Photo By Kevin Yatarola

Lite Brite Indie Pop & Film Test

Back for the fourth time, the ear- and eye-pleasing LITE BRITE INDIE POP & FILM TEST again takes over the Southgate House's labyrinthine confines this weekend, a three-day multimedia extravaganza guaranteed to stir the senses and test your endurance.

Curated by local booking guru (and CityBeat promotion dude) Dan McCabe, this year's musical lineup features an eclectic mix of local and national acts, from Power Pop purveyors Jimmy Eat World to New York orchestral Pop band The Sharp Things (see interview on page 35) to the electro-based experiments of Dandi Wind (see To Do pick on page 33).

The film side of the test is highlighted by Saturday's regional premiere of You're Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erickson. The latest in the burgeoning genre of mentally unstable musicians gone awry -- the most obvious being the recent and surreally similar The Devil and Daniel Johnston -- Keven McAlester's documentary tells the difficult saga of Erickson, one of Rock's great overlooked singers.

The voice behind groundbreaking '60s psychedelic band 13th Floor Elevators, Erickson (pictured) gobbled up drugs as if they were candy, eventually landing in a mental hospital at the height of the band's powers. After being released, he struggled to piece his career back together, putting out several curious, wonderfully off-kilter solo albums -- marked as usual by his singular, expressive voice -- that did little to discredit his claim that he was an alien from another planet. His career essentially ended in the mid-'80s.

The film moves back and forth from Erickson's musical past to his troubling present, the poignant portrait of a man who has little control of his life and image. The result is a look at an artist whose elusive, cautionary life remains a question mark.

Refer To Roadway

Mobile Museum

As usual, the main feature will be supplemented by a wide variety of short films, motion graphics and music videos as well as fare from two of the area's best film festivals: Underneath Cincinnati and the Oxford International Film Festival. Also look for a pair of contributions from local filmmakers: Kendall Bruns' and Josh Flowers' Pizza Infinity Showcase and John Parker's The Life and Times of H-Bomb Ferguson, a documentary on the Cincinnati Blues legend.

Finally, Lite Brite is introducing a new wrinkle this year, transporting its "Porchlight Cinema" concept over to Fountain Square on Thursday with a preview screening of Rod Lurie's Resurrecting the Champ, the tale of a sports reporter (Josh Harnett) helping a homeless man (Samuel L. Jackson) who turns out to be a boxing legend.

The Thursday festivities kick off at 6 p.m. with Mucca Pazza, a marching band from Chicago who deliver a "rockus demonstration of brass machismo and mayhem," and culminate with a free after-party performance from Jason Isbell at The Poison Room (see interview on page 45). litebritetest.com. (See Events or Music.) -- JASON GARGANO

WEDNESDAY 25 THURSDAY 26
Two weeks ago a devastating fire destroyed the CINCINNATI COSTUME COMPANY, which has provided costumes to many of Cincinnati's theater groups for the better part of two decades. The community has pulled together to help Cincinnati Costume and its owner Caren Young get the business back on its feet with two benefits this week. The first one is a cabaret presented by the League of Cincinnati Theatres at Know Theatre's space in Over-the-Rhine (1120 Jackson St.) between 6 and 10 p.m. Wednesday. There will be singers and magicians, not to mention several female impersonators, who know a thing or two about costumes. If you can't show up that evening, you might consider taking in a performance of ANYTHING GOES at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts (4990 Glenway Ave.) on Thursday, when Cincinnati Young People's Theatre opens its summer production. Young's company was costuming the show; after the fire, her employees helped the production pull together what was needed, thanks to other theater companies and their own costume stocks. To say thanks, Thursday's performance of Anything Goes (tickets are $10) is a benefit with all income donated to help Young get her business up and running again. 513-241-6550. (See Onstage.) -- RICK PENDER

Photo By Publico

A Walk In The Park

WEDNESDAY 25 -- THURSDAY 2
The Contemporary Arts Center's rotating exhibition of art films, THE LONG VIEW, has landed on something most disturbing: Hans Jurgen Syberberg's OUR HITLER: A FILM FROM GERMANY. The film stretches on for seven and a half hours -- it's probably best to go in for one or two hour doses. The CAC isn't providing screen times; instead, the film is looped over and over again until it closes on Aug. 2. Syberberg's picture of Nazi Germany is a grim one. No matter your ethnicity, it forces you to recognize that the Holocaust, and by extension all ethnic cleansing programs, might have been led by a few figures but could not have occurred without the bleary-eyed conformity of all humanity. The film originally aired on West German television in 1978 in four parts, simply as Hitler: ein Film aus Deutschland. In the United States, Francis Ford Coppola added the word "Our" to the title, which sends the reminder that no one is blameless when it comes to humanity's evils. Free. 513-345-8400. (See Art.) -- LAURA JAMES

THURSDAY 26 -- SUNDAY 29
JIMMY PARDO reminds you of the old-time comedians, though his material is very contemporary. "If you want to go back old school," he says, "it's a little more Don Rickles-y. A little Richard Lewis-y. They were both huge influences on me." A solid joke writer, Pardo merely uses one-liners to get the audience warmed up. "I have the skeleton of stuff that I talk about pretty much every show. Getting married, having kids, blah, blah, blah. But if it's a great crowd and a good vibe in the room, I really don't hit them with a lot of material, because I work the crowd so much. I'm a decent joke writer, but my one real talent is improvising with the crowd." Pardo assures that it will be more imaginative than the old Ohio-Kentucky comparisons. "Who hasn't worked that magic?" he asks. "I'll still talk to people (and ask), 'Are you married?' and I'll mine stuff from there finding out about their lives. Johnny Carson was my idol, so I find other people interesting. Not in real life. I couldn't stand to talk to any of these jack-asses off stage," he laughs. "The last thing I want to do is sit down with a guy from Portsmouth and have a sandwich." Pardo performs Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas in Montgomery. $10-$15. 513-984-9288. (See Onstage.) -- P.F. WILSON

FRIDAY 27
Take in some history before a ballgame Friday when Roadway's MOBILE MUSEUM on the history of NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUES makes a stop in Cincinnati. The exhibit, Times of Greatness, offers a detailed look at African Americans playing baseball in a time when our national pastime wasn't open to everyone. The mobile museum features many historic photos, video and memorabilia such as uniforms and other equipment. This year's tour includes a special tribute to legendary Negro League first baseman and manager John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil. He was a great proponent of the induction of Negro League players into the Baseball Hall of Fame and spent the last two years promoting the Times of Greatness tour before his death last October at age 94. The exhibit will be outside of Great American Ball Park from 4-7 p.m. Friday. Free. (See Attractions or Sports.) -- KEVIN MICHELL

FRIDAY 27
Another Final Friday has arrived, and Publico has taken the opportunity to bring back some artists from Philadelphia. The new exhibition, A WALK IN THE PARK, opens Friday and features the work of Jamie Dillon and Nick Paparone (pictured). The show is meant to provoke its viewers to see the chasm between what we have created -- the muddled, tricky state of society -- and what we have been given: nature. Throughout history, there have always existed people who reject the constraints of society and choose to live in nature. Who comes to mind more readily than Thoreau? According to the guys at Publico, now is an especially chaotic time. Dillon and Paparone use the gallery space to "explore notions of leaving it all behind." Some works are collaborative efforts, some solo. Expect nature to grow loud and colorful on Friday between 7 and 11 p.m. 513-784-0832. (See Art.) -- LAURA JAMES

Photo By John Londono

Dandi Wind

SATURDAY 28
Remember the late-'80s all-female Rock band Zuzu's Petals? If, like me, you knew little about the group beyond its cortex-sticking name, pick up LAURIE LINDEEN's memoir Petal Pusher: A Rock and Roll Cinderella Story. Funny, knowing and deeply personal, Petal Pusher recounts Lindeen's odyssey as the front-woman in Zuzu's struggle to make it "big" in the male-dominated world of Rock & Roll. She tells her story with wit and candor, always anchored by a rare ability to express the visceral, all-encompassing impact music can have in one's life. From growing up a Monkees fan in Madison, Wis., to her move to the musical hotbed of Minneapolis to the issues of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis to her relationship with fellow rocker Paul Westerberg, Petal Pusher is a singular, richly detailed story of a woman whose passion for music led her to a life she didn't know she wanted. Lindeen discusses her book at 3 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble on the Levee in Newport. 859-581-2000. (See Literary.) -- JASON GARGANO

SATURDAY 28
How can you celebrate freedom? Let the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center count the ways during its annual FREEDOMFEST. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, the Center's lawn and Grand Hall will be buzzing with a wide range of activities. For the kiddies, look for balloonist, a magician, performances from MadCap Puppet Theater and, of course, face-painting. All ages can take in performances from groups as diverse as (to name a few) Bi-Okoto African Drum and Dance Theater, Northern Kentucky University's Gospel Choir, ballet tech ohio, IsWhat?! and a group of performing "black cowboys." Re-enactors, various vendors, a Jazz happy hour (4-7 p.m. on the North Star Cafe's patio) and local food favorites round out the family fun. Who says freedom isn't free? FreedomFest is, as is admission to the Center for the day (inside will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) 513-333-7500. (See Attractions or Events.) -- JULIE MULLINS

SATURDAY 28 SUNDAY 29
The NEWPORT ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL brings juried artisans from Ohio, Kentucky and surrounding areas who will be selling original photography, jewelry, metal works and more. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for some unique creations! Last year a hefty 30,000 people came out to enjoy the festival, and even more are expected to turn out this year. Live music both days will accompany your stroll along the Newport riverfront as you peruse the booths for artsy finds. And if the kids start getting antsy, let them burn off some creative energy in the Children's Art Zone where they'll get the chance to add to your refrigerator art collection. Get creative and combine the day with a night at Lite Brite (see page 31). 859-912-2509. (See Art or Events.) -- ELIZABETH MILLER

SUNDAY 29
Some of the most interesting music being made today is coming from artists who have traded in their guitars and moved into the world of electronic music (sometimes they'll even keep the guitars and mix in the electro). From Klaxons to The Knife, many of these artists are getting high-profile attention, playing to an audience that has grown tired of the standard guitar/bass/drums formula. On the cusp of joining those bands on the leading edge is DANDI WIND, who sounds like none of the aforementioned ... and few others anywhere, to be frank. Blending the more experimental side of Electronica -- fuzzed-out, scatterbrain beats and song structures, plus pour-your-guts-on-the-dance-floor vocals that grunt and sigh and even feature a few anxiety-ridden "raps" -- with the vintage Rave/ Techno template, Dandi Wind's Concrete Igloo sounds like it could have come out of the electronic renaissance that hit New York City just as the Punk movement was hitting its stride. No Wave goes to the disco, as it were. Their live show is touted as "a cross-media assault," aggressive and manic but as tight as the machinery they use will allow (which is pretty tight). Dandi Wind adds an eccentric Electro side to this weekend's Lite Brite festival; perhaps the most eclectic Lite Brite yet. Don't be scared Jimmy Eat World fans: Dandi won't hurt ya! 859-431-2201. (See Music.) -- MIKE BREEN