Elitist Bastards: Machete Sunrise

Posted on by Ken Hanke and Justin Souther

In this week’s Elitist Bastards Go To The Movies, Xpress film critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther give a half-hearted nod to Going the Distance, heap significant praise on Machete, express ambivalence about The American, applaud Restrepo and appreciate Mao’s Last Dancer on its own schmaltzy terms. They also discuss the classic comedic horror film The Comedy of Terrors (this week’s Thursday Horror Picture Show), and the upcoming Asheville Film Society screening of F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise. And if that wasn’t quite enough, they also reluctantly discuss this week’s opening films Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D and The Virginity Hit.

Mickey Mahaffey’s first book celebrates the traveler (book-signing tonight at Malaprop’s­)

Posted on by Jeff Fobes

While vagabonding and living outdoors, Asheville’s Mickey Mahaffey wrote and wrote — of madness, of abusing and being abused, of leaving home, wandering in wilds, and finally finding home in the whispers of his blood. He’ll read from and sign copies of his new book, Whispers of My Blood at Malaprop’s this Friday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m.

Doolittle, do much

Posted on by Par David Neiburger

Is it overstatement to say that late ‘80s/early ‘90s-era outfit The Pixies invented alternative rock? The sound that Nirvana pushed into the mainstream began largely with them, and hundreds of bands owe credit. Kurt Cobain was often quoted saying The Pixies’ first full-length album Surfer Rosa was his favorite all-time record and greatest influence. The […]

Dark Ages

Posted on by Alli Marshall

It was a year ago when local folk rock-noir artist Angela Faye Martin went to see Vic Chesnutt at what would be Chesnutt's last Grey Eagle show. After Chesnutt's set, Martin gave him an advanced copy of her just-completed Pictures From Home. Martin had met the late Athens, Ga.-based singer/songwriter once before. "Back in summer […]

High fidelity

Posted on by Miles Britton

Now, we're usually not ones to gossip, but we're starting to think there's a definite love connection going on between Philly and our little city. (See: the Admiral, Floating Action, Brian McGee, Telepath, uhmmm … Lenny's Sub Shop). Go ahead and add Adam Granduciel to the list. "I try to make it down to Asheville […]

Being the Diablo

Posted on by Justin Souther

Kurt Vonnegut once wrote about how perplexed he was that anyone would choose movie-making over writing. He pointed out that where writing is a completely self-contained venture inside the head of the author, filmmaking is a time consuming act that's not only horribly complex and involved, but really, really expensive. But maybe the idea that […]

junker’s blues

Posted on by Whitney Shroyer

In my last column I reviewed the History Channel’s show about junking, American Pickers. My reaction to the program and its hosts veered from indifference to hostile irritation. However, I acknowledged that maybe I just didn’t like spending TV-watching time looking at people do my job, and suggested curious viewers take my review with a […]

The Profiler

Posted on by Becky Upham

The Suspect: NeedtoBreathe If anyone on Grey’s Anatomy ever finds religion, chances are they’ll be playing NeedtoBreathe in the background. Bear and Bo Rinehart, sons of an Assembly of God pastor and a piano teacher in Possum Kingdom, S.C., grew up playing football and music. The band’s third album, The Outsiders, has drawn comparisons to […]

Smart Bets

Posted on by Xpress staff

Mountain State Fair Fall’s chilly nights signal a host of seasonal treats, and after the apple harvest, the first and finest may be the state fair. With its bounty of oversized vegetables, its stable of farm animals, its midway rides and its fair-only fare (fried Snickers bars, anyone?), the N.C. Mountain State Fair is nine […]