Starry Nights Music + Arts Festival: Bowling Green, Ky., Sept. 28 & 29

BOWLING GREEN, KY. _ Indie Rock invades Southcenteral Kentucky again!  And all eyes in the rock world will be on us! The 2012 Starry Nights Music + Arts Festival http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-as4PLTgHDY will be happening at Ballance Farms on U.S. 31-W several miles outside of Bowling Green, Sept. 28 & 29.  I was able to attend two years ago when it was out on Morgantown Road, northwest of Bowling Green to see indie rock bands Sleeper Agent and Cage The Elephant perform because a friend gave me a press pass from a local political party at the last minute.  Actually, I went to see my son, Tony Smith perform, who is a member of Sleeper Agent. But was I really impressed too when I saw Cage The Elephant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX5OOJ-IdfE&feature=relmfu perform for the first time.

 "This hometown music festival is Cage The Elephant's baby and they will curate Starry Nights again this year. CTE band members which include brothers Matt and Brad Shultz, Lincoln Paris, Daniel Tichenor and Jared Champion, are known to give back to the Bowling Green music scene by curating Starry Nights and helping other local bands get their start in the industry." 

     I had a chance to talk with Bryan Graves, founder of the music festival about a week ago and he said tickets sales are going great and they have festival goers from 32 states so far who plan to attend and as far as away as Australia.  This hometown music festival is Cage The Elephant's baby and they will curate Starry Nights again this year. CTE band members which include brothers Matt and Brad Shultz, Lincoln Paris, Daniel Tichenor and Jared Champion, are known to give back to the Bowling Green music scene by curating Starry Nights and helping other local bands get their start in the industry.  They are responsible for helping Bowling Green's Sleeper Agent get their first recording contract and are currently helping other bands with the same process too.
    However, 15 local band who are not currently on the line-up, have a chance to be voted on by fans to perform at Starry Nights this year.  Starry Nights officials have held five slots for Bowling Green's favorite local acts, but the final decision is up to the fans.  Go to the Starry Night'ss web-site to vote and fans can vote up to five times per band.  Voting will close on Friday, Sept. 7th at 11:59 p.m. CST.  Here's a list of local bands that you can vote for: Billy Swayze, The Black Shades, Buffalo Rodeo, Canago, DroBot, Fair-Weather Kings, Heavy Chase, The Japanese School Girls,  Mahtulu, Opossum Holler, Patson, Rainbow Kitty Kitty, Schools, The Sex Bombs and Technology vs. Horse.
And here is the line-up of the of international and nationally known bands that are already scheduled to perform during  the two day event:  Cage The Elephant (of course!), Sleeper Agent, Portugal The Man, Manchester Orchestra, Mimosa, Justin Townes Earle, The Whigs, Moon Taxi, Jeff  The Bortherhood, Margot and The Nuclear So and So's, Morning Teleportation, Wild Belle, Space Capone, Pujol, The Kingston Springs, Five Knives, Bad Cop and more.  Ticket are $45 and camping is included.

For more information, go to their web-site at http://www.starrynightsfestival.com/

    

U.S. Rep., Paul Ryan, R-Wis., A Good Pick For Vice President

"I think the Republicans learned a good lesson from four years ago. When you pick a running mate for VP make sure that he is well read and knows what the hell he is talking about. Paul Ryan is that. Bring on the liberal media."-Galen A. Smith Sr.

Chick-Fil-A, The Gay/Lesbian Movement And The Freedom Of Speech

As a former journalist, I went to our local Chick-Fil-A today with my wife out of curiosity to witness the spectacle (Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day in Bowling Green, Ky., where thousands flocked to.) Although, I am married to a woman (Patty) and have been for 26 years, I believe if two human beings two men, two women or a man and a woman) are in love with each other and even committed to each other, more power to them. I do strongly believe, however, in the freedom of speech in America and everybody has a right to voice their opinion whether it be the CEO of Chick-Fil-A or the Gay/Lesbian movement. I have voice my opinion several times in the Bowling Green community on several issues by writing letters to our local newspaper and I have been criticized by people that I know to my face for my views. One of those views that I was heavily criticized for was my negative opinion about our largest and most powerful hospital in town regarding their collections practices. Also, because they are one of the largest employers in town, I felt that I touched a very sore and touchy nerve after the fact with the community especially with those who have been sued by the hospital and those have even had their homes taken away by them with liens. In spite of all of the criticism, I had some praise from people I know too for my letters. However, I did learn through that experience of writing those letters, if you stick your neck out on a limb, you better be willing to take the heat and what's coming your way because it may not be too pleasant when you receive it. Especially, when you ruffle a lot of feathers.

The Mass Shooting and Killings In Aurora, Colo.: Fear And Darkness At The Movie Theater

     

I think for moviegoers here in the US and worldwide, the mass shooting and killings at the movie theater in Aurora, Colo., was the unthinkable.

There should be a federal law that applies to all states that requires a very specific background check for any current or past history of mental illness through medical records or an unstable past including all misdemeanors as well as felonies, of course, for anyone who tries to purchase a firearm or weapon i.e. such as the shooter and killer of this God awful and terrrible tragedy-James Eagan Holmes. That's the only way to prevent guns BEING SOLD to crazy people or potentially crazy people who about to possibly go off the deep end. Criminals and thugs in gangs in the streets will get guns off the black market regardless and that's hard to control. Other than that, there are better ways to prevent people from buying guns who shouldn't have them. Guns don't go on shooting sprees by themselves and randomly kill people. It's the crazy ass fools who are stupidly insane who kill people with guns. Guns are not crazy. People are crazy.

Nevertheless, for millions of people, going to the movie theater was their last great hope to escape the reality of a boring daily grind of life and stresses of job, family and finances. There was always a sense of adventure and excitement when you went to the movies. Now that sense of fear and darkness will creep around the shoulders of moviegoers until it one day fades away.

R.I.P. Andy Griffith, 1926-2012

"In regards to Actor Andy Griffith's death today, I think most of us baby boomers who grew up in the 50's and 60's watching his television sitcom still long in our hearts and minds and would like to think that a "Mayberry" still exits somewhere in America.  But in reality we know that it does not these days.  But at least we have the re-runs from "The Andy Griffith Show"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7_cac6gqAU to escape reality for 30 minutes at time."-Galen A. Smith Sr.

"On The Cover Of Rolling Stone!" It Just Might Be Alex Kandell Of Sleeper Agent Next

     I am signed up for Google Alerts and I received one the other morning on my cell phone about Sleeper Agent and Rolling Stone magazine.  I had just woke up and I hadn't brewed or drank any coffee yet.  However, I put on my bathrobe and then proceeded to put my eye glasses on as I thumb through my e-mails until I found it again gingerly holding my cellphone.  And then all of sudden I was like totally surprised and amazed that Alex Kandell of  Bowling Green, Ky.'s indie rock group, "Sleeper Agent" was picked to be one of six women rock (or rap?) singers to be in Rolling Stone's "Women Who Rock" series contest! I asked Tony about it and he was like, "Well, yeah dad, me and Alex told you and mom about it several weeks ago.  Don't you remember?"
       Since I am 50 years-old and I don't quite remember everything that is told to me in passing by Tony, Alex or Patty, I have to blame it on too much partying in my younger days. Lol!  That's my only explanation at the moment regarding my loss of memory.  However, if you want to vote for Alex and Sleeper Agent, all you have to do is go to the link http://www.rollingstone.com/womenwhorock/embed/sleeper-agent and vote for Alex Kandell of Sleeper Agent.  It would be much appreciated by the band-Alex, Tony, Justin, Lee, Scott and Josh and all of rock music lovers of Bowling Green, Ky!

Bowling Green, Ky.'s Hot Spots: Lost River Cave, Molly Shannon's Irish Pub and Lost River Pizza Co.

    I had to work Saturday morning like most weekends.  However, I did have something to look forward yesterday afternoon when I arrived home.
  One of our new friends who is a Sleeper Agent fan drove down from Lexington, Ky., to go see the movie, "What To Expect When Expecting" starring Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez, with Patty and I.  We have been wanting to see it ever since it came out in May.  Of course, we mainly wanted to see the part where they used a portion of Sleeper Agent's song, "Get It Daddy," in it.  It was a nice little chuck of change for the band and it all goes into the pot.  Seems like they will probably get more nice little gigs like in this future if all goes well.  Apparently, Sleeper Agent continues to be on the up and up which is awesome!  We are really proud of the band as you can probably tell!
   However, before we went to the movie, we decided to show our out of town guest some unique spots in Bowling Green.  First of all, we were all hungry so went to headed on over to Molly Shannon's Irish Pub (formerly Greener Groundz)http://greenergroundz.com/ on Broadway Avenue.  I used to go there all the time when it was a bagel and coffee shop but this was first time I had been there in several years.  I liked the atmosphere and the food and drink was good but I thought menu prices were a little too high.
     After lunch, we headed over to Lost River Cavehttp://lostrivercave.com/ on Nashville Road.  We didn't have time to take a guided boat tour but were able to go visit the gift shop.  The gift shop is really nice and they have a lot of neat stuff in there. I kept thinking about the early 90's when the organizers of  "The Friends Of Lost River Cave and Valley" were getting things going and raising funds to get the cave up and running as a tourist attraction.  Needless to say, I was really impressed on how far they have come after all these years.  It seems very successful!  My favorite part of the gift show was when I was standing in awe looking up at the flat television screen on the wall and watching this incredible, informative video that they made about the cave.  Also, I enjoyed looking at all the black and white photos of  some of the history of the cave that they had on display.  I thought to myself, "Wow, we are so lucky to have this jewel of a treasure in our on backyard! Also, that we (Bowling Green) are able to share it with the world by luring people of I-65 with the roadside billboard signs outside of Nashville and other places along the infamous interstate." (infamous for all the deaths from wrecks that occur on I-65 especially lately).
   Then we headed on over to see the movie at The Great Escape Greenwood 10http://www.greatescapetheatres.com/ near the Greenwood Mall on Scottsville Road and Campbell Lane.  I liked the movie somewhat.  It was funny at times.  But again, we really enjoyed seeing the part where they used Sleeper Agent's song in it.  It was very exciting to see and especially seeing the credits at the end of the movie on the big screen with the band's name and my son's name up there among the other band members names (Galen A Smith Sr.).
   After the movie, when headed on over to Lost River Pizza Co.http://www.lostriverpizza.com/ on Nashville Road for dinner.  Patty and I have been there several times along with Tony (Galen Jr.) and Alex from Sleeper Agent.  We really like the place because it has a nice family atmosphere and well as a blended mixed crowd.  You have people who go there for the pizza and you people who go there the craft draft beers.  They have a lot of variety of beers to choose from.  The pizza and salads are really good too.  But again, it's a little pricey in my opinion.

   If you want to show to your out of  town some of Bowling Green's hot spots, there's quite a few places to choose from for sure.  And we did not even scrape the tip of the iceberg!