"It's the magic that's kept me in it," says Hayes, as he greets another regular by name. "Original music is a hard road to travel, and it depends on family and friends to support it. Anyone can go to a cover club." Onstage, Icarus is launching into a set of such rock and roll, having passed muster with Kindred. Things run smoothly at the Tavern; the next band, Death Proof (the name is a reference to their Christian beliefs, not the Quentin Tarantino film), is already setting up their gear next to the stage while Icarus plays, assuring a relatively seamless transition between acts, while the opener, Vaughn Street Glee Club, have already broken down their equipment and moved it out of the building.
On Day 16 of The 5th Quarter’s production schedule, the film adaptation of the story of former Wake Forest football player Jon Abbate and the loss of his younger brother, Luke, during the Demon Deacons’ 2006 dream season, crew members worked quietly and efficiently in and around the Gold’s Gym off Reynolda Road in Winston-Salem. As grips, electricians and set dressers worked in a cramped workout room, preparing for a scene featuring Ryan Merriman, who plays Jon Abbate in the film, a sense of peace and calm fell over the 100-member crew. Despite the fact the film company had a good number of scenes to capture before day’s end, the set felt less like a Hollywood movie and more like a family reunion. There were several reasons for that.
John Gladman is an outsider to the political arena. Hes worked for more than a decade to help improve the lives of those living in poverty. Gladman, the assistant director of social services for the Salvation Army, said hes seen first-hand the trickle-down effect of decisions made by the Forsyth County Commissioners during his 13 years of service.