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| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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Group Publisher Chris Keating
Upfront
Publisher Andrew Zelman Editor Vince Grzegorek
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Editorial Music Editor Jeff Niesel Senior Writer Sam Allard Staff Writer Brett Zelman Web Editor Laura Morrison Dining Editor Douglas Trattner Visual Arts Writer Dott von Schneider Copy Editor Elaine Cicora Interns Alexandra Sobczak , Evey Weisblat
Millions more in taxpayer money for the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Advertising Senior Multimedia Account Executive John Crobar, Shayne Rose Multimedia Account Executive Kiara Davis
ICE is sending Ohio’s Mauritanians back to slavery
Feature
Creative Services Art Director/Production Manager Steve Miluch Staff Photographer Emanuel Wallace
'ET /UT
Business Sales Assistant/Receptionist Megan Stimac Controller Kristy Dotson
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All the best things to do in Cleveland this week
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Accessible Shakespeare? Beck Center has it with King Lear
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UPFRONT CUYAHOGA COUNTY PREPARING TO BORROW EVEN MORE MONEY FOR CAVALIERS ARENA REPAIRS Photo courtesy of Rocket Mortgage
CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL may borrow roughly $40 million to pay the Cleveland Cavaliers for capital improvements now underway at what we shudder to refer to as the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, plus to reimburse the team for projects already completed. Under the terms of the Cavs lease, the public is on the hook for “major capital repairs” that cost more than $500,000, and the Cavs have been careful to ensure that those terms are honored. But the $40 million in bonds will require hefty interest payments and will cost the county about $61 million to repay in full. The team has been spending willynilly at the arena, making significant repairs and upgrades outside the parameters of the massive renovation (the so-called “Q Transformation”), for which the public will be contributing something like $160 million in capital and interest payments until 2034. The Q’s new glass facade is nearly complete on Huron Avenue. The public pays for major capital repairs with revenue from the Sin Tax, the county-wide tax on cigarettes and alcohol which was renewed in 2014 and brings in between $13 million and $15 million each year ($13.9 million in 2018). That revenue is split evenly among Cleveland’s three professional sports teams, but is nowhere near enough to pay for the extravagant capital projects — in addition to regular required maintenance — that the teams continue to itemize. This new potential $40 million upfront payment to the Cavs, according to team CEO Len Komoroski, should cover the arena’s needs for “the foreseeable near future,” a meaningless time frame. It’s likely that the Cavs want to make sure everything’s shipshape before the AllStar Game in 2022. According to Cleveland.com, the County may also refinance $60 million it borrowed in 2015 (against future Sin Tax revenue) and may attempt to back the remaining balance with general fund dollars to get a better rate. The Cavs’ list of proposed improvements includes new heating and air conditioning systems, fire alarms and lighting. They also claim
to want to improve their bathrooms in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like a new “ice floor” and chiller plant for Monsters hockey games. One can and should argue about how these projects are selected and funded. The language of the lease — where a major capital repair equals “any single Capital Repair that renders the Arena untenable in whole or in part by Lessee as determined by Lessee, in its reasonable discretion, or will cost in excess of $500,000 to perform” — basically means that the Cavs get to pick and choose what they’d like to upgrade. But does a slightly-less-than-stateof-the-art scoreboard, for example, render the arena untenable? In whole or in part? The lease language, in any case, should not mean that the Cavs can upgrade their facilities however they please and then charge the public for anything over $500,000 after the fact. The county should have a much more active hand, early on, in delineating what exactly they’ll cover and in disputing the sorts of items that are alleged to render the arena untenable. Given the lack of available funds, the county should insist on interpreting that language to mean that they are responsible for repairs, but not improvements. HVAC overhaul? Probably. New roof? Only if the public agrees that it needs replacing. Scoreboard? Absolutely not. Retractable seats? Absolutely not. Suite improvements and the Club Lounge at Progressive Field? Hell no. Come to think of it, can the new ice rink and the chiller even be included? The Monsters play at the [Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse] but are not one of Cleveland’s three professional sports teams and therefore aren’t included in the Sin Tax considerations. Regardless, the greater embarrassment in all this is the Q Deal. As annoying and suspect as some of these improvements are and have been, the Cavs lease does indeed stipulate that the public will cover improvements over $500,000. It’s a bad lease and it ought to be restructured,
but unfortunately it’s on the books. (Voters renewed the Sin Tax in 2014 after a multi-million-dollar propaganda campaign waged by the sports teams: “Keep Cleveland Strong.”) The Q Deal was not. The public was under zero obligation to pay a dime. Moreover, our leaders knew that the Sin Tax pot was running dry in 2017. The executive director of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation — technically the Cavs’ and the Indians’ “landlord” — announced as much days before city council rejected petitions which sought a referendum on the city’s projected $97 million contribution to the Q Deal. But our leaders didn’t care. They were overjoyed to trumpet the Cavs’ talking points, promoting the narrative that the deal was an “investment in neighborhoods.” County executive Armond Budish, who bragged about the rigorous negotiating he did with Dan Gilbert, managed to get jack squat for the public. The one benefit of the deal, per Budish, was that we got to “lock our championship Cavaliers into Cleveland for an additional seven years, from 2027 to 2034.” Given that the lease language is so favorable to the team, why wouldn’t they stay? The most terrifying line in Cleveland.com’s write-up of Wednesday’s county council meeting didn’t concern the Cavs. Reporter Courtney Astolfi said that the Indians are not seeking reimbursement for
the costs of their recent upgrades that exceeded their Sin Tax allotment. Why not? “Because they are working on long-term planning ahead of their lease expiring in 2023.” Buckle up, folks. — Sam Allard
City Council Introduces Lead Legislation Before Summer Recess, CLASH Begins Petition Drive Cleveland City Council planned to introduce legislation to combat the city’s lead poisoning crisis at its meeting Monday evening, the final scheduled meeting before the body’s annual summer recess. Council president Kevin Kelley, Health and Human Services chair Blaine Griffin and councilman Kerry McCormack discussed the legislation Monday afternoon, saying that their bill would make “critical changes” to the city’s current rental registration laws and other ordinances. It is aimed at ensuring that no child gets leadpoisoned in the future. Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH), meanwhile, began a renewed petition drive this weekend. They are gathering signatures once again with the goal of putting their own lead legislation on the March 2020 ballot. CLASH gathered more than the required number of signatures in the | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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UPFRONT winter and spring, but city council refused to accept them because of a missing piece of language required by the Ohio Revised Code. That prevents CLASH from putting their proposal on the November 2019 ballot. The CLASH proposal would require that all city rental properties and day care center buildings built before 1978 be tested for lead hazards and be certified as “Lead Safe” by 2021. It also includes protections for tenants and the creation of a city fund for public and private contributions to assist landlords. CLASH has said that it will continue to urge Cleveland City Council to pass its proposal while it gathers signatures, but plans to file the completed petitions in August if city council has failed to pass a “strong and effective ‘lead safe’ mandate ordinance.” — Allard
Councilman Ken Johnson Goes Full Dingbat, Accuses Ring of “Conspirators” in Wards 4 and 6 Residents of Cleveland’s Ward 4 can’t say for sure, but are fairly certain
that a recent newsletter purporting to expose a ring of “conspirators” plotting to “take over” Wards 4 and 6 was distributed by councilman Ken Johnson. The double-dipping eastside councilman has become increasingly unhinged as Cleveland.com’s Mark Naymik continues to report on his monthly expense reports, which include hundreds of miles of supposed intra-ward travel. Meanwhile, for obvious reasons, home-grown opposition sprouts in and around Buckeye-Shaker. The newsletter is dated April 14, 2019 and is supposedly edited by a person named “Goldie Steinmetz.” Local activists suggest Steinmetz might not even be a real person and that the newsletter is consistent with Johnson’s mailings in the past, in which he has tried to frighten Ward 4 residents, especially seniors, into remaining loyal to him. Before the 2017 primary election, for example, Johnson sent mailers to residents full of outrageous lies. He said that only he would be able to continue assistance programs for seniors. “My opponents WILL NOT be able to continue any of our unique senior programs regardless of what they have told you,” Johnson wrote at the
time. “My ward 4 programs are almost totally run by Councilman Johnson’s volunteers. These dedicated residents have volunteered for me for many years. When I leave office—By Law— all of our unique Ward 4 programs (mowing grass and snow removal for both seniors and the disabled, holiday gift cards, and etc.) must end.” These are despicable lies from an insecure politician on his last legs. The newsletter is more of the same, a bunch of scary rhetoric with no substance. What he (or whoever the writer and distributor of the current newsletter) is railing against is democratic action. Residents are fed up with their political representation and have formed grassroots efforts to “reclaim” their ward. This effort was publicized as early as February 2018, with stated goals of improving voter education and turnout in the hopes of unseating Johnson. There was never any secret conspiracy. The goal has always been unseating the multi-decade incumbent because he’s such a worthless councilman. The newsletter takes scattershot aim at organizers Rowland Mitchell, Michelle Jackson and C. Ellen Connally, referring to them as “Uncle Toms” working at the behest of Shaker Heights resident Mary Boyle and white
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Shaker Square investors. The accusations and insinuations are straight-up bonkers. “These incompetents, thieves and liars are trying to get their hands on Wards 4 & 6,” it says. “Wards 4 & 6 are Opportunity Zones ... Billions are available for redevelopment. The thieves smell the money ... don’t trust them.” Michelle Jackson, one of the implicated “conspirators,” wrote a letter to other Ward 4 residents and friends arguing that while the newsletter was “hilarious for its inanity,” it was evidence of why activist efforts in Ward 4 were so necessary. Johnson — if indeed he was behind the newsletter — has chosen to spend his time and energy attacking organizers instead of focusing on serious problems in the ward. “The need,” Jackson wrote, “is to continue to remind our Ward 4 community of how much we have lost over nearly 40 years while the council person, cut off from his [Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation] ATM, continues to devise ever more bizarre schemes to scam $1200/month and to denigrate Democratic donors and voters and volunteers.” — Allard
That event put on by the Licking County Library System and called “A Universe of Stories — Galaxy of Diversity” was to be held after hours and was funded by a local pride group. The system cancelled the event after Householder’s letter, saying misinformation about its intent and content had grown too hard to control. It’s not the only event to get cancelled after controversy. An hour-long class for ages 12 to 17 called “Drag 101” was scheduled for June 5 at a branch of the Delaware County District Library. The library
says several teens had requested a class focused on the theatrical craft of drag performances. But library director George Needham announced May 29 that the event was canceled after the library received threatening messages, some from outside the area. The American Library Association, the professional organization representing libraries and librarians, has in the past strongly defended public libraries’ rights to hold events like the ones scheduled in Licking and Delaware Counties.
“ALA, through its actions and those of its members, is instrumental in creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive society,” the group said in a post sharing resources for finding or starting the events. “This includes a commitment to combating marginalization and underrepresentation within the communities served by libraries through increased understanding of the effects of historical exclusion.” — Nick Swartsell
scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene
A Public Library Canceled a Drag Class After Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, Other Republicans, Got Angry Two public libraries in central Ohio recently canceled LGBT-related events after public backlash. One in Newark was to offer a number of LGBT-themed activities, including a drag makeup tutorial. It was cancelled yesterday after a powerful state lawmaker waded into the controversy, issuing a stern letter condemning it. Another in Delaware County aimed to teach young people about the artistic elements of drag performance. That library scratched its event from its schedule late last month after it said it received threats related to the class. Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, a Republican who represents Newark and surrounding areas, got wind of that library’s event and last week issued an open letter blasting the scheduled class. “When I was first informed our public libraries were being used to teach teenage boys how to become drag queens, I thought it was a joke,” Householder wrote. “But the joke is apparently on taxpayers, who fund our libraries. This is a stunningly bizarre breach of the public trust. And it must stop.” | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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Photo courtesy Issa Sao
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Issa Sao and family.
EYNI MALICK DIAGNE IS A NATIVE OF Mauritania, an Islamic republic on the edge of the Sahara Desert in Northwest Africa. But the 64-year-old is also an Ohioan. From 2001 until June of last year, Diagne lived in Columbus, where he was part of the nation’s largest community of Mauritanian refugees and immigrants. Like the roughly 6,000 other Mauritanians who have made Ohio home, Diagne was expelled from his native country in the late 1980s. A dispute with Senegal on Mauritania’s southern border erupted into violent conflict and gave the Arab leadership in Mauritania an opportunity to disperse its black population. Estimates vary among scholars and international human rights organizations, but anywhere from 70,000 to 150,000 black Mauritanians were accused of being Senegalese and deported. Diagne, then a school teacher, was among them. These deportations were in keeping with a ruling strategy designed to dispossess, disempower and ultimately disappear black Mauritanians. The ruling Arabs (known as beydanes, from the Arabic word meaning “white,” or simply Moors) remain in power to this day, controlling both the political and economic life of the country and subjugating the darker-skinned majority. “They do everything they can to make the
country uninhabitable for the black population,” said Abdoulaye Sow, a Mauritanian activist from Cincinnati, at a recent forum. “That is the reason for many of their policies: so that the blacks will go away, so that the minority can become the majority.” Diagne lived in a refugee camp in Senegal for six years. When he returned to Mauritania in 1998, he was beaten and arrested on multiple occasions before finally immigrating to the United States in 2001 and making his way, as hundreds of others had before him, to Ohio, pursuing available jobs and rents far more affordable than New York City’s. On what are thought to be technical grounds, Diagne’s claim for asylum was denied. He was likely among the hundreds of Mauritanians who were exploited by predatory immigration consultants, or bad translators, who submitted “shoddy or fraudulent” paperwork on the claimants’ behalf. But the U.S. government recognized the dangerous conditions on the ground for blacks in Mauritania and didn’t deport Diagne. He received a work permit and established a life in the U.S. He learned English. He secured a series of warehouse and retail jobs. He paid his taxes. Though he has no immediate family in Ohio, many of his countrymen married and had children here. Many bought homes. | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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All they were required to do All they were required to do to remain in good standing with the U.S. government was check in periodically with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). But one year ago, at his regular check-in, Diagne was arrested. Though he was in poor health, he was detained for two months without medical care and was then packed into a plane at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., and shipped back to Nouakchott, Mauritania’s dusty capital city. Attorneys desperately tried to prevent the chartered flight from taking off, but failed to do so in time. Diagne then faced the same reception that all black Mauritanian deportees face when they arrive: He was put in handcuffs and transferred directly to jail. Prisons in Mauritania make the beleaguered Cuyahoga County facility look like the Ritz. Torture, overcrowding and crumbling infrastructure, including a lack of potable water, are commonplace. In 2018, according to an annual report from the U.S. State Department, the main prison in Nouakchott had a capacity of 350 inmates but held 943. Ten prisoners died in custody last year, one by suicide and nine from chronic diseases, including tuberculosis and AIDS. Diagne was reportedly booked in a cell with 70 other men where they were forced to pee in plastic bottles and were regularly beaten by guards. Only because of his financial resources did he manage to escape. He bribed a jail official with a payment of $1,500 and fled to Senegal. Diagne’s story, documented by Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting, is something like a best-case scenario. The Thomson Reuters Foundation reported on the Mauritanian crisis in December and encountered nearly identical scenarios. A West African correspondent spoke with six recent deportees, all of whom had been arrested and detained upon arrival. Five fled to neighboring countries after they escaped with the help of influential connections or bribes. All said that if they hadn’t had friends or family to come get them, they would not have been let out. That story’s primary source, a man anonymized as “Mo,” was from Ohio, where his wife and children remain. These stories are known to the
thousands of Mauritanians in the United States, who are most densely concentrated in the Metro Columbus and Cincinnati areas. They are now fearful of making their regular check-ins with ICE. “ICE is brutal,” Columbus-area Mauritanian activist Houleye Thiam told Scene. “They can threaten you. They can step on your every right because they know you are vulnerable.” Thiam, the daughter of an intellectual and political revolutionary in Mauritania, came to the United States as a refugee in 2001 at age 19. She is now the president of the Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in the U.S. and an advocate with an organization called African Immigrant Relief. She said that one of her areas of advocacy is tracking down pro bono lawyers who are willing to accompany Mauritanians on their ICE check-ins. “There is so much fear — it is constant,” she said. “But with a lawyer, at least some of the ICE abuse would go down [decrease].” Thiam said that the community’s fear is not the only issue that the deportations have created. Another is money. The detainees are almost always men, who are generally the breadwinners for their families and who, as a rule, send financial assistance back to their networks in Africa. These are men like Issa Sao, a 37-year-old from the Cincinnati suburbs who’d been jailed and tortured in Mauritania before he fled to the United State 14 years ago. Sao was arrested at his regular ICE check-in in May 2018 and was detained for five months in Arizona and Louisiana before he was shipped back to Mauritania. He has a wife, a stepson and a young daughter. He also, like many of the other Mauritanians who have been detained and deported, has no criminal record. “Issa will be deported tomorrow in a chartered plane to a country that doesn’t recognize him as a citizen, where he will be likely be tortured, enslaved, or killed,” Sao’s attorney tweeted the night before his flight in October. Like Diagne, Sao was detained upon arrival in Nouakchott. The temporary travel document that had been provided for him was worthless in Mauritania.
The flagship reason why activist organizations and even some
U.S. elected representatives have raised their voices against these deportations is because Mauritania has the highest prevalence of hereditary slavery in the world. In an October letter to thenSecretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielson, 37 Democratic congresspeople, led by Sen. Kamala Harris, requested the “immediate cessation” of deportations of Mauritanian nationals. “It is unconscionable for the United States to deport these individuals back to Mauritania,” the letter read, “where they will likely be denied basic human rights and possibly persecuted and enslaved.” The letter was signed by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and by presidential candidates Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker. Mauritania officially abolished slavery in 1981 — the last country in the world to do so — but the practice is still tacitly sanctioned by the government. That is to say, the law is rarely enforced. In fact, the law itself, which consists of four articles, deals principally with compensation: not reparations for former slaves (called Haratine or Hartani, Mauritania’s largest ethnic group), but
compensation for masters, in keeping with Sharia law. The State Department’s 2018 report on human rights in Mauritania noted that “slavery and slavery-like practices, which typically flowed from ancestral master-slave relationships and involved both adults and children, continued throughout the year … Enslaved
“vestiges” of slavery. “They are talking about ‘vestiges’ when people are still in chains,” Mauritanian antislavery activist Balla Toure said at the time. “[The agency] is nothing but smoke and mirrors.” Furthermore, the government has continually denied the registration of antislavery organizations, imprisoned Photo courtesy of Ohio Immigration Alliance
Mauritanian women protest after a spate of imprisonments and murders from 1981 to 1991.
persons suffered from traditional chattel slavery, including forced labor and sexual exploitation.” The Mauritanian government’s posture, however, has long been that slavery no longer exists. In 2013, it created an official government agency to erase the so-called
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journalists and activists, and stalled surveys to determine the extent of the abuse. The Global Slavery Index has estimated that about 21 per 1,000 people are enslaved in Maurtania, about 90,000 of the country’s four million people. But the numbers are difficult to verify with precision.
Other estimates, including the U.N.’s, have been as high as 10 to 20 percent. “Why does slavery still exist?” Abdoulaye Sow asked at a panel in Cincinnati last month. “The first thing, in my opinion, is that the slaves in Mauritania don’t even know they are slaves. They think God has willed them to be slaves and the only way for them to go to heaven is to obey their master.” (This is consistent with multiple studies and accounts from antislavery activists. A 2013 New York Times report quoted an expert in Mauritania who said that the master-slave dynamics varied widely, but that “often the most pressing element of coercion was extreme poverty or a belief that Islam forbids breaking out of bondage.”) “The second reason,” Sow continued, “is because the government is not doing anything to end it. Right now, every single day, kids disappear in big cities, and the government is doing nothing. The government is behind the slave masters.” Many countries in the developing world have millions of people living in “modern slavery,” or slavelike conditions, in which labor is exploited — children working in
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FEATURE sweatshops, women forced into prostitution, etc. But in Mauritania, the slavery is traditional hereditary slavery (the U.S. kind), in which the slave is the total property of the master and slaves’ descendants are automatically enslaved. The United States knows this well. In November, President Trump announced that Mauritania would no longer be eligible for trade preference beneďŹ ts speciďŹ cally because the county has made “insufďŹ cient progress toward combating forced labor, in particular the scourge of hereditary slavery.â€? “Forced or compulsory labor practices like hereditary slavery have no place in the 21st century,â€? said Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney in a statement accompanying the news. “This action underscores this Administration’s commitment to ending modern slavery and enforcing labor provisions in our trade laws and trade agreements. We hope Mauritania will work with us to eradicate forced labor
and hereditary slavery so that its [eligibility for trade beneďŹ ts] may be restored in the future.â€? Slavery is the marquee human rights abuse that rouses international opposition, but Mauritanian activists in Ohio say that slavery is “just the tip of the iceberg.â€? Indeed, the U.S. State Department tallied the grisly list of other human rights abuses currently facing the country: “Torture by law-enforcement ofďŹ cials; arbitrary and politically motivated arrests; harsh and lifethreatening prison conditions; restrictions on freedom of assembly, association and religion; widespread corruption; rape and domestic violence against women with few victims seeking legal recourse; ethnic discrimination by government actors; criminalization of same-sex sexual conduct; continued existence of slavery and slavery-related practices with antislavery organizations subjected to restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly; trafďŹ cking in persons; and minimal efforts to combat child labor.â€? The ongoing practice of slavery coupled with authoritarian
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G N I K A BRE S... NEW O N LY AT C L E V E S C E N E . C O M
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Of the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States, only about 120,000 (less than 2 percent) are from countries that ICE has designated “uncooperative� or “at risk of non-compliance.� Until recently, Mauritania was among them. While previous administrations prioritized other immigration issues — deporting violent criminals, for example — the Trump administration (with hard-line voices like Jeff Sessions and Stephen
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government and ecological degradation have been “mutually reinforcing,� according to West African scholar Garba Diallo. These have made Mauritania “one of the least politically stable, most underdeveloped and heavily indebted countries among the least developed nations of the Third World.� So why, Ohio’s Mauritanian activists plead, is the U.S. government knowingly sending black Mauritanians back to these conditions?
Miller in his ear) has mandated that diplomats make the acceptance of deportees a priority in negotiations with foreign countries. In Fiscal Year 2017, the number of people deported to so-called “recalcitrantâ€? nations more than doubled, from 970 to 2040. Mauritania’s big jump didn’t occur until 2018. Only four Mauritanians were deported in 2015; 10 in 2016; eight in 2017. But in 2018, 98 were deported, an increase of more than 1,100 percent. (By percentage increase, it trailed only South Sudan, which skyrocketed from two deportations in 2017 to 61 in 2018). Again, virtually all of these Mauritanians are from Ohio. While Mauritania doesn’t recognize its black population as citizens, it still would rather take them back than receive sanctions from the United States. Houleye Thiam suggested to Scene that U.S. diplomats may have threatened to put Mauritania on the list of “Muslim banâ€? countries in addition to the conventional sanction: suspending the issuance of visas to nationals. “We are seeing real success with [this hardline approach],â€? said former State Department ofďŹ cial
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Michel Thoren Bond in an NBC News story on the subject, “probably because countries believe they’ll be sorry if they don’t comply.” To facilitate their compliance, the Mauritanian embassy in the U.S. began issuing temporary travel documents (called laissez-passer) in lieu of actual passports to those being deported. Black Mauritanais had already been deported from their own country, so they have no papers certifying their citizenship. The laissez-passer create the illusion of citizenship for the purposes of travel but are meaningless to the Mauritanian government. When the deportees arrive in Nouakchott, the laissez-passer are ignored, laughed off or torn up. The man known as “Mo” in the Thomson Reuters story said Mauritanian officials told him that “anyone could make [a laissez-passer] and reminded him that he had no rights there. “In effect,” said Houleye Thiam at the Cincinnati forum, “these people are stateless.” But these people do have, and should be embraced by, at least one state: Ohio. Lynn Tramonte, of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, told Scene that deportations have gone down significantly thus far in fiscal year 2019, but that, right now, at least 13 Mauritanian men are still detained in Ohio facilities. Many have been in “civil immigration detention” for over a year and all of them have been detained for longer than six months. “The U.S. government still says they are going to be deported, but for now they are languishing in jail,” Tramonte said. “Their families are suffering greatly without their husbands and fathers, and the men are living a listless existence. It’s a sad and outrageous misuse of tax dollars.” Thiam told Scene that among the hardest barriers to her advocacy work is that people simply don’t know about the issue. Many Ohioans have never heard of Mauritania. If they can’t point it out on a map, how can they know about the horrific conditions there? They surely don’t know that the Mauritanian community is so large and vibrant in Ohio. “That’s why the first step is raising awareness,” she said. “The Mauritanian story needs to be told. The government has been enslaving, deporting, raping and killing its citizens for 50-plus years, and it has lasted this long because they have been able to keep this secret.” This is “absolutely apartheid,” said Thiam, responding to a question about similarities with the South African government.
While the international community protested vocally against South African apartheid in the 1970s and ’80s, they ignored Mauritania, despite a nearly identical political climate. The same division between blacks and a lighter-skinned powerful minority and the same ruthless methods for territorial control persist to this day. “It’s actually worse than [South African] apartheid,” said Abdoulaye Sow. “Apartheid in South Africa was a law. It is easier to fight a law than something that is unwritten.” It is also easier to raise awareness about an international issue when powerful institutions and state actors participate in the opposition. In this case, Thiam’s not hopeful.
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“Nations don’t have morals,” she said. “They have interests. It’s people on the ground who need to get this done, by raising awareness, by talking about what’s happening. Raising money, of course, is important. You can’t do anything without money. But getting the word out is what builds the movement.” She said if Ohioans want to help, they should connect to their state representatives, their senators, “anyone who has some kind of say.” “Call them and tell them this must stop,” Thiam said. “This is a question of human dignity. So we must continue to raise awareness. We must continue to fight this fight. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, as MLK said.” This injustice — this humanitarian crisis — is not just anywhere, though, as Thiam said. “It’s right in our backyard.”
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The river ? Not so much.
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| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
GET OUT everything you should do this week Photo by David Brichford, courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
WED
06/05
FILM
Fire Festival (Himatsuri) Directed by Mitsuo Yanagimachi, Fire Festival (Himatsuri) takes place in a remote coastal Japanese fishing village bordered by mountains and forests. The film centers on a lumberjack who believes he has a mystical relationship with the mountain goddess. The movie screens at 6:30 tonight at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets cost $12, or $9 for CMA members. (Jeff Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org. FILM
Gimme Shelter Gimme Shelter, a documentary that some critics call “the greatest rock film ever made,” follows the Rolling Stones on their notorious 1969 U.S. tour when 300,000 members of the Love Generation collided with a few dozen Hells Angels at San Francisco’s Altamonte Speedway. The movie screens tonight at 7 at the Rock Hall. Tickets cost $5.50, but it’s free for Rock Hall members. (Niesel) 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com. ART
Good Neighbors Beachwood Arts Council and Shaker Arts Council have teamed up to present Good Neighbors, a juried art exhibit featuring the work of four Beachwood and four Shaker Heights artists. The exhibit includes abstracts, landscapes and portraits, created in acrylics, charcoal, oils and pastels. It opens today at the Beachwood Community Center in Beachwood; the reception is 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. The exhibit continues through June 27. Admission is free. (Niesel) 25325 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, beachwoodartscouncil.org or shakerartscouncil.org. SPOKEN WORD
Keep Talking Keep Talking is a monthly storytellers’ series that offers attendees the chance to grab a drink and a dog while listening to some of their Cleveland neighbors tell tall tales. Tonight’s show revolves around the theme, “And That’s When I Realized.” The hosts are Adam Richard and Zachariah Durr. The program starts at 8 p.m. sharp at the
Parade the Circle returns to University Circle. See: Saturday.
Happy Dog. Admission is $5. Want to be a storyteller at a future session? See details on the website. (Niesel) 5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com.
“yappy” hours, goat yoga and more. It runs from 5 to 8 p.m. (Niesel) 28795 Lake Rd., Bay Village, 440-871-6543, bayarts.net. MUSIC FESTIVAL
COMEDY
Brad Wenzel Comedian Brad Wenzel once started a routine on Conan by saying, “Let’s get to the issues.” He then proceeded to make fun of “little people” and his own outdated choice of clothing (he likes flannel shirts). Wenzel doesn’t write narrative jokes; rather, he delivers a series of off-kilter one-liners in a monotone voice. He performs tonight at 7 at Hilarities. Tickets cost $13 and $18. (Niesel) 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
THU
06/06
ART FESTIVAL
BAYarts Farm & Art Market There will be local food, artisans, garden essentials, home decor and demos at today’s BAYarts Farm & Art Market, a seasonal favorite. Admission is free, and it’s dog friendly. There will be a pie-baking contest, cupcake wars,
Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Today through Sunday at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival will feature worldclass classical guitar concerts, master classes, lectures, private lessons, exhibits and “camaraderie” in a celebration of the classical guitar. Featured performing artists and master teachers include Colin Davin of the CIM faculty, Elizabeth Kenny, Xuefei Yang, Petra Polácková, Lynn McGrath and Drew Henderson. At 8 p.m. on Saturday at Mixon Hall, Grammy-winning classical guitarist Jason Vieaux performs a solo recital. Consult the website for more details. (Niesel) 11021 East Blvd., 216-791-5000, guitarsint.com/guitar_festival.
SUMMER STUFF
Edgewater Live Time again for Edgewater Live, the Cleveland Metroparks’ extremely
popular series of Thursday-night happy-hour concerts held at Edgewater Beach. In addition to live musical performances, you’ll find yoga, standup paddleboarding and cornhole. Those ubiquitous food trucks will be on hand, of course, and the Beach House will sell drinks and food as well. Hours are 4:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, but bring some bucks for food and drink. The fun continues weekly through August 1. (Niesel) 6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway NW, clevelandmetroparks.com. MUSIC FESTIVAL
Re:Sound Festival The Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project’s (CUSP) second annual Re:Sound Festival, an event dedicated to new and experimental music, takes place today through Sunday at Negative Space Gallery, the Bop Stop, CODA, Praxis Fiber Workshop and the Magdalen. Tonight’s opening night concert, at Negative Space Gallery, will feature three acts: Nois, a saxophone quartet from Chicago; the Clevelandbased experimental Miralia/Stranahan duo; and the Detroit-based band saajtak. The closing concert takes place at 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Bop Stop, and features the locally based | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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CMA members. (Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
GET OUT new-music group No Exit premiering new music by high-school students Mya Vandegrift and Emma Eddy. Both composers were selected for CUSP’s CoLab project that aims to “provide professional opportunities and mentorship to young female and nonbinary composers in the Northeast Ohio region.” Single tickets are $12, or $8 for seniors and students. Festival passes are available for $35, or $25 for seniors and students. Purchase tickets at the door or in advance through Brown Paper Tickets. (Niesel) uncommonsoundcle.com.
FRI
SAT
06/08
MUSIC
The Big Show Self-described as “part rock ’n’ roll
the Hamilton Collaborative warehouse. The event will feature more than 150 active musicians from Northeast Ohio. They’ve been randomly drafted into about 30 all-new four piece bands. No participant was placed into a group with anyone with whom they had previously collaborated. Admission is free. (Niesel) 5401 Hamilton Ave., 216-589-9444, lotteryleague.org.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
06/07
SUMMER STUFF
Euclid Beach Live This live concert series offers great music, delicious food and fun for the whole family. The setting couldn’t be better either: The site overlooks the scenic Euclid Beach State Park on Lake Erie, and the 285-foot rebuilt pier gives the events a throwback feel and harkens back to the glory days of Euclid Beach amusement park. The fun takes place tonight from 6 to 9. (Niesel) 16301 Lake Shore Blvd., 216-635-3200, clevelandmetroparks.com.
Simple PlaN JUNE 8
The Zombies
AUG 9
AUG 17
SUMMER IN THE
CITY
WEDNESDAYS
COMEDY
Joel McHale Up until a few years ago, when the show came to an end, the best way to catch up on celebrity gossip was to regularly watch The Soup, hosted by comic Joel McHale. He made fun of reality shows and shared a variety of clips that brought you up to speed on whatever the Kardashians were up to. McHale has subsequently taken his talents to Netflix, and he still does the standup circuit. He performs tonight and tomorrow at 4:30, 7 and 9:30 at Hilarities. Tickets cost $38. (Niesel) 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
PRIDE ON THE PLAZA JUNE 12
SUNFLOWER BEAN AUG 7
OPEN AGAINST MIKE SWEARIN SOCCER MIKE THE KROL MOMMY EAGLE CURRENT JULY 17
JULY 24
JULY 31
FAM JAM
BIKE NIGHTS
ROCK & RESILIENCE
JUNE 29
JULY 25 & AUG 15
AUG 25
AUG 14
BELIEVE IN CLE YOGA AUG 30
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LaureLive A few years ago, the locally based Elevation Group launched LaureLive, a two-day music festival held at Laurel School, an all-girls (K-12) independent school. The festival has become an annual tradition and takes place today and tomorrow at Laurel’s Butler Campus. Irish singer-songwriter Hozier will headline tonight. Dirty Heads, Moon Taxi, MisterWives, COIN and Dennis Lloyd will also perform tonight. Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow will headline tomorrow and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Lake Street Dive, AJR, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Red Sun Rising will perform that day as well. There will be nine food stands and five food trucks in the main concert area plus additional food trucks on the south side of the concert venue. Food selections will feature a variety of dishes including vegan and glutenfree options. There will also be a few “grab-and-go” options. Local acts such as the Vindys, Front Porch Lights, Ashley Fulton and the Shootouts are also on the bill. Check the website for a complete schedule and for ticket prices. The music starts at 11:30 a.m. today and tomorrow. (Niesel) laurelive.com. MUSIC
ROCKHALL.COM/SUMMER
MUSIC
Mix: Bhangra At tonight’s Mix event at the Cleveland Museum of Art, you can celebrate the beautiful, vibrant spirit of bhangra with high-energy Punjabi music. There will be dance performances and lessons, art activities and in-gallery experiences. DJs Kris Koch and Samir Thaker will provide the bhangra beats. Food is available at Provenance Cafe until 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance, or $15 at the door. It’s free for
Emery, Chali 2na & Cut Chemist, Meg & Dia and Peter McPoland & the Haps. Doors at 3 p.m. Live music starts at 5 p.m. Ticket holders will be able to tour the Rock Hall’s exhibits, including a special new exhibit, Forever Warped: 25 Years of Vans Warped Tour, celebrating a quarter-century of the iconic traveling music festival. Consult the Rock Hall website for more info. (Niesel) 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com.
circus, part game show, part citywide art project,” the Lottery League is now in its fifth season. This year’s incarnation kicked off earlier this year with a Showcase Fundraiser/ Pre-Draft Party and the Draft. The Big Show, the season-ending day-long free festival showcasing the first live musical performances for all of the 2019 season’s newly formed bands, will take place today at 11:30 a.m. at
| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
MUSIC
Forever Warped: 25 Years of Vans Warped Tour Today at 5 p.m., the Rock Hall hosts the opening night of the Vans Warped Tour 25th Anniversary exhibit, and there will be a concert featuring bands from across the 24-year history of the tour, a mini vert ramp and more. Acts slated to play include Simple Plan, We the Kings, Hawthorne Heights,
Jason Mraz and Contemporary Youth Orchestra Known for hits such as “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up,” singersongwriter Jason Mraz has sold out venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden and London’s 02 Arena. One thing he hasn’t done is perform with an orchestra. This week, however, he’ll change that as he comes to town to play with the 115-piece Contemporary Youth Orchestra. Concerts take place at 7 tonight and at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Severance Hall. Check the Cleveland Orchestra website for ticket info. (Niesel) 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com. THEATER
Octets They wrote it, produced it and directed
it. Tonight, the team of college-aged students performs it at the Near West Theatre at 7:30 p.m. “It” is an original musical titled Octets, which — if the press release is to be believed — sounds kind of like a blend of Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, and Glee, wherein “everyone must decide if they want to win or lose, but the answer isn’t as obvious as you might think.” The show, which was initially conceived by two Miami University students, has been in development for almost two years. The production finally hit the road this spring as a full-fledged, two-act musical event. The 10-day Ohio Octets Tour has already taken the company to Cincinnati, Oxford, Dayton and Columbus; it winds up tonight on Gordon Square. Tickets range from $8 to $20, plus service fee, and can be had on the website, below. (Elaine T. Cicora) 6702 Detroit Ave., octetsmusical.com. FAMILY FUN
Parade the Circle One of the signature events of summer in Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s annual Parade the Circle includes floats, dancers, live music, stilt-walkers, giant puppets, colorful costumes, vibrant characters, handmade masks and much more. This year’s parade theme is Mythology of Illusion. The parade begins at noon, but guests can enjoy hands-on activities offered by local organizations in Circle Village, in the field inside Wade Oval, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. But do bring chairs or blankets and plan to arrive early: The spots with a view fill up fast. (Niesel) 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org. DANCE
Silent Disco Dance Party Attending a silent disco should be on everyone’s summer bucket list, and today — National Dance Day — is your chance to check it off. Grab your friends and head down to Playhouse Square this evening to dance about in silence while wearing wireless headphones. Tonight’s theme: Boy Bands vs. Hair Bands. Admission is free, but you’ll need to have an ID to receive a pair of headphones. The disco takes place from 9 to midnight on U.S. Bank Plaza. (Niesel) East 14th St. and Euclid Ave., 216-771-4444, playhousesquare.org. DANCE
Toukii The dance performance Toukii: The Journey celebrates a “decade long journey of culture, empowerment, struggle and triumph” and gives
viewers “a delectable taste of Africa and the African Diaspora with histrionic travels through Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Guinea, Cuba and the United States highlighting Djapo’s dynamic dance company, area performers and international artists from each region.” Choreographed by artistic director Talise Campbell and featuring the musical direction of Grammy-nominated percussionist Weedie Braimah, the production includes folkloric dance, drumming, and song and poetry. The performance begins at 7:30 tonight at the Ohio Theatre. Tickets start at $25. (Niesel) 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Great Food - Drinks - Live Music - Freshly Remodeled
Pop Fiction 6.07 FRI
1988 6.8 SAT
Harvest 6.9 SUN
MUSIC
U.S. Air Guitar Championship Last year’s winner at the Cleveland stop of the U.S. Air Guitar Championship, Leigh “AirLeigh Legal” Melendez, will return to defend her title against a crop of new and returning competitors at tonight’s event at the Winchester Tavern in Lakewood. This year’s champion will take home a $300 prize and qualify for the U.S .Air Guitar Championship semi-final round that takes place on Aug. 1 in Nashville. Competitors perform to a 60-second guitar edit of their favorite song. Judges then rank the performance according to “Technical Merit” (does it look like they are playing a real guitar?), “Stage Presence” (do they excite the audience and the judges?), and “Airness,” the quality of performance which transcends the imitation of a real guitar and becomes an art form all its own. Hosted by two-time U.S. Air Guitar National Finalist Jerrod “Dick Diesel” Dewey, the event will include up to 20 competitors. Tickets are $7 in advance or $12 day of show, with proceeds going to benefit Harvest for Hunger and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Competitor entry is $15 (but you have to be at least 18 to compete). The event starts at 8. (Niesel) 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/ TheWinchesterMusicTavern.
9PM-1AM
4PM-8PM
3PM-7PM
9:30PM-2AM
Venyx ADDRESS (SPSVEHS &ZI LIǽIPH :MPPEKI ONLINE www.MetroParks.cc/Theatre PHONE 440.949.5200 ext. 221
5 7 * * 3 8 * ) ' = + 7 * 3 ( - ( 7 * * 0 8 - * &8 7 *
SPORTS
WFC 107, Live Championship Boxing After packing the house earlier this year for WFC 99, MGM Northfield Park Center Stage will host another big boxing event, WFC 107, tonight. The event pairs Cleveland native and former WBO/NABO champion Antonio Nieves (18-3) against former WBA champion Jose Alfredo Rodríguez (31-9) of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, in an eight-round bout. Another pro fight pits Alliance’s Ryizeemmion Ford against Cleveland’s Darnell Pettis. In addition, Cleveland’s Alant’e Green will
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TICKETS:
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GET OUT take part in a pro bout. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the fighting commences at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35, $75 and $100. (Niesel) 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com. FUNDRAISER
Adina Bloom, Not Your Usual Cab & Gab Cesear’s Forum, the small, Twinsburg-based, nonprofit professional theater company known for performing unconventional works that tackle social, political and ideological issues, is serving up a short cabaret-style presentation this afternoon as a fundraiser. Entitled Adina Bloom, Not Your Usual Cab & Gab, the piece features two female performers dishing out a satirical blend of music, politics and cultural dialog. The fun begins at 3 p.m. with a reception that includes a cash bar and a selection of cheese and fruit (additional food will be available for purchase). The brief performance starts at 4, and additional reveling continues until 7.
Suggested minimum donation is $30, or $50 per couple. Advanced tickets or registration are not required and walk-ins are welcome. It all takes place at Brothers Lounge. For more info, call the number, or visit the website, below. (Cicora) 11609 Detroit Ave., 330-405-3045, cesearsforum.com. MUSEUM
Crawford, Coffee & Cars At Crawford, Coffee & Cars, a monthly event that takes place at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum at the Cleveland History Center, guests can enjoy unlimited coffee and pastries. The museum’s restoration shop will be open, and patrons will get to see the shop and the projects Crawford’s volunteers are working on, including the restoration of a Baker Electric. Admission is $5 for WRHS Members, or $10 for nonmembers. Parking is included with the price of admission. (Niesel) 10825 East Blvd., 216-721-5722, wrhs.org. MUSIC + FOOD
Gospel Brunch The monthly Gospel Brunch has been a spiritual Sunday staple for years
STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS
at the House of Blues. The recently reinvigorated show puts a bit more emphasis on the music. As for the food, the all-you-can-eat musical extravaganza features Southern classics like chicken jambalaya, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and waffles. Seatings are available today at 11 a.m. Detrich Burgess & Company will perform. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online, by phone or at the box office. (Niesel) 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com. ART + BOOKS
Ocean Soul Brian Skerry has spent more than 10,000 hours underwater photographing the ocean. His images celebrate “the mystery of the depths” and offer portraits of creatures “so intimate they sometimes appear to have been shot in a studio.” Once, he even lived at the bottom of the sea to take photos. Recently, National Geographic Books published Ocean Soul, a retrospective of the man’s photos. Tonight at 7:30 at the Ohio Theatre, he’ll talk about his career. Tickets are $25 to $45. (Niesel) 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
MON
06/10
SPOKEN WORD
Science Cafe Tonight, and the second Monday of every month, Music Box Supper Club hosts Science Cafe, an informal lecture series that brings scientists from throughout the region to the club to talk about science topics. Tonight’s guests Jill Bartolotta and Scott Hardy, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Educators, will discuss marine debris and plastic pollution. Doors open at 5:30, and the talk begins at 7. Admission is free but bring some money for the bar and the restaurant. (Niesel) 1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
TUE
06/11
DANCE
Dancing Under the Stars Time again for Dancing Under the Stars at U.S. Bank Plaza. Beginning at 6, Valerie Salstrom of Get Hep Swing will give lessons; then it’s on to the dance party, accompanied by a live band. The dancing begins at 6:30 and continues until 9 p.m. Admission is
Join SCENE for our Leinenkugel Friday Summer Bar Tour! Catch us at a different location from 6-8 pm every Friday all summer long! Grab a pic with the promo team and enjoy an ice cold Summer Shandy!
Stroll the grounds and enjoy 15 outdoor sculptures inspired by Gertrude Seiberling’s paintings
June to October Included with a Gardens and Grounds Tour Or upgrade to a Self-Guided Manor House Tour and see original paintings by Gertrude Seiberling
See You: Presented by
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| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
This Friday June 7 at Thirsty Parrot & Whiskey Island Next Friday June 14 Rivals & Grindstone
Coming Attractions The gift that always gets applause for Father’s Day, graduations, weddings and anniversaries!
E-gift card now available playhousesquare.org/giftcard or 216-640-8800
With Alonzo Bodden, Grocery Store Joe Amabile, Cathy Rigby June 14 (Rules at: playhousesquare.org)
free. (Niesel) East 14th St. and Euclid Ave., 216-771-4444, playhousesquare.org. THEATER
Dear Evan Hansen The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen makes its way to Cleveland this month amidst lots of hype. The place centers on a man who wants to fit in and features a book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy, Tony and Academy Award-winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman) and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal). Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances run through June 30. Tickets start at $39. (Niesel) 1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org. SUMMER STUFF
Midwest Tour June 23
PATTON OSWALT July 13
FILM
ON SALE JUNE 7
PAT MCGANN September 20
MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT: DIARIES January 11
Rhea Butcher Welcome to Night Vale Daniel Sloss Small Town Murder David Sedaris
Retro Tuesdays The Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In Theatre in North Ridgeville represents the perfect way to catch a new film from the comfort of your own car. Built in 1965 by the Sherman family, the drive-in is still owned and operated by the family’s third generation. While the latest films show on the weekends, the Aut-O-Rama also offers classic double features for Retro Tuesday. Tonight’s features: Clerks and Office Space. Check the website for times and ticket prices. (Niesel) 33395 Lorain Rd., North Ridgeville, 440-734-1786, autoramadrivein.com.
July 7 July 14 July 28 Aug. 3 Oct. 19
216-241-6000 Group Sales 216-640-8600 playhousesquare.org
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorcese The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque is one of only 20 theaters nationwide to host an advance screening of the Netflix-produced movie, Rolling Thunder: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorcese. The documentary follows Dylan during the fall of 1975 when he embarked on the first leg of a concert tour that saw him performing at more intimate venues in smaller cities, often playing with special guests that ranged from Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell to Roger McGuinn, Allen Ginsberg and Patti Smith. Martin Scorsese’s new movie includes new interviews with Dylan and other tour participants. Tickets cost $12, or $9 for Cinematheque members and students. (Niesel) 11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu.
scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene
N OPE DAY W I O N Y FR OR F R EVE NOON H C T A LUN
SPRING HOURS:
MON - THURS: 5:00PM - CLOSE | FRI - SUN: 11:00AM - CLOSE
WHISKEY ISLAND MUSIC SERIES Every Wednesday Evening Wednesday, June 5 6-10pm
MICHAEL CHISTOPHER WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Friday, June 7 8pm-12am
FACTION Saturday, June 8 2-6pm
ABBY NORMAL 8pm- 12am Sunday, June 9 2-6pm
DISCO INFERNO www.facebook.com/whiskeyislandstillandeatery www.whiskeyislandstillandeatery.net | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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STAGE THE ROYAL ‘WHEE’ A stirring, accessible production of King Lear brings plenty of madness and mayhem to the Beck Center By Elaine T. Cicora PRITHEE, HAST THOU WISHED for more Shakespeare in thine life? A more accessible Shakespeare, perchance? A Shakespeare that engages, even when its ancient language tangles in the ear like vines? Then get thee to Lakewood, my good friends, for the Beck Center’s current production of King Lear, an extraordinary piece of theater wherein the Bard’s sometimes oblique language is rendered plain as day by an animated cast delivering energetic, illuminating performances. Which is not to say this is Shakespeare for Dummies. Under the direction of Cleveland playwright Eric Schmeidl, this moving family tragedy proves as complex, anguished and, ultimately, philosophic as any student of the classics might wish. Still, much effort has apparently gone into ensuring the audience’s ability to stick with the story line. Key to this is the extraordinary physicality of the performances: Anytime you aren’t certain exactly what is happening, just consult the actors’ expressive faces and assertive body language, and all shall be revealed. As a result, this King Lear is a joy to watch, whether it’s the psychopathic soliloquies of the bastard son Edmund (played with spitting intensity by Daniel Telford), the sly nastiness of Lear’s scheming elder daughters Goneril (Julia Kolibab) and Regan (Lisa Louise Langford), or the terrifying transformation of Edgar (a gymnastically inclined James Alexander Rankin) from a milquetoasty semi-royal into a pouncing, scurrying feral animal. And then, of course, there is Lear — Shakespeare’s most tragically demented royal and one of the most disturbingly lost souls of all time — who puts the entire tale in motion by foolishly believing his scheming daughters will still care for him once his royal crown is fast within their dirty, blood-stained hands. “Sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child,” the king famously complains, once he’s realized his strategic error. But by then, the wheels are all in motion, and the cart is tearing headlong into madness, murder and mayhem. In the role of the beleaguered
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monarch, it is hard to imagine a more fitting presence than Cleveland stage veteran Robert Hawkes. From his unruly white locks to his pale, bony feet, Hawkes gives us a Lear who is not merely mad, but whose true devastation comes from the dawning understanding that, for most mere mortals, life is ruled by indifferent gods in a heartless universe. The distinction is important. It is one thing for an actor to play “crazy.” It is much more demanding to anchor that dementia with the weight of existential despair. Yet this is the world that Shakespeare gives us, one where the only alternative to debasement and despair is the personal decision to be good. Like all the best Lears, Hawkes takes us into that world. In the process, he turns in a performance that is, by turns, terrifying, heartbreaking, tender and sly. Hawkes’ ability to create a nuanced and relatable character is, arguably, most touchingly exhibited during Act 1, Scene 5, where a betrayed Lear has a few quiet moments of reflection with his truth-telling Fool (an engaging Jeffery Allen). The naturalism of their impeccably timed banter — which the Fool uses to chide the king about his bad decisions — helps turn the monarch into a real man, and provides a window onto his mind that makes his final words in this scene particularly crushing: “O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! I would not be mad. Keep me in temper. I would not be mad.” Other noteworthy performances
Photo by Andy Dudik
Robert Hawkes, left, leads the Beck Center cast in the title role of King Lear.
a man but that she seamlessly makes her own, exhibiting a blend of bravery and blindness that knows no gender bounds. The only caveat: At least on opening night, McEvoy’s sweet voice often failed to project, even in Beck’s intimate Studio Theater. Speaking of the physical space, scenic designer Walter Boswell fills the performance area with a stark, minimalistic arrangement of modular planks, risers and boxes that serve, in varying configurations, for everything from a storm-swept heath to the banquet hall of a castle. Kerry
KING LEAR THROUGH JUNE 30, STUDIO THEATER AT BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS 17801 DETROIT AVE., LAKEWOOD, 216-521-2540. TICKETS $10–$33. BECKCENTER.ORG
come from the poised Danyel R. Geddie as Cordelia, the beloved youngest daughter who Lear disinherits when she declines to sufficiently suck up to him; David Hansen, who inhabits the role of Kent, one of the king’s faithful supporters and, especially when in disguise as Caius, the type of strong, honest man we would all want to have on our side; and Anne McEvoy as Gloucester, a role that usually goes to
| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
McCarthy’s costume design is equally non-exclamatory: Lear’s daughters’ royal gowns could easily double as cocktail wear at the office Christmas party; Kent, in disguise as Caius, would look at home in any mechanics’ shop (except, maybe, for the eye patch); and even the traumatized Edgar, in hiding as Tom O’Bedlam, relies more on his physique than on his costume to delineate his character. As a result,
both designers keep the focus squarely on the performers, where it belongs. Schmeidl has made a few other interesting directorial choices. For example, rather than characters exiting after their scenes, the director keeps them on stage, sitting or standing along the periphery, as a sort of reminder, perhaps, that we are all in this thing — Beck, the play, life — together. And during the iconic scene on the heath, the sound of the approaching storm initially comes from actors rubbing their hands, snapping their fingers and slapping their thighs; later, an old-time wind machine and metal thunder sheets join in, replicating both the sound of the storm and a bit of historic stage craft. (Kudos to sound designer Angie Hayes.) The loss of love, the tragedy of aging, the dangers of self-delusion, and the redemption found in simply being good, regardless of the costs: These themes are as relevant today as in 1605 when Shakespeare wrote King Lear. This excellent production at Beck Center for the Arts provides a fine opportunity to revisit them.
scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene
MOVIES SWINTON SOIREE Mother and daughter shine, but talky Souvenir falls flat By Jeff Niesel Photo courtesy of A24 Pictures
THERE’S SOME FANTASTIC dialogue in The Souvenir, a talk-heavy new drama from British writerdirector Joanna Hogg. While the film features solid acting performances and a great soundtrack of alternative British pop/rock, the plot falls flat, and the story lacks any kind of arc. The movie, which debuted at Sundance and has received early critical acclaim, opens Friday at the Cedar Lee. The film centers on Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne, daughter of Tilda Swinton), a twenty-something film student who wants to make a movie about a teenage boy who lives in the working-class port town of Sunderland. After she meets Anthony (Tom Burke), a man who says he works at the “foreign office,” Julie begins spending more time talking about the movie than actually writing it or figuring out how to make it on the small budget that her school has allocated for it. Her relationship with Anthony is particularly perplexing. In one scene, he tells her that she’s “special” because she’s so fragile. “You’re lost, and you’ll always be lost,” he says at another moment, and somehow that pickup line works. As they grow closer, Julie says
The Swintons!
he can stay at her place when her roommate goes out of town, and Julie begins sharing even more details about her movie with him. He again acts in a manner that suggests his disregard for her. When she reads him some of the script, he tells her, “It sounds like you’ve been backed into a corner by life.” And somehow that line works too because the relationship keeps going. After a trip to Paris, Anthony returns to her flat with a gift. He
gives her a box and tells her, “Put it on.” She wears the lingerie she finds inside the box, and the two consummate their relationship. Much to the chagrin of her friends, who don’t get the connection between the two of them, Julie sticks with Anthony even after he starts siphoning money from her. She even introduces him to her mother (Tilda Swinton). When one of her instructors tells her that it’s important to make a
connection between her experiences and what she’s trying to film, she begins writing a different type of movie. The Souvenir, however, doesn’t show us enough of her film to demonstrate the ways in which it has changed, making for a pretty unsatisfactory and anticlimactic conclusion.
jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel
SPOTLIGHT: THE BURIAL OF KOJO A YOUNG GIRL IN GHANA MUST plumb her considerable magicalspiritual resources to track down her missing father in The Burial of Kojo, a vibrant debut from writer-director Samuel Basawule, the hip-hop and visual artist also known by his stage name Blitz the Ambassador. The film opened in select U.S. theaters in March, is now available streaming on Netflix and screens on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque in its official local premiere. Cleveland cinephiles may appreciate that Basawule, a native of Ghana, came to the United States in 2001 to study at Kent State University. He now lives in Brooklyn. The film is often arresting in its beauty. It has the same placebased mythological character as
Benh Zeitlin’s 2012 debut Beasts of the Southern Wild. Like in Zeitlin’s work, the land itself is possessed of mystical qualities, an almost human intuition and sentience. Both the island village and the “big city” of Accra, where the action largely transpires, are portrayed in loving detail. The young girl at Kojo’s center is Esi (Cynthia Dankwa). Early on, her uncle Kwabena (Kobina AssimahSam) arrives by canoe to her family’s village and tells them to return to Accra because their mother is ill. There is tension between Esi’s father, Kojo (Joseph Otsiman), and Kwabena because of a hazily outlined accident some years ago. Through impressionistic flashbacks and voice-over narration, we learn that Kojo and Kwabena loved the same
woman. We learn that there was violence. We see hints of a weddingnight disaster. Images of a burning car at the water’s edge haunt Kojo’s dreams. Once in Accra, Kwabena convinces Kojo to go on a few illegal mining trips, hunting for gold on territory controlled by Chinese corporations. In one fateful outing, Kojo falls into a deep pit. From Accra, Esi attempts to track down her father as the mystery of his past and his relationship with Kwabena is further unraveled. The story itself is slim on both action and dialogue — it clocks in at only 82 minutes. But the emotional core of the story is conveyed chiefly through images, with shots as marvelously composed and scenes as inventively
staged as those of director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall). Basawule and cinematographer Michael Fernandez use their surroundings to their advantage, filming through windows and gaps to capture interactions from an array of angles and distances. In its rich and sometimes otherworldly symbolism, Kojo is even reminiscent of director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s work, though much less trippy. Ultimately, Basawule has created a nuanced story about grief and guilt that’s particular to Ghana but resonant in a universal way. — Sam Allard
sallard@clevescene.com t@scenesallard | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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EAT STRAIGHT FIRE Michael’s Genuine brings more than star power to Van Aken with globally inspired, seasonal gems By Douglas Trattner Photo by Emanuel Wallace
THANKS TO THE FARM-TO-TABLE movement — and the countless growers, farmers’ markets and niche distributors that support it — any chef who wants to get his or her hands on seasonal ingredients like English peas, radish, mint and pea tendrils need simply place an order. It’s what happens next that separates the pros from the rubes. In the kitchen of Michael’s Genuine, for example, they become spring pea toast ($11), a vernal haiku without a single extraneous component. Atop a shingle of hearty toast are light-as-air layers of minty mashed peas and fluffy burrata. Strategically placed slivers of radish bring crunch to every bite, while a sifting of orange zest conjures warm Miami breezes. Up until now, the only celebrity chefs to truly plant a flag in Cleveland were born and bred here. Chef Michael Schwartz is a bona fide celebrity, but he lives in South Florida, where his ever-expanding collection of eateries has earned him the title of Best Chef according to the James Beard Foundation. To make a splash in splashy Miami you need to be able to cut through the clutter, and Schwartz does that by dishing up electric food that is in step with the seasons. Step inside Michael’s Genuine at Van Aken District and you’re immersed in the same colorful energy that has made the original a smash hit for a dozen years. At 65 seats, the buzzy neighborhood bistro is small compared to most contemporary restaurants, but the space is broken up into distinct zones. An open stud wall separates the bar and lounge from the dining room, which itself is anchored at one end by an exposed kitchen with woodfired oven. Depending on one’s mood, the restaurant can be described as intimate or cramped. Schwartz has a knack for devising globally inspired menus that are simultaneously approachable and thrilling. Options range literally from a single oyster on the half shell on up to large-format dishes like wood-fired steak for two. It is precisely the kind of roster that will keep diners coming back for more, even in the very same outing. Dunk fat wedges of grilled
sourdough into a seductive fondue-like ooze comprised of baked egg yolks ($8) enriched with cream and cheese. Move on to the warm-spiced, ground lamb-stuffed roasted onion ($15) while you wait for a wood-oven pizza ($15) so good that it launched an entire brand. If you’re lucky, you’ll still have some of that cheesy, yolky goodness to dunk the pizza crusts into because, why not? I love a chef who isn’t afraid of spice. The wood-roasted octopus ($17) is a balls-out presentation that sets a chili-rubbed, flame-kissed tentacle against a cool slick of crema. While
green combines squiggly fresh pasta with diced asparagus, leafy greens, garlicky pesto and salty grated cheese. There’s a solid burger ($17) on the menu, this one topped with cheddar and house-smoked bacon. A juicy roast half chicken ($24) nails everything but the crispy skin. The white and dark meat pieces are paired with pan juices, seasonal veggies and a kicky green olive salsa verde. Whole roast fish (MP) can suffer all manner of calamities, but the stunner served here is a joy to see and eat. A prize-catch snapper is meaty, essentially bone-free and blistered
MICHAEL’S GENUINE VAN AKEN DISTRICT 3427 TUTTLE RD., SHAKER HTS. 216-230-8022 | MICHAELSGENUINE.COM
weighty, the meat is perfectly cooked to a tender finish. Eggplant ($11) is rarely sexy, but once again that woodfueled oven transforms the humble aubergine into a lushly textured, assertively spiced dish that should not be overlooked. Peas so pert they pop when you bite them elevate a seasonal pasta ($16) into a flawlessly composed plate bursting with spring flavors, textures and colors. This symphony in
from the wood oven. A squeeze from the juicy grilled lemons is all the sweet flesh needs to reach its purpose. Snacks and starters are delivered to the table as they’re ready, but main dishes tend to arrive in concert. For now, chef de cuisine Vinnie Cimino is following his boss’s lead in terms of food, with many of the recipes hailing from the Miami kitchen, but diners can expect more latitude and freedom of expression
down the road. Service appeared to be on overdrive, with more than enough staffers and managers on hand to anticipate every need and desire. When a dining companion tipped her half-empty glass of red wine, it was cleaned up and topped off before you could say, “Salud!” While friends who dined separately reported slight hiccups — seatings 30 minutes or more after scheduled reservations, a party of three being seated at a two-top, servers who briskly asked for orders without volunteering descriptions of dishes and portion sizes — they also noted the staff’s corresponding gestures to make up for those minor mishaps: a complimentary glass of champagne while they waited, gratis snacks upon arriving at their table, etc. I’m looking forward to bypassing the dining room altogether for a seat at the sleek, angular bar. It’s the ideal spot to enjoy a carafe of French rose ($28), some salty snacks like housefried chips and dip ($8) or crunchy chili-dusted hominy ($7) and take in the scene. As far as scenes go, it’s pretty wild.
dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner
| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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MYKAL ROSE
STICKY STRANGE MESSENGER
SAT SA AT 6/15
Happy Hour Every Day 7—9 PM
TUE 9/17
JENNY LEWIS
J
UST THIS MONTH, THE AMERICANA band JD & the Straight Shot and singersongwriters Matt Costa and Matt Hartke embarked on a tour presented by SiriusXM’s Coffee House, a channel that plays singersongwriters and rare acoustic versions of songs. On Thursday, the tour comes to House of Blues Cambridge Room. In separate interviews, Costa, who dabbles in folk rock, J.D. & the Straight Shot guitarist/mandolinist/backup vocalist Marc Copley, and Hartke, a songwriter who’s penned tracks for artists such as Adam Lambert, Avicii, Cash Cash, the Chainsmokers, Kygo, Max Martin, Matisyahu and Tiesto and released a handful of acoustic singles, talk about the concept of the tour and how their respective sets will complement one another. How did this tour come together? Costa: The Coffee House show on Sirius has been supportive of my music. J.D. and the Straight Shot had the idea of putting it together, and they reached out to us about it. Everyone was on board with it. I don’t know everyone personally, though I know their music. Hartke: I don’t know the origins of it. I think they started this tour about two years ago.
P ic t ur ed above :
Copley: You know, I have no idea. But I’m very glad that it did come together.
XM’s Coffee House channel, so we thought, “Yeah, coffee house tour. That sounds good.”
How do you think you’ll complement each other? Costa: I think everyone brings something different. All the music is song-based and just coming from an organic place. I will have my band with me and I think that’s the case for the other two guys. I might team up with Matt Hartke and do some songs. Any of the songs, you can strip down to something acoustic or bring up to the full band. I think that will make for dynamic sets. Hartke: I think it’ll be really interesting. I’m going to play solo, and James [Dolan] and Matt [Costa] will play with bands. I think it’ll go really well. I’m similar to Matt Costa, and James is a little more Americana. I think it’ll go really well. Copley: I think with us, Matt Costa and Matt Hartke, it’s all about the songs and the stories.
Talk about your background and what drew you to singing and songwriting? Costa: I grew up in Orange County and for the most part, I’ve lived here my whole life. I grew up in Huntington Beach, and I played music early on. I played trumpet and piano and things like that. What really drew me to songwriting was hearing songs stripped back with just a guitar and a voice, and that’s when I felt like it was something that made songwriting more accessible to me. It wasn’t anyone in particular. I had an electric guitar, and then I got an acoustic guitar when I first started writing songs. Hartke: I didn’t start singing and writing songs until college. My family has been in the music industry. My uncle makes bass speakers. My cousin and mom and brothers were always singing. I was always drawn to it. In college, I started teaching myself to play guitar and, in college, I decided to make an album and pursued it blindly.
What makes you a coffee house artist? Costa: I drink a lot of coffee, and I write songs. Hartke: I think it’s a style of music and a sentiment, and it also has to do with the production as well. It’s anything that’s more stripped down and acoustic sounding. Copley: We’ve been getting spins on Sirius
JD & THE STRAIGHT SHOT |
Was there one songwriter in particular that you admired and tried to emulate? Costa: I liked early Dylan and Donovan Leitch from Scotland. Even the early Stones stuff that was more acoustic. I thought you could compartmentalize different parts
P ho t o by C A E S E R S E B A S T I A N
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of the guitar, and I started going further with it. I listened to all sorts of different types of music. I was a skateboarder. You had hip-hop with the Gorilla Biscuits, and you had punk with the Dead Kennedys, and you had indie rock. I never felt tied down to one genre. I would watch a [skating] video, and all those songs were in there, and different skateboarders had different songs. I liked it all. Hartke: In the early 2000s, Coldplay and Jack Johnson came out and had a similar tone and vibe. I thought I could do this when I heard them. Bands like that made me want to pursue music. Copley: Wow. Well ... there’s a ton. CSN, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles are a good three, and those bands all have multiple songwriters, which is where we’re coming from as well.
cinematic quality, and a narrative that developed. Hartke: My two previous songs were more produced and built up, but with [the latest single] “Leave a Message,” we kept it stripped down. We tried to add other elements. There’s guitar and light piano and a female singer lightly singing in a ghostly tone. I also recently did a cover of My Morning Jacket’s “Wonderful” in the studio live. We had three backup singers. That came about because a student reached out to me. He was part of a teen ensemble. They’re pretty amazing. He was a fan of some of the work I did. We scored out the songs and did four in the studio. They didn’t score “Wonderful” because it was already a song. But this is the one that came out the best, so I just released it. I think it came out really well. Copley: It’s a pretty simple philosophy. Write the best songs you can and play them to the best of your ability. And don’t forget to have fun doing so!
Do you remember the first song you ever wrote? Costa: It was about making a deal with the devil. I haven’t played it in a long
What have you been working on recently? Costa: I’ve been writing songs for another record. I’m going to release a
MUSIC
SIRIUSXM COFFEE HOUSE TOUR with MATT COSTA, JD & THE STRAIGHT SHOT and MATT HARTKE 7:30 P.M. THURSDAY, JUNE 6, HOUSE OF BLUES CAMBRIDGE ROOM, 308 EUCLID AVE. 216-523-2583. TICKETS: $15 ADV, $20 DOS, HOUSEOFBLUES.COM
time, but I could, though I’d need to remember it all. Hartke: Uh, yes. I was 5. It was called “Take My Mother to New York City.” It goes, “Take my mother to New York City/Take my poppa to Chinatown.” My brothers and I had a band called the Triangles. I was the lead singer of that fake band. For the first song I wrote on guitar, I was trying to learn a John Mayer song. I learned the first two chords and got bored with that and started writing a song. It was pretty bad, but I thought it was good. Copley: [As a band,] our frontman Jim and I wrote a song called “Little White Lies.” It has an old-school country vibe, and we still play it now and then. What was your approach on your latest release? Costa: I had done a score for a film called Orange Sunshine. It was a documentary. It was the first time I had immersed myself from start to finish in terms of writing music for a film. I was in the head space of doing that and of doing music with images. I always do that. To work directly with something like that and explore those sounds, even in my home studio, led into Santa Rosa Fangs. There was
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couple of songs around this tour that’ll be part of a bigger release. There’s a three-song EP called Past, Present, Future that’ll come out for the tour. Hartke: I have an album in the works, but I’m super-meticulous. I have all this stuff I don’t ever release because nothing is ever good enough. I think I’ll release an EP in the fall. Copley: We recently finished The Great Divide, so now we’re looking forward to getting out on tour. What will your set for the show here be like? Costa: I’ll play songs from Santa Rosa Fangs. With Sirius involved, I’ll play “Make That Change.” I always throw in some older ones from my discography too. Hartke: I put “Gold,” “Leave a Message” and “Sign Me Up” on the set list. I’ll probably do the “Wonderful” cover and a few songs that people haven’t heard before. Copley: It’ll be a high energy set, and we have a couple really fun covers that people will certainly know.
jniesel@clevescene.com t@jniesel
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J U S T A N N O U N C E D - O N S A L E F R I DAY WHISKEY BOUND: A Celebration of Country
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THE DOORS OF CHICAGO Tribute to the Doors JUNE 14
JUNE 25
JUNE 22
THE MIDNIGHT w/ AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
JUNE 27
THE PURPLE MADNESS Tribute To Prince JUNE 29
KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS In Association with Grog Shop
JULY 18
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TO MASONIC CLEVELAND
June 6
AUGUST 19
COMING SOON
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MUSIC KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE Sam Poetry turned the record collection of his grandfather, Robert Godwin Sr., into a beat tape By Afi Scruggs ROBERT GODWIN SR. LIVED AN ordinary life until he died at 74. Then he went viral. Easter 2017 was sunny and bright, a celebratory event for Clevelanders fatigued by gray skies and winter worries. Godwin had just eaten Easter dinner at his son’s house. He was going about his regular routine of gathering discarded cans along the road when a stranger walked up to him. They barely had two words before Steve Stephens killed Godwin, video of which he posted to Facebook. The murder stunned the family and shocked the nation. The nation has moved on, distracted by the relentless crush of news, but Godwin’s family is still caught in grief and disbelief, two years later, over the death of the man they all call “Daddy.” “Everybody calls him ‘Daddy,’” says his grandson, rapper/ producer Sam Dexter, who goes by his performing name Sam Poetry. “I don’t think I’ve ever called him granddad.” Sam Poetry inherited his grandfather’s album collection — a boon because Sam is an avid collector himself. He works as a producer/engineer at Lava Room Recording. To honor his grandfather and help the family heal, he sampled cuts from the albums into a beat tape entitled Robert. “This project is dedicated to my Godwin family, who are still grieving and trying to cope,” Poetry said while introducing the project on Instagram. The album is laid-back, a musical reflection of his grandfather’s personality, Sam Poetry says. The opening cut starts out with a sample from the O’Jay’s “Forever Mine,” but even Sam Poetry doesn’t know all the artists he used. “I definitely sampled Teddy Pendergrass’ ‘Turn Off the Lights.’ But other than that, I was so in the zone, I can’t remember what each beat is from,” he says, adding he changed keys and tempos to make his cuts unique
and distinctive. Sam Poetry’s parents separated, and he grew up with his father in Niagara Falls. There he was always surrounded by music. “[My dad] had this component set with really big speakers. It sounded like you were at a concert,” he says. “I’m talking about sun up to sun down, he was just playing records. I did my
be temporary, “ he says. “But I met a young lady, she got pregnant and I did right. Here I am, Cleveland, Ohio, eight years later. That’s the good thing about life. It don’t care about none of your plans.” The move to Cleveland brought him closer to his grandfather. Sam Poetry’s mother, Tammy Godwin, is his oldest daughter. Courtesy of Sam Poetry
homework to music; I ate dinner to music; I slept to music.” Sam Poetry, 36, started rapping when he was a youngster. He began producing in his late teens. He left New York and moved to Los Angeles to launch a music career. He would still be there, he says, but a close cousin was murdered. The airline botched a flight back to Niagara Falls for the funeral and offered to fly him wherever he wanted. “I wanted to go to Cleveland to see my mom. A lot of my siblings were here already. My aunt got me a job. [The move] was supposed to
She doesn’t drive, so her father took her places. Because Robert Godwin didn’t get much education growing up in Alabama, Tammy Godwin often handled his affairs. “That’s when I saw him the most,” Sam Poetry says. “He was always on the phone; they were really, really close.” After Robert Godwin’s murder, his children took on the task of cleaning out his apartment. Tammy Godwin says it was a tall order. Her father loved to pick up discards and repair them. “We got 12 vacuum cleaners out my dad’s house and gave
them to people in his building,“ she says. “Talking about ‘Sanford & Son’ up in that house! It took us about four hours to clean it out. It was clean, but there was stuff everywhere. It was an accomplishment for him to get stuff and fix it. “ In fact, much of the album collection Poetry worked from was a retrieval. Tammy Godwin says her father rescued them from a dumpster near the Save-A-Lot grocery on East 276th and Euclid. “Someone threw away a whole bunch of albums. And my dad pulled his car up and took them out of the garbage.” The family didn’t hesitate when it came to giving Sam the records. “Sam has always been the musical person in the family, out of all my children. He had a unique relationship with my father,” Tammy Godwin says. The “bunch” was about 100 records. Sam Poetry let them sit for a year before he finally decided to check them out. About a third of the albums were no good, so he tossed them. Still, he had a wideranging collection. “The entire crate was a surprise,” he says. “Of course you’ve got your “Earth Wind and Fire”, Cameo, Parliament Funkadelic. He had everything. He had country, jazz records … gospel, movie stuff I’ve never seen. I wasn’t expecting it.” Sam put his project together in a week. He believes the beat tape came together because he was working to resolve the trauma of his grandfather’s murder. Robert Godwin Sr. left 10 children behind. The family has not recovered. “Now the news cameras are gone, the story has died down, but my family is extremely devastated by what happened,” Sam Poetry says. “I did [the project] for my family. It’s from his collection; it’s something we can all enjoy.”
scene@clevescene.com t@clevelandscene | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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6/18
MELISSA ETHERIDGE The Medicine Show
6/20
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK The Angel On My Shoulder Tour
6/23
PATTI LABELLE
7/7
DIANA ROSS Diamond Diana 75th Birthday - A Year of Celebration
7/11
LOVERBOY
7/12
QUEENSRŸCHE
7/13
COLIN JOST Co-Host of SNL’s Weekend Update
7/18
LEONID & FRIENDS World Renowned Chicago Tribute
7/20
TERRY LEE GOFFEE The Ultimate Johnny Cash Tribute
8/3
3 DOORS DOWN
6/22
BRETT SCALLIONS LEAD SINGER OF FUEL UP CLOSE & ACOUSTIC 8PM
6/7 THE FM PROJECT STEELY DAN TRIBUTE 8PM
6/14 ALEX ORTIZ 6/15 FEATURING LUCKY LUCIANO 7PM & 9:30PM
6/22
RANDY RAINBOW
6/29
DAVID FEHERTY Live Off Tour!
7/5
RUSSELL PETERS Deported World Tour
7/19 7/20
THE LALAS BURLESQUE 9PM
6/28 MATT JOHNSON’S 6/29 DUELING PIANO FIASCO 8PM
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| clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
LIVEWIRE
all the live music you should see this week Photo courtesy of Juggernaut Sound
WED
06/05
Brock & Agro (in the Supper Club): Last summer, the Music Box Supper Club teamed up with locally based oWOW Radio for a summer-long Happy Hour Concert series that took place every Wednesday. The series featured up-and-coming national and local acts, and oWOW Radio aired the concerts live. Tonight, the Music Box and oWOW will launch a third season of the Happy Hour Concert series. Like previous years, most of the shows will highlight up and coming Northeast Ohio-based artists, and as with previous years, there will be a few acts from out of town. The internet radio station will air the concerts, and they’ll also be carried on Facebook and Instagram Live. Both the audio and video of the performances will be archived and available on demand. Brock & Agro, a roots rock act from New Jersey that got its initial major exposure in Cleveland through what concert organizer John Gorman describes as “a series of unanticipated dots that were connected from New York and New Jersey to Cleveland, which led to their exposure and airplay,” kicks things off. (Jeff Niesel) 6 p.m., free. Music Box Supper Club. Pacific Dub/The Ries Brothers: 8:30 p.m., $12 ADV, $15 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Sticky/Strange Messenger/Simply Shady/Unknownphrazes: 8:30 p.m., $6. Grog Shop.
THU
06/06
Art Alexakis/Chris Collingwood/ Max Collins/John Wozniak: 8 p.m., $28 ADV, $33 DOS. House of Blues. Assault/The Trades/Vollstin/Leaky Faucet: 7:30 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Grog Shop. Blues DeVille (in the Supper Club): 7:30 p.m., $5. Music Box Supper Club. Buffalo Rose/AJ and the Woods/ Ben Gage: 8:30 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Origami Ghosts | Laceings & The Witchchurch | Aol.Ghost: 8 p.m., $5. CODA. Sirius XM the Coffee House Presents Matt Costa/JD & the Straight Shot/Matt Hartke: 7:30
Tech N9NE returns to the Agora. See: Thursday.
p.m., $15 ADV, $20 DOS. House of Blues Cambridge Room. Slough Feg/Sanhedrin/Tines/ Gomorahizer: 8:30 p.m., $10. Now That’s Class. Becca Stevens: 7 p.m., $20. Bop Stop. Tech N9NE/Krizz Kaliko/ Dax/¡Mayday!/Ubi of Ces Cru: Rapper Tech N9ne (Aaron Dontez Yates) has played Cleveland numerous times over the years, often at the now defunct Peabody’s, a venue that hosted metal and hardcore as much as hip-hop, and more recently at the Odeon. Tonight, he returns to the Agora, another place he regularly plays. His new album, the 21-track N9NA, is a direct response to comments he’s gotten from his supporters. (Niesel) 6 p.m. Agora Theatre. The Whiffs/Kill the Hippies/Red Devil Ryders: 9 p.m., $6. Happy Dog.
FRI
06/07
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony: Though the group has encountered a number of bumps along the way, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony has outlasted many of its hip-hop peers. In the course of a 20-year career, the Cleveland group has won Grammys and countless other music awards, selling millions of albums. The group comes to town tonight in support of 2017’s New Waves, an album that features Krayzie Bone and Bizzy Bone, two of the five members. (Niesel) 7 p.m., $30-$55. Agora Theatre. Circles Around the Sun: 8:30 p.m.,
$15 ADV, $18 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. DJ LDC’s Soul Music & Other Music for the Soul: 6 p.m., free. Happy Dog. An Evening with Moises Borges: 8 p.m., $12. CODA. Chris Hovan’s Organic Trio: 8 p.m., $15. Bop Stop. Killakee Kat/Speed/Rat Fucker/ M.I.C.R.O.S.O.F.T.: 8 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class. Leaf Borbie & the Family Tree Album Release Show/Jivviden/ Ohio Civil Power: 9 p.m., $10. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Doug Macleod: 8:30 p.m., $20. Nighttown. Noisem/Organ Dealer/ Gomorrahizer (in the Bar): 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Now That’s Class. Roomful of Blues (in the Supper Club): 8 p.m., $18 ADV, $22 DOS. Music Box Supper Club. Gene Schwartz Trio featuring Dan McFadden & Hank Hess: 8:30 p.m., $8. Beachland Tavern. Slingshot Dakota/Mary Kekic (in the Locker Room): 7 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. The Tom Katlees/Coby and the Prisoners/Factual Brains: 9 p.m., $7. Happy Dog. Tri-C JazzFest Presents Jazz Jam Session: 11 p.m., free. Bop Stop. Jackie Warren: 10:30 p.m., free. Nighttown.
SAT
06/08
15-60-75 (The Numbers Band): 8 p.m., $10. Beachland Tavern. Beach Regime Album Release/Key
to the Mint/The Trades: 8 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class. Forecast: 8:30 p.m., $15. Nighttown. Re:Sound 4: andPlay/New Morse Code: 5 p.m., $12. Bop Stop. Re:Sound Festival with madam data & Leo Suarez: 8:30 p.m., $12. CODA. Revival ABB: An Evening with the Music of Allman Brothers Band: 8 p.m., $12 ADV, $14 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Stalemate Release Show/ honeymoon/Biitchseat/Drag Daze (in the Locker Room): 7 p.m., $10. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. Sweet Spirit/Part-Time Lover/ Smith-Taylor: 8:30 p.m., $12 ADV, $15 DOS. Grog Shop. Jackie Warren: 10:30 p.m., free. Nighttown.
SUN
06/09
Afton Showcase: 6:30 p.m. Grog Shop. Axis Trio Featuring Bobby Selvaggio: 7:30 p.m., $15. Bop Stop. Dire Wolf/Lonely Pirate Committee/Judge Russo/Collin Miller: 8 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Beachland Tavern. James McMurtry/Bonnie Whitmore: Produced by John Mellencamp, singer-songwriter James McMurtry’s 1989 debut, Too Long in the Wasteland, couldn’t be classified as bluegrass, but it did have a certain twang to it. And it announced that McMurtry, the son of writer Larry McMurtry, has a good knack for words. McMurtry has nurtured that sensibility ever since. His literary talents distinguish the songs on his most recent album, 2015’s Complicated Game. The album commences with the twangy “Copper Canteen,” a song about hunting season that features McMurtry’s signature sneer and a plodding drumbeat. It sets the tone for the album, yet another solid effort from McMurtry, who has said the new album is mostly about relationships. (Niesel) 8 p.m., $20 ADV, $22 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Reggae Sundays: Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band (in the Supper Club): 4 p.m., free. Music Box Supper Club. Re:Sound: No Exit/Ju-Ping Song/ ParkJones: 4 p.m., $12. Bop Stop. Ted Riser: 3 p.m. Agora Ballroom. | clevescene.com | June 5 - 11, 2019
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KentStage =HGÍM FBLL MA>L> @K>:M LAHPL MB<D>ML HG L:E> GHP
LIVEWIRE Second Sundays with Sister Smirk: 4 p.m., free. Now That’s Class.
MON Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Thu June 13
AJ Croce Plays Croce
The Allman Betts Band
Sat June 15
Tue June 18
2 Chefs and a Beat: 8:30 p.m., $12. CODA. Leggy + The Ophelias/Biitchseat: 8:30 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Marbin/Ben DeLaurentis: 8 p.m., $15. Bop Stop.
TUE Darrell Scott
Over The Rhine
Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Thu June 20
Fri June 21
Sat June 22
Duwayne Burnside
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters
Joe Robinson
Sat July 13
Wed July 17
Wed July 31
John Mayall
Marc Broussard
Tue August 6
Sat August 10
A Special Evening with
The Bacon Brothers The Shaky Ground Tour Sat August 17
JUST ANNOUNCED
Reverend Peyton’s
Richie Furay AUG 9th
Big Damn Band SEPT 19th
Preservation Hall Jazz Band NOV 1st
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06/10
JUNE 6 & 13
8&%/&4%": +6/& t 6:30P
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE PATIO!
TRAVELIN’ JOHNSONS
06/11
Greg Ashley/Craig Brown/Brett Borovic: 9 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class. Max Bessesen Quartet: 7 p.m., $15. Nighttown. Charlie Bliss/Emily Reo: 8 p.m., $15 ADV, $17 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. Collective Soul/Gin Blossoms: This summer’s pairing of Collective Soul and the Gin Blossoms is one that has been a long time coming. Collective Soul vocalist E Roland has said the two bands have wanted to do it for years. Armed with an enviable arsenal of hit records, both groups remain active with songwriting and making new music. Last year, Gin Blossoms released Mixed Reality, their sixth studio album, and they’re already looking to record new songs, hopefully later this summer. Collective Soul are about to release their 10th album, Blood, which will arrive on June 21. They’re already playing a hefty number of songs from the forthcoming effort during the current tour, including “Right As Rain,” a track which feels destined to join the existing stack of fan favorites as a set-list staple for years to come. Expect both bands to play some newer tracks in addition to their respective hits. (Matt Wardlaw) 7:30 p.m. MGM Northfield Park – Center Stage. Kind Country/The Elephants: 8:30 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern. Ari Lennox/Baby Rose/Mikhala Jene/Ron Gilmore: 8:30 p.m., $17 ADV, $20 DOS. Grog Shop. The Stolen: 7 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes
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I’m a 27-year-old male, adult baby/ diaper lover (AB/DL). I’ve been in the closet about my fetish basically since puberty. As a consequence, I never dated or became romantically involved. I thought if I buried my kink with enough shame, it would go away and I would somehow turn normal. It obviously didn’t work, and for the past year, I’ve been trying to find healthy ways to integrate this into my life. I play around with the kink in the privacy of my home and otherwise lead a normal life. My depression issues have let up, I’m more confident day-to-day, and even work has begun to improve. I want to start dating. I went on a normal date, and I felt very inauthentic trying to be engaged when my kink wasn’t present or at least out in the open. I just wasn’t excited by the idea of a vanilla relationship. I would like to date women, but there’s such an imbalance between men and women with this particular kink that I don’t feel like I’ll ever meet someone who is compatible. I feel like I’m doomed to be lonely forever with my kink or sexually unfulfilled and terrified of being found out. — Boy Alone Basically Eternally “It’s okay to not reveal every aspect of your sex life on a first date,” said Lo, a kink-positive podcaster and AB/DL whose show explores all aspects of your shared kink. “Besides, saying, ‘I like to wear diapers,’ on the first date is a surefire way to scare someone off. A better strategy is to establish a connection with a person, determine whether or not they’re trustworthy, and then open up about AB/DL. That takes time.” Lo also doesn’t think you should write off vanilla people as potential partners. “BABE should know that it’s possible to convert someone to the AB/DL side,” said Lo. “I see it happen all the time. That’s the focus of Dream a Little, my AB/DL podcast. Most of the people I feature are men who have turned their female partners on to AB/DL, so the odds are in your favor.” Lo herself is happily partnered with a vanilla guy who embraced her kink. That doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed success the first time
you disclose your kink to a partner, BABE. But you’ll never find someone with whom you’re compatible — or with whom you can achieve compatibility — unless you’re willing to risk opening up. “BABE is more likely to be doomed to the #foreveralone club if he gives up entirely out of fear,” said Lo. “Being an AB/DL poses some unique challenges in the dating world, but thousands of other AB/ DLs have found a way to make it work, and he can too.” Now, before people start freaking out (and it may be too late), it’s not just AB/DLs who “convert” or “turn” vanilla partners to their kinks. There are two kinds of people at any big kink event (BDSM party, furry convention, piss splashdown): the people who were always kinky, i.e., people who’ve been aware of their kinks since puberty (and masturbating about them since puberty), and the people who fell in love with those people. So Lo isn’t telling BABE to do anything that people with other kinks aren’t advised to do all the time: date, establish trust, and then lay your kink cards on the table. “BABE has come a long way, and it’s great that he’s building confidence. But he still views his kink as an impossible obstacle, and it doesn’t need to be that way,” said Lo. “It’s so important that you learn how to accept your kink, because then you will know you’re capable of and deserving of love.” And finally, BABE, if and when you do meet a woman who is willing to indulge you — or maybe even embrace AB/DL play — don’t neglect her sexual needs. I answered a letter years ago from a frustrated woman who was preparing to leave her AB/DL husband because he never wanted to have vanilla sex and, as much as she’d come to enjoy AB/DL occasionally, she no longer felt like her needs mattered to her husband. Don’t make the same mistake — or you could, after a long search for a compatible partner, find yourself miserable and alone again. You can follow Lo on Twitter and Instagram @daddyiwantthis. Her podcast and AB/DL selfacceptance programs can be found at thelittlelounge.com.
I need help deciding whether to listen to my mother on the matter of what’s best for me romantically or ask her to keep her opinions about my boyfriend to herself. My mom and I have always been close. She is a single parent and I am an only child. I’ve always told her everything, and as I have gotten older that has started to become a problem. I’ve been in a long-distance Daddy Dom/ little girl relationship with a middleaged man with spina bifida for three years. We met on FetLife right before I turned 19. The entire time, my mom has made fun of his disability while occasionally putting her pettiness aside and acknowledging that he’s good to me. I made the mistake of telling her about the BDSM element, and she is extremely uncomfortable with it, though she denies that it is why she disapproves. My Daddy comes from a middleclass family and has been known to say insensitive shit about workingclass people like my mom and me. I checked my Daddy on his privilege, and he doesn’t say stupid shit about the jobs we work anymore. I love my Daddy and can’t stand the idea of leaving him, but at times I wonder
if my mom is right that me loving him isn’t enough. He makes me feel loved and taken care of in a way no one else has before, but I worry about whether I can have a future with someone who doesn’t work, who my mom hates, and who might be a little bit of an asshole? (Do a couple instances of rudeness make a man an asshole?) Help. I’m lost. — Dumb Daughter Loves Guy
this relationship probably won’t last forever — which is also fine. A relationship doesn’t have to last forever to have been a success. This guy played an important (and still ongoing) role in your sexual development and brought you a lot of joy … and you can acknowledge those things while simultaneously acknowledging the reality of the situation: The man you were with when you were 18 is probably not the
a relationship doesn’t have to last forever to have been a success. Your entire relationship with your boyfriend — from the sound of things — has taken place online. Which is fine — people can forge strong connections online. But until you meet this man in person (assuming you haven’t already), DDLG, and unless you’re working toward moving to where he lives,
man you’ll be with when you’re 28. That’s true for most people, DDLG, regardless of their kinks, distance from their lovers, relationships with their mothers, etc. As for whether your boyfriend is an asshole … well, he certainly said some insensitive/assholey/classist things, DDLG, you let him know
that wasn’t okay, and he knocked it off. It’s not proof he doesn’t still think those things, but it is evidence he cares enough about you (or fears losing you enough) to stop saying those things. So even if he is an asshole, he is capable of moderating his assholery, which is something not all assholes can do. As for your mom … just because you shared everything with her when you were a child doesn’t mean you have to or should as an adult. There are things a mother has a right not to know, as my mother used to say, and her child’s kinks fall under the “right not to know” header. When it comes to your romantic and sexual interests, DDLG, share the rough outlines with your mom (“I’m seeing this guy, it’s long-distance, he’s nice”) but spare her the intimate details (BDSM, DD/ LG, whatever else).
On the Lovecast, what do we do now that Tumblr is dead? savagelovecast.com.
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