LEO Weekly, March 27, 2026

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief - Caleb Stultz

CREATIVE SERVICES

Creative Director - Haimanti Germain

Graphic Designer - Aspen Smit

DIRECTOR OF

Marsha Blacker

MULTIMEDIA

Bryan Kennison

Abigail Feldkamp

Laurie

STATE OFFICIALS CONSIDER REDUCING SECOND STREET BRIDGE TO… THREE LANES

BY CALEB STULTZ

Proposed redesign would widen lanes and address structural repairs on the nearly 100-year-old Clark Memorial Bridge.

Transportation officials are studying a significant redesign for the Clark Memorial Bridge that could permanently reduce traffic lanes down from four lanes to three lanes while widening space for vehicles.

In a shocking proposal, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) state that the project would repair steel components and improve safety on the nearly century-old span linking downtown Louisville

with Jeffersonville.

One concept under consideration would reduce the bridge’s four lanes to three: one southbound lane into Louisville and two northbound lanes heading into southern Indiana. According to officials, the redesign would enable lanes to be widened from approximately 9.5 feet to approximately 11 feet, providing drivers with additional space and possibly lowering collision rates.

As is typical of infrastructure constructed almost a century ago, the bridge does not currently have shoulders or emergency

lanes. Despite the fewer lanes, transportation officials say the wider lanes could help enhance traffic flow and safety.

The proposed work is expected to address steel deterioration discovered during inspections and could help restore the bridge’s normal weight-carrying capacity after recent restrictions were placed on heavier vehicles.

The bridge has seen an increase in traffic in recent years. Nearly 35,000 cars crossed the span every day in 2024, according to state data, a significant increase over traffic

counts from the early pandemic years. Additionally, more drivers are using the tollfree crossing rather than the nearby tolled bridges, according to officials, which has led to an increase in crashes.

The redesign, if carried out, would be a part of an estimated $8 million project; however, according to transportation officials, specifics, including a construction schedule, are still being worked out.

THE DINING ROOM AT MURRAY’S CREOLE PUB SETS APRIL OPENING

Chef Lawrence Weeks will debut an intimate upstairs tasting-menu concept above Murray’s Creole Pub this April.

BY CALEB STULTZ

Louisville’s dining scene is about to gain a new high-end culinary destination.

On April 9, 2026, the Dining Room at Murray’s Creole Pub will officially open to the public. It will be an intimate tasting menu experience above the well-known Highlands restaurant. The new idea will provide a more refined, chef-driven experience that is different from the lively pub atmosphere on the first floor.

The upstairs space at Murray’s Creole Pub will focus on seasonal, multi-course tasting menus that tell stories through food and are heavily influenced by Chef and Owner Lawrence Weeks’s Creole heritage.

The Dining Room will have a limited number of seats and serve a set menu of dishes, unlike the à la carte menu served in the Bayou Bar area of the restaurant.

“This space honors not only my family’s story but everyone from the South that has been told that our stories don’t matter, or we don’t have a valid food scene,” Weeks said to WLKY in a previous interview. “Creole culture lives beyond the restaurant and my vision brings the entire story to the plate.”

Weeks, a James Beard Award semifinalist known for his work with restaurants like North of Bourbon and Enso, designed

Murray’s Creole Pub as a way to show off his cooking and honor his family. The restaurant is named after his grandfathers, Lawrence Xavier Murray and Lawrence Ignatius Murray, who were both from Saint Landry Parish, Louisiana.

The restaurant has two floors and mixes different cultures. The first floor is like a relaxed pub, with flavors from New Orleans. The upstairs Dining Room, on the other hand, will focus more on French Creole food through its reservation-only tasting menu format.

Weeks is known for its focus on careful craftsmanship, and almost everything in the restaurant is made there.

“We do everything the hard way,” Weeks said previously. “And it’s because I believe that this gives you the best products, the most

nutrition, and you have to put love into it. I think people can taste it.”

The Dining Room’s menu will evolve regularly to reflect seasonal availability and encourage repeat visits. Its opening also marks a milestone for Louisville’s growing culinary scene, helping fill a niche for a dedicated tasting-menu restaurant.

Reservations will open March 17, 2026, and will be available through the Resy platform. More information can be found at the restaurant’s website or by following @ murrayscreolepub on social media.

Creole

WHY A LOUISVILLE CITY FC GAME IS FOR EVERY LOUISVILLIAN

BY ABIGAIL FELDKAMP

Kicking off their 11th season on Saturday, March 14th, Louisville City FC held its first home game of the year. Find out why you should definitely attend a game this season, even if you’re not that into sports.

First off, the vibes at Lynn Family Stadium are immaculate. With a view of downtown and spectacular sunsets, the stadium is fun just to simply hang out in. Not to mention, there’s an incredible Happy Hour before the game even starts. Beers are $3 for the first 60 minutes the gates are open.

In the Fan Zone, you’ll find inflatables, face painting, sponsor activations and more. There’s also a wide selection of food stands serving eats from some of your local favorites, such as Gustavo’s Mexican Grill and Parlour Pizza.

All the things mentioned above are great, but what truly makes the Lou City games are the fans. Upon entering the stadium, you can clearly see how much love the crowd has for the team. The energy is infectious and will get you hyped up by just being near it. Typically divided by UK or UofL, it is refreshing and fun to see the city gathered as one.

The club recently announced its new mascot, Sting the Bee, named in honor of legendary Louisvillian Muhammad Ali. He made his first stadium appearance at the opener, adding even more to the excitement of this new season. Lou City FC truly feels like a love letter to the city of Louisville. Not only is it fun to cheer on a team with your community, entering and exiting the stadium is as stress-free as it can get. The parking lots are very close to the entrance compared to other sports venues, and the traffic in and out isn’t too bad either. The

stadium is also centrally located, making it easy to continue the party to a nearby bar or restaurant.

Lou City is projected to be a top-tier title contender this season, so now is the perfect time to join the hype and to show off your Louisville love!

Fans crowd the stands during Lou City’s home opener. March 14, 2026. Players take the field on their home opener. March 14, 2026. Caleb Stultz

EAT, DRINK AND SEE IN THIS WEEK’S STAFF PICKS

BY CITY BEAT STAFF

TUESDAY, MARCH 17

Old Louisville Ghost Tour in America’s Most Haunted Neighborhood Corner of S. Fourth Street & W. Ormsby Avenue | All ages | $22+

Explore Old Louisville, one of America’s most haunted neighborhoods, on this narrated ghost tour led by author David Dominé. Wander past impressive Victorian mansions while hearing tales of bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and the true-crime story behind A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City, the memoir that inspired the HBO series.

—Caleb Stultz

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Fillies Derby Ball

Omni Louisville Hotel | All ages | $350+

Step into elegance at the Fillies Derby Ball, kicking off the Derby Festival season with the theme A Royal Masquerade. Enjoy cocktails, a formal dinner, and live entertainment by The Juice Box Heroes, plus silent and live auctions.

—Caleb Stultz

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

Black Heritage in Racing Exhibit & Tour Kentucky Derby Museum | All ages | Ticket prices vary

Celebrate the remarkable contributions of African Americans to horse racing on the Black Heritage in Racing Tour. Learn about trailblazing jockeys like Simon and two-time Derby winner Jimmy Winkfield, explore the historic grounds of Churchill Downs, and finish in the Black Heritage in Racing Exhibit to see how African American trainers, owners, and jockeys continue to shape the sport today.

—Caleb Stultz

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

NuLu Bock Fest

600 & 700 Blocks of East Market Street | All ages | Free

Raise a glass at NuLu Bock Fest, Louisville’s largest bock beer festival, spanning four blocks of the NuLu neighborhood. Enjoy locally crafted bock beers, craft cocktails, live music, kids’ activities, and local vendors.

—Caleb Stultz

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

Louisville Arcade Expo 2026

Triple Crown Pavilion | All ages | $20+

Level up your weekend at the 15th Annual Louisville Arcade Expo, a three-day celebration of retro gaming and modern play. With hundreds of pinball and arcade machines— including classics like Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, and Street Fighter II—there’s something for every gamer.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

TurnAbout Fundraiser for Kentuckiana Pride

Play Louisville | 18+ | $20

This fundraiser for Kentuckiana Pride will spark joy, featuring Play Louisville staff, community, and board members getting in drag. With 100% of door sales and tips going to the foundation, you don’t want to miss this chance to have a good time for a great cause. Playmate Leah Halston will host the show.

— Abigail Feldkamp

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

The Somebody Society Coffee Meet Cute

Goldie’s | 18+ | Free

The Somebody Society is a social club aimed at women in their 20s and 30s looking to make new friends in their community. At the Coffee Meet Cute, phones are not allowed, and attendees are encouraged to pick up a paper or book and chat about what they’re reading. A great way to meet somebody new in a city that sometimes feels too small.

— Abigail Feldkamp

FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD

Doomscroll: A Group Art Show Opening Reception

Grady Goods ArtPunk Gallery | All ages | Free

This group show focuses on resistance, grief and resilience. The art will feature themes highlighting life under current politics and events and/or advocating for specific causes. The ArtPunk gallery features rotating art shows each month, with local artists at the forefront.

— Abigail Feldkamp

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

Robert Plant the Tour Louisville | All ages | Ticket Prices Vary

Legendary rocker Robert Plant hits the Louisville Palace stage. Known for his flamboyant personality and killer voice, Plant will rock it out all night long. He will feature songs from his days as the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, from his new album Saving Grace, and everything in between. An unforgettable night for all fans of rock.

— Abigail Feldkamp

FRIDAY, APRIL 3

Bourbon Beatdown Demolition Derby Freedom Hall | All ages | $61+

Get ready for Bourbon Beatdown 2026, a high-octane demolition derby featuring Old School cars, Street Stock vehicles, mini cars, lawn mowers, and youth divisions. Experience nonstop action, roaring engines, and headto-head showdowns in this adrenaline-filled motorsports event.

—Caleb Stultz

THURSDAY, APRIL 2

America: The Happy Trails Tour 2026

The Kentucky Center | All ages | Ticket prices vary

Hear the timeless harmonies of classic-rock legends America live on The Happy Trails Tour 2026 at The Kentucky Center. Known for hits like A Horse With No Name, the band has been delighting audiences since the 1970s with their signature sound and powerful performances.

—Caleb Stultz

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

B-Movies and Real Plant Science: The Thing from Another World! (1951)

Yew Dell Botanical Gardens | All ages | $20+

Combine classic cinema with hands-on horticulture at B-Movies and Real Plant Science. Watch the 1951 sci-fi film

The Thing from Another World! while learning from Yew Dell’s Horticulture Team about fascinating plants like “super carrots,” blood-drinking species, century plants, and more.

—Caleb Stultz

LISTEN LOCAL: NEW LOUISVILLE MUSIC

New releases by Feral Vices, Dewey Kincade & The Navigators, Producing a Kind Generation, Turner, and more!

BY JEFF POLK

LEO Weekly has Spotify playlists for each Listen Local column featuring selected tracks from each reviewed release. Search Spotify for LEO Weekly and have a listen!

Baptise

Demonstrations - EP

Baptise is one of those bands you can’t ignore. They just hit way too hard! Kind of like a runaway simi, get in the way and they’ll plow right over you. This is not a casual listening type of band - this is a grab a few beers, light one up, and lose yourself in the tunes kind of band. There is definitely a strong New Wave of British Heavy Metal influence here. Motorhead vibes for sure, but also some solid early Iron Maiden and Judas Priest as well. Mix in a little late 80s thrash and hardcore punk, and you’ve got yourself a good idea of where Baptise is coming from.

Three tracks here, all demo recordings, but all sound like they were studio recorded, as sound quality isn’t lacking at all. Everything comes through clear and HEAVY!

I have no idea who said this, but in a Facebook post from June of last year, the band posted a snippet of a conversation with someone who said, “Every song sounds like it came from an obscure, unlabeled cassette tape you’d find in your grandpa’s den with his music collection. Inside the case is a folded Polaroid of him on a bike with a bad bitch sitting on the back who is not your grandma.” I hope that person is reviewing music somewhere because that is a brilliant, perfect description of Baptise’s music!

baptise.bandcamp.com

BARCLAY’S Jur - album

I thought I had a handle on BARCLAY’S, (band name stylized in all caps), from repeatedly listening to their debut EP To a Candid World. Then they released Jur, and their sound, which was already quite diverse, has grown even more. They once listed their sound as “feverdreamcore,” and that’s pretty goddamn accurate.

The six members of the band all have a background in jazz, and it shows. There is a strong free jazz backbone to all five songs on this EP, but this is not what anyone would call a jazz band or album. BARCLAY’S combines jazz, post-hardcore, indie rock, shoegaze, electronica, synth pop, lounge, and even hip hop to create a sound that is absolutely unique and downright amazing.

Not only are they able to take all of these influences and tie them together, but they’re also able to do so while crafting massive, catchy as hell hooks that reel you in and stay with you long after the music has ended. It’s like they’ve taken the best pieces of The Beatles, Sun Ra, Jeff Buckley, Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, and God knows how many other great bands/artists and blended them all together. No, I’m not exaggerating.

BARCLAY’S are easily one of the most exciting bands in Louisville simply because you have no idea what the fuck they are going to do next. I’m not even sure they know until they do it. But the results are incredible!

linktr.ee/barrclayss

Feral Vices

“Playing God” - single Alt-rock/post-hardcore duo Feral Vices return with their most explosive track to date. If you weren’t paying attention to them before, you will now!

Taking a classic rock, Jimi Hendrix-style bluesy riff as the foundation of this track, Feral Vices masterfully crafts it into their own unique sound and pushes it to the edge, then proceed to completely kick it over when the chorus hits, which sees vocalist/guitarist Alexander Hoagland doing some powerful screams. In the process, they’ve brought a hardcore edginess to their sound that I’ve never heard from these guys before, and I am really digging it.

I’m sure this is due, at least in part, to their working with producer Dom Maduri (The Callous Daoboys, Silly Goose, Surfaced) and having the track mastered by Jon Markson (Drug Church, Drain, Koyo). While Feral Vices have always had a full sound that is much bigger than most two-piece bands, the production here really brings it to a whole new level, and they’ve never sounded better! Fans of Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Blood, and Refused should absolutely take note.

“Playing God” is the first of five singles from their upcoming album Human Error, which is set for release in late September. The band was gracious enough to let me hear the full album in advance, and I gotta say you all are in for a real treat when it drops! They’ve progressed their sound, but without changing it. It’s the Feral Vices you know and love, just better! 2026 is going to be a big year for this band, so get ready!

“Playing God” releases on Friday, March 27th. feralvices.com

HIRT

Digital Tapeworm - EP

There are a handful of bands that, if you played their music for a room full of people, then asked them about it, you’d get wildly different answers as to what style of music they think this is, and what bands/artists they remind them of. HIRT is definitely one of those bands.

HIRT, who’s band name is taken from the first letter of each member’s name - Harley Wiseman (guitar), Ian Bottomley (drums), Ryan Scott (bass), and Tony Minzenberger (vocals, guitar) - combines elements of grunge, stoner rock, prog rock, metal, punk, emo, classic rock, indie, and alt-rock for a completely unique sound that is really hard to describe, as I am finding out while trying to write this. It’s familiar, yet distinct. This is one of those bands where I feel like I would be doing a disservice to their sound if I started throwing band names out there that I’m hearing pieces of.

The great thing about HIRT is that they are able to pull off their sound without coming off as weird or awkward-sounding. It’s not a bunch of styles and genres thrown together just for the sake of doing it; these are actual well-written songs. Each of the three tunes on the Digital Tapeworm EP follows a groove and melody that not only makes it unique, but easy to listen to and catchy as hell!

Check out the really cool music video for the title track on YouTube, animated by Nathaniel Rosenbarger of Aby Laby Land.

hirttheband.com

Want to see your music reviewed in LEO Weekly? Louisville and Southern Indiana-based bands/artists, send a link to your music along with a band/artist bio, (lengthy bios are highly appreciated), a highresolution pic of the release’s cover art, and any additional information that may be helpful for the review to music@leoweekly.com.

Dewey Kincade & The Navigators

The Dark Ages - album

Dewey Kincade & The Navigators are one of Louisville’s best-kept secrets, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. This is world-class music that should be packing venues worldwide. But if we’re talking local, they should have a featured spot at Bourbon & Beyond, and they should be playing The Louisville Palace and Paristown Hall to sold-out crowds regularly. This is arguably one of the best bands in Louisville and it seems like they’re being overlooked.

Although he flirted with a successful music career while living in NYC, that never came to be due to a number of reasons, and Kincade ended up moving back to Louisville to raise a family. The 14 songs that make up The Dark Ages were written as Kincade struggled to find his place post-music career. Or as he states on his website, they are “A meditation on navigating the world after the death of a dream.” Sounds bleak, but Kincade sounds anything but on this record. While the lyrics here are very introspective, the majority of the music here is upbeat, even downright joyful at times.

Kincade and his band of top-notch Louisville musicians (seriously, there are some heavyweights of the local scene on here) explore the boundaries of roots rock like no others with forays into classic rock, Southern rock, blues, folk, country, bluegrass, and even funk - and do so convincingly. There are no filler songs here; each of these tunes needed to be written, recorded, and to have a place on this album. And Kincade explains each song in detail on his website blog, which is a must-read while listening to this album.

If you’re not already listening to this album right now, stop reading this already and go do so now!

deweykincade.com

Lilac Whine

“Sex Wurk,” “Anything You Want,” “L’Amour Est un Chien”- singles

Since Pissed On is on an indefinite hiatus, and In Utero appears to be broken up, vocalist/guitarist for both bands, Davin Jones, has started a new solo project - Lilac Whine - and has already released three singles since September 2025. I was sent “Sex Wurk” for review a few months back, but in that time, he has released two new singles: “Anything You Want” and “L’Amour Est un Chien,” both released on New Year’s Day 2026.

If you are expecting Lilac Whine to sound like Pissed On or In Utero…don’t. Not that Pissed On or In Utero sounded even remotely similar anyway. But Jones is a multifaceted songwriter, and apparently, his influences are all over the place. So it’s not surprising that Lilac Whine sees him going in a whole new direction: a mix of gothic rock and grunge, which is a genre I’m not sure exists outside of these three songs. Dark and melancholic, but with enough of a guitar crunch to really push it out of being categorized as goth. Sort of like if The Cure and Depeche Mode collaborated with Nirvana.

If it’s not already in the works, I’d love to see Jones put Lilac Whine together as a full band and start playing out, as I think this project would be embraced immediately by the local scene and certainly has the potential to grow even larger than that.

instagram.com/lilacwhine502

Loam

Our Haunts - album

Some albums just need to be experienced through headphones. Albums that are so immersive that once you put your headphones on or earbuds/AirPods in, they transport you into a world they create through soundscapes. Loam’s debut full-length Our Haunts is one of those albums.

Formed by husband and wife duo Dan and Devin Serke (Dan on guitar, Devin on vocals), who began writing songs together as far back as 2015, but it wasn’t until 2020 that they took on the moniker Loam and their sound began to take shape. By 2022, they formed the full band with Cadillac Young (Shitfire, The Foxery, solo artist) on drums and Dean Bryant (The Foxery) on bass. Melancholic, brooding, even a little haunting, but at the same time beautiful, peaceful, and full of life. Weaving together elements of shoegaze, dream pop, alternative, indie rock, and lo-fi, Loam’s sound is really all their own. If I had to compare it, I’d say it’s loosely along the lines of Slowdive and Smashing Pumpkins’ more subdued songs with a hint of Radiohead in there.

Although I picked “Golden Hour” as one of my favorite local tracks of 2025, my favorites tend to change every time I listen to this album. 10 songs and they are all excellent. This is an album that needs to be experienced from beginning to end, so set aside 40 minutes, find a comfy place, put your phone down, listen with no distractions, and immerse yourself in the peace of Loam’s soundscape. It’s a beautiful thing.

loam-ky.bandcamp.com

Brian Moody

Brian’s Brain - album

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I can be pretty biased when it comes to one-person bands. To me, there always seems to be at least one aspect lacking. It was with this mindset that I went into listening to Brian’s Brain, an album in which Louisville-based multi-instrumentalist Brian Moody not only took on all vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, and drum programming, but also wrote lyrics, composed the music, and recorded all songs himself, (though it was mixed and mastered by Theodor Borovski at Slaughtered Studio in Moscow, Russia). To be honest, though, I wasn’t expecting much when I pressed play.

But I was wrong. So. Very. Fucking. Wrong! What Moody has created is melodic, dark, atmospheric, and apocalyptic metal that defies categorization in any subgenre. Seriously, there are elements of prog, alt-metal, power metal, NWOBHM, thrash, groove, gothic, and even black metal. Imagine Ozzy’s later solo material, Mastodon, Gojira, Devin Townsend, In Flames, Amorphis, and Cynic all melded together. No, I’m not bullshitting you!

This is one of the very few albums I would call epic, but without being overbearingly so. These aren’t 15-minute-long guitar and/or keyboard solos trying to be passed off as songs. Instead, each track runs an average of about 4.5 minutes with solid melodies running throughout. These songs are incredibly well-crafted and executed, but at the same time approachable and catchy as fuck! Technical? Yes, but without beating you over the head with it. Brian’s Brain is comprised of nine powerful soundscapes that drag you in immediately and hold you there until the last note is played. Each song here is seemingly better than the one preceding it, ending with the absolutely crushing track “Madness Remains,” in which Moody’s vocals are a dead-ringer for Ozzy. Yes, really!

The album has recently picked up a lot of steam and is getting quite a bit of airplay and accolades worldwide, and for good reason. Simply put, Brian’s Brain is fucking astounding, and you need to hear it!

push.fm/fl/brians-brain-brian-moody

LEO Weekly has Spotify playlists for each Listen Local column featuring selected tracks from each reviewed release. Search Spotify for LEO Weekly and have a listen!

My Infatuation

“One Step Closer” and “Show and Tell (Frame of Mind)” - singles

The Derby to Derby connection! One is from the Derby city (Louisville). The other is from Derby, England (pronounced DAH-be). Even though an ocean separates them, the unlikely duo of multi-instrumentalists Todd Groemling (Louisville) and Giles Gerry (Derby, England) joined forces via the internet to combine their talents into a singular band - My Infatuation - and have already released five singles since February of 2025.

Their fourth single, “One Step Closer,” is an upbeat, pop-inspired love song that has an 80s synth pop vibe to it without actually being synth pop, if that makes sense. But to further complicate this description, it also has a modern alt-rock feel to it. I went down a Spotify rabbit hole trying to find bands/artists this reminds me of and ultimately came up with…nothing. And that’s a good thing because this is an original sound. A free-flowing romantic song that doesn’t resort to pandering to any specific audience. Their fifth and latest single, “Show and Tell (Frame of Mind),” grabs me as a mix of both “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone” by Duran Duran. Driven by a subdued funky bass line, “Show and Tell (Frame of Mind)” is a new wave-ish pop song that draws you in with its dark, mysterious, yet sexy undertones. Bottom line, My Infatuation is creating some very special music, and they need to be on your radar.

myinfatuation.bandcamp.com

Producing a Kind Generation Degentrification - album

Easily the most productive band in Louisville, Degentrification marks PAKG’s seventh fulllength release since 2019 (they’ve also released an EP and eight singles in that time as well). Here’s the thing, though, it’s all quality material. Seriously, anyone can churn out song after song with no thought behind it. But PAKG manages to pull off the seemingly impossible with track after track of well-written, expertly crafted, catchy songs. And all of this is in addition to the band members’ side projects. I don’t think these guys sleep.

The 10-song Degentrification sees the band sticking to their alt-rock roots, while at the same time expanding their sound with strong elements of classic rock, blues, soul, and funk. The easy comparison would be Red Hot Chili Peppers mixed with Gary Clark, Jr., and Lenny Kravitz. That’s at least in the ballpark as far as sound. But honestly, there is so much more going on here that they’ve really created their own unique thing.

Highlights include a newly re-recorded version of my favorite track of theirs, “Do Androids Dream?” Coming in a close second is the soulful “What’s Goin’ On? (YAM)” in which I am enamored by drummer Kym Williams’ inventive drum beat, which flows perfectly into the funky groove of “The Waves.” Other favorites are the slow burn of “Casualties (Of War)” and the heavy funk-based “About It.”

I don’t know that there has ever been a local band that fit together so perfectly. All three guys in the band feed off each other so well and flow together so ridiculously smoothly. If you’re not already a fan, Degentrification is a good place to start!

pakg.world

Scary Black / Virgin Birth

Split - single

A darkwave split EP by two of the bands doing it best here locally. One song from each band, and they are both amazing tracks.

Scary Black, the solo project from Albie Mason, contributes the track “Drunk Angel Sanctuary.”

Of the lyrics, Mason said in an Instagram post, “I reflect on my Christian upbringing as well as alcoholism, and how bars and churches relate in my head serving the same use.” The track is an uncompromisingly dark, heavy, guitar and keyboard driven soundscape that leaves you feeling a bit uneasy, as good darkwave music should. This reminds me of early Godflesh, but with Peter Steele from Type O Negative singing. It hits in all the right places.

Virgin Birth, the two-man project featuring Phillip Olympia and Jake Miller, contributes their track “State of the Art.” Regarding the lyrics, the band said, “It’s about how A.I. is quickly being accepted by society as the new norm, and how it’s destroying art.” Seeing as how they just released the full-length album

Total Annihilation last year, I was worried this would just be a leftover, throw-away track, but that is definitely not the case. This is a seriously strong tune that blends industrial, darkwave, and a touch of EDM for a sound that is truly original to Virgin Birth.

Available as a digital download, or the preferred way: as a 7” pressed on transparent cobalt blue vinyl, limited to 250 copies, and stock is running low according to Never Nervous, so don’t hesitate!

nevernervous.bandcamp.com

Turner Waterslide - album

It’s not surprising to see that Turner and BARCLAY’S share a few of the same band members. If I were to put together a list of local bands that I could see doing something in music on a major scale, both bands would definitely be at the top.

Turner’s debut album Waterslide is 10 songs of unrelentingly catchy modern rock that has enough throwback elements to appeal to anyone of any age.

Modern rock is a generic term to throw this under, so take that with a grain of salt, as there is far more going on here. Influences of indie rock, alt-rock, grunge, early 2000s emo, punk, and even hip hop, and a bit of folk are all present, but without being derivative of any genre. I’m basically plagiarizing myself here from my write-up of lead track “Jump In,” but Turner takes the best of the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and today and mashes them together for a ridiculously addictive sound. Don’t believe me? Listen to “Hooking Up” and see if you are ever able to get the chorus out of your head.

There is certainly something to be said about a band that can go from dark and brooding to upbeat and downright poppy without losing the listener’s attention or throwing the flow of the album off, but Turner pulls this off in spades. And frontman Jesse Klapheke’s lovelorn lyrics are not only easy to identify and empathize with, but are also interjected with enough tongue-incheek humorous moments to keep the listener attentive and involved in each song.

Bottom line - and I’m plagiarizing myself again here - but mark my words, Turner is a future legendary Louisville band!

linktr.ee/Turner.online

MAY 25 – AUGUST 5

Kentucky Science Center Summer Camps

727 W Main Street, Louisville, KY kysciencecenter.org/camps

Week-long science camps designed for Pre-K through 8th grade where kids explore STEM topics through hands-on experiments and creative projects. Camp themes rotate weekly and include topics such as Lab Coat Legends, Wild Wonders, Creation Celebration, Camp Characters, and Gadgets & Gizmos. Programs typically run from late May through early August with optional aftercare available.

JUNE 1 – JULY 24

The Louisville Ballet School Summer Classes

4121 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY louisvilleballetschool.org

MAY 25 – JULY 31

Whet Your Palette Summer Camp 1415 Evergreen Road, Louisville, KY whetyourpalette.com

Whet Your Palette Summer Camp offers creative art experiences for kids of all ages and skill levels. Campers explore painting, mixed media, sculpture, and imaginative projects across multiple themed sessions, including S.T.E.A.M. Makers, Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Amazing Animal Art, and Harry Potter. Sessions run in the mornings, afternoons, or all day, with flexible scheduling to fit each family.

The Louisville Ballet School offers summer dance programs for ages 3 months–18, including camps, weekly classes and intensives. Young dancers can enjoy programs like Movement & Make Believe, Summer Dance Camp and Pre-School Dance Parties, while older students can train in Junior Intensives and master classes.

JUNE 1 – JULY 24

Made Stitch Company Sewing Camps

1860 Mellwood Avenue, Studio 281, Louisville, KY madestitch.co

Made Stitch Company offers week-long sewing camps for kids ages 7–13 of any skill level. Camps run June through July and follow a Kids’ Choice format, letting campers select projects in garments, quilting, bag making, pillows, stuffies, and applique. AM sessions run 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m., PM sessions 1–3:30 p.m., with the option to attend both sessions and stay for lunch.

JUNE 1 – JULY 17

Kicks Soccer Academy Summer Camps

450 Commercial Drive, Louisville, KY kickssocceracademy.com

Kicks Soccer Academy Summer Camps offer young players engaging, active soccer instruction in a secure and encouraging setting. Campers develop their confidence and teamwork while practicing dribbling, passing, shooting, and small-sided games. Sessions include a camp for grades K–8 from June 1–5 at Ballard High School and a camp for grades K–5 from July 13–17 in Anchorage. Both sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and conclude with a mini-tournament.

MAY 26 – JULY 31

Louisville Zoo Summer Camps 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville, KY louisvillezoo.org/metazoo/camps

The Louisville Zoo’s popular MetaZoo camps let kids explore wildlife conservation through hands-on activities, animal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences. Programs run for Pre-K through 6th grade with themes like Animal Helpers, Zooper Heroes, Junior Keeper Camp and Vet Camp. Camps typically run one week and include opportunities to explore the zoo and meet animal ambassadors.

JUNE 1 – JULY 24

KMAC Museum Summer Camps

715 West Main Street, Louisville, KY kmacmuseum.org

Young artists between the ages of 6 and 11 can experiment with sculpture, clay, and mixed media through hands-on projects inspired by working artists at KMAC Museum Summer Camps. Sculptacular: Sculpture and Clay Camp, Art Explorers: Mixed Media Camp, and Fantastical Worlds are among the weekly camps. Full-day and half-day camp options are available, and creative activities include everything from fiber arts and imaginative sculpture to clay building and printmaking.

JUNE 1 – JULY 31

Thrive Nature Camp –Morning Nature Camp

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, Louisville, KY

Ages 3–11 will explore forest classrooms with nature hikes, creek play, climbing, woodland art, and forest music. Campers are grouped by age with a 6:1 camper-to-educator ratio, fostering creativity, confidence, and hands-on learning. Sessions run Monday–Friday, 9:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (no camp the week of July 4).

JUNE – AUGUST

Stage One Summer Camps

1123 Payne Street, Louisville, KY stageone.org

Stage One Summer Camps invite students ages 5–18 to explore theatre through performance, drama skills, and creative play. Camps include 2- and 3-week performance camps, weekly theme camps for ages 5–8, drama skills camps for ages 9–18, and special advanced classes like the Shakespeare Intensive and Introduction to SelfTape Auditions. Multi-week performance camps culminate in full productions with sets, costumes, and lights on the Walden Theatre stage.

JUNE 1 – JUNE 30

Louisville Youth Choir

Summer Camp

3105 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY louyouthchoir.org

For rising third through sixth graders, Louisville Youth Choir offers a summer music camp where students can sing together, develop their musical abilities, and gain confidence. Interactive vocal training, teamwork, and enjoyable musical activities are the main topics of the weekly Monday sessions, which culminate in a concert for families on the last day. All students are welcome, and auditions are not necessary.

JUNE 8 – JULY 31

Paint Spot Summer Camp

4600 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY paint-spot.com

Children can explore painting and practical projects through entertaining weekly themes at Paint Spot Summer Camp’s creative art camps. Animal Extravaganza, Beach Bonanza, Barnyard Bash, Nature Rangers, Food Frenzy, and Comic Catastrophe are some of the camp themes. Every week, a laid-back studio setting fosters artistic expression and creativity. Weekly camp fees start at $310.

JUNE 8 – JUNE 12

IDEAS Summer Camp –Wild West Day Camp

Montessori School of Louisville 10263 Champion Farms Drive, Louisville, KY

This themed day camp for ages 5–6 offers a week of creative learning and outdoor fun. Campers enjoy instructional swimming, introductory rock wall climbing, arts and crafts, music and theater activities, and visits from camp mascot Ozzie. The program maintains a 6:1 camper-to-counselor ratio for a safe and engaging environment. Sessions run Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

JUNE 7 – JULY 31

YMCA Camp Piomingo

3260 Hwy 135 NE camp-piomingo.org

YMCA Camp Piomingo offers overnight summer camps for ages 5–17, featuring traditional camp activities like archery, crafts, rock climbing and themed nights. Programs include Traditional Camp (ages 6–16), Equestrian Camp (ages 8–16), Mini Camp (ages 5–12) and Leadership Development programs (ages 15–16) for teens interested in mentoring and leadership. Week-long sessions run throughout the summer, with a special two-week session July 5–17, and a tiered pricing system that allows families to choose the rate that fits their budget.

JUNE 8 – AUG. 1

Derby Dinner Playhouse

Performing Arts Camp 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville, IN derbydinner.com

Students ages 7 to 17 can experience acting, singing, and dancing during the one-week Summer Musical Theatre Camp at Derby Dinner Playhouse. Every session comes with a camp T-shirt, and campers work with theater professionals to develop stage skills. Throughout the summer, camps are held in multiple weekly sessions from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $185 plus a $2 service charge.

JUNE 22 – JUNE 26

IDEAS Summer Camp – Star Wars

Padawan Academy Day Camp Jr

Montessori School of Louisville 10263 Champion Farms Drive, Louisville, KY

Ages 3–4 will embark on a Star Wars-themed adventure with instructional swimming, introductory rock wall climbing, arts and crafts, music, and theater.

JULY 12 – JULY 19

CMPI Broadway Bound 1191 Hillview Boulevard, Louisville, KY classicmelodies.org

CMPI Broadway Bound is a week-long performing arts intensive for young performers featuring training in musical theatre, voice, acting, and dance styles including jazz, tap and ballet. Campers also explore stage combat, movement for actors and professional rehearsal techniques.

JUNE 15 – JUNE 19

IDEAS Summer Camp –

Superhero Adventure Day Camp

Montessori School of Louisville 10263 Champion Farms Drive, Louisville, KY

Ages 5–6 will spend the week exploring superhero-themed activities including instructional swimming, introductory rock wall climbing, arts and crafts, music, and theater. Camp mascot Ozzie makes special appearances!

JUNE 22 – JULY 24

Fashion Arts & Cooking Camps at Abigail Academy 11904 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY abigailacademy.com

Abigail Academy offers creative camps for girls ages 5–13 focused on fashion, art, cooking and confidence-building life skills. Campers enjoy hands-on projects, creative expression and fun activities designed to build creativity and self-confidence. Sessions include Fashion, Art & Confidence Camp experiences held throughout the summer.

JULY 6 – JULY 31

Louisville Leopards

Percussionists Summer Camp

741 S. Third Street, Louisville, KY leopardmusic.org

For students starting grades 2 through 8, Louisville Leopards Percussionists Summer Camp provides week-long music camps. In an enjoyable, practical setting, campers learn drum sets, hand drumming, percussion fundamentals, and mallet percussion. It is not necessary to have any prior musical experience. There is a middle school session from July 27–31 and elementary camps from July 6–10 and July 13–17. A camp T-shirt is included in the $160 price.

JULY 6 – JULY 31

Louisville Folk School Music Camps

3110 Rock Creek Drive, Louisville, KY louisvillefolkschool.org

Louisville Folk School Music Camps offers week-long day camps for rising 2nd–8th graders. Camp themes include Singing, Bluegrass, Folk Arts, and Kentucky Traditions. Sessions run in July on the Waldorf School of Louisville campus. Camps are open to members first, with community registration starting January 27. Family or benefactor members receive a 10% discount.

CONCERT REVIEW: DROPKICK MURPHYS, THE AGGROLITES, HAYWIRE, AND SLUGGER AT OLD FORESTER’S PARISTOWN HALL ON MARCH 8, 2026

Dropkick Murphys brought their For The People…In The Pit tour to Louisville for a hell of a great show!

BY JEFF POLK

First off, a huge thank you to C. Michael Stewart for allowing LEO Weekly to use his photographs from the show. He is unquestionably one of the best photographers out there, local or otherwise, and you really owe it to yourself to check out his website and scroll through his work. And he is for hire!

My philosophy: If you ever see a large group of people wearing Scally caps, follow them. You’ll either end up at an Irish pub or a Dropkick Murphys show. Either way it’s a win-win situation.

It’s kind of hard to believe the Dropkick Murphys are celebrating their 30th year as a band. Though they’ve had numerous member changes over the years, leaving only Ken Casey as the sole original member (he started out as the bassist

and has since switched to lead vocals), they are still going strong. And not only are they touring for their 30th anniversary, but also for their thirteenth studio album, For The People, and their annual St. Patrick’s Day tour that ends with a big show on St. Patty’s Day in their hometown of Boston, MA. And this year, Louisville was lucky enough once again to be a stop on their way back home. And we returned the favor by packing Paristown Hall with a close-to-sellout crowd.

Ken Casey is probably the most non-rock star rock star out there. He doesn’t look like, dress like, or act like your typical frontman of a major band. Clad in a Happy Gilmore Boston Bruins jersey (yes, that Happy Gilmore), black cargo pants, and with an ever-present big Irish smile

on his face, Casey seemed to take great delight in shaking hands and fist-bumping anyone in the crowd whose hand he could reach during their set. Although a vertebral disc injury sustained in 2018 prevents him from getting quite as active as he used to, he still prowled the stage and sang every word to every song, often offering the mic to audience members near the stage to sing a few words along with him.

And the band itself has grown from a 4-piece in the early days to a full 7-piece band that features almost original member Matt Kelly on drums, (he joined a year after the band was founded), three guitarists: Tim Brennan (who also plays tin whistle, accordion, and piano – and whom I had the pleasure of interviewing

for LEO Weekly back in 2023), Jeff DaRosa (who also handles banjo and mandolin), and James Lynch, along with bassist Kevin Rheault, and Campbell Webster on bagpipes, violin, and Uilleann pipes, (yes, amplified bagpipes!)

Playing more than 20 songs that spanned their entire career during their hour-and-a-half set, the band kept the crowd moving. Not necessarily by way of mosh pit, though, because hey, most of us there were older guys and gals, and we had our feel of all that back when the band was still fairly new. Not to say that there wasn’t moshing during their set, just not to the extent you’d expect. But the setlist, damn! They played song after song that I was hoping to hear. From show opener “The State of Massachusetts,”

“The Gang’s All Here,” “10 Years of Service,” my personal favorite track “Barroom Hero,” “Finnegan’s Wake,” to newer tracks “Who’ll Stand With Us,” “Citizen I.C.E.,” in which Haywire vocalist Austin Sparkman came out to co-sing, and a cover of the AC/DC classic “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” in which bassist Kevin Rheault took on lead vocals, to crowd favorites “Rose Tattoo” and “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” the set just didn’t let up! And I have to give them props for being so punctual. Their set literally started at exactly 9:30, and they finished up with new track “The Big Man” at almost exactly 11:00. One of the biggest highlights of the show came a bit by accident. At one point, Ken Casey did a short rant about Trump, MAGA, and billionaires. It wasn’t a lengthy or even extremely focused rant, more along the lines of “Fuck them!” But apparently it was enough to get a few Trump-loving fans in the crowd heading for the doors, as Casey pointed out from the stage before telling them, “Goodbye and good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out!” Which begs the question, who did these people think they were going to see anyway? Have they never read their lyrics or paid attention to all the activism the band is involved in? Dropkick Murphys have always been vehemently pro-Union, pro-working man, and have always taken a very liberal stance on politics, which their lyrics and actions have reflected since day one. So I’m not sure what those people who left after the comments were expecting at a Dropkick Murphys show, but maybe read up a little on the band you want to see before buying the ticket next time. Slugger, who surprisingly aren’t from Louisville (from Chico, California –however, they do use a mockup of the Louisville Slugger logo for their own), opened the show with a 30-minute set of their brand of hardcore street punk/ Oi. This was a rather intimidating-looking and sounding band that most likely doesn’t take a lot of shit from anyone. I was

completely unfamiliar with the band, but I look forward to discovering their music after their impressive set. And yes, they did in fact take a few band photos in front of the giant bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum. Boston hardcore band Haywire (A.K.A. Haywire 617), who are practically a local band at this point, having played here at least four other times in the past year alone (Louder Than Life, LDB Fest, a pre-LTL show at the skate park, and a headlining show at Camp Spaceman), followed Slugger. So Louisville is obviously quite familiar with Haywire, and the pit during their all-too-short half-hour set reflected that, exploding into the wildest of the night by far. Vocalist Austin Sparkman’s energy is relentless, making this a must-see band. And if you missed them any of the multiple times they’ve played here, don’t worry, they’re already confirmed for Louder Than Life 2026!

Long-running L.A. reggae/ska band The Aggrolites chilled the crowd out (in a good way) during their 45-minute set before the Dropkick Murphys came out and amped everyone up again. Being only vaguely familiar with them, I was surprised to hear how much soul influence their music had. Ska bands generally tend to get boring to me pretty quickly, but The Aggrolites kept things interesting their entire set with a lot of catchy tunes, skilled crowd-work in getting everyone to sing along, putting a lot of energy behind their performance, and throwing in a few well-known covers songs such as Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and reworking the Nancy Sinatra hit “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” into a funky reggae number, which they closed with.

After a rather lengthy intermission, the Dropkick Murphys came out and did what they do best, but you already read that part. And word has it that Paristown Hall is still cleaning up all the lost Scally caps.

LOUISVILLE’S VERY OWN CIRCUS: AN INSIDE LOOK AT AMERICAN TURNERS CIRCUS

BY ABIGAIL FELDKAMP

Formed in 1941 due to a need to raise money for their gymnastics team, the American Turners of Louisville Circus was formed. 76 seasons later, the program is still continuing its legacy and growing more each year.

Happening annually, the circus features performers from the age of 18 months all the way up to 70+ years, making it a true family affair.

The show serves as a chance for Circus members to show off the skills they have learned throughout the year. Featuring trapeze, silks, tightrope, stilting, juggling and more, this Circus will leave you amazed.

The Turners Circus serves as the club’s main fundraiser, and performers practice year-long in the very gym they perform in. Fresh equipment and apparatus are continually added as the performers grow and test new skills.

This year’s theme is “North Star”. It follows the Turners crew after their gym floods and goes underwater. The crew decides to become pirates and travel the seas, meeting lots of interesting and fun sea creatures along the way.

Packed with talent, color, and surprises, this show is fun for all ages. Don’t miss out on a chance to see the annual showcase!

Remaining show times:

• Sunday, March 15- 1PM & 6PM

• Friday, March 20- 7PM

• Saturday, March 21- 2PM & 7PM

• Sunday, March 22- 2PM

SWORDS, SALADS, AND SWEATS: SURVIVING GAUCHO URBANO

BY: JOE DESENSI

To my veggie brethren out there. We all have carnivore friends or family members. If they have never experienced the sheer, unadulterated joy of having a stranger approach your table wielding a giant skewer of sizzling meat like a culinary gladiator, they are missing out. Gaucho Urbano, in the Stony Brook neighborhood of southwest Jtown, offers exactly that.

Unlike your standard American steakhouse where you politely order a filet and wait 45 minutes, a Brazilian steakhouse is a gloriously chaotic buffet hybrid. The Chefs and Harvest table is self-serve, while skewers of perfectly roasted meats are carved to your exact specifications right at your table.

My parents, Frank and Terri, joined my wife, Hope, and me at Gaucho Urbano for their maiden voyage into this meat-sweat territory.

The Rules of Engagement

The system here is simple but dangerous. You get a token. Green means “keep the meat coming,” and red means “please stop, I need a nap.”

My dad, Frank, was the lone meat-ona-sword champion at our table. He was dazzled by the endless parade of lamb, pork, ribs, steak, and chicken. He was complaining about how incredibly easy it was to overeat with all these delicacies arriving at his elbow every two minutes. I finally

had to lean over and remind him how to flip his token to the red side so he could take a breather and re-evaluate his life choices.

Imbibing the Brazilian Way

You cannot survive a Brazilian steakhouse without a proper hydration. Enter the Caipirinha. During happy hour, Gaucho Urbano slings $10 cocktails, sangria, and this national drink of Brazil. Having never tried a Caipirinha before, I ordered one. It is a refreshing, mojito-esque mix of cachaça (a sugarcane spirit) and fresh lime that goes down way too easily.

Meanwhile, Hope and Terri completely bypassed the cocktails and went straight to a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Hope paired her wine with her mountain-o-veggies-and seafood she amassed at the Harvest Bar. I watched her devour her meal with the ferocity of a starving wildcat set loose in butchery. Dad stuck with a Mexican beer, which he claimed paired perfectly with his endless meaty meat parade.

Gluten-Free Glory and Bottomless Sides

Before the meat onslaught even begins, they bring out one of my favorite Brazilian delicacies: pão de queijo. These little puffs of Brazilian cheese bread are amazing. They are naturally gluten-free, served warm, and completely addictive. I ate three before

Hope even sat down. When she finally arrived, I wondered out loud why the servers hadn’t brought her any.

Gaucho Urbano also serves three hot sides family-style at your table, and yes, they really mean unlimited. You get whipped potatoes with garlic and chives, sweet caramelized bananas, and my absolute favorite: crispy fried polenta topped with shaved aged parmesan. Our table pushed the limits of their “unlimited” promise on the polenta alone.

Vegetarian Vibes at the Harvest Bar

Terri, Hope and I went for the Harvest Bar and Chef’s Table Only option. If you are a grazer, a vegetarian, or just someone trying to pretend you eat healthy, you have quite a selection of animal-free goodness. An amazing spread of fresh fruits, vegetables, artisanal cheeses, grains, and prepared dishes that offer unlimited flavor combos. Usually, I have a strict rule for myself at high-end salad bars, especially with mankini season rapidly approaching: I limit myself to one plate. However, the sheer size of Gaucho Urbano’s plates turned this from a simple diet plan into an engineering test of layering ability and carrying strength.

I built a structural base of mixed greens, then accented it with asparagus, sundried

tomatoes, deviled eggs, pepita peppers, hearts of palm, marinated artichoke hearts, and a heavy drizzle of green chimichurri sauce. After adding Brazilian potato salad, stuffed olives, and a questionable amount of cheese, I had to officially categorize this towering mound of food as a “cheat day” meal.

A Gluten-Free Sweet Finish

Dessert at Gaucho Urbano ranges from New York cheesecake to a papaya cream, plus a chocolate eruption cake for those who like their sweets with a side of tectonic activity.

Even though some of the wheat-heavy desserts looked incredible, Dad and I decided to split the crème brûlée which was excellent. There is nothing quite like that satisfying signature “crack” when your spoon breaks through the brittle, caramelized sugar top into the rich, vanilla-scented custard below.

If you want a vibrant, unique dining experience that will leave you absolutely stuffed and plotting your return, grab a token and head to Gaucho Urbano. Just remember to flip to red before you burst.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

March 25-April 7

ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries poet Maya Angelou proclaimed, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” In that spirit, Aries, I urge you to tell everyone everything—all your secret thoughts, hidden feelings, and private opinions. Post your diary online! Confess your fantasies to strangers! Share your unfiltered inner monologue with authority figures! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Angelou urged us to bravely communicate our authentic truths, but not to overshare or be careless about observing good boundaries. Here’s the deep wisdom: Express thoughts and feelings that make you feel real and whole, but be discerning about when, where, and to whom.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus writer Charlotte Brontë said, “I would always rather be happy than dignified.” Given your current astrological potentials, I think you should tattoo her motto across your forehead so everyone knows you’re committed to pleasure over propriety. Burn your dressy clothes! Quit doing boring duties! Dance naked in the woods! APRIL FOOL! I don’t really think you should tattoo your forehead or dance naked in public. But Brontë’s sentiment is sound: In the coming weeks, if forced to choose between joy and respectability, pick joy every time. Just do it with a modicum of common sense.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini actress Marilyn Monroe said, “A wise girl knows her limits. A smart girl know that she has none.” I propose we expand that counsel to include all genders. And I especially recommend this approach to you right now. It’s time to shed, ignore, and surpass ALL your so-called limits. Be as wild and free and uninhibited as you dare. APRIL FOOL! I worry that it’s irresponsible to give you such utter carte blanche. Would you consider honoring one or two limits that prevent you from indulging in crazy and extreme behavior? Otherwise, be wild and free and uninhibited!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Psychologist Carl Jung wrote extensively about the importance of embracing our shadows: the dark, problematic aspects of ourselves we would rather not

acknowledge. In the coming weeks, I recommend that you stop hiding that weird stuff! Throw a coming-out-of-the-closet party for all the questionable parts of you. Let your inner monsters run wild! APRIL FOOL! Please don’t do that. What Jung actually advocated was recognizing and integrating your shadow, not being ruled by it. So yes, explore your moody, unruly impulses, but with consciousness, kindness, and containment, not reckless expression.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo author James Baldwin observed, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” With that in mind, I advise you to spend the next two weeks obsessively staring at every dilemma in your life. Don’t look away! Don’t take breaks! Just face every dilemma constantly until you’re overwhelmed! APRIL FOOL! Baldwin’s insight is brilliant, but it doesn’t require masochistic endurance. Here’s the truth: Yes, you should courageously acknowledge what needs attention, but do so with care and discernment. And then actually work on changing it! Awareness is the beginning, not the entire process.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Agatha Christie wrote 66 detective novels in which she meticulously planned every plot twist. I think you should apply her approach to your daily life: Script every conversation! Anticipate every contingency! Control every variable! Leave nothing to chance! APRIL FOOL! Christie’s obsessive planning worked for fiction, but life requires improvisation. For you, the coming weeks favor spontaneity and flexibility. So make rough plans, sure, but stay loose enough to experiment with whatever emerges. Over-control would diminish the magic.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): My favorite Libran writer didn’t capitalize her name: bell hooks. I recommend you stage a similar rebellion against all rules and structures. Ignore social conventions! Flout traffic laws! Pay your taxes with paintings and poems you’ve created! APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating. I do love hooks’ charming revolt, but it would be

counterproductive for you to randomly break *all* the rules of daily life. Instead, be judicious and selective as you question conventions thoughtfully and only violate those that genuinely deserve to be spurned. Be a strategic rebel, not a chaotic one.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio poet Sylvia Plath wrote this passage in her journal: “I desire the things which will destroy me in the end.” I think you should consider embracing her approach—for the sheer, exotic thrill of it! Pursue interesting chaos! If it might unravel you, welcome it passionately! The more unruly, the better! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Plath was describing her struggle with depression, not offering us advice. Here’s what I think you should actually do: Examine which of your yearnings serve your evolution and which ones undermine it. Fully embrace the fact that intensity is one of your greatest gifts, but channel that intensity into experiences that build you up, not tear you down. Choose ardent aliveness over fervent destruction.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian philosopher Baruch Spinoza spent years alone in his room developing his radical ideas about God and nature. I recommend total isolation for you, too. In accordance with astrological omens, avoid human contact! Put your relationships on hold while you contemplate the infinite! APRIL FOOL! I totally lied. Spinoza’s solitude served his unique genius, but a similar approach won’t work for you— especially now. Here’s what I really think you require in the coming weeks: periods of meditative alone time balanced by intervals of rich connection with interesting humans. You need to commune with both your deep inner sources and nurturing alliances.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn astrologer Linda Goodman wrote that your sign’s “ambition is boundless” and that most Capricorns dream of ruling the world. In accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to indulge this attribute. Launch a campaign for global domination! Start with your neighborhood and work your way up to more and more conquests! APRIL FOOL! The

truth is, world domination is exhausting and impractical. What Goodman was referring to is your gift for structure and leadership. Use your organizational genius to improve your corner of the world, not tyrannize it. Think stewardship, not empire.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian inventor Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” In the spirit, I recommend that you falter spectacularly in the coming weeks. The more blunders and bungles, the better! Engage in a holy quest to seek as many fizzles and misfires as possible! Make Edison look like an amateur! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Edison wasn’t deliberately courting snafus, of course. His approach was similar to that of many creative artists: driven by exploratory persistence that capitalizes on mistakes and hassles. Here’s your real guidance, Aquarius: Experiment boldly, yes, and don’t fear stumbles and bumbles. But learn from each one and adjust your approach. The goal is eventual success that’s informed by humility and resiliency.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean physicist Albert Einstein said, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” In the spirit of his genius, I recommend that you abandon logic completely! Never think rationally again! Make all decisions based on fantasy and feelings! APRIL FOOL! Einstein was advocating for the creative power of imagination, not the abandonment of reason. What you truly need is a marriage of visionary thinking and practical logic. Ask your imagination to show you possibilities, then call on lucid logic to help you manifest them.

Homework: What’s a good prank you could play on yourself to be liberated from a stale fear?

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com

HOMEWORK

BY DAN SAVAGE

Hey Dan: I’m a 50-year-old married bisexual American man living in Europe with my wife and kids. The “bi” part of me is still extremely new. Two years ago, I started seeing a sex-positive therapist to address my significant interest (and feelings of guilt about) kink and BDSM. Long story short, I admitted to myself that I wasn’t just into kink, but that I was also bisexual. All the things I thought would be difficult —coming out to my wife, discussing an open marriage, having my first gay experiences — have gone really well. My wife and I are in a great place, and I feel better about myself than I have in a long time.

The part I struggle with is identity. I consider myself bisexual, Dan, but I have no idea what being queer means. If I were in the U.S., I would find some social groups and meet some other queer people, but I am in a foreign country where it is easy to get a hand job from a man but hard to have a nuanced conversation about sexuality. I considered not worrying about it. I present as a boring suburban dad and could have gone through the rest of my life with only a small group of people knowing. However, I felt a tug to understand this (and myself) better. I know nothing about gay culture and feel adrift compared to people who come out younger. My roadblock is basically, “What’s next?” I have no problem calling myself bisexual, but I don’t feel like I can call myself queer because I do not know what that means for me. Any suggestions?

—Bi Dad Seeking Meaning

One mistake the LGBTQ2SIA+ movement made over the last decade —- in addition all the variations on that acronym — was convincing people that being queer or being an ally meant homework. It wasn’t enough to be queer, it wasn’t enough to be cool with queer people. No, you had to do the reading, attend struggle sessions, and pass vocabulary tests. We turned “queer” from something a person could just was into a 400-level course a person was always in danger of failing. Take BDSM here. He’s bisexual and he’s out — and he’s out there getting hand jobs and hopefully more from other men — and he’s nailing this queer shit. But he’s worried about flunking.

So, BDSM, you can relax. If you’re not straight, you’re queer. And your queerness, however you choose to express it, is just as valid as the queerness of a gender studies TA. And while you might present as a boring suburban dad, you’re actually subverting — you’re “queering,” as the gender studies profs say — what it means to be a boring suburban dad one hand job at a time.

That said, BDSM, you don’t have to identify as queer; lots of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people don’t identify as queer. If identifying as bisexual makes you feel less anxious — if you don’t feel like you’re gonna flunk bisexuality — then you can just identify as bisexual. It has the virtue of being both true and clear. Because unlike telling a guy you’re queer, which is a broad term that invites at least one follow-up question (“So, what kind of queer are we talking about?”), when you tell a guy you’re bisexual you give him all the information he needs before the hand job commences.

P.S. Sometimes when a person comes out to a spouse and gets the go-ahead to explore their sexuality, the newly out person has a kid-in-the-candy-shop moment and winds up neglecting their spouse’s sexual needs. I hope you realize how lucky you are to have your wife’s support, BDSM, and that you don’t screw things up for yourself by making her regret giving you her blessing to explore men and kink outside your marriage.

P.P.S. What it sounds like you want aren’t reading assignments, BDSM, but a sense of community — which will come in time. The more gay and bi men you meet and jerk off, the more gay and bi men you’ll get to know, and the better you’ll come to understand your queerness and the queerness of other men.

P.P.P.S. Some gay men and lesbians — including gays and lesbians who are old enough to know better — seem to believe that “queer” was imposed on them by a bunch of non-binary AFAB femme-presenting allosexual phallophiles. (Or “straight girls,” as they used to be known.) That’s simply not true. “Queer” was embraced as a unifying term after gay and lesbian activists distributed a pamphlet titled “QUEERS READ THIS” at the 1990 New York City Gay Pride Parade.

“We use queer as gay men loving lesbians,” the anonymous authors wrote in the “WHY QUEER” section of a manifesto that led to the founding of Queer Nation. “Queer, unlike GAY, doesn’t mean MALE. And when spoken to other gays and lesbians, it’s a way of suggesting we close ranks, and forget our individual differences because we face a more insidious common enemy. Yeah, QUEER can be a rough word but it is also a sly and ironic weapon we can steal from the homophobes.”

Just as annoying — way more annoying — than gays and lesbians who complain that “queer” was imposed on them are self-identified queers who insist that being gay or lesbian isn’t “enough” to make a person queer.

So, to those who seek to exclude gays and lesbians from queer, I say this: Gay men and lesbians were the O.G. queers, you gatekeeping little shits. Gays and lesbians literally made “queer” happen. And to gays and lesbians who insist “queer” was imposed on us, I say this: They didn’t impose “queer” on us, you guys, they stole “queer” from us. We could let them have it — we could let them get away with appropriating “queer” from us — but stealing it back would piss these modern homophobes off more.

Hey Dan: I’m a 25-year-old woman who has been crushing on one of my girlfriends for almost six years. She’s absolutely amazing. We were intimate a little bit in college — we even went on a couple of dates — but our lives went off in different ways. I’m now engaged to an amazing man and have a one-year-old with him, and she just got out of her long-term relationship and lives in a different state. We’ve been talking a lot more lately and it’s stirring up a lot of excitement for us both. (These feelings are reciprocated!) My fiancé is open to the idea of inviting her into our intimate life and possibly even our romantic life. The vibe from her is that she’s totally interested. HOWEVER! I tend to be an anxious over-planner and I’m

now looking up all sorts of books and podcasts about ethical nonmonogamy in an effort to be best prepared to add her to our lives in a romantic capacity. My mind is already going crazy with worries like, “My family will be cool with it but what will my fiancé’s more conservative family members think?” and “What if she wants to have a baby, what would that look like for us?” I guess I have two questions: What books or other resources do you suggest for learning about ethical nonmonogamy? And am I getting way too ahead of myself?

—Very Hopeful Romantic

Your fiancé has the right idea: “Let’s fuck, let’s see.” Meaning: you two fucking the shit out of this woman — the two of you inviting this woman into your intimate life — is the right first move. If all three of you click sexually (a big if) and all three of you click emotionally (an even bigger if), VHR, then you can begin to have a conversation about the possibility of inviting this woman into your romantic life six months and several dozen successful threesomes from now. And while it couldn’t hurt for you to read the poly books and listen to the poly podcasts now, asking your husband to read those books and listen to those podcasts could hurt your chances of getting what you want. Just as no single person wants to listen to someone talk about their dream wedding on a first date, no engaged/married person wants to listen to their fiancée/spouse talk about their dream poly triad before their first threesome. While being informed about polyamory is a good idea — especially if you’re going to have an opinion about it (which everyone does these days) — you don’t have to do all the homework in advance your first threesome. You’re obviously into the idea, your amazing husband is open to the idea, and this amazing woman is vibing on the idea. That’s enough for the time being. If the three of you are still fucking six months from now, VHR, write me back and I’ll send you a list of book recommendations and resources and poly podcasts. But you don’t need more homework right now. You just need to start fucking.

Hey Dan: I’m a 37-year-old single cis woman. A few years ago, I was starting to get serious with a guy who already had kids and a vasectomy. Being with him meant forgoing having biological kids and I was trying to weigh if that would work for me. Then, he tragically and unexpectedly died. In the aftermath of his death, I had a deep knowing that I will have a child someday. It’s been a year and a half since then. I have been hooking up with a good-looking, kind, smart divorcé for the last few months. Originally, I was interested in dating him but now I’m only interested in being FWB. I was honest with him that there isn’t a romantic future here, so he put his strong “love” feelings for me aside because he likes hooking up and wants to keep doing it.

He has never wanted bio kids (he has a grown stepchild). We use the pullout method. I’ve made it clear that I desire a child and if I become pregnant, I’m keeping it. He’s OK with that. I’m aware of my ovulation schedule and am pretty

confident in the pullout method. My question is, should I consider asking him to help me become intentionally pregnant? I’m not sure what level of involvement he’d want but I’d be okay with doing it solo or letting him have a relationship with the kid. I’ve been pregnant once before, but the timing was wrong, and I didn’t want to be stuck with the guy who knocked me up. But now I wonder if I didn’t blow my opportunity to have a kid.

I’d love to have a partner and choose to do this together, but what if I fall in love with someone who doesn’t want a kid? Or perhaps I don’t find a partner at all and miss out on these childbearing years. I’m pretty content with my life, loving being an auntie to my friends’ kids, and am always rejecting the BS rhetoric of “geriatric pregnancies.” Should I hold out for a few more years and see what comes my way? Or should I take a leap with my fuck buddy?  —Baby Games

Do you want a kˇid? You say you do… but the longer you take to make this decision, BG, the more it looks like you don’t want a kid. For while you may reject the concept of “geriatric” pregnancies (which now goes by the nicer name “advanced maternal age”), biological reality is biological reality, BG, and the longer you wait to make up your mind, the less likely you are to have a kid. While it’s true that lots of women successfully have children in their late 30s and even into their 40s, a woman’s fertility declines after age 35 and the risks for complications increase. This is one of those instances where not choosing is choosing: take too long to make this decision, and the decision will be made for you. Does this guy want a kid? He says he doesn’t… but the more he puts his bare cock in you, BG, the more it looks like he does. I mean, you’ve already told him that you plan to keep the baby if he gets you pregnant, right? And while the pull-out method is an effective form of birth control (when executed perfectly), each time he chooses to put his bare cock in a woman — whether that woman is you or not, whether that woman “deeply” wants a child or doesn’t — he’s risking fatherhood. So, just as your actions (delay) could be interpreted as a sign that you don’t want a child, his actions (raw) could be interpreted as a sign that he does. But if I’m wrong about you — if you do want kids — you could do a lot worse than a guy who’s kind, smart, and good-looking. And seeing as you’ve already talked to him about what you plan to do if he should accidentally get you pregnant, I don’t see why you can’t talk about intentionally getting pregnant. P.S. This story in the New York Times earlier this year about people searching for platonic co-parents might be of interest to you — and to him.

Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love!

Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan!

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SPECIAL TREATMENT

BY SCOTT HOGAN AND KATIE HALE

Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz

Katie Hale, of London, is a freelance crossword editor. Her co-constructor, Scott Hogan, is a patent attorney from Midland, Mich. This is their second Sunday collaboration for The Times. This puzzle’s genesis is owed to Scott’s wife, Edith, a podiatrist who came home one day with the joke you see at 120-Across.

Across

1 Favors

5 Slathered in sauce, in restaurantspeak

8 Letters on security camera footage

12 Big flings

18 ‘‘Pet’’ you wouldn’t take to the vet

19 Cosecant’s reciprocal

20 Cookie with its name on it

21 One of four on a diamond

22 I visited the cardiologist, who . . .

25 Bull-headed?

26 Club assistant

27 Apt letters that complete this word: P__RPO__ __

28 Nailed

30 Partner of Hoda on ‘‘Today’’

31 I visited the dermatologist, who . . .

35 ‘‘The greatest as well as the most elegant of Roman philosophers,’’ per Voltaire

38 Rob in Hollywood

39 Fashion something fashionable, maybe

40 Uninspired

41 Revealing word

45 Like a money-back guarantee

47 I visited a dentist and now I . . .

51 Otis of elevator fame

(This crossword was reviously published in LEO Weekly)

55 Set forth 56 Prattle

57 Sorry ass?

61 Equivalent of 32,000 ounces

62 Pinches

64 Scenario before a two-run home run, say

65 Lived (in)

67 Alternative to foil or saber

69 I visited the anesthesiologist and now I’ve . . .

73 Bitter brews

74 Gets in shape?

76 Home of the 123-story Lotte World Tower

77 Natural decorations on some bookshelves

79 Pique

80 Hunt

82 Lovelace of early computer programming

84 California wine valley

87 One with a landlord

89 I visited a sleep specialist, who . . .

92 Double-wide, as a garage

96 Professional who works a lot

97 Skin

98 Soul seller

100 Change positions, as in volleyball

102 Takes the blame for

105 I visited the radiologist, who . . .

110 Rude or, without its first two letters, rude person 111 ____ beer (nonalcoholic beverage)

112 MSNBC competitor

113 Slowly cook, in a way

118 Prenatal tests, in brief

120 I visited the podiatrist and now I . . .

123 Call

124 Filled, folded food

125 Female French friend

126 O, in hangman

127 Meager

128 Part of most musical notes

129 Cribbage marker

130 Mathematician Noether Down

1 Rock band with a slash (but not Slash)

2 Like much of Iran

3 Sue Monk ____, author of ‘‘The Secret Life of Bees’’

4 Castle material, maybe 5 GameCube successor

6 Result

7 Actress Thompson of ‘‘Creed’’

8 It’s totally corny

9 Step in origami

10 Educational forum

11 Gave a thumbs-down

12 ‘‘Whaddya mean?’’

13 Kind of keyboard

14 Setting for some post-run?

15 ____ Barbarino, John Travolta’s role on ‘‘Welcome Back, Kotter’’

16 Heretofore

17 Car that Brits call a ‘‘saloon’’

19 Mascara mishap

23 Proctor’s pronouncement

24 ____ Lingus

29 The ‘‘Do’’ in ‘‘Do-Re-Mi’’ 32 Went under

33 Asia’s disappearing ____ Sea

34 Old yeller?

35 Bamboozles

36 Having two equal sides

37 Behaved like the lion in Oz 40 Caribbean musical genre

42 Long quest 43 Roth ____

44 It’s involved in

Hint to the number of ingredients

53 Spanish salutation

54 They might come out of the woodwork

58 U.S. fair-hiring inits.

59 ‘‘We doin’ this?’’

60 Eleven, in El Salvador

63 It might be a stretch

64 Olive ____ of ‘‘Popeye’’

66 Pack of dogs?

67 Man’s name that becomes a distance if you move the first letter to the end

68 Sponge feature

70 Ridiculously

71 Bean variety

72 Have over

75 Erupt

78 [Forehead palm smack]

81 Corp. shuffle

82 ____ Max, singer of the 2018 hit ‘‘Sweet but Psycho’’

83 Neighbor of Md.

85 Non-stereo

86 Button on social media

88 Leo, for one

90 Swear

91 Do some engraving

93 ‘‘SportsCenter’’ anchor Linda

94 Swears

95 Knocking onomatopoeia

98 Like a comeuppance, perhaps

99 ‘‘Lemme, lemme!’’

101 Ancient Greek area north of Thessaly

103 Color-blending technique

104 Title for a French priest

105 Lasting bad memories, so to speak

106 Got tagged

107 Anxiety condition, for short

108 Open, as a toothpaste tube

109 Garden statuette

114 Long

115 Express-lane unit

116 Quilter’s line

117 Current event?

119 ____ vs. ____ (Mad strip)

121 Paul ou Paulette

122 Fix Answers

Puts the pedal to the metal