Sunday, July 31
Friday, July 29
The 2nd Coming of Alice Cooper
ALICE COOPER WREAKS HAVOC ON A NEW GENERATION WITH NEW ALBUM, WORLD TOUR, HIT RADIO SHOW. Once decried as "a parent's worst nightmare," the one and only ALICE COOPER is ...
Wednesday, July 27
[Music] Catchy Revolt
I saw Colour Revolt for the first time at The Joint on July 7. The last band to take the stage, they played a killer mini-set to a packed room ...
[TechTalk] Batman Had Robin, Han Had Chewie…
I miss my Sidekick. Recently the PR folks at T-Mobile were kind enough to loan me what they call the Sidekick II, which is actually the HipTop2, made by Danger ...
Going Dr. Laura On Your Ass
Perhaps Asa Carter, a Klansman and the secretary of the North Alabama White Citizens Council, said it best in 1956:
[Greggs] Why Not Just Turn Gay?
The other day I was lying around with a friend discussing my less-than-stellar dating life and wondering what it would be like if I expended all that time doing something ...
Hustler: Craig Brewer Makes Hollywood Look South
The time: Aug. 7, 2000. The setting: a Los Angeles hotel room strewn with the debris of an ongoing celebration. "The Poor & Hungry," a $20,000 movie shot in Memphis, ...
[Stiggers] Meet Self-published Poet Zipp Pitters
From the Ghetto Science Team's bootleg public television studios, it's Pookie Peterz: Live and Direct. Pookie: "My special guest is Zipp Pitters, the front porch poet. He's a prolific author, ...
The Mile-High Dining Club
Packing for a trip often involves a checklist of necessities. For mine and Mama's July 13 flight from New Orleans to Portland, Ore.—with 30 minutes to change planes hours later ...
July 28 – August 3, 2005
<b>Overcoming Perceptions</b>
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors recently made a noteworthy investment in The Legacy of Timbuktu Exhibition Project. This international one-of-a-kind exhibition is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors to ...
Better Late Than Never
Within weeks of passing a resolution to apologize for lynching, the U.S. Senate is moving to help solve old civil rights cases. U.S. Sens. Jim Talent, R-Mo., and Chris Dodd, ...
A Dream Deferred
Thomas Moore got a dose of his home state that he could like last week. After the Jackson Free Press published a narrative of his visit back to Meadville and ...
Mayor Rebuked; Club Re-Opens
On June 26, around 3 a.m, 21-year-old LaKita Williams was shot to death while leaving the Upper Level Sports Bar at 4125 Northside Drive. Gunmen sprayed bullets so randomly that ...
The Maple Street Scramble
A couple of weeks into his new career as mayor of Jackson, Frank Melton issued an executive order saying he would "evacuate, close down and tear down" the Maple Street ...
Johnny Michaud
He's the new kid in town with an off-the-wall sense of humor. What you see is what you get. And whatever comes out of his mouth, he worries about later. ...
Melton Asks All Board, Commission Members to Resign
Today, Mayor Frank Melton announced that all city board and commission members must "resign their position(s) effectively immediately." According to the press release from Carolyn Redd, this includes all members ...
"Untilted," Autechre
Rob Brown and Sean Booth have recorded as Autechre since 1991, starting out as a hip-hop influenced electronica act and evolving into the highly revered, state-of-the-art experimental IDM staple that ...
"Let Us Never Speak of It Again," Out Hud
--Alex Slawson and Herman Snell
Out Hud, the mysterious collective based in Sacramento, shares members with !!! in a world of freestyle collaboration and genre melding grooves. Upon the release of "S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D." in 2002, ...
Tuesday, July 26
The Concretes CD Drops
THE CONCRETES TO RELEASE US-ONLY RARITIES COLLECTION ON JULY 26. LAYOURBATTLEAXEDOWN CONTAINS NEW VIDEO FOR THE CONCRETES' HIT, "SAY SOMETHING NEW," FEATURED IN THE POPULAR TARGET AD CAMPAIGN. "The Swedish ...
Monday, July 25
"Picaresque," The Decemberists
On their previous album, "Her Majesty the Decemberists," many comparisons were drawn between vocalist Colin Meloy's songwriting style with that of Jeff Mangum [Neutral Milk Hotel] and The Zombies. "Picaresque" ...
Saturday, July 23
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band at Martin's
Orange County California, Prog. to traditional band Dusty Rhodes and the River Band will perform at Martin's on July 28, 10 p.m. www.dusty-rhodes.net
Friday, July 22
Dems: State GOP Lying About House
[verbatim statement]By attacking the integrity of one of the state's longest-serving legislators, the Mississippi Republican Party has once again launched into their far-too-familiar practice of spreading lies and misinformation. GOP ...
Wednesday, July 20
A Sweet Repeat: A Review Of "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory"
There was perhaps no major American filmmaker better suited for bringing Roald Dahl's offbeat, bittersweet children's story "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" back to the big screen than director Tim ...
Fruit of The Womb
In 2001, 7-year-old David Huff wanted to have some livestock to show. A friend of his had a goat farm, and after spending time there, David decided to get two ...
Now That's Italian!
Until recently, I did not drink much Italian wine, which is surprising because I love being Italian. My nana's mother came over from the old country, and her recipe for ...
Immerse Yourself
Summer time, and the living is easy, but oh-so-hot. That's why your food has to cool you off a little. Can't you just taste the fruits of your labor, a ...
Fourth Time's A Charm?
In a session rivaling all others this year in terms of brevity, state lawmakers approved $14 million for Baxter Healthcare in Cleveland July 15 in less than two hours. The ...
The Alternative to What?
July 20, 2005 One question I'm asked frequently about the Jackson Free Press is why we call ourselves "alternative." It's a good question—with an easy answer that I don't even ...
[Sawyer] Catholics Need Not Apply
Imagine for a moment you're a middle schooler. You know, the kind of young girl or guy with a slight self-confidence problem, maybe some acne on that indomitable T zone, ...
[Judin] There's A Hole In The Sky
Growing up in Mississippi, I dreamed of living in New York. I watched the "Today" show in the morning and Walter Cronkite in the evening. New York was Times Square, ...
[Stiggers] Float On, Find Love
It's time for those interesting profiles from Float On Personals, brought to you by the law office of Cootie McBride and the L.M.H.F.D. National Bank.
Bridgid Ferguson
I walk into the jumbled log-cabin interior of McB's and see Bridgid Ferguson setting up with the Chris Gill Band. In a few minutes they've started playing their first hour, ...
[Chick] Oh, Snap
"Oh, snap!" That's what Monkey said when he realized he was going to miss a barbecue while with his dad at the beach. I was both shocked and amused. "Did ...
Cover
I Want Justice, Too: Brother Wants Mississippi Cold Case Murders Re-opened
The Jackson Free Press teamed with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to follow an Army vet and Mississippi native on his journey back home, looking for justice for his little brother ...
King Elementary "Kudzu" Drops Nationwide
Upon discovering rock 'n' roll, every teenager achingly longs to start a band. Rarely, however, does that band propel itself out of the garage fueled by the restlessness of youth, ...
Cover
Turnabout: Melton Changes Story About Leak
When he was head of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton leaked a memo containing accusations that would later be disproved about agency personnel to The Clarion-Ledger. ...
Tuesday, July 19
Sunday, July 17
Large Number of FBI Files Alarming
The New York Times reports Monday:
Friday, July 15
Dandy Warhols Album Coming
The Dandy Warhols will release their fifth album, Odditorium or Warlords of Mars, on September 13th. Named (at least partially) after the band's infamous Portland studio headquarters, Odditorium or Warlords ...
Thursday, July 14
Dems: Stop the ‘Smear Campaign'
AP reports today:
Democrats stirred the pot Thursday in the case of presidential aide Karl Rove and the news leak that unmasked a CIA agent, pushing the issue toward the Senate floor, pressing ...
Wednesday, July 13
New Artistic Ground
Some people think that you have to live in a place like New York City to break new artistic ground. The upcoming Fondren Theatre Workshop (FTW) presentation features four dramatic ...
Pick A Proper Pepper
What vegetable can sit upright in the palm of your hand, is a shiny, clean-looking green and tangy when immature, then a gorgeous shade of red and sweeter when mature? ...
Melton Blazes Into Week 1
Mayor Frank Melton's campaign pivoted on the promise of a safer, crime-free Jackson in the months leading up to his recent election to the office of Jackson mayor. That same ...
DIY: Produce Your Own Album
Without money to secure your band solid time in a studio, producing a record can be difficult. But this isn't a problem for Walter Young, whose band Alexander's Dark Heart's ...
[SportsTalk] ‘We Were Here First'
When the Mississippi Braves moved into Trustmark Park in Pearl, most critics predicted that the Senators, who play in the independent Central Baseball League, would lose the battle for local ...
Deja Vu, Special Session Style
The state Legislature may soon be heading into its fourth special session. Gov. Haley Barbour said he aims to consider $14 million in upgrades for Baxter Healthcare Corp., in Cleveland.
Movin' On Up: Barbour Approval Increases
Gov. Haley Barbour has pulled himself up with constituents in the last two months, from a low of 37% approval in May to 41% approval in July, making him the ...
Deliver Us From Evil
I was lying in bed last week, thinking about the Edgar Ray Killen trial. My feelings on it are hard to sort out; I'm relieved, yet worried that too many ...
[Greggs] Just Not Paying Attention
Most of the time when I'm driving home from work, I'm diligently thinking about something like how cool I would look wearing a cowboy hat while dancing on the hood ...
[Kamikaze] The New Racism
You guys should know me by now. I'm that radical, angry rapper-guy who seems to have an opinion on everything. The guy who likes to stir it up, make you ...
Music Street: Where Is the Studio Melton Promised?
During Frank Melton's mayoral campaign, he told an audience of young African American musicians at The Birdland that he would bring a world-class recording studio to them, to Farish Street, ...
We Are The Street: New Coalition Seeks To Unify The Scene
Four years ago, the rap music magazine Murder Dog did a special on the underground music scene of Jackson. A photo of almost 30 men, all of whom were somehow ...
[New Release] Schizo Sounds
There is an old cliche that, if you don't like the weather in Mississippi, wait a few minutes and it will change. The same could be said for the tracks ...
[Gospel] Fired By Trump, Employed By God
Left as the last man standing on NBC's hit reality show "The Apprentice, "Gulfport, Miss.-born Craig Williams exited the show's location after a series of interviews that tagged him as ...
[Stiggers] Battle of The Black Iron Skillet Chefs
Live from the kitchen of Clubb Chicken Wing, it's the premiere of the Ghetto Science Team's Black Iron Skillet Chef cooking competition show with Sista Church Hat.
Holly Perkins
Holly Perkins has always liked art, but it was a family-weekend adventuring trip with her parents and older sister Katie that changed the almost-a-teen-ager forever. "Maybe two years ago, we ...
Tuesday, July 12
‘Karl Rove Is A Liar'
Salon's Joe Conason takes on Karl Rove for his latest trick to divide America. Rove ignited a firestorm when he said recently:
"La Foret" XIU XIU
Jamie Stewart is what Victorian society would have called, "an unsettling young man." To hear Jamie's band Xiu Xiu play is to be shaken, disturbed, and shown something original. If ...
Monday, July 11
"At the Soundless Dawn," Red Sparowes
Instrumental, sublime and slightly bombastic- these are terms normally used to describe the new school of indie post rock as heard in the music of Mogwai and Godspeed You Black ...
"Axes," Electrelane
This Brighton 4-piece formed in 1998 to revive the fem-core movement in a unique way- one more diverse and lasting than the riot-grrl movement that preceded them some 5 years ...
"Blue Eyed In The Red Room," Boom Bip
Part avant-garde composer and part beat master; Boom Bip has created some of the richest instrumental soundscapes in recent memory. Combining hip-hop, ambient and experimental electronica with Intelligent Dance Music ...
"Hole," 65daysofstatic
Since releasing their stunning debut long player in October 2004, "The Fall of Math," this Sheffield 4-piece have been drawing raves from the UK music press. Their apocalyptic style combines ...
Thursday, July 7
Lanier Grad Killed In Iraq
WAPT reports another Mississippi casualty in the Iraqi war:
Attacks Rock London
AP is reporting:
Four blasts rocked the London subway and tore open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour Thursday, sending bloodied victims fleeing in the worst attack on London since ...
Wednesday, July 6
Hail To The Staff
July 6, 2005 This is the 101st issue of the Jackson Free Press. We set out three years ago to bring independent journalism (and the best entertainment coverage) to Jackson, ...
He Is The Night: A Review Of Batman Begins
After a string of boring, ugly, repetitive games, it's good to see Batman get an interesting, pretty, repetitive game. "Batman Begins"—the movie—blows the previous films out of the water, and ...
More Than Moonshine
Here in Mississippi, we often get the short end of the stick. Find a list of positive statistics; we're near or at the bottom. Negative? Look to the top. Whenever ...
Vine-Ripened Health
There's nothing much better tasting than a fresh vine-ripened tomato. It could be that Southern standard, the tomato sandwich—sliced tomatoes on white bread, slathered with mayo. It might be a ...
The Killen Verdict, Explained
FBI/AP pool photo
"Preacher" Edgar Ray Killen's jury trial has ended; he was convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of the three young men on June 21, 1964. On June 23, 2005, Judge ...
The Clean, Green Power Machine?
A pro-nuclear rally was held on the south steps of the State Capitol June 28 to gather support and attention for The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's public meeting later that evening ...
Eyebrows Raised Over Voting Decisions
The Mississippi Secretary of State's office announced June 29 that it had made its selection on the vendor to supply the state's voting machines for the 2006 elections: Diebold Election ...
Michael Burton
Michael Burton's music takes him, top to bottom, all across the continent of North America: Montreal, Canada, Bermuda. This week, Burton's travels bring him home to Jackson to share his ...
There Goes Another One
After two days of deliberation, the House passed the Momentum Mississippi package and is now working with the Senate and Gov. Haley Barbour on a bond bill to finance other ...
[Music] Born Under A Bad Sign
Toward the end of my talk with Bernard Jenkins, he tells me: "There's no better musicians than right here (Jackson). Make sure you get that down."
[Stiggers] Po' Folks And Their Spooky Stories
The Ghetto Science Team brings you The Financially Challenged Summer Camp, hosted by Grandma Pookie. It's time for po' folks and their spooky stories by the camp fire under the ...
[Rosella] Tragedy In Madison County
Recently, I have been puzzled by the tragic events that have hit the heart of my hometown, Madison. It seems as if the past three years have brought only grief ...
Phyllis Robinson
Photos by Jason Jarin
Originally from Kosciusko, Phyllis Robinson, now in her 40s, has lived in Jackson for over 25 years; she now resides with her husband, two sons, and stepdaughter. With a paralegal ...
Home In The Prez: All The President's Residents
Photos by Thabi Moyo
A resident of the historic subdivision Presidential Hills, 30-year-old Latasha Willis, was recently watching the television debut of a David Banner video when she was surprised to see the name ...
Tuesday, July 5
Stevie J at 930 this Weekend
Keeping the blues' cutting-edge sharp with Stevie J at the 930 Blues Café, Friday and Saturday, July 8-9, at 9:30 p.m. One of Jackson's most bodacious bluesmen Stevie J joins ...
Plame-Gate Moves Closer to Karl Rove
Big news today was that Karl Rove was a source in a Time magazine story that helped out undercover CIA investigator Valerie Plame. Newsweek reports:
Saturday, July 2
Friday, July 1
Pro-Life Mississippi: 'A Moderate Will Not Do'
July 1, 2005/verbatim: In light of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's resignation announcement, Terri Herring, president of Pro-Life Mississippi, writes:
Creative Loafing: 'Racial Healing In Mississippi'
Creative Loafing editor and blogger John Sugg has published a cover story about the Killen trial, with an intriguing comparison of Killen and Dick Molpus, in the Creative Loafing papers ...
