Vollmar to perform at the Bishop

Since Bloomington was always on Justin Vollmar’s “cultural map” in college and after graduation, it just made sense that he would make it his permanent home.

His music, on the other hand, will always be rooted in his hometown of West Virginia.
“The town is on two rivers, the Kanawha and the Ohio,” Vollmar said. “Some of my recent songs have to do with the rivers there.”

Vollmar has been writing songs since he was 16 years old. Ten years ago, he started his own band self-titled Vollmar. Though he sometimes plays with band members Nathan Vollmar and David Brant, he usually plays as a solo act.

Now celebrating eleven years of performing, Vollmar is continuing to tour including a show here in his current residence of Bloomington at 9 p.m. Thursday at The Bishop.

“The best part about playing in your own town is that after a show you can be home and in bed within thirty minutes,” Dylan Metrano of Tiger Saw said.

Tiger Saw, Michael Bushman from Redbird, and Winter Sons will be joining the folk band Vollmar Thursday.

“The Bishop usually has a pretty attentive crowd,” Vollmar said. “I’ve seen a lot of different crowds but people here appreciate the arts. They know what they want to see, and that’s what they come to see.”

Vollmar also said he is excited to play with the other bands including Michael Bushman and Tiger Saw whom he has played with before.

Metrano is looking forward to reconnecting as well.

“We’ve played in Bloomington before, and we played with Vollmar,” Metrano said. “I really like the directness in their approach and sensitivity in their lyrics. It’s easy to take in being not too obscure but well-crafted.”

Vollmar said he is often thrown into the folk category, but all he is really looking to do is ”present his own voice.” Metrano said Tiger Saw has complementary goals.

“I think we are doing similar things,” Metrano said. “We’re exploring and creating quiet music with stories in them.”

Along with promoting Tiger Saw’s new album “Nightingales,” which will be in stores Nov. 2, Metrano said he is excited to just travel — visiting place old and new.

Vollmar also plans to play some songs off of his current album “Tell the Dirt.” However, he said he hopes to incorporate some covers as well.

“I might cover a song originally done by Ben Richter called ‘Breakfast Nook’ which is about a man who writes a book called ‘Breakfast Nook’ and then has a nervous breakdown when a pretty woman asks him to sign it for her,” Vollmar said. “I think its great and very catchy. It’s the perfect opportunity for audience participation.”

Overall, Metrano and Vollmar just hope to share their music with Bloomington.
“Hopefully we play a decent set, enjoy the evening and meet some friends,” Vollmar said.