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(02/10/13 7:55pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>High schools may have their homecoming and prom, but Saturday night the Bluebird Nightclub had its Winter Formal featuring pop rock band Dot Dot Dot.The audience embraced the theme of the evening, dressing mostly in party dresses, dress shirts and ties. The event kicked off with a set of remixed top 40 songs from DJ BSizzle.Dot Dot Dot took the stage around 11:30 p.m. Lead singer Adam Blair explained the main reason for the Winter Formal was to have an excuse to wear something other than jeans and t-shirts to a show and complimented the audience’s change in appearance.Kicking off with original material, Dot Dot Dot breezed through songs “All Be Alright” and “You Do,” encouraging the crowd to sing along. The band presented a cover-heavy set that showed off all the members and their individual talents. While Blair took lead vocals for The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” he covered bass for Little Lisa as she sang out Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.” Blair also took over as lead guitarist when Rose Ana Laguana channeled her inner Morten Harket on a-Ha’s “Take on Me.” The new-wave ‘80s hit also featured an electric keyboard solo from Michael Bonowicz. Formed in 2006, the band features members from two Chicago bands. Blair and Bonowicz were previously in the band The Fabulous Janes, and Laguana and Little Lisa came from a group called Catfight. “We had a clandestine rehearsal in a music store in late 2006,” Bonowicz said. “We ended up on a television show (Fox’s The Next Great American Band) soon after. We traveled a bunch. Eight hundred shows later, we’re still here.”Drummer Marty Kane, who came to the group after its original formation, said he classifies their genre as “dance-able, sing-able pop and rock covers and originals” and said the rush he gets performing live with the group is unparalleled.“The energy, spontaneity and even the musical imperfections are, to me, what makes music an active and engaging art,” Kane said. “We sponge so much energy from our audiences. They are definitely an integral part of our shows.”Aside from having an excuse to look pretty and rock out, Blair said the Winter Formal was designed as a way for people to redo one of high school’s pinnacle experiences. “The formal is for those who were never asked to prom and for those who had such a good time they want to relive it,” he said.The band will continue to tour through May with stops in Merrionette Park, IL and Biloxi, MS scheduled for this month. They will return to Bloomington Feb. 27 for a less formal show at the Bluebird. Tracks from their latest EP, “III,” can be heard on iTunes and Pandora. For more information on Dot Dot Dot, visit their Facebook or Twitter pages or their official website, dotdotdotonline.com.
(02/08/13 3:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>James Jackson Toth will perform under the name Wooden Wand at 9 p.m. Friday for a solo acoustic set at The Bishop Bar.Toth, who cited bands and musicians like Neil Young, the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead as influences on his sound, said his family’s love of music encouraged his foray into singing and songwriting. He said his cousin was in a heavy metal band when he was growing up, which fostered his early music tastes.“For years, I listened to mostly heavy metal and punk rock,” Toth said. “As I got older, I listened to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, artists that were more lyrically based.”Toth said his love of reading influenced him to start writing songs focusing more on lyrical content.“I wanted to do something that focused on the writing part and words,” Toth said. “Heavy metal is limited that way. Generally speaking, it’s not a genre with good lyricists. I wanted to communicate something about the human condition.”Toth said while writing, he looks for inspiration in other music as well as conversations and phrases and expressions he overhears in his daily life. “I try to keep my own writing distinct to myself and I try not to steal from anybody too much beyond the subconscious,” he said.Toth said his show in Bloomington will feature a mostly acoustic set of songs from his last two albums, “Death Set” and “Blood Oaths of the New Blues.” Toth said he feels the two records compliment each other well and should contribute to a good live show.Though he hasn’t performed in Bloomington in four or five years, Toth said he has big plans for his Friday night performance. “Every show’s different,” he said. “I change the set lists from night-to-night to try to make it a one-of-a-kind performance.”Toth also said he may throw in some debuts for the Bloomington crowd.“It’s early in tour, so it’s only my first or second time playing these songs,” he said. “I’m excited to test them out and see what kind of response they get.”Sponsored by Spirit of ‘68 Promotions, Toth will be joined by folk rock bands Elephant Micah and Lylas. Tickets for the event cost $7.
(02/07/13 8:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>James Jackson Toth will perform under the name Wooden Wand at 9 p.m. Friday for a solo acoustic set at The Bishop Bar.Toth, who cited bands and musicians like Neil Young, the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead as influences on his sound, said his family’s love of music encouraged his foray into singing and songwriting. He said his cousin was in a heavy metal band when he was growing up, which fostered his early music tastes.“For years, I listened to mostly heavy metal and punk rock,” Toth said. “As I got older, I listened to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, artists that were more lyrically based.”Toth said his love of reading influenced him to start writing songs focusing more on lyrical content.“I wanted to do something that focused on the writing part and words,” Toth said. “Heavy metal is limited that way. Generally speaking, it’s not a genre with good lyricists. I wanted to communicate something about the human condition.”Toth said while writing, he looks for inspiration in other music as well as conversations and phrases and expressions he overhears in his daily life. “I try to keep my own writing distinct to myself and I try not to steal from anybody too much beyond the subconscious,” he said.Toth said his show in Bloomington will feature a mostly acoustic set of songs from his last two albums, “Death Set” and “Blood Oaths of the New Blues.” Toth said he feels the two records compliment each other well and should contribute to a good live show.Though he hasn’t performed in Bloomington in four or five years, Toth said he has big plans for his Friday night performance. “Every show’s different,” he said. “I change the set lists from night-to-night to try to make it a one-of-a-kind performance.”Toth also said he may throw in some debuts for the Bloomington crowd.“It’s early in tour, so it’s only my first or second time playing these songs,” he said. “I’m excited to test them out and see what kind of response they get.”Sponsored by Spirit of ‘68 Promotions, Toth will be joined by folk rock bands Elephant Micah and Lylas. Tickets for the event cost $7.
(02/06/13 4:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since Friday, IU Theatre’s “Intimate Apparel” has transformed the Wells-Metz Theatre in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center into early-1900s Lower Manhattan. Written by Lynn Nottage, “Intimate Apparel” tells the story of Esther Mills, a seamstress known for her exquisite work with ladies’ undergarments. Esther, played by junior Jessica Turner, lives under the residence of Mrs. Dickson, played by sophomore Tonik Boyd. Mrs. Dickson badgers Esther to settle down, and she’s not the only one frustrated. At 35, Esther longs for somebody to love. Her most stable romantic relationship is with Jewish fabric shop owner Mr. Marks, played by senior David-Aaron Roth. Marks and Esther fight their feelings for each other due his religious beliefs and racial stigmas of the time. Esther begins receiving notes from a man named George Armstrong, played by freshman Ian Martin, who works on the Panama Canal. Esther can’t read or write, so with the help of her clients and friends Mrs. Van Buren and Mayme, played by masters student Andrea Mellos and senior Jasmine Desiree Traylor, Esther begins a courtship with George. The production’s cast consists of mostly newcomers, with Turner, Traylor, Martin and Boyd all making their IU Theatre debuts.Guest Director Ron Himes said he is pleased with the show and the audience’s reception so far. “I think the show was well-received by the audience,” Himes said. “I think the cast did a very good job with the material and that their performances are solid.”Junior theater major Elaine Griffin said she has heard equally good things about the production as well. She said many of her friends participated in the production of the play, and word of mouth from fellow theater students encouraged her to audition. “I’ve read the play before, and I know everybody in the show,” Griffin said. “A lot of the actors are really talented, the set is beautiful and a lot of their work has been really good.”“Intimate Apparel” will continue until Saturday at the Wells-Metz. The show has performances at 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday with an additional performance at 2 p.m. Saturday.
(01/31/13 7:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Theatre will travel back to the 20th century when the theater debuts its latest production, “Intimate Apparel.”The show begins its run at 7:30 p.m. Friday and concludes Feb. 9. Written by Lynn Nottage, “Intimate Apparel” follows African-American seamstress and lingerie specialist Esther Mills as she carries on a love affair with a Barbadian canal worker named George.IU Theatre has invited Ron Himes to direct its production. Himes, who serves as founder and producing director of the St. Louis Black Rep, said he’s directed this play before and loves Nottage’s work.“She tells really strong women stories with strong women characters,” Himes said. “She tells stories that might not otherwise be told.”Himes said he was interested in directing IU Theatre’s production because he enjoys directing college students. He said the greatest challenge he had to overcome with his actors was getting them to understand their characters’ problems and experiences.Junior theater major Jessica Turner said she agrees. Turner who plays Esther in the play, said she had trouble seeing things through Esther’s eyes at times.“Me and Esther are different,” she said. “She’s more controlled with her emotions. Nothing negative comes from her, whereas I’m outgoing. If I get angry, everyone feels my wrath.”Turner said she attempted to better understand Esther by reading as much as she could about anything having to do with the play. She said she researched the early 1900s, the time period of the play, as well as fabric and racial relationships of that time.Himes said all the hard work Turner and the rest of the cast have put in shows has paid off, and that the cast would be wonderful by the time the play opens.“They’ve come a long way from day one,” Himes said. “They’ve grown tremendously, they’re talented and they were a joy to work with.”Turner said she’s really enjoyed her time playing Esther and hopes the audience feels a sense of release upon seeing the play. “I hope they understand no matter what struggle you’re going through, there’s always a way to come back from it,” she said.Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students and $20 for seniors. Students can also purchase $10 rush tickets the day of each performance at the IU Auditorium Box Office.
(01/31/13 3:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Theatre will travel back to the 20th century when the theater debuts its latest production, “Intimate Apparel.”The show begins its run at 7:30 p.m. Friday and concludes Feb. 9. Written by Lynn Nottage, “Intimate Apparel” follows African-American seamstress and lingerie specialist Esther Mills as she carries on a love affair with a Barbadian canal worker named George.IU Theatre has invited Ron Himes to direct its production. Himes, who serves as founder and producing director of the St. Louis Black Rep, said he’s directed this play before and loves Nottage’s work.“She tells really strong women stories with strong women characters,” Himes said. “She tells stories that might not otherwise be told.”Himes said he was interested in directing IU Theatre’s production because he enjoys directing college students. He said the greatest challenge he had to overcome with his actors was getting them to understand their characters’ problems and experiences.Junior theater major Jessica Turner said she agrees. Turner who plays Esther in the play, said she had trouble seeing things through Esther’s eyes at times.“Me and Esther are different,” she said. “She’s more controlled with her emotions. Nothing negative comes from her, whereas I’m outgoing. If I get angry, everyone feels my wrath.”Turner said she attempted to better understand Esther by reading as much as she could about anything having to do with the play. She said she researched the early 1900s, the time period of the play, as well as fabric and racial relationships of that time.Himes said all the hard work Turner and the rest of the cast have put in shows has paid off, and that the cast would be wonderful by the time the play opens.“They’ve come a long way from day one,” Himes said. “They’ve grown tremendously, they’re talented and they were a joy to work with.”Turner said she’s really enjoyed her time playing Esther and hopes the audience feels a sense of release upon seeing the play. “I hope they understand no matter what struggle you’re going through, there’s always a way to come back from it,” she said.Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students and $20 for seniors. Students can also purchase $10 rush tickets the day of each performance at the IU Auditorium Box Office.
(01/27/13 9:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Max’s Place was host to local musicians, artists, and fans of both Friday night as part of “Festivus for the Rest of Us” sponsored by Alpha Pack Records. The event was the brainchild of rapper and Festivus performer Chinedu Onye, his manager Rachel Awoyemi and friend Rex Parker. They partnered with “Womp.in,” an online music discovery platform similar to Spotify. Onye, who performs under the stage name Jayali, said he wanted the event to bring all the culture Bloomington has to offer together in one place.“Bloomington is so acclaimed for the arts, but I always wondered, ‘where are all the events?’” he said. “We came up with a music and arts showcase to give people the ability to be involved with music and the arts and marry visual arts with the music scene here.”In addition to raising awareness of the local arts, the Festivus was also designed to give back. Ten percent of the proceeds from the show went to Bloomington’s Trained Eye Arts Center, which contributed some of the artwork displayed at the show. Starting at 9 p.m. the event was emceed by Deshawn Tyree, a member of the Iota Phi Theta, Inc. fraternity on campus. Kicking off the evening was the Ill Intentions Consotrium. Featuring a keyboardist, drummer, tubist and vocalist, the gospel/funk/jazz group performed covers of Erykah Badu’s “Rimshot” and Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing).” Jayali joined the group at the end of their last song for a surprise rap cameo and encouraged everyone to enjoy themselves. Singer AnnaMarie Hosei took the stage afterwards for her four-song set, performing songs by Corinne Bailey Rae and Adele as well as two songs from her EP “Am,” which she said was available on Spotify, Facebook and iTunes. Folk duo An Argot took the stage third, performing a set that featured their dueling guitars and harmonious melodies. Band member Justin Renner said playing at the Festivus was a true pleasure.“It was super fun to play,” Renner said. “We would love to work with Trained Eye and Womp again in the future.”The evening ended with jokes from comedian Sully and rap performances by Lord Netty and Jayali, who were accompanied by the Ill Intentions band. Onye said he was pleased with the event, saying the Festivus raised enough money for Trained Eye to allow Alpha Pack Records to become one of their partner organizations. “Trained Eye Arts now has a group of professionals that are knowledgeable of the music industry, and specifically in the music industry right here in Bloomington,” he said. “We plan to help them create more opportunities to bridge the gap between Indiana University, the Bloomington general public and the network of talented creatives.”
(01/24/13 5:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the lights dimmed and the audience filling the IU Auditorium grew silent, conductor Franz Welser-Möst and violinist and IU alumnus Joshua Bell took the stage. After the applause ceased, with the flick of Welser-Möst’s wrist, the Cleveland Orchestra’s performance took off.The orchestra, which returned to the auditorium in 2011 after decades without a performance, performed works from legendary composers Ludwig Van Beethoven and Hector Berlioz. Bell accompanied the orchestra for their Beethoven piece as a featured soloist. IU Auditorium Director Doug Booher said the orchestra invited Bell to perform with them, and the auditorium could not be happier to welcome Bell back.“Josh’s ability to connect with the audience through his performance and his thoughtful interpretation of the work combine with his long history as a Bloomington native and IU alum to make for the perfect soloist for this event,” Booher said. Bell’s connection with the piece as well as the ensemble he performed with were evident. Standing beside Welser-Möst, Bell hardly stood still as he played through his solos. The audience was clearly pleased to see Bell, a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music, as he received rousing applause when recognized at the end of the Beethoven piece. The orchestra and Bell’s acclaim attracted students and Bloomington residents of all ages to the show. First year master’s student in flute performance Sarah Shin had never seen the Cleveland Orchestra before but was drawn to their performance by the reputation of being, as she said, “an awesome orchestra.”Bloomington resident Lou Moyr, who had seen both Bell and the Cleveland Orchestra on many occasions before, said her love of symphonies brought her to the show.“We’re so lucky to live in Bloomington where we can hear these symphonies,” Moyr said. Booher said it’s the high quality of the Cleveland Orchestra and their work that makes their performances truly memorable. “When the warmth of their precise yet spirited performance fills the Auditorium, you are transported to a wonderful place,” he said.
(01/24/13 5:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the lights dimmed and the audience filling the IU Auditorium grew silent, conductor Franz Welser-Möst and violinist and IU alumnus Joshua Bell took the stage. After the applause ceased, with the flick of Welser-Möst’s wrist, the Cleveland Orchestra’s performance took off.The orchestra, which returned to the auditorium in 2011 after decades without a performance, performed works from legendary composers Ludwig Van Beethoven and Hector Berlioz. Bell accompanied the orchestra for their Beethoven piece as a featured soloist. IU Auditorium Director Doug Booher said the orchestra invited Bell to perform with them, and the auditorium could not be happier to welcome Bell back.“Josh’s ability to connect with the audience through his performance and his thoughtful interpretation of the work combine with his long history as a Bloomington native and IU alum to make for the perfect soloist for this event,” Booher said. Bell’s connection with the piece as well as the ensemble he performed with were evident. Standing beside Welser-Möst, Bell hardly stood still as he played through his solos. The audience was clearly pleased to see Bell, a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music, as he received rousing applause when recognized at the end of the Beethoven piece. The orchestra and Bell’s acclaim attracted students and Bloomington residents of all ages to the show. First year master’s student in flute performance Sarah Shin had never seen the Cleveland Orchestra before but was drawn to their performance by the reputation of being, as she said, “an awesome orchestra.”Bloomington resident Lou Moyr, who had seen both Bell and the Cleveland Orchestra on many occasions before, said her love of symphonies brought her to the show.“We’re so lucky to live in Bloomington where we can hear these symphonies,” Moyr said. Booher said it’s the high quality of the Cleveland Orchestra and their work that makes their performances truly memorable. “When the warmth of their precise yet spirited performance fills the Auditorium, you are transported to a wonderful place,” he said.
(01/22/13 1:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From simple stage lighting to their jeans and T-shirt outfits, alt-country group Lucero kept it all about the music at the Bluebird Nightclub on Sunday night.The show started at 9 p.m. and marked the band’s third performance in Bloomington. Folk rock band Houndmouth opened for the group.The band promised the crowd songs about “women and work,” which happens to be the name of the group’s latest album. While its set included songs from its latest album, the band deviated from newer songs early in the show in favor of older ones. Songs like “Kiss the Bottle” and “I’ll Just Fall” had members of the audience singing along, sometimes louder than lead singer Ben Nichols. Nichols even fell out during “Fall” to hear the crowd singing along and praised them, saying “that’s exactly right!”The band let its country roots show in songs like “Little Silver Heart,” which invoked a sound similar to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song “Sweet Home Alabama.”As per many of the audience members’ requests, the band played many songs worthy of slow dancing. Songs like “Hey Darlin’, Do You Gamble?” and “Wasted” featured many couples clutching each other around the waist and swaying in time to the music.Because the band spent most of the night taking requests from the audience and some of the most in-demand songs were older, the band got off to a slow start with them. “Sometimes songs slip through the cracks when you don’t play them for a couple of months,” Nichols said in an apology to the crowd. “You’re like, ‘I don’t know what note that starts on.’”The band managed to keep things light, though, even when struggling to find the right notes. Band members drank throughout the show, much to the crowd’s amusement, and their beaming smiles and playful banter with the audience showed what a great time the guys were having. “Other Side of Lonesome” was recorded for its new album but didn’t make the cut, and Nichols played it with an acoustic guitar, which he said he “never played with the band before.” Keyboardist Rick Steff traded the keys for an accordion for the song, and the crowd loved the band’s self-proclaimed “experiment.”Even fresher was the song “Texas & Tennessee,” which Nichols said was written last Tuesday and performed only twice before. But it was ‘Breathless Love,” which was only written Thursday, that really got the crowd going. It was the first live performance the song had ever received and Nichols shared in the crowd’s excitement.“It’s nerve-wracking because it’s terrifying to perform new songs in front of people,” Nichols said. “But you were all so sweet.”
(01/21/13 8:04pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Adrienne Kaeppler, curator of oceanic ethnology at the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of Natural History, spoke Thursday at the IU Henry Hadford Hope School of Fine Arts about her latest book, “Holophusicon — the Leverian Museum.”The lecture, sponsored by the IU Art Museum, focused on the “Holophusicon,” also known as the Leverian Museum, the world’s first popular museum of science, curiosity and art. The museum had a variety of rare and historic artifacts including sculptured heads from India’s Cave of Elephanta, Oliver Cromwell’s armor and the largest collection of specimen from world traveler James Cook’s voyages.IU invited Kaeppler to campus as a guest counselor for SoFA and she had the rare opportunity to work with the IU Art Museum during her stay, IU Art Museum Senior Academic Adviser Jennifer Wagelie said. “Dr. Kaeppler is here to act as a guest consultant for one week to the FINA course ‘On Exhibit: the Pacific Islands,’” Wagelie said. “She has graciously agreed to lend her extensive expertise to the students in organizing a small installation and online exhibition relating to the IU Art Museum’s collection of tapa from the Pacific Islands that will open at the end of the semester. Seizing on the opportunity of her visit, she was asked to give a lecture on her latest book.”The lecture began after Wagelie introduced Kaeppler. Kaeppler delved into the history of the museum, which was the product of collector Ashton Lever and artist Sarah Stone.Kaeppler chronicled the journey the museum’s artifacts and art pieces took since their days in the Holophusicon to their eventual auction in the early 1800s, when most of the objects were separated. She included descriptions of Lever’s life and photos of the objects found in the museum. Kaeppler said she dedicated four decades of her life to tracking down where the artifacts ended up after the auction. She said she has yet to locate some of them. “If you ever see these objects anywhere, please let me know,” she said jokingly to the crowd.The objects she did find were at various locations around the world such as Austria, where Kaiser Franz I owned 230 of the museum’s objects including various birds, shells and minerals. Kaeppler received a warm reception from the crowd, which comprised both students and non-student adults. The following reception was located at the IU Art Museum, and Kaeppler was available to sign copies of her book. Second-year graduate student and library sciences major Erin McCall said she enjoyed the lecture and gained a greater appreciation for 18th-century museums.“The history of museums themselves is not explored as much as their contents,” McCall said. “I thought it was interesting to learn about this museum, its contents and the disillusion of the contents. It made me curious about 18th-century museums and where their contents are today."
(01/17/13 2:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Electronic rock group Future Rock will return to Bloomington to jam with fans 9 p.m. today at the Bluebird Nightclub. The band formed while members Mickey Kellerman and Felix Moreno were at Northwestern University. Since Kellerman bought his first synthesizer, life hasn’t been the same, Moreno said. “We were completely obsessed,” he said. “Our love affair with the synthesizer never subsided.”Moreno said the group has been able to get its music recorded and released through grassroot promotions and persistence. Last spring, the band signed with 1320 Records, the record label of Sound Tribe Sector 9 that represents electronic giants Bassnectar and Big Gigantic.During the years of writing, recording and performing its music, Future Rock has developed a more mature sound than its earlier days, Moreno said. “We used to get really progressive for the sake of virtuosity,” he said. “But, we are now much more focused on just the finished concept of the music itself. Also, we’re just way better at the technology aspects through years of practice.” Moreno said the members’ love and overall appreciation for music and technology is a major source of inspiration for their original sound. “We’re drawn to the inherent emotional capabilities of music, but also drawn to the way technology has enhanced our ability to produce and create music,” he said. “There seems to be no end to where the technology can take us. No sound is out of bounds.”The group has played at Bloomington venues before, including Uncle Fester’s and multiple shows at the Bluebird. Moreno said the group plans to make its show at the Bluebird unique by switching up its setlist and light show and incorporating extended improvisation sections. He said no two live shows are ever the same, and that’s what he loves so much about performing.“The moment when the audience and the musicians connect and the whole room becomes one is probably my favorite part,” he said. “That’s what makes music such a special art form. When everything is clicking between everyone in the room, not just the musicians, it is truly transcendent.”The group plans to continue touring through February in Illinois, Missouri and Colorado. They will also perform a few shows with electronic band Disco Biscuits, and they plan on releasing more live material and another EP later this year.Tickets can be purchased on the Bluebird’s website, thebluebird.ws.Fans can also download the Future Rock’s music for free at futurerock.net.
(01/16/13 10:04pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Electronic rock group Future Rock will return to Bloomington to rock with fans at 9 p.m. tonight at the Bluebird Nightclub. The band formed while members Mickey Kellerman and Felix Moreno were at Northwestern University. Since Kellerman bought his first synthesizer, a device used with a piano, life hasn’t been the same, Moreno said. “We were completely obsessed,” he said. “Our love affair with the synthesizer never subsided.”Moreno said the group has been able to get its music recorded and released through grassroot promotion and persistence. Last spring, the band signed with 1320 Records, the record label of Sound Tribe Sector 9 that represents Bassnectar and Big Gigantic.During the years of writing, recording and performing its music, Future Rock has developed a more mature sound than its earlier days, Moreno said. “We used to get really progressive for the sake of virtuosity,” he said. “But, we are now much more focused on just the finished concept of the music itself. Also, we’re just way better at the technology aspects through years of practice.” Moreno said the members’ love and overall appreciation for music and technology is a major source of inspiration for their original sound. “We’re drawn to the inherent emotional capabilities of music but also drawn to the way technology has enhanced our ability to produce and create music,” he said. “There seems to be no end to where the technology can take us. No sound is out of bounds.”The group has played at Bloomington venues before, including Uncle Fester’s and multiple shows at the Bluebird. Moreno said the group plans to make its show at the Bluebird unique by switching up its set list and light show and incorporating extended improvisation sections. He said no two live shows are ever the same, and that’s what he loves so much about performing.Tickets can be purchased on the Bluebird’s website, www.thebluebird.ws.“The moment when the audience and the musicians connect and the whole room becomes one is probably my favorite part,” he said. “That’s what makes music such a special art form. When everything is clicking between everyone in the room, not just the musicians, it is truly transcendent.”The group plans to continue touring through the month of February in Illinois, Missouri and Colorado. They will also perform a few shows with electronic band Disco Biscuits, and they plan on releasing more live material and another EP later this year. Fans can download the band’s music for free at www.futurerock.net.
(01/14/13 5:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>They describe themselves as a “raging funk experience,” and rage they did.On Friday, funk-rock reigned supreme at Bluebird Nightclub as the Main Squeeze returned home to perform for a crowd of eager Bloomington fans.The show opened with Halfway Knocks and Marshall Robbins and the Phunk Nasty’s, andThe Main Squeeze kicked off its set with a rousing rendition of “Where Do We Go?” from their self-titled album. The song featured an impressive guitar solo by Max Newman, and the band’s high energy and interaction with the fans got the show off to a wild start. Songs like “Mama Told Me” and “Ebaneezer” featured the jazzy vocal styles of lead singer Corey Frye, and the light show accompanying the songs made the entire set a visual and audible joyride. Formed in 2009, the group consists mostly of IU graduates who met on campus. The group originates from all over the United States, and keyboardist Ben Silverstein said it contributes to the band’s eclectic sound. “When we started, we sounded like five individuals, but, over time, we’ve fused into one band,” Silverstein said. “We use our separate influences in our own music, but now it has a full sound as opposed to five people.”The band draws inspiration from musicians Stevie Wonder and Led Zeppelin and genres punk rock and electronic music. Drummer Reuben Gingrich and bassist Jeremiah Hunt majored in jazz performance in college and incorporate that style into the band’s overall sound. Gingrich said the band puts a lot of effort into creating a set list and using new ideas for their live shows. He said they strive to make each performance a unique experience for their fans. “We try to switch the set lists up. We write new original songs to play live,” he said. “We also try to look back at what we played the last time at that venue and not play the same songs again.”The band has done some major traveling in recent years, playing a set at the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn., and competing in and winning an international battle of the bands held in China. But, the group still has nothing but love for Bloomington. Having played at the Bluebird 30 to 40 times, Silverstein said they still count it among their favorite places to perform.The Main Squeeze moved to Chicago about six months ago and has taken up a weekly residency at Martyr’s, a restaurant and music venue. They plan on touring the Midwest through January, followed by the East Coast in February. They are also scheduled to stop in New Orleans for a Mardi Gras jazz festival. The band will return to Bloomington on Feb. 2 for another show at the Bluebird.
(01/13/13 8:24pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>They describe themselves as a “raging funk experience,” and rage they did.On Friday, funk-rock reigned supreme at the Bluebird Nightclub as the Main Squeeze returned home to perform for a crowd of eager Bloomington fans.The show started at 9 p.m. with openers Halfway Knocks and Marshall Robbins & the Phunk Nastys each entertaining the crowd with their own sets.The Main Squeeze kicked off its set at 11:30 p.m. with a rousing rendition of “Where Do We Go?” off their self-titled album. The song featured an impressive guitar solo by Max Newman, and the band’s high energy and interaction with the fans got the show off to a wild start. Songs like “Mama Told Me” and “Ebaneezer” featured the jazzy vocal styles of lead singer Corey Frye, and the light show accompanying the songs made the entire set a visual and audible joyride. Formed in 2009, the group consists mostly of IU graduates who met on campus. The group originates from all over the United States, and keyboardist Ben Silverstein said it contributes to the band’s eclectic sound. “When we started, we sounded like five individuals, but over time, we’ve fused into one band,” Silverstein said. “We use our separate influences in our own music, but now it has a full sound as opposed to five people.”Musicians and genres the band draws inspiration from include punk rock, Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin and electronic music. Drummer Reuben Gingrich and bassist Jeremiah Hunt majored in jazz performance in college and incorporate that style into the band’s overall sound. Gingrich said the band puts a lot of effort into creating a set list and into using new ideas for their live shows. He said they strive to make each performance a unique experience for their fans. “We try to switch the set lists up, we write new original songs to play live,” he said. “We also try to look back at what we played the last time at that venue and not play the same songs again.”The band has done some major traveling in recent years, playing a set at the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn. and competing in and winning an international battle of the bands held in China. But the group still has nothing but love for Bloomington. Having played at the Bluebird 30 to 40 times, Silverstein said they still count it among their favorite places to perform.The Main Squeeze moved to Chicago about six months ago and has taken up a weekly residency at Martyr’s, a restaurant and music venue. They plan on touring the Midwest through January, followed by the East Coast in February, including a stop in New Orleans for a Mardi Gras jazz fest. The band will return to Bloomington Feb. 2 for another show at the Bluebird.
(01/08/13 2:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Psychedelic surf rock band Triptides will play at 9:30 p.m. today at the Bishop Bar. Tickets cost $3, and the show is open to concert enthusiasts 21 and up. “My expectations are not too high for the turnout, being on a Tuesday night,” said Glenn Brigman, the band’s guitarist and vocalist. “It would be better on Friday, but the sound is good, and it is a good chance to practice.”The band started out as a bedroom experiment in the middle of Bloomington in 2010 and is composed of Brigman, bassist and vocalist Josh Menashe and drummer Josh Morrow.Brigman said the band is playing between 10 and 12 songs from their album “Sun Pavilion” along with new, unreleased material.Known for creating hair-waving fans, the soft tones of Brigman’s combo, the lines melting from Menashe’s precision bass and the exploding sounds coming from each wail on Morrow’s drums, set free the energy needed to let loose and drown in the music. “The band is a mix of psych and surf rock,” booking agent Stephen Westrich said in an email. “The show will be a good, high-energy show to kick off the semester.” The band members have released multiple albums and EPs throughout their two years together, including the most recent LP, “Sun Pavilion,” which was released Nov. 19 by Stroll On Records. The album was recorded in Bloomington and was produced and engineered by the band. “The band has been steadily building an audience in basements and living rooms and made the leap this fall to routinely play at the Bishop,” Westrich said. The band is a regular guest in the Bloomington area and has previously played at the Bishop and Bear’s Place. Bloomington surf band Point Dume opened for the band. The band consists of bassist Jenna Beasley, guitarist Paul Baribeau and drummer Frances Mican.During the December 2012 FlannelGraph Records Holiday Show, Westrich said he was blown away with the band’s instrumental surf rock and asked Point Dume to join with the Triptides. While traveling all around the world, Triptides spent last summer touring the West Coast and plans to hit the road again in 2013. Tour stops include Austin, Texas, in March and the United Kingdom and France this summer.The band’s music can be heard on their Bandcamp web page and purchased on iTunes or on Rough Trade Shops’ website at roughtrade.com.
(01/07/13 4:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Country singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris will perform to a sold-out crowd at 8 p.m. tonight at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.For nearly four decades in the music industry, Harris has drawn acclaim for her solo career as well as her many collaborations with a diverse set of musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton and Bob Dylan. In addition to 12 Grammys and a Golden Globe, Harris was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009. She received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 2009. She was recently honored with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music, along with Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam. The award celebrates pioneers in the country music genre. Harris released her latest album, “Hard Bargain,” which she worked on with acclaimed composer Will Jennings in April 2011. According to her official website, the album features autobiographical songs focusing on some of Harris’ most intimate relationships. Songs chronicle her time with musical mentor Gram Parsons and fellow country singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle, both of whom have passed away.Ticket sales from Harris’ current and upcoming shows will benefit Bonaparte’s Retreat, a dog shelter she manages on her property in Nashville, Tenn. Harris will continue touring through June 2013, with stops scheduled in Iowa, Georgia and Colorado. She will also release an album with country musician Rodney Cromwell on Feb. 26, entitled “Old Yellow Moon.” The duo will begin touring together in the spring to support the album.
(12/07/12 3:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indie rock band Foxygen will perform its first show in Bloomington tonight at Russian Recording.The show starts at 9 p.m. and will also feature the band Triptides. Tickets cost $5 and the venue is open to all ages. Foxygen is one of the newest acts to be signed to the Jagjaguwar record label, which also represents notable indie acts like Bon Iver and Dinosaur Jr. The band was recently featured on the cover of The Deli Magazine’s CMJ issue. According to lead singer Sam France, he and fellow band member Jonathan Rado met in middle school when they were “two little ratty kids with a head full of ideas” and have been making music together since.The band will release its debut album on Jagjaguwar, “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic,” on Jan. 22. France said a lot of the inspiration for the album came from ’60s pop. “It’s a very positive album,” he said. “It’s supposed to put you in a meditative state and make you feel good and happy.”France said performing was something he felt forced into at the beginning of the band’s career, but he’s learned to like it.“Performing live is very surreal and conflicting and emotionally turbulent,” he said. “Although, it is fun to get up on stage and rock out.” France said Foxygen is excited to bring its own dreamlike live-stage experience to the Bloomington audience at Russian Recording. “We don’t really make sense in this day and age of professional digital music where they want you to pump the bass,” he said. “We sound like a bunch of kids. We like to pull our friends together and play raw.”France said the band’s premiere Bloomington gig should be “a fun psychedelic rock show played by some kids who don’t know what they’re doing but are trying to bring good vibes.”
(12/06/12 1:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Local rock band Elephant Quiz will play at 8 p.m. today at the Bluebird. Marshall Robbins and The Phunk Nastys will open the show. Concert-goers 21 and up can see the bands in action.Elephant Quiz, consisting of lead singer Andrew Pickel, guitarists Kevin Hennifeld and Zach Frasier and drummer Dan Wood, started playing while attending Bloomington North High School. They have been together ever since.Pickel said the group got their start playing small clubs in the area, like Rhino’s All-Ages Music Club.“At the end of high school, we started playing house parties and bars and developing a following,” he said. “We used to be more hip-hop based, but now we’ve developed a jam band style.”The band draws influences from a number of different artists, from Red Hot Chili Peppers to The Doors to OutKast. Pickel described their sound as “raw and emotional.”“It has some cultural context and liquidity at times, and it morphs and changes while we go through different sounds,” he said. “We try to take people on a musical journey and play our songs differently as often as possible.”The band’s only album, “The Weirdest Room,” includes songs the band has been playing for years as well as recent tracks.Pickel said the band has played at the Bluebird prior to their show tonight, and they look forward to having a good time with the crowd.“We have a lot of lights, and we like to play with the visual side of things,” he said. “Our shows feature a lot of jamming and improv and a lot of crazy energy. We like to have fun and interact with the crowd.”The band’s music can be heard on reverbnation.com/elephantquiz or by contacting elephantquizmgmt@gmail.com.
(11/12/12 1:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rachael’s Café made way for moshing Friday night as punk pop and melodic metalcore bands Sequoia, Another Untold Story, My Sweet Fall and headliner group Fractures performed a three-hour show.The quaint café rearranged its setup and pushed tables and chairs aside, allowing more room for musicians and audience members alike to dance and let loose. Although the crowd was small, it didn’t seem to faze the performers. My Sweet Fall singer Nick Long acknowledged the size by saying, “there’s greatness in small numbers.” Attendees spent the night either actively listening to the acts or dancing and pushing each other on stage. Throughout the show, the bands sold T-shirts for $10 on the side and accepted donations for CDs. Opener Tori Roper, accompanied by a guitarist and representing Sequoia, kept it simple, playing an entirely acoustic set. With her electric, blue dip-dyed hair and strong voice during songs like “We are Alive” and “Solid Ground,” Roper’s sound and style were reminiscent of Hayley Williams of Paramore or Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday. She ended her set with a more intimate, ukulele-driven song called “Thanks to You” that she wrote specifically for the performance. Following Roper was Another Untold Story, a metalcore band from Cincinnati. The five-piece metal band was a jarring change of tempo from Roper and they encouraged the crowd to get up close and personal to them while they were performing. Songs like “Monday” got the crowd pumped up and featured some high-energy dance moves from lead singer Zack Prost. Prost described one of their songs as being about how “you only get one shot, so make it count.”My Sweet Fall was there promoting their EP, “Nights You Won’t Remember with Friends You Won’t Forget.” The Indianapolis pop punk band rocked out through a six-song set, mostly including tracks from the EP, such as “So It Goes” and “Die Happy.”At 10 p.m., Fractures took the stage for their set. The melodic, hardcore band spent their time between songs encouraging people to check out their Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr profiles and download their free tracks off online music store Bandcamp. The band performed songs “Reflections” and “What We Don’t Believe” and jokingly informed fans that they would have a new EP coming out, “sometime in the next century.” They unleashed their humanitarian side on a track called “The Balance,” which lead singer Joel Enneking described as being about saving the Earth. Cincinnati artist Boy, who was originally scheduled to perform but canceled his appearance, surprised the audience as he performed his set after all. With nothing but his electric guitar supporting his voice, Boy ripped through songs like “Trap Door” and “Enabler.” He described the songs as being about a difficult time in his life involving drugs and alcohol. He indulged the crowd in a requested improv, which audience members said sounded like Pearl Jam. The night ended at 11:15 p.m., and Roper, who stayed to watch the other bands perform, said she loved the show and can’t wait to catch more concerts at Rachael’s Café.“As a performer I really enjoyed Rachael’s Café,” she said. “It is obviously not a large scale venue, but I loved the atmosphere. It is very intimate, and the cafe itself is adorable. I definitely plan on going back.”