It's Oscars Weekend -- Columbia Creatives & Film Lovers Pick Their Faves from This Year and Others by Wade Sellers

As the cinematic award season concludes Sunday evening with the Academy Awards, Jasper asked creators and film lovers around Columbia about their most memorable movie viewing experience of 2023. Some loved new film offerings from the year. Others re-visited older classics or childhood favorites and saw them with a new point of view. Some anticipated a film only to be disappointed. Our list of Columbia creators and film lovers offered a diverse list of favorites, and we invite you, if you haven’t already, to view some of their favorites when you can.

Kwasi Brown - Founder, Black Nerd Mafia  

My favorite movie this year was Thanksgiving. Horror is my fav genre, which typically has a lot of disposable content. This movie, while set in modern times felt like a throwback slasher. It also explores themes of American consumerism and how out of hand it has gotten. Great kills, light humor, and an interesting compelling story. Eli Roth can be hit or miss but I’ve been waiting for this movie since the fake trailer appear in Tarantino's grindhouse forever ago and he didn't disappoint.

Marty Fort - Musician & Owner, Columbia Arts Academy, Irmo School of Music, Lexington Arts Academy

I watched The Goonies with my daughter. As far as what was new about The Goonies was how intense parts of it were. Sloth in hand cuffs. The mobsters. And the visuals, Oregon, the music, etc.

Laura Kissel - Director, School of Visual Art and Design, University of South Carolina

I loved Barbie! It captures the powerful, fun, and imaginative play a lot of young girls have when they are full of agency and fearless. Great, nostalgic set design for Barbieland, catchy song and dance sequences, and a terrific critique of the patriarchy. And I had no idea there was once a video of Barbie with a camera in her body. I want one! 

Merritt McNeely - CEO, Flock and Rally 

Nimona was #1. And magically, was also created by a local. But we didn't watch it the first time through that lens. For me, I cried b/c I realized the struggle that Nimona was sharing with the world - about having to be someone else until you finally just have to be you, and how hard that can be. I felt like it was the exact message my child needed to hear - whether he understood that or not. I don't know why my son cried during Nimona, he can't quite explain his feelings yet, but something moved him to tears as well. 

Tracie Broom - Co-Founding Partner, Flock and Rally 

I absolutely loved Poor Things. I found it incredibly funny and creative, and it shows a version of what women *might* want to question and explore if we weren't conditioned from a very young age to see ourselves, and our usefulness, in a limited way. Plus, what a treat for a Yorgos Lanthimos movie to wrap up on a high note!

Ed Madden - Poet

The Quiet Girl. Gorgeous. Irish film, part in Irish language. Based on novella Foster by Claire Keegan. Heartbreakingly beautiful. Things unsaid. Gestures. What is family. Who is a parent. A slow revelation, the ambiguity of the ending. The cast—Carrie Crowley was so amazing, and Catherine Clinch.

Cedric Umoja - Artist

Surrounded. I found the storytelling, cinematography, and acting to be excellent. It was a great way to expand upon the western genre by making its hero a Black woman who had served as a Buffalo soldier before becoming a traveler. She was everything we, as the audience, hoped she would be. 

Sumner Bender - Executive Director, Nickelodeon Theater 

I really enjoyed AIR, Barbie, Past Lives, and Oppenheimer. I think Oppenheimer is my favorite though. It's almost cliche because it is so critically acclaimed. I didn't see it when it first came out, but I watched it later and 10 minutes in I realized why it was so hyped up, because it is incredible! I have no qualms about loving popular movies!

Jay Matheson - Musician, Owner The Jam Room 

Biggest disappointment was Leave the World Behind. Looking through the 2023 film list the only one that stands out is Jules. It was quite offbeat and dealt with quite a few subjects in a unique way. Aging being a theme. Brian and Charles had to be the standout film that I ran across. Very funny and quite absurd. Not for everyone but I thought it was great. I don't keep notes so I'm sure I've forgotten a few. It was a busy year for me, so I did not watch as many films as usual.

Keith Tolen - Artist 

I found myself watching a film I know I have seen almost a hundred times. It’s Cool Runnings. I can’t get enough of it. I don’t know why. It has the beating the odds moments and yet how to handle defeat. I also love the flavor of the film. After all you are in Jamaica. What could be better. Solid acting and my go to film when I need to recharge.

Amy Brower - Actor, Artist, & Owner, Brower Casting 

2024 gave us....Barbie. The first act of the film can only be described as a cotton candy fever dream. (Which my inner 5-year-old unapologetically enjoyed) As someone familiar with (and deeply appreciative of) Greta [Gerwig]'s work, I was bracing myself for the gut punch of unflinching reality in there somewhere. And sure enough there it was, sandwiched palpably between hysterical one liners and over-the-top costume changes. Overall, it was a mixed bittersweet bag (as is womanhood) that succeeds in offering a fresh take on gender equality and self-love amidst toxic culture patterns in society and yes, in ourselves. As much as I look forward to sharing Barbie with my daughters in a few years, I feel no need to wake them from their cotton candy dreams of childhood just yet.  

Chad Henderson - Theatre Director & Marketing Director, South Carolina Philharmonic 

My favorite film that I watched last year was Good Vibrations, a 2013 music flick based on the life of Terri Hooley - a record-store owner instrumental in developing Belfast’s punk rock scene. I heard about Hooley while watching a PBS documentary about Northern Ireland and The Troubles, then I saw there was a movie about him. Saw the movie (loved it) and read Hooley’s autobiography. Then, by chance, when I was in NYC last summer the musical adaptation of the film was playing at the Irish Arts Center in Manhattan. So I’m a bit of a Hooligan at this point. 

Debi Schadel - Co-Founding Partner, Flock and Rally

Two of my favorites were Women Talking and Nimona. Women Talking was a bold movie with little action which was so refreshing. Nimona made me so proud to see a Columbia native make it and it goes to show you that the big budgets aren't always the best and it's always about the story.

Cindi Boiter – Founder & Executive Director, The Jasper Project

A unique film that  may not be on everyone’s radar was 2020’s Kajillionaire. I was drawn to it because it was written and directed by Miranda July (You and Me and Everyone We Know, 2005) and starred some of my favorites - Richard Jenkins, Evan Rachel Wood, Debra Winger, and Gina Rodriguez, with a smaller part played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph (nominated for Holdovers this year.) I loved it because it was quirky, and Wood’s character was a huge departure for her. But more so, I loved its treatment of parenting, and the holes parents can leave in the emotional makeup of their children. In a powerful scene, Jenkins and Winger demonstrate how parenting can be a performance more than a mission. Heartbreaking but, in the end, satisfying.

— Wade Sellers

The ART BAR Brings Back One of the Baddest-Assed, Pearl-Clutching Acts Around -- BERNIE LOVE'S TRIBUTE TO ELVIS

Don't miss this Tribute to ELVIS Sat March 2nd at the Art Bar!

Bernie Love featuring Patrick Baxley, Jay Matheson, Marty Fort, and Kevin Brewer delivers the goods.

Early 9 p.m. show, 21+ Comedian Mike Reed kicks things off.

Bernie Love only offers this show about twice a year, so come on out!

More at www.bernieloverocks.com

Music for All Ages–The Columbia Arts Academy Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

By Liz Stalker

Saturday, August 12th, the Columbia Arts Academy will be hosting open houses at all of their locations to celebrate their 20th Anniversary! The open houses will take place that day from 3-6 p.m., and the public is encouraged to stop by any of the three locations spread throughout the Columbia area: the Columbia Arts Academy (Rosewood Dr.), the Lexington School of Music (Barr Rd.), and the Irmo Music Academy (Lake Murray Blvd.). The festivities will include free food, tours, and an “instrument petting zoo” where guests can get a taste of the various instruments the school provides lessons for. As a part of the celebration, the school will also be giving away door prizes, including a grand prize of a year of free music lessons!  

Starting in 2003 as a small-scale studio with founder Marty Fort as the only instructor to 30 students, the Columbia Arts Academy has since grown into the largest private music school in the state of South Carolina. The journey has involved plenty of ups and downs. In fact, when Fort first acquired the Rosewood space, he had a lot of work to do to make it habitable for his business. “When I started Rosewood,” he says, “there were rats, there was broken glass, there was no carpet, no wall. It was $60,000 on a Visa and a MasterCard to get Rosewood off the ground.”  

But get it off the ground he did, with the school expanding into a second location just a decade later in 2015. This expansion was necessary as the Columbia Arts Academy had hit 500 students and counting, a huge milestone for the company, though it pales in comparison to the over 1700 students the school now serves.

 The school offers instruction for an incredibly wide range of instruments–piano, guitar, voice, bass, drums, banjo, ukulele, violin, and even mandolin. Fort himself is well-versed in most, if not all, of these instruments. In the spirit of modesty, he admits that violin would likely be his weakest instrument but notes that, “Once you really lock into music, there’s so much crossover.”  

The school also sees an incredibly diverse age range among its students, with the youngest of its pupils being just three and four years old and its oldest musical scholars approaching their eighties and nineties. This broad range of ages reflects the school’s highest purpose: to serve the musical passions of the community at large.

In addition to music lessons, the Columbia Arts Academy has provided opportunities for its students to perform at highly respected and admired venues and performance halls, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Guest House at Graceland. Most recently, students traveled to New York to perform at the Weill Recital at Carnegie Hall.  

Closer to home, the Columbia Arts Academy band, including Fort himself, performed alongside Kirk Hammett, lead guitarist of Metallica, at the Columbia Museum of Art, an opportunity that opened the school up to a massive platform.  

Fort is immensely proud of the growth and success his business has seen over the last two decades. He has such an obvious and enthusiastic love for each location he has been able to bring to life, describing them all as “kind of like kids–they all have their own personalities.” Their perpetuity within the community is a testament to not only his robust work ethic and the excellence of his staff, but the surrounding community’s love and appreciation for music.

“You know, most businesses don't make it five years,” he says. “20 years is a long time, I’m just so proud, and now, I think for me, it's a reset. High fives, we've got a great party planned.”  

Regarding this party, Fort says he’s most excited just to see the community turn out and show their support. “We love it when people come and check us out,” he says. “We work very hard to keep our places nice, clean, looking awesome, and what I'm looking forward to is people coming and saying ‘hi.’” 

For more information visit the Columbia Arts Academy website, or call or text (803)-787-0931.

Columbia Arts Academy to Perform at Carnegie Hall!

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Excel as a student at Columbia Arts Academy!”

~~~~~~~~~~

On Saturday, July 8th, music students from the Columbia Arts Academy will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City! The performance begins at 1 p.m.  

The students are invited to perform one acoustic piece each. Regarding what kinds of music they will be tackling, founder Marty Fort says, “I’m very excited for the program. We’ve got performers from age 7 to 65 performing piano, violin, voice, guitar, drums, and it’s a real eclectic mix. We’re performing everything from Chopin to KISS and that says it all.” 

He goes on to say, “Admittedly I’m a little nervous to perform at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Being from Columbia, starting out playing in Five Points at the age of 15 at Rockafellas and now being on that stage in New York City, it’s pretty surreal. But I’m thankful for the experience, the staff, teachers, students, and parents for all being a part. It’s a key part and perfect way to help our 20th Anniversary for Columbia Arts Academy”. 

This isn’t the first time Fort has taken his students on exciting excursions. In fact, it is becoming part of his modus operandi. In the past Fort has taken students on the road to such iconic music locations as Graceland, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and Columbia’s own Koger Center for the Arts.

Columbia Arts Academy Student and Faculty Performing at Graceland

Columbia Arts Academy Student Shane Manning Performing at Koger Center for the Arts

Screen capture of Metallica’s Kirk Hammett social media post — performing with (pictured) Columbia Arts Academy Founder Marty Fort at Columbia Museum of Art, 2020

Family, friends, and supporters of all kinds are encouraged to attend if they are able, and tickets are $25 each. For more information about the performance, what audiences can expect, and to purchase tickets, visit the Columbia Arts Academy website.  

And watch this space as Jasper continues to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Columbia Arts Academy in the weeks to come! To give back to the community, the school is hosting a special 20th Anniversary celebration Friday August 4th through Sunday August 6th. The public is welcome and encouraged to stop by any of their locations in Columbia on Rosewood Drive, Lexington on Barr Road, and Irmo on Lake Murray Blvd.

By Liz Stalker

ELVIS TRIBUTE by BERNIE LOVE & THE MEMPHIS THREE (aka Columbia's Favorite Playboys & Friend) - July 2nd at the Art Bar

JULY 2ND, 2022!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few words from Marty Fort, founder and director of the Columbia Arts Academy and longtime member of the Capital City Playboys, who encourages music lovers to mark their calendars for July 2nd.

“So everyone's excited for the new [Warner Brothers} ELVIS movie coming, out...But I want to HIGHLY encourage you to come to Art Bar on July 2nd to see Columbia's full blown and brand NEW Elvis Tribute set Bernie Love featuring the Capital City Playboys with Patrick Baxley bringing the heat as Elvis.” 

“[We’re] so excited to rock this set of Elvis tunes, many of which we performed at the Guest House at Graceland in April. So come out for this EARLY show 8:30 p.m. Who knows if we'll ever do it again?” 

Bernie Love will be followed by a rocking set by the Capital City Playboys as well as Jared Petteys and the Headliners. There may even be more surprises in store.

The Art Bar is located at 1211 Park Street in Columbia’s historic Congaree Vista.

Midlands Area Music Students Travel with Instructor Marty Fort to Perform at GRACELAND April 6th

Wednesday April 6th, 7 p.m. music students from the Columbia Arts Academy® rock the Guest House at GRACELAND in Memphis, TN.

Home of Elvis, there’s a full two days of music from schools all over the country performing rock, pop, classical music and more April 6th and 7th. They have a 450 seat gorgeous theater on the Graceland property and our students could not be more excited to perform. The Columbia Arts Academy® students will perform Wednesday April 6th 7:00 p.m. ET and a live stream is available at www.columbiaartsacademy.com. The students range in age from 7-18 and include piano, voice, guitar, drums students rocking out classic hits at the birth place of rock and roll. Following the students, the Capital City Playboys and the Columbia Arts Academy® teachers band who performed with Kirk Hammett of Metallica at the Columbia Museum of Art in 2020 perform a full two hour set.

Marty Fort

The Columbia Arts Academy® is dedicated to showcasing their students at the top venues around the country. They’re fresh off of their standing ovation last year at the Foster Theater at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The public is invited to tune in for the live stream and cheer on these upcoming artists as they play the big stage in Memphis.

Jasper reached out to Fort to get a bit more info on the upcoming adventure.

What made you choose Graceland as a destination for your students?

I’m a huge Elvis fan and a few years back they opened a new resort there the Guest House at Graceland. It has an amazing 450 seat theater (photo attached) and they allow student groups to perform. It’s the perfect venue and a part of history, so we’re all very excite about it.

What do you hope they'll take away from this experience?

The thing I didn’t expect, but I learned from the last road trip is that for many of them it’s a resume builder.

They are looking to get into college, have careers in entertainment, so for them, to perform at a venue of this caliber is huge. I would have given anything to have this kind of opportunity when I was there age. At that time in my life we were happy to just play a backyard party. But I do also have to say, Art Boerke was very good at letting high school bands play Rockafellas. My first show playing there was when I was 16

This is your second time taking your students on the road, right?

Yes, played Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foster Theater last year, got a standing ovation from a room largely of strangers from around the country.

Do you have a third setting in mind?

Getting ready to sign the contract and will be doing the big reveal after that. All I can say is, the venue and the city are literally one of the top 3 entertainment capitals, so that can narrow down anyone’s guess.

Special Friends Free Concert Series Comes to Bourbon's Courtyard Saturday Night with Cap City Playboys

Free Concerts from the Chillest Place to Sip on Main Street?

Yes, Please

Capital City Playboys featuring l-r Kevin Brewer, Jay Matheson, Marty Fort

In keeping with his perpetual support of the city, restauranteur and hockey beauty Kristian Niemi is giving yet another gift to Columbia in the form of a free concert series in the swanky, yet comfy, courtyard of one of his prize restaurants and bar, Bourbon.

Located at 1214 Main Street, Bourbon is a whiskey bar with a menu that focuses on Cajun and Creole delights. Over the course of the pandemic, the intimate drinking restaurant expanded into its larger neighboring space, creating an adjacent bar and lounge with a partially covered multi-level courtyard, perfect for the city’s beloved shoulder seasons when breezes beckon us to sit outside and sip on something artisanal and, often, locally designed and created.

Last week, Brandy and the Butcher gathered a crowd and, this week, the Capital City Playboys will be performing one set only starting at 9 pm.

Kristian Niemi - photo by Richard Best

“I’ve always tried to support local arts, whether musical or in any of the other disciplines, so this was just a natural progression,” Niemi says. “We’ve been doing live music at Black Rooster all year; it was time to do it at Bourbon, also. This series should honestly be called ‘Kristian’s Friends’ Bands’ series since nearly every band has members that are close friends of mine, and I love to see them perform. I chose bands that are all very upbeat, rocking bands for this series. We’ll do more with other genres in the future, but this first series is definitely rocking.” 

The series, sponsored by Jack Daniels distillery, runs through November 13th, and will include, among other Midlands-based groups, Glamcocks, Grand Republic, and will close out the series with Niemi’s self-claimed “best friend” and band, Tom Hall and the Plowboys. Niemi says that while he’ll start up a new concert series in the spring, he will continue to have live music on the patio, but it just won’t be concerts, per se. 

“I want it to be a concert, not background music,” Niemi says. “I really want the crowd to get into it; to get in front of the stage and dance and sing along. I really want a concert vibe. These artists have spent a lot of time writing original material and I want it appreciated as a concert.” 

Jay Matheson of the Capital City Playboys is excited about their show on Saturday night. “I know Kristian loves music and I’ll bet he would like to do more things like this just to be able to hang out himself and enjoy the show with friends,” Matheson says. “It’s a great space for a music show and the first one last week with Brandy and the Butcher was a really good time. Best fun I’ve had at a show in a while.”

“Jack Daniels distillery has signed on as our sponsor for this series, and as a part of that are giving away some cool stuff. In addition to us creating some special cocktails for the bands, Jack Daniels is giving away some swag and some bigger prizes that we’ll announce at the end of the series” Niemi says.  “They’ll include bottles of their Single Barrel selections, some high-end swag, and even an exclusive VIP tour of the distillery followed by dinner.” 

Columbia Representing at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame with Capital City Playboys, Hot Lava Monster & Students of the Columbia Arts Academy

When Marty Fort does something, he does it big and he does it right., as evidenced by the more than 1700 families who have enrolled their students in the Columbia Arts Academy, Fort’s multi-instrument arts education facility founded in 2003.

This weekend, Fort is doing what seems to come naturally to the artist/entrepreneur. He, his school, and a couple of his favorite SC bands are taking over the Foster Theatre at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. And while the most obvious audience of fans, friends, and family may not all be able to be there to cheer them on, (it should be noted that Jasper Project board president Wade Sellers will be on site, in a working capacity, of course), the rest of us can still watch the performance via a live stream either at home or a one of Fort’s three music schools in Columbia, Irmo, or Lexington where live stream parties will be held.

Shane Manning

Fort is super proud of his students, including one young man, 17-year-old guitarist Shane Manning, son of Shannon and Shawn Manning, who Fort identifies as “an amazing player” who is “on his way to great things if he keeps it up.” There are a total of eight kids taking this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with Fort and they will be performing with their instructors as well as each other.

Hot Lava Monster

In addition to the kids, Fort is taking along favorite local bands Hot Lava Monster—Patrick Baxley, Wes Pellerin, Jon Hawkins, Mike Schaming—and Capital City Playboys, with whom he plays himself, and they will also be performing

Capital City Playboys -

Capital City Playboys, whose membership also includes Kevin Brewer and Jay Matheson, recently opened for Cowboy Mouth at the Main Course on Main Street in Columbia and will be performing at the Art Bar on Saturday August 14th along with Greenville’s Silver Tongue Devils and Deaf Web’s Blues Intrusion.

Saturday August 7th

11am - 4pm

https://www.columbiaartsacademy.com/

Show Alert: Capital City Playboys CD Release This Saturday, September 26th at Art Bar

On Saturday, September 26, local lounge-rock trio the Capital City Playboys will release their first full-length LP, Bad Bad Man. The album’s lead single and title track is a kinetic burst of ominous, surf and blues-influenced rock and roll based around clean guitar lines and tight, unflashy rhythms. With guitarist Mary Fort’s deep-bellied croon leading the charge, one is almost reminded of Glenn Danzig and his early work with fuzzy doom-punkers the Misfits. The unrelenting gloom in his voice makes for an interesting contrast with the waves you can almost hear crashing somewhere in the background. This song belongs over the opening credits of a Tarantino flick. Don’t believe me? Just listen here. -Music Editor Michael Spawn

Garage/Rockabilly Band Capital City Playboys Are Throwing a Party This Saturday!

By: Casey White, Jasper Intern

The Capital City Playboys have been around since 2009, but its members have been playing in bands around Columbia for a number of years previously.  Marty Fort (guitar and vocals), Jay Matheson (bass and vocals), and Kevin Brewer (drums and vocals) are veterans of the Columbia music scene, and with CCP they hope not only to bring new music to the capital city, but also some of that classic rockabilly vibe . The group will be bringing their classic rock and roll party energy to the Art Bar this Saturday night, along with Buck Stanley, Dixie Dynamite, and Beach Day.

Although the band formed in Columbia, Brewer has since moved to Georgia, due to his obligations to the U.S. Army. Brewer joined in 2004, becoming an official Army musician in 2006. Although serving has forced him to relocate, he says that being an Army musician is the greatest day job he’s ever had.

“Keeping CCP going does take a lot of work and, for me, a bunch of driving,” Brewer says. Although it takes a great deal of effort, and is a 308-mile trip each way, Brewer knows that playing shows with Fort and Matheson is the thing he loves to do most.

Although he doesn’t mind driving to play shows with his band mates, Brewer says that the distance does making writing new material more difficult. The group sends ideas for songs to each other when they get them, fleshing them out when the band can get together, i.e.  when they all have the time. It is often difficult to find that time, because they all stay busy with their respective careers - Brewer in the military, Fort working for the Columbia Arts Academy, and Matheson working at the Jam Room.

Despite the distance, the Capital City Playboys plan to host a show that the people of Columbia will remember.  Brewer also sees the performance as a reunion with the friends and family he had to leave when he moved to Georgia.

“I'm really excited about the show Saturday,” said Brewer. “Not only will it be an epic line-up, but for my wife Gina and I, it will be a bit of a family reunion. Many of our closest friends will be under the same roof for the night. You can expect a stellar performance from every band.”

Buck Stanley is a band fronted by another veteran of the Columbia music scene, Stan Gardner, and features CCP bassist Jay Matheson as well.  The group plays what they describe as stripped down Americana, with pedal steel and fiddle players laying down healthy doses of twang-filled licks. Female-fronted Beach Day (hailing from Hollywood, Florida) will be performing their own compelling mixture of surf and garage rock, while Columbia’s Dixie Dynamite will be starting the night off with some old school country sounds.

The four acts make for a great bill, and promise a fabulous night of great music. Come on out to the Art Bar this Saturday, July 28^th, and experience it!