PopCult Rudy Panucci on Pop Culture

Stuff To Do Overload

poster-2633The PopCulteer
April 11, 2014

We find ourselves once again faced with an abundance of cool and varied things to do this weekend. As I’ve mentioned before, I can’t understand how people can complain and say that nothing ever happens in Charleston. We have everything from classic Sci-Fi movies to Drag Shows to original stage drama to stargazing to live music. Oh, do we have live music!

I’ve already told you about the new Dan Kehde drama, “The Rack” (Friday and Saturday at the WVSU Capitol Center Theater), the screening of “Forbidden Planet” (Friday and Saturday at The Electric Sky Theater at The Clay Center), Yuri’s Night, a star party at the Cross Lanes branch of the Kanawha County Public library and at the Breezy Point Observatory at Camp Virgil Tate (Saturday night) and The David Mayfield Parade with David and Valerie Mayfield at The Empty Glass (Saturday night). That’s just scratching the surface.

Seriously, look at this weekend’s line-up…

FRIDAY

The bargain of the night may well be the free performance by Churck Biel’s students at West Virginia State University’s Economic Development Center, 1506 Kanawha Boulevard on Charleston’s West Side. As Chuck Tells us, “Hear some of the finest young musicians in our area when Chuck Biel’s Skool Of Rok & Jazz performs at W.V.S.U. EDC April 11 . People that came to my shows in the past have seen guys like, Jerry Flowers (Keith Urban) , Bryan Murray (David Byrne, Bryan and the Haggards) and a few dozen or so more. Just like those guys caused some jaws to drop, so will this “new crop” of fine players.” The show kicks off at 8 PM.

More free music includes a concert and Meet & Greet with former Nickelodeon star, Drake Bell, at the Charleston Town Center, as they kick off “Teen Idol” at 4:30 PM. At 7 PM Blugrass Kitchen presents Ryan Kennedy and Rick Perdue as the two guitar virtuosos perform together. 7:30 PM sees Maruerite begin to perform at Taylor Books. At 9 PM Cousin Larry takes the stage at Bruno’s on Leon Sullivan Way.

Friday night’s big rock show has this week’s RFC MINI SHOW guests, dogSOLDIER rocking out at The Blue Parrot at 10 PM with Twist of Fate. Five bucks gets you in the door, and here’s a sample of what you’ll hear…

Meuwl
Meuwl

Meuwlfest, an annual hodge-podge of new rap, hip-hop and very interesting sounds held in honor of the late rapper, Meuwl, this year featuring Teddy Faley, Yetti Burps, Ray Strife, TMFSE, and Cornelius The III happens at The Empty Glass Friday at 10 PM, for what I’m guessing will be a seven-dollar cover.

Also tonight, if you think you can be funny with no pants on, check this out…

1510349_10152330647681310_1471141643_n

…The No Pants Players are looking for a few funny women and men.

SATURDAY

The day kicks off with a booksigning at The Charleston Town Center…

1921071_10202117493562428_5424778591050281269_o

Free music on Saturday sees Spencer Elliott and Will Manahan performing fingerstyle guitar and dulcimer at Bluegrass Kitchen at 7 PM. You may remember Spencer from his countless appearances on Radio Free Charleston in the bands Whistlepunk and Mother Nang, or from this solo clip, which is how he’ll be playing Saturday…

Also free Saturday, Heidi Howe will be at Taylor Books at 7:30 PM.

1970406_10102102137960594_1511029990_nQiET and The Company Stores will become part of the “D Street Series” at the LaBelle Theater in South Charleston at 7 PM. Admission is five dollars, you can find out more information by calling 304 881-7417, and if you take your ticket stub to The Empty Glass later that evening (where you can hear The David Mayfield Parade), you can get five bucks off your first drink purchase, basically making this a free show.

Divas of Broadway take the stage at The Broadway at Midnight and 1:30 AM. This is not to be confused with “Wicked Divas” at The Clay Center, which is something alltogether different. The cover is five bucks.

That is one loaded weekend, and we didn’t even start on Sunday. Check PopCult regularly for more updates and cool stuff. We’ve been posting at least once a day since last August.