Short Takes: 'Rocky Horror Picture Show,' Charles Vess exhibit and Horns of Moses

ROCKY

When “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” opened as a film in 1975, nothing compared. Still doesn’t.

See Theatre Bristol’s production of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Theatre Bristol’s ArtSpace from Feb. 5-20.

Of note, this is not for small children. Also of note to “Rocky” newbies, expect some audience participation in the form of mimicking costumes and occasional banter.

For whatever reason, the bizarrely brilliant “Rocky” struck such a chord during the 1970s that perhaps cult is too tiny a word to attach to its following. Try rabid, even voracious and certainly hardcore.

Characters such as Riff Raff and Dr. Frank N. Furter belong among the lexicon of Hollywood’s most loony of loons. Then again, so does the warped and whacked out “Rocky.”

IF YOU GO
What: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
When: Feb. 5, 6, 12 and 19 at 8 p.m.; and Feb. 13 and 20 at 8 p.m. and midnight
Where: Theatre Bristol, 512 State St., Bristol, Tenn.
Admission: $15
Info: (423) 968-4977
Web: www.theatrebristol.org

VESS ON DISPLAY

A master is in our midst.

That’s Charles Vess, illustrator extraordinaire. See his lifetime of work during “A Bounty of Apples: The 40-Year Artistic Journey of Charles Vess” from Feb. 5-12 in The Ballroom at the Martha Washington Hotel & Spa in Abingdon, Va. Come out on day one for a public reception. Most of all see the exhibit while you can.

Vess, perhaps best known for his fantasy illustrations and collaborations with author Neil Gaimen, resides and works in Abingdon. The exhibit coincides with the release of his career retrospective book “Drawing Down the Moon: The Art of Charles Vess.” As such, much of that which was featured in the book will be on display.

You want grand? From Vess, we get grand.

IF YOU GO
What: “A Bounty of Apples: The 40-Year Artistic Journey of Charles Vess”
When: Feb. 5-12 with a public reception on Feb. 5 from 5-9 p.m.
Where: The Ballroom at The Martha Washington Hotel & Spa, 150 W. Main St., Abingdon, Va.
Info: (276) 628-3161
Web: www.marthawashingtoninn.com
And: www.greenmanpress.com

HORNS OF MOSES

Local and loud in part describes Horns of Moses.

Scheduled to slam asunder the Hideaway in Johnson City on Feb. 5, the thundering Horns of Moses underline the fact that the Mountain Empire rumbles to more than just bluegrass and country.

For those who like Slayer, Horns of Moses doesn’t quite go that far. For those who love Metallica, the Johnson City band pushes a bit harder.

However, not at the cost of melody do Horns of Moses play their brand of heavy metal. The sun-scorching-hot band gallops not necessarily like four horsemen bent on apocalypse. Instead, as on songs like “Unrepentant” their music revels in the ride, strong and resilient rock with no place for pause. They simply pummel forth.

IF YOU GO
Who: Horns of Moses and Cerements
When: Feb. 5, 10 p.m.
Where: The Hideaway, 235 E. Main St., Johnson City, Tenn.
Info: (423) 926-3896
Web and audio: www.myspace.com/hornsofmoses

MUSIC NOTES

-- Excellence. Bluegrass and music lovers in general rejoice and run to the Cracker Barrel Country Store for a copy of Dailey and Vincent’s “Dailey and Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers.” On sale since Monday (Feb. 1), the album features bluegrass’ hottest duo tackling such Statler classics as “Bed of Roses” and “Class of ’57.” From the initial note of album-opener “Flowers on the Wall” onward, the music simply mesmerizes.

-- Bad news seemingly followed since Willie Nelson’s exit last Tuesday night out of Bristol. First, hours after his 90-minute hit parade at Viking Hall, Nelson’s former wife and brief duet partner Shirley Collie Nelson died at age 78. Then on Friday in Kenansville, N.C., one band member and several members of his crew were arrested and cited for possession of moonshine and marijuana.

-- Better news on the new albums front.

-- Silky jazz singer Sade returns from a 10-year hiatus with “Soldier of Love” on Feb. 9. Add to that new albums from country’s Josh Turner and “Hayride”; Charlottesville, Va,’s Dave Matthews Band and their 26-track “Live in Vegas”; hip-hop balladeer Jaheim with “Another Round”; contemporary Christian’s Tobymac with “Tonight” and heavy metal’s Fear Factory with “Mechanize.”

-- Fall Out Boy falling apart? At least according to lead Boy Pete Wentz via Twitter messages, the rock band may have played their final song when he said that he “… can’t predict that I’ll ever play in Fall Out Boy again.”

-- This week’s free MP3 download features six songs by six new country artists. Go to www.countryweekly.com/freemusic for songs such as “That Ain’t Country” by Wilmington, N.C.’s Johnny Orr and the spunky “Country Girl Diva” by The Two Timers.

That’s it for this week via Short Takes and Music Notes. Return next week for more rounds of the best that’s about to come. Meanwhile and oh yes, stay tuned.

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at features@bristolnews.com.