PRODUCTION MANAGER
Direct and manage production on all shifts. Regularly track, monitor and follow up on productivity/efficiency of employees and provide developmental coaching where needed. Must have a Bachelor’s degree, or its foreign equivalent in Industrial or Production engineering or related, and 1 year experience in production, manufacturing, quality control or related. Send resume to Human Resources, Yamamoto FB Engineering, 7331 Global Drive, Louisville, KY 40258 or email hdean@yamamotofb.com.
CM Chicken Courtesy photo
BRINGING THE NEW ORLEANS FLAVOR TO LOUISVILLEMEET THE FLAVOR QUEEN JAMISON.
BY ABIGAIL FELDKAMP
Located at 1812 W Muhammad Ali Blvd, Orleans Authentic Cajun Cuisine brings you high quality and non-stop flavor while keeping the dishes fresh and accessible.
Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Flavor Queen Jamison started cooking at the age of 12. She loved to explore in the kitchen and found that cooking came easy to her. Soon, she was cooking for people in her neighborhood and at her school, even starting her entrepreneurial spirit early by selling some of her dishes to her classmates.
The theme of community has followed Jamison into her career today, as she at her core just loves to feed people and deliver southern hospitality. She hosts community events, such as crawfish boils and paint and sips.
Every dish made at Orleans Authentic Cajun Cuisine is made by Flavor Queen herself, going by what she knows and does naturally- taking New Orleans classics and making them her own. She also focuses on intentionality within her dishes, stating that food comes with benefits. She gives the example of her sea food boils and how she will make it to help clear her sinuses. To
be fed is to be nourished, and that is felt in Jamison’s dishes.
Jamison cooks both Cajun and Creole, showcasing different cooking techniques.
She switches up her dishes weekly, including her drinks, frozen cups and desserts, stating that she never makes the same thing twice, aside from heavily requested items.
She even gets her ingredients straight from New Orleans, recruiting family members to ship to her or taking a trip to get them herself. Her goal is to keep delivering the New Orleans spirit to Louisville little by little through each individual and quality dish. I got to try the delicious gumbo, grilled cheese, and potato salad. The idea of serving all three together is to dip the grilled cheese into the gumbo, soaking up the broth and spices, and then immediately going for the potato salad to round out the bite. This ties back to the intentionality that is very prominent in each one of Flavor Queen’s dishes. She aims to give you a flavorful and unique experience that will have you wanting to try more.
Other dishes Jamison serves include cheesecake, catfish, boudin balls, Po’boys, fried gator, and more. You can order Orleans Authentic Cajun Cuisine online at orleanscajuncuisine.com. If you’re interested in getting a catered meal, reach out via phone (502) 208-8770 or give her a follow on Instagram or Facebook at Orleans_cajun_cuisine.
Courtesy photo
TASTE OF INDEPENDENTS – LOUISVILLE’S ULTIMATE CULINARY CELEBRATION – RETURNS TO THE OLMSTED
The 9th annual APRON Inc. fundraiser brings food, drinks, live entertainment, and more for a great cause.
BY JEFF POLK
Louisville’s ultimate culinary celebration returns Sunday, July 12 to its original home at The Olmsted, marking the 9th year of this signature Louisville culinary event.
Hosted by APRON Inc., this annual tasting experience celebrates Louisville’s independent restaurant community and the chefs who define it.
Robin Miller, Executive Director of APRON Inc., shares: “The Taste of Independents is not just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of the resilience and spirit of our independent restaurant community. It’s a chance for us all to come together, enjoy incredible food, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those who serve us every day.”
Supporting Those Who Serve You
APRON Inc. is a nonprofit organization which provides temporary, limited
financial relief to professional food and beverage workers in the Louisville, KY metro area who work at locally-owned establishments and who are experiencing financial distress due to illness, accident, emergency, or catastrophic event through no fault of their own. Since its founding, APRON has granted hundreds of thousands of dollars to support industry professionals in need, strengthening the
Sip, Savor & Celebrate
Guests will enjoy over 40 tasting stations featuring signature dishes from Louisville’s top independent restaurants. Beverage offerings include craft beer, wine, and spirits, along with live entertainment by Logan Leet. Guests can also
enjoy interactive experiences including the Gift Card Pull, Liquor Pull, and the People’s Choice Award.
The 9th Annual Taste of Independents takes place Sunday, July 12 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Ave. This event is open to the public. Tickets are $65 (early bird special through July 7), $75 general admission, or $50 for restaurant industry workers and can be purchased through APRON Inc. website at: aproninc.org.
backbone of Louisville’s local Restaurant community.
Granville Pub
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
TRELLIS BREWING
827 Logan St | trellisbrewing.com
Trellis Smash Burger - $8
All Beef burger smashed into thinly sliced onions, served on a toasted Martin’s potato Roll, dressed with house made burger sauce, dill pickles, and American cheese.
SHENANIGANS IRISH GRILLE
1611 Norris Place | shenanigansbar.com
Jalapeno Popper Burger
80/20 Angus beef, cream cheese, jalapenos, shredded cheddar-jack cheese, bacon, jalapeno bacon jam, and our special seasoning.
KENTUCKY HILLS WAGYU
4740 Aiken Rd.
kentuckyhillswagyu.com
Single 1/3 Pound Prime
Wagyu Hamburger
On a buttery, toasted brioche bun with American cheese, onion and pickles.
WICKS PIZZA - HIKES LANE
3348 Hikes Lane | wickspizza. com
Smash Burger
1/4 burger, American cheese, mustard, onion, pickle.
* Additional items extra
80/20 @ KAELINS
1801 Newburg Road 8020atkaelins.com
Mustard Jack Burger
4 Oz All Beef Angus Patty, Rib Jam
Whole Grain Mustard Aioli, Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese, Crispy Onions, Arugula, Potato Bun.
HOP ATOMICA
1318 MchHenry St
hopatomicalouisville.com
Sweet and Spicy Luau Burger! 80/20 Beef, muenster, teriyaki glazed smoked pineapple, jalapeno aioli.
VERNON LANES
1575 Story Ave | vernonlanes.com
Diner Style Smash Burger
1/4 pound on brioche bun smashed on grill, melted cheddar, grilled onions, and house pickle with fries
CHECKS CAFE
1101 E Burnett Ave | checkscafe.com
Original Checks Burger
1/4lb All Beef Patty (KY Proud) w/American Cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and mayo
SIDEBAR AT WHISKEY ROW
129 N. 2nd Street
Sidebaratwhiskeyrow.com
The Paralegal Slider
Certified Angus Beef Slider Burger with Habanero Bacon Jam, Lettuce, Smoked Gouda Cheese, Fried Jalapeno Cowboy Candy and Sidebar Sauce on a toasted Brioche Bun. Served with a Schwartz’s Dill Pickle and a portion of Fries.
BURGER GIRL DINER
3334 Frankfort Ave | BurgerGirlDiner.com
Winner Burger
80/20 Angus beef patty served dressed on buttered and toasted buns, topped with a fried egg, bacon crumbles and choice of cheese.
BLIND SQUIRREL
592 N English Station Rd
BlindSquirrelRestaurant.com
Blind Squirrel Pizza Burger
Topped with mozzarella cheese, homemade pizza sauce, crispy fried pepperoni slices, with Parmesan cheese & Italian seasonings, and finished with garlic crusted cheese curd.
RECBAR 812
336 Pearl St | recbar.com
Mac Harlow
Chiptole seasoned prime beef patty topped with white cheddar mac & cheese, pulled pork & honey BBQ sauce.
RECBAR
10301 Taylorsville Rd
recbar.com
Curd Furgeson
Seasoned prime beef patty topped with white cheddar cheese curds, grilled onions, melted cheddar, lettuce, tomato & our not so secret sauce.
THE MANHATTAN PROJECT
2101 Frankfort Ave
Themanhattanprojectky.com
The Pizza Smash
Burger patty topped with Provolone cheese, Pepperoni tomato jam, and whipped ricotta cheese.
MUSSEL & BURGER BAR
9200 Taylorsville Rd
mussel-burger-bar.com
2 Smashed Patties
With classic American cheese, caramelized onions, and our Secret Burger sauce. Deluxe option available to include lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Get it before it’s gone.
DRAKE’S OUTER LOOP
3501 Outer Loop drakescomeplay.com
Campfire Burger
Drake’s butcher blend patty with pepper jack cheese, fried jalapeños, sriracha onion straws, shredded lettuce, BBQ sauce, & BBQ mayo on a warm butter-toasted bun; served with chips.
BROWNIES THE SHED
GRILLE & BAR
9900 Linn Station browniestheshed.com
The Shed
Burger-Grilled half pound angus beef fully dressed with your choice of cheese for an additional .75 .
THE B.A. COLONIAL
818 W. Kenwood Drive thebacolonial.com
NOBLE FUNK BREWING CO
922 S 2nd St noblefunk.com
Classic Cheeseburger
With lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle served with house chips.
RUBBIES SOUTHSIDE
GRILL & BAR
6905 Southside Dr. | rubies.net
Bbq Bourbon Burger
Flame Grilled Burger Topped with Ched-
dar Cheese, Fried Onion Strings, and Drizzled with Rubbies House Made BBQ Bourbon Sauce.
CASK SOUTHERN
KITCHEN & BAR
9980 Linn Station Road cask-louisville.com
Dill With It
1/3 pound smash burger, bourbon bacon onion jam, aiol, brioche bun.
LA SUERTE
2116 Bardstown road lasuerteky.com
Ginger Unagi Burger
Ginger garlic infused patty, spicy coleslaw, sriracha aioli and unagi sauce.
Chori queso Burger
6 oz beef patty, chorizo, queso, jalapenos, chipotle aioli, lettuce, tomato, onion.
La Suerte Burger
6 oz patty, mixed mushrooms, demi-glace, fried onions and garlic aioli.
UPLAND BREWING CO.
707 W. Riverside Dr. uplandbeer.com
Bad Elmer’s Fav cheddar, smoked pepper bacon, Bad Elmer’s BBQ, lettuce, tomato & onion.
HARRYS PROPER BURGER
2922 Hikes Lane
Harrysproperburger.com
(2) Mini Burgers
Topped with Cheese, Proper Sauce, Pickle, Grilled Onion And a Side of Fries.
DRAKE’S HURSTBOURNE
2651 S Hurstbourne Parkway drakescomeplay.com
French Dip Burger
Drake’s butcher blend patty with gruyere cheese & caramelized onions on a warm butter-toasted bun with herb au jus; served with chips.
DRAKE’S PADDOCK
3921 Summit Plaza Drive drakescomeplay.com
All B It Burger
Drake’s butcher blend patty with brie, smoked bacon, citrus-splashed spring mix & blueberry-bourbon BBQ sauce on a warm butter-toasted bun; served with chips.
WEEK-END BURGERS
5600 National Turnpike weekendburgers.com
Classic Double Cheeseburger House Sauce, onions, pickles, lettuce & tomato.
Mushrooms & Swiss Mayo, grilled onions / mushrooms & Swiss cheese.
The Derby Devil
Double cheeseburger, pepper jack cheese topped with deviled egg.
BIG ROCK BAR AND BREW
2120 Bardstown Rd bigrockbarandbrew.com
The Deer Park Burger
A hand-pattied smash burger topped with our signature sweet and smoky bourbon bacon jam, melted pepper jack cheese, and House Dill Aioli on a toasted bun.
THE GRANVILLE PUB
1601 S 3rd St | thegranvillepub.com
The Pineapple Express
A juicy hand pattied burger, chargrilled and finished with melted Havarti cheese and a bold spicy pineapple pickle relish that brings tropical sweetness and a kick of spice to every bite. Thick + juicy comin’ at ya.
CM CHICKEN
2221 frankfort ave cmchickenoflouisville.com
Bulgogi Burger
Classic burger with a Korean twist, slightly sweet and tangy and drizzled with a creamy sriracha sauce.
DOC CROW’S SOUTHERN SMOKEHOUSE AND RAW BAR
127 W Main Street | doccrows.com
Crow’s Burger Bites
A take on our Classic burger. Served with an all-beef patty on a mini brioche bun. Topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles.
BOURBON & BURGERS
117 St Matthews Ave bourbon-burgers.com
Mac & Cheese Burger
Certified Angus Beef Patty, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, and Cavatappi Pasta tossed in our Housemade Cheese Sauce on Toasted Challah Bread.
SHADY LANE CAFE
4806 Brownsboro Rd shadylaneky.com
The Rudy Burger
A 1/4 lb beef burger. Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo. Served with house-made potato chips.
HARRY’S AMERICAN BAR & GRILL
4370 Summit Plaza Drive bluegrasshospitality.com /harrys/louisville
Mini Taphouse Burgers
Two minis, each with signature beef patty, beer cheese, bacon, crispy onion straws & horseradish mustard on warm butter-toasted pretzel buns; served with chips.
FIRST TURN SPORTS BAR
401 W Market Street downtown.derbycitygaming.com/ food-drink/first-turn-sports-bar-stage
Pub Burger
Smoked Cheddar, Bourbon Onion Jam, Sweet Heat Pickles, Garlic Aioli, Lettuce, and Tomato. Served With Tater Tots.
MARK’S FEED STORE
11422 Shelbyville Rd marksfeedstore.com
Country Caprese Burger
Double Beef Patty topped with a Fried Green Tomato, Pimento Cheese and Balsamic Glaze on a Toasted Bun.
BEARGRASS CREEK TAVERN
1715 Mellwood Avenue
The O’ Burger
Hand pattied burger with pepper-jack cheese, BBQ sauce, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle
Spicy Burger
Hand pattied burger with pepper-jack cheese, Jalapeños, chipotle mayo, and our spicy pickles
Kings Burger
Hand pattied burger with Grilled onions, horsey mayo, and Swiss cheese.
HOME RUN BURGER
5608 Outer Loop homerunburger.com
Home Run Classic Burger With Reg Fries
BRASS SOCIAL 11800 Electron Drive brasssocial.com
Huli Huli Burger
Two locally sourced KY Proud Angus beef patties smashed and topped with grilled pineapple, pepper jack cheese, and house made Huli Huli sauce served on a toasted brioche bun.
SPORTS & SOCIAL
427 S. Fourth Street
4thstlive.com/eat-and-drink/thesports-and-social-club
Sunrise Smash Burger
Potato bun with special sauce, lettuce, onions, 3oz burger patty with choice of American, Swiss, or pepper jack cheese, and a sunny side up egg.
R PLACE PUB
9603 Whipps Mill Rd
facebook.com/rplacepubeats
Pepper Jack burger
Brioche bun, smashed angus beef patty, bacon, candied Jalapenos, pepper Jack cheese, and topped with a Jack Daniel’s glaze.
BAMBI BAR
2701 Bardstown Road
The Smashed Bambi Burger & Steak Fries
1/4 pound hand pattied smashed burger. Comes fully dressed with fresh veggies and American cheese. Served with an order of steak fries.
SPRING STREET BAR & GRILL
300 South Spring Street
Smash Burger
Signature Burger Blend,American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, Smash Sauce.
TIME WITH BRONCHO
An interview with lead singer Ryan Lindsey
BY ABIGAIL FELDKAMP
BRONCHO is an indie rock band from Oklahoma, known for hits like Class Historian and Sandman. They rocked out Zanzabar on April 13. Lead singer and guitarist Ryan Lindsey sits down to talk about touring in dreams versus touring in reality, life since Broncho’s last release 7 years ago, and his favorite parts of playing in Louisville.
LEO: You mentioned in another interview that you dream about touring. What’s been your favorite part about touring recently?
RL: I would say the dream versions of the tour are very dreamy and they’re always at night, and that’s kind of the backdrop. When you’re actually on tour, you deal with a lot of daylight and then you realize you’re actually in reality.
I have 2 little kids now and I’m way more into taking advantage of the times when I’m in physical reality, you know? So it’s kind of nice realizing how I am in the real world, I’m not in the dream, even though the dream is so fun.
The dream can be stressy too, because there’s times where I know in the dream we’re supposed to go somewhere and you can’t quite make it there, or you make it there and you don’t have something you need. It’s nothing too scary, but just like ‘oh, I can’t find the thing’. Then you finally find the thing and then it doesn’t work. I don’t know. Those are the bad, scary versions of tour dreams.
Then the other half or more are the hang. You’re going from here to there, wherever. Those are fun. I really like those moments of the dream and the real tour. Does that make sense?
My mom and I actually talk about this a decent amount. We both have recurring dreams and its sometimes where I wake up and I’m like ‘Oof. Was that real?’ I can’t really decipher which is reality and which is my dream sometimes.
LEO: We’re going to move out of the dream realm into reality now for the next question. It’s been 7 years since you released an album. Did you always know you’d come back with a new one or was there a part of you that wasn’t sure?
RL: No, I was always kind of working to that next record. I think the pandemic and then having kids just kind of like I was still doing the things that I normally do to make a record it was just kind of stretched out I guess.
I mean I also never fully know either. It’s more just kind of slowly it turns into a record. I think there’s a song or a group of songs that will come. I’ll just have those on repeat in my head or on loop, or we’re working on them in some fashion until at some point it feels like there’s a record there. That’s usually the experience for me.
I’m kind of in that currently. There’s some songs I’ve been writing and some songs we’ve been working on slowly that I could see turning into a record in the next however long. I’m scared to say how long because it tends to take triple of whatever that initial statement is.
LEO: What are the hardest and easiest parts about returning after 7 years both personally and creatively?
RL: It’s hard for me to think of. That time was such a blur. The COVID time. I think being stuck inside and being away from friends. That was hard.
But who knows? I like that I had a bunch of time to myself to just relax into whatever was going through my mind, which ultimately led to the record. Maybe if we’d all been on normal schedule and the world had been operating as normal, we probably would have had to get on the road a little quicker, so maybe we would’ve put out the record sooner. The amount of time the record took to make made sense in the end.
Getting your equipment to work. Maybe that’s the hardest part. It’s like ‘Oh s**** I haven’t used that in forever, my subscription’s gone.’
LEO: You recently performed in Vegas
with The Strokes. Can you tell me a little bit about what that experience was like?
RL: That was great because we flew out the day of. Then there’s that little bit of are we gonna make our flight? It’s day of. There’s no ‘we’ll catch the tomorrow flight.’ It’s like if I know I have a flight going on it’s like I can’t really stop thinking about it. It’s just a hard deadline in my life that I don’t have. I mean, I got to pick up my kids from preschool, that’s a time that I gotta hit. And also the flight. Those are the two moments that pop up. That’s besides the point.
The Strokes were great. Being able to play with them was a complete honor on our part. We were pumped to play with them. Adding in the fun travel to Vegas, it was just kind of perfect for the mission at hand. They were great. They were really nice.
Also, it was very cool to hear them. They had a practice room by us and they were playing through the stuff. They’re a great band.
LEO: So, what should Louisville expect to see at your show and what would you want to tell someone who is experiencing you all for the first time?
RL: I would like to welcome you to Zanzabar, one of our favorite places to
play and that we haven’t played in awhile. I personally requested that we play at Zanzabar. They’re just great people. We’ve always had a good time there.
We’ve got friends in Louisville, Guest Room Records- Travis and Lisa. They put out our first record on vinyl, so it’s always good to come. Then they moved to Louisville and that’s right when we started playing at Zanzabar. It’s always a good time. All my memories have been nothing but great.
This show in particular a friend of ours did a documentary on the recording of the record. We’re gonna play that before because we already placed a few infomercials. And we’ll include the documentary. When you enter Zanzabar, there will be some infomercials, a mini documentary, maybe a few more infomercials, then we’re gonna play Double Vanity straight through, and we’ll play more songs after that.
[Playing Double Vanity straight through] is honestly fun to do, because working on the record, there’s a lot of listening through it a bunch, like front to back. So sometimes in shows when you’re bouncing around you lose some of what the original goal was for the original version. It’s fun to just kind of play through it.
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UNION MADE- OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW’S NEWEST DROP
LEO sat down with Old Crow Medicine Show Bassist Morgan Jahnig
BY ABIGAIL FELDKAMP
Upon the release of their newest album, Union Made, the legendary Old Crow Medicine Show lit up the Louisville Palace on June 28. Bassist Morgan Jahnig dives into how the newest album came to be, what message the band wants to spread to their crowds, and their long history with Louisville, including their frequent stops to the beloved ear X-tacy.
LEO: Tell me a little bit about how your newest album, Union Made came into fruition.
MJ: Whenever we get ready to make an album, there’s always a certain amount of, you know, what kind of album is it going to be, what kind of songs do we want to put in it. As we are approaching the 250th anniversary of our nation, we thought, you know, that’s actually pretty good, those are some pretty good guardrails to have. So we basically looked at all the songs that Ketch [Secor] was writing
and just said ‘Oh okay, this makes sense for this record. You know, this might need a little bit of rewriting to make it a little bit more sense.’Everything really just had to do with either the history of our country, how we see it, or how we would like to see it.
LEO: So I know you guys started the tour before the album dropped. Did you have to make any changes to the lineup or how did you go about that with the album dropping during the tour?
MJ: Well, the lineup seems to change on its own without much help from us. I think that just like anything that we do, anything we get to play, we’re fortunate to have such talented people in the band and know such great people who can come in and step in at a moment’s notice that anything we do can kind of live alongside anything else that we’ve always done.
So when we looked at what a 2026 tour was gonna look and sound like, we invited our very good friend Willie Watson to come back and help round out the sound for us and get the vocals all goosed up and juiced up. We started trickling the songs in from the album to get an idea of how people were going to react to it, how it was going to fit into the show, and it slotted. They all slotted in like they’ve been there the whole time.
LEO: What would be your favorite song to perform from the new album? Do you have any in particular when you were writing them that you thought this is going to be really cool versus actually performing them. Can you tell me a little about that?
MJ: Sure, you know, one of the songs that I’m so excited that’s on this album is the song Last American Waltz. This was actually a song that Ketch wrote
almost 15 years ago. It was one of the ones that we had started working on for our album Remedy and ultimately it didn’t make it on that album, didn’t really fit with those songs that we were working on, but I always loved it. When it came time to make a record about America, Last American Waltz was high on my list. It’s one that I think about all the time. I would play the demo of it that we made from time to time because I just loved it so much, and to be able to really make that song sound the way that it always sounded in my head and get to play it for everybody every night. I have a ball playing that song.
LEO: That’s a really cool concept to be able to revisit and still be able to bring it into fruition.
MJ: Ketch is such a prolific songwriter. Every time we make an album, we’ve usually got about 50 songs that we’ve got to sift
through to find the 12 that we’re going to put on the album. So there’s always stuff that makes it you know, and there’s really good songs that never make it on albums. So to be able to go back into the Ketch Secor songbook and pluck out some gems that we always wanted to see the light of day but never did, I love doing that. And then once that happens, Ketch might think ‘Oh you know what? This is a song that I had started toying with. I think I’ll finish that because I think that’ll go really well here.’ So it’s a reciprocal process.
LEO: With the political divide that we’re seeing right now in our country, what would be the tone you are trying to convey with this album? I know it’s a celebratory thing, knowing that we have completed 250 years, but what would you say the overall tone and message is for the album and tour?
MJ: When you’ve traveled as much as we have, we’ve been this band in specific for about 28 years, so we’re coming up on 30 years of being a band, we’ve played in 49 of 50 states, you know, in all different parts of each state. We’ve toured in different countries and I think that one thing that ties us all together is that the people are there to have fun and be happy. That’s the general goal of music is to unite people. I think that the differences that we have or that we perceive that we have are so far secondary to the common things that we share, and I think that a lot of these songs talk about that.
[The songs] talk about how this is an incredible country, but it can be better through unity, and it feels like that unity is the only thing missing. The united part of the United States. I think that when you’re listening to music, especially when you’re at a live show, you’re all standing there facing the same direction liking the same things, you know? One of the lines is, ‘we drink the same beer.’ It’s like everybody’s there to do the same thing and to agree on something, and the thing they’re agreeing on is music and that they’re there to enjoy themselves. We could take a little bit of that home with you and take it to your local bar and restaurant and meeting place, and make the unity grow. I think that would make so many things better, if we could just see how much more alike we are than we are different.
LEO: So what’s it like collaborating with all the different artists on Union? Do you enjoy collaborating?
MJ: We really enjoy doing that. I think we’ve done it a little bit in the past. When we did it in the past, it was kind of at the end of the project where we were like ‘Oh you know what? This would be cool if we had Sierra Ferrell on it.’ When Sierra had come in and said that she would come and sing, the whole song changed. The entire song got rewritten because she was going to be there. I think that kind of creativity is so much fun.
This record, we knew that there were people we wanted to work with, so we were going into it ahead of time like ‘Okay, this is going to be where Evan Felker sings, or oh we’re going to have Dell and Ronnie sing this verse, and Molly’s going to come in and sing.’ So it’s like we all knew what was coming and were able to plan around it. Every time someone comes in to lend their voice or their playing, it elevates everything that we do because we’re trying to prove that we deserve to have this person here singing with us or playing with us. It makes everybody better, you know, collaboration in the music world is something we didn’t get to do a lot early in our career, and I think we are making up for lost time.
LEO: To round this out, we are going to tie it back to Louisville. Where have you all played in Louisville? Have you performed at The Palace before?
MJ: We have been playing in Louisville pretty much as long as we’ve been a band. In fact, this is an interesting tidbit of information, back when people used to buy records, we would get reporting from the different record shops and where things were selling, and our top 2 markets were San Francisco, California and Louisville. We did shows in stores and ear X-Tacy. We would always go there every time we were in town to snatch up some records.
We’ve done Forecastle and we did Bourbon and Beyond a couple years ago. We were so happy when we finally reached The Palace material. I remember Headliners was the biggest place we had played for awhile. That was like such an achievement to get there, but you know, when they let us into The Palace, I was like ‘Okay, we’ve arrived.’
WPFK have been such supporters of ours for the last 28 years. Louisville’s always supported us and so we’ve always loved coming back.
SAVAGE LOVE
CLEANING HOUSE
BY DAN SAVAGE
Hey Dan: Bisexual AFAB non-binary here. (And a Magnum sub!) I have a legal query I’m hoping you or perhaps one of your guest experts might be able to help with? I’m a self-employed cleaner in Portland, Oregon, who offers a discount for LGBTQ+ folks on first cleans. The discount attracts the kinds of clients I want, queer and straight. I don’t work for MAGA types or even third-party types — and that’s a two-way street. Those people don’t usually like my prices, pronouns, tattoos, and hair. I don’t want to be alone in their homes or take their money I have a regular slot opening up for the first time in a while. Against my better judgment, I took to my old Facebook account and made a post, including said discount. Of course, some asshole from my conservative hometown felt the need to chime in and tell me it’s discriminatory and illegal. She went on to say she can’t “start a business that only hires straight, white women” but she’s obviously conflating two very different things. I did some research but can’t seem to find a definitive answer for this woman. To me, this is akin to a seniors’ or children’s discount at a buffet. Not every single senior or child eats less, but on average they do, and it gets their families in the door. Queer folks, on average, are less likely to have kids, and thus tend to have cleaner homes and more disposable income to spend on the kind of luxury service I offer. And literally anyone could get the discount, they’d just have to say it applies to them. It’s not like I’m gonna ask for proof! At the end of the day, even if this is technically illegal, I’m still going to offer this discount on principle. The likelihood that someone sues me over $50-80 seems infinitesimally small. But I would like to know before I advertise this open slot again. Thanks so much and happy Pride!
—Quote Unduly Enrages Essentially Repugnant Sulkers
“Advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ Oregonians fought for years to secure protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which they finally achieved with passage of the Oregon Equality Act in 2007,” said Misha Isaak, an attorney in Oregon who has worked on important LGBT civil rights cases. “Still today, only 23 states have laws that protect our community from discrimination. The Oregon law applies to all businesses that offer services to the public; it does not distinguish between discrimination in favor of or against LGBTQ+ people.”
While our community fought for these laws because we were the ones getting discriminated against based on our sexual orientations and gender identities — and while we’re still fighting for those laws in states where they’re still needed (and we’re going to have to fight to defend them in states where we’ve already won them) — these laws protect anyone and everyone from
discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Which means it’s just as against the law in Oregon for you to discriminate against someone for straight or cis, QUEERS, as it would be for someone else to discriminate against you for being gay or bi or trans or pan or omni or ace, etc., etc., et al, etc.
“Of course, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution trumps state laws, and the Supreme Court has said that businesses engaged in ‘expressive activities,’ like designers of wedding websites, have a free speech right not to participate in celebrating marriages they disapprove of,” said Isaak. “Is house-cleaning an ‘expressive activity’ under this line of cases? I doubt it. So, if QUEERS wants to be selective about their clientele, they should consider promoting their business based on classifications that aren’t protected under the law — like customers’ attitudes toward them.”
P.S. “The example of a ‘senior discount’ is an interesting one,” said Isaak. “Oregon’s nondiscrimination law specifically allows: ‘the offering of special rates or services to persons 50 years of age or older.’”
P.P.S. It’s also against the law in Oregon to discriminate against people for having children, QUEERS, so you might wanna keep “no kids” off your Facebook posts too.
P.P.P.S. You’re welcome and happy Pride to you too!
Misha Isaak argued the case that struck down Oregon’s same-sex marriage ban and served as in-house counsel for former Oregon Governor Kate Brown. He is now a partner at Stoel Rives.
Hey Dan: I have built up a scary story about the club. My partner loves them. They are a great dancer. They connect with our friends and strangers really easily on a dance floor and it gives them life. We’re in a queer community where it feels like we’re being invited to the club every week. I love to dance, but I feel uncomfortable dancing with people. When I dance alone while my partner dances with other people, I feel worried that people are judging me, and my partner is disappointed in me. I’ve turned the club into a referendum on my worth and my sexiness, and I project sexual intent and meaning onto the type of dancing my partner does with our friends/ other people. (I swear it LOOKS sexy, but this is just something folks like to do!) Now, I clam up when my partner tries to dance with me because I’ve gotten so uncomfortable, which makes me even more sad because I really do want to connect with them in that way. They tell me that it is not important to them that I be a sexy club dancer, they just want me to have fun. It adds so much friction in our day-to-day life that they love this thing and I’m so stressed and insecure about it. I can’t even tell if I like the club because I’m so caught up in this story. I know your husband loves the club. The gays love the club. I know you don’t love the club. Has this ever been a struggle for you? Can you offer anything useful around this problem?
—Private Dancer
Where’s the scary part of this story?
Your opening line had me braced for something terrifying — murder on the dance floor or married men on the downlow or truckstop sushi on the dashboard — but all I got was two very different and very valid ways of loving the club.
You like dancing by yourself. Your partner likes grinding on other people. Your partner says they don’t need you to be a sexy club dancer — they don’t need you to love the club the same way they do — and instead of taking your partner at their word, PD, you’re telling yourself a story about other people judging you and/or your partner being disappointed in you for not wanting to grind with him and his friends (old ones and brand new ones) on the dance floor. And while you don’t say what you worry other people might be thinking, PD, I’m going to climb out on a limb here and guess you’re worried other people think your partner is cheating on you and/or is interested in cheating on. But if you know that’s not what they’re doing… and your mutual friends know that’s not what they’re doing… and if they arrive with you, check in with you periodically (which is most likely what they’re doing when they try to dance with you), and they leave with you… who cares what other people at the club think?
The answer to that question, of course, is you. You care what other people think, PD, or you care about what you assume other people think. If you can’t get those thoughts out of your head… and if those thoughts are so destructive that club nights are causing daily friction in your relationship… why are you going to the club at all?
P.S. Terry likes the club, I don’t. Here’s the fix that worked for us: I don’t go. And on those rare occasions when I do get dragged to the club — Terry thinks it’s important that we be seen in public together once in a while — I’m free to leave at any time. Knowing I can get on a Lime scooter and go home whenever I want makes me feel less pressured to stay, PD, which often results in me hanging out at the club a little bit longer than I would’ve if I didn’t have the option to leave.
P.P.S. Yes, I’m too old for the club. And so is Terry — but don’t tell him I said so.
Hey Dan: I’m a gay man in a long-term relationship with a wonderful boyfriend whom I love deeply. We’ve been together for many years, and I want to make clear from the outset that my concern isn’t about his appearance. I love him exactly as he is, and I would continue to love him at any weight. The complication is that I’m very much into bears. My boyfriend already has a bit of a belly, which I find incredibly attractive. Recently, he’s become interested in gaining a significant amount of weight and has talked about wanting me to actively help him get much fatter. He’s excited by the idea of being fed, encouraged to eat more, and embracing a much larger body.
I’m trying to navigate this respectfully. On the one hand, I don’t want to be fatphobic or assume that bigger automatically means unhealthy. I also don’t want to shame him for a fantasy or a body type that I genuinely find attractive myself. On the other hand, what he’s proposing isn’t just letting his weight change naturally over time. He’s talking about deliberately gaining a lot of weight fairly quickly, which would likely involve consuming large amounts of fatty, greasy, sugary foods on a regular basis. My concern isn’t aesthetic —it’s whether actively participating in helping someone gain substantial weight in this way could have serious longterm health consequences.
Part of me worries that if I go along with it, I’d be enabling behavior that could increase
his risk of health problems down the road. Another part of me worries that if I resist, he’ll hear it as rejection or judgment of his body. How should a partner balance respect for a loved one’s bodily autonomy, sexual fantasies, and personal choices against legitimate concerns about their health? Is there a way to support him and remain sex-positive without feeling like I’m helping someone I love harm himself?
—Concerned Bear Lover
Your boyfriend wants to get bigger. You wouldn’t mind a bigger boyfriend. The thought of getting bigger turns your boyfriend on. The thought of him being bigger turns you on. (We’re clearly in kink territory here.) To me that seems like a Kink Yahtzee: your boyfriend’s kink is your kink and your kink is his kink. It’s a win-win-win-win… Or it is the short term. Because over the long term, CBL, obesity carries health risks. The choice your boyfriend wants to make — rapid and significant weight gain — increases his risk for diabetes and heart disease and early death. But our bodies are ours to use, ours to enjoy, and ours to use up. So, while your boyfriend’s decision to get big fast could result in serious long-term health consequences… so could some person’s decision to smoke or go snowboarding without a helmet. Your boyfriend is an adult, CBL, and adults get to make their own (hopefully) informed decisions about the risks they’re willing to run in pursuit of happiness as they define it.
But just as your boyfriend needs to consider the health risks, CBL, you need to consider the moral hazards. Because if your boyfriend’s goal isn’t just to get bigger but to get morbidly obese — if he’s committing suicide by cheeseburger and you’re the one setting cheeseburgers in front of him —then you would not be helping your boyfriend explore a risky kink in a RACK-ish manner, CBL, you would be assisting your boyfriend in his self-destruction. But if you’re able to enjoy this kink together without going nuts… and if your boyfriend is going into this with his eyes (and not just his mouth) wide open… and if you can find a plateau weight where he’s bigger but still relatively and reasonably healthy… then you can build that bear with a clear conscience.
P.S. If his weight gain is significant and permanent, CBL, you will need to brace yourself for the statistical probability that you will outlive your boyfriend. That’s not guaranteed — plenty of slim people die young and plenty of fat people live long lives (google “Julia Child” and “Jim Fixx” for an example) — but the odds are the odds.
P.P.S. There’s a difference between being big-and-healthy (or big-and-healthyenough) and being so big that TLC producers are sliding into your boyfriend’s DMs. All things can and should be enjoyed in moderation, CBL, including this thing of yours.
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Archaeologists studying ancient wells have discovered that some weren’t finished in a single effort. Communities might dig to the current water table, use the well for years, then probe further down when water levels dropped or needs increased. This is a useful metaphor for you, Aries. As of yet, you don’t have the ability or tools to reach the deepest layers you aspire to reach. My counsel is to go as far as you can now and gather what you find there. Later, when you’re readier, you will build on what has come before.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The doom‑and‑gloom wing of astrology is exhausting. The superstition that Mercury retrograde causes scrambled messages and dire mix‑ups is dull and misguided. The planet’s apparent backward motion, which is happening right now, shows up about three times every year like clockwork. It’s perfectly normal! In my view, Mercury retrograde isn’t threatening unless you obsess on the idea that it is, in which case, yes, your payment might go astray, and a friend may misun derstand you. But if cultivating relaxed clar ity is more fun and productive for you than coping with fearful tension, treat the time between now and July 23 as a rich opportu nity to refine, deepen, and upgrade how you communicate.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You Gemini readers have decreed that I must halt all musings about maddening, riddle drenched ambiguity. You’ve delivered the message to me that you’re tired of wres tling with enigmas wrapped in paradoxes. Straightforward, plainspoken factualness is what you want. Well, OK. (Please remember that I don’t make this stuff up; I simply chan nel cosmic omens.) Maybe I’ll start obey ing your orders next time. But first, I will advise you: 1. Unexpected gifts are coming from people and situations in transition. 2. Tough but friendly interventions will nudge you toward healthy course corrections. 3. Mysterious assistance is on its way.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): There are phases when the cosmic energies and I urge you to put others first—even tend to their pain before you tend to your own. But this isn’t one of those times. Right now, sacrificing yourself for the sake of others would obstruct the flow of righteous grace into your life. So then what is the most soul‑honoring path available? Here’s what I think: Summon your inventive bril liance and use it to imagine generous ways to care for yourself. Shower yourself with gifts, treats, and blessings that delight you. Take the loving care you so deftly pour into other people and lavish it wholeheartedly on yourself.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Most fields of human endeavor work like this: A few people are truly brilliant, a handful are actively harm ful, and the majority fall somewhere between “not great” and “pretty good.” That’s true whether you’re talking about engineers, doctors, poets, or astrologers. So it’s inadvisable to assume a physician is wise about your well being just because they’ve logged 15 years on the job, or to trust your life direction to the first astrologer whose promotion catches your eye. In the coming weeks, dear Leo, discernment like this matters even more than usual. Let your natural hopefulness be balanced by sharp, thoughtful judgment. Don’t just challenge obvious authority. Put every so called fact, spin, assumption, and official line under your own clear eyed review.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Architects designing spaces for collective use try to balance two human needs: to see expan sively and also have safe places to retreat. Too much exposure creates anxiety; too much enclosure brings claustrophobia. The ideal is to provide both shelter and spacious ness. Let’s use this theme as a metaphor for your life during the coming months. You’ll be wise to create an equilibrium between engagement and privacy, between vastness and protection. Make it easy for yourself to observe the larger scene and also withdraw when needed.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Self proclaimed “skeptics” love to sneer at astrologers, as if pondering what lies ahead were a violation of scientific purity. And yet economists, sports analysts, trend watchers, and political commentators churn out shaky predictions every day. Honestly, those professionals of probability often create more confusion than those of us who read the heavens. Take weather forecasters, for instance: From Europe to Japan, their models routinely miss sudden floods and twisters and trigger more
than a few false alarms. But do the debunkers brand them as charlatans? Of course not. Forgive the outburst, but I’m building to a key foresight: Every forecast, projection, or vision that crosses your path over the next month will miss the mark—except for this one. So free yourself of their meddling.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Ethnobotanists describe how certain Indigenous traditions work with “teacher plants.” These are flora that offer not only physical benefits but spiritual instruction. They include psychoactive substances, but also ordinary plants approached with extraordinary attention. In the spirit of reinventing your education, Scorpio, I invite you to expand your understanding of who and what your teachers are. What ordinary elements of your daily life might offer wisdom if you engage them with deep respect? What situations at the edges of your awareness could bring lessons that enrich your perspectives? Now is an excellent time to seek new apprenticeships.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Western science and Western religions may disagree about how the universe began, but both place its birth in the distant past. Tantra and other spiritual paths, by contrast, propose that the universe is born afresh in every instant through the sacred, erotic interplay of God and Goddess. When humans approach love making as an exper imental sacrament, these traditions suggest, we can tune in to the union of those primor dial forces and, in a sense, take part in the continual creation of existence. So, are you ready for a bit of world making erotic play? The current astrological indicators say yes, you are.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A common obstacle to healthy intimacy is the belief that a beloved ally should auto matically know what you need, without you saying a word. I used to suffer from this
delusion myself and worked hard to dissolve it. I no longer unconsciously assume that my companions are so attuned to me that they can always intuit my desires. But I know this bad idea feels romantic to many people, even though it can sabotage even the most prom ising bond. In the weeks ahead, Capricorn, I invite you to starve this fantasy. Your inti mate world is ripe for a fresh infusion of lucid, straightforward honesty.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your next few weeks will be sponsored by CoffeeBeer, the paradoxical elixir that both pumps up your energy and decompresses your defenses. You will be an exemplary role model for this innovative product because you will epitomize what occurs when a sensitive soul gets excited and mellows out at the same time. I also expect you will soon be exploring intriguing opportunities that become available to you because of your supercharged calm. Fortunately, you don’t need to drink actual coffee and beer together to make this happen. The cosmic forces will be conspiring to help you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Finish this sentence, Pisces: “The one thing that really keeps me from being myself is _______.” Is it someone’s opinion, an old story about who you are, a fear of loss, a habit of over pleas ing, a secret shame, or a belief that you’re “too much” or “not enough”? Whatever first pops into your mind is probably closest to the truth. Here’s your next step: Loosen the grip of this stressor by even just 20 percent. I bet your real self will feel relaxed enough to bloom more fully.
Homework: We’re halfway through 2026. How are your big projects progressing? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com
GET CRACKING
BY MICHAEL SCHLOSSBERG
Puzzles Edited by Joel Fagliano
Michael Schlossberg, of Bend, Ore., is a doctor specializing in internal medicine. This is his 11th crossword for the paper, and his fifth Sunday.
Standing between you and the score of a lifetime are the seven locks of this safe. After completing the puzzle, rotate each dial 90 degrees, 180 degrees or 270 degrees to the only other position that forms four valid crossword answers. The new letters in the 12 o’clock (circled) positions will spell out an appropriate exclamation.
ACROSS
1 Staff symbol
6 Items on the backs of some Jeeps
13 Test pilot’s attire
18 Bedridden
20 Creditor, in legalese
21 Champion boxer Errol Jr.
22 Once or twice
23 Like Mary Shelley when she wrote ‘‘Frankenstein’’
24 Marketing expenditure
25 Bearing
26 Natural source of rubber
27 County that’s home to the White Cliffs of Dover
28 Unimpressed
29 Sheet under a tent
30 Sharp pain
31 Major vessel
32 Chinese (bonsai choice)
34 Rhyme for ‘‘away’’ in ‘‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’’
35 Agent Deirdre Beaubeirdre’s org. in ‘‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’’
37 No. on a résumé
38 Ewes’ guys
40 ‘‘Invisible hand’’ subj.
42 Quattro e quattro
44 President during the Mexican-American War
45 Ice-cream shop employee, e.g.
47 Shakespearean misanthrope
51 Small Southwestern birds of prey
53 ‘‘The Harlequin’s Carnival’’ painter
54 Nickname for a British relative
55 Brouhahas
56 Buds
59 Ben who starred in Broadway’s ‘‘Dear Evan Hansen’’
61 Role for Michelle Williams in ‘‘The Fabelmans’’
65 Wordle player’s pride
66 ‘‘Who, me?’’
67 Partner ship?
68 Belief
69 ‘‘____ magic!’’
71 Title pig of kids’ TV
74 Schmear topper
75 Annoying bot
79 They have the Guinness distinction of Longest Running Fan Club for a Group
80 Work like the devil?
84 ‘‘Who, me?’’ response
86 Pixy Stix containers
88 Carpentry vise
91 service
92 Percival of legend, for one
93 Mystical Buddhist text
97 Minecraft material
98 Cooper’s tool
100 Folder flap
102 End of a sports movie, often
103 Advance
104 Block (up)
105 Some four-year degs.
107 Letters that sound out a sentence
108 First-rate
109 Playful hit
111 Speculative fiction subgenre that envisions a sustainable-energy future
115 Limited number
116 Bitter-tasting salad ingredient
119 Fun facts
120 Sophisticated
122 Farm machine
123 French form of ‘‘Stephen’’
124 Area 51 sighting
125 ‘‘C’mon, you’ll love it!’’
126 ‘‘And .?.?.’’
127 Celebration in late January or early February
128 Tweaks
DOWN
1 Ascends with one’s hands and feet
2 Escalade, e.g.
3 Blanks’ opposite
4 Shangri-las
5 Hair of the dog
6 ‘‘See ya later’’
7 Not normal
8 Like beach towns in the winter
9 Cannes subject
10 Tennis great known as ‘‘the Punisher’’
11 Former name of the electron
12 Ignore, as a shortcoming 13 Application fig. 14 Casio rival 15 Shore hazard
16 ‘‘That much is obvious’’
17 Speeches with an 18-minute limit
19 Channel with on-air fund-raising 21 Mole, e.g. 33 Taunt
36 Shout at an auction
39 1916 battle site, with ‘‘the’’
48 Taking the place (of)
49 ‘‘Here’s looking at you, kid’’?
50 Like old audiobooks
52 Why some app users check their notifications constantly, for short
56 Several CBS dramas
57 Link letters
58 Major
59 Classroom surprise
60 Passage of a planet across a star, e.g.
62 Noted export of Portugal
63 Common field-trip destinations
64 ‘‘Need You Tonight’’ band, 1987
70 Blubber
72 Stew tidbit
73 E.M.T.’s technique
76 One-named singer on 1998’s ‘‘Ghetto Supastar’’
77 Distracted Boyfriend, e.g.
78 One of Eleven’s powers on ‘‘Stranger Things’’
81 milk
82 Gift on the seventh day of Christmas
83 Mr. Burns supposedly received the second one ever on ‘‘The Simpsons’’: Abbr.
85 What Tom and Daisy embody in ‘‘The Great Gatsby’’
87 Gift for an aspiring conductor
88 Last name in late-night
89 Ol’ Blue Eyes, e.g.
90 Quadrennial occurrence
94 District attorney turned Batman foe
95 Ethylene gas, to tomatoes
96 Key components
98 Some batteries
99 Ginormous
101 choy
105 Throw in the towel
106 Didn’t save
110 Appliance that may self-clean
112 Renaissance instrument
113 Reader
114 Kind of tradition
117 N.Y.S.E. debut
118 Afore
120 Letters on the Saturn V rocket
121 Protester’s word Answer Key
