Queen City Nerve - April 19, 2023

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 11; APRIL 19 - MAY 2, 2023; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

News: S.C. hemp shop targeted with raid pg. 4 Music: Pleasure House drops ‘Stoner Song’ pg. 10 Food: THC-infused recipes for your enjoyment pg. 16

4/20 issue issue 4/20

get high high with with a a little little ii get help from from my my friends. friends. help

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EDITOR - IN - CHIEF RYAN PITKIN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS & OPINION

4 Targeted by Ryan Pitkin Crowntown Cannabis says unclear hemp laws to blame for S.C. raid

ARTS & CULTURE

6 We’ve Got Company by Perry Tannenbaum New Charlotte Conservatory Theatre treks Mecklenburg County with ‘POTUS’ run 8 Lifeline: Ten Cool Things To Do in Two Weeks

MUSIC

10 For Your Pleasure by Pat Moran Pleasure House drops ‘Stoner’ single on 4/20 12 Hometown Hero by Ryan Pitkin Elevator Jay shows growth with first new album in four years 14 Soundwave

FOOD & DRINK

16 The 4/20 Menu Local contributors share THC-infused recipes for your enjoyment

Thanks to our contributors: Grant Baldwin, Aerin Spruill, Perry Tannenbaum, Kit Grimes, Jessie Rae, Fenix Fotography, Jonny Golian, Peter Chiapperino, Morgan Shields, Oren Rozen, Julianne Macie, Cherie Thurlby and Dan Savage.

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LIFESTYLE

19 Puzzles 20 Aerin It Out by Aerin Spruill 21 Horoscope 22 Savage Love

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

TARGETED

Crowntown Cannabis says unclear hemp laws to blame for S.C. raid

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BY RYAN PITKIN

have to order online.

Upon following up for recommendations, the manager allegedly told the officer that one of the options was “fire,” which the officer took to mean marijuana. “Fire” is a slang term meaning “high quality” that’s often used to describe anything from food to music.

After ordering flower online to a South Carolina address, Columbia PD and SLED used the delivery as probable cause for a search warrant, arresting the manager and placing her in jail.

“She’s a single mom of two and pregnant with the third,” Sims explains. “She had to spend overnight in jail and we couldn’t get her out because they don’t have night court, and she’s having to go to therapy for the traumatic stress that she went through over this.”

The manager has only recently returned to work but still suffers from severe bouts of anxiety related to the raid both in and out of the shop.

It doesn’t help that so many local media outlets ran the story without much info, publishing the manager’s mugshot and running with the unchallenged version of events that law enforcement fed them.

“We were portrayed in the news and the media like we were some kind of drug lords, and they plastered my employee’s picture all over everything and just made us

Since opening his first Crowntown Cannabis substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, location — then called Charlotte CBD — in delta-8 derived from hemp, like that sold by east Charlotte in 2018, Michael Sims has moved Crowntown Cannabis, is not. comfortably in what could sometimes be considered Since the South Carolina Attorney General a gray area. issued his 2021 opinion, which has not been codified Sims was under the impression that he was into law, Sims says he has gotten mixed messages given the green light to sell hemp products by the about what is allowed and what is not. passing of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, followed by a “It really comes down to not only interpretation of statewide pilot program allowing those who obtain different law enforcement by county and by division, a license in North Carolina to grow industrial hemp. but I’m even seeing division within the law enforcement “Ultimately, we were okay with the gray area at offices themselves,” Sims says. “Sometimes you ask first because we didn’t think it was that gray,” Sims questions about the legalities of these things, you could tells Queen City Nerve. “Here’s the clearly defined get several different answers from even calling one definition of what hemp is by Congress. It’s no longer police department. And I sympathize to a certain point under the DEA. It’s now under the USDA. Here’s the with law enforcement because they’re simply trying rules. Okay, we’ll follow them.” to enforce law, but at the same time, they’re left in a And follow them he did, as Sims and his partners gray area, we’re left in a gray area, and it’s just a very have rapidly expanded their business, opening disheartening place to be.” a second location in Columbia, South Carolina Much of the confusion has involved flower, the following year and opening two more in the unprocessed hemp material that resembles marijuana Charlotte area since — one in NoDa and another in — the “green, leafy-like substance” confiscated by Concord. law enforcement during the January raid.

But on Jan. 18, things got a lot grayer for Sims Sims says he has been told by law enforcement after the Columbia Crowntown Cannabis store was in the past that he cannot have flower on display in raided by Columbia police and the state’s South jars as he once did in the shop, so he moved it to the Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). During back and made it so customers had to order from a the raid, agents confiscated pounds of inventory menu at the front of the shop. from the shop that they “perceived to be marijuana,” Immediately following the raid, Sims and his arresting the store manager and charging her with team were told that everything that had been conspiracy to sell marijuana. confiscated was “hot,” meaning it had tested Sims and his team dispute any such allegations, positive for marijuana, a claim that Sims found to be stating that all product in the store was hemp impossible since the testing process can take a long flower, which he believed to be legal in both North time. and South Carolina as long as it stayed below the Nearly a month after the raid, Columbia Police .03% THC level stated in law. confirmed to The State newspaper that they had not What SLED and other law enforcement agencies received official results back from any testing carried are acting on, however, is not law but a 2021 opinion out by SLED. issued by South Carolina’s Attorney General stating Sims says he’s been left to figure out what’s that all delta-8 products should be considered going on by reading news reports about his own illegal. store, many of which paint him and his employees Delta-8-THC is a chemical compound similar as criminals just for doing their job. to the delta-9-THC that gives marijuana its According to Sims, an undercover officer came psychoactive effect, though it is slightly less potent. into the store before the raid to attempt to buy CROWNTOWN CANNABIS IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA. While synthetic delta-8 is considered a controlled flower and was told by the manager that they would

look horrible,” he says. “They were calling it marijuana that day, and there’s no way that testing was done that day within an hour of the raid, so I feel like we were ultimately guilty until proven innocent.”

Crowntown Cannabis was closed for nine days following the raid and have suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses thanks to a drop in sales, which are down 50% at the Columbia shop, on top of lawyers’ fees.

Columbia Police have stated publicly since the raid that flower is illegal to sell in South Carolina and they may soon begin taking action against processed delta-8 products like gummies and cartridges, a move that would likely force Sims to close his Columbia shop.

As an advocate who has spent years lobbying for full marijuana legalization both statewide and federally, the entire experience has been a step backwards for the small-business owner, he says.

“This is not in the public interest,”Sims told Queen City Nerve. “The public is pretty angry and upset anytime these arrests are made for cannabis. The constituents out there, over 90% of America in most polls want some legal access to cannabis, and since 2018, I felt like we were moving forward towards progression and legalization. But really, specifically in 2023, I feel like we’re heading in reverse.”

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

COURTESY OF CROWNTOWN CANNABIS

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ARTS FEATURE

WE’VE GOT COMPANY New Charlotte Conservatory Theatre treks Mecklenburg County with ‘POTUS’ run

BY PERRY TANNENBAUM

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After the morning press conference, there’s China, an international meeting on nuclear proliferation, followed by a photo op with blindedand-maimed Iraq War vets and a much-anticipated endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate somewhere out in the Midwest. Pretty typical day at the White House.

But in Selina Fillinger’s frenetic presidential comedy, POTUS, not much else is typical — not the man in the Oval Office nor the playwright’s viewpoint. Fillinger made that clear in her subtitle: Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.

On opening night of Charlotte Conservatory Theatre’s March production of this romp, seven frantic women directed by Stephen Kaliski had their audience laughing nearly nonstop at Booth Playhouse.

Like their debut in August, Conservatory’s production was reminiscent of the last resident company at the Booth, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, which expired way back in 2005. Members of Actors Equity are back in the mix, along with members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society working behind the scenes.

Other professional groups are involved, including the local IATSE union and United Scenic Artists. Kaliski and Conservatory Theatre co-founder Marla Brown also harbor the long-term ambition of ascending to the highest rung of regional companies and becoming Charlotte’s first LORT (League of Resident Theatres) company since Rep’s demise.

Edmonton, first staged in 1621, and Sawyer was a dramatization of a real-life woman burned for witchcraft earlier that same year.

Brown didn’t join the cast in that “thenish” setting, but her inclination toward making Conservatory a classics-flavored company was certainly present.

With POTUS, it’s Brown who takes the stage — nearly assuming the title role late in Act 2 as she prepares to take the place of her lookalike brother, the Prez, at a posh speaking engagement. Speaking with Brown for this story, I opined that the recent POTUS she most closely resembled was The Donald.

Nope, she countered, it was Obama.

You can decide who’s right, for the Conservatory Theatre production, after closing at the Booth several weeks ago, reopens at the new Cain Center in Cornelius for another three-performance run on April 26.

Until her shocking transformation into formalwear, Brown as the drug-dealing presidential sib Bernadette looked to me like a punkish Rob Roy on the skids. Here Brown and I are in much closer agreement, since she has proclaimed, “I got that role because I can rock shorts that are hideous.”

Yet Brown’s shorts may not be the most bizarre or hideous thing we saw in POTUS at the Booth.

Iris DeWitt as Chris, a beat reporter fishing for a scoop, multitasked by sporting a pair of noisy breast pumps that reminded me of football fan craziness — helmets retooled to hold beer cans emptying into drinking straws. Katy Shepherd as presidential secretary Stephanie, may be the queen oddball. After unwittingly sampling an overdose of Bernadette’s merchandise, Steph goes so far off the rails that, by intermission, she’s prancing around the West Wing dreamily with a pink swimming pool float around her waist.

The zany, comical mayhem that brings POTUS to the end of Act 1, with all seven women in action and Chris somehow stealing focus from

the ever-twirling-and-spacey Stephanie, is the closest equivalent I’ve seen in many years to the explosive circus that engulfs the stage at the second intermission of George S. Kaufman’s You Can’t Take It With You. And that fizzy moment was the only time in Fillingers’ comedy that I caught anything like a whiff of classical flavor.

Conservatory’s swerve from classicism has been both intentional and fortuitous in terms of POTUS ending its run in Charlotte only to move up the road to Cornelius.

“We want to leave our options open in these early days,” Kaliski says, “so there was a consideration early on of, okay, we’ll always do something that has some sort of anchor in a classical story. Right now, the aesthetic we’re landing on is, you know, how can we be that company? The plays in New York that are either your non-touring Broadway shows or prestige Off-Broadway shows, we want to be the group that picks a lot of those off and brings them to Charlotte.

And I think Actor’s Theatre filled this role.”

Yes, it’s clear that the closure of Actor’s Theatre rocked this town — arguably harder than the shuttering of Rep, which left Carolina Actor’s Studio Theatre (CAST) and Actor’s Theatre in its wake.

Now? We’ve devolved into a bunch of small black box theatre outfits, counterbalanced by the bigger

The birth of Charlotte Conservatory Theatre

Kaliski wasn’t behind the scenes for Conservatory’s debut at the Booth last August.

No, he was onstage as a rather charismatic devil named Scratch in a surprisingly amorous faceoff with Elizabeth Sawyer. Jen Silverman’s Witch was the playwright’s fresh 2018 spin on The Witch of

IT TAKES SEVEN WOMEN TO KEEP THE PRESIDENT OUT OF TROUBLE IN CHARLOTTE CONSERVATORY THEATRE’S ADAPTATION OF ‘POTUS.’

PHOTO BY FENIX FOTOGRAPHY

ARTS FEATURE

‘POTUS’ RUNS APRIL 26-29 AT CAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN CORNELIUS.

director of development, etc., etc.,” Kaliski explains.

“We didn’t start with a typical organizational structure. We were kind of thinking, all right, we’re a collective in this room together, and we’re going to take it project by project to start, and each project can have its own set of showrunners, if you will, kind of like a TV show. And they’ll be in charge of that, and then we’ll kind of have a different group of showrunners or a different producing pod for the next one.”

That kind of inclusivity has allowed Kaliski and Brown to reach out, in Conservatory’s formative phase, to Matt Cosper, who still cranks out XOXO productions, and playwright/actor/director Brian Daye, a former member of the Warehouse board.

Nor is this core group and others limiting their horizons to the Booth Playhouse and the Cain Center, especially since Conservatory doesn’t have the kind of sweetheart rental deal that would come with official residency at either venue.

Mint Museum, the Stage Door and the new Parr Center are all in play for future reconnoitering and producing, along with whatever the epic renovation of Uptown’s Carolina Theatre winds up offering.

Meanwhile at Cain Center, whose stage does not sport a fly loft, there’s a mutual feeling-out process as both newbie organizations find their bearings.

Both Brown and Kaliski were surprised and delighted that rights to perform POTUS became available so soon after the Broadway production Finding a home closed last August. Many in their circle presumed Neither cliques nor permanent positions have there might be a national tour in the offing. But formed as Conservatory blazes its new path.

POTUS doesn’t make the most discreet or decorous “We didn’t start with, okay, here’s our artistic entrance for a Cornelius audience, that’s for sure. director and the managing director, and here’s our Brown had some trepidations when she

approached Cain director Justin Dionne. “Okay, Justin,” she remembers thinking, “you understand that the first word is the C word. And I know you don’t want people coming and going, ‘This is not what we built the Cain center for.’” She squeals in a high falsetto, half-relishing this possibility.

Yes, before Fillinger’s action even begins, POTUS has used this word at his morning presser — in describing the First Lady, no less … in her presence.

He doesn’t know she’s there, due to a couple of additional plot points — one, we’ll learn, involving anal sex — so he explains her absence by saying, “She’s having a cunty morning.”

So Valerie Thames as Chief of Staff Harriet opens the show by storming onstage and exclaiming the offending adjective in its root form. Instantly radiating dignity, morality, and competence — qualities that will not be attributed to POTUS — Thames authoritatively dumps this crisis-of-the-day in Jean’s relatively cool hands.

Slim and conceivably serene, Jennifer Adams as POTUS’s beleaguered press secretary wastes little time in convincing us that poor Jean likely holds the most combustible burnout position in the West Wing.

Harriet and Jean are the women most seriously invested in keeping the dumbass alive and the most adept at getting the job done. This often involves prodding Stephanie, quite intelligent beneath her scared-rabbit exterior, into action. Bernadette, ankle monitor on her leg, is also very interested in keeping her brother alive, if for no other reason than her nefarious enterprises will ultimately require a presidential pardon.

“Harriet,” Jean memorably informs Bernadette,

PHOTO BY FENIX FOTOGRAPHY

“is the number one reason this country continues to function.” By this time, Jean has perpetrated a monumental screw-up of her own.

Wielding a blue slushy, Sarah Molloy makes an entrance as Dusty that rivals Harriet’s, rushing across the stage to vomit into a trashcan. Not the subtlest indication you’ll ever see that somebody is pregnant.

Yet the West Wing brain trust struggles to put two and together. Bernadette sees it all rather quickly, though.

You need to be truly family to understand POTUS. Iesha Nyree as The First Lady sizes up Dusty nearly as quickly as his sister-in-law. Assailed by presidential insult and infidelity, Margaret is also complicit and invested in her dumbass husband’s political machinations. Never playing a victim card, Nyree makes Margaret formidable and conflicted.

But while Fillinger flips the meaning of her subtitle upside down, hinting that impulsiveness and incompetence aren’t confined to POTUS or his gender, she spreads the inner conflict around: lurking among these ladies are two lesbians who will consider rekindling the old flames that once blazed secretly on the campaign trail.

“At least three of the characters must be women of color,” Fillinger prescribed in her script. “Actors can be cis or trans. Age is flexible. Beauty is subjective.

So long as they’re fast, fierce and fucking hilarious.”

Kaliski, Brown and Charlotte Conservatory Theatre checked all of those boxes at the Booth.

True, POTUS is a bit lightweight and more than a little over-the-top, but if you missed it in Charlotte, it’s worth the trip to follow this production up I-77 to the new Cain Center. Seeing how it all goes over with the Cornelius crowd might be an extra treat.

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Brand New Sheriff (BNS) Productions. They all produce consistently fine work, but none of them can be called “that company.”

Actor’s and CAST hardly messed with the classics at all. BNS, when it isn’t producing works by founder Rory Sheriff, mostly does the classics by August Wilson. So there’s definitely a niche for a major company in Charlotte that plans to straddle recent hits and classics — or any major LORT company at all, since we’re probably the largest U.S. market without one.

Even in its beginnings, Conservatory is flipping the script written by the Queen City theatre behemoths that perished in the past. Whether suddenly or gradually, Rep, CAST and Actor’s all disgorged their founders through actions of their respective boards of directors, who then proceeded to dissolve their companies without even alerting the public that they were in crisis, let alone appealing for aid.

Having founded The Warehouse up in Cornelius in 2009, Brown and her board have not liquidated her brainchild. Utilizing Warehouse’s non-profit 501c3 credentials, they have rebranded as Charlotte Conservatory, upsized their mission and ambition, and — here’s a twist — amicably disbanded their board.

“I love that space very much,” Brown still says of The Warehouse. “But I also knew that after 10 years, if I continued to produce there, I would regret it. Because Charlotte has seen such a de-evolution of theatre since Rep’s demise, and such a deevolution of our talent pool, anybody who works on a professional level or who understands the craft either has to do it for very little money or they have to teach and then do it at theaters, other LORT companies at other cities, or they work for Children’s Theatre only.”

In the wake of COVID, which gave theatre companies plenty of time to pause and reflect; and in the wake of We See You, White American Theatre, a scathing BIPOC-led indictment of American theatre companies’ lack of inclusivity; Conservatory Theatre is intent on being more open-ended and open-minded as it continues to take shape.

SHWAYZE Photo by Peter Chiapperino

4/22

SAT 4/22

FRI 4/21

FRI-WED 4/21 - 4/26

ACTION SERIES

FROM THE GRINDHOUSE TO THE ARTHOUSE: ‘FREEWAY’

Goodyear Arts’ monthlong celebration of experimental performances continues with another cache of challenging, offbeat and often outré offerings. This week’s contributors include mixed-media artist Erik Waterkotte, who creates layered imagery that embraces both the beauty and the terror of the sublime; collaborative and exploratory choreographer and movement artist Megan Payne; post-post-punk rockers and earworm tunes terrorists Julian Calendar; unerring avant-garde XOXO dramaturge Matt Cosper; multimedia environmental artist Marek Ranis, who works through sculpture, installation, painting, photography and video; plus improvisatory dance floor artist Eric Mullins, who has researched ecstatic states in charismatic Appalachian Pentecostalism for inspiration.

More: Free; April 21, 8 p.m.; Goodyear Arts, 301 Camp Road; goodyeararts.com

MON4/24

In the wake of 1994’s Pulp Fiction, many filmmakers copied Quentin Tarantino’s breakthrough hyperviolent black comedy. Freeway (1996) begins where most ’90s Tarantino clones end. Director Matthew Bright’s crafts an update on the Brothers Grimm’s “Little Red Riding Hood” with Red recast as white trash gamin Vanessa (Reese Witherspoon) and the Wolf resurrected as shot-to-pieces-and-patchedup serial killer Bob (Kiefer Sutherland), who goes on tabloid TV with his mom (Brooke Shields). It’s an audacious satire on America’s prurient fixation on true crime stories with tacked-on moralizing.

More: $8; April 21-26, times vary; Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St.; independentpicturehouse.org

WED4/26

MEGAN PAYNE (LEFT), ACTION SERIES Photo by Morgan Shields

4/21

THUR 4/27

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SHWAYZE, THE DESTINATORS, NAT AWAITING THE VERTICAL RECEPTION GREAT GRIEF LIVE ZZZAHARA, GASP, MAUVE ANGELS Focusing on the intersections between the When Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Zzzahara is the solo moniker of L.A. native and BLACK, DUKE MASSIVE

Reggae rhythms reverberate throughout The Music Yard’s 420 Earth Day party, even though it takes place on 4/22. Blissed-out Malibu hip-hop king Shwayze (born Aaron Smith) hooked up with powerhouse L.A. producer Lou Adler to orchestrate a massive music breakout with Billboard chart topping singles “Buzzin” and “Corona & Lime.” Shwayze’s intoxicating musical cocktail is not authentic but it’s certainly fun. The Destinators provide an infectious blend of soul, R&B and reggae. Roots reggae, dub and hiphop-infused DJs Nat Black and Duke Massive fill the bill.

More: $15 and up; April 22, 4:20 p.m.; The Music Yard, 2433 South Blvd.; eatsouthbound.com/themusic-yard/

biological, the ecological and the spiritual, Dr. Halide Salam compares her work to that of shaman. She paints within and through spaces, tying her work to the stories and rituals of her forbearers. Awaiting the Vertical includes recent paintings from Salam’s series TransPlace, TransLight, and TransMigration, in which she explores her growth as a Muslim immigrant in modern America. At the reception, Salam will hold a discussion with Dr. Hadia Mubarak, Professor of Religion at Queens University of Charlotte. The show continues through May 31.

More: Free; April 24, 6 p.m.; Projective Eye Gallery, UNC Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd.; coaa. charlotte.edu/

Freelon lost her husband to ALS in 2019, she felt increasingly at sea. When Freelon’s sister died six months later, Freelon tumbled into uncharted waters. To her surprise, the jazz chanteuse discovered that the tools she developed through musical improvisation helped her navigate grief’s cross currents. Adopting Great Grief, a podcast she developed about love, loss and the shapeshifting force of grieving, as a template, Freelon shares her story. Accompanied by keyboardist Andrew Berinson, she discusses the power of healing through word and song in an intimate setting.

More: Free; April 26, 6:30 p.m.; Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St.; ganttcenter.org

former Simps guitarist Zahara Jaime, who crafts perfect pop gems inspired by queer culture, love, lust, and loss. The adrenalized “They Don’t Know,” off 2022 album Liminal Spaces, is a runaway deep space probe. Riding buzzy synths and a new wave robothumping beat, the tune evokes the lo-fi mania of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. “They Don’t Know” is dreamy and affirmative, an evocation of the druggy buzz of falling in love. With lounge pop L.A. gothmeisters GASP and North Carolina witchy synth poppers Mauve Angels.

More: $12; April 27, 8 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

FRI4/28

SAT4/29

SAPPHIC SOCIAL

NERDY NIGHT OUT: HEROES DEBATE NIGHT

Legend has it that the very first sapphic social was a ritual devoted to Aphrodite led by lyric poet Sappho in the 6th century BCE. In reality, this yin-energy gathering probably never happened.

The Charlotte Gaymers Network’s Sapphic Social, however, is the real deal; a relaxed event open to lesbian, bisexual and pansexual trans femmes, mascs, nonbinary folks and cis women as well as male allies. It’s a welcome celebration in a climate that sees the ongoing decrease of local lesbian bars.

The evening incorporates a trivia contest, hosted by the phenomenal drag kings of DKO Entertainment.

More: Free; April 28, 7 p.m.; Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, 2918 The Plaza; charlottegaymersnetwork.com

Who’s better at giving dating advice: Daredevil or Gambit? Who’s a better landscaper: Black Panther or The Flash? Which superhero is the best cook?

(That’s a trick question. The answer is Batman’s butler Alfred.) Wordsmith and author of So Many Things to Say: A Collection of Poems, Le Juane Bowens hosts a sextet of comedians as they debate which superheroes and villains would be the best for completely random topics. The evening includes a nerdy beer tasting with Divine Barrel Brewery’s newest release, named after a Star Wars species.

More: $20 and up; April 29, 8 p.m.; Carolina E-Sports Hub, 3401 Saint Vardell Lane; blumenthalarts.org CAPTAIN AMERICA, HEROES DEBATE NIGHT Photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

ONYA NERVES, SAPPHIC SOCIAL Photo by Jonny Golian

4/29

4/28

SUN4/30

MON5/1

BELA FLECK, ZAKIR HUSSAIN, EDGAR RINGO DEATHSTARR, PLEASURE MEYER, RAKESH CHAURASIA VENOM, LOFIDELS, DJ SCOTT WEAVER

4/30

Unfurling successive waves of multilayered introspective psychedelia, Austin, Texas’ Ringo Deathstarr creates a noirish time-displaced corner for haunting dual harmonies by band founder Elliott Frazier and bassist Alex Gehring. Violent outbursts of slashing hardcore guitars erupt around the motorik Krautrock drumming that forms Austin post-punk outfit Pleasure Venom’s supple rhythmic spine. Buoyed by her bandmates, charismatic and ferocious frontwoman Audrey Campbell calls out homophobia, sexism and racism. Lenny Muckle’s post-punk Charlotte quartet Lofidels entwines angular Gang of Four funk and icy yet swooning synth pop.

More: $17.30; May 1, 9 p.m.; Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St.; snugrock.com

RINGO DEATHSTARR Photo by Oren Rozen

5/1

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BELA FLECK Photo by Julianne G. Macie

This concert is a summit meeting of some of the most creative musicians on Earth. Innovative and influential banjoist Bela Fleck draws equally from jazz, bluegrass and improvisational music. Virtuoso double bassist Edgar Meyer possesses uncanny facility with classical and pop idioms. Indian-born Zakir Hussain is master of the tabla, the twin hand drums that underpin much of the subcontinent’s richly rhythmic music. Along with Indian flautist Rakesh Chaurasia, these musical alchemists switch effortlessly between jazz, Western classical and Indian classical. They are sonic shamans transcending and transmuting genres.

More: $24.50 and up; April 30, 7 p.m.; Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.; blumenthalarts.org

MUSIC FEATURE

FOR YOUR PLEASURE Pleasure House drops ‘Stoner’ single on 4/20

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BY PAT MORAN

When it comes to first-time videos, a lot of local bands play the party card; we see shots of dancers moving joyously and/or aggressively in a recognizable venue. Onstage, the band gives it their all, sweeping the crowd up into a rapturous state like a shaman raising a cone of power.

As templates go, the party/gig video is effective.

How better to show the transcendent and powerful sum of rock ‘n’ roll plus people?

With its debut video for the swaggering, shapeshifting sauropod “Stoner Song,” Charlotte alt-rock foursome Pleasure House steps up to the plate with their version of the party scenario. Reinforcing the theme by dropping the single on the ultimate party day of 4/20, they knock it out of the park with seemingly effortless ease.

True to its name, the epic tune busts out of the gate like a true stoner anthem, with a heavy yet supple Sabbath-ready riff set to a country rockinfused shuffle.

“It’s a rock and rollin’ banger,” says drummer and band founder Ian Pasquini.

“It’s a nasty riff,” adds bassist Alex Hanifin.

In the video, shot in February, the riff seems to lure Derek Allen’s camera into a nearly unrecognizable Snug Harbor. Along with video director and editor Pasquini, Allen eschews shots of Snug’s bar and signage, focusing on the stage and dancefloor, which is photographed in earth tones.

There’s palpable energy in the room, but it’s cradled in a warmth and ease that makes the party seem like the real deal.

In the club, which will host a set by Pleasure House on May 4, local artists and friends of the band such as rapper Lil’ Skritt rock out and crowd surf, at one point bearing bassist Hanifin aloft. Meanwhile, local break dancers pivot, spin and do handstands on the dancefloor.

Onstage, Travis Phillips sings and rocks a white cowboy hat as he slashes at his guitar strings. The squealing notes are bolstered and contrasted by Tom Cushing’s bright synthesizer. Buoyed by the band members’ backup singing, Phillips launches into an impassioned gospel-infused rendition of his nearly

hallucinatory impressionist lyrics: “At the taqueria they’re playing neon nowhere tunes/It was hard to be there but nobody asked me to...”

The tune conjures memories of dirty blues and roots champion Dexter Romweber, indie chameleons Pavement and the lumbering triceratops power of 1970s behemoth Ram Jam. Musically, the song takes unexpected whiplash turns without undercutting the guitar’s bludgeoning power and squealing cries.

“Who played the riff first?” Pasquini asks, trying to remember the genesis of “Stoner Song.”

“Somebody played a riff and then there was a song.”

He credits Phillips with taking the melody in a gospel direction.

“Yes,” Phillips says. “I said [I wanted an] R&B

background like a doo-wop song. [The song] Pathways to pleasure includes some minor chord doo-wop, and then a Pasquini grew up in Greensboro in a musical bunch of fuzz pedal stuff.” family. His father studied classical violin and his Back in the video, Phillips sings, dropping some mother earned a degree playing bassoon. Pasquini more disquieting psychedelic imagery: started violin lessons at age 4. He moved to Charlotte “Caught in a feeling on a red drag afternoon/ in 2008 to attend UNC Charlotte.

Staring at the ceiling stained like tobacco juice...”

Pasquini has since played in a “who’s who” The tune comes to an extended feedback-laced of cool and unusual Charlotte bands. Standout crescendo, and we’re left with the feeling that we’ve acts include Pinky Poodle Doodle, a high-energy, been to an honest-to-God gig, complete with a post- female-fronted rock band from Athens, Georgia by party sense of unease, courtesy of Phillips’ lyrics. It’s way of Tokyo. Pasquini cherishes his time with the that nagging sense that real-world concerns are cult band. waiting just around the corner come Monday.

“They are great and passionate musicians, Despite an initial tendency to sound like genuinely lovely and thoughtful people,” Pasquini avant-rock wizards Devo, Pleasure House has been says. “I was already a decent player when they hired conjuring up more rock monsters like “Stoner Song,” me, but they leveled up my playing — taught me a says Pasquini. The band seems to be sitting at the lot about rockin’‘n’ rollin’.” floodgate of new tunes, devised organically and Pasquini also played in punk rock theatrical duo communally by the players.

Cheesus Crust with his childhood friend Luke Hardy “We all have a lot of experience playing different from 2017 to 2022. Pasquini recalls a gig where types of music,” Pasquini says. “So, if one of us has an band members dressed as kaiju characters and idea [and] plays three notes, someone else will be demolished a cardboard city the band built onstage. like, ‘Oh, yes, like this!’ Then someone else jumps in.” Hardy is currently working as a physicist.

The band’s ability to sound diverse yet While he was pursuing his musical career, as distinctively like Pleasure House is the result of each well as his day job running sound and doing security member calling on their varied respective musical at Snug Harbor, Pasquini also married his high histories. school sweetheart Ashley. The pair met at a Rob

THE GENESIS OF ANY PLEASURE HOUSE SONG IS IN THE BAND’S JAM ROOM.

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

MUSIC FEATURE

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not go away.

“We went on for two months, trying not to make it a song,” Phillips says. “We finally said, ‘Oh Zombie/Godsmack concert at what was then called fuck, I guess we like this,’ and then it got good. We the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. started to record it, and I was like, ‘Oh shit, this song Growing up in Collier County, Florida, Hanifin does rule.’” picked up the bass after his father played some Black Phillips also started writing lyrics for the tune, Sabbath records for him. five full verses, which were whittled down to two.

“I thought [Black Sabbath’s] bass was really Outside of a 4/20-appropriate nod to getting cool,” Hanifin says. “I wanted to do that.” baked, he’s still trying to work out the meaning of Hanifin also started playing guitar when the lyrics like this: guitarist for his high school jazz band failed to show “Babe I get so high/ But sometimes it makes me up for practice. At age 22, he moved to Charlotte and feel lonely too/ I know I should try to replace grief with fell in love with the area. Hanifin has also played gratitude...” with romantic goth duo Buried in Roses and garage “It’s about being hungover, eating Mexican food rockers Broke Jokes. He recently started playing bass by yourself, and … that’s about it,” Phillips says.

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN PLEASURE HOUSE for local daydream rockers Wine Pride.

“Don’t undersell yourself,” Pasquini counters Raised in New Jersey, keyboardist Tom Cushing playfully. “It’s about [novelist and chronicler of a joined The Singing Boys of Pennsylvania, a touring Gibson hired Pasquini to play fiddle, but he swiftly Sunday open for extracurricular activities. grotesquely violent deep South] Harry Crews in a “We drank a billion beers,” says Cushing. youth choir, when he was 8 years old. The choir moved to the drums. corner taqueria hungover eating tacos.”

“We watched a Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary on toured America, performing at Disney World and Then Phillips comes up with a second Sunday,” Hanafin says. “We were only going to watch interpretation of “Stoner Song.” It’s about halfway Disneyland, eventually hitting the stage at the Tokyo Songwriting and sucking Disneyland four separate times.

Eventually, the paths of the future Pleasure five minutes of it, but then we all just shut up and recalled childhood memories, he says.

“It was a rigorous musical education that I got House players crossed often enough that Pasquini’s sat down.”

“It’s little ends of time,” Phillips says, “a bunch of “It was an opportunity to be really hungover,” when I was really young,” Cushing says. and Phillips’ plan to form a band came to fruition. weird shit that happened to me when I was 14, a Joining and then touring with New Jersey band The pair recruited Hanifin and Cushing, along Phillips says. “That’s the only time you’re going to vignette of my childhood.”

Terminal Reynaldo, Cushing befriended Charlotte with guitarist Joe Boyland, and in August 2021, watch a three-and-a-half-hour Lynyrd Skynyrd It seems those are the kind of memories with band Sugar Glyder. Regaled with positive tales of Pleasure House was launched. Despite the players’ documentary.” staying power.

When Queen City Nerve speaks to the band, the Queen City, Cushing moved to Charlotte with backgrounds in rock, roots and country, the sound Arcane meanings and memories aside, there his band. When Terminal Reynaldo folded, Cushing the fledgling group most often evoked was the the members are assembled at Pasquini’s home. As are plenty more tunes on the way, the band says, members talk over one and another, yet are still able including one song that reminds members of Deep chose to stay, launching his keyboard-based solo herky-jerky robotic new wave satire of Devo. project Koosh.

The Devo phase lasted a few months. Pasquini to hear and understand each other, it’s clear that Purple, and Hanifin’s tune called “Say It Again” that Cushing first met Pasquini when Pasquini was says the group evolved their distinctive sound by their friendship and self-deprecating humor is all evokes the laconic nasal drawl of the late Mark E. real. Pleasure House feels like a funny and sarcastic Smith, vocalist for British post punk institution The shooting video of a house show where Koosh was being dissatisfied with most of what they wrote. playing.

“Everybody kept on bringing songs — solo surrogate family unit. The only reason Boyland left Fall.

“Koosh is one of my favorite things ever,” songs or songs from old bands, and we started the band, Pasquini says, is that he got busy at his day The genesis of any song, Hanifin says, is in Pasquini says. learning them,” Pasquini says. “Then, once we’d job doing lighting and grip at the Fillmore Charlotte, the band’s jam room, and the process happens Growing up in Gaston County, Phillips started learned enough songs, we decided they all sucked, and that he started booking too many gigs playing organically. playing music in church at age 12. In 2011, Phillips and we started writing better songs, and then we guitar with Charlotte pop-rock legends Paint Fumes.

“We get together every week and write music Phillips insists that Boyland, who gets some and work on it,” Pasquini says. “So, there’s always launched punk-blues-infused Charlotte garage decided those also sucked. Then we released the EP, serious face time in the “Stoner Song” video, is still new material coming out. We have a really good rock heroes Modern Primitives with bassist Darien and decided that sucked.”

Steege and drummer Phil Gripper. In 2017, Tim Nhu For the record, the self-tiled EP, released in 2022, a band member in spirit. writing relationship where everybody trusts each Another reason to buy the party concept other and we just do it.” replaced Steege on bass. Modern Primitives then emphatically does not suck. The five original tunes updated its raw meat-grinder sound with a blast on the collection crackle with the energy of longtime of Pleasure House’s “Stoner Song” video is the That’s how the band typically writes, Pasquini of noisy guitar-led R&B. Steege returned on bass friends playing off each other telepathically. The unmistakable feeling that all the band members adds. before the band called it a day in 2022. songs are brisk and catchy, evoking the spirit of are very close. They even acknowledge Pasquini as “Someone will occasionally drag in a piece of an “I hung [Modern Primitives] up,” Phillips says. late 1970s New Wave traditionalist rockers Flamin’ “Band Dad,” the group’s de facto manager — the idea,” Pasquini offers. “We credit everybody with all guy that talks to bookers and sets up gigs.

“You don’t want to repeat yourself and do the same Groovies. the lyrics on all the songs so we’re not fighting over Despite their self-deprecating insistence that money.” shit over and over again.”

The EP was recorded over a weekend at Baden Pasquini and Phillips met when Pasquini was Lake in a vacation house that belongs to Pasquini’s most of their songs suck, Pleasure House seems Hanifin says, “Some things may not come to shooting video of blues duo Female Gibson, then sister. Pasquini credits his friend Evan Clark, who satisfied with “Stoner Song.” fruition ---” The tune started with the leviathan riff, the one comprised of Phillips and Travis Lopshire. Phillips engineered the sessions, for the smooth and “...Because they suck,” Phillips finishes. and Pasquini first played together in a country band trouble-free recording process. The band and Clark that no one can remember from where it came.

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM called Tony Wain & the Neon Leons. The two friends tracked the whole EP Friday and Saturday, leaving The riff would get played at the group’s weekly rehearsal/composing sessions, and simply would subsequently played together again when Female

MUSIC FEATURE

HOMETOWN HERO Elevator Jay shows growth with first album in four years

BY RYAN PITKIN

Pg. 12 APRIL 19 - MAY 2, 2023 - QCNERVE.COM

When I met James Blackmon, better known around Charlotte as Elevator Jay, at Lancaster’s BBQ on Beatties Ford Road in Huntersville on a recent Saturday afternoon, I couldn’t help but feel like it’s a symbolic spot for an interview.

After all, the Beatties Ford Road corridor is not only such a rich part of Black history in Charlotte, but a critical part of Blackmon’s history. He grew up bouncing between Oaklawn Park, Lincoln Heights, and other neighborhoods in what is now called the Historic West End. West Charlotte High School is also where Elevator Jay first came up as a rapper, recording an album on his computer using a pair of

ELEVATOR JAY

broken headphones as a mic, burning it onto blank CDs and handing them out in the hallways.

And yet Lancaster’s is such a far cry from what Jay calls “the bottom” of Beatties Ford Road where he grew up. It’s more rural, serving as a spot to get away during his childhood.

“It was kind of like a getaway,” he says of the part of the corridor located in north Mecklenburg County. “My grandma used to take us up to Latta [Plantation & Nature Preserve] and stuff like that.

Hornets Nest [Park]. Coming out here it was kind of like a vacation, like a getaway.”

And if one thing’s clear in Elevator Jay’s music,

it’s that both sides of Beatties Ford are present.

Elevator Jay has always had that rural twang in his rap — a country vibe that’s there in the production and the lyrics, featuring lines about fishing and kicking back.

On April 29, Elevator Jay will show that he’s been doing anything but kicking back during the pandemic, as he celebrates the release of his new album, Summer Rooster, with a listening session and live podcast recording at Snug Harbor.

No spring chicken

The album is Elevator Jay’s first project release in four years, after dropping the For Y’all EP in July 2019. It’s his first project ever as a co-producer; after having always produced his own work, this time he teamed up with Texas producer 2nd Prez for each of the album’s nine tracks.

The title is meant to contrast with a “spring chicken,” which Jay makes clear that he no longer is in the lead-off title track of the album. The rapper said his willingness to collaborate on the new project is a sign of growth for him, among other things.

“I feel like with this record, I’m growing in a lot of different areas,” said Jay, who’s now 34. “The way I talk on there, what I’m talking about is kind of like on a different level than what I ever done talked about before. And not saying I was talking some chap shit, being a chap on past records, but we just growing. We just mature. I used to do all my records by myself. Now I’m maturin’ because I’m working with other people. That’s growth for me.”

Jay met 2nd Prez online during the pandemic and the two immediately connected over their similar tastes. The Texas producer was familiar with Jay’s past work and was down to send him a few beats to work with, which Jay hopped on with enthusiasm.

Once this process played out a few times, a partnership began to bud.

“You know how some people, when you tell somebody something, everybody don’t stay true to their word,” Jay said. “I told [2nd Prez], I said, ‘Man, I say we keep at this rate, we ‘gon have a project.’ And that’s what happened.”

The producer’s vibes mixed well with Jay’s laidback style, reminiscent of the UGK and DJ Screw

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

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For Jay, the transplant nature of the city allows for folks in the creative community to remain siloed, working on their own thing when he’d like to see sound that came out of the same Houston area more strong connections being made. where 2nd Prez lives.

He praised folks like the Jack of All Spades team; “Texas rap has always had a slower BPM [beats Cheryse Terry, who opened Archive CLT on Beatties per minute] than everybody else in the South, you Ford Road and LaSalle Street; and others who serve know what I’m saying?” Jay said. “Just because of the as incubators among Charlotte’s oft-dispersed culture and how they like to ride and stuff like that. creative community.

You had to slow it down.”

“The scene is growing, most definitely, but it’s The exception comes on the track “Hol Up,” kind of everywhere right now, it’s all over the place,” which was Elevator Jay’s way of bringing back a vibe he said. “And I’m trying to help keep it in order, that has all but died out in recent years: crunk music. keep it in line, you know what I’m saying? People When I told him that was the first word that still doing they thing, but it’s still a little bit hard to came to mind upon listening to the track, he tap into … I get tired of people coming from out of immediately went into a spiel defending the word town and be like, ‘Who we need to see, who we need and everything it once stood for. to look for?’ And then people not really knowing “When you talk about that record, I want the what to say. That ain’t cool.” crunk to come back,” he said, excitedly. “I want crunk It helps that more events are returning to the to remain here like it never left, you know what I’m calendar, allowing folks to come together and saying?” connect more often. As an organizers of one of He emphasized that “Hol Up” is the song he’s Charlotte’s most iconic hip-hop parties, Player most excited about playing at during his upcoming Made: An Ode to Southern Hip Hop, he knows the release party, just to see how the audience interacts. importance of such functions.

Though it’s been on hiatus since COVID shut it down, Jay promised that Player Made will be back Flying the flag Elevator Jay will team with the guys behind the soon. As with his return to releasing new music, he Jack of All Spades podcast to host his album listening just wants to ensure Player Made comes back strong.

“Nobody on the team is going to allow Player session at Snug on April 29.

The podcast — launched by David Spellmon, Made to come back half-ass,” he explained.

In the meantime, he’ll continue to represent Ken Wabibi and Lloyd Whitfield in July 2019 — aims to bring folks together by introducing the audience Charlotte the best way he knows how.

“My thing is I’mma always be the flag flyer; to the people, places and things they should know, highlighting hidden gems in Charlotte and steeping I’mma fly the flag,” he said. “I’m going to be the one who, when people need to know what this is — their information in hip-hop culture.

The partnership is the perfect way to kick what Carolina is, what Charlotte is — you going to off what has become a passion for Elevator Jay: know it from me. If ain’t nobody else going to tell preserving the creative spirit in Charlotte by acting you, I’m going to tell you.”

Having built himself into a local legend over as a connector in that sprawling network.

“You don’t want that creative stuff to disappear the past dozen years, I asked Jay if he feels pressure outta here, man,” Jay said. “It’s already getting to break through on a national level with Summer swamped by everything else. You could talk about Rooster.

As expected, his response put his hometown breweries more than you could talk about music.

You could talk about new developments and condos first.

“I want to, but I’m comfortable … because it and apartments more than you can talk about the music. That’s all the city got to talk about right now. don’t matter where I go. Like I say, I’m the flag flyer.

“It’s too much going on that ain’t got nothing to If we go do a show in Georgia, I’m going to take the do with nothing creative,” he continued. “It’s flooding flag with me. We go do a show in Japan, I’m going to stuff out to the point where, man, we need to just take the flag with me,” he said. “A lot of people, they hang on to this creative stuff, beef it up that way. Just change, you know what I’m saying? It’s almost like as much as they talk about building up South End and the mission change when they get to a certain level. new developments over here, all this other stuff, I just I can’t see my mission ever changing.” want us to be known for this music, because it’s too RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM much here for it not to be known for no music.”

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

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ROCK/PUNK/METAL Microwave w/ Oso Oso, Delta Sleep, Mothé (Amos’Southend) Ripe (The Fillmore) MSPaint w/The Mall,Telepathetics, Clearbody (Snug Harbor) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ DJ Nate (Birdsong Brewing) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Jarrod Dickenson w/ Chris Kasper, Electric Blue Yonder (Evening Muse) Caitlyn Smith w/ Alex Hall (Visulit Theatre) JAZZ/BLUES Stefan Kallander (Middle C Jazz) FUNK/JAM BANDS The Slackers w/ Faintest Idea (Neighborhood Theatre) CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL/RELIGIOUS Bethel Music (Ovens Auditorium) OPEN MIC Open Mic Variety Show (Starlight on 22nd)

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Mephiskapheles w/ Violent Life Violent Death, Evergone, The Bleeps (The Milestone) Roman Candles w/ Ultralush, Kevin Terrell (Petra’s) 2nd Annual Bleeding Hearts Ball (The Rooster) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Flame Tides (Petra’s) The Minks w/ The Great Indoors (Snug Harbor) Lost Cargo: Tiki Social Party (Petra’s) JAZZ/BLUES HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Emmet Cohen Trio (Booth Playhouse) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26 Snow Tha Product (The Underground) Sam Johnston w/ The Broomestix (Evening Muse) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Elevator Jay (Snug Harbor) Peter White (Middle C Jazz) Bongzilla w/ Wizard Rifle, Cosmic Reaper (Snug Harbor) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Austin McNeill w/ Fred Lee IV (Evening Muse) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Kem & Ledisi (Bojangles Coliseum) TheTalbott Brothers w/ Fox & Bones (NeighborhoodTheatre) Prof (The Underground) MAVI (The Underground) ACOUSTIC/SINGER-SONGWRITER COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Brett Milstead (Primal Brewery) Low Groves w/ Descolada (Evening Muse) Blue Monday w/ Sweet Leaf (Amos’ Southend) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ OPEN MIC Church of Sinetology (Petra’s) MUNA (The Fillmore) Open Mic Variety Show (Starlight on 22nd) Val Merza w/ Kevin Goodwin (Starlight on 22nd) CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL ACOUSTIC/SINGER-SONGWRITER THURSDAY, APRIL 27 Charlotte Symphony: Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. JT Ackerman & Crystal Fountains (Primal Brewery) ROCK/PUNK/METAL 2 (Belk Theater) Sam Morrow w/ David Quinn (Evening Muse) SUNDAY, APRIL 23 Wastoid w/ Babe Haven, Ink Swell, Beauty (The Milestone) FUNK/JAM BANDS ROCK/PUNK/METAL THURSDAY, APRIL 20 Sexbruise? (Visulite Theatre) zzzahara w/ GASP, Mauve Angeles (Petra’s) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Kevin Kaarl (The Fillmore) JAZZ/BLUES Physical Digital w/ Miss Bliss, Scrlett (The Milestone) Catcher and the Rye w/ Detest the Throne, Until They The Ron Brendle Double Guitar Quartet (Middle C Jazz) SUNDAY, APRIL 30 North Mississippi Allstars (Neighborhood Theatre) Bleed, Shoot On Sight (The Milestone) ROCK/PUNK/METAL COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Black Belt Eagle Scout w/ Claire Glass & Adobo, HOVVDY w/ Whitmer Thomas (Visulite Theatre) Josiah Johnson (Evening Muse) Diaspoura (Snug Harbor) The Cadillac Three (The Underground) JAZZ/BLUES Ministry (The Fillmore) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Peter White (Middle C Jazz) Kissyourfriends w/ Noir Noir, Comma Sutra, Jordyn Lil Wayne (The Fillmore) Something Fun Presents Britney Night (Snug Harbor) Danielle Nicole w/ The Brandon Miller Band Zaino (The Milestone) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA (Neighborhood Theatre) FUNK/JAM BANDS JAZZ/BLUES Protectors of the Endangered Fundraiser (Visulite Theatre) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Tony Exum Jr. (Middle C Jazz) The Hip Abduction w/ Coyote Island (Visulite Theatre) JAZZ/BLUES David Ramirez w/ Anna Rose (Evening Muse) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B OPEN MIC Emmet Cohen Trio (Booth Playhouse) Cougar Mountain Boys (The Rooster) Babyface Ray (The Underground) Every Other Thursday Open Mic Night w/ Finn Mandyl Evans (Middle C Jazz) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Castelow (Tommy’s Pub) Beatfreaq (Starlight on 22nd) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Hazy Sunday (Petra’s) Los Dos Carnales (Ovens Auditorium) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE FRIDAY, APRIL 28 Mr Atomic w/ Electro Static Discharge (Starlight on 22nd) Celtic Session Sunday w/ Alan Davis & Friends ROCK/PUNK/METAL LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE FRIDAY, APRIL 21 (Tommy’s Pub) Obituary (The Underground) Béla Fleck w/ Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, Rakesh ROCK/PUNK/METAL The Garden (The Fillmore) Chaurasia (Belk Theater) The Thing With Feathers w/ Speak Easy (Evening Muse) MONDAY, APRIL 24 The Eyebrows w/ Them Pants, BNDR (Petra’s) Percolator w/ Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean, ROCK/PUNK/METAL Overthinker w/ Outatime (Skylark Social Club) Bog Loaf, B, Sayurblaires (The Milestone) Serious Matters w/ Wave Break, Oh! You Pretty Anchor Detail w/ Civil Strife, A Life Worth Taking MONDAY, MAY 1 King Cackle w/ Torino Death Ride, Negulators Things, Evillleaf (The Milestone) (Tommy’s Pub) (Tommy’s Pub) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ The Criticals w/WOAHThe Band, blankstate (VisuliteTheatre) ROCK/PUNK/METAL POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Ringo Deathstarr w/ PleasureVenom, Lofidels (Snug Harbor) Sam MacPherson w/ Mikey Ferrari (Amos’ Southend) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA half alive (The Fillmore) JAZZ/BLUES The Lacs (Coyote Joe’s) Royal City Collective Presents: Vibe Sessions (Petra’s) JAZZ/BLUES The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s) Courtney Lynn and Quinn w/ Striking Copper The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s) Deep Fried Disco (Snug Harbor) OPEN MIC (Evening Muse) Patt Mostle’s Monthly Jazz Jam (Tommy’s Pub) SHINE (Starlight on 22nd) Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. Tommy Salami Deb Talan w/ Reeve Coobs (Neighborhood Theatre) OPEN MIC COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA (Evening Muse) JAZZ/BLUES Kidd G (Coyote Joe’s) Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. The Forum (Evening Muse) Shayna Steele (Middle C Jazz) The Lone Bellow Trio (Neighborhood Theatre) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B TUESDAY, APRIL 25 Caleb Wolfe w/ Marie Me (The Rooster) Dear Silas w/ Phaze Gawd, Keenon Rush (Snug Harbor) TUESDAY, MAY 2 HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B JAZZ/BLUES Check Your Head (Beastie Boys tribute) (Amos’Southend) ROCK/PUNK/METAL Mac Ayres (The Underground) VALLEY (The Underground) Emmet Cohen Trio (Booth Playhouse) FUNK/JAM BANDS Ella Mai (The Fillmore) Persona Bell (Middle C Jazz) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Brusied Rhino w/ Switch_User (The Rooster) Band of Heathens (Neighborhood Theatre) Seven Lions (The Fillmore) JAZZ/BLUES CLASSICAL/INSTRUMENTAL SATURDAY, APRIL 22 FUNK/JAM BANDS Jared James Nichols w/ Tuk Smith & The Restless ROCK/PUNK/METAL Charlotte Symphony: Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. Cosmic Jam Session (Crown Station) Hearts (Evening Muse) Red Dress Amy w/ Regence (Evening Muse) 2 (Belk Theater) JAZZ/BLUES Similar Kind w/ Crumbsnatchers, Swae, Froggy FUNK/JAM BANDS POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Joanna Connor (Neighborhood Theatre) Nights (The Milestone) Cosmic Jam Session (Crown Station) Ape Audio Series (Starlight on 22nd) VISIT QCNERVE.COM FOR THE FULL Laura Jane Grace (Neighborhood Theatre) SOUNDWAVE LISTING.

Pg. 15 APRIL 19 - MAY 2, 2023 - QCNERVE.COM

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

The 4/20 4/20 Menu Menu The Local contributors share THC-infused recipes for your enjoyment

For this year’s 4/20 issue, we reached out to three Charlotteans we know to be exceptional cooks when it comes to THC-infused foods to see if they’d be willing to share their favorite recipes. They were all happy to do so — under differing levels of anonymity, of course — so hit the store and get in the kitchen with these instructions.

Jessie Rae’s Intro to Decarbing and Infusion

The key to great edibles starts at the root: All cannabis (flower and concentrate) must first be decarboxylated, aka decarbed. This process converts the THCA in the plant into THC. It is what gives edibles the psychoactive effects. Without doing this, you will not feel a buzz when eating edibles.

Decarbing is simple. Take the flower and grind it up into smaller pieces, throw it on some parchment paper and a baking sheet. Toss the baking sheet in the oven at 240 degrees. Let the bud bake for about 45 minutes. Remember to gently mix the buds around in the baking sheet every 10-15 minutes.

Decarbing concentrate is similar, so still use the parchment paper and baking sheet method.

Concentrate does not take as long to decarb — maybe

around 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the concentrate while it’s in the oven. As soon as you see it start to bubble, it’s been decarbed. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Place it in the freezer to bring the concentrate back to its normal consistency in about 10 minutes. Do not leave your flower or concentrate in the oven longer than necessary. This will cause the THC to bake off, thus losing its full potential.

Now that your cannabis has been decarbed it’s time to infuse! When baking, I find it easier to infuse butter with flower, and olive oil with concentrate.

Obviously, there are many other methods, but these methods have been proven to be the most effective for stoners worldwide.

Simple conversions for edibles based on the average super funk from your local street pharmacy: • 1 gram of bud = 200 milligrams of THC • 1 gram of concentrate = 500 milligrams of THC

CANNABUTTER:

This is where some math is going to be required.

Remember it’s always easier to infuse the butter with more THC than you may need for one recipe, so that way you will already have cannabutter for next time! When cooking, you can dilute the weed butter by using half weed butter and half regular butter. Or 1/4 cup of butter and 3/4 cup cannabutter … you see where I’m going with this.

On low heat, melt regular butter in a cooking pot. Once butter has melted, add about a cup of water. Now add your decarbed flower. Let this mixture come to a low simmer. It’s useful here to use a thermometer. You do not want to overcook your butter or else you will lose the THC! Simmer for about two hours at 200 degrees. Never let the mixture come to a boil. After time has passed, remove the pot from the stove. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a glass jar or bowl. It’s important to use glass because plastic or wooden containers will cause the THC to stick to the sides.

(Pro tip: As tempting as it is, do not over squeeze the remainder of your bud through the cheesecloth.

This will pull chlorophyll from the plant into the butter causing your butter to taste bad.) Now it’s time to refrigerate. Let the butter hang out in the fridge for about eight hours. Any excess water collected at the bottom of the bowl can be poured out after eight hours. Congratulations! You now have weed butter.

CANNAOIL:

On low heat, pour olive oil into a saucepan.

Keeping in mind the THC conversion guide just Allow olive oil to heat up. Add desired amount of mentioned, decide how much butter you want decarbed concentrate. Let simmer over a span of to make. The average stick of butter is 1/2 cup. about 10 minutes. Constantly stir the mixture with

a nonstick spatula to evenly infuse. Once you no longer see clumps of concentrate, remove the pan from heat. Let cool for a few minutes. Pour the oil into a glass container. Congratulations! You now have weed oil.

Sidenote: If you happen to be an avid concentrate smoker, you may already have decarbed wax just laying around. Any resin found in your rig has already been decarbed. Just use a torch to burn the excess resin out of your piece. Allow the resin to drip onto a sheet of parchment paper. Now you have wax that’s ready for cooking … and a clean rig for smoking!

DOSING:

If you have never used edibles before, it’s important to start small; 5 milligrams of THC is recommended for a beginner dose. Wait at least an hour to feel the full effects. You can smoke cannabis every day of your life, but anytime you eat cannabis it will be a different experience. This is because the THC is broken down in your body through your liver. In large amounts, users report vivid trips, and in some cases panic attacks. Thankfully, if you do overindulge, you’re not going to die. But you might have a bad time.

• • • • •

5-10 milligrams: light affects 20 milligrams: average dose for users 30-50 milligrams: altered reality 50-100 milligrams: you’re really feeling it 100-500 milligrams: intense psychoactive affects - JESSIE RAE

VEGAN BROWNIES

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Ingredients: • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour • 2 cups white granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

STONEY TREATS • • • •

1 teaspoon salt 1 cup of water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup cannaoil

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt together. Then add in the water, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Mix all ingredients together until it becomes a well-blended consistency. Spread mixture into a well-greased 9x13x2inch baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes. You will know the brownies are done when the top layer becomes shiny. Remove from the oven. Let brownies cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting them into even-sized squares. Bong appetite!

- JESSIE RAE

Ingredients: • 1/3 cup of cannabutter • 1 10-ounce package of marshmallows • 6 cups of fruity pebble cereal Directions: On low heat, melt butter in a saucepan. Add marshmallows, then stir with nonstick spatula until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add Fruity Pebbles cereal. Stir until evenly distributed. Using wax paper or well greased spatula, evenly press the mixture into a 13x9x2-inch pan that has been previously coated with cooking spray. Let cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Enjoy!

- JESSIE RAE

Infusion expert Kit Grimes is the founder of The Edible: Incredible!, through which she offers services including hospitality consultation, private cooking, workshops and product manufacturing services. Learn more at kitgrimes.tv.

The anonymous author of the following recipe reminds readers that these can be dangerous if you have the munchies. “You’ll get even more stoned and then you’re stuck in a vicious cycle.”

ROSEMARY AND GARLIC ROASTED ALMONDS

CRAB-STUFFED MUSHROOMS Ingredients: • 1 pound large mushrooms, stems removed • 8 ounces lump crabmeat, drained and picked over • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs • 1/8 cup mayonnaise • 1/8 cannabutter • 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • Salt and pepper, to taste

Ingredients: • 3 cups raw almonds • 3 tablespoons cannaoil • 6 cloves of garlic, minced • 3 tablespoons or 1/4 cup fresh rosemary • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 tablespoon sea salt

COURTESY OF THE EDIBLE: INCREDIBLE!

Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Clean the mushroom caps with a damp paper towel and place them in a greased baking dish, with the cavity facing up. In a medium bowl, mix together the crabmeat, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, cannabutter, breadcrumbs, green onions, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Spoon the crab mixture into the mushroom caps, dividing it evenly among them. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is golden brown and bubbly. Serve the crab-stuffed mushrooms hot and enjoy!

-KIT GRIMES

CHOCOLATE-COVERED PRETZELS Ingredients: • 1 bag of pretzels (any shape) • 8-10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips or melting chocolate • 2 tablespoons cannabutter (add lecithin to prevent separation from chocolate) • Toppings (optional): sprinkles, crushed nuts, coconut flakes, etc.

-KIT GRIMES

-ANONYMOUS

BUTTERFINGERS Ingredients: • 1 cup candy corn • 1 cup crunchy peanut butter • 1/4 cup corn flakes • 2 cups milk chocolate melts • 1 1/2 tablespoons cannabutter (add lecithin to prevent separation from chocolate) Directions: Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. If you have a silicon multi-square mold, that would work well to create individual bites.

COURTESY OF THE EDIBLE: INCREDIBLE! In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the candy corn for 1 minute, stirring every 20 seconds until fully melted. Stir in the peanut butter until well-combined. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Remove the candy from the baking dish and cut into desired shapes (you can use a sharp knife or a cookie cutter). In a separate microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and infused vegetable shortening in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is smooth and fully melted. Vegetable shortening is used due to its ability to mix into chocolate without changing its properties. Dip each candy piece into the melted chocolate, tapping off any excess, and place on a sheet of parchment paper to set. Let the chocolate set completely before serving. This can take up to an hour. If using a mold with individual squares: Pour your chocolate into the molds first and let them set, then place your mixture in the chocolate squares, cover the bottoms of the squares with more chocolate and let it set, pop individual squares out and enjoy!

-KIT GRIMES

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Directions: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Melt the chocolate chips or melting COURTESY OF THE EDIBLE: INCREDIBLE! chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until fully melted and smooth. Dip each pretzel into the melted chocolate, using a fork to fully coat the pretzel. Tap off any excess chocolate. Place the chocolate-covered pretzels onto the prepared baking sheet. If using toppings, sprinkle them over the chocolate-covered pretzels while the chocolate is still wet. Allow the chocolate to fully set by placing the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes. Once the chocolate is set, remove the pretzels from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature before serving or storing. Enjoy your delicious homemade chocolate-covered pretzels!

Directions: Pre-heat oven to lowest setting — do not exceed 265-270 degrees. In a bowl, mix the almonds with the cannaoil and sea salt. Pick the leaves of the fresh rosemary sprig, mince garlic by hand (use pre-minced, but never a garlic press, it will make it clumps of garlic), add to the almonds and stir well.

Spread out on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes (may take longer, until almonds are lightly toasted, olive oil has started to evaporate/absorb and almonds have a dryer look to them) stirring halfway.

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LIFESTYLE PUZZLES

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. TELEVISION: Which drama focuses on the inhabitants of Wisteria Lane?

SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE 2. GEOGRAPHY: The Aswan Dam is located on which river?

3. LANGUAGE: What is the only word in the English language that ends in “mt”?

4. MOVIES: What is the name of Ryan Reynolds’ Alaskan hometown in “The Proposal”?

5. U.S. CITIES: How many buildings in New York City have their own ZIP codes, including the Empire State Building?

6. SCIENCE: Entomology is the scientific study of what?

7. CHEMISTRY: Which natural element is the most unstable?

8. FOOD & DRINK: What is the condiment tahini made of?

9. LITERATURE: What is the setting for John Kennedy Toole’s novel “A Confederacy of Dunces”?

10. ANATOMY: How many lobes are in PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW the human brain?

ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE.

CROSSWORD

©2023 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Pg. 19 APRIL 19 - MAY 2, 2023- QCNERVE.COM

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

AERIN IT OUT

GOT THE DOG IN HER Pinhouse and Cutting Board serve what’s needed on a warm spring day

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BY AERIN SPRUILL

“They’ve got transfusions,” my girlfriend said in a seemingly calm voice. I looked up to see the mischievous grin spreading across her face and knew her tone was hiding her genuine excitement. She let out a tiny squeal and I immediately went to texting the boo, convincing him that the short Uber ride to Pinhouse on Central Avenue was well worth tearing him away from the comfort of Hogwarts Legacy.

No matter the event or occasion, I’m usually the boo’s No. 1 scout. As the less-introverted of the two, I suss out the venue, examine the drink and food options, and determine everyone’s level of inebriation. If the formula feels just right, I give him the green flag to venture forward. A b-day with girlfriends at an unfamiliar bar definitely called for a bit of recon. First up, snacks.

“There will be a food truck there,” rarely puts my mind at ease when I’m heading to hang with friends at a brewery on an empty stomach. In fact, it usually conjures an obsessive-compulsive desire to hide leftovers in my purse or frantically Google every potential option en route. But a quick review of Pinhouse’s IG delivered a post featuring two odd-looking Korean corn dogs. The first was dusted in neon red Hot Cheetos and the other was peppered with small chunks of potato.

My interest piqued, I prepared to venture into the unknown while hangry.

Though Pinhouse’s neighbor, Lulu’s Maryland-Style Chicken and Seafood, closed its doors at the beginning of the year, I remember thinking it didn’t feel lonely as I pulled up, just waiting to be full.

“Pinhouse, live music, self serve, and duckpin” inscribed on the creamy white brick provides a stark contrast to the black-framed windows surrounding the front door on a sunny day.

Instead of going straight in, I opted to take the stairwell to the left of the entrance down to the “back patio” area where my friends and the b-day girl were waiting.

From the front parking lot, you may not realize Pinhouse is two stories, but as you round the corner at the bottom of the stairs, the showstopper IMO is a charming double-decker walkout patio on the backside of the building.

At 3 p.m. on a Saturday, it was obvious that I wasn’t the only one thinking it was a wee bit early for day

drinking despite the warm weather. There were only a handful of patrons peppered throughout, but for some reason, it still felt cozy — like hanging in a rich homie’s backyard complete with TVs, background music, plenty of seating, table umbrellas, cornhole, and of course, puppies. Needless to say, the “vibes” were a go.

Even on an “I-think-I’m-shvitzing-sitting-still” warm weather day, this cold-natured baby’s eyes are always drawn to a snug corner like the one my friends were waving me over to from right next to the patio fireplace.

But after a few minutes of hellos (wherein I confirmed we were still on a sober-ish pace), I noted the scrunched brows and sweat sheen building and knew not to get attached while touring duckpin bowling and the 70+ taps that *fingers crossed* held a cider I would like.

That’s when I realized something was missing from my new outdoor living room: the food truck. Gasp! Dare I ask if it was coming soon? I shuddered at the thought of hearing, “No sorry, they’re not here today.” Hanger settled in as the b-day girl confirmed my fears that Cutting Board CLT was actually at Resident Culture. *insert a bloodcurdling, “Noooo!” before a fade to black* But before my hangritude could rear its ugly head I went to the food truck’s IG to confirm which Resident Culture they were going to be at and it was at the Plaza Midwood location just across the street. (They’re at Pinhouse on Thursdays and Saturdays, Resident Culture on Central on Sundays, and Hopfly in South End on Fridays for future reference.)

Crisis averted, I volunteered as tribute to pick up an online group order. The food bag was secured and the boyfriend was on the way.

Upon my return, I delivered the greasy bags with corn dog sticks protruding and everyone’s now tipsy squints were teeming with excitement. I unwrapped the foil as carefully as if I were Charlie holding the golden ticket to reveal a hot, crispy wiener the color of Red Dye 40 filled with meat and oozing cheese.

Grunts of satisfaction were the only sounds of note between each crunchy bite. When everyone finally lifted their heads, all that was left was squished mustard and ketchup packets and one of Tide’s worst enemies: Hot Cheeto dust.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

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to reassess important relationships, both personal and professional, to see where problems might exist and how they can be overcome. Keep the lines of communication open.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s not easy to bring order to a chaotic situation, whether it’s in the workplace or at home. But if anyone can do it, you can. A pleasant surprise awaits you by week’s end.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be careful that you

don’t make an upcoming decision solely on the word of those who might have their own reasons for wanting you to act as they suggest. Check things out for yourself.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A personal

relationship that seems to be going nowhere could be restarted once you know why it stalled in the first place. An honest discussion could result in some surprising revelations.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) That unexpected attack

of self-doubt could be a way of warning yourself to go slow before making a career-changing decision.

Take more time to do a closer study of the facts.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A workplace

problem needs your attention now, before it deteriorates to a point beyond repair. A trusted third party could be helpful in closing the gaps that have opened.

of offering comfort as well as guidance. You would do well in the healing arts.

2023 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

April 26 - may 2

BORN THIS WEEK: Yours is one of the most

emotional signs of the zodiac. You are empathetic and have a deep spiritual core that gives you your ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This week offers new great strength.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A recent opportunities for adventurous Sheep, both personal LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Stick with family situation could give rise to a new problem. and professional. Single Sheep could find romance your plans despite some recent disappointments.

Keep an open mind and avoid making judgments with a Taurus or Scorpio.

Persistence will pay off. A family member’s health about anyone’s motives until all the facts are in. takes a happy turn for the better.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your big break is SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Rely on about to happen in the workplace. Expect to hear SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your gift your always-sharp intuition to alert you to potential more about it within a few days. Meanwhile, enjoy for seeing through to the heart of a matter (or the problems with someone’s attempt to explain away some much-needed fun time. heart of a person) impresses someone who is in a the circumstances behind a puzzling incident. position to make you a very interesting offer.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your past tendency SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) for breaking promises could be catching up with SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Although you still need to do some snipping off of you. You need to reassure a certain someone in your Your colleagues believe in your leadership abilities those lingering loose ends from a past project, you life that this time you’ll keep your word. Good luck. because you believe in yourself. Your strength can begin moving on to something else. inspires others to follow your example.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Watch your tendency CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) to be overcautious in your personal relationships. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A With your self-confidence levels rising, you should Give people a chance to show who they are, not who sensitive situation needs sensitive handling. Show feel quite comfortable with agreeing to take on you assume them to be. more patience than you usually do. This will allow a possibly troublesome, but potentially welleveryone time for some really hard thinking. rewarded situation.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Aspects favor closer attention to family matters, especially where it AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You are AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Travel is concerns older relatives who might need special determined to take charge of a difficult situation favored, both for business and for fun. The end of the care. A co-worker has information that can help. and turn it around. Good for you. Accept muchweek brings news about an upcoming project that needed help and advice from a Libra. could lead toward a promised career change.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A workplace change causes a temporary delay in your plans. Still, PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You are able to PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might feel continue working on your project so that you’ll be help people by sensing their deepest pain, but be suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of responsibilities. ready when it’s time to start up again. careful not to let your own emotions get injured. Try But if you deal with each one in its turn, you’ll soon to maintain a safe balance. be able to hold your head above water and move on.

Pg. 21 APRIL 19 - MAY 2, 2023- QCNERVE.COM

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Trivia Answers

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This is a good time

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a wonderful way

7. Francium, because it has 49 more neutrons than protons.

8. Sesame seeds.

9. New Orleans.

10. Four.

april 19 - 25

HOROSCOPE

1. “Desperate Housewives.”

2. The Nile River.

3. Dreamt.

4. Sitka.

5. More than 40.

6. Insects.

LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

Any queer-cuck related porn that you’d recommend?

Jack Hornwood’s erotic novellas — jackhornwood. com — come highly recommended.

QUICKIES

Would you consider a 67-year-old man who’s had numerous affairs while in what were supposed to be monogamous relationships and more than a few “friends” who turned out to be more than just friends to have a “propensity” for extra-marital relationships, secrets, and duplicity? Asking for a friend.

Honoring a monogamous commitment is going to be a struggle for this guy — assuming he has any interest in honoring a monogamous commitment — and being with him will be torture for your “friend” whether he ever gets around to cheating on her or not.

to help persons experiencing premature ejaculation (PEPE). Additionally, some PEPEs can train themselves to last longer by jacking off a few hours before sex with a partner, strengthening their pelvic floors, and edging themselves endlessly. But if nothing helps — and sometimes nothing does — and delaying penetration until after you’re satisfied doesn’t work (because only a good, long, hard fuck can satisfy you) and your guy isn’t insecure about how his dick works, you should get a strap-on dildo. They’re suddenly everywhere in gay Take it to the edge porn… and we all know what that means. (It means

BY DAN SAVAGE straight people will be giving each other strap-on dildos My partner wants me to give him a ruined sapiosexuals, etc., etc., etc. So, I’m gonna assume you’re as wedding presents by next summer.) orgasm. Where do I go to learn that? a gay man. Before I write another word: Not all gay men Top tips for being a good/smart third when Ruined orgasms are pretty easy — they’re so simple, find anonymous sex and/or public sex environments playing with a couple? in fact, that people sometimes give them to (or inflict them enticing. But the ones who do … they’re not doing it Be clear about your expectations — what you’re into, on) their male partners by accident. Here’s how you do it: because they’re gay. They’re doing it because they’re men. what you’re not, what you’re comfortable with, what you Bring your partner to the point of orgasmic inevitability I mean, if you told straight men there were places where aren’t — and politely decline if they aren’t clear about — get him to that point where there’s no stopping his walls had holes in them and women were kneeling on the their expectations. orgasm; even if Marjorie Taylor Greene were to burst other side of those walls waiting to suck them off, straight into the room, he’s going to come — and then cease all men would go to those places. There’s nothing gay men I’m a young college professor in New York City stimulation. Take your hand off his dick, take his dick out of do that straight men wouldn’t if straight men could but and an active Grindr user. Is there a way to block your mouth, lift your pussy or ass off his dick — whatever straight men can’t because women won’t. As for why an age range? you were doing to get him close, stop. He’ll come, but it women won’t … the answer is equal parts disinterest In these morally panicked times, it’s probably better won’t be anywhere near as pleasurable or intense as his (on the part of most women) and an entirely reasonable to err on the side of not fucking guys young enough to usual orgasms, i.e., the orgasms he has when his cock is fear of male sexual violence (on the part of all women). be your students — to say nothing of guys who are your stimulated to and through the point of orgasm. students or who go to your university and might become What do you do when you’re bored with the your students.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to block guys How can I be more fuckable? I put myself out sexual smorgasbord and just want a few quiet by age range on Grindr.

So, you’ll have to block them as there, but no one bites. I’m done being a 31-year- nights in? they come. old gay virgin. I am a clean person, shower every You spit the dick out and go home. day, wear clean clothes, and was voted “most likely Why do people say “ethical non-monogamy” to brighten up a day” in school.

Quick etiquette question: Can I use my fucking when they just mean “dating”?

Maybe you’re doing something wrong — but I couldn’t machine in a hotel room?

Because they mean different things. While some tell you what that might be without meeting you, getting You’re allowed to fuck in hotel rooms. But fucking ENM people do date, some people in ENM relationships to know you, and making polite inquiries about your voting machines — at least the ones I’ve been in the same room aren’t interested in dating (or allowed to date) outside history. But I can tell you what I would do if I were in your with — are pretty fucking loud. They start loud, they stay sex partners; they don’t describe themselves as “dating” shoes: I would hire a brutally honest “life coach,” a personal loud. People fucking, on the other hand, typically only get because 1. they aren’t dating and 2. they don’t want to (or trainer, and a hooker, but in reverse order. loud toward the end of the fucking; once you can hear two shouldn’t want to) mislead potential outside sex partners. people fucking in the room next to yours, you know it’s And while people who ultimately want a committed ENM What’s your #1 tip for someone who has never almost over. So, while I think we all have to put up with a relationship can and do date, lots of people who date — been to a sex party before? It includes a wide range little noisy fucking in the next room from time to time, I lots of people out there fucking around with multiple of ages, genders, orientations and proclivities — don’t think it’s reasonable to expect the guests in the next partners — ultimately want a committed monogamous with many nervous newbies on the invite list. room to put up with the noise of a fucking machine. relationship and identifying as ENM would be misleading.

Bathe.

I’m in love with my roommate. I think he likes I love sex but I don’t enjoy getting off or seeing Can a person who has always had open sexual me too. I just fear losing his friendship if I tell him. cum.

Is that weird? relationships become monogamous?

Any thoughts on how I should handle this?

Yes. Yes. If you don’t open your mouth … your roommate can’t stick his dick in there. Just don’t open your mouth If my bisexual husband is fucking men in the I never visualize having sex with my husband and say, “I’m in love with you,” as that will instantly dial ass with a condom but not using a condom with me anymore. In my mind, it’s always someone else. Is the emotional stakes up to 11. Instead, tell your roommate — his cis wife — am I at risk? that bad? you’re attracted to him and reassure him — before he can You’re at a slightly higher risk for certain sexuallyNo. even respond — that you will get over the awkwardness transmitted infections — primarily HPV and HSV. But (and him) if he doesn’t feel the same way about you. since your husband doesn’t look at you and see the reason Why is anonymous sex in places like why he can’t fuck other men, I’d say you’re at a slightly bathhouses and gloryholes so enticing to queer How can I help a quick shooter have a slower lower risk of divorce.

(If your parents were so negligent people like me? draw? This D isn’t lasting long enough for me! that they didn’t get you vaccinated against HPV, go get Lesbians aren’t exactly crowding into bathhouses or Some medications seem to help premature vaccinated now.) around glory holes — nor are asexuals, demisexuals, ejaculators — excuse me: Some medications seem

Pg. 22 APRIL 19 - MAY 2, 2023 - QCNERVE.COM

SAVAGE LOVE

I’ve always had to beg my partners to hurt me. Now I finally meet a guy who is legit sadistic, and I’m completely freaked out. He’s very sexy and everything is consensual, and he hasn’t violated any of my limits. But unlike my two previous boyfriends — very sweet guys — he doesn’t feel the least bit conflicted about hurting me.

Send him my way.

My husband and I have been together for 15 years now. He’s never been with anyone else and has recently opened up about wanting to explore outside. I do not have this desire. I love him and ultimately want him to be happy, but I also don’t want to make myself unhappy in the process!

Can you recommend how to find a sex positive therapist for us to help us navigate through this new path?

Check out AASECT.org.

I’m a pretty jacked college student and I get a lot of attention from gay dudes. And that would be great if I was gay but I’m not. Girls expect guys like me to make the first move, but I worry about coming across like an asshole or a harasser. I’m also very submissive but women take one look at me and expect me to be aggressive when what I really want is to be dominated and even punished.

I don’t even know how to have that conversation with a girl. Any advice?

Gay guys make great wingmen — so, the next time a gay dude hits on you, tell him you’re flattered but straight and blah blah blah. Then ask him if he knows any hot dominant girls. If he does, ask him to hook a jacked sub up. If he doesn’t, I promise he won’t rest until he finds a hot dominant girl he can introduce you to — particularly if she’s allowed to share all the details with him. Either way, your new gay best friend will be only too happy to have that conversation (at least the first one) for you.

Send your burning questions to mailbox@savage.love; podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

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