All signs point to a thaw. C-VILLE’s events calendar has been slowly expanding, releases have been hitting the inbox a little more frequently. The winter mood is lifting.
Saturday night The Garage continues a fun series of concerts: Shut-In Shows, where they shut the door, and the audience watches a concert very much from the inside of a tiny building. That performer is a young Ann Arbor folk songwriter named Nathan K. Suggested donation is $5.
Hear Nathan K here.
Tomorrow, Nixon in China broadcasts in HD at the Paramount. It’s about the prez’s 1972 peacemaking trip to China. Among the revealing moments in the opera is when the hooch-loving Nixon dines with the Chinese P.M., and goes sip for sip toasting with maotai—a very potent beverage. How does opera sound when slurred? This is your chance to find out.
A Presidential Party at the Paramount. More below.
PVCC opens two new shows today, both of which sound very promising: "Naxos" by the local artist Tim O’Kane, and "Streams" by the South Carolina artist Michael J. Simpson who bases large abstract works on geological formations. That’s tonight from 5-7pm.
More vivid work from Tim O’Kane. More below.
And you’re probably wondering what’s happening at the Southern and the Jefferson. From this desk, I’m sometimes blindsinded by bands that seem to be extraordinarily popular, and yet I have never heard of them. That’s the case with both Joshua Radin at the Jefferson and the Civil Wars at the Southern. And it looks like Charlottesville is finally starting to thaw, because both shows are sold out.
What’s interesting, though, is that both seem to have gotten a foothold in the industry by appearing in TV shows. The Civil Wars’ got a big boost after "Poison & Wine," the title track from their recent EP, appeared on "Grey’s Anatomy;" lots of YouTube views followed. Their debut album only came out February 1. Ditto for Joshua Radin, but he’s been at it a little longer. His music first appeared in "Scrubs" in 2004, and then in "Grey’s Anatomy," "Brothers and Sisters," "American Idol," "One Tree Hill"…the list goes on. And now he’s sold out the Jefferson.
Note to self: Write songs for TV.
The Civil Wars sold out tonight at the Southern.
Joshua Radin sold out the Jefferson.
What are you up to this weekend?