THE MOON: "ANNA SUN EP" - THE SPOONFEED REVIEW

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:42:00 -0500

BY JEFF MEYERS JR.

@JeffMeyersJr

—

Dance-worthy. Energetic. Exciting. Unique, but easily relatable.

NOT GARBAGE.

These were the words that reeled through my mind through many cold spring afternoons in 2011. At the time I was acting as the Heidelberg University Music Chair, which meant I was responsible for bringing musical acts onto our campus that would make the student body creep slowly away from the vacuum that was there terribly boring room. I was an RA too, so I know firsthand just how boring these rooms were. Being in a small town like Tiffin OH does bring about its own challenges when you’re an event planner. Night life rarely included live music on the town, unless you wanted to catch a parade of locals trip and burp through the weekly Karaoke night. You’d think with this drab nightly formula, it’d be easy to pull kids away from the beer or video games for one night and entice them to a attend a rare and wild live concert, complete with food, lighting, a sound system and cheery faces. I thought the same, but quickly felt the pressure as I realized it was more challenging than it seemed.

Luckily, with the descriptors listed above I was able to stumble across a band starting to gain recognition in Cincinnati and Columbus. WALK THE MOON.

It was love at first sight between me and their music. One listen and I could just picture the sweaty, dancing, smiling bodies in the tin gymnasium out on the campus grounds. I signed them for our biggest show of the year, and they were an instant hit. My hopes and dreams came alive before my eyes as many Heidelberg students gathered in that gym to get a taste of the same delicious musical fever I possessed. So, I was completely ecstatic to hear that Walk the Moon had recently surprised their fans with a three song release, The Anna Sun EP.

The release starts off with a brand new song, one they’ve been playing live frequently. “Tightrope,” along with the other two tracks on this EP can be described as ‘utterly infectious.’ These fellas waste no time with salutations, the music instantly grabs you by the shoulders and sends your body spinning on the dance floor. ‘Easy now, with my heart…’ croons front man Nicholas Petricca over the running baseline and fierce, crisp drums. Throughout the song, listeners hear mentions of walking on a tightrope, being careful and taking it easy, however Walk the Moon have a fantastic way of getting you to forget your cautious nature and just let your hair all the way down.

“Anna Sun,” is a song re-recorded from their first album, I want! I want! The noticeable difference between the two versions is the production. The EP version is crisper, more radio friendly, and has more attention to detail in transitions throughout the song structure. The climbing ache my heart experiences when the music rings through the lyric “…we’re gonna rattle this ghost town…” makes me so jealous that I didn’t write that line myself. The song speaks to me about determination through tough times. I almost envision a homeless traveler with little food or money, dancing through a train station with nothing but the clothes off his back and a megaphone, screaming the lyrics to people as he makes way, careless to the judgment that may surround him. If you need help with the visual, you can check out the colorful video Walk the Moon made for the original recording of this song below:

The EP wraps with a track called “Next in Line,” and for a moment you’re tricked into thinking that this is a completely different band. The song starts with a pulsing synth, not far from something you would hear from Julian Casablanca’s solo work. The closure kicks in when the vocals sing on, ‘my eyes are on the road / but my mind is on your body / my hand is on the stick shift /and your hand is on my hand.’ This track is probably the most experimental of the three for this band. At times the music seems rougher and less forgiving, but it’s performed in a way that you can tell is branded by Walk the Moon, which puts you at ease. When they want to be fierce, they do it by their own terms while still keeping a tight grasp around your desire to dance.

The Anna Sun EP is a must have if you’re a new listener of Walk the Moon. All three songs are radio worthy, and have already become a staple in local “Touch n’ Play” machines across the city. The beautiful thing about this band is that I can’t precisely compare them to any other band I’ve heard. If a gun was to my head and I was asked to lay some comparisons on the line, I’d say they sound like The Strokes and Phil Collins, blended in with some fresh strawberries, a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a Sprite on the side. Their facebook page has over 17,000 fans, and that number is only going to grow. They’ve been to Lollapalooza, they’re nominated for an mtvU Woodie Award, and they’re bringing their party to Jimmy Fallon on April 5^th.

Do yourself a favor. I did. Not only did I find a band that was ‘not garbage,’ I found a band that inspires me to move. I am a horrid dancer too, so you know it’s good when I’m moving. - - JM

FIND “WALK THE MOON” HERE: http://walkthemoonband.com/

BUY THE EP ON ITUNES: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/anna-sun-single/id498498103?ls=1&=iqidFB

PHOTOS BY KATE SWEENEY

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 2/10

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:14:22 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

I came across a lot of frowns from all varieties of people this week. It was as if a little bit of snow hit town and brought one hundred times its weight in negativity along. At this point, I could use a Super Mario RPG style pick me up. I’m thinking one of the Weekend Guide type… how about you?

I’m starting to get a few tweets and email’s with great recommendations for future Weekend Guide mentions and general feedback on this aspect of our site. I truly enjoy the interaction and am so appreciative to receive it, so I encourage anyone who’s reading to reach out. Spoonfeed exists both for and because of you. And we love you lots, just in case we don’t say it enough.

On that tender note, let’s get rolling onward to yet another fabulous weekend of activity in the six one four!

Two great local bands are commemorating the release of new albums with shows on Friday. The Salty Caramels, a trio whose style of Americana music certainly lives up to its name in terms of its salty to sweet ratio, will be pulling out all the stops for their release event at The Woodlands Tavern. The group will perform two sets complete with special guest musicians sitting in and background dancers. Yes, background dancers. If that’s not enough, tasty treats courtesy of local legends Jeni’s Ice Cream will be on hand! The Woodlands Tavern is located at 1200 W. 3rd Avenue and the show starts at eight. Support comes from Elisa Nicolas, Jinxed, and Buckles and Boots. Admission is ten dollars.

If you’ve been with us since the beginning, you may recall Lionel the Jailbird from the sweet jam they provided as a featured download for the site around launch time. The good news for all of us is that their new album contains more songs in that same vein of awesome and that they’ll likely play most of them on Friday at The Rumba Cafe. They are bringing along The Lost Revival and The Allwood Sisters for support, with amplifiers starting to do their jobs around ten o’clock. The show and Lionel’s new album are both five dollars and Rumba Cafe can be found at 2507 Summit Street.

While the similarities between The Caramels and The Jailbird may be few, they share the common bond of releasing a collection of songs into the world this weekend. It takes a lot of digging, both into the soul and into the pocket, to make an album, which is why it’s so important that we head out on Friday and support our local musicians by giving their records a home. Enjoy the ear candy.

Friday ETC.

Hit up Outland (95 Liberty St.) for an all night combination of Rock and Roll and burlesque that includes The Up All Nights and Lackluster bringing the former and Kitty Mystique leading the pack for the latter. $7 / 18+ … Milk Bar (765 N. High St.) is hosting a 25% off sale on their entire inventory, with an additional 10% off sale items. Great deal for great threads! … Get into the Valentine’s spirit with The Dewdroppers at their Sweetheart Dance, taking place at 400 West Rich. The show also includes majorly buzzing band Way Yes. If you were at their Sadie Hawkins Dance last summer, you know this is going to be one for the ages. New Dewdroppers tunes are promised.

Our friends at Feverhead are hosting Stupid Cupid, an alternative Valentine’s Day bash, on Saturday. Feverhead is an excellent space located at 1199 Goodale Boulevard that is providing a safe haven for all sorts of Columbus’ creative types to do their thing. We personally have visited and love the atmosphere there! Twenty dollars buys you not only a night full of performances and visual art from a list of our city’s cultural contributors too long to include here, but a vegetarian friendly menu that sounds delectable (two words: lasagna and jambalaya) and booze! Bringing your own poison is allowed and encouraged. If you’re an artist interested in commissioning a space for a future event or simply a patron of all things grand in the arts, this event is for you! A portion of the event’s proceeds will go towards the ongoing struggle against HIV/AIDS.

Saturday ETC.

An informal gala celebrating Columbus art’s past, present, and future is taking place at 139 West Main Street. Admission is free and includes two drink tickets and food provided by a bevy of amazing local restaurants. Artists are encouraged to bring small pieces for inclusion in a time capsule. Brothers Drake will also be in attendance for Mead tastings! YUM! … Speaking of Brothers Drake Meadery (26 East Fifth Street), Angela Perley and The Howlin’ Moons will be playing a FREE show there! This is one of my favorite spots, so this one comes highly recommended. Remember, there is a “me” in Mead.

Other Lives were recently on tour with Bon Iver. As if that’s not cool enough, they recently scored the coveted opening slot for Radiohead on the band’s upcoming tour! Catch the band in between amazing tours when they play The Basement at 8PM and check out a brief profile on the band courtesy of our BFF Jack in the Pocket to get familiar if you’re not! http://jackinthepocket.com/post/16978918573/otherlives- tamer-animals

The Blue Man Group is in town until Sunday. Our own Jeff Meyers Jr. took in their show on Tuesday and wrote an incredible article summarizing the night’s events, so I highly recommend that you read it if for some reason you’re on the fence about going. And if you aren’t into reading, or are just now turned off of it because of this article, take it from Larry Doyle who told me: “It made me feel like a kid again.” More details can be found at www.capa.com/presentations/current-season-presentations/blue-man-group

Our trusty and talented videographer Trevor Arwood put together a handy preview of the Columbus Symphony’s performance of Mahler’s Sixth, which takes place on Friday and Saturday. Check that out below!

So turn those frowns upside down Columbus and give us a smile… the weekend’s here! Until the next time, stay pretty!

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and its editorial writer. He can be contacted at theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

THE BLUE MAN GROUP: THE SPOONFEED REVIEW

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:03:00 -0500

“When meeting people from a foreign culture, offer them gifts to reflect your interests as a gesture of friendship…

…Better yet, give things you’ve created yourself…

…The best way to forge a lasting friendship is to create something together. When you create something with others, you build a connection that lasts a lifetime.”

(Displayed on stage, before the performance)

BY JEFF MEYERS JR.

@JeffMeyersJr

The cold air swept inside the lobby of the Palace Theater in Downtown Columbus whilst Larry and I stood awaiting the house doors to open. My limbs were shuddering not only from the cold, but more so from anticipation of what we were about to witness. This feeling was coupled with excitement, but in all honesty I had no idea what to expect from a show like this. I had never seen the Blue Man Group before, and knew only the base facts about the travelling troupe going into the show. I knew there were always three, from what I had seen they were emotionless, and they had participated in a string of Intel commercials. My dad is a huge BMG fan and owns their CDs, so I also figured there was a musical, mostly percussive element to their shows as well. When I had finally escaped the wintery lobby area, we were guided to our seats in row V, on the ground floor. The moment my back pressed against the cushion of the chair, I realized that the Blue Man Group is so much more than computer advertisements and loud drums. They are vibrant explorers of human interaction.

I don’t want to explain too much about the show itself, because there are so many brilliant things packed into the performance that I would be doing a great injustice by trying to describe them. What I will tell you first and foremost, is that this show is for all ages. Before the show even started I glanced around the entire theater to see what kind of people go to a Blue Man Group show. Survey says…well, everybody. Fathers, mothers, children and grandparents rolled up to the Palace in busses. Good family entertainment can be hard to find depending on who you are and where you’re coming from. However, no matter who you are, if you’re scraping at the door of your home trying to pull your family out on the town for some quality time, the Blue Man Group will provide you with a flawless show that is sure to keep the kiddies in their seats and excited to be there.

The show is structured to showcase three characters, each identical in physical appearance, yet all slightly different in personality. It seemed that throughout the show, these three characters put themselves as well as the audience through a series of experiments. All hilarious, and all entertaining. These various tests involved the creation of art, music, and interaction. One of their more known performance acts (displayed on most of the BMG publicity around Columbus this week) involve banging on drums smothered in different colors of paint. This causes a beautiful display of neon colors splashing upwards as the BMG drum and bang their way through a set. The best part is, the BMG never throw too much at you at a time. Each member, while seemingly emotionless, are very curious and speak volumes through their body movements. Colors are introduced to you one by one, and elements leading to a physical punch line are fed to the audience cleverly. The music is wild and ferocious, but performed in a way that absolutely anyone can enjoy. The material never gets dry with these fellas. Words of warning however, the BMG are not afraid to get the audience involved, or wet.

Now, if you’re a regular Spoonfeed reader, you’ll know that we don’t often cover national acts. I myself wondered how I could write an article about a national act merely coming through Columbus for a string of shows, when the website is based on recognizing and showcasing amazing local talent. By the end of the show, I found it very easy to connect the two.

Spoonfeed is DIY based. It started as an idea, and one idea turned into another, the ideas became more complex, and as the days passed by the ideas took on lives of their own. Now, we’re looking to become a multi-platform record label and creating content that is exclusive and can be meaningful to many. The Blue Man Group is a simple idea, that has evolved now into a full-on touring production. The instruments are made out of what looks to be PVC piping, magnificent visuals are created with paint on drums, and the entire show the BMG don’t utter a word. It’s simple, it’s unique, and it’s beautiful. We here at Spoonfeed hope to see a mere fraction of that success in our city. Without a doubt, we recommend you go see the BLUE MAN GROUP very soon, this week, at the Palace Theater. - - JM

FOR TICKET INFORMATION, HEAD TO http://capa.com/presentations/current-season-presentations/blue-man-group

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 2/3

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:24:25 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get stoked Columbus, it’s Weekend Guide time! And while the weather outside is as strange for February as Jamaicans were to bobsledding, Columbus culture is maintaining its stable climate of awesome over the next three days, which means lots for you to get out and do! I’m going to get right into it this Guide, so no theme… just enjoy yourself. Instead, a dedication! For as we traverse the town this weekend, our very own Larry Doyle will be at home recovering sans appendix. This good time’s for you, sir.

Donewaiting (http://donewaiting.com) will be celebrating its ninth anniversary with a blow out show at Ace of Cups on Friday. As an upstart site in Columbus, we respect the hustle over at Donewaiting and are inspired by their longevity. Also, the line up is crazy good, boasting a reunited Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments performing their notable 1995 album Bait and Switch in its entirety and a performance from Zero Star, a local MC who’s collaborated with Blueprint and been featured on Grindtime. The bill also includes Cleveland troubadour Bill Fox and Sundown, a Columbus by way of Brooklyn band whose debut EP, Mansion Burning, is available now… via cassette!!! When you add DJ Detox spinning between sets and a rare appearance from Spoonfeed favorite P. Blackk to the mix, you’ve got a surefire recipe for a party in your ears. Ace of Cups can be found at 2619 North High Street and the event begins at 9PM!

Friday in Brief

Hangover remedy Formula AM presents a local showcase at Circus (1227 North High Street) featuring one of this writer’s favorite Columbus bands, The Up All Nights! Support comes from The Mighty John Waynes, The Kickaways, and The Loretta Hotts. Start time is 9PM! … Kobo Live (2590 North High Street) plays host to a Mardi Gras themed show complete with prizes and performances from Ghost Shirt, The Low Men, Karate Coyote, and The George Elliot Underground. Seems like this one could get pretty rowdy! Start time is, you guessed it, 9PM! … I recently got hooked on a band from Michigan called Cheap Girls. They’ll be bringing loud guitars and 90s nostalgia to The Basement(405 Neil Avenue) as support for The Smoking Popes. Tickets are ten dollars and the show begins at 7PM! The band will also be heading out on tour with Columbus’ own The Sidekicks later this month.

Like films? Like sludgey Doom Metal with a Southern twinge? If you answered “yes” to both, Starwood has a treat for you with an event on Saturday at Ruby Tuesday’s featuring an exclusive screening of the anticipated rockumentary Slow Southern Steel. A project four years in the making, the film is a window into the underground Metal scene beneath the Mason Dixon line and comes complete with live performances and candid interviews from the bands, fans, and promoters who comprise it. The film includes several artists that were pivotal to the genre — Hank III, Kylesa, Torche, Eyehategod, etc. — and is being heralded as a must see! The film begins at 9PM, but seating is very limited, so arrive early. Hail! Hornet and Zoroaster will be hitting the stage at the film’s conclusion. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of show, and you must be eighteen or over. Ruby Tuesday’s is located at 1978 Summit Street.

Saturday in Brief

The Heatwave Dance Party will be going down from 9PM to 2AM at Ace of Cups. For a mere $2, you can move until your feet get blisters to an all vinyl mix of 50s and 60s soul, garage, and R&B! … The Groundhog Gala, featuring performances from Xe La, Sonic Roach Destruction Unit, and Contraband Boots, takes place at Oldfield’s (1571 North 4th Street) and begins at 8PM! … My fellow Youngstonian Dave Buker, backed by his band The Historians, will be playing Kafe Kerouac (2250 North High Street) along with Black Dog Circus and Whirl. The show is free and starts at 8PM! … Dane Terry, an artist we back heavily here, will be bringing his incomparable style to Rumba Cafe (2507 Summit Street) for a night of music that also includes Dollfish and The Saturday Giant. No cover charge, but it is 18 and over. Excitement commences around 9PM.

Unfortunately, this Sunday is pretty much dominated by and dedicated to the Super Bowl. Part of me feels like our target demographic may not be football fans, but just because you don’t like the sport doesn’t mean you can’t gamble on the game. Patriot or Giant, it doesn’t matter… just get that money!

Until the next time, you all stay pretty! Remember to add us on Facebook and invite us to your events — perhaps you’ll see them here one day! Cheers! — SPNFD

(Julian Smith is one of Spoonfeed’s co-creators and its editorial writer. He can be reached via theloudestsmith@gmail.com)

Sleep Deprived Works of Minimal Genius

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:25:14 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

@DANGERSMITH

“Washed Away in a Digital Sea (Part One)”

In the what feels like forever ago summer of two thousand and three, I helped start a band. We were only about to be high school sophomores, but we took it surprisingly serious given how little most of us cared about practically everything else. After writing a few “songs” and “mastering” a few covers we jumped right into playing local shows. It seemed we weren’t the only people who had decided to start bands that summer. And it was all kids around our age too — a generation of dudes who loved Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday, New Found Glory, and Thursday that would eventually go to college, possibly start Indie bands, and claim they didn’t. Regardless of whether or not you were really listening to Ryan Adams in high school, one thing was clear: there was a thriving scene revolving around the youth, those sorts of bands, and that music popping up in small towns across the country. We had a terrible Geocities website then, but it quickly became clear to us that no one was using it. The same generation of people hated the constant, mundane clicking of a mouse as well, apparently — they wanted everything at once. Enter what I consider the first real boom in social networking, a site fueled immensely by its usage from bands and musicians: MySpace.

In the freezing winter of two thousand and twelve, MySpace is dead. What we now experience, as Lester Bangs put it in Almost Famous, is its death rattle. To go there now is to drown in a sea of endless URLs, awful band names, worse haircuts, and spam. Upon a look at my band’s page, which has been defunct since we broke up in two thousand and eight, we’re still receiving spam from both artists pushing their music and bots hocking products alike. It was annoyances like these that had us all rethinking our decision to turn away from a well thought out website and make MySpace the hub for all our music and artists. A simple page designed to give us everything at once had turned complicated. We fled in droves to the sudden wealth of artist exclusive .com’s as the “last time logged in” count on their MySpace profile grew by days, months, and finally years. As Facebook claimed the social networking throne and Twitter emerged as its prince, even those who craved a simple online experience had less aggravating options. In a last ditch effort to even be considered an underdog in the fight for our online minutes, MySpace revamped itself and tried its best to address our frustrations with it, but it was too late. They had rendered themselves out of the running.

The most unfortunate thing about MySpace’s passing was the fact that so many bands became, in a sense, homeless. They relied on their MySpace profiles and so to cope with the sudden void in users was impossible. I wouldn’t be shocked in the slightest if it led to some drastically falling off or even breaking up. This can be attributed to the general shift towards full artist independence in the music industry, a slow burn that is finally blazing and allowing musicians to realize that “it”, whatever it is to them, can be done without the support of a label or a producer. It’s a realization that has effected all aspects of an artist’s daily affairs, especially its relationship with the internet. While maintaining profiles on Facebook and Twitter are necessary for artists looking to expose their tunes to a wider audience and also for artists who enjoy keeping in close contact with their fanbases, the smart choice these days is to create an interactive online experience for fans that is unique to a specific artist, but still have it be easy to use and kept up just as frequently as their MySpace profiles were. This allows for a definitive place for all things related to an artist, customized through his or her’s eye. The artists then can integrate their presence on social networking sites into their own sites without those presences being their sole presences online.

If all of this has taught us anything, it’s that things rarely stay the same. Today’s Facebook could easily become yesterday’s MySpace. Yet, these things are and were so crucial for artists trying to navigate through a struggling, evolving industry. The sites may eventually change, but their uses and benefits will still be needed. The best chance to stay afloat if such changes occur is to stay ahead of the curve. What is innovative and on the incline? Recently, two sites have been establishing themselves as the forerunners of what’s to come for musicians on the internet: Bandcamp and Kickstarter. I’ve heard before that you aren’t in a band until you release something. I would argue that you’re a band as soon as a song’s written or a show is played, whether it’s to only your parents or the other bands on the bill. However, I do feel like having some sort of release out for consumption establishes credibility and also confidence. I will never forget the feeling I caught when I opened a box of pristine compact discs with all the fixings — artwork, wrapping, infuriating security stickers, it was all there! It was bliss. I imagine now it’d feel more like bankruptcy.

The switch to digital distribution was inevitable, especially since people were doing it for free well before the industry caught on. This past year, digital finally outsold physical, which is a bit of a sad statistic considering physical sales are at an all time low. And while most of those sales came from Apple’s juggernaut iTunes store, about a million this past holiday season came from Bandcamp.

The beauty in that is that there isn’t one Top Forty or even major label artist to be found there. Bandcamp offers an alternative to digital music for many types of people. It has a wide scope of audio qualities and file types for audiophiles, it offers a full stream of most tracks for the serious browsers, and it’s free for artists to sign up and start distributing their stuff, complete with digital booklet (if made) for the people who complain about the lack of artwork in digital releases. Each profile can be customized and the artist has complete say over how much their music is being sold for. Far out, right? With sales increasing every month, I would venture to say that Bandcamp will eventually be a force to be reckoned with in today’s shape shifting music business, a go to for both independent artists and music fans. Even we use it! (By the way, buy our compilation!)

What’s really behind basically everything in this article and virtually everything else in this world is money. It’s why we whores ourselves out on MySpace, its why we simulcast on Facebook, MySpace, and Tumblr, and it’s why we sell our music on Bandcamp. It can be your worst nightmare, but it can make your dreams come true. Kickstarter is doing just that with its unique spin on the charitable donation. Have a project that you need funded? Start a Kickstarter and rally your supporters. If you meet your predetermined goal for donations, Kickstarter puts all that money where your mouth is. If you don’t, you don’t get anything. It’s no risk, all reward, and while it wasn’t made for musicians (you’ll find projects of all types there), they’re certainly finding a niche there. For instance, I’ll be sitting down with a band this Friday for an interview when they come into town for a show at The Newport who recently raised twelve thousand dollars using the site (double their goal). In fact, the van they’ll be driving in was bought with Kickstarter money! The key is the incentives that come along with donating. Give a dollar, get a personalized email. Give ten and get signed merchandise. Have five hundred laying around? Get a personalized guitar and a private show. Gang of Four even offered vials of their blood!

Obviously the site has its naysayers. Forum arguments on prominent independent music news sites are frequent when artists announce they’re using it to fund raise, with many saying to “get a job” or cite a list of artists who actually had to “pay their dues”, but Kickstarter isn’t about the people setting up the profiles and that’s all those artists did. It’s about the people who donate. Whether or not a project is funded is dependent entirely on them and their belief in it. For a musician to achieve that sort of dedication and connection one might have to argue that music probably is their job and they’ve likely paid their dues, so why shouldn’t they be supported financially by a fan base they themselves built? I certainly would rather donate to help a band I love make a record than never get to hear it at all. Wouldn’t you?

The scene I described in the beginning has faded. There are only bar bands left in my small Northeastern Ohio town. Luckily, that isn’t the case here in Columbus, where you only have to hear a band of guys in their mid-thirties butcher “Don’t Stop Believin’” if you want to! Two weeks from now, in the second part of this article, I’ll talk to several of Columbus music’s best and brightest and take a look at how they navigate through an industry that’s always shape shifting. You’ve heard my thoughts, get ready for theirs! — SPNFD

Sleep Deprived Works of Minimal Genius is Spoonfeed’s biweekly, editorial column. Its opinion is that of Julian Smith and not necessarily spoonfeedcolumbus.com, so if you hate it please don’t kill the messenger.

Have thoughts on these topics or ideas for a future article, email theloudestsmith@gmail.com and you might get incorporated into the next one!

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 1/27

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:19:34 -0500

BY JULIAN SMITH

(@DANGERSMITH)

Times are strange. I look outside my window as we inch towards February and see more rain than snow. Even the air feels and smells like Spring sometimes. And just when I think the cursed, coldest of seasons has skipped us and dare to walk outside in only a T-Shirt, Mother Earth gets over her menopausal hot flash, turns the rain to ice, and mocks me from above as my body spazzes out in the face of sudden changes to the climate. A most fickle mistress, indeed!

Such was the case sometime between last Thursday and last Saturday, when I transformed from an ordinary writer to a fever nursing, NyQuil guzzling, vomit dispensary. It was as pretty as it sounds. I spent the next five days in a Vicks induced haze. I cast aside all responsibility in favor of soup, juice, shitty daytime television, and bed. Yet, even as I continued to shake off the remnants of this plague, I knew that there was one thing I couldn’t brush to the side: this weekend’s guide!

This weekend, the theme is different depending on your current state. If you’re a sick pup like me, the goal is to get well. This is no joke. People all around are dropping like flies, forced to spend their weekends hunched over a toilet bowl. I suggest a healthy dose of Vitamin C, a strong internet connection for maximum Netflix usage, and a friend or significant other who loves you enough to put up with your whining and bring you delicious soups from the innumerable amount of awesome delis in the 614. Get some rest and come back stronger than ever next Friday!

For those of you lucky ducks that are feeling fit and well, your goal is to get out there and get twice as busy for those of us who cannot! We are living vicariously through you, so don’t mess it up! With such a momentous task in front of you, wouldn’t it be nice to have some kind of list where you could find a handful of amazing stuff to do this weekend? Oh wait, you do!

Whether you’re an established member of Columbus’ art community or an amateur looking to contribute to its growth, it’s imperative that you stop by Utrecht Art Supplies in the Short North on Friday for a sale they’re describing as mad! From 8AM to 9PM, you’ll be able to score all the supplies necessary to channel your artistic creativity for awesome and affordable prices. Dollars need to be stretched as far as they can go, so don’t sleep on this! Utrecht is located 612 N. High Street. To call ahead for more information on the sale, including restrictions, dial (614) 224-7708.

Also on Friday…

The Floorwalkers will be playing not one, but two sets at Rumba Cafe (2507 Summit Street) with support from Humming House. The show starts at 10PM, is 18+, and will cost you $10. Have you seen their Daytrotter session? #KilledIt … Black Phantoms stops by Bourbon Street (2216 Summit Street) along with Room + Board, MVWHITE, and Kat Smo. The music begins at 9:30 and fashionable lateness is neither cool or appreciated. … Hit up The Blue Danube (2439 N. High Street) for my favorite Friday fish and chips special in town! It’s ridiculously good, well done bar food and it doesn’t hurt the wallet in the slightest. Request Carlo and tell him we sent you!

Saturday finds Columbus Alive! hosting its annual Bands to Watch showcase at Skully’s! And since exposing the wealth of unknown and on the rise talent we have in our city is a cause near and dear to Spoonfeed’s heart, it’s only right that we insist you attend! The line-up is refreshingly diverse, featuring sets from Monster Rally, The Dewdroppers, Meechie Nelson, Freaky Franz, and Sundown, and the night will be capped off with a dance party courtesy of Bruni. Did I mention it’s free?! I was in attendance for last year’s showcase and it was a great, debaucherous time, so this is highly recommended! Skully’s can be found at 1151 N. High Street and festivities commence at 8PM!

Also on Saturday…

The Age of Aquarius Warehouse Bash is going down at Club Sandwich (566 W. Rich Street) with live music being provided by Washington Beach Bums and many more! Admission is $5 and while there will be kegs, it is recommended to BYOB. … Dance or Die will be invading Kobo Live (2590 N. High Street). Your options for this one are clear. Bombardment with bass will come from Barticus, Party Bus, and Burgle. The cost is only $2 and the show begins at 9:30PM. … Columbus reignites the Cold War for Warsaw Winter live at Outland (95 Liberty Street), which features the return of DJ NCoder. Doors are at 10PM. For those who can legally drink, admission is $3. For those who cannot, it’s $5 plus the cost of whatever you had to buy to get in the right mindset to go.

Worship at the altar of The Monster House on Sunday and take part in the time honored tradition of loud, sweaty house shows. If you’ve never been to a house show this would be a damn good one to start with. The line-up is flanked by touring acts One Hundred Year Ocean and Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) (Editor’s Note: Empire! is incredibly tight. Their live show should be nothing less than chaotic inside a house. Get hip. Now.), but the true highlight will be Spoonfeed Winter Compilation band New Tooth who are performing for the first time in six months. Columbus scene stallwarts Maza Blaska and Cleveland natives The Sidekicks will also be playing. These are all hardworking bands who are making a splash not only here in Columbus, but on the national stage as well. Be sure to buy up all their limited seven inches so you can brag about it in a few years.

Spoonfeed Sunday will also be in full effect with your favorite worker bees getting together with the magnificent Dane Terry for what may go down as our greatest Little Box feature so far! The excitement is making me nauseous… or maybe it’s still the unforgiving plague. Either way, look out for that in the future! By the way, did everyone enjoy their time with The Glow Merchants this week? We sure enjoyed having them!

Big things are happening everyday with this site and our ideas for the future are even bigger. We appreciate any and everyone who’s been coming along on this journey with us and we shall feast like gluttons upon the fruits of our labor once we all reach the promised land! In the meantime, enjoy your weekend and be sure to join me in exactly seven days for another guide! As I imagine our very own Larry Doyle would say, “get in the pit and try to love someone”. — SPNFD

P.S. - I’ve received a few eMails from people who want their events / businesses / etc. included in the guide. While I am more than happy to oblige such requests, the easiest way to be featured in the guide is to add Spoonfeed Columbus on Facebook and send us an invite to your function! Thanks!

Julian Smith is one of the co-creators Spoonfeed, in addition to being its Editorial writer. He can be reached via theloudestsmith@gmail.com

SPOONFEED'S GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND - 1/20

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:55:31 -0500

by Julian Smith

@DANGERSMITH

Hello Columbus dwellers! Thanks for dropping in on this weekend’s trusty guide. The theme this weekend is good times in warm places, which is fitting given that this weekend also concludes Columbus’ annual Restaurant Week. Restaurant Week is a promotion involving pretty much every notable restaurant in and around the city. It allows diners looking to sample different tastes of the 614 to do so at a discounted rate with most deals offering three or four courses, so it’s great for you couples, students, and nine to fivers looking for a nice night out without breaking the bank. I’ve picked five fine eateries for your taste buds’ consideration, but there’s a legitimate ton more to browse through at http://restaurantweekcolumbus.com. Don’t let the snow intimidate you into staying in and missing out on great deals and even better food!

Lemongrass Fusion Bistro

(641 North High Street)

- Lemongrass’ unique food combines aspects of Asian, European, and American cuisine and turns it into something yummy and also unique.

The Deal: $25 for three courses. There are three options for each course. I’d go for their signature salad to start, followed by the Mediterranean Stuffed Salmon, and cap it off with their Fried Plantains. They also have some pretty excellent specialty drinks, just ask our very own Kate Sweeney.

Basil Thai

(1124 North High Street)

- I have longed for the joys of great Thai food since I moved back to Ohio from SoCal where there was a wealth of them. While I have been known to enjoy Nida’s (also on High), I think Basil’s food is a bit more authentic and that there’s a bit more variety in their menu.@

The Deal: $20 for three courses and there’s a huge amount of stuff to choose from. Get whatever you want, but take my word for it and snag the Pad Kee Mow for your main course.

Lindey’s

(169 East Beck Street)

- Widely regarded as one of Columbus’ greatest restaurants, Lindey’s takes simple, American rooted food and turns it into a refined and delicious eating experience. They have an excellent happy hour, as well, and are featuring some specialty drinks for Restaurant Week — all using Maker’s Mark! I’m sold.

The Deal: $30 for three courses, which is a steal at Lindey’s. There are three choices per course and they’re fairly straight forward. I wonder how many filets they’ll go through? For me, the most inticing part of Lindsey’s offer sounds like dessert: Bananas Foster French Toast or Doughnut Bread Pudding?

Mitchell’s Steakhouse

(45 North 3rd Street)

- A Columbus institution, Mitchell’s will be one of your more expensive options during your weekend of culinary exploration and indulgence. It is, however, extremely worth it. The steaks may be the best in town, but the house made sides really bring out the best in Mitchell’s dishes. Great date night spot too, especially if you date a wine snob — Mitchell’s has a list of over 200!

The Deal: $35 for three courses and not a whole lot of options, but the necessities (like a mouthwatering seven ounce filet) are there and you can rest assured that anything you order will be cooked to perfection.

Spagio

(1295 Grandview Avenue)

- If you’ve been following these guides, you’ll know that I, like many others, have a strong affinity for pizza, which is how I got turned on to this final recommendation. Spagio has great wood fired pizzas, but that’s only the tip of their iceberg on their European and Pacific Rim influenced menu. I also love how fresh the food tastes. You can tell they make their food with care and pride.

The Deal: $25 for three courses and don’t be foolish: start out with the Prince Edward mussels steamed in a bacon and white wine cream sauce.

—

In addition to Columbus Restaurant Week, Spoonfeed will be hitting the town hard this weekend to shoot upcoming content. We would love to have one of your pretty faces end up in a video, so feel free to join us at any of these awesome events below and make sure you say hello. Friday will find Larry Doyle and I enjoying great tunes from all ends of the musical spectrum as we hop from place to place to bring the best to your computer screen!

First, we’ll be sitting down for an interview with Maine’s Sparks The Rescue before their show at The Newport Music Hall! They’re in town supporting their album The Worst Thing I’ve Been Cursed With, which is great played loud and steeped in 90s nostalgia. Tickets are $15 and the show, which also features Lima, Ohio natives Hit The Lights, begins at 6PM.

We will also be dropping by The Full Belly Food Drive to donate a few canned goods and get our minds blown by The Town Monster. I had the pleasure of speaking with Matt from The Town Monster earlier this week and got the full scoop on the Full Belly Food Drive, which like Restaurant Week is helping to feed our city’s hungry and that is a cause we most definitely believe in here at HQ. The show is at Skully’s, starts at 9PM, and also includes Spoonfeed Compilation alumni Karate Coyote and The George Elliot Underground. Admission is free with three canned or non-perishable goods. For more information, read my article on the event HERE!

Lastly, we will be stopping by The Garden Theater to catch up with the incomparable Dane Terry, who will be working his magic fingers in his own Cosmic Cabaret. Dane is truly one of the more talented artists I’ve been exposed to since starting work with Spoonfeed and I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this show will do everything besides disappoint. Also, the promotional poster reminds me of David Bowie and there’s nothing wrong with that. For more details on Dane Terry’s Cosmic Cabaret, visit http://shortnorthstage.org.

While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with gorging yourself on an incredible meal or enjoying a buzzed night out with your favorite local musicians, I am going to end this weekend’s guide by seriously imploring you to join us at Clayspace (831 South Front Street) for an evening of local art and music benefiting Special Spaces Columbus. Special Spaces is a non-profit that we’ve been working with and contributing to and they build dream bedrooms for children with terminal illnesses. We truly believe in what they do, are completely inspired by them and the kids they build for, and will continue to work with and for them in the future. Admission to the event is $10 with all proceeds benefiting their next build!

That brings us to the end, folks. I hope you enjoyed the Coreroc and P. Blackk interviews this week! Drop by next week for more original Spoonfeed content and another Weekend Guide, of course. Stay warm! - SPNFD

Julian Smith is one of the co-creators Spoonfeed, in addition to being its Editorial writer. He can be reached via theloudestsmith@gmail.com