march 2010 by matt plocha

verge downtown augusta

in this

issue

march 2010

verge / march 2010 / 3

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contents 9

A Partnership that Works in Harmony Eric and Kristi Kinlaw’s vision for The Bee’s Knees

The Emporium Breaks Ground

A Bicycle Program Built for All

The McLeods passion for restoration & downtown living

The Yellow Bike Project gets off the ground - cycling

A New Look for the Morris Museum Refurbished and re-hung, art has never looked so good

Release the Hounds Gabi Hutchison’s collage exhibition comes to Tire City

When Do Hot Flashes Create Giggles? Laughter reigns when Menopause (The Musical) comes

Marty Stuart’s Found Peace His music continues to be the heart and soul of country

Steve Hall Believes in Augusta His latest promotion - Karnivool + Fair to Midland - proves it

experience more

5 7 17 17 19 22 25 27 33 35 36 37 39 40 41

volume three issue one

smatterings discover downtown & meet your d(a)2 poetry : molly brodak art : chad cole theatre : mademoiselle hood meets le wolf pipeline : march’s highlights chefspeak : sean skala of du jour fine foods beers locals like uptown : augusta & columbia county film : the reckoning and bleacher boys the monument’s of greene street : 13 across the river : north augusta & aiken on the flip side : 48Volt and L.i.E. cut the fat : part eight the last word

on the cover: portrait of the yellow bike project by katie mcguire

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verge publisher Matt Plocha editor Lara Plocha pipeline editors Claire Riche web guy Mr. Verge photographers Katie McGuire Chris Selmek Editorial content of verge is the opinion of each contributing writer and is not necessarily the opinion of verge, its staff or its advertisers. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

copyright 2008, 2009, 2010 verge all rights reserved verge is a free monthly publication verge is printed on 50% recycled stock. It may be recycled further, please do your part. contact us 706.951.0579 publisher@vergelive.com advertising publisher@vergelive.com got a story tip? editor@vergelive.com free event listings pipeline@vergelive.com letters to the editor editor@vergelive.com mail 1124 Broad Street Augusta GA 30901 submit your ideas editor@vergelive.com

www.vergelive.com

smatterings / notes from the publisher “Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.” - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

As we enter our third year of publishing verge (Happy Birthday to us!), one of the anchors of our mission has been to help build a stronger, safer and more connected community. It has been an important driving force behind what we do every day. It is about helping to build a community that we can all be proud of and call home. It is about building connections with organizations, people and events that shape our city. It is about the commitment by those that want to see a better future for our children and their children. It is about our commitment to that mission that has given us the passion and drive, the determination and energy to provide you with verge each month. The advertising and business partners of verge, dedicated readers and supporters know this mission. They believe in it and embrace it with us. We humbly thank all of you that have held dear the vision and mission of verge, what verge stands for in our community and what we will become: more connected, more pertinent and more relevant, to all in Augusta and the CSRA. From our very first issue, downtown Augusta has been our primary focus – the heart or epicenter as we have often referred to it. This is where (geographically) it all comes together, the pin on the map so to speak. We have enjoyed two years of informing you of the great people, workers and organizations that work tirelessly to provide a safe downtown environment for you and your family to feel welcome and be connected. We have stayed the course with this vision.

From here, as we look to the future and what it holds, we understand the Augusta “community” is larger than downtown. Whether your community is the street on which you live across town or the neighborhood in which you reside or the area of town you spend a majority of your time, we would like to extend an invitation to become a part of the verge family. You may notice in the pages ahead that we have started to incorporate more of the larger (outside of downtown) community in to the mission and vision of verge. We know that it takes an entire community to raise a community. This is a big move for our “little” monthly newspaper as we embark on yet a new chapter. In the months ahead, you will begin to see more stories about the people that are actively involved in our community at large. Maybe that’s your community and it may not be in downtown. There will be more one-on-one interviews and more in-depth coverage of events. Overall, there will be more ways for you to get connected to the community at large. We are excited at the endless possibilities before us and we hope you are too. Our city is on the move with many projects designed to move Augusta forward. We hope you are embracing this growth as a positive growth experience and are actively seeking ways to get involved to enhance the over all quality of life for all residents and visitors of this city Augusta. So as you read this month’s issue, try to make it a point to visit with the people, attend the events, visit the places and shop the advertisers of verge. Tell them that you read about them or saw their ad in verge Go in and introduce yourself and make a new friend or acquaintance. Join a church – that’s

got news? we want to hear it Whether it’s a new product line or an addition

to your menu, a new employee or a new title, an addition to the family or a request for help, verge wants to hear from you. Send your “quick clips” to editor@vergelive.com by the 20th of each month for inclusion in the next issue.

cover artist: katie mcguire’s vision “I overheard a conversation the other

day about signs and how businesses don’t handpaint signs anymore. The signs of yesterday have been replaced with neon lights, vinyl stickers, huge metal awnings, paper fliers. When I walked up to the building Yellow Bike Project is using as their warehouse, I sort of fell in love with this obviously last minute thrown together sign they made with scrap materials. I think it easily welcomes anyone inside, saying ‘Hey, here are are! Now come inside and let’s get going.’”

a great place to get connected with a community. Get involved in a volunteer organization or a theatre group. This is your neighborhood. This is your community. Don’t let your doubt be a traitor to you. See you downtown and then some! Matt

advertiser index 16 34 18 42 24 8 14 36 43 4 26 6 6 26 26 14 24 12 32 40 10 38 14 28 6 4 10 8 6 34 20 32 2 8 4 36 24 44 20

1102 Bar & Grill 1102 Back Bar Events 8th Street Tobacco A.B. Beverage Budweiser Artistic Perceptions Augusta Entertainment Complex Augusta Fencing Club Blue Sky Kitchen Boll Weevil Cafe The Book Tavern Brigans Casella Eye Center Downtown Dental DuJuor Fine Foods Edge Salon Elduets Treasures of the World Halo Salon & Spa Halo Fashion Show Harlem Globe Trotters Health Central Le Chat Noir The Loft Manuel’s Bread Cafe Metro Coffeehouse & Pub Nacho Mamas New Moon Café PeachMac Perry & Company PowerServe Ringling Brothers Circus Rock Bottom Music Rock Bottom Music Rooster’s Beak Sanford, Bruker & Banks Stillwater Taproom The Well Vintage Ooollee Windsor Jewelers Zimmerman Gallery

Please be sure to visit these fine community partners.

Thank you for reading verge.

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shop

discover downtown dine

play

live

Paper Vinyl Cloth

Cotton Patch

Riverboat Cruise

Rex Properties

“The making of new vinyl albums was curtailed a bit in the 90’s, but never really disappeared,” assures Harry Grimes, Paper Vinyl Cloth (PVC) store manager. “Now, they’re the only medium in the music industry that continues to show an increase in sales versus digital media today.” To that end, Grimes and store owner John Burroughs spend most their time sifting through flea markets and yard sales for vinyl albums, though the majority of their inventory comes from customers who stop by to sell their collections. “What we’ll pay for a collection depends entirely on the type and quality of the albums,” said Grimes. “Right now we have about 2,000 in the store.” Their most prized piece, a rare original edition of Songs, Pictures and Stories of the Fabulous Beatles goes for $250. Most are available for under $20. PVC has a good selection of books and clothing as well. Open 11 am to 7 pm

There are a lot of reasons folks come to the Cotton Patch. Many choose it just for the outdoor seating near the gated courtyard’s water-fountain. Others appreciate eating in a 200 year old building. The fact that street it’s located on no longer officially exists helps too. “Cotton Lane is one of Augusta’s original cobblestone pathways,” said manager Joe Minor. “We’re a little off the beaten path, but we get a lot of tourists since we’re so close to the riverfront and the Eighth Street fountain.” But most come from the food - Minor describes it as “low-country,” specializing in everything from fried green tomato cheeseburgers to blackened tilapia. A full bar serves alcohol seven days a week, and Wednesday night trivia has been bringing in a regular crowd for the last 20 years. Cotton Patch is open 11 am to 8 pm weekdays and 11 am to 10 or 11 pm weekends, depending on the crowd.

Captain John Bradshaw returns to the Augusta riverfront on March 3rd, following his three month winter vacation. The Patriot, Augusta’s only commercial riverboat, docks just behind the Marriott Hotel on Tenth Street and makes for a relaxing get-away. Bradshaw, who describes himself as a bit of a history nut, likes to point out various sites along the one hour tour including downtown Augusta, Indian trails at the white water rapids and Beach Island. In addition to accommodating up to 60 passengers comfortably for regular tours, Bradshaw also enjoys charter groups like churches and businesses. The tour takes about an hour and launches twice a day at 1:30 and 3 pm Wednesday through Saturday and once at 3 pm on Sunday at the regular rate of $12 per adult and $6 for children 6-12. A two hour sunset tour available only on Saturday costs $20. Detail: patriottourboat.com or 803.730.9739.

Rex Property and Land, LLC renovated their first building in 1983. Since that time, the group has renovated dozens more and now own 150 apartments and several thousand square feet of commercial space in downtown Augusta. “Our services go from helping someone buy a building to design, leasing and management,” said managing broker Paul King. “If you were interested in an old building in an historic district, we could help you take it from a dilapidated state to something people will be interested in, advise you on earning tax credits, and ultimately we’d like to help you manage it.” King delights in downtown development, but specifies “it does take some money to get into.” They also have postings of current lofts and apartments for rent on their website. Details: rexgroup.com or 706.722.4962.

863 Broad Street

816 Cotton Lane

Monday through Saturday.

Marriott Hotel Riverwalk Dock

307 Eleventh Street

article and photos by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

connie melear, secretary / meet your d(a)² board The Downtown Augusta Alliance is a member-based non-profit group of downtown business owners and residents joining together to promote downtown Augusta as a destination and neighborhood. Over the next several months, verge will introduce you to each of the 2010 Board of Directors. Connie Melear serves as the Board Secretary. Name: Connie Melear Position: d(a)2 Board Secretary Day job: Chief Financial Offer for R.W. Allen How long have you lived in Augusta? We’ve been here since the mid90’s, when my husband was going to the Medical College of Georgia, and we loved Augusta so much we decided to stay. I love that Augusta is big, but not big enough to get lost in, and it’s a great place to raise a family. What does the Downtown Augusta Alliance mean to you? D(a)2 gives me the opportunity to participate in an organization that is comprised of people who have personally invested in making their businesses work. I’ve enjoyed working with them and getting to know other people who otherwise I might not. Part of the way we help the downtown area is by bringing attention and exposure to it and by sponsoring public events. One of my favorite has been the Discover Downtown event, where you get coupons to go around to so many of the different stores on Broad Street. My husband was so surprised at all the great places he never knew were there before and the kids loved it too. Why did you decide to become a member? I was asked by somebody who I respect – Dee Bruker, who was getting off the board – if I would consider serving. We had moved to Augusta about two years before, and this seemed like a good opportunity to get involved in the community. What do you see as your role on the board? What I bring to the board is more of a business perspective because I’m not as entrenched in generating foot traffic for my business. I’m more focused on downtown

development as a whole, like property values, historic preservation and construction. I’m more of a big picture girl, but it’s nice that everyone has their specialty and can help with every piece of it. The Board also meets in our conference room on the third Wednesday of every month, and I’m happy to be able to provide that space. It feels like I’m offering something physical to the Board in exchange for all they offer to Augusta. What do you have planned for March? R.W. Allen has just been awarded the Kroc Center for the Salvation Army, and the TEE Center. Groundbreaking on the Kroc Center was last week, and the TEE Center groundbreaking is going to be early this summer. I’m very excited about both buildings coming to Augusta because I think it’s really going to change the face of the riverfront, and it’ll be a good opportunity to bring more foot traffic to the Broad Street area. What is your favorite thing about the downtown area? I love being able to walk to all the really great places to eat around here. We have such a tight community that on your way to lunch everyday you’re almost guaranteed to see somebody that you know. We have a lot of great shopping opportunities down here, too, and I really think it’s important to spend money downtown. If you buy a book from the Book Tavern rather than a major outlet, then that money stays downtown and David [Hutchison] is more likely to spend that money on downtown development, so you’re really improving your own community. What are some of your favorite places in downtown Augusta? I love Nacho Mama’s and I also love getting smoothies at New Moon Café across the street. I also like that Health Central is just a block away so on your lunch break you can go use the gym, take a shower, and be back at your desk. That’s if I don’t end up at Nacho Mama’s again. For more information on how to get involved in the Downtown Augusta Alliance, visit dasquared.com or catch Connie downtown. interview and photo by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

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front porch / meet the kinlaws

this couple works together to make the bee’s knees a sucess

Three-year-old Finlee Kinlaw is intimately associated with The Bee’s Knees. Even at her age, she knows when she’s downtown and when she’s at The Bee’s Knees. After all, it is the restaurant she knew before she was born. Mom Kristi Kinlaw worked a double shift in the kitchen three days before she went into labor. Finlee recommends the Tuna Carpaccio. “Tuna Carpaccio is like a thin slice of sashimi topped with an Asian vinaigrette and a few other things,” said Kristi. “It’s probably one of our more popular dishes, and one that I’m most proud of making. It’s also amazing that a little girl like Finlee knows how to say ‘Carpaccio’.” Kristi and Eric Kinlaw co-own The Bee’s Knee’s restaurant, which has become a staple of the downtown Augusta social scene since it opened nearly eight years ago. “We both worked in the food and beverage industry for years and saw a need in Augusta for a late night place that served good food,” said Kristi. “Our original idea was for a bar that served food, but it has evolved over the years into a restaurant with a bar, and it’s still evolving.” “I think it’s a comfortable place to come in and just sit at the bar, or to meet a group of friends and sit down for dinner,” said Eric. “We have a very diverse clientele and there’s truly something here for everybody to enjoy.”

Eric and Kristi Kinlaw

The Kinlaws affect a good partnership, each with their own set of responsibilities, yet they consult each other on everything important to the restaurant. “It’s been a lot of fun, we’ve always worked together since before we opened The Bee’s Knee’s and we’re very comfortable doing what we’ve always done,” said Kristi. “The restaurant takes two people to run, and we’re both lucky to have a partner we can trust completely.” The original idea of a tapas style restaurant still holds true, with a menu ideal for sharing and enjoying. Yet, from the beginning, the Kinlaws wanted to encompass many cultures with their menu rather than focusing on just Spanish cuisine. Kristi came up with most of the recipes herself, though she and Eric collaborate on what types of food to offer. “You can tell from the menu that I went through an Asian phase, which is a type of cooking I’ve always admired,” said Kristi. “Lately I’m starting to get back to my roots in southern Louisiana, but we’re always expanding the menu and doing new specials so I can’t say what will be the next type of cooking I want to explore.” “The Pad Thai is a dish I’m especially proud of, since we’ve found our own way of making it so that it’s not quite a Thai dish anymore,” she continued. “There are a lot of ingredients in it and it’s not an easy dish to make, but the customers seem to really enjoy it.” Eric mostly involves himself with setting up in the mornings and managing the staff of 30 employees. He is also co-owner of Sky City and can frequently be found playing guitar or keyboard there or at Soul Bar onstage with The Cubists. “We’ve been downtown for 21 years,” said Eric, who started working at Soul Bar when he was 20 years old. “I’ve seen our downtown go from being a ghost town into the work in progress it is today. We’re in the infant stages of becoming a big city, and it’s cool to have been a part of that development.” The Kinlaws still rely on the youth and energy they felt when they first unveiled their restaurant, and are still adapting to meet changing styles. Both say they learn something new every day, most importantly how much work goes into running a successful business. “We had no idea what kind of can of worms we were opening,” said Kristi. “We feel very

“We’re both lucky to have a partner we can trust completely.” - KRISTI KINLAW

“We’re in the infant stages of becoming a big city, and it’s cool to have been a part of that development.” - ERIC KINLAW

blessed to be working for ourselves and be a part of such a good community, but if we had known the amount of work we would have to put in before we started we might have just run the other way.” The Bee’s Knees opened on August 2nd, 2002, two years after Eric and Kristi first started dating and two years before their marriage. Two years after that, Finlee arrived on the scene to make Bee’s Knees her home. If history holds true to form, Kristi says, something new will be happening shortly.

“We’ve considered opening a new location, so that might be a nice way to expand the business eventually,” said Eric. “Right now we’re just trying to fine tune our invention, and of course that’s a process that will never be over.” The Bee’s Knees, located at 211 Tenth Street, is open from 5 pm to 11 pm on weekdays, 5 pm to midnight on weekends, and is closed on Mondays. BEESKNEESTAPAS.COM article and photos by CHRIS SELMEK

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the emporium / new luxury living on broad natalie and mack mcleod begin renovations this month

Natalie McLeod recalls a story she believes holds the key to restoring downtown Augusta: it involves a wealthy older man investing in the area’s products and services. Finally, he asked a consultant how he could do the most good, what Broad Street really needed to bring it to life. Without missing a beat the consultant replied, “for people like you to live here!” This has been the guiding principle behind McLeod’s ongoing reconstruction of the Antiques Emporium at 1104 Broad Street. In addition to the typical young adult downtown resident, the building she envisions will be attractive to older residents and families who want to live where the action is. The Emporium, when it’s finished, will include nine apartments that will become condominiums after five years, while the entire first floor will be commercial space for offices or shops. The smallest, one-bedroom apartment, will have 1,000 square-feet of space while the two largest, three-bedroom apartments, will be 1,700 and 2,400 square-feet. The other six twobedroom apartments will be 1,400 to 1,600 square-feet. “We bought it with the intention of having retail space, but we always had an interest in putting condos upstairs,” said developer Wallace “Mack” McLeod (Natalie’s husband). “We wanted to make them more upscale than some of the other places in the area, with the intention of appealing to people who didn’t like to climb stairs all the time but wanted to experience the excitement of downtown living.” “Some of the condos will have a traditional feel while others will be more contemporary, but all will be upscale,” continued Natalie, property owner. “Every apartment is going to have stainless steel kitchen appliances, granite countertops, and we plan on giving each apartment some real unique design element to it that will stand out when people start looking at them.” Among other unique features of this apartment complex are the indoor parking garage and two elevators. Renovation of the building is scheduled for completion by December 31 of this year. Meeting this completion deadline will allow the developers to take advantage of tax credits for their historical rehabilitation, which have become an essential part of financing the project. This also obligates them to follow the overlapping, and sometimes contradictory, rules of the local, state and federal oversight committees. When Natalie first purchased the building in April of 2006, she had no idea what the road she would have to travel would entail. “Everything takes longer than you think it will,” said Alan Venable, the building’s architect. “Getting approval takes longer. Dealing with the regulatory committees takes longer. Getting the financing takes longer. Most folks would not have had Natalie’s determination.” Natalie claims that buying the building was the easy part. Immediately following her purchase, the first thing she needed to do was conduct an environmental study to remove the asbestos and lead paint, then perform an abatement to remove it safely. “This one was pretty clean,” said Venable. “About the only things we really needed to take out were the floors of the elevators and some pipe insulation. In all, there was less than 500

square feet of asbestos in this 32,000 square foot building, which is some of the least I’ve ever seen here in Augusta.” Then she approached the historical regulatory committees. The entire Augusta downtown comprises a nationally registered historical district with a period of significance between 1780 and 1965, but most of the changes they seek to make are limited to what they can find photographs of. “It’s fun doing this kind of work, because it’s kind of like being a detective,” said Natalie. “Even trying to find out how old the building is a mystery that has required a lot of investigative work. We’ve had to do a lot of research and looked at a lot of old pictures.”

Natalie and Mack McLeod with Alan Venable

“The more people who live and have ownership in downtown Augusta, the better community it’s going to be.” - NATALIE MCLEOD

The McLeod’s received some invaluable help from Erick Montgomery of Historic Augusta who located the Sanford Fire Maps, providing the only history they have about when the oldest part of the building was built and how it was gradually expanded to reach Ellis Street. The restored front of the building will eventually look exactly as it did in the oldest picture yet found of the building, as a Montgomery Ward store before the Depression. Since then, the building has changed hands a number of times, even in the comparatively recent past. “We remember it being a Maxwell Furniture, HeligMyers and The Antique Emporium just in the time since we’ve lived here, since about the mid 70s,” said Natalie. “Since then we’ve had our children here and made Augusta a home, and now we’re trying to give something back.” Both the developers and the architect believe the reconstruction of this building will have lasting effects for the entire downtown neighborhood, which they hope to see improved by their investment. “There are a lot of empty buildings around here right now, and the more you invest in their development the more downtown Augusta starts to look like an actual neighborhood where you would want to live,” said Venable. “The more people who live and have ‘ownership’ in downtown Augusta, the better community it’s going to be,” said Natalie. “We’re going to be expanding the number and types of people who live here, and the commercial space will bring workers and income into the area as well. All that is going to help make our downtown a place where people want to live.” Follow the progress of the Emporium adaptive restoration over the next several months, as writer Chris Selmek follows the McLeod’s efforts, challenges and victories. article and photos by CHRIS SELMEK

“It’s fun doing this kind of work, because it’s kind of like being a detective.” - NATALIE MCLEOD

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yellow bike project / i like to ride (and fix) my bicycle

chris cary wants augusta to become more bike savvy

Chris Cary, the 26-year-old founder and coordinator of the Yellow Bike Project of Augusta, stands in a room of donated bikes in the Augusta Urban Ministries warehouse. The verge photographer walks around the room, taking photographs of wheel spokes and shadows caused by the late afternoon sunlight that slants into the dark room, onto rows of bikes in angled boards. Cary, a two-time veteran of the war in Afghanistan, says in a quick, matter-of-fact, military fashion, “I just want to teach people how to fix bikes.” As newcomer to Augusta, Cary wasted no time setting up the Yellow Bike Project of Augusta (a charitable community outreach organization that focuses on building a cycling community). He is modeling the organization after the Yellow Bike Project in Austin, TX for which he volunteered for six months upon returning from Afghanistan. “In Austin,” he says, “the whole community revolves around a bicycle.” A cycling community is precisely what he hopes to build in Augusta, and Captain Cary has come to the right place. There is already a tradition of cycling in the area with various bike races through downtown; a tradition noticed when one has to detour, avoiding race routes, and perhaps, see a cyclist, or two. There are also established trails, with the popular Canal Road and Greenway across the river, which could accommodate a few less pedestrians. Growing up as a Navy brat, Cary has lived all over the place but considers Germantown, Maryland, to be his hometown. However, he says that it is refreshing to be accepted into a community as quickly as he has been in Augusta and that the word has spread quickly: “Augusta is the biggest smallest town— everybody knows everybody.” Considering the overwhelming enthusiasm for the still young project, there will soon be a few more people on pedals in the area and the cycling community will grow in Augusta. Cary says that his e-mail inbox is inundated with messages from people that want to volunteer, donate, and those who just want their old bike fixed. The Yellow Bike Project, however, is not a bike repair shop per se (well, perhaps for the right donation). The focus of the project is

“In Austin, the whole community revolves around a bicycle.” - CHRIS CARY

empowerment through knowledge. “I love teaching someone” says Cary “who comes in to change a tire and leaves knowing how to do a headset, which is ridiculous.” [note: The headset is the mechanism that houses the bearings that allow the handlebars and front wheel to rotate on the frame of a bike.] One can even earn a bike by volunteering 20 hours of time, learning how to repair bikes. Through the Earn a Bike program, one can build a custom bike from the warehouse of spare parts, after the volunteer time is fulfilled. Some interesting designs may come from this aspect of the project, but the outcome will be one more person pedaling: “This isn’t just a project to fix bikes; this is more to learn and get people on the road. I invite people to bring in their own bikes. I want people to leave the bike shop better than they left it—leave a five dollar donation to help buy parts or bring in a tool in exchange for using the shop” says Cary. For the project to grow, donations are needed. Cary says that “funding and sponsorship” are the biggest needs of the project right now. Although local law enforcement has donated over 100 confiscated bicycles, more are needed. Outspoken, a local bike shop, has volunteered to accept donated bikes on behalf of Yellow Bike. There is also a fundraising effort Cary is proposing, in

potential collaboration with the Downtown Augusta Alliance, in which local businesses can participate. For an estimated 300 dollar donation, a local business can have a bike rack installed in an approved location. The donation would help support Yellow Bike, as well as help the cycling community grow—which means one less car in a downtown parking spot. The Augusta Urban Ministry, a partner in the project who also donated the project’s current working space, will also provide the refurbished bikes to working adults and senior citizens who need them as a primary means of transportation. However, there are certain criteria an individual must meet to qualify for the program. Yellow Bike will also be conducting specific maintenance classes and organizing bike rides in the near future. The first Yellow Bike project began in Portland, Oregon, by Thomas O’Keefe and Joe Keating, to provide bikes for the community to use at large. They painted the first “yellow bike” to make the bikes distinguishable. When almost a hundred yellow bikes began to circle Portland, the local media picked up the story – and so did the New York Times. Several months later, Yellow Bike Projects began to sprout up in other communities. O’Keefe offers a few words of wisdom: “The important thing is to remember that whatever your needs are don’t hesitate to ask for help. People and organizations really will get excited about getting involved with your community yellow bike program.” And Cary seems to take these words to heart – his excitement for the project and his readiness to ask for help has already resulted in new partnerships, new space and new friendships. by PAUL ROGERS photos KATIE MCGUIRE

it’s all in the details online

AugustaYellowBike.org

facebook

Augusta Yellow Bike Project

AugustaYellowBike@gmail.com

in person

303 Hale Street (next to Augusta Urban Ministry)

donations Outspoken on 1904 Walton Way learn more The Yellow Bike Project of Augusta is modeled after:

Yellow Bike Project of Austin, TX | austinyellowbike.org

Yellow Bike Project of Decatur | dybikes.org

SOPO Bicycle Co-op of Atlanta, GA | sopobikes.org

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morris museum delves into its collection

more southern art displayed after reinstallation

The oldest museum in the country devoted to art and artists of the south, The Morris Museum of Art, is reinstalling its renowned permanent collection. The Morris already has a fine reputation for bringing in noteworthy exhibitions to please any avid art lover, but locals may often wonder why the museum hasn’t rearranged their permanent collection since opening on Riverwalk in 1992. The Morris Museum has a permanent collection of over 5000 works of art and just enough gallery space to show a miniscule portion of what’s in storage. Kevin Grogan, director of the Morris Museum of Art states, “While, from time to time, it has been possible to introduce some newly acquired works of art into the display of the permanent collection, it has not been possible to display them all. It isn’t now, either, but greater numbers of paintings than have ever been seen before will go on display and new relationships between the rearranged works of art already on display will be explored.” The Morris Museum of Art will reveal its permanent collection on the night of its annual Gala on Friday, March 5. It’s doors have been open during the repurposing of the space, but with limited gallery viewing. At first glimpse, the changes seem subtle – such as new carpeting and freshly painted walls. But anyone already familiar with the museum’s visible collection will notice that approximately 60% of the newly hung works have been previously unseen. Although no major construction or architectural changes have been made to the building, the layout of the galleries has changed. Eleven pylon walls, freestanding partitions that allow more hanging space, will be home to at least a dozen new southern works. The Antebellum gallery will now host 19th century portraits allowing for a broader range of that period to be exhibited. The viewer will pass through this gallery into Southern Stories, Still-Life painting, Impressionism in the South and finally Southerners at Play which will have notable artists depicting leisure life in the south such as horse racing, quail hunting, playing baseball, and shooting marbles. After visiting these familiar antebellum and early southern galleries, one will pass through Modernism into two temporary exhibition rooms, finally entering the long outer corridors of the building. These three hallways, which take

“Greater numbers of paintings than have ever been seen before will go on display and new relationships between the rearranged works of art already on display will be explored.” -KEVIN GROGAN, DIRECTOR

you through the perimeter of the museum, are more traditionally decorated like a modern art gallery. Southern Landscape, which previously was housed in the longest of the hallways, has been scaled down to allow more space for Regionalism and a greatly expanded selection of Contemporary Art. A particular highlight of the expanded contemporary gallery is two works on paper by Jasper Johns. Johns, who was born in Augusta, GA, is best known for his artistic use of classical iconography - especially his painting Flag. (These works will only remain on display for a

few months, so I suggest you visit it soon.) To coincide with the grand reopening, the museum is presenting an exhibit of American scene paintings that examine the American identity of the first half of the twentieth century. The exhibit includes fifty-seven works of art by forty-three influential artists of that time; such as George Adomeit, Ross Braught, Joe Jones, Hale Woodruff, and others. Stylistically, these artists may not adhere to the same principle, but contextually they present a consistent theme of American during the time of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. It is during this time,

between the two world wars, and that artists began to look at their personal surroundings and neighbors for inspiration. The show, titled Regional Dialect, is a collection presented by John and Susan Horseman. Its appearance at the Morris is the only Georgia stop during its two-year tour. The Morris Museum of Art, located at One Tenth Street, is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from noon to 5 pm. The Museum is closed on Mondays. THEMORRIS.ORG photos and article by KATIE MCGUIRE

enjoy the new morris look with this month’s festivities saturday march 6 public opening: Regional Dialect

Enjoy the public opening of Regional Dialect: American Scene Paintings from the John and Susan Horseman Collection. Director of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens Kevin Sharp and collectors John and Susan Horseman discuss the exhibition. A reception begins at 5 pm and the lecture at 6 pm. Free.

sunday march 7 artrageous! family sunday: The Morris Comes Alive!

Join costumed docents as they make the paintings come alive, and create a variety of art projects based on our collection from 1 to 4 pm. Tara Scheyer from the Mudpuppy Band performs a lively variety of family favorites at 2 pm. Free.

march 6 thru 13 grand reopening days

Explore the newly reinstalled galleries and the special exhibition Regional Dialect during this weeklong celebration of the Morris Museum of Art’s grand reopening. Free admission from March 6 thru 13 with docent-led gallery talks presented periodically on March 6 and 7.

friday march 19 art at lunch

Spalding Nix, owner of Spalding Nix Fine Art & Antiques, discusses the history of painting in Georgia, focusing on several artists featured in the Morris Museum’s permanent collection. Lecture includes catered lunch by A Catered Affair. Paid reservations required by March 17. Members, $10; nonmembers, $14.

sunday march 21 music at the morris

Augusta State University professors Christine Crookall, cello, and Martin David Jones, piano, perform favorites from the eighteenth through twenty-first centuries. Performance begins at 2 pm. Free.

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poetry / molly brodak

asu prof wins iowa poetry prize

art / chad cole

southern gothic exposed

“In Molly Brodak’s poems, real peril happens and then a flashbulb goes off or night comes on, and after begins again. To read them is to remember what poetry is good for.” —Mary Ann Samyn Only four years after receiving her bachelor’s degree in English, Michigan-bred Molly Brodak received one of the highest awards in the literary world, the Iowa Poetry Prize. Recently relocated to Augusta to serve as a lecturer in English and Humanities at Augusta State Univeristy, Brodak celebrates the release of her newly published collection of poetry, A Little Middle of the Night. Whether diving head-first or dipping one’s toes into the book, it is impossible to do anything but laud Brodak’s work. Her art and aesthetic portrayed through the written word makes even the most jaded appreciate poetry once more.

“We’d sing death / give us back our hearts, laughing, they are all / we are.” -MOLLY BRODAK, from ROMAN GIRLS

VERGE: When did you ‘become’ a poet? BRODAK: I was always writing poems, since I was little, and when being a poet became part of my everyday life was just when I started to pay attention to this part of me. Up until I was getting my BA in English, I didn’t think a person could really be a poet—I thought it was some weird old-fashioned thing, like being a cobbler or a blacksmith—some romantic profession that people just don’t do anymore. VERGE: Explain how you created A Little Middle of the Night. Do the poems span over a significant range of time? Overall, what was your intent? BRODAK: This book is comprised mostly of my dissertation from my MFA years. Most of the poems were written over the course of about 3 years, which I think helps them hang together aesthetically. Writing individual poems is one thing, but putting it together into a book is another—I think it’s true, what they say about the last poem of the book should be the book itself. I also had to deal with discovering I had a tumor growing in my brain, then its subsequent removal. So, a lot of the poems respond to that particular moment and all of my thoughts and feelings about it. My intent was always just to make some sense out of the world for myself. VERGE: Where do you write? Is ambiance important? Do you have rituals or habits? BRODAK: I write mostly when I should be doing something else. In terms of writing, ambiance and ritual are all phony, I think. If you have something to say, it will come out, wherever you are. It might work for others, but pressuring myself into some schedule of writing at certain times under certain conditions would not work for me. I immediately want to break my own rules. VERGE: What kind of work are you most drawn to reading yourself? Do you find yourself reading work similar to your own, or completely different? BRODAK: I’m always looking for writing

that is unlike my own. Not only do I want to understand things that seem so different from my own work, but I’m so easily bored, and always looking to expand my known world. I read a lot of nonfiction—science, history, philosophy—because I want to know about this world, especially before the filter/ distortion of fiction is applied. VERGE: Critics have lauded your work as “understandably sad and necessarily defiant” and “richly textured.” How would you describe your work?

time 6 to 8 PM

Augusta is a city on the front lines of a continual battle for space between past and present. Modern architecture from the medical district crosses the Canal and meets the centuries-old brick buildings on Broad Street. The Lamar and Wachovia ‘scrapers stare each other down a few blocks apart. As you drive 55 along Riverwatch from the suburbs, a 150-foot chimney from the heyday of the Confederacy looms high above your SUV. Some may prefer a phrase like “peaceful merger” rather than “battle” to describe this phenomenon, because, in fact, much of this interaction is beautiful. But it remains: as time marches on, much of the old South becomes lost and buried. Inevitably, there are those who make it their job to document and comment on these transitions in whatever manner of expression they choose. One such soul is Chad Cole, an Augustan artist and image “hunter” who holds that it is “Southern landscape and agrarian architecture (that is) most representative of our culture.” Both the above-mentioned powderworks chimney and the adjoining Sibley Mill will be featured in Cole’s upcoming exhibit at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. Opening on March 19th, the show will consist of oil painting highlights from his series “Deeper South,” in which every piece is “inspired by… the contemporary landscape of the region.” Using colors that echo the deep, raw hues of the South, and thick (but smooth) chaotic brushstrokes, Cole not only capture images, but moods and thoughts.

more BOOKTAVERN.COM

To find his subject matter, Cole goes on “hunts”

BRODAK: It’s really, really tough to describe one’s own work, because you can’t really see the forest for the trees, as they say. Still, there are some adjectives that I hope describe me—my aims, if you will—like, direct. I’m not one of those poets who’s purposefully obfuscating—I never saw the point in that. I do believe that poetry is just as about sound as it is about meaning, so I hope my poems are also clearly musical—sometimes harmonious, sometimes dissonant. VERGE: If you were the interviewer, what is the one question you would ask yourself? BRODAK: I would ask myself if I thought poetry was kind of ridiculous. And I would say yes. I kind of hate most poetry, and hate how so much of it takes itself so seriously. But this also makes me want to write it, just so it’s not that. by ASHLEY PLOCHA

plan to go date THURSDAY MARCH 18 venue THE BOOK TAVERN the event MOLLY BRODAK SIGNING of A LITTLE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

in order to find “inspiring and foreboding scenes.” In his own words: “Part of the joy of making a new work is the uncertainty of what I will discover on any given day of hunting. When I discovered a farmhouse falling down in front of a Walmart and an Edgefield County school bus wrapped around a tree, I found meanings that transcended the mere subject matter and made greater indictments concerning certain aspects of our Southern culture.” His displays at Gertrude Herbert will fall under two categories: highlights from his hunts and works inspired by Augusta mythology. Of particular note are his “Sherman” and “Legend Lost” paintings, which explore the questions of why General Sherman spared Augusta in his March to the Sea, what would Augusta have looked like “put to the torch,” and, perhaps most importantly, why don’t we care to preserve our local, historical landmarks. by MARCUS PLUMLEE art UNTITLED (above) and BRICK POND FACTORY (below) by CHAD COLE

plan to go

date MARCH 19 to MAY 28 venue GERTRUDE HERBERT the show DEEPER SOUTH: A

CHAD COLE EXHIBIT

open TUE to FRI 10 am to 5 pm cost FREE more GHIA.ORG

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verge / march 2010 / 19

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theatre / mademoiselle hood meets le wolf

rick davis turns red riding hood on her head in this fractured fairy tale Prince Charming exits stage right as the Big Bad Wolf, with a thick French accent and suaveness, calls after him, “Goodbye, Prince, and be careful! There are dangerous animals out there.” He turns to face the audience and snarkily remarks, “Like me, eh?” Now alone, the Wolf sneaks into the house of an elderly, knitting grandmother (or “grandmuzzer” as he puts it), hungry and sneaky as ever. Assuring her that he is not a “silly wolf,” he attempts to sidle up to her in his guise, but unwittingly becomes her dress fitter in a series of events that not only confuses him, but impels him to sing and do the tango. His frustration reaches a pitch, and he exclaims, “I have no time for zis silly dress, I am a wolf!” The grandmother reacts, “A wolf?!” and grabs her gun (think Elmer Fudd style). “No, no, not a wolf,” Big Bad thinks fast, “I am a member of…ze wolf police!” “…wolf police?” the grandmother asks surprised, “They do great work!” It’s impossible to stifle a laugh as these scenes play out. The action is simple, character-driven, and hilarious; the players colorful and committed; the music upbeat and catchy. Pure entertainment. This is the Storyland Theatre. Their goal, as executive director Barbara Feldman puts it, is “to expose children to the finest theatre available. Many children never have the opportunity to see live theatre, and Storyland’s purpose is to create excellent, live theatre with magnificent sets, beautiful costumes, lighting, and special effects.” Their new show, Mademoiselle Hood Meets Le Wolf, is an original Storyland production that lives up to that promise. According to Rick Davis, who wrote the play and lyrics, the purpose of the show “is to entertain, but I think it’s important to include a gentle lesson. In this play, there are a few: it matters little how rich or how poor one is. What matters more – at least in an ideal world – is kindness, love, purity of heart. Also, it’s okay to laugh along the way – at ourselves and with others.” These themes are particularly resonant in the storylines of Cinderella and Prince Charming, the latter to whom the Big Bad Wolf once exclaims, “You want to marry her, but you don’t even know what she looks like? That makes no sense at all!” In reference to the musical aspect of the show, Davis feels that it is very important for the lyrics to move the action along, and indeed the transitions into and out of the musical numbers feel quite natural. There are no Broadway showstoppers in this production, and nothing takes away from the plot or the spirit of the play. Davis also tries to keep the music simple: “When I write lyrics, I try to write regular, four- beat, rhymed lines. Then Susan Burgess (the composer) can more easily weave a melody around them. Also, the lyrics should serve the same function as dialogue.” Thus, it is easy for children to keep up with the story, while keeping the music fun and entertaining. The dialogue is enjoyable for both children and adults, the production values are top-of-the-line, there is audience interaction throughout, and you’ll laugh ‘til you’re a little embarrassed. Basically, why wouldn’t you come? All performances are at the Imperial Theatre. School shows are Tuesday through Friday, March 23- 26 at 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM and 12:15 PM. Reservations are required for school performances. Tickets are $4.50 per student. Teachers and class chaperones are free. A Saturday family matinee is March 27 at 3 PM. No reservations are required for the matinee. The box office opens at 2:15 PM and tickets are $5 per person. by MARCUS PLUMLEE photos KATIE MCGUIRE

“What matters more – at least in an ideal world – is kindness,

love, purity of heart. Also it’s okay to laugh along

the way – at ourselves and with others.” –RICK DAVIS

plan to go date MARCH 27 venue IMPERIAL THEATRE the show MADEMOISELLE HOOD

MEETS LE WOLF

time 3 PM cost $5 more KNOLOGY.NET/STORYLAND

need more culture, food and fun? check these out saturday march 20 CELEBRATE THE BOOK TAVERN’S FIFTH BIRTHDAY

The Book Tavern celebrates its fifth downtown birthday on Saturday, March 20th. The festivities start as soon as the doors open (10 am) and run all day (that would be until 6 pm). Get there early to grab an Anomalous Balloon. In this case, Anomalous Balloon means a balloon filled with special prizes - from free books to unique presents to a golden ticket. Well, perhaps not really a Wonka certified golden ticket - but something nearly as good. And, of course, while you’re there you can stock up on all kind of great reads for spring’s rainy days. Combining the best of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Hobbit and any book about balloons, the Book Tavern plans to pull out the stops for this truly momentous occasion. If you’ve never been before, The Book Tavern is located at 1026 Broad Street. BOOKTAVERN.COM

begins March 5 SEE THE ENTRANCE and EXIT ART SHOWS OF DFA JUNIORS & SENIORS

Preview the next generation of visual artists in two special exhibits by the Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Visual Arts Department. The first show, which opens on March 5th, features art by the rising senior class during a month long exhibit at the Walker-Mackenzie Studio at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. The opening reception will be held on Friday, March 5, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Then the annual Senior Exit Show follows with an opening on April 1st in the same gallery. Each show will feature a variety of visual arts including drawing, painting, graphics arts, ceramics, photography and film. The Senior Exit Show opening reception is on Thursday, April 1st from 4 pm to 7 pm.

late march ENJOY NOODLES AT THE NEW SOY NOODLE HOUSE

Though our hearts are still mourning the closing of T-Boy’s Po’Boys, our stomachs are getting downright giddy at the thought of tasting the creations of the newest restaurant – SOY – to be located at 1032 Broad Street. The brainchild of 1102 owner Sae Shin and his wife, this Asian noodle house will encompass the flavors of Asia - including authentic Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean cuisine. All with a noodle twist. All I’ve got to say - it sounds like “yum” in a bowl. Look for a soft opening in late March / early April.

coming in april THE THIRD ANNUAL PLAY THRU DOWNTOWN

Plan to “Play Through Downtown” during the third annual Master’s Week game. The game kicks off on First Friday, April 2nd. It’s the excitement of a scavenger hunt and the thrill of golf in a game encouraging folks to discover downtown Augusta in an interactive way. On First Friday, downtown turns into one giant golf course, with eighteen holes (a.k.a. shops and restaurants) of golf to play through and win. Each “hole” hosts a glass tee - guess the number of items in the tee and you could win one of several prizes. See next month’s verge for full details or DASQUARED.COM.

20 / march 2010 / verge

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verge / march 2010 / 21

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release the hounds / the aesthetic of collage gabi hutchison’s first exhibit opens at tire city on first friday

“I’m constantly being surprised by the people around me, what their minds are capable of and how they’ve come to translate that into something tangible.

Creativity is a beautiful thing.” -GABI HUTCHISON

Gabi Hutchison’s statuesque figure and sculpted features could raise Michelangelo from the dead and her intense yet elegant wardrobe invokes images of high fashion runways and photo spreads. Yet the crème de la crème to her mystique will be unveiled this March at her debut gallery show Release the Hounds. verge spoke to her about her unique art and the upcoming exhibit at Tire City Potters. VERGE: Tell me about your first collage; what gave you the idea to create one? GABI: I started making collages in high school. I didn’t have a ton of friends

and spent a lot of time on the internet (typical), so I started sending packages to my online friends. I made them these cards with images I would cut and tear out of Urban Outfitters catalogs and things like that. It all seems a bit silly now (really silly, actually), but I became more sophisticated with my materials and the complexity of my design aesthetic. Mostly I started making collages because I wanted to share things with the people I loved, something I had made myself. It’s a sentiment that has stuck with me. Making things to give to my friends is really exciting. I hope they never get tired of it; collages are a pretty easy birthday gift to commit to.

VERGE: Is there another genre you would give your artwork besides “collage”? What mediums do you use? Is there a favorite? GABI: As a medium itself, collage is really all I’ve ever known personally. I

can’t draw or paint and often find myself making up for that in my own way. I like the primitiveness of scribbles and faded colors, so I’ve been using that a lot lately. I like the idea of creating something potentially both complex and simple, which is why I love collage so much. It’s surreal, I guess. More and more I’ve been incorporating watercolor and pen into my collages. I love finding images and materials from the 60s-80s (those were my favorite decades visually) from old books and magazines, especially National Geographic and photography books. It’s hard sometimes to destroy books, but at least I know it’s going toward something I love.

GABI: One of my favorite artists is Matt Leines. While I only found him recently, his work embodies everything I love about art. There’s also Able Parris, Justin Durand, Claire Loder, and science fiction art, especially Alan E. Cober. I like the idea of a marriage between fantasy and the mundane; that’s what I try to do in many of my pieces. I’m drawn to the rawness of absurdity; things that don’t really make sense to others seem perfect to me. There’s a transformative quality to the art I’ve mentioned and the way the artists take up space. A story unfolds in my mind, whether the artist intended it or not. If art doesn’t speak to who I am as a person then I tend to not really care about it. I like primitive works, things that are outside the typical human portrayals and experiences. Much of my appreciation for design comes from the fashion world. When a lot of people think of fashion they envision trends, current mass style, but I envision art. The architecture of clothing--the dramatic shapes, textures, and lines--it makes me all tingly inside.

prefer to use books and magazines from the 80s or before. The crispness of modern photos and printing bothers me) and put it on the page, stare at it a while, and in my head I start constructing a mood or emotion or theme based on those initial images. Nothing that comes out of it is really literal at all. My ideas are fleeting and evolve. What I start out doing is often not how it ends up. Shapes, textures, and patterns play a lot into my work. Sometimes I’ll base a collage entirely on shapes and patterns, manipulating how they fit with one another on the page. Lately I’ve really been into triangles and the translucent quality of watercolor. And outer space. Design is so important to me. Sometimes I’ll leave a collage and revisit it a week later in the hopes of finding what was missing, or moving something that simply didn’t fit. I recently started reading a short story by Margaret Atwood, one of my favorite authors, called “The Bad News” and it inspired me to make a collage.

VERGE: Your artwork captures amazing scenes- do any of the pieces have

VERGE: Do you believe artistic creativity is innate,

VERGE: Do you have any particular muses - other artists, writers, etc.?

background story to them? Inside motivations? Or does it all fall together?

generally and/or personally?

GABI: When I’m making a collage I don’t like to have a large idea or direction

GABI: : I’m not really sure I even know what it means to be

in mind; if I do things typically don’t turn out well at all. I start with an image or two that I’ve cut or torn out of National Geographic or some old book (I

an artist. I’ve always struggled with considering myself one. I started noticing creativity in all the people that I know,

but most of it isn’t what people conventionally find artistic. I think the mind is a very artistic thing. I like taking notice of what comes out of it, no matter how small or through what channels. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m constantly being surprised by the people around me, what their minds are capable of and how they’ve come to translate that into something tangible. Creativity is a beautiful thing. by ASHLEY PLOCHA art UNTITLED by GABI HUTCHISON

plan to go date SATURDAY MARCH 13 venue TIRE CITY POTTERS | 210B Tenth St the exhibit RELEASE THE HOUNDS: artwork by Gabi Hutchison showing MARCH 5 to 27 reception MARCH 13 | 5 to 11 pm more 706.828.0334

22 / march 2010 / verge

first friday highlights

friday march 5th 5 to 10 pm downtown augusta

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highlights from the pipeline

12 mar

mar

FREE POTTERY WHEEL DEMO ZIMMERMAN GALLERY Local artist Harrison O. Hickman gives the pottery wheel a spin in this live demo on the street. Inside the gallery, enjoy new works by Lou Ann Zimmerman. Open until 9 pm.

ARNOLD PALMER PRINTS GALLERY ON THE ROW View Pat Warren’s Arnold Palmer Champions Retreat Limited Edition Prints - depicting the Palmer Course, personally designed by Mr. Palmer. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will benefit the Palmer Foundation. Open until 9 pm.

OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING DU JOUR FINE FOODS This gourmet deli and grocery store celebrates its official grand opening! Stop by and enjoy tasting stations, enter the sub eating contest and pick up a store coupon. Open until 8 pm. 1128 Broad Street.

CELEBRATING ONE YEAR SHOPPE 31:30 Celebrate with Shoppe 31:30 with live music, live window models and great discounts! Open until 9:30 pm. 1126 Broad Street.

IMPROV COMEDY NIGHT LE CHAT NOIR Laugh your cares away with Schrodinger’s Cat improv comedy. (small fee). Open at 7 pm. Corner of 8th and Ellis.

Song Settings of Shakespeare’s Text

monday march 8 • augusta museum of history 7:30 pm • $10 to $15 Ten of the Augusta Collegium Musicum’s soloists gather to share a variety of songs set to Shakepearian texts with hopes to raise much needed funds for the Augusta Museum of History. William Toole, director of the Collegium Musicum, wants to provide listeners with a retrospective of Shakespeare’s words set to song: “Because the songs are in setting from different periods in time, they provide a wide variety of style – from sentimental to introspective to more contemporary,” he said. The evening includes original period pieces “Hey Nonny Nonny” from Much Ado About Nothing and “The Willow Song” from Othello to the renaissance “When Daisies Pied” from Love’s Labour’s Lost and “Blow Blow Thou Winter Winds” from As You Like It to the American William Shuman composition “Orpheus with His Lute” from Henry VIII to modern selections from Kiss Me Kate based on Taming of the Shrew. “These texts attracted composers through the ages – all the way to Gilbert and Sullivan,” Toole said. [note: even the Violent Femmes did a rendition of “Hey Nonny Nonny” in 1991] All ticket proceeds benefit the museum. augustamuseum.org

12 mar

G-City Rockers

march 12 • the playground • 9 pm Augusta’s own G-City Rockers and Backwater Traffic bring a free show to The Playground.

Formed in 2005 by singer/guitarist John “Stoney” Cannon, guitarist Fred McNeal and bassist Joe “Joco” Cowart, G-City

visit vergelive.com for the complete pipeline of february’s downtown events

Rockers was created to bring fun rock & roll back to a land filled with doomy and gloomy bands. And if this wild mix of fun and mayhem isn’t enough, your attendance will help clothe those in need. For every five people that walk through the door, an article of new clothing will be given to an Augusta shelter that provides food, shelter, and clothing to those in need. One final incentive: cool stickers until supplies run out. The Playground | 978 Broad Street gcityrockers.com

Holy Ghost Tent Revival

friday march 12 • stillwater tap room 10 pm • $4 “Take a pinch of plucky banjo, a dash of euphonium euphoria, a heaping helping of rowdy Americana and a whole lotta shakin’ and you’ve got something approximating the feverish frenzy that is a performance by Greensboro, North Carolina’s Holy Ghost Tent Revival.” - Seven Days One of North Carolina’s more unusual music exports, Holy Ghost Tent Revival blends rock, punk, country and blues into their own Americana experiment – with explosive results best described in the band’s own words “a raucous party, where everyone’s welcome and where even the most stoic will find their toes tapping and a smile breaking free.” It’s this joyous approach to music and life that firmly sets this six-member ensemble apart from its bluegrass brethren. holyghosttentrevival.com

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more to see more to hear more to do

18 mar

Illuscination: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus march 18 to 21 • james brown arena $10 to $36

Only the circus can dream up a show like Illuscination, the latest creative genius from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. Descending on Augusta for only four days, Illuscination combines the outlandish fun of the circus with the wonder of magic. David DaVinci, the master illuscinator, will thrill audiences with eye-popping illusions, mind-blowing transformations, and unique up-close magic, all mysteriously interwoven throughout the show. This modern Houdini even attempts to escape a straightjacket while suspended three stories in the air above a den of lions. The show includes favorite traditional circus acts: elephants, trapeze artists, daredevils from across the globe and the perennial favorite the Patriarch of the Pride with his beautiful golden lionesses and rare white lion. Get to the show an hour early for the All Access Pre-Show where you’ll meet Ringling Bros. performers and animals and learn circus skills. A beautiful memory for the whole family. Showtimes: Thursday (3/18) and Friday (3/19) at 7 pm; Saturday (3/20) at 3 pm and 7 pm; Sunday (3/21) at 1:30 pm. jamesbrownarena.com

13 mar

20 mar

28 mar

Celebrating The Artist march 13 • old government house 7 pm • $40

The Art Factory presents two unique art auctions during its annual fundraiser: Celebrating the Artist. The signature silent auction offers pieces of art created from recycled materials and found objects by Augusta artists. During the special live auction, attendees have the opportunity to bid (and win) artwork by Kathy Girdler-Engler and Lillie Morris (see above). The evening includes live music by the Rob Foster Duo, heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. All proceeds benefit the work of The Art Factory, serving over 1,000 children last year with free arts instruction in dance, drama, and visual art. Reserve your tickets: 706.731.0008. Old Government House | 432 Telfair Street artfactoryinc.org

Augusta Canal Clean Up march 20 • lake olmstead park 9 am to noon • your time

Don your sturdiest boots – it’s time for the annual spring clean up along the Augusta Canal. Volunteers are needed to collect the tons of trash that accumulate each year along the Canal trails. “We hope to remove as much trash as possible including some of the larger debris from parts of the trails, but cannot accomplish this without lots of help,” said Mary Jacobson who is heading this spring’s effort. Meet at Lake Olmstead Park near the Boat Ramp. Volunteers with canoes, kayaks, trucks and trailers are also needed. A picnic lunch will follow the clean-up. Details: 706.925.1130 augustacanal.com

East to West

march 28• curtis baptist church 6 pm • free The Curtis Baptist Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra presents the extraordinary new worship musical, East to West: From One Scarred Hand to the Other. This passionate worship musical celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, journeying from the crucifixication to the empty tomb. Arranged by Dove Award winning Gary Rhodes, East to West intimately involves the audience in this powerful celebration with music written by Chris Tomlin, Third Day’s MacPowell and Steve Fee. A moving way to prepare for the Easter season. curtisbc.org

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chefspeak / meet sean skala

one hand-stacked deli sandwich at a time

The Big Apple is known for deep-dish Sicilian pizza and thick doughy bagels, but chef Sean Skala fell in love with Brooklyn style sandwiches. Upon moving to Augusta, he noticed a significant lack in the proffering of a well-crafted sandwich put together with the freshest meats, produce and cheese.

beers locals like

And Sean is all about cheese. “I’ve always been a cheese lover,” he confides. “My favorite ingredients are the more high-end cheeses; American and Spanish bleus, hard Italians.”

It’s warm(ish) outside! Time to go out and play (drink beer) in the sun! Time for those long afternoon walks (beers) with no more than a light jacket to keep warm! Time to sit in the sunny section of the Pizza Joint patio and enjoy a cold one! Okay, I promise not to use any more exclamation points. In fact, I’ll take it all the way down to a whisper and I’ll tell you a secret: the season of the amber beer is upon us.

Skala combined his love for a good sandwich, a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and work experience as a chef to good use in June 2009. He and Andrea Lombardo opened Du Jour Fine Foods, downtown Augusta’s first grocery and sandwich shop. Du jour is the French term for “of the day,” and Sean strives for utmost freshness in his ingredients, part of which includes daily soups and sandwich specials. “Europe is so different from America in the aspect of food: they often have more focus on local and fresh produce.” And Sean is definitely bringing that all-natural, homegrown feel to his food and service.

the ambers of samuel smith

Amber beer may just be the next best thing besides a beer you can’t see through. You can find a great one (domestically) on six of the seven continents. We’ll focus on four amber(ish) beers from one continent – specifically one country – specifically one city – specifically one brewery – the Samuel Smith Old Brewery of Tadcaster, England. Below, are three Samuel Smith beers you may not have had (or even heard of).

Du Jour offers free delivery to any downtown location. Skala also teamed up with downtown’s Spinning Gallery and created an entire menu of delicious, nutritional platters. This month, Du Jour will celebrate their official Grand Opening and begin their first food challenge: create, name and eat a five-pound sub. The winner will have their sandwich featured on the Du Jour menu and receive a t-shirt and place on the Wall of Fame.

SAMUEL SMITH’S ORGANIC LAGER | This lager pours a light

amber color with a thick head. It’s relatively high on carbonation, but quite drinkable. The flavor is very definite with precise tastes of hops and earthy goodness. The taste lingers, but just long enough to stay with you until the next sip. It is hoppy for a lager. So, if you like that hoppy tang, you’ll be fine. I recommend enjoying this Sammy Smith with a Granny Smith. You won’t be disappointed.

“My goal is to continue creating new sandwiches, and be a recognizable face to downtown.” Stop by Du Jour, meet Sean and try one of the best sandwiches in Augusta for yourself. Du Jour Fine foods is located at 1028 Broad Street and is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm and on Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm. by ASHLEY PLOCHA photo KATIE MCGUIRE

SAMUEL SMITH’S ORGANIC ALE | A slightly cloudy

ale, it smells as good as it tastes. The balanced complexity of taste tends toward a state of enthalpy on the tongue like few brews I’ve had before. It has an almost bready taste that’s just perfect for the late winter/early spring season – hearty with a pinch of lightness to remind you of the season ahead. The taste lingers long enough to allow the drinker to enjoy the completeness of this ale. However, as with the lager, it won’t stay around all day. The bitterness is trace at most (an aspect I welcome in an ale). So, enjoy with just about anything. I plan on having my next one with a grilled peanut butter sandwich (just sounds good).

SAMUEL SMITH’S YORKSHIRE STINGO | This is one of the finest

cask-conditioned ales I have had on this side of the Pond. This superb ale pours an opaque and deep reddish amber and smells of scotch and fruit (two darn fine aspects of our planet). The taste includes a yeasty tang combined with a sweetness that is to die for. I am a big fan of Samuel Smith products, but this one is like none that I’ve had to date. The brewers give the yeast over a year to work their magic in the casks, and it shows. If you’ve ever been one to order a cask-conditioned ale, then you should really try this complex and diverse collection of savor that is the Yorkshire Stingo. These fine beers are available at Eighth Street Tobacco. by BEN CASELLA Ben Casella does watch Olympic curling, as should you. If you are not familiar with the sport of curling, just think of shuffleboard with ice and brooms and without old Italian men (for the most part).

from sean’s kitchen : PARMESAN TOMATO BISQUE & ARTISAN GRILLED CHEESE A rich hearty soup guaranteed to cheer the soul and warm the stomach

BISQUE INGREDIENTS:

14 oz can whole tomatoes 1/2 onion, chopped 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 tbsp. garlic powder 1 tbsp. onion powder

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients 2. Bring to a boil on stovetop and simmer for one hour 3. Puree in blender until smooth 4. Garnish with chopped basil and crouton

PER SANDWICH 2 pieces sliced country loaf INGREDIENTS: 1/2 oz white truffle oil 1 oz olive oil DIRECTIONS:

1 tbsp. dried oregano 1 tbsp. black pepper 1 tsp. salt 1/4 cup grated parmesan 1 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup fresh mozzarella shaved black pepper

1. Heat griddle to 350 degrees. 2. Drizzle bread with olive oil and place one slice face down on griddle 3. Layer with mozzarella and truffle oil. 4. Sprinkle with black pepper and top with remaining bread slice 5. Cook evenly on both sides until cheese is melted.

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MARCH 16 to 18 : IMPERIAL THEATRE

menopause the musical /meet lead sandy rosenberg

laughing through hot flashes, witchy momnents and raging hormones

Four women, a department store lingerie sale, a black lace bra and female bonding: it’s Menopause The Musical, the work of writer and producer Jeanie Linders. The 90-minute production, with songs based on musical parodies from classics of the 1960s – 1980s, is filling auditoriums across the U.S. and Canada. Over 11 million women in 14 countries have attended the show since its 2001 debut. Sandy Rosenberg joined the cast earlier this year, taking over the part of the earth mother. She comes to MTM with a wealth of remarkable theater experience on and off Broadway, as well as some television background. A Brooklyn, N.Y., native and graduate of Sarah Lawrence college, she also has indirect ties to Augusta, as one of her high school speech and theater teachers, Stevan Clements, is now a communications professor at ASU. She will give a talk to his students during the three days that she is in town. Sandy Rosenberg spoke to verge about her role in Menopause The Musical and the show’s … shall we say … “broad” appeal. VERGE: You may be the youngest Catskills performer on record. SANDY: Actually, I did play piano for a standup comedy group in the Catskills as a teen. But, at 5 years old, I sat on the piano and sang “Red, Red Robin.” I had a need to show off. I was the youngest of three children, and you have to. The first child always gets the most photos taken, and there were very few of me, so I had to do something! I sang, I imitated commercials. I was born on April 1 and I think that sealed my fate! VERGE: Catskills at 5 and in grade school … nothing? SANDY: I auditioned for talent shows, but I didn’t get in. I do talkbacks at schools now and when children tell me what they want to do, I say, “Don’t take no for an answer.” I didn’t make it into drama class in high school, either. At the time, I was working in the school office, back in the day before they had computers. You had to put black dots on the cards for students’ classes, so I blacked my card for drama and programmed myself in. Then I started doing leads. It was serendipitous that I was working in that office, as it allowed me to program myself into the class. So what I lacked in talent, or so people thought, I gained in tenacity.

“I had a need to show off. What I lacked in talent... I gained in tenacity.” - SANDY ROSENBERG

VERGE: Mamma Mia, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Les Miserables, Jekyll

and Hyde, Candide … Menopause The Musical. Safe to call this a departure for you?

SANDY: My character is the earth mother, which is really a good fit because she’s a lot like me. Her outfits are not terribly dissimilar to what I wear offstage, except for the multicolored socks with sandals! She’s close to the role of smart-talking, grounded, funny women I often play, but also different from the British matrons I have portrayed. VERGE: Menopause The Musical crosses all audience lines in terms of age and ethnicities. So often, live shows of any kind seem to draw polarized crowds. SANDY: : Yes, absolutely. Women bring their mothers, grandmothers and teenage daughters to see us. There are even some husbands. Because of the nature of [whispers] menopause, everyone goes

through it personally or with their mother or wife. Ninety-five percent of our audience is women, but men have a great time and laugh about something they’re living through. It’s more universal than you would think. We have a multiethnic cast, and every imaginable type of woman comes to the shows. Also, something very special is that we go out after every performance to collect for There’s No Place Like Home National, an organization that helps to build homes that were lost due to catastrophes. They’ve built seven so far in New Orleans and another five are to be built. This gives us a chance to meet the audiences. The show really runs the gamut as far as who it appeals to, and it’s heartwarming to see people having a good time. For more information about the show, visit www. menopausethemusical.com. For more information about the charitable work connected to MTM through its writer, visit the Jeanie C. Linders Fund at www.JCLFund.org. by ALISON RICHTER photo FILE

plan to go date MARCH 16 to 18

VERGE: Were your parents supportive of your goals?

venue IMPERIAL THEATRE

SANDY: I was highly amusing and they thought it was a phase I would grow out of, so I had no problem pursuing it, because it had a shelf life and would end. They were supportive and came to all my shows. My mom passed away when I was 18, so she never had the chance to see how far I have come in my career. My dad, even when I was living in California, would fly out to attend my performances. I once caught him sleeping in the front row because he was so tired from the trip! During intermission I pointed him out to the usher and sent a note for him to just come back the next night.

the show MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL showtime TUE (3/16) 8 PM | WED (3/17) 2 and 8 PM THU (3/18) 8 PM tickets $45 (group discounts for 10 or more available) buy tickets IMPERIALTHEATRE.COM or 706.722.8341

the best local music of ‘10 / the results are in Augusta’s heavy metal fans voted in record numbers during this year’s annual Lokal Loudness Choice Awards. The results came in on February 20th - but the accolades last all year. Heavy Metal band L.i.E. and its members swept seven of the seventeen awards.

L.i.E.

48 Volt

Electric Voodoo

My Instant Lunch

country band

female musician } Deb Hemingway

favorite new band

Aralic favorite all ages band

Jacob Beltz

Bleeding Counterfeit

solo artist

favorite rock band

Jemani

The Cubists

hip hop/soul

CD | Mechanical Advantage

Reed Brown Beret guitarist | John Berret

Henry Wynn III misc instrument

28 / march 2010 / verge

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MARCH 12: IMPERIAL THEATRE

marty stuart / following his heart’s direction

performs final act in this year’s southern soul and song series

“I have enough money, the girl of my dreams, a great guitar, a tank full of gas and the best possible band. Why would I ever worry about anyone thinks I should do?” - MARTY STUART

In a 1992 interview, producer Tony Brown, then executive vice president and head of A&R for MCA Records Nashville, remarked that Marty Stuart was “on the verge [of breaking through the top ranks] and he’s done it without compromising anything. … Marty has a sound that belongs to him. He’s earned it the hard way, and once he reaches gold, as long as he continues to work so hard, he’ll have it for a long time, like Johnny Cash. Nobody loves country music like Marty Stuart. He’s a walking historian. This business needs him.” Eighteen years later, Stuart still works hard, refuses to compromise, and there’s no questioning the role he plays in championing the heart and soul of country music. A few weeks prior to returning to Augusta with his band, the Fabulous Superlatives, Stuart spoke to verge about all this and more. VERGE: Let’s start with Tony Brown’s comments. Your response? MARTY: Guilty! I think, yeah, it’s interesting that it has

played out that way. I look back, and there were times I made compromises to keep up with the popularity parade. I wasn’t happy and I didn’t like talking about it, but when I went back to what I truly believe is the sound in my head and in my heart, it doesn’t matter whether it sells one copy or 1 million copies. Lester Flatt once told me that it’s not about making money, winning awards and being forgotten. The idea is to make sure you’re welcome in town every January 1st. That’s staying power. And that’s good wisdom.

VERGE: Your road hasn’t been easy, but you now have the luxury

of doing what you want. What got you there?

MARTY: Persistence and pure faith. One of my favorite stories

is that of Abraham. Time and time again, his faith got him to where he was going. There’s always a wilderness journey between man and maker. I stay true to that, and things always work out. VERGE: What’s changed, what’s stayed the same?

MARTY: The biggest change in my life is that I have made peace with things. I have enough money, the girl of my dreams, a great guitar, a

tank full of gas and the best possible band. Why would I ever worry about anyone thinks I should do? You have to answer to what’s in your heart. It’s OK to not be the most popular kid on the cover of Teen Beat, and to be thought of amongst those who are considered archaic but come up as the Old Testament figures in country music. VERGE: There are so many facets to your career — touring, recording, photography, television show, radio show. How do you devote enough time to each? MARTY: I don’t take on anything I can’t fully devote myself to,

and I say no a lot more than I ever have. I understand the amount of time it takes to make a record or do a television show, and I have a wonderful group of people around me to take the load off. It’s a team effort. It’s about casting. You have to be true to each project. Bad casting makes for an uncomfortable time, so before you cast you’ve got to know the lay of the land and who does what. In Nashville I know everybody’s style and true gifts and that’s half the battle to putting the ensemble together. Connie [Smith, Stuart’s wife] brings great balance in that respect. My house looked like the Country Music Hall of Fame. She brought order to that and quietly suggested that we let our home be a home and not a warehouse. Souls Chapel [2005] was recorded at the house, and one night I looked around and thought … and she said, “Don’t even think about it.” She’s 100 percent right: work is work and home is home. Life before Connie was a series of studios, busses, rhinestones and the smell of diesel fuel. I knew things were out of order and out of balance. She did it all without saying a word. It’s nice when your heart has a home.

VERGE: Are you at the top of your game? If so, how do you stay there, and if not, how do you get there? MARTY: I feel as peaceful and

in the moment as I’ve ever felt in my life. If I’m not at the top, I’m mighty close. How do you stay there? Keep doing what your heart tells you to do, and don’t worry about anyone else is doing. If you’re the only person on planet Earth who thinks Santa Claus wears a green suit,

well, stand there until he does! VERGE: Has the Internet taken away the charisma and mystery, the aura that artists used to have? There was excitement and something larger than life that happened when “the band” came to town. Now, not so much. MARTY: Yeah, I do think so. Also, there’s always that crop of stars

that’s manufactured, and those people that are sent to Earth to be quasars, and there’s a difference. Some people are 8x10 glossies and products of television talent shows. I don’t need a panel to tell me if someone is a star. If they’ve got it, they can’t hide it. I’m a hillbilly star and I love it. It’s wonderful to know who you are — and what you’re not.

VERGE: What inspires you these days? What are you listening

to?

MARTY: I can’t come to Augusta without talking about the Lewis

Family, and what I love most is that James Brown was a big fan of theirs. The song spinning in my player right now is a Starday recording of Wallace Lewis’ “I’m Not Alone.” It’s way beyond words. It comes from the deep place.

Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives, the final act of this year’s Southern Soul and Song, perform at the Imperial Theatre on March 12. Watch for Marty’s new album Ghost Train later this year. A release date has not been set yet. by ALISON RICHTER photo COURTESY OF MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART

plan to go date MARCH 12 venue IMPERIAL THEATRE the show MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES: SOUTHERN SOUL AND SONG showtime 7:30 PM tickets $12.50 to $22.50 buy tickets SOUTHERNSOULANDSONG.ORG more SOUTHERNSOULANDSONG.ORG

30 / march 2010 / verge

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three bands that refuse to be labeled / defy

act one |karnivool

categories

Once in a rare while, a new band explodes on the music scene, seemingly out of nowhere, find themselves splashed across magazine covers and websites, and are actually deserving of the attention. Such is the case for Australian five-piece Karnivool, who gained prominence in 2005 with their debut album, Themata. Was it hard rock? Prog rock? Metal rock? Or just rock? Ultimately, do labels even matter?

Karnivool — that’s Ian Kenny – vocals, Drew Goddard and Mark Hosking – guitars, Jon Stockman - bass and Steve Judd – drums — toured the album, answered endless media questions, won awards and set the foundation for a follow-up … that arrived four years later. Sound Awake had not yet been released in the States when it began surpassing Themata in sales, praise and attention, even landing the band a multi-page spread in Guitar Edge. With Karnivool still in Australia at press time but ready to launch a U.S. tour, Drew Goddard exchanged e-mails with verge to discuss recording, touring and turning the beat around. First and most obvious question: Why the delay in releasing Sound Awake in the U.S.? We wanted to make sure it was released with the right backing by the right people with the right attitude. I think we’ve found that with the SIN/RED label. Themata was released there in 2007 through the Bieler Bros. label in Florida and it made a few ripples in the pond, but this time we want to throw a hefty-sized rock right in the middle of the country. Maybe we should peg it really hard near the border of Kansas and Nebraska? (Thank you kindly, Google Maps). You were quoted as saying, regarding Sound Awake, “The people that are hearing it are getting it.” What were the concerns in terms of what the audience might not “get” from the new music? From memory, when I said that I was referring to the people we have on our team in the U.S. and abroad who are working the record. We are control freaks when it comes to our creative process, and also to a certain degree in the way that it’s presented to the public, or “marketed,” if you like. We know that we have to unclench our proverbial sphincters somewhat when it comes to this part, because we know we can’t possibly be in total control over everything, and of course we’ve got absolutely no control once it becomes public property. By “getting it,” I meant that these people were very passionate and believed in the record, which, you know, makes me sleep a little

easier at night, knowing that it’s coming from the right place. This album was a collaborative songwriting effort. How did that change the overall sound of the band, and how did this make for a different recording process? We really discovered jamming for the first time — real jamming. We’d find a groove or a feel and just sit on it for ages and see where it took us. I think we just really clicked as unit fairly early on. Especially Steve and Jon —speaking of units — I think they drove the vehicle in terms of spontaneity and creating something out of nothing and in turn provided the rest of us with a solid foundation. I think this idea of just going with flow, letting the music takes its own course, was the dominant mindset that came about as a result of the collaboration. Not to mention, there was a little piece of all of us in the record this time round. You once again recorded with Forrester Savell. How was it different/similar the second time around, and what makes him the right producer for Karnivool? Forry and I butted heads a lot on Themata; we were both very opinionated. We went off in different directions and did our own things for a few years, and when we came back we were very much on the same wavelength; we all wanted to go out on a wing and really try something a bit different. We wanted real space and dimension this time around and he really got inside of it and made it happen. He knows us well enough to really kick our arses and give us honest opinions, and believe me, that was well needed!

How difficult is it to duplicate the studio effects onstage, or does it matter in terms of the live performance, where the focus is on energy and audience, and no one will go home disappointed because, “They didn’t use the ElectroHarmonix Memory Man!”Ha ha! Yeah, you’re right, although, I’ll be like, “What the ... where the f. is my Electro-Harmonix Memory Man!?!?!” then stop the show mid-song, storm off and start trashing the band room. No, not really. Yeah, we try and replicate everything as close to the record as we can at first. Once we feel comfortable, we start have fun with it a bit. But yeah, the real focus is on the energy in the room. How important is jamming to Karnivool, and is this becoming a great lost art among today’s bands? You don’t have time to think, you just have to feel, and it feels so amazing — when it works, anyway; it feels like you all have antennas installed to your minds and are tuned in to the same station. You just jump in the stream and let it take you where it takes you. There should be more of it, definitely. Here … smoke this … Karnivool is recognized for its unique tunings, riffs and time signatures. Are you ahead of the beat or behind the beat? Does this make you the Willie Nelsons of heavy metal? Speaking of advocates for such things.. ha ha! Sure, we’ll take that. We’re always behind the beat, mate, on a leash getting dragged along. Ya gotta let the beat take you where it takes you. by ALISON RICHTER photo FILE

act three |something to burn

“My head will explode!” are the first words out of Something To Burn vocalist Greg Wayne’s mouth after “Hello.”

With a tour underway and an album to promote, the singer has taken on the role of booking agent, businessman, promoter and various other hats that he shares with bandmates Jeff Ballard - bass, Jimmy Norman – guitars and Shawn Ballard – drums. Caught in traffic on his way to a video shoot, he announces, “Every possible thing that can slow you down will!” Something To Burn’s debut album, Transitions, was released last September on Soft Drive Records, the label founded by Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland. Following some shows with STP last year, Something To Burn is spending this spring on the road with Karnivool and Fair To Midland. Greg Wayne, a man born to rock and roll and who clearly has no “off ” switch, went full-speed with verge to discuss Something To Burn, finding the right musicians, and whatever else raced through his brain as he drove. Your bio offers little background other than, “They’ve been raised on music, not the radio,” whatever that means. WHAT? I’ll write [the bio] myself and tell the story of what’s going on! I guess he’s trying to say that this band is not about singles; we’re about albums. “Raised on music, not radio” — what the … As a musician in L.A., which is full of musicians, was it easier to lock into the groove with this band, which was already together when you joined, versus trying to build the groove

from scratch? Honestly, I was at a point where I was so fed up with starting bands and having people flake on me. I was at the end of my rope. I went on craigslist to find a band that was already together that I could walk right into. In five minutes I found these guys. The hardest thing was that they had a bond and I was the outsider. I had to fight because they had a bunch of songs they’d done with the last guy and I’m not a karaoke singer. I said, “Let me write stuff and prove myself, because I’m not doing old stuff.” After all of your experiences, is there any way to prepare for this when it finally happens? You just ride until the wheels fall off! The ten years that we all spent hustling and trying to make it in this business were the preparation. People don’t know the whole story. They say, “You got a band together and you got a deal. You’re so lucky.” No, no, no! There was so much starvation, hustle, and blood, sweat and tears, and we still aren’t there. I am hustling to put this tour together; we have no tour manager. I have no qualms about giving everything up, everything, because I have total faith in our record. Being on this tour, and then on tour again with Stone Temple Pilots, is a blessing. You were certainly born to be a frontman. What does it take to develop the skills as both a singer and performer? I grew up with it. My uncle was a touring drummer and my mom was a single crazy hippie, so I grew up in a gypsy lifestyle full of music. I started playing drums when I was 3, and singing and guitar playing came naturally. You can’t go to frontman school; it’s there or it’s not, but definitely you have to get out and do it. Even if you’re a great singer with natural charisma, you have to get in

front of crowds and work it, and get road legs and stage legs. The bottom line is that as long as it comes from a real place, it will be good. I don’t choreograph or plan. I know the city we’re in and who to thank, and then I let it happen and trust that whatever comes will be good. Seeing choreographed fake s--t is so blatantly obvious. It’s got to be a natural thing, a connection with the audience, feeding off of their energy and vibe and letting everyone in. by ALISON RICHTER photo FILE

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defy the odds / and one man who believes in the show If you have attended a concert at Sky City, chances are it was billed as a Steve Hall Production. Who is Steve Hall and what does he produce? verge spoke with the successful concert promoter about his start in the music industry, how his company has grown, and the hard sell that is Augusta. What prompted you to go into concert promotion? Music was always a passion of mine, although I am not a musician. Living in Montgomery, Alabama, I had to drive 100 miles to Birmingham or 160 miles to Atlanta to see a concert. I had some time and had saved some money, and I was willing to learn about promoting and figure it out on my own. How did you get your business off the ground? I was persistent enough to be heard. The first act that made me decide that I wanted to get into promoting was Fuel. They had an album coming out and I wanted them to stop in Montgomery. It never happened, but I established a good relationship with their agent. I quickly learned that this is a business where you either make a little money or lose a lot. The opportunity for return on investments is very slim. I figured out how, why and what to offer to whom, and I branched out from Montgomery to other markets. I made a conscious decision early on to base my business on Southwest Airlines: They thrive and stay profitable by serving underserved communities. They don’t go into saturated markets. My shows in smaller markets may be the most talked about thing that week.

the promoter | steve hall

How has your company grown? I book anything from 250-seat clubs to 6000-seat amphitheaters. It’s my vision for which talent to book. It’s knowing where the band is getting airplay and where to book. I have help from street teams, graphic designers, different people for different shows. I do my research. I look at album sales charts, playlists for every rock station in the U.S., ticket sales charts, and I apply data from my experience to see what should work where.

How many shows do you book per month and how often do you travel? On average, one to five, and I attend 60 percent of them. I put 25,000 miles on my car last year. I work a day job to support the losses that sometimes happen in the promotion world. I have a very strong work ethic. After the Dinosaur Jr. show at Sky City last year, I got home at 5:30 a.m., went to work at 8:30 a.m. and put in a 10-hour day. What are the greatest challenges and rewards of your job? Everyone wants to go to a show, but nobody wants to buy a ticket unless they have to. The rewards: I get to work with my favorite artists, and there’s a tremendous amount of job satisfaction watching bands grow from clubs to arenas and knowing I had a small part in helping them achieve their dream. There have been real highlights, like booking Lindsay Buckingham, Shinedown, Saving Abel. The most rewarding part of my career is being associated with the Layne Staley Fund

in Seattle. I’m the biggest Alice In Chains fan in the world, and now I’m a talent buyer for an annual benefit concert in Seattle. [see LAYNESTALEYFUND.COM] Why is Augusta such a hard sell for tickets? If I didn’t think I could sell tickets in Augusta, I would not make the 600-mile drive. Augusta has tremendous musical history as the home of James Brown. The live music scene is picking up, but the number one gripe is the liquor laws. The 21-and-up law kills live shows. There is no reason to turn away 18 to 20-year-olds. In most other markets, they armband patrons who are 21 and up. They hold minors’ IDs or mark their hands. The system works. I don’t know what the city of Augusta expects these kids to do on Friday and Saturday nights. With some acts, I bypass Augusta because the laws will hurt ticket sales. I have to pay the agent a guarantee whether anyone shows up or not. What are your predictions for live music in 2010? As disposable income shrinks, the quality of the act matters. People who went out every Friday night now pick and choose what to do, and my chance of failure only grows. But I’m excited about 2010. I’ve been doing shows in Augusta for four years, at Sky City and the Country Club, and I look forward to growing beyond that.

“We don’t want to lock ourselves into a description. We want people to listen to the music, see the show and decide for themselves.” “We’re not a Texas rock band; we’re a rock band from Texas.” That’s how bassist Jon

Dicken sums up all that is Fair To Midland, which includes singer Darroh Sudderth, guitarist Cliff Campbell, drummer Brett Stowers and keyboardist Matt Langley. With two independent projects behind them, Fair To Midland was signed to Serjical Strike Records, owned by System of A Down frontman Serj Tankian, in 2006. Their first release for the label was an EP, The Drawn and Quartered, followed by their first full-length Fables From A Mayfly, in 2007. While preparing material for their next album, FTM is on the road for a month with Karnivool and Something To Burn. It’s a unique combination, but that’s nothing new for Fair To Midland. Because their sound defies categorization, says Jon Dicken, “It’s hard for us to fit on a bill, but at the same time it allows us to get on a lot of bills.” Dicken spoke to verge about what’s ahead and how five musicians made the jump from small town to major label. Your

bio

describes

your

sound

“disciplined stream of consciousness.” What does that mean? That’s a load of bull written by somebody who couldn’t think of any better words to explain it. We don’t want to lock ourselves into a description. We want people to listen to the music, see the show and decide for themselves. Where is Sulphur Springs, and what are the odds of starting a band there and getting out? It’s 80 miles east of Dallas. That’s the closest city, and the odds are pretty slim. That’s why the five of us are in a band together. There was no one else to choose from. Cliff and Darroh started the band ten years ago in high school. They were seniors and I was a freshman. Brett and Matt came in later. The original bass player left and I was in the only other band in Sulphur, so they gave me the option to join. What was Fair To Midland like at the time you joined? They were the biggest band on the Dallas scene. I was in college and they were starting a summer tour. I figured it would be for one summer, so I went with them. That was five years ago, and I never went back to school. I had only been playing bass for two years at that

act two | fair to midland

point. We’ve grown a lot since then.

How far along are you with the new record? We’ve got enough material, but we’re still writing. Hopefully, we’ll get it recorded after this tour.

interesting writing process. I’m into country and blues, Matt is into progressive rock, Darroh — I’m not sure what he likes. Out of necessity we’ve learned to make it work, even if it takes months to finish a song. In a small town, the options are slim and that’s why the influences are different. Fortunately, we like each other … most of the time! by ALISON RICHTER photo FILE

How did the studio help shape you as a recording musician and a live performer? I had never done any recording outside of my bedroom, so it was a big learning experience. As a live player, when I joined the band the only requirement was to be very energetic onstage; how I played my parts was on the back burner. The date SATURDAY MARCH 27 studio made me a little more aware of what I was doing. I was always a venue SKY CITY sloppy live player. That was my style. the show FAIR TO MIDLAND + KARNIVOOL + Recording helped me tighten the screws and it taught me patience. SOMETHING TO BURN + SUNS COLLIDE

plan to go

You all have diverse musical influences. How do you bring them together to make it work as a band? It makes for a very

showtime 9 PM tickets $8 to $10 buy tickets SKYCITYAUGUSTA.COM more MYSPACE.COM/THESTEVEROCKS

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uptown : augusta & columbia county shop local/ tea with a dutchess music/ chasing light new tea room & boutique opens in summerville MARCH 27 : FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

A mix of something old and something new – Laura Simmons is bringing High Tea back in style in Tea With A Dutchess. Why High Tea and why now? The new store owner and former children’s clothing designer always desired to open her own tea shop and boutique. She also saw the need for a place where girls of all ages could come together and celebrate special occasions. Laura’s enthusiasm extends to the particular building she’s chosen for Tea With A Dutchess, located on the corner of McDowell and Monte Sano streets, right in the heart of Summerville. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it and with the encouragement of my family, especially my mother, I signed the contract four months ago and here I am!” Laura beams with joy. In the nine months that he has spent in Augusta as symphony director, Shizuo Z Kuwahara has seen positive changes, beginning with the name change — Symphony Orchestra Augusta — all the way to a new mission statement: “Share the joy of great musical performance with the audience. Together, we’re music.” Kuwahara’s goal is to bring new and challenging music to the CSRA. “Even if it’s old music that people in Augusta have not heard before, we want it to excite the older patrons and bring in new audiences as well,” he says. “I’m very impressed with the city and I want this organization to be a part of that in cultural aspects. I see a lot of potential.” Kuwahara’s path to the conductor’s baton is unique: he began as a saxophonist. “I didn’t know anything about orchestra until I got into college at the Eastman School of Music [Rochester, N.Y.] and heard Rachmaninoff ’s Second Symphony,” he says. “I fell in love with it, but how could I be part of that with a saxophone? So I decided to become a conductor. I was 18 and I knew nothing about Mahler or Beethoven. Now I’m 33 and have been through many great trainings.” As part of that training, Kuwahara earned apprenticeships and conducted orchestras in Germany and Poland. “It was eye-opening,” he says. “Europe thinks about classical music, and approaches it, differently. In the U.S., as in Japan, where I was born, orchestral music is embedded; it’s not part of the main culture. In Europe it is the culture.” While Kuwahara was a student at Eastman, Pulitzer Prize winner Joseph Schwantner was a composition professor. Both men were also at Yale at the same time, and Kuwahara conducted Schwantner’s work A Sudden Rainbow. On March 27, he will again conduct one of Schwantner’s works, a powerful symphony entitled Chasing Light. “I understand the music of Joseph Schwantner and his language,” he says. “He’s a very gentle person and passionate about his music.” This work comes to Augusta thanks to Ford Made In America, a foundation that brings new music to orchestras that otherwise could not afford to commission the pieces. Symphonies, like all arts and cultural organizations, are feeling the effects of economic hardships. “States are running out of money and support for the arts, and everything in education is running out,” says Kuwahara. “People are having a difficult time, and our job is to give them a peaceful place through music, a place to be inspired and hopeful and come together.” by ALISON RICHTER photo LILLY MILASZEWSKA

plan to go venue FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

CHASING LIGHT time 7:30 PM

Just as High Tea originally started, Tea With A Dutchess will also be served as a full meal including tea, meat/sandwiches, side dish and dessert. Each tea party package is reasonably priced to transform the shop for a bridal shower or a Sweet Sixteen Birthday or a simple gathering of friends. Laura is excited to be teaming up with local small businesses to provide customers with something sweet and salty in their High Tea Packages. The sweet morsels come from Simply Sweet and the salty finger foods will be catered by Piece of Cake. Customers will also enjoy the dutchess motif while shopping

for gifts for babies and young girls with a range of party favors, delicant soaps and lotions as well as the popular Seda France Candles (Opera endorsed). As a new small business owner, Laura knows that “all the care and service to make the customer feel special” will give her the edge to make her niche in this Augusta community. The boutique will be open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 am to 5 pm and Saturdays 11:30 am to 2 pm. Tea parties by reservation only on Saturdays and Sundays. Details: 1403 Monte Sano Ave | 706.294.9626 article and photo by HEATHER RANKIN

MARCH 26 : THE COUNTRY CLUB

live music / the hushpuppies

When vocalist/guitarist Todd Cowart, his cousin Cary Cooper - drums and vocals, and his brother-in-law Matt Thomas – lead guitar, began performing as The Hushpuppies in 1998, “Everyone was into grunge and wearing oversized shirts,” says Cowart. “Now it’s all about everyone showing off their muscles. It was a cool time back then, and it’s where I wish music was now.”

The Hushpuppies spent a formative two years playing mostly cover songs in a set list that could bounce back and forth from Neil Young to Merle Haggard and make perfect sense. The shows were energetic, crowds responded, and little by little the group began writing their own material, growing audiences and itinerary stops along the way. “It really started as a grassroots situation, playing for probably 500 people in the middle of nowhere,” says Cowart. “Then it became weddings, private parties, and eventually clubs all over south Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.” They cut an album, Songs From The Big House, named after their rehearsal studio in Cowart’s father’s farmhouse in Jenkins County, Ga., and sold 5000 copies the old fashioned way: at gigs and from the back of their truck. “That was before the Internet,” says Cowart. Eight years later, they released Sweet Magnolia [2009], recorded with producer Britt Wilson at his Chateau Electro studio in Atlanta. “It’s a different world now,” says Cowart. “We’ve got iTunes, a band website for sales and orders, and direct feedback from the audience.” They have also amassed strong reviews for both their recordings and live shows, are booked for steady gigs, and have generated the kind of “buzz” that usually requires funding, backing and outside parties. The Hushpuppies, however, have managed to remain a selfcontained entity, setting up their own interviews, maintaining direct online contact via e-mail, and still working their music from a street level. Clearly, it’s paying off. There has also been one more change. When The Hushpuppies play their Country Club gig on March 26, bass player Michael Steele, who tours with John Berry and Randall Bramblett, will join them.

date SATURDAY MARCH 27 event SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AUGUSTA:

The history of High Tea started with the hunger pangs of a 19th century Dutchess of Bedford. Anna, the seveth Dutchess of Bedford, started a trend of afternoon snacks with tea in the late afternoon often with her friends, since dinner wasn’t served until late evening.

cost $11 to $45

more SOAUGUSTA.ORG |SCHWANTNER.NET

For Cowart, and the rest of the band, the road really does go on forever, and he can’t imagine it any other way. “Like family and faith, music is such a part of my life,” he says. “I’d put it on that list as a close third. I’m afraid I’d end up in a padded cell if I didn’t have music, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it going. Music, for me, is a family member, and you do anything for family. I couldn’t live without it.” by ALISON RICHTER photo ARTIST

plan to go

date MARCH 26 venue THE COUNTRY CLUB event THE HUSHPUPPIES time 9:30 PM cost $3 to $5 more AUGUSTACOUNTRY.COM

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films to challenge / a double dose of documentary the reckoning shows justice and bleacher boys, compassion BLEACHER BOYS

On October 3, 1951, announcer Russ Hodges captured the most memorable home run in baseball history. “Bobby Thompson... up there swingin’... He’s had two out of three, a single and a double, and Billy Cox is playing him right on the third-base line... One out, last of the ninth... Branca pitches... [audible sound of bat meeting ball] There’s a long drive... it’s gonna be, I believe...THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!! … Bobby Thompson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant and they’re goin’ crazy, they’re goin’ crazy! HEEEY-OH!!!’’

still from The Reckoning

THE RECKONING

Film documentarians uncover truth in a way that educates those who will listen. Filmmakers Pamela Yates and Paco de Onis uncovered the truth in The Reckoning while collaborating on an earlier project, State Of Fear.

Ed Lucas, in the inspirational film Bleacher Boys, vividly recalls the significance of that 1951 miracle home run – it was his inspiration to become a professional baseball player. A dream that was dashed when a linedrive hit Lucas between the eyes causing him to see no more.

In 2002, Yates and de Onis were working on a film about the Peruvian truth and reconciliation commission. “Some of the people who were working on the truth commission had also been very involved in working toward writing the constitution for the International Criminal Court (ICC).” Yates then recognized the unique opportunity “to do a film about the first years of this court.” The result was The Reckoning.

Pamela Yates

While their efforts in uncovering the truth about the ICC gained ground, their research ruffled some feathers and jeopardized not only their own personal safety, but the safety of those who agreed to be interviewed for the film. Director Yates admits, “When we came and started to ask about the International Criminal Court, many people thought we were actually working undercover for the court and that we were going to gather evidence to take to the court. So that was a particularly volatile situation. We had to be really careful about the people we talked to. We had to make sure the people we talked to who appeared on camera were okay with it.” The International Criminal Court hears cases of the gravest breaches of international law, specifically of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression. Producer de Onis explains, “We believe in an International Justice System that expects countries [even] sovereign nations to take care of the crime.” The United States is one of the 38 countries that have signed (by former President Clinton), but have not ratified the Treaty of Rome. By not confirming or supporting the ratification of the Treaty Rome undermines the ability of the ICC to be a true global and universal court. So, what does that say about this administration? de Onis explains, “Obama’s carefully weighing the pros and cons and he’s considering it.” Recently, the U.S. sent their first delegate to observe proceedings since the ICC started back in 2001. “[The U.S. seems to be] looking at how can help without joining,” he continues.

The unlikeliest of heros, Bobby Thomson was a third basemen and clean-up hitter with a low (.238) batting average that shocked the 1951 World Series with two home runs, one coined forever as, “the shot heard around the world.”

Paco de Onis

Since Sundance 2009, The Reckoning has been viewed in approximately seventy festivals while steering clear of theatrical distributors. “[As] activist filmmakers--human right activist [there’s a] need to keep control of their film,” de Onis explains, “Causing social change [needs to] gain momentum at the right time.” Instead they achieved an alternative theatrical release in over 60 cities and with a 94-minute Director’s cut that can be found online. Of course, the Southern Film Circuit gets the film widespread screening across the Southeast and will hopefully spur more people to action. by HEATHER RANKIN photo THE RECKONING

Producer Karen Hunter memorializes the inescapable fear of blindness, the necessity of learning to adapt to it and the love of the game called America’s favorite pastime in her new documentary Bleacher Boys. Hunter intimately shows the heart and lives of six men whose common dream as boys to become major league baseball players was dashed at an early age due to blindness. “For each of these men, the causal effects of their blindness is dissimilar, but their experience as children, (without sight), is universal,” Hunter explains. “No child is without fears and uncertainties,” one man vividly describes the mental opposition to blindness that he had as a child. He was afraid to become the internal vision he had of a blind man: “[someone] with dark shades, a long overcoat and a tin cup asking for money.” As children, each man was concerned about how he was going to survive in a sight-driven world. Again, the unlikeliest of heros arose – the parents that helped their kids endure through their love and encouragement. “When resources and adaptive equipment were unavailable, their parents were the warriors that forged their path to a greater education and independence,” Hunter states.

plan to go date WEDNESDAY MARCH 10

date WEDNESDAY APRIL 7

venue IMPERIAL THEATRE

the film THE RECKONING

the film BLEACHER BOYS

time 7 PM + post screening Q&A

cost $4

more THERECKONINGFILM.COM

more HAMZEHMYSTIQUEFILMS.COM

meet the directors of each film after the screening for a Q&A

still from Bleacher Boys

The path to living with blindness is full of struggle and an amazing will power. Hunter learned that “mobility is an essential skill for the blind because with mobility comes independence. They [the six guys] recognized that their success, in part, is due to persistent and loving parents. Their fondest memories are sitting with their dads listening to a game on the radio. Like any kid, they had heroes. They had their dads and their baseball superheroes. Their best friends were the voices behind the radio.” These men – whose dreams of a future as professional baseball players were thrown a bit of a curve ball – ultimately succeed in life through their love for the game as they shared it with their loved ones. “[As] activist filmmakers--human right activist [there’s a] need to keep control of their film,” de Onis explains, “Causing social change [needs to] gain momentum at the right time.” Instead they achieved an alternative theatrical release in over 60 cities and with a 94-minute Director’s cut that can be found online. Of course, the Southern Film Circuit gets the film widespread screening across the Southeast and will hopefully spur more people to action. by HEATHER RANKIN photo BLEACHER BOYS

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vergelive.com

the monumental history of greene street / 13

Spanish American War Memorial

/ 800 Block of Greene Street erected by / The Department of Georgia National Auxiliary United Spanish War Veterans in May 1942 location

While small in stature, the Spanish American War Memorial, located within the 800 block of Greene Street, is a lasting tribute to Georgia veterans who served proudly in the Spanish American War between 1896 and 1900. With its rough granite exterior and bronze plaque adorned with the figure of a soldier, the memorial captures the raw rugged imagery of soldiers originally sent into battle by then-President William McKinley to combat Spanish atrocities in Cuba. This action eventually led to the annexation of former Spanish territories of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam as well as the occupation of Cuba by the United States. In 1898, the Third Georgia Volunteer Infantry was formed after McKinleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second call for troops. The regiment served stateside during the majority of the Spanish American War but, afterwards, served in Cuba as part of the occupation force. Augusta was part of Company I, a company also made up of volunteers from Milledgeville and Richmond, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Hancock and Warren Counties serving under Capt. J. H. Stevens. The Spanish American War Memorial can be found at the end of the 800 block of Greene Street in the grassy median at the intersection of Greene and Ninth Streets. by JOHN CANNON rendering ALEX McCAIN, III editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: This is the 13th installment of a the history of the monuments that line Greene Street.

visit the pipeline at

www.vergelive.com for complete event listings each month

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across the river : north augusta & aiken MARCH 8 to 12 : VARIOUS VENUES

music/ juilliard in aiken

the future of music goes public

Juilliard In Aiken will present its second annual music festival on March 8 – 12. The event features students, faculty and alumni from the Juilliard School in ten performances and a series of workshops, master classes and demonstrations in performance venues across the Aiken area. This year, Juilliard In Aiken will showcase additional artists and concerts, marking a growth in demand and success, according to Sandra Field, president. “Juilliard takes the lead in how the week shapes up,” she says. “Their students are world-class talents. They are the future Wynton Marsalises, and having them here makes a high level of quality music accessible to a lot of people. We gave Juilliard our wish list of ensembles and musicians, and they tailored to what they could manage logistically.” Among the week’s activities is a free concert by the Juilliard Jazz Artist Diploma Ensemble on Tuesday, March 9, at Second Baptist Church. “Last year, the jazz quintet did the Kidz Bop concert, and this year they asked for a stand-alone concert for adults so that they could perform their Miles Davis repertoire,” says Field. “Southern Bank and Trust is sponsoring the concert, so it’s free to the public.” Corporate and individual sponsors are key to the return of outstanding programs such as Juilliard In Aiken. The organization does months of fundraising in order to raise the money for this important week of activities, which serves the citizens of the CSRA by bringing superb musicians to the area, and also plays a significant part in music education. “The community at large has been very generous, and we are really appreciative,” says Field. “The city provides free transportation for the artists to and from the venues and rehearsals, and host families house the students for free and treat them like royalty. It’s really a community effort, and local businesses have been very supportive too.” As arts programs in public schools continue to suffer budget cuts, an event like Juilliard In Aiken is crucial as a source of enrichment, encouragement and academics. “The availability of music in a community is not a privilege, it’s a right,” says Field. “Secondly, as concerned parents, grandparents and educators, we must pick up the ball and fill in the gaps for our students and make sure that they care about culture and humanity, which the arts bring to them. Juilliard looks at this partnership as a way of bridging our communities. Well over 2000 students will be touched by the performances of Juilliard artists in this county. It is about date MARCH 8 TO 12 bringing people together and making music venue AIKEN SC / VARIES accessible to everyone.”

plan to go

event JUILLIARD IN AIKEN time VARIES cost FREE TO TICKETED more JUILLIARDINAIKEN.COM

For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit http://juilliardinaiken.com. by ALISON RICHTER photo COURTESY OF JUILLIARD IN AIKEN

MARCH 27 : DOWNTOWN NORTH AUGUSTA

festival / yellow jessamine

a day for arts and community

The Fourth Annual Yellow Jessamine Festival returns to downtown North Augusta Saturday, March 27 from 11 am to 9 pm when the community will have an opportunity to gather for an art contest, activities and a performance by the band Riptide.

of Georgia Avenue and Spring Grove, along with a food court, for all day entertainment. Fireworks end the night following Riptide’s 6 pm performance. Riptide has charmed North Augusta with their beach music for three out of the four years of the event.

The art, music and garden festival is sponsored by the City of North Augusta in partnership with the North Augusta Cultural Arts Council, and will take over most of Georgia Avenue. Traffic for the day will be diverted up West Avenue, giving residents an opportunity to show their civic pride and gather in celebration of South Carolina’s State Flower.

In addition, a hayride will transport visitors from the Heritage Center to the children’s area, near Gary’s Hamburgers. Vendors will line Georgia Avenue, including arts, crafts and on-site demonstrations. Some vendors include participants in the Themed Garden Competition and local authors selling and signing books at the Beveled Edge for a community book fair.

“The Yellow Jessamine is our state flower, and it blooms in March around the time of the festival,” said Mendy DeMine at the North Augusta department of planning and economic development. “It just seemed like a fun way to celebrate the arrival of spring and to get everyone together for some good times.” The centerpiece of the festival is the art competition held on the patio at the North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center until 6 pm. The winner of the general competition will receive $150, while the winner of the poster competition receives $250 and their poster will become the logo for next year’s festival. This year’s judge is Michael Fowler, holder of the Mary Durban Toole Chair of Art and computer graphics teacher at the University of South Carolina Aiken. All entries submitted for the general competition will remain on display at the Heritage Center until April 17. For more details and submission requirements, visit www.naartscouncil.org. “We get entries from all over the region, so it’s not just local, which is actually good for the competition,” said DeMine. “You’ll see 3D art, photography, acrylic and a variety of interesting things to make the contest worth seeing.” A community stage will be at the intersection

“We definitely try to reach out to the whole community and find something everyone will enjoy,” said DeMine. “We pride ourselves on providing a fun day for the whole family.” DeMine is eagerly anticipating the event, and hoping for good luck this time around. Last year’s festival occurred during a monumental rainstorm that discouraged participation in all but the art contest and book fair. “This year we’re hoping for great weather,” she said, “but either way I’m sure we’ll have a good time.” by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK art JEAN BLACKMER / 2009 winning poster entry

plan to go date SATURDAY MARCH 27 venue DOWNTOWN N. AUGUSTA event YELLOW JESSAMINE FEST time 11 am to 9 pm cost FREE more NAARTSCOUNCIL.ORG

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on the flip side / G-City Rockers and Backwater Traffic John “Stoney” Canon and Jacob Beltz delve into the Augusta music scene, taking a look at two musicians virtually “on the flipside” of the musical spectrum. In their own words, artist share their personal musical make-up and thoughts on the other’s different style – exposing the similarities as well. In this second segment are another pair of drummers – Johnny Hohlwein of garage rock band G-City Rockers and Todd Fagan from the country rock group Backwater Traffic.

JOHNNY HOHLWEIN

TODD FAGAN

Garage rock band G-City Rockers has been seeking that “right chemistry” since first coming on the Augusta music scene in 2006 with the release of Kings, Queens, & Vagabonds. Despite touring as far north as New York, the band was virtually unknown in Augusta until appearing on the 12 Bands of Christmas CD in 2008. In 2010, G-City Rockers, who previously played mostly originals, not only found the right musical parts but decided to dig into their collective past by incorporating lesser played covers into their repertoire that digs as far back as the 1950s and wander no further than the early 1980s.

Country and rock band Backwater Traffic formed out of the ashes of a short-lived band created to back up singer Krista Leigh. Since their formation, the band have taken the modern country and modern rock covers of that previous band and injected it with a wider mix of rock covers that visit an earlier time in rock history. Originally formed as a covers band, more recently Backwater Traffic have started to open up creatively with compositions of their own.

DRUMMER | G-CITY ROCKERS

Drummer Johnny Hohlwein, formerly of Augusta rock band Vagabond Missionaries, took over drum duties for G-City Rockers in 2009, adding a backbeat that blends the power of 70s arena rock and the style of 80s glam metal. JACOB: What made you decide you wanted

to be in G-City Rockers.?

JOHNNY: Up until about a year ago, I had

actually disappeared all but totally from the music scene due to family matters and just being burned out. Then, I got a text from Stoney asking me if I would be interested in a Vagabond Missionaries reunion. While my hiatus was very therapeutic, that text really sparked that old desire for playing. It was great jamming with the gang again. However, we did the show and it was over. There was only one problem: I wasn’t ready for it to end. Call it fate, luck, or just the exact alignment of the stars at the perfect moment, about two months later I got another call from Stoney, this time the question was “How do you feel about playing drums full time in G-City Rockers?” Now it was definitely something I would have loved to do just for the music but add in the fact that I just had an awesome reunion with Joco and Stoney. Now I get the chance to jam with both full time and, then, add in Fred on guitar and “Lurch” on guitar. Needless to say, it was not a hard decision to make. If it looks like home, feels like home and smells like home, then daddy must be home.

JACOB: What do you feel you contribute most as a member of the band? JOHNNY: Attitude, lots and lots of attitude. Being in the rhythm section, I can tell when something

doesn’t quite feel right and will definitely express that. I also harmonize well on vocals. Maybe in the future I will totally write a song or two (but just don’t tell the guys, they might get scared). Did I mention I provide the practice room (Hey! that’s a good contribution)?

JACOB: What do you feel sets G-City Rockers. apart from other local bands? JOHNNY: Our diversity. Not just with the different covers that we do, but our originals are made up of influences from Dion and the Belmonts to CCR to Kiss. I think we are more focused on what we love to play and how we want it to sound and not really concerned about how anyone else wants us to sound. People will either like us or they won’t. JACOB: What about Backwater Traffic do you feel would be attractive to the fans of G-City Rockers? JOHNNY: Just like us, their sets consist of mostly covers that are not over-played, but that people will

recognize. They also play a cover their own way and not from Memorex. Our fans know when they come to see us they are going to get pure straight rock n’ roll that comes straight from the heart the way it was designed to be played and that’s exactly what they are going to get when they see Backwater Traffic.

DRUMMER | BACKWATER TRAFFIC

Drummer Todd Fagan, who has played with several bands over the past twenty years (including Vertigo, Senile Driver, and the Brotherhood) brings a wide palate of styles and influences that range from country to full on metal. STONEY: What made you decide you

wanted to be in Backwater traffic?

TODD: JJ, the bassist, and I have been friends for about 20 years. We’ve been working together musically on and off throughout those years but in separate projects. This is the first opportunity to actually work together in the same band. I met Krista and played drums for her in a previous line-up. She sold me with the first note she sang. Awesome Johnny Hohlwein (left) and Todd Fagan(right) girl !! Then we have the Pittman boys cousins Justin and Nick- who were born with music in their blood. So, I came back into the picture and we played the first song “Sweet Emotion,” which is now one of our staple songs. That did it. It was like we’d been playing together all our life. I thought to myself, “Now that’s musicianship.” We just clicked. The talent is there and we have all grown together so much. And not just musically, but now we’re like family. STONEY: What do you feel you contribute most as a member of the band? TODD: I try to bring whatever I can to “the table.” There I said it. It’s that virtual table every musician talks about. Being a drummer AND a songwriter, I try to be creative in everything I do. Sometimes, maybe too creative. I get all these ideas, and it’s like I wanna throw everything in the mix. STONEY: What do you feel sets Backwater Traffic apart from other local bands? TODD: We try to stay away from the same old songs that have been played out over and over and over. You will NOT find Free Bird or Margaritaville on our set list. We try to keep it mixed up with top 40s, pop, country, rock, old school. We’re like internet radio one minute you’ll hear Carrie Underwood, Colbie Callait, and The Doors; then you’ll hear Metallica, Pink Floyd, and Pink. I think folks also really dig a female lead singer. It just adds a different element and a different feel. STONEY: What about G-City Rockers do you feel would be attractive to the fans of Backwater Traffic? TODD: We have a lot of similarities. They do a lot of favorite obscure tunes with their own twist. Their wide variety will keep you guessing. Like us, you never know what you might hear. Now, on the FlipSide (all pun intended), they do a lot of original material, whereas we are currently more cover oriented. We’re in the process of writing new tunes. We debuted our latest “Greyhound Station” last time at the Playground on snow day as a test drive. I think our fans would thoroughly enjoy G-City. They have a gritty Americana edge to them with a lot of versatility.

get more G-City Rockers

get more Backwater Traffic

listen online GCITYROCKERS.COM or REVERBNATION.COM

listen online BACKWATER TRAFFIC.COM or REVERBNATION.COM

see them live THE PLAYGROUND BAR date FRIDAY MARCH 12

why A free show that also provides clothing for the homeless

why You also get to see G-City Rockers in this free benefit show by JACOB LYNDON BELTZ and JOHN ‘STONEY’ CANON photo KATIE MCGUIRE

40 / march 2010 / verge

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cut the fat /i’m a loser baby part VIII battle of the bulge

“You or nobody ain’t never gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit... it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward... how much you can take, and keep moving forward. If you know what you’re worth, go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit.” – ROCKY BALBOA (Rocky VI)

In the sixth of the Rocky movie series, former world heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Balboa, a beat and battered man full of dreams and tales of glory days, finds himself preparing for a comeback fight that only he believes he can win. Balboa sees a chance to prove himself to the only person he feels he needs to prove himself to – himself. After doing all that he can do to prepare, Balboa falls short of victory in the ring but remains standing as he walks away knowing that he has far exceeded what anyone, even himself, has expected. In many ways, Rocky Balboa has a lot in common with people who struggle day in and day out with their weight. He remains engulfed in a cloud of what “used to be” and, while he possesses a nostalgic fondness for glory days of the past, he finds a growing desperation as he moves further away from them. This is true of many people who are overweight. Being overweight is not only a daily obstacle, but also a constant reminder of what “used to be.” I found myself in one of those “used to be” situations recently when a friend from junior high school showed me pictures that she had of me from back in the day. I felt I was looking at someone other than myself in those pictures. I didn’t know whether to be more proud of what I once was or more ashamed of what I had become. Like Rocky, I found myself in a position where I had to decide whether to remain chained to my past or continue to battle the bulge despite knowing that no matter how much weight I lose, I will never look the same as I did in those photos. For some, this is one of the hardest things to do when dealing with being overweight. In such instances it always helps to have a good support team as well as goals to keep you on track. Rocky always had both and, in the end, he always rose to the challenge. With that in mind, I’d like to offer up a challenge. As an “undefeated” Biggest Loser champion, I am personally laying down the gauntlet and challenging anyone to beat me in the next session of Health Central’s new weight loss challenge: The Biggest Winner Champs Challenge. I am upping the ante by throwing in dinner for two at a locally owned and operated restaurant of the winner’s choice. That’s right, just keep me from winning this next round and you can celebrate without dipping into your prize money ($100). But that’s not all – Health Central is making it possible to those who are not currently members to take part by offering a special discount membership that runs through the three months of Biggest Winner Champs Challenge from March 22 to June 25. For a mere $25 a month (over half the normal rate) plus the $20 Biggest Winner entry fee, non-members can take part in this great program. Stick with it and they will even toss in the next three-month session at only $30 a month! Making this deal even more amazing is that not only will it come with full access to all of Health Central’s great equipment but, as a participant in Biggest Winner, you get full access to one of their trainers! How can you beat that? So take the challenge…I dare you! What do you have to lose but weight that you’ve possibly wanted to lose for a while? Besides, if you win you can do like Rocky and yell “Yo Adrian, I did it!”

do you have what it takes to challenge the champ? Stoney lost 51 pounds in the last Health Central Biggest Loser Round. Now, take the challenge and join him on March 25th for the Biggest Winner Champs Challenge.

for Health Central Info:

Miriam Murrell at healthcentral@uh.org

for Biggest Winner Contest Info:

Michael Clark at michaelclark@uh.org by JOHN CANNON photos KATIE MCGUIRE

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the last word sound bites / stoney cannon nightlife / hd lounge Now that all of us in A-U-G land are a bit warmer and drier following last month’s blizzard (I personally would like to thank our smokin’ hot music scene for the quick demise of said snow), it is time to get an early start on those musical mixes that keep us going through the arduous task of spring cleaning. Sure that dreaded groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter but, judging by JO BONE’S (bassist L.i.E.) Mohawk at last months Lokal Loudness Choice Awards, I have concluded that the little furry rodent was way off the mark. Look for an undercurrent of new bands coupled with a rise in hot new music to produce sunny musical days ahead. Speaking of new music, our roaming Augustan WILL MCCRANIE, who now calls New York home, has so far managed to defy the odds; not only is he posting new music weekly as part of his ongoing 52/52 project (52 songs in 52 weeks), but he’s even thrown a few bonus tunes into the mix. Most of the tunes are only available in audio, but occasionally Willie Mac will deliver a video as well often backed by his crack shot band, “the Not So Sober Novembers.” To add to the madness, McCranie even posted a cover of Ryan Adams’ “Dear Chicago” announcing that every seventh week the posted track will be a cover. Keep up with Will’s musical saga at www.5252project.com. Area trio NOSTAR continue their road ways in March charging across the Midwest, through the Bayou and into Texas. While the band recently employed some unique fundraising methods to help build a touring nest egg, (selling cocoa downtown during First Friday being my personal favorite), they held back from asking their fans to pay for a new collection of live tracks. They are offering On the corner of 12th and Ellis Street sits the HD Lounge, formerly known as the bar Hoe Downs. the new owners of HD Lounge, a combination of local downtown business owners from the Loft on Broad Street and 8th Street Tobacco, have decided to move in a more “marketable and less abrasive” direction than what the bar previously entertained, manager and bartender Will Haven explains. In addition to a fantastic amount of new renovations, HD Lounge will be altering their drinks and adding various new forms of entertainment. “Hookahs and drinks,” Will Haven says is the current focus of HD Lounge, one that will change periodically as the bar brings in various ideas for the lounge patrons to enjoy. Much as 8th Street Tobacco have an eighteen and up smokers lounge, HD Lounge will have a twenty-one and up smokers lounge. HD Lounge will provide Ed Hardy brand hookahs for smokers. Also, the new bar will eventually serve wine and is moving towards more craft, or microbrew, beers. Once the remodeling is finished, there will be separate lounge areas, including a non-smoking section for those not interested in partaking of the hookahs. As part of the remodeling, local sculpture and artist Daniel Foreman will be making the signs, shelves, and a new back bar. He will also have an art show at HD’s in the near future. Once a month, HD Lounge plans to support local charities. As Will Haven explains, they will choose the charity based on “whoever needs our help the most.” HD Lounge pledges to focus on local – whether it’s charities, artists or music; keeping much of what they do centered on downtown businesses. With their current direction, HD Lounge expect to draw a larger food-and-beverage crowd, including those interested in microbrews, which many downtown bars are turning their attentions to as well. For those who love the karaoke and live music Hoe Downs offered, HD Lounge will still provide karaoke on Thursday nights and live music, though much of it might be more acoustic. The patio will still be there too, though they intend to enclose it in the future. In early May, HD Lounge will host their grand re-opening for the public. As for now, fans of the bar can swing by and check out the ongoing changes – and anticipate the new ones, getting ready for a whole new experience at HD Lounge. HD Lounge is located at 1204 Ellis Street. by D.H.L photo KATIE MCGUIRE

them for free via download on the band’s website www. nostarband.com instead. Maybe the snow had the guys feeling a bit of late Christmas spirit, but in my humble and rarely wrong opinion – the guys are just a class act willing to give their fans that little bit of extra love. While I often get the initial low-down on many bands here in Augusta, I just have to wonder why it is so hard for peeps to go online and look around instead of asking me constantly “Where the heck has VEARA been?” Well duh people! Probably the same place they been for like two years or so – on the road! The high energy emo-popsters make a rare Augusta appearance on March 19th at Sector 7G before hitting the road once again tackling the eastern United States before invading Canada. Augusta touring rock band or Presidential health care reform ambassadors seeking info? Either way it’s sure to be fun! Tour dates available at www.myspace.com/veara. While I could divulge even more Augusta music news, I feel I would be doing you a disservice if I left you without any digging to do. Get off your tushy and dig a little online…OK maybe that might be best done ON your tushy but either way, do something! Plenty of bands and venues to get out and support. All you need is the proper identification, a little fundage, and a desire to get your face rocked off! Til next time…Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud. by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON To keep up with what’s going down in Augusta music check out Stoney long-running website www. lokalloudness.com.

and one last shot

a melting memory of the big snow

photo CHRIS SELMEK

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