If things change up then they’re not the same. If they stay the same they’re not new. –John Manson of Tulsa’s Billy Joe Winghead Oh, the pangs! I will definitely get the pangs about mid-August for the noisy mess o’ Sleazefest. –Mary Huff of Southern Culture on The Skids They come every August–high temperatures, shirt-soaking […]
Tony Madejczyk
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The Rev. returns
The irreverent Reverend Billy C. Wirtz returns to the ArtsCenter in Carrboro this week, and it ain’t soon enough. We need healin’ and he’s the man with the music and the laughs. What does Rev. Billy do to prepare for the show? To get his creative juices flowing, he’s busy Christmas week filling out a […]
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Funk Brothers unmasked!
A league of unknown superheroes landed at the McKimmon Center at North Carolina State University earlier this month. They shared their powers. We glowed from their energy. You’ve seen it in comic books, TV, movies. Do you really know who Spiderman is? Or Batman? Or Superman? How about The Funk Brothers? We only know of […]
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Sleazefest ’03: An appreciation
“[In Nashville] we have Fanfair. You all have Sleazefest. You win.” —-“Colonel” J.D. Wilkes of The Legendary Shack Shakers No matter what size it takes on, you just can’t do all of Sleazefest. At one time a love of hotrods, Bettie Page burlesque pictures, tattoos of flames and stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll was called “Custom […]
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Still sleazy after all these beers
Take a couple of crazy pop culture visionaries working out of Local 506, add lots of bands that fill the spectrum from roots music to the totally bizarre, throw in some 1950s burlesque videos and then bake for three days and nights every August. That’s Sleazefest. This is the one event all year that puts […]
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Soul Mates Return To Raleigh
Debra DeMilo’s got soul, y’all. She also has talented friends ready to answer “a call to Arms” on short notice to support Debra’s down-home style of soul shouting. Debra DeMilo with Arms are bringing their soul revue to Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, Saturday, March 15. “Who’s Debra DeMilo?” you ask. “I’m a gutbucket singer, I’m […]
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The Year That Was 2K2
Our experience of recorded music, pop or otherwise, seems to change as often as your computer’s software upgrades. Less than a decade ago we took our PCs and Macs and “burned” copies of our favorite compact discs, or made our own “hits” collections—-you know, dropping the boring filler on an album and keeping the good […]
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A Music Revolt You Can Hum Along With
Sparklefest is really about Mike. In a good way. There are a couple of great music festivals around here that are the work of one or two very inspired, obsessed, yes even culturally needy individuals. Audiences have experienced this with David Robertson and Sleazefest. Then again with David Quick and Elvisfest. These are guys who […]
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Sparklefest Schedule
All shows at Local 506, 506 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 942-5506. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9 Show starts at 8 p.m.Crash Into JuneA Memphis band that’s blatantly Big Star-inspired and as Mike Nichols says, “very Replacements-y.” Backbeat “I really wanted someone local to do Beatle covers,” and these local guys cover the AM dial circa 1963-70: […]