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With temperatures in the teens and below, many Bloomington residents are looking forward to warmer temperatures and the chance to get out and enjoy city festivities.
With temperatures in the teens and below, many Bloomington residents are looking forward to warmer temperatures and the chance to get out and enjoy city festivities.
Bloomington beloved Larry Condor has been the resident Santa Claus at Fountain Square Mall for 12 years, but he hasn't been welcomed back this holiday season.
On Oct. 24, AAA Hoosier Motor Club reported Indiana gas prices dropped nearly 20 cents from Oct. 17-24.
IU’s preliminary event for Miss Indiana did not take place this year after new leadership at the Union Board discontinued its partnership.
Sallie Mae, a major student loan provider, has its largest office in Fishers, Ind. For years, the company has been involved in supplying federal and private loans to students. If the reconciliation bill’s amendments to health care pass the Senate and are signed into law, private lenders will no longer have the ability to originate student loans.
In the months leading up to the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama campaigned with a platform that promised change. Just a few months into his term, Obama initiated some of these changes regarding stem cell research.
Ruckus, a fast-paced and inexpensive game, has captivated members of every age group with its fun simplicity.
Window shoppers in the Bloomington community received festive greetings from retailers as they walked the downtown sidewalks.
The results of a recent smoking survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a hit in the state of Indiana. According to media sources around Indiana, the results of the study showed the first increase in the national smoking rate in 15 years.
The streets of Nashville, Ind., will fill with a variety of chocolates Saturday when the Brown County Humane Society puts on its second-annual Chocolate Walk fundraiser on Saturday.
After more than a year of solo artist-dom, Jenny Lewis reunited with her indie-pop band mates to release Under the Blacklight, their first album under a major record label, which is the first of many problems. Fans were spoiled by Lewis' 2006 solo album, Rabbit Fur Coat -- with her soulful voice and powerful lyrics -- so it seems Under the Blacklight is far too polished and overwhelming for her sweet vocals. \nIt's overloaded with funky electronic additions, distracting from the sheer emotion that echoes in Lewis' voice and lyrics both in her solo album and past Rilo Kiley albums. The band's 2004 album, More Adventurous, seemed to flow perfectly between the tracks, with Lewis' voice shining through, evoking every emotion humanly possible -- a large detail that is missing from the latest release. The lyrics leave little to interpretation and, simply put, Under the Blacklight is too black and white -- excuse the pun. Many of the songs have recurring themes of prostitution, the hard life and even pedophilia (ahem: "He was deep like a graveyard. She was ripe as a peach. And how could he have known that she was only 15?" from the aptly titled "15"). \nThere are a few strong tracks, including the deceptively bouncy and cheerful "Breakin' Up," about seeing the light at the end of a relationship, while simultaneously referring to a bad cell-phone reception. "Silver Lining" is upbeat and one of the better Lewis vocals, with the chilling line "I never felt so wicked, as when I willed our love to die." The first single "The Moneymaker" is a cool-sounding song that essentially repeats itself over and over again, but is quite catchy. \nThat's another thing: the repetition. Almost every song repeats the chorus over and over again -- there are less lyrics and more chorus. Not to mention the three separate songs that mention graveyards and "Dejalo" -- a Latin-inspired, fast tune that doesn't seem to fit anywhere into the Rilo Kiley spectrum. \nThis is not to say Under the Blacklight is a bad album. It's more of an acquired taste. Even though Blacklight obscures Lewis' raw voice with lavish production, it's brave and exciting for the band to explore new territories. There is a reason the band's so beloved by its fans: simplicity. Under the Blacklight is a little too complicated.
I was the VP of membership at Delta Zeta’s IU chapter during the 1995-1996 school year. While I was at IU, our chapter was asked to assist the DePauw chapter with their recruitment activities, an echo of what happened recently between the two campuses. When a chapter is struggling to meet quota and simply does not have enough women to speak with prospective new members, gaps need to be filled, and, out of respect for our fellow sisters well over a decade ago, we agreed to assist (as did the current collegians at the IU chapter). The fact that the DePauw women referred to the IU women who volunteered to help them this year as “plastic”, while simultaneously claiming that they were being judged by nationals based on their own appearances, smacks of irony. “Real women” come in all shapes, sizes, colors and physical packages. To suggest that one is being judged on her appearance in one breath while passing judgment on others based on their appearance in another is a little unfair. \nAlthough the timing of the decision from Delta Zeta nationals to move women from the DePauw chapter to alumnae status was extremely poor, I don’t see it as being malicious. Sororities have objectives they must meet, one of which is a membership quota. The fact the DePauw chapter actually voted to disband after the 2006-2007 school year is being overlooked. The fine print of that decision included repercussions such as being moved to alumnae status and losing their housing at the sorority. \nIt is very unfortunate the women at DePauw were unable to connect with prospective new members on their campus and meet their quota. However, that is really what this is about at the end of the day; it’s not about being asked to leave because they weren’t “attractive.” Had they met their quota, this would be a nonissue and nationals would have had no reason to step in and conduct a membership assessment.
EVANSVILLE -- The firefighter sat, head in hands, alone. \nIt was a blindingly sunny Sunday in early November, and he hardly expected to be here, doing this, in what remained of a trailer community nestled alongside a bustling freeway in southwestern Indiana. \nThe grizzled veteran stared straight ahead. His eyes welled with tears. Shook his hands. No interviews. Please.\nHis grief was illustrative of a larger, collective mourning in this community of more than 150,000, wracked by a tornado deemed the worst in state memory Sunday morning.\nAs dawn broke Sunday, more than 400 fire and emergency services personnel from across Indiana descended upon Evansville in Vanderburgh County and Newburgh, Ind., in neighboring Warrick County, to sift through the damage and unearth what remained.\n"I've never seen anything like this, no," said Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth, standing in Eastbrook Mobile Home Park, where the death toll climbed to 23 Sunday at press time. "I've seen smaller disasters. But like this? Nothing." \nFirst the bodies came, more than a dozen in nearly no time. A family of four. A 2-year-old girl. An 11-year-old boy, his body tossed by the storm's 158-mph winds into a nearby pond. \nBut then rescuers took heart: An 8-year-old girl was pulled from a ditch near the trailer park. Injured but alert, she was transported to an area hospital. \n"We've searched all the standing houses, but because of the extent of the damage, it's difficult to tell in some places where houses actually were," said Chief Deputy Eric Williams of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office. "It's basically one large debris field. We're trying to move what's left, but it'll be an ongoing job."\nThe Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office reported at least 17 deaths at press time, and five more people, including a family of four, were killed in Degonia Springs, a rural community in Warrick County. Nearly 230 additional victims were treated Sunday at two area hospitals for injuries ranging from mild to critical, and more than 17,000 homes were without power Sunday. Warrick County schools are closed today, and American Red Cross volunteers are continuing to place now-homeless families in local shelters. \nThe storm came virtually without warning, leaving in its frenetic wake destruction spanning more than 20 miles in length and nearly a mile wide. \nIt was, as all twisters are, deliberate in what it chose to take and spare. In the Eastbrook community, washing machines were yanked from walls and tossed carelessly into dense clusters of trees. Baby clothes dangled from the eaves of what was once a home. A child's rocking horse littered an abandoned street. Bits of sheet metal and aluminum siding were flung onto the interstate and into neighboring roadways. \nEmergency sirens sounded throughout the greater Evansville area around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, as residents of both counties slept. But many of the areas wracked hardest by the storms were already without power. \nThe twister touched down in Henderson, Ky., at Ellis Park, a horse racetrack, shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, damaging barns and killing at least three Thoroughbred racehorses. It then began its 20-mile dance throughout neighboring Evansville and Warrick and Vanderburgh counties, decimating well-established neighborhoods in Newburgh, Ind., and destroying homes and churches in northern Warrick County. \nIndiana Gov. Mitch Daniels toured the disaster area in a Blackhawk helicopter Sunday afternoon.\n"It was a narrow path, a long streak," Daniels said. "It was dots and dashes. You could see where it lifted and touched down multiple times." \nClutching photographs he found lying near a destroyed home in Degonia Springs, Daniels appeared tearful as he spoke to emergency personnel while touring the Eastbrook community. \n"In Indiana, we take care of our own," Daniels said, praising state and local emergency preparedness units for their "unparalleled" skill and steadfastness. "The federal authorities have graciously offered their assistance, but for now, I've told them that we'll look to our own for the moment."\nFederal agencies will step in for reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, Daniels said. State and local authorities will tend to the immediate task of rescue and recovery, however. At least 50 Indiana National Guard troops arrived in Evansville early Sunday to assist emergency personnel, sheriff's deputies and the Evansville Police Department.\nSurvivors in the Eastbrook community described the aftermath as "chaotic," the sounds that followed the twister's deafening winds as haunting.\n"It got to me," said Kenneth Schaefer, 43, a plastics worker from Evansville, who moved to the trailer park three months ago. "Kids were crying, people were hollering and screaming ... seeing that just gets to you."\nSchaefer was among the lucky residents. His trailer, located in the front of the community and nestled near the overpass for Interstate 164, was spared. He left his house with his dogs, but his birds and fish remained in his home. \nStanding near the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office command post near the community entrance Sunday, Schaefer looked tired, drawn. He blushed when his brother-in-law talked of how Schaefer pulled a family of five, several of whom were pinned beneath a sofa, from a nearby trailer. \n"Ain't nothing," he scoffed, diverting his eyes. "We just didn't have no chance. I didn't even hear the sirens. My brother woke me up. By the time I got my shoes and got to the door, it was on us. We didn't have no time to get anywhere"
Think back to your junior year in high school. If you were like most kids, you were probably going to high school football games on Friday nights, starting the college search and driving everywhere you could because your license was still new. Unlike most high school students, current IU sophomore Dan Stevens was starting a business. He was taking an idea and making it a reality. \nAs a freshman in high school in Indianapolis, Stevens attended a party with a DJ who had a few CD players, a mixer and a stereo. Intrigued, Stevens asked the DJ about rates and was shocked to find out how much he made. Stevens took his interest in music and specifically DJing to a new level. He began his career as DJ Brakez, After buying speakers, lights and turntables, Stevens began practicing and started a radio show on his high school's radio station, 89.3 WJEL. At first, he just played local CDs, but before he knew it, he had DJs contacting him and asking to play on the show. He watched how the DJs worked together and the response the listeners had on their work. This is when he started his own DJ business, DFS Sound. Stevens said the concept behind the company is to bring DJs together.\n"If we all stick together we will be able to increase our rates, our business and gain a fan base," Stevens said. "DFS Sound is the central hub. It is all about putting connections together."\nStevens brought his business with him to Bloomington when he came to IU and it quickly expanded. DFS Sound currently consists of ten DJs and 11 MCs (rappers), all with very diverse backgrounds and different talents. Most of DFS Sound's DJs are located in Bloomington, but they also have a few in Indianapolis, such as DJ TopSpeed, Stevens' mentor and one of the top DJs in the area. In the last couple of years, the DJ business has grown in Bloomington with bars such as Kilroy's, Uncle Fester's, Axis and the Bluebird hiring DJs at least once a week to turn the bar into a dance club. Stevens says people interested in joining his business are always approaching him. \nSenior Virginia Clifton frequently visits Nick's English Hut, the Jungle Room and Kilroy's. She said she likes the change in atmosphere the DJs bring to the bar scene. \n"I like the idea of bringing DJs to the bars a few times a week. It adds something new to the typical bar-going experience," Clifton said. "I think it attracts a wide variety of people and everyone can have a good time."\nElliot Oveson, DJ WuShu, joined DFS Sound at the beginning of summer. He has been mixing and creating sets for several years. Stevens saw Oveson performing at the 9th Street Bar and asked him to join the business.\n"There are a lot of DJs in the Bloomington area. Elliot stood out and was better than I had seen in a while," Stevens said.\nShortly after joining DFS, Oveson became the first DJ in DFS to be contracted full-time. He was hired by the Jungle Room to play five nights week. Other DFS DJs open the night and Oveson oversees them before headlining around 12:30 a.m.\n"For people who don't know DJing, it looks easy and the sound is easy on the ears, but it takes a lot of practice to do all that. When people notice it, all your work has paid off and you're motivated to get on to bigger things," Oveson said.\nOveson, as well as the rest of the DFS Sound DJs, use the old-style turntables to remix 80's, dance, funk, hip hop, latin, reggae and many more different types of music. Mixing music using turntable technology has been around since 1979, but today, many DJs are turning to CD and DVD automation to create their mixes. Stevens and Oveson believe the traditional turntables represent the industry and its history. They said people are afraid to try turntables because they're not sure how they work.\n"Turntables take a lot of time to learn. It's basically a band at the tip of your fingertips," Stevens said.\nOveson agreed. "I have yet to see a CD DJ that can do what we can do (with the turntables)," he said. "That puts us out there in the spotlight."\nNot only do the DFS DJs offer a wide variety of mixed songs and styles, all of the DJs are willing to travel the nation and even worldwide for gigs. According to Stevens, DJ Tom Slick has plans of going to Korea in the near future to work a few hip-hop shows. \nBut DFS Sound is only getting started. Stevens has a lot of ambitions and goals for the company.\n"Overall, my 10- to 15-year plan is to get the business big nationally or even internationally," Stevens said. "I want to put DJs, MCs and beat boys under one group and help them get jobs, CDs and live shows."\nBetween running a business, DJing and being a student, Stevens doesn't find much time for sleep, but he said he loves every second of it. \n"It's a great feeling when you get a huge crowd or have a new set and you nail it. Then, when people who know nothing about turntables just come up and thank you, it's great," Stevens said.
Think back to your junior year in high school. If you were like most kids, you were probably going to high school football games on Friday nights, starting the college search and driving everywhere you could because your license was still new. Unlike most high school students, current IU sophomore Dan Stevens was starting a business. He was taking an idea and making it a reality. \nAs a freshman in high school in Indianapolis, Stevens attended a party with a DJ who had a few CD players, a mixer and a stereo. Intrigued, Stevens asked the DJ about rates and was shocked to find out how much he made. Stevens took his interest in music and specifically DJing to a new level. He began his career as DJ Brakez, After buying speakers, lights and turntables, Stevens began practicing and started a radio show on his high school's radio station, 89.3 WJEL. At first, he just played local CDs, but before he knew it, he had DJs contacting him and asking to play on the show. He watched how the DJs worked together and the response the listeners had on their work. This is when he started his own DJ business, DFS Sound. Stevens said the concept behind the company is to bring DJs together.\n"If we all stick together we will be able to increase our rates, our business and gain a fan base," Stevens said. "DFS Sound is the central hub. It is all about putting connections together."\nStevens brought his business with him to Bloomington when he came to IU and it quickly expanded. DFS Sound currently consists of ten DJs and 11 MCs (rappers), all with very diverse backgrounds and different talents. Most of DFS Sound's DJs are located in Bloomington, but they also have a few in Indianapolis, such as DJ TopSpeed, Stevens' mentor and one of the top DJs in the area. In the last couple of years, the DJ business has grown in Bloomington with bars such as Kilroy's, Uncle Fester's, Axis and the Bluebird hiring DJs at least once a week to turn the bar into a dance club. Stevens says people interested in joining his business are always approaching him. \nSenior Virginia Clifton frequently visits Nick's English Hut, the Jungle Room and Kilroy's. She said she likes the change in atmosphere the DJs bring to the bar scene. \n"I like the idea of bringing DJs to the bars a few times a week. It adds something new to the typical bar-going experience," Clifton said. "I think it attracts a wide variety of people and everyone can have a good time."\nElliot Oveson, DJ WuShu, joined DFS Sound at the beginning of summer. He has been mixing and creating sets for several years. Stevens saw Oveson performing at the 9th Street Bar and asked him to join the business.\n"There are a lot of DJs in the Bloomington area. Elliot stood out and was better than I had seen in a while," Stevens said.\nShortly after joining DFS, Oveson became the first DJ in DFS to be contracted full-time. He was hired by the Jungle Room to play five nights week. Other DFS DJs open the night and Oveson oversees them before headlining around 12:30 a.m.\n"For people who don't know DJing, it looks easy and the sound is easy on the ears, but it takes a lot of practice to do all that. When people notice it, all your work has paid off and you're motivated to get on to bigger things," Oveson said.\nOveson, as well as the rest of the DFS Sound DJs, use the old-style turntables to remix 80's, dance, funk, hip hop, latin, reggae and many more different types of music. Mixing music using turntable technology has been around since 1979, but today, many DJs are turning to CD and DVD automation to create their mixes. Stevens and Oveson believe the traditional turntables represent the industry and its history. They said people are afraid to try turntables because they're not sure how they work.\n"Turntables take a lot of time to learn. It's basically a band at the tip of your fingertips," Stevens said.\nOveson agreed. "I have yet to see a CD DJ that can do what we can do (with the turntables)," he said. "That puts us out there in the spotlight."\nNot only do the DFS DJs offer a wide variety of mixed songs and styles, all of the DJs are willing to travel the nation and even worldwide for gigs. According to Stevens, DJ Tom Slick has plans of going to Korea in the near future to work a few hip-hop shows. \nBut DFS Sound is only getting started. Stevens has a lot of ambitions and goals for the company.\n"Overall, my 10- to 15-year plan is to get the business big nationally or even internationally," Stevens said. "I want to put DJs, MCs and beat boys under one group and help them get jobs, CDs and live shows."\nBetween running a business, DJing and being a student, Stevens doesn't find much time for sleep, but he said he loves every second of it. \n"It's a great feeling when you get a huge crowd or have a new set and you nail it. Then, when people who know nothing about turntables just come up and thank you, it's great," Stevens said.
Out of the dark, murky club, the voices start singing. More voices join in. Some are thin and high, some are low and booming. Soon, all the voices are singing. \nBut this is no traditional group. The voices sing, but the voices are all those of saxophones. \nStarted in April 2003 by saxophonist and composer Benjamin Himpel, the Saxophone Cartel has grown and transformed into a unique, energetic band. With six members originally, the band has decreased its size to five, but the creativity they allow is what initially attracted members.\n"The originality of the music and high level of all the players was a strong incentive to join," senior member Peter Sparacino said. "The creative atmosphere has been an inspiring one."\nCurrent members are Matt Cashdollar, Michael Eaton, Morgan Price, Colin Renick and Sparacino. Cashdollar, Eaton, and Renick have been with the band since the beginning. Each member coming from a different musical background adds to the diversity of the group. Eaton brings a strong classical and jazz background to the band, while Renick, Cashdollar, Price and Sparacino add R&B, funk, rock and hip-hop experience to the group. Each member not only plays with the Saxophone Cartel, but many play in other ensembles and bands that develop their proficiency in many kinds of music. This kind of individuality is exactly what Himpel hoped for when starting the band. \n"I don't know Ben's process in selecting people for the band, but I think he wanted to pick top players who had the creativity, instrumental technique and open-minded qualities he was looking for," Eaton said. "Any individuality in our group is a result of our personal interpretations and original works."\nBut the sound the band creates isn't simply because the band is comprised of saxophones. It's the sound each member creates with the saxophone while performing the original compositions. \n"The cool thing is that each person has a fairly distinct set of interests, and an individual enough voice on his horn that the band draws upon the diversity to achieve its sound," Eaton said.\nHimpel, a Berlin native, was inspired by the German band Kölner Saxophon Mafia. This band and their individual sound influenced the pieces he wrote. \n"Ben unintentionally adopted the strategy of taking an uncommon influence to craft his music, which is one way of sounding more individual," Eaton said.\nHimpel's pieces are in the Saxophone Cartel's book and performed regularly. Their sound is also influenced by well-known saxophone ensembles World Sax Quartet and ROVA.\n"In terms of comparison, we adopt elements of all these big three sax ensembles (Kölner, WSQ and ROVA), but we have enough of our own influences that we don't sound the same," Eaton said. \nAdditionally, Cashdollar and Renick compose music for the band. Although they do perform covers of songs, they write most of their work themselves. \nAnother unique aspect of the band is its incorporation of other instruments in addition to the many different types of saxophones. Each member is a multi-instrumentalist with the ability to play soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax. Renick adds bass to their work with his bass clarinet. Often times, Cashdollar will throw his didgeridoo into the mix for fun improvisation. The group takes this variety and blends flawlessly in each of their songs. \n"There's really no limit except people's curiosity or interest, and playing other instruments can really change the colors and textures," Eaton said.\nAfter playing several live performances on Bloomington's local radio station, 98.1 WFHB, the Saxophone Cartel was asked if they would like to record a CD. Without hesitation, they began work on their first CD in March 2004. It took about 18 hours of studio recording time followed by a couple months of mixing and editing with their recording engineer, Mike Charstil. But it wasn't until a year later that they found a producer to fund the production of the CD. At a gig, Eaton announced the band was looking for funding, and WFHB co-founder Jeffrey Morris responded. With the help of Farm Fresh Studios and Bellwether Manufacturing Co. in Bloomington, Caught in the Act was finished. It was a long process, but the band members are happy with the result. The official CD release party is scheduled for August 4 at Bear's Place.\n"It is an amazing group to see. Their ideas are fresh. Each person brings their own personality and color to the group, which makes them so different from conventional saxophone groups. Each person has the opportunity to shine in their own way. The members have unlimited imaginations, and a big future in music," said Cameron Collins, former IU saxophone major who is currently playing professionally.\nNot only have they been recognized by the Bloomington music community, the Saxophone Cartel has gained popularity regionally as well as nationally. Most recently, they won a spot to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival, one of the oldest and most respected jazz festivals in the world. They have also opened for internationally recognized, San Francisco-based saxophone quartet, ROVA. Additionally, they played at the Biennial Conference for the North American Saxophone Alliance, the national saxophone professional and educational organization in Greensboro, N.C. The band is hoping to get more gigs at festivals around the United States and even some in Europe.\n"We are making plans for 2006 summer festivals in the US and Europe. The World Saxophone Congress will be held next summer, and we are going to work on getting a small tour through several countries," Eaton said. "The best-case scenario would be to become established as a nationally or internationally known saxophone ensemble, like ROVA or the World Saxophone Quartet is. We could continue our own solo careers and also take time to play as the Sax Cartel, hopefully several times a year."\nTo catch the Saxophone Cartel in action, visit their Web site at www.saxophonecartel.com.
Out of the dark, murky club, the voices start singing. More voices join in. Some are thin and high, some are low and booming. Soon, all the voices are singing. \nBut this is no traditional group. The voices sing, but the voices are all those of saxophones. \nStarted in April 2003 by saxophonist and composer Benjamin Himpel, the Saxophone Cartel has grown and transformed into a unique, energetic band. With six members originally, the band has decreased its size to five, but the creativity they allow is what initially attracted members.\n"The originality of the music and high level of all the players was a strong incentive to join," senior member Peter Sparacino said. "The creative atmosphere has been an inspiring one."\nCurrent members are Matt Cashdollar, Michael Eaton, Morgan Price, Colin Renick and Sparacino. Cashdollar, Eaton, and Renick have been with the band since the beginning. Each member coming from a different musical background adds to the diversity of the group. Eaton brings a strong classical and jazz background to the band, while Renick, Cashdollar, Price and Sparacino add R&B, funk, rock and hip-hop experience to the group. Each member not only plays with the Saxophone Cartel, but many play in other ensembles and bands that develop their proficiency in many kinds of music. This kind of individuality is exactly what Himpel hoped for when starting the band. \n"I don't know Ben's process in selecting people for the band, but I think he wanted to pick top players who had the creativity, instrumental technique and open-minded qualities he was looking for," Eaton said. "Any individuality in our group is a result of our personal interpretations and original works."\nBut the sound the band creates isn't simply because the band is comprised of saxophones. It's the sound each member creates with the saxophone while performing the original compositions. \n"The cool thing is that each person has a fairly distinct set of interests, and an individual enough voice on his horn that the band draws upon the diversity to achieve its sound," Eaton said.\nHimpel, a Berlin native, was inspired by the German band Kölner Saxophon Mafia. This band and their individual sound influenced the pieces he wrote. \n"Ben unintentionally adopted the strategy of taking an uncommon influence to craft his music, which is one way of sounding more individual," Eaton said.\nHimpel's pieces are in the Saxophone Cartel's book and performed regularly. Their sound is also influenced by well-known saxophone ensembles World Sax Quartet and ROVA.\n"In terms of comparison, we adopt elements of all these big three sax ensembles (Kölner, WSQ and ROVA), but we have enough of our own influences that we don't sound the same," Eaton said. \nAdditionally, Cashdollar and Renick compose music for the band. Although they do perform covers of songs, they write most of their work themselves. \nAnother unique aspect of the band is its incorporation of other instruments in addition to the many different types of saxophones. Each member is a multi-instrumentalist with the ability to play soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax. Renick adds bass to their work with his bass clarinet. Often times, Cashdollar will throw his didgeridoo into the mix for fun improvisation. The group takes this variety and blends flawlessly in each of their songs. \n"There's really no limit except people's curiosity or interest, and playing other instruments can really change the colors and textures," Eaton said.\nAfter playing several live performances on Bloomington's local radio station, 98.1 WFHB, the Saxophone Cartel was asked if they would like to record a CD. Without hesitation, they began work on their first CD in March 2004. It took about 18 hours of studio recording time followed by a couple months of mixing and editing with their recording engineer, Mike Charstil. But it wasn't until a year later that they found a producer to fund the production of the CD. At a gig, Eaton announced the band was looking for funding, and WFHB co-founder Jeffrey Morris responded. With the help of Farm Fresh Studios and Bellwether Manufacturing Co. in Bloomington, Caught in the Act was finished. It was a long process, but the band members are happy with the result. The official CD release party is scheduled for August 4 at Bear's Place.\n"It is an amazing group to see. Their ideas are fresh. Each person brings their own personality and color to the group, which makes them so different from conventional saxophone groups. Each person has the opportunity to shine in their own way. The members have unlimited imaginations, and a big future in music," said Cameron Collins, former IU saxophone major who is currently playing professionally.\nNot only have they been recognized by the Bloomington music community, the Saxophone Cartel has gained popularity regionally as well as nationally. Most recently, they won a spot to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival, one of the oldest and most respected jazz festivals in the world. They have also opened for internationally recognized, San Francisco-based saxophone quartet, ROVA. Additionally, they played at the Biennial Conference for the North American Saxophone Alliance, the national saxophone professional and educational organization in Greensboro, N.C. The band is hoping to get more gigs at festivals around the United States and even some in Europe.\n"We are making plans for 2006 summer festivals in the US and Europe. The World Saxophone Congress will be held next summer, and we are going to work on getting a small tour through several countries," Eaton said. "The best-case scenario would be to become established as a nationally or internationally known saxophone ensemble, like ROVA or the World Saxophone Quartet is. We could continue our own solo careers and also take time to play as the Sax Cartel, hopefully several times a year."\nTo catch the Saxophone Cartel in action, visit their Web site at www.saxophonecartel.com.
Jam bands are becoming an increasingly popular site in bars and clubs. Everyone wants to be like Phish or Karl Denson. But what if you take a jam band, throw in some funk, a little soul and a touch of rock and roll? You get something original -- you get Percival Potts. \nMade up of four IU students and Bloomington residents, Percival Potts is breaking out of the Bloomington music scene and taking their act regional in hopes of someday making it to the national level.\n"Ideally, I'd like to stay with it as long as possible. To make it national would be a dream come true," lead guitarist senior Will Pierce said. \nPercival Potts, or P. Potts as it is known to fans, played its first show under the name on February 1, 2003 at Uncle Fester's. The inspiration for the band name came from the British scientist, Sir Percival Potts. According to band member senior Rob Reynolds, Potts studied chimney sweepers and their development of cancer. He discovered that cancer was dependent on the environment. The air coming from the carcinogens of the coal dust that the sweepers breathed in caused cancer to develop. Reynolds said he happened upon Potts one day and learned more about him. \n"We thought, wow, this is a hip guy, especially these days with the amount of chemicals that are in everything that we eat, breathe, drink. We want to promote something that will make you think as opposed to something that doesn't," he said.\n"It's also a question on the MCAT," Pierce said.\nThe band became what it is today when bass guitarist Kevin Boas joined in May 2003 and Pierce, joined in August 2004. Boas, an IU alumni and Bloomington resident, entered the band with a strong jazz background and is well known for his improvisational skills.\nPierce also brought a heavy jazz background to the band. He was a member of jazz band throughout high school and his father was a jazz guitarist. Currently, he is working towards a music informatics major. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Bela Fleck, music is a mainstay in Pierce's life and he says it is something he wishes to continue doing.\n"I rather make $10,000 a year playing music than $100,000 doing something else," Pierce said.\nReynolds takes the role as leader as vocalist/guitarist/keyboard and coronet player as well as composer of most the band's music and lyrics. Reynolds also picked up music at a young age. He had hopes of being a trumpet major in the IU School of Music until he blew his lip out in high school. Instead, he began playing piano, guitar, and teaching himself to sing by listening to greats such as Otis Redding, Motown and Stevie Wonder. Reynolds' persistent attitude and passion for music is what led him to start the band. \n"Dealing with music, I'm ready to rock n' roll for the next five, eight, ten years," Reynolds said. "I'm always writing. It's a constant process. Listening and writing. Trying to improve upon what you can do as a musician."\nSenior Neil Michalares met Reynolds about six years ago when he saw Reynolds playing in a band called Cova. Michalares told Reynolds he wanted to play drums for him someday. Taken up on his offer, Michalares is the second P.Potts original member. With a family background of percussion, Michalares took up the drums in high school and has played in bands ranging from heavy metal to punk. \nTogether these four personalities make up Percival Potts. They blend together to make the smooth, "groovin' danceable vocally intense music."\nBeing an upcoming band is not an easy task. It takes patience, hard work and determination -- it also takes money. With classes, practices and an extensive road schedule it was often difficult for the men of Percival Potts to find a job and work a lot of hours at that job. But nonetheless, they are passionate about making music and sharing it with others. Initially, the funding from the band came out of their pockets. They took their own cars to shows, paid for gas and saved by not staying overnight anywhere. Now, as their popularity rises, they have a band van they take to shows complete with TV and Play Station 2.\n"We use money from previous shows to pay for gas. We try and buy food and everything on the road with money from the band account, and then we split what is left when we get home. Most of the time, we're just breaking even, but we have a blast," Michalares said.\nLife on the road is still something Percival Potts is getting used to. At times, it can be quite taxing.\n"When we drive 5 hours there, 5 hours back, setup and tear down for 2 hours, and only play for 45 minutes, it feels a little like we're more in a moving company than a band," Michalares said.\nBut there are also perks to being a band traveling from venue to venue. Most places give Percival Potts free meals and drinks as well as a VIP area to relax in before the show. But more important is the reward of seeing the same people over and over again. As they go back to the same bars repeatedly, this becomes a more common occurrence. \n"Seeing people that come back even if it is like three or four people that are like 'We saw you last time in Chicago and we came back.' That's awesome," Pierce said.\nBooking shows regionally is largely dependent on the amount of work a band puts into it. It is Michalares' job to find gigs for Percival Potts. He said he makes calls to venues to see if they are accepting band promos. A promo usually consists of a CD and information about the band. After sending out a promo, Michalares waits a week or two before contacting the venue again and hopefully, setting up a date to play. It typically takes sending out five to ten promo packets for a three- or four-show tour. One of their first shows outside of Bloomington was a learning experience they won't soon forget.\n"One of the first (shows) was traveling to Lafayette to play the Lafayette Brew Company. We got there and they had free dinner for us, so each one of us got the most expensive thing on the menu and had a few beers apiece ... and only 7 people came out the whole night. Needless to say, they have never called us back."\nPercival Potts discovers new things about making it in the music world as their experience on the road grows. Pierce said the key to gaining popularity is not playing a lot of covers, but rather, doing your own thing and making a unique presence. He also said you just have to keep doing it. \n"The classic quote we hear at the bars out of town is 'it is usually busy, don't know, must be more of late-night crowd'," Pierce said. "You just have to stick with it."\n"It's about time and pressure. If you have the talent, people will come," Reynolds added.\nThis summer is an example of that mentality as the band is on the road almost every Friday and Saturday as well as some Thursday nights. They are trying to get their name out there and start a demand for CDs. \n"We'll practice when we can, usually Monday and Tuesday nights. Thursday we'll break everything down from the practice space and load it into the van, and either head up to Uncle Fester's at 8 p.m. or try and get on the road by 2 p.m. or so," Michalares said. "We stay at hotels or with friends we make, a lot of times we'll crash at people's houses who we've never met before. The rest of the weekend is driving, playing PS2, loading, unloading, setting up, tearing down or just chillin' in the bar. Cell phones keep us in touch with our friends, it's pretty cool when people call you up to see what you're doing and you say 'We're about to play this 50,000 person festival in Chicago and open for My Morning Jacket -- let me call you back in a couple hours'. Saturday nights we'll pack up and try and head home, get there by 7 or 8 a.m. so we can get some sleep."\nDespite this tough schedule, they all agreed that they would love to do this for the rest of their lives. "I'd love to be able to travel with these three other guys, record and play music for the rest of our lives," Michalares said.\nPercival Potts is working on their first CD, which will be released July 1st on the road and in August locally. Until then, you can check out the music of Percival Potts every other Thursday night at Uncle Fester's or catch them on the road or at www.percivalpotts.com.
Jam bands are becoming an increasingly popular site in bars and clubs. Everyone wants to be like Phish or Karl Denson. But what if you take a jam band, throw in some funk, a little soul and a touch of rock and roll? You get something original -- you get Percival Potts. \nMade up of four IU students and Bloomington residents, Percival Potts is breaking out of the Bloomington music scene and taking their act regional in hopes of someday making it to the national level.\n"Ideally, I'd like to stay with it as long as possible. To make it national would be a dream come true," lead guitarist senior Will Pierce said. \nPercival Potts, or P. Potts as it is known to fans, played its first show under the name on February 1, 2003 at Uncle Fester's. The inspiration for the band name came from the British scientist, Sir Percival Potts. According to band member senior Rob Reynolds, Potts studied chimney sweepers and their development of cancer. He discovered that cancer was dependent on the environment. The air coming from the carcinogens of the coal dust that the sweepers breathed in caused cancer to develop. Reynolds said he happened upon Potts one day and learned more about him. \n"We thought, wow, this is a hip guy, especially these days with the amount of chemicals that are in everything that we eat, breathe, drink. We want to promote something that will make you think as opposed to something that doesn't," he said.\n"It's also a question on the MCAT," Pierce said.\nThe band became what it is today when bass guitarist Kevin Boas joined in May 2003 and Pierce, joined in August 2004. Boas, an IU alumni and Bloomington resident, entered the band with a strong jazz background and is well known for his improvisational skills.\nPierce also brought a heavy jazz background to the band. He was a member of jazz band throughout high school and his father was a jazz guitarist. Currently, he is working towards a music informatics major. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Bela Fleck, music is a mainstay in Pierce's life and he says it is something he wishes to continue doing.\n"I rather make $10,000 a year playing music than $100,000 doing something else," Pierce said.\nReynolds takes the role as leader as vocalist/guitarist/keyboard and coronet player as well as composer of most the band's music and lyrics. Reynolds also picked up music at a young age. He had hopes of being a trumpet major in the IU School of Music until he blew his lip out in high school. Instead, he began playing piano, guitar, and teaching himself to sing by listening to greats such as Otis Redding, Motown and Stevie Wonder. Reynolds' persistent attitude and passion for music is what led him to start the band. \n"Dealing with music, I'm ready to rock n' roll for the next five, eight, ten years," Reynolds said. "I'm always writing. It's a constant process. Listening and writing. Trying to improve upon what you can do as a musician."\nSenior Neil Michalares met Reynolds about six years ago when he saw Reynolds playing in a band called Cova. Michalares told Reynolds he wanted to play drums for him someday. Taken up on his offer, Michalares is the second P.Potts original member. With a family background of percussion, Michalares took up the drums in high school and has played in bands ranging from heavy metal to punk. \nTogether these four personalities make up Percival Potts. They blend together to make the smooth, "groovin' danceable vocally intense music."\nBeing an upcoming band is not an easy task. It takes patience, hard work and determination -- it also takes money. With classes, practices and an extensive road schedule it was often difficult for the men of Percival Potts to find a job and work a lot of hours at that job. But nonetheless, they are passionate about making music and sharing it with others. Initially, the funding from the band came out of their pockets. They took their own cars to shows, paid for gas and saved by not staying overnight anywhere. Now, as their popularity rises, they have a band van they take to shows complete with TV and Play Station 2.\n"We use money from previous shows to pay for gas. We try and buy food and everything on the road with money from the band account, and then we split what is left when we get home. Most of the time, we're just breaking even, but we have a blast," Michalares said.\nLife on the road is still something Percival Potts is getting used to. At times, it can be quite taxing.\n"When we drive 5 hours there, 5 hours back, setup and tear down for 2 hours, and only play for 45 minutes, it feels a little like we're more in a moving company than a band," Michalares said.\nBut there are also perks to being a band traveling from venue to venue. Most places give Percival Potts free meals and drinks as well as a VIP area to relax in before the show. But more important is the reward of seeing the same people over and over again. As they go back to the same bars repeatedly, this becomes a more common occurrence. \n"Seeing people that come back even if it is like three or four people that are like 'We saw you last time in Chicago and we came back.' That's awesome," Pierce said.\nBooking shows regionally is largely dependent on the amount of work a band puts into it. It is Michalares' job to find gigs for Percival Potts. He said he makes calls to venues to see if they are accepting band promos. A promo usually consists of a CD and information about the band. After sending out a promo, Michalares waits a week or two before contacting the venue again and hopefully, setting up a date to play. It typically takes sending out five to ten promo packets for a three- or four-show tour. One of their first shows outside of Bloomington was a learning experience they won't soon forget.\n"One of the first (shows) was traveling to Lafayette to play the Lafayette Brew Company. We got there and they had free dinner for us, so each one of us got the most expensive thing on the menu and had a few beers apiece ... and only 7 people came out the whole night. Needless to say, they have never called us back."\nPercival Potts discovers new things about making it in the music world as their experience on the road grows. Pierce said the key to gaining popularity is not playing a lot of covers, but rather, doing your own thing and making a unique presence. He also said you just have to keep doing it. \n"The classic quote we hear at the bars out of town is 'it is usually busy, don't know, must be more of late-night crowd'," Pierce said. "You just have to stick with it."\n"It's about time and pressure. If you have the talent, people will come," Reynolds added.\nThis summer is an example of that mentality as the band is on the road almost every Friday and Saturday as well as some Thursday nights. They are trying to get their name out there and start a demand for CDs. \n"We'll practice when we can, usually Monday and Tuesday nights. Thursday we'll break everything down from the practice space and load it into the van, and either head up to Uncle Fester's at 8 p.m. or try and get on the road by 2 p.m. or so," Michalares said. "We stay at hotels or with friends we make, a lot of times we'll crash at people's houses who we've never met before. The rest of the weekend is driving, playing PS2, loading, unloading, setting up, tearing down or just chillin' in the bar. Cell phones keep us in touch with our friends, it's pretty cool when people call you up to see what you're doing and you say 'We're about to play this 50,000 person festival in Chicago and open for My Morning Jacket -- let me call you back in a couple hours'. Saturday nights we'll pack up and try and head home, get there by 7 or 8 a.m. so we can get some sleep."\nDespite this tough schedule, they all agreed that they would love to do this for the rest of their lives. "I'd love to be able to travel with these three other guys, record and play music for the rest of our lives," Michalares said.\nPercival Potts is working on their first CD, which will be released July 1st on the road and in August locally. Until then, you can check out the music of Percival Potts every other Thursday night at Uncle Fester's or catch them on the road or at www.percivalpotts.com.
