Charleston Gazette

Joint Chiefs Back for Three Shows

Formed in Morgantown in 1993, The Joint Chiefs plied its P-Funk- infused rock at clubs and festivals throughout the state for three years before its members drifted apart and went their separate ways. The group issued one release, "The Joint Chiefs' Greatest Hits," in 1995, produced by ex-"Mountain Stage" bassist John Kessler. (The CD is now out of print, but the songs are still available via mp3 download.)

Best Bet: ; Not so 'Little'

The March sisters come to Huntington as the Broadway musical "Little Women" is performed in a Marshall Artists Series show 8 p.m. Wednesday at Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center on Fourth Avenue in Huntington. The heartwarming musical is inspired by Louisa May Alcott's beloved book, which tells the story of the March family as they face the trials of growing up, finding love, and discovering the meaning of friendship and family. The family copes with the hardships of living during the Civil W...

The Gazz Calendar: ; April 17-April 23

* Mail, fax or drop calendar entries off by NOON TUESDAY. Mail to: Gazz/Calendar, 1001 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301. Fax: 348-1233. * Club owners: Please indicate cover charge and start time of music or acts booked when sending information. * Listings compiled by Amy Robinson. Call 348-4881 or e-mail gazz@wvgazette.com. Today 4.17

Best Bet: ; Biscuit's Ready

Fiery Chicago blues bass player and singer-songwriter Biscuit Miller and his band The Mix perform starting 7 p.m. today at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 520 Kanawha Blvd. W, in a show co-sponsored with the Charleston Blues Society. Growing up on Chicago's south side, where his blues playing was marinated and honed, that's also where he earned his nickname, always asking for more of his grandma's biscuits. He has traveled the world playing with bluesman Lonnie Brooks and guitar hots...

Best Bet: ; Beer and Cheer

Gazz "Beers to You" blogger Rich Ireland had good things to say about the last "Fest of Ale" at South Charleston's Ramada Plaza Hotel Comedy Zone, which he helped to emcee and which drew more than 80 people for brew and laughs. Head there this Friday for Vol. 2. of the event, starting 7 p.m. It starts with a short 'Beer 101' session and then 11 samplings of craft beer with food pairings to match and comedy on the side served up by Jody Kerns and Mike Storck. Admission is $25 per person, which...

The Clay Center: ; Many Fine Sounds On One Stage

The Woody Hawley singer-songwriter series returns Saturday to the Clay Center's excellent Walker Theater, Charleston's finest listening room space. It's a busy lineup that spans a half-dozen genres, with Bob Malone (right) and Little Toby Walker sharing headlining honors preceded by opening act Alan Griffith and his Blue Million trio. "Take Tom Waits, Steely Dan, Dr. John, Louis Armstrong and Harry Connick Jr., put 'em in a drink shaker, add sweetener, and pour out Bob Malone," the Blues Revi...

Weekend Watch: ; All the Music It's Legal to Hear

So you've got your taxes done and you don't have to worry about being incarcerated for a whole 'nother year. Why not celebrate by going to a rocking area show this weekend? The Weekend Watch series rolls on, and it's still legal to read, so let's go! Today

Best Bet: ; 'First Flight,' Take Two

Believe It! 'X-Files' Movie Title Picked

LOS ANGELES - The truth is finally out there about the new "X- Files" movie title. The second big-screen spinoff of the paranormal TV adventure will be called "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," Chris Carter, the series' creator, said.

The Idiot Box: ; a Week Without Tv? Ok, We'll Give It a Shot

This week, I won't be able to get in on some of the highlights that I've included at the end of my column. I'll be able to catch the "Eli Stone" finale tonight and squeeze in the "Brothers & Sisters" return on Sunday, but I'll miss "Reaper's" return on Tuesday and I won't see Jesse L. Martin's final episode of "Law & Order" on Wednesday. No, I'm not going out of town next week. Instead, I've decided to participate in this year's National TV-Turnoff Week, which begins Monday and runs through S...

In Short

Art lecture "Quilts and Paintings: The Medium Is Not Always the Message," a slide lecture by Pittsburgh resident and Fiberart International artist Jan Myers-Newbury, will take place at 6:15 p.m. today in the Clay Center's art gallery.

Cover Story: ; Coming Home to Clown; Fraziers Bottom Native Returns to Area As Ringling Bros. Performer

IF YOU GO Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Charleston Civic Center. Tickets are $13 to $75 (children ages 2 and up must have a ticket). Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. today; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. A pre-show begins one hour prior to the start of the show where ticket holders can see the animals up close, visit with the performers, get autographs and try on costumes. Call 345-7469 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. lynch@wvgazette.com

Movie Reviews: ; '88' Packed with Nonsense; 'Forbidden' Fruitful

'88 Minutes' H1/2 This Al Pacino serial-killer thriller loiters around for 19 minutes longer than the title suggests, but it feels like far longer. Director Jon Avnet and company engorge this movie with idiotic action, incomprehensible twists and loads of other nonsense after Pacino's FBI profiler receives a phone call informing him he has 88 minutes to live. This isn't a movie so much as a bad fun house, with Pacino dodging bullets, motorcycles and exploding cars and reacting to screams of t...

'Expelled': Is: ; There Intelligence in This Film?

REVIEW Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed H Rated PG (thematic material, some disturbing images and brief smoking) Directed by Nathan Frankowski Starring Ben Stein, Richard Dawkins, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler Marquee Cinemas Droning funnyman Ben Stein monkeys around with evolution with the new documentary, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," a cynical attempt to sucker Christian conservatives into thinking they're losing the "intelligent design" debate because of academic "prejudice."

There's a Blog in My Soup: ; Tricky Fish has Ocean of Potential

IF YOU GO Tricky Fish, 1611 Washington St. E. (next to Subway with parking in the rear). Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday (evening hours will be added at a later date). Last weekend, I was having a leisurely lunch over at the Bluegrass Kitchen when I overheard some talk about John and Keeley Steele's other restaurant venture, the Tricky Fish. From what I was hearing, it sounded as if the place was finally open for business. With fond memories of overstuffed oyster po' boys fro...

Stephen Wood On Organs and Being a Nonprofessional

lynch@wvgazette.com Stephen Wood is an Atlanta-based organ player and jazz composer. Originally from Ohio and using a collection of occasionally shifting players, his jazz ensemble creates contagious smooth grooves and playful melodies. This is intelligent jam that gravitates from slinky sounds to near psychedelic brain candy.

New Sounds

Artist: James Hunter (www.jameshuntermu sic.com) Album: "The Hard Way" (Fantasy)

'Sims' Franchise Passes: ; 100 Million Units Sold

Apatow Team Back On Track with 'Marshall'

REVIEW Forgetting Sarah Marshall HHH Rated R (sexual content, language and some graphic nudity) Directed by Nicholas Stoller Starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand Marquee Cinemas, Park Place Stadium Cinemas So perhaps the rumors of Judd Apatow's demise were greatly exaggerated.

Graves Gets Away From Illusions On Tour, Album

IF YOU GO Michale Graves with The Renfields, Failure Figure, Murderous Geese and Viral Komotose, 8 p.m. Friday at Paradox Rift, Huntington. Tickets $10 at the door. Call 360-1286. lynch@wvgazette.com