Hollinden to perform end-of-semester show

It’s been three years since professor Andy Hollinden came out of retirement as a musician and began performing his “end-of-the-semester blowouts.”

Holliden’s shows, which are the Friday before finals week, are quickly becoming an IU tradition as students flock to The Bluebird Nightclub to see him perform.

There is also the usual guest appearance by professor Glenn Gass.

“I teach about a thousand students a year,” Hollinden said. “One thing that all those students have in common is that they’ve all taken a class with either me or Glenn.
Almost everyone in the Bluebird is unified. There’s uniformity to the mindset of those people.”

For the 2010 spring semester show, Hollinden and his band, Atom Heart Mother, performed the complete 1973 Pink Floyd masterpiece, “Dark Side of the Moon.”

It is something that Hollinden said he took some heat for and gave the audience the impression that the semester-ending shows have a theme.

Earlier this semester, the band also performed “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety at the Monroe County Fall Festival.

Senior Chris Gordon, who is in one of Hollinden’s classes, has never been to one of Hollinden’s performances.

“I heard a lot about when he did the Pink Floyd cover, and I’ve heard really good things about it,” Gordon said. “He obviously loves music, has a passion for rock and roll and has always played.”

Besides performing three songs from “Dark Side of the Moon,” which Hollinden said is more like “One Side of the Moon,” Hollinden and the band will perform songs that can be found on his Z301 Music of the 70s and 80s listening list for his class.

One of the highlights of the show will be saxophone/flute player for Atom Heart Mother Tom Clark, who will play alongside both Hollinden and Gass.

“Glenn will do certain songs that utilize a sax player, like The Beatles’ ‘Lady Madonna,’ ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ by Bob Dylan and ‘Watching the Detectives’ by Elvis Costello, which is also on the listening list,” Hollinden said.

The band will also perform the six song suite of Abbey Road by The Beatles.

“We kind of painted ourselves into a corner with ‘Dark Side of the Moon,’” Hollinden said. “After that performance, our undertaking was kicking around ideas of other albums, and we decided on the six songs of the ‘Abbey Road’ melody.”

Junior Ryan Alexander saw Hollinden two years ago at the Bluebird.

“It was awesome. It was a lot of fun, but it was really packed at the Bluebird,” he said. “Overall, it was a great performance. I think Hollinden has a good stage performance, good stage presence, gets the crowd excited. I mean, it’s a lot of fun to see your teacher up there.”

Jenn Christy will open the show at 10 p.m.

Hollinden will follow, performing a set of original music, followed by the classic rock set.

During the show, Gass will perform a special number in memory of the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. 

“It’s good music. We play well. There’s the added novelty of seeing your professor play, and you get to drink. It’s a win, win situation,” Hollinden said. “It’s the last Friday night that people are in town. People are just ready to let go. There will be people ready to party.”