FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2010
VOL. 2 NO. 235
PORTLAND, ME
PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
699-5801
FREE
Clashing decades New Year’s musical event brings battle to the State BY MATT DODGE THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
Then there was the concert when anyone with a peanut allergy had to leave. It was in year five of what’s been a six-year run for Clash of the Titans, the regular concert series that pits iconic bands, as interperted by local musicans, in head-to-head competition. Think Bowie vs. The Police or The Beatles vs. Cyndi Lauper. Grand Hotel’s bombastic frontman Kyle Gervais, a regular on the “Clash” circuit who has taken the stage as everyone from Iggy Pop to Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, was perfoming one of his favorites. “One of the shows I had the best LEFT: Grand Hotel will load up on hairspray and tight neon clothes tonight as they take the stage covering ’80s music as part of Clash of the Titans ’60s vs. ’70s vs. ’80s New Year’s Eve show. After two New Year’s at Empire Dine & Dance, the Clash event will make its way to the 1,400-capacity State Theatre for a mega battle spanning 30 years of popular music. (MATT DODGE PHOTO)
“One of the shows I had the best time doing was The Stooges. It was totally last minute, but anytime I can get in my underwear, I’ll do it.” — Grand Hotel’s frontman Kyle Gervais time doing was The Stooges,” said Gervais, who played the notoriously under-dressed Iggy Pop. “It was totally last minute, but anytime I can get in my underwear, I’ll do it,” he said. While Iggy Pop is famous for his onstage acts of self-mutilation, Gervais had to draw the line somewhere when it came to emulating the punk rock impresario, but still managed to make a little spectacle of his own. “I wasn’t bringing the blood. I brought peanut butter and smeared it all over myself, but some people had peanut allergies and had to leave,” he said. Gervais isn’t alone among Portland musicians prone to stepping fully into character. The November 2009 Def Leppard vs. Bon Jovi clash inspired see CLASH page 3
2010: a look back In this issue, we continue our look back at the year in news and photos, with the summer of medical marijuana and a taste of Wikileaks.
JULY July 1 Now, it’s about to become an inside job. Avesta Housing’s 16-month, $5.6 million dollar renovation of 39 units of affordable rental housing in Munjoy Commons is poised to move indoors, now that restoration of the exterior of the former Shailer School is close to complete. The scaffolding around the
building has become a familiar site as one of the city’s biggest stimulus-fund projects take shape. The project is actually located on two sites in Portland’s East End Neighborhood; 17 units in the former Shailer School Building at 56 North St. and 22 units in the former Emerson School Building at 13 Emerson St. ••••••••••••• BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers Doc Rivers will return for another season, staying with the team he led to the NBA finals twice in three years for a run at another championship. see YEAR page 6
Fireworks explode over the Eastern Prom in Portland on July 4. What officials didn’t expect was a trailer laden with fireworks to catch fire and blow up. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)
Goodbye, Rosie, but will you be replaced?
Is hacking your spouse’s e-mail truly a crime?
An epicurean eve in Portland
See Bob Higgins on page 4
See Debra Saunders’ column on page 4
See a dining report on page 14