The PopCulteer
August 8, 2014
This week the PopCulteer will look at one show that’s coming up August 16. I’m putting word of this in a week earlier than normal so that you can make plans to be there now. After that, we’ll look at stuff to do this weekend.
Jimmy Beasley Benefit Show
The big show next weekend is the Jimmy Beasley Benefit Show, Saturday night at The Blue Parrot. As most of you know, last April Jimmy Beasley, a former Marine and a well-liked bouncer who worked for bars in the Capitol Street area, was brutally shot while escorting some women to their cars.
He was doing his job, and wasn’t even involved in the earlier altercation with the two alleged mindlessly-violent thugs who tried to kill him. They shot him twelve times, including twice in the head. Jimmy is lucky to be alive, but he has a long road to recovery ahead of him. This has been devestating for Jimmy and his family, and it’s had a chilling effect on the downtown club scene. The Cellar, where Jimmy was working on the night of the shooting, has shut down. People just started returning to the downtown area recently, largely because of Live on the Levee, but folks are still wary.
Jimmy is out of the hospital, which is almost miraculous given the extent of his injuries. Reportedly, he’s even on his feet again occasionally, with the aid of a walker. However, he and his family still need financial help. His house is being remodeled to make it wheelchair-accesible, and there are medical bills upon medical bills. Two months in the hospital is not a cheap stay.
Saturday, August 16, The Blue Parrot will play host to an evening of entertainment to help Jimmy and the Beasley family get back on their feet. There is a suggested donation of five dollars at the door. Decent people will give more. The entertainment will be well worth it, regardless.
The night will kick off at 9 PM with stand-up comedy from Andy Frampton, Michael James, Steven Snead, Hassan Kalwar, Brandon Lowe and Thomas Mac. At 10:30 the music kicks off with Steve Clever, Tommy’s Triple-Threat Blues Revue, Our Alias and Dead For Decades.
That’s a pretty great line-up for one night, and it’s for a very worthy cause, so you have no excuse to shuffle your commitments, cancel vacations and reschedule weddings and funeral so you can be there.
Empty Glass Records
Empty Glass Records is still raising money to produce a vinyl compilation of live music recorded at Charleston’s legendary music spot. We told you about it two weeks ago, and you can still get in on the cool rewards.
Stuff To Do This Weekend
Coal River Film Festival
We told you about the Coal River Film Festival a few months ago when they were seeking submissions. The Festival is finally here. Saturday, starting at 1 PM, you can head to the Boone Heritage and Arts Center in downtown Madison for an afternoon of local films. Filmmakers will be on hand. You can see the films and get to learn all about how and why they were made. Admission is five dollars and concessions will be sold.
SCHEDULE (subject to change):
12:30: Doors Open
1:00 PM: “What A Message” by JP Fulks
“The Gallows Girl” by JP Fulks
“The Gutter” by JP Fulks
1:20 PM: “Stargardt’s” by Elaine Abdalla
1:25 PM: “Oink” by Dakota Burns
1:35 PM: “Against Odds” by Stephen Hanson
1:45 PM: “Impromptu Canal” by Sam Holdren
2:05 PM: “Nice Try: The Robin Thomas Graley Story” by Charles Haggard
2:45 PM: “Trace Around Your Heart” by Ian Nolte
3:30 PM: “Seven Deadly Words” by Doc Benson
5:10 PM: “Paid in Full” by Scotty White
5:25 PM: End
The Best Overall Film will be shown at 6:00pm at the Boone County Fair
KP Fundraisers
Kanawha Players is out of the woods, but they still need some help to get back to the point where they’re producing quality live theater again. You can help by attending these fundraising efforts, plus you can see a great movie, or stuff your face with pancakes while you’re at it.
Diablo Blues Band
Sunday night The Diablo Blues Band returns to The Empty Glass to record a live CD. These are old friends of Radio Free Charleston and you can see them peforming at The Empty Glass on a recent RFC MINI SHOW…
This show will be cover-free and kicks off at 8 PM, so all you folks who complain about the music in town starting too late need to come out and support this band AND this start-time.
Free Music Friday
Free music today includes Live on the Levee, once again featuring two musical acts who have appeared on Radio Free Charleston, Mark Cline Bates and Hybrid Soul Project. Mark will be backed up by another RFC veteran band, The Carpeter Ants. The music kicks off at Haddad Riverfront Park at 6:30 and it’s all free. Other cover-free music sees Marshall Petty and The Groove at 5 Corners Cafe starting at 5 PM on Charleston’s West Side; RFC vet Andy Park will be at Taylor Books starting at 7:30 PM; Soul Alchemy with The Voodoo Horns will be a Timothy’s (below The Quarrier Diner) starting at 8 PM; Ray Samples and Dustin McCray will perform at Bruno’s on Leon Sullivan Way at 9 PM.
CYAC
Joseph, Mother of Jesus continues tonight and Saturday at The WVSU Capitol Center Theater. See our post from Wednesday for more details.
Free Music Saturday
It’s another stellar assortment of cover-free music Saturday as Vandalia takes the stage at Bluegrass Kitchen at 7 PM; The Wegmann Brothers perform at Paterno’s at the Park, also at 7 PM; RFC vet John Lilly brings his folk music to Taylor Books at 7:30 PM; Danielle Conard and Steve Himes play on at The Wine Valley in Hurricane at 8:30 PM; Whitestone Redemption brngs their classic rock to Timothy’s at 9 PM.
More Music This Weekend
You also need to check out these shows…
Friday night American Idol Finalist Christian Lopez returns to the Empty Glass! Accompanied by Chelsea McBee. The show starts at 10 PM and the cover charge is seven dollars.
Lopez and McBee
RFC vets InFormation as well as RFC vet TJ King (and friends) storm the stage at Dale’s Center Bar and Grill in Sissonville at 10 PM tonight with an unspecified cover charge. Check the video below the graphic.
Saturday night The Existential Gentlemen come to town to premiere their new video from Holly Siders and Screaming Butterfly Entertainment. Holly is an extrememly talented filmmaker who has contributed to RFC in the past. “Devil In The White City” will be shown, and there will be live music from The Existential Gentlemen, Black Cross Brotherhood and In Hills We Thrive. The cover is five bucks and the show starts at 10 PM.
The Existential Gentlemen
Meanwhile, at the Empty Glass, Aaron Fisher Is coming down with some friends to Party the night away. Mark Cline Bates and Vincent from the Safe Side will be two people performing with him. There may be more. $5 cover and Drink Specials all night Long!!
Aaron Fisher, up to something
That’s about it for this week’s PopCulteer. Be sure to check out all our other posts. We had a pretty good week covering all things pop cultural and junk. All our regular features will be back all week long.
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