That’s what Jim Lanza did in the 90’s, snapping photos of the raucous punk scene even as he ran merch for NIN and Marilyn Manson. An exhibition of his unseen images is on display at Sixty Bowls gallery. Catch our VIDEO of rumbustious taiko drumming at last week’s Sakura Festival in Akron. And don’t believe the mainstream media when they tell you that only “hundreds” of people rallied at the Hands Off demonstrations in the Cleveland area: view Anastasia Pantsios’ PHOTOSTREAM, count the masses for yourself, and smile at the signage.Follow Brandon Chrostowski as he retrains those returning from prison with food service skills, moving his EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute into the former Nighttown space, and this week winning the first-ever James Beard Impact Award. Check in on Akron Pride’s Drag Battle at the Akron Civic, engage with area musicians and art advocacy groups at B-Side’s Discover Weekly, and see if you can time the peak of the blooms on Daffodil Hill at Lakeview Cemetery.
Stand up for our rights at the LGBT Center, jazz it up at CVNP’s Happy Days Lodge, fear birds of prey at the Rocky River Nature Center, learn how the Cuyahoga was transformed by the removal of the Gorge Dam at the Kent Environmental Film Festival, and celebrate rust belt artists from NEO & Western NY at AAWR. Take hold and don’t let go.
Like a lot of music photographers, Jim Lanza was first of all a fan who toted his camera to shows. Soon he was documenting the punk rock energy at Cleveland clubs such as the Pop Shop and the Lakefront. Then he got a big break to go on the road with the then Cleveland-based Nine Inch Nails, doing their merch. That evolved into world tours with NIN and Marilyn Manson which he documented in photos and video.
His negatives sat in his basement for more than 30 years. But last year, he unearthed them, scanned them and began to make prints. The results will be packing the walls at Hingetown’s Sixty Bowls Gallery starting April 12. Don’t expect pristine prints; Lanza left the rips and stains and dust in to reflect the ragged energy of the punk music he shot. Read more.
The crowd on Saturday April 5 for the Hands Off demonstration spilled out of Market Square Park, packed all four corners of West 25th and Lorain, and lined both streets for more than a block in both directions with people brandishing mostly homemade signs. Many expressed their distaste of the actions of Donald Trump and his shadow president Elon Musk is clever terms. Others were just pissed. As it’s done since back in the Iraq War days The Plain Dealer minimized the crowd to “hundreds.” Other estimates ranged from 4000-7000.
The lineup of speakers on the stage at the park included Congresswoman Shontel Brown, as well as speakers on behalf of veterans health care, LGBTQ rights and immigrant rights. Veteran Cleveland folksinger Alex Bevan entertained the crowd with a few songs, including a sing-along of the Woody Guthrie classic “This Land Is Your Land.” Read more.
The prestigious James Beard Foundation has a new award, given for the first time this year. It’s called the Impact Award and it’s intended to honor people who are using the food system to create a better, more sustainable and more economically just world. The debut award is going to Cleveland’s Brandon Chrostowski whose EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant institute gives people returning from prison the skills to build a career in the hospitality industry. Read more.
Last year, Youngstown band The Vindys, who’ve blazed a red-hot trail through NE Ohio over the last several years, got a big break when they were tapped by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo to open for them on a national tour. Apparently the combo clicked because The Vindys have been invited to join Benatar and Giraldo on their spring tour, kicking off April 18 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On May 31, they’ll be back home at the Youngstown Foundation Pavilion with Lita Ford. Read more.
Taiko drums came to Japan from China & Korea as far back as the 6th century. Massive wooden drums stretched with calfskin and beat with large wooden dowels have been used in rituals, warfare and in social movements for minorities within and outside Japan.
Cleveland-based Yume Daiko taiko drummers performed this week at the Downtown Akron Sakura Festival for festival-goers enjoying exhibits, dance performances by Sho-Jo-Ji Japanese dancers and the early blooms of the cherry blossoms along the Towpath Trail. Those interested in learning more can explore workshops hosted by Yume Daiko throughout the year. Watch for them at future performances in Berea and at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Read more & view the video here.
MON 4/14 Time to Blossom
There’s not an exact date when Daffodil Hill in Lake View Cemetery is at its peak, but now is about the time. You can check the updates on Lake View’s website where they’ll post photos of the unfolding blooms. The cemetery is open for visitors seven days a week.
