Queen City Nerve Vol 2_Issue 3

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3; JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

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Connect with free arts and culture experiences for all ages, close to home.

CULTURE

BLOCKS

Find upcoming events at ArtsAndScience.org/CultureBlocks

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Join Queen City Nerve in discussions about local news topics over cocktails with featured guests on the Queen City Podcast Network.

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STAFF

PUBLISHER • Justin LaFrancois jlafrancois@qcnerve.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Ryan Pitkin rpitkin@qcnerve.com

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453 East 36th st. Charlotte, nc 28205 | 980.819.9942 | theblindpignoda.com

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Charlotte’s Cultural Pulse

NEWS & OPINION

6 In With the Old by Nerve Staff Thirty Charlotte staples we must protect at all costs in 2020 5 Confessions of a Banker Bro by Tim Nicodemus

ARTS & CULTURE

10 Florida Man Makes Charlotte Map by Justin LaFrancois What a fun gift map says about Charlotte’s identity 11 Artist Statement: Jean E. Caldwell by Pat Moran

LIFELINE

12 How not to kill your social life

MUSIC

14 Snap, Cackle, Rock by Pat Moran Punk pirates King Cackle set sail for Snug Harbor 16 Soundwave

LIFESTYLE

18 Keep it 100 by Shameika Rhymes 18 Sudoku 19 Crossword 20 Horoscope 21 The Buzz 22 Savage Love

Cover Design by Dana Vindigni

FROM THE LADIES OF SPANK! THE FIFTY SHADES PARODY

L IT

TLE

- SiriusXM

DR E S S

ACK BL

“LOVED EVERY MINUTE!”

“DELIGHTFULLY HILARIOUS!” - Broadway World

The Fearlessly Funny Girls’ Night Out Musical!

JAN. 16-18

BOOTH PLAYHOUSE

INSIDER GUIDE TO FINANCE JOB TITLES What your business card says makes all the difference

BY TIM NICODEMUS

EVER WONDERED what your finance friends do all day? Interested in breaking into the industry yourself? The wide world of finance is incredibly insular and uses industry vocabulary to isolate itself from the invading forces of other sectors. So here’s an inside look at what job titles *actually* mean in the practical world, and feel free to use this as a handy guide in learning what to avoid if applying for jobs.

Credit Analyst: Do you want to read page after page of detailed financial statements and pitchbooks?

Consider being a credit analyst, who has to balance risk, reward and earnings expectations to assist your company in making smart decisions that also make bank … for the bank.

a fancy trading floor or ever meet someone in management who knows your name.

Wealth Management: You talk to rich people. You understand tax laws and are a nerd about earnings calls and financial planning, but you also have incredible people skills and know how to schmooze.

You’ll make solid money, but it won’t feel that way compared to the fifth-generation unemployable heir whose hobbies you have to care about.

Financial Planner: Wealth management without the pay or prestige. Your client base will be uppermiddle-class to wealthy clients who care about college savings accounts or buying a second house.

AT BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

BlumenthalArts.org • 704.372.1000

Tune in to WCCB News Edge every week night at 10:30 p.m.

Get a glimpse at the next issue with our editor-in-chief every other Tuesday night

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CONFESSIONS OF A BANKER BRO

Assistant Vice President (AVP): Every 25-yearold who works in finance. Do not be fooled by this job title. They hand them out like candy. Your Tinder match who includes this in their bio is not important at their company. At all.

Senior Vice President (SVP): Code for rich person who can speak eloquently about country club culture.

Consultant: The most generic term possible, and counts for approximately 120% of the finance jobs in Charlotte. Can range from the highpowered management consultants for the Big Four accounting firms to the IT consultants who love their jobs and are smarter than everyone else.

Front Office: Term for the sales and trading staff who buy/sell positions and make ridiculous money for both the firm and themselves. Think Wolf of Wall Street with even more cocaine.

Middle Office: The operational side of the house.

If you love reconciliations, exceptions reports, and getting yelled at by the Front Office for something that is not your fault, apply today!

Back Office: This is the settlements and reporting arm of the company — underpaid, overworked and looked down upon. Don’t expect to work in

CEO: Older, white man with excellent hair.

Community Relations: They give away a sum of money that is the exact amount that the bank will get tax advantages for. Good-hearted people who love nonprofits and work with Public Relations to make sure *that scandal* goes away through strategic check giving.

Human Resources: No one knows what they do in finance aside from tell you about your raise. If you want to get promoted, make fun of them relentlessly.

Accounting: The entire cubicle farm is populated by people who got tired of public accounting and want some sort of work-life balance. Quarter- and yearend are hell on earth but at least it’s not 100-plushour weeks during the winter and spring like when you were at (fill in name of accounting firm).

Internal Auditor: Test a company’s controls to make sure everyone is doing the right legal thing. If you enjoy arguing with high-level management who hate you but legally have to accept your findings, this is the job for you. Pay is trash compared to the high flyers you’ll pretend to lord power over, but remember that they are also actively hiding things from you. Your inclusion at the end of this list is appropriate.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

& OPINION

IN WITH THE OLD Thirty Charlotte staples we must protect at all costs in 2020 THIS TIME OF YEAR, you’re apt to see any number of lists detailing the shiny, new places that opened last year or the ones that everyone’s looking forward to opening in the new year to come. We thought now would be as good a time as ever to shine a light on a few of our favorite longtime establishments that have kept things fresh — sometimes by not changing at all. Our recommendation is that you keep this list and attend all 30 in 2020, because we hate to see all the social media tears shed only after a staple is gone.

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RETAIL Davis General Store The Davis General Store was already coming up on its 100-year-birthday when it was designated a historic landmark in 1980, and that was 40 flippin’ years ago. When it opened in 1890 — in a Mecklenburg County of only about 42,000 residents — the Davis brothers would unload their goods straight from the railroad tracks out front.

While that doesn’t happen anymore, the store still looks much like it did in the 19th century, and has remained in the Davis family all this time. It’s a great spot to find rare Carolina-made items like Charlotte-based Sweet’s Syrup or Blenheim Ginger Ale from that state to the south.

More: 8940 Old Statesville Road; Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sat. 7:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Closed Sun.; 704-596-2022; davisgeneralmerchandise.com

Pike’s Pharmacy For damn near 100 years, Pike’s has been looking after the health of the Charlotte community, and though it’s cool how much the Davis General Store has remained the same, what’s impressive about Pike’s is how well they’ve adapted in a field where a century ago scarlet fever would kill a baby and syphilis could leave you blind as a bat. Located in east Charlotte, Pike’s has kept up with the times by offering neighborhood delivery, medication reviews and “Pike’s Pass Packs” made by Simon the Robot. That’s progress.

More: 2133 Shamrock Drive; Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.7 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; 704-563-2286; pikespharmacy.com

Infinity’s End The locally owned head shop turned 50 years old this year, making the brand a Charlotte staple when it comes to smoking accessories. They’ve got constant holiday sales throughout the year and regularly throw holiday parties at their South End location. The team looks ready to make it a full century. Infinity’s End is a smoker’s one-stop shopping center; be it products for weed, nicotine or whatever’s in between, an Infinity’s Paper Skyscraper End location has likely got what you need.

The gift shop just celebrated 30 years and won an More: Multiple locations; Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.award in our Best in the Nest issue for Best Gift 9 p.m.; Sun., Noon-7 p.m.; 704-369-0223; Shop. They have gifts for year-round occasions, infinitysend.com from novelty to gag, sincere to funny. There are toys for kids and toys for adults. Not adult toys, but toys Sleepy Poet Antique Mall that adults can play with. The store offers a variety Sleepy Poet Antique Mall owner Dick Schreffler of books from self-help to local history, journals, opened his first store in Charlotte in 1958, and has notepads and general stationery. There are options since gone on to not only open another in Gastonia for you mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, niece, friend but help create a much-needed arts district on our or even your worst enemy. At Paper Skyscraper you neighboring town’s Main Street. The cool thing can get a knick-knack, a patty whack or gift your about Schreffler doubling up on locations is the fact dog a bone. that you can visit one on a Saturday and the next on More: 330 East Blvd.; Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; a Sunday and have an entirely different experience, Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 12 p.m.-5 pm.; thanks to the eccentricity of each store.

704-333-7130; paperskyscraper.com More: 4450 South Blvd.; Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun., Noon-6 p.m.; 704-529-6369; sleepypoetstuff.com

ADOBESTOCK

Book Buyers A trip to Book Buyers will restore your belief in the goodness of everything funky and bohemian.

Opened in 1999, the best damned used book store in Charlotte has a boundless selection of bestsellers, classics and curios, but the store is also a multitude of other things. Lee Rathers sells vegan products from her store The Greener Apple, housed in the front of Book Buyers. Cute and furry kittens, rescued by Virginia O’Riley, scamper down the aisles looking for you to give them a permanent home.

Did we mention that owner Richard Rathers, who has been a coal miner, a school teacher and a pilot, is also building a full-sized airplane? It’s right there, hanging from the ceiling.

More: 1306 The Plaza; Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 704-344-8611; facebook.com/bookbuyersclt/ Park Road Books Whereas Book Buyers has you covered for used books on the cheap, Park Road Books is the best stop for new books, and if it’s an author from the Charlotte area whose work you’re searching for, you can bet you’ll find it here. Independently owned and operated since 1977, the shop isn’t just for retail, it’s a hub of the Charlotte literature scene,

hosting regular book clubs, signings and readings from local and touring authors.

More: 4139 Park Road; Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 704-525-9239; parkroadbooks.com

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Blackhawk Hardware Located in the same Park Road Shopping Center as Park Road Books, Blackhawk opened the same year and has remained independently owned and operated ever since, with most employees staying on for many years. They’ve been in Charlotte longer than Home Depot, and outlasted the once popular Hechingers, expanding their space many times since opening — this year even adding a live camera for members of their loyal customer base to follow along with their basement expansion.

More: 4225 Park Road; Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; 704-525-2682; blackhawkhardware.com Howren Music Yes, yes, we know: Three neighbors in a row. We’re getting a little clumped together, but what can we say? As much as it hurt to see the Park Terrace movie theater get bought out by the Regal Cinema chain, Park Road Shopping Center is still chock-full of history, including this family-owned music shop, which at 70 years is older than the shopping center itself.

More: 4209 Park Road; Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Closed Sun.; 704-525-5073; howrenmusic.net Berrybrook Farm Sure, Berrybrook has a deli and a juice bar and could technically be included in the Eateries section below, but this cozy spot is so much more than that. The shop sells a slew of supplements, herbs and homeopathics, as well as CBD, ionized water, chemical-and-cruelty-free beauty aids and more.

More: 1257 East Blvd.; Mon.-Thurs,

9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; 704-334-6528; berrybrookfarm.com

EATERIES Zack’s Hamburgers The burger joint has been rockin’ the Scaleybark and South Boulevard intersection for 45 years now and they’ve simply got the best lunch option available: an affordable platter of burgers and fries. The go-to order is the Zack’s Special, which is packed with two ground beef patties and double American cheese, then you have lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayonnaise and special sauce all on a toasted bun.

It is only $6.35. Like most local staples, the same family has been running Zack’s for three generations and it is definitely worth another three generations, so be sure to stop in. Grab a Queen City Nerve while they last there, it’s our best pick up location on the south side.

More: 4009 South Boulevard; Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.8:30 p.m.; 704-525-1720; zackshamburgers.com

The community showed up to Brooks’ Sandwich House to mourn David Brooks on Dec. 10.

Carolina Family House Restaurant In 1953, Pete Gavrilis moved to Charlotte and opened Eat Well Grill on West Trade Street. Twenty-six years later, he and his wife Athena took all their best lessons learned from the grill and opened up Carolina Family Restaurant on Wilkinson Boulevard. Pete passed in 2018, but his diner lives on as a staple of west Charlotte, taking customers back in time to a day when local businesses advertised on the menu and a great lunch wouldn’t put you back $10.

Dish More: 4600 Wilkinson Blvd.; Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-3 When Penny Craver, who opened Dish in 2001, p.m.; Sat., 6 a.m.-2 p.m.; Closed Sun.; 704-394announced she’d be selling the popular diner, it 9249; tinyurl.com/CFRWilkinson came at an uneasy time for the neighborhood, as the closure of the long-standing Dairy Queen had Mr. K’s Soft Ice Cream just been announced along with the sale of a huge As the South End landscape rapidly changes around piece of land in the heart of the neighborhood, it, the original Mr. K’s Soft Ice Cream sign still raising questions about redevelopment. When stands, as it has stood since 1967. The diner has Unpretentious Palate later reported that Lewis been serving simple but great lunch to all types of Donald of Sweet Lew’s BBQ was the one buying folks for more than half a century. Pamela Dizes, Dish, we could all breathe a little easier. We’re daughter of Theodore Karres (the original Mr. K), happy with his promise not to make any major worked side by side with her husband George changes to the neighborhood staple. The changes behind the counter until her untimely passing in he has made so far, including adding milkshakes July. She will be missed, and we’re thankful for the to the menu and opening up for brunch on Sunday family keeping a bit of tradition going in South End. mornings, are more than fine by us.

More: 2107 South Blvd.; Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; More: 1220 Thomas Ave.; Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.- Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Closed Sun.; 704-375-4318; 10 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; 704-344-0343; mrkssofticecream.com eatatdish.com

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

Brooks’ Sandwich House The senseless murder of Brooks’ Sandwich House owner Scott Brooks in December rocked a community and left the future of one of Charlotte’s most beloved lunch spots in doubt. Scott, along with his brother David, had long fought off developers who would find no shortage of ways to reimagine the corner where the Brooks family has served takeout burgers and breakfast sandwiches since 1973, but the family has recently said they plan to continue with Scott’s and David’s vision, making it all the more important to support them in 2020.

More: 2710 N. Brevard St.; Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.3 p.m.; Closed Sat.-Sun.; 704-375-7808; brookssandwichhouse.com Azteca Mexican Restaurant Pedro Santillan opened the first Azteca Mexican Restaurant on Woodlawn Road in 1994, a time when Mexican food was still exotic in Charlotte. It was tough getting gringos into Azteca. What’s more, another group of enterprising foodies from Mexico had already set up shop in Charlotte with the Cancunes chain, 15 strong. But soon enough, word got out.

Now, 22 years later, Azteca is not just one of the more popular authentic Mexican hotspots, it’s expanded to three other locations — one in Gastonia, another on

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ENTERTAINMENT The Milestone The Milestone opened its doors in October 1969.

Since then the club has hosted a myriad of bands and artists, both locally famous and nationally renowned. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, many may walk right past the now-famous PHOTO BY FENIX FOTOGRAPHY Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte puts on ‘Silence! The Musical’ at Hadley Milestone. There is no glitz and glamour here, just Theater. some of the best damn music in Charlotte, and with Independence Boulevard in Matthews and a third on More: 8927 JM Keynes Drive; Mon.-Sat., 11 redevelopment and gentrification closing in around a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Closed Sun., 704-510-0012; it all the time, it needs your support.

Smith Corners in north Charlotte.

More: 116 E. Woodlawn Road; Sun.-Thurs, 11 a.m.- ciroscharlotte.com More: 3400 Tuckaseegee Road; showtimes vary; 10:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; 704-398-0472; themilestone.club Chuck’s Grill 704-525-5110; aztecarestaurantcharlotte.com The outside is unremarkable, but the menu is Visulite Theatre anything but. Inside these small walls are some Sure, it doesn’t have the cool history of once being Open Kitchen When brothers Steve and Speros Kokenes opened of the most top-notch dishes in the city, ranging an adult movie theater like its NoDa counterpart up their kitchen in 1952, dishes like pasta and pizza from the Dirty South Burger to the French toast to Neighborhood Theatre, but this other longwere surprisingly hard to find in the Queen City, and the home fries. Any which way you go, it’s hard to standing Charlotte music venue has come under while that may have changed over 67 years, not miss with these home-cooked meals, and you’ll be greater threat of redevelopment in recent years, and much has changed in Open Kitchen. It’s still run by joining a refreshingly diverse clientele. we can’t have that. Featuring artists from a variety the Kokenes family, still has great lunch and dinner, More: 8001 Old Statesville Road; Mon.-Fri., 5:30 of musical backgrounds, the Visulite has earned a and by now has collected so much history on its a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat., 5:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sun., 7 a.m.-1 PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZ MCLAUGHLIN walls that it could be labeled a museum. p.m.; 704-597-1580; tinyurl.com/chucksgrill More: 1318 W. Morehead St.; Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.9 p.m.; Fri., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., 4-10 p.m.; Sun., Lang Van Vietnamese Is Lang Van the fanciest dinner in town? No, and it’s 4-9 p.m.; 704-375-7449; worldfamousopenkitchen.com never pretended to be. It’s Vietnamese food done with expert preparation and flawless execution. It’s servers who make sure you want for nothing, and Ciro’s Italian Restaurant Arthur Cornielle grew up working in his cousin’s remember you and your preferences when you visit pizzeria in Brooklyn, New York. By age 12, he was again. It’s a menu that contains nothing short of delivering pizzas by bicycle through the bustling delicious. It’s a plate full of fresh herbs and fantastic city streets, and by 16 was a major component in flavors on every table. It’s a restaurant that’s there the success of the business. It was his dream to open for you no matter what you need for dinner. Owner his own restaurant one day. When he finally saved Dan Nguyen was living out of her car 19 years when enough money working full-time at the pizzeria, she was taken in by the original owner, who opened plus night shifts for the sanitation department, Lang Van 29 years ago in east Charlotte. What she’s he moved south, eager to find a place to build his done since is nothing short of an American dream. new life. What he buikt since opening in 1995 is a More: 3019 Shamrock Drive; Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.University City landmark.

10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; 704-531-9525

reputation as a “go-to” for live music performances, with a great layout, expansive bar and fair pricing.

It is the perfect venue to try out a new band or get tickets to see your favorites when they are in town.

More: 1615 Elizabeth Ave.; showtimes vary; 704358-9200, visulite.com The Evening Muse Over the years, NoDa has changed plenty, but The Evening Muse has stayed much the same, while still adapting with new takes on your everyday open mic, events like #RUOKCLT, or intimate shows with musicians and comedians, both local and touring.

The Muse could be best described as a literal cornerstone of the neighborhood, given its location at the intersection of 36th and North Davidson streets. Owner Joe Kuhlman is also a staple in the Charlotte community; you’ll likely see him around with a smile on his face welcoming both old and new patrons to the establishment.

More: 3227 N. Davidson St.; showtimes vary; 704376-3737; eveningmuse.com Amos’ Southend The Milestone

and the building first hand.

More: 2730 Randolph Road; Tues., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m.; Closed Mon.; 704-337-2000; mintmuseum.org

VisArt Video

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It’s been as valiant an effort against South End gentrification as one could hope for from John Ellison, who cited parking and a changing landscape as the reasons for shutting the doors on Amos’ in 2016 after 26 years in operation.

He reopened in March 2019, and though Amos’ may now be a bit smaller, it still packs the same punch when it comes to bringing musical acts to Charlotte and South End. More: 1423 S. Tryon St.; showtimes vary; 704-5957585; amossouthend.com 10 Park Lanes After 54 years in business, 10 Park Lanes is considered a landmark on Montford Drive. What you may not know is that the alley has way more to offer than just 10 bowling lanes, as the title implies.

Boasting 32 lanes for bowling, 32 beers on tap, outdoor games, live music and an extensive menu, there is something for everyone.

You may have even seen their barbecue featured on The Food Network’s Rebel Eats. They host events like Yoga & Bowl and BBQ & Bluegrass block parties during the year.

More: 1700 Montford Drive; Sun., Noon-9 p.m.; Mon., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tues., 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Wed.Thurs., 10 a.m.-Midnight; Fri., 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; (704) 523-7633; rollten.com Ayrsley Grand Cinema When most people think about independently owned movie theaters in Charlotte, they may think of Manor Theatre in Myers Park or the Park Terrace 6 at the Park Road Shopping Center. But alas, in recent years, they’ve been bought out by Regal and AMC, respectively.

Ayrsley keeps doing its own thing, hosting screenings of local and independent films and, of course, bringing us the Retro Horror Series every fall, which is reason enough to show the folks there love.

More: 9110 Kings Parade Blvd.; showtimes vary; 980-297-7540; ayrsleycinemas.com Hadley Theater Part of Queens University, the space formally known as the Jane & Charles Hadley Theater also became home to resident theatre company Actor’s Theatre

VisArt Video In the past few years VisArt has become a lot more than just a video store. In their comfy cool screening room, you can catch some of the latest finds from the Charlotte Film Society’s Back Alley Film Series, and several indie releases get their coveted theatrical run at VisArt — crucial for cash-strapped auteurs’ marketing budgets.

Programming also includes the JokeSploitation Stand-up Comedy Showcase, and VHS Potluck, for which patrons bring in their long unseen VHS PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN movies and get to vote on which one they want to of Charlotte in 2018. In their 31st season, the Actor’s screen.

Theatre of Charlotte has developed a reputation More: 3104 Eastway Drive; Mon.-Thurs, 10 a.m.-9 for bringing fresh and innovative performances to p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., Noon-9 p.m.; 704-343-3031; visartvideo.net Charlotte.

The Hadley Theater opened even more opportunities for ATC by offering a larger theatrical space Freedom Park with plenty of seating and, in turn, ATC has brought Established after World War II to honor veterans, new life to the theater, which was previously only the 98-acre park has a seven-acre lake, bandshell, used for university productions a few times a year. 12 tennis courts, four baseball fields, batting cages, More: 2132 Radcliffe Ave.; showtimes vary; 704- outdoor shelters with grills, soccer fields and a slew of other activity spaces to keep you entertained all 342-2251; atcharlotte.org week.

Freedom Park can get a little full during the Mint Museum Randolph In 1936, the doors to one of North Carolina’s first day, but we find that the best way to experience fine art museums, the Mint Museum Randolph, it is to sneak in after hours, set up a hammock opened — and impressive doors they are. Located between the trees adjacent to the water, turn on in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood and housed in the music and smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. We do not, the same building that was once the Charlotte Mint, however, recommend that you get caught in the the architecture itself is only further complemented process. The place is littered with Canadian geese so by the expansive and immaculate grounds bring the kids, but watch your step.

More: 1908 East Boulevard; Every day, 9 a.m. -10:30 surrounding it. p.m.; tinyurl.com/FreedomNerve If you’ve ever attended the Young Affiliates of INFO@QCNERVE.COM the Mint Annual Oyster Roast or Derby Party, you’ve gotten to experience the beauty of both the scenery

“I HAVE A LOT OF FUN DOING THE PRINTS AND THERE IS NO POLITICAL AGENDA ASSIGNED TO THE IMAGERY.”

& CULTURE

FLORIDA MAN DRAWS CHARLOTTE MAP What does a fun gift map say about how we see our city?

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Q

BY JUSTIN LAFRANCOIS

UEEN CITY NERVE editor Ryan Pitkin was doing some Christmas shopping at Green with Envy gift shop on Dec. 15 when he came across a ghastly creation: an apparent map of Charlotte, broken up by what looked like roadways and filled with designs representing landmarks that some Charlotteans hold dear -- emphasis on the some.

Aside from the fact that the geographic placement of the cute designs was questionable at best, the map completely left out the entire west and east sides of Charlotte — parts of the city that are home to majority black and Latinx people.

Pitkin threw a picture of the map on Twitter with a caption stating, “This looks like a drunk person tried to describe Charlotte to an artist who’s never been here,” and the image immediately hit a nerve with his followers.

“Yet another Charlotte map that centers one kind of community here and completely eliminates another,” said Sam Spencer, chair of the CharlotteMecklenburg Planning Committee.

“The depth to which this is wrong is astounding,” responded local real estate agent Jonathan Osman.

Others derided the seemingly random placement of roadways and landmark locations, while Clayton Sealey, who runs the @CLTdevelopment Twitter account, carped at the inaccuracies in the Bank of America Corporate Center drawing.

One woman, who describes herself in her bio as an urban planner, wrote, “this kind of erasure seems benign (much cute! so design!) but it’s actually very dangerous and perpetuates some of the worst parts

Will Blaine ARTWORK BY WILL BLAINE/A.B. NEWTON & CO.

The city map that perplexed most people who saw it on social media.

of Charlotte’s history.”

And with that tweet, @ERG_CLT described why what was meant to be a fun map of logos drew such an emotional response.

There is a chance that Charlotte will never stop struggling with its identity crisis, as outsider influence continues to transform the idea of what the city is all about. Though there is no exact number of how many people move to Charlotte each day, most reports have put the math at around 60 people per day. Imagine the impact 500 people moving to a small city like Charlotte every week has on its identity.

The city’s history is slowly being razed and erased — a spreading rash of redevelopment in communities without the resources to push back.

From Brooklyn to Brookhill, the history of black and other minority communities are regularly ignored by overzealous developers looking to squeeze in whatever new money-making project they can. Each shiny new restaurant, brewery or condo complex is then heralded by residents at the expense of culture and community.

A.B. Newton and Company, a Florida-based apparel and merchandise company, took full artistic liberty in curating its depiction of Charlotte. A.B. Newton co-founder and city map designer Will Blaine told Queen City Nerve, “There is a lot of artistic liberty taken to squeeze in all the imagery into the cozy confines of an 11x14 [inch] space. I try to make it all jive together with something that’s visually pleasing and somewhat representative of the city being created.”

We showed Blaine some of the social media reactions to his map of a “white washed version of Charlotte,” as one Twitter user called it.

“From their point of view, the print represents some of the things that frustrate them about Charlotte,” Blaine wrote in an email. “On a certain level this is what makes our prints so popular — they have places that resonate to the viewer and remind them of home.”

He stated that he often gets responses from viewers about his work, though not as pointed as the ones evoked by the Twitter post.

“I get feedback from locals, buyers and social media. It’s almost always positive or curious, with an occasional thoughtful critique,” he wrote.

According to Blaine, the biggest point of contention over his city maps, of which he’s designed more than 15, is over what the big gray lines that look like highways actually represent. According to Blaine, they aren’t roads at all.

“They are actually design elements that simply break up the map imagery,” he said.

As for the Charlotte map, it tends to center attractions frequented by the most affluent — and usually white — residents of the Queen City, many of which embody the beginning of gentrification in their respective communities. For example, the only locations referenced west of Uptown in the design are the airport, the U.S. National Whitewater Center, Pinky’s Westside Grill and a barn with a big cross that can be seen from I-485.

The map design is not commissioned by any public or private entity and is entirely self-curated

by Blaine, so the art is based solely off the things in the city area that inspire him.

“I have a lot of fun doing the prints and there is no political agenda assigned to the imagery. The maps are self-curated so, animal sanctuaries, arcade

bars, old theaters, and great eateries get play time.

Colleges, universities, sports brands and famous landmarks also inspire. l also have fun putting ‘Easter Eggs’ in the maps that resonate with pop culture buffs or hyper-localists,” he says.

To Blaine’s credit, one major criticism from social media users — that historically black university Johnson C. Smith University was left out of the rendering completely — was unfounded. A bull’s head with the words “Golden Bull Country” can be seen just north of Uptown, which is actually closer to JCSU’s real location than many of the map’s other designs. Still, some mention of landmarks like Five Points, the Excelsior Club or Historic West End as a whole would certainly be constructive.

East Charlotte is home to a melting pot of African, Asian and Hispanic communities. These community members have built businesses that craft international cuisines and sell goods that often can’t be found anywhere else in the region, yet Blaine erased everything between Plaza Midwood and Mint Hill.

With recent discussions focused on how the arrival of a Major League Soccer team will mean the redevelopment of the old Eastland Mall site, some residents along the Central Avenue and Albemarle Road corridors are already concerned about what that development might mean for them in the next 10 years. Designs like this, ones that portray the area as barren — empty and developable — certainly don’t help.

Though we cannot blame the artist for rendering an image of what they perceive during visits, we do take the map as an opportunity to continue the discussion on the legacy and image that Charlotte promotes to the outside world. The fact is that Charlotte’s robustly diverse communities cannot be ignored, overlooked or erased as we take a step in becoming an international destination with a new professional sports team. Representation must be given to creatives, families, business owners and the like on how outside perspective like this can impact them.

Blaine said he regularly updates his city maps, adding landmarks based on feedback, though he emphasized that the maps are not meant to be taken as a realistic rendering of anything.

“The maps aren’t exhaustive in representation — I’ve had folks from upper-middle-class areas ask why their neighborhoods weren’t on the map,” he wrote. “At the end of the day you can’t make everyone happy, but hopefully on a certain level folks — regardless of their vantage — can embrace some of the whimsy from our ‘tipsy’ versions of their city and enjoy the print.”

JLAFRANCOIS@QCNERVE.COM

ARTIST’S STATEMENT BETTER THAN ‘BE BEST’ ‘Yusef and the President’ takes on bullying

BY PAT MORAN

Pg. 11 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

I

T’S HARD TO TAKE the expression “Be Best” seriously when it’s coming from the worst.

First Lady Melania Trump’s public awareness campaign purportedly advocates for American youth by stressing the evils of cyberbullying — among other planks — but most Americans know they will be holding their breath a long time before the former model addresses the bully-on-steroids in the White House who’s launched Twitter tirades against children and teenagers like environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

In the meantime, local author Jean E. Caldwell is tackling the bullying issue with sharper focus, authenticity and sincerity through her recently released children’s book, Yusef and the President, an in-depth look at the impact of hurtful words and how they can be just as harmful as a physical attack.

Illustrated by Netha DeVoe, Caldwell’s first book is published by Broken Vessel, a company run by Latise M. Howey, author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and Caldwell’s daughter.

The book is currently available on Amazon and at yusefandthepresident.com.

While her story is pitched to a young reading audience, she hopes parents take heed of its message of diversity and inclusivity.

“We as parents should be more mindful of what we say around our children, because they’re like sponges,” Caldwell says.

From the crib, our offspring rely on us to tell them what is right and what is wrong, she continues. If we tell our children that they are better than someone else because of our social status or our skin color, those children walk out of the door to reflect and inflict those views on other children.

A retired employee of Concord’s city manager and mayor’s offices, graduate of Barber-Scotia College and longtime resident of the SidestownShankletown neighborhood, Caldwell has deep

such pride in his name, and then for someone to say that because of his name he would do bad things, it really hurt him. But he came home and told his mom that he really didn’t care.

In the book I wrote it like it really affected Yusef.

The story develops from the boys not wanting to play with Yusef. He comes home and talks to his mom. Then his mom reminds him that he was just like the president. He was in good company. If somebody didn’t like him because of his name it is their loss because they didn’t take the time to know Yusef. They were the ones that were missing out.

I thought the same thing about President Obama.

I thought he was an example of inclusiveness and treating people the way you wanted to be treated, and not judging other people. In spite of all the things that were thrown at him, he always took the high road. So, that’s the way I developed the story.

People claimed they had problems with the president’s name – Barack Hussein Obama.

Exactly. I thought about when John McCain was running against President Obama. At one of his campaign gatherings a lady came up and started saying bad things about President Obama, and McCain took the mic from her. Other people in a similar incident would let that lady stand there and say those things even though they knew that she PHOTO BY SOLOMON HALL was wrong.

Now we don’t try to defend each other or come to each other’s aid in incidents like that. It’s like we’d Jean E. Caldwell at a recent book signing at Oshuns Botanica in Concord. rather try to keep the peace. I think of the quote [by roots in Concord. speaking at a news conference. Yusef had an ‘aha’ Eve Curie Labouisse], “Peace at any cost is not peace at all.” I honestly believe that. If we don’t try to stand She credits her philosophy on child-rearing moment. and community to growing up in that tight-knit He said, “Wow, mom, he has brown skin just up for what is right, we will indeed fall for anything. neighborhood, where neighbors kept an eye on like mine.” My daughter said it had such an impact each other’s kids. on her that she burst into tears. She saw how Yusef We have a very different president now from “It was nothing for us [children] to be chastised identified with the President of the United states the one in your book. How do you think your message resonates now? by our neighbors if we got out of hand,” she says. that looked like him.

“I wouldn’t take that back for love nor money. It I was in Zimbabwe in 2012, and when President The only thing I can do is make the comparison helped me realize that it is indeed a village that is Obama was reelected, I thought about Yusef and of the two presidents. You never heard President required to raise a child. We’re all extensions of each how he recognized that the president had the same Obama speak negatively about anyone. He wanted to sit down and talk about differences. other. I am you and you are me.” skin color as his.

The president we have now wears his bullying as We caught up with Caldwell to chat about the But I also remembered an incident where my inspiration behind her book’s deep themes and daughter said that Yusef’s friends told him that a badge of honor. He speaks negatively and puts out how the election of Donald Trump has made it all they could not play with him anymore. Yusef asked all this negative energy. Then the people that think the more relevant. them why and they said [it was] because their like him, it’s like he’s condoning [their behavior], and parents had told them that Yusef had a name that they think how they feel is right because of him. It is What was sparked the idea for this story? was associated with people that did bad things. all about the leadership.

That is the message that is in Yusef and the When I was living in Maryland in 2009, three of my Yusef’s full name is Yusef Jassiem Shah. They just President. It’s all about what we see and hear from grandchildren would come up and stay with me. associated that name with terrorism. our leaders. When we’re children, our parents are President Obama had been elected the previous our leaders.

November. [My grandson] Yusef was with his mom, Because it sounded Muslim?

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM my daughter Latise, when he saw President Obama Exactly. His dad practices Islam. Yusef always took

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1ST HOGMANAY (SCOTTISH NEW YEAR)

What: It’s the “First Footin’” for those who partied too hard at a New Year’s Eve party or just want to start the year off with a walk around the farm and a stone soup blessing, whatever the hell that is.

More: Free; 10 a.m.; Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville; tinyurl.com/HogmanayRuralHill

THURSDAY, JAN. 2ND

HANGOVER COMEDY SHOW

What: Ok, we’re not going to make this entire Lifeline about recovering from New Year’s Eve hangovers, but c’mon, it’s literally in the name of the event. Laugh it off with a crew of great local comedians, including Brian O’Neil, Kevin Delgado, Tara Brown and Wayne Cousins, hosted by J.D. Colwell.

More: $5-$8; 8 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

FRIDAY, JAN. 3RD

LIFELINE

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JAN 1ST - JAN. 7TH

SKYLARK TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

What: Skylark celebrates two years with a bludgeoning birthday bill. The reunion of Charlotte post-hardcore pioneers Scapegoat draws the focus. The septet’s mix of layered melodies, vocal harmonies and chugging freight train riffs set the template for Q.C. grindcore back in 1999. Cosmic Reaper, Violent Life Violent Death and Savage Backfire complete the party.

More: $12-$15; 8 p.m.; Skylark Social Club, 2131 Central Ave., skylarksocialclub.com

SATURDAY, JAN. 4TH

TWELFTH NIGHT

What: A modern spin on the 18th century’s wildest party of the year. Based on the traditional colonial celebrations held on the twelfth night after Christmas Day, CMoH closes out the holiday season with bonfires, hot cider, live music, games, whiskey and revelry at the site of Mecklenburg County’s oldest home, the 1774 Alexander Rock House.

More: Free-$25; 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive; charlottemuseum.org

SUNDAY, JAN. 5TH

DANDO’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY

What: If there’s one thing we want to make clear, it’s that the above title is not ours, and we would roll our eyes out of our head if we heard you call it anything but Dandelion Market. Oh well, to each their own, so slide into the DM for free drinks and snacks and reminisce on a decade at the Dandy.

More: Free; 4-7 p.m.; Dandelion Market, 118 W. 5th St.; dandelionmarketcharlotte.com

MONDAY, JAN. 6TH LIVE ‘NOOZE HOUNDS’ RECORDING

What: Have you listened to our Nooze Hounds podcast yet? If not, get on that. In it, editor Ryan Pitkin and publisher Justin LaFrancois mix cocktails and talk local news with the folks who make it and report it. We’ll be kicking it at Coco for Queen City Podcast Network’s monthly live recording, so join us two boozy newsies.

More: Free; 7 p.m.; Coco & the Director, 100 W. Trade St.; qcnerve.com/category/news-culture/nooze-hounds/

TUESDAY, JAN. 7TH ‘COME FROM AWAY’

What: In September 2001, a tiny Newfoundland town reluctantly opened it arms to the passengers and crews of 38 planes that were forced to land after the 9-11 attacks. Though the NY Times says this critically acclaimed musical pushes so many emotional buttons it will make you feel like an accordion, the show succeeds because the sentiment is honestly earned.

More: $25 and up; Jan. 7-12; Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., blumenthalarts.org

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QCNERVE’S LIFELINE

for cool events happening in the queen city!

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8TH ‘FLINT: THE POISONING OF AN AMERICAN CITY’

What: It’s been five years since a change in the source of drinking water in Flint, Michigan, exposed 100,000 people to elevated levels of lead. This documentary gives voice to the struggle of residents, follows the environmental history of the river and how the continued abuse and neglect of city infrastructure and environmental regulations led to the poisoning.

More: Free; 6-9 p.m.; The Avenue CLT, 701 Jackson Ave.; tinyurl.com/AvenueFlint

THURSDAY, JAN. 9TH ALEXA ROSE

What: With a great grandfather who played with bluegrass great Lester Flatt, music runs in West Virginia native Alexa Rose’s blood. Her debut album Medicine for Living tethers the plain-spoken poetry of her native Appalachia with the soulful polish of Memphis. Throughout, Rose’s tumbling, soaring vocals tell tales of loving, losing and learning to love again.

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

FRIDAY, JAN. 10TH

LIFELINE

Pg. 13 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

JAN. 8TH -JAN. 14TH

UNCLE BUCK

What: Indira Andrade is one of the biggest badasses in the Charlotte music scene, and lucky for us, she’s celebrating her own birthday by leading her band in a pool hall gig for all our entertainment. Andrade begins the night with two hours of “birthday badness” before leading an 11 p.m. performance with her hard-rocking crew Uncle Buck.

More: Free; 10 p.m.; Elizabeth Billiards, 1400 Central Ave.; facebook.com/realunclebuck

SATURDAY, JAN. 11TH

CINE CASUAL FILM SERIES

What: “Just aim with hate in your heart,” assassin Jesús says while teaching Paula how to shoot. It turns out Paula is hunting Jesús for killing her father. Does she harbor enough hate to pull the trigger? Revenge is a dish served conflicted in Colombian feature Matar a Jesuss (Killing Jesús) which kicks off this series of recent, award-winning Latin American films.

More: $5-$45; 6 p.m.; Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave., facebook.com/cinecasual

SUNDAY, JAN. 12TH

RADKEY

What: In 2010, three homeschooled brothers got the hell out of Dodge – or St. Joseph, Missouri – on a self-proclaimed crusade to save the world from crap like Nickelback. With economical tunes pitched midway between the Misfits’ horror rock and Social Distortion’s rabble rousing, Radkey serves up short sharp blasts of melodic punk bristling with energy and angst.

More: $10; 8:30 p.m.; Skylark Social Club, 2131 Central Ave., skylarksocialclub.com

MONDAY, JAN. 13TH YOU DRINK WE DONATE

What: Guzzle for the greater good! Monday means it’s YDWD at NoDa Brewing’s North Tryon location, and $1 of every pint, flight or snifter purchased goes to Pits and Giggles Rescue, which helps pregnant pit bulls while promoting responsible spay and neuter practices. It’s the perfect combination of beer drinking and baby animals.

More: Free; 4 p.m.; NoDa Brewing, 2921 N. Tryon St., nodabrewing.com

TUESDAY, JAN. 14TH CHARLOTTE CHECKERS 1950S NIGHT

What: Let’s take it back to what it was like when Bojangles’ Coliseum first opened in 1955 for hockey games. Well, let’s take it back to the good parts of that time period, anyway, when tickets and hot dogs cost a buck and the sodas and popcorn cost even less. Grab yourself a throwback jersey, just leave the racism at home.

More: $7 and up; 7 p.m.; Bojangles’ Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.; gocheckers.com

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PHOTO BY PETE MCCOIL

King Cackle (from left): Doc Caines, Joe Nelson, Aaron Rogers and Justin Bickley.

SNAP, CACKLE, ROCK

Punk pirates King Cackle set sail for Snug Harbor

BY PAT MORAN

Pg. 14 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

W

HEN HEAVY ROOTS rock combo King Cackle band’s stomping roots rock, grooves that roll like a

played a July 19 gig at Skylark Social Club, Queen City Nerve had this to say: “With fuzzed-out guitars, jackhammer drums and growled vocals, King Cackle suggests what the animatronic Pirates of the Caribbean would sound like if they got shitfaced and started a punk blues band.”

Group founder and chief songwriter Joe Nelson chuckles when I read him that blurb. It turns out he’s used to all the rollicking buccaneer comparisons.

“We have that rock ‘n’ rollers on a pirate ship vibe,” Nelson says. “That’s what everyone tells us.”

That makes the band’s upcoming January residency at Snug Harbor so fitting. The venue’s gritty yet comfy nautical feel complements the

full-rigged frigate in a squall. It’s the perfect match of setting and sound for cracking open a barrel of rum or frigging in the rigging.

In fact, King Cackle’s saga has the dramatic heft and emotional arc of a seafaring adventure: An everyman visionary goes on a quest to realize and create the sound he’s hearing in his head. He bonds with a band of brothers who woodshed and hone that sound. It looks like smooth sailing until tragedy strikes, and the remaining comrades mourn the passing of one of their own. Then the brothers rebound and set sail for new — and broader — horizons.

“Everyone in the band is from different walks of life with different musical backgrounds,” Nelson

says. “But it comes together pretty well.”

Growing up in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Nelson was surrounded by music. It was a bluegrass town, and Nelson remembers the country tunes that his uncles loved. His father was into big band jazz and swing, particularly Rat Pack crooners like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. To this day, Nelson appreciates Sinatra’s and Martin’s way with lyrics that riffed off events in their lives.

“They’re such smart asses,” Nelson says.

His older brother amped up the attitude when he turned Nelson onto the in-your-face aggression of punk bands like Pennywise and Bad Religion. That hard-rock edge was augmented by Nelson’s stint as vocalist in a high school band, the metalcore skate-

punk combo Train Wreck Orchestra. A healthy dose of hip-hop and the guitar pyrotechnics of Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page were the final ingredients, forming a dense, rhythmic and swinging sound that Nelson kept hearing in his head but nowhere else. Working as a dishwasher in restaurants as a kid, Nelson became obsessed with the guitarists’ wild and elaborate solos.

“I picked up the guitar when I was 15 because I wanted to know what kind of lyric would cue that sound,” he says.

Nelson also picked up banjo, slide guitar and resonator guitar, and he started searching out music that came close to what was playing in his head 24-7. He hit up record stores in his hometown and eventually found four bands that influenced what would become the King Cackle style, a confluence of heavy riffs, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll and open tuning.

Nelson found inspiration and affirmation in the hillbilly punk-blues of Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Left Lane Cruiser. The similarly stomping 20 Watt Tombstone from Wausau, Wisconsin, exerted an influence, particularly years later when King Cackle shared stages with the midwestern band and befriended its members. The God Damn Gallows brought a psychobilly-metal hybrid to the mix. But Nelson reserves his highest praise for The Legendary Shack Shakers of Paducah, Kentucky, and their flamboyant front man J.D. Wilkes. He credits Wilkes’ writing, plus the Shack Shakers’ combination of rockabilly and unorthodox bluegrass riffs for spurring King Cackle’s creepy carnival — and piratical — feel.

Concurrent with his musical quest, Nelson was paying the bills working at restaurants. His career choice came to bear on some of his lyrics. Years later, Nelson’s toil in various kitchens influenced the song “86’d and Out,” one of three tunes on King Cackle’s debut EP that dropped in September 2018. To those who have successfully avoided working in food service, a menu listing is “86’d,” or removed from the board once a busy kitchen has run out of the item. “86’d and Out” is about working for too many shitty bosses who look at employees as replaceable components with little value, Nelson explains.

He would go home and funnel his frustration into songwriting, but there was no band to help focus his energy, so he became a bedroom musician.

“When I got off work, music was always the one thing at the end of the day that nobody could tell me how to do. No one can control you or tell you how to play.”

Nevertheless, Nelson stuck with his restaurant career for a couple of years. He found his best boss at Bistro Bethem in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The chef there took Nelson under his wing and taught him the

Pg. 15 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

KING CACKLE RESIDENCY Jan 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; 10 p.m.; Free; Snug Harbor, 1226 Gordon St.; snugrock.com

ins and outs of cooking. He also introduced Nelson to local musicians who turned him onto even more music – a treasure trove of rock, jazz and bluegrass.

Nelson’s day job brought him to Charlotte, where he studied the culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University. He currently works as a sales rep at Artisan Beverage Group.

In Charlotte, Nelson met another mentor who would change the course of his life. At Sanctuary Pub in NoDa, Nelson met multi-instrumentalist Noah Warner. As a teenager, Mount Pleasant native Warner had played in Margo, a high school combo that included Warner’s friend Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers. Warner went on to play in a few other bands with Avett, eventually moving to Charlotte.

At Sanctuary, Nelson and Warner hit it off, so they moved to Nelson’s apartment to jam. Warner was impressed with Nelson’s slide guitar playing, and he encouraged the younger musician to get out of the bedroom and into the clubs in front of audiences.

“I played my first actual show in front of people at Sanctuary for their 10-year anniversary party, and I was scared shitless,” Nelson remembers.

To help him get over his stage fright, Warner came up to accompany Nelson on acoustic guitar on his first and last numbers. Nelson recalls that, after that exeprience, he was “hooked” on performing live.

Warner was getting ready to tour with another band, so he encouraged Nelson to go to venues and meet other musicians so he could form his own band. One evening Nelson caught a show at The Station, now Skylark Social Club on Central Avenue.

There he met Aaron Rogers, and the two musicians connected and started getting together to play.

Nelson recalls sitting on Rogers’ front porch drinking beer when he asked Rogers if he wanted to start a band. Rogers was in.

“Aaron said, ‘Yeah. Nobody’s doing music like this around here. I think this is something we should do,’” Nelson remembers.

Though Rogers had played guitar, bass and trombone, he was tapped to play drums in the fledgling band.

“I don’t have a background playing four-four heavy metal or punk,” Rogers says. “I just play what I hear so I think that locked in with Joe. We were two people speaking a similar language, trying to figure out where the gaps were between what we were doing.”

Originally conceived as a two-piece, King Cackle later brought in Doc Caines to play guitar. Then Warner came back from tour and was suddenly available. He joined up on bass, turning King Cackle into a four-piece.

With Hell Commands Records founder and Raw Hex member Rick Contes recording, the quartet cut the band’s three-song EP, appending bludgeoning blues holler “Release the Hounds” and the grimy spaghetti western meets sea shanty “Trolltunga” to “86’d and Out.” The collection dropped in the fall, creating substantial buzz for the band. King Cackle was going from strength to strength, gaining momentum and building up a head of steam, Nelson says.

Then, on January 8, 2019, Warner was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. The aggressive strain of cancer went into remission, but Warner subsequently discovered that it had reappeared in his spine. After a months-long struggle with the disease, he passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28th, shortly after 6 a.m.

King Cackle lost more than a master musician, Nelson says. Warner was also a friend and brother.

“Noah was a huge influence for us,” Nelson says.

“He helped us get really heavy and gritty.”

“That [influence] still lingers over everything we do,” Rogers adds.

Nelson says that Warner was adamant that the band continue on without him, and he promised Warner he would never let it fade. He is now keeping that promise.

After mourning the loss of their friend and mentor, the band regrouped. Justin Bickley (Green Fiend) came aboard to play bass, while Caines went on hiatus from the band in October as the birth of his first child approached.

Since then, Rob Grauer from Old Moons has filled in on guitar. Ian Pasquini has also sat in on fiddle, most recently at a November 9 gig at Reggie’s 42nd Street Tavern in Wilmington with Green Fiend, Scowl Brow and Bushido Code.

“Ian’s an insanely talented musician [and] one of the hardest working guys in the industry here in Charlotte,” Nelson enthuses.

He says the violinist may also step into the spotlight for at least one of the band’s residency shows at Snug Harbor in January, where the band also hopes to see Caines return to the fold.

The residency promises to be King Cackle’s highest profile Charlotte gig in some time, with the band taking the stage for five consecutive Wednesdays at the Plaza Midwood venue, augmented with an eclectic yet compatible lineup of other local acts.

VOICE OVER CASTING MIX SOUND DESIGN MUSIC WHISKEY

GROUNDCREWSTUDIOS.COM

How Snug’s signature residencies work — who books the weekly bills and how much input the headliner has on who shares the bill with them — depends on a few things, Nelson says. In fact, it all boils done to the headliner’s initiative, he explains.

After Snug General Manager Chris Burns saw King Cackle onstage at several shows there, he approached them for a residency. Nelson then reached out to Snug’s talent buyer Zachary Reader to book the residency. (For six years, Reader booked the residencies, but that role has recently been taken up by the club’s owners.)

Nelson had seen that many times resident bands were letting much of the booking for support bands fall on Reader’s shoulders, and he wanted to help.

Nelson says he enjoys the logistics of putting the shows together, organizing it around certain subgenres and then putting them together to see how well they fit. So, he drew up a dream list of bands he’d like to work with and hit them up.

“It was super flattering,” Nelson enthuses. “I’d say 95% of the bands I contacted were like, ‘Hell yeah man, we’re down for that.’”

Groups like Pysch Ops, The Commonwealth, The

Poontanglers and the Hellfire Choir will be heating up Snug’s stage during the wintriest of months.

Once the residency is completed, King Cackle intends to pull back from playing local shows.

Nelson says the band plans to play four or five local gigs at the most so they can focus on writing and recording new music.

An as-yet untitled EP is slated for a summer release, and Nelson and his bandmates plan to record a full-length album in Nashville soon after, with Contes once again recording.

More out-of-town gigs are on the band’s itinerary too. Asheville, Greensboro and a return to Wilmington are all on the band’s radar. Nelson also wants to draw on his Virginia connections to books a mini East Coast tour, including Richmond and Washington D.C, in the fall.

Nelson, who was once terrified of live gigs, now looks forward to playing in front of more audiences with his rollicking crew of rock ‘n’ roll pirates.

And despite what Queen City Nerve said about the band before, we doubt they’ll be shitfaced.

“There’s no drug on the planet that can compare to the feeling of playing live,” Nelson says.

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM

SOUNDWAVE Kash Money Karaoke Live (The Press Box) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Open Mic/Open Jam (Comet Grill) DJ/ELECTRONIC

The Wizard’s Roadshow (Post Sports Bar & Grill)

JANUARY 2

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Monachopsis, Canopy Hands, Cicala (Skylark Social Club) Shana Blake (Smokey Joe’s) Kat & Friends (Comet Grill) Pilots & Pirates (Tin Roof) Open Mic: Paul Lover (Tommy’s Pub) DJ/ELECTRONIC

Le Bang(Snug Harbor) The Wizard’s Roadshow (Hartland’s Bar & Grill) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL

5th & York (Middle C Jazz)

JANUARY 3

Pg. 16 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Face 2 Face: Elton John & Billy Joel Tribute (Fillmore) Preppen Barium, Element, Mean Lisa, Murder by Melons (The Milestone) Pröwess, Tuk Smith, Fixed Faces, Paint Fumes (Amos’ Southend) Skylark 2 Year Anniversary: Scapegoat, VLVD, Cosmic Reaper (Skylark Social Club) The Poontanglers, Boo Hag, Lädyhel (Snug Harbor) Maya Beth Atkins Band, Gigi Dover & The Big Love (Evening Muse) Lazaris Pit, Dirty Low Down, Donner Dead, True Lilith (Tommy’s Pub) Wrestle with Jimmy (Tin Roof)

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL

Calvin Edwards Trio (Middle C Jazz) DJ/ELECTRONIC

Rewind Selecta: Shock Proof, Krost, Electron C, Funktavius, Irewl, Kaizen (SERJ) Off the Wall: Best of the 80s V.19 (Petra’s)

JANUARY 5

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) Zack Mexico, Junior Astronomers (Snug Harbor) Metal Church Sunday Service (The Milestone) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/R&B

Bone Snugs-N-Harmony Karaoke (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL

Bill Hannah’s Jazz Session (Petra’s)

JANUARY 6

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Jazz Jam (Crown Station)

DJ/ELECTRONIC

January Residency: King Cackle, Wes & The Railroaders, Donner Deads (Snug Harbor) Karaoke with Mike Earle (Petra’s) A Bloody Mary Acoustic Afternoon: When Particles Collide, Chris “PK” Chaney, My Blue Hope (Tommy’s Pub)

Ryan Montbleau, Tom Mackell (Evening Muse) Joe’s Truck Stop (Evening Muse)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

The Wizard’s Roadshow (The Fat Parrots Bar & Grill)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

JANUARY 7

Math the Band, Dollar Signs, Michael Cera Palin, The Emotron (The Milestone) Find Your Muse Open Mic: Beau James (Evening Muse) Piano Bar Karaoke & Sing Along with Ryan Stamey (Petra’s) Cito’s Birthday with Jamorah (Smokey Joe’s)

Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Colt Ford, Out of the Blue (Coyote Joe’s)

JANUARY 1

Abbey Road Live! (Visulite Theatre) Slingshot Dakota, Paperback, Alright (Snug Harbor) Ultimate 80s Party: Tiffany (Fillmore) Road to Grungefest: Angry Chair, Third Eye, Glycerine (Underground) Natural Wonder: Stevie Wonder Tribute, Bless the Rains: Toto Tribute (Amos’ Southend) The New York Bee Gees Tribute Show (Knight Theater) The Hardest Part: Tom Petty Tribute (Tin Roof) The Jump Cut (Tin Roof)

JANUARY 4

Rough Dreams, Something Went Wrong, Angry Earth, Sunday Boxing (The Milestone) Surfaces, Public Library Commute (Neighborhood Theatre)

RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/R&B COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Country Music Monday (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern) DJ/ELECTRONIC

Knocturnal (Brooklyn Lounge)

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Smokin’ Js Open Mic Jam (Smokey Joe’s) Rohna, The Unapologetic Kind, Wine Pride (Evening Muse) Musician Open Mic (Crown Station) Uptown Unplugged: Lisa De Novo (Tin Roof) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Red Rockin’ Chair (Comet Grill)

RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/R&B

Crushed Velvet: DJ SPK (Snug Harbor) Respect da Mic Poetry Slam (Petra’s)

JANUARY 8

January Residency: King Cackle, Evergone, Psych Ops (Snug Harbor) Tosco Music Open Mic (Evening Muse) Karaoke with Mike Earle (Petra’s) Kash Money Karaoke Live (The Press Box) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Open Mic/Open Jam (Comet Grill) Josh Daniel, Jeremy Shaw (Smokey Joe’s)

JANUARY 9

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Shana Blake (Smokey Joe’s) Alexa Rose (Evening Muse) Pretty Baby & The Wedding Cult, Skydriver, Nic Pugh & The Bad News (Petra’s) Temperance League, Pale Blue Dot, Willie Douglas Band (Skylark Social Club) Open Mic Night: Johnny Starr (Tommy’s Pub) Abbey Elmore Band (Tin Roof) Bitter Calm, Futurists, Phantom Friend, Dylan Gilbert (The Milestone) DJ/ELECTRONIC

The Wizard’s Roadshow (Hartland’s Bar & Grill) Le Bang(Snug Harbor) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Ward Davis, Charles Wesley Godwin (Amos’ Southend) The High Divers, Cicada Rhythm (Free Range Brewing) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL

The Ron Brendle Quartet (Middle C Jazz)

JANUARY 10

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Sticks ‘n Thorns: Jon Stickley, Andy Thorn (Neighborhood Theatre) Divine Treachery, Living In My Shadow, Written In Gray, A Young Man’s Burial (The Milestone) Shoot to Thrill: Female AC/DC Tribute (Underground) Pinkest Floyd: Pink Floyd Tribute (Amos’ Southend) Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise (Evening Muse) Kelsey Ryan, David Taylor & The Tallboys, Sissy Brown (Petra’s) Honey Creek, Mercury Dimes, True Lilith, Home For The Day, Amity Pointe (Skylark Social Club) Johnny Dinosaur (Smokey Joe’s) The Van Allen Belt, Angwish (Tommy’s Pub) Hope Massive, Rastacoustic (Heist Brewery) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Lenny Federal Band (Comet Grill) Tracy Lawrence (Coyote Joe’s) Phillip Michael Parsons (Tin Roof) DJ/ELECTRONIC

DJ/ELECTRONIC

Decadon (SERJ) Cash Cash (World)

RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/R&B

Grits & Biscuits: A Dirty South Set (Fillmore) Slade the Supreme, Dre of the East, XBrodie (Evening Muse) Triangle Afrobeat Orchestra, Sweat Transfer (Petra’s) F Dux & Friends: F Dux, Jones McShine, T Woo, Jacc D Frost, Kyng Rash (Crown Station)

JANUARY 12

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Radkey, The Fill Ins, The Menders (Skylark Social Club) Omari & the Hellhounds (Comet Grill) Metal Church Sunday Service (The Milestone) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/R&B

Bone Snugs-N-Harmony Karaoke (Snug Harbor) ROOTS/BLUES/INTERNATIONAL

The Wizard’s Roadshow (The Fat Parrots Bar & Grill) Freddy Todd, Mystic Grizzly, Dropkick, Chillum (SERJ)

Bluegrass Open Jam: Greg Clarke & Friends(Tommy’s Pub)

Player Made: An Ode To Southern Rap of All Eras (Snug Harbor) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL

Bill Hannah’s Jazz Session (Petra’s) Charlotte Symphony: Beethoven’s Emperor (Knight Theater)

The Ron Brendle Quartet (Middle C Jazz) Charlotte Symphony: Beethoven’s Emperor (Knight Theater) Jazzy Trinity (Resident Culture Brewing)

Reflexions New Wave/Dark Wave/Goth/Industrial/ Ska Dance Party: DJ Velvetine / DJ Sanity Ana / DJ Tech Bat

RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/R&B

JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL

DJ/ELECTRONIC

JANUARY 11

JANUARY 13

The Flight Risks, Hang the Hipster, Dr. Keyboardian (The Milestone) Hope’s Birthday Bash, Alternative Champs, David Childers, It’s Snakes, Chaka (Snug Harbor) Sugar: System of Down Tribute, Strength Beyond Strength: Pantera Tribute (Underground) The Eskimo Brothers (Evening Muse) 84: Van Halen Tribute (Amos’ Southend) A Sunday Fire (Skylark Social Club) David Bromberg Quintet, Paul Loren (Booth Playhouse) Slark Moan (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern) Negulators (Repo Record) Bert Wray Blues Band (Tommy’s Pub) Band from a Hat 2k20 Drawing (Concerts at the Courtroom, Rock Hill)

Find Your Muse Open Mic (Evening Muse) Trent Thompson, The Wiltz (Snug Harbor) Albert Lee (Booth Playhouse)

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

Pg. 17 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2019 - QCNERVE.COM

Charlotte Symphony: Beethoven’s Emperor (Knight Theater)

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Unknown Hinson, Jason Moss and The Hosses (Visulite Theatre) Jay Taylor (Tin Roof) JAZZ/CLASSICAL/ INSTRUMENTAL

Jazz is Phish (Middle C Jazz)

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Country Music Monday (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern) RAP/HIP-HOP/SOUL/FUNK/R&B

Jazz Jam (Crown Station) DJ/ELECTRONIC

Knocturnal (Brooklyn Lounge)

JANUARY 14

ROCK/PUNK/METAL

No Future: The Body Bags, Self Made Monsters, DJ Fat Keith Richards (Snug Harbor) Smokin’ Js Open Mic Jam (Smokey Joe’s) Fake Eyes, Soul Blind, & Dollhands (Lunchbox Records) Uptown Unplugged: Austin McNeill Duo (Tin Roof) Musician Open Mic (Crown Station) COUNTRY/FOLK/AMERICANA

Red Rockin’ Chair (Comet Grill) Second Tuesday Singer/Songwriters Showcase: Christopher “PK” Chaney, Sean Keyser, Katy Blakey Cox, Jimmy Gilbert, Travis Lee Overcash, Paul Lover (Tommy’s Pub)

RSVP FOR ONE

Some people don’t get a plus-anything

BY SHAMEIKA RHYMES

Pg. 18 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

Dear Shameika, I just really don’t like my best friend’s boyfriend. Two years ago, my friend had an affair with a co-worker and her marriage ended, but she continued the relationship with the co-worker. At first, I tried to get to know him and invited them both to parties.

He’s handsome, charismatic, and seems to be a great father. But, I feel like my friend is in a toxic relationship with him. They have broken up and gotten back together at least 20 times in the past year. He spies on her, curses her out in front of her son, has cheated on her with a mutual friend and calls her crazy, but she won’t leave him for good. I’m scared of him and I’ve shared that but she always says I haven’t “gotten to know the real him.” A group of friends and I are hosting a party and she is invited, but her man is not. Now she is insisting he be invited. Should I tell her that no one wants him around? Or should I give him a chance?

Sincerely, Not feeling Him

a relationship with the person she cheated with — and who eventually did the same thing to her. Her self-esteem and self-love seems to be on empty, especially if she’s allowing this stuff to happen in front of her child. She’s going to need to fill herself up by loving on herself, but until she looks in the mirror and realizes she deserves better, all you can do is be there to be ready to catch her when she falls out of love with this lame and help her through it.

In the meantime, it’s great that you invited her to the party, and hopefully she will come alone, but be prepared for her to insist that if she can’t bring Toxic Bae, she isn’t coming. On her end, she may be worried about making him angry if he can’t come with her, or in her mind, what if he breaks up with her for the 21st time and it’s for good? Sure, you can have that chat with her to explain the reasoning behind the invitation, just don’t stage an intervention with the entire group you are hosting the party with. That won’t end well, and you may lose a friend.

So, have this convo solo with her. Invite her out for a girls night for drinks so she won’t act a donkey in public, unless she is like one of those Real Housewives and will throw drinks at restaurants. If that’s the case, maybe a spa day is a better time to chat, or go for a walk in the park. Be clear that it is a girls’ night so she will leave Toxic Bae at the house.

During the conversation, make sure you are direct, not throwing hints of shade. Be open and honest in a loving way, and explain with examples why he scares you, why you are worried for her and her child, and why everyone is uncomfortable around him and his unstable behavior.

However, you also called him charismatic, so he must have some “act right” in him. Be prepared for that rebuttal from her. Explain to her that you and your friends want to spend time with her and not them as a couple. The key is not to sound like you’re complaining. Again, keeping it 100, she may resent you for this entire conversation because, as women in their feelings, we sometimes go to, “Oh she is hating,” or, “She’s jealous of my relationship.”

If he scares you, then there is absolutely no reason for you to get to know him any better than you already do. It doesn’t sound like you even know when he will or won’t be in her life. Give her a chance to process what you have to say, and who knows, maybe she will show up at the party solo and leave the night with a new bae!

Dear Not Feeling Him, Kudos for you being a good friend by already voicing your concern for your friend and making the effort to get to know her man in the past, but I have to Keep it 100 with you: Your friend isn’t going to wake up and dump this guy just because you aren’t feeling him.

But I bet you already know that.

When you think you are in love, you want to spend every waking moment with your bae, regardless of the rocky terrain and, more often than not, regardless of what your friends and family Good Luck! If you have a dilemma you need help think. What may be toxic to you, may not be toxic solving, drop me a line: (yet) to your friend. It sounds like she needs to do shameika@themofochronicles.com some digging into what made her cheat then pursue

COUNTING DOWN

Pg. 19 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

ACROSS

1 Nothin’ at all 4 Got on board 12 -- Hill (Theodore Roosevelt’s home) 20 Altar promise 21 Quiche -22 Zealous campaigner 23 With 39-Down, business for attorneys 24 Dreams up 25 Enrobing 26 Thorax 28 Cloister resident 29 Native Americans of Oklahoma 31 See 69-Across 32 Lena of “The Wiz” 33 Gal at a ball 34 Big fashion inits.

35 Blue shade 37 Haul to court 38 “Time -- the essence!”

40 Wagged part 42 Closest to nil 46 Verizon competitor 49 Artificial hair 51 Skier Tommy 52 Ali or Frazier 53 Klutzy type 54 Radon, e.g.

55 Indian “Mr.” 56 Dangerous way to skate 58 Haglike 60 Darkened 62 Uprightness 63 Like radon 64 Actress Courteney 65 Alluring West 66 Kanga’s son 67 Pitched shelter 68 “-- knew?!”

69 With 31-Across, start to enjoy 70 Snooze site 71 Like sexist jokes and such, for short 75 Mai --

76 Ring official 77 “Piggy” 78 River of Grenoble 79 Like much hemp fashion 83 Actress Cuthbert 85 Was deeply agitated 86 Air impurity 88 Battle (for) 89 Favorite 90 “-- -haw!” (“Whee!”)

91 Bicolor snacks 92 Slender fish 93 Polar laborer 94 Hit into from behind 96 1988 Olympics city 97 Is in a hole 99 Film scorer Schifrin 101 Sportage or Soul maker 102 Clairol products 104 Gibbon, e.g.

106 -- -relief 107 White wader 110 Enthusiasm 113 Soup legume 115 Dandy fellow 116 Full of cheek 117 Rift-causing 119 Least near 122 Sci-fi gift 123 Hand-thrown weapons 124 Scottish beef animal 125 Scrabble 4-pointer 126 Right to use another’s land 127 Opera text 128 Scrabble 1-pointers

27 Ignore rudely 30 Trendy 36 Typical lab rat, e.g.

39 See 23-Across 41 It has a charge 43 Pivotal line 44 Split-off group 45 Deuce follower 46 Specifically 47 Neighbor of Quebec 48 Place (down) 50 * Request for a hand slap 57 Engine cover 59 LCD alternative 60 Ski- -61 Consume 64 * Group of defendants that included Abbie Hoffman 68 “Hold on!”

69 Styling stuff 70 Furry scarf 71 Consume 72 Occasion to shout out the ends of the answers to this puzzle’s starred clues (from left to right) 73 Dress fussily 74 Handed over

DOWN

1 Nothin’ at all 2 Gem State 3 * A thousand and a googol, e.g.

4 * March Madness quarterfinal teams 5 Family member 6 Slivovitz and kirsch 7 Has a debate 8 * 1998 Tom Clancy novel 9 Family members 10 Adversary 11 Cease’s partner 12 Flimflam 13 * Part of the Constitution establishing the judiciary 14 Very nervy 15 “... so far -- know” 16 * Helicopter of the U.S. president 17 Major Norse god 18 Sublet, say 19 Therefore

SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

75 In this way, informally 76 Withdrawal 77 * “She Loves You” band’s nickname 78 * Tangoing truism 79 Lofty poetry 80 Heart 81 Toast topper 82 * A state of bliss 84 Window area 85 View 87 Rustic denial 89 View 95 Capital of Latvia 98 Helical form 100 Taoism founder 103 Omit in speech 105 Nicholas Gage memoir 108 City in Germany 109 Styles 110 Knife feature 111 Old Italian currency 112 Bird class 114 Bird hangout 118 Snead of golf 120 Classic British sports car 121 Hard drinker

JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 7

JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The New Year brings challenges that can change many things in your life.

You need to be prepared not only to confront them, but also to deal with what happens afterward.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Events could inspire adventurous Lambs looking to make a major career or personal move. But as always, get all the facts before rushing into any sort of deal or commitment.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You have what it takes to set your goals quite a bit higher this year. Learn what you need to know and put what you learn into your efforts. A partner offers loving support.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) In true Gemini Twin fashion, you’re conflicted about a decision you know you’ll have to make in this New Year. Best advice: Get the facts before you make any commitment.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A friend offers you an exciting opportunity for this New Year. Although your positive aspects are strong in most respects, caution is advised. Investigate before you invest.

Pg. 20 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

LEO (July 23 to August 22) You can make this New Year a roaring success. Start by readjusting your goals to reflect the changes in the economy. Your den mate offers both wise and loving support.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The New Year brings new opportunities for change. But you need to be ready to move from the comfortable status quo to the challenging unknown. It’s up to you.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your most important New Year’s resolution should be to work out problems with a family member in order to avoid continuing misunderstandings. Do it soon, for both of your sakes.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The New Year has much to offer the intensely determined Scorpian, who isn’t afraid to take on challenges and stay with them until they surrender their rewards.

Just mke sure those rewards are worth the work you’re ready to put in.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) What seems to be a great opportunity could cause even usually practical SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You’ll Taureans to ignore their inner caution cues. Best to have many fine opportunities in this New Year. But move carefully to avoid falling into unseen traps. be warned: Reject offers of “help.” You work best when you’re free to be your own creative self, not GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Need a holiday now that the seasonal festivities are behind you? Good with hangers on. idea. Plan to go someplace wonderful. You’ll return CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) The New refreshed and more than ready for a new challenge.

Year offers changes that you might feel you’re not quite ready for. Best advice: Deal with them CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Progress continues to be one step at a time, until you’ve built up your self- made on that pesky workplace problem. Meanwhile, don’t assume a personal situation will work itself out. confidence.

Best to get more involved earlier than later.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Travel is a dominant aspect of the New Year. This could mean LEO (July 23 to August 22) Catnaps are definitely relocating to another city (or even another country) recommended for Leos and Leonas who had been in connection with your education or your career. going at a hectic pace over the holidays. Adding relaxation time to your schedule helps restore your Pick up some luggage. overdrawn energy reserves.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) This New Year brings news about a change you’ve been VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Sure, some of anticipating. You might have a problem persuading the new friends you made over the holidays might a loved one about your new plans, but he or she will move out of your life at some point. But at least one soon go along with them. might show significant “staying power” with some encouragement.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for making people feel safe and protected. You would make an LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Encourage excellent youth counselor. family members to join you in supporting a relative who could be facing a difficult emotional challenge in the New Year.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) While a longdeferred decision suddenly might take on some urgency after news on a related matter, you still need to weigh all factors carefully before deciding one way or the other.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) This is a good time to reassess the earlier plan you made for the New Year. Some elements you felt you could depend on to make it work might no longer carry that assurance.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Forming a renewed connection with a former associate is only the first step toward working out your new plans.

Be prepared for problems, and deal with them as soon as they arise.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A romantic situation that was going smoothly not too long ago might take a new turn. Be honest about your feelings before you decide whether to follow it or take another path.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The wise Pisces (that’s you, of course) will make sure everyone knows your plan to keep your options open and listen to all sides of the situation before making any decisions.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your honest approach to life and living is always an inspiration for others fortunate enough to know you.

2020 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

D I LWO R T H BAKERSFIELD

Monday: $3 Jack Daniels Tuesday: $3 Tres Generaciones, $10 Don Julio 1942 Wednesday: $3 Bulleit Bourbon Thursday: $3 Espolon Friday: $3 George Dickel No. 8 Saturday: $3 Lunazul Sunday: $3 Larceny Bourbon 300EAST

Monday: 1/2 off wines by the glass Tuesday: 1/2 off beer cans and glasses of Italian reds Thursday: $3.50 local drafts, $8.50 Matilda Wong cocktails Sunday: 1/2 off wine bottles, $5 mimosas & bloody marys, $6 Bellinis BAD DADDY’S BURGER BAR

Monday: 20-oz. draft for 16-oz. price Tuesday: $5 specialty cocktails Wednesday: $3.50 local drafts Saturday-Sunday: $5 mimosas & bloody marys DILWORTH NEIGHBORHOOD GRILLE

Monday: $4 Crown & Down Tuesday: $4 drafts, $12 pitchers, $5 flights of North Carolina drafts Wednesday: 1/2 off wine bottles and martinis Thursday: $12 domestic buckets, $18 import buckets Friday: $3 craft drafts, $5 flavored vodka Saturday: $5 mason jar cocktails Pg. 21 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

SUMMIT ROOM

Tuesday: $4 drafts Wednesday: 1/2 off glasses of wine Thursday: $7 Summit cocktails

SOUTH END COMMON MARKET SOUTH END

Monday: 1/2 off select pints Tuesday: Free beer tasting 5-7 p.m.

Wednesday: $2 off select pints, wine tasting 5-7 p.m.

BIG BEN PUB

Monday: $6 beer cocktails, $2 off vodka

Tuesday: $8 mules, 1/2 off gin Wednesday: $6 you-call-it, 1/2 off wine bottles Thursday: $4 wells, 1/2 off specialty cocktails Friday: $5.50 Guinness and Crispin, $6 vodka Red Bull Saturday-Sunday: $4 bloody marys and mimosas, $15 mimosa carafes MAC’S SPEED SHOP

Monday: $3 pints, $5 Tito’s Tuesday: 1/2 price wine, $3 mystery draft Wednesday: $4 tall boys, $5 Lunazul Blanco Thursday: $3 mystery cans and bottles, $4 Jim Beam Saturday: $1 off North Carolina pints Sunday: $4 mimosas & bloody marys GIN MILL

Monday: $5 Tito’s and New Amsterdam Tuesday: 1/2 price wine Wednesday: $4 draft beer Thursday: $2.50 PBR, $5 Jack Daniels and Tito’s

UPTOWN THE LOCAL

Monday: $7 Casamigos, $2 Natty Boh and Miller High Life, $5 Jager Tuesday: $3 Modelo, $5 house margaritas, $5 Don Julio Wednesday: $5 Crown & Down, $3 Southern Tier Thursday: $5 Captain Morgan, $7 craft mules, $16 Bud Light buckets Friday: $3 Jell-O shots, $4 drafts, $5 wells Saturday: $3 PBR, $5 Jager Sunday: $7 loaded mimosa, $7 Grey Goose bloody mary, $16 Bud Light buckets THE DAILY TAVERN

Wednesday: $5 whiskey Thursday: $4 pint night Sunday: $4 Miller Lite, $6 bloody marys DANDELION MARKET

Monday: $3 select drafts Tuesday: $15 select bottles of wines Saturday-Sunday: Bloody mary bar ROXBURY

Friday: $5 flavored vodka drinks, $5 fire shots,

$3 bottles Saturday: $5 fire shots, $4 ZIMA, $3 bottles WORLD OF BEER

Monday: $2 off North Carolina drafts and spirits Tuesday: 25 percent off bottles and cans, $5 mules Wednesday: 1/2-priced wine, wheats and sangrias Thursday: $4 old school, $4 well, $4 signature shots Friday-Saturday: $3 shot of the week Sunday: $2 mimosas, $3 bloody marys & beermosas PROHIBITION

Tuesday: 1/2 off everything Wednesday: $3 drafts Thursday: $2 PBR, $6 vodka Red Bull Friday-Saturday: $4 call-its

NODA CABO FISH TACO

Monday: $5 El Cheapo margarita Tuesday: $3.50 Tecate and Tecate Light, $5 Altos silver tequila Wednesday: $7 Absolut Lime Moscow mule Thursday: $1 off neighborhood beers on draft Friday-Saturday: $8 margarita special Sunday: $5 mimosas, $6 Absolut Peppar bloody mary, $7 Absolut Lime Moscow mule JACKBEAGLE’S

Monday: $5 Cuervo margaritas Tuesday: $3 drafts, $5 vodka Red Bull Wednesday: $1 off whiskey Thursday: $6 Deep Eddy’s vodka Red Bull Friday: $5 Fun-Dip shots, $5 Crown Black Saturday: $5 Gummy Bear shots, $5 big mimosa, $6.50 double bloody mary Sunday: $5 big mimosa, $6.50 double bloody mary SANCTUARY PUB

Monday: $7 Bulleit and Bulleit Rye, $3 Yuengling and PBR APA Tuesday: $6 Tuaca, $6 Tullamore Dew Wednesday: $3 Birdsong beers, $5 Sauza, Thursday: $2 Bartender Bottles, $6 Crown

Royal Sunday: $3 Birdsong, $3 Tall or Call NODA 101

Monday: $4 Ketel One Lemon Drop, $4 well liquor, $5 Camerena Tuesday: $6 seasonal cocktails, $6 Jameson, $4 Grape Gatorade Wednesday: $5 Green Tea Shot, $6 Blue Balls Thursday: $5 Jagermeister, $6 vodka Redbull, $6 Oxley Gin Cocktail Friday: $5 Fireball, $6 vodka Red Bull, $6 Jameson Saturday: $5 Fireball, $6 vodka Red Bull Sunday: $5 Deep Eddy Flavors, $1 off tequila, $5 White Gummy Bear shots BILLY JACK’S SHACK

Monday: $1 off moonshine, $3 domestics Tuesday: $1 off all drafts, $7 Jameson Wednesday: $1 off bottles and cans Thursday: $4.50 wells Friday: $5 Fireball, $1 off local bottles and cans Saturday: $4 mimosas $5 Brunch Punch, Sunday: $4 mimosas, $5 Brunch Punch, $5 Fireball, $10 champagne bottles

PLAZA MIDWOOD HATTIE’S TAP & TAVERN

Monday: $6 Pabst & Paddy’s Tuesday: $5 Fireball Wednesday: $3 mystery craft beers Thursday: $6 margaritas Friday-Saturday: $5 well drinks Sunday: $10 domestic buckets INTERMEZZO

Monday: $4 Makers Mark, $2 domestic bottles Tuesday: $4 margaritas, $7 Tito’s mules, $3 Blanche de Bruxelles, $3 OMB Copper Wednesday: 1/2 price wine bottles, $2 off bourbon of the week Thursday: $6.50 Ketel One Botanical Series, $4 Stoli Friday: $4 20-oz. Birdsong LazyBird Brown Ale and Birdsong Jalapeño Ale Saturday: 1/2 price martinis Sunday: $3 drafts

BOTTOMING OUT

Where do you get off?

BY DAN SAVAGE

I’m a 29-year-old gay man living in California.

Why are most tops such assholes? I have had plenty of sexual partners ranging in age, ethnicity and expressed sexual orientation. But what unites them all is a general callousness toward bottoms or even a delight in the knowledge that it is they who get to “use and abuse” bottoms. Is this a cultural artifact? I find the notion of putting someone else in pain for my pleasure so repulsive that I have yet to top anyone. I’m starting to think that pleasurable sex is for tops alone, and bottoms are supposed to just shut up and take whatever they can get out of it. Help me square the messaging that bottoms are not as valuable as tops and the nonchalance that accompanies the orgasm gap, especially in gay sex.

Pg. 22 Jan. 1 - Jan. 14, 2020 - QCNERVE.COM

TELL ME I’M WRONG

“I feel for this guy, I really do,”said Ty Mitchell, a gay porn star and writer. “But where does he get off? No, really, where in his body? Because it doesn’t sound like he gets off on butt stuff, or even believes anal pleasure is real.”

Mitchell, whose handle on Instagram is “probottom,” definitely gets off on bottoming and other butt stuff, TMIW. “Getting penetrated feels great for me, way better than topping,” said Mitchell. “Much to my chagrin, most of the guys I wish would fuck me seem to feel this way, too. But the guys who do fuck me want to know they’re making me feel good. Even the ones who fuck me like I’m scum do it because I’ve asked them to, because sometimes that turns me on.”

Mitchell suspects bottoming has been a consistently terrible experience for you because either being penetrated isn’t something that feels good for you or you aren’t advocating for your own pleasure in the moment. “TMIW may need to communicate more with his partners about what does and doesn’t feel good for him,” said Mitchell.

“And if he finds no pleasure in bottoming, he should stop bottoming and get off some other way.”

As for what may be going on culturally, TMIW, Mitchell definitely had some thoughts.

“A lot of men are bad at attending to their partners’ pleasure because we live in a fucked-up patriarchy” said Mitchell. “From childhood on, men are systematically taught that sex is a matter of instinct instead of intention, and that our dicks are magical wands that bring people satisfaction just by showing ’em off and sticking ’em in people who don’t have one or aren’t using theirs. Gay men aren’t immune to these messages and even reward men who are loyal to straight-passing masculinity.”

But we both want you to know there are good, attentive, compassionate gay men out there who can fuck the shit out of a guy while at the same time checking in to make sure the guy they’re fucking is enjoying the experience, too. The minute a guy says or does something that proves he isn’t one of those guys, TMIW, show him the door. Showing someone the door is one of the most effective ways we can advocate for our own pleasure; the sooner you show someone who doesn’t care about your pleasure out, the sooner you can show someone who does in. And Mitchell thinks a quick tweak to your search criteria will help you find yourself a good guy: “Flip on that ‘vers top’ filter [on the hookup apps], and stick to guys who at least have some empathy toward the anal experience,” said Mitchell.

Follow Ty Mitchell on Twitter @TyMitchellXXX (where you can find his porn work) or @TyMitchellxo (where you can find his rage and writing). You can find Mitchell’s essays at probottom.substack.com.

do, other than the generic “It’ll happen one day” platitudes. He’s definitely attractive and charming and relatively confident, so it really does seem like the issue might just be one of scarcity. Just wondering if you have any advice.

BEGGING ADVICE REGARDING ENDING BESTIE’S ELONGATED DRY SPELL

If you’ve seen him pass on other attractive, charming, confident gay boys he could have so he could go moon over straight boys he can’t have, BAREBEDS, then he doesn’t need to hear, “It’ll happen one day.” He needs to hear, “It’ll never happen until you get over your internalized homophobia, dude.”

Because even if one of his straight crushes turns out to be just heteroflexible enough to let your roommate suck his dick, that guy isn’t going to be interested in more than a few blowjobs and certainly won’t be capable of loving him.

But, hey, if it really is about scarcity, and only graduating and moving away will change things, you can always tell him, “Sorry, it’s obviously not going to happen for you here — but instead of lamenting your fate, let’s talk about all the ass you’re gonna get when you move to New York/London/Berlin.”

If your roommate is the only gay guy on your campus and Grindr is actually an empty cupboard, if this is truly a scarcity issue, then your roommate has all my sympathy, BAREBEDS. But if he’s one of those gay guys who finds gayness so repulsive in others that all openly gay men are automatically disqualified — if he’s one of those gay guys who’s only into straight-identified boys, straight metrosexuals, and his fellow homophobes — then your roommate has On the Lovecast: Did you get herpes for the holidays?

Listen in: savagelovecast.com; mail@savagelove.net My best friend (gay male) and I (straight a lot less of my sympathy. male) are students in our penultimate year of university. While I and my other friends all do reasonably well romantically, my gay friend hasn’t had anything significant happen in the three years I’ve known him. He’s never had a relationship. It’s always been a bit of a soft spot for him, but recently, after going through an unreciprocated crush on a straight friend, he’s been very down about it. His constant complaint is that all the men he likes always wind up being straight male metrosexual types who don’t seem to realize they’re leading him on or are outright homophobic/superOPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK hetero dickheads. He’s gotten on Grindr, but www.Bodyrubscharlotte.org still no luck. Conversations about romance Always Selectively Hiring or sex almost inevitably end up with him lamenting his fate. While I’m always there to listen and talk, I’m not sure what I can say or

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