Marshall Rogers Passes Away

Details are still sketchy, but comic book artist Marshall Rogers died Sunday at the relatively young age of 57.  Heidi MacDonald has the press statement from DC Comics here.  Newsarama broke the story here.  A website dedicated to Rogers has temporarily suspended operation. One of the most exciting artists of his generation, Rogers was an innovator who brought new life to characters such as Batman, Dr. Strange, The Silver Surfer, and Mr. Miracle.

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Monday Morning Art: Self Portrait

I decided to let the ego run wild this week. Our Monday Morning Art is a digitally-assaulted frame grab from episode fifteen of Radio Free Charleston, with me standing in front of a line of buildings on Quarrier Street. I played with the contrast and colors, and now it looks like the cover to my long-lost New Wave solo album that never happened.

As always, click the photo for a larger view. And go here for the Monday Morning Art Store, and here for the PopCult store. Yes, I'm selling crap with my own picture on it.  Sorta sad, eh?

Larry “Bud,” We Hardly Knew Ye…

Mark Evanier reports on the passing of character actor Calvert DeForest, who was better known as Larry "Bud" Melman on "Late Night With David Letterman" and then appeared on Letterman's show on CBS.  Evanier also tells us about a planned tribute by Letterman and a vintage clip.

Monday Morning Art: More Pop Art Charleston

Today's art is a view of the building at the Southwest corner of Capitol and Lee Streets downtown. It's another "Pop Art Charleston" digitally-assaulted photograph, color attacked, smooshed, and squooshed for your amusement.

Once again, click the photo for a larger view. And go here for the Monday Morning Art Store, and here for the PopCult store. Vote with your dollars!  Is “Pop Art Charleston” a bold new direction, a cheesy way to recycle old works into T-Shirts, or am I just in a rut?  

Cool Thing Of The Week: ROME

In honor of the Ides Of March, our cool thing this week is the HBO series ROME, which has only two episodes remaining in what is expected to be its final season.  I can only hope that HBO decides to continue this excellent drama, which is the best show on television.  With The Sopranos ending soon, and Deadwood foolishly cancelled, HBO shouldn't be dumping their other "event" series, ROME. 

Of course, the fabelled Ides Of March incident took place in the first season's finale, but the second season, focusing on the aftermath of Julius Ceasar's death and rise of Octavian, who will become Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, has been just as good as the first.  More people ought to be watching this show, and complaining to HBO if they decide not to produce any further seasons.   For more infomation on ROME, read the article I wrote gushing about it a year-and-a-half ago.  Meanwhile, there are still two episodes left.  This Sunday at 9 PM you can catch  "Deus Impeditio Esuritori Nullus (No God Can Stop A Hungry Man)."

Sweet Sixteen Production Notes

The latest episode of Radio Free Charleston is online now for your viewing pleasure.   This episode is called "A Place Of Solace Shirt" in honor of the Huntington band who put on a killer show at the Sound Factory back on March 6.  We will be featuring the band, and not just the shirt, on a future episode of RFC.  Follow that link to find out how you can get your own shirt and sample their music. 

Our musical guests on this episode are John Radcliff and Al Carey.  Radcliff is an old buddy from way back in my radio days, and Al is a new friend with a striking political commentary. 

Longtime followers of the local music scene may remember John from his days as the ace guitar god for such bands as The Swivel Rockers, Feast Of Stephen, and The Mad Scientist Club.  John's relocated to Parkersburg, and has recently shifted his musical focus from just playing guitar to writing and singing his own songs.  And they are great songs.   Rad drove down from Parkersburg and graced the LiveMix Studio with seven great original tunes.  You can see and hear "Writing's Hard" here.  On RFC we are treated to the Andy Partridge-esque "Rainbows."   Radcliff will be the first person to appear on consecutive episodes of RFC, as he's back next time with another killer song.

INCOMING!

With any luck, the next episode of Radio Free Charleston, featuring music from John Radcliff and Al Carey and animation from Stephen Beckner, along with our usual mind-hurting weirdness, will be online tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed. Until then, watch this trailer:

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Monday Morning Art: That Bank Building Again

This week's Monday Morning bit of self-indulgence is a different shot of the Huntington Bank Building in downtown Charleston.  It's digitally-assaulted, but not too much so.  The lens flare is real. For some reason, my photos of this building come out looking pretty cool.

 As always, click the photo for a larger view. And go here for the Monday Morning Art Store, and here for the PopCult store. You still have time to be the first customer!

Cool Toy Of The Week: Arctic Adventurer

One year ago I wrote about how the Official GI Joe Collector's Club was giving out a cool free figure to anyone who was a member in good standing on March 15.   That was the "Foreign Adventurer" a 12" GI Joe with fuzzy hair on the GI Joe "foreign" headsculpt, which had never been made with flocked hair before.   You can see the Foreign Adventurer being arrested by Captain Action in episode fourteen of Radio Free Charleston. 

This year, the club is at it again.  If you are a member of the Official GI Joe Club by the March 15 deadline, you will receive an Arctic Adventurer, a version of the Foreign Adventurer with red hair and beard and cool Adventure Team boxer shorts.  You have about a week left to join.  If you would prefer one of those little 3 3/4" GI Joes, you can choose to receive an exclusive version of Copperhead.  Full details on how to join and the neat Arctic Uniform set (available separately) can be found here.  Or you can call the G.I. Joe Collectors' Club at 817-448-9863 to join.

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.  Full disclosure: I am a member of the club, and contribute to their newsletter.

Cool Video Of The Week: DEVO Does Jimi

It's a cool week here at PopCult. We're looking forward to the opening Friday of "300" in theaters. You can read my article about the career of Frank Miller, upon whose graphic novel the movie is based, right here. But that's not the only cool thing going. We have a triumverat of "Cool Things" this week. Our cool video, a cool toy, and a cool concert.

First up, the cool video...this is a rare video by DEVO. It's a cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Are You Experienced." Because of the Hendrix estate withholding permission, this video has not yet been released on DVD. You can see it right here.

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Cool Concert Of Next Month: Katrina Benefit

Tonight a bevy of local rock and hip-hop artists will take the stage at Holderby's Landing on the Riverfront (1360 Harris Park Drive) in Huntington for a benefit concert to raise money for the continuing effort to rebuild the areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina a year-and-a-half ago.  It's a good cause and there will be some great music, including RFC mainstay, The Concept.  Doors open at 8 PM tonight, and the promoters have not informed me of the cost to attend, but at least you know it's going to people who need the money.

The show has been postponed until April 5.  We'll have more details as that date approaches. 

Last Day For HYAMP

Huntington's all-ages venue closes after tonight.  Hopefully they'll be up and running soon in a new location.  Time to head out and show your support.

Monday Morning Art: The River

Our Monday Morning Art this week is another "Pop Art Charleston" digitally-assaulted photograph taken from high up in the Union Building.  This time we're looking West, over the Haddad Riverfront Park and out towards the wilds of The West Side and points beyond.

Once again, click the photo for a larger view. And go here for the Monday Morning Art Store, and here for the PopCult store. Vote with your dollars!  Is "Pop Art Charleston" a bold new direction, a cheesy way to recycle old works into T-Shirts, or am I just in a rut?  

A Music-filled Weekend

Friday and Saturday were chock-full of great music for me.  Friday night I attended two great rock shows and saw six spectacular bands, and then Saturday I was privileged to witness an amazing concert by The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.  The weekend ran the musical gamut from punk to metal to classical.  Once again I'm reminded that people who say there's nothing to do in Charleston are borderline delusional.   Any time you can watch people who are passionate about music practice their art, that's something to do.  The real problem in this town is apathetic people who refuse to go out to shows, then complain that "Charleston doesn't have anything."  Guess what folks, Charleston does have great stuff going on, and if you stayed at home, you missed it! 

music draft

Friday and Saturday were chock-full of great music for me. Friday night I attended two great rock shows and saw six spectacular bands, and then Saturday I was privileged to witness an amazing concert by The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The weekend ran the musical gamut from punk to metal to classical. Once again I'm reminded that people who say there's nothing to do in Charleston are borderline delusional. Any time you can watch people who are passionate about music practice their art, that's something to do. The real problem in this town is apathetic people who refuse to go out to shows, then complain that "Charleston doesn't have anything." Guess what folks, Charleston does have great stuff going on, and if you stayed at home, you missed it!

First on Friday was the all-ages show at the Labelle Theater in South Charleston. Punchline was the headline act, and local favorites Holden Caulfield and The Concept provided strong support. A crowd of about a hundred kids showered the bands with enthusiasm throughout the night.

This was my first time seeing local hardcore legends seven and thirteen of Radio Free Charleston. Mike, Dave and Ross are one of the hottest power-punk trios in town. They did not disappoint. The crowd went wild when Steve from Punchline joined the guys for a cover of the NOFX classic,"Linoluem."

Punchline were real pros, with tight arrangements, great vocals and a true rapport with the crowd. I wasn't familiar with them before the show, but I left as a fan. This Pittsburgh four-piece tore through a set that could have been a "greatest hits" for any other band. Don't be shocked if these guys break out big soon, like their labelmates Fall Out Boy.

After a dinner break (Hardings Family Restaurant), I made my way to The Sound Factory, where, along with a criminally-sparse crowd, I caught three great heavy-sounding bands. Despite the small audience, each band gave their all and put on amazing peformances.

Greyface from Parkersburg had a unique sound, with a female vocalist fronting this hard-hitting band. I caught the last half of their set, and was impressed enough to invite them to appear on Radio Free Charleston in the future. It was a good night for recruiting bands for RFC. I'd be proud to have any of the bands that I saw Friday on the show.

That also includes Huntington's Earth To Eros, who put on a stunning show, that showed off some amazing progressive-metal chops and incredible vocals. This three-piece outfit sounded at times like Morphine, Queens of the Stone Age, and even Pink Floyd. They closed their set with an astounding cover of Billy Joel's "Pressure" that has to be heard to be believed.

The headliners were A Place Of Solace, who will be on a future episode of Radio Free Charleston. We planned to have them on the very next episode, but they have a line-up change coming soon, and want the newest version of the band to be on RFC. This band puts on an incredible show. Tommy, the lead singer, is a hyperactive ball of energy on stage. I can't wait to get them on video tape for the show. I also can't recall hearing a local band that's able to shift gears so effectively from loud, pounding songs that almost liquify your internal organs to melodic art-rock.

Friday was my rock 'n' roll night. I listened to kick-ass music from 7 PM to just after 2 AM. It was a real rush, but Saturday was a whole different kind of kick-ass experience. It's too easily overlooked, but Charleston is the home of a world-class symphony orchestra.

RFC Correction

As pointed out in the comments about the latest Radio Free Charleston, I screwed up.  I spelled Allen Ginsberg's name "Alan" instead of "Allen."  I shall go and listen to the recording of "Howl" as read by the guy who did the voice for Donald Duck as my penance. 

 Meanwhile, go watch the show.

Cool Thing Of The Week: All Ages Show

spThe artist: Lily Allen

The CD: "Alright Still"

Recommended if you like: Madness, Nellie Mckay, Gorillaz


Lily Allen is one of the first artists to successfully launch a career using MySpace. Under the guidance of her father, Keith Allen, a comedian, actor and musician in the UK (He appeared on "The Young Ones," acted in "Trainspotting," and co-wrote songs with New Order), Allen posted many of the songs that make up her first album on

Despite the lightweight pop musicality, the lyrics are remarkably dark for someone so young (Allen is only 21). F-bombs fly left and right, and among the topics in the songs are all sorts of Urban crime, drug use and torturing ex-boyfriends in a variety of ways, from having them beaten by thugs to publicly belittling their sexual abilities. This is not a work-safe album. As mean-spirited as many of the songs are, they're so good that they're destined to become guilty pleasures for men, and this may be the album of the year for women scorned.

Standout tracks are "Smile," "LDN," and "Alfie." "Smile" is one of the songs about having an ex beaten by thugs, and it's a pure pop masterpiece. "When I see you cry, it makes me smile." The video is getting heavy rotation on those music channels that still show music videos. "LDN" is a warts-and-all valentine to London that proclaims "I don't wanna be anywhere else" while talking about pimps and muggings that she sees while riding around town on her bike. The satire is brilliant. Throughout the album, the interplay between the dark subject matter and the happy, upbeat music is masterful. I can't remember doing so many double takes before while listening to an album.

"Alfie" is a song Lily Allen wrote for her brother. It starts out "Oh deary me, my little brother's in his bedroom smoking weed." The song seems to be built on a Bonzo Dog Band sample, with tuba, spoons and a bouncy melody that is simply hysterical in juxtaposition to the lyrics.

There are many other great tracks on this CD. "Nan, You're A Window Shopper" is a parody of 50 Cent's "Window Shopper." "Friday Night" sounds a lot like The Specials "Ghost Town," only it's told from the perspective of a girl getting into a fight.

"Alright Still" is a strong debut with a diverse range of musical influences and Allen's wicked sense of humor carrying the day. Lily Allen is certainly going to be a talent to watch.

Mellencamp

I'm a little surprised. I did not expect to like this CD much. I'm not a huge fan of John Mellencamp. I remember back when he was "Johnny Cougar" and wrote catchy pop tunes. The problem was that they were so catchy that they were promptly overexposed to the point where they could induce nausea. Mellencamp always came across as a hybrid wannabe who couldn't decide if he wanted to be Bruce Springsteen or Lynyrd Skynard. It turned out that he was able to out-sell both of them by cranking out what seemed like an endless supply of bland hit singles.

We're qute a few years removed from those days, and this new CD is a solid, well-crafted example of mature Americana. There are equal parts of country and blue-eyed soul on display here. The musicianship is top-notch. Lyrically it's a bit stuck in the crusading Midwestern social commentator mold, but it's just predicitable not offensive.

Unless you're already sick of that damned truck commercial song, that is. Even with the ubiquity of "Our Country" draining that song of any possible entertainment value, at least it displaced Bob Segar's "Like A Rock," a feat for which I will forever be grateful. At first listen "Our Country" is borderline jingoism that doesn't much appear to be grounded in reality. Further examination reveals a deeper mentality at work, but on the surface, the song comes across as a GOP sing-along campfire tune.

"The American's" is fantastical idealism at work, too, with the line "I'm an American from South of the Mason-Dixon line....I respect you and your point of view." Sort of makes you wonder which Mason-Dixon line Mellencamp's been hanging out South of. That particular song sounds more like a brilliant parody of Mellencamp than an actual song by him. Luckily, the rest of the CD is not so divorced from reality. "The American's" is a stand-out as the album's howler, a song so bad you have hear it to believe it.

On the other hand, "Jim Crow" is a sharp, well-written tune about the South, with chilling guest vocals by Joan Baez. This harsh look at the state of race relations makes up for the more commercial flag-waving in evidence elsewhere on the CD. The song has great guitar work by Mike Vanchic and Andy York. Just when you think that he's going to be content to dole out a standard helping of cheap patriotism and "look how danged rural I am" tunes, Mellencamp shows that he can give us an intelligent observation.

Even "Our Country" which on the surface seems like a simple truck commercial song, is instead a rewrite of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Our Land." There is some irony and progressive politics at work there. Unfortunately, like Guthrie's song, "Our Country" seems destined to be beloved by people who would be horrified by the song's true intent.

"Rural Route" is a decent little story song about an abducted girl. It sounds more like early Steve Earle than Mellencamp, which is a good thing. It's a rewarding artistic direction, should Mellencamp pursue it further in the future. I could deal with a concept album that tells a story in this form. Even his vocals take on a new light, more journalistic than anthemic.

The nominal album closer "Heaven Is A Lonely Place" is a good backwoods rave-up with some great roots-rock moments. Also on the plus side are the cutting lyrics and a killer arrangement. This doesn't sound anything like a hit single, which is a high compliment. Mellencamp is at his best when he's not swinging for the fence in terms of chart position.

A hidden track at the end of the CD is a either a searing politcal analogy about abortion or the war in Iraq, or a song about Rodeo clowns. The problem with hidden tracks is that it's hard to tell. In the days of vinyl, this would have been a throw-away B-side to a 45. Now it's a bonus track.

So I'm shocked. I survived a John Mellencamp CD. There are a few good songs, a couple of great songs, and a couple of remarkable stinkers, but for the most part, this is a pretty good CD. Even on the less-than-stellar songs, the musicianship is tight. Mellencamp has a hell of a band behind him. If you like Mellencamp in his heyday, you'll be pleased with a new collection of songs. If you didn't care for him you may still be surprised.