Despite dedicating years to the art of critical writing, penning reviews of countless performances, exhibitions and recording. I’ve never considered becoming a food writer. Although I enjoy a great meal well-prepared, I’ve been fortunate to share pages – real or virtual – with a great many writers whose enthusiasm and skill writing on the subject would make my meager scratchings unnecessary and probably pale in comparison. So, no, I am not a food writer, and I have no intention of starting now.
What I do write about, however, is cultures – those communities constructed or grown that gather the like-minded. Participation in these cultures, be it an art community or music scene, are often the best marketing tool an individual has. Being a band from Athens, more than 40 years after the emergence of the B-52s, still holds a certain cache.
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I bring this up because a recent trip to Charleston landed me at the door of Hyman’s Seafood, a foundational establishment in that city’s thriving restaurant community. For more than 100 years, that restaurant has entertained both guests and locals with a menu that refuses to stray far from the bay. As I sat there, it occurred to me that while I had been aware of Hyman’s for most of my life, I had never seen a billboard advertising its wares. I had rarely seen magazine ads. In fact, the only real attracter seemed to be the regular lines that snake down the street. And Charleston is full of places like that. The competition is fierce, but so is the level of success, both on a fiscal and foodie level. People go to Charleston to eat. They plan trips around meals. The food culture is celebrated.
And that is something we do not do enough of in Augusta. For some reason, we tend to be neglectful of those local businesses dedicated to keeping us fed and watered. Instead, lines seem to form at whatever chain plops a one-in-every-town shoebox on a convenient corner. I mean, how many variations on the chicken strip does one city need?
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So here is my plea. The next time you are considering straying from you own kitchen, consider a locally-owned business. There are a lot of them. Patronage means more than merely a good meal. It strengthens the culture. It strengthens the economy. It promotes and celebrates this community’s history and future.
Now, I understand there may be some confusion as to what Augusta-area eateries are local and which are part of national chains. So, I would like to offer a challenge. I’d like readers to recommend their favorite local eatery. There need not be qualification – we are not looking for the very best. What I want to hear are the places that attract you for any reason – be it the old school vibes of Luigi’s or the vegan focus of Humanitree House. Your favorite.
Story or Sentimentality
I’ve always been more Star Wars than Star Trek. Perhaps it is because the former caught me at just the right time in my development. Perhaps its because I could never quite engage with the utopian standards the latter set. I used to cite the fanaticism of the Trekkies as a turn off, but the truth is, the Star Wars folk rocking their Rebel Alliance tats and Wookie family window stickers are probably equally annoying to those not part of the tribe. The good news for both camps is there seems to be little indication that new fuel for their fan fires shows any indication of slowing.
But here is the thing. At its core, science fiction is about the power of imagination. It is, if all you Trekkies will excuse me, its Prime Directive. But when dealing with enormous intellectual properties such at Star Wars and Star Trek, there is a certain commercial obligation as well. They need to remain must-see enough to ensure audiences are engaged. That’s where sentimentality comes into play. I bring this up on the eve of the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi and a few weeks into the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Both are built on a certain sentimentality. Obi-Wan is bringing back popular characters and the actors that played them. Strange New Worlds is has restored the original Enterprise and sent it out of civilization-of-the-week adventures. There’s a certain comfort in that, but is that what we want from our science fiction? Comfort?
I believe that franchises are capable of both appealing to an established fanbase while still breaking new ground. I thought Blade Runner 2049 did this particularly well. The recent Alien sequels perhaps less so, but that did take a bigger swing. Of course, neither of these did particularly well at the box office. So it’s back to art’s oldest question – creativity or commerce. I will opt for the former but understand when our collective appetites lead us to worlds that might not seem all that strange.
Buried Treasure: Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Consider this. Iggy Pop, in 1977, was by no means a legend. His former band the Stooges was a cult act that never sold many records. His subsequent albums eschewed that act’s proto-punk sound in favor a smoother rock approach that his label surely thought was more radio-friendly. Great records for sure, but not hits by any measure. So, by the time Lust for Life rolled around Iggy had his friendship with the far more successful David Bowie and little to lose.
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So he made a garage rock masterpiece.
Today it is best known for the rollicking title track – which was once used as the least appropriate soundtrack for a cruise line commercial. But the truth is the entire record is a real winner. It’s a portrait of an artist both looking back and moving forward – the perfect distillation of what the Iggy sound is. He would follow with more records and, eventually, spend some more time with the Stooges. But he was never quite as magnificent as he was during Lust for Life.
We are now accepting submissions for the Press Play Songwriter Contest
Another reminder that we are accepting submissions for the Inaugural Augusta Press Press Play contest for local songwriters.
The rules are simple.
- No profanity or slurs. Give us your radio edit.
- You must be able to perform the piece submitted in front of a live audience.
- One original piece of music per artist.
The contest is open to all comers – bands, choirs, combos, posses and even orchestras. All we ask is that the song submitted is your own.
We will accept submissions through June 30 and open up voting on July 1. The three songs that receive to most votes and three critic’s picks will be awarded 20 minute sets as part of the Arts In the Heart of Augusta Global Stage opening night festivities. There, a panel of judges will award $500, $250 and $100 to the first, second and third place acts, respectively.
So let’s get those submissions going. Let’s remind people of the talent that lives right here. Let’ s build a fanbase for Augusta music and, just perhaps, be rewarded richly for doing so.
Send MP3s to songwriter@theaugustapress.com.
Steven Uhles has worked as professional journalist in the Augusta area for 22 years, and his Pop Rocks column ran in The Augusta Chronicle for more than 20. He lives in Evans with his wife, two children and a dog named after Hunter Thompson.
