Posted inMusic

Sporting goods

Punk band Bad Sports started eight years ago. Bassist Daniel Friend and guitarist Orville Neeley had been in a band together previously, but one day, Neeley showed up with demos of new songs. “It was way better than the band we were in,” Friend said, “so we decided to do that instead.” Bad Sports met […]

Posted inMusic

Smith Westerns — Soft Will

Traditionally, bands aren’t really supposed to hit rock ’n’ roll puberty until they approach their 30s. And you’re definitely not supposed to sound as primed and polished as Smith Westerns do on Soft Will — their third studio album — when you’re barely into your 20s. Admittedly, the act’s youth and the notion of trad-rock […]

Posted inFood & Drink

Creative cuisine

WHAT WORKS: The vibe, menu and staff create a seamless — and stellar — experience. WHAT NEEDS WORK: The small menu could make ordering difficult for pickier diners. THE TIP: Go with an open mind, and just maybe you’ll find something you never thought you’d love (like sea urchin!). Our server was sporting suspenders — […]

Posted inArts & Culture

‘Nerd’ humor

It’s hard to say whether the title of “The Nerd,” by Larry Shue, now being presented by Pollard Theatre, is supposed to endear us to the eponymous character or turn us off right from the beginning. I guess it depends on your opinion of nerds, generally. In this tepid 1981 comedy, Willum Cubbert is a […]

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