Queen City Nerve - August 7, 2024

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 18; AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 20, 2024; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

SHANN FULTON SPEAKS OPENLY PG. 4

THE SEARCH FOR ANDREW TENCH PG. 6

NEW EXHIBIT INFORMED BY AIDS CRISIS PG. 10

WHAT TO DO AND WHO TO SEE AT CHARLOTTE PRIDE PG. 16

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@ Q UEEN CIT YN ER V E W W W.Q CN ER V E.COM PUBLISHER JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RYAN PITKIN

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DIGITAL MANAGER RAYNE ANTRIM

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STAFF WRITERS ANNIE KEOUGH

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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS & OPINION

4. Natural Born Leader by Annie Keough

Shann Fulton has helped to revolutionize Charlotte Black Pride

6. Cries for Help by Davis Cuffe

Andrew Tench’s loved ones say investigation into his disappearance has stalled

8. Carolina Ascent Takes Off by Sam Spencer Top-tier women’s soccer league kicks off in Charlotte

ARTS

10. Behind the Screens by Matt Cosper

Phillip Larrimore’s new VAPA exhibit was born of grief

11. The TAOH of Osiris by Ryan Pitkin

Charlotte’s first graffiti park set to open for public participation 14. Lifeline: Ten Cool Things To Do in Two Weeks

16. Pride Guide 2024

What to do and who to watch during Charlotte Pride 2024

MUSIC

20. The Journey of Snow by Jonathan Golian Revisiting Christy Snow’s 2016 release, ‘Free to Be’ 20. Rewind: New Releases 21. Pause: Project Spotlight

22. Back Like He Never Left by Ryan Pitkin 24. Soundwave

LIFESTYLE

26. Puzzles 28. Aerin It Out by Aerin Spruill 29. Horoscope 30. Savage Love Thanks to our contributors: Aerin Spruill, Davis Cuffe, Grant Baldwin, Jonathan Golian, Sam Spencer, Matt Cosper, Natalie Escobedo, Brandon Burdette, Michael Hoefner, Justin Higuchi, Johan Broberg, and Dan Savage.

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Lute prepares for first headlining show in the city that was and is his home

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

NATURAL BORN LEADER Shann Fulton has helped to revolutionize Charlotte Black Pride

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BY ANNIE KEOUGH

Born in Savannah and raised in a small town in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Charlotte Black Pride (CBP) Chair Shann Fulton (they/he) was far from any open conversations about sexual orientation and gender expression.

Even if they suspected family members or friends to be “part of the lifestyle,” it was simply never talked about.

But, as Fulton was raised on the saying “A closed mouth don’t get fed,” they eventually became more comfortable with the idea that it was time to start talking.

Fulton was born intersex, an umbrella term for people born with genitals, chromosomes or reproductive organs that fall outside the male/female binary.

The doctor gave their parents some time to decide what gender to assign Shann. As his parents already had two boys and one girl, they decided Fulton would be a girl.

The designation didn’t mean Fulton fell into the stereotypical gender roles for girls. They knew early on in their childhood that something was different about them. As early as kindergarten, for example, Fulton remembers being attracted to girls.

In 5th grade, Fulton even wrote one girl a letter confessing their feelings.

“My teacher read it to the class, and everybody was kind of laughing about it,” they said. “Well, me, I was happy. I was happy he read it and he and everybody else got to know how I felt about her.”

Then and now, Fulton has believed in educating others, especially their family members, to counteract ignorance and misinformation.

When Fulton was 16, they came out to their mom as gay — nobody said “lesbian” back then. Fulton’s mom chalked it up to a tomboy phase that he would grow out of. Having grown up in the Bible Belt, there is still a hesitation for Fulton’s family members to talk about lifestyles that are considered non-traditional.

“How I was born, it doesn’t fit any category,” they said. “And I’ve never been somebody to feel like I needed to fit in a category.”

Although the topic of Fulton’s intersex identity and gender assignment is still an uncomfortable conversation for his mom — and one Fulton’s siblings still don’t know about — his family has come around to embrace who he is today.

Always a leader

Despite his traditional upbringing, Fulton was raised to follow the Golden Rule and stand up for what they believe in, hence the popularity of the saying “A closed mouth don’t get fed” in the household.

Fulton said they were the most outspoken of their siblings.

“I would say even though my lifestyle wasn’t something that was talked about, the core values of a human being, I would still say, were things that were still embedded in me,” they said. “And I took that with me when I went to college.”

First attending Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina on an athletic scholarship, playing basketball, volleyball and softball, Fulton later transferred to South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. He volunteered at homeless shelters and food banks while mobilizing students across both campuses to donate items to people in need.

Soon after he graduated college in 2002 and moved to Columbia, South Carolina, Fulton joined a social service organization branded as a “fraternity for studs.”

“Back then, you was either gay … femme or a stud,” they said. “That’s the organization that I found solace in, found other people that were like me, like-minded people.”

The fraternity, a city-based organization rather than college-based, recruited more than 200 new members from across the country during the time that Fulton served as president. One of the core values of the organization was community service and activism, setting Fulton up for a career in those very fields.

Joining Charlotte Black Pride

After relocating to Charlotte, Fulton quickly became aware of Charlotte Black Pride and began volunteering in 2013.

“I wanted to do my thing, I’m always gonna give back to the community wherever I am,” they said. “In looking for an organization, I found Charlotte Black Pride… [and it encompassed] everything that I am. I’m in Charlotte, I’m Black, I’m proud.”

Founded in 2005 by Jermaine Nakia Lee, Damon Blackman, Monica Simpson and Korey Handy, Charlotte

SHANN FULTON AT A CHARLOTTE BLACK PRIDE EVENT. Black Pride was meant to provide space for members of Charlotte’s Black LGBTQ+ community who hadn’t felt represented in the early years of Charlotte Pride festivities.

Though now a sister organization working alongside Charlotte Pride in some matters, CBP has remained a separate entity that has seen encouraging growth over its nearly two decades in existence.

Shortly after Fulton began volunteering with the organization, the volunteer coordinator asked them if they were interested in taking an assistant position.

“I love volunteering, I love getting other people excited about volunteering as well, so I said sure.”

At the time, Fulton didn’t know the coordinator’s plan, but the very next year she stepped down and Fulton became the volunteer coordinator.

A similar series of events led Fulton to take the chair position, as Fulton was asked to be co-chair of CBP’s board until, after one year in the position, the chair moved out of Charlotte in 2018 and Fulton was left to fill the role.

Lee told Queen City Nerve that, thanks to Fulton’s efforts, Charlotte Black Pride now has its most diverse board in the organization’s history.

Lee said that, through Fulton’s leadership, CBP has made an intentional effort to ensure youth and young adults, trans and nonbinary identified individuals, people in the faith community and senior citizens are represented on the board.

“We serve a very diverse group of people,” Fulton said. “So I believe in order to get the maximum awareness for what the people in our community needs, we should have someone that covers each sect of the community.”

Fulton believes representation is more important than ever in leadership roles, pointing out that many nonprofit organizations that advocate for Black people

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANN FULTON

have no actual Black people on their board.

Fulton’s appointment as chair was remarkable in the sense that they are the first trans-masculine board member that organization has seen.

“Shann is a very … decisive and discerning leader,” Lee said. “And probably, in my opinion, one of the best chairs that we’ve had in the life of the organization.”

In sickness and in health

What many people may not know, Fulton said, is that he’s been carrying out these responsibilities while dealing with cancer treatments and major surgeries.

Fulton has had cancer three times in the past five years as well as a surgery to remove one of their kidneys.

“There are certain things … in life that are just part of your heart and soul. And for me, Charlotte Black Pride is one of those things,” he said. “Whether or not I’m going through chemotherapy or whatever it is I’m going through, I think about the need of the people as well.”

Although Fulton couldn’t make it to every in-person board meeting during recovery, they were always present via Zoom. Lee said Fulton has even led board meetings while actively undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Such treatments last about three hours, with only around an hour of clear-headedness before the “cocktail” of therapeutic agents sets in. Fulton would get on a board meeting at the top of the hour and wrap things up before the cocktail kicked.

“Shann put his life and well-being on the line for our community to make sure that … African-American and LGBTQ [people] in Charlotte felt affirmed and safe,” Lee said.

“It wasn’t easy, but because of the love and passion I

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE have for it, it wasn’t hard, either,” Fulton said.

He even believes the work helped them through the recovery process. Knowing that he was providing events and programming for the community they represent helped him push through.

Their dedication to the work is not going unnoticed by those he serves. Fulton was selected as one of two grand marshals for the upcoming Charlotte Pride Parade, scheduled for Aug. 18, representing the best of LGBTQ leadership, service and community, according to Charlotte Pride’s website.

Along with co-marshal Jim Yarbrough of QnotesCarolinas, Fulton will be an honorary lead at the head of the parade, riding behind the honor guard and among the first recognized by the parade emcees.

Fulton said the award couldn’t have come at a better time. In the nonprofit sector, you continuously do the work, not for recognition or praise — Fulton is the first to admit they prefer to remain in the background pushing others to the forefront — but it’s not guaranteed to be noticed.

As Charlotte Black Pride heads into its 20th year, Fulton was questioning whether they had done enough. “[The award] kind of confirmed it for me, like, ‘Your work is being seen,’” they said. “It just pushes me to want to continue to do a lot more.”

“Charlotte Black Pride is needed in this community,” Fulton said. “It’s not one of those things where we can take it or we can leave it.”

That is why Fulton wants to leave it in good hands.

Moving forward, Fulton hopes to lead the organization in hiring its first staff member. CBP has already made strides by acquiring its first brick-and-mortar office at the hygge coworking space in north Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood, where they hold community and board meetings.

Fulton hopes following the growth and development the organization has seen through the years, a qualified individual that holds the community they represent at the forefront will step forward for Fulton to pass the position on to with a clear mind.

If the timing isn’t right, Fulton will resume his position until the next election.

For now, they are doing whatever they can to continue providing their community with the support it needs.

Regardless of whether they step down or continue PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANN FULTON FULTON BECAME CHAIR OF THE CBP BOARD IN 2018. to serve in the years to come, Fulton’s own support system, his fiance of nearly two years, will be by their side through it all to provide, as is another one of Fulton’s easy to leave, emotionally or logistically. Many of the Looking to the future favorite sayings, “peace to your day.”

Almost eight years as chair and leading up to CBP’s folks eligible for chair are not able to take the position.

Charlotte Black Pride is a completely volunteerINFO@QCNERVE.COM 20th anniversary, Fulton said the organization has based organization, relying on the time of those who may become their baby.

The chair position is a three-year term that is not not be able to commit to a leadership role amid full-time jobs.

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

CRIES FOR HELP Andrew Tench’s loved ones say investigation into his disappearance has stalled

BY DAVIS CUFFE

To have a loved one go missing inspires a specific type of sadness and anxiety. To believe that you know where that loved one is, having been told that their body was discarded in a dumpster and is likely in a local landfill with no way of confirming if that is true, is a whole other feeling altogether.

With Andrew Tench missing since March and investigators remaining unresponsive, his friends and family remain in pursuit of closure.

Claims made by the last man to see Tench alive offer some insight into where Tench’s body might be located, but investigators with CMPD have halted the search, refusing to greenlight the excavation of a landfill where Tench’s loved ones believe he might be.

“We’re just kind of stuck,” said Christian Edison, a friend of Tench who helped launch a petition demanding police do more to find his body. “We’re in the dark. We don’t know anything.”

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What we do know

The 31-year-old Andrew Tench, who often went by Andy, was last seen in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 24, at The Bar at 316 in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood, where he celebrated his birthday.

Surveillance footage outside of the bar captured Tench leaving with a man he had met that night.

That man, 26-year-old D’shaun Robinson, has told police and Tench’s family that Tench died on the night of his birthday. However, it’s unclear how exactly Tench died and where his body currently is.

Tench’s family reported him missing on March 25 and his car was found by law enforcement in Union County shortly thereafter.

Robinson was identified as a person of interest and arrested on April 11 following a voluntary interview with police, during which he confirmed that Tench had died while in his company and claimed he had disposed of Tench’s body in a dumpster outside of a Charlotte hotel.

Robinson insisted he did not kill Tench. A search warrant would reveal that Robinson used Tench’s bank card to make multiple purchases over six days following Tench’s apparent death and also drove Tench’s vehicle.

Immediately following his interview with CMPD in April, Robinson was taken into custody and charged with felony concealment of a death, felony identity theft, two counts of felony financial card theft, felony financial card fraud, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, and three counts

of financial card fraud.

Robinson was initially denied release but later given a $30,000 secured bond as he awaits trial.

According to Edison, Robinson told Tench’s mother in June that he was “not the last person to lay hands on” Tench, though he would not be forthcoming with further details.

The cause of Tench’s death is still unknown, which is one of the reasons his friends and family are so adamant that investigators do more to find his body.

Early reporting by QnotesCarolinas said police told Tench’s mother, Tracii Blanton, that Tench was believed to have died of a fentanyl overdose after his drink was spiked. Any claim in regards to a cause of death is speculatory, however, due to the lack of a body.

Blanton asked Robinson if her son had suffered and ANDREW TENCH WENT MISSING AFTER HIS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN MARCH. whether he knew he was dying, to which he reportedly answered that Tench “just went to sleep,” leaving many questions still unanswered.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN EDISON

Where is Andy Tench now?

Tench’s family has identified a landfill in Anson County as the location where Tench’s body is most likely to be if he was in fact placed in the dumpster where Robinson claimed he placed him.

However, police will not search for Tench’s body at the landfill, reportedly telling Blanton that it would be too big a job, as 740,000 pounds of trash are dumped there every day. Police have stated publicly that there is not enough evidence to justify a landfill search.

With no body to bury and no cause of death revealed, Blanton launched a Change.org petition on June 9 to demand that investigators at least attempt to locate Tench’s remains in the landfill. In its first two months, the petition has garnered nearly 5,500 signatures.

“We have over 1,000 signatures on this begging Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to do something about it, and they’re still not doing anything,” said Edison.

As mentioned by Blanton in the petition post, landfill excavations have led to the successful recovery of remains before, including in Colorado, where authorities found the body of Jennifer Blagg in a landfill in 2002.

“Andy is not trash, and that [landfill] should not be his final resting place,” Blanton wrote in the petition post.

“I want to be able to bring him home to lay him to rest properly so I can have a place to go sit and talk with him,

FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAVE BEGGED INVESTIGATORS TO SEARCH A LANDFILL IN ANSON COUNTY. put flowers that’s not in the middle of a landfill of trash.

It breaks my heart that he’s there buried in trash & scares me to no end the perp will be released to do this again because now he knows how to get by with it. Just throw the victim in a dumpster in Charlotte. No worries.”

In a June statement, CMPD Deputy Chief Tonya Arrington addressed the issue, stating, “I understand the weight of the grief, the anxiety and heartache a mother or any parent would experience when their child goes missing and from not having closure. You want answers.

As a mother myself, I understand. We will continue

our efforts to bring about a resolution and closure for Andrew’s mother, his family and this investigation.”

Queen City Nerve reached out to CMPD for further comment but received no response.

Friends and family also staged search parties in an early effort to find Tench. All search parties have been organized and led by volunteers with no police aid. While the group has gathered some of its own leads, police have not provided much help, according to Edison.

“Everywhere we had leads, the police wouldn’t let us search the areas because we were trespassing,” Edison

said. “We understood that, but they wouldn’t even help us. Now, we don’t know where to look. We’re looking around and not getting any help.”

The Bar at 316, Tench’s last known location before leaving with Robinson, has also been unhelpful in the search, Edison said. The bar’s security cameras were reportedly damaged in an attempted ATM heist in the week before Tench’s visit to the bar. The damage to the cameras rendered the footage of Tench at the bar unusable.

In later communications with The Bar at 316, a member of upper management at the bar reportedly told a search party to look in a Union County forest for Tench’s body, then said they had spoken to “someone spiritual” who had told them Tench would be there.

The search party did not recover anything in the area after searching. “​​It was just weird,” said Edison. “And at that point of being desperate, you know, let’s go look.”

The Queen City Nerve contacted The Bar at 316 for comment but did not receive a response.

Edison said that, despite regular communication between police and Tench’s family at the onset of the investigation, it is beginning to appear that interest is fading. The lack of communication from lead detective Adam Bonaparte has been especially troubling for the group.

“Detective Bonaparte, we have been calling him and asking him for updates,” said Edison. “But Detective

Bonaparte will not say anything, he will not update anybody. It’s just like they’re not doing anything. So it’s really upsetting. I can’t even form thoughts because I’m so upset about it.”

Edison said he understands that the case’s ongoing nature may make it difficult for law enforcement to disclose information, but some clarity or proof of progress would be nice.

“I think for the family’s sake, we at least deserve to know that they’re still working on it and that they’re not going to let it go,” said Edison. “It would be great to just be reassured.”

The lack of answers and results has continued to take a toll on Edison and Tench’s family. Tench had asked Edison and Blanton to go out and celebrate with him on the night of his disappearance but the two were unable to attend.

“I still, you know, I feel that next immense regret for not knowing [what would happen],” said Edison about missing the occasion. “His mother does, too. We all do.”

“I failed my son. I no longer want to work, to live, to nothing because I guess my grief makes people ‘uncomfortable,’” wrote Blanton in a Facebook post in the group, Find Andy Tench.

With no body, no cause of death and seemingly little effort from law enforcement, family and friends of Tench are left without any sense of closure or feeling that it may be coming in the future.

“Andrew was a loving person. You could tell he

absolutely loved his family and put them first. I’m just hoping that they are able to lay him to rest. We just want justice to be served, I think that would start some overdue healing,” said Edison.

While the family has no plans yet for a funeral, Blanton announced a candlelight vigil for Tenchon Aug 31. A location has not been announced, but the vigil will be held around 9 p.m. All are welcome to attend and share any thoughts or memories. Blanton will provide

updates on the Find Andy Tench page.

Announcing the vigil, Blanton said she hopes to push back on the feeling that Andy’s case is being dropped and forgotten.

“Andy did exist,” she wrote. “He was a human being and he deserves to be remembered.”

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

CAROLINA ASCENT TAKES OFF Top-tier women’s soccer league kicks off in Charlotte

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BY SAM SPENCER

On July 10, more than 200 people packed a sweltering brewhouse at HopFly Brewing on South Mint Street to watch Carolina Ascent FC unveil their home and away kits for the team’s upcoming inaugural season. Fan mascots like the Carolina Reaper rubbed elbows with supporters, young fans, players and media.

Though the brewery played host to a similar cast of characters for Charlotte FC captain Ashley Westwood’s beer release party a couple weeks before, the Ascent event felt twice as big.

Part of the reason may have been timing. The Ascent scheduled the announcement a couple hours before the Copa America semifinal between Colombia and Uruguay would kick off at Bank of America. Parking was tight, Mint Street was full of Colombia fans in yellow while HopFly’s bar was packed with Uruguay supporters, all adding to the heat inside the building.

It’s hard to imagine a bigger day for Charlotte soccer.

When we spoke to Carolina Ascent principal owner Dan DiMicco at HopFly, he promised us even more surprises for the inaugural match; sources tell us there will be a special presentation honoring women’s soccer, and a tribute to how far the sport has come. DiMicco is also the principal owner of the Charlotte Independence.

Even before the Ascent announced their brand at a similarly crowded party at Protagonist Beer in March, excitement surrounded the team and their new league.

The inaugural year of the USL Super League will feature eight teams, including the Ascent, with more teams joining the league in the coming years.

When the league kicks off its inaugural season at American Legion Memorial Stadium on Aug. 17, the Ascent will face DC Power FC, with both teams taking the pitch for their first league match.

The game will take place 18 years to the week since a top-tier women’s professional team last played a home match in Charlotte.

Historic gains and growing pains

In the nearly two decades since the Sting disbanded in January 2007, women’s sports have experienced historic growth in the United States. Megan Rapinoe, Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles and many others are household names. Specifically, the success of the United States Women’s National Team in Olympic and World Cup competitions has grown women’s soccer and the NWSL. In the WNBA, the number of sellout games has more than doubled since 2023, and the Indiana Fever have been averaging higher attendance numbers than the Charlotte Hornets since signing Caitlin Clark.

Women’s sports have experienced significant growing pains as well. The Brittney Griner saga highlighted the massive pay inequities that still exist between women’s and men’s sports, while the Yates Report highlighted continuing problems with abuse in the NWSL and women’s soccer.

Given the success of and controversy in the NWSL, we asked the Ascent’s leadership why they chose to join the Super League instead.

“Our organization aligns with the mission of the USL Super League, expanding opportunities for more women to work and play in professional soccer,” said Carolina Ascent COO Tim Schuldt in a statement. “We believe we can make a massive impact for young girls in our community as we now have completed the pathway to the pros through the USL ecosystem, all here in the western Carolina region with multiple USL Youth Academies, many USL W League teams and now Carolina Ascent FC.” The Ascent’s ownership group is no stranger to controversy, either. DiMicco, an advisor to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, was widely condemned in 2020, including by Queen City Nerve, for tweets that promoted conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized the Black Lives Matter movement.

He hopes the new club represents an opportunity to turn the page.

In January 2007, the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting folded after The hometown heroes owner Bob Johnson ”gave up” on the team. Despite a 2021 The Ascent organization is creating opportunities for Finals run led by Dawn Staley and three homegrown stars, many women with ties to Charlotte and the Carolinas. followed by adding hometown hero Muggsy Bouges as head The team’s first signing, Vicky Bruce, grew up in Cornelius coach, the team regularly struggled with attendance. and attended both UNC Chapel Hill and Davidson College.

B HYLTON ON THE PITCH.

PHOTO BY MIGUEL SANCHEZ NUNEZ, CAROLINA ASCENT FC

GIOVANNA DEMARCO AT PRACTICE

PHOTO BY MIGUEL SANCHEZ NUNEZ, CAROLINA ASCENT FC

Other local signings include Cannon Clough, Ashlynn Serepca, B Hylton, Josie Studer and Jaida McGrew.

As both a local footballer and an energetic personality, Bruce is the perfect ambassador for the new team — and she brings a wealth of experience to the new league. Bruce’s professional career includes seven UEFA Women’s Champions League appearances as well as a Women’s Championship title with Bristol City W.F.C. When we spoke to her in May, Bruce was excited for the opportunity to come home and effusive in her praise for the new organization.

“I loved it so much when I was here back in Davidson [for college] that I was like, ‘Oh, I definitely want to end up back here,’” said Bruce. “I just [didn’t] know how to make that happen because I want to still play soccer. So I ended up going overseas, and going overseas kind of

catapulted a very long career elsewhere in Europe and Australia and just other parts of the world. So when this opportunity came about, it was a no-brainer.”

Bruce started her college career at UNC Chapel Hill as part of the school’s legendary women’s soccer team, winning the College Cup in her freshman year. Two years later, she found herself back home at Davidson, where the small-town vibes fit her better.

“I went from having 300 people in a class, not knowing my teacher, to knowing my teacher’s name and bringing my dog to class,” said Bruce. “Everyone at school knew who I was, and it just felt like such a home and such a community.

“I also got to play soccer at the Division I level in the A-10, because we switched conferences,” she continued.

“It was competitive in that way, and I got to excel off the

field as well in terms of my life, my social life, my school, my sexuality. Everything came together when I felt like I was in a place where I could just be myself.”

Bruce became a journeyman footballer who traveled the world, playing in Cyprus, Denmark, England, Germany, Iceland, Scotland and Sweden before ending up in Australia on her last squad before the Ascent.

“I’m so honored and thrilled to have had all of this travel and experience in my 20s,” said Bruce. “I don’t know that I would have gotten it otherwise. I have a lot of ups and downs in my career. There are things I wish I could have done differently here or there if I had known differently. Now that it’s come full circle, I’m back home in North Carolina. I get to be where I started this whole thing. It’s just unreal. It’s a dream come true.”

The hometown coach

SUPPORTERS SHOWED TO PROTAGONIST FOR THE BRAND RELEASE PARTY IN MARCH.

PHOTO BY SAM SPENCER

VICKY BRUCE “My initial conversation with Dan DiMicco and [Ascent CEO] Jim McPhilliamy was all about what they want to do and what they envision for the club,” said Poole. “When you start to look at where we are as a city, where women’s professional sports, women’s professional soccer is, combined with committed owners, you know, our city needs a women’s professional sports team. The fact that it’s a women’s professional soccer team is even better for us.”

While the Eagles currently field a team in the amateur Women’s Premier Soccer League, and the Independence fielded a pre-professional women’s team in USL W before rebranding it as the Ascent’s second team, the only toptier professional women’s team in the Carolinas has been the Cary-based NC Courage, two-time NWSL champions.

However, where there has previously been underinvestment and few opportunities for women players, Poole sees immense potential for the Ascent to grow women’s soccer and women’s sports in Charlotte.

“Women’s soccer, women’s sports has always been there. I think that the biggest equalizer has always been investment, has always been corporate investment, has always been television time. So when you resource two things equally, you know, you’ll see growth, right?” said Poole.

“I think that the growth of women’s sports has been on that track and I think the quality has always been there, as we know in this country especially, but now when you start having it visible and you start investment, people are drawn to this game now.”

Local feel on a national stage

Connecting with the community is a priority for the new club. The Carolina Ascent told Queen City Nerve they expect to sell out the home opener and “put on an incredible show that will help sustain the tremendous momentum we currently have.”

“I can’t wait to hopefully get the hype even higher

here and have all of our fans come out and just make this the thing that it should be,” said Bruce. “Women’s sports is going to be huge. It is huge. And now you can come support [the Ascent] and we’re the only female team here. So hopefully that means we get all the ladies coming out and cheering us on.”

“This is a massive opportunity to be with us right from the start, to see an exciting team of women play that are young and vibrant and exciting and that want to add something to the city,” said Poole. “I think the other piece is, you know, sports fans want connection, right? We can all attend a game, we can buy a ticket for anything, but when you want a connection to a team, when you want a connection to an identity, when you want to be part of building a team and a fan base and an identity, then coming in at ground level zero is the best part.”

The young club is beginning to see local investment as well.

Charlotte-based Nucor, a Fortune 500 company and the largest steel producer in the US, is the Ascent’s inaugural kit sponsor — DiMicco was formerly their CEO.

PHOTO BY SAM SPENCER

Novant Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Pepsi Co., Food Lion, HopFly, and Summit Coffee have all joined as team sponsors.

Additionally, Empower HER Fund, comprising 11 women business and community leaders, joined principal owner DiMicco and managing partner McPhilliamy as owners this month with a 25% stake in the club.

In a statement, the Empower HER Fund investors said, “While many of us are life-long soccer fans, investing in Carolina Ascent is a unique chance to support women’s sports, develop female leaders, and make a positive difference in the community.”

“We’re going to empower women and support them with the very best of everything to help them be successful,” said Schuldt. “We’re going to be a welcoming, inclusive franchise that makes a tremendous impact on our community, and we hope to inspire thousands of little girls to chase their dreams.”

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

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Another Charlotte local who is integral to the new team is head coach Philip Poole, who has lived in the Charlotte area for 25 years. Born and raised in England, Poole grew up in Newcastle and attended Newcastle United F.C.’s academy. After playing for Hull City AFC for three seasons, Poole came to the United States to attend Wingate University.

From there, he got into coaching and his opportunities “snowballed,” working at the college level, then with US Soccer and most recently as an assistant coach on the USWNT. Poole describes himself as a “career coach” who calls Charlotte home.

“My children were born here, so I consider Charlotte home for me now,” said Poole in an April interview. “[Being in international football] is the best job in the world, and I had the opportunity to extend [my position with the USWNT], had the opportunity to take a couple of different NWSL jobs, but being a resident of Charlotte, my kids are in school here, my wife’s very happy here, and, you know, when you look at that, it was a big factor, but it wasn’t the only factor.”

Poole and Bruce also have a bond that they’ll bring to the club in its first season.

“I talk to him quite a lot. He’s a great guy. We text, we call. He fills me in on little things,” said Bruce about Poole, or Pooley, as she calls him. “It’s just been so nice to reconnect with him. He actually coached me when I was 14, 15, 16. He’s kind of seen how this whole thing has come full circle for me. He knows just how hard I was working then and how hard I’ve been working to make this a reality.”

“I’m so happy Pooley reached out to me and I’m so excited to get the season started and really show the rest of the league what Carolina is about,” said Bruce.

Charlotte’s reputation as a soccer city is growing, but a professional women’s soccer team has been the “missing piece,” according to Poole. Mecklenburg County is home to not only Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC and USL League One’s Charlotte Independence, but also academy teams, MLS NEXT Pro’s Crown Legacy FC, NPSL’s Charlottetowne Hops, USL League Two’s Charlotte Eagles, and many smaller amateur clubs.

ARTS FEATURE

The paintings range in style from abstract to representational and, within the category of representational, the subject matter varies wildly from nature scenes and cityscapes to homages to the work of Gustave Doré and references to Pol Pot’s killing fields. Since the subject matter is so varied, the unifying element here is formal; this is a show about paint applied on layers of aluminum screening and the visual effects these techniques can create.

In a conversation about the show, Larrimore discusses the peril of making work that is ostensibly formalist, saying “with the so-called visionary work you don’t get Phillip Larrimore’s new VAPA to address issues.” This is a problem for Larrimore, who despite his esoteric interests is very much a man of this exhibit was born of grief world.

BY MATT COSPER Some of the most powerful work in the show is explicitly political. I’m thinking here of the Khmer RougeT.S. Eliot wrote, “The masters of the subtle schools are of sorts. Gallerist Joanne Rogers has curated an themed “Year Zero” and its stacks of skulls, then to a controversial, polymath.” overwhelming assemblage: some 86 of Larrimore’s acrylic small canvas titled “Trayvon” that addresses, somewhat While I’ve always hoped that this could apply to on metal screen paintings spanning the last 25 years. obliquely but with sensitivity and discernment, the me, it certainly applies to Phillip Larrimore, the Wizard These paintings, made on screen, are remarkable extrajudicial murder of young Black men by police and of Wingate. Larrimore is a poet, a critic, a visual artist for the uncanny illusion of movement they create. They others that remains endemic to this country. working in several mediums, a landscape designer, vibrate, as if the inner light and life of their subject were Larrimore acknowledges that “it is dangerous for and possibly the most erudite man I’ve ever known. struggling to be contained. Larrimore cites Leonardo a so-called ‘white’ person to co-opt that experience” Conversation with him is like barreling down a mountain da Vinci as a key influence in his shimmering screen and expresses frustration with white road at top speed with headlights cut off artists who bristle at criticism of their all the while the driver is blithely whistling work addressing racism or the Black the Goldberg Variations and discoursing on experience in America.

Kleist’s theories on Puppet Theater.

“Truthfully, we don’t have much In our conversation for this story, right at all to be hurt about such things,” Larrimore mentioned the strong influence he says. But having a wide and diverse that poet Elizabeth Bishop has had on him, circle of friends he has felt compelled to casually referring to her as “the Vermeer of express anger and “fear that people you American poetry, you know because of her love are in mortal danger just walking wonderful lucidity and the sense that she down the street.” is writing in real time.”

The show is divided in time. The Did I mention he’s a Sufi mystic who larger works are mostly from Larrimore’s recites the 99 names of Allah as he paints?

New York plague years. The remaining The man baffles me honestly, but knowing PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANNE ROGERS pieces are small format, created from that Phillip Larrimore is around makes me PHILLIP LARRIMORE’S ‘A JOURNEY AROUND MY ROOM’ EXHIBIT AT NINE EIGHTEEN NINE STUDIOS GALLERY. scraps during Larrimore’s time isolated feel better about life choices I’ve made — in his ancestral home in Wingate during mainly the choice to live in Charlotte.

Each screen has a different “score” painted on it. When COVID. In spite of studying art at the Corcoran School (to be paintings, but the artist that overwhelmingly comes to layered on top of each other the screens create a harmonics Larrimore returned to North Carolina in the midfair he was only there for a year before “running off with my mind when I witness the work is 18th-century British that in turn creates the sensation of mirage-like movement. 1990s, partially to escape the horrors of loss he had sculpture professor’s wife, which got very weird very quick,” visionary William Blake.

And it works beautifully. Even in the unfortunately been experiencing in New York and to care for his aging as he explains it), much of Larrimore’s early life and career Larrimore’s work is deeply spiritual, influenced by his insufficient lighting used for A Journey Around My Room, parents. They both passed away in the 2010s, and were spent as a writer doing highly regarded journalism lifelong engagement with Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, the psychedelic effect of the work shines through. It is a isolation and grief were doing a number on Larrimore and poetry under a different name. When asked about the and it quite miraculously pulls back the veil of reality to reveal testament to the work that the fluorescent lighting in the during the pandemic. alias, Larrimore gets squirrely and mentions the draft board something shimmering and vibratory underneath it all. gallery doesn’t ruin the effect.

As a means of managing, he put himself to work, and and certain underground organizations.

This transcendent quality isn’t merely a product of Upon entering the space you are confronted to your the small pieces on display at Nine Eighteen Nine are small He says he returned to visual art because, as a Larrimore’s intellectual interest in spirituality, although as right by several large format works, these are amongst miracles of form. While the large pieces work like spectral voracious reader, “I had ruined my writing and had to the son of a Baptist minister he does seem to come by that the oldest pieces in the show and they are not to be tapestries, or in one notable example as environments unto go back to painting. All my undigested influences were naturally. Rather, the work in his current show was born out missed. And please take your time. The work needs to be themselves, the small pieces serve as windows. making me miserable.” We should be grateful that the of, and matured in, that most potent crucible of spirit: grief. viewed from different distances and, self consciousness The effect is inward, as if these paintings were man took his brush back up. While Larrimore is a writer of Living and working in the visual art and dance scenes be damned, a slight sway from side to side enhances the portals into something. This is a marked contrast to the great style and insight, it is as a painter that he has made of New York City in the 1980s and ’90s, Larrimore found lysergic aura of the pieces. large works which emanate outwards toward the viewer. his greatest discoveries. himself plunged into the role of caretaker to a battalion While I found the sheer number of pieces on display A Journey Around My Room, which closes on Sept. 5, A Journey Around My Room, Larrimore’s solo show of ailing friends during the AIDS crisis. Such proximity to be a bit much, I will concede enthusiastically that the offers visitors a glimpse into the interiority of a singular currently up in Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery at the to the slow painful separation of body and soul will do volume and variety of work gives visitors to the gallery a individual — there is no one quite like Phillip Larrimore.

Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Center, is a retrospective something to you, not to mention the simple catastrophic INFO@QCNERVE.COM compelling peek into Larrimore’s preoccupations.

BEHIND THE SCREENS

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quantity of loss. Larrimore lost 100 friends in one year — a loss that is difficult to comprehend.

It was in this context that Larrimore, who had been obsessed with the quality of movement in da Vinci’s drawings of water, began studying the movement of fire.

(When he tells me this I immediately flash to images of the legendary Djinn, pre-Islamic creatures composed of smokeless fire. Should I ask Larrimore for three wishes?)

Larrimore and his partner at the time were running a video service that documented dance performances.

Using the editing bay he had at hand, he slowed down 15 minutes of footage from trash can fires on the Bowery until it was 24 hours long. This allowed for trancelike meditation on the mechanics of fire, how the eye perceives motion and how the artist’s hand could possibly present it.

In one of those leaps of cognition that artists (the good ones anyway) everywhere will recognize, his study of fire led him to one of his other loves: music. Larrimore realized that by splitting an image into parts, a la the four part harmony of a work by Bach for instance, he could create the interplay of light and image that would create the illusion of movement in the viewer’s eye.

Thus Larrimore conceived of his screen paintings, which typically consist of something more like four screens.

ARTS FEATURE

THE TAOH OF OSIRIS RAIN Charlotte’s first graffiti park set to open for public participation

BY RYAN PITKIN

TREAZY TREAZ (FOREGROUND) AND SYDNEY DUARTE WORK TOGETHER AT TAOH OUTDOOR GALLERY.

of other projects that these funds have provided for this year,” he said. “It’s incredible, it’s necessary ... Sometimes, even if the vision exists and even if the manpower and the will exists, I know a lot of things stop at vision because there’s a lack of will, but even if all those things line up, if you can’t afford the basic structure of getting something off the ground, a lot of things just die in the water. So it was massively important for getting this off the ground.”

Learn as you go

Built on the principle that the city needs more works in progress, the TAOH Outdoor Gallery itself will be a work in progress.

A document released by the TAOH team lays out a few early ground rules, all of which revolve around accessibility, inclusivity and patience with others. Folks shouldn’t expect their works to stay up beyond a week, explained Rain, as this is meant to be a space specifically made for practicing the craft.

There will be a certain honor system that artists will need to follow to avoid conflict when a recent work gets painted over. Artists are asked to use their discretion in trying to paint over the pieces that have been there the longest rather than something that went up that day, for example, while judging for themselves how their own skills compare to the piece they are covering.

Rain was inspired by similar parks where he has painted in Europe, specifically Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies in Barcelona.

“We want everybody to feel they’re welcome and not discouraged to paint, but also to understand that there are hierarchies to quality and longevity,” he said.

“So if you’re just practicing, you’ve got to understand that that’s not going to last forever, but the street code is to recognize skill and quality and do not go over something that is better than what you can do.”

Duarte compares it to a sand castle, a metaphor that Rain has borrowed in describing how participants should view their works at the gallery.

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

“You learn to paint it, you enjoy the process and, Sydney worded it well, treat it like a sandcastle on the beach; put all of your love into it, put all of your energy into it, but when the tide comes in and washes it out, don’t get angry.”

Treazy Treaz, a local artist who moved here from Australia and has advocated for the Piece for Peace movement, agreed that people overseas have found the right balance for how to ensure there isn’t conflict at graffiti parks. He hopes to bring the collaborative vibe he has witnessed in Australian parks to Charlotte.

“The goal of this is to really elevate Charlotte’s art scene,” Treaz told Queen City Nerve. “To give the people who haven’t had a chance to really practice … something to aspire to, like we’re an open book. And hopefully other people here can show people, if someone needs help, we can use that as almost like a school of the streets.

The team behind TAOH is planning a grand opening event at the site on Sept. 14 that will include workshops, music, food trucks, artist talks and an outdoor screening of a documentary on graffiti and hip-hop in the 1980s.

In the meantime, artists have been in and out of the park, gracing the walls with large-scale murals and smaller fill-ins on the corners of the walls. When Queen City Nerve stopped by on July 21, the first day people began painting, the communal vibe was strong, with folks hanging out, painting here and there but mostly just discussing the potential for the project.

For Rain, that’s what TAOH Outdoor Gallery is all about.

“It’s the necessity of being able to congregate and talk with like-minded artists and people,” he said. “Even if you aren’t an artist, having people be able to be a part of that community space, because it’s not just a place to paint, it’s a place to congregate, it’s a place to exchange ideas. And it’s doing that for so many people. And it makes me want to cry. It’s incredible.”

Visit taohoutdoorgallery.com or follow @ taohoutdoorgallery to learn more about the project .

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

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Having now spent a decade in the local street art Victoria Yards in April. The movement revolves around two scene, muralist Osiris Rain has been witness to an explosive driving symbols: the peace sign and the TAOH symbol. growth in interest for public art of all kinds in Charlotte — An acronym that stands for “The Awakening of especially murals like those he specializes in.

Humanity,” the TAOH Outdoor Gallery will serve as a sister Street art has become more accepted and even project of the Piece for Peace movement, with a monthly desired around the city, with developers often paint prize pack giveaway to an artist who creates a commissioning muralists to grace the walls of their new “PEACE piece” at the gallery and tags @PieceForPeace_ complexes and other buildings as a part of construction. Movement in a picture.

However, as the population grows, so does the arts But the real mission behind the TAOH Outdoor Gallery scene, and the number of artists interested in doing such is more localized. While the current space is temporary, work has exploded right along with the demand. offered by Stuart Proffitt of Proffitt Dixon Partners while his “Artists are trying to get into this genre, but a lot firm awaits the right time to start construction on a new of artists don’t have the training or the opportunity to apartment complex at the site, Rain’s goal is for the current develop those skills or the space to be mentored in those space to serve as a pilot program of sorts, showing how skills,” explained Rain. “And I think that we have a demand impactful such a project can be for the community as a whole. within the market that can’t be satiated right now.”

“The beauty of it and the goal is to show that it Enter Rain’s latest project: the TAOH Outdoor Gallery. works, show that it adds value to the community, show Launched in partnership with the Piece for Peace Movement, that it creates a space for interaction, dialogue, and Proffitt Dixon Partners, Art Walks CLT and many of his peers in growth to occur, and to be able to present that case study the local creative community, TAOH Outdoor Gallery is being to the city and to Park and Rec in a convincing manner touted as Charlotte’s first graffiti park, giving local artists of so that we can establish a permanent space through the all stripes a place to practice their craft — be it spray-paint, city,” he explained. sculpting, installations, chalk art or whatever.

And if it takes awhile for the folks with the power to Located on an undeveloped lot at 2200 North Brevard do that to come to their senses, Rain said he’s ready to keep Street, Rain is hoping TAOH Outdoor Gallery can serve not TAOH Outdoor Gallery going however and wherever he can. only as an incubator for local artists but a gathering place for The nearly 20 8-foot-tall wooden canvases that range in all types of creatives to come together and build community. width from 8 to 50 feet can be packed into a trailer over a “We hope the culture that we’re creating here is for weekend and moved wherever they need to go. everyone to feel welcome, everyone to not be afraid to “If the city decides they don’t want to get their shit ask a question, for everyone to just cheer each other on,” together and realize that this is an important part of the said Sydney Duarte, a local artist who is helping to launch fabric of our community, what I’ll do is … I’ll go to the TAOH Outdoor Gallery. “Don’t be afraid to just go bigger, try next client developer of mine and see who’s sitting on a something new. It’s just like a safe space for people to create lot that they can’t develop due to waiting on permits, and — for people that have either never had the opportunity we’ll build it again and let it ride for as long as it goes until to go a little bigger or need a place to practice.” they break ground.”

The existence of the park is already a sign that the city is warming up to creative projects. In June, the city The Piece for Peace movement announced that Rain and the TAOH Outdoor Gallery While Rain has long wanted to open a graffiti park would be one of 35 grantees for the new slate of 2024 in Charlotte, the mission behind it began to take shape Opportunity Fund grants, allocated by the City of when Duarte introduced him to the Piece for Peace Charlotte Arts and Culture Advisory Board. movement, a collaborative international effort to harness For Rain, who originally planned to come out of the power of good through creativity. pocket for the project, the announcement was the sign of Launched in March of this year, Piece for Peace kicked off a shift in Charlotte’s culture. with workshops in 16 countries, including one in Uptowns “It’s important, not just for this project, but for a lot

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FEATURE

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WED

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE QUEEN CITY

SKIP THE SMALL TALK

In the world of social media and short attention spans, it can be hard to find yourself in a deep conversation with anyone. Heist Brewery’s monthly Skip the Small Talk event series brings people from around the city together with one goal: to go past the ice breakers and dive deep into topics … in person. Organizers provide “big talk” conversational prompts that range from “When are you the happiest?” to “If you were going to become close friends with me, what would I need to know about you?” They will also provide ground rules to make sure attendees feel comfortable and safe sharing as much of themselves as possible while still feeling in complete control of how much they share.

More: $18.50; Aug. 7, 7 p.m.; Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts, 1030 Woodward Ave.; tinyurl.com/ SkipTheSmallHeist

DEVIN B. JOHNSON (BECOMING THE SEA) Courtesy of Nicodim Gallery

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KILBORNE DIY BENEFIT SHOW 2.0

BECOMING THE SEA EXHIBIT The team behind the Eastland DIY skatepark has OPENING

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“We love playing The Fillmore,” Taking Back Sunday guitarist John Nolan told Queen City Nerve in 2022.

“It’s been good to us. We’ve got to see a lot of shows there, as well, since we’ve lived there, so that always makes it cool to go to a venue where you’ve seen a lot of bands you love. You think a little more about the company that you’re in when you play a place like that.” That show two years ago celebrated the release of Twenty, a compilation album that marked the band’s 20th anniversary. This year’s tour marks the release of 152, their latest album that dropped last October, and the four-piece is showing no signs of slowing.

More: $59 and up; Aug. 8, 8 p.m.; The Fillmore, 820 Hamilton St.; fillmorenc.com

SAT 8/9

been full speed ahead at their new Kilborne DIY The Gantt Center’s latest exhibition highlights 12 skatepark since finalizing the space for it in 2023. artists who participated in the first two years of Black Now organized as the Charlotte Skate Foundation, Rock Senegal, an artist residency founded in 2019 by the nonprofit concerns itself with building out and renowned visual artist Kehinde Wiley. Named for the keeping up Kilborne while also advocating for a volcanic rocks that blanket the Senegalese shoreline, stronger skate culture in Charlotte. Fundraising is Black Rock is a multidisciplinary artist-in-residence always needed for such work, and that’s where Snug program that brings together international artists Harbor comes in. For the second annual Kilborne DIY to live and work in Dakar. Curator Dexter Wimberly Benefit Show, they’ve booked goth rocker Donnie and representatives from the Black Rock Global Doolittle, Charleston alt-rock group Pure Pleasure, Arts Foundation will be in attendance for this Queen City’s Navtec and Forsyth County hardcore exhibition opening event, which will be followed newcomers Wash Away. by a community day with family-friendly activities More: $10; Aug. 9, 10 p.m.; Snug Harbor, 1228 throughout the day on Aug. 10.

Gordon St.; snugrock.com More: Free; Aug. 9, 6-9 p.m.; Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St.; ganttcenter.org

TAKING BACK SUNDAY

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JAMISON ROSS

TAKING BACK SUNDAY Photo by Natalie Escobedo

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Jamison Ross is a Grammy-winning soul artist whose music emanates from the intersection of R&B, gospel, and blues supported by modern production and contemporary soul. It also emanates from somewhere else that sets him apart from many of his crooning colleagues: from behind his drum kit. In 2019, Jamison and business partner David S. Hargrett founded Affective Music, a record label and management company dedicated to defining the sound of soul in this era. Jamison achieved a significant milestone in 2023 by winning a Grammy with Snarky Puppy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album with Empire Central. Jamison’s unique ability to marry smooth vocal melodies with soulful production is a refreshing treat to true music lovers.

More: $25-$30; Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m.; Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St.; eveningmuse.com

JAMISON ROSS Promotional photo

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UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE QUEEN CITY

ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD

TUES 8/11

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CRISIS! THE MUSIC OF ORNETTE Saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield is known around the COLEMAN

ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD Promotional photo

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world for creating and performing music in a variety of genres including jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock and more. His star began shining at the age of 4 when he received his first saxophone during a Kenny G concert. He would go on to be a backing saxophonist on many of Prince’s final masterpieces including the 2017 Grammy-nominated Hit-N-Run Phase 2. But not before he was educated at Northwest School of the Arts, where he’ll return for this exclusive concert and fundraising event. Praised by saxophonist Dave Koz as a favorite and most highly anticipated up-and-coming artist, Crutchfield is one of his generation’s most prolific and lauded musicians.

More: $20-$35; Aug. 11, 7 p.m.; Northwest School of the Arts, 1415 Beatties Ford Road; tinyurl.com/CrutchfieldNWSA

sat-sun8/10-8/11 FRI

CRUSADERS OF CHAOS: A D&D Described as a “magician of the soul,” Davin Youngs COMEDY SHOW THE RESET

SAT 8/16

Join fierce Dungeon Master Kaya Allyn and a lineup of great local comics – Ryan Beale, Nathan Baker, Craig Collin, and Sauce Got Jokes – as they bring a live tabletop role-playing game to life, blending epic quests with side-splitting humor. Stand-up comedians dive headfirst into a live Dungeons & Dragons campaign with this one-off show in which hilarious improv meets epic fantasy. Witness Charlotte’s funniest weave jokes and spells, all fueled by audience suggestions and pure comedic mayhem. Sharpen your wits, ready your spells, and prepare for an enchanting night of comedy and chaos. Oh, and dressing the part is encouraged.

More: Free; Aug. 16, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Protagonist South End, 227 Southside Drive, Unit A; tinyurl.com/CrusadersOfChaos

SEISMIC SUMMER VOL. II

ORNETTE COLEMAN Photo courtesy of Michael Hoefner

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Tuckaseegee will be registering on the Richter scale come Aug. 17, as 10 supremely heavy bands will converge on Charlotte’s most iconic stage coming from far and near to mark the second annual Seismic Summer festival. With sounds ranging from melodic doom metal and heavy psychedelic rock to crossover thrash and sludge, Seismic Summer Vol. II promises a dynamic cross-section of heavy music sure to delight anyone who worships the Almighty Riff. The fest is a showcase of heavy bands from up and down the East Coast, plus the Midwest: Satan’s Satyrs of Virginia; Restless Spirit from Long Island, New York; Faerie Ring from Indiana; Doomsday Profit from Durham; Mean Green from Boone; and more.

More: $25; Aug. 17, 3:30 p.m.; The Milestone Club, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road; themilestone.club SATAN’S SATYRS (SEISMIC SUMMER) Photo by Sirsucksalot/Creative Commons

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created this immersive sound healing experience that will transform Booth Playhouse into a sonic container for restoration, discovery and healing.

Where wellness and music meet, Davin’s one-ofa-kind sound immersions take place under Luke Jerram’s captivating planetary “Gaia” installation.

Local yoga instructors and meditation facilitators including Jasmine Hines, Sydney Duarte and Caitlyn Sheff have been brought on to help attendees extend their zen. Bring your own yoga mat or meditation cushion as this meditative experience will be on the floor, though there is seating also available in theater-style seats around the perimeter of the venue.

More: $35 and up; Aug. 10-11, times vary; Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.; blumenthalarts.org

One who is admired by artists across all genres for his convictions in the fight for freedom of creativity and to be one’s self, Ornette Coleman passed away in June 2015 but his legacy lives on. One of the true jazz innovators whose sound was instantly recognizable and unquestionably unique, Coleman’s work ranged from dissonance and atonality to liberal use of electronic accompaniment in his ensembles, as well as the engagement of various ethnic influences and elements from around the globe. While experimenting with time and tone, his strong blues roots were always evident. Bassist Ron Brendle, saxophonist Elijah Freeman, trumpeter Ariel Mejia, and drummer Al Sergel bring a fresh interpretation of the music created by the man who had a huge role in shaping the jazz world.

More: $7-$10; Aug. 13, 8 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

BY RAYNE ANTRIM

While Pride Month has come and gone for much of the country, in Charlotte, festivities are just about to get started for Charlotte Pride 2024, which is observed from Aug. 9-16 this year, wrapped up with two days of festivities and a parade on Aug. 17-18.

Those last two days will feature performances and other happenings spread across five stages: the Main Stage, Community Stage, Flourish at Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte Black Pride Stage, and Charlotte Gaymers Network BABY TATE Stage.

Below, we’ve compiled a rundown of performers who will be on the Main Stage over the two days of festivities during Charlotte Pride 2024.

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

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MAGGIE LOWE

Aug. 17, 1:30 p.m.

Maggie Lowe is a local musician who’s been described as a soulful musical storyteller, pairing irreverent wit with sides of spicy sass. Their songs are sincere and raw with a flare of humor while telling the tales of love and identity.

Lowe writes lyrics that appreciate the human experience with something everyone can relate to, with inspirations that include Tracy Chapman, Bradi Carlile and Alabama Shakes.

Lowe won her spot on the Main Stage during Charlotte Pride’s community auditions. In an Instagram post announcing their win, they described their audition experience as rewarding, stating that they hadn’t auditioned for anything since their 4th-grade talent show and had switched audition songs at the last minute. By following their heart, Lowe was able to express their true light and talent.

“Charlotte is talented, y’all! And the queer community is at the front of the pack. I can’t wait to create more space for community, music, and laughter in August!!!” they wrote in the post.

Lowe recently released their debut album, Tunes for Terrible Times, on Aug. 1, 2024. The record features Southern charm at its best, with roots in folk and, well, roots music.

BOB THE DRAG QUEEN

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

the same year titled In Ya City. His discography is filled with energy and an impressive flow.

Kawaii’s aesthetic hinges on the color palette common within Kawaii culture, a cultural phenomenon in Japan that centers pastels of pink, blue and purple.

He also interweaves horror elements within his album art, using the iconic horror figure Jason from Friday the CAMDEN KAWAII 13th for his 2023 EP, Kawaii The 13th II. We predict that Aug. 17, 1:45 p.m. the starpower this multi-talented artist has combined Another community audition winner, Camden Kawaii with a clear creative direction will propel him within the is a Charlotte native who first paved his way into the rap Charlotte music scene. scene in October 2021 with a feature on “Monkey in the Middle” alongside the “Texas made and Carolina raised” rapper A$IAE. He released a five-track EP in December of

PAULA COLE

BABY TATE

Aug. 17, 9 p.m.

The Atlanta-based artist formerly known as Yung Baby Tate graced the music scene with her debut project, ROYGBIV, in 2015. She began cultivating her skills as a singer, songwriter, rapper and producer when she was 13. Fueled by self-love and manifested dreams, the 25-year-old songwriter started making waves with her breakthrough project, GIRLS, in 2019 with hits like “That Girl” and “Mean Girl.”

Baby Tate’s music connected strongly to women and femme audiences through her kaleidoscopic beats and highly relatable lyrics. Reaching many different listeners through the pop, R&B and hip-hop genres, she grips her fans with confident sentiments like, “I am protected, well respected/ I’m a queen, I’m a dream/ I do what I wanna do/

PHOTO BY JOHAN BROBERG

And I’m who I wanna be/ ‘Cause I am me...” from “I Am.” As part of the queer community, Baby Tate wants to show young people what life as a happy, healthy and thriving adult queer person can look like. According to an article from The Washington Post, her music video for “Wig” is an ode to the drag lip sync, beginning with an appreciation of the community: “Thank you for your inspiration, my trans, drag and nonbinary kings and queens.”

BOB THE DRAG QUEEN

Aug. 17, 10 p.m.

The alter ego of non-binary comic/actor Caldwell Tidicue, Bob The Drag Queen describes herself as “hilarious, beautiful, talented and … humble.” Bob received the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar”

on season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, laying the path to a successful career with multiple acting roles on HBO, Netflix, Sony Tristar, MTV and VH1.

Along with HBO’s unscripted show, We’re Here, Bob has recently released her second comedy special as well as season 4 of Sibling Rivalry, the podcast she co-hosts with drag sister Monét X Change. She credits Bianca Del Rio and Peppermint as queens that helped her succeed in her early drag career.

Bob will stop by Charlotte Pride as she continues on her first headlining world tour, THIS IS WILD!, a significant milestone for the drag queen. Bob’s ability to blend stand-up comedy, crowd work, music and performance will permeate the Main Stage to close out Saturday night’s festivities.

SLAYYYTER

Aug. 17, 8 p.m.

Born and raised in Kirkwood, Missouri, Slayyyter began her music career after dropping out of college, tinkering with her craft by writing ‘80s-reminiscent lo-fi pop that she produced and edited without releasing it to the public. After juggling a music career with her day job in a salon, she finally launched herself into a full-time music career — trusting her social media skills, humor and ability to write catchy hooks — by moving to the City of Angels.

In a short amount of time, she transformed into an erotic electronic pop femme fatale. She started gaining traction through Twitter in 2019 after a 14-second snippet of her song “Mine” reached over 200,000 views.

She cemented herself into pop culture with songs like “Daddy AF” generating over 100 million streams. She released her self-titled mixtape in 2019, peaking at No. 4 on the U.S. iTunes Pop Chart. She credits “Stan Twitter” for growing her audience, as well as connecting her to frequent collaborator, Ayesha Erotica.

Before landing gigs like supporting Tove Lo on her Dirt Femme tour, Slayyyter sold out her first headline tour and maintained her momentum with the critically acclaimed full-length debut, Troubled Paradise.

REYNA ROBERTS

PAULA COLE

Aug. 18, 5 p.m.

Raised in Rockport, Massachusetts, Cole came from a family of artists. Her mother, Stephanie Cole was a mixed media artist and elementary school art teacher, and her father, Jim Cole, played bass in a polka band. Cole attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where she studied jazz singing and improvisation with Bob Stoloff.

After graduating, she moved to San Francisco and began her music career writing songs like “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” Impressed with her demo performance, label president Terry Ellis offered Cole a record deal with Imago Record in 1992.

She first garnered national attention on Peter Gabriel’s 1993-94 “Secret World Tour” and landed a Grammy in 1997 as Best New Artist. The award was in recognition of her 1997 album This Fire, which reached No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and has since sold over 2 million copies.

Cole has collaborated with other music legends including Peter Gabriel, Dolly Parton and Herbie Hancock. With an influence that extends across genres and generations, she continues to make strides within the industry with her compelling storytelling, vulnerable lyrics, and moving melodies. She has said her song “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” which remains one of her most popular hits, is a social commentary on gender stereotypes with a feminist message.

MODERN ALIBI

PHOTO BY BRANDON BURDETTE

REYNA ROBERTS

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

MODERN ALIBI

Aug. 17, 5 p.m.

Modern Alibi is a Charlotte-based alternative rock band founded by songwriter Holden Scott. The band is known to have high-energy performances and has quickly been making a name for themselves in NC with sold-out shows across the state. The four-piece indierock outfit delivers heavy tones with grooving bass lines, vintage guitars, and rich vocal melodies.

The high-energy band has also been gaining popularity on social media, gaining many new followers and recognition within the industry through their Instagram Reels highlighting their renditions of popular songs. The chemistry, charisma and musical talent of the band is apparent both online and in live performances between the four lads, and will make a splash on the Main Stage at Charlotte Pride.

““I write lyrics based on feelings,” Scott told Queen City Nerve in January, shortly after Modern Alibi was named Best New Band in our 2023 Best in the Nest issue. “When there’s … realness, [it] creates that sweet spot for me.”

TORA HIMAN

Emceeing throughout both days alongside DJ Ghost Best described as the life of the party, fans would likely not be surprised to learn that Tora Himan started her entertainment journey in musical theatre. According to her website, she never landed any boy roles and decided to become the leading lady instead. Originally

from the woods of Pennsylvania, Tora grew up on a farm milking cows, helping her family run their butcher shop and twirling baton in her backyard.

Tora’s punny and painful sounding name was picked by her drag mother, Ginger Minj. Tora began making her way into pop culture by winning her season in the drag reality show Camp Wannakiki.

The show features the campiest drag artists from across North America, with each episode showcasing the campers competing in a variety of daily activities and nightly talent shows to earn their badge. Each competition boots a contestant with the events continuing to eliminate artists until the last one standing claims the crown as well as the ultimate “Queen/King of Camp” badge.

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Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.

Singer-songwriter and pianist Reyna Roberts is one of the few visible Black women in country music, known for advocating and raising awareness for the role of Black women in cultivating the genre, including crediting mentors such as Lesley Riddle, learning the history of the banjo, and knowing where the term “Music City” comes from for Nashville — hint: It was inspired by the all-Black choir Fisk Jubilee Singers.

The powerhouse vocalist began playing piano when she was 10, with her parents continually supporting her passions by moving to California in order to give her more opportunities within the music industry. The move paid off, with Roberts connecting with songwriters, artists and managers eventually landing her a spot with CMT’s Next

Women in Country Class of 2021.

Roberts says her influences range from Beyonce and Gretchen Wilson, appearing on the former’s Cowboy Carter album in March, to Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood. She continued blazing a trail within the genre with the release of her debut album Bad Girl Bible Vol. 1, writing and co-producing the album and stating, “This album is the truest reflection of my sound as an artist.”

The venues and organizations that will be throwing down for 2024 Charlotte Pride Pride Week means plenty of chances for celebrations across Charlotte. Here are some options for you, plus some organizations you should check out for the work they’re doing on the ground.

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OFFICIAL CHARLOTTE PRIDESPONSORED EVENTS

help bring this underground dance party is sure to make “Charlotte’s freakiest party” a new staple within the community.

More: Times vary; locations vary; CHARLOTTE PRIDE INTERFAITH SERVICE MEMORIES OF CHARLOTTE PRIDE 2023 Hear speakers from different faiths and spiritual tinyurl.com/Queer-Coded backgrounds reflect on what it means to be someone literature. The group meets semi-regularly, covering of faith within the LGBTQ+ community and join the GIRL’S ROOM CLT A music and arts group that spotlights women, books like This Is How You Lose the Time War and On discussion. a Sunbeam. Currently, there is an active Discord for More: Free; Aug. 11; 4 p.m.; Sacred Souls United non-binary folks and people of color within potential and current members to connect.

Church of Christ, 2127 Eastway Drive; charlottepride. Charlotte, this collective has a heavy presence on More: Times vary, locations vary; Instagram, garnering 8,500 followers since 2019. org Their events bring those within queer spaces tinyurl.com/SapphicbookclubCLT to come together to enjoy DJ sets and dancing.

NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATE FAIR STONEWALL SPORTS CHARLOTTE Meet candidates running in the statewide and Featured DJs come in from all around the country to A perfect place for low-impact sports and Mecklenburg County elections this fall and ask about throw the best parties by creating an environment community outreach, Stonewall Sports is an LGBTQ+ their platforms to help make informed decisions for that celebrates queer folks alike as well as creatives sports organization with more than 2,000 annual to build a tight-knit community that spreads farther your community. participants. The organization aims to develop a More: Free; Aug. 14; 6:30 p.m.; Resident Culture than Charlotte. well-connected and diverse community through More: Times vary; locations vary; South End, 332 W. Bland St., C; charlottepride.org organized competition with social and fundraising tinyurl.com/GirlsRoomCLT events involving bowling, cornhole, dodgeball, CHARLOTTE PRIDE DRAG PAGEANT kickball, sand volleyball and other sports.

Witness drag stars in the making participate in CGN AFTER DARK Charlotte Gaymers Network was founded by More: Times vary, locations vary; three categories: Interview, Show Your Pride, and tinyurl.com/Stonewall-Sports Talent. The event celebrates inclusion and visibility friends Jonny Saldana and Zach Smith in July 2020. for artists by increasing community participation CGN strives to create an inclusive environment GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF CHARLOTTE and encouraging larger community awareness of for folks from all walks of life to come together If you’re a singer looking for a group of likeand celebrate their love and passion for gaming. the art form. minded people, Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte is the More: Free; Aug. 17; 2-6 p.m.; Community Stage, The organization offers all kinds of events, from place for you. If you’re looking to audition, the chorus gatherings to sapphic socials offering members Uptown Charlotte; charlottepride.org/pageant to enjoy board games, tabletop games and video has resources to help you prepare for your audition.

They welcome people of all sexual orientations to games.

QUEER-FRIENDLY EVENTS/ CGN’s monthly After Dark allows members to audition for a chance to be part of the ensemble.

ORGANIZATIONS The organization supports a diverse cross-section enjoy an open bar, meals, music, shows, giveaways of the community through its community outreach and open play with consoles provided by the QUEER CODED programs, which include benefit performances, Miami-raised, Charlotte-based DJ Evan and Claire, organization. After Dark rotates around different complimentary concert tickets and choral education a non-binary visual artist and music lover, created venues that support the LGBTQ+ community. programs with an emphasis on persons living with Queer Coded earlier this year to create spaces that More: Monthly; locations vary; and affected by HIV/AIDS, gay/lesbian youth, senior welcome all kinds of queer folks that feel safe and tinyurl.com/CGNAfterDark citizens, school and church choral programs and fun to everyone. With Evan’s experience in Florida’s others. queer scene, they hope to bring the high energy that SAPPHIC BOOK CLUB Founded in 2022, the Charlotte Sapphic Book More: Mondays; 7-9:30 p.m.; Galilee Center, 3601 fuels Miami’s scene with global underground queer Central Avenue; gmccharlotte.org/join-us music and culture, while Claire’s expertise in graphic Club is a safe space for any women who like women design, film photography and social media while or sapphic-minded folks to talk about their love of

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

SAPPHIC SECOND FRIDAYS AT BAR ARGON Hosted by Bar Argon, an energetic gay bar and video lounge for cocktails, meet other queer women in Charlotte for no cover. Doors open at 8 p.m. with special DJ appearances starting at 10 p.m. Typically, RuPaul’s Drag Race shows at the beginning of the night, followed by a drag show performance before participants dance the night away.

More: Second Friday of each month; 8 p.m.; Argon, 4544 South Boulevard, #H; tinyurl.com/Sapphic-Second-Fridays STARLIGHT ON 22ND DRAG SHOWS Starlight on 22nd hosts a variety of queer-friendly events — one of them being drag shows. They’re typically held on Thursdays with the shows being spread across a couple of times during any given month. The shows are sometimes themed, hosted by specific drag artists for those looking for a fun night out or a safe space for queer folks.

More: Thursdays of each month, times vary; Starlight on 22nd, 422 E. 2nd St.; starlighton22nd.com CHARLOTTE ROYALS RUGBY Originally founded in 2004, the sports team formed after being invited to a scrimmage between the Atlanta Bucks and Raleigh Kodiacks. Today, the team has more than 40 members and strives to be the premiere LGBTQ+ and allies club in the Southeast, acting as a community pillar of wellness, education and volunteerism.

Charlotte Royals also offers scholarships to the scholar’s college or university to help cover tuition and fees. Typically there are two scholarships of $1,000 awarded to each receiver. The scholarships are dispersed to the school for the fall semester,

and applicants are reviewed based on financial need, LGBTQ+ advocacy, participation in sports and academic excellence.

More: Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.; charlotteroyalsrugby.com

your way down to Chasers and dance to classics like “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “The Cupid Shuffle.”

More: $5 cover charge; Aug. 15, 7-10 p.m.; Chasers Charlotte, 3217 The Plaza; tinyurl.com/Country-Night

MISCELLANEOUS PRIDE-RELATED EVENTS

SPEED DATING PRIDE EDITION For folks over 21, find your potential match by meeting new people and exploring connections with speed dating. Everyone will get 5-7 minutes with their date and at the end of the night, select your potential matches.

More: Free; Aug. 16, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; El Thrifty Social, 1115 North Brevard St., Unit 100; tinyurl.com/Speed-Dating-Pride-Edition

PRIDE KICKOFF DRAG BRUNCH Enjoy performances by Erica Chanel, Carmella Monet Monroe, Malayia Chanel Iman, Paris Brooks Bonet and Paris Brooks Bonet while enjoying a great brunch spread.

More: $20; Aug. 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Catalú, 135 New Bern St.; tinyurl.com/Pride-Kickoff-Drag-Brunch GILDED AGE CABARET SHOW Celebrate the queer arts with drag, burlesque and live singing performances by Liam Laughin, Crystal Violet, Van Dank, Oso Chanel, Lolital Chanel and Dallas Contour.

More: $15-$20; Aug. 10, 7-11 p.m.; Gilded Unicorn Tattoo Parlor, 3700 Latrobe Drive; tinyurl.com/Gilded-Age-Cabaret AMERICAN HONEY - OPENING RECEPTION Just in time for Charlotte Pride, American Honey is a new exhibition that features 10 queer artists who are celebrating and challenging Americana through different mediums including painting, tattooing, ceramics, textile, film and more.

More: $10 suggested donation; Aug. 10, 5-8 p.m.; McColl Center, 721 N. Tryon St.; mccollcenter.org PRIDE POSTER PARTY & VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION Come together with the community to create posters for Pride and learn how to be involved in Charlotte Pride with volunteer opportunities.

More: Free; Aug. 12, 6:30-8 p.m.; Time Out Youth, 3800 Monroe Road; tinyurl.com/Pride-Poster-Party

2024 PRIDE MIMOSA KICKOFF PARTY Hosted by the Hydration Station Foundation, start celebrating Pride with a few yummy mimosas. All proceeds go to the Plus Collective, a program that awards grants to the Charlotte LGBTQ+ community, and the Twirl Assistance Program, an organization that provides emergency hardship grants to LGBTQ adults.

More: $20-$400; Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Victoria Yards, 209 E. 7th St.; tinyurl.com/Pride-Mimosa-Kickoff PRIDE DRAG BRUNCH BY THE VANITY HOUSE Celebrate love and diversity with performances

by Riley Malicious, Dorae Saunders, Indica Gemini, Ariana Venti, DJ Vanna Vanity and Tia Douglas.

More: $25; Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Ink N Ivy, 222 South Church St.; tinyurl.com/Pride-Drag-Brunch CULTURE SHOCK DRAG BRUNCH - CLT PRIDE BASH Back for its third annual Pride Bash, Culture Shock will feature drag stars Nova Stella, Karen Affection, Kiara Mel, Sincere L’etoile, Lilli Serena Frost, Diamond XL and Leonasia Chane.

More: $20; Aug. 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Resident Culture-South End, 332 West Bland St., #C; tinyurl.com/Culture-Shock-Drag

Neighborhood Grille, 911 East Morehead St.; tinyurl.com/Hug-Pride-Party

PRETTY THINGS QUEEN CITY PRIDE Pretty Things, a popular Chicago-based collective is bringing the party to Charlotte with a curated set of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and house music made to keep you dancing the night away.

GIRLS GONE WILD PRIDE POOL PARTY Soak in the summer sun and enjoy live More: $15-$75; Aug. 17; 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; El Thrifty entertainment, hookah, a hot tub and more. To Social; 1115 North Brevard St., Unit 100; tinyurl. secure a spot at this pool party, follow @lezpartync com/Pretty-Things-QC-Pride and text “pool party” to 704-765-0047.

ZUTOPIA: 2024 JUST TWIRL PRIDE PARTY More: Free; Aug. 17; 3-8 p.m.; location TBA; Grab your animal costumes by going wild and tinyurl.com/Girls-Gone-Wild dancing your tails off with international DJ/Producer Ben Bakson.

ASÉ WRESTLING: PARIS IS BUMPING Hosted by ASÉ, a Charlotte-based, Black-owned More: $35-$50; Aug. 17, 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m.; Blackbox live event organization, Paris Is Bumping brings the Theater, 421 East Sugar Creek Road; tinyurl.com/ worlds of Ballroom and wrestling together. See the ZUTOPIA-Pride-Party participants fight for scores from 1-10 and celebrate PRIDE BRUNCH AT URBAN DISTRICT MARKET Pride with ASÉ.

Eat pancakes, charcuterie, omelets, cereal, More: $36.22-$70.52; Aug. 17; 4:30-8 p.m.; Infinity breakfast tacos, seafood, smoothies and more to Ballroom Charlotte; 4038 Old Pineville Road; cure that inevitable hangover. tinyurl.com/PARIS-IS-BUMPING More: Free; Aug. 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Urban District Market, 2315 N. Davidson St., #300; DAYLIT: OFFICIAL BLACK PRIDE DAY PARTY Gather your friends and celebrate Pride by tinyurl.com/Urban-District-Pride dancing to Afrobeats and hip-hop with music from EUPHORIA: R&B ROOFTOP PARTY DJ Shelt.

Hosted by LezParty!, this day party will feature More: Free-$300; Aug. 17, 4-9 p.m.; A1 Lounge, 616 the best R&B tunes, courtesy of DJ @Amberscloset, North Tryon St.; tinyurl.com/Day-Lit-Party accompanied by barbecue jerk wings, salmon bites, truffle fries and booze to wash it all down.

BLACK FEMME MUNCH If you’ve been looking to explore your kinks, this is More: Free-$50; Aug. 18, 3-8 p.m.; Eden of Plaza, the perfect place for you to explore new connections 1212 Pecan Ave.; tinyurl.com/Euphoria-Darty or get creative with a current partner within a safe CHARLOTTE ROYALS PRIDE AFTERPARTY space for Black queer folks.

Meet the Charlotte Royals team, a gay rugby More: Free-$15; Aug. 17, 6-9 p.m.; team, after Charlotte Pride to enjoy R&B music, an Play Church, 1600 Fulton Ave., Suite 140; OMB tap takeover, and party before the weekend tinyurl.com/Black-Femme-Munch comes to a close.

More: Free; Aug. 18, 6-8 p.m.; Starlight on 22nd, GIRLS ROOM PRIDE FESTIVAL Girls Room will partner with Change The Beat, a 422 E. 2nd St.; tinyurl.com/Charlotte-Royals-Pride nonprofit that works with labels and artists in dance music to elevate women and gender-expansive GIVE ‘EM SPACE - QUEER CLAY MAKING CLASS creatives in the EDM industry to host an awesome Give ‘Em Space is a Charlotte-based trans and party with DJ sets, live performances and vendors. queer-led art collective holding an inclusive More: $15.46; Aug. 16-17, 6-11 p.m..; workshop to teach participants techniques to mold The Music Yard, 2433 South Blvd.; and shape their original pots and trinkets. The tinyurl.com/Girls-Room-Pride-Festival event is an opportunity for those within the queer community to connect, share stories and celebrate HUG PRIDE PARTY each individual’s creativity.

Bring your best neon clothes and glow sticks for the glow-themed pride party and enjoy scrumptious More: $25; Aug. 24; 3-5:30 p.m.; 525 E 21st St.; bites and a live DJ set. All proceeds will go to Hearts tinyurl.com/Give-Em-Space

COUNTRY NIGHT - TWO STEPPING & LINE #CAREFREEBLACKGIRL COOKOUT DANCING In honor of pride, CareFreeBlackGirl will hold United for Good.

Grab your best cowboy boots and hats to mosey an interactive festival day with all ages, races and More: $25-$50; Aug. 17, 7-11 p.m.; Dilworth

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GLOWING WITH PRIDE | PRIDE GLOW YOGA EXPERIENCE Stretch out those limbs you’ll need for dancing the weekend away for a Pride-themed glow-in-thedark yoga experience under neon and black lights.

Be sure to bring your own yoga mat, towels and water.

More: Aug. 15; 6:30-8:45 p.m.; Lenny Boy Brewing Co.; 3000 S. Tryon St.; tinyurl.com/Glowing-With-Pride

BHH CLT PRIDE FRIDAY Bear Happy Hour CLT and Rhythm Station are kicking off Pride weekend strong with a retro dance party featuring spins from two DJs, bar specials and a food truck.

More: Free; Aug. 16-17, 7 p.m.-2 a.m.; Crown Station, 3629 N. Davidson St.; tinyurl.com/BHH-CLT-Pride

genders welcome. Enjoy their mini ball featuring Black women DJs, vendors, a glam bar and beauty bar, massages and more.

More: $10-$25; Aug. 17, 2-11:30 p.m.; Canteen at Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave., #100; tinyurl.com/Care-Free-Black-Girl

MUSIC FEATURE

THE JOURNEY OF SNOW Revisiting Christy Snow’s 2016 release, ‘Free to Be’

BY JONATHAN GOLIAN

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Living free to be who you are and feel out the world in any way chosen is an incredible freedom to have, as well as a notion to capture. It is also the message that is infused into some of Christy Snow’s music.

Snow has long been a staple in Charlotte’s music scene, but also an activist and advocate for a number of causes, including LGBTQ+ inclusivity. As a singer/ songwriter, speaker, writer and facilitator, Snow has a gift for empowering others through music, speaking and teaching. Her life-affirming lyrics serve as inspiration for others to live their best life and share their unique expression in the world while promoting authenticity and equality.

Having gotten her start playing in small bars, coffeehouses and house concerts, Christy still thrives in intimate performance spaces, though you can now catch her playing with her newly formed band at larger venues like Evening Muse and The Rooster.

During the pandemic, Christy found a silver lining by joining forces with a number of fellow Charlotte artists to launch the Christy Snow Band. With Brenda Gambill and Gina Stewart of Doubting Thomas Band bringing violin, harmonica, bass, and harmonies; Kim Niption on electric guitar; and Rochelle Coatney on drums, Cajon, and congas, the all-woman rock accompaniment has added both an edge and lyrical softness to Snow’s music, as she now shares songwriting duties with Gambill and Stewart.

For this Pride Guide however, we thought we’d revisit Snow’s epochal 2016 album, Free To Be, a collection of

tracks that tinge with bits of alt-country and Americana accents in the sound, while conveying the need to break out to be the best self, however that ends up.

The first track of the album, “Live Free”, doesn’t hesitate in introducing Snow’s personal struggles to do just that, as a steady guitar and harmonica soundtrack accompanies Christy’s own battle to wrench her life’s path back into her own hands.

“I’m tired of twisting in the wind to see which way its gonna blow me now/ I just won’t live like that again/ Gonna choose a different path some way somehow…”

The messaging is as easy-going as the music is, light-hearted and easy to complement the artist’s vocals, setting the tone for much of the album to come.

There are a few fun surprises that lay in wait, however, like the swing and quickened pace of “Do Things For You,” a danceable love tune that exclaims the desire to make anything happen for that special someone.

The piano takes over much of the instrumental backing, which, alongside the timing of the drums, sets pace to the hops of the track, installing a sense of fun not only in the music but in Snow herself.

The tracklist takes its share of sultry turns with tracks like “Heat” and “Big Daddy,” hitting different speeds but pushing the same type of winking narrative in getting the attention of that special someone.

While not always on a completely singular message, one of the album’s greatest strengths lies in establishing that one doesn’t have to be stuck in one place — whether

THE CHRISTY SNOW BAND

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

that’s mentally or spiritually.

“Map Is Not The Territory” is especially effective in expressing that, coming off as partly advice to listeners tuning in and, on the greater end, a life lesson about the true meanings of freedom according to Snow.

The explanations within the lyrics go down easy as the pace evens back out alongside keys and harmonica, with plenty of guitar tings to pace out the punches of the vocals, relaxing the track a bit.

Free To Be is powerful not only in the act of preaching a message of self-discovery and control, but the freedom to find any of what that would mean for the listeners that have the good fortune in discovering the album.

Snow takes care to not only talk the talk, but walk in the words by way of using herself as a catalyst in capturing the feelings put on by the music.

It is clear that none of what the tracks are about, in the notions displayed, came easy to the artist, taking much of a lifetime for her to find, which is why it’s so worth revisiting today.

I really appreciate and can take many messages from any of the 11 tracks on the record, but the one I think will stick most with listeners is how one may discover individual freedom for themselves, and how to take life up on all that it has to offer.

SINGLE MJ LENDERMAN, “SHE’S LEAVING YOU”

SINGLE JACKSON FIG, “MADS MIKKELSEN”

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REWIND: CLT’S NEW MUSIC RELEASES EP DOG FLATS, “SUMMER SKY”

The debut EP from the minds of Josh Robbins and Sarah Blumenthal explores the folk/Americana sphere with the sounds of steel guitar, echoed vocals, and a stripped back production that acts as a love letter to the genre’s rawness and an ode to looking at life through the small, slow moments.

Stream on Spotify

SINGLE MAGGIE LOWE, “OKAY”

A delicate and soft in nature, “OKAY” calls to the sentiment of all of when we go through the motions when we’re not okay. We tell ourselves that it’s okay, and that we’ll eventually get out of funk we’re in, and as long as we have company we’ll be in good hands.

Stream on Spotify

Heavily inspired by the beautiful landscape around him, Lenderman creates music that speaks to the senses and the heart. With his boyish vocal melodies, Lenderman’s protagonist accepts an inevitable fate of a relationship ending and harkens on where they could’ve shown up more for their partner.

Stream on Spotify

The three-piece rock band recently released an album titled Good Morning, Factory with many of the songs highlighting swirling melodies and atmospheric tones.

“Mads Mikkelsen” is no exception, hitting a climax toward the last third of the song giving the single a beautiful, lush texture.

Stream on Spotify

Cage the Elephant at PNC Music Pavilion, 8/4/24 Photo by Jeff Hahne

Te’jani at Petra’s, 7/6/24 Photo by @channel_20xx Wes Hamilton & the Railroaders at Snug Harbor, 6/29/24 Photo by @channel_20xx Thousand Dollar Movie at Petra’s, 6/29/24 Photo by @channel_20xx

Halestorm at PNC Music Pavilion, 8/3/24 Photo by Jeff Hahne

REWIND: CLT’S NEW MUSIC RELEASES SINGLE NARAH, “DANCE SONG”

SINGLE FEATHERPOCKET, “LOVER/LONER”

With an overly-indulgent intro of drums, claps and bass lines — the 50-second build up sets the tone and complements the grungy vocal melodies and gritty guitar tones that undeniably sways your hips to no other than dance with the hypnotizing rhythm.

Stream on Spotify

Putting the banjo and twang into its country sound, Featherpocket never fails to capture the genre perfectly. “Lover/Loner” is a yearning song, with every prolonged “Oohs” resonating with those longing for someone to hold.

Stream on Spotify

SINGLE RHINESTONE PICKUP TRUCK, “SHINIGHAMI”

SINGLE THE GIRLS, “HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE”

Reminiscent of English punk, this glam rock ‘n’ roll tune is riddled with angst throughout. The driving guitar melodies and pointed yet foreboding vocals throw you straight back to the late ‘70s. Originally from Wilmington, the band makes frequent appearances at Snug Harbor and other Charlotte venues.

Stream on Spotify

If you’re interested in being included in an upcoming issue, send any new releases to Rayne Antrim at RAntrim@ qcnerve.com.

PAUSE: Project spotlight THE SIDE ROOM OPENS IN THE PASS

BY RYAN PITKIN

A trio of local business owners and nightclub impresarios recently opened The Side Room, a nightly music club and sister business to Blackbox Theater at the same address, which hosts larger electronic music shows on more of a weekly basis.

Located at 421 E. Sugar Creek Road, the new night club will focus on house music, with themed nights scheduled five days a week, Wednesday-Sunday, opening from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. on those nights.

The Side Room partners include Jay Tilyard, owner of nearby Blackbox Theater; Amir Tehranchi, owner of The Revel Room in Uptown’s First Ward; and restaurateur/ DJ Andy Kastanas, known for his work as a cultivator of Charlotte’s nightclub scene in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Electronic house-music pioneer King Britt christened the space with an opening performance on Aug. 2.

The partners will look to celebrate local DJ talent and occasionally bring national and international talent to the club. Themed nights include Housework with DJ Domii on Wednesdays; amapiano, Afrobeats and world THE SIDE ROOM OPENED AUG. 2. music with DJ See Bird Go on Thursdays; and an LGBTQ PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SIDE ROOM night on Sundays.

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Perfecting his craft within the grunge and garagerock space, Tristen Colby reels you in with his sharp hooks and unrelenting vocals. Coming off his record, Self Deprecating at Hourly Rates, “Shinighami” pulls from feelings of not wanting to be alone and how to grapple with those thoughts.

Stream on Spotify

PLAY: THE SHOWCASE

FROM THE STAGE; JUNE-JULY

Submit your photos to info@qcnerve.com

MUSIC SHOWCASE

MUSIC FEATURE

BACK LIKE HE NEVER LEFT

Lute prepares for first headlining gig in the city that was and remains his home

BY RYAN PITKIN

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It’s hard to fathom that it’s been almost a decade since Charlotte rapper Lute, fresh off the release of his debut album West 1996, signed with J. Cole’s Dreamville record label, giving hope to the community of hip-hop artists who coming up in a scene where most people would say you need to leave the city to succeed.

Since his signing in 2015, Lute has stayed connected with the local scene; he currently lives in the Northlake area and still attends open mics around the city when he’s free.

One thing he hasn’t done, however, is play a headlining show … until now. On Aug. 17, Lute will hit the stage at Neighborhood Theatre for Gold Mouf: The Homecoming, his first headlining gig as a signed artist in his home city.

In the lead-up to the show, where he’ll be joined by local artists Leroy (formerly Well$) and The Bleus — all of whom playing with live instrumental backing — we caught up with Lute to sit and chat about what’s taken him so long to headline a Queen City show and how he was able to confront his debilitating anxiety through the 2021 release of Gold Mouf, changing his life for the better in the process.

birthday. So the show was really for me to celebrate the milestone of me turning 35. And I wanted to do it in a cool way to celebrate with friends and family and do a live band, like something completely different. I’ve never done a live band, never done a show in Charlotte, so I just wanted to make the experience something different, something cool.

We ended up having to push it back for a couple of reasons, but this time around, I’m excited about it because we was able to be a lot more hands-on with promotion and getting things done and stuff like that …

To be honest, it’s not even about the birthday anymore.

It’s really just about celebrating the legacy of the [Gold COURTESY OF DREAMVILLE Mouf] project. It’s really now just, I’ve still never had LUTE DROPPED ‘GOLD MOUF’ IN OCTOBER 2021. a headlining show. So it makes it even more special because I don’t know my market here in the city. I want things done. And now, man, you got superstars rising left Like you just mentioned your anxiety and you rap and right out of here. I think that’s beautiful. about that and fake friends and not wanting to to know what that looks like for myself. come out. It’s something so many folks can relate I saw you in a recent Red Bull cypher shouting to regardless of any level of fame. In my opinion, Do you stay pretty actively engaged with the out Reuben Vincent and Mavi.

How important is I feel like Dreamville is the perfect home for you local hip-hop scene? it for you to keep shouting those folks out in your in that way, with J. Cole having set that standard.

To be honest, I still go to the open mics. I’m still in music and show that love as opposed to just doing It’s crazy that you say that. It’s times where I look Plaza Midwood. I still pull out. your own thing and sticking with Dreamville? back on my career or I look back on things and I’m It’s super important. Again, it’s about maintaining like, man, how Dreamville has been laid out and how And what have community.

Now that we have one or now that we can Dreamville is, I wouldn’t have wanted to have been in a “To be honest, even in the Queen City Nerve: It seems you seen just in terms have one, I feel like community is important. And like I tell better place as far as being signed somewhere outside of hard to believe this is your first moment as the album was of the growth in the my homies all the time, anywhere I can plug the people being independent or whatever. It was just such a perfect headlining show. How could being released, the feedback I last 10 years or so that I love, the people that I fuck with, I’m going to always place to land, such a perfect place to be. I feel like it was that be? since you were signed? got, I was not expecting it — find a way to plug their name so that they can get more just the universe making it happen for me.

Lute: Because it just is; this how positive it was, I wasn’t Oh, man, it’s recognition or more light on them. Because I wish it had is my first headlining show as a expecting it. It really changed amazing.

Especially been done more for me …

Well, it had been done for me, You’ve got a bunch of Dreamville features Dreamville artist or a signed artist. my confidence as far as creating with a lot of the new but when this all started, it was hard to get people behind on Goldmouf. Who are some of your favorite Every other show has been either cats coming in, it’s so music because my confidence you.

I’m looking for everybody at this point because the collaborators on the label? with [former Charlotte-based fire to see because I just really lacked at a point...” community has been built.

The community is here.

And Not to be cliché because it’s such a tight-knit fam collective] Forever FC or me being a remember the Chop so I’m going to support in whatever way, form, or fashion thing going on, but I like working with everybody. Me Charlotte rapper Lute special guest to somebody bringing Shop days and Bodega that I can, whether it’s shouting somebody out on the and Cozz kick it pretty cool. EARTHGANG, I spend more me out. So this is my very first show days and stuff like that. verse, shouting somebody out on the ground, or pulling time with them in certain places or in certain towns. as a signed artist in Charlotte. And To see where the things up to open mics, pulling up to people’s shows.

I’m going I’ve been around Cozz a lot, Bas as well. The only person the way it came about was the fact are headed now, it’s like, to do that.

I don’t have a song with is — well, I do have a song with that I had realized I had never done a headlining show in man, this is fire. We had no idea what we were doing in Omen — but it just being me and Omen, I would love for the city, not because I never wanted to but just because that time and for everything to be happening the way it’s So, shifting gears now, just listening to the a me and Omen collab. my anxiety was always so ... disabling that I never really happening now, it’s like, man. pressed the issue to even do a show.

There was a point in time where you had to leave album again, it’s been out three years now but it’s It seems like everybody’s styles play off real It initially was scheduled for July 6, which was my here to go to make music, you had to leave here to get aging well. It still has legs. I think a big part of your lyrical content always has to do with relatability. well off each other.

I was telling a friend a couple of days ago, I just turned 35 in July, so I’m trying to catch up to the 35-yearold me. I haven’t slowed down. I’ve been nonstop since the pandemic. So 25-year-old me and 35-year-old me don’t relate to the same things. So I’m just trying to catch up to, what am I into now? What are my interests? How does 35-year-old me sound on a track? What does a 35-year-old track for me sound like? It’s just that me at 25 and me at 35 are two different people and I’m just trying to catch back up to that because I haven’t had a break.

When I did slow down, it was because of traumas and deaths in the family and things like that, where life had to slow down. It wasn’t my option. So now for me, I’m just living my life all over again, rediscovering myself all over again. Still creating music, but not creating music in the hopes to make a project.

Visit qcnerve.com to read the full Lute interview.

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

LUTE with creating music because I was trying not to be as vulnerable. I was afraid to be vulnerable in spaces. So I realized, the more vulnerable I am, the more relatable I am because I’m a very personable person.

Half the shit that I have going on in my day-to-day life, nobody would know. It wasn’t until people started relating to me with the anxiety that I started to open up more. When people started really congratulating me for talking about it and speaking on it, I was like, “Oh, shit.

This is a thing.”

And the thing about the album is it’s a journey from the beginning, and that’s purposeful. So in the beginning, it’s like that lack of confidence is there, but by the end of the album, I’ve come to where I see myself for the first time and I love myself. So now for me, it’s like, where do I go from there? I have this love for myself now. I can see How has the feedback for Gold Mouf been now myself. I love myself. Now, how does my music sound? that you’re three years out and people have gotten a chance to really sit with it a while?

Did you have hang-ups about expressing that, To be honest, even in the moment as the album was especially in the hip-hop community where it’s not being released, the feedback I got, I was not expecting all that popular to talk about weaknesses? it — how positive it was, I wasn’t expecting it. It A lot of people don’t know this, but I did not want really changed my confidence as far as creating music to drop. I did not want to release Goldmouf. I thought it because my confidence really lacked at a point in time was too personable. People wouldn’t relate to it. That’s

why I didn’t think the feedback was going to be as good.

In my mind, I’m like, “Oh, people don’t want to hear this shit.” I had even more anxiety putting it out. I don’t want to release this project. And so for me, I just had to trust [DJ] Pooh and go on and release it. But initially, I did not want it to go.

You’ve also been known to be a perfectionist and really be patient with putting out new music.

It got to a point on Twitter where you were almost having fun with people demanding that you drop an album. Did that anxiety and that feeling like people didn’t want to hear that vulnerability play a role in this being six years since your last drop?

No, the pressure and anxiety are two different things to me. It never played a role in when I dropped. The thing with me with projects, I’m really putting myself in the music, so it takes me a while because I’m putting my all into it. And so by the time you hear a project from me, I’m already done. My cup is empty because I don’t put so much into that project, into that album. But now it’s completely different. To be honest, in today’s time, an album isn’t even on my mind. I’m creating music, but I’m not creating music to create an album.

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They do! That’s because we have the chemistry. Our chemistry is really crazy, even though it’s times where we’re all on different sides of the world or whatever, but when we come together, that family dynamic kicks back in. I think what people don’t understand is outside of music, at a point in time, we spent a lot of time together.

Cole had a place in Raleigh called The Shelter, and we spent a lot of time at The Shelter. Even before we got signed, we would all stay there for weeks to months at a time. I really appreciated Cole for that because The Shelter was like a safe haven. A lot of these cats I knew since The Shelter, and that’s when we built that family dynamic. It’s not like you just put a bunch of random cats on a label.

We were all living together at one point — I wouldn’t say living, but we spent so much time with each other.

PHOTO BY MARC PROSPER

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Cake (Skyla Amphitheatre) Shop Talk w/ Shampoo, Tight (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/BLUES Jazz Nights at Canteen (Camp North End) Lovell Bradford (Middle C Jazz) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Stitchy C w/ Traumagang, Jerm Realadel, D.M.F. (The Milestone) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Beats @ Birdsong (Birdsong Brewing) Glass Animals (PNC Music Pavilion) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Lisa De Novo & Friends (Goldie’s) Josh Daniel, Jim Brock & Kerry Brooks (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) FUNK/JAM BANDS Sam Holt Band (Visulite Theatre) OPEN MIC Singer/Songwriter Open Mic (The Rooster) Singer/Songwriters Meetup (Starlight on 22nd)

The Soundwave is Queen City Nerve’s comprehensive guide to live music happening in Charlotte every night of the week. This list is pulled together by our editorial team every other week from combing through Charlotte music venue calendars and separated by genre. None of these listings are paid advertisements. We understand that many non-traditional music venues offer live music like coffee shops, breweries, art galleries, community events and more.

This list may not have every event listed. To have a venue included in the editorial compilation of this list, please send an email to info@qcnerve.com with the subject “Soundwave.”

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Red Dress Amy w/ The Brothers Gillespie (Evening Muse) The Love-In w/ Sunhouse (Evening Muse) For Fucks Sake w/ Dead Vibes Ensemble, Bog Loaf, South Side Punx, Fireblood (The Milestone) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ MiTiS (Blackbox Theater) Colors (The Fillmore) Layzi w/ Natalie Carr, Ali Forrest (Petra’s) FUNK/JAM BANDS The Mike Strauss Band (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Josh Sanders w/ Bailey Marie Griggs, Jackson (Coyote Joe’s) Hank Williams Jr. (PNC Music Pavilion) Adam Church Band (The Rooster) JAZZ/BLUES Emanuel Wynter w/ E’Lon JD (Camp North End) Tony Exum Jr. (Middle C Jazz) EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL Kilborne DIY Benefit Show (Snug Harbor)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Black Pistol Fire (The Underground) The Reticent w/ Nospun, Celaris, Emporia (The Milestone) 311 (Skyla Amphitheatre) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Soul Sundays feat. Guy Nowchild (Starlight on 22nd) JAZZ/BLUES Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) Tiffany Blu (Middle C Jazz) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Jack & Pat (Free Range Brewing) Square Roots (Goldie’s)

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Aurora’s Hope w/ Ragz to Stitchez, Squirt Vile, Skewer Rat (The Milestone) JAZZ/BLUES The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s) OPEN MIC Find Your Muse Open Mic (Evening Muse)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Taking Back Sunday (The Fillmore) Cetragore w/ Masse Critique, Alpha Strain, Venus Invictus (The Milestone) Haunt w/ Savage Master, Nemesis (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/BLUES Rebecca Jade (Middle C Jazz) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Chris Elmore (Comet Grill) Dan Hood (Goldie’s) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ JPH w/ Creekbed, Owen Fitzgerald (Petra’s) COVER BANDS Cassette Rewind (The Amp at Ballantyne)

(Killswitch Engage tribute), Fifty Flies (The Rooster) The Time Machine (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) One Irish Rover (Van Morrison tribute) (Visulite Theatre)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 TAKING BACK SUNDAY WILL BE AT THE FILLMORE ON AUG. 8.

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

COVER BANDS Excitable (Def Leppard tribute) (Amos’ Southend) Almost Classic (Goldie’s) Cosmic Charlie (Gratefule Dead tribute) (Visulite Theatre)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

ROCK/PUNK/METAL We the Kings (The Underground) Demiser w/ Nuclear Tomb, Krvsade, Night Attack (The Milestone) Train w/ REO Speedwagon (PNC Music Pavilion) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Tayls & Wag (Evening Muse) TC Superstar w/ Impending Joy, DRMOFO (Snug Harbor) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Parker Millsap w/ Joelton Mayfield (Neighborhood Theatre) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC David Childers (Comet Grill) TWINZ (Goldie’s) FUNK/JAM BANDS Opus & The Frequencies w/ Waking April, Jay Hoff (Petra’s)

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Mike Strauss Trio & Friends (3102 VisArt) JAZZ/BLUES Sunny Side 7-Piece Jazz Band from New Orleans w/ Victoria Douton (Evening Muse) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Joshua Bassett (Skyla Amphitheatre) FUNK/JAM BANDS Earth, Wind & Fire w/ Chicago (PNC Music Pavilion) COVER BANDS Crisis! The Music Of Ornette Coleman (Petra’s) OPEN MIC Open Mic Night feat. The Smokin J’s (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

JAMISON ROSS

PHOTO BY HREINN GUDLAUGSSON

Mojo Stomp w/ Groove Skeletons, Maddrey (Starlight on 22nd) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Jamison Ross (Evening Muse) Lucky Daye (The Fillmore) COVER BANDS Gena Does Tina (Middle C Jazz) New Level (Pantera tribute) w/ As Daylight Dies

HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Phaze Gawd w/ BlackMoonGlory, Keychainz Hefner, Code Savi (Snug Harbor) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Max & Heather Stalling w/ Kyle Kelling (Evening Muse) Savannah Harmon (Goldie’s) JAZZ/BLUES Jazz Nights @ Canteen (Camp North End) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Beats @ Birdsong (Birdsong Brewing) OPEN MIC Singer/Songwriter Open Mic (The Rooster) COVER BANDS House of Funk (Middle C Jazz)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

FUNK/JAM BANDS The Relics (Comet Grill) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Bella Moulden w/ Camisole, M143 (Petra’s) Chris McGinnis (Primal Brewery) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE Junior H (PNC Music Pavilion) COVER BANDS The Breakfast Club (Amos’ Southend) Davis & the Love (Goldie’s) Eternally Grateful (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) Tattoo You (Rolling Stone tribute) (Visulite Theatre)

JAZZ/BLUES Larry Carlton (Middle C Jazz) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Shiprocked! Pride Party (Snug Harbor) SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Lisa & Bill Thornton (Comet Grill) Caleb Wolfe Band (Goldie’s) Joanne Bird (The Rooster) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Dust Box Band (Evening Muse) FUNK/JAM BANDS Shana Blake’s Musical Menagerie (Smokey Joe’s Cafe SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 & Bar) ROCK/PUNK/METAL DELAFUNK with Menastree (Petra’s) Blankstate. w/ Cloutchaser, Te’jani, Slothh, Infinxty COVER BANDS (The Milestone) The Warped Band (Amos’ Southend) Severed Sun w/ Lilith Rising, Sinz of Eden (The Rooster) FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC ROCK/PUNK/METAL Shannon Lee Duo (Goldie’s) The Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B The Popes w/ Leisure McCorkle (Evening Muse) Ms. Lauryn Hill & the Fugees (PNC Music Pavilion) Pet Bug w/ North By North, The Orderlys (Petra’s) JAZZ/BLUES Trixter w/ Fury 58, Stone Whiskey (The Rooster) Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) JAZZ/BLUES POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Michelle Malone w/ Dani Kerr (Neighborhood Hazy Sunday (Petra’s) Theatre) Pride Afterparty (Starlight on 22nd) Blake Aaron w/ Will Donato (Middle C Jazz) FUNK/JAM BANDS SINGER-SONGWRITER/ACOUSTIC Brute Beat (Free Range Brewing) Los Profes (Visulite Theatre) COVER BANDS POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Grover Washington Jr. Tribute by Spunk Adams & Club Resonance by Rainbow Rave (Blackbox Theater) Friends (Middle C Jazz) William Hinson w/ Galloway (Camp North End) Dan & Shay (PNC Music Pavilion) MONDAY, AUGUST 19 FUNK/JAM BANDS ROCK/PUNK/METAL The Turnstiles (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) Nervous Surface w/ Between Two Trees, Renee COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA Catrine, Eliza & the Organix, Mars Ray (The Krista Lynn Meadow (Goldie’s) Milestone) Wes & the Railroaders w/ Bob Fleming & the JAZZ/BLUES Cambria Iron Co. (The Milestone) The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session (Petra’s) LATIN/WORLD/REGGAE OPEN MIC La Santa Cecilia (Snug Harbor) Find Your Muse Open Mic feat. David Gillespie COVER BANDS (Evening Muse) 84 (Van Halen tribute) (Amos’ Southend)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

PHOTO BY JUSTIN HIGUCHI

PHOTO BY GRAHAM MORRISON

TUESDAY, AUGUST 20

ROCK/PUNK/METAL Red Rocking Chair (Comet Grill) Thirty Seconds to Mars (PNC Music Pavilion) OPEN MIC Open Mic Night feat. The Smokin J’s (Smokey Joe’s Cafe & Bar) BOLD Music Camp Song Release Party & Open Mic (Evening Muse) VISIT QCNERVE.COM FOR THE FULL SOUNDWAVE LISTING

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ROCK/PUNK/METAL Swansgate w/ The Azures (Evening Muse) Strike the Tower w/ Lords and Liars, A War to Win, Feverhill (The Rooster) Primus w/ Coheed & Cambria (Skyla Amphitheatre) JAZZ/BLUES Chris Standring (Middle C Jazz) POP/DANCE/ELECTRONIC/DJ Zutopia: 2024 Pride Party (Blackbox Theater) Evan Bartels w/ Drew Nathan (Evening Muse) Beatfreaq (Starlight on 22nd) HIP-HOP/SOUL/R&B Lute w/ Leroy, The Bleus (Neighborhood Theatre) EXPERIMENTAL/MIXED-GENRE/FESTIVAL Candle Linguini: A Summer Folk Opera (3102 VisArt) Seismic Summer (The Milestone)

MS. LAURYN HILL WILL BE AT PNC MUSIC PAVILION ON AUG. 18.

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LIFESTYLE PUZZLES

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

CROSSWORD

1. MUSIC: Which folk-rock group produced many of the songs in the movie “The Graduate”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Which European capital is known as “The Eternal City”?

3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “acri-” mean in English?

4. TELEVISION: Lenny and Squiggy are the annoying neighbors in which TV comedy?

5. MONEY: What is the basic currency in Guatemala?

6. CARS: What animal is found on the Porsche car logo?

7. FOOD & DRINK: Which country is associated with the soup dish pho?

8. LITERATURE: In which U.S. state is the novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” set?

9. MYTHOLOGY: What is the home of the Greek gods called?

10. AD SLOGANS: What product PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW is advertised with the slogan, “You’re ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS not you when you’re hungry”?

ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE.

SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE

©2024 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

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NOVEL INTRODUCTIONS

©2024 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

AERIN’ IT OUT

THIS WON’T STING

Scorpio arrives at RSVP just in time for Charlotte Pride

BY AERIN SPRUILL

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“To the haters: talk crap if you want to, but we were packed tighter than a drag queen’s suitcase!” - Scorpio Charlotte Facebook post on grand opening success I’ll never forget the first time I visited the original godmuva of LGBTQIA+ nightlife in the Queen City. My gaze fixated on the whimsically gnarled nails of the door person as they grabbed the $20 bill out of my hand.

The faceless, tight-cropped, 15-second opening scene of phalangeal extensions coiled like Bubble Tape became synonymous with the only proper way to begin the night at Scorpio’s.

From drag shows featuring glittering baddies from RuPaul’s Drag Race and local DJs to pepper spray and parking lot fights, anyone who ever visited the iconic LGBT hotspot located on the fringes of Wesley Heights on Freedom Drive knew a time was going to be had with every visit.

We knew Saturdays were always poppin’. We knew we were going to drink and drive (learn from our mistakes

kiddos, Uber wasn’t a thing then). We knew we were going to have to pay a cover and swallow ATM fees to do so. We also knew we were going to sweat our hair out twerking and chase our drunken shenanigans with a tray at Cook Out before it closed at 4 a.m.

But most of all, whether good, bad or sassy, we knew that while we were there — gay, straight, Black, white, or furry — that we were at home.

That’s why when The Scorpio, often called Scorpio’s and now, per IG, just Scorpio, announced a temporary closure in the fall of last year, I knew I wasn’t the only one who had a sinking feeling that the longest-running North Carolina gay bar wouldn’t return for a second act.

But apparently, God does in fact save queens.

Despite sociopolitical forces threatening to force the LGBT community into a back seat, Scorpio officially took over center stage at RSVP Southend with their grand reopening on Aug. 2 just in time for Charlotte Pride. Can I get a “Yas, queen?”

While RSVP South End hoped to shake things up when they popped into the nightlife scene in January 2023, I think it’s safe to say many invites got lost in the mail or returned to sender. Five months later, not even Gen Z sheep could keep the team behind the four-moodsin-one complex from announcing a major shift from inhouse programming to private events.

Drag queens, assemble! And they did.

The true vision for the next chapter is still in the works, but Scorpio 2.0 is already working it as images of long entry lines and jam-packed dance floors circulate on social media just days shy of opening.

Will the 15,000 square foot space featuring three full bars and two rooftops be big enough to fill the platform stilettos or to accommodate the main character energy of the Scorpio we used to know?

Most of our favorite LGBTQ destinations carved space in the nooks and crannies on the periphery of the QC. Historically, this makes sense as the margins have often provided a refuge for the outcasts, oppressed, and closeted to be whoever the hell they wanted to be unapologetically.

Scorpio’s move to RSVP creates a powerful visual of societal pariahs taking back space in the spotlight of city centers like South End. But will the sequel live up to the hype of the seedy, sinful, and subversive OG? Only time will tell. In the meantime, those of us nostalgic for the days of pregames and poor decisions are ready to slay and sashay the night away with our rainbow flags flying high with pride.

Even though Scorpio has a new home, we already know the legacy of unforgettable live entertainment, drag shows, and events will continue. But a few things have changed, so take notes queens and kings.

Cashless me ousside how bout dat?

RIP to ATM fees and calculating the minimum withdrawal needed to cover entry, drinks, and tips while standing in line. That’s right, Scorpio is officially highstepping like Zenon into the 21st century as a cashless venue.

Pay to park *Clutches pearls* While Scorpio still has plenty of parking, you’ll have to pay $15 at the new location.

According to Facebook, this is to keep patrons from other venues from trespassing. However, to offset the parking fee, Scorpio will give you a $10 credit to spend at the bar!

Pay to play For those of us who remember waiting to show up just in time for late-night reduced covers, entry fees aren’t a surprise or a deterrent. In fact, we’re tickled pink we don’t have to get cash out and can pay without transferring money from savings to checking.

New hours for the night shift OG Scorpio stayed open until 4 a.m., which meant a 3:30 a.m. transition to Cook Out for a quesadilla tray with double chicken nuggets. According to the website, curtain call is now 2:30 a.m., which is perfect for the now-old heads. As of now, Scorpio is open Friday-Saturday from 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m., and starting Aug. 14, they will also be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the same times.

New addy Check them out at 225 Fairwood Ave. INFO@QCNERVE.COM

LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE

PUZZLE ANSWERS

2024 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

AUGUST 7 - 13

AUGUST 14 - 20

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Don’t gnash those pearly whites because you might have to delay your plans. This could give the Lucky Lamb a better perspective of what’s been done and what still needs doing.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Avoid adding to the tension around you. Even a well-meant reaction against something you perceive as unfair could be misunderstood.

Let things calm down, then talk about it.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Scoring financial bull’s-eyes is easy for the focused Bovine who knows the ins and outs of the marketplace. But even with your success record, caution is still the watchword.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s a good time for romance for unattached Bovines — and for reinforcing the bonds between existing partners. Children’s needs are important during the latter part of the week.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Watch your tendency to romanticize a situation that should be given closer scrutiny. Better to be suspicious now and ask for an explanation, or face a sad surprise later.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A compliment from a surprising source sends you wafting way up into the clouds, where -- sorry to say -- your view of what’s going on is obscured. Come on down and face reality.

on believing in yourself. Good luck!

Remember that it’s better to talk than walk.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Congratulations on what you’ve accomplished! But this is no time to curl up with some serious catnapping. Your rivals are probably already working on plans to overtake your lead.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) A job-related move might hold more positive surprises than you’d expected. Go into it with confidence and look for all the advantages it offers.

Then decide what you’ll do with what you find.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your adventurous side wants to play a more dominant role this week, and you might want to oblige. Try to arrange for a getaway with a special person.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Driving yourself too hard to get something done on a deadline that you set up can backfire. Ease into a more realistic finish date and add more breaks to your work schedule.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Taking logical approaches to pesky workplace issues can help resolve even long-standing problems. A shift in policy might catch you by surprise. Be alert to signs of change.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your sense of humor can brighten any dark period, and your laughter can dispel those gray clouds swirling around you. The weekend presents a surprising but welcome change.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your kindness and compassion are exactly what are needed in dealing with an awkward situation during the early part of the week.

Share the weekend fun with family and friends.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Be careful about the words you use, especially in touchy situations. The old saying that “speech is silver, but silence is golden” could apply well here.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Keeping your focus straight and true is a good way of getting your points across. Save any variations for a later time.

Meanwhile, the musical arts are important this weekend.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Some facts could emerge that shed light on unresolved past problems. What you learn might also help explain why a once-warm relationship suddenly cooled down.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Reject advice to cut corners in reaching your goal. Better to take a little more time to do the job as you promised. You’ll gain new respect for your honesty and integrity.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Don’t let your pride get in the way of checking into what could be a great new opportunity. Get the facts first, then worry about procedure and protocol later.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Don’t allow a troublesome situation to grow so big that it will be increasingly difficult to deal with. The sooner you speak up, the sooner everyone will be able to benefit from the resolution.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A health problem in the family might have other relatives assuming that, as before, you’ll take over the health care duties. Surprise them and insist they share in the caretaking.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A bruised self-confidence CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Even a family-loving person can make things difficult, unless you accept the fact that like you can sometimes feel you’re at the end of the NEWSLETTER you have what it takes. Ignore the critics and concentrate line with contentious kinfolk. But things can work out.

UPCOMING SPECIAL ISSUES

Trivia Answers 1. Simon & Garfunkel.

2. Rome, Italy.

3. “Sharp” (e.g. “acrimonious”).

4. “Laverne & Shirley.”

5. Quetzal.

6. A horse.

7. Vietnam.

8. Florida.

9. Mount Olympus.

10. Snickers candy bars.

SEPTEMBER 4 | FALL ARTS GUIDE SEPTEMBER 18 | THE SPACE ISSUE OCTOBER 16 | HALLOWEEN GUIDE NOVEMBER 27 | BEST IN THE NEST DECEMBER 11 | NEW YEAR’S GUIDE DECEMBER 25 | PRINT BREAK

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PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A series of changes PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Confronting someone can be unsettling, but in the long run, it can pay off with who is making a lot of mistakes could be the kindest thing new perspectives on what you plan to do. Keep your mind that you can do both for this person and anyone else who open to the possibilities that might lie ahead. could be adversely affected by the errors.

BORN THIS WEEK: You might be under a “royal” sign, but BORN THIS WEEK: You absolutely glow when you see you have a wonderful way of embracing everyone as an beautiful things, and everyone around you is warmed by equal. your light.

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The problem with bug chasers

I’ve read lots of letters in your column from cuckolds and their wives but none from a Bull. I am a Bull. I love fucking other men’s wives in front of them and I love humiliating a cuck in front of his wife. My best friend insists that makes me a little bit gay.

I don’t know if you’re a little bit gay — are you one of those Bulls who lets the cuck “clean up” (read: suck) your cock? — but it sounds like your best friend is a little bit jealous. (For the record: Bulls who let cucks suck their cocks are a little bit bi.)

What if I don’t like how someone smells or tastes?

Can that change?

BY DAN SAVAGE If the issue is poor personal hygiene — they don’t I’m a neg boy who loves getting bred by ma- I’m fine with Wicked being not one movie, but two. But bathe regularly, use deodorant on demand, floss and ture poz men. I want their loads in me, no ques- the Stephen Schwartz musical I’ve always wanted to see brush their teeth on a daily basis — adopting good tions asked. I’m not on PrEP. Too deviant? adapted for film is Pippin. Get on it, Hollywood! personal hygiene practices could make a difference. If Too stupid, too reckless — and old and tired too. The someone is already doing all those things and you don’t gay world was roiled by “bug chasers” (HIV-negative gay As a female Dom, do I need verbal consent to like how they smell or taste, it’s a chemical clash that no men who were trying to get themselves infected) and slap/squeeze the balls of a new male sub? amount of mouthwash or cologne can mask. “gift givers” (HIV-positive men/sociopaths who were willYou should bring up ball play/torture when you’re neing to infect other people) a couple of decades ago. The gotiating a scene with a new sub — if CBT is something Why as I’ve gotten older has my cum gotten stakes were higher then — literally life and death — but you’re into — but it is possible to incorporate ball play thicker? you’re flying with a net; since you have access to HIV med- into a scene that’s already underway by giving your sub’s The quality of sperm cells and the volume of ejacuications, you’ll be fine. But I wouldn’t take that net for balls a gentle squeeze. And if that gentle squeeze elicits late are both “negatively correlated with age,” according granted. Religious conservatives don’t just want to make a positive response, use your words: “Do you like it when to this very depressing study from The Journal of Assisted abortion illegal and ban birth control, they wanna ban I hurt your balls?” If he asks for more, squeeze a little Reproductive Genetics. the death control pills gay men have come to rely on, e.g., harder. But more extreme forms of ball play — slapping, PrEP (protects neg guys from infection) and antiretroviral punching, kicking — can’t be ventured without prior disIs the rimjob/blowjob combo the closest a man treatments (keeps poz guys alive). Taking loads from poz cussion and consent. ever comes to heaven? guys — immature men, regardless of age — may wind Some men, sure. But not all men like having their up having consequences you didn’t see coming.

Why are hetero men embarrassed to be uncut asses eaten. Hell, not all men like having their dicks while gay men are proud of it? sucked.

Best resources for newly self-discovered ace?

Because uncut gay men tend to get a positive reI’m sex neutral. sponse from other gay men (“Yay! More cock to suck!”)

Couples that share a douche bulb are gross, I’m guessing you’ve already found you’re way to while uncut straight men tend to get a negative response right? some online resources, seeing as you’re using ace-y jar- from straight women. (“Shit. More cuck to suck.”)

Sharing a douche with a partner is little like sharing a gon like “sex neutral.” But just in case: The Asexuality toothbrush with one, in as much as it grosses us out more Visibility and Education Network remains an invaluable How common is it for someone to actually fuck than it probably should. If you’re already going down on resource — but if you prefer something more informal, a hot delivery driver? each other and/or eating each other’s asses, why so preCody Daigle-Orians, aka “Ace Dad Advice,” has built a supHot delivery drivers, hot stepmoms, hot coaches — cious about a toothbrush or a douche bulb? (I say that as portive community on Instagram (@AceDadAdvice) and it’s easy to dismiss all three scenarios as porn tropes. But someone who is — for the record — extremely precious his Substack (acedadadvice.substack.com). just because something happens in porn doesn’t it never about toothbrushes and douche bulbs.) happens in real life. So, I’m sure there are people out there How much masturbation is too much mastur- who’ve fucked a hot delivery driver and/or their dad’s hot How do I stop going back to an ex that I know bation? new wife and/or their college wrestling coach. And since isn’t a good long-term fit when the sex is so good?

If you’re beating holes in your dick and/or overtax- the delivery driver is the only scenario that — if realized If you can’t fuck that not-a-good-fit ex without faning the grid with your vibrators, you might need to dial in real life — doesn’t involve an unforgiveable betrayal tasizing about getting back together again — or, worse it back a bit. and/or an abuse of power, here’s hoping it’s the one that still, actually getting back together again — you need happens most often. stop fucking your ex. But if you pivot to FWBs, you might Do I qualify as gay if I’m not into oral or anal wanna revisit your assumptions. Great sexual chemistry at all but I love absolutely everything else about Can I ask my husband to wear a condom for isn’t everything, but it isn’t nothing either. Sometimes men? anal? I don’t like it when he comes in my bum. the sex is so good you find a way to make the rest of it fit.

If you’re a man, yes. If not, no.

You get to decide where, when, how and how long someone gets to fuck your ass — it’s your ass — and if What’s the likelihood of infection when going What are your thoughts on Wicked being two you don’t enjoy the aftermath of taking your husband’s between cunnilingus and anilingus? movies? load in your ass, you can tell (not ask) your husband to You don’t want to accidentally introduce fecal bacteI’m a triple threat — I enjoy oral and anal and movie wear a condom for anal and/or pull out. ria into the vaginal canal — so never go from anilingus musicals — and the more movie musicals, the better. So, to cunnilingus. If you want to finish with cunnilingus, you

need to start with it and stick with it.

Why is my hole so tight yet I yearn for the fist?

Your hole is signaling that it’s ready to exit its tight era and enter its gape era.

How do you tell an emotionally immature and very stubborn man that he is emotionally immature and very stubborn and make him listen?

On your way out.

Is pegging just straight sex? My baby gay best friend thought it could refer to lesbian sex too and I was like, “Oh, honey…”

Not according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The OED (“the unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and usage of 500,000 words and phrases past and present, from across the English-speaking world”) defines “pegging” as “a sexual activity in which a person (typically a woman) penetrates the anus of a sexual partner (typically a man) using a strap-on dildo.” So, lesbians — so long as those lesbians are having anal sex with a strap-on dildo — can peg too.

I know you don’t always like going to the clubs and bars and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been to one. There is a high chance I’m going to one soon. Is there anything you recommend trying to feel more comfortable in that environment?

Half a pot lozenge and permission to leave at any time. Whether you need to give yourself permission to leave or you need to get permission from your partner and/or posse, knowing you’re free to go — without having to make the rounds to say goodbye — helps you stick around.

Settle a vocabulary debate: is it “splooge” or “spooge”? We defer to your expertise!

Both work, both mean the same thing — but sploshing means something else entirely. Asking for splosh when you wanted splooge/spooge or vice-versa is messy mistake.

Is there a positive, constructive way to raise the topic of toys — dildos — to a loving partner of many, many years who is in denial about his erectile dysfunction? I am seeking a way to talk about this in a way that empowers, not diminishes him.

Thank you for your attention to this request.

You could try incorporating hand-held toys into your play, e.g., dildos, plugs, vibrators. If he likes them you could suggest getting a harness — one he can wear on his thigh or his forehead or his crotch — in order to leave his hands free for other things (including his own).

Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love; or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan; podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love.

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