Saturday, August 2, 2008

Church of Universal Love and Music Raided

This place seems ridiculous

State Police troopers James Custer (left) and James Garlick block access as the Fayette County Drug Task Force, along with assistance from the state police, raided the Church of Universal Love and Music on Saturday. (John F. Brothers/Herald-Standard)
BULLSKIN TWP. - In what some officials were calling one of the most significant drug busts in Fayette County history, four teams of law enforcement officers raided the Church of Universal Love and Music in Bullskin Township Saturday.
During a weekend event dubbed "Funk Fest" at the eccentric and eclectic church, multiple units from the Fayette County Drug Task Force raided the compound, sending shocked parishioners literally running from the grounds.

"At this point, we have confiscated a large amount of contraband and made multiple arrests," Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon said Saturday night, as multiple police vans loaded with suspects arrived at the Uniontown Police Department shortly before 10 p.m. "There have been at least 20 arrests made and we have multiple truck loads of confiscated drugs and paraphernalia."

During the raid at the church on Bear Rocks Run Road in Acme, Vernon said that officers discovered "pounds and pounds of hallucinogenic mushrooms, tons of marijuana and more than 1,000 smoking devices." She said it will take time for officers to make an accurate inventory of the confiscated items. Officers had to attach tow-behind trailers to police cruisers to remove the contraband. She said four separate "head shops" at the church where drugs and drug paraphernalia were being sold were also raided.

Additionally, Vernon said the 36 officers who conducted the raid found prescription medication being used illegally, more than $5,000 cash and other illegal drugs.

Ironically, one of the concert headliners during the weekend festivities is a band called DRUGS, who feature the song "Strung Out."

Vernon said that law enforcement officials from around the county, including task force members from Uniontown and Connellsville, as well as the state police vice unit and the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, participated in the raid. Fayette EMS Tactical Medics and the Connellsville Auxiliary police assisted at the scene.

Task Force Detective Ryan Reese said the raid began at 5 p.m. as officers executed multiple search warrants at the church.

Vernon said the raid was the result of an ongoing investigation during which undercover officers made multiple drug purchases.

According to Vernon, undercover officers infiltrated services at the church in May and July.

She said that officers discovered concert vendors at the site selling drugs and drug paraphernalia.

During undercover operations at the site, Vernon said officers purchased acid and other illegal drugs and found vendors selling everything from marijuana-laced brownies to "Whippet balloons" which are filled with nitrous oxide and then inhaled.

Earlier this year, Willie Pritts, the church's founder, settled a property dispute with the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board on the condition that drugs were not permitted on the premises and underage drinking was to be forbidden.

Following the settlement, the church resumed holding musical church services on Pritts' property after more than a three-year hiatus.

The hiatus came after the board denied Pritts' requests to either rezone his land to hold concerts or grant him a special exception to do so.

After years of squabbling with the board, Pritts and the church filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the county, the board and other officials. Amongst his claims were that the county infringed upon his right to religious freedom when it denied his requests.

The case was settled in March, and while the settlement agreement does not address the sincerity of the church's beliefs, it did give Pritts $75,000 and permission to have six weekend, and six Saturday concerts on the church's land, which includes this weekends "Funk Fest."

Conditions in the settlement also included limiting church attendance to 1,500 people for any given event.

Vernon said it was not immediately clear how many people were in attendance during Saturday's raid.

"I am very proud of the task force and the officers who participated in this raid because they risked going into a situation where they didn't know if there would be 300 people or 1,500 people," Vernon said. "Now, I hope to present this raid to the county to help take the steps necessary to halt this church's operation."

See the Daily Show skit for more info

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Review: Forecastle Festival 07/26/08 Louisville, KY


We arrived in the middle of downtown Louisville for day 2 of the 7th annual Forecastle Festival to discover that there were only about 200 people milling around Belvedere Park. We walked around, started exploring, and within ten minutes spotted the Disco Biscuits walking around doing the same thing we were. I wanted to say something but pretty much wussed out and barely mustered up the courage to akwardly nod to the Barber and mumble "what's up" to Brownstein as we walked past each other. Maybe next time I'll try for a high five.

Anyways, there was definitely one thing that set Forecastle apart from other festivals. At most festivals there are a few non-profit booths, but the festival itself is actually way more geared towards getting you to buy their $4 bottles of water than getting you to support local farming in your daily life. What makes Forecastle different is that the festival is legitimately and genuinely focused on promoting activism and actually getting patrons to support local economies. Not only did they give the vending spots to non-profits and artists instead of food vendors (although they could have used a smoothie booth if you ask me), but they were giving away the bottles of water for free!

After exploring for a while we walked to the stage to catch Tortoise. This was my second time seeing Tortoise and I have to say, I wasn't that impressed. Most of the set was pretty boring, but it wasn't all bad. I gradually became more and more entertained as the set went on and definitely took notice of percussionist/multi-instrumentalist John McEntire. But overall, the set lacked in a lot of ways.

I didn't know what to expect from DJ Z-Trip but I ended up having a great time getting down to the mash-ups between Guns 'n' Roses, Nirvana, Michael Jackson, Queen, a little hip-hop, and of course, Journey. It was almost like he was spinning a greatest hits album from every white person's wedding I've ever been to. Let's be honest though. I was there to see the Disco Biscuits.

Barber pwning Louisville. Photo credit: Backseat Sandbar

After killer sets at Bonnaroo, Rothbury, and Camp Bisco, not to mention the night before at DFest in Oklahoma, I was afraid that the momentum the Biscuits had been building might not be sustainable. Fortunately for the city of Louisville, after taking the stage fashionably late the Disco Biscuits played a killer set. For those of you who didn't get the memo, the Disco Biscuits tore it up in 2008 and you missed it, because now they won't be playing again until December. Check out this clip of the group closing out an epic couple months with my new favorite version of "Run Like Hell".



Set: Caves of the East> Kitchen Mitts, Morph Dusseldorf> Cyclone> Shem-Rah Boo1> Morph Dusseldorf, Papercut> Run Like Hell

Monday, July 28, 2008

GDF

ever wonder who these people are? if you have been at a show you have. this explains it pretty well.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Ear Candy: Umphrey's McGee - Hip-Hop Bach - (Backstage Version)

This one is Umphrey's McGee practicing backstage before tonight's show in Baltimore. This comes courtesy of UM's own blog, The Floor (which is definitely my favorite new blog as well).

"Hip-Hop Bach" (Backstage)

Update: here is the final version as it was played last night:

"Hip-Hop Bach" (Actual)

Ear Candy: Umphrey's McGee - Triple Wide w/ Reaper Jam > Eat - 07/26/08 Boston, MA

I just stumbled upon this gem from last night's Umphrey's McGee show in Boston (Umphrey's MaGee for you Red Sox fans). The crowd goes absolutely nuts when they bust into Don't Fear the Reaper. Stream it here.

07/26/08 Boston, MA

Set: Eat*> Jazz Odyssey> Alex's House> Triple Wide**> Eat. Abacab. Mail Package. Wappy Sprayberry. Prowler> In the Kitchen> Wizard Burial Ground.

*w/ Glory intro tease
**w/ Don't Fear the Repear jam, w/one verse