beat street breakdown

I had a chance to talk to DJ Cornbread at "The Torn Flannel Affair" tonight. Seems a comment on the role or lack thereof of the dj in busking led to a sincere visit to the City of Norfolk offices in hopes of spinning outdoors for Art | Everywhere. The issue is currently unresolved as to whether the city will grant permission for a live dj on the streets or if he or she even needs one, but Cornbread will stop back by tomorrow. He hasn't found anything in the letter of city law that would exclude djs from the kind of permissions granted to buskers. Then again, Norfolk's city government has traditionally been unfriendly to anything that smacks of hip hop culture. Click here to refresh yrself on what Norfolk had to say after the 2007 shooting at a Clipse show.

the torn flannel affair

Some of you may know Ryan Yates, bka Yatesy, aka Hatesy, aka Mr. Hatesy McWiggles. The rest of you need to. He's easily one of the illest artmakers about, and he will be unspooling his latest opus tonight at the Ten Top starting 6 pm. Me and the fat little conspirators have witnessed him working on this series, and we personally promise it to be the sickest. As the title might hint, this series offers Hatesy's take on personally significant songs and lyrics from the grungy '90s. There will be music and refreshments, but the actual canvasses promise to be the most powerful intoxicants. Do this.

oh, god, it's everywhere

Much of young and restless Norfolk that I've come across this week is all abuzz for Art | Everywhere Opening Night this Saturday, and for good reason. Last year was a striking success, going a long way towards achieving the vision of transforming downtown into an interactive gallery. A feather in the cap for the kids over at AltDaily and everybody who helped them. Including myself. You didn't think I was just going to celebrate local art without talking about myself, did you? This year I've again been assigned to bring the madness and mirth to Hell's Kitchen (actually, they are calling it "Comedy in Hell's Kitchen"). I'll be doing the same thing I did last year but more. More comic friends. More Plan B. More technically organized. Actually that last part was on the word of my contact at Hell's Kitchen, who I learned today is recently not with Hell's Kitchen. Fucking Norfolk bar turnover. In any case I'll be there at 8 making the world laugh. It's gonna be a blast.