Local bands launch surprise Jordan show

An orange extension cord ran from a single outlet across the empty spaces of the Jordan parking garage and into an overloaded power strip.

From the one outlet, a makeshift music venue was powered.

“I was at the smoking table at Wright, and I heard a bunch of music blaring from the garage,” freshman Ian Kime said. “I always follow music when I hear it, so I simply jumped the river and hopped over the garage wall, and it was a full show.”

Kime was not the only one the music attracted as new local bands Fluffer and Ivory Wave made their music heard by the entire Southeast and Central neighborhoods.

“I lived in Read last year, and we used to jam in the garage,” sophomore and Fluffer vocalist Al Sigman said. “We always talked about doing a show here but never did. So we finally did.”

The garage show was the rock band’s first show and had more than 40 attendees.
“It was cool. We didn’t invite anyone,” Sigman said. “We really just wanted to see who would wind up coming.”

The band’s makeshift venue isn’t the only unconventional thing about it.

Sigman said all of the members come from different styles of music, and they mix their rock-based sound up by adding gunshot sounds.

However, the most unique thing about the band may be the origin of its peculiar name.

“A fluffer is the guy in a pornography who is in charge of keeping the male actor erect between shots,” Sigman said. “I guess we chose it because it was awesome.”

Kime said he liked the band’s style and thought it picked the best place to play.

“I think the garage show was a perfect move. It attracts the people that like music the most,” Kime said. “As soon as I saw it, I was like, ‘Hell yeah, a concert in the parking garage.’”

Following Fluffer was band Ivory Wave. The members of the indie-rock band said they accepted Sigman’s invite to play as soon as it was offered.

“It was a total do-it-yourself thing,” Ivory Wave vocalist and sophomore Matt Jackson said. “It gave an echoey product, and it was very loud.”

Jackson said he was impressed with the turnout, and though two police officers showed up while patrolling Little 500 week, he said they were simply there to listen.

“I was most worried about the cops coming,” Jackson said. “But when they did show up they said they weren’t there to hassle us and stayed to listen.”

Both bands agreed that it was a great turnout, and listeners, including Kime, said they plan to attend the next show.

“It was a lot of fun,” Jackson said. “So listen up for more music and follow the sound.”