We’re back from today’s day parties for a few photos and assistant Diversions editor Allison Hussey’s update on Friday night. Check out what’s going on at #Hopscotch11.
Allison Hussey: As soon as Hopscotch ended last year, I I had high expectations for this year’s festival. Night one definitely delivered. Trying to sleep on Wednesday night made me feel like a small child waiting for Christmas to come, and I couldn’t get to Raleigh fast enough after class on Thursday. Make sure to follow us at @DTHDiversions for Hopscotch updates. Check out what’s going on at #Hopscotch11.
Day parties! Last year, they were a Hopscotch highlight, the perfect configuration of free beer, free music and a bunch of folks who are psyched to be spending the weekend in downtown Raleigh. This year, there are even more of these daytime bashes, and senior Diversions staffer Linnie Greene exchanged emails with several day party curators to get the scoop. Dive: How did you go about curating your day party? What was your criteria for choosing the bands?
In preparation for Hopscotch Music Festival, two North Carolina record labels have teamed up to release a free sampler of their artists’ music. Grip Tapes and PotLuck together released a 13-song compilation, featuring several area artists playing Hopscotch. Gross Ghost, Old Bricks, North Elementary, Heads on Sticks and Organos are all featured on the download and will all perform at the festival in Raleigh.
If you managed to catch any of Archers of Loaf’s recent two-night residency at the Cradle, you were probably asking yourself, ‘where the heck did the risers go?!’ Renovations have been underway since early July, but with the cooperation of safety officials and the occasional last-minute cleanup effort, the venue has stayed open. This week, we ask Frank Heath, owner of the Cradle, about the changes being made to the venue and how attendees can expect their experience to change. DIVERSIONS: What exactly are the changes being made to the venue?
It’s that time of year again: freshmen are stepping wide eyed onto campus for the first time, friends are reunited after a summer apart, and the leaves begin to change to a yellowish hue. More importantly though, it’s that time of year where the most ferocious competitive gamers make their annual stop in Raleigh to compete in arguably the most prestigious gaming tournament in North America, Major League Gaming. Referred to as ‘e-sports’, the professional gaming scene has exploded in terms of popularity within the past few months. Previously a niche event where even a dozen spectators was considered substantial, e-sports has become a venue where the top tier gamers are treated like rock stars and the prize pools reach into the six figures.
Try to picture a movie about self-forgiveness and here’s what you’ll get: someone wincing in a mirror. Frustrating, I know. And that’s the feeling you get when you watch “Another Earth.” Substituting a mirror with a planet as its focus, the film wanders lost through a symbolic space which seems maddeningly endless. While it may mystify viewers with some of its metaphysical musings, the film gets too caught up in its own vocabulary to ever say anything.
For all the variation he’s seen throughout his life, John Michael Dexter Romweber always finds a way to keep himself rooted to his music. With an musical affinity that ranges from Ray Charles to Johann Sebastian Bach, the musician who goes by “Dex” is still going strong after more than 35 years in the business.
It’s been a nice run, but it’s time we here at Dive bow out and take some time to chill. The music scene in the area won’t slow down much when we’re gone, so we’re gonna hate this hiatus. Either way, everything comes to an end at some point. Fortunately for you, Dive isn’t coming to an end anytime soon. So, instead of a “good-bye,” have a “see ya later.”
A bit of a lazy week post-Independence day. We, at Dive, recommend a number of healthy lifestyle choices ranging from sleeping in, learning to speak in third-person, and reading our blog. Check out this week’s recommendations.
Some might call this a slow week, but no week is slow considering that time has been pretty consistent for the past couple thousand years. This week it’s comics and comedians. Be a good mother bird and help time learn to fly be checking out this week’s Dive Recs.
Is it possible to take one of the most storied comic book characters of all time and parlay all the hype into one of the biggest flops of the year? Apparently so, as Green Lantern makes it seem too easy.
In Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen treats audiences to a picturesque stroll through Paris, followed by a confusing journey into the roaring 20’s.
Steven Spielberg returns to a genre he’s had past success in with Super 8, a science-fiction film written and directed by Lost’s J.J. Abrahams.
There was a little hiccup in Dive coverage last week, but no worries because we are back. Yes, we are brimming with reciprocal loyalty to our readers throughout the year. Check out the vault and the events. We sense a busy weekend upon us.
Despite a slow week early on, the weekend looks to be packed by some pretty talented musicians with local roots. As soon as Thursday hits, be sure to roll into the weekend with some great sounds in the local venues, or drop by DSI Comedy Theater to catch Zach Ward before he leaves to take on a new role in Boston.
3.5 stars Resurrecting a franchise that hit a dead-end, X-Men: First Class follows Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Eric “Magneto” Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) as they assemble a team of mutants to protect the United States during the Cold War. Going back to both character’s childhoods, the prequel gives a thorough but fast paced explanation of the X-Men’s beginning. Comic books fans will be thrilled with this origins story and may even get goose bumps from some introductions and a scene involving the search for a young team of mutants. First Class fits nicely into the X-Men franchise, feeling less like a reboot and more like a new chapter for a beloved comic book series.
The wolf pack is back, and this time they’ve traveled all the way to Thailand. With plenty of crude humor and no shortage of shocking moments, this sequel garners mild success.
As summer continues to present rising temperatures, The Sweet Carolina Concert Series looks to bring a change of pace to the heated monotony. The University Mall will feature a band every Thursday, beginning June 2.
The long weekend began a little dreary with the flooding of Franklin St. Now, with hot dogs, grey skies, and barbecues behind us, check out these recommendations for the week.
