Upcoming shows you should check out
Blue Bird saves, all others pay cash
Regarding designated driver tickets at the Summertime Brews Festival, the organizers have posted this on their site FAQ: “We provide a lot of great entertainment that is worth the price of admission. Plus, the ticket price reflects a donation for the benefiting charity and can be considered a tax deduction by some creative accountants.” Pardon, but that’s a cartload of bullcrap. Not only are references to the charity for which they suggest risking committing tax fraud nowhere to be found on the site, but that statement is lifted in verbatim directly from the Raleigh and Durham World Beer Festivals’ site for the Summertime Brews’ own site despite different organizers. It’s also nonetheless terribly deficient in its justification in this case. No disrespect to this year’s performers Lauren Light and House of Dues, but considering the $30 ticket, they can be found performing around town for a few bucks admission at most and more often than not, for free (check Light out on Fridays at Grafitti’s Bistro and Dues at Southern Roots). In this case, they’re performing in almost assuredly the worst place to be heard in the city of Greensboro: a gigantic concrete and metal room with around a thousand inebriated people catcalling every time glass breaks (which is often) and participating in the woo-hoo wave that makes its way around the room every three minutes. So for those noble folks paying face to be a great friend while tolerating a crowd on a completely different level and hoping to hear some music as a consolation, prepare to be exasperated for four long hours. For those drinking, bottoms up, because you’re going to have a really good time.
A chance to say, “I was there”
Next Wednesday, hopefully the best concert film of this generation will make its debut all around the country, but the Greensboro showing on Wednesday, July 18 of Shut Up and Play the Hits, the film documenting LCD Soundsystem’s final performances at Madison Square Garden last April, comes at a cost. There’s a sad irony that this showing at 205 Collaborative (Lyndon Street Artworks) is also a benefit for the Mental Health Association of Greensboro. Jeffrey Walker, one of the artists who was a 205 staple and instrumental in procuring this venue for the showing, succumbed to the effects of drug and alcohol abuse and took his own life a few weeks ago. A remarkably talented metalsmith and jewelry maker, Jeff was featured in this very newspaper earlier this year (“Art as a refuge”; by Keith T. Barber; Jan. 18, 2012). My last memory of him was sharing a beer at a Greensboro Fest show at Lyndon Street, talking about oldschool Triad hardcore bands. So when you hear the warm synths of “Someone Great” in the first encore (or even part three of 45:33), remember that someone really great is gone. Then buy a bag of popcorn knowing that that money will help people like Jeff (all popcorn cart proceeds go directly to MHAG). There are a couple more distinctions about this screening, however. One is that it’s the only outdoor showing in the entire country. If the weather misbehaves, a rain date is set for July 25. The other is that it’s the only one with a full blown DFA Records-inspired dance party afterwards, courtesy of darklove., with more sets by L In Japanese and A Drop In Silence. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, with the movie starting at 8 p.m.
