Opelika Daily News

Opelika Had a Busy Saturday Night

Editor — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:24:07 +0000

With the first ever BBQ & Brewfest at the Event Center Downtown, and the Friends and Family opening of the Irish Bred Pub and live music at Eighth and Rail. Railroad Avenue looked like South College on Game Day. I know there were some good pictures for all, and when someone post some, I’ll bring them over here too.

From Irish Bred Pub Today on Facebook: Official Opening Tomorrow – Monday August 30th — Come for Lunch, Dinner or Late night (Texas Hold ‘em starts!!) Limited Menu (to get all the chinks out) for two weeks –There will be Specials of Rick’s Delicious Food each day..We welcome ALL — Families, Business people, Young/old — For a True Pub provides something for Everyone– A local gathering place for Good Food, Good Times, Sports, Entertainment…

I would add something about the beer. Twelve Beers on Tap. There’s a house beer that changes out, and last night it had Natural Light. Guinness was at the other end of the flavor line. With the exception of Sid’s 8th Street Cafe, these could also be the best prices in the area. My Sam Oktoberfest was just $2.78 if I remember it right.

Event Center Downtown Presents BBQ & Brewfest

Editor — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:35:05 +0000

Saturday from 4p-1A, the Event Center Downtown will rock with 5 bands on 2 stages, plus 30 beers from around the globe, oh yea, and some BBQ. The sampling of beer is from 6p-9p. Bands playing include; The Good Doctor, Cedar Hill, Cheaper Than Theraphy, The Packway Handle Band and Glow. The beer is from Fine Wine and Beer by Gus. Tickets are $25 and you can call 334-705-5466 for more information.

Randall Bramblett Friday Night at Sundilla

Editor — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:21:13 +0000

Ever since the day I walked– OK, was dragged– into Mrs. Rangely’s four-year-old kindergarten class, I have struggled to find reasons to be happy that summer has ended. I’m still never happy that summer is ending, but for the past several years I can at least be glad that Sundilla is getting re-started after a summer hiatus. This year is no exception, and we are getting re-started with a bang: Randall Bramblett will be performing this Friday, August 27. Showtime is 7:30 (but you’ll want to be there early; more on that in a minute) and admission is still just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, and as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer.

While Randall Bramblett might not be a household name, he is legendary within music circles for his songwriting and musicianship. He released a pair of acclaimed solo albums in the mid-’70s, then joined the jazz-rock outfit Sea Level, becoming their principal songwriter and vocalist. From there, Bramblett embarked on a path as a big-league, musical utility man (primarily sax and keys) and landed on the speed dial of some of the greatest names in rock history, including Traffic, Steve Winwood, Levon Helm and Bonnie Raitt.

Bramblett “grew up playing soul music” in Jesup, Georgia. His hero was James Brown, but he also had a lot of Ray Charles and some jazz influences. Growing up in Southeast Georgia, nature loomed large in his life, particularly the swamps around the Altamaha River. To Bramblett, the swamps represented something mystical, filling him with wonder and awe, while fueling his interest in his own spirituality.

After high school, Bramblett studied religion and psychology at the University of North Carolina, and for most of his time there, he planned to attend a seminary upon graduation. But by his senior year, inspired by the likes of James Taylor and Carole King, he began to try his hand at songwriting. The results were good enough for him to abandon his seminary plans after graduation and move to Athens to further pursue music.

Another major influence on Bramblett’s songwriting was Bob Dylan and he attributes rock’s poet laureate with opening a new lyrical path for him. “I think he freed songwriters from feeling obliged to make strict literal sense. He expanded the boundaries of popular songs and that probably gave me permission to explore that, too.”

Two of the songs on Randall’s latest CD, “Some Mean God” and “Where A Life Goes,” deal with absences and losses, while some of Bramblett’s compositions are peopled by characters who would seem right at home in a Southern gothic novel. The best example of this is “Mess About It,” in which “People down in Mobile / Live in a silver box / They make trouble everywhere they go / They got history you don’t want to know.” But the past-their-prime people in “Used To Rule The World,” like “Miss South Carolina 1975 / Somebody stole your crown),” possess similar tragicomic qualities. And when he sings about these various people in his soulful, raspy voice, the listener is transported to another time and place, much as a reader is transported while reading a Faulkner novel.

“The songs on this record come out of a very rich time in my life,” Bramblett says. “We’ve had losses, we’ve had births. My home is in a beautiful place in nature. I look out and I feel grateful and amazed and inspired and sad and joyful all at the same time.”

Chuck Leavell, who has played with The Rolling Stones and The Allman Brothers, says “Randall is in my opinion the most gifted & talented southern singer-songwriter musicians of the past several decades.” When you think of some of the southern singer-songwriters who have found fame in that time period– some of whom have found their way to Sundilla– you realize that this is high praise indeed.

To get a preview of the concert, go to www.offbeatauburn.com and listen to Kelly Walker’s interview with Randall. Then on Friday, head over to www.wildmansteve.com and listen to Randall play a song or four in the Wildman Steve studio. And the head over to the AUUF that evening, and get ready for what promises to be a concert to remember. Showtime is 7:30, BUT… you’re going to want to get there early. Not only are we expecting a great crowd, we are also having an opening act! Bree Windham will take the stage around 7:15, and while you’ll still be able to mill about, sample the food and meet and greet, you’ll want to give Bree a listen. She has played around town a few times, and the reception has always been fantastic; this time should be no exception.

So… we’ve got Randall Bramblett on Friday, August 27; Bree Windham will be opening and taking the stage around 7:15. Admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, though as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer. Go to www.OffBeatAuburn.com to hear an interview with Randall, go to www.WildmanSteve.com on Friday to hear Randall LIVE in the studio, and go to www.sundilla.org for any additional information.

From our friend Bailey Jones in Auburn… Ever since the day I walked– OK, was dragged– into Mrs. Rangely’s four-year-old kindergarten class, I have struggled to find reasons to be happy that summer has ended. I’m still never happy that summer is ending, but for the past several years I can at least be glad that Sundilla is getting re-started after a summer hiatus. This year is no exception, and we are getting re-started with a bang: Randall Bramblett will be performing this Friday, August 27. Showtime is 7:30 (but you’ll want to be there early; more on that in a minute) and admission is still just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, and as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer.

Easy Win for David Canon

Editor — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:21:54 +0000

Opelika’s election to replace Dr. William Lazenby, who died in a recent accident at his home, was an easy win for longtime Oplelika businessman David Canon. Canon’s 439 votes was enough to carry 65.3% of the voters that turned out for the city election. Tank McCollum grabbed 2nd place with 193 votes (28.9%) and also-ran grabbed 40 votes (6%). The election was for the Ward Five position.(Source: City of Opelika Website)

Sunday Night Thoughts…

Editor — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:33:23 +0000

It’s a bit cooler this evening. Out sitting on the tailgate of the Sierra listening to lots of trains running thru the city. It’s a Big Train Night for sure. Good sign for the economy. Of course, the traffic isn’t like sitting at Casey’s on Dundee in Toronto. Not a lot of cars on South 8th. It did remind me, that I did ride the Rocket last Monday Night. No, not the RockyBrook Rocket, but the street cars in Toronto. Yep, they are know as the Red Rocket. I also learned some of the shortcomings of street cars. On the way to dinner, and the car stopped and we were told the car was doing a “Short Turn”, so it’s off the 504 and to another one just ahead. I’ve not mastered the streetcars yet, but will.

Lot’s going on this week, and just two weeks to Labor Day Weekend. Is summer really over? Dang it!

Recycling Drop-off Center at Miles Thomas Field Moved

Editor — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:28:38 +0000

The City of Opelika has moved the recycling drop-off center at Miles Thomas Field over to the Denson Drive Recreation Center (now called the Denson Drive Community Center), located at 1102 Denson Drive. A trailer with multiple compartments will be used to collect items, instead of the “igloos” used at the Miles Thomas fields. The same materials will be collected: glass, cardboard, newspaper, steel cans, aluminum cans and plastic containers.

The City of Opelika requests that plastic bags not be placed in the plastic containers bins. Unfortunately, plastic bags are not the type of “recyclable plastic” the city can send off with the other plastic products. They can, however, be returned to Kroger, Winn Dixie or Wal-Mart shopping centers, which all have plastic bag “drop off” areas.

For more information on recycling call KEEP OPELIKA BEAUTIFUL offices at (334) 749-4970.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Editor — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:30:40 +0000

Glad Kenny is back in Auburn. Maybe he can teach me how to do some of the cool videos he does. (Source: kennysmith.org)

Yes is the Vote

Editor — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:22:33 +0000

Below are the numbers posting from each Ward into todays vote for what the city calls “Cable Competition” and others have called the Smart Grid. Note: The vote remains “unofficial” until ratified by the Opelika City Council.

Ward 1 - 211 Yes/54 No
Ward 2 - 236 Yes/86 No
Ward 3 - 368 Yes/333 No
Ward 4 - 443 Yes/228 No
Ward 5 - 492 Yes/368 No
Absentee – 14 Yes/7 No

Numbers represent: 62% voters voted YES and 18% registered voters went to the polls. (Thanks to WANI for the results posted here.)